TOWN OF
ROSENDALE
DRAFT
TOWN BOARD WORKSHOP MEETING
DECEMBER 1, 2010
The meeting was called to order at 7:32 pm by Supervisor McDonough at
the Rosendale Community Center with the Pledge to the Flag.
Supervisor McDonough asked that everyone remain standing for a moment
of silence for Dennis Grecco who passed away recently; he was very
involved in the American Legion, Rosendale Theatre Collective, Street
Festival Committee and many other community organizations; he will be
sorely missed.
PRESENT: Councilman Robert Gallagher
Councilwoman Manna Jo Greene (arrived at 7:40 pm)
Councilman Kenneth Hassett
Councilman Richard Minissali (arrived at 8:00
pm)
Supervisor Patrick McDonough
ALSO PRESENT: Jack Snyder &
Terry Johnson, W/S Dept.; Gary Jacobson, ZRC;
Jen Metzger, Deputy Supervisor, Environmental Commission, and
about seven other residents.
PUBLIC INPUT: Kevin Hines, President of Bloomington Fire Company,
addressed the Board asking for a letter of support for the LOSAP
Program, a retirement benefit program for volunteer emergency responders
Bloomington will be holding an informational meeting on Wednesday,
December 8th at 7:00 pm for residents of the fire
district. Mr. Hines hopes that a vote will take place in January;
it would take effect in 2011 if it is voted in. Councilman
Gallagher commented that Bloomington is the only one of the town fire
departments that is not yet covered by LOSAP. The cost of this
program would come out of Bloomington’s operating budget.
1). NRI Public Hearing (Continued). Supervisor
McDonough stated that the public hearing is still open; written comments
only will still be accepted until December 8th. Jennifer Metzger and NavaTabak will be giving a presentation to the Planning Board on December 2nd
and the Planning Board will be discussing comments from C.T.Male; the
Ulster County Planning Board has not made any comment or recommendation
at this point.
A motion was made by Supervisor McDonough to keep the public hearing
on NRI open until January 12, 2011 for written comment; seconded by
Councilman Hassett. Roll Vote: 4 Yes, 1 Absent (Minissali).
2). PRESENTATION: Victor-Pierre Melendez, Rondout Creek
Watershed Council Coordinator, gave a PowerPoint presentation on the
draft An Interim Watershed Management Plan for the Lower, Non-Tidal Portion of the Rondout Creek, Ulster County, New York,
dated November 2010. Mr. Melendez addressed highlights of the
report that might peak interest and advised that comments or corrections
may be made to the Clearwater website at www.clearwater.org.
Supervisor McDonough commented that the Rosendale ZRC has addressed a
good many of the topics in their review; Mr. Melendez noted that
Rosendale is ahead of the curve. Marbletown and Rosendale are both
MS-4 designated communities of the four towns in the council. Mr.
Melendez opened the discussion to comments and Jennifer Metzger
suggested that areas of municipal collaboration be identified to
facilitate cost sharing for studies and etc. Supervisor McDonough
stated that the Town Board will make recommendations as they read
through the document and the Planning Board and Environmental Commission
will look at it also and make comments.
Councilman Minissali arrived during the presentation at 8:00 pm.
3). RESOLUTION 12-2010-#1 SEWER DISTRICT GRANT: Glen Gidaly of Barton
& Loguidice Consulting gave an overview of what the grant study
covered; this year there is only $15 million dollars available and there
is a cap of $750,000 per municipality. Mr. Gidaly stated that he
received original letters of support for the grant application from US
Congressman Maurice Hinchey, NYS Senator John Bonacic, NYS Assemblyman
Kevin Cahill and Ulster County Executive Michael Hein which will give
weight to the application; the deadline is December 3, 2011 and
announcement of grant recipients will be made in two months.
Richard Straut, Vice President of Barton & Loguidice, highlighted
current assests, limitations and upgrades planned for the sewer plant in
the grant application; he also noted that benchmarks must be seen in
the report. Mr. Straut emphasized that the Ballasted Flocculation
method was the most cost effective and the most innovative plan to go
for; the engineered wetlands was dismissed after review as the most
costly method and therefore not recommended to be considered; a chart
showing the four different methods under consideration and the
efficiency versus costs was provided to the Board members in their
folders. Councilman Gallagher looked at the debt service figures
and roughly figured that $85.00 per user per quarter would be the
benchmark figure but if the grant is obtained that figure could be
reduced. Mr. Straut also stated that in addition to the Green
Innovation Grant they would also be applying to USDA for alternate
funding. Terry Johnson, Water/Sewer Superintendent stated that we
could not add one additional sewer service to the system without being
in violation of our SPEDES permit especially in the spring.
Question was raised about the pumps that are aging out in the system;
Mr. Straut responded that these concerns would be addressed in the USDA
application; Mr. Johnson noted that the pump replacements are covered
under the sewer operating budget.
A motion was presented by Supervisor McDonough to authorize
application for a Construction Grant through the 2010 GIGP Program and
authorizes the Supervisor to sign any related documents related to the
project and application subject to review and approval by the Town
Attorney; seconded by Councilman Minissali. Roll Vote:
Councilman Gallagher Yes
Councilwoman Greene Abstained * see comment below
Councilman
Hassett
Yes
Councilman
Minissali
Yes
Supervisor
McDonough
Yes
Councilwoman Greene abstained because she would never vote no against
water and sewer but she would vote no against the process, therefore
she was abstaining.
Jack Snyder asked if anything further was being done about the water
main replacement on Main Street which is more than 100 years old;
there was no clear answer at this time.
4). RESOLUTION: A resolution will be presented next week to contract
for Stormwater Management Services. Supervisor McDonough stated
that he is still waiting to see if there are other proposals than the
one received from Kendell Stormwater Services; if no others are
forthcoming he will recommend going with Kendell.
5). RESOLUTION: Next week a resolution will be presented to set a public hearing date for the Town Fire Prevention Law.
6). RESOLUTION: A resolution will be presented next week to authorize
bus transportation to the Association of Towns Conference in New York
City in February 2011.
7). RESOLUTION: A resolution will be presented next week to authorize
a Meal Allowance advance for attendees to the Association of Towns
Conference in New York City in February 2011.
8). RESOLUTION: A resolution will be presented next week to name the
Official Delegates to the Association of Towns Conference in New York
City in February 2011.
Councilwoman Greene suggested that as a cost saving measure that
those attending the Association of Towns Conference that would not be
required by class attendance on Wednesday return on Tuesday evening to
save the additional night room cost and that alternate transportation
reimbursement by provided to those required to stay (the difference
between a night at the hotel of $235.00 and a possible $25.00 bus or
train fare would be substantial).
AUDIT OF BILLS:
ABST #11 GENERAL FUND VOUCHERS #1066-1068 TOTALING $ 602.11
ABST #12 GENERAL FUND VOUCHERS #1069-1089 TOTALING $ 4,506.79
HIGHWAY
FUND
“ #
237- 249
“ $54,855.68
SEWER
FUND
“ #
173 - 179
“
$ 2,679.52
WATER
FUND
“ #
189 - 189
“
$ 2,956.50
A motion was made by Councilwoman Greene to pay the vouchers; seconded by Councilman Minissali. Roll Vote: 5 Yeses.
A motion was made by Councilman Gallagher to adjourn at 9:10 pm; seconded by Councilman Hassett. Roll Vote: 5 Yeses.
Respectfully submitted,
Joan S. Jordan
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