TOWN OF ROSENDALE                                             DRAFT

TOWN BOARD MEETING

SEPTEMBER 9, 2009

The meeting was called to order at 7:30 pm by Supervisor McDonough at the Rosendale Community Center with the Pledge to the Flag.

Supervisor McDonough requested that everyone remain standing for a moment of silence in remembrance of the victims of September 11, 2001.

                        PRESENT:       Councilman Kenneth Cluen (arrived at 7:35 pm)

                                                Councilman Robert Gallagher

                                                Councilwoman Manna Jo Greene

                                                Supervisor Patrick McDonough

                        EXCUSED:      Councilman Richard Minissali

              ALSO PRESENT:     Police Dept. members; Andy Buboltz, Robert Fischer, Kyle                                          Frano, Tom O’Connell, Lynn Waddell and between 40 and                                                      45 residents.

PETITIONS:  No petitions were presented.

PUBLIC INPUT: Rob Fischer asked to be enlightened about the Police Dept. situation which was discussed last week as he was not in attendance; a Freeman article generated a story that portrayed the Town Board as wanting to dissolve the Rosendale Police Dept.  Supervisor McDonough responded that the discussion started over the request to replace the 2002/2003 Dodge Durango which had blown an engine; some discussion did take place as to concerns of cutting expenses, community protocols but it had been emphasized  that we were not trying to get rid of the Police Dept.

Acting Police Chief Andy Buboltz stated that this all came about as the result of a Freeman article; he read a letter he had prepared and had distributed to each Council member.

Melissa Fermenti asked if she could make a statement in behalf of the Police Dept.; Supervisor McDonough allowed her to make her positive experience statement.

Supervisor McDonough stated that a public forum will be held but probably not until after the elections as he does not want to make this a “political issue” and that the Police Commission will be the proper venue for those comments.  A woman asked when the Commission met; she was told on the 4^th Monday of the month at 3:30 pm at the Community Center; she asked if those meetings couldn’t be held in the evening so that people could attend.  Supervisor McDonough said that he would try to get that changed but it would not happen for the September meeting.

Lisa Dockery said that she came tonight because someone used her name as saying that the “police are over paid” which she stated she never said; she stated that her feeling would be that “we could hold them longer if we paid them better” and she feels they are under paid.  Supervisor McDonough said that “personal attacks are not productive” but had not heard the rumor.

DATES TO REMEMBER:

1.      Every Sunday – Rosendale Farmer’s Market at Rec Center

2.      Sun, Sept 13, 8am to noon – Grandparents Day Pancake Breakfast, Bloomington Fire House

3.      Wed, Sept 16, 7:00pm – Rosendale Town Board & Bloomington Fire Dept., Joint Budget Meeting, Bloomington Fire House

4.      Wed, Oct 7, 7:30pm – Town Board Workshop Meeting, Rosendale Rec Center 

5.      Mon, Oct 12 – Columbus Day Observed, Town Offices Closed

6.      Wed, Oct 14, 7:30pm – Town Board Meeting, Rosendale Rec Center

7.      Sat, Sept 26, 1:30-3:30pm – Family Stream Monitoring, Camp Epworth, Rondout Creek Water Shed

COMMITTEE REPORTS:  Councilwoman Greene reported that the Planning Board approved the Wild Rose major subdivision and are still discussing one property on Main Street on how to address “mixed use”; the Town Board were on the agenda to subdivide the Creek Locks property for either sale or lease to the Sewer Department (Town and Sewer are separate entities); a lot line adjustment.  The Planning Board is meeting one (1) hour earlier than the regular meeting time to discuss specifics of the zoning code review.  The ZRC is moving along well with the new consultant; they meet on the 3^rd Thursday of the month at 7:00pm (Sept. they will meet on Wed., the 23^rd) and they encourage people to attend the meetings for their input since another thorough review will probably not be done for at least 10 or 20 years.

Councilman Gallagher advised that the Recreation Department is settling down with the close of the pool after Labor Day; the minutes are on file.  The Justice Dept. reports are also on file.

Councilman Cluen stated that he missed the Youth Commission meeting but all seems to be running smoothly; he also reported that the Transfer Station is doing fine.  Supervisor McDonough interjected that Rayne Kouhout will be conducting a survey to see about changing to standard hours, 7:30am to 3:30pm Tuesday through Saturday, since there have been many comments about the irregular hours; the change would not take place until January 2010.  Councilman Cluen reported that the Police Commission has not yet met but he hopes that the next meeting will be in the evening (this will not occur until November at the earliest); the High Falls Water District needs to have consumers pay their bills they are running behind in revenues.

Rob Fischer asked where we stand on the Town Pool; Supervisor McDonough responded that we are looking into what needs to be done and that he has heard comments about whether we need the pool; his response to that question is that over 300 people (seniors, Rosendale Day Camp, Brookside School, Children’s Annex, etc.) use the pool even before it opens to the public each day at noon so it is a valuable asset.

CORRESPONDENCE:  Correspondence is on file in folders.

SUPERVISOR’S FINANCIAL REPORT:  Supervisor McDonough read the end balances for the month of August 2009; the report is on file with the Town Clerk.

RESIGNATION:  A resignation was received from Mandy Constable, P/T Court Clerk to take effect September 15, 2009.

A motion was made by Councilman Gallagher to accept the resignation of Mandy Constable as P/T Court Clerk; seconded by Councilman Cluen.  Roll Vote: 4 Yes, 1 Excused.

APPOINTMENT: An application was received from Tanya Jurcic for a position on the Environmental Commission; Supervisor McDonough stated that since there is a vacancy on the Commission he recommends appointing Tanya; she has a Masters Degree in Biology with a concentration in ecology and has been volunteering time to some to the Commissions projects for many months.

A motion was made to appoint Tanya Jurcic to the Environmental Commission by Councilman Cluen noting her science background; seconded by Councilwoman Greene.  Roll Vote: 4 Yes, 1 Excused.

MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING:  Supervisor McDonough asked if everyone had opportunity to review the minutes of the August 12 meeting; Councilwoman Greene asked that an addition be made to the second to last sentence on page 2 to read “Ulster County Planning Board” could help identify the property owners this will affect.

A motion was made by Councilwoman Greene to accept the minutes as amended; seconded by Councilman Gallagher.  Roll Vote: 4 Yes, 1 Excused.

1). Announcement: The Town Board is still seeking applications for a Recreation Commissioner and an Alternate Planning Board member.

2). Supervisor McDonough announced that the Environmental Commission will be sponsoring two free Home Energy Workshops; the first on Thursday, Sept. 24^th  and the second on Thursday, Oct. 22^nd, both at 7:30pm at the Rec Center. Information is available on the Town website.

3). RESOLUTION 09-2009-#1 VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER/EMS WORKER HEALTH INSURANCE INITIATIVE. Supervisor McDonough stated that we are adopting this resolution to help the firefighters and EMS workers who reside in the Town of Rosendale cope with the high cost of health insurance that they might not be able to afford on their own.

A motion was made by Supervisor McDonough; seconded by Councilman Cluen to adopt the resolution.  Roll Vote:

                        Councilman Cluen                     Yes

                        Councilman Gallagher   Yes

                        Councilwoman Greene  Yes

                        Councilman Minissali                Excused

                        Supervisor McDonough            Yes

4). RESOLUTION 09-2009-#2 Budgetary Transfers. A motion was made by Supervisor McDonough; seconded by Councilman Gallagher to adopt the following budgetary transfers:

GENERAL FUND – Transfer the sum of:

1. $1,500.00 from Unallocated Insurance (A19190.4) to Assessor CE (A1355.4)
2. $4,000.00 from Unallocated Insurance (A1910.4) to Data Processing CE (A1680.4)
3. $1,000.00 from Unallocated Insurance (A1910.4) to Refuse CE (A8160.4)

HIGHWAY FUND – Transfer the sum of:

1. $157.71 Snow Removal PS (DA5142.1) to Misc. PS (DA5140.1)
2. $5.01 Snow Removal PS (DA5142.1) to Brush and Weeds CE (DA5140.4)

Roll Vote:

                        Councilman Cluen                     Yes

                        Councilman Gallagher   Yes

                        Councilwoman Greene  Yes

                        Councilman Minissali                Excused

                        Supervisor McDonough            Yes

5). RESOLUTION 09-2009-#3 Retain Attorney for Article 7 Tax Actions.  The resolution is for the purpose of retaining Shannon LaFrance to provide legal services and/or defenses for the Town in Article 7 Tax Actions.

A motion was made by Supervisor McDonough; seconded by Councilman Cluen to adopt the resolution.  Roll Vote:

                        Councilman Cluen                     Yes

                        Councilman Gallagher   Yes

                        Councilwoman Greene Yes

                        Councilman Minissali                Excused

                        Supervisor McDonough            Yes

6). RESOLUTION 09-2009-#4 Support for Rail Trail and Trestle Grant Application. The resolution supports the Wallkill Valley Land Trust and the Open Space Institute in there application for a grant from New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to repair, maintain and manage the Rail Trail and Trestle; it will have no economic cost to the Town of Rosendale.

A motion was made to adopt the resolution by Supervisor McDonough; seconded by Councilwoman Greene.  Roll Vote:

                        Councilman Cluen                     Yes

                        Councilman Gallagher   Yes

                        Councilwoman Greene  Yes

                        Councilman Minissali                Excused

                        Supervisor McDonough            Yes

7). EXECUTIVE SESSION:  Supervisor McDonough made a motion to go into Executive Session at 8:20pm; seconded by Councilman Cluen to discuss the possible hiring of a particular person; the Board asked to include Acting Police Chief Any Buboltz in the discussion.

Out of Executive Session at 9:05pm; no decisions made.

A further discussion followed about the purchase of a new Durango for the Police Dept.; Councilman Gallagher stated that he would talk to State Senator Larkin (not or representative but very warm to police funding) to see if he can do anything for us.  Supervisor McDonough stated that he can “scrap together” $9,000.00 toward the purchase and asked Andy Buboltz to see if we could order the vehicle now and have it delivered after the first of the year; Andy responded that he didn’t know if there would be any available as there had only been two left under state bid and the prices had not yet been announced for the 2010 models.  A resolution will be presented at the September 16^th meeting to purchase the vehicle.

AUDIT OF BILLS:

            GENERAL FUND VOUCHER’S #863-900 TOTALING $23,922.23

            HIGHWAY FUND         “             #192-200         “            $  5,912.36

            SEWER FUND               “             #131-138         “            $  2,626.01

            WATER FUND              “             #124-131         “            $   4,822.63

            SPEC LIGHTING          “              # 28-30           “             $   2,049.23

            CAP RESER SEWER    “             #    2-5             “             $ 41,873.14

A motion was made by Councilman Gallagher to pay the bills; seconded by Councilwoman Greene.  Roll Vote: 4 Yes, 1 Excused.

A motion was made by Councilman Cluen to adjourn the meeting at 9:10pm; seconded by Councilman Gallagher.  Roll Vote: 4 Yes, 1 Excused.

                                                                                    Respectfully submitted,

                                                                                    Joan S. Jordan

                                                                                    Town Clerk