The Regular Town Board Meeting was held on April 6, 2017 at 7pm at the Town of Rochester Town Hall.
PRESENT:
Supervisor Chipman Councilwoman Chachkin Councilwoman Fornino (7:06pm)
Councilman Drabkin Councilwoman Haugen-Depuy Town Clerk Gundberg
Attorney Christiana
PLEDGE:
Supervisor Chipman opened the meeting and Jill Turgen led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
No comments made.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
A Motion was made by Councilwoman Chachkin to approve the regular 3/2/2017 Regular Town Board Meeting & the 3/30/2017 Audit/ Workshop Meeting.
Seconded by: Councilman Drabkin 5-0aye, motion carried
SUPERVISOR’S REPORT: will be available electronically.
SUPERVISOR’S UPDATE:
Judge Babcock request to have a second full-time Deputy Court Clerk, Supervisor Chipman stated that a study needs to be conducted and will be placed on next months agenda.
LEGAL UPDATES: Information was sent to each Board member by Attorney Christiana.
CORRESPONDANCE:
Supervisor Chipman received correspondence regarding signs being vandalized and stolen throughout the Town. Prior to the election Trump signs were stolen, American Flag’s was vandalized and a fence destroyed. Recently a peace sign & Black Lives Matter signs were stolen from Scenic Rd and Towpath Road. Supervisor Chipman stated, “that we need to come together, nobody should have their first amendment right taken from them.” Supervisor Chipman is going to request that the Town purchases Trail Camera to be positioned in different locations of the Town and hopefully we can find these people stealing signs and dumping refuse.
Supervisor Chipman stated that on 4/23/2017 at 2pm “Signage Day” will be held at the Town of Rochester. Bring a sign of your liking and let’s celebrate together!
LIASON/COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Councilwoman Chachkin: Planning Board: 3/13 meeting approved 2 matters; 1 Catskill Farm subdivision & amendment to the 97 Planning Board decision on Queens Highway.
Councilwoman Fornino: Youth Commission: Easter Egg Hunt scheduled for 4/15 at 12pm at the Town Park. The Youth Commission is looking for a male counselor for the summer program ages 21 years or older.
Councilman Drabkin: nothing to report
Councilwoman Haugen-Depuy: Hwy: fantastic job with the snow during the season! Last week retirement awards were given to Harm Miedema for his 28 years of service to the Highway Dept.
Supervisor Chipman: Assessor’s office: Tentative roll is in the process of being finalized.
Based on a review of sales from July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016 the state has determined that property values in the town have increased and as a result the equalization rate for the Town of Rochester, for the 2017 Assessment Roll, will be 97% and not 100%. The last re-assessment was completed in 2011 and a review of property inventory was 2010.
The goal is to complete another Town-wide review of assessments for the 2019 Assessment Roll. The Assessor started in June of 2015 a review of property inventory completing approximately 1500 parcels. There is another 1600 to be collected and the plan is to have that complete by July of 2018.
ECC: working on the solarized program with the Town of Marbletown and the natural resource heritage with Town of Wawarsing.
Earthday Cleanup: April 15 & 22nd. Sign up your road with the Youth Commission.
NEW /OLD BUSINESS:
SOLAR CONTRACTOR AWARD:
The Board discussed with Larry DeWitt the Solar RFP project. Larry stated that The Town of Rochester Working Group on Solar Energy recommends approval by the Rochester Town Board of a long-term lease of Town land by Borrego Solar Systems Inc. Over the course of the past few months the interview processes came down to two companies. The prices they proposed to offer our citizens and others in Central Hudson’s service territory were very similar. That subcontractor is responsible for customer interface (lining up customers, doing the billing, dealing with customers who wanted to leave and replacing them with new ones
Councilwoman Haugen-Depuy wanted to make sure that the Board has time to review the contract before voting because of the complexity of the contract.
Councilwoman Chachkin asked if the solar group had greater confidence in the customer management subcontractor BQ, than the one Borrego proposed why are we going with Borrego?
Larry stated Borrego clearly excelled in three other vital areas: aggressive and sophisticated management of the queuing-for-interconnection process, where, without success, there will be no project; highly sophisticated engineering expertise for overcoming barriers to interconnection and lowest cost solutions to the various interconnection constraints; an interest in building more MWs of projects which would mean, if successful, up to $50,000 more in annual lease payments to the Town.
For these reasons we recommend the Town Board approve a lease contract with Borrego Solar Systems Inc.
Resolution # 66-2017:
A Motion was made by Councilwoman Chachkin to accept the proposal of Borrego Solar Systems and grant the Supervisor approval to sign the property owner content contract.
Seconded by: Councilwoman Haugan-Depuy 5-0 aye, motion carried
ALLIGERVILLE ENGINEERING AWARD:
Resolution # 67-2017:
A Motion was made by Supervisor Chipman to approve the Engineering Contract with Alfandre to conduct the work on the Alligerville Firehouse.
ROAD CONDITION APPLICATION:
Resolution # 68-2017:
A Motion was made by Councilwoman Fornino to place road condition applications on the Town website where residents can report potholes & trees down.
Seconded by: Councilman Drabkin 5-0aye, motion carried
PURCHASE OF TRAIL CAMERAS:
Resolution # 69-2017:
A Motion was made by Councilman Drabkin to direct Richard Miller to get three quotes for the purchase of 5 trail cameras to be placed around the Town of Rochester.
Seconded by: Councilwoman Haugen-Depuy 5-0aye, motion carried
MOBILE BUILDING FOR THE COURTHOUSE:
Richard Miller addressed the board regarding the availability of a mobile building from FEMA to be placed at the Courthouse for office space, Judge Chambers, Constabulary Office & storage space.
Supervisor Chipman stated that a cost analysis needs to be put together before the decision is made. The CEO should also be addressed for certain safety standards.
Judge Babcock stated that the Office of Court Administration architect would also be involved.
Richard Miller stated that pick up costs are estimated for $ 1900.00. FEMA will give the trailer at no cost and Central Hudson will hook up the wiring to the existing box.
Councilwoman Chachkin asked where we were at with the municipal grant?
Richard Miller stated that we were approved for 55% of the grant and 45% for 0% with a 30 year loan.
The Board agreed to move to the next process for the municipal grant.
Highway Superintendent Spano stated that the trucks may need additional mirrors to be equipped to haul the trailers so that should also be added to the cost analysis.
Resolution # 70-2017:
A Motion was made by Councilman Drabkin to take the building.
No Second motion not carried
Resolution # 71-2017:
A Motion was made by Councilman Drabkin to amend the previous motion and proceed to direct Richard Miller to contact Jerry Davis the CEO and Office of Court Administration and report back to the Board their suggestions / findings and a total cost analysis.
Seconded by: Councilwoman Fornino 5-0 aye, motion carried
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD:
Mike Baden suggested that someone contact Town of Ulster to give advisement on the use of the trailers for office space. They seem to use several for the Police Department.
The Planning Board training was held on 3/25/17; 10 members from our planning and zoning board attended, 1 ECC member and 9 planning board members from various towns. It was very well received.
A Motion was made by Councilman Drabkin to go into executive session at 8:06pm to discuss a specific personnel issue.
Seconded by: Councilwoman Chachkin 5-0aye, motion carried
A Motion was made by Councilman Drabkin to reconvene the meeting at 8:25pm stating no action taken and no monies spent.
Seconded by: Councilwoman Chachkin 5-0aye, motion carried
ADJOURNMENT:
A Motion was made by Councilman Drabkin to adjourn the meeting at 8:25pm.
Seconded by: Councilwoman Fornino 5-0aye, motion carried
REPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
Kathleen A. Gundberg
Town Clerk/ Tax Collector