A REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING WAS HELD ON TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2018 AT THE TOWN HALL COMMENCING AT 7:00 P.M.
PRESENT
DANA HAFF, SUPERVISOR
BARBARA BEECHER, COUNCILWOMAN
GARY BURCH SR., COUNCILMAN
ROBERT DILLON, COUNCILMAN
ELIZABETH FOOTE, COUNCILWOMAN
ALSO PRESENT
DENISE PETTEYS, RMC TOWN CLERK
GREG BROWN, HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT
PETER SWANO, HISTORICAL GROUP
AMBER MERCURE, YOUTH COMMISSION & PARADE DIRECTOR
AUDIT
SUPERVISOR HAFF CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AT 7:00 P.M.
PLEDGE
A MOMENT OF SILENCE WAS OBSERVED FOR CHARLES HARRINGTON WHO PASSED AWAY RECENTLY.
TOWN BOARD ROLL CALL WAS MADE WITH ALL MEMBERS PRESENT.
PAYMENT OF BILLS
RESOLUTION NO. 18085
ON MOTION OF SUPERVISOR HAFF, 2ND BY COUNCILMAN DILLON, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS ADOPTED 5 AYES, 0 NAYS. VOTING AYE, COUNCILWOMAN BEECHER, COUNCILMAN BURCH, COUNCILMAN DILLON, COUNCILWOMAN FOOTE AND SUPERVISOR HAFF.
RESOLVED THAT THE AUTHORIZED BILLS BE PAID ON ABSTRACT #5 OF 2018 IN THE FOLLOWING AMOUNTS:
HIGHWAY VOUCHER #144-158 $ 8,556.42
YOUTH VOUCHER #159-164 $ 1,165.32
GENERAL VOUCHER #165-182 $ 2,121.76
SUPERVISOR’S REPORT
RESOLUTION NO. 18086
ON MOTION OF SUPERVISOR HAFF, 2ND BY COUNCILWOMAN FOOTE, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS ADOPTED 5 AYES, 0 NAYS. VOTING AYE, COUNCILWOMAN BEECHER, COUNCILMAN BURCH, COUNCILMAN DILLON, COUNCILWOMAN FOOTE AND SUPERVISOR HAFF.
RESOLVED TO ACCEPT THE SUPERVISOR’S REPORT.
TOWN CLERK REPORT
TOWN CLERK, DENISE PETTEYS, SAID THAT JANET ROCK, DIRECTOR OF MORNINGSIDE CEMETERY HAD BEEN CONTACTED BY SOMEONE WILLING TO DONATE GRAVE MARKER FLAGS AND SHE REFERRED THEM TO ME. PAUL AND MARGE HAYES DONATED 500 12” X 18” FLAGS VALUED OVER $500. DENISE ASKED THE TOWN BOARD TO SIGN A THANK YOU CARD TO BE SENT TO THE HAYES IN RECOGNITION OF THE DONATION.
RESOLUTION NO. 18087
ON MOTION OF SUPERVISOR HAFF, 2ND BY COUNCILWOMAN BEECHER, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS ADOPTED 5 AYES, 0 NAYS. VOTING AYE, COUNCILWOMAN BEECHER, COUNCILMAN BURCH, COUNCILMAN DILLON, COUNCILWOMAN FOOTE AND SUPERVISOR HAFF.
RESOLVED TO ACCEPT THE TOWN CLERK REPORT.
MINUTE REVIEW
RESOLUTION NO. 18088
ON MOTION OF SUPERVISOR HAFF, 2ND BY COUNCILMAN DILLON, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS ADOPTED 5 AYES, 0 NAYS. VOTING AYE, COUNCILWOMAN BEECHER, COUNCILMAN BURCH, COUNCILMAN DILLON, COUNCILWOMAN FOOTE AND SUPERVISOR HAFF.
RESOLVED TO ACCEPT THE REGULAR TOWN BOARD MINUTES FOR APRIL 10, 2018.
MAY 8, 2018 REGULAR MEETING PG. 2 OF 4
INFORMATION
SUPERVISOR HAFF DISCUSSED THE UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS AS FOLLOWS: YOKED PARISH TEA & FASHION SHOW ON 5/12; HARTFORD FIRE CO. BREAKFAST & BASKET RAFFLE ON 5/13; MASON HAM DINNER ON 5/19; MEMORIAL DAY METHODIST TAKEOUT CHICKEN BBQ ON 5/28; MEMORIAL DAY PARADE ON 5/28; HARTFORD CENTRAL SCHOOL ALUMNI BANQUET ON 6/9; FISH & GAME CHICKEN BBQ ON 6/10.
TOWN BARN TELEPHONE SYSTEM
SUPERVISOR HAFF SAID THAT VERIZON CAME AND GAVE A PRESENTATION LOOKING TO SWITCH OUR PHONES TO INTERNET SERVICE. THEY PROPOSED THE TOWN PURCHASE AN AUTOMATED ATTENDANT THAT WOULD DISTRIBUTE THE CALLS BY “PRESSING 1 TO TALK TO TOWN CLERK” ETC. EVERYONE WOULD HAVE NEW PHONES. THEY SAID IT WOULD IMPROVE THE IMAGE OF THE TOWN. SUPERVISOR HAFF SAID HE LAUGHED AT THIS AND THAT THIS WOULD BE RATHER EXPENSIVE. HIS MAIN CONCERN WITH THE PHONES IS THE STATIC ON THE LINES THAT OCCURS WHEN IT RAINS. HE BELIEVES IT IS BECAUSE OF THE OLD VERIZON COPPER LINES THAT THEY ARE NO LONGER MAINTAINING. DENISE TESTED HOW FAST THE INTERNET SERVICE AT TOWN HALL IS AND IT IS GOING THRU SPECTRUM AT A VERY SLOW SPEED. SUPERVISOR HAFF SAID THAT THE 4 VOICE LINES ALREADY GO OVER THE INTERNET SLOWING THE INTERNET DOWN SOME. THE FIRE ALARM SYSTEM RUNS ON THE FAX LINES. SUPERVISOR HAFF SAID THAT WE CONTACTED SPECTRUM AND THEY OFFER BUSINESS CLASS PHONE WITH COAXLE CABLE BYPASSING THE OLD LINES FOR $99 INSTALLATION AND THEN $224.93 A MONTH. SUPERVISOR HAFF SAID THAT HE IS LOOKING FOR AUTHORIZATION FROM THE TOWN BOARD TO DECIDE WHAT TELEPHONE PROVIDER TO CHANGE TO.
RESOLUTION NO. 18089
ON MOTION OF COUNCILMAN BURCH, 2ND BY COUNCILMAN DILLON, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS ADOPTED 5 AYES, 0 NAYS. VOTING AYE, COUNCILWOMAN BEECHER, COUNCILMAN BURCH, COUNCILMAN DILLON, COUNCILWOMAN FOOTE AND SUPERVISOR HAFF.
RESOLVED TO AUTHORIZE SUPERVISOR TO ENTER INTO CONTRACT FOR NEW TELEPHONE SYSTEM BASED ON MOST USEFUL, COST EFFICIENT PROVIDER.
TOWN COMPUTERS OFFICE 2016
SUPERVISOR HAFF SAID THAT SUPPORT FOR OFFICE 2010 ENDS ON 2020. BOB WALLACE, OUR COMPUTER IT CONSULTANT, RECOMMENDS THE TOWN UPGRADE TO OFFICE 2016. TOWN CLERK, DENISE PETTEYS, WILL UPGRADE FIRST IN ORDER TO HELP EVERYONE ELSE WITH ANY ISSUES.
COUNTY INFORMATION
LAKE CHAMPLAIN – LAKE GEORGE REGIONAL PLANNING BOARD
SUPERVISOR HAFF DISCUSSED HANDOUT THAT HE PROVIDED TO THE TOWN BOARD REGARDING MEMBERSHIP, VOTING, PROXY AND LOAN ISSUES INVOLVING THE LAKE CHAMPLAIN-LAKE GEORGE REGIONAL PLANNING BOARD.
WASHINGTON COUNTY SHERIFF
SUPERVISOR HAFF DISCUSSED THE HARTFORD SPECIFIC ITEMS FROM THE WASHINGTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE 2017 ANNUAL REPORT.
ENLISTMENT CENTER RESTORATION WORK BIDS
SUPERVISOR HAFF SAID THE ENLISTMENT CENTER RESTORATION WORK BIDS ARE STILL TABLED FROM THE 3/13/18TOWN BOARD MEETING. HE SAID THAT THE TOWN HAD ANTICIPATED ABOUT $70,000 OF WORK BUT THE BIDS CAME IN AT $142,000. HE SAID THAT THE TOWN CONSIDERED REQUESTING FROM THE STATE TO DOUBLE THE GRANT AMOUNT AWARDED FROM $50,000 TO $100,000. SUPERVISOR HAFF SAID THAT THE TOWN COULD PROBABLY COME UP WITH THE REMAINING $42,000 FROM SEVERAL LINE ITEMS IN THE BUDGET. SUPERVISOR HAFF SAID THAT IN DISCUSSION WITH CARRIE WOERNER’S OFFICE IT WOULD BE COMPLEX TO INCREASE THE GRANT AMOUNT – THEY NEED TIME TO SEE IF IT CAN BE DONE. HE SAID THAT HE CONTACTED THE CONTRACTOR MAC INDUSTRIES AND THEY PENCILED THE JOB INTO THEIR SCHEDULE FOR SEPTEMBER. IN DISCUSSION ABOUT THE WORK – THEY THOUGHT A “PONY” WALL COULD BE CONSTRUCTED ABOUT 12” INSIDE THE EXISTING FOUNDATION THAT WOULD SUPPORT THE BUILDING. THEN NOTHING WOULD NEED TO BE DONE WITH THE CURRENT FOUNDATION. HE SAID THAT CHANGE ORDERS COULD BE DONE IF NEEDED ONCE A BID IS AWARDED. SUPERVISOR DISCUSSED PAYMENT OPTIONS WITH JOEL RECENTLY. JOEL SAID THAT THE TOWN COULD AFFORD TO PAY THE $50,000 WAITING FOR THE STATE TO REIMBURSE BUT THEY WERE CONCERNED WITH THE IDEA OF PAYING $100,000 WAITING FOR THE STATE. THERE WAS ALSO DISCUSSION REGARDING THE POSSIBILITY OF OBTAINING A BANK ANTICIPATION NOTE (BAN) FOR THE MONEY. SUPERVISOR HAFF SAID THAT JEFF MEYER, ATTORNEY FOR THE TOWN WOULD CHARGE ABOUT $800 – $1000 TO ADMINISTER A (BAN) AND WITH A 3 YEAR NOTE AND 2.5 OR 3% INTEREST OR ABOUT $3000. SUPERVISOR HAFF REFERRED THE BOARD
MAY 8, 2018 REGULAR MEETING PG. 3 OF 4
TO A DOCUMENT JOEL WROTE REGARDING THE TOWN PAYING FOR THE MONEY INSTEAD OF OBTAINING A (BAN).
SUPERVISOR HAFF SAID THAT HE ANTICIPATES SOME EXPENSES COMING UP WITH GREG’S WORKMAN’S COMPENSATION THE TOWN WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FIRST $20,000. THE TOWN HAS PUT MONEY ASIDE IN THIS LINE ITEM AND IT HAS $22,000 RIGHT NOW. THE TOWN IS ALSO DUE TO RENEGOTIATE THE FIRE COMPANY CONTRACT. THE FIRE COMPANY THRU NEW LEGISLATION HAS TO BUY CANCER INSURANCE FOR THEIR INTERIOR FIREFIGHTERS AT APPROXIMATELY $300 PER PERSON. HE IS PREPARED FOR THE FIRE COMPANY TO BE ASKING FOR MORE MONEY IN THE CONTRACT. SUPERVISOR HAFF SAID THAT GREG BROWN, HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT, IS CONCERNED WITH SOME TRUCK BODY BOXES THAT ARE ROTTING AWAY. SUPERVISOR HAFF SAID THAT HE IS LOOKING TO JOEL TO DISCUSS ALL OF THIS TO SEE IF IT IS A GOOD TIME FOR THE TOWN TO BORROW MONEY OR BE ON THE HOOK FOR $100,000 WAITING FOR STATE REIMBURSEMENT. SUPERVISOR HAFF SAID THAT JOEL SAID LINE ITEM A202 MAY HAVE $170,000 AT THE END OF THE YEAR IF THE TOWN EXPENSES STAY AS PLANNED. ALSO, THE GENERAL FUND HAS $250,000 IN A202.1 DEBIT BLOCK IF THERE WAS SOME KIND OF MAJOR CRISIS THAT WE WOULD NEED TO USE THIS MONEY.
PETER SWANO SAID THAT HE FEELS THERE ARE WAYS TO ELIMINATE MORE MONEY FROM THE BIDS. HE SAID TO ELIMINATE THE PROPOSED WORK ON THE HOUSE THE BID WOULD BE $112,000. IF WE ELIMINATE THE STONE WORK THE BID WOULD BE DOWN TO $90,000. THE $90,000 COULD BE PAID WITH THE $50,000 GRANT MONEY, $20,000 FROM THE TOWN AND THE HISTORICAL GROUP COULD PAY $5000 LEAVING THE PAYMENT ABOUT $15,000 SHORT. SUPERVISOR HAFF SAID THE $22,000 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LINE COULD PAY FOR THAT SHORTAGE.
SUPERVISOR HAFF SAID THAT HE NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE WITH THE ATTORNEY IF ELIMINATING THE STONE WORK WOULD BE A LEGAL CHANGE ORDER. AND THEY ALSO NEED TO INVESTIGATE IF THE TOWN CHOSE TO ONLY DO THE ENLISTMENT CENTER BID A IF THE STATE WOULD ACCEPT THIS AS THE SCOPE OF WORK FOR THE GRANT MONEY.
COUNCILWOMAN FOOTE PRAISED THE PAST BUDGETING EFFORTS ACHIEVED BY THE SUPERVISOR AND BOARD. SHE SAID IT IS IMPRESSIVE TO HAVE THE FUNDS SAVED.
YOUTH COMMISSION REPORT
AMBER MERCURE SAID THE YOUTH COMMISSION HAS 3 BASEBALL, SOFTBALL AND 1 T-BALL TEAM IN FULL SWING AND EVERYTHING IS GOING WELL WITH THE PROGRAMS. SUPERVISOR HAFF SAID THAT HE IS CONCERNED WITH THE YOUTH COMMISSION MEMBERSHIP. THEY ONLY HAVE 6 MEMBERS WITH 1 FULL MEMBER AND 2 ALTERNATE MEMBER VACANCIES. HE ASKED IF AMBER COULD SEND OUT FLYERS ASKING FOR VOLUNTEERS. THERE WAS DISCUSSION THAT THE MEMBERSHIP COMMITMENT IS FOR 7 YEARS AND THAT IS A LONG TIME. SUPERVISOR HAFF SAID THAT PARTICIPATION IN TOWN WIDE CLEANUP DAY WAS THE WORST IT HAS BEEN IN A LONG TIME. HE ASKED IF IT COULD BE MANDATORY FOR THE TEAMS TO PARTICIPATE IN CLEAN UP DAY. AMBER SAID THAT SHE COULD DISCUSS IT WITH THE MEMBERSHIP.
RESOLUTION NO. 18090
ON MOTION OF SUPERVISOR HAFF, 2ND BY COUNCILWOMAN FOOTE, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS ADOPTED 5 AYES, 0 NAYS. VOTING AYE, COUNCILWOMAN BEECHER, COUNCILMAN BURCH, COUNCILMAN DILLON, COUNCILWOMAN FOOTE AND SUPERVISOR HAFF.
RESOLVED THAT THE YOUTH COMMISSION REPORT BE ACCEPTED.
HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT REPORT
GREG BROWN SAID THEY CLEANED UP SOME DEBRIS THROWN OUT ON BALDWIN CORNERS ROAD AND HALL ROAD. HE SAID THAT THE TOWN HAD BEEN AWARDED (2) $7,100 GRANTS FROM THE CHAMPLAIN WATERSHED COALITION OF NEW YORK. HE SAID HE HAD CONSIDERED RENTING A PAVER AND ROLLER WITH SOME OTHER TOWNS IN ORDER TO SPLIT THE EXPENSE. HE SAID THAT THERE IS NOT ENOUGH INTEREST WITH OTHER TOWNS. THE TOWN COULD HAUL BLACKTOP BUT COULD NOT HAUL IT IN THE VOLUME THAT THE PAVING COMPANIES CAN IN ORDER TO DO A GOOD JOB AND ALSO TO COMPETE WITH THE COST. GREG HANDED OUT SOME INFORMATION REGARDING THE SHAPE OF THE CURRENT FLEET AND SOME OPTION THAT ARE AVAILABLE. HE ASKED IF THE BOARD COULD REVIEW IT AND CALL HIM WITH ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE THE NEXT TOWN BOARD MEETING.
SUPERVISOR HAFF SAID THAT HE HAD RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM CHRIS NESTLE REGARDING THE POSSIBILITY OF ADOPTING A TOWN HIGHWAY. HE SAID THAT IT IS NORMALLY DONE ON STATE HIGHWAYS. HE SUGGESTED
MAY 8, 2018 MEETING PG. 4 OF 4
SHE CONTACT GREG BROWN. GREG SAID THAT HE WILL INVESTIGATE THE REQUIREMENTS OF SUCH A PROGRAM WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND OBTAIN SAMPLE CONTRACTS ETC.
RESOLUTION NO. 18091
ON MOTION OF SUPERVISOR HAFF, 2ND BY COUNCILMAN DILLON, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS ADOPTED 5 AYES, 0 NAYS. VOTING AYE, COUNCILWOMAN BEECHER, COUNCILMAN BURCH, COUNCILMAN DILLON, COUNCILWOMAN FOOTE AND SUPERVISOR HAFF.
RESOLVED THAT THE HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT REPORT BE ACCEPTED.
DCO REPORT
SUPERVISOR HAFF SUMMARIZED THE DCO REPORT.
RESOLUTION NO. 18092
ON MOTION OF SUPERVISOR HAFF, 2ND BY COUNCILWOMAN BEECHER, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS ADOPTED 5 AYES, 0 NAYS. VOTING AYE, COUNCILWOMAN BEECHER, COUNCILMAN BURCH, COUNCILMAN DILLON, COUNCILWOMAN FOOTE AND SUPERVISOR HAFF.
RESOLVED THAT THE DOG CONTROL REPORT BE ACCEPTED.
COURT REPORT
SUPERVISOR HAFF SUMMARIZED THE COURT REPORT.
RESOLUTION NO. 18093
ON MOTION OF SUPERVISOR HAFF, 2ND BY COUNCILMAN BURCH, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS ADOPTED 5 AYES, 0 NAYS. VOTING AYE, COUNCILWOMAN BEECHER, COUNCILMAN BURCH, COUNCILMAN DILLON, COUNCILWOMAN FOOTE AND SUPERVISOR HAFF.
RESOLVED THAT THE COURT REPORT BE ACCEPTED.
PARADE REPORT
SUPERVISOR HAFF SAID THAT THE FLYER SAYS RAIN OR SHINE – IT WILL BE HELD NO MATTER WHAT THE WEATHER FORECAST IS. HE IS WORKING ON GETTING MORE FIRE TRUCKS ETC. AMBER SAID THAT SHE HAS ABOUT THE SAME PARTICIPANTS WITH MAYBE A FEW NEW ONES.
RESOLUTION NO. 18094
ON MOTION OF COUNCILMAN BURCH, 2ND BY COUNCILWOMAN FOOTE, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS ADOPTED 5 AYES, 0 NAYS. VOTING AYE, COUNCILWOMAN BEECHER, COUNCILMAN BURCH, COUNCILMAN DILLON, COUNCILWOMAN FOOTE AND SUPERVISOR HAFF.
RESOLVED THAT THE PARADE REPORT BE ACCEPTED.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
RESOLUTION NO. 18095
ON MOTION OF SUPERVISOR HAFF, 2ND BY COUNCILWOMAN BEECHER, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS ADOPTED 5 AYES, 0 NAYS. VOTING AYE, COUNCILWOMAN BEECHER, COUNCILMAN BURCH, COUNCILMAN DILLON, COUNCILWOMAN FOOTE AND SUPERVISOR HAFF.
RESOLVED TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 8:15 PM IN REFERENCE TO CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS WITH HARTFORD VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY.
REGULAR SESSION
RESOLUTION NO. 18096
ON MOTION OF SUPERVISOR HAFF, 2ND BY COUNCILWOMAN BEECHER, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS ADOPTED 5 AYES, 0 NAYS. VOTING AYE, COUNCILWOMAN BEECHER, COUNCILMAN BURCH, COUNCILMAN DILLON, COUNCILWOMAN FOOTE AND SUPERVISOR HAFF.
RESOLVED TO ENTER INTO REGULAR SESSION AT 8:25 PM.
ON MOTION OF SUPERVISOR HAFF, 2ND BY COUNCILWOMAN BEECHER THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT
8:25 P.M.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, ________________________DENISE PETTEYS, RMC TOWN CLERK
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SUPERVISOR HAFF COUNCILWOMAN BEECHER
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COUNCILWOMAN FOOTE COUNCILMAN DILLON
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COUNCILMAN BURCH