A REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING WAS HELD ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2021 AT THE TOWN HALL COMMENCING AT 7:00 PM
PRESENT
DANA HAFF, SUPERVISOR
BARBARA BEECHER, COUNCILWOMAN
GARY BURCH SR., COUNCILMAN
KEITH HARRINGTON, COUNCILMAN
JENNIFER PEREZ, COUNCILWOMAN
ALSO PRESENT
DENISE PETTEYS, RMC TOWN CLERK
GREG BROWN, HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT
JEFF CHAPIN, HIGHWAY
JASON MOREHOUSE, HIGHWAY
AUDIT
SUPERVISOR HAFF CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AT 7:01 P.M.
PLEDGE
A MOMENT OF SILENCE WAS OBSERVED FOR ADELAIDE PALMER, CLAUDIA IRWIN, MARIE MCCOTTER, SAMUEL IRWIN AND REGINALD BUSH ALL WHOM PASSED AWAY RECENTLY.
TOWN BOARD ROLL CALL WAS MADE WITH ALL MEMBERS PRESENT.
PAYMENT OF BILLS
RESOLUTION NO. 21190
ON MOTION OF SUPERVISOR HAFF, 2ND BY COUNCILMAN HARRINGTON, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS ADOPTED 5 AYES, 0 NAYS. VOTING AYE, COUNCILWOMAN BEECHER, COUNCILMAN BURCH, COUNCILMAN HARRINGTON, COUNCILWOMAN PEREZ AND SUPERVISOR HAFF.
RESOLVED THAT THE AUTHORIZED BILLS BE PAID ON ABSTRACT #12 OF 2021 IN THE FOLLOWING AMOUNTS:
HIGHWAY VOUCHER # 483 – 498 $ 14,662.36
GENERAL VOUCHER # 499 – 524 $ 11,612.92
SUPERVISOR’S REPORT
RESOLUTION NO. 21191
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 HARRINGTON, COUNCILWOMAN PEREZ AND SUPERVISOR HAFF.
RESOLVED THAT THE NOVEMBER 2021 SUPERVISOR’S REPORT BE ACCEPTED WITH THE FOLLOWING AMENDMENTS:
A1972.2 PYMT TO CTY TO REDUCE TAXES – $ 1,000.00
A1000 REAPPROPRIATION – $ 6,624.00
A1420.4 LAW, CONTR EXP + $ 2,500.00
A1920.2 MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION DUES +$ 124.00
A5132.2 GARAGE IMPROVEMENTS +$ 3,000.00
A5132.4 HIGHWAY GARAGE, CONTR EXP +$ 2,000.00
D5142.1 WAGES, SNOW REMOVAL -$ 100.00
D4025.4 LABORATORY SERVICES +$ 100.00
TOWN CLERK REPORT
RESOLUTION NO. 21192
ON MOTION OF SUPERVISOR HAFF, 2ND BY COUNCILMAN HARRINGTON, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS ADOPTED 5 AYES, 0 NAYS. VOTING AYE, COUNCILWOMAN BEECHER, COUNCILMAN BURCH, COUNCILMAN HARRINGTON, COUNCILWOMAN PEREZ AND SUPERVISOR HAFF.
RESOLVED THAT THE TOWN CLERK REPORT BE ACCEPTED.
DECEMBER 14, 2021 REGULAR MEETING PG. 2 OF 4
MINUTE REVIEW
RESOLUTION NO. 21193
ON MOTION OF SUPERVISOR HAFF, 2ND BY COUNCILMAN HARRINGTON, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS ADOPTED 5 AYES, 0 NAYS. VOTING AYE, COUNCILWOMAN BEECHER, COUNCILMAN BURCH, COUNCILMAN HARRINGTON, COUNCILWOMAN PEREZ AND SUPERVISOR HAFF.
RESOLVED THAT THE REGULAR TOWN BOARD MINUTES FOR NOVEMBER 9, 2021 BE ACCEPTED.
FIREHOUSE DASNY GRANT
SUPERVISOR HAFF SAID THAT CHARLES ABBOTT AND JOHN HOLMES NOTIFIED HIM THAT THE HARTFORD VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY HAD RECEIVED THE DASNY GRANT PAYMENT TOWARDS THE NEW ENGINE/RESCUE 341 VEHICLE.
HARTFORD VOLUNTEER FIRE FINANCIAL REPORTS
SUPERVISOR HAFF SAID THAT THE 2020 HARTFORD VOLUNTEER FIRE FINANCIAL REPORTS HAVE BEEN FILED WITH THE TOWN CLERK. IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO READ THEM, THEY ARE AVAILABLE FROM DENISE PETTEYS, TOWN CLERK TO REVIEW.
APPOINTED POSITIONS/ TERMS FOR 2022
SUPERVISOR HAFF SAID THAT ALL APPOINTED POSITIONS WILL BE PUBLICLY POSTED AND CURRENT APPOINTEES WILL BE HELD OVER UNTIL THE NEXT TOWN BOARD ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING TO BE HELD ON JANUARY 11, 2022.
RESOLUTION NO. 21194
ON MOTION OF SUPERVISOR HAFF, 2ND BY COUNCILMAN HARRINGTON, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS ADOPTED 5 AYES, 0 NAYS. VOTING AYE, COUNCILWOMAN BEECHER, COUNCILMAN BURCH, COUNCILMAN HARRINGTON, COUNCILWOMAN PEREZ AND SUPERVISOR HAFF.
RESOLVED THAT ALL APPOINTED POSITIONS BE HELD OVER UNTIL THE NEXT TOWN BOARD ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING TO BE HELD ON JANUARY 11, 2022.
HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT REPORT
HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT, GREG BROWN SAID THAT HE HAS 1 TRUCK DOWN TO DELUREY’S BEING WORKED ON AND IT WILL PROBABLY BE MIDDLE OR LATE NEXT MONTH BEFORE IT IS BACK. HE SAID THAT OLDEST TRUCK #6 HAS SOME ISSUES WITH THE ENGINE – HE DOESN’T KNOW WHAT TYPE OF REPAIRS WILL BE NEEDED UNTIL THEY TAKE IT APART. HE SAID THAT THE TOWN OF POULTNEY, VT HAS AN IDENTICAL TRUCK MOTOR AVAILABLE THAT IS IN PRETTY GOOD RUNNING CONDITION. HE IS LOOKING AT THAT. AS OF RIGHT NOW, IF SOMETHING HAPPENS, WE HAVE THE THREE BIG TRUCKS AND WE’LL DO WHAT WE CAN WITH WHAT WE’RE WORKING WITH. GREG SAID THAT THE ENGINE FROM POULTNEY WOULD COST AT LEAST $2500 BUT THE TOWN WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR INSTALLATION BECAUSE THE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT DOES NOT HAVE THE FACILITY OR ABILITY TO DO IT. GREG SAID THAT HE IS CONSIDERING APPLYING FOR GRANT MONEY TO PURCHASE A NEW TRUCK BUT IT ONLY PAYS 50% OF IT. THE TOWN WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE OTHER 50% OR ABOUT $125,000. SUPERVISOR HAFF SAID THAT HE DIDN’T THINK THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT COULD BE DONE. GREG SAID THAT COUNCILWOMAN BEECHER HAD LOCATED A LOCAL 2009 STERLING TRUCK THAT ISN’T ANY BETTER THAN WHAT THE TOWN ALREADY HAS. DUE TO THE AGE OF THE TRUCK SOME OF THE PARTS MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE. GREG SAID THE LOADER HE TALKED ABOUT FROM LAST MONTH. HE SAID THE PRICE IS STILL GOOD THRU DECEMBER 31 AND COULD DO A FINANCE PACKAGE OVER FIVE YEARS FOR ABOUT $15,000 A YEAR. IF WE ORDER IT WOULD COME IN ABOUT 4 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE.
GREG SAID THAT IF THE TOWN DECIDES NOT TO TRADE THE LOADER IN THEN WE WILL HAVE TO PUT TIRES ON FOR A PRICE FROM ADIRONDACK TIRE FOR MOUNTING AND TIRES BETWEEN $8,000-$9,500. ALSO, LABOR AND PARTS FOR THE PINS AND BUSHING ON THE BUCKET AND ARMS WOULD BE IN THE RANGE OF $9,000 TO $10,600. HE SAID WE WERE CHANGING OUR LOADERS EVERY FIVE YEARS BUT WE JUST FINISHED OUR SIXTH YEAR SO WE’VE GONE BY WHAT THE INCREASE WAS LAST YEAR AND THE VALUE OF OUR HAS GONE DOWN. WE PUT $6,500 INTO IT FOR A YEARLY SERVICE THAT WE WOULDN’T HAVE HAD TO DO. BY NOT TRADING, THERE’S A 4% INCREASE WHICH IS JUST UNDER $6,400 AND THEN WE’RE GOING TO HAVE TO PUT ALL OF THIS OTHER MONEY INTO IT. SUPERVISOR HAFF SAID HE THINKS THE LOADER SHOULD BE FIXED AS NEEDED AND NOT LOOK TO COMPLETELY REPLACE IT; TO SPEND THE $20,000 IN MAINTENANCE RATHER THAN SPEND $70,000 THAT THE TOWN DOES NOT HAVE THE
DECEMBER 14, 2021 REGULAR MEETING PG. 3 OF 4
MONEY FOR. GREG SAID THE TOWN DOES HAVE THE MONEY BUT THE BOARD DOESN’T WANT TO HELP OUT. HE SAID THAT HE HAS BEEN WAITING 3 MONTHS AND PART OF THE TOWN BOARD DOESN’T EVEN SPEAK UP OR CALL HIM TO TALK ABOUT EQUIPMENT TO SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE. SUPERVISOR HAFF TALKED ABOUT HIGHWAY MONEY AVAILABLE THAT IS APPROPRIATED IN THE 2022 BUDGET WOULD BE ABOUT $60,000. SUPERVISOR HAFF SAID THAT A POTENTIAL SAVINGS WOULD BE THAT THE TOWN SHOULD NOT BE PURCHASING ANY MORE SAND. HE SAID IF HE GOT AHOLD OF JOEL AND FIGURED OUT A THREE-YEAR AVERAGE ON WHAT WE PURCHASE ON SAND THE MONEY SAVED COULD BE PUT TOWARDS VEHICLES. HE SAID HE THINKS NO SAND SHOULD BE PURCHASED IN 2022. GREG SAID THAT THE PILE IS HALF THE SIZE IT WAS BECAUSE THEY NOW HAVE THE SALT BUILDING THERE. HE SAID THAT THE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT DEALS WITH THE DANGEROUS CONDITIONS ON THE ROADS IT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING. IT IS PRETTY DISCOURAGING WHEN THE WORKERS ARE OUT THERE WITH 2 TRUCKS DOWN. HE SAID THAT HE HAS THE GUYS WORKING THEIR BUTTS OFF WHEN THEY SHOULD BE OUT THERE WORKING THE ROADS. IT JUST MAKES IT HARD. SUPERVISOR HAFF SAID THAT AT THE LAST MEETING GREG SAID IT’S NOT UP TO HIGHWAY TO FIND MONEY THAT HIGHWAY NEEDS BUT IF THE TOWN IS SPENDING MONEY ON SAND GETTING IT REPLENISHED ALL THE TIME WHEN WE HAVE A LARGE STOCKPILE, HE THINKS WE CAN EASILY GO THROUGH ALL THIS YEAR AND NOT SPEND ANY MONEY ON SAND. GREG SAID IT’S NOT TRUE. SUPERVISOR HAFF SAID HE SEES AN UNWILLINGNESS TO EVEN ADDRESS THE SAND ISSUE. THAT’S A BIG PILE OF SAND AND COUNCILWOMAN BEECHER HAS SAID TO HIM THAT WHEN YOU COME DOWN HASTINGS ROAD, IT’S TALLER THAN THIS BUILDING. I WOULD SAY GO THROUGH 50% OF THE PILE BEFORE YOU WORRY ABOUT GETTING ANY MORE COMING IN. COUNCILWOMAN BEECHER SAID IT’S OVER THE BLOCKS IN THE BACK TOO AND IT’S JUST AN AMOUNT OF TIME BEFORE THE MIHALY’S START TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT IT. GREG SAID THAT IT’S NOT MUCH OVER NOW. BEFORE THE BLOCKS WERE INSTALLED IT WAS 50’ OR MORE OVER ONTO THEIR PROPERTY. SUPERVISOR HAFF SAID THAT THE TOWN BOARD HAS CONTROL OF THE PURSE STRINGS BY SIGNING THE BILLS. HE SAID THAT HE IS NOT GOING TO AUTHORIZE PURCHASING ANY MORE SAND IN 2022 AND THAT MONEY SHOULD BE USED FOR THE VEHICLE REPLACEMENT FUND. COUNCILWOMAN PEREZ ASKED WHAT SAND COSTS EVERY YEAR. GREG SAID HE COULDN’T REMEMBER AN ACCURATE PRICE SPENT EVERY YEAR SINCE EVERY YEAR USAGE IS DIFFERENT. SUPERVISOR HAFF SAID THAT THE SNOW REMOVAL CONTRACTUAL EXPENSE PURCHASES LINE ITEM IN THE 2021 BUDGET WAS $41,560. THAT LINE ALSO INCLUDES SALT PURCHASES.
RESOLUTION NO. 21195
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 HARRINGTON, COUNCILWOMAN PEREZ AND SUPERVISOR HAFF.
RESOLVED THAT THE HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT REPORT BE ACCEPTED.
ENFORCEMENT OFFICER REPORT
MARK MILLER, ENFORCEMENT OFFICER SAID HE IS STILL HAVING RESIDENTS TAKE BUILDING PERMITS TO THE COUNTY AND THEN HE GOES AND SIGNS A BUNCH OF THEM ALL AT ONCE AT THE COUNTY AS WELL. SUPERVISOR HAFF ASKED ABOUT THE SOLAR FARM LETTER. JOULE ENERGY THE INVESTORS AND CONTRACTOR TO INSTALL THE SOLAR EQUIPMENT ON THE TOM BURCH PROPERTY ON STATE ROUTE 196 ASKED FOR VERIFICATION THAT THE STATE/COUNTY/TOWN DOES NOT REQUIRE THEM TO GET A BUILDING PERMIT SINCE THEY ARE MEETING ALL OTHER STATE REQUIREMENTS.
RESOLUTION NO. 21196
ON MOTION OF SUPERVISOR HAFF, 2ND BY COUNCILWOMAN PEREZ, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS ADOPTED 5 AYES, 0 NAYS. VOTING AYE- COUNCILWOMAN BEECHER, COUNCILMAN BURCH, COUNCILMAN HARRINGTON, COUNCILWOMAN PEREZ AND SUPERVISOR HAFF.
RESOLVED THAT THE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER REPORT BE ACCEPTED.
COURT REPORT
SUPERVISOR HAFF SUMMARIZED THE COURT REPORT.
RESOLUTION NO. 21197
ON MOTION OF SUPERVISOR HAFF, 2ND BY COUNCILMAN HARRINGTON, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS ADOPTED 5 AYES, 0 NAYS. VOTING AYE- COUNCILWOMAN BEECHER, COUNCILMAN BURCH, COUNCILMAN HARRINGTON, COUNCILWOMAN PEREZ AND SUPERVISOR HAFF.
RESOLVED THAT THE COURT REPORT BE ACCEPTED.
DECEMBER 14, 2021 REGULAR MEETING PG. 4 OF 4
PUBLIC DISCUSSION
JOHN GREGORY SAID THAT HE AGREES WITH SUPERVISOR HAFF THAT THE TOWN DOES NOT NEED ANY MORE SAND – HE FEELS THAT THERE IS ENOUGH SAND FOR 2 YEARS. HE DISCUSSED WAYS HE FELT THE HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT COULD IMPROVE THE MAINTENANCE OF EQUIPMENT AND ROADS. HE SAID THAT HARTFORD IS THE ONLY ONE WHO TRADES IN LOADERS AFTER SIX YEARS. JOHN HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE HIGHWAY WORKERS COMPLAINING ABOUT THEIR JOB DUTIES.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
RESOLUTION NO. 21198
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 HARRINGTON, COUNCILWOMAN PEREZ AND SUPERVISOR HAFF.
RESOLVED TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 7:55 PM FOR MATTERS RELATING TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.
REGULAR SESSION
RESOLUTION NO. 21199
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 HARRINGTON, COUNCILWOMAN PEREZ 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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COUNCILMAN BURCH COUNCILWOMAN PEREZ
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COUNCILMAN HARRINGTON