Town Board Meeting – May 2017

The Regular Town Board Meeting was held on May 4, 2017 at 7pm at the Town of Rochester Town Hall.
PRESENT:

Supervisor Chipman Councilwoman Chachkin Councilwoman Fornino
Councilman Drabkin Councilwoman Haugen-Depuy Town Clerk Gundberg
Attorney Christiana

PLEDGE:

Supervisor Chipman opened the meeting and Councilwoman Chachkin led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

ROUTE 209 BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PRESENTATION:

Mark Tiano, Project Manager for the NYS DOT gave a presentation of the scope of work for the bridge located on Route 209 over the Rondout Creek.

PUBLIC COMMENT:

Officer Jim Slinsky request that the Bridge be named in memory of Shawn Farrell Jr. a member of our community that was killed in action in 2014.

SHAWN M. FARRELL MEMORIAL BRIDGE:
Resolution # 72-2017:

A Motionwas made by Supervisor Chipman upon completion name the Rochester Bridge located on Route 209 over the Rondout Creek the Sgt. Shawn M. Farrell Jr. Memorial Bridge.

Seconded by: Councilwoman Fornino 5-0aye, motion carried

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

A Motion was made by Councilwoman Chachkin to approve the regular 4/6/2017 Regular Town Board Meeting.

Seconded by: Councilwoman Haugen-Depuy 5-0aye, motion carried

SUPERVISOR’S REPORT: will be available next week once bills are paid.

LEGAL UPDATES:confidential matters were discussed with the Board members privately.

CORRESPONDANCE:Supervisor Chipman received 3 correspondence regarding ZRC recommendations regarding the Air B&B AKA Short term rentals.

LIASON/COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Councilwoman Chachkin: Planning Board: 4/10 meeting 2 minor subdivisions for a 2 lot and a 3 lot, a new application for minor subdivision was received. A new application for a cat shelter located on Lucas Ave was also received and is under review.
Councilwoman Fornino: Youth Commission: Mother’s Day Brunch 5/12/17 from 10:30-12pm. The Memorial Day parade will take place on 5/29/2017. A Service will be held at 12pm at the Veteran’s Park.

USE OF HIGHWAY TRUCK AND PERSONNEL IN MEMORIAL DAY PARADE:
Resolution # 73-2017:

A Motionwas made by Councilwoman Haugen-Depuy to allow for 2 highway Trucks and personnel to be used in the Memorial Day parade.

Seconded by Councilwoman Fornino 5-0aye, motion carried

Councilman Drabkin: nothing to report
Councilwoman Haugen-Depuy: CEO: $ 3,944.00 in building permits for the month of April and $ 930.00 in C/O fees with a year to date total of $ 21,814.45.
Supervisor Chipman: Assessor’s Office: Grievance Day is scheduled for 5/26/2017.
HPC: had no meeting for quorum.
ECC: Successful Earth daytotals are not available yet. There was a solarize get together at the Community Center with approximately 75-100 in attendance. There is another session scheduled for the Town of Olive on 5/6/2017.

NEW /OLD BUSINESS:

APPROVAL OF BILLS:

A Motion was made by Councilwoman Chachkinto approve the following bills for Audit;

Highway Fund Abstract 4 of 2017 $ 88,497.30
General Fund Abstract 4 of 2017 $ 35,505.07
Street Lighting $ 402.22
________________________________________________
$ 124, 404.59

Seconded by: Councilwoman Haugen-Depuy 5-0aye, motion carried

BORREGO SOLAR LEASE:

Supervisor Chipman stated he had a conference call with Borrego Solar and Attorney Christiana, Larry DeWitt & Rick Jones to discuss the contract.
Larry DeWitt stated how we are well within the capacity of connecting to the Que at the Sand Mine located on Route 209 Kerhonkson.

ACCORD FIRE DISTRICT USE OF HIGHWAY EQUIPMENT AND PERSONNEL:

Topic was discussed with the Town Attorney discussing the liability for the Town. The topic is tabled at the moment until further information can be gathered and questions answered.

ZRC RECOMMENDATIONS WORKSHOP MEETING:
Resolution #74 -2017:

A Motionwas made by Councilwoman Haugen-Depuy to schedule a workshop meeting to discuss the Zoning Revision Recommendation for 05/23/2017 at 6:15pm at the Town of Rochester Town Hall and for the Town Clerk to advertise the same.

Seconded by: Councilwoman Fornino 5-0aye, motion carried

CHIPS APPROPRIATIONS:

CHIPS & PAVE NY allocated $ 481,352.28 to the Town of Rochester. In order to receive the allocated amount of money the Town must spend it. Currently the Streets and Roads budget is allocated for $ 260,000.00. The plan is to have $ 200,000.00 of that amount to be budgeted towards road maintenance for paving. Leaving $ 281,352.28 that has to be added on the expenditure line.
Supervisor Chipman Stated because there is a shortage his recommendation is to go for a Highway Fund BAN of $ 282,000.00 and pay the BAN off next year. This BAN is for CHIPS appropriation.

Resolution # 75-2017:

A Motion was made by Councilwoman Chachkin to approve the Highway Fund BAN of
$ 282,000.00 for Highway appropriation of Capital Spending of Roads & Repairs.

Seconded by: Councilwoman Fornino 5-0 aye, motion carried

EXPEND FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS &ROAD REPAIRS:
Resolution # 76-2017

A Motionwas made by Councilwoman Haugen-Depuy to expend for capital improvements and roads repairs in the amount of $ 481,352.28.

Seconded by Councilwoman Chachkin 5-0aye, motion carried

EXPAND THE HIGHWAY BUDGET EXPENSE LINE OF ROAD REPAIRS:
Resolution # 77-2017:

A Motionwas made by Councilwoman Fornino to expand the Contractual Highway Budget line 5110.4 Expenditure in the amount of $ 281,352.28.

Seconded by: Councilwoman Haugen-Depuy 5-0aye, motion carried

FIREPERSON COMPENSATION WHILE AWAY DURING WORK HOURS:

Regular full-time and regular part-time employees that are volunteer firefighters will be permitted to attend fire calls in the Town of Rochester during work hours without a loss of pay or leave credits after obtaining permission of the Highway Superintendent or his designee and for general fund employees with permission from the Town Supervisor. In such event the employee will have to submit verification of the employee’s attendance at such call and how much time was spent at such call submitted to Highway Superintendent or Town Supervisor.

Councilman Drabkin stated that two things should be clarified in writing first the said employee needs written authorization from the Highway Superintendent and/or Town Supervisor depending on department and written verification of the hours they worked at the fire call from the Fire Chief, District Chief or Commissioner.

Resolution # 78 -2017:

A Motion was made by Councilwoman Haugen-Depuythat a regular full-time or regular part-time employee that are volunteer firefighters will be permitted to attend fire calls in the Town of Rochester during work hours without a loss of pay or leave credits as long as;

1. Written permission is granted to said employee from either the Highway Superintendent, the Deputy for Highway Employees or the Town Supervisor for General Employees.

2. In such an event the employee is responsible to submit to the Highway Superintendent or Town Supervisor written verification by either the Fire Chief, District Chief or Fire Commissioner of attendance and time spent at such call.

Seconded by: Councilwoman Fornino 5-0aye, motion carried

PROJECT 32:

Highway Superintendent Spano stated how Project 32 Road is 2.9 miles of town road then turns into private road where the town still owns property. Residents of the road maintain the remaining private section of the road and would like the Town to either contribute towards the maintenance of the road since the Town is a property owner through that section or at least maintain the Road to the Town property line. Mr. Spano also asked about town liability if something was to occur there.It was agreed that Highway Superintendent Spano will meet with Attorney Christiana to review the property and road in question regarding Town line of both Town owned and Private owned roadway.
FULL TIME ASSISTANT COURT CLERK:

Supervisor Chipman stated that he sent information to the Board regarding a full time assistant Court Clerk. The Board agreed that it is important to weigh the options of 1 full timer to 2 part-timers.
Supervisor Chipman stated that currently revenues are higher and there is more workflow because of we are collecting outstanding debts dating back to the 1990’s.

MODULAR BUILDING AS THE COURTHOUSE:

Chief Miller updated the Board on the modular building. Approval from CEO has been granted, an additional oversize vehicle is not required,each vehicle will require a $ 60 permit fee, the mirrors for the Highway trucks are $ 49.00each, though the disassembly costs are not finalized Chief Miller doesn’t expect the entire process to cost more than $ 2,000.00.

Resolution # 79 -2017:

A Motion was made by Councilwoman Chachkin to authorize Chief Constable Miller to expend no more than $ 5,500.00 from the Building Budget line 1620.4 for the purchase and transport of a modular building.

Seconded by: Councilman Drabkin

ROLL CALL VOTE:

Councilwoman Chachkin aye
Councilwoman Fornino aye
Councilman Drabkin aye
Councilwoman Haugen-Depuy aye
Supervisor Chipman nay
4-1 aye, motion carried PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD:

Mike Baden attended an RVBA breakfast on solar panel and it was stated by several agencies that the Town of Rochester Code Enforcement Office is the best to deal with in the County.

Seconded by: Councilwoman Chachkin 5-0aye, motion carried

MOMENT OF SILENCE:

Supervisor Chipman held a moment of silence in memory of Tom Sommer, Kathy Worden, Alan Shaw and Mr. Lapp all great people of our Community that have passed this last month.

ADJOURNMENT:

A Motion was made by Councilman Drabkin to adjourn the meeting at 9:30 PM.

Seconded by: Councilwoman Chachkin 5-0aye, motion carried

REPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,

Kathleen A. Gundberg
Town Clerk/ Tax Collector