1 Town Board Meeting March 11, 2015 Supervisor Walsh called the meeting to order at 7PM at the Rondout Municipal Center with the Pledge to the Flag. PRESENT: Councilman John Hughes Councilwoman Jennifer Metzger Councilman Chris Pryslopski Councilman Bob Ryan Supervisor Jeanne Walsh ALSO PRESENT: Mandy Constable; Town Clerk, Mary Lou Christiana; Attorney for the Town, Amber Kelly; Economic Development Commission, Fre Atlast; Recreation Commission, Ben Talutto; Youth Commission, Susan Gillespie; Environmental Commission, Ken Hassett; Deputy Supervisor. Supervisor Walsh asked if there were any petitions, public comments or community events. Bart Dyshuk, a resident that attended a meeting in February to share his concerns with a neighboring property to him wished to speak about it again. Bart said he saw in the Blue Stone Press and he also googled the address to the business that he says is running out of a home on School House Lane. The address is listed at being located at 2039 Route 32, which is the small plaza across from Bill s Auto where Liggan Insurance is. Mr. Dyshuk said he sees nothing advertising this particular business in the plaza. Bart feels like this business is hiding something when it is listed as being at one location but operating out of another. Supervisor Walsh said the listed address isn t the address that is being investigated. Bart stated he has spoken to the Code Enforcer and told the Board what he was told. Supervisor Walsh told Bart they have gotten a report back from DEC which states that they didn t find any evidence of pollution on the property in question. Supervisor Walsh had Councilman Hughes read the letter the Building Inspector/ Code Enforcement Officer Tom Fiore wrote to Supervisor Walsh about the investigation on this complaint. There was a discussion between Mr. Dyshuk and the Town Board. Councilman Ryan told Bart to put it in an email to Tom so it is in writing. Supervisor Walsh told Bart it is still an ongoing investigation. Attorney for the Town Mary Lou Christiana described the process if there was a violation found. Councilman Pryslopski suggested that they keep a log of the trucks coming in and out of the property.
2 Jim Damon wanted to know what the status of the chicken ordinance is and when it is going to happen. Supervisor Walsh stated it is the next thing that will be worked on after the Overlay District is completed. Barbara Piombino, a town resident said she had been without Town water for 10 days now at no fault of the Town s but wanted to know if there was any word as to when they will get it back. Supervisor Walsh stated it has been a really bad winter and there are numerous people that have been without water but hopefully now that it is starting to get warmer out they will have it soon. Jim Malak inquired about his denial for the Recreation Commission. Supervisor Walsh stated he was told at the last meeting to reach out to the Board members and talk to them. He said he didn t because he thought they were supposed to reach out to him to talk. Mr. Malak stated that he was recommended by the Recreation Commission. Councilman Ryan who is the liaison for that particular commission stated he was not able to attend the commission meeting due to being at a conference in New York City. Fre Atlast who is a member of the Recreation Commission stated she was at that meeting and can say that he was not recommended by the commission. Supervisor Walsh made a motion to approve the February minutes, seconded by Councilwoman Metzger. Roll vote done by Town Clerk. ROLL VOTE: 5 YES Councilman Pryslopski stated he was able to see the books for the Justice Court for the months of December and February and everything appears to be in order. He said there is nothing to report for the Chamber of Commerce. Councilman Pryslopski reported the Environmental Commission is doing an emissions inventory and they have also met with Highway Superintendent Bob Gallagher about the Emerald Ash Borer. Together they are looking at doing a press release. Town Clerk Mandy Constable stated she also has pamphlets in her office on the Emerald Ash Borer. Councilman Ryan reported the Highway Department taking in no monies for the month of February and they will be out cleaning up the roads of the excess sand and salt with the warmer weather so please drive safely. The Recreation Commission s big focus at this time is the pool. The Pantry is doing very well and he would like to thank everyone that helped out with that. Councilman Ryan reported there isn t much going on with the ZBA with the exception of a Public Hearing for the Maple Hill Cell Tower. Attorney Christiana reported an update on Cell Tower Laws stating the licensing fees cannot exceed $1000 as of April 1, 2015. She recommends the Town Board do a Resolution to lower our licensing fee from $2,500 down to $1,000 to be in compliance with the law change. Councilman Hughes reported the Planning Board taking in $8,028.00 in the month of February with $7,500.00 of that being an Escrow
3 check from AT&T for the cell tower fees. There is a Public Hearing for the Planning Board tomorrow at 7PM. The Building Department took in $1,275. Also, there were eight properties on Main Street Rosendale in violation for failing to clear the sidewalks. Councilman Hughes reported Grievance Day for the Board of Assessment Review will be May 26 th from 12 noon- 4PM. Councilman Hughes said High Falls Water District s make up meeting was cancelled due to weather and the next meeting is going to be in April. The Economic Development Commission discussed parking on Main Street in Rosendale at their last meeting. The idea that was put forth was to have a 2 hour limit with the parking. Councilwoman Metzger reported camp rates being raised and Youth Director Erik VanGaasbeek stated registration went well. The Youth Center had 145 in attendance for the month of January and 136 for February. Also, Erik applied for the Holiday Match with Stewart s and received a $1,500 donation from them. Councilwoman Metzger made a motion to accept the donation from Stewart s Shops in the amount of $1,500.00, seconded by Councilman Ryan. Roll vote done by Town Clerk. ROLL VOTE: 5 YES. The Clothing Locker took in $161.61 in January and $166.17 in February. The Youth Center had $50 for a party in January and $30 in February also for a party. Councilwoman Metzger reported for the month of February the Transfer Station taking in $2,045.14, the Police Department $20 and the Town Clerks Office $6,053.68. Supervisor Walsh wanted to comment on the Transfer Station stating the fees collected have doubled the last few months which shows that people are still using it despite the fee increase. Councilwoman Metzger stated there was no report for Dog Control. Supervisor s Report: READ and on file Supervisor Walsh made a motion to accept the resignation of Leslie Treut as Planning, Zoning and Building Clerk, seconded by Councilman Hughes. Roll vote done by Town Clerk. ROLL VOTE: 5 YES. Councilman Pryslopski with regret and thank you for all your hard work. Supervisor Walsh made a motion to accept the resignation of Douglas Tyler III as Part-Time Court Clerk, but would wish to stay on as a Per Diem Court Clerk, seconded by Councilman Pryslopski. Roll vote done by Town Clerk. ROLL VOTE: 5 YES. Supervisor Walsh made a motion to accept the resignation of Michelle Williams as Deputy Dog Control Officer, seconded by Councilwoman Metzger with regret. Roll vote done by Town Clerk. ROLL VOTE: 5 YES. Councilman Ryan with deep regret. Supervisor Walsh made a motion to appoint Mandy Constable as Part-Time Court Clerk up to 15 hours at $13.00 per hour, seconded by Councilwoman Metzger. ROLL VOTE: 5 YES
4 Councilman Hughes made a motion to appoint Brisa Casas to Building, Planning and Zoning Clerk for 30 hours per week at $12.00 per hour, seconded by Councilman Ryan. Councilman Ryan read letter from ZBA Chair Ann Houghtaling in support of Brisa. Roll vote done by Town Clerk. ROLL VOTE: 4 YES, Supervisor Walsh Abstained. Councilman Hughes made a motion to reappoint Anne Johnson to the Economic Development Commission, seconded by Councilman Pryslopski. Roll vote done by Town Clerk. ROLL VOTE: 5 YES Supervisor Walsh made a motion to appoint Ben Talutto as Chair of the Youth Commission, seconded by Councilwoman Metzger. Councilman Ryan thanked him for all he does. Roll vote done by Town Clerk. ROLL VOTE: 5 YES Supervisor Walsh made a motion to appoint William Gaudette to the Recreation Commission, seconded by Councilwoman Metzger. Roll Vote done by Town Clerk. ROLL VOTE: 4 YES, Councilman Ryan Abstained. Supervisor Walsh had the Board review a revised letter to the State Comptroller s Office. There was a discussion among the Board. Councilman Ryan made a motion for the Supervisor to send the revised letter in answer to a letter about the Justice Court from the State Comptroller s Office dated March 11, 2015, seconded by Councilman Pryslopski. Roll vote done by Town Clerk. ROLL VOTE: 5 YES Councilman Pryslopski said out of respect for the Solarize Campaign we are going to be talking about that next with Sustainable Hudson Valley of the Catskill Mountain Keeper for Solarize Campaign who is working with NYSERDA to figure out how we might all work together in this three year program. Supervisor Walsh said that when Melissa Everett was here last month she gave us a version of a draft resolution that has completely changed based on our concerns. Councilman Pryslopski said Susan Gillespie from the Environmental Commission has been working on the revised resolution. We also have been seeking guidance from Association of Towns and other communities. These investigations have been ongoing up until now. This is an extension of the conversation to see if we can pass the revised resolution. Susan Gillespie said John Wagner is here to answer questions; he is the project manager for Solarize Hudson Valley part time. Supervisor Walsh asked are you working for one or two of the organizations. John answered Catskill Mountain Keeper, they are the lead organization and fiscal agent for the Economic Development Grant and it s administered by the State Energy Authority. Supervisor Walsh said she had a brief conversation with Susan and she expressed her concerns. She said she had Melissa come here last month and had some questions answered, but not all of them.
5 Supervisor Walsh said she doesn t feel comfortable endorsing something that supports one business over another because that s overstepping the job and responsibilities over the town. There are some things in the negotiations that can put the town at risk for liability and she thinks it needs to be looked at more. Talking to our insurance agency it s a grey area about coverage for these companies as if someone puts a hole in a roof what liability does the town have. We also asked Melissa for more information, the emails with the links she had sent her she couldn t find anything about this program, and materials first given to us was very vague. She feels it raises a red flag and we have also received misinformation. Councilwoman Metzger said she became familiar with Solarize because she went to a session at Association of Towns last year and it has been very successful in Westchester and Tompkins County. The Governor and NYSERDA put a lot of money behind this program because they see it s potential to span solar in NYS. She does like not it went from one solarize company to three. John said two companies can work together and also be one. The Town Board continues to discuss the Solarization Campaign and their concerns. Attorney Christiana said her concern is the liability aspect. The Town Board continued their discussion. The main concern is picking one company over another. John said this is a pilot and we responded to the concerns the Town Board have discussed. An important benefit of Solarize is to give consumers a discount. If that discount is given by six or eight companies then those companies will not get a number of installations given to give the discount. The Solarized model has worked in other towns, states and regions because of the attributes, and one of these attributes is simply this economic value that if you have a large number of installers participating, no single installer will get the discounted needed. Supervisor Walsh said there are so many risks and am not in support of this at this time due to liability and choosing one or three companies. Councilman Ryan said you re comparing us to Westchester which compares us like apples and oranges. There are too many loose ends and need more hours of information. John said it is indeed true this is a three year campaign. He also said we do not have a website yet. The Town Board asked John questions and restated their concerns. They are not agreeable to give this endorsement at this time. Councilman Ryan suggested that a five minute break be taken at 9:10PM. Supervisor Walsh brought to the Board a revised draft for the Overlay District. She stated it is narrowed down to the Route 32 corridor, schools and churches. Supervisor Walsh would like to vote on it next month. The Board discussed and brought up their concerns and possible changes with Attorney Christiana. PROCLAMATION 03-2015-1: Supervisor Walsh made a motion that the Town Board of the Town of Rosendale proclaims the month of April as Parkinson s Awareness Month, seconded by Councilman Ryan. Roll vote done by Town Clerk. ROLL VOTE: 5 YES
6 RESOLUTION 03-2015-6: Supervisor Walsh made a motion that the Town Board of the Town of Rosendale approve the issuance of an additional $400,000.00 in bonds, subject to permissive referendum, for funding for the pool project. Motion was seconded by Councilwoman Metzger. Roll vote was done by Town Clerk. ROLL VOTE: 5 YES Supervisor Walsh made a motion to enter into Executive Session at 10:21 PM, seconded by Councilman Hughes. Executive Session ended at 10:50PM with no decisions made. Councilman Pryslopski made a motion to pay the vouchers, seconded by Councilman Ryan. AUDIT OF VOUCHERS: GENERAL FUND VOUCHERS 207-272 $24,380.07 HIGHWAY FUND VOUCHERS 51-69 $20,204.92 WATER FUND VOUCHERS 35-46 $4,009.14 SEWER FUND VOUCHERS 36-48 $2,171.81 Supervisor Walsh made a motion to adjourn at 10:50PM. Respectfully Submitted, Michelle Williams Deputy Town Clerk