Town Board Audit Meeting – October 2023

The Town of Rochester Town Board held the Audit Meeting on October 26, 2023 at 6:30pm at the Harold Lipton Community Center, 15 Tobacco Road, Accord, NY
Livestream Broadcast on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg7ykop50cWmqPFUpgDjRSQ

PRESENT:

Councilman Michael Coleman Councilwoman Erin Enouen
Councilman Adam Paddock Councilwoman Charlotte Smiseth
Town Supervisor Michael Baden Deputy Town Clerk Christina
Town Attorney Marylou Christiana

Supervisor Baden called the meeting to order and led in the Pledge of Alligence to the flag.

Resolutions

ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA:
Resolution # 339-2023:

Motion: Councilman Paddock
Second: Councilwoman Enouen

The Town of Rochester Town Board accepts the agenda as prepared by the Town Supervisor.

Aye: 5 nay: 0 abstain: 0 motion carried

APPOINTMENT OF ASSISTANT TO THE SUPERVISOR/ TOWN BOOKKEEPER:

The Town Supervisor appoints Valerie Heisler to serve as the Assistant to the Supervisor/Town Bookkeeper with a 40 hour per work week at a rate of pay of $21.50 per hour, effective October 29, 2023.

APPOINTMENT OF EMPLOYEE FOR TRAINING:
Resolution # 340-2023:

Motion: Councilwoman Enouen
Second: Councilwoman Smiseth

The Town of Rochester Town Board authorizes Valerie Heisler to be employed for a one week training period for the position of Assistant to the Supervisor/Town Bookkeeper for the time period October 23, 2023 through October 27, 2023 not to exceed 40 worked hours at a rate of pay of $21.50 per hour.

LOCAL LAW 10 OF 2023:
Resolution # 341-2023:

Motion: Councilman Coleman
Second: Councilman Paddock
Discussion: Councilwoman Enouen stated that it has been a long process, we’ve seen a lot of dialog and discussion , we’ve seen the application change itself with the entire process. Councilman Coleman agreed with a lot of what Councilwoman Enouen said. There has been a lot of work done by the applicant, the residents and the Town Board. This is one step in the process. There will be other opportunities for people to comment. Supervisor Baden echos the other Board members in this is the first step to the process for approval of the zoning overlay district designation. The properties have to be merged and the application has to go before the planning board for site plan review; which includes a public hearing, referral to the Ulster County Planning Board for the second round of referrals. Thank you to the aplpicants and the residents I am confident that we’ve done our due diligence.

The Town of Rochester Town Board adopts Local Law 10 of 2023, Consideration of a Petition Requesting Economic Enterprise Overlay zoning designation, as presented, discussed and amended in public meeting on October 5, 2023 and October 12, 2023, as circulated in final form by email to the Town Board, Town Clerk, and Attorney for the Town on October 13, 2023.

Roll Call Vote
Councilman Coleman aye
Councilwoman Enouen aye
Councilman Paddock aye
Councilwoman Smiseth nay
Supervisor Baden aye

Aye: 4 nay: 1-Smiseth abstain: 0 motion carried

SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING OF PRELIMINARY BUDGET:
Resolution # 342-2023:

Motion: Councilman Paddock
Second: Councilwoman Smiseth

The Town of Rochester Town Board sets a public hearing on the 2024 Town of Rochester preliminary budget pursuant to Town Law § 108, to be held Thursday November 9, 2023 at 6:30pm at the Harold Lipton Community Center, 15 Tobacco Road, Accord, NY 12404 and requests the Town Clerk circulate public notice. The preliminary budget will be available for viewing at the Town Clerk’s office, on the Town website on Friday October 27, 2023.

Aye: 5 nay: 0 abstain: 0 motion carried

SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING:
Resolution # 343-2023:

Motion: Councilman Coleman
Second: Councilwoman Smiseth
Discussion: Supervisor Baden explained that this is a place holder and if we don’t exceed the tax cap then we don’t need this public hearing.

The Town of Rochester Town Board sets a public hearing on Local Law 11-2023, Tax Cap Override pursuant to General Municipal Law § 3-c, to be held Thursday November 3, 2022 immediately following the public hearing on the 2023 Town of Rochester preliminary budget at the Harold Lipton Community Center, 15 Tobacco Road, Accord, NY 12404 and requests the Town Clerk circulate public notice.

Aye: 5 nay: 0 abstain: 0 motion carried

DISCUSSION:

ZONING CODE: Supervisor Baden stated on the Ulster County Plannning Board agenda for 11/1/23. Tom Hines from the County is ready to work on the map, will do a draft but we still need to discuss Residentals and AG properties.

SUBDIVISION CODE: we need to talk about the subdivision code with the comments received back from the UC and Town Planning Boards. Town Planning Board asked their advisor Dave Church to also do an analysis.

SPECIAL WORKSHOP MEETING DATES:
Resolution # 344-2023:

Motion: Councilman Coleman
Second: Councilwoman Smiseth

The Town of Rochester Town Board scheduled a special workshop meeting to be held on November 4, 2023 at 9:00am at the Harold Lipton Community Center 15 Tobacco Road Accord, NY 12404 and request the Town Clerk to circulate notice of such.
Aye: 5 nay: 0 abstain: 0 motion carried

Resolution # 345-2023:

Motion: Supervisor Baden
Second: Councilwoman Smiseth

The Town of Rochester Town Board schedules a special workshop meeting to be held on November 20, 2023 at 6:30pm at the Harold Lipton Community Center, 15 Tobacco Road Accord, NY 12404.

Aye: 5 nay: 0 abstain: 0 motion carried

CONTINUED REVIEW:

2024 Tentative Budget

• Councilman Paddock left at 6:50pm

AUDIT OF ABSTRACT 10 OF 2023:

APPROVAL OF PAYMENT OF ABSTRACT 10-2023:
Resolution # 346-2023:

Motion: Councilwoman Enouen
Second: Councilwoman Smiseth

The Town of Rochester Town Board approves payment of Abstract 10-2023 in the amount of:

Abstract 10-2023
General Fund $ 60,970.23
Highway Fund $ 85,552.21
Capital Fund $ 39,502.74
Street Lighting Fund $ 0.00
Ambulance Fund $ 0.00
Escrow Fund $ 4,587.50

Aye: 4 nay: 0 abstain: 0 motion carried
Paddock-absent

ADJOURNMENT:

Motion: Councilman Coleman
Second: Councilwoman Enouen

The Town of Rochester Town Board adjourns the meeting at 10:00pm.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,

CHRISTINA FERRARA
DEPUTY TOWN CLERK