A regular meeting of the Jewett Town Board was held on October 8, 2003. Supervisor Michael Flaherty called the meeting to order at 7PM. Present were Board members Mark Middleton, Thomas Hitchcock and Paul LaPierre. Also present were Robert Mallory, Superintendent of Highways, Tal G. Rappleyea, Attorney for the Town, Robert Bosworth, Building Inspector and William Dwyer, Zoning Officer. Town residents Jane Bostrom, Werner Pscherer and Tom Wilson. Highway employees Shawn Jaeger, Jason Tompkins, Waylon McCullar and the town clerk.

Minutes of the September 10, 2003 regular meeting were approved as presented on a motion by Hitchcock seconded by LaPierre and carried.
Minutes of the September 29, 2003 emergency meeting will be resubmitted to the Board.

The Supervisor's monthly report was given to the Board and bank statements were made available for review.

The Building Inspector presented his monthly written report. He reviewed some of the items with the Board.
On a motion by Hitchcock, seconded by LaPierre and carried the building inspector's report was accepted.

The Zoning Inspector presented his monthly written report. He went over his report with the Board.
A motion was made by Hitchcock, seconded by Flaherty and carried to accept the zoning officer's report.

Under courtesy of the floor:

Town resident Werner Pscherer asked if something could be done about trucks bringing mud onto a Town road from building sites. Mr. Pscherer stated that this should be the contractor's responsibility. They should be made to clean up or at least put some stone down.
Councilman Middleton "We do have trucks that transverse certain properties and get out onto our roads and carry with them some mud. Where I would object or where I would agree with you is if that mud is so excessive that it could in turn be in a clump in a size that it would prohibit proper braking or would cause you to avoid them. As far as just trucks tracking mud onto the road I have a hard time trying to enforce that unless it's to a point where it's, in my mind, going to effect a lawful navigation of that road."
Superintendent Mallory said he would sweep the Town road tomorrow.

Town resident Jane Bostrom said she "picked up a brochure advertising Rough Riders Ranch."
Attorney Rappleyea "Now that we have a zoning officer he can put together the case, then we can prosecute."
Councilman LaPierre asked "is he not in violation of a court order now?"
Attorney Rappeleya "Yes."
Councilman Middleton "We need to set up a fine system."
Attorney Rappleyea "It's like a violation of probation. During that time if you violate the terms of your probation your cited with a new summons that says you violated your probation and we have to bring you back in. There's a hearing to determine whether or not you actually violated it. It's not automatic. There still has to be a determination that that violation occurred. I think that multiple violations incur a steeper fine and/ or incarceration."
Attorney Rappleyea will work with the zoning officer on this matter.

Highway worker Shawn Jaeger addressed the Board. "We're not here to complain. We come here to remind the Board how well we've done the last 10 months with one man short. I think we've gotten everything done we were suppose to."

Councilman Hitchcock asked Planning Board Chairwoman Jane Bostrom what was happening with the "tower". Is anything changing?
Chairwoman Bostrom "Lots is changing but it hasn't begun yet. Mr. Abramson was suppose to come to our October meeting and he didn't show up. He plans to come to our November meeting to re-instigate his proposal."

Supervisor Flaherty asked the Board if there were any more comments on the DEP land acquisition. The Board had none. The request on the right of way has been sent and they should respond.

The Public Hearing on the 2004 budget was scheduled for 7PM on Wednesday, November 5, 2003. The regular monthly meeting was rescheduled for Monday, November 17, 2003.

A motion was made by Flaherty, seconded by Hitchcock and carried approving Resolution #16. This resolution concerns Federal Support of Watershed Funds.
ROLL CALL: Aye 4 Flaherty, Hitchcock, LaPierre, Middleton
Nay 0

A motion was made by Flaherty, seconded by LaPierre and carried approving Resolution #17. This resolution concerns DEC's draft changes on Catskill Park use. The Town request that the NYSDEC not adopt the draft revision of the Master Plan as written.
ROLL CALL Aye 4 Flaherty, Hitchcock, LaPierre, Middleton
Nay 0

On a motion by Flaherty, seconded by LaPierre and carried the Board accepted with regret the resignation of Sharon Middleton from the Board of Assessment Review.

A motion was made by LaPierre, seconded by Hitchcock and carried to send Sharon Middleton a letter of appreciation for the work she put in on the Board of Assessment Review.

Councilman Hitchcock informed the Board that he has obtained an instructor for the Safe Driving Course. The course will be held on December 2 and 3 from 6 PM to 9PM. The cost is either $30 or $35 depending on the number of participants but a minimum of 20 people are required to hold the course.
This is open to Mt. Top residents of all ages. If passed the driver can see a 10% decrease in their liability insurance for a three year period. Ads will be in the paper and on WRIP 97.7 FM and fliers will be placed around the mountain -top.

Bills were audited and ordered paid. The general fund was $ 7,386.13 on abstract #10, claim numbers 207 to 230. The highway fund was $ 33,237.20 on abstract #10, claim numbers 144 to 160.

There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 8:30 PM on a motion by LaPierre, seconded by Hitchcock and carried.

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Patricia Merwin Town Clerk

October 8 and 13, 2003

A budget workshop was held on October 8th and October 13th, 2003. Present were Supervisor Michael Flaherty, Board members Thomas Hitchcock, Paul LaPierre, Mark Middleton and the town clerk.

At the end of the October 13th workshop a motion was made by LaPierre, seconded by Flaherty and carried to accept the 2004 preliminary budget.

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Patricia Merwin Town Clerk

November 5, 2003

The Jewett Town Board held a public hearing on the 2004 budget on November 5, 2003. Supervisor Michael Flaherty called the meeting to order at 7PM. Present were Board members Thomas Hitchcock, Paul LaPierre and Mark Middleton. Also present were town residents Werner Pscherer and Charles Kutcher and the town clerk.

The public hearing was opened. There were no comments from the public.
A motion was made by Middleton, seconded by LaPierre and carried to close the public hearing.

A motion was made by Flaherty, seconded by LaPierre and carried to accept the 2004 budget as presented.

There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 7:05 PM on a motion by Flaherty, seconded by LaPierre and carried.

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Patricia Merwin Town Clerk