HAGUE TOWN BOARD

Independent Towers

PUBLIC HEARING SD #2 Capital Cost 

AUDIT & REGULAR MEETING

June 8, 2010

5:30 PM

Members present:        Deputy Supervisor Frasier                  R. Gladu

                                    M. Martucci                                        R. Meola

Absent:                        Supervisor Belden

Also present:               Robert Hafner, Bond Council

                                    Ken Curley, Independent Tower

                                    Highway Superintendent, Donald Smith

                                    ZEO, Catherine Clark

                                    Assessor, David Martucci

                                    Town Clerk, Deborah Manning

Deputy Supervisor Frasier called the Audit meeting to order at 5:30 pm & lead the Pledge of Allegiance.

The Board reviewed the Warrant.  There was a question on one of the bills, which will be pulled from the warrant until further investigation.

Motion by R. Meola, seconded by R. Gladu to close the audit meeting at 6:00 pm.  All voting yes.  Motion carried.

Motion by E. Frasier seconded by R. Gladu to open the meeting at 6:00 pm with Ken Curley from Telecommunication Independent Towers Inc. All voting yes.  Motion carried.

Mr. Curley gave a brief presentation on the site for the cell tower located on the Sewer Treatment Plant property on Decker Hill Road.  There will be a public hearing and presentation with the Zoning & Planning Boards scheduled for July 22, 2010.  The current carrier is AT&T.  The tower is capable of allowing other carriers.

Motion by R. Meola, seconded by E. Frasier to close the meeting at 6:15 pm.  All voting yes.  Motion carried.

Motion by E. Frasier seconded by R. Gladu to open the public hearing on the

Sewer District No. 2 Capital Cost Apportionment

The following notice was published in the Post Star on May 26, 2010.

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE, that the Town of Hague Sewer District No. 2 Capital Cost apportionment assessment roll has been completed and has been filed with the Town Clerk.  The Town Board of the Town of Hague will hold a public hearing on the 8^th day of June 2010 at 6:15 pm at the Hague Community Center, 9793 Graphite Mountain Road, Hague, NY

The Sewer District No. 2 Capital Cost apportionment assessment roll is available for public inspection during normal business hours at the Town Clerk’s Office, Hague Community Center, 9793 Graphite Mountain Road, Hague, NY.  At such public hearing, all persons will be given the opportunity to be heard.

Written or oral statements will be taken at that time.  Time limitations may be imposed for each oral statement if necessary.

BY ORDER OF THE HAGUE TOWN BOARD:

Deborah F. Manning

Hague, Town Clerk

Published: May 26, 2010

There were approximately 50 people in attendance for the public hearing.  Questions on the cost and payment schedule for the Capital Cost principal for Sewer District #2

Mr. Hafner, Bond Counselor for the Town of Hague gave a briefing on the Sewer District #2 Capital Cost financing.  The cost of the project has been funded by a combination of grant funds and short-term financing through New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (“EFC”).  Numerous property owners within the district had asked the Supervisor & Board to take the necessary steps to allow them to pay the capital cost in one lump sum.  It has been a lengthily process and now each property owner has the right to prepay their share of the capital costs associated with the construction of Sewer District No. 2. 

Mr. Hafner explained to the attendees that they will have thirty (30) days from the date of this Public Hearing, ending July 8, 2010, to prepay their entire share of the original capital costs.  No partial payments or late payments will be accepted.  If you do not wish to prepay, you will pay your share of the capital costs over the next 30 years as part of your sewer bills.

If our long-term financing through EFC is at 4.5% for a 30-year period, we estimate that one Equivalent Dwelling Unit (“EDU”) would result in an annual capital charge of approximately $887.39 per year for 30 years.  If the EFC rate were 3.5%, the estimated annual capital charge for one EDU would be approximately $781.49.  These are merely ballpark estimates so you have a rough idea of what this portion of your annual bill may be if you do not prepay.  We can only estimate the annual capital charge as the actual interest rate will be set by EFC.

Motion by E. Frasier, seconded by R. Meola to close the Public Hearing at 6:55 pm.  All voting yes.  Motion carried.

Deputy Supervisor Frasier opened the regular meeting at 6:55 pm.

Moment of Silence:  Jacques Thibeault

Welcome Guests/Privilege of the floor: 

Linda Mury received a letter from the Department of Transportation notifying the Hague Volunteer Fire Department that during an inspection they will add additional signage by the Hague Brook on both sides and will also move the 30 mph sign.

Pat Hintze read a letter that she sent to the Town Board on the staffing at the Visitor Center.  She asked to be put on the agenda and did not receive a response.  Pat was asked by Councilman Meola to reduce her days worked and agreed to this. She does not feel that anyone is listening to her and with the replacement of her husband at the Visitor Center without any written or oral notice.  She verbally resigned from the Visitor Center.

Bruce Rust:  Requested that the Board look into the possibility of a company to run the Sewer Districts and supply meters.  E. Frasier will look into this.

Discussion of Bills:  Motion by M. Martucci, seconded by R. Gladu to pay General, Highway & Sewer Claims audited at tonight’s meeting with one bill pulled until further review.  All voting yes.  Motion carried.

Motion by M. Martucci, seconded by R. Gladu to accept minutes as printed of  5/11, 5/19, 5/25, 5/26 of 2010.  All voting yes.  Motion carried.

Regular Committee Report:

  1.  Assessor & Justice (Gladu/Meola):  Councilman Gladu reported that the Board of Assessment Review had thirteen grievances.  Six of them were clerical items and six were given reductions to their assessment.  The final roll will be completed on July 1^st.

Motion by M. Martucci, seconded by R. Meola to give permission to Dick Gladu to attend the Conference for Assessors on June 24^th, 2010 in Saranac Lake, NY.  The Conference is sponsored by Adirondack Action. Org.  All voting yes.  Motion carried.

  2.  Buildings & Grounds/Enhancement (Martucci/Frasier):   Councilman Martucci reported that there will be an electrician coming to inspect the generator switch at the Highway Department.  The Community Center kitchen will be inspected by area chefs to see how it should be set up for efficiency.

  3.  Finance & Insurance (Frasier/Martucci):  No report.

  4.  Fire Department (Gladu/Martucci):  Councilman Martucci reported that work has begun on the radios and the Fire Department will hold a coin drop on the 3^rd of July. 

Motion by R. Meola, seconded by R. Gladu to give the Hague Fire Dept. permission to sell hamburgers and hotdogs at the Park on July 3, 2010 for the Fourth of July Celebration.  All voting yes.  Motion carried.

  5.  Highway (Martucci/Gladu):  Superintendent Smith reported that the Highway Dept. has been working on the trucks and the cleaning of culverts.  Work on the dirt roads and cutting of grass will be forth coming.

  6.  Museum & Historian (Frasier/Martucci):  Deputy Supervisor Frasier reported that The Hague Historical Society will be holding their Annual Meeting and Program on “Heyday of Hague’s Hotels.”  The meeting will be held at the Hague Community Center on June 22, 2010 at 7 pm.

  7.  Personnel (Frasier/Gladu):  Deputy Supervisor Frasier reported that she and Supervisor Belden interviewed seven applicants for the position of Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator.  The applicants were narrowed down to three.  It is the recommendation of the committee to hire Paul Belden Jr. to the position of Sewer treatment Plant Operator trainee. 

Councilman Meola & Councilman Gladu would like a staffing plan in place and there has not been any discussion on hours or wages.

After a long discussion it was motioned by E. Frasier, seconded by M. Martucci to provisionally appoint Paul Belden Jr. to the position of Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator pending results of the Civil Service Test.

AYES:  Deputy Supervisor Frasier, M. Martucci

NAYS:  R. Meola

Abstain:  R. Gladu.

Motion denied.

The Board will discuss this further when the Civil Service Exam results are complete.

8.  Planning/Zoning/Stormwater (Gladu/Meola):

ZONING REPORT TO TOWN BOARD

June 8, 2010

• Permits Activity                                        Month              YTD          
• Land Use Development                                6                      14                               
• Site Plan Review                                            0                      3                                 
• Subdivisions                                                   0                      2                                 
• Variance                                                         0                      1         
• Wastewater                                                    3                      3                                 
• Wastewater Variances                                  0                      0         

• Planning Board: The Wilson Major Subdivision of 148.8 acres parcel has been classified by the APA as a Class B regional project and is now within the Town’s Jurisdiction. SEQR coordinated review is in process for this project.  The Board conducted a Site visit on May 20^th and held a SEQR workshop with the attorney for the Town. 

At the Applicants request the June 3 meeting was cancelled.  The Board will instead meet on June 24^th with the ZBA to review a cell tower variance application.  The PB is a referral agent to the ZBA and the APA for this application.

• Zoning Board: May 27, 2010 meeting was cancelled due to lack of applications.

• Chris Navitsky will make a presentation to both ZBA and PB on June 24^th.

• Code Committee next meeting is on June 24 @ 6:00 pm.  At their May meeting five members of the committee were in attendance

      They are currently working on section 160-50 Shoreline. 

• On June 15^th (8:00 am – 10:00 am) at the Queensbury Hotel the firm of Bond, Schoeneck & King, PLLC will conduct a training session on SEQRA, Variances, Non-conforming Uses and Standings.  The Cost is $15.00 per attendees.  Dominick has okayed the firm.  Permission requested to extend invitation to the Boards.

  9.  Recreation Promotion & Youth (Meola/Martucci):  Councilman Meola reported that Donna Wotton is working on changing the date of the Oktoberfest from (9/25 to 10/2).

10.  Sewer Dist. #1 & #2 (Belden/Frasier): No report.

11.  Town Park (Meola/Martucci):  Councilman Meola reported on the Visitor Center.  He stressed the need to have the Maintenance persons hours extended.  There is too much work that needs to be done in the summer time at the Park along with the flowers, cemetery, and maintenance at the Community Center.

Deputy Supervisor Frasier feels that 20 hours a week is working.  The Highway Dept. has been helping him with the cemetery. 

Councilman Gladu stressed that we come up with a plan and schedule.

Motion by R. Meola, seconded by R. Gladu to increase the Maintenance person’s hours from 20 hours to 30 hours a week.

AYES:  R. Meola

NAYS:  E. Frasier, R. Gladu and M. Martucci.  Motion denied.

12.  Transfer Station (Gladu/Meola):  Motion by R. Meola, seconded by M. Martucci to approve the revised 2010/2011 contract with Casella Waste.   All voting yes.  Motion carried

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

1.   Motion by R. Meola, seconded by M. Martucci to set date of July 8, 2010 for return of RFP’s and authorizes the Town Clerk to advertise for Bankrun, Item 4, and screened sand.  Price per yard.  With items loaded on Town Truck.  All voting yes.  Motion carried.

2.  The Oktoberfest Committee is looking into a possible different date for the event.

COMMUNICATIONS & PETITIONS: None.

NEW BUSINESS:

1.  RESOLUTION #55 OF 2010

Adopting Negative Declaration under SEQRA for the proposed amendment to the Town Zoning Map of the Town of Hague and the referral of the amendment to the Adirondack Park Agency for review and approval.

Resolution Introduced by R. Meola, Seconded by M. Martucci

WHEREAS, the Town Board of the Town of Hague has declared itself the Lead Agency for the proposed Town Zoning Map Amendment, and

WHEREAS, the Town Board of the Town of Hague held a public hearing on July 12, 2005 at 6:00 pm at the Hague Community Center to hear all persons for or against the following proposed changes to the Hague Zoning District.

WHEREAS, the proposed amendment would classify all parcels within the Special Commercial Use Zone district so that all parcels within the zone would be designated as OC-I (2.9 acre minimum size); when currently, 5 of the 24 parcels within the Special Commercial Use Zone are zoned as OC-II (8 acres minimum) with the remaining parcels are in OC-I, and

WHEREAS, the proposed amendment would specifically change the zoning for tax map parcels: 25.4-1-39;  25.4-1-40;  25.4-1-41;  25.4-1-42; and 42-1-9; to OC-I, and

WHEREAS, the Adirondack Park Agency granted a Map Amendment in October 2008, changing the APA official land use and development plan map in the amendment area from Rural Use to a Low Intensity Use land use area, and

WHEREAS, the Town of Hague administers a local land use program conditionally approved by the Agency pursuant to Section 807 of the Adirondack Park Agency Act, the Agency having approved said program on November 17, 1977, and

WHEREAS, the Town of Hague Board has reviewed the SEQRA Full Environmental Assessment and determined that the amendment will have no significant adverse environmental impacts; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Hague does hereby determine that adoption of the proposed amendments to the Town Zoning Map will not result in any significant adverse environmental impacts and therefore authorizes issuance of the SEQRA Negative Declaration; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the Town Supervisor and the Town Clerk are hereby authorized and directed to submit the proposed Zoning Amendment together with the SEQRA documents and copy of this Resolution to the Adirondack Park Agency with an appropriate request seeking formal APA review and approval.

DULY ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

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

NAYS:  None.

ABSENT: Supervisor Belden

DATED:  June 8, 2010

2.  The Retirement Resolution was tabled until further review.

3.  Resolution #56 of 2010

RESOLUTION APPROVING ASSESSMENT ROLL FOR

SEWER DISTRICT NO. 2 APPORTIONING CAPITAL COSTS

FOR CONSTRUCTION TO PERMIT PREPAYMENT OF CAPITAL EXPENSES

Resolution introduced by R. Meola, seconded by M. Martucci

WHEREAS, on April 13, 2010, the Town Board authorized and directed the Town Assessor to apportion the assessment of the net costs of construction associated with Sewer District No. 2; and

WHEREAS, the Town Board set a Public Hearing concerning such apportionment and assessment for 6:15 p.m. on June 8, 2010; and

WHEREAS, besides the Town Clerk duly posting and publishing as required, the Town Supervisor also wrote to each property owner within Sewer District No. 2 advising them of the Public Hearing; and

WHEREAS, at 6:15 p.m. on June 8, 2010, the Hague Town Board held the Public Hearing.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT

RESOLVED, that the assessment roll is hereby confirmed and approved; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby determines that each property owner shall have the right to prepay their share of the capital costs, provided that the entire amount is paid in full and paid to the Town no later than July 8, 2010; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the Town Supervisor, Deputy Town Supervisor, Town Clerk and Town Assessor are hereby authorized and directed to take all actions necessary to effectuate this Resolution.

DULY ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

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

NAYS:  None

ABSENT:  Supervisor Belden

SUPERVISORS REPORT & COUNTY REPORTS:  No reports

ADJOURNMENT:     Motion by M. Martucci, seconded by R. Gladu to adjourn meeting at 8:00 pm.  All voting yes.  Motion carried

Respectfully submitted,

Deborah F. Manning

Town Clerk