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| October 6 and 20, 2004 A budget workshop was held on October 6 th and 20 th , 2004. Present were Supervisor Michael Flaherty, Superintendent of Highways Robert Mallory, Board members Thomas Hitchcock, Charles Kutcher, Paul LaPierre, Harry T. Wilson and the town clerk. No one from the public was present. At the end of the October 20 th workshop a motion was made by Hitchcock, 2 nd by LaPierre and carried to accept the 2005 preliminary budget. _____________________________ Patricia Merwin Town Clerk
October 13, 2004 A regular meeting of the Jewett Town Board was held on October 13, 2004. Supervisor Michael Flaherty called the meeting to order at 7PM. Present were Board members Thomas Hitchcock, Charles Kutcher, Paul LaPierre and Harry T. Wilson. Also present were Superintendent of Highways Robert Mallory, Building Inspector Robert Bosworth, Zoning Officer William Dwyer, and Mt. View Estate representative Rob Panasci, Esq., Assessor Georgette Krauss, Attorney for the Town Tal G. Rappleyea and the town clerk. Minutes of the September 8, 2004 regular meeting were accepted on a motion by Kutcher, 2 nd by Hitchcock and carried. The Supervisor's report was given to the Board and bank statements were made available for review. The Tax Collector's report for the tax year 2004 was given to the Board. Assessor Krauss gave a presentation on proposals to increase the exemption for the 2005 assessment roll. The first proposal is for an alternative veterans exemption. This exemption has not changed since 1985 and only applies to full time residents. The second proposal shows increases and adjustments to the Senior Citizen Sliding Scales Exemption and the Disabled with Low Income Exemption. Upon the Assessors recommendation a motion was made by Wilson, 2 nd by Kutcher and carried approving Resolution # 23. This resolution gives approval for a Local Law increasing the allowable maximum exemption to a one step increase for veterans. ROLL CALL: Flaherty, Wilson and Kutcher voting yes. LaPierre and Hitchcock rescued themselves. A Public Hearing on this local law is scheduled for the November 3, 2004 regular meeting. Board members will speak with County Legislator James Hitchcock asking the county to consider passage of this exemption on the County level. A motion was made by Hitchcock, 2 nd by LaPierre and carried approving Resolution #24. This resolution approves a Local Law to make additional increases and adjustments to the Senior Citizen sliding scale exemption and the disabled with low- income exemption. ROLL CALL: Aye 5 Flaherty, Hitchcock, Kutcher, LaPierre and Wilson Nay 0 A Public Hearing on this local law is scheduled for the November 3, 2004 regular meeting. Building Inspector Bosworth presented his monthly reports to the Board. A motion was made by Hitchcock, 2 nd by Kutcher and carried to accept the reports.
Zoning Officer Dwyer presented his monthly report to the Board. He reported that the Planning Board approved the sign at Mt. Creek Inn to be constructed on their own property with certain restrictions. Also Mr.Blodgett was ordered by the Town court to clean up his property within one week or face a fine. A motion was made by Hitchcock, 2 nd by LaPierre and carried accepting the report.
Mt. View Estates representative Attorney Rob Panasci addressed the Board about the upgrade on the speedies permit. The permit was inadvertently issued to a homeowners association, which is illegal. Attorney Panasci is petitioning the Town to see if there is any problem consenting to them forming a transportation corporation. Attorney Panasci said part of the problem is the Operation & Maintenance agreement between NYC and Mt. View I & II. It has to be determined what the actual O & M cost is for Mt. View I & II then NYC would pay the remaining cost. Attorney Rappleyea said the Town should be a third party beneficiary as part of that agreement. Attorney Rappleyea further stated that the Town has 60 days from the receipt of the request to make a decision on their petition seeking our consent for approval of their formation of a transportation corporation. The Town is requesting a 5year bond of $10,000 per year from Mt. View I & II for their operation & maintenance, a bond from DEP for their 5year share of operation & maintenance and a completion bond from DEP. This discussion was tabled until the November 3, 2004 meeting. Under old business: Attorney Rappleyea said he has gone as far as he can with DEP discussing the easement of the parcel on Co. Rt. 17 and DEP won't budge. He was instructed to go ahead and offer the Makely's the $1,280 for the easement per the September 2004 resolution. Attorney Rappleyea did an analysis on the Mass Gathering Law and compared it against the recommended law from the Association of Towns. He found that the Town's law was consistent with the one from the Association of Towns and the State of NY. The Sound committee has submitted a draft law to Attorney Rappleyea for his review. A motion was made by Wilson, 2 nd by Flaherty and carried to raise fees as follows: Subdivision fees: sketch plan review: $100 at time of preliminary plan: minor subdivision: $200 for 1 st two lots $300 per lot for lots 3 & 4 major subdivision $200 for 1 st two lots $300 per lot for lots 3 & 4 $500 per lot for lots 5-14 $750 per lot for lots 15-29 $1000 per lot for over 29 ZBA application fee for a variance is $100. On a motion by Wilson, 2 nd by Kutcher and carried the application fee for a cell tower will be $5000 and $3000 upon approval. Site plan review fees were tabled for discussion at the November meeting. The sign law was discussed. The Board looked at amending item H in the law on “off site signs for directional purposes”. Attorney Rappleyea suggested that item H be amended to read “no more then two signs off site may be permitted by the Planning Board for business, churches or service organizations located in the Town. Such off site signs may be erected only if necessary for directional purposes.” “The size of the directional sign will be 2 square feet and Catskill Park colors will be used.” This item was tabled. Attorney Rappleyea will have a draft for the November 3, 2004 meeting. The Supervisor asked for comments on the DEP conservation easement acquisition on Bailey Road. Councilman Hitchcock “What we're doing here with very little thought or consideration for the future, 150, 200 years from now, is locking away thousands of acres that will never ever be developed. DEP wants to acquire as much land as they can to protect their watershed; I have no problem with that. My problem is that we have very little to say about it. I think development can be handled, can be managed in a responsible manner to allow more people in and still preserve the integrity of this valley.” “I think it should come before some board that takes the vision of the future of this Town and mountain top into consideration. This body should have the right to say no you can't do it.” Councilman LaPierre “You have people that are willing sellers.” There were no other comments. A motion was made by LaPierre, 2 nd by Wilson and carried approving the Supervisor to write a letter of support for the efforts of the Haines Falls Library to obtain a grant. A motion was made by Flaherty, 2 nd by Kutcher and carried approving Resolution #25. This resolution is supporting restoration of traffic fine revenue. ROLL CALL: Aye 4 Flaherty, Kutcher, LaPierre and Wilson Nay 1 Hitchcock Councilman Wilson reported on the web site business link. The yellow page idea is going to be followed. Business in good standing in the Town will be able to list their name, address and phone number. Businesses outside the Town will pay a fee for the listing. This is still in the design phase. This item was tabled for future discussion. The Town will advertise for a part-time building inspector. Interviews will be scheduled when applicants reply. The finance committee of Councilmen Hitchcock and Kutcher audited the bills prior to the meeting. Councilman Hitchcock made a motion recommending the Board approve the audit. Councilman Kutcher 2 nd the motion and all Board members voted Aye. The general fund was $9,885.30 on abstract #10, claim numbers 225 to 259. The highway fund was $26,071.70 on abstract #10, claim numbers 152 to 166. Councilmen Hitchcock and LaPierre were appointed as the finance committee for November, December and January. A motion was made by Wilson, 2 nd by Hitchcock and carried approving the secretary to the building inspector to purchase a CD drive for $150. There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 9:30 PM on a motion by Kutcher, 2 nd by Wilson and carried. _____________________________________ Patricia Merwin Town Clerk
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