The Village of Hunter
Minutes of The Village Board of Trustees Meeting held January 8, 2018
Call to Order: 8:00PM. Pledge of Allegiance.
Members Present: Mayor Alan Higgins, Trustee Michael Tancredi and Trustee Geri Marino
Also Present: Larry Gardner, Village Attorney, Charles Sweet, Public Works Superintendent, Kathleen Hilbert, Village Clerk/Treasurer
Public Present: Tom Suozzo and Todd Murphy from Cedarwood Environmental Services, Robert Irvine, Kim McGalliard, Paul Slutzky, Planning Board Chairman, Harold Goldberg, Ron DeMartin and Joe Myers from North Dome Operations, Inc.
Approval of Minutes: Motion to approve minutes of Board of Trustees Meeting held November 13, 2017 made by Trustee Tancredi, seconded by Trustee Marino. All in favor.
Privilege of the Floor:
Jagerberg Beer Hall and Alpine Tavern – Will be opened by Kim McGalliard and Robert Irvine. Kim McGalliard: We are requesting a liquor license thirty-day waiver. It will be a restaurant with a beer hall and a tavern. The focus will be on good food. Initially we will be open Thursday through Sunday from 3PM until 10PM. We are hoping to open the end of January. It will not be a loud and rowdy place like Cosmic Charlies. Trustee Tancredi: Will you have live music? Kim McGalliard: No live music. The menu was distributed.
Christmas Decorations – Harold Goldberg: I would like to thank the volunteers for the Christmas decorations in the park. It is the best I have seen in a long time. Mayor Higgins: They did a beautiful job and the light poles look fantastic.
Town of Hunter Planning Board Meeting – Harold Goldberg: I think it is in the best interest of everyone in this Village to attend the next meeting on January 17 at 7PM at the Town Hall. They will introduce all of the development plans. I think it is important that the Village be involved. There is a plan to turn Rusk Hollow Road into a ski trail.
New Business:
Greene County Hazard Mitigation and Resilience Plan – Mayor Higgins: This has been worked on for a couple of years. Resolution 2017 – 070.
Local Garbage Law – Trustee Tancredi: I have drafted a letter that I would like to send out. The letter will go out when we receive a complaint. The letter is very cordial, urging cooperation. I think you will find that most people are receptive. This is a non-threatening letter asking for cooperation. Attorney Gardner: There will be a final version and I guess the Board will approve it. The law should be the last resort. Even with the law the enforcement is a problem. Mayor Higgins: You may or may not want to tell them they are in direct violation.
Attorney Gardner will review the letter and have it ready for Board Approval at the next meeting.
Boat House Street Light – Trustee Tancredi: Darren Ward said it shines into his bedroom. Can that be turned off? Charles Sweet: It took us years to get that fixed. That is a Central Hudson street light. I will call them to see if it can be turned off. Mayor Higgins: Let’s determine whether we need this light.
Waste Water Treatment Operation and Maintenance – Motion to award three-year contract to Cedarwood Environmental Services and to authorize Mayor to sign said contract was made by Trustee Tancredi; seconded by Trustee Marino. All were in favor and motion was carried.
Water System – Reviewed Proposal from North Dome Operations, Inc. which would commence January 1, 2018.
Mayor Higgins: Larry, we need to continue to pay for our services between now and January 1. The contract expired. We need to make payments legally. Attorney Gardner: Have the Board make a motion to authorize the payment for services. Motion to authorize December payment to North Dome Operations, Inc. at the contract rate which expired in April made by Trustee Tancredi; seconded by Trustee Marino. All were in favor and motion was carried.
Mayor Higgins: Joe, before we signed the last contract, you wrote us a letter stating that the facility must be staffed at least four hours per day, seven days a week. That was the justification for the increase in the past contract. We want to make sure that we have that person. Joe Myers: Yes. Motion to authorize the Mayor to sign agreement between The Village of Hunter and North Dome Operations, Inc. for the management, supervision, operation and maintenance of The Village of Hunter Water Treatment Facility made by Trustee Tancredi; seconded by Trustee Marino. All were in favor and the motion was carried.
Hunter Peaks – Paul Slutzky gave the Board an update.
Mortgage Tax Distribution – The Village of Hunter – $6,361.12.
Safety Coordinator and Safety Committee – Tabled until next meeting.
Jager Berg, LLC (Jagerberg) – Request for Waiver of thirty-day advance notice for filing of Liquor License Application. Resolution 2017 – 071.
Senior Citizen Tax Exemption – Greene County will hold a Public Hearing on December 20 the purpose of which is to increase the maximum income limit to $27, 500. If the County passes this increase, the Village will hold a public hearing on January 8, 2018 at 7:30PM. Motion made by Trustee Tancredi; seconded by Trustee Marino. All were in favor and the motion was carried.
Persons with Disabilities and Limited Incomes – Greene County will hold a Public Hearing on December 20 the purpose of which is to increase the maximum income limit to $27, 500. If the County passes this increase, the Village will hold a public hearing on January 8, 2018 at 7:45PM. Motion made by Trustee Tancredi; seconded by Trustee Marino. All were in favor and the motion was carried.
General Fund Budget Modifications
Move $1,000 from A1010.4 Legislative/Travel and Education to A1410.4 Staff/Travel and Education. Resolution 2017 – 072.
Establish new appropriation account F341021 Fire Prevention: Capital Outlay and
Equipment-Building Improvements. Resolution 2017 – 073.
Move $10,000 from A341040 Fire Prevention: Contractual-Board Contractual and move $3,000 from A341043 Fire Prevention: Contractual-Insurance to A341021
Fire Prevention: Capital Outlay and Equipment-Building Improvements. Resolution 2017 – 073.
Water Operating Account – Move $700 from F834042 Hydrant Installation to F834041 Aggregate/Stone and move $1,900 from F834042 Hydrant Installation to F834045 Materials and Supplies. Joe Myers: We exceeded the budget because we did a couple of year’s worth of patching that I did not budget for. This actually covers three year’s worth of patching.
Water Theft of Services – Clerk Hilbert: Attorney Gardner, our water law does not address “theft of services” and we have recently found that some users have turned their water on illegally and are not paying for their water. How far back can we go with our billing? Attorney Gardner: Six years. That is the statute of limitations on an implied contract.
Trustee Tancredi: There needs to be a procedure that prior to the Town issuing a building permit they contact the Village Water Department so that we are aware.
Old Business:
Park Benches – Waiting for quotes for benches and concrete slabs and new locations from Charles Sweet.
Driver’s Daily Vehicle Inspection Reports – Are now being submitted.
Joe Tumasella/Louis Natole – Clerk Hilbert: Dominick did an inspection. It is classified as a boarding house. There is one boarder, two kitchenettes, two bathrooms. There were no violations inside. Dominick cited him for burned-out lightbulb at the outside entrance.
LED Street Light Conversion – Charlie Sweet provided the Board with prices for LED bulbs.
RPTL 487 Exemption – Attorney Gardner: I called Real Property Taxes the next morning to confirm. No action is necessary. We will not increase taxes because of this investment.
Rabies Clinic – Trustee Marino has not yet contacted Fire Department in this regard.
Voucher System – Discussed policies and procedures again with Charles Sweet.
Correspondence:
Mayor Higgins – Discussed 2018 Heritage Development Grants.
Mayor Higgins: At this point we will move into executive session.
Mayor Higgins: At this time we will reconvene the regular meeting. We are going to appoint the Secretary to the Planning Board. That will be Suzanne Hartman. This is a function in her job description. We need to authorize a 25-cent per hour raise to cover the time spent at the Planning Board Meetings. The minutes will be transcribed during the regular work day. Resolution 2017 – 074.
Bills:
Account Voucher Nos. Abstract
General Fund V-232 to V-259 V-7
Sewer Operating G-144 to G-161 G-7
Water Abstract F-116 to F-132 F-7
The above vouchers were audited and ordered paid.
Financial Reports: Fire Protection Budget vs. Actual
Resolutions:
Resolution 2017 – 070
Authorize the Adoption of The Greene County Hazard Mitigation and Resilience Plan
Motion made by Trustee Tancredi; seconded by Trustee Marino.
WHEREAS, all of Greene County has exposure to natural hazards that increase the risk to life, property, environment and the County’s economy; and
WHEREAS, pro-active mitigation of known hazards before a disaster event can reduce long-term risk to life and property; and
WHEREAS, the Village of Hunter, with the assistance from AECOM, has gathered information and assisted in the preparation of the Greene County Hazard Mitigation and Resilience Plan; and
WHEREAS, the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-390) established new requirements for pre- and post-disaster hazards mitigation programs and the Greene County Hazard Mitigation and Resilience Plan has been prepared in accordance with this Act; and
WHEREAS, a Mitigation Planning Committee of Greene County municipalities with like planning objectives was formed to create consistent mitigation strategies within Greene County; and
WHEREAS, the Mitigation Planning Committee has completed a planning process that engaged the public, assessed the risk and vulnerability to the impacts of natural hazards, developed a mitigation strategy consistent with a set of uniform goals and objectives and created a plan for implementing, evaluating and revising this strategy;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that The Village of Hunter Board of Trustees:
- Adopts, in its entirety, the Greene County Hazard Mitigation and Resilience Plan (the “Plan”) as the County’s Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan and resolves to execute the actions identified in the Plan that pertain to the County;
- Will use the adopted and approved portions of the Plan to guide pre- and post-disaster mitigation of the hazards identified;
- Will coordinate the strategies identified in the Plan with other planning programs and mechanisms under its jurisdictional authority;
- Will continue its support of the Mitigation Planning Committee as described in the Plan;
- Will help to promote and support the mitigation successes of all participants in this Plan;
- Will incorporate mitigation planning as an integral component of government and partner operations; and
Will provide an update of the Plan in conjunction with the County Plan participants no less than every five years.
The foregoing resolution was put to a vote and was carried unanimously.
Mayor Alan Higgins voting – yea
Trustee Michael Tancredi voting – yea
Trustee Geri Marino voting – yea
The resolution was thereupon declared duly adopted.
Certification
I, Kathleen M. Hilbert, being the Clerk of The Village of Hunter and the official recording officer of The Village of Hunter records, do hereby certify that the above resolution was approved at the meeting of The Village of Hunter Board of Trustees on December 11, 2017, that the resolution is true and correct, in full force and that an official record of this action is on file in the Village’s minutes book.
Signed: ______________________________________ Date: ____________
Village Clerk
Mailing Address:
The Village of Hunter
P. O. Box 441
Hunter, NY 12442
Resolution 2017 – 071
Waiver of thirty-day advance notice for filing of Liquor License
Application – Jager Berg, LLC (Jagerberg)
Motion made by Trustee Tancredi; seconded by Trustee Marino.
WHEREAS The Village of Hunter Board of Trustees acknowledges that a Liquor License Application is being filed by Jager Berg, LLC d/b/a Jagerberg;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that The Village of Hunter Board of Trustees waives its rights to the thirty-day regulatory notice provision and authorizes the Village Clerk to notify the New York State Liquor Authority of same.
The foregoing resolution was put to a vote and was carried unanimously.
Mayor Alan Higgins voting – yea
Trustee Michael Tancredi voting – yea
Trustee Geri Marino voting – yea
The resolution was thereupon declared duly adopted.
Resolution 2017 – 072
Budget Modification
Appropriate Funds from Line Items with an Excess to Line Items with a Shortfall for General Fund Budget Fiscal Year 2017/2018
Motion made by Trustee Tancredi; seconded by Trustee Marino.
RESOLVED that The Village of Hunter Board of Trustees authorizes the Clerk/Treasurer to move $1,000 from A1010.4 Legislative/Travel and Education to A1410.4 Staff/Travel and Education.
The foregoing resolution was put to a vote and was carried unanimously.
Mayor Alan Higgins voting – yea
Trustee Michael Tancredi voting – yea
Trustee Geri Marino voting – yea
The resolution was thereupon declared duly adopted.
Resolution 2017 – 073
Budget Modification
Establish New Account and Appropriate Funds from Line Items with an Excess
General Fund Budget Fiscal Year 2017/2018
Motion made by Trustee Tancredi; seconded by Trustee Marino.
RESOLVED that The Village of Hunter Board of Trustees authorizes the Clerk/Treasurer to establish a new appropriation account F341021 Fire Prevention: Capital Outlay and Equipment-Building Improvements; and
FURTHER RESOLVED that The Village of Hunter Board of Trustees authorizes the Clerk/Treasurer to and move $10,000 from A341040 Fire Prevention: Contractual-Board Contractual and move $3,000 from A341043 Fire Prevention: Contractual-Insurance to newly established account A341021 Fire Prevention: Capital Outlay and Equipment-Building Improvements.
The foregoing resolution was put to a vote and was carried unanimously.
Mayor Alan Higgins voting – yea
Trustee Michael Tancredi voting – yea
Trustee Geri Marino voting – yea
The resolution was thereupon declared duly adopted.
Resolution 2017 – 074
Deputy Clerk Salary Increase
Motion made by Trustee Tancredi; seconded by Trustee Marino.
RESOLVED that The Village of Hunter Board of Trustees approves a twenty-five cent per hour increase for the Deputy Clerk to cover time spent at the Planning Board Meetings.
The foregoing resolution was put to a vote and was carried unanimously.
Mayor Alan Higgins voting – yea
Trustee Michael Tancredi voting – yea
Trustee Geri Marino voting – yea
The resolution was thereupon declared duly adopted.
Adjournment: Motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Trustee Tancredi, seconded by Trustee Marino. All in favor. Meeting adjourned.
Transcribed by:
______________________
Kathleen M. Hilbert
Clerk/Treasurer
17-12-11 minutes