The May 31, 2018 Audit Meeting was held at 6:00pm and the Workshop meeting followed at 7:20 pm at the Town of Rochester Town Hall.
PRESENT:
Councilwoman Haugen-Depuy Councilman Hewitt Supervisor BadenTown Clerk Gundberg was Present for the Workshop Meeting ( 7:20pm)
ABSENT:
Councilwoman Fornino Councilman Drabkin Attorney Christiana
CALENDAR UPDATES:
June 4 Borrego Solar Job Fair – Harold Lipton Community Center 6pm
June 7 Town Board meeting – Town Hall 7pm
June 7 Public Hearing/Comprehensive Plan addendum – Town Hall 7pm
June 7 Public Hearing/Local Law #3/Zoning – Town Hall 7pm
June 28 Town Board Audit/Workshop meeting – Town Hall 7pm
APPROVAL OF BILLS:
A Motion was made by Councilwoman Haugen-Depuy to approve the following;
General Fund Abstract 05-2018: $ 116, 279.95
Highway Fund Abstract05-2018: $ 35,608.11
Street Lighting: $ 378.60
_________________________
$ 152,266.66
Second: Councilman Hewitt
Discussion:
Aye: 3 nay: 0 abstain: 0 motion carried
Fornino, Drabkin Absent
COUNTY REFERRAL RESPONSE FOR NATURAL HERTIAGE PLAN:
The Referral Response from Ulster County Planning Board was received with approval.
After review both Supervisor Baden and Attorney Christiana suggested making changes regarding the recommended actions from matrix process because legal language doesn’t belong in the Comprehensive Plan. Councilman Drabkin also expressed his concerns to Supervisor Baden of having local law language in the Comprehensive plan.
The best recommendation would be to adopt the report but take out the section regarding the adoption of the local laws. Supervisor Baden spoke with John Mickelson, David Church and Kristen Marcel the ECC Chair and they all understood making the proposed amendments.
ADDENDUMS TO THE TOWN OF ROCHESTER COMPREHENSIVE PLAN:
Resolution # 167-2018:
A Motion was made by Councilwoman Haugen-Depuy to amend resolution # 129-2018 as proposed;
THEREFORE, the Town Board of the Town of Rochester desires to adopt the Open Space Inventory dated January 2016, and the Natural Heritage Plan, pages 1-37 and 61-81 dated April 2, 2018 as addendums to the Town of Rochester Comprehensive Plan.
Second: Councilman Hewitt
Discussion:
Aye: 3 nay: 0 abstain: 0 motion carried
Fornino, Drabkin absent
PROPOSED LOCAL LAW # 3-2018: EEO DISTRICT:
Supervisor Baden met with Attorney Christiana to discuss advisory comments from both the County Planning Board and the Town of Rochester Planning Board. Based on comments made Supervisor Baden and Attorney Christiana made changes to the proposed Local Law # 3-2018.
Most changes were County recommendations or deletes.
Manufacturing Artisan was removed from the proposed Local Law.
It was agreed that once the applicant sends in application then the Town Board can make the decision to stay in the EEO district or discuss amending zoning district and decide on definition use.
E. Regulations : Changes were made based on the county recommendations, and some information was deleted because it didn’t pertain to the Town of Rochester.
F. Modifications: Any further proposed subdivision of a property shall require amendment to the EEO by the Town Board and Subdivision approval of the Planning Board was added.
G. Districts, Land use Allocation and Permitted Uses: no property may be located in greater than one EEO overlay was removed.
The Town Board may modify the following land use allocations to achieve the purpose and objectives of the EEO and the Town’s Comprehensive Plan was removed.
(2) Overlay District Types: this section was removed.
The Board discussed the following uses that are prohibited in the EEO district based on the current zoning districts and recommendations from the Town Planning Board.
Following prohibited uses:
1. Animal Processing facilities
2. Bulk fuel storage
3. Fast food restaurants
4. Gasoline Filling Stations
5. Mining( under DEC jurisdiction)
6. Resource recovery, vehicle junkyard, and wrecking
7. Retail Establishments( vehicle and Equipment )
8. Trucking Services
Uses that were removed:
Storage Units and/or facilities
Gas stations
Mining
New or used car sales
Heavy industry
H. Design Requirements: Bulk and Use Table changed to Development Standards.
I. Time limit on validity of Zoning removed.
Fees: through an escrow account established by the Applicant and the Town. An escrow agreement shall be signed by the Applicant and a payment shall be made to the Town prior to the review of any application materials by the Town’s consultant: was removed because there was no reason to restate.
ADDENDUMS TO PROPOSED LOCAL LAW # 3-2018: EEO
Resolution # 168-2018:
A Motion was made by Councilwoman Haugen-Depuy to accept the proposed changes as discussed regarding proposed local law # 3-2018.
Second: Councilman Hewitt
Discussion: Supervisor Baden stated the amendments will be posted on the website and he will check with Attorney Christiana to see if the amendments need to be referred back to the Ulster County Planning Board.
Aye: 3 nay: 0 abstain: 0 motion carried
Fornino, Drabkin Absent
SAND BID:
Councilwoman Haugen-Depuy recused herself from the discussion at 8:09pm.
Supervisor Baden with the help of Highway Superintendent Spano made a sand bid comparison of the 3 bid results the Town received along with the County Bid to determine which company would be the most cost effective based on fuel, mileage, labor cost and material.
Councilwoman Haugen-Depuy was seated back with the Board at 8:16pm.
HIGHWAY CHIPS AND OTHER FUNDING- BAN:
Highway Superintendent Spano received notice that The Town of Rochester has the following funding amount available CHIPS ( $ 469,597.28 ), PAVE NY ( $ 63,045.83) & EWR
( $ 52,147.19) .
Highway Superintendent Spano submitted to the Board a 2018 work schedule for a total of
$ 129,145.52 and 2018 Large Equipment Purchase for a total of $ 158,000.00.
These expenses can be reimbursed through CHIPS, PAVE NY & EWR but the Town needs to spend it before they receive the money.
Supervisor Baden proposed the Town take a BAN for $ 300,000.00 with an interest rate of approximately 2.8%-3%.
DEJAGER LANE PARCEL:
The Town Board received an offer on the Town owned parcel on Dejager Lane. Because this process is subjected to permissive referendum the Board has decided not to take action until August in case a petition is submitted and an election would be required to be held. Waiting till August would put the referendum on the November Ballot at no additional cost to the Town.
REQUEST FOR ZONING DISTRICT CHANGES:
5982 ROUTE 209 : DUNNING
The request is for the Town Board to consider changing the classification of the front portion of property location from AR-3 to business district to match the surrounding properties. The land owner agrees that the back portion should remain AR-3. The reason for his request is the front portion is the only buildable portion of land and he would like to build a garage but the current AR-3 setback limits of 40 feet limits the possibility.
The Board reviewed the map and will discuss it further at the June Town Board meeting.
77 MILL HOOK ROAD: NICHOLSON
The Land owner purchased 5 parcels in July of 2017 with a combination of R-2 and AR-3 districts. After discussing the ultimate goal of the properties with the CEO and Planning Board Chair is was suggested to merge the 5 parcels back into the original single parcel which has now been completed. The request is to rezone the new single parcel to AR-3 which will allow the property to be restored back to its original use.
The Board reviewed the map and will discuss it further at the June Town Board meeting.
FERAL CAT COMMITTEE:
Supervisor Baden presented to the Board proposed Local Law # 9 of 2018 that protects cats from unjustified euthanasia and prevents unsolicited capture of pets. Supervisor Baden also stated some residents expressed interest to be a part of a Feral Cat Committee.
The Board agreed to leave this topic to the County to make a decision and the Board can revisit it at another time.
THE RIDE FOR MENTAL HEALTH:
A bike rally is scheduled for June 23-24, 2018. The ride will consist of areas within the Town of Rochester. The Town of Rochester was listed as an additional insured and was provided proof of such.
ETHICS BOARD VACANCY:
Supervisor Baden received a letter of interest to serve on the Ethics Committee.
Supervisor Baden stated he would reach out to see if the person would be available for an interview.
RVCSD ARTWORK UNVEILING:
June 8, 2018 at 11:45pm there will be an official unveiling of a new piece of public art near the High School Football field. Councilman Hewitt will attend as the Town of Rochester Representative.
CONSOLIDATED FUNDING GRANTS:
Supervisor Baden discussed ideas of putting together 2 RFP’s. One for the Town Park and one for a feasibility study for a new Town Hall/ Courthouse building. He stated that there is a lot of grant money out there to take advantage of but we need to see costs.
TOWN HALL AIR QUALITY TEST:
Supervisor Baden shared the results of the air quality tests conducted in the Town Hall by John Evans of Adaptive Environmental Consultants. There is no airborne abnormal fungal ecology or mold problem however the general air quality is poor due to a variety of factors. Recommendations included a duct cleaning, professional carpet cleaning, and the installation of a commercial grade air filter ration unit.
Supervisor Baden stated the carpets were cleaned professionally and he is getting quotes for the duct cleaning.
COMMUNITY CHOICE AGGREGATION( ENERGY) PROGRAM:
Supervisor Baden stated many Towns are adopting a local law providing for Community Choice Aggregation( Energy) Program.
The purpose of program is to allow participating local governments to procure both energy supply and distributed energy resources for eligible consumers, who will retain the opportunity to opt out of such procurement by maintaining transmission and distribution service from existing distribution utility.
Councilwoman Haugen-Depuy stated that the Board should tread very lightly regarding this topic.
The Board will discuss it in more detail at another time.
LARGE SCALE SOLAR REGISTRATION FEE:
According to our Solar code all owners of a large-scale solar energy production facilities located in the Town of Rochester shall be required to register the facility upon granting of its certificate of occupancy.
Supervisor Baden stated the Board needs to come up with a fee structure for a 3 year registration.
EQUALIZATION RATE:
New York State Department of Taxation and Finance Office of Real Property Tax Service presented the Town of Rochester with a tentative Equalization rate of 93.50 %.
ADJOURNMENT:
A Motion was made by Councilman Hewitt to adjourn the meeting at 9:26pm.
Second: Councilwoman Haugen-Depuy
Aye: 3 nay: 0 abstain: 0 motion carried