Minutes, News and Notes from the November 8th, 2007 Town Board Meeting:
you may also get full, approved copies of the minutes by visiting the Town Hall
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The meeting was called to order at 7:03 PM.
Supervisor Jackson asked for a moment of silence for Grace Martin, Hazel Sandberg
LaMay and Vera Cross.
On roll Board Members present were: Councilwoman LaPine, Councilman LaForest,
Supervisor Jackson, Councilman Wrisley and Councilman Sayward.
Visitors included Jan Eakins, Liz Wilson and Susan Prudhome.
Supervisor Jackson greeted visitors and offered the courtesy of the floor.
Susan Prudhomme updated the Board on “Christmas in the Village”. The dates
for this event are 11/30, 12/1 and 12/2/07. She asked the Board to waive the charge
for copying for this event. She will need to make about 1000 copies. The Board
discussed the request and a Motion to allow “Christmas in the Village” (a Town event)
to copy free of charge was made by Councilwoman LaPine. Seconded by Councilman
Sayward. Roll call: Councilwoman LaPine-yes, Councilman LaForest-yes, Supervisor
Jackson-yes, Councilman Wrisley-yes and Councilman Sayward-yes. Jan Eakins offered
to donate 2 reams of paper for the copying to help defray cost.
Motion to approve 10/11/07 Regular Board Meeting minutes as presented made by Councilman LaForest. Seconded by Councilman Wrisley. Roll call: Councilwoman
LaPine-yes, Councilman LaForest-yes, Supervisor Jackson-yes, Councilman Wrisley-yes
and Councilman Sayward-yes.
Motion to approve 10/25/07 Special Board Meeting minutes with corrections made by Councilman LaForest. Seconded by Councilman Wrisley. Roll call: Councilwoman LaPine-yes, CouncilmannLaForest-yes, Supervisor Jackson-yes, Councilman Wrisley-
yes and Councilman Sayward-yes.
- Town of Essex Planning Board Meeting Summary for Town Board
- October 18, 2007
7 p.m.
· A public hearing occurred for Michael Kempster Site Plan Review, 2712 Route 22 in Essex, NY to renovate his 2-story home; Permit was approved.
- · A public hearing occurred for Frederick Jr. & Cynthia Palen Site Plan Review. 67 Wild Acres Way, Crater Club to renovate their camp; Permit was approved.
- · Chair Stephan discussed:
- A. The new Planning Board Forms that are getting mailed to applicants to alert them if their applications are turned in incomplete and the necessary items that they need to complete their application.
- B. The addition to the Essex Town Website with Planning Board Application Requirement information.
- C. The need for a new Planning Board member because Don Hollingsworth will be stepping down as of December 31, 2007.
· Mark Gibson. Site Plan Review. Canon Point, 1996/2006 Lakeshore Road, Essex, NY. The Applicant proposed renovations to their camp. Their Application was reviewed and a Public Hearing was set for November 15, 2007.
· Robert and Patricia Rowe. Minor Subdivision. 12 Jersey Street Essex, NY. The Applicant proposed a minor subdivision. Their Application was reviewed and a Public Hearing was set for November 15, 2007.
- · Stephen Levine. Site Plan Review. 20 Spire Way Essex, NY. His application was reviewed and the Board informed Mr. Levine that the APA’s approval must be granted before the Board can approve this application.
- The Board would like to see from the Applicant:
- 1. The Application Fee
- 2. Plot Plan
- 3. The APA Letter of Jurisdiction
- 4. The Finalized Deed of the property
- Mr. Levine was given a letter from the Board notifying him of the items necessary to complete his application and get placed onto the agenda for the next Board meeting. The Application was deemed incomplete.
- · Michael & David Hance Special Use Permit. 25 Sayre Rd. Westport, NY The Hance’s were not present at the meeting and have still not turned in the necessary items to the Board for proper application evaluation. The Applicant and David Lansing have been informed via letter from the Board, dated 10/9/07, as to the items necessary to finishing their application and that they will be taken off of the Planning Board’s agenda until their application is turned in complete.
- Zoning Officer Report: No report submitted to the Board.
Supervisor Jackson informed the Board that he had received a complaint from Win Clark
He had requested a permit for work at Mrs. Meron’s old house. He complained because
Dave Lansing told him he felt the house was in such bad condition that it should be torn down rather than renovated. They have already done a lot of work on the house without a permit. They were told you do not start work without seeing Dave first.
Supervisor’s County Report: There was a briefing on the County’s tentative budget. It appears there will be a one percent cut. Sales tax is up and helps with the decrease. The
Sales tax will pay more of the County’s budget than the real estate tax will this year.
The Town of Essex - Town Clerks are back helping the Board of Elections. The State has not approved any voting machines yet. The Board of Elections hopes to have new voting
Machines in place for the Presidential elections next year.
We had three more Essex County Boy Scouts achieve the rank of Eagle Scout.
Correspondence: We have received a check for $35,000 from DOS for the Lake Street Wall.
Hopefully we will get the form back from the Multi-Module and the other DOT grants.
Supervisor Jackson contacted both of them and was told that by the middle of the month we
should have our letters and start collecting.
The actual contract for the Pataki million has been approved by the AG and the Comptroller.
Hopefully we should be getting this money by Thanksgiving.
John Albert is now happy with where we are with the Legion Hall. We are waiting for Janet Null to come start working on the specs.
Unfinished Business: Supervisor Jackson contacted Security Concepts about the
proposal and it is for people who are only here a few months of the year.
Legion Hall: Janet Null plans on being here sometime this month.
Building Codes: Still waiting for Dave Lansing to complete his notes.
Outdoor Furnaces: Supervisor Jackson typed the changes the Board has discussed.
Councilman Wrisley felt that the Historic District and the Hamlets should be treated
differently and Supervisor Jackson agreed that this something that should be considered.
Councilman Wrisley working on stack height requirements. Supervisor Jackson thought they should think about including the Shoreline Overlay in with the Hamlets. The Board discussed the issue at some length. Councilman Sayward made the motion to have a moratorium on the installation of new outdoor furnaces. There was no second therefore the motion died. It was decided to have a Special Board Meeting on November 20, 2007 at 7PM to discuss the Town of Essex Local Law No. 1 of 2007 entitled Outdoor Furnaces.
Wastewater update: President Bush vetoed HR1495. On Tuesday the House overrode the
veto. Today the Senate over rode the veto and it is now a law. This approves the project .
It now needs to be attached to a funding bill and so far this year there have been zero funding
bills passed.
Lewis Family Farm Lawsuit: The trial of our lawsuit against Mr. Lewis was held
last month, the briefs were submitted by October 30th and we are waiting for the judge
to rule.
Playground equipment update: Councilwoman LaPine has called the Hearn’s and they declined stating they were to busy to serve on a committee at this time. Craig Jackson said he would serve on the playground committee. Howie Page and Barbara Kunzi also
agreed to serve on the committee. Councilwoman LaPine will be scheduling a meeting.
She asked if the $4000 is available and Supervisor Jackson said it would be available in
2008. He also said that Assemblywoman Sayward would try to secure funding for this
project. Councilwoman LaPine asked if there was anyone she could call and ask to serve
on the committee. Lois Sayward suggested Cena Shaw.
Supervisor Jackson explained the State had passed a law to allow volunteer firemen a Real Property tax exemption up $200. The County and Towns have not adopted this law.
It has been changed so that you can use it as a deduction on your State income tax.
New Business: Resolution on merging extensions into Water District #1.
RESOLUTION #19 of 2007
November 8, 2007
THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS OFFERED BY Councilman LaForest, WHO MOVED ITS ADOPTION.
WHEREAS, The Town of Essex, along with NYSDOH, desires to merge Water District No. 1 Extensions No. 1 and No. 2 into Water District #1; and
WHEREAS, Both of these Extension are presently installed and supplying water to the residents of these Extensions from Water District #1; and
WHEREAS, No improvements are proposed to be made with respect to either Extension #1 or Extension #2 and their will be no additional cost to the typical property in either Extension #1 or Extension #2, or to Water District #1; so
BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Essex will hold a public hearing to meet and consider merging the proposed Extensions No. 1 and No. 2 into Water District #1 and to hear all persons interested in the subject of them on December 13, 2007 at 6:30 P.M. at the Town Hall at 2313 main St, Essex, New York 12936 and will publish this order at least once in the official newspaper of the Town, the first publication to be not less than ten (10) nor more than twenty (20) days before the day set for the public hearing above and cause a copy of the notice of the public hearing to be posted on the sign board of the Town not less than ten (10) nor more than twenty (20) days before the day set for the public hearing.
THIS RESOLUTION WAS DULY SECONDED BY Councilwoman LaPine AND WAS ADOPTED.
ROLL CALL:
Jackson yes
LaPine yes
Sayward yes
Wrisley yes
LaForest yes
Lois Sayward would like permission from the Board to have Ann Sampson come and help
her set up her accounts in Quick Book. The charge will be $85 per hour. The Board members gave their approval.
Sealed bid for fuel opened at 8:15PM. One bid was received from Griffith Energy.
#2 Fuel Oil 2.8710
Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel 3.0015
Ultra Low Sulfur Winter Diesel 3.0515
Regular Unleaded Gasoline 2.7025
All prices include delivery. Because of market volatility, we can not offer fixed pricing.
The prices above will fluctuate on the day of delivery, based on the Port of Albany rack price.
Motion to accept fuel bid from Griffith Oil made by Councilman LaForest. Seconded by
Councilman Wrisley. Roll Call: Councilwoman LaPine-yes, Councilman LaForest-yes,
Supervisor Jackson-yes, Councilman Wrisley-yes and Councilman Sayward-yes.
Councilwoman LaPine received a call asking when the sidewalks in Whallonsburg would
be repaired. It was scheduled for this year, but the Highway was short handed and did not
get to them. Supervisor Jackson hopes to get to these sidewalks next year.
Motion made by Councilman Wrisley to adopt the 2008 Budget. Seconded by Councilwoman LaPine. Roll call: Councilwoman LaPine-yes, Councilman LaForest-yes,
Supervisor Jackson-yes, Councilman Wrisley-yes and Councilman Sayward-yes.
Councilman Sayward asked the status of our computer backup with Iron Mountain.
Supervisor Jackson said he is waiting for Bill Morgan to come and do a list of files that need to be backed up.
The Board discussed the problem with the September 2006 month end. Supervisor
Jackson felt we should try and reconcile the checkbook as a starting point. Supervisor
Jackson suggested Barbara Kunzi as someone that maybe would help.
Susan Prudhomme asked if the Board had discussed the request for $3500.00 from the Essex Commerce Committee. Supervisor Jackson said they had and it was decided not to make it a budget item in next year’s Budget. Supervisor Jackson stated that the Town is going to work on getting signage for the Town’s businesses. There was a discussion as to whether or not
The Town Ordinance covers signage. Supervisor Jackson feels there are a number of issues
that need to be address such as peddlers.
Supervisor Jackson asked the Board to look at voucher #341 for North Country Technology
in the amount of $1450.00. At our last meeting we talked about the Planning Board budget
with the members who attended and the development of a spot for them in our website.
According to the bill, Bill Morgan has been working for two months on this with Jim Van Hoven. There was only $800.00 left in their budget. They have overspent their budget
for this year. Apparently Joan Stephan and Michelle Cassidy were not aware that Jim was
working on this with Bill. Supervisor Jackson feels a letter should be sent to the Planning
Board letting them know they have over spent their budget and how it will affect next year’s budget.
Bills:
General Fund $ 9,431.63
Highway 7,674.84
Transfer Station 2,350.07
Water 450.38
Street Lights 559.00
Highway Reserve Fund 53,750.00
Highway Prepay 139.95
Transfer Station Prepay 173.27
General Prepay 170.44
Motion to approve bills as presented subject to the North Country bill as discussed made by Councilman LaForest. Seconded by Councilman Sayward. Roll call: Councilwoman LaPine-yes, Councilman LaForest-yes. Supervisor Jackson-yes, Councilman Wrisley-yes and Councilman Sayward-yes.
Town Clerk’s Report: Motion was made to accept the Town Clerk’s report as presented
by Councilman LaForest. Seconded by Councilman Sayward. Roll call: Councilwoman
LaPine-yes, Councilman LaForest-yes, Supervisor Jackson-yes, Councilman Wrisley-yes,
and Councilman Sayward-yes.
Water Rents: Motion to accept Water Rent report as presented was made by Councilman
LaForest. Seconded by Councilman Sayward. Roll call: Councilwoman LaPine-yes,
Councilman LaForest-yes, Supervisor Jackson-yes, Councilman Wrisley-yes and
Councilman Sayward-yes.
Supervisor’s Report: Motion to accept Supervisor’s report made by Councilman LaForest.
Seconded by Councilman Sayward. Roll call: Councilwoman LaPine-yes, Councilman
LaForest-yes, Supervisor Jackson-yes, Councilman Wrisley-yes and Councilman Sayward-
yes.
Shirley LaForest asked for permission to allow the Church of the Latter day Saints to photo copy our books with vital statics and other historical document at no charge to the Town. Shirley felt it would be invaluable to have duplicates of these records. The Board gave their permission.
Meeting adjourned at 9:23 PM.
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Contact: info@northcountrytechnology.com
