HAGUE TOWN BOARD

AUDIT & REGULAR MEETING

February 9, 2010

Supervisor Belden opened the meeting at 6:00 pm.  The Town Board audited the monthly bills.

Pledge of Allegiance:

Moment of Silence:  Blanche Hanna, Barbara Bennett

Welcome Guests/Privilege of the floor:  John S. Mucha, Director, Government Relations of Time Warner Cable was introduced by Supervisor Belden.  Supervisor Belden asked Mr. Mucha to attend the meeting to answer on the cable TV coverage in Hague.

Steve Ramant, Art Steitz and Bruce Clark would like to see channel 5WPTZ added to the Time Warner Cable listing for Hague.  Since we are so closely tied with Ticonderoga in Essex County with school activities and weather.  Removing the Plattsburg & Vermont, weather stations have a big impact to our community. 

Mr. Mucha explained that Hague is in the Albany Market that is designated by FCC and Ticonderoga is in the Plattsburgh/Burlington marketing area.    Mr. Mucha suggested that they contact Mr. Quigley, VP of Operations.

Mr. Mucha asked the Supervisor to write a letter stating that the Town of Hague will pay for the line extension on New Hague Road.  The Ticonderoga portion of the extension will be paid for by the Cable Company.  Everything is in place; we are just waiting for Niagara Mohawks authorization to use the poles.

Supervisor Belden will write a letter to Time Warner Cable.  The money will be taken from the General fund account and then reimbursed through the Cable Franchise Money.

Councilman Meola stated that it is his believe that money from the General fund cannot legally be used to pay for cable extension in a particular section of the Town.

Discussion of Bills:  Motion by E. Frasier, seconded by R. Gladu to pay General, Highway & Sewer Claims audited at tonight’s meeting, in the amount of $141,368.41.  All voting yes.  Motion carried.

Motion by R. Meola, seconded by E. Frasier to accept minutes of January 12, January 25 of 2010 with an amendment to the Resolution #39, of January 12, 2010 deleting the authorization for the Secretary to the Supervisor to sign checks, since there is no statutory authorization for this. All voting yes.  Motion carried.

Regular Committee Report:

  1.  Assessor & Justice (Gladu/Meola):  Councilman Gladu reported that on August 31, 2009 we decided to fore go a revaluation of Town properties in 2010, based on the Assessor stating that due to the sluggish sales the value of properties will be difficult to determine. Bolton Landing & Lake George have also decided to hold off on a revaluation.  Ticonderoga will be continuing with their revaluation.

The annual hard copy subscription to Thomson West Law used by the Justice has been cancelled and replaced with the West Law on-line research plan at $110.00 per month.

  2.  Buildings & Grounds/Enhancement (Martucci/Frasier):   Councilman Martucci will send a letter to David Fitzgerald explaining that the plans for the East porch have been discontinued. 

  3.  Finance & Insurance (Frasier/Martucci):  Councilwoman Frasier reported that we have been closely watching the CD rates and terms for investment of Town monies.

  4.  Fire Department (Gladu/Martucci):  Councilman Gladu mentioned that the article that Christine Ianson did on Hague’s Winter Weekend was nice.  Firemen Breakfast will begin at 7 am and the Beste Scholarship Dinner will begin at 6:00 pm.  Both events will be held at the Hague Fire Department on February 13, 2010.  Chili contest at the Hague Fire Department will be Sunday February 14.

  5.  Highway (Martucci/Gladu):  Superintendent Smith reported that they still have $32,000 in CHIP money.  Superintendent Smith and Deputy Supervisor Myers attended

the Convenient Medical class on “Reasonable Suspicion Training for Drugs & Alcohol,” on January 22, 2010 at Fort William Henry.  If there is any reasonable suspicion at the Highway Garage, he is to contact Convenient Medical and someone will come up.

6.  Museum & Historian (Frasier/Martucci):  The Historical Society held a Sunday afternoon “Collection Program” that went very well.

7.  Personnel (Frasier/Gladu):  The Committee interviewed two people for the position of Dog Control/Animal Control Officer.  Motion by E. Frasier, seconded by R. Gladu to appoint Daniel Steitz as DCO/ACO, effective 2/10/2010 at a rated pay listed in the 2010 budget, prorated.   Term to expire 12/31/2010.   All voting yes.  Motion carried.

  8.  Planning/Zoning/Stormwater (Gladu/Meola):     The ZEO gave the following report:

ZONING REPORT TO TOWN BOARD

February 9, 2010

• Permits Activity                                         Month              YTD           

Land Use Development                             2                      2                                 

Site Plan Review                                        1                      1                                 

Subdivisions                                               0                      0                                 

Variance                                                     1                      1         

Wastewater                                                0                      0                                 

Wastewater Variances                                0                      0                                   

• Planning Board: Jan. 14, 2010, In attendance: Chairman EJ Siwek, Dick Frasier, Pam Paterson, Bruce Clark, Mike Cherubini, Martin Fitzgerald, Sr. & John Brown. The board returned two referrals to the Zoning Board of Appeals. A deck was recommended to be approved and an area variance was recommended to be denied.  The February 4, 2010 PB meeting was cancelled due to lack of applications.

• Zoning Board:  January 28, 2010  In attendance: Acting Chair Martin Fitzgerald, II,  Bill Pitman, Lindsay Mydlarz, George Ianson & Jon Hanna. Robert Goetsch & Glenn McKee absent.  The board approved an application for a deck expansion and deemed an application for a multi-family dwelling complete.

• Zoning Violations:  Maggiolo fence & unregistered vehicles.

• Code Committee next meeting is on February 23^rd @ 6:00 pm.  At their January meeting six member of the committee were in attendance.  Due to the fact that this is an on going committee and each meeting is built on the previous meetings review of the codes it is helpful that member attend.  For this reason we are requesting that the committee be held to only the members that have attended thus far.   I have designed a flow chart of the review processes (attached) as you can see the Town Board will have ample opportunity to review, comment, amend and approve the committees recommendations.

• Map amendment – I am in the process of completing the SEQRA for the Town of Hague Zoning Map Amendment for the property located across from the sewage treatment plant.

• Request permission to attend the APA local Government Day March 23^rd & 24^th in Lake Placid.  Cost $144.75.  Registration form attached.

• Request permission for any Planning Board or ZBA member to attend the APA Local Government Day March 24^th. Cost $55.75 per member. If they attend both day with hotel the cost would be $144.75 per member.  Due to cut back in State budget DOS only holds training are large conferences.  They will no longer come to Towns and conduct training.

• I would like to hold an in house Training Day in April for those members of Planning Board And ZBA who can not attend the area conferences.

Chris Navitsky would like to conduct an hour presentation of stormwater controls.  (Many conditions of the Planning And Zoning Board have to do with stormwater controls.) The DOS has furnished us with four different power point presentations on Land Use issues.  To better understand the legal issue of decision made by Planning and Zoning the Attorney for the Town or an attorney such as Mark Schachner should be in attendance.  If the Board is open to this suggestion, I will return in March with a specific date and an estimated cost for your approval. 

      After this any member of the Planning Board or Zoning Board who has not

      received their mandatory 4 hour of training can do on line training with the            DOS site.

Motion by R. Gladu, seconded by E. Frasier to authorize any Town Official to attend the APA Local Government Day in Lake Placid, NY.  The cost is $144.75 per person.  All voting yes.  Motion carried.

Motion by E. Frasier, seconded by M. Martucci to authorize Cathy Clark, ZEO to set up a workshop with Mark Schachner in April at the Hague Community Center.  All voting yes.  Motion carried.

  9.  Recreation Promotion & Youth (Meola/Martucci):  Councilman Meola reported that on March 17, 2010 there will be a Warren County Youth Bureau Leadership Workshop at ACC.  If any Hague student wishes to go, they need to call the Community Center.  The Board authorized Mr. Meola to drive any student wishing to attend the workshop to ACC.

Councilman Meola has found interested people to serve on the Citizen Committees for the Comprehensive Plan and a committee to address the possible use of the town real property at Sabbath Day Point sandpit, the Transfer Station and the Sewer Plant. 

Supervisor Belden, Councilman Gladu and Frasier would like the Planning Board to review the Comprehensive Plan.  Councilwoman Frasier has reviewed the plan and has found most of the suggestions have been completed.  Councilman Meola stated that the Comprehensive Plan was prepared by a citizen committee and another citizen committee should review it.  On the Town, owned lands the Board needs to find out with Clough Harbor if anything can be done at the Transfer Station.  Supervisor Belden wants to inquire from DEC on the nature of any restrictions on these town owned lands.

The Board still would like to set up a meeting with David Darrin to discuss his conditions of sale of his property located across from the Hague Park. 

Councilman Meola also mentioned that in the marketing magazine for the North Country, Hague area should have been included.  Councilman Martucci mentioned that the Hague Chamber has made a video of various businesses that can be viewed in the vestibule at the Community Center.

10.  Sewer Dist. #1 & #2 (Belden/Frasier): Supervisor Belden reported that we are still waiting for the final cost of Sewer District #2. 

11.  Town Park (Meola/Martucci):  Councilman Meola reported that staffing of the park is being worked on.

12.  Transfer Station (Gladu/Meola):  No report.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

1.  Motion by R. Meola, seconded by E. Frasier to accept Thermal Associates Proposal for the HVAC System (except boiler) $1,100.00.  All voting yes.  Motion carried.

2.  Supervisor Belden and E. Frasier have completed the audit of books for the Town Clerk/Tax/Sewer Collector and the Town Justice.

3.  Appointment of Dog Control/Animal Officer:  Discussed under Personnel

4.  Motion by R. Meola, seconded by E. Frasier to authorize Supervisor Belden to sign the Ticonderoga Youth contract with the Town of Ticonderoga for the year 2010 in the amount of $1,000.00.  All voting yes.  Motion carried.

COMMUNICATIONS & PETITIONS:

1.  Motion by R. Meola, seconded by E. Frasier to approve the request from the Hague Senior Citizens Club, Inc. for Memorial Day Parade and for the use of the Visitor Center during the Americade, 6/7-6/12 2010.   All voting yes.  Motion carried.

2.  Letter from Alice Patchett being concerned that Hague has no representation on the Ticonderoga School Board and it does not seem fair to the taxpayers.  She asked the Town Board to address the issue.  Mr. Meola noted that the School Board on its own motion could create an election district, which would allow for a representative from Hague to be on the School Board.

NEW BUSINESS:

1.  Rabies Clinic scheduled for Saturday, May 15, 2010 from 10 am to noon at the Hague Volunteer Fire Dept.

2.  Motion by R. Gladu, seconded by M. Martucci to authorize Supervisor Belden to sign contract with Alonzo Fireworks Display, Inc. for the Fourth of July Celebration.  Date of event will be July 3, 2010 starting at 9:30 pm in the amount of $8,500.00.  All voting yes.  Motion carried

3.  APA Local Government Day:  March 23 & 24, 2010.  Discussed under Planning

4.  RESOLUTION #40 OF 2010

RESOLUTION FOR THE TOWN OF HAGUE TO DECLARE INTENT TO BE LEAD AGENCY FOR SEQRA REVIEW FOR THE PROPOSED REVISED ZONING MAP AMENDMENTS

RESOLUTION INTRODUCED BY E. FRASIER, SECONDED BY R. GLADU

WHEREAS, the Town of Hague administers the Town Zoning Map and its Zoning Districts and  the density and use of as part of the Approved Local Land Use Program, in conjunction with the Adirondack Park Agency ,

WHEREAS, the Town Board recognized the need to update and revise the Zoning Districts to provide for a variety of housing opportunities and densities, new uses, and protect the property values and aesthetics of the Town, and

WHEREAS, the Town wishes to amend the Hague Zoning District Map to modify the zoning districts within the Commercial Use Zone in order that all parcels within the Zone be designated as OC I (2.9 acres minimum size). Currently, 5 of the 24 parcels within the Special Use Zone are zoned as OC II ( 8 acres minimum) while the remaining parcel is in OC I.  The proposed amendment would change the zoning for parcels, 25.4-1-39, 25.4-1-40, 25.4-1-41,  42-1-9 and a portion of parcel 25.4-1-42 to OC I, to address those needs, and

WHEREAS, the Official Adirondack Park Land Use and Development Plan Map in the Town of Hague, Warren County (Map Amendment 2007-07) reclassify 74 acres from Rural Use to Low intensity Use (53 acres of it lies within the Town of Hague Special Commercial Use Zone.)   Amendment date: October 10, 2008.

WHEREAS, the amendments include the official Town Zoning map of the Town of Hague,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Hague Town Board hereby declares its intent to be Lead Agency for SEQRA review of the proposed revised Zoning Map and directs the Town Clerk to send copies of the proposed map amendments and copy of this Resolution stating the Town Board’s intention to be Lead Agency for SEQRA review, to the Adirondack Park Agency and Warren County Planning Board as required by law.

DULY ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

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

NAYS: None

ABSENT: None.

DATED:  February 9, 2010

ADJOURNMENT:    

Motion by R. Meola, seconded by E. Frasier to adjourn meeting at 8:10 pm.  All voting yes.  Motion Carried.

Respectfully submitted,

Deborah F. Manning

Town Clerk