Village Board Minutes

Call to Order: 8:00PM. Pledge of Allegiance.

Members Present: Mayor Alan Higgins, Trustee Ben Sommers and Trustee Anita Ayres

Also Present: Larry Gardner, Village Attorney, Kathleen Hilbert, Clerk/Treasurer, Matthew Grossmann, DPW Superintendent

Absent: Carl Giangrande, Building Inspector/Code Enforcement Officer

Public Present: Todd Murphy, Cedarwood Environmental Services, Michael Lamanec, North Dome Operations, Inc., Robert Corson

Moment of Silence: For Amy Costa

Privilege of the Floor: None

New Business:

Mayor will approach Anton Fyodorov of 8021 Main to see if he would be interested in purchasing the one acre of vacant land owned by The Village identified as Tax Map Number 163.00-2-7.

Laroux, 7590 Main Street, Tax Map Number 164.15-15-1-2. Home was demolished. Will no longer be billed for water or sewer.

Gardner Inn, 2684 Route 296, Inc., Tax Map Number 163.08-1-21. Write letter to collect for additional water EDU charge. Todd Murphy will look up and verify correct EDUs for this and the Jacques Lawrence properties.

2020/2021 Budget – The head of each unit must submit an estimate of revenues and expenditures including schedules and statements for the ensuing fiscal year to the Mayor by March 1, 2020. The estimate should show the sources of all revenue, itemize the character and object of each expenditure, as defined in Village Law § 5-500(7), and contain such additional information as the Mayor may prescribe. If the head of a unit fails to submit an estimate by March 1, 2020, the Mayor will prepare an estimate for such unit. The Mayor explained what he expects from each unit head.

Partial water meter reads were submitted. Have not received meter read from school. Problem with the school meter was discussed. No action was taken by the Board.

Todd Murphy asked if Hunter Mountain’s hot water meter problem has been resolved. Mike Lamanec – There was no way to convert the hot water meter readings because it was done on a pulse but we found a conversion and now as we pass it on to the clerk it will be converted to gallons. Mayor Higgins – I did not realize they were pulse meters rather than flow meters.

Received $4,680.20 Mortgage Tax from Greene County. We will not adjust budget. This amount will go into surplus. Revenue will exceed anticipated revenue.

Explanation of NYSLRS Deficiency – After The Village participated in NYSLRS for one full state fiscal year (April 1 – March 31,) an initial valuation was performed. This valuation determined any liability which would not be covered by The Village’s annual normal contribution to the system and is called the deficiency. The amount of the deficiency depended on our employees’ years of service, salary and age at the time The Village became a participating employer. The actuary for NYSLRS calculated the actual amount of the deficiency after The Village became a participating employer. The deficiency is paid in annual installments over 25 years and is included with the annual employer contribution, due February 1 each year. This year we paid installment 18 of 25.

The Mayor appointed Larry F. Gardner as Village Attorney with a term to expire April 6, 2020. Resolution 2020-001.

Mayor made a motion to set the standard work day for Larry F. Gardner as Village Attorney at six hours. Motion was seconded by Trustee Sommers. All were in favor.

Mayor made a motion to set the standard work day for Kathleen M. Hilbert as Clerk/Treasurer at seven hours. Motion was seconded by Trustee Sommers. All were in favor. Clerk asked how seven hours was determined.

Standard Work Day and Reporting Resolution for Elected and Appointed Officials, Form RS 2417-A will be completed and posted for thirty days. A certified copy of the Resolution and Affidavit of Posting must be filed with the Office of the State Comptroller within 45 days of the adoption. A copy is attached.

The following Laws were resubmitted to the Board for review and or amendment:

Village of Hunter Snow and Ice Removal Law 9 of 1992
A copy of the Snow and Ice Removal Law will be forwarded to the Catskill Mountain Foundation, as they do not shovel their properties’ sidewalks and The Village office has received many complaints including ice falling from the roofs.
All Night Parking Law 3 of 1987 – Amend
Cars parked in the road during a snow storm may be ticketed and towed.
Water Law – Amend
Village Noise Law 6 of 1993

Mayor – It would be very difficult for someone to make enough noise on their property to break this law.

No action was taken to amend any of the above-listed laws.

Zip Line – Mayor Higgins will speak with Brad regarding entering into a new contract before year-end. In lieu of a new contract we can continue to raise the licensing fee $1,000 per year. Attorney Gardner states we should have a new contract.

The Village will continue to grant exemptions according to The Village’s laws and resolutions. Mayor Higgins stated that even though we are no longer an assessing unit, any senior, disabled, etc. party wanting an exemption must still file their exemption applications with The Village, as we are still a taxing agency, in addition to filing with the Town. Where we get their assessment from is up to us. They still have to apply to us. We are still The Village.

Applications for exemptions were submitted to the Board. No action was taken.

Catskill Mountain Foundation Inc. – Submitted renewal applications for real property tax exemptions. Applications were submitted late. Attorney Gardner explained that the Catskill Mountain Foundation is a tax-exempt organization and have no legal obligation to pay taxes on their properties. Clerk Hilbert stated that even though the CMF is a non-profit organization, they must annually file a renewal application for real property tax exemption. Attorney Gardner stated that Peter and Sara Finn, in the interest of being good corporate citizens and not wanting to be called freeloaders, would, as a policy, write out a check every year. This is a voluntary policy and the formula was that we would freeze their assessed values at the time of acquisition and then we would send a memo to them, not a bill, every year multiplying that assessed value times whatever the tax rate might be from year to year. That was the policy that was established years ago.

Attorney Gardner explained that PILOT Programs are programs where the property is taxable but the property owner can make an agreement with the Municipality for a Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILOT.)

Mayor Higgins asked if the CMF building across the street was put on the tax rolls. They are now doing short-term rentals. Clerk Hilbert asked if the former building inspector changed the classification and if the Board approved the change. No one reported any changes to the clerk.

Sewer Operating Purchase Order No. 190017 – The boiler for the radiant heat went out. Purchase order was approved. Funds were encumbered.

Building Inspectors Report – Not Submitted. Annual Report of Activities must be submitted to the Secretary of the State by April 1, 2020.

Matt Grossmann will prepare the Purchase Order for the spreader and the Mayor will approve it.

Annual Road Permit – Matt Grossmann needs a resolution for the undertaking so that we no longer have to bond. Attorney Gardner reviewed and approved the Undertaking. Mayor Higgins – I would like to hear a resolution to authorize the Mayor to sign the Undertaking set forth on New York State DOT PERM 1. Do I hear that resolution? Trustee Ayres – I make a motion to pass the resolution for the undertaking for the benefit of the NYS DOT to permit his signing of this agreement. Resolution 2020-002.

Reviewed 2020 GMC Sierra 2500HD estimate of $46,600 from Thorpe’s. Includes sander and plow. No action taken.

Salt/Sand Mix – $20/ton. Salt – $70/ton. No historical information for a cost assessment as the ditches have not been cleaned for fifteen years.

Adjusting journal entries for Dowling-Castronovo, Hickey and LeVoci were submitted for Board Review.

New York Municipal Insurance Reciprocal (NYMIR) requests the Mayor to provide primary liaison to provide access to all facilities, access to recent construction cost information and to review our statement of values in order to finalize the appraisal process.

Village Election Inspectors were appointed. Resolution 2020-003.

Home Heating Assistance Grants (HEAP) are available.

The NYS Urban Forestry Council announced funding of up to $1,000 for projects in small communities to help communities achieve or work toward Tree City USA Status with the Arbor Day Foundation.

Mayor Higgins – At this time we need to move into executive session for the purpose of discussing applications for the position of highway worker.

Mayor Higgins – At this time we will reconvene the regular meeting.

Mayor Higgins made a motion to increase Scott Rynard’s hourly wage from $13.25 to $14.50 per hour effective immediately; seconded by Trustee Sommers. All were in favor. Motion carried.

Mayor Higgins made a motion to hire Paul Benjamin at a rate of $14.00 per hour; seconded by Trustee Sommers. All were in favor. Motion carried.

Financial Reports:

Wilmington Trust statement of account as of November 30, 2019.
Wilmington Trust statement of account as of December 31, 2019.
Water Operating Account – Budget vs. Actual – June 1, 2019 to December 10, 2019.
General Fund – Budget vs. Actual – June 2, 2019 to January 13, 2019.

Bills:

Account Voucher Nos. Abstract

General Fund V188 to V219 V8
Sewer Operating G109 to G124 G8
Water Operating F77 to F90 F8

The above vouchers were audited and ordered paid.

Resolutions:

Resolution 2020-001
Appoint Village Attorney

BE IT RESOLVED that Mayor Alan Higgins appoints Larry F. Gardner as Village Attorney with a term to expire April 6, 2020.

Motion to approve this appointment made by Trustee Sommers; seconded by Trustee Ayres.

The foregoing resolution was put to a vote and was carried unanimously.

Mayor Alan Higgins voting – yea
Trustee Benjamin Sommers voting – yea
Trustee Anita Ayres voting – yea

The resolution was thereupon declared duly adopted.

Resolution 2020-002
Authorize Mayor to Sign Undertaking for the Benefit of NYS DOT

Motion made by Trustee Ayres; seconded by Trustee Sommers.

BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor of The Village of Hunter is hereby authorized to execute the Undertaking for the benefit of The New York State Department of Transportation in connection with work affecting state highways.

The foregoing resolution was put to a vote and was carried unanimously.

Mayor Alan Higgins voting – yea
Trustee Benjamin Sommers voting – yea
Trustee Anita Ayres voting – yea

The resolution was thereupon declared duly adopted.

Resolution 2020-003
Appointment of Village Election Inspectors

Motion made by Mayor Higgins; seconded by Trustee Sommers.

BE IT RESOLVED that The Village of Hunter Board of Trustees appoints Minnetta M. Garrison as Village Election Inspector Chairperson at the rate of $150 per day, appoints Joan M. Angel as Village Election Inspector at the rate of $125 per day and an Alternate Village Election Inspector at the rate of $125 per day for The Village Election to be held on Wednesday, March 18, 2020 between the hours of 12:00Noon and 9:00PM at the Hunter Village Hall.

The foregoing resolution was put to a vote and was carried unanimously.

Mayor Alan Higgins voting – yea
Trustee Benjamin Sommers voting – yea
Trustee Anita Ayres voting – yea

The resolution was thereupon declared duly adopted.

Adjournment: Motion to adjourn was made by Mayor Higgins; seconded by Trustee Sommers. Meeting was adjourned.

Transcribed by:
_____________________

Kathleen M. Hilbert
Clerk/Treasurer