DECEMBER 10, 2008                                          

     A regular meeting of the Jewett Town Board was held on Wednesday, December 10, 2008.  Supervisor Michael Flaherty called the meeting to order at 7 P.M.  Present were Board members Steve Jacobs, Michael McCrary, JR Quackenbush and Elaine Warfield.
     Also present were Attorney for the Town Tal G. Rappleyea, Superintendent of Highways Robert Mallory, Judge Stephen Canfield, Zoning Officer William Dwyer and Planning Board Chairwoman Jane Bostrom; highway employees Shawn Jaeger, Jason Tompkins and Philip Benjamin, town resident Werner Pscherer and the town clerk. 

     Councilman McCrary made a motion, 2nd by Councilman Quackenbush and carried accepting the minutes of the November 5th regular meeting and the November 20th public hearing on the budget.

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

     The Zoning Officer gave a written report to the Board.

     Justice Canfield informed the Board that the grant applied for from the justice court assistance program has been approved. 

      Councilman McCrary made a motion, 2nd by Councilman Quackenbush and carried to review and change the Zoning Law concerning the ending date on timber harvest permits and the fee charged. 

     A motion was made by Supervisor Flaherty, 2nd by Councilman Quackenbush and carried adopting Resolution #23.  This resolution is requesting the NYS DEC not to adopt regulations or policies limiting or regulating natural gas mining in the Town and reads as follows;
     WHEREAS, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection commissioner, Emily Lloyd, has submitted a letter to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation commissioner, Peter Grannis, requesting that the new York State Department of Environmental conservation (“DEC”) adopt rules or regulation that would regulate natural gas mining within the New York city Watershed more stringently including banning natural gas mines within  a one mile radius of any reservoir or reservoir stem; and
     WHEREAS, DEC has announced that it is preparing a Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement to evaluate the environmental impacts associated with natural gas mining using horizontal drilling in the Marcellus Shale; and
     WHEREAS, there is no scientific basis to regulate natural gas mining within the New York City Watershed counties in a manner different or more stringent than elsewhere in New York State.
     NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Town of Jewett respectfully requests that DEC not adopt any special regulations or policies which limit or regulate natural gas mining in the New York City Watershed Counties in a manner different from the restrictions that apply state-wide.
ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye Flaherty, Jacobs, McCrary, Quackenbush and Warfield. 

     A motion was made by Supervisor Flaherty, 2nd by Councilman McCrary and carried to adopt Resolution #24.  This is a resolution stating the Town of Jewett’s opposition to the New York City Department of Environmental Protection’s Draft Amendments to the watershed rules and regulations and reads as follows; 
     WHEREAS, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP”) has released proposed amendments to the New York City Watershed Rules and Regulations (“WR&R”); and
     WHEREAS, the DEP has announced its intention to commence the public comment process; and
     WHEREAS, the Town Board of the Town of Jewett has reviewed the proposed amendments to the WR&R; and
     WHEREAS, the Town Board believes that the proposed amendments will increase costs to the local residents of the watershed without any additional funding to address those cost increases; and
     WHEREAS, the DEP has not demonstrated a technical justification for the proposed changes and has not issued or released information on the cost to comply with these amendments; and
     WHEREAS, the DEP has not identified the water quality benefits that would result from such proposed amendments; and
      WHEREAS, New York City is attempting to shift the cost of avoiding filtering its water supply to some of the poorest communities within New York State. 
     NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Town of Jewett respectfully submits its formal objection to the adoption of the proposed amendments to the WR&R as currently proposed since the DEP has neither demonstrated a need for these proposed changes nor identified the water quality benefits that would result from such proposed amendments or made arrangements for funding the incremental costs arising there from.
ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye Flaherty, Jacobs, McCrary, Quackenbush and Warfield.

     Supervisor Flaherty made a motion, 2nd by Councilman McCrary and carried to reappoint Charles Kutcher to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a 5 year term to end 12/31/2013.

     Councilman Quackenbush made a motion, 2nd by Councilman Jacobs and carried to reappoint Carol Muth to the Planning Board for a 7 year term to end 12/31/2015.

     Supervisor Flaherty made a motion, 2nd by Councilman Quackenbush and carried to appoint Donna Bernard to the Planning Board to fill the vacancy of Paul Rosedale.  This term ends 12/31/2012.

      The Board approved a letter in support of the Mountain Cloves Scenic Byways Corridor Management Plan in August, 2008.   
     Councilman McCrary said, “The following resolution will help implement the plan.  Since we are contagious to and we get traffic from it, a lot of the State funding for this will help to improve the roads and will have an effect on us.  There is thinking in the works to ultimately connect all the byways to continue down Rt. 23.”  
     A motion was made by Councilman McCrary, 2nd by Supervisor Flaherty and carried to adopt Resolution #25.  This is a resolution for Mountain Cloves Scenic Byway Nomination and Corridor Management Plan Adoption and reads as follows;
     WHEREAS, three officially recognized segments of New York State Scenic Byway currently exist with the Town of Hunter: 1) Route 23A from Hunter’s town line extending 3.5 miles to Haines Falls; 2(State Route 214 extending 8.8 miles south from the intersection with State Route 23A to the northern end of Lanesville; and 3) The town-owned portion of Platte Clove Road extending 2.2 miles from the West Saugerties town line to the intersection with Josh Road;
     WHEREAS, a Mountain Cloves Scenic Byway Project Steering committee, comprised of representatives from the town, villages, local community groups, interested citizens, and state and regional organizations and agencies has been formed to investigate local preferences for stewardship and enhancement of the Byway, [plus explore the potential to link the existing Byway segments into a continuous, connected Scenic Byway ‘loop’, and in so doing has carefully considered the spectrum of the community’s scenic, historic, cultural, and economic resources;
     WHEREAS, these resources reflect the community’s unique sense of place and provide for sustainable economic development that is based on the distinctive and appealing natural and rural mountaintop Character that draws people here and provides for their relaxation and enjoyment;
     WHEREAS, State Route 23A, 214 and Platte Clove Road traverse mountain cloves of extraordinary scenic beauty within the Catskill Forest Preserve and pass sites of natural, scenic, cultural, recreational, and historic importance, and
     WHEREAS, the reminder of these routes, and the other indentifies routes (County Route 23C, County Route 25, and County Route 18) traverse corridors of remarkable scenic and natural character, comprising breathtaking views of and access to the Catskill Park and the Catskill High Peaks, among other places;
     WHEREAS, after careful and detailed consideration, the committee has recommended that this entire route system be designated a Scenic Byway in order to create a network of scenic resources that would provide continuous 38-mile Mountain Cloves Scenic Byway covering the entire length of State Route 23A and 214, plus County Route 16, 18, 23C, and 25 within the Town of Hunter in Greene County as a New York State Scenic Byway;
     WHEREAS, designation as a Scenic Byway will help ensure that State funding is available to promote the corridor as a tourist destination, thereby boosting the regional economy; and
     WHEREAS, this Scenic Byway designation will help to preserve the region’s natural, cultural, and environmental legacy and enhance the interpretive resources available to visitors; and
     WHEREAS, to ensure that these resources are properly managed and there is a program for stewardship and enhancement of the Byway, the committee has drafted a Mountain Cloves Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plan to guide future activities along this corridor; and
     NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town of Jewett supports the designation of the new segments of the Mountain Cloves Scenic byway as defined in the above referenced corridor management plan; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Town of Jewett will work in partnership with the Town of Hunter and the Village of Hunter and local and regional stakeholders in order to support future Byway program
development and collaborate with these interested entities to explore opportunities for cooperation and methods to advance the Scenic Byways.
ROLL CALL VOTE Aye:  Flaherty, Jacobs, McCrary, Quackenbush and Warfield

     Under Courtesy of the Floor:

     Shawn Jaeger spoke to the Board about the difficulty the highway employees have communicating when a new Board member comes into office. “It’s frustrating because we have to explain over and over what has happened in the past.”
     Councilwoman Warfield, “I would hope you could come to a meeting and express yourself anytime.”    
     Councilman Quackenbush, “Anyone could call me any time to discuss any problem. “    

     Councilman Quackenbush made a motion, 2nd by Councilman McCrary and carried accepting the Supervisor’s October financial report.  Bank statements were made available for review. 

     The audit committee of Supervisor Flaherty and Councilman McCrary audited the bills prior to the meeting.
     Supervisor Flaherty made a motion to approve the bills.  Councilman McCrary 2nd the motion and Board members voted Aye.
     The general fund was $63,706.99 on abstract #12, claim numbers 283 to 331.  The highway fund was $22,660.95 on abstract #12, claim numbers 194 to 212.
     The audit committee for January, February and March will be Councilwoman Warfield and Councilman Jacobs.

     On a motion by Supervisor Flaherty, 2nd by Councilman McCrary and carried the Board went into Executive Session at 8:07 P.M. concerning union bargaining.
     Councilman McCrary made a motion, 2nd by Supervisor Flaherty and carried to come out of Executive Session at 9:P.M.

     Councilman McCrary made a motion, 2nd by Councilman Quackenbush and carried to adjourn the meeting at 9:01 P.M.

                                                                             ______________________________
  

                                                                             Patricia Merwin, Town Clerk, RMC

Year End Meeting

DECEMBER 22, 2008                                              

      The year-end meeting of the Jewett Town Board was held on Monday, December 22, 2008. Supervisor Michael Flaherty called the meeting to order at 6 P.M.
     Present were Board members Steve Jacobs, Michael McCrary and Elaine Warfield.   Councilman JR Quackenbush was absent.  Present was Superintendent of Highways Robert Mallory and the town clerk. 

     The audit committee of Supervisor Flaherty and Councilman McCrary audited the bills prior to the meeting. 
     Councilman McCrary made a motion to approve the bills.  Supervisor Flaherty 2nd the motion and Board members voted Aye.
     The general fund was $3,935.41 on abstract #12A, claim numbers 332 t6o 340.  The highway fund was $3,911.22 on abstract #12A, claim numbers 213 to 216.

     Supervisor Flaherty made a motion, 2nd by Councilman McCrary and carried to adopt Resolution #26.  This resolution is a transfer of funds to balance the general fund and the highway fund for the end of the year. 
     ROLL CALL VOTE: AYE Flaherty, Jacobs, McCrary and Warfield. 

     Supervisor Flaherty made a motion, 2nd by Councilman Jacobs and carried to adopt Resolution #27.  The resolution is a Submission of Joint Application for New York State Department of State 2008-2009 Local Government Efficiency Grant for Mountaintop Ambulance Service Feasibility Study and reads as follows.
     WHEREAS, the New York State Governor and Legislature have provided funding for the 2008-2009 Local Government Efficiency (LGE) Grants, and is soliciting applications from local government to assist local governments in examining opportunities for shared services or consolidations; and
     WHEREAS, the New York State Department of State is soliciting applications from eligible applicants of up to $25,000 in State funding through the General Efficiency Planning Grant section of the LGE program, with funding provided based on a minimum 10% cash match; and
     WHEREAS, The mountaintop Supervisors and Mayors Association, whose membership includes the Town of Halcott, Prattsville, Ashland, Jewett, Lexington, Hunter, and Windham and the Villages of Hunter and Tannersville, in partnership with the Greene County Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Planning have determined that it would be beneficial to collaborate on a grant application for the development of a feasibility study to examine alternatives for improving ambulance services on the mountaintop.
      NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town of Jewett supports the submission of the 2008-2009 Local Government Efficiency Grant Application by the Greene County Department of Economic Development, Tourism & Planning, as the Lead Applicant, in partnership with the Mountaintop Municipalities as co-applicants in the amount of twenty five thousand dollars ($25,000); and be it further
     RESOLVED, that the Town Supervisor is hereby authorized and directed to sign and file all documents and assurances, as may be necessary, to provide for the Town’s participation as a co-applicant, including commitment of the cash match, to be equitably distributed amongst participating mountaintop municipalities.
     ROLL CALL VOTE; AYE Flaherty, Jacobs, McCrary and Warfield.

     Supervisor Flaherty made a motion, 2nd by Councilman McCrary and carried to set the Senior Citizen and Disabled/Low Income exemptions for 2009 at $19,500. This will be Local Law #1 and #2.   A Public Hearing on these laws is scheduled for the January 14, 2009 meeting.    

     Supervisor Flaherty made a motion, 2nd by Councilwoman Warfield and carried giving approval for the Superintendent of Highways to purchase a new sander at a cost of $7,450.

     Supervisor Flaherty made a motion, 2nd by Councilman McCrary and carried to go into Executive Session at 6:28 P.M.  concerning personnel matters.
     Supervisor Flaherty made a motion, 2nd by Councilman McCrary and carried to come out of Executive Session at 6:37 P.M.

     Councilman Jacobs asked that a report be given to the Board each meeting about the union negations even if there is no contract yet.

     Councilwoman Warfield asked if a letter from the Building Inspector had gone out to a land owner on Colgate Road concerning the water problem on his neighbor’s property.  The Building Inspector will be at the January, 2009 meeting to answer any questions. 

     A motion was made by Supervisor Flaherty, 2nd by Councilman McCrary and carried to adjourn the meeting at 6:42 P.M.

                                                              _______________________________
                                                                Patricia Merwin Town Clerk, RMC