February 13, 2018

A REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING WAS HELD ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 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
MARK MILLER, ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
MIKE ARMSTRONG, HISTORIAN
MIKE SWEZEY, PLANNING BOARD CHAIR
PETER SWANO, HISTORICAL GROUP
BOB STEVES, HIGHWAY
MARGARET SEMANSCIN, BOARD OF ASSESSMENT REVIEW

AUDIT
SUPERVISOR HAFF CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AT 7:00 P.M.
PLEDGE
A MOMENT OF SILENCE WAS OBSERVED FOR MARY LOU GIBSON WHO PASSED AWAY RECENTLY.

TOWN BOARD ROLL CALL WAS MADE WITH ALL MEMBERS PRESENT.

PAYMENT OF BILLS
RESOLUTION NO. 18045
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 #2 OF 2018 IN THE FOLLOWING AMOUNTS:
HIGHWAY                            VOUCHER #13-32                          $ 38,280.99
GENERAL                             VOUCHER #33-66                         $158,217.53

SUPERVISOR’S REPORT
RESOLUTION NO. 18046
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 END OF 2017 SUPERVISOR’S REPORT.
RESOLUTION NO. 18047
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 2018 SUPERVISOR’S REPORT.

TOWN CLERK REPORT
RESOLUTION NO. 18048
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 TOWN CLERK REPORT.

FEBRUARY 13, 2018 REGULAR MEETING PG. 2 OF 4

MINUTE REVIEW
RESOLUTION NO. 18049
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 REGULAR TOWN BOARD MINUTES FOR JANUARY 9, 2018 AND THE ANNUAL AUDIT MINUTES FOR JANUARY 19, 2018.

PRESENTATION
CAITLIN JOHNSON, WASHINGTON COUNTY MEAL SITE MANAGER HANDED OUT SOME REFERENCE MATERIAL AND SAID THAT SHE WAS NEWLY APPOINTED AND WAS TRYING TO EXPAND AND BRING OFFICE OF THE AGING EVENTS TO COMMUNITIES THAT MAY NOT HAVE EASY ACCESS TO THE OFFICE’S MEAL SITES. SHE ASKED FOR HARTFORD CONTACTS TO HELP HER PUT TOGETHER THESE EVENTS. SHE WAS PROVIDED TELEPHONE NUMBERS FOR KAREN HARRINGTON, PRESIDENT OF THE HARTFORD SENIOR CITIZENS, JOHN HOLMES, PRESIDENT OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND DAVID SWEZEY, FIRE DEPARTMENT FIRE CHIEF.

INFORMATION
SUPERVISOR HAFF DISCUSSED A POWER LINE PROJECT NAMED CHAMPLAIN HUDSON POWER EXPRESS THAT WILL DELIVER BURIED TRANSMISSION POWER LINES FROM CANADA TO NEW YORK CITY. A VERY SMALL PORTION OF IT .3 MILES GOES THROUGH HARTFORD. THE COMPANY PROPOSES TO PAY FOR 40+ YEARS TO THE TOWN OF HARTFORD $7000 A YEAR , THE HARTFORD CENTRAL SCHOOL $10,000 AND WASHINGTON COUNTY $7,000 FOR THE .3 MILES.

SUPERVISOR HAFF SAID THAT THE TOWN BOARD WAS PROVIDED THE ASSESSOR’S RESPONSE TO THE AMY LANE COMPLAINT LAST TOWN BOARD MEETING AND ANOTHER LETTER FROM DARYL AND NANCY LANE’S RESPONSE LETTER IN REFERENCE TO THIS SAME CLAIM.

SUPERVISOR HAFF PROVIDED COPIES OF THE COMMUNITY CALENDAR THAT MARYELLEN PIKE COMPILES EVERY YEAR.

HIGHWAY REPORT
SUPERVISOR HAFF SAID THAT MAHONEY NOTIFIER WHO PROVIDES THE TOWN ALARM SYSTEMS SUGGESTED TO GREG BROWN THAT THE TOWN INSTALL SOME HARD WIRED CARBON MONOXIDE ALARMS. HE SAID THAT HE HAS SOME IN HIS HOME AND SUGGESTED GREG PRICE COMPARE SOME FOR THE BUILDING. COMMERCIAL TYPE 10 YEAR BATTERY OPERATED CARBON MONOXIDE ALARMS ARE AVAILABLE FOR $68 EACH. SUPERVISOR HAFF SUGGESTED THAT THE TOWN PURCHASE AND INSTALL 3 ALARMS – 1 FOR THE HIGHWAY TRUCK BAY, 1 FOR GREG’S OFFICE AND 1 FOR THE TOWN CONFERENCE ROOM. AT THE END OF 10 YEARS THE WHOLE UNIT IS THROWN AWAY. THE BOARD AGREED THAT THIS SHOULD BE DONE.

ENFORCEMENT OFFICER REPORT
MARK MILLER SAID THAT THE TOWN HIGHWAY GUYS ARE DOING A GOOD JOB KEEPING UP WITH THE WEATHER. MARK SAID HE MET WITH SANDRA FOLEY, ASSESSOR, REGARDING SOME ISSUES WITH PROPERTIES WITHIN THE TOWN. HE SAID THAT HARSHA MOBILE HOME ON GULF LANE SKIRTING IS STILL NOT COMPLETED. HE COMPLAINED TO JIM BUXTON ABOUT A PROPERTY ON BAKER ROAD THAT HADN’T OBTAINED PERMITS FOR 2 DECKS THAT THEY INSTALLED – IT HAS BEEN COMPLETED ALREADY. MARK SAID HE RECEIVED A CALL FROM MATT SCHUMAKER, WHO WORKS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY THAT TOOK OVER THE WORK THAT WAS BEING DONE ON THE CELL TOWER ON DICK HILL ROAD FOR HORVATH COMMUNICATIONS. MR. SCHUMAKER NEEDED A BUILDING PERMIT SIGNED AS COMPLETE. MARK SAID HE WENT TO THE HOUSE ON THE CORNER OF ROUTE 30 AND SCOTT HILL ROAD THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED TO BE SELLING CARS. THERE WAS ONLY 1 CAR THERE THAT DAY SO HE WILL KEEP AN EYE ON THE SITUATION.
RESOLUTION NO. 18050
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 ENFORCEMENT OFFICER REPORT BE ACCEPTED.

FEBRUARY 13, 2018 REGULAR MEETING PG. 3 OF 4

HISTORIAN REPORT
MIKE ARMSTRONG SAID THAT HE HAD COMPLETED A SUMMARY OF THE TOWN OF HARTFORD CENSUS POPULATION FROM 1790 TO 2010. HE ALSO IS WORKING ON COMPILING A LIST OF THE OFFICERS FOR THE TOWN FROM THE 1700’S UNTIL PRESENT.

COUNCILMAN BURCH SAID THAT AT THE RECENT NEW TOWN BOARD MEMBER TRAINING HE LISTENED TO A SPEAKER, MARK STEPHENS, FROM OSC LEGAL SERVICES WHO DISCUSSED THE BIDDING PROCESS. GARY BELIEVES THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN CASES THAT SELLING TOWN PROPERTY WOULD NOT HAVE TO BE PUT OUT FOR PUBLIC BID. SUPERVISOR HAFF CLARIFIED THAT COUNCILMAN BURCH WAS REFERRING TO THE DISCUSSION OF POSSIBLY SELLING THE CIVIL WAR ENLISTMENT CENTER AND MUSEUM PROPERTY TO THE HARTFORD HISTORICAL SOCIETY. SUPERVISOR HAFF SAID THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY IS A CORPORATION AND HE DID NOT KNOW HOW THE TOWN COULD SELL REAL PROPERTY TO A CORPORATION. SUPERVISOR HAFF SAID THAT THE COUNTY SELLS REAL PROPERTY OFTEN AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY SAYS THAT IT HAS TO BE SOLD THROUGH PUBLIC AUCTION BUT HE SAID THAT THERE ARE OFTEN DIFFERENT OPINIONS FROM DIFFERENT ATTORNEYS. THERE WAS FURTHER DISCUSSION REGARDING THE POSSIBLE PROS AND CONS OF THIS IDEA. GRANTS WOULD BE EASIER TO OBTAIN BY THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY SINCE THEY WOULD NOT BE REQUIRED TO EMPLOY PREVAILING WAGE CONTRACTS ETC. PETER SWANO CLARIFIED THAT THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY IS A 501C3 AND ARE GRANTED THEIR CORPORATION THROUGH THE BOARD OF REGENTS. SUPERVISOR HAFF SAID THAT WE NEED TO VERIFY THAT THE DEED DOES NOT HAVE ANY “NO SALE” CLAUSE RESTRICTING IT FROM BEING SOLD. PETER SAID THAT IF THE HARTFORD HISTORICAL SOCIETY CEASED TO EXIST IT ALL REVERTS TO THE WASHINGTON COUNTY HISTORIAN. THERE WAS FURTHER DISCUSSION THAT THE TOWN HAS TO FINISH THE EXISTING GRANT BEFORE THIS IDEA COULD BE CONSIDERED ANYWAYS. COUNCILMAN DILLON SAID THAT IF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY CAN STILL GET CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT GRANTS FROM ORGANIZATIONS THAT DON’T REQUIRE THE STATE LABOR REQUIREMENTS THEN THERE IS NO REAL ADVANTAGE FOR THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY TO OWN THE BUILDINGS. WHY WOULD THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY TAKE ON THE LIABILITY OF THE BUILDING. HE SAID HE DOESN’T SEE THE ADVANTAGE OF THE OWNERSHIP. COUNCILMAN DILLON ASKED WHAT THE ANNUAL BUDGET WAS FOR THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY. PETER SAID ABOUT $2000 A YEAR. SUPERVISOR HAFF SAID THAT HE WILL LOOK INTO THE SITUATION WITH BETTY LITTLE. COUNCILMAN DILLON SAID THAT THERE IS NO MORE STATE MONEY TO BE HAD AFTER THIS YEAR AND HE FEELS THAT INSURANCE ALONE ON THAT BUILDING WILL EAT UP MOST OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY ANNUAL BUDGET. HE DOES NOT THINK IT WOULD MAKE SENSE FOR THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY TO OWN THE BUILDING.
RESOLUTION NO. 18051
ON MOTION OF SUPERVISOR HAFF, 2ND BY COUNCILMAN BUR CH, 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 HISTORIAN REPORT BE ACCEPTED.

DCO REPORT
RESOLUTION NO. 18052
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 DOG CONTROL REPORT BE ACCEPTED.

FEBRUARY 13, 2018 REGULAR MEETING PG. 4 OF 4

COURT REPORT
SUPERVISOR HAFF SUMMARIZED THE COURT REPORT.
RESOLUTION NO. 18053
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 COURT REPORT BE ACCEPTED.

PUBLIC DISCUSSION
MIKE SWEZEY, PLANNING BOARD CHAIRMAN, SAID THAT A PLANNING BOARD MEMBER, AMBER MERCURE LINDGREN HAD MISSED 3 CONSECUTIVE MEETINGS. SUPERVISOR HAFF SAID THAT HE WILL CONTACT HER TO SEE IF SHE WOULD LIKE TO APPEAL THE TOWN BOARD VACATING THE POSITION. MIKE SWEZEY SAID THAT HE HAS A NAME OF SOMEONE TO FILL THE VACANCY. SUPERVISOR HAFF SAID THAT IT IS TOWN BOARD PRACTICE TO POST ANY VACANCIES SO NOTHING WILL BE DONE UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING.

ON MOTION OF SUPERVISOR HAFF, 2ND BY COUNCILMAN DILLON THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT
8:04 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