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Regular Meeting April 14, 2003 Charlton Town Board Saratoga County New York
After the pledge to the flag, the invocation was given by Town Clerk Gail Hanchar.
At the regular meeting of the Town Board of Charlton, Saratoga County, New York held at 7:30 P.M. at the Charlton Town Hall, called to order by Supervisor Acunto, there were present:
Councilman Alan Grattidge David Raphael from LandWorks of Middlebury, Vermont gave a presentation regarding the Main Street (Charlton Road) project which they have been working on with members of the Historic District. Concerns which had been expressed by members of the Historic District were providing safe areas for people to walk, to slow down traffic, appropriate lighting and related types of improvements. It is proposed to start a gravel walking path through the Historic District beginning in front of the Town Hall. Crosswalks are being considered in front of the Town Hall and at Gideon Hawley Park. The pathway will switch sides at the park. There is lighting proposed from one end of the hamlet to the other. It will cost about $2,500.00 per fixture including wiring and installation. To slow traffic, a splitter island is being considered for either end of the hamlet. Each island will have some landscaping and a small welcome sign. Additional trees could be added in the district which would tend to slow traffic. Mr. Raphael stated that in order to make some of the improvements which have been mentioned we may need to approach the county about taking over the road. Susan Lombardi, a grant writer from Community Development Resources, spoke regarding how to best finance the project. She stated that federal and state funding is available, private foundations and member items. Susan suggested we use the monies we have and leverage those with other grants. She will be leaving a Catalog of Potential Funding Sources with the town. David Raphael said that Supervisor Acunto has suggested a clock be placed in the Historic District. He is leaving a draft copy of the final report. LandWorks welcomes any comments on the project. He stated that this is a guide for the next steps. Doris Stauffer thanked the Town Board for their support and ideas. She said that Dorothy Mitchell has been their liaison and she has been splendid. Doris thanked the members of the Steering Committee for their input: Jeff Widay, James Poirier, Steven Caine, Ron Gavin and Alan Grattidge and also Larry Benton and Mike Valentine from the County Planning Board. John Simoni - Maple Avenue - Asked who owns the project and maintains the project? Mr. Raphael stated that generally the town does. Depending on the community, there may be a cooperative agreement with the county to plow or do certain services. Torben Aabo - Sweetman Road - Stated that this project has $46,000.00. Do we have to use this $46,000.00 before we get new grants? Susan Lombardi - We can leverage the $46,000.00 as a match for any grant. Torben Aabo - If we use the money over the next six months and haven't gotten a grant, then we are loosing out. We cannot use that money for matching funds. Susan - You wouldn't have it. Torben - We haven't used this money for five years. Mr. Raphael stated that now that there is a plan, the committee is interested in spending the money. LandWorks will try and advise them how to best spend the money in the near future to build toward the long-term plan. Doris stated that we have leveraged part of the money by taking out $6,000.00 and using it toward the $24,000.00 grant that has brought us the plans we are discussed tonight. Motion made by Councilman Grattidge, seconded by Councilman Lippiello that the minutes of the March 10 Town Board Meeting and the minutes of the March 31 Agenda Meeting be accepted as received and that the minutes of the March 19 Public Hearing be accepted contingent upon the addition of Councilman Schroeder in attendance from the beginning of the meeting and that the names of the persons who submitted written comment regarding the Public Hearing be entered into tonight's Town Board Minutes, be approved:
Approved: Councilman Grattidge Yes The following persons submitted written comments regarding the March 19 Public Hearing:
Carlton & Doris Stauffer ABSTRACT OF CLAIMS: General Fund: Abstract of Claims totaling $13,889.69. Motion made by Councilman Schroeder, seconded by Councilman Grattidge. PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. Highway Fund: Abstract of Claims totaling $22,239.15. Motion made by Councilman Schroeder, seconded by Councilman Grattidge. PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. Water Fund: Abstract of Claims totaling $1,715.46. Motion made by Councilman Schroeder, seconded by Councilman Grattidge. PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. Vouchers for the month were #302-#424. TOWN CLERK'S REPORT: Gail Hanchar read the Town Clerk's Report. She reported taking in $181.75. Motion made by Councilman Schroeder, seconded by Councilman Grattidge. PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR: (Agenda Items): Steve Caine read a statement regarding the Comprehensive Plan. He made a recommendation, as a first step, the Town Board charter a Comprehensive Planning Steering Committee. It should have representation from all interests, areas and elements of our community. SUPERVISOR'S REPORT AND ANNOUNCEMENTS:
March review of revenue and expenditures:
Major expenditures:
Major revenue: The Annual Roadside Clean Up will be April 26 from 8:00 A.M. until Noon. The Tree Give Away will be from Noon until 2:00 P.M. Bulk Item Pick Up begins May 5 - 16. The first week will be Charlton Road and south and the following week will be Charlton Road and north.
We are into the mosquito larva season. We have dunks available free at the Town Hall. Sundae on the Farm will be June 15 at Arnold Haven Farm on Route 147. It will be from Noon until 4:00 P.M. We are asking for the necessary traffic control.
Supervisor Acunto asked the Board if they were in favor of forming a Steering Committee to work on a Town Comprehensive Plan. All Town Board members were in favor of forming the Committee. At the next Agenda Meeting there will be an executive session to discuss who would be on the committee and progress from there. Lewis Morris presented Supervisor Acunto with a letter and Lewis Springer's 1931 Assessors Book for the Town. Mr. Morris's grandmother had married Lewis Springer and they lived in the home currently owned by Alan Grattidge. Also included with the assessor's book were letters of introduction from a church in Holland written in Dutch to the church in the United States that his grandparents would attend. The documents written in Dutch date back to 1878. They were turned over to Town Historian Laura Linder. COMMUNICATIONS:
Supervisor Acunto received a letter from Bill Hirkingham regarding traffic control for the 5K Race and Walk. We received a letter from NIMO on the gas line project. Supervisor Acunto read the letter. The Regulator Station will be located approximately 2,700 feet north of Stage Road, adjacent and to the west of NIMO's existing right of way (adjoining Charvale Pool property). It will regulate the gas pressure between the new pipeline and the existing pipeline. The Station will consist of piping, valves, fittings and two 6' x 6' x3' metal cabinets containing regulator and monitoring equipment. All equipment will be in a fenced area. Tentatively the project will begin on May 20 and completion will be in late October.
Marv Schorr said that he felt the town's comments to Niagara Mohawk were very instrumental in getting them to move the regulator station to a location where we wanted it rather than the very visible place where they had proposed it. Supervisor Acunto said a lot of credit goes to Joe Schaus, Andy LaPatra, Marv Schorr and Jim Crawford. ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER:
Dog calls are increasing with the better weather. He is working on the enumeration. ASSESSMENT REVIEW BOARD: The hours for Grievance Day will be in the newsletter. ASSESSORS: If there are people who still haven't met with them or with the contractor, it would be wise to do that before Grievance Day. ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION COMMISSION: The RoadSide Clean Up and Tree Give Away will be Saturday, April 26. The RoadSide Clean Up will start at the Highway Garage at 8:00 A.M. Please call Marv in advance so we can plan where to send people. There are several groups that participate every year and they take the same areas. Lots of individuals and families participate. HIGHWAY:
The plows are off. DISASTER PLANNING COMMITTEE: They are gathering information from different sources. They will be meeting with Al Dewey from Saratoga County on April 22 at the Town Hall at 7:30 P.M. HISTORIAN:
Cooperative Extension is looking for exhibitors for "Sundae on the Farm", June 15 beginning at Noon at Arnold Haven Farm in West Charlton.
Ithaca, NY. Historians from Saratoga County are attending and representing our county.
PARK COMMITTEE: The Park Committee will be having a walk through on Wednesday at 7:00 P.M. After the Party In The Park one of the porta-johns will stay in the park for the summer. We will be planting some free sugar maple trees. The work on the tennis courts should be done shortly. PLANNING BOARD:
The will be meeting on Monday, April 21. There will be two public hearings. The public hearing at 7:00 P.M. will be for DeGraff/Bloom/Rusnica. It pertains to taking two parcels off from a parcel owned by Herb Smith on Division Street. The public hearing at 7:15 P.M. will be pertaining to property owned by Walt Schmidt at Routes 147 and 67. It is an 81+ acre parcel that is proposed to be subdivided into three lots. Kimberly Borowski Purdy is coming in to discuss a conceptual plan on Crane Street. She wants to divide the property into two parcels. RECORDS ADVISORY BOARD:
The Board held a meeting the end of March to review the records which had been in question by the Historical Society. We made a recommendation to the Town Board that the town retain the records, that they be properly stored and that we update the inventory and place the inventory on the town and county web pages. This recommendation was approved by the Town Board. TOWN HALL:
Councilman Mitchell will contact Mr. Mesick to see where we stand on the project. WATER:
John Morgan has been attending classes. LIBRARY: The Burnt Hills Community Library's Annual Report for 2002 is available in the Town Clerk's Office. There has been a 38% increase in the use of library materials from 2001. There are 4,841 library cardholders. Charlton residents hold 18% of the cards. Councilman Schroeder asked if the 18% of the cardholders from Charlton were active cardholders? Councilman Lippiello did not know. He will find out. ZONING ORDINANCE REVIEW COMMITTEE: Marv Schorr reported that they have been meeting twice a month going through a list of possible changes. They have been making good progress. Marv stated that the Zoning Ordinance is a law. What Mr. Caine presented tonight is a plan. As we have found out in the past, it is a lot harder to change a zoning law than it would be a plan. We have tended to use our Zoning Ordinance as our Plan. The next Committee Meeting will be Wednesday night. ZONING ADMINISTRATOR: Leslie Tasse stated that there was a building permit application given to her office. It has created quite a stir in town. Leslie has completed reviewing the application and is prepared to make a decision on where she feels the town should go with it. Since there seems to be a lot of community involvement on what she should do, she provided the Town Board with a copy of the letter she had prepared to send to the applicant. Leslie stated the letter was for Town Board review. If they did not agree with her decision, she did work for them but she felt that this letter was in the best interest of the Town. Councilman Schroeder - You weren't thinking that we would try and influence your decision by telling you that you should or should not? Leslie Tasse - I just thought I would come in and let the Town Board know what I was doing. I am prepared to send this letter out tomorrow morning. There have been a lot of calls left on my machine at home as well as at the Town Hall. Rather than try and touch base with everyone, I am here if you have any questions. Supervisor Acunto - Have you reviewed this letter with counsel? Leslie Tasse - I forwarded it to Mr. Keniry today. As of 5:30 P.M. when I left my house I had heard nothing. Supervisor Acunto - I would suggest that you wait for a response before you mail it. Leslie Tasse - I had been in touch with him two or three times prior to writing this letter. He hasn't seen the content of it but he is aware of it. Supervisor Acunto - I would still suggest that you wait for a response from counsel before you mail it. That is my recommendation. Would anyone like to comment any further on this? Councilman Grattidge - I reserve the right to comment on this at our next meeting. I haven't had time to read it through. Supervisor Acunto - Leslie, as Zoning Administrator, has the authority to make a decision. I would like to strongly recommend that before it goes out that it get the blessing of counsel. ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS: Sandy Verola said they have an application for a Special Use Permit on Jockey Street for an art gallery. They are trying to get more information from the applicant. RESOLUTIONS: Motion made by Councilman Schroeder, seconded by Councilman Lippiello that Resolution #61, A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN CALLED TO DUTY TO DEFEND THE PRINCIPLES OF LIBERTY AND HUMAN RIGHTS, be approved: WHEREAS, since the very beginning of our country, our men and women have been answering the call to arms to defend the principles of liberty and human rights that are the basis of our democracy; and WHEREAS, more than 300,000 fellow citizens of our country are presently under arms and in harms way in the armed services of our nation, and WHEREAS, these service men and women are required by their duty to be stationed far from their homes and loved ones, and have sacrificed the company of their families and friends and the comforts of life at home; and WHEREAS, it is only right that our service men and women be aware that our thoughts, prayers and hopes are with them during this time of peril; and WHEREAS, this Town Board wishes to express its deep appreciation for the sacrifices being made by our service men and women, and its respect and honor for their loyalty and dedication to the defense of our nation; NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town of Charlton Town Board declares its support of and respect for our brave service men and women who were called to duty, and expresses its appreciation for the sacrifices and dangers that they are enduring in the loyal military service of their nation.
Approved: Councilman Grattidge - Yesbr>
Councilman Lippiello - Yes
COUNCILMAN REPORTS:
Councilman Mitchell - We are working on the newsletter. If anyone else has anything else to add we will take it. Thanked everyone who worked on the Main Street Plan. It has shaped up very nicely.
PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR: John Simoni - At the last Planning Board Meeting I was at, Councilman Grattidge had a habit of trying to direct the Planning Board. I will remind Councilman Grattidge and this Board that the Planning Board is a separately independent appointed Board. Tonight I noticed again, the chairman gives a report. Councilman Grattidge pops up and says, you ARE working on the cell tower. I want to remind him that he does not direct that body. He does not deserve a special chair at the Planning Board meetings sitting up front. He is supposed to sit back like everybody else. No special position. No intimidating position. That is what I saw and I saw it again tonight. I please wish you would cease that.
Councilman Grattidge - Thanks for your input, John. Laura mentioned that on Wednesday, April 30 at 7:30 P.M. the Historical Society is sponsoring a program called, "Welcome to Charlton" at the one room school house on Maple Avenue. Everyone is welcome to come. Laura is working on a workshop on how to repair gravestones in conjunction with the Highway Department and the Burnt Hills Rotary as these two groups are very interested in repairing gravestones. If anyone is interested in putting flags on veteran's graves we will be doing that on May 17. More information will be in the Town Board Newsletter which is coming out soon. Torben Aabo - We have a beautiful town web site with a number of links including the Historical Society and fire departments. Torben would like to have the other committees that meet and develop minutes to place them on the web site. He would also like to see the resolution honoring our servicemen and women placed on the web site. Marv Schorr stated that his granddaughter had to do research on one of the communities in the area. She chose Charlton. The web site has an amazing amount of material about the history of Charlton. The web site is very well done and has a lot of good pictures. Supervisor Acunto said that Joyce Riedinger works very hard at keep the web site up to date. She should receive all of the credit.
The next Agenda Meeting will be Monday, April 28 at 7:30 P.M. After everyone had the opportunity to speak who wished, the meeting was adjourned at 9:07 P.M.
Respectfully submitted, |
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