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April 9, 2003

A regular meeting of the Jewett Town Board was held on April 9, 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 Superintendent of Highways Robert Mallory, Building Inspector Robert Bosworth, newspaper reporter Mike Ryan, Planning Board Chairwoman Jane Bostrom, Peter Peters and the town clerk. Arriving late Attorney for the Town Tal G. Rappleyea.

A moment of silence was observed for our Troops in Iraq and the courageous men and women that have given their lives.

Minutes of the March 12, 2003 regular meeting were approved as presented on a motion by LaPierre seconded by Hitchcock and carried.

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

A motion was made by Flaherty seconded by LaPierre and carried approving Resolution #5. This resolution pertains to Adelaide "Addie" O'Bryan the oldest resident in the Town. She passed away on March 16, 2003 just short of her 100th birthday. She was an active member of the East Jewett Fire Department and Rescue Squad and the East Jewett United Methodist Church. The Town is grateful for the long and dedicated years of service Addie gave to her Town and neighbors. A copy of the resolution will be sent to her family.
ROLL CALL Aye 4 Flaherty, LaPierre, Hitchcock, Middleton
Nay 0


Mr. Peter Peters showed the Board some mock-ups of web designs.
The initial cost of the site with 5 pages would be $500.00. The monthly maintenance fee would be $100.00.
Upon Councilman Middleton's recommendation the Board agreed that the parties should sign a contract with a trial period. Attorney Rappleyea will bring a sample contract to the May meeting.

Bids for one 2003 4 wheel drive ¾ ton pick-up truck were opened. Three bids were received.
1) Condor Motors $21,944.00
2) Sawyer Chevrolet 25,949.00
3) Thorpe's Pontiac, GMC, Inc. 25,900.00

The bids were read and compared by the Superintendent of Highways. He recommended the Town accept the bid from Condor, saying it exceeded the specifications.
A motion was made by Flaherty seconded by LaPierre and carried to accept the bid for a new pick-up truck for the highway department. Delivery will be 6 to 8 weeks.
A motion was made by Flaherty seconded by Middleton and carried to declare the 1988 pick-up as surplus.
The Board recommended the new truck have rust proof treatment for about $600 and look into a sprayed bed liner.

The Building Inspector gave a written and oral report to the Board.
The Building Inspector said he spoke with Mr. Killmer twice. Mr. Killmer hasn't been able to do anything on the property yet because of the exceptional winter we've had. Mr. Killmer asked the Building Inspector if there was a possibility of having a grace period to replace the trailer on the property possibly with a single or doublewide trailer.
Councilman Middleton "What about DEP? To my knowledge there's no septic on that site." The property is about ½ acre. "Even if he went to a raised system it would be intense." The Building Inspector was asked to inspect the site for a septic system.
Attorney Rappleyea said Mr. Killmer's first extension was up as of today's date.
A motion was made by Middleton seconded by Hitchcock and carried instructing Attorney Rappleyea to write a letter to Mr. Killmer stating that the Town has given him another 60 day extension to completely cleanup his property. If the cleanup is not completed within the 60 days then the Town will have the site cleaned up and Mr. Killmer will be responsible for the cost of that clean up.

The Building Inspector spoke to the Board again suggesting the use of suitable material for back filling. He also suggested the use of schedule 80 or 100 pipe.
A motion was made by Flaherty seconded by LaPierre and carried approving stricter local building standards as follows: a minimum schedule 80 pipe for drainage and approved permeable course material as backfill.

A motion was made by Flaherty seconded by Hitchcock and carried to accept the Building Inspector's report.

On a motion by Flaherty seconded by LaPierre and carried the Superintendent of Highways was given
permission to advertise for a used roller.




Councilman Hitchcock asked the Superintendent if it was feasible to investigate changing the intersection of Rt. 23C and Cramer Rd.
Superintendent Mallory "We do not have the right to change it. It has to be brought to the County because it's a county road. The County then contacts the State and they'll do a determination. A letter will be sent back with recommendations.

Superintendent Mallory said he has two issues with the County at present, one is Beaches Corners Road and the other is Butternut Lane.

A letter will be written to the County about Cramer Road, Beaches Corners road and Butternut Lane. Supervisor Flaherty suggested sending a copy of the letter to our County Legislator.

Councilman Hitchcock asked the Superintendent to look at the bridge on Hauser Road because it looks like it's deteriorating.

On April 1st the Supervisor and Superintendent met with Lamont Engineers about the Carr Road project.
Supervisor Flaherty "We had put in a substantial claim for a water quality issue. They're giving us $10,000 to do studies. I think we're going to change the design. Rather then one pre-fabricated culvert built into the ground we can divide that two hundred- foot stretch with one 36-inch culvert in the center and flank it with two 24-inch culverts."
Superintendent Mallory "That's what the engineer said. I'm not in agreement with that. I asked to put this on hold for a year. With the damage we have on roads this year, we have no time or crew to get involved with extra projects."
Supervisor Flaherty "We've not made any decisions. We'll come back to the Board when we have a better handle on this."

A motion was made by Flaherty seconded by LaPierre and carried appointing William Dwyer as Zoning Enforcement Officer.

The Employee manual committee has met twice to work on the draft. The contractor will not provide a disk for the Town. Assistant to the Supervisor Donna Lucas is now re-typing the suggested changes. After the contractor has checked the changes a second draft will be drawn up and reviewed by the Board.

The Town's annual update has been completed and sent to the State by certified mail. The receipt has been returned to the Supervisors office.

Under old business:

The Miles Bridge has been declared as historic. We should be receiving a plaque and documentation on this.

Annual reports have been received from the Jewett and East Jewett Fire Departments.

Councilman Middleton stated that "Mr. Schildhorn has cooperated thoroughly. Well done."

Councilman LaPierre suggested the Town "send each Fire Department a letter stipulating what it is we would like to see on an annual basis." All Board members were in favor of writing the letter. Councilman LaPierre will bring a draft letter to the May meeting.

Councilman Middleton asked Attorney Rappleyea "how he made out with our updated ambulance contract?"
Attorney Rappleyea "It was updated and delivered with the changes" to the Town of Windham.

Councilman Hitchcock had a list of suggested goals for 2003. These suggestions are for the Board's consideration.
The suggestions were 1. Finishing the lighting and plantings around the 9/11 memorial. 2. Paint lower portion of the salt barn. 3. Redo one or both bathrooms in the Municipal Building. 4. Consider replacing entrance carpeting. 5. Replace decking under the porch entrance to the Municipal Building. 6. Look into the possibility of purchasing land for a new town house and 7. Enhance the Town's web site.

Councilman LaPierre said there is a lot of equipment around the salt shed. He suggested that screening be put up. The Board was in agreement.

Bills were audited and ordered paid. The general fund was $41,354.10 on abstract #4, claim numbers 73 to 96. The highway fund was $5,569.33 on abstract #4, claim numbers 56 to 75.

There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 10:00 PM on a motion by Flaherty seconded by Middleton and carried.
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Patricia Merwin Town Clerk