DRAFT

Agenda Meeting Minutes

June 27, 2005

 

Those present:  Fred, Dot, Alan, Bob and Sandy

 

The meeting began at 7:30 P.M.

 

Fred stated that this meeting is for the Board to discuss agenda items.  Input will only be allowed from board members, department heads or chairs of committees.

 

The Board members audited the bills this morning.  There were no changes.  The clerk is directed to proceed with the abstract.

 

 

Supervisor Report will include:

Approve the minutes of the June 13 Town Board Meeting and tonight’s Agenda Meeting

Supervisor Financial Report

Web site activity

By July 11 the County GIS Program will be up and running and available to all residents within the County.

 

At the last Town Board Meeting the Charlton’s Seniors requested the purchase of a van for the seniors.  The Town would be responsible for the entire cost of the van which would be approximately $20,000.00. The County would then reimburse the Town 75%.  It would be the property of the Town with the Town responsible for the operation and maintenance of the van. The insurance would come under the Town’s umbrella policy.  We need to let the Department of the Aging know that we will definitely participate in the program.  We would go out to bid or purchase it on state contract in 2006.  We will pass a motion at the Town Board Meeting to participate in the program.

 

John Morgan wants us to advertise for bids for the work being done on the crossing at the Alplauskill.  He would like a resolution at the Town Board Meeting.  August 8 would be the date for opening the bids.  Specifications and bid forms would be at EDP.  We will pass a resolution at the Town Board Meeting.

 

We have made an emergency purchase of an air conditioner for the State Police

sub-station.  We may be buying an air conditioner for the bookkeeper’s office.

 

At the Town Board Meeting Fred will make comments about the position he is taking at the County on the County Water System.

 

We had a workshop with Adirondack Trust Insurance.  It was determined that we will have a Health Insurance Broker of Record.

 

 

Motion made by Councilman Verola, seconded by Councilman Grattidge that

Resolution #100, A RESOLUTION APPOINTING A HEALTH INSURANCE BROKER OF RECORD, be approved:

                        Approved:        Councilman Grattidge               Yes

                                                Councilman Lippiello                Yes

                                                Councilman Mitchell                 Yes

                                                Councilman Verola                   Yes

                                                Supervisor Acunto                    Yes

 

 

Fred stated that Councilman Lippiello will be the liaison to health insurance.  Phil Klein will be the representative from Adirondack Trust Insurance.

Alan said that this is a way that we can have a third party help us understand the different plans that are available.  We have been acting as our own broker.  If an employee has a problem with their coverage, he would act as our advocate.  We are not anticipating any changes at this point.

 

We will need an executive session on a personnel matter following the meeting.

 

 

Communications for Town Board Meeting:

We received a notice from DOT that they have received our request for a speed reduction on Maple Avenue/Featherbed Lane. 

 

 

Resolutions for Town Board Meeting:

A Resolution advertising for bids on the Alplaus crossing

A Resolution to purchase an alarm system

 

 

John has concerns about the alarm system and monitoring of telemetry at the pump house.  He has looked into the purchasing of monitoring equipment and a monitoring service.  He has a quote from a company in Monticello and one from a company in Albany.  He is recommending the one from Albany even though the quote is higher.  He feels we will get better service, as they are closer.  It is the same company that the Town of Glenville uses.  We will pass a resolution at the Town Board Meeting.

 

 

Highway:

Will be placing a help wanted notice in the paper to replace a man who left

 

Alan stated that he had a call from a resident that was concerned about the brush pick up.  Currently County Waste is picking up brush.  It has to be cut in 5’ lengths and tied in bundles.  We are trying to stay with that system.  An alternative would be for residents to take brush to the pit on Route 67.  They should call the Highway Department and talk with Ron.  He will have a sign as to where to dump the material.  We don’t want trees and stumps and those things that you would hire a commercial person to do.

 

 

Historic District Commission:

Jim Poirier gave the Board copies of the web site that the Historic District Commission has put together.  Fred said it would have to be approved by the Board before it goes on the web site.  Dot will take any comments from the Town Board to the next Historic District Commission Meeting. 

 

Parks:

Susan Lombardi will be getting in touch with us soon regarding a grant for the parks.  Bob said he will prepare a resolution for the Town Board Meeting to proceed with a grant.  It will require matching funds from the Town.  We are looking at the pavilion and a new backstop for the small field and possibly concrete picnic tables, repairing the masonry on the warming shed and a few other things.  We have a quote of a little over $9,000.00 for the work on the pavilion and the backstop.  $8,000.00 was budgeted in the Parks Account.  Alan suggested replacing the gazebo in Gideon Hawley Park.  Bob said we are allowed only one park per application.

 

There will be a concert in Gideon Hawley Park in July presented by the Historical Society.

 

 

Audit Committee:

Don Schermerhorn recommended appointing a permanent Finance Committee to serve in an advisory capacity to assist the Town Board in its oversight and management of the Town’s financial activities.  He presented the Town Board with a letter containing some recommendations.  He would like to see it in place before we start the budgeting process this year.  Several potential candidates have been contacted.  Don would be glad to serve on the committee.  We will appoint the committee at the next Town Board Meeting.

 

 

Planning Board:

Ray Black asked to Town Board to begin to assess the issues and the potential advantages of assuming ownership of land in the town as a result of subdivisions.  Ray said that the Planning Board has before it a proposed 23-lot subdivision on Swaggertown Road across from the end of Crooked Street.  It is an 80-acre parcel.  Subdivision guidelines permit them to submit a normal subdivision plan and a conservation (cluster) plan.  There are wetlands and active hayfields that are being farmed.  The resulting plan ended up with .7 – 1 acre lots.  39 acres would be available open space.  The Planning Board must decide which plan to use.  Should the Board go with the conservation design, we would need to decide what happens to that 39 acres.  Options include radiating boundary lines out from the existing lots so everyone owns a piece of it but it is deeded so it cannot be built on, having a homeowner’s association that owns it and controls it, signing it over to a land conservancy at the state and county level or having it donated to the town and having the town assume ownership.  If one of the options is having the town assume ownership would you want a ball field, soccer field, bike bath, fire station, etc?  What about liability?  The Planning Board would like the Town Board to start thinking about the advantages and disadvantages of assuming ownership of land like that so they know where the Town Board stands.  Sandy said that if the Town assumes ownership of the vacant land or if it were put in a conservancy, it would be taken off the tax roll.  Ray stated that as a homeowner’s association it would not be valued as normal land because it would have restricted uses and in some cases it would be tax exempt.  Sandy asked if the Planning Board explored the idea of having these clusters put in their own sewer system.  Alan said he believes different pieces of land present themselves differently as far as being desirable.  He doesn’t see the value of the Town to take ownership of this particular piece of land.  It would be better suited to stay in private property.  Fred said there is a density of homes in that area.  Vacant land like we are discussing gives him the negative feeling that that could become a haunt for 4-wheelers, motorcycles, dirt bikes, etc.  Who will police that?  Ray said this particular piece will have access from the road.   Sandy said it does not appear to her that the Town Board is interested in assuming ownership of this particular piece of land.  Ray said he did not come to solicit Town Board input on what the Planing Board should do.  He cannot solicit input on what the Planning Board ought to do.  He came to solicit Town Board input on their thoughts about assuming ownership of land.  He said if the town were to assume ownership of land, what kind of land would the Town want and why?  How does the town want to deal with this?  This is only an initiating event.  There will be many more.  This is something that needs to be studied.  Fred stated that the type of development you are talking about requires public water.  You have to get transmission lines to those and every time you build a transmission line you have the potential for growth and more expansion is there.  A transmission line will by-pass all the open space.  There will be a request for growth that we don’t want.  Water ends at the end of Komar and Crooked Street.  I am fighting the same issue at the county.

Ray said that when an applicant brings to the Planning Board a plan he wants them to evaluate based upon access to water and they know up front they will get a contingency approval, which is not our purview, it’s yours, we have NO ability to not consider that.  We have to evaluate it on its own merits.  What you are talking about has nothing to do with this and can’t.  What I am talking about is that if you have a large parcel and land and you have options on how to put a certain number of building lots and you have options for open space that comes as a result, is that an advantage to us.  That is all I am talking about.  Alan said he feels that open space would have to be evaluated on its good to the rest of the Town, whether it be preserved or what the potential uses would be.

 

 

Water:

Bob said the Water Department is having a difficult time getting water meter readings in.  They were due June 15.  There is currently a fine if it is late but that doesn’t seem to be strong enough.  The Town of Glenville uses a number that is equivalent to the minimum water usage. 

John has been doing regular readings of chlorine.  They have been low.  Someone from the State Health Department is coming tomorrow to do an inspection and some readings.  He would like to talk with EDP about the process of using the tank facilities as a place to inject chlorine if necessary.  The Board agreed.

Bob received a call from Ginny DeCapria.  The Fire Department would like to have an informal meeting with the Town Board, the Commissioners, C T Male and the Planning Board to talk about their site.  They would like a date late in July.  Ray Black said the site currently is two separate tax parcels.  It probably should be combined into one.

Bob said he asked Time Warner to do a survey for Jockey Street and Western Avenue.  Ray said Time Warner comes up his street from the south and down from the north.  Ray said his house is one of two that are not connected to Time Warner.  Time Warner said it would cost him over $6,000.00 to connect.  Ray asked if something could be done.  Alan said the last time we renewed our contract with them they reduced the number of houses per mile somewhat and seemed to go through a program of wiring in portions of town.  Fred said they are a monopoly.  Bob said negotiating is not truly negotiating.  Alan said we will continue to get as much of the town wired as we can.                

 

Technology Board:

Sandy said that John Kelly attended the Technology Advisory Board Meeting.  Chairman John Tasse would like to have John added to that board.  We will pass a resolution at the Town Board Meeting.

Motion made by Councilman Mitchell, seconded by Councilman Lippiello, A Motion to adjourn to an executive session to discuss a personnel matter, be approved:

 

                        Approved:        Councilman Grattidge               Yes

                                                Councilman Lippiello                Yes

                                                Councilman Mitchell                 Yes

                                                Councilman Verola                   Yes

                                                Supervisor Acunto                    Yes

 

The meeting adjourned at 8:45 P.M.

 

The executive session adjourned at 9:30 P.M.  It will reconvene on Tuesday, July 5 at 3:00 P.M.

 

                                                                        Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

                                                                        Gail Hanchar

                                                                        Town Clerk