A regular meeting of the Jewett Town Board was held on September 11, 2002. The meeting was called to order by Supervisor Michael Flaherty at 7PM. Present were Board members Mark Middleton, Thomas Hitchcock, Paul LaPierre and Marilyn Haarklau. Attorney for the Town Tal G. Rappleyea, Superintendent of Highways Robert Mallory, Assessor Georgette Krauss, Building Inspector Robert Bosworth, Jewett Fire Department President Steve Schildhorn, some Town residents and the town clerk.

A motion was made by Hitchcock, seconded by Flaherty and carried approving minutes of the August 14, 2002 regular meeting as presented.

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

Assessor Georgette Krauss gave a written and oral report to the Board. She is working on the 2003 Assessment Roll and the annual re-assessment program.
Information on this years school tax rate was included in her report. The WAJ School tax rate showed a decrease of 2.2% from the prior year and the HTC School tax rate showed a decrease of 2% from the prior year.

Jewett Fire Department President Steve Schildhorn presented the Board with copies of the last 4 years annual reports.
The Fire Department uses a State tax exempt number for purchases. Councilmen Hitchcock and Middleton emphasized the need for the Fire Company to apply for a Federal tax exemption number and file a 501C3 tax exempt form every year and show this information to the Town Board.
Fire Department President Schildhorn said he would look into getting this information and then get back to the Board.

Building Inspector Robert Bosworth gave a written and oral report to the Board. This month there are 3 applications for new houses bringing the total to 8 so far this year.
One area that can be worked on is the letter going out on the C of C's. Supervisor Flaherty would like a very strongly worded second letter so these older files can be closed. Councilman LaPierre asked if it would be possible that language be put in the second letter to suggest that "if there is no compliance with the request for all the data to complete the C of O or C of C then a penalty can be imposed?"
Attorney Rappleyea, "especially if they are temporarily occupying that space."
Councilman LaPierre, "we could give them 120 days to occupy the premises in the absence of the C of O."
This item was tabled until Attorney Rappleyea can do some research on the subject.

A motion was made by Flaherty, seconded by Hitchcock and carried giving approval for the Building Inspector to attend a class on the new building codes.

The Building Inspector informed the Board that he has received two phone calls from Mr. Kilmer. Mr. Kilmer has been cleaning up some of the debris and he said he would remove everything that has to be removed.
Councilman Middleton said he spoke with Mr. Kilmer. "He has no intention of cleaning up the balance of that property. The only thing he said he was going to do was remove the trailer and he would be in compliance. As far as I'm concerned there is no more letter writing."
Attorney Rappleyea, "He talked with me today and basically confirmed that he intends to remove everything out of there."
Councilman Middleton, " The intention is wonderful but this is to long. He's had letters and he refuses to communicate with us."
A motion was made by LaPierre, seconded by Middleton and carried to give Mr. Kilmer a "drop- dead date" of September 30, 2002 to remove everything from the property, all structures, trailers and debris. The Building Inspector must be allowed into the red building to inspect and determine if it is safe prior to the drop-dead date of September 30, 2002.
Attorney Rappleyea will contact Mr. Kilmer tomorrow.

Attorney Rappleyea informed the Board that after speaking to the Judge he would submit a new summons regarding the Prince property.

Courtesy of the Floor was opened. There were no comments from the public. A motion was made by Flaherty, seconded by Haarklau and carried to close courtesy of the floor.

There were no comments concerning the Land Acquisition from the Board. This item was tabled until next months meeting.

A motion was made by Flaherty, seconded by Haarklau and carried approving Resolution #14. This resolution approves the filing of a grant application that is 25% matching funds for the Town. This is to install, from the south side of Carr Road to the intersections of Silver Springs Road and Little Timer Road, a box culvert in the middle of this. It will be a road way culvert.

September 11, 2002

Superintendent Mallory has said that he "can almost guarantee that most of the 25% will be covered with in-kind services."
Information and maps are available in the Supervisor's office. The Town will not know if the grant was approved until the end of this year.
Councilman LaPierre "I would like to insure that whatever we put in there has a load rating equal to what a potential future bridge would carry."
ROLL CALL: Ayes 5 Flaherty, Haarklau, Middleton, LaPierre, Hitchcock.

Nays 0

Under Correspondence:

A letter of response was received from DEC regarding conditions around Colgate Lake. They assured the Town they would do their best to address the issues.

A thank you letter was received from WAJ Central School for the Towns contribution toward the soccer camp this summer.

A budget workshop was scheduled for Wednesday, September 25th at 3 PM. A second tentative workshop was scheduled for Wednesday, October 16th at 3 PM.

Highway Superintendent Mallory reported that so far his department has pick up enough trash to fill 7 containers.
Supervisor Flaherty, " I'm getting comments from the public about the highway personal saying they are courteous, quiet and efficient."

The Superintendent was given the authority to purchase a lowboy and/or roller not to exceed $20,000.

Councilman Middleton thanked the Superintendent and the highway employees for "all their help on the monument."
Councilman LaPierre said, "now that the monument is in place and the area is cleared out, we should look at some kind of screening fence behind the monument."
The Superintendent suggested planting some white pines. He will look into finding some on Town property.
Councilman Hitchcock asked that the monument be illuminated at night. The Superintendent said he would check into a hook up from the salt barn.

A business meeting with AMTEK will be held at 6:30 PM on October 9, 2002 with the regular monthly meeting to follow at 7 PM.

Under other:

Councilman LaPierre, "We have a maintenance component in the agreement with the Village of Hunter on the trees and shrubs. All the ones planted along the road have died."
Councilman Middleton was asked to speak with Village Trustee William Maley on this matter.

Councilwoman Haarklau asked about information on hazardous waste. Councilman LaPierre said he has the information but hasn't been able to work on it.

Councilwoman Haarklau apologized for not speaking with Fay Hidecker about the ambulance. She said she would speak to Fay next week and have the information for the budget meeting.

Councilman Hitchcock, "Under the Justice expenses we budgeted $2000 we are now at $3800.
Supervisor Flaherty, "We were never informed she would be treated as a contractor. We put it down as a salary item. I'm going to take $1400 from the .1 and move it down to the .4 as a contractual expense."

Councilman Hitchcock, "Last year we budgeted $100 for the food pantry operated out of the Jewett Presbyterian Church. Has it been paid?"
As soon as the signed contract for services is returned to us, the Town will donate $250 to the food pantry.

Councilman Hitchcock, "The whole process which started in January of this year that finished up with today's dedication of the monument to the people that were directly affected by the attack on this nation, I have nothing but praise for my fellow Board members and for the Town. I was gratified to see so many people come out to the occasion. I appreciate all the help and input."
Supervisor Flaherty, "It was Tom's idea. It was a rapid follow through with cooperation. It was done well and thank you Tom for your efforts and time."

September 11, 2002

Councilman Hitchcock, "I noticed we do have an agenda from the Greene County Planning Board. I would like to be copied with their minutes, if they're available."

Councilman Hitchcock, "Last meeting I brought up police coverage on the Mountain Top. I called a State Police Sargent at the Leeds barracks and was informed that we do have coverage on the Mt. Top. I just wanted to know if there was a guy on patrol on the Mt. Top, I never got an answer to that question."

Councilman Hitchcock said a while back he received a call from the Windham Supervisor concerning the contract for the ambulance. "He said the contract was in our possession and has not been returned. If it wasn't signed and returned he was going to stop ambulance coverage in Jewett."
Supervisor Flaherty, "Normally the provider provides the contract. Our Attorney did our contract. It specified two equal payments on an annual basis, based on the insurance credits. We paid everything up to 2000 and it just stopped. We sent a check in 2001and they kept it. We did everything on our end we were supposed to do. I had no problem paying our bill and using their resources to get a credit for the next time, but it didn't happen. That's why we've been trying to get over there so I can give you the answers you're looking for."
" Councilwoman Haarklau has gone over and offered her services to assist Fay, especially to clear up the account. We've been denied."
Councilwoman Haarklau, "What I was going to do is have Fay send us, quarterly, the sheet so we could see how many calls were for Jewett. It takes a long time to get the insurance back and I think maybe that's part of what she's waiting for to send us what's left. If we knew how many ambulance calls were made we could possibly adjust our budget."
Attorney Rappleyea, "The Windham Supervisor called me as well. Their Attorney should have drawn up this contract. He couldn't get to it so I did it. We had a meeting and they made a few changes. I drew up a new contract within 2 weeks. This was two years ago. I explained the history to him. I then faxed, e-mailed and snail mailed the contract to him the next day, about a month or two months ago, and he calmed down."
Supervisor Flaherty, "Hopefully Marilyn can work with Fay and come up with a legitimate number so we can average out what we're talking about. We will have considerable savings in our EMS coverage. We have averaged 7 calls a year at $300 or $400 a call. Our obligation has dropped and we have credits."

On a motion by Middleton, seconded by Hitchcock and carried the Board went into executive session concerning litigation. On a motion by LaPierre, seconded by Haarklau and carried the Board came out of executive session.

Bills were audited and ordered paid. The general fund was $6,484.61 on abstract #9, claim numbers 227 to 251. The highway fund was $13,592.05 on abstract #9, claim numbers 141 to 158.

There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 10 PM on a motion by LaPierre, seconded by Flaherty and carried.

_________________________________________
Patricia Merwin Town Clerk