The Audit/Workshop Meeting was held on January 25, 2018 at 6pm at the Town of Rochester Town Hall.
PRESENT:
Supervisor Baden Councilwoman Haugen-Depuy Councilwoman Fornino
Councilman Drabkin Councilman Hewitt Town Clerk Gundberg
ABSENT:
Attorney Christiana
AUDIT OF MONTHLY BILLS:
The Town Board reviewed General Fund Abstracts 13 of 2017 and 1 of 2018.
Two Bills submitted with General Fund Abstract 13 of 2017 were not approved for payment.
PLEDGE:
Supervisor Baden opened the meeting and led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
MOMENT OF SILENCE:
The Board held a moment of silence for the passing of Randy Hornbeck, former Town Board member.
PRESENTATION OF THE NATURAL HERITAGE/OPEN SPACE PLAN:
Presented by: John Mickelson, Geospatial & Ecological Services
David Church, AICP
The Town of Wawarsing, in partnership with the Town of Rochester, has completed an Intermunicipal Open Space/ Natural Heritage Plan Project. This Plan is presented as an amendment and supplement to the previously adopted 2006 Comprehensive Plan. This work builds on the 2016 natural heritage and open space inventory of the Town. Included is an audit of existing town policies and codes relevant to open space and natural recourses, a comprehensive analysis with maps of town resources-collectively known as Conservation Open Area Maps, part of the Open Space index.
The Plan was funded in part by a grant from the Hudson River Estuary Program of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) to the Town of Rochester, in partnership with the Town of Wawarsing.
The Town of Rochester Plan lists the following components;
– Town-wide Water quality and flood management
– Protection of the Rondout Creek
– Agriculture and Heritage Farm Protection
– Catskill Shawangunk Greenway Corridor and Colony Farm
– O & W Rail Trail Project
– Biodiversity Protection
– Scenic Viewsheds & Gateways
The Project teams recommended actions for the Town of Rochester;
– Adopt Open Space & Natural Heritage Plan as amendment of the Town Comprehensive Plan.
– Complete an Environmental Assessment of this plan and recommended actions (SEQRA)
– Accept and Approve the Conservation Open Area Map & Open Space Inventory as part of the Town Open Space index.
– Adopt Resolution/ Bylaws for re-designation of the Environmental Conservation Commission
(ECC) as a Conservation Board
– Designation of the Catskill-Shawangunk Greenway Connection as a critical Environmental Area (CEA)
– Designation of the Great Rondout Wetlands including Great Pacama Vly as a Critical Environmental Area(CEA)
– Amend Town Subdivision regulations to strengthen conservation subdivisions and dedication to parkland option.
– Amend Town Zoning relevant to Stream and Wetland setbacks as well as Dark Sky Protection.
– Add an overlay Zone Protection for Certain Stream Corridors.
– Town Endorsements of the Ulster County Community Design Manual.
– Establish a Formal Agriculture Advisor to the Town.
– Need for Fuller Evaluation of Town Scenic and Biodiversity Resources.
– Expand the Town efforts for outside grant applications.
– Reorganize or invigorate ad Rondout Creek watershed Alliance or council.
– Local law amending Zoning § 140-12E & 125-22 regarding streams and stream protection.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC:
Councilman Hewitt asked who has ownership of Colony farm.
Currently Colony Farm is stilled owned by New York State Department of Corrections.
David Church: The Town of Wawarsing received a grant to do a feasibility study on Colony Farm as to what to do with the location and how to make it viable to the community whether it is Agriculture tourism/ business or recreation business park, etc.
Laura Finestone stated that this was a joint project with the Town of Wawarsing that was split off at the end stage.
Supervisor Baden stated that the two plans relate to each other, yet each town has their own impacts and concerns. Neither community imposed their ideas on the other community, but it was looked at as a regional project and a regional plan. If you look on the maps the colony farm is the connector between the Shawangunk Ridge and the Catskill and it is important that the property of the Colony Farm be used appropriately. It is a vital part of this plan.
John Mickelson stated that there have been a lot of ideas discussed referring to the Colony Farm location. As an agriculture tourism destination this may bring some money & people to the area. Some ideas have been petting zoos, yogurt shop, local cheese products and recreational activities. The Rondout Creek is iconic and passes through both towns & the recreational rail trail passes through both towns so both towns can benefit from bringing awareness and access to these locations.
Councilman Hewitt asked if the trout stream is stocked annually by the DEC and does that affect the map and health of the waterways?
John Mickelson stated the DEC does stock the streams and they keep a close eye on the quality of the stream and have a good idea of what is there and the trends.
Laura Heady project manager from the Hudson River Estuary Program stated the Towns applied for and were awarded a competitive grant for this project. This project has been held up as a model in other communities because not many Towns look to their neighbor and say we both share this river, amazing viewshed, mountain ranges and both have opportunities to benefit from the natural beauty and tourism opportunities mentioned.
Supervisor Baden received notice to extend the program 8 more months which will end in June.
The next step is working towards scheduling public meetings/ hearings, the Board will get the draft version out to the public to view and start the process of moving this forward as an addendum to the existing comprehensive plan. Many of the ideas discussed in this project were discussed in the comprehensive plan. It doesn’t mean that every recommendation in the plan being presented will be adopted but the Board will review recommendations. The Comprehensive plan is a set of goals and an idea of the direction the Town wants to go in. The actions recommended in the document will be the ultimate goal. As a Board we will start the process to move this forward.
Ann Belmont asked for clarity regarding the connection of the Shawangunks and Catskills to Colony farm as a wildlife corridor?
John Mickelson stated mainly the ecologically connection is to protect the area from development. Animals traveling are hard pressed to get from the Catskills to the Shawangunks mainly because of Route 209. Colony Farm is one place that has relatively intact habitat in the corridor area that has been demarcated.
Ann Belmont asked if there is a way for the animals to get across Route 209.
Laura Heady stated some animals will cross Route 209, some will be killed from vehicles, some will move through successfully. There are some under road passages and one of the first inquiries made was looking at partnerships with other agencies (Nature Conservancy) to set up camera traps under some of the bridges & culverts to see if anything would be able to pass through. There is one road crossing on Route 209 where deer and some animals have crossed through under ground. There is some focus on mitigating culverts under the roads to maintain some kind of connection so wildlife can move along safely.
Laura Finestone thanked Larry Dewitt who spearheaded this project and it was his idea to become a collaborative project and he wrote most of the grant. And a big thank you to Dave and John for this incredible amount of work done, it’s been a long 2 year process.
Councilwoman Haugen-Depuy asked on the side of recreation if this land is put into the structure that it’s looking at being would there still be deer hunting allowed?
John Mickelson that is still to be defined.
Councilwoman Haugen-Depuy stated if you are worrying about deer crossing the road and under the road around the road and through the road one way would be continuing hunting. This is a great community for deer hunting.
INTERVIEWS OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS:
The Town Board held interviews for the following vacancies;
Lindsey Arnold for an open vacancy to the Historic Preservation Commission
Brian Bushbinder for an open vacancy to the Planning Board
Zorian Pinsky for an open vacancy to various Boards & Commissions
AVAILABILITY OF VACANCIES ON BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS:
Board of Assessment Review: 1 vacancy, Claude Suhl requesting reappointment
Environmental Conservation Commission: 3 reappointments requested from Tim Ganon, Rick Jones & Judith Karpova. 1 new appointment requested from former member Wendy Monk.
Historic Preservation Commission: 1 reappointment request from Alice Cross & 1 new appointment request from Lyndsay Arnold.
Planning Board: 3 vacancies available. 1 reappointment request from Larry Dewitt, The current alternate Sam Zurofsky requested to fill a vacancy as a planning Board member. Applicants for the Planning Board are: Larry Dewitt, Sam Zurofsky, Brian Bushbinder, John Dawson, Zorian Pinsky.
Youth Commission: 1 reappointment request from Manuela Michailescu.
Zoning Board of Appeals: 1 vacancy available. Steve Fornal requested reappointment. Bill Barringer the current alternate requested to be considered to fill the ZBA vacancy.
PERMISSIVE REFERENDUM DISCUSSION:
Supervisor Baden updated the Board on the upcoming permissive referendum regarding the Town of Rochester option/ lease agreement with Borrego solar. Ernest Klepeis, Deputy Commissioner for Board of Elections agreed to the Town’s request of 8 election workers, 1000 ballots and affidavits available if we exceed the 1000 ballots. The total cost will be less than
$ 3,500.00.
RUPCO LETTER OF REQUEST:
Supervisor Baden received a letter of request from Susan Dolan of RUPCO asking for letter of support from the Town of Rochester supporting RUPCo’s application to the NYS affordable housing Corporation to assist first time low to moderate income homebuyers.
Resolution #53 -2018:
A Motion was made by Councilman Drabkin to approve the authorization for Supervisor Baden to send a letter of Support for RUPCO’s applications to the NYS affordable housing Corporation.
Second: Councilwoman Haugen-Depuy
Discussion: in reviewing the sample letter of support Councilman Drabkin asked that the Board remove the sentence referring to “ RUPCO having a good track record”. He stated this may be true but we don’t know that. The Board agreed to remove that sentence.
Aye: 5 Nay: Abstain: motion carried
HIGHWAY BUCKET TRUCK BID:
One Bid was received from Wright Electric for a 1982 GMC Bucket Truck for $ 10,000.00.
Highway Superintendent Spano stated that the bid is an older truck but the price is minimal compared to the cost of the tree trimming Bid that the Highway department put out to Bid in the fall of 2017. There is tree work that needs to be done. The Town employees are willing to learn and have training regarding handling the bucket truck and the Town of Wawarsing is willing to train employees at no cost.
Resolution # 54-2018
A Motion was made by Councilman Drabkin to approve the bid received by Wright Electric for a 1982 GMC Bucket truck in the amount of $ 10,000.00
Second: Councilman Hewitt
Discussion: Councilwoman Haugen-Depuy stated she did some research and spoke with the Town of Wawarsing Highway Superintendent Tony Paes and he is not aware that he offered training. The main concern is safety, is there certification of the truck?
Supervisor Baden stated that we can approve the purchase pending that the vehicle can pass certified inspection. Supervisor Baden also asked if the Town liability insurance will change having men operating overhead.
Highway Superintendent Spano stated that the Town of Rochester Highway mechanic looked over the truck and the cables and hydraulics are in good standing. He also stated that it will not change the insurance liability.
Amending said resolution;
A Motion was made by Councilman Drabkin to approve the bid of the purchase of a 1982 GMC Bucket truck from Wright Electric for the amount of $ 10,000.00 contingent to the passing of certified inspection of the hydraulic boom.
Second: Councilman Hewitt
Aye: 4 nay: 0 Abstain: 1( Councilwoman Haugen-Depuy) motion carried
HIGHWAY BIO-DIESEL FUEL BID:
One bid was received from Anderman Oil for $ 3.09 per gallon( price subject to change) of bio-diesel fuel without the additive.
Supervisor Baden stated that currently the Town pays $ 2.26 per gallon for diesel fuel and $ 2.37 for Kerosene.
Highway Superintendent Spano stated that the Deputy Highway Superintendent observed the last delivery from Heritage and it was green in color which is what we want.
Supervisor Baden asked Highway Superintendent Spano what his recommendation would be?
Highway Superintendent Spano recommended that the Town remains with Heritage and the Highway Department will continue to monitor the fuel.
SCHEDULE AND ADVERTISE FOR SPECIAL MEETING:
Resolution # 55-2018:
A Motion was made by Councilwoman Fornino to Schedule a Special Meeting for 2/1/2018 at 6pm at the Town of Rochester Town Hall for the sole purpose of auditing the Highway Abstract 13 of 2017 & Abstract 1 of 2018 and for the Town Clerk to advertise the same.
Aye: 5 Nay: Abstain: motion carried
APPROVAL OF BILLS:
Resolution # 56-2018:
A Motion was made by Councilman Drabkin to approve;
General Fund Abstract 13 of 17 $ 33,797.89
Street lighting $ 402.52
___________
Total: $ 34,200.41
Second: Councilwoman Fornino
Aye: 5 nay: abstain: motion carried
Resolution # 57-2018:
A Motion was made by Councilman Drabkin to approve;
General Fund Abstract 1 of 2018 $ 208,424.10
Street lighting 0.00
____________
Total : $ 208,242.10
Second: Councilwoman Fornino
Aye: 5 nay: abstain: motion carried
EXECUTIVE SESSION:
A Motion was made by Councilman Drabkin to enter into executive session at 8:47pm to discuss a specific Town Employee attendance.
Second: Councilwoman Fornino
Discussion:
Aye: 5 nay: abstain: motion carried
A Motion was made by Councilman Drabkin to reconvene the meeting at 8:55pm stating no action taken nor monies spent.
Second: Councilwoman Haugen-Depuy
Discussion:
Aye: 5 nay: abstain: motion carried
ADJOURNMENT:
A Motion was made by Councilman Drabkin to adjourn the meeting at 8:55pm.
Second: Councilwoman Fornino
Aye: 5 nay: abstain: motion carried
Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen A. Gundberg
Town Clerk