A regular meeting of the Jewett Town Board was held on March 10, 2004. Supervisor Michael Flaherty called the meeting to order at 7PM. Present were Board members Thomas Hitchcock, Charles Kutcher, Paul LaPierre and H. Tom Wilson. Also present were Attorney for the Town Tal G. Rappleyea, Superintendent of Highways Robert Mallory, Building Inspector Robert Bosworth and Zoning Officer William Dwyer, Catskill Mt. Housing Representative Larry Krajestei, Town resident Jane Bostrom, newspaper reporter Mike Ryan and the town clerk.

Minutes of the February 11 regular meeting were approved with spelling corrections on a motion by Hitchcock seconded by LaPierre and carried.

The Supervisor's report was given out and bank statements were made available for review.

The building inspector presented pictures of unsafe buildings for the Board to review.
A motion was made by Hitchcock seconded by Flaherty and carried instructing the Attorney to send out follow up letters to Mr. Fontana and Anthony Goldman.
Board members will do site inspections on the Martin and Conlon properties and bring their recommendations to the April meeting.
On a motion by Hitchcock, 2nd by LaPierre and carried the building inspectors report was accepted with the items discussed.

Zoning Officer Dwyer gave a written and oral report.
A motion was made by Hitchcock, 2nd by Kutcher and carried to accept the report.

Catskill Mountain Housing Representative Larry Krajestei gave an informational presentation to the Board about programs offered through his agency.
Programs such as affordable senior housing, grant administration to assist first time homebuyers, a counseling course for first time homebuyers and assistance with home repairs for low- income homeowners. Further information can be obtained by calling (518) 943-6700.

Superintendent Mallory gave the Board an updated inventory of highway machinery, tools and equipment and a list of proposed yearly equipment expenditures from 2004 to 2016. He is working on a program to analyze the Town's 40 miles of road.
The Board discussed the ditching problem on Wright Road. The Board determined that the first step would be to have the Superintendent contact the Greene County Highway Superintendent to see if the County engineer would look at the situation and make a recommendation. In the interim the Town will look into possible grant monies from different sources.
A special meeting of the Town Board was scheduled for Monday, March 22nd at 5PM to discuss the purchase of a new truck.

A letter of support for the State's Collateral Bill (S.622/A.3483) was tabled until the March 22nd meeting. Board members want to read the bill before they give their support.

A motion was made by Flaherty, 2nd by Wilson and carried approving Resolution #8. This resolution is for a Justice grant.
ROLL CALL: Aye 4 Flaherty, Kutcher, LaPierre, Wilson
Nay 1 Hitchcock

A motion was made by Kutcher, 2nd by Flaherty and carried approving Resolution #9. This resolution is in support for the elimination of the sunset provision of the Local Government Records Management Improvement Fund.
ROLL CALL Aye 5 Flaherty, Hitchcock, Kutcher, LaPierre, Wilson
Nay 0

Attorney Rappleyea informed the Board that he has an application to co-locate an antenna on the Ski Windham tower from Cellular One.
They're not going to expand or increase the height of the tower, only hang an antenna. This is highly favored under our law.
A motion was made by Hitchcock, 2nd by Kutcher and carried granting Attorney Rappleyea the authority to hire an engineer with the cost to be paid by the applicant.

On a motion by Kutcher, 2nd by Hitchcock and carried the Planning Board and the Zoning Board of Appeals may impose a fee equal to the filing fee if an applicant fails to show up for their scheduled meeting.

Attorney Rappleyea reported on the unsafe building belonging to Jacob Loser. He has sent two letters since the last meeting and has received no response.
Attorney Rappleyea recommended the Board schedule the standard hearing to tear the building down.
This item was scheduled for the March 22nd special meeting.

On a motion by Flaherty, 2nd by LaPierre and carried the Board went into executive session concerning land acquisition.
A motion was made by Flaherty, 2nd by Kutcher and carried to come out of executive session.

On a motion by Flaherty, 2nd by Kutcher and carried the Board approved Resolution # 10. This resolution rescinds resolution #6 of 2004, land purchase and resolution #7 of 2004, a permissive referendum.
ROLL CALL: Aye 4 Flaherty, Hitchcock, Kutcher, LaPierre, Wilson
Nay 0

Under other:

Board members discussed the restructuring of the Municipal Building.
Councilmen Wilson and Kutcher will contact some architects to see if they can come in and give an assessment on what could be done on the present site. They will report to the Board at the April meeting.

There were 34 voters to the democratic primary on March 2nd.

There was a work session with highway and the assessor to discuss the employee handbook.

Zoning updates. In the past the Board discussed set backs for leach fields and containers. Councilman Hitchcock would like to add the burying of remains on private property and abandoned cemeteries to the list for discussion.

Councilman Hitchcock commented that private contractors plowing private driveways in the winter leave snow and debris on the main roads. This is a hazard to drivers. This is illegal and carries a fine.

We have two new Board members. Councilman Hitchcock asked what vision they have for the Town. What would you like to see the Town do perhaps 5 years from now?
In the same context the new Board members would like to hear what the other Board members have discussed in the past.
This topic will be scheduled for a meeting in the future.

Councilman Hitchcock was charged with obtaining a plaque for Councilman Middleton for his 4 years of service to the Town.

Councilmen Wilson and Kutcher reported on their work concerning a "sound ordinance". They have been in contact with Attorney Rappleyea. They are exploring the issue in other parts of the country. The committee will report their preliminary thoughts at the April meeting.

Board members discussed a finance committee to audit the bills prior to the meeting. The committee would report at the meeting and authorize payment of the bills.

Bills were audited and ordered paid. The general fund was $24,166.14 on abstract #3, claim numbers 55 to 76. The highway fund was $7,399.82 on abstract #3, claim numbers 33 to 54.

There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 10:30 pm on a motion by Kutcher, 2nd by LaPierre and carried.

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Patricia Merwin Town Clerk

March 22, 2004

A special meeting of the Jewett Town Board was held on March 22, 2004. Supervisor Flaherty called the meeting to order at 5:00 P.M. Present were Boardmembers Thomas Hitchcock, Paul LaPierre, Charles Kutcher and H. Tom Wilson. Also present were attorney for the town Tal G. Rappleyea and Superintendent of Highways Robert Mallory. The Town Clerk was not present due to illness.

A hearing on the Jacob Loser property unsafe building was opened. Notice to Repair or Remove was sent to Mr. Gerald Loser with no response as of tonight's meeting. The property owner/representatives were not present. The hearing was closed and on a Motion by Flaherty, seconded by LaPierre, Resolution #11 was passed. Resolution #11 was Notice to Demolish.
ROLL CALL: Aye 5 Flaherty, Kutcher, LaPierre, Wilson, Hitchcock
Nay 0

In the matter of the co-location on the cell tower, upon recommendation of the Town Attorney the Board approved Lamont Engineers as the town engineer for the cell tower project. This was done on a motion by Flaherty, seconded by Kutcher and carried.

Supervisor Flaherty made a motion, seconded by LaPierre, for the Highway Department to purchase a new truck. Discussion followed. A roll call vote was taken. Supervisor Flaherty voted Aye, Councilmen Hitchcock, Kutcher, LaPierre and Wilson voted nay. The motion was not carried.

A motion was made by Councilman Kutcher, seconded by LaPierre, to support Collateral Bill S.622/A3483 and carried.

Supervisor Flaherty informed by Board that the year-end update had been filed on February 23, 2004 and we are in possession of the receipt from the State Comptroller.

On a motion by Councilman Kutcher, seconded by LaPierre and carried, the meeting was closed at 6:30 p.m.

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Michael Flaherty, Supervisor