Town Board

JULY 14, 2010                                                                                                                       

     A regular meeting of the Jewett Town Board was held on Wednesday, July 14, 2010.  Supervisor Carol Muth called the meeting to order at 7 P.M.  Present were Board members Steve Jacobs, Michael McCrary, James Pellitteri, William Trach, Superintendent of Highway Robert Mallory, and Attorney for the Town Tal G. Rappleyea, town residents Werner and Helga Pscherer,  Michael Flaherty, Emergency Planning consultant Donna Bernard, newspaper reporter Mike Ryan and the town clerk. 

     Councilman Jacobs made a motion, 2nd by Councilman Trach and carried to open the Public Hearing at 7:02 P.M. on Local Law #6 of 2010.  The law is entitled “Code of the Town of Jewett”.
     There were no comments from the public.
     Councilman McCrary made a motion, 2nd by Councilman Jacobs and carried to close the Public Hearing at 7:05 P.M.

     Councilman McCrary made a motion, 2nd by Councilman Jacobs and carried to adopt Local Law #6 of 2010.  Copies of the law are available in the town clerk’s office during business hours.  A book of codes is always available for review in the Board meeting room.
ROLL CALL VOTE: AYE:  Muth, Jacobs, McCrary, Pellitteri and Trach.

     Councilman McCrary made a motion, 2nd by Councilman Jacobs and carried to accept the minutes of the June 9th regular meeting.   Councilman McCrary made a motion, 2nd by Councilman Trach and carried accepting the minutes of the June 22nd special meeting.

     Councilman McCrary made a motion, 2nd by Councilman Jacobs and carried accepting the Building Inspector’s June report.
     Councilman Jacobs made a motion, 2nd by Councilman Trach and carried accepting the Zoning Officer’s June report.

     The Supervisor’s June financial report was given to the Board prior to the meeting.

     The Superintendent reported that the new Butternut Lane intersection is complete. Paving on Ford Hill Road should begin next week.

     Emergency Planning Consultant Donna Bernard went over the revised pages in the Emergency Response Plan. 
     Councilman McCrary made a motion, 2nd by Councilman Jacobs and carried to accept in principal the revised emergency response plan subject to the amendments made and the Jewett Fire Departments agreement.

     Councilman McCrary made a motion, 2nd by Councilman Jacobs and carried adopting Resolution #16 entitled “Transfer of Funds from the Loan Repayment Account” and reads:
     “WHEREAS the Future of Jewett Account requires a Permissive referendum to expand the funds in the account;
     AND, WHEREAS, funds were spent to purchase the Butternut Lane property and to pay General Code to transfer to CD all town Board minutes and provide Binders and Books of all Laws;
     NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that Resolution’s numbered 13 and 14 of June 9, 2010 is rescinded;
     AND, $3,828.25 is transferred from the Loan Repayment Account to cover the payment to General Code and $2,480.00 be transferred from the Loan Repayment to the Highway Fund to cover the purchase of the Butternut Lane property.”
ROLL CALL VOTE: AYE:  Muth, Jacobs, McCrary, Pellitteri and Trach.

     The Supervisor reported that the Highway Contract has been signed with the accepted changes.

     Councilman McCrary made a motion, 2nd by Councilman Jacobs and carried approving a noise variance to Gerry and Marge Loucks from 2 P.M. until 12 midnight on July 17, 2010.

     Councilman McCrary made a motion, 2nd by Councilman Jacobs and carried approving a noise variance to James and Betsy Pellitteri until 12 midnight on August 7, 2010.
     Councilman Pellitteri abstained from voting. 

     Councilman McCrary made a motion, 2nd by Councilman Pellitteri and carried accepting the Supervisor’s May financial report.  Bank statements were made available for review. 

     The Board approved a letter of congratulations to be sent to the Jewett Fire Department “for 50 years of outstanding service to the community.”
    
      Prior to the meeting bills were audited by all the Board members and ordered paid.  The general fund was $25,923.09 on abstract #7, claim numbers 150 to 185.  The highway fund was $16,472.30 on abstract #7, claim numbers 100 to 111.  

     Councilman McCrary made a motion, 2nd by Councilman Pellitteri and carried to go into Executive Session at 8:32 P.M. to discuss an addendum item to the highway contract and to also discuss pending litigation. 
     Councilman McCrary made a motion, 2nd by Councilman Jacobs and carried to come out of Executive Session at 9”05 P.M.
     The Board decided not to entertain any addendum items on the highway contract at this time. 

     Councilman McCrary made a motion, 2nd by Councilman Jacobs and carried to adjourn at 9:10 P.M.

                                                                    ___________________________________
                                                                         Patricia Merwin, Town Clerk/RMC

Planning Board 

TOWN OF JEWETT
PLANNING BOARD
NOTES
JULY 1, 2010

The meeting opened unofficially at 7:00pm due to lack of a quorum. In attendance were Donna Bernard, and Joan Kutcher; Gene Beers, Janet Nicholls, and Marianne Romito were absent. However, Darin Elsom and Ewald Schwarzenegger from Kaaterskill Engineering Associates (KEA) were present with Michael and Brittny Cantor of the Brittny Estates project, so the opportunity was taken to exchange ideas on the resumption of their project without the need for votes or decisions. Chairperson Donna Bernard did clarify with KEA and the Cantors that the Planning Board will expect them to be put on the monthly agenda unless they notify the PB they have no new information to present.

The original EAF as prepared by Lamont Engineering was discussed. KEA intends to speak to Town Clerk Pat Merwin regarding the amount of money remaining in their escrow account. They intend to speak directly with Doug Vandeusen of Lamont Engineering to discuss concerns that he has in relation to representing the Town of Jewett on this project. Darin Elsom said that the number of building lots in the project have been reduced so there will be no building lots on the part of the property that is in the Town of Windham. This will also eliminate the upper portion of the road last under discussion and also the concerns that Jewett has on the visual impact of the subdivision.

Ms. Bernard mentioned that the Town of Jewett is concerned with the environment, in honoring the Jewett Comprehensive Plan, and Mr. Cantor said that he has built the first entirely geothermal house in the US A. Both parties share an interest in the environment.  Jewett wishes to control the rate of development to maintain the natural beauty of the area.

Mr. Cantor asked about the type of road the Town of Jewett would expect him to put in. Mrs. Kutcher answered that it would need to be permeable, but that the Planning Board would consider what he had to say. In 2008 there were also safety concerns about the entry way to the road and fire concerns about getting up the grade. Ms. Bernard told KEA and the Cantors that the Comprehensive Plan could be found on the town's website and that Ms. Laubmeier would email everybody the October 2008 minutes, the notes from the workshop of that same month, and the PB's discussion of their project from February of this year.

The discussion concluded at 8:40pm.