Town of Rochester Town Board
Regular Meeting
December 3, 2020 6:30pm
As of 12-1-2020
Livestream Broadcast on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg7ykop50cWmqPFUpgDjRSQ
Listening Dial in Number +1 929 205 6099 Meeting ID: 835 4118 5271 Password: 985685
I. Call to Order – Pledge to the Flag – Roll Call
II. Public Comment Report – Town Clerk
III. Attorney for the Town Report
IV. Town Clerk Report
V. Supervisor’s Report
November 2020 – Filed with the Town Clerk
VI. Announcement of November 2020 Financials
Receipts received from the Town Clerk’s office (October) $
Receipts received from the Building Department $18,355.85
Receipts received from the Planning/Zoning Department $2,168.66
Expenditures
Abstract 11-2020
General Fund $129,324.83
Highway Fund $171,947.34
Street Lighting Fund $402.28
Grant Account $7984.66
VII. Supervisor’s Update/Correspondence Report
• Monthly Correspondence
• Ulster County Dept. of Finance
• COVID-19 Report
• IT Upgrade Progress
• Courthouse Renovations
• Community Center Filing Room
• NY Rising – Alligerville Firehouse
• Thanksgiving Community Luncheon
• Veterans Day Ceremony
• Assessor Report
VIII. Dept. Updates/Liaison Reports
IX. Highway Supt. Report
X. Constabulary Report
XI. Resolutions
A. Action on Minutes
RECOMMENDED RESOLUTION: The Town Board accepts the minutes of the November 5, 2020 Regular, November 5, 2020 Budget 2021 Public Hearing, November 23, 2020 Special, and November 30, 2020 Audit/Workshop meetings
B. Acceptance of Cash Donations
RECOMMENDED RESOLUTION: The Town Board authorizes the Town Supervisor to accept donations of $150 from Alan & Arlene Levine, $45 from the Kerhonkson/Accord Jewish Senior Citizens, $50 from Maddie Oremus Palmese, $100 from Mel & Elaine Tapper, and $203 in various cash donations to assist in funding the 2020 Town of Rochester Thanksgiving Community Luncheon.
C. Acceptance of Material Donations
RECOMMENDED RESOLUTION: The Town Board authorizes the Town Supervisor to accept donations of $150 discount in the purchase of turkeys from Jeffrey Lipton of the Bowery Dugout (Harold Lipton’s nephew) and 16 pumpkin pies from Christina Striano to assist the 2020 Town of Rochester Thanksgiving Community Luncheon.
D. Acceptance of Cash Donation
RECOMMENDED RESOLUTION: The Town Board authorizes the Town Supervisor to accept donation of $100 from Patricia Shaw to assist in funding the Christmas DriveThru event.
E. Acceptance of Cash Donation
RECOMMENDED RESOLUTION: The Town Board authorizes the Town Supervisor to accept donation of $100 from Richard & Letty Weiss of Ashburn. VA to “pay it forward”. (accompanying card filed with the Town Clerk)
F. Scheduling the 2021 Organizational Meeting
RECOMMENDED RESOLUTION; The Town Board establishes the date and time for the 2021 Town of Rochester Organizational meeting as Monday January 4, 2021 at 6:30pm at the Harold Lipton Community Center, 15 Tobacco Rd, Accord, NY 12404 or via Zoom in compliance with the Governor’s Executive Order 202.1 and successors and requests the Town Clerk to circulate notice.
G. Transfer of Funds
RECOMMENDED RESOLUTION: The Town Board authorizes the Budget Officer to transfer $2,861.12 from General Fund budget line A1620.440, Professional Services to the Grant Fund.
H. Authorizing Employment
RECOMMENDED RESOLUTION: With the consent of Justice LaFlamme, The Town Board authorizes the employment of Michelle Dunning as Clerk to Justice LaFlamme, effective December 6, 2020 at a rate of $17.50 per hour at a maximum of 28 hours per week plus all court hours. The position shall be under the Supervision of Justice LaFlamme.
I. Advertising for Vacancies on Boards & Commissions
RECOMMENDED RESOLUTION: The Town Board authorizes the Supervisor to publish an advertisement in the Shawangunk Journal seeking interested volunteers for various Boards & Commissions. (amount and size TBD by Board)
Planning Board (1 member, 1 alternate member), Zoning Board of Appeals (1 member, 1 alternate member), Historic Preservation Commission (11 members), Environmental Conservation Commission (6 members), Youth Commission (2 members), Ethics Board (1 member), Board of Assessment Review (1 member)
Applications shall consist of a letter of interest for the position including either a resume or experience and qualifications statement. The Supervisor will contact those members whose terms have expired to request letters of interest for reappointment.
Any current member seeking reappointment has the opportunity to be interviewed, but it will not be required.
J. Renewal of Racing Permit
RECOMMENDED RESOLUTION: The Town Board authorizes the racing permit renewal to Accord Speedway, Inc., pursuant to Town of Rochester Code §107-4C and all other conditions as specified in Town of Rochester Code §107.
Such permit is authorized only contingent upon presentation of the following proofs to the Town prior to commencement of the 2021 racing schedule.
1. Each year an Ulster County Health Department permit shall be required for all food concessions on the racetrack premises as a condition precedent to obtaining a permit from the town to operate said racetrack.
2. The applicant shall provide proof of compliance with Ulster County Health Department regulations as they pertain to lavatories and septic facilities as a condition precedent to obtaining a permit from the town to operate said racetrack.
3. Liability insurance. The permittee shall at all times maintain in full force and effect a public liability insurance policy in amounts not less than $1,000,000 for damages in which one person is killed or injured per occurrence and not less than $2,000,000 for damages in which more than one person is killed or injured per occurrence. A certificate of insurance naming the Town of Rochester as an additional insured must be filed with the Town Clerk at least five days prior to the first date of racetrack usage specified in the permit. Said certificate shall bear the, name of the insurance company, the policy number, the term of the policy, the above-specified amounts and the name and address of the permittee’s insurance agent.
4. The permit holder shall deposit with the Town Clerk $1000 for the Town Code Enforcement Officer’s use in hiring an independent sound expert to perform sound measurements and issue report(s) to the Town Board and the Code Enforcement Officer with respect to the permit holder’s compliance with the noise requirements of this chapter. This amount is for one testing. Should additional testing be determined to be warranted for said measurements; which may be taken two times during the racing season at the sole expense of the permit holder; an additional $1000 shall be required at such time. Additional measurements above two obtained by the town during the racing season shall be at the sole expense of the town.
The Town Board grants the Supervisor the authority to review and certify these conditions have been complied with without further resolution
The Town Board further accepts the racing schedule as presented for 37 actual racing dates and 27 potential rain dates. Dates listed as rain dates may be utilized only to replace a rained out approved event date.
The Town Board further states, upon verification with the Code Enforcement Officer, there are no outstanding notices of violation issued by the Town and required sound testing for 2019 occurred on Aug. 9, 2019. There was no testing conducted in 2020 due to racing being unable to occur due to COVID.
K. Waiver of Racing Permit Fee
RECOMMENDED RESOLUTION: The Town Board authorizes the waiver of the racing permit renewal fee of $250 by Accord Speedway, Inc., required pursuant to Town of Rochester Code §107-5 due to their payment of the 2020 racing permit fee and the inability to utilize such permit due to the Governor’s Executive Order banning public racing activities.
L. Authorizing the Supervisor to Submit a Request for Analysis
RECOMMENDED RESOLUTION: The Town of Rochester Town Board authorizes the Town Supervisor to submit a request on behalf of the Town of Rochester to the Ulster County Transportation Council for an analysis of the intersection of US Route 209 and Boice Mill Road in Kerhonkson, NY for improvement of safety and visibility.
M. Authorizing the Supervisor to Submit a Proposal
RECOMMENDED RESOLUTION:
Whereas; The Ulster County Transportation Council (UCTC) is the designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Kingston Urbanized Area and a portion of the Poughkeepsie-Newburgh Urbanized Area. The UCTC planning area encompasses all of Ulster County. UCTC is tasked with carrying out a continuing, cooperative, and comprehensive multimodal transportation planning process. UCTC is initiating a call for planning projects to be included in its Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP), and
Whereas, The UCTC has the responsibility for developing, implementing, and maintaining a Long Range Transportation Plan addressing no less than a 20-year planning horizon, a Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) listing the prioritized federally funded transportation projects, and the development and implementation of a Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP), and
Whereas; The purpose of a Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) is to plan and implement a transportation planning work program supporting the goals, objectives, and recommendations of UCTC’s Year 2045 Long Range Transportation Plan. The type of work specified within a UPWP includes a summary of administrative, technical and transportation planning tasks to be performed by UCTC staff. For the 2021-2022 state fiscal year, which extends from April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022, UCTC expects approximately $200,000 to be available for planning projects, and
Whereas; The UPWP provides funding for concept-level planning, analysis, and design initiatives. UPWP funds cannot be used for property acquisition, site preparation, existing staff, preliminary engineering, detailed design, operations and management, or construction projects, and
Whereas; Project proposals must be consistent with the goals and objectives outlined in UCTC’s Year 2045 Long Range Transportation Plan or other plans of UCTC. The long-range plan is a comprehensive, performance based, multi-modal and coordinated regional plan, and
Whereas; In general, activities undertaken with UPWP funding must add to the efficiency of the regional transportation network, improve residents’ quality of life, increase safety and security of the transportation system, and enhance community character, and
Whereas; Cities, towns, or villages in Ulster County or a Non-Voting UCTC Advisory Member Organization are eligible to submit an application, and
Whereas; Project sponsors will be required to pass a resolution indicating their willingness to meet any cash match presented in the application and any public participation requirements. Approximately $200,000 in federal transportation planning funds is expected to be available for FY 2021/22 UPWP planning, analysis, and design activities, and
Whereas; the Town of Rochester Town Board and the Town of Gardiner Town Board wish to submit a joint application for an analysis of the transportation corridor of US Route 44/55 from the intersection of Route 299 to the intersection of Route 209 with particular emphasis on the traffic generated by influx of tourism generated by Mohonk Preserves, Minnewaska Preserve, and the Shawangunk Mountain Scenic Byway and accompanying scenic overlooks.
Therefore; the Town of Rochester Town Board authorizes the Town Supervisor to submit an application on behalf of the Town of Rochester, with accompanying resolution by the Town of Gardiner Town Board in concurrence with the application.
N. Authorizing the Supervisor to Submit a Letter of Support
RECOMMENDED RESOLUTION: The Town Board authorizes the Supervisor to submit a letter in
support of the application for the UCTC Unified Planning Work Program submitted by the Town of Marbletown in support of the O&W Rail Trail Coalition of Municipalities of which the Town of Rochester is an active participating member.
The application for planning assistance by the UCTC for a Comprehensive Signage and Wayfinding Project on the O&W is timely in this time of the corona virus pandemic. Our county trails are being utilized more than ever as residents and visitors alike seek the fresh air and solitude of our county trail system. Our municipally integrated O&W trail that runs through the Esopus and Rondout valleys is in need of signage integration that supports access and connection to the O&W via all our Ulster county trails in order that our trail users may find safe direction and historic information along our O&W 27 mile trail system.
XII. Discussion/Board Member Time
• Climate Smart Community Program and Grant
• Code Enforcement Letter
XIII. Adjournment in memory of
• Doris Miller (volunteer with the Rochester Food Pantry)
• Deborah Slutsky (member of the Youth Commission)
• Irvin Decker
• Edward Fehring
• Thomas ‘Fred’ Miller
• Stuart Nelson
• Evan Fraser
• All suffering worldwide from the COVID-19 virus