AUGUST 12, 2009                                              

     A regular meeting of the Jewett Town Board was held on Wednesday, August 12, 2009.  Supervisor Michael Flaherty called the meeting to order at 7 P.M.  Present were Board members Steve Jacobs, Michael McCrary and Elaine Warfield.  Absent was Board member JR Quackenbush. 
     Also present was Superintendent of Highways Robert Mallory, Attorney for the Town Tal G. Rappleyea, Larry Gardner, Esq., Werner Pscherer, Lee Gazoorian, newspaper reporter Mike Ryan and the town clerk. 

     Councilman McCrary made a motion, 2nd by Councilwoman Warfield and carried accepting the minutes of the July 8, 2009 regular meeting. 

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

     Under courtesy of the floor:
      Mr. Gardner requested clarification.  “What is the Town of Jewett’s position on the situation where someone’s acquired parcels of land, adjacent parcels of land, at different times and different transactions and then suddenly their parcels have been combined on the tax roll without any kind of consolidation deed?  If they later wanted to sell one and retain the other would the Town of Jewett allow them to do that or would they require they go through a subdivision?”
     Councilman McCrary made a motion, 2nd by Councilwoman Warfield and carried stating “that although the lots have been combined for purposes of the tax map, the two lots have separate deed book entries; therefore given the explanation by Mr. Gardner the Town Board sees no objection to considering these two (2) parcels to once again be two (2) separate parcels.”

     Superintendent Mallory reported the Town has received $56,043 from FEMA for the storms in December of 2008.
     The following roads have been paved; Deming Road, Koss Road, Mill Hollow Road, Spruce Drive and Olander Road. 

     Supervisor Flaherty informed the Board that the pellet stoves will be installed by Gem Wood Stoves tomorrow the 13th, one in the meeting room in the Municipal Building and the other in the highway garage. 
     Councilwoman Warfield thought the Town’s insurance company should be notified and asked the Supervisor to do this.

     Supervisor Flaherty asked Mr. Mallory “Did you file a permit on your outside wood boiler?”
     Superintendent Mallory replied “Absolutely not. What I remember was when we were passing a law I was told I was grandfathered, but if I have to file for one I’d be happy to.  I don’t think anyone’s filed a permit for an outside wood stove.”
     Supervisor Flaherty asked Board members McCrary and Warfield to check this item with the Building Inspector.

     The Town wide pick up is scheduled for September 8th to 10th for metal and tires only.  The Supervisor has contracted for containers to be brought in. 

     The audit committee of Councilman Jacobs and Councilwoman Warfield 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 $21,761.76 on abstract #8, claim numbers 194 to 226.  The highway fund was $230,281.17 on abstract #8, claim numbers 111 to 138.

     Councilman McCrary made a motion, 2nd by Councilwoman Warfield and carried to accept the Supervisor’s June financial statement.

     The Ethics/Policy committee is Board members McCrary and Warfield.   

      Under the energy audit an electrician has replaced the light bulbs and ballasts in the Municipal Building and will be changing them in the highway garage next week.  The Superintendent was asked to look into replacing a garage door in the highway building. 

     Supervisor Flaherty made a motion, 2nd by Councilman McCrary and carried reappointing Janet Nicholls to the Board of Assessment Review for a five year term to end in September of 2014.

     Supervisor Flaherty made a motion, 2nd by Councilman McCrary and carried to adopt Resolution #17.  This resolution is an amendment to the highway budget and reads:
     “WHEREAS, the Town has purchased a new pick-up truck and a new plow truck, and
     WHEREAS, the Town has received Insurance funds and FEMA funds,
     NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that the Highway Budget should be amended as follows to pay for the above vehicles:
     REVENUES: DA2680 Insurance Recoveries           $ 14,182.60
                          DA4960 FEMA                                           56,043.00
                          DA5031 Transfer from Cap. Proj.         114,225.77
                                                           TOTAL                     $ 184,451.37

     EXPENDITURES: DA5130.2 Purchase of Pick-up Truck       $    26,000.00
                                  DA5130.2 Purchase of Plow Truck                110,351.37
                                  DA5130.2 Outfitting of Plow Truck                 48,100.00
                                                                          TOTAL                        184,451.37”

ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye Flaherty, Jacobs, McCrary and Warfield. 

     Superintendent Mallory asked to have any surplus monies placed in the Capital Project Fund.

     Supervisor Flaherty made a motion, 2nd by Councilman Jacobs and carried to adopt Resolution #18. 
This resolution is an amendment to the general fund budget and reads:
     “WHEREAS, the Town has had a new roof installed on the Highway Garage, and
     WHEREAS, as a result of the energy Audit, the fluorescent lights in the Town House will be upgraded and installation will be installed around pipes coming in the building, and
     WHEREAS, the Town has funds in the “Loan Repayment” fund (A231),
     NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that $15,700 be withdrawn from the “Loan Repayment” CD and the General Budget should be amended as follows:
     REVENUES: A2770 Unclassified (Intrafund Trf.)              $ 15,700.00

     EXPENDITURES: A5132.4 Garage (Garage Roof)                                 $ 12,000.00
                                  A1620.4 Buildings (Energy Audit Upgrades)                 3,700.00
                                                                                              TOTAL                     15,700.00”

ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye Flaherty, Jacobs, McCrary and Warfield. 

     Supervisor Flaherty made a motion, 2nd by Councilman Jacobs and carried to adopt Resolution #19.  This resolution is a speed limit reduction on Ford Hill Road and reads:
     “WHEREAS, the Town requested a speed limit study be conducted on Ford Hill Road on Resolution #17 dated August 13, 2008, and
     WHEREAS, the request was processed and the State DOT determined the speed limit should be posted at 45 MPH, and
     WHEREAS, residents and drivers using Ford Hill Road have protested saying the present speed limit of 45 MPH is too fast for this rural, curvy and hilly road and have complained to the Town about the high speed,
     THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Town is requesting the State DOT do a reexamination of their determination and consider lowering the speed limit on Ford Hill Road.”

ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye Flaherty, Jacobs, McCrary and Warfield. 

     Supervisor Flaherty made a motion, 2nd by Councilman Jacobs and carried to adjourn at 7:55 P.M.

                                                                           
                                                                                 ____________________________________
                                                                                  Patricia Merwin, Town Clerk/RMC