The Town of Rochester Town Board held the Regular Meeting on July 2, 2024, at 6:30 PM at Harold Lipton Community Center, 15 Tobacco Road, Accord, NY
To View the Meeting Livestream Broadcast on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg7ykop50cWmqPFUpgDjRSQ
Meeting started at 6:55pm
PRESENT:
Councilwoman Renee Ciardi Councilwoman Charlotte Smiseth
Supervisor Erin Enouen Town Attorney Marylou Christiana
Deputy Town Clerk Christina Ferrara
ABSENT:
Councilman Michael Coleman Councilwoman Emily Dindial
Town Clerk Kathleen Gundberg
Supervisor Enouen called the meeting to order and led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
Acceptance of Agenda
Resolution # 213-2024:
Motion: Supervisor Enouen
Second: Councilwoman Smiseth
The Town Board accepts the agenda as prepared and amended to remove proposed budget modifications by the Town Supervisor.
Aye: 3 Nay: 0 Abstain: 0 Motion carried
Coleman/Dindial-ab
Abstract 6-2024
General Fund $117,412.58
Highway Fund $224,421.21
Capital Fund $400.00
Street Lighting Fund $480.40
Ambulance Fund $0
Escrow Fund $6,210.71
Supervisor’s Update
a. Grant
1. NY Rising – Alligerville Firehouse – must submit a few reports.
2. BridgeNY – Boice Mill Road Bridge – the engineering firm has a new design, and they will present it before going out to bid, aiming for completion by the end of 2025.
3. County ARPA Parks- bathrooms at the town park, test sites must be done for well /septic
b. Safe Start to Summer –Ulster County provides portable radar speed sign kits to help municipalities address speed concerns.
c. Upcoming Meetings/Events – Community Preservation Plan’s third and final meeting Sunday, July 7, 2024, at Rochester 2 Firehouse at 1:00 p.m. at 922 Samsonville Rd.
Workshop meeting Thursday, July 11, 2024, We will have 3 public hearings before the workshop meeting.
Town Board Upcoming Agendas
• July Workshop Meeting 7/11/2024
• July Audit Meeting – July 25, 2024, a public hearing of Local Law F re-zoning
Attorney for the Town Report – Nothing
Town Clerk/Tax Collector Report – Nothing
Highway Supt. Report – Boice Mill Bridge was closed as of July 1st; the decision was made by the Department of Transportation.
Dept. Updates/Liaison Reports
Constable- Councilwoman Smiseth Constabulary: The Constabulary answered 14 direct calls for service and other duties in June of 2024.
These included:
• 10 Neighbor to Neighbor and Quality of Life Complaints
• 3 Resident Traffic Complaints (Towpath Rd, Boice Milll Rd, Whitfield Rd,
• 1 Environmental Complaints, (Cherrytown Rd.)
• 4 New Building Department Violations
• 3 New Court Cases Opened
• 7 Court Proceedings Remain Open
• 2 Court Proceedings Closed
Interesting Occurrences:
In June, overall complaints have decreased significantly. Neighbor to Neighbor complaints being the foremost. As always, short term rental properties continue to generate many quality-of-life complaints, especially on Holidays, Fridays and weekends. Other complaints primarily are in regards to trespassing, loud noise, road/driveway blockages as well as household trash dumping on town roads and residents’ properties. We continue to work independently and with the building department on those issues.
Elder Care program- An information session was held on June 17, 2024, at the Harold Lipton Community Center. There was a good number of resources available to the public, the office of the aging, food pantry, and assessor office to answer questions, recreation department to share all the senior programs available, were just some of the tables there.
Recreation Dept- Summer program begins Monday, July 8th. Thank you to the Rondout Valley food pantry for the large donation of food and drinks for the summer program, we appreciate their support and dedication to the community.
Councilwoman Smiseth read a letter submitted to the town board by the Senior & Youth Commission and the Rochester Recreation Department.
Housing Committee- Privilege of the board to give Alana Blum to speak. Discussed the community preservation plan for a better understanding and possible comments at the public hearing this coming Thursday. Reviewing short-term rental caps potentially to recommend for the August business meeting.
Councilwoman Smiseth- We have the opportunity through the county to finally have signed contracts for the housing site inventory.
Supervisor Enouen: Agricultural Advisory Committee – Councilwoman Ciardi submitted a letter for six, Right to Farm signs to hopefully be placed with all the Welcome to the Town of Rochester signs. The committee would like to know how many actual farms are in the town due to the debate about what qualifies as a farm.
Environmental Conservation Commission- Supervisor Enouen ECC had the “tire pull” last weekend.
Planning Board- new applications in the town are a reminder to pass the code updates.
Transfer Station- Fully staffed and continues to receive a lot of positive feedback from the public, with the staff being out on the grounds monitoring the bins and offering help. Enouen wants to organize proper training and possibly take the staff to UCRRA to show how recycling is done properly. It sheds light on how much you can not recycle. This past month, at the Ulster County Recycling Oversight Committee; The county is looking at landfill sightings and a ReUse Innovation Center and hired a consultant to prepare a proposal currently reviewing and making recommendations on how to make the ReUse Innovation Center more impactful in terms of waste reduction.
Public Comment
To Comment in the Meeting
Dial-in Number: 929 205 6099 Zoom Meeting ID: 873 0450 8090
Alana Blum- An event on Saturday, June 15, 2024, at Inness; the music was very loud and clear until 1:00 a.m. Calls were made to Inness, who were very polite; the girl said she’d pass along the information. Was this a permitted use that the town allowed in advance of the event? If so, why the blatant disregard for the residents? That question is for the owners of Inness also. What penalties or fines have been incurred by Inness as a result? Moving forward how can this type of thing can be avoided?
Town Board Member Time
Supervisor Enouen- To understand what permitted uses are, would be through the site plan approval for Inness. I’ve been in contact with the code enforcement office. Currently, there’s no enforcement for a loud wedding based on their site plan.
Action on Minutes
Motion: Supervisor Enouen
Second: Councilwoman Smiseth
Resolution # 214 -2024:
The Town of Rochester Town Board accepts the minutes of the June 6, 2024, regular business meeting, the June 13, 2024, workshop meeting, and the June 27, 2024, Audit meeting, as presented.
Aye: 3 Nay: 0 Abstain: 0 Motion carried
Coleman/Dindial-ab
Acceptance of Donations
Motion: Supervisor Enouen
Second: Councilwoman Smiseth
Resolution # 215-2024 :
The Town of Rochester Town Board accepts donations of $130.56 from St Pauly Textile
Aye: 3 Nay: 0 Abstain: 0 Motion carried
Coleman/Dindial-ab
Appointment of Highway Employee
Motion: Supervisor Enouen
Second: Councilwoman Smiseth
Resolution # 216 -2024:
On request of the Highway Superintendent Jeff Frey, the Town of Rochester Town Board appoints Jacob Burger HMEO at $ 27.01 per hour starting July 22, 2024.
Aye: 3 Nay: 0 Abstain: 0 Motion carried
Coleman/Dindial-ab
Parking Tickets
Motion: Supervisor Enouen
Second: Councilwoman Smiseth
Resolution # 217 -2024:
The Town of Rochester Town Board accepts the Parking Violation Tickets, as amended and presented.
Aye: 3 Nay: 0 Abstain: 0 Motion carried
Coleman/Dindial-ab
Presentation of REQUEST FOR BID:
Motion: Councilwoman Smiseth
Second: Councilwoman Ciardi
Resolution # 218 -2024:
The Town of Rochester Town Board is seeking bids from qualified, knowledgeable, and experienced companies to provide all design, labor, material, and equipment for the services in the renovation of the Town of Rochester Justice Conference Room; and requests the Town Clerk to advertise
for bids as presented and amended.
Aye: 3 Nay: 0 Abstain: 0 Motion carried
Coleman/Dindial-ab
Members discussed the J-Cap Grant to help fund the Justice Court Conference Room
Discussion / Review
Highway Roof RFB
Motion: Councilwoman Smiseth
Second: Councilwoman Ciardi
Resolution # 219 -2024:
The Town of Rochester Town Board is seeking quotes for the roof repair for the Town of Rochester Highway Garage located at 50 Scenic Rd Accord, NY 12404 as presented; on or before July 10, 2024 @3pm.
Aye: 3 Nay: 0 Abstain: 0 Motion carried
Coleman/Dindial-ab
Zoning Map Finalization Plan –The Town Board is waiting for the zoning map, the board discussed sending letters, public information, and setting up public information sessions.
Kerhonkson Ambulance Improvement District Contract -The Board discussed; no action was taken.
Code Enforcement positions –The Board discussed possibly having staff scheduled on weekends for applicants and businesses not in compliance with their approved decisions by the planning board and CEO.
Priorities for the remainder of 2024-
Supervisor Enouen – Focus on the internal part of town departments for 2025. Last year the board talked a lot about what they wanted to do this year, which was pay, benefits, staff, and tech assessments for all departments. Short-term priorities- getting the website published.
Current items – Mapping the Chapter 140 Sub-division code, The community preservation plan, announcing the town-wide re-evaluation, the departments specifically focusing on now, constabulary, code enforcement, and transfer station.
In the budget, we need to potentially be looking at the process for a new town hall, revising the comprehension plan, or having an outside consultant help us get started on another code revision. Start on grant opportunities to work towards. Focus on the grants we have. Boice mill bridge, Town park bathroom, J-cap grant.
Councilwoman Smiseth- The property our children play on has been severely neglected for at least six years. We need to prioritize specifically the back of the community center. Currently working on a concrete removal quote, Councilman Coleman is working on a quote for fencing, and the Center needs some type of storage shed. How about using some of the ARPA funds and putting the money towards the work behind the community center, at this point it is a safety issue. Basic landscaping maintenance is needed.
Councilwoman Ciardi- Just taking everything in and learning the process.
Workshop Agenda Review
Community Preservation Plan Local Law Public Hearings
Local Law G of 2024, establishing a Community Preservation Fund.
Local Law H of 2024, adopting a Community Preservation Plan
Local Law I of 2024, imposing a 1.5% Real Estate Tax on the conveyance of interests in real property.
*Possible SEQRA determination.
Supervisor Enouen- Anticipates a larger group for the public hearings on July 17th
Work on the letter for information sessions and possible public hearing, zoning code, talk about the comprehension plan, and short-term rental cap.
In Memoriam-
William “Uncle Willie” Goldie, beloved parade goer and thrower from Rosendale. It all started at “The Well” in Kingston, he was a very dear friend.
Motion Councilwoman Smiseth
Second Councilwoman Ciardi
To adjourn at 10:00 pm
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
CHRISTINA FERRARA
DEPUTY TOWN CLERK