HAGUE TOWN BOARD MEETING

December 8, 2009

         6:00 PM

 

         Members present:  Supervisor Dan Belden, Mark Martucci, Rudy Meola and Edna Frasier.

Dick Gladu was absent.

        

Supervisor Belden opened the Audit Meeting at 6:00 PM.

 

The Board reviewed the General, Highway and Sewer warrant.

 

Supervisor Belden opened the Regular Meeting at 6:30 PM.

 

After the Pledge of Allegiance, a moment of silence was held for Ruth Dunklee Ives, Michael Manning, Betty Braisted, Tony Morette, Floyd Tyler, Harold Chamberlain and Robert Mayer.

 

Welcome Guests/Privilege of the floor: 

 

Supervisor Belden thanked the Highway Department for putting up the tree and lights at the Community Center and the lights down at the Park.  He also thanked several individuals who helped decorate the Community Center – Cathy Clark, Edna Frasier, Bertha Dunsmore, Kaley Manning, Debbie Manning, Pat Hintze, Carolyn Close and Judy Stock.

 

Art Steitz requested that the Board ask Time Warner Cable to bring back Channel 5 as one of our cable channels so we can get local news and weather.  The Board has contacted them before but Dan will call a representative  from Time Warner to come to a Board meeting to explain it. 

 

Steve Ramant reported that the Fish & Game Club will be holding the Fishing Contest on the 27th and 28th of February and would like some money after the first of the year.  They have some nice prizes and will be holding an Ice Fishing Clinic for kids and novices. He would also like the visitor center open a couple of days early in order to get ready. Dan said they have budgeted $2500 for them and asked Steve to make the request on a letterhead and they will pay ahead from occupancy tax.

 

Motion by Rudy Meola and seconded by Edna Frasier to pay General, Sewer & Highway Claims that were audited at tonight’s meeting with the exception of one which was held back for more information.  All voting yes.  Motion carried.

 

Motion to accept minutes of November 10, 2009 as printed, subject to corrections:  All voting yes.  Motion carried.

Councilman Meola had follow up questions on some of the items in the minutes. 

 

On page 1, under Buildings & Grounds/Enhancement, it was stated that “The Board agreed to look into this matter.”  He asked who was supposed to be doing it and what has been done.  Councilwoman Frasier said they had a busy month with interviews for highway but she and Mark will look into it at the first of the year.

 

On page 2, under Sewer District #1 and #2, soil was removed from the Highway Garage and although not authorized, the Town paid the bill.  Councilman Meola said Supervisor Belden had indicated “ we will be reimbursed by the County.”  Meola said he checked with Bill Lamy who said that the County will only pay $3,160 of it.  The rest will have to be submitted for reimbursement to the EPA and there is no guarantee so it may or may not get paid.

 

Committee Reports:

1.  Assessor & Justice (Gladu/Meola):  Assessor Dave Martucci said that notifications will go out as usual for Senior Citizen and other exemptions. Supervisor Belden was contacted by Theresa Sayward about helping out a resident who is behind on taxes.

 

2.  Buildings & Grounds/Enhancement (Martucci/Frasier):  Councilman Mark Martucci reported that work on the east porch has begun.  There are issues on the ramp so new plans are being formulated and will contact the Board.    Councilwoman Frasier said that she and Councilman Martucci are recommending for the next year that the Town continue with the current cleaning service which comes 2 days per week and then use a part time maintenance person with flexible hours to do other necessary work.  They feel that all the work can be done and the Town would be spending half of what it would spend on a full time person.  Recommend for 1 year.

Councilman Meola felt that this recommendation should be discussed by the full board.  Supervisor Belden said that someone was needed now for walkways, sidewalks using snowblower and can clean up basement.  The committee interviewed and picked out “four excellent candidates” who understand the job description and would be willing to work full time or part time (20 hours per week).

 

Councilwoman Frasier moved and Councilman Martucci seconded a motion to hire Bob Rafferty part-time through December with rate of pay at $12 per hour.  Ayes: Martucci, Belden, Frasier.

 

Councilwoman Frasier thanked the ladies at the Community Center for the excellent job they have been doing in filling in as necessary.

 

3.  Finance & Insurance (Frasier/Martucci):  Councilwoman Frasier noted that one insurance plan will be going up 14% and hospitalization will go up 15%.

 

Councilman Meola said the November bank statement showed a balance in the consolidated account of $1,939,925.83 with a yield of 0.25%.  He asked why that money is being kept in an account that only pays ¼ of 1 percent.  He noted that the Board appointed Supervisor Belden as the financial officer and he should be in charge of researching a better rate.

 

4.  Fire Department (Gladu/Martucci):  Councilman Martucci reported that Ray Mury has been elected Chief, the fundraising is good, and four new ice rescue suits, which are 45% lighter and more water-tight, have been purchased.

 

5.  Highway (Martucci/Gladu): Councilman Martucci said the new tandem is scheduled to be here around New Years.  Highway Superintendent Smith has hired Matt Coffin to fill the vacancy.  Bids on the 550 will be opened on December 28, 2009.  Councilman Martucci will get a representative from the Highway Department to attend the meeting on the use of salt in the LG basin.

 

6.  Museum & Historian (Frasier/Martucci): none

 

7.  Personnel (Frasier/Gladu):   The committee was busy with interviews for both the maintenance and highway positions.

 

8.  Planning/Zoning/Stormwater (Gladu/Meola):  The Code Modification Committee will meet on December 15, 2009 at 6 pm.

 ZEO Cathy Clark had submitted her written report to the Board.

 

9.   Recreation, Promotion & Youth (Meola/Martucci):  Councilman Meola reported that at the last meeting of the Warren County Youth Board, the Director position was cut to 19 hours per week so is now a part-time position.

Councilman Martucci reported that the County hired Mike Consuelo in June  and he will be rehired for 2010.  He brought in 17 new events to the LG area.  He will be going to the local Chamber of Commerce meetings.

 

10.  Sewer Districts #1 and #2 (Belden/Frasier):  Supervisor Belden reported that the contractor for Sewer District #2 is done but 5% of the money has not yet been released by the county.  He and Attorney Dominick Viscardi went to a meeting and $2.8 million was borrowed but the District will have to pay back less than $2 million.  The Supervisor is also meeting with US Representative Scott Murphy to try to get some stimulus money to bring down the capital costs further.

 

11.  Town Park (Meola/Martucci):  none

 

12.  Transfer Station (Gladu/Meola): Councilman Meola reported that because of the closing of the Champlain Bridge, Casella is moving where they are taking the waste but the agreement with Casella remains in effect.

 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

1. The Highway Superintendent has already appointed Matthew Coffin as MEO effective 12/2/09 which he has the legal right to do.  But since the Town Board is responsible for finances, they ratified the decision.

 

2.  Board agreed to conditions of new proposal for the Community Center deck.

 

3.  The Board could not approve a request by David Jankoski to have $80 penalty removed from his sewer bill because he didn’t pay on time. 

 

COMMUNICATIONS & PETITIONS:

1. The Board received a note from Linda Benway with her mileage expenses and indication that she would not reapply for position of Animal Control Officer/Dog Control Officer.  The Board will contact her to ask her to resign now so that the position can be filled. They will also ask for documentation on her expenses for mileage reimbursement.

 

2.  A letter was received from the State Comptroller dated 12/2/09 informing the Town that it has been selected for an audit of real property taxes from 2007 - 2009.

 

 

NEW BUSINESS

1.  RESOLUTION # 81 OF 2009

 

TOWN OF HAGUE

PEOPLE’S CONVENTION TO REFORM NEW YORK

RESOLUTION INTRODUCED BY E. Frasier, SECONDED BY R. Meola

 

            WHEREAS, though economic times and New York State’s tremendously high tax burden are causing families and businesses to struggle, while state government has been paralyzed  by questions of gubernatorial succession, leadership fighting and political dysfunction; and

 

            WHEREAS, our State Constitution was originally meant to be a vibrant, living and breathing document, reflective of the times in which we live that holds up to the political dynamic of the day, and

 

            WHEREAS, our current state Constitution was adopted 115 years ago in 1894 and modified at a constitutional convention in 1938 and at various other times by legislative action; and

 

            WHEREAS, recent events in state government involving gubernatorial succession, legislative stalemates and appointments to statewide elected offices have exposed flaws and weaknesses in our current constitution on these issues; and

 

            WHEREAS, families and businesses have been forced to cut back, while New York State government continues to spend beyond its means and force unfunded mandates on already overburdened local governments and taxpayers; and

 

            WHEREAS, in the face of the most challenging economic environment since the Great Depression, the people of New York have little confidence that the state government, as currently structured, is responsive to their wants, needs, or principal concerns; and

 

            WHEREAS, the people of New York have expressed their desire to hold a “People’s Convention” to reform state government, as evidenced by recent Quinnipiac University and Siena College Research polls, showing  more that 60 percent of voters supporting a People’s Convention of Reform New York; and

 

            WHEREAS, the people must act now to thwart the dysfunction in Albany, and convene a People’s Convention to take New York State government back; and

 

            WHEREAS, members of the state Legislation have introduced “The People’s Convention Reform Act”, which  grants the people the opportunity to hold a constitutional convention, establishes a procedure for the non-partisan election of delegates, restricts political parties, campaign committees and social interests’ influence over delegates, and requires state or local elected officials and officers or party officials to vacate their posts upon being elected delegate; and

 

            WHEREAS, while the Constitution empowers the elected delegates to set the convention agenda for “The People’s Convention to Reform New York”, we ask that the delegates consider government reforms such as a state spending cap  and property tax cap, restrictions on unfunded  mandates, debt reform, an absolute ban on backdoor borrowing, public authorities reform, a clear line of succession to the governorship and lieutenant governorship and elections to fill elected state office vacancies, and now, therefore, be it

 

            RESOLVED, that this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to acknowledge the need for true state government reform and urge the immediate passage and chaptering of the “People’s Convention to Reform New York Act”, which will allow for the creation of a more accountable and responsive state government by the people to serve the people; and be it further

 

            RESOLVED, that a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to the Governor of the State of New York,  the Temporary President of the New York State Senate, the Speaker of the New York State Assembly, and to the Minority Leader of the Assembly and Senate.

 

 

DULY ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTES:

 

AYES:  Supervisor Belden, E. Frasier, R. Meola and M. Martucci.

NAYS:  None.

Motion carried

 

2. RESOLUTION # 82 OF 2009

 

RESOLUTION TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH WARREN COUNTY

FOR SNOW & ICE REMOVAL, SWEEPING & MOWING

RESOLUTION INTRODUCED BY M. Martucci, seconded by E. Frasier.

 

WHEREAS,  the Town of Hague plows and sands 9.02 mile of County Roads in the                          Town of Hague for snow & ice control, and

 

WHEREAS,  the current agreement expires on December 31, 2009, and

 

WHEREAS, a renewal of this agreement has been negotiated with Warren County                          and will commence on January 1, 2010 and terminate December 31, 2010, and

 

WHEREAS,  the agreement will include snow & ice control, sweeping and mowing ,              and

 

WHEREAS,  the County of Warren will pay the Town of Hague $51,411.00 based                            in the attached rate schedule in January of 2010, NOW THEREFORE BE IT

 

RESOLVED, that the Supervisor is hereby authorized to enter into an agreement                              with the County of Warren for Snow & Ice Control on the paved County Roads in the Town of Hague for fiscal year January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010.

 

DULY ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES:   Supervisor Belden, M. Martucci, E. Frasier, R. Meola

NAY:  None.

 

3.  Motion by E. Frasier, seconded by M. Martucci to approve the appointment of Rudy Meola to continue to serve on the Warren County Youth Board for the 2010 fiscal year.  AYES:  Supervisor Belden, E. Frasier, R. Meola, M. Martucci.  Motion carried.

 

SUPERVISORS REPORT & COUNTY REPORTS:

Supervisor Belden noted that he was unable to vote against the proposed Warren County sales tax increase because he was out of town for Thanksgiving vacation.  He said it is not a dead issue because that was just to send it to the State and there will be another vote in January with 5 new supervisors on the County Board.

 

The end of the year meeting will take place on December 29, 2009 to close the books.

 

Motion by R. Meola and seconded by E. Frasier to adjourn meeting at 7:25 pm was approved.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Judy Stock