12/11/2002

A regular meeting of the Jewett Town Board was held on December 11, 2002.
Supervisor Michael Flaherty called the meeting to order at 7PM. Present were
Board members Mark Middleton, Thomas Hitchcock, Paul LaPierre and the
town clerk.

The Supervisors report was given to the Board and bank statements were made
available for review.

Minutes of the October 23, 2002 budget meeting were approved as presented
on a motion by Flaherty, seconded by LaPierre and carried.

Minutes of the November 6, 2002 regular meeting with the additions
“community college tuition and the time was changed to 3PM” were approved
on a motion by LaPierre, seconded by Hitchcock and carried. Councilman
LaPierre said the Building Inspector was owed an apology because

Minutes of the November 20, 2002 work session were corrected to add
additional conservation concerning the zoning officer's position and were
approved on a motion by LaPierre, seconded by Hitchcock and carried.

The Supervisor informed the Board that he had a conversation with the zoning
officer the day after the November meeting. Supervisor Flaherty “he's pleased
a punch to have that job taken away from him.”

Councilman Hitchcock speaking about the November 20, 2002 work session.
“I thought this was a meeting for us to get together and explore some ideas about
where we were going as a Town. I was not aware, as I read in the Windham
Journal, that we were inviting in the public, we wanted a big attendance. I wasn't
aware that that was the intent of the November 20th meeting. We had one on
October 16th or 23rd at 3 PM in the afternoon and we didn't even take minutes.
We talked and talked and then set up another meeting for November 20th.”

Councilman LaPierre “We did say for the public.”

Supervisor Flaherty “We have to advertise when we're getting together.

Councilman Hitchcock “I don't remember seeing minutes of the other meeting.”

Town Clerk “No. The reason there's minutes for the November 20th meeting is
because there was business before the Board, therefore I had to be here for that
meeting to take minutes.”

Councilman Hitchcock “That changed from what I thought I was coming to. I
didn't know it was a regular Board meeting.”

Supervisor Flaherty “ It wasn't a regular meeting. We have to advertise in the
paper when we're meeting.”

Councilman Hitchcock “I know we have to advertise when we meet for a work
session or a budget or whatever. But when I see we want everyone in Jewett to
come, I don't think we were prepared for everyone to come to that meeting
were we?”

Councilman LaPierre “We had wanted that to be a public meeting and set it up
to be a public meeting.”

Councilman Middleton “I don't recall that. It was just our second meeting to get
together and discuss this further.”

Councilman LaPierre “I'm the one that proposed it. A public meeting in the
sense of inviting people to come in and contribute their ideas.”

Councilman Middleton “Are we that far in the process that we wanted people to
come in, after one meeting?”

Councilman LaPierre “Yes, just for ideas not to make a determination.”

Councilman Hitchcock “If I had understood that I would have been against it
because we weren't prepared. When Oscar Newman asked for an overview,
how can we do that?”

Councilman Middleton “I thought he put you on the spot. We weren't that far in
the process. How can we have an overview of things that the Board is just now
discussing?”

Councilman LaPierre “It was simply ment to be just a brain storming session.”

Councilman Hitchcock “For us.”

Supervisor Flaherty “We were developing our wish list.”

Councilman Hitchcock “Why didn't we do it back in October?”

Councilman LaPierre “We were having a discussion, I'm trying to remember the
chronology now.”

Councilman Hitchcock “We met in October.”

Councilman LaPierre “That was a consequence of something said at the budget
meeting about a line item for monies for land. Why don't we have a meeting
were we talk about it. That was the October 23rd meeting. At that meeting we
decided to have another meeting where it was suggested that we open it up to
the public to get input from other people.”

Councilman Hitchcock “I don't think we were prepared. I don't think we
accomplished enough at our October meeting. As I look at the November
meeting we still haven't heard anything from Mike.”

Councilman Middleton “We didn't get around the circle yet.”

Councilman LaPierre “It was just to brain storm.”

Councilman Hitchcock “I didn't think we were finished.”

Councilman Middleton “And to see it quoted in a Mike Ryan article that we're
encouraging the public. Are we ever going to be allowed to have a work session
without individuals trying to step forward, which is great, its wonderful, but it's
always the same people. Is this Board ever going to be allowed to have a work
session where we come together before we invite them in, which we are entitled
to?”

Councilman LaPierre “I would like to see other people in the community come
to the meetings.”

Councilman Middleton “That's fine. But let us, the people that are charged with
coming up with some plan, let us try to formulate it before we bring it to the
troops. Generals meet more than once before they bring it to the troops. We
have $130,000.00 now in this fund. I would have thought it would have taken
more than one meeting for us to come up with some ideas amongst us before we
say let them come in now and present what we have in mind and go from there.
But now it's disjointed because everybody has something to say. That's the
beauty of work sessions.”

Councilman LaPierre “If we're going to have any concept of where we want to
go with this whole thing we've got to have some feedback from the people in the
community.”

Councilman Middleton “I understand, but I'm just telling you I think it was to
soon, it was premature.

Councilman LaPierre “We did set it up that way.”

Councilman Hitchcock “The problem is we're encouraging people to come in for
input and I'm thinking we do not have our act together as to where we're going.
We have some ideas, which you alluded to and spoke admirably about. But as
far as where we're really going I didn't think we'd come to any kind of a
solidified kind of thing. I felt a little bit embarrassed because it looked like we
didn't know what we were doing. We are not ready to present anything about
where this Town board, which is the elected leadership of this Town, wants to
take this Town. I thought we looked a little sloppy because we just focused in
on one large facet of where we would like to see this Town go. I'm in agreement
with you but I think there are other things we haven't really got fully talked
among ourselves yet.”

Councilman LaPierre “We have only one venue. We're all out and about in the
community and we talk to people and we can get input from them on what they
think the Town ought to be doing or what they would like to see happening in the
Town. But, except for meetings we have here we have no venue in which we
can have an exchange of ideas. I'm not talking about anything formal out of
which comes some determination of what we're going to do. I'm talking simply
about bouncing ideas around off one another. The public can come up with
ideas that we may not think of, that going to stimulate our thought process.”

Councilman Hitchcock “I think there's a time for that. I don't think we're ready
for it. If you think about what we're doing for the future 10, 20, 30, 40 years
down the road it takes more than one small meeting in October.”

“We're not going to accomplish anything as the 4 or 5 of us as a Board when
we're going to start asking for the input at this early juncture. If they want to talk
to you informally someplace and say here's an idea I have and would like to see
the Board discuss it. We didn't really accomplish a whole lot that day, we did
get some things done.”

Councilman LaPierre “We got some good feedback from Charles.”

Councilman Hitchcock “I'm not knocking that. But at the same time I was
surprised to see it in the paper.”

“The paper, Mike I know it's not your fault, but there's no one here so I'm not
doing it to embarrass you, but when I read the Windham Journal article of the
Jewett Town Board meeting of November 14th, it's like I wasn't there. I see
Georgette Krauss gets mentioned three times in terms of the budget. I thought, I
guess we mentioned once the increase in assessments. But she gets lauded for
the fine job she's doing and she is, I don't have a problem with that. But I don't
think that was a major focus of our meeting on the 6th of November.”

“Your reported saying the Town staffers excluding elected officials received 3%
pay hikes. That's not a particularly honest statement, Mike. Did it tweak you at
all when you said that, after we discussed your $1000.00 raise, which would
have been about 16%, we paired that down to $500.00?”

Supervisor Flaherty “No.”

Councilman Hitchcock “It didn't bother you to say that. I was just wondering.
Did you say but I got a $500.00 raise which is about 6% but everybody else got
3%?”

Supervisor Flaherty “No, I didn't say that”

Councilman Hitchcock “Mike, did you say the elected officials got a 3% raise?”

Supervisor Flaherty “I did, yes.”

Councilman Hitchcock “But you didn't.”

Supervisor Flaherty “I don't know if I said elected officials, I said the employees
got a 3% raise but that's what he put down.”

Councilman Hitchcock “Town staffers including elected officials received 3%
pay hikes Flaherty says.”

Supervisor Flaherty “I don't remember saying that to the reporter.”

Councilman Hitchcock “It seems to me that in reading this, and I understand
Mike Ryan can attribute something to somebody so there's some of that, in
general that's where I see you encourage you want a big turnout. I can ride with
that. But then I look at this and it seems to me that when we talked about
budgets the first meeting we have on budgets, my first thing is where are we
going. Do you want to see a tax increase do you want us to hold the line do we
want to see a tax decrease? Then I read the article the thing you push is we
reduced taxes. Why don't you tell me as a Town Board member when we start
the process that your focus is going to be, as the Supervisor of this Town, to see
that we have a lower tax rate then the year before? I could live with that. If we
know what the increase in assessments is and the rest of it I could live with it. I
can't even get that much out of you.”

Supervisor Flaherty “I really don't understand. You've gone through five
budgets already?”

Councilman Hitchcock “Yes.”

Supervisor Flaherty “And each and every time.”

Councilman Hitchcock “We start with line one and there's no discussion of
anything.”

Supervisor Flaherty “That's why were meeting.”

Councilman Hitchcock “It's taken me five years to get to the point that we start
discussing, thanks to Paul, something about where this Town is going.”

Supervisor Flaherty “OK. I don't want to confuse the issue here. Last year I
had a mind set and I was trying to deliver it to you and when we came back to
this years meeting you seem to accept what I was trying to tell you last year.”

Councilman Hitchcock “That was only about that business with having some
fund set aside for buildings.”

Supervisor Flaherty “Exactly.”

Councilman Hitchcock “That's one issue. My issue is in building a budget,
whether it is the Federal government, State, School Board or us. When you
start with that document that is a road map because that's where the funds will
be put to see where we're going. But we never seem to discuss that we want to
hold the line on taxes or we want a modest increase on taxes. I did not see the
information from Georgette that we have as much increase in assessments as we
have and what that impacts to our taxes.”

Supervisor Flaherty “You eluded to that fact many times. You knew in
discussions with us what the Towns assessed valuation currently was in the
calendar year 2002. You knew that. There was another statement you alluded
to something about if City buys up all the land they could buy us out for a
hundred and fifty eight million dollars. Those things you kind of knew. We sit
down to do a budget. There are things we have no control over. Health
insurance went up over 13%. Our liability is probably going up another 15%.
This is what we work on item to item to item. If there was something we really,
really needed and we agreed as a Board we were going to do it then the taxes
will just have to work around that concept. That's the simple fact.”

Councilman Hitchcock “I understand what you're saying. Again I'm having
difficulty getting across what I'm saying.”

Councilman Middleton “The reality of it is, as good as Georgette does,
Georgette didn't have a God damn thing to do with this budget. If you read that
paper she was a savior. She was the one that dedicated this and dedicated that.
What was that all about, she never was here for one budget meeting. She does
her job and does it admirably.”

Supervisor Flaherty “She has done what other Towns assessors have not done.
She reached in and found out there was a program available that is financed by
the Department of State for Real Property and locked it in with all the paper
work. We're guaranteed an additional $9,300.00 to $9,500.00 in revenue. We
didn't know if we had it for sure on an annual basis, it was assured because she
did the job correctly. That helped an awful lot to keep us in a better position.”

Councilman Middleton “That's understandable and we can commend her. That's
not a problem.

But the way you laid that out to Ryan, unless he's taken liberties you don't even
want him to take, it looked as though if it weren't for Georgette Krauss this
Town would have had unbelievable taxes and an increase. It looked like she
was a savior to the Town of Jewett. What the hell did we do here?”

Councilman LaPierre “You can't hold Mike accountable for the way he wrote.”

Councilman Middleton “It's his quote. Don't talk to the papers that much. I can
hold him accountable.”

Councilman LaPierre “It's the way Mike Ryan takes the information he gets and
writes an article.”

Councilman Middleton “ Then don't talk to Mike Ryan. Mike Ryan gets a quote
from Mike Flaherty every meeting. Does he get one from you, does he get one
from me, very rarely. The point is that it's totally slanted, it's not true. This
Board was more than capable of holding the line if we knew that that was our
directive and it wasn't all showered on the Assessor. I think we did an
admirable job making the numbers work. If it was a lousy $9,300.00 we could
have made it work too. It just went wrong. I heard feedback and I'm not a
local yokel. I hear feedback – this Georgette's doing a wonderful job. She is.
I've always commended her but I also think this Board's done a wonderful job
holding taxes in this Town. No mention about how hard the Board worked to
get this the way it was. We all have broad shoulders but it was just so slanted,
it's ridiculous.

Again I concur. We're employees Mike; you're an employee so am I and so is
Paul. Everybody got 3% how came we didn't say the Supervisor requested and
got a 7-½% raise. I think we talk too much to the paper, that's what I think. If
he wants something out of us then let him come and let him hear it first hand.
And if you try to call him to correct something, guess what, he doesn't return
your call. He doesn't return mine. That's why I had the words with him the other
night because he didn't want to hear about it. He hears one thing he's not going
to retract anything, God forbid.”

There was no audience present so there was no courtesy of the floor.

A motion was made by Hitchcock seconded by Middleton and carried to adopt
the sliding scale senior tax exemption at the same scale as last year.

The Board discussed the 1 acre of surplus land in South Jewett. This had been
tabled from the last meeting.

Supervisor Flaherty asked “if there was any interest” in selling the parcel?

Councilman LaPierre “Are we were under any particular pressure to sell it?”

Supervisor Flaherty “No.” The party called the Supervisor and let him know he
was interested in buying it. The Supervisor explained that it would have to come
before the Board. It would have to be declared as surplus property. If
someone else decided to bid on it the Board would accept the best price.

Councilman Middleton “Do we have any idea what it's worth? You can't build
on it its only one acre.”

Councilman LaPierre “We could do something there. We talked about doing a
little park there or something at one point. My thought is that if we're
considering at some point acquiring some other land and we've got lands that we
own we could sell. I would kind of like to hang onto it maybe at the point where
we're ready to do some land transactions we could maximize the value of that.”

Councilman Hitchcock “Is this contiguous with his or is there a road in
between?”

Supervisor Flaherty “There is a road in between. The person inquiring owns 70
acres on the south side of the mountain. You come down and we have the right
of way with the road. We have the Towns one-acre then on the north side
before you hit the Schoharie Creek it's privately owned by someone else.”

The Board examined a tax map.

Councilman Hitchcock “I can't believe anyone would bid against him. I don't
think its desirable that we could hold onto it and parley into anything more than
we're going to get right now.”

Supervisor Flaherty “ That's why I brought it to your attention. If you were
talking about a piece of the 5 acres we own just off the bridge or the 3 point
something on the other side I would have a problem with that.”

Councilman Middleton “What about the creation of a pocket park in that
community for people that live on that side? To be able to put something in there
for the people. It's not costing us any money now. Wouldn't that benefit the
community? Far out-weigh the $3,000 or $4,000 we're going to get for it? I'm
sure if we were really; really bound and determined to do that we could get grant
money to put up some swings. Or even ask for community help like you would
do at a school playground and have all the men in the community come out on a
weekend and build a little park for the kids.”

Councilman LaPierre “If we created a little triangular park amidst two other
private parcels. Access to this little park would be way of Carr Road and down
Little Timber.”

Councilman Middleton “If I'm reading what Paul's sentiment is, if we put a
pocket park in the middle of two private properties. If it was a thoroughfare that
everybody used to go in and out of a larger complex, in my mind, wouldn't that
be a great little thing to just say here it is.”

Supervisor Flaherty “It's too remote, not handy at all.”

The Board examined the tax map further. Councilman Middleton “I change my
opinion.”

A motion was made by LaPierre seconded by Hitchcock and carried to
advertise the 1 + or - acre of land as surplus for bid.

Supervisor Flaherty “In your packets you should have Greene County Planning
Board minutes, by-laws, duties and responsibilities, etc.”

The Board was given the annual report from the dog warden.

A motion was made by Flaherty seconded by Middleton and carried to
reappoint Bruce Feml as the Town's dog warden for 2003.

A motion was made by LaPierre seconded by Hitchcock and carried to
reappoint Tal G. Rappleyea as Attorney for the Town for 2003.

A motion was made by Flaherty seconded by Hitchcock and carried approving
Resolution #19. This resolution is to confirm Troy Commercial Bank as a Town
depository for 2003.
ROLL CALL, Aye, 4, Flaherty, Hitchcock, LaPierre, Middleton. Nay, 0.

A motion was made by Hitchcock seconded by Flaherty and carried to go into
executive session concerning personnel.

A motion was made by Hitchcock seconded by Flaherty and carried to come
out of executive session.

On Mr. Newman's request to be appointed to the Town Board, the Board
respectfully declines the request but appreciates his interest.

Supervisor Flaherty “I attended a meeting on Hazard Mitigation. It's been
suggested we be a part of the Hazard Mitigation plan. Keep your eyes open in
the East Jewett valley, Halsey Brook, etc. Anything you think of that's been a
problem to us or may be a problem, anything unstable bring to the next meeting.”

Councilman Hitchcock “In terms of just any place on the stream? I read the
article in the paper. I spoke to Rene VanSchaack when they did the Farber
property and did tens and tens of thousands of dollars there. I suggested to Rene
that there were two places at that time that I was aware of on 23C. The road
has to be closed in the event of a flood. That's by the Ruoff property and by
Shadow Mt. Road. He wasn't interested. There are serious places on the East
Kill and the Schoharie that need attention. If this is going to help I'm all for it.”

Under other:

Supervisor Flaherty informed the Board that on the TE9 request for one way
going east on Peck Road to Ryan Road the Town has the authority to go ahead
and do the one way. The Supervisor will speak with the Highway
Superintendent. Councilman Middleton suggested this should be advertised.
The Board agreed this would be a good idea.

State Senator Bonacic and Assemblyman Faso will no longer be representing
our Town. The Supervisor will write thank you letters for their years of service
to the Town.

Councilman Hitchcock “ I had asked the Town to give the food pantry a
contribution thinking it was not associated with the church. Apparently it is
under the auspices of the Jewett Presbyterian Church. I was not aware of that.
I'm not sure we can give them money.”

Supervisor Flaherty “ I sent Reverend Diane, a former attorney, a contract.
She's reluctant to sign it and it hasn't come back.”

Councilman Hitchcock “I get the impression, from someone that knows, that
they have thousands of dollars. I think I might have been wrong pushing it.”

Councilman Hitchcock “The web site. Jeremy Farber has backed out. I talk to
Chuck and he's mildly interested.”

Councilman Middleton said he heard that Eric Goettsche in Windham does web
sites.

Councilman LaPierre said he would contact Eric.

Councilman Hitchcock “As far as this handbook goes I firmly believe Mike you
should be a member of that committee. Councilman Hitchcock will resign his
position on the committee and the Supervisor will take the position.

Councilman Hitchcock “It's a general thing for everyone to think about. I have
seen increased access to Kaaterskill Falls. I can't believe the powers on this
mountain- top aren't petitioning the State to do something before someone get
killed there. People are parked on both sides of the road above and below the
falls. They should put in better parking and sidewalks.” He asked Supervisor
Flaherty to contact State Senator Seward and bring it to a Mt. Top Supervisors
meeting. The Supervisor said he would.

Councilman Hitchcock “I called the Coalition of Watershed Towns. I had to
resign because of my father being sick and other things. I talked to their
Attorney Jeff Baker. He billed for that at a rate of $150.00 an hour. That was
for my phone call about the Makely property. ”

CPA Barbara Chandler came into the offices. She cleared up the $1,600.00 left
over from Holgate. She will send us a written report.

The year end meeting scheduled for Thursday December 19 at 6:30 PM has
been rescheduled for the same date at 4PM.

Bills were audited and ordered paid. The general fund was $17,445.76 on
abstract #12, claim numbers 323 to 355. The highway fund was $19,830.70 on
abstract #12, claim numbers 186 to 212.

There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 8:35PM on a
motion by Flaherty seconded by LaPierre and carried.

Patricia Merwin Town Clerk

Year-end Meeting 12/19/2002