The August Regular Town Board Meeting was held on August 6, 2015 at 7pm at the Town of Rochester Town Hall.
PRESENT:
Supervisor Chipman Councilwoman Chachkin Councilwoman Fornino
Councilman Drabkin Councilman Spano Town Clerk Gundberg
Attorney Christiana
PLEDGE:
Supervisor Chipman opened the meeting and Angie Hasbrouck led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Angie Hasbrouck of Project 32 Road approached the board asking for the Town to maintain the stretch of Project 32 road that is bordered by Town owned property and one other Town resident. The board directed Ms. Hasbrouck to approach the other bounding owner to petition the Town and directed Attorney Christiana to review the survey map and deed.
Johnathan Blair resident of Towpath Road played an audio tape for the Town Board. The tape was an audio from his bedroom window on Thursday mornings approximately 7:30am of a lawn mowing business mowing his neighbor’s yard. He would like the board to consider looking into a noise ordinance policy. He also stated that there is a lot of building taking place in this area.
Nora Feingold resident of Alligerville and part of the save Alligerville group submitted to the board a chart of 42 out of 50 homes within Alligerville. Of the 42 homes 1 was in support of the Crested Hen Farm Event Space and 41 opposed. This is an overwhelming amount of people who want to protect our community and find this event space unsightly and obtrusive.
Sal Matera of Berme Rd. High Falls also part of the save Alligerville group stated at the last public hearing Chairman Baden stated numbers don’t matter, and sentiment was meaningless, code is what is followed. The group felt demoralized because how can sentiment be irrelevant? This is a quiet residential neighborhood and sound is problematic. The noise analysis showed a number of things that can be problematic. Requiring the event space to have all doors and windows closed to keep the volume down is not a solution, people will be in and out the door and the noise will travel. Traffic is a major concern with where the current driveway is located. Now the applicant is looking to move the driveway closer to Lucas Ave. And why is the Planning Board giving proposals to make the application succeed?
Supervisor Chipman stated each year the Town Board appoints a member to the Planning Board, part of the job of the planning board is to make suggestions to applicants by following the code.
Councilwoman Chachkin wanted to clarify what Chairman Baden stated in regards to sentiment was; that decisions cannot be made based on public sentiment.
Art Friedman of County Route 6 stated that he disagreed with Councilwoman Chachkin’s clarification and he felt that the Planning Board is not interested in sentiment. There are some major issues the Town Council needs to consider. The value of homes are going to drop, a number of homeowners are going to lose equity, lower tax base on the tax roll. This is a very unpleasant situation. Characteristics of this town are being ripped apart due to this application, any wrongful decisions the township will have to pick up liability and costs. If the Planning Board continues at attempts to litigate, there will be macro issues faced.
Gerry Fornino wanted to thank the board for the beautiful Welcome to the Town of Rochester signs. They look great and the one on his road is even level!!
MINUTES OF THE MEETING:
A Motion was made by Councilman Drabkin to approve the following minutes;
7/2/2015 Regular Town Board Meeting, 7/16/2015 Special Meeting, 7/20/2015 Emergency Meeting and the 7/30/2015 Audit/ Workshop Meeting.
Seconded by: Councilwoman Chachkin 5-0aye, motion carried
SUPERVISOR’S REPORT: Filed with the Town Clerk
SUPERVISOR’S UPDATE:
Progress is being made with the RRA next meeting is scheduled for 8/26/15. We are looking to have a compost area for organic material which will help cut costs as well.
NYRising we are past the RFQ stage. The committee has reviewed the proposals and selected someone, the next action plan is to sign the contract. Next project is for the Town to look for an architectural/ engineering firm to perform all preliminary and final design plans and specifications for construction of the Rochester Community Center Rehabilitation Project. The request went out yesterday and Supervisor Chipman stated he has already received 20 requests.
LEGAL UPDATES: nothing to report
LIASION/ COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Councilwoman Chachkin: HPC no meeting held, but there was a well attended celebration in Alligerville for becoming a Historic District on the National Register. PB: the 7/13 meeting the approval for event space at the Woodstock farm sanctuary with a 2 years renewal on the permit was granted. 9/5/15 will be their grand opening. The public hearing was continued for the Crested Hen application. Further discussion to be made on relocation of driveway. The Accord Train Station public hearing is still open as well. There is a new application for a used cars dealership on Route 209.
Councilwoman Fornino: meeting scheduled for 8/13/15 the summer program is going well the kids are loving the program and they stay busy!
Councilman Drabkin: nothing to report
Councilman Spano: nothing to report
Supervisor Chipman: met with Transfer station personnel on 8/5/15. They’ve discussed concerns of how things operate. The guys are under strict orders no permit no dumping. There was a discussion for 2016 to have permit stickers, a discount on Senior permits, increase in non-resident fees, one day permit fee of $ 10.00.
ECC: tremendous amount of work has been placed for the open space inventory. Big thank you to Laura Finestone and Lawrence DeWitt.
NEW/ OLD BUSINESS:
LOCAL LAW # 3-2015: AMENDING ZONING CODE:
Resolution # 95-2015:
A Motion was made by Councilman Drabkin for a negative declaration under SEQRA based on the Town Board review, Part 2 of SEQRA. All items were checked off as ‘No or Small Impact’.
Seconded by: Councilwoman Chachkin
ROLL CALL VOTE:
Councilwoman Chachkin aye
Councilwoman Fornino aye
Councilman Drabkin aye
Councilman Spano aye
Supervisor Chipman aye 5-0 aye, motion carried
Resolution # 96-2015:
A Motion was made by Councilman Spano;
WHEREAS a public hearing was held for Local Law # 3-2015: Amending the Zoning Code and the Town Planning gave no recommendations or comments, the Ulster County Planning Board had no comments nor recommendations and a negative declaration under SECRA has been approved.
BE IT RESOLVED that Local Law #3-2015 be adopted and filed with the Secretary of State.
Seconded by: Councilwoman Chachkin 5-0aye, motion carried
TRANSFER STATION FEES:
Resolution # 97-2015:
A Motion was made by Councilwoman Chachkin to start one day transfer station pass for
$ 10.00 effective immediately and increase the C/D, solid waste & household trash to $ .10 per lb. or $ 3.50 per bag effective 9/1/2015.
Seconded by: Councilwoman Fornino 5-0aye, motion carried
ULSTER COUNTY FEMA HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN UPDATE:
Ulster County started working on the Hazard mitigation plan. 8/18/15 is the deadline. Supervisor Chipman stated he would like to consult with Highway Superintendent Wayne Kelder on possible improvements that are hazardous.
CONSULTANT FOR OPEN SPACE INVENTORY:
Resolution # 98-2015:
A Motion was made by Councilwoman Chachkin to approve John Mickelson of Ecological & Geospatial Service to conduct the Open Space Inventory.
Seconded by: Councilman Spano 5-0aye, motion carried
Resolution #99 -2015:
A Motion was made by Councilwoman Chachkin to modify the previous resolution to approve John Mickelson of Ecological & Geospatial Service to conduct the Open Space Inventory in accordance with agreement in their proposal.
Seconded by: Councilman Drabkin 5-0aye, motion carried
SURPLUS BID:
Resolution #100 -2015:
A Motion was made by Councilman Spano to award the highest bidder Tim Ganon for the bridge in surplus item. The Bid amount $ 2,727.27.
Seconded by: Councilwoman Fornino 5-0aye, motion carried
Resolution #101-2015:
A Motion was made by Councilman Drabkin to reject the bid on the school bus and the mower.
Seconded by: Councilwoman Chachkin 5-0aye, motion carried
PUBLIC COMMENT :
Rich Miller told the board about the application for radio tower frequencies.
ADJOURNMENT:
A Motion was made by Councilman Drabkin to adjourn the meeting at 8:45pm.
Seconded by: Councilman Spano 5-0aye, motion carried
Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen A. Gundberg
Town Clerk