The re-organizational and regular meeting of the Jewett Town Board was held on January 9, 2002. The meeting was called to order at 7PM by Supervisor Michael Flaherty. Present were Boardmembers Marilyn Haarklau, Paul LaPierre, Thomas Hitchcock, Mark Middleton, Superintendent of Highways Robert Mallory, Assessor Georgette Krauss, Building Inspector Robert Bosworth, newspaper reporter Mike Ryon, Attorney for the Town Tal G. Rappleyea, several Town residents and the town clerk.

The Public Hearing on a local "Sign Law" was opened.
Planning Board Chairwoman Bostrom asked if a fee was going to be included to cover the cost of handling the application?
The Board agreed on a $15.00 application fee.
Ms. Bostrom said there is no longer signs as you enter the Town stating that building and zoning permits are required.
The Board agreed and will have this information put on wood to go under the Welcome to Jewett signs.
The Board will have the Attorney add a sentence at the end of article I, in the sign law, to read "approval here under does not relieve the applicant from compliance with any County or State sign law, rule or regulation."
On a motion by Hitchcock, seconded by LaPierre and carried this public hearing was closed.

The Public Hearing on "Senior Citizen Exemption" was opened.
Assessor Krauss gave the Board a summery of the requirements for the exemption. She also included, for the Boards consideration, a draft of an ad to go in the paper concerning the exemption.
On a motion by LaPierre, seconded by Haarklau and carried this public hearing was closed.

On a motion by LaPierre, seconded by Haarklau and carried the Board approved the "Sign Law" as amended.
ROLL CALL: Supervisor Michael Flaherty Aye Nay
Boardmember Paul LaPierre Aye Nay
Boardmember Marilyn Haarklau Aye Nay
Boardmember Mark Middleton Aye Nay
Boardmember Thomas Hitchcock Aye Nay

On a motion by Flaherty, seconded by LaPierre and carried the Board approved the adoption of the sliding scale to be used for the senior citizen tax exemption for 2002. The Board also approved the Assessors ad to go in the paper.
ROLL CALL: Supervisor Michael Flaherty Aye Nay
Boardmember Marilyn Haarklau Aye Nay
Boardmember Mark Middleton Aye Nay
Boardmember Thomas Hitchcock Aye Nay
Boardmember Paul LaPierre Aye Nay

The re-organizational meeting was called to order. Attorney for the Town Tal G. Rappleyea gave the oath of office to those officials elected in the November 2001 election.

A motion was made by Flaherty, seconded by Hitchcock and carried approving Resolution #1. This resolution concerns appointments, mileage, committees, Board meeting date and early payment by the Supervisor. The resolution is attached to the minutes and is on file in the Town Clerks office.
ROLL CALL: Supervisor Michael Flaherty Aye Nay
Boardmember Mark Middleton Aye Nay
Boardmember Thomas Hitchcock Aye Nay
Boardmember Paul LaPierre Aye Nay
Boardmember Marilyn Haarklau Aye Nay

A motion was made by Flaherty, seconded by Hitchcock and carried to adopt Resolution #2 with the following changes: flow trucks should be plow trucks and under benefit hours the carry over should read "up to 160 days sick leave based on an 8 hour work day ."
ROLL CALL: Supervisor Michael Flaherty Aye Nay
Boardmember Thomas Hitchcock Aye Nay
Boardmember Paul LaPierre Aye Nay
Boardmember Marilyn Haarklau Aye Nay
Boardmember Mark Middleton Aye Nay

The Board audited the Justice books and reviewed the yearly report. On a motion by Hitchcock, seconded by Haarklau and carried the books and report were accepted.

The Board audited the Town Clerk's book and reviewed the yearly report. On a motion by Flaherty, seconded by Hitchocok and carried the book and report were accepted.

The regular meeting was called to order.

The Supervisor's report was given out and those bank statements that were available by tonight's meeting were presented for review.

The Town Clerk's minutes were discussed along with a condensed version done by Councilwoman Haarklau. A motion was made by Hitchcock, seconded by LaPierre and carried to approve the Town Clerk's minutes for December 12, 2001 with the following addition: " As a result of a discussion Councilwoman Haarklau was authorized to contact Susan Beecher regarding more information on the kiln."
A motion was made by Councilman LaPierre that the version of the minutes posted on the web site be a condensation of the minutes of the regular Town Board meeting as done by Councilwoman Haarklau.
There was no second to this motion.
A motion was made by Middleton, seconded by LaPierre and carried approving the December 20, 2001 minutes as written and presented by the Town Clerk with the following correction: "Becky McGowan has three years to serve out the vacancy of Mr. Wenzell."

The Assessor gave a written and an oral report. She explained that when the equalization rate is high the tax rate is low. When an update was done this year the Town's equalization rate was reduced from 108.54 to 100%. The Town's tax rate is no different from any other Town that is at 100% of full value. The entire County is now being assessed at the same base tax rate.
On a motion by Hitchcock, seconded by Middleton and carried the Assessors report was accepted by the Board.

The Building Inspector gave a written and an oral report. He reported a total of 64 building permits for 2001. There was one unsafe building removed. He will make the "Killmer" property a priority.
He asked the Board for some help with his typing. Last year the Board had established a wage of $10. 00 to $12.00 per hour for someone to help with the typing.
A motion was made by Middleton, seconded by LaPierre and carried to allow the Building Inspector to approach his contact and see what kind of hours will be required to accomplish the typing needed.
Councilman Hitchcock asked to have a discussion on the expiration date for a building permit put on the agenda for a future meeting.
A motion was made by Hitchcock, seconded by Flaherty and carried accepting the Building Inspectors report.

Courtesy of the Floor was opened. There were no comments from the public. A motion was made by Flaherty, seconded by LaPierre and carried to close courtesy of the floor.

The Supervisor informed the Board that the agreement with the Department for Aging concerning the rental of the upstairs facilities has been signed. This will be revisited in June or July to discuss an increase for next year.

The contract with the Columbia-Greene Humane Society was discussed. The Supervisor said a fee of $205.00 per dog was negotiated. The dog control officer will hold any dog for 5 days before they are transported to the humane society. A motion was made by Flaherty, seconded by Haarklau and carried authorizing the Supervisor to sign the contract.
Attorney Rappleyea suggested the Board might consider, because of the high cost, imposing an impoundment fee to the owner of a dog. A motion was made by LaPierre, seconded by Middleton and carried to have the Attorney draw up such a law, if not already addressed in the present dog law.

The Supervisor informed the Board that the County has opted to fund an office called "The Greene County Watershed Assistance Program". The Municipal Building and the Highway Barn are within 100 feet of a water course and come under this as a non-complying regulated activity. He would like to put them on the registry as pre-existing, non-conforming.
A motion was made by LaPierre, seconded by Hitchcock and carried giving the Supervisor permission to have these buildings placed on the registry.

Joseph D'Acunto has made application to change the name of a private road. After checking the tax map the Supervisor said that there are 5 other properties on that road. Mr. D'Acunto owns one of them.
The Board determined that Mr. D'Acunto should contact the other property owners and get written permission from them before the Town Board considers a name change.

A motion was made by Flaherty, seconded by Hitchcock and carried giving the Supervisor permission to write a letter of support to the Catskill Mountain Housing Development Corp.

A motion was made by Middleton, seconded by Flaherty and carried approving a request for use of the Municipal Building on Wednesday, January 16, 2002. The request was made by the Greene County Maple Producers Association. No fee will be charged.

Debbie Allen submitted a letter of resignation from the Zoning Board of Appeals effective January 1, 2002. This creates a vacancy on the ZBA.
The position will be advertised and the Board will interview prospective candidates before the February 13th meeting beginning at 6 PM. The ad will state the length of the term to be filled.

Notification was received from the State Department of Transportation on the Town's request for speed reductions on County Rt. 78 or Colgate Road and Ryan Road.
Colgate Road will remain at 35 MPH and Ryan Road will be posted at 40 MPH.
A motion was made by Middleton, seconded by Flaherty and carried to have a copy of the notification sent to those citizens who addressed the Board on this issue and a copy of the letter is to be placed in the East Jewett Post Office.

The Board approved the hiring of Chris Martin as the new cleaning person for the Municipal Building at $100.00 per month.

Bills were audited and ordered paid. The general fund was $4,393.90 on abstract #1, claim numbers 1 to 14. The highway fund was $1,327.61 on abstract #1, claim numbers 1 to 9.
A motion was made by Flaherty, seconded by Haarklau and carried to have "traffic control devices" paid from the general fund.

Under other:
1) The Town Clerk, after extensive research, informed the Board of the correct terms of office for each of the Planning Board members. Mr. Hamblet 's term expired on 12/31/01.
This position will be advertised and the Board will interview prospective candidates prior to the February 13th meeting beginning at 6 PM. The ad will state the length of the term to be filled.
Mr. Hamblet will be notified. A previous interviewee, Mr. Kutcher, will be notified that there are openings on the Planning and ZBA boards.
A form letter will be sent to each of the Planning Board members informing them of the length of their term on the Board.

1) On a motion by Hitchcock, seconded by LaPierre and carried the Board gave its approval to pay 100% of the health insurance cost for highway retirees Audrey Soule and Clifford Thompson henceforth. A letter will be sent notifying them of the Board's decision.

2) Councilman Hitchcock said there are at least three families in the Town that lost someone in the September 11 terrorist attack in NYC. He would like the Board to consider having a plaque made with the names of those individuals that lost their life on that day.
The Board was in agreement with this idea. Research should be done to be sure all the individuals from the Town are identified.

3) Councilman Hitchcock said he would like the Town to work on a plan to acquire land.

4) Councilman Middleton asked if the Board was still interested in hold a joint meeting with other Towns to discuss the issue of consolidating the schools? Councilman LaPierre stated that he has talked with Hunter-Tannersville Central School authorities and was told the discussion is 2 years to late.

5) Supervisor Flaherty informed the Board that a cell tower application is before the Planning Board.

6) Councilwoman Haarklau said the person on the corner of Beaches Corners Road has a truck parked there. She asked if this was against the camping regulations? The Supervisor said no and a 3rd letter will be going out to that individual that has a tent set up on the property.

7) The Board gave approval for Councilwoman Haarklau to get estimates to update the bathrooms in the Municipal Building.

8) Councilman LaPierre presented the Board with a brief, written overview of the Town's public opinion survey. He is hoping to have the narrative part for the Board soon.

There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 10:45 PM on a motion by Haarklau, seconded by Hitchcock and carried.

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Patricia Merwin Town Clerk