Town of Rochester Town Board held the Audit/Workshop Meeting on October 28, 2021at 6:00pmat theHarold Lipton Community Center, 15 Tobacco Road, Accord, NY
Livestream Broadcast on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg7ykop50cWmqPFUpgDjRSQ
Supervisor Baden opened the meeting and led in the Pledge of allegiance to the Flag.
PRESENT:
Councilwoman Erin Enouen Councilwoman Bea Haugen-Depuy
Councilman Chris Hewitt Councilman Adam Paddock
6:00PM : AUDIT OF THE OCTOBER 2021 VOUCHERS
A Motionwas made by Councilman Paddock to authorize payment of October 2021 vouchers in the amount;
Highway $ 9,740.91
General $58,199.65
Second: Councilman Hewitt
Discussion: Councilwoman Haugen-Depuyasked why a resolution.
Supervisor Baden stated that during a recent comptroller class question was asked about whether the Town has to do a resolution and it was stated that signatures are not enough and a resolution should be done, so moving forward, resolution for audit of vouchers will go back on the agenda.
Aye: 5 nay: 0 abstain: 0 motion carried
6:55PM: WORKSHOP MEETING:
PRESENT:
Councilwoman Erin Enouen Councilwoman Bea Haugen-Depuy
Councilman Chris Hewitt Councilman Adam Paddock
Deputy Town Clerk Christina Ferrara Town Attorney Marylou Christiana
TOWN CLERK APPOINTMENT:
Town Clerk Gundberg appoints Tabitha Ziba to 2nd Deputy Town Clerk effective October 31, 2021.
ADOPTION OF LOCAL LAW 4-2021: AMENDING THE ZONING MAP:
Resolution # 308-2021:
A Motion was made by Councilman Hewitt that the Town of Rochester Town Board adopts Local Law 4-2021, as presented October 7, 2021, such Local Law amending the Zoning Map of the Town of Rochester to reflect that the property contained in Ulster County Tax Map known as SBL 76-4-4.1 and 76-4-4.2, 1819 Berme Road, Kerhonkson, NY and located in the Low Density Residential (R-2) zoning district shall be rezoned to be located in the Residential Agricultural (AR-3) zoning district. A negative declaration pursuant to NY State Environmental Quality Review (SERQA) having been prepared and adopted October 7, 2021, determining the local law will result in no significant adverse impacts on the environment, and, therefore, an environmental impact statement need not be prepared.
Second: Councilman Paddock
Discussion:
Councilwoman Haugen-Depuy asked if the tentr will still be used even though it is off the site. The answer was no.
Councilwoman Enouen stated she did a site visit and also spoke with the Code Enforcement Officer who feels there are no violations. The Tentr looked unused. As far as the zoning change this doesn’t look like a traditional farm property, the owners want to grow nut trees, plants, perennials and fruit trees and want to have an agricultural life based on property, there is no agriculture at this time but we clearly want to encourage agriculture; traditional farm parcels are harder and harder to come by.
Councilman Paddock: do you need to have farm like activities already in place to consider zoning change?
Councilwoman Enouen: no. zoning change is more about the property itself, what it could be and how we view the property.
Aye: 5 nay: 0 abstain: 0 motion carried
DISCUSSIONS:
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN UPDATED PROJECTS:
Councilwoman Enouen discussed the quote for a camera and monitor and Mini PC given by Fisch Solutions.
$ 2,349.89 total. $ 1,949.89 (system camera and monitor), $ 400 (mini PC).
Supervisor Baden and Attorney Christiana discussed premium pay for employees. Supervisor Baden will have a month- month time accumulation for the employees that qualify. You can pay up to $ 13.00 per hour for employees that worked and date back from January 2020. Attorney Christiana is going to contact the comptrollers office to discuss elected officials eligibility.
The Board discussed the idea of expanding broadband
LOCAL LAW 5 -2021: SOLID WASTE/ LITTERING:
Supervisor Baden stated that he will prepare a resolution for next week.
REFERENDUM VOTE DECEMBER 7, 2021:
Marylou Christiana stated that phase one has to be completed within 60 days of the contract.
CTMALE ASSOCIATES: $ 1,900 but the Town has to provide information.
BARTON & LOGUIDICE: $ 3,200 and will do their own work.
Councilwoman asked why this has to be done before the referendum?
Attorney Christiana stated that the seller wanted as a good faith to start work now instead of everything after the referendum, which if passed would put the closing off for months. The seller agreed if it fails he would reimburse us for what the amount was for phase one up to $ 4,000 as stated in the contract.
We can cancel or renegotiatecontract if there is an environmental issue.
The Board compared both companies services.
APPROVAL TO ENTER IN TO CONTRACT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH PHASE 1 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
Resolution # 309-2021:
A Motion was made by Councilman Paddock;
WHEREAS the Town must conduct a phase one environmental assessment for property located at 5164 Route 209 in accordance with the contract to purchase same, and,
WHEREAS, the Town has received a quotes from CT MALE in the amount of $ 1900.00 and BARTON & LOGUIDICE in the amount of $ 3200.00.
WE RESOLVE that the Town shall enter into agreement with CT MALE and provice a phase one environmental site assessment for $ 1900 contingent upon the Towns ability to provide records requested by CT MALE no later than Monday November 1, 2021.
FURTHER resolves in the event that the Town can not provide such efforts to CT MALE by Monday 11/1/2021 the Town will enter into a contract with BARTON & LOGUIDICE for the phase one environmental site assessment for the amount of $ 3200.00.
This resolution is made with the understanding that should the purchase of the property fail, the Town will be reimbursed by Accordian Ventures, LLC in accordance to the provisions of the contract.
Second: Councilman Hewitt
ROLL CALL:
Councilwoman Enouen aye
Councilwoman Haugen-Depuy nay
Councilman Hewitt aye
Councilman Paddock aye
Supervisor Baden aye 4-1, motion carried
Supervisor Baden asked the Board if they want to move forward with the inspection? If the referendum does pass It is another part of the process. The preliminary opinion of probable construction cost was at the request from the residents.CT MALE gave an estimate for limited facility support services.
Councilwoman Enouen: heard overwhelmingly that the public did not want to vote on something and they would welcome more information about those costs. The cost for this overview is $ 780.00 with an additional fee of $ 840 is offered in the event an onsite meeting and review of the building is requested by the Town.
Councilman Paddock: we can get a very accurate estimate and weigh out costs of possible new property, see the cost of office trailers and bring that information to the public as well.
Councilwoman Haugen-Depuy: $ 780 for the report and $ 840 would be onsite and review of building how can they do that without going there?
Supervisor Baden stated they can do a virtual tour, if available they will review documentation including original construction, give preliminary opinion of probable cost based on scope of building based on size, type of building.
Councilman Paddock: this gives us a good sense on a starting point and gives us some confidence that we are heading in the right direction.
Supervisor Baden reiterated that this is not an inspection but a preliminary opinion of probable costs of construction. The inspection proposal is through Andreassen Associates in the amount of $ 2000.00
APPROVAL TO ENTER INTO CONTRACT:
Resolution # 310-2021:
A Motion was made by Supervisor Baden that the Town Board enter into contract with Andreassen Associates for the inspection proposal dated October 19, 2021 in the amount of $ 2,000.00.
Second: Councilman Paddock
Discussion: Councilman Paddock stated that this will answer every question about the building.
ROLL CALL:
Councilwoman Enouen aye
Councilwoman Haugen-Depuy nay
Councilman Hewitt aye
Councilman Paddock aye
Supervisor Baden aye 4-1, motion carried
2022 PRELIMINARY BUDGET:
Supervisor Baden stated that he filled in the information with the additional health insurance as was requested and emailed to everyone. So I am asking that we agree that this is now the preliminary budget and present it to the Town Clerk for the November 4, 2021 hearing.
Councilwoman Haugen-Depuy: I have a lot of questions, even though I couldn’t be here I watched on zoom and at this time we are discussing the tentative budget. I do not agree with the 22% increase in the Supervisor salary and the 3.6% increase in the confidential secretary position. This employee comes in at $ 20.00 per hour making less than those that have been here for much longer and you want to add a payroll company to it as well. People cannot afford this increase. Could you settle on 11% increase?
Councilman Paddock: stated the positions have changed over time and the salary of the Supervisor position is embarrassing it is no longer a part-time job with part-time pay.
APPROVAL TO SUBMIT 2022 PRELIMINARY BUDGET TOWN CLERK:
Resolution # 311-2021:
A Motion was made by Councilman Paddock that the Town Board submit the 2022 Preliminary budget to the Town Clerk with a tax decrease of 2.735% to go to public hearing on 11/4/2021 at 6:30pm.
Second: Councilman Hewitt
ROLL CALL:
Councilwoman Enouen aye
Councilwoman Haugen-Depuy nay only agree to the 11% Supervisor increase
Councilman Hewitt aye
Councilman Paddock aye
Supervisor Baden aye 4-1, motion carried
ADJOURNMENT:
A Motion was made by Councilman Hewitt to adjourn the meeting at 8:50pm.
Second: Councilwoman Enouen motion carried
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
CHRISTINA FERRARA
DEPUTY TOWN CLERK