Town Board Meeting 10/17/17

Posted on by gtowndems
  • The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. All members were present
  • The Board approved the minutes of the last meeting and adopted a motion to pay audited bills.
  • There were no written communications to the Board, but Joyce announced that bins for documents to be shredded are in the lobby [I failed to note now long they will remain there]
  • Town Department Reports:
    • Maintenance Dept. (read by J. Kukon). They are finishing up mowing for the season; have treated the lake; placed generators at Town Hall, a goal from last year, and we’re just waiting for the propane connections. The Cheviot and Lasher anchorages have been closed for the season.
    • Highway Dept. (read by R.Moore). Pulling out the dock at the Lasher anchorage will be coordinated with the State; the Cheviot dock is out. They’ve finished the roadside mowing and are working on tree and brush cutting. The trucks are being cleaned and painted and the plows are ready to go. A $7,500. bid on the John Deere has been accepted, and the Board is pleased with the price.
    • Sewer Dept. (read by R. Moore). Flow has averaged 20k gallons a day. There has been an issue with the pumps, previously announced, and the Board has gotten estimates. They’ve come in quite high and the Board is looking at other options. But something definitely needs to be done.
    • Police Dept., Brian DuBois. It was a light month, he has been on vacation. They logged 16.5 hours. Brian attended Sex Offender and Domestic Violence Task Forces. They are looking forward to Halloween festivities.
    • History Dept. (J.Craig). The town ferried school kids over to the Parsonage for this year’s Palatine History Days, which were a success.
  • Old Business: None
  • New Business:
    • Northern Dutchess Paramedic Squad: The “chargeback” for the Northern Dutchess Paramedic Squad will remain the same as it has been for a couple of years, $82k approximately. This comes directly off of the town’s share of sales taxes and so does not appear in the town budget. In addition to whatever the Squad can collect from insurance, each town pays the squad a base amount to cover the costs.
    • Out of District Sewer Hookup: Valley Harvest has requested an out-of-district sewer hookup. There are various requirements that the applicant must meet, including establishing escrow to cover any town engineering or other costs. The closest main is in front of Town Hall. The line would run down Palatine Park Road, and the Library needs to grant an easement. Board members asked about the standards for the line and other facts regarding the work.
  • Supervisor’s Report:
    • A meeting was held in Germantown on the opioid crisis and it will be broadcast on the community access channel soon.
    • Announcements:
      • A Comprehensive Plan Public Hearing will be held by the Board this Thursday from 6 to 7 in Town Hall. There have been no changes to the document since the Comp. Plan committee held its own public hearing.
      • A second Budget Hearing will be held on 10/26, 6 to 7 in Town Hall. The Public Hearing for the final budget will be held on November 9th, 6 p.m.
      • 10/28 is the date for this year’s Halloween Parade.
      • The next flu shot clinic is on November 2nd. Cost of the shot is either by health insurance or a nominal cost (not announced.)
      • Election Day is November 7th
      • The next Town Board meeting will be on November 21st, 7 p.m.
    • Invitation to the Public to address the Board”
      • Jeanine Piccioco (spelling?) said she was very disappointed that the Town Board is taking so much time to create a law enabling landowners to have commercial events on their property. She and her husband have reached out to many people and found support for such a law.
      • Ellen Jouret-Epstein told the Board about a workshop to be held to introduce the Draft Natural Resources Inventory for Columbia County that has been produced under the auspices of the County Environmental Management Council, with work conducted by Hudsonia Ltd. The workshop is directed at supervisors and one other volunteer from each municipality. The purpose is to discuss how the document can be most helpful to town volunteers.   E. Jouret-Epstein expressed hope that Joel could attend and that he would appoint a second person, suggesting it be someone from other committees or boards. The workshop will be held on November 29th, 5 to 7, at Cornell Cooperative Extension on Route 66 in Hudson. Ellen can provide more information.
      • Elly Frank (spelling?) said she is a neighbor to J. Piccioco and expressed support for a commercial venues law.
      • Della Cioppa asked if there are Christmas plans. B. DuFresne said there will be, although the Parks committee is really short on volunteers. Details TBD, but it will likely be an early December Saturday, as usual.
    • The meeting was adjourned at 7:24.

 

As submitted by E. Jouret-Epstein