A regular meeting of the Jewett Town Board was held on February 11, 2009.  Supervisor Michael Flaherty called the meeting to order at 7 P.M.  Present were Board members Steve Jacobs, Michael McCrary, JR Quackenbush and Elaine Warfield.
     Also present were Attorney for the Town Tal G. Rappleyea, newspaper reporter Mike Ryan and the town clerk. 

     Councilman McCrary made a motion, 2nd by Councilwoman Warfield and carried to accept the minutes of the January 14, 2009 regular meeting.

     The Supervisor’s monthly financial report for January was given to the Board. 
     Monthly reports were received from the Building Inspector and Zoning Officer.

     Supervisor Flaherty made a motion, 2nd by Councilman Quackenbush and carried instructing the Superintendent of Highways to advertise for the purchase of a pick-up truck.

     The Supervisor showed maps on the proposed extended hamlet designations in the Town.  Greene County Soil & Water is working on this project. 

     Supervisor Flaherty made a motion, 2nd by Councilman Quackenbush and carried giving the Supervisor permission to execute a contract with Hess Corp to become the electric supplier through Central Hudson.  The Supervisor was asked to get information about getting one meter put in or going underground and checking to see if the town is being charged a commercial rate.

     Supervisor Flaherty made a motion, 2nd by Councilman Jacobs and carried adopting Resolution #7.
The resolution is entitled “Appoint to the Greene County Planning Board” and reads:
      “WHEREAS Greene County Planning request a representative from each town in the county to sit on the County Planning Board,
     THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town of Jewett appoints Planning Board member Gene Beers to be the Town’s representative to the Greene County Planning Board.”
ROLL CALL VOTE:  Aye Flaherty, Jacobs, McCrary, Quackenbush and Warfield.

     Councilman Quackenbush made a motion, 2nd by Councilwoman Warfield and carried adopting Resolution #8.      The resolution is entitled “Depository Account Resolution”.
     The resolution states that Supervisor Flaherty and Deputy Supervisor Quackenbush are the authorized town officers to make deposits and withdrawals of Town funds at Key Bank. 
ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye Flaherty, Jacobs, McCrary, Quackenbush and Warfield.

    Councilman Quackenbush made a motion, 2nd by Councilwoman Warfield and carried to accept the December financial statements.  Bank statements were made available for review. 

     Councilwoman Warfield and Councilman Jacobs audited the bills prior to the meeting.  Councilwoman Warfield made a motion to accept the audit.  Councilman Jacobs 2nd the motion and Board members voted aye.
     The general fund was $21,962.90 on abstract #2, claim numbers 29 to 52.  The highway fund was $14,319.86 on abstract #2, claim numbers 12 to 28.

     Annual reports were received from the East Jewett and Jewett Fire Departments.

     Councilman McCrary made a motion, 2nd by Councilwoman Warfield and carried to adopt Resolution #9.   This resolution is “Real Property Tax Exemption for Veterans of the ‘Cold War’ and reads:
“WHEREAS, Section 458-b of the Real Property Tax law authorizes a limited exemption from real property taxes for residential real property owned by veterans who rendered military service to the United States during the “Cold War”; and
WHEREAS, Section 458-b of the Real Property Tax law authorizes municipalities to establish maximum exemption amounts; and
WHEREAS, in regard to “Cold War” veterans who own residential real property within the town of Jewett, it is the desire of the Jewett Town Board to authorize the “Cold War: veterans exemption and establish maximum amounts;

SECTION 1.  In accordance with the provisions of Section 458-b of the Real Property Law of the State of New York, residential real property owned by veterans who rendered military service to the United States during the “Cold War” shall be partially exempt from town taxation.
Section 2.  The maximum exemptions allowable from Town real property taxation pursuant to Section 458-b of the Real Property Tax law shall be 10% of the property’s assessment, not to exceed $8,000 multiplies by the latest final state equalization rate for service during the “Cold War” and a percentage of the property’s assessment equal to one-half of any service connected disability rating not to exceed $40,000 multiplies by the latest final state equalization rate.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Jewett hereby adopts the above described Cold War Veterans Exemption.”
ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye Flaherty, Jacobs, McCrary, Quackenbush and Warfield.

     Information on this resolution can be obtained from the Assessor’s office.

     The Board had a brief discussion on wind turbines for possible use for the town buildings.   Councilman McCrary will contact Green in Greene to see if someone could give a presentation at a future Board meeting.

     The Town has been working with the Public Service Commission and has received two extensions on the franchise with Time Warner Cable.  However, the franchise does not apply to internet service.
     Mid-Hudson Cable is a member of the Greene County Chamber of Commerence.  A chamber member is going to speak with them about wiring the sections of Town that Time Warner is not covering. 
     Verizon now has a tower on Hunter Mountain and covers most of Jewett.

     Supervisor Flaherty made a motion, 2nd by Councilman Quackenbush and carried to go into executive session at 8:30 P.M. for legal matters.
     Councilman Quackenbush made a motion, 2nd by Councilman McCrary and carried to come out of executive session at 9:20 P.M.

     Councilman McCrary made a motion, 2nd by Councilman Quackenbush and carried to adjourn the meeting at 9:21 P.M.

                                                                               __________________________________
                                                                                    Patricia Merwin, Town Clerk, RMC

Planning Board Minutes