TOWN OF ROSENDALE                                                DRAFT

TOWN BOARD MEETING

PUBLIC HEARING “FIRE PREVENTION”

JANUARY 12, 2011

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

                        PRESENT:       Councilman Robert Gallagher

                                                Councilwoman Manna Jo Greene (arrived 7:40 pm)

                                                Councilman Richard Minissali

                                                Supervisor Patrick McDonough

                        EXCUSED:      Councilman Kenneth Hassett

              ALSO PRESENT: Dave Massimi, Code Enforcement Officer; Jennifer Metzger, Deputy Supervisor; Dan Baker, Assessor; Jere Brown and a high school civics student.

PETITIONS: No petitions were presented.

COMMENTS: No comments were forthcoming.

COMMUNITY EVENTS:

1. Mon, Jan 17 – Martin Luther King Day – Town Offices Closed
2. Mon, Jan 17, 4:30 pm – Town Board Audit Meeting, Town Hall
3. Wed, Jan 19, 7 pm – Commercial Energy Savings Workshop, Sponsored by the Rosendale Climate Task Force, Rec Center
4. Wed, Feb 2, 7:30 pm – Town Board Workshop Meeting, Rec Center

MINUTES OF PRIOR MEETINGS:

A motion was made by Councilman Minissali to accept the minutes of December 1, 8 and 20^th; seconded by Councilman Gallagher.  Roll Vote: 3 Yes, 1 Absent, 1 Excused.

COMMITTEE REPORTS: No reports were given.

SUPERVISOR’S FINANCIAL REPORT: Supervisor McDonough read the end balances for December 2010; the report is on file with the Town Clerk.

1). NATURAL RESOURCES INVENTORY: Supervisor McDonough stated that the public hearing has been continued for written comments on the Natural Resources Inventory; the Planning Board has left the comments of consultants C.T. Male stand; the Town Historian made her comments for changes that have been made and Ulster County Planning Board’s comments were positive.  Supervisor McDonough stated that he felt the public hearing could be closed as he expected no further comments.

A motion was made by Supervisor McDonough to close the public hearing on the Natural Resources Inventory; seconded by Councilman Minissali.  Roll Vote:  3 Yes, 1 Absent, 1 Excused.

Councilwoman Greene arrived at 7:40 pm.

2). Applications for All Boards and Commissions:  Supervisor McDonough stated that applications for all boards and commissions are being accepted; appointments will be made in February.

3). PUBLIC HEARING: Town Open Burning Law.  The public hearing was opened at 7:40 pm with the Town Clerk reading the Notice of Public Hearing for proposed Local Law #1 of 2011.  Supervisor McDonough stated that the Town is required to reform our law due to changes DEC made to State law.  Dave Massimi stated that this is a continuation of the fire prevention regulations that were adopted as Local Law #1 of  2005.  In 2009 the Town Board was given the statistics that Rosendale had 73% fewer brush fires than any other municipality; in October 2009 DEC “went out of the burn business”, the Town has been issuing between 75-80 burn permits upon inspection of materials and sites.  The new law will observe the statewide ban on opening burning between March 15^th and May 15^th as set forth by DEC; a fee of $15 will be charged for administration costs; the applicant must call fire control when they start to burn and when it is extinguished; the necessary procedural steps are on the back of the permit.  No paper or leaves may be burned at any time unless the leaves are attached to a branch; no burning is permitted on Sundays.

No further comments were forthcoming at this time; the hearing would be held open until the required time has expired.

4). DISCUSSION: Property Tax Exemptions. Dan Baker reviewed some of the exemptions that are available to property owners: STAR; Enhanced STAR; Senior Property Exemptions; Forestry; Solar, Wind or Farm Waste; Alternative Veterans; and the new Cold War Veterans Exemptions.  The deadline for filing is March 1^st of each year for that year’s school tax relief and the following year’s general taxes; most  exemptions do not cover special district assessments.  Dan urged the public to contact his office; the information is on the Assessor’s website along with application forms and links.

5). RESOLUTION 01-2011-#3 Agreement for Computer Services with Evolution Technologies.  The agreement is for computer service from January 1, 2011 through December 31, 2011 at a total cost of $2,400.00 paid in monthly installments.

A motion was made by Supervisor McDonough to adopt the resolution authorizing technical services with Evolution Technologies for one year; seconded by Councilman Gallagher.  Roll Vote:

                                    Councilman Gallagher   Yes

                                    Councilwoman Greene  Yes

                                    Councilman Hassett                  Excused

                                    Councilman Minissali                Yes

                                    Supervisor McDonough            Yes

6). RESOLUTION 01-2011-#4 Contract for Professional Mail Machine Lease and Services.  The resolution authorizes signing an agreement for leasing a new mail machine system at a cost of $151.92 per month for 63 months with Metroland Business Machines of Albany, NY (Neopost Finance).

A motion was made by Supervisor McDonough to authorize signing an agreement with Metroland Business Machines (Neopost Finance) for 63 month lease of a mail machine system at $151.92 per month; seconded by Councilwoman Greene.  Roll Vote:

                                    Councilman Gallagher   Yes

                                    Councilwoman Greene  Yes

                                    Councilman Hassett                  Excused

                                    Councilman Minissali                Yes

                                    Supervisor McDonough            Yes

7). RESOLUTION 01-2011-#5 Budgetary Transfers. The resolution authorized the following budgetary transfers:

GENERAL FUND – Transfer the sum of:

1. $74.49 from Tax Collector CE(A1330.4) to Assessor PS(A1355.1)
2. $456.89 from Legal Fees(A1421.4) to Street Lighting(a5182.4)
3. $962.61 from Legal Fees(A1421.4) to Home Relief(A6140.4)
4. $200.00 from Buildings EQ(A1620.2) to Buildings CE(1620.4)
5. $100.00 from Data Processing CE(A1680.4) to Data Processing PS(A1680.1)
6. $1,8893.39 from Grants(A3125.1) to Police PS(a3120.1)
7. $863.78 from Safety & Inspection PS(A3620.1) to Dog Control PS(A3510.1)
8. $2,129.83 from Safety & Inspection PS(A3620.1) to Safety & Inspection CE(A3620.4)
9. $66.57 from Supt. Highways CE(A5010.4) to Supt. Highways PS (A5010.1)
10. $603.88 from Pool PS(A7150.1) to Playground/Recreation CE(A7140.4)
11. $90.75 from Youth Programs EQ(A7310.2) to Youth Programs CE(7310.4)
12. $253.56 from Refuse & Garbage EQ(A8160.2) to Refuse & Garbage PS (A8160.1)
13. $300.00 fro Youth/Summer Camp CE(A7320.4) to Youth/Summer Camp PS(A7320.1)
14. $2,832.35 from Legal Fees(A1421.4) to Programs/Aging(A6772.4)
15. $3,411.00 from Environmental CE(A8090.4) to Planning PS(A8020.1)

HIGHWAY FUND -   Transfer the sum of:

1.      $2,618.53 from Empl Benefits Medical Ins(DA9060.8) to General Repairs           PS(DA5110.1)

2.      $3,130.62 from Empl Benefits Medical Ins(DA9060.8) to General Repairs CE(DA5110.4)

3.       $2,956.45 from Empl Benefits Medical Ins(DA9060.8) to General Maint.PS(DA5111.1)

4.      $2,000.00 from Empl Benefits Medical Ins(DA9060.8) to Miscellaneous PS(DA5140.1)

5.      $554.38 from Empl Benefits Medical Ins(DA9060.8) to Machinery PS(DA5130.1)

WATER FUND - Transfer the sum of:

1.      $7,089.76 from Administration CE(SW8310.4) to Administration PS(SW8310.1)

2.      $10.00 from Transmission & Distr EQ(SW8340.2) to Supply EQ(SW8320.2)

3.      $433.39 from Transmission & Distr EQ(SW8340.2) to Supply CE(SW8320.4)

4.      $2,604.06 from Purification EQ(SW8330.2) to Purification CE(SW8330.4)

5.      $646.28 from Transmission & Distr EQ(SW8340.2) to Transmission & Distr CE(SW8340.4)

A motion was made by Supervisor McDonough to authorize the budgetary transfers; seconded by Councilman Minissali.  Roll Vote:

                                    Councilman Gallagher   Yes

                                    Councilwoman Greene  Yes

                                    Councilman Hassett                  Excused

                                    Councilman Minissali                Yes

                                    Supervisor McDonough            Yes

Councilman Minissali informed the Board that he read about some small towns in Rhode Island that have presented an argument that street lights along state highways should not be the responsibility of the towns; he used the example of lights along Route 32 that maybe we should pursue that same path with the state to have them take over these  lighting costs.  A short discussion followed and it was thought to warrant looking into.

8). RESOLUTION 01-2011-#6 Adopting the Natural Resources Inventory as an Authorized Planning Document. Prior to reading of the resolution Jennifer Metzger stated that C.T. Male was happy to have the NRI as a planning tool; the Environmental Commission hopes to have final report & PDF’s on the website.  Supervisor McDonough thanked Jennifer and Nava Tabak for all their work; Councilman Minissali added a thank you to all the volunteers; Councilman Gallagher stated that this process began with Supervisor Havranek in 1983 and was still “kicking around” during his administration, he’s happy that it is now “done”.

A motion was made by Supervisor McDonough to adopt the Natural Resources Inventory as an authorized Planning document; seconded by Councilwoman Greene.  Roll Vote:

                                    Councilman Gallagher   Yes (Absolutely)

                                    Councilwoman Greene  Yes

                                    Councilman Hassett                  Excused

                                    Councilman Minissali                Yes

                                    Supervisor McDonough            Yes

At 8:15 pm Supervisor McDonough asked for a motion to close the public hearing on proposed Local Law #1-2011 Fire Prevention as no further comments or discussion were forthcoming.

A motion was made by Councilman Minissali to close the public hearing at 8;15 pm; seconded by Councilman Gallagher.  Roll Vote: 4 Yes, 1 Excused.

9). RESOLUTION 01-2011-#7 Adopting a Local Law Amending Town Code Chapter 37, FIRE PREVENTION.

A motion was made by Supervisor McDonough to adopt the resolution Amending Town Code Chapter 37, Fire Prevention by enacting Local Law #1 of 2011; seconded by Councilman Gallagher.  Roll Vote:

                                    Councilman Gallagher   Yes

                                    Councilwoman Greene  Yes

                                    Councilman Hassett                  Excused

                                    Councilman Minissali                Yes

                                    Supervisor McDonough            Yes

A motion was made by Supervisor McDonough to go into Executive Session to discuss the job performance of a particular employee at 8:25pm; seconded by Councilman Gallagher. Roll Vote: 4 Yes, 1 Excused.

Out of Executive Session at 8:40pm no decisions were made.

AUDIT OF BILLS:

            TRUST & AGENCY VOUCHER’S # 1          TOTALING $    1,000.00

            SPECIAL LIGHTING         “            # 1-3               “           $    2,233.47

            GENERAL FUND               “            #19-57            “           $106,051.94

            HIGHWAY FUND              “            #  7-14           “           $    8,412.36

            SEWER FUND                    “            #  1-8             “           $    3,264.29

            WATER FUND                   “            #   1-8            “            $    8,996.73

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 at 8:45pm to adjourn in honor of the victims of the Tucson shooting by Councilwoman Greene; seconded by Councilman Minissali.  Roll Vote: 4 Yes; 1 Excused.

                                                                                    Respectfully submitted,

                                                                                    Joan S. Jordan

                                                                                    Town Clerk