November 8, 2006

A regular meeting of the Jewett Town Board was held on November 8, 2006 . Supervisor Michael Flaherty called the meeting to order at 7 P.M. Present were Board members Charles Kutcher, Thomas Hitchcock, Harry T. Wilson and Elaine Warfield, newly appointed to the Town Board.

Present were Attorney for the Town Tal G. Rappleyea, Building Inspector Thomas Cross, Assessor Georgette Krauss, Zoning Officer William Dwyer, newspaper reporter Mike Ryan and the town clerk.

Supervisor Flaherty made a motion to appoint Elaine Warfield to the Town Board to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Councilman Paul LaPierre in March of this year, 2 nd by Councilman Kutcher and carried.

Attorney Rappleyea gave the oath of office to Councilwoman Warfield.

Supervisor Flaherty opened the Public Hearing on the 2007 budget.

There was no one from the public present.

Supervisor Flaherty made a motion to close the public hearing, 2 nd by Councilman Kutcher and carried.

There was a correction made to the 2007 budget in the Town Justice's personal services. The preliminary budget showed $9,500. The Board agreed at the budget workshop that that amount was to remain $9,200.

Councilman Hitchcock “I'm having a problem with the Supervisor's salary.”

The Councilman named some issues, the Village of Hunter garage site and the holding of the general election in the larger dining area. The Councilman felt these issues should have been addressed by the Supervisor but hasn't seen where anything had been taken care of because there is no monthly Supervisor's report.

He said, “I don't mind paying people more money but it should be related to job performance. I'm not seeing it and we never discuss it.”

Councilman Kutcher “The time to discuss this was when we took a vote at the budget workshops in October. We all agreed to it. You are being irresponsible by not having raising these issues sooner.”

Councilman Wilson “I precipitate, maybe two years ago, the idea of increasing the supervisors salary, not Mike Flaherty's salary and I hold to that. The budget was reflective of the office not the person.”

“On the voting area, on the Republican level, when I called to make sure they were going to be there that would have been the time to tell them of the change. That's the protocol; I don't think that's the responsibility of the Supervisor.”

It was noted that the increase in the Supervisor's salary was shifted from the previous insurance buyout given last year.

Councilman Kutcher made a motion to approve the preliminary budget as amended as the 2007 annual budget, 2 nd by Councilman Wilson and carried.

Councilman Hitchcock was opposed.

Minutes of the October 11, 2006 regular meeting were accepted on a motion by Councilman Hitchcock, 2 nd by Supervisor Flaherty and carried.

Minutes of the October 18 th and 24 th budget workshops was accepted on a motion by Councilman Hitchcock, 2 nd by Councilman Kutcher and carried.

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

The Building Inspector said he attended the last course for the year and received 28 hours of credit, he only needed 24 hours.

The number of permits issued this time in 2005 was 34 and in 2006 it's 32. The number of C of O searches in 2005 was 34; this year it's 32.

Attorney Rappleyea said he would have a draft of the new building code for the Board to look at next month.

A motion was made by Councilman Hitchcock, 2 nd by Councilman Wilson and carried to accept the building inspectors monthly report.

Zoning Office Dwyer “Everything was cleared up.”

The Board gave a new list of 5 unsafe buildings for the building inspector and zoning officer to look at.

A motion was made by Supervisor Flaherty, 2 nd by Councilman Hitchcock and carried to accept the zoning officer's monthly report.

Councilman Hitchcock made a motion, 2 nd by Supervisor Flaherty directing Attorney Rappleyea to commence proceeding for contempt against the owner of Rough Rider Ranch and ask for the maximum penalty.

The Highway Superintendent's request for a sander for the new one-ton pickup was tabled.

On a motion by Supervisor Flaherty, 2 nd by Councilman Hitchcock and carried the Board went into executive session at 7:47 P.M. concerning personal matter.

On a motion by Councilman Kutcher, 2 nd by Councilman Wilson and carried the Board came out of executive session at 7:55 P.M.

The Assessor will submit a written resignation to the Board.

Councilman Hitchcock made a motion to accept the September financial report, 2 nd by Councilman Kutcher and carried.

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 $17,453.71 on abstract #11, claim numbers 229 to 246. The highway fund was $26,930.67 on abstract #11, claim numbers 197 to 215.

Councilman Kutcher made a motion, 2 nd by Councilman Wilson and carried giving the Supervisor approval to sign a one-year contract with the Columbia-Greene Humane Society.

Councilman Wilson made a motion to hire Pattison,Koskey,Howe & Bucci, CPA's to do an independent audit of the Town books at a cost of $5,700, 2 nd by Councilman Kutcher and carried.

The Town Clerk was instructed to write a letter to the Republican and Democratic Chairmen asking them to inform their party election inspectors that the next general election will take place in the dining room.

On a motion by Councilman Kutcher, 2 nd by Councilman Hitchcock the Board went into executive session at 8:35 P.M. concerning personal matters.

On a motion by Councilman Kutcher, 2 nd by Councilman Hitchcock the Board came out of executive session at 9:05 P.M.

There was no action taken.

There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 9:07 P.M. on a motion by Supervisor Flaherty, 2 nd by Councilman Wilson and carried.

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Patricia Merwin Town Clerk

Planning Board

November 2, 2006

Roll Call: Chair: Jane Bostrom
Members: Janet Nicholls, Paul Rosedale and Carol Muth
Absent: Gene Beers, Joan Kutcher

Agenda Item 2: Approval of Minutes of October 5, 2006.
Approval of Minutes was tabled until December meeting.

Agenda Item 11: Other business
Mrs. Nicholls reported the Town Board has re-appointed her for a seven year term.

Agenda Item 3: Application for Minor Subdivision for Joann Rubinger of County Rt. 40, Jewett, NY; Tax Map No. 131.00-2-3; District: Rural Residential. Present: Joann Rubinger.

Mrs. Dwyer reported the Zoning Board of Appeals at their November 1, 2006 meeting granted Ms. Rubinger an area variance of twenty-two feet with a deadline of one-year to move the shed from its’ existing location. After review of the application and supporting documents, Mrs. Muth made the motion to accept the application as complete and to schedule the Public Hearing for December 7, 2006 at 7:30 pm. Mrs. Nicholls seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and the motion carried. Mrs. Bostrom instructed the applicant to notify all property owners within 500 feet of the proposed subdivision by certified mail at least 10 days prior to the hearing date and to post the hearing sign at least 10 days prior to the hearing. Mrs. Dwyer provided the required sign to be posted on the property, the certification of posting form, and the draft form of the notification letter.

Agenda Item 4: Application for Minor Subdivision for Sheepskin Hills Inc of Ford Hill Road, Jewett, NY; Tax Map No. 147.00-2-21.11; District: Rural Residential. Present: Mr. Vanucchi.

The applicant submitted revised plats. Members noted two neighbors were not indicated on the plat but were listed on the list of neighboring property owners. Mr. Vanucchi assured the Board they would be notified properly. After review of the application and supporting documents, Mrs. Muth made the motion to accept the application as complete and the schedule the Public Hearing for December 7, 2006 at 7:30 pm. Mr. Rosedale seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and the motion carried. Mrs. Bostrom instructed the applicant to notify all property owners within 500 feet of the proposed subdivision by certified mail at least 10 days prior to the hearing date and to post the hearing sign at least 10 days prior to the hearing. Mrs. Dwyer provided the required sign to be posted on the property, the certification of posting form, and the draft form of the notification letter.

Agenda Item 5: Report from County Planning Board Representative.
Mr. Beers was not present, therefore, there is no report.

There being no other business, Mrs. Nicholls made the motion to close the meeting. Mr. Rosedale seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and the meeting closed at 8:20 pm.

Respectfully Submitted,

Ann Dwyer, Clerk

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Jane Bostrom, Chair