May 12, 2004

A regular meeting of the Jewett Town Board was held on May 12, 2004. Supervisor Michael Flaherty called the meeting to order at 7PM. Present were Board members Paul LaPierre, Thomas Hitchcock, Charles Kutcher and Harry T. Wilson. Also present were Attorney for the Town Tal G. Rappleyea, Superintendent of Highways Robert Mallory, Zoning Officer William Dwyer, County Highway Superintendent Gary Harvey, Legislator James Hitchcock, Daryl Olson from Kaaterskill Associates, Town residents Jane Bostrom, Werner Pscherer, Jack Verhoeven, Joan Kutcher and the town clerk.

Greene County Highway Superintendent Gary Harvey and County Legislator James Hitchcock addressed the Board concerning the replacement of bridges on 23C and Scribner Hollow Road this summer.

Superintendent Harvey spoke first saying " both bridges will be total replacements. The projects have to be done between June 15 th and September 3ebecause of DEC and DEP regulations. The Mallory Road project on 23C will take 6 to 7 weeks. We're hoping to start next week and have it completed by the 4th of July. The Scribner Hollow project will start around June 15th and hopefully will be complete by Labor Day."

"We looked at trying to put a couple of temporary structures in as detours but the sites were to cost prohibitive to do that."

'Once we get the final date to start both of these projects we'll notify the public and emergency agencies, also fire control and work out the details regarding the fire companies and coverage during that period of time."

" We think it will probably be a 2 to 3 week period when the bridge closings will overlap."

Supervisor Flaherty "there is absolutely no way we can get any sort of a by-pass?"

Superintendent Harvey "No. The constraints of the property owners, the physical constraints of the site and the cost are prohibitive."

Councilman Wilson "there are many alternatives but they're costly to the people

who live here. Your having people run around the mountain top at $2.00 plus for gas for months and months let alone the problem of the ambulance. Your cutting off main arteries that people need. You're inconveniencing half the town"

Councilman Kutcher "if a minimum of 100 cars per day traveled the roads the detour of 12 -to 15 miles, over 120 days, will cost residents of this Town $150,000 with the high gas prices. I want to know why you have to do both in the same year?"

Legislator Hitchcock "I can understand your situation. If I could assume a priority in this matter it's the milk tanker coming out on Rt.296. I would like to entertain a compromise to put in a temporary bridge on 23C and let it go on Scribner Hollow. I will push that for you."

"There are a couple of other projects. One on County Rt. 40 needs a large culvert

and a stringent clean up job. There is a greater problem on 23C and County Rt.40 where a large culvert was taken out several years ago and was replaced by two smaller culverts."

Superintendent Harvey said a drainage study is going be done in that area to see what can be done to correct the situation.

Councilman Hitchcock asked about the dangerous situation on 23C and Cramer Road.

Superintendent Harvey "we've had the State come down a couple of times to look at it but they have not given us a viable solution other than signage. The town may want to contact Cornell Local Roads Program for help."

Councilman LaPierre to Legislator Hitchcock " there are a number of occasions in the course of the year where we have issues we would like to involve you in. I was wondering if you think it might be helpful for you to solicit all the towns in your constituency on a regular basis from the stand point of do you have any issues you would like brought to my attention with respect to the County."

Legislator Hitchcock "this is a good start. I would like to continue coming here on a regular basis. Supervisor Flaherty has communicated by letter on issues that come up and we have been successful on a couple. The trouble is conflicting meeting dates with towns and county. I'll come here again when you invite me."

"There are a couple of issues pending. One is an impending report from a task force on tax collection. Also there was a task force established on emergency services. The County put $250,000 in the 2004 budget to assist all towns within the county on ALS emergency services. It's based on the population of the town. The public safety committee has already approved this."

Councilman LaPierre asked if this was based on the full population of the town? Legislator Hitchcock " I believe it's based on the 2000 census."

Councilman LaPierre "we have roughly a two to one ratio between part time people and full time people. Part time people make a greater demand on services in the long run.11

"I bring that up because the mountain top towns, I think, are unique in the Country in that they have the highest percentage of second home owners. The impact of second home-owners on the expenses of the town is great."

" I wondered if there is some way that you could advocate for the mountain top towns to get a greater share of revenues to compensate for the additional cost that we bear based on second home or transient people? We do have weekenders and skiers that do make demands on emergency services."

Is there a way for you to advocate on our behalf with the County with some realistic hope of directing more funds to the mountain top area?"

Legislator Hitchcock "I will talk with a few key people and get back to you."

"I would appreciate it if you could get a letter together and list some things and I will work on them."

The Public hearings were opened on proposed local laws for building code amendments and flag lot moratorium.

There were no comments from the public on the building code amendments.

A motion was made by Flaherty, 2nd by Hitchcock and carried to close the public hearing on building code amendments.

Daryl Olsen from Kaaterskill Associates addressed the Board on the flag lot moratorium.

"We currently have two subdivisions in front of the Planning Board and two more under contract that I will be bringing into the Planning Board."

"Without the ability to do flag lots or gravel roads it becomes an expensive proposition to access a large piece of land. It will affect projects and development."

"It makes it difficult to access property that doesn't have existing frontage. The gravel roads would stay private."

A motion was made by Flaherty, 2nd by Wilson and carried to close the public hearing on the flag lots moratorium.

A motion was made by Hitchcock, 2nd by LaPierre and carried to accept the minutes of the May 14, 2004 regular meeting.

A motion was made by Hitchcock, 2nd by Kutcher and carried to accept the minutes of the May 29, 2004 special meeting.

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

The Building Inspectors written report was presented to the Board.

Zoning Officer William Dwyer gave a written and oral report to the Board. Attorney Rappleyea informed the Board of the following:

1) On the Matthew's property he has spoken to the Sheriff s office and they will do the clean up. Mr. Matthews has to be served a warning letter with a deadline. Once that happens the sheriff will serve him with the summons.

2) Shabby Ranch has a deadline at the end of this month. If that deadline comes and goes and there is no compliance they will be served with a summons.

3) Mr.Blodgett also has a deadline at the end of this month. If there is no compliance he will be served with a summons.

4) On Rough Rider Ranch we are waiting to hear from the Supreme Court Judge.

Concerning Shabby Ranch Attorney Rappleyea has received a complaint from their neighbor Scan Conlon that there is building or demolition going on and they are making music again.

Attorney Rappleyea stated that there is a stop work order in place and we have a violation pending in town court.

On a motion by Kutcher, 2nd by Wilson and carried Attorney Rappleyea was authorized to pursue the noise issue at Shabby Ranch.

A motion was made by LaPierre, 2nd by Hitchcock and carried to accept the zoning officers report.

A motion was made by Flaherty, 2nd by Hitchcock and carried approving Resolution #17. This resolution is to amend the budget re engineering fees for a study on Carr Road. ROLL CALL: Aye 5 Flaherty, Hitchcock, Kutcher, LaPierre, Wilson

Nay 0

A motion was made by Flaherty, 2nd by LaPierre and carried approving Resolution #18. This resolution is in memory of 0scar Newman.

ROLLCALL: Aye 5 Flaherty,Hitchcock,Kutcher,LaPierre,Wilson Nay 0

A motion was made by Flaherty, 2nd by LaPierre and carried approving Resolution #19. This resolution is to establish a capital projects fund for the townclerk/taxcollector for equipment subject to a permissive referendum.

ROLLCALL: Aye 5 Flaherty,Hitchcock,Kutcher,LaPierre,Wilson Nay 0

The noise committee consists of Councilmen Kutcher and Wilson and town residents Jane Bostrom, Marybeth O'Mahoney and Jeanne Soule. They will hold their first meeting on May IO' at 7PM in the municipal building.

The finance committee of Councilmen LaPierre and Wilson audited the bills. Councilman LaPierre made a motion recommending the full Board accept the approved audit. Councilman Wilson 2d the motion and all Board members voted aye.

The general fund was $6,078.16 on abstract #5, claim numbers 104 to 127. The highway fund was $7,825.81 on abstract #5, claim numbers 71 to 89.

A motion was made by Flaherty, 2nd by Kutcher and carried appointing Janet Nicholls to the Board of Assessment Review to fill the vacancy of Sharon Middleton.

Supervisor Flaherty reported on the landfill update. He had a "very productive meeting with DEC and Soil & Water. We're getting very close to an artificial wetland. The letter from Mr. Selders was well received and his assistance may be used."

Supervisor Flaherty on the ambulance service, "A hybrid would be created with the service covering from 6AM to 6PM." After 6PM it would revert back to the local volunteer ambulance service personnel. There is a small grant to help with expenses and the service is close to finalization."

The Towns working on this are Jewett, Ashland, Prattsville and Windham.

A motion was made by LaPierre, 2 nd by Flaherty and carried accepting the resignation of Justice James Selkirk effective July 1, 2004.

The Supervisor was asked to send Justice Selkirk a letter of appreciation for filling in this year.

A motion was made by Kutcher, 2nd by Wilson and carried to adopt the "Flag Lot Moratorium" as Local Law #I of 2004.

ROLL CALL: Aye 4 Hitchcock, Kutcher, LaPierre,Wilson Nay 0

Abstain 1 Flaherty.

A motion was made by Flaherty, 2nd by LaPierre and carried to adopt the "Building Code Amendment" as Local Law #2 of 2004.

ROLL CALL: Aye 5 Flaherty, Hitchcock, Kutcher, LaPierre, Wilson Nay 0

Under other:

Councilman Hitchcock recommended that Legislator James Hitchcock be invited every other month to our monthly meetings.

A May 26th meeting at 5PM was scheduled for the Board to further discuss the Town facilities.

July 28th at 5PM was scheduled for a meeting to have the Board discuss "how to work better with the County."

The Board agreed that it would have been helpful had the Assessors made a presentation to the Board on the assessment notices recently mailed out.

The Assessor will be asked to come to the May 26h special meeting to speak to the Board.

Permission was given the town clerk to take out a subscription to the Windham Journal.

There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 9:35PM on a motion

by Flaherty, 2 nd by Hitchcock and carried.

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Patricia Merwin Town Clerk

May 26, 2004

A special meeting of the Jewett Town Board was held on May 26, 2004. Supervisor Michael Flaherty called the meeting to order at 5PM. Present were Board members Paul LaPierre, Thomas Hitchcock, Tom Wilson, Charles Kutcher, County Legislator Jim Hitchcock and the town clerk.

Legislator Hitchcock told the Board that the bridge project on 23C was on hold until a decision can be made about a temporary bridge.

If a bailey bridge is put in that means another permitting process has to be done. This would delay the project and may delay the construction until next year.

The main detour will be County Rt. 40 through Maplecrest.

Councilman Hitchcock "I would like to see the bridge in. I don't want to see a delay. It's being used now when it shouldn't be. We have 25 to 30 ton concrete trucks going across that bridge. I would like to see this done."

Councilman LaPierre "The planned detour now, absent the alternative bridge, is to go up Co. Rt. 40 into Maplecrest. I think we can anticipate more traffic than normal coming off Round Hill Road onto Rt.296. Can we get DOT to put up warning lights and speed reduction signs on both sides of that intersection?"

Councilman Kutcher suggested a temporary traffic light at the intersection of Rt. 296 and Round Hill Road. The light should be controlled by a pressure pad on Round Hill road with speed reduction and warning signs prior to the traffic light on both sides of Rt. 296. The light should have a delay so the intersection would be clear before anyone pulled out.

Councilman LaPierre "If we do this we have to set two priorities. One is that the bridge gets done this year. The second is that absent the detour bridge at the building site there be traffic control at the 296 and Round Hill Road intersection."

Legislator Hitchcock "I will be on this in the morning and convey your concerns to DOT. I think at the very least we can accommodate this situation."

The Board continued the meeting and discussed the future of the Town facilities.

Areas talked about for a new municipal building was where the municipal building is now and the Jewett heights hamlet.

Councilman Wilson "when we're talking through this we talk about the physicality of the building, it doesn't talk what the town hall could do for the Town. Right now we're not impacting anyone else. We're not a catalyst to anything. If we moved to Jewett heights and put up an attractive building maybe that would stimulate a new this or that. We would be creating on epicenter."

Councilman Kutcher "irrespective of cost why would you not locate here?" where the present municipal is, "I think almost everybody says yes"

The Board decided that several agencies should be contacted, give them an idea of what the town wants to do and see what they can come up with.

Councilman LaPierre will contact Saratoga Associates and ESF.

Supervisor Flaherty will speak with Helen Budrock at the Catskill Center for Development and Lamont Engineering.

Councilman Wilson will contact Cornell University. They have a section on Town Planning Problems.

There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 7PM on a motion by Hitchcock, 2 nd by LaPierre and carried.

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Patricia Merwin Town Clerk