On January 7, 2004 the Jewett Town Board held its Organizational Meeting and Regular Monthly Meeting. Supervisor Michael Flaherty called the meeting to order at 7PM. Present were Board members Thomas Hitchcock, Tom Wilson, Charles Kutcher. Councilman Paul LaPierre arriving late. Also present were Attorney for the Town Tal G. Rappleyea, Superintendent of Highways Robert Mallory, Zoning Officer William Dwyer, Town residents Jane Bostrom, Oscar and Copper Newman, newspaper reporter Mike Ryan and the town clerk.

The Organizational Meeting was first on the agenda.

Attorney Tal G. Rappleyea swore in the newly elected officials.

A motion was made by Flaherty seconded by Wilson and carried to accept the resignation of Charles Kutcher from the Planning Board.

Resolution #1 - Appointments
The website committee will be Wilson and LaPierre. The Economic Development committee will be LaPierre and Kutcher.
A motion was made by Flaherty seconded by Hitchcock and carried approving Resolution #1.
ROLL CALL: Aye 4 Flaherty, Hitchcock, Kutcher, Wilson
Nay 0
Councilman LaPierre was absent.

Resolution #2 - Highway
A motion was made by Flaherty seconded by Hitchcock and carried approving Resolution #2.
ROLL CALL: Aye 4 Flaherty, Hitchcock, Kutcher, Wilson
Nay 0
Councilman LaPierre was absent.

The Board audited the Town Clerk's cashbook for 2003. A yearly written report was presented for the Boards review.
A motion was made by Flaherty seconded by Hitchcock and carried to accept the annual report from the Town Clerk.

The Regular monthly meeting was called to order.

The Supervisor's monthly financial report was given out to the Board.

Minutes of the December 10, 2003 regular meeting were approved with a spelling correction on a motion by Flaherty seconded by Hitchcock and carried.
Minutes of the December 17, 2003 year- end meeting were approved with the correction concerning Resolution #22 to say "with this resolution", on a motion by Flaherty seconded by Hitchcock and carried

Councilman Hitchcock suggested that "whenever any elected official ends their service to the Town that they at least be given a plaque. It's nice to acknowledge public service. I think it's the appropriate thing to do in the future".
A motion was made by Hitchcock seconded by LaPierre and carried to honor Councilman Middleton with a plaque and to continue the practice.

Zoning Officer Dwyer presented the Board with an annual report for 2003. A motion was made by Hitchcock seconded by LaPierre and carried accepting the report.

Under courtesy of the floor:

Town resident Oscar Newman addressed the Board. He requested a change in policy regarding appointments of planning board members.


Mr. Newman "while the Town Board interviews and appoints individuals, they do so without the advice and consent of the planning board. This is something which did not occur in the past."
Mr. Newman requested, "The Town adopt a new policy of asking the planning board for suggestions and allow the planning board to interview candidates."
Supervisor Flaherty said "we will take that under advisement."

A motion was made by Flaherty seconded by Hitchcock and carried approving Resolution #3. This resolution is in memory of Audrey Soule.
ROLL CALL: Aye 5 Flaherty, Hitchcock, Kutcher, LaPierre, Wilson
Nay 0

Attorney Rappleyea gave the Board an informational overview of the SPDES permits concerning Mt. View Estates.
He said, "Currently Mt. View Estates has two waste water treatment projects for the two different buildings. The reason this is important is because the current project before the planning board for site plan review is to consolidate those two into one. Because it is a change of that magnitude a new SPDES permit will have to be issued for the one new project. A new permit would not have to be done if they were going to rehab two whole ones. The new permit cannot be issued to the homeowners association. It must be issued to either a transportation corporation, which the Town would have to regulate or the Town could be issued the SPDES permit."
"The Town would have to have a bond in place that protects the Town if there is a violation of the SPDES permit."
"Representatives from Mt. View Estates intend to come to the February meeting to give further information."
Attorney Rappleyea will familiarize himself with the options and bring a recommendation to the Board.

Under old business:

The 120 day-comment period on the DEP land acquisition on Rt. 23A is drawing to a close.
The Board agreed that the lands should be opened to hunting.

The contractor has not contacted the Town to give a date when work will begin on the bathrooms. Councilman Hitchcock will contact the party again and report to the Board at the February meeting.

Councilmen LaPierre and Wilson will met with the Town's web-master, Peter Peters, to discuss a system to keep data up to date.

A motion was made by Flaherty seconded by LaPierre and carried to accept the resignation of Marvin Rubinger as Town Justice effective immediately.

A motion was made by Flaherty seconded by LaPierre and carried approving the contract agreement with the Dog Control Officer.

Under Other:

Superintendent Mallory gave a written paper to the Board reminding the Board that a program was established in 2000 to replace the entire fleet with new trucks and so far three new trucks have been purchased.
He asked for permission to bid for a 4th snowplow-dump truck.

The highway committee will meet on Monday January 12th at 8AM do discuss items concerning the highway department and report back to the Board at the next meeting.

The Board requested an inventory of equipment over $5000.00 and the mileage at the beginning of each year as well as a list of when something might have to be replaced.

Councilman Hitchcock "we do have a fairly serious problem with County roads. On County Route 40 and 23C the culvert will not take the water."
The Supervisor, on behalf of the Town, will write to our County Legislator about the problem.

Concerning the status on the one-way section of Peck Road.
The Superintendent stated, "The Supervisor asked the State if a section could be made one- way. I wanted to ask the State what could be done with the intersection."
The Superintendent contacted the County to put up the one-way signs but so far nothing has been done.
Superintendent Mallory, "I am in favor, on Peck Road, of letting the State decide what they think should be done there. I would like to write and ask what they can do to alleviate the problem".

Councilman Hitchcock asked about the employee book. The committee will meet with the concerned employees and report back to the Board.

Councilman LaPierre reported to the Board that he spoke with a coordinator at the Watershed Agriculture Council on hazardous waste collection that WAC does every year. He mentioned that the Town is interested in doing hazardous materials collection this year. The coordinator mentioned that the Town of Halcott might be interested in coordinating with the Town of Jewett.
The Councilman would like to get all the Mountain Top Towns to work on a common hazardous waste collection. There may be some monies from WAC to help out on this. The coordinator will send information to Councilman LaPierre.

Last year Councilman LaPierre brought up the idea of creating a high school award in each of the school districts. "This is for graduating senior from the Town who does something outstanding in civics or citizenship or whatever."
Councilmen LaPierre and Kutcher will work on drafting language to spell out the qualifications for the award.

Bills were audited and ordered paid. The general fund was $7,745.93 on abstract #1, claim numbers 1 to 17. The highway fund was $2,487.41 on abstract #1, claim numbers 1 to 9.

There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 9PM on a motion by Kutcher seconded by LaPierre and carried.

_________________________________
Patricia Merwin Town Clerk