The Town of Rochester Town Board held a Special Meeting on July 16, 2024 at 6:30pm at the Harold Lipton Community Center, 15 Tobacco Road Accord, NY 12404
To View the Meeting
Livestream Broadcast on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg7ykop50cWmqPFUpgDjRSQ
PRESENT:
Councilwoman Renee Ciardi Councilman Michael Coleman
Councilwoman Emily Dindial Councilwoman Charlotte Smiseth
Town Supervisor Erin Enouen Town Clerk Kathleen Gundberg
Supervisor Enouen called the meeting to order and led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA:
RESOLUTIONS:
Resolution # 228 -2024:
Motion: Councilman Coleman
Second: Councilwoman Ciardi
The Town Board accepts the agenda, as prepared by the Town Supervisor with an amendment to insert an executive session regarding the appointment of particular persons after discussion items.
CLASSIFYING LOCAL LAW G, H & I UNDER SEQRA:
Resolution # 229-2024:
Motion: Supervisor Enouen
Second: Councilman Coleman
The Town of Rochester Town Board has declared proposed local laws as type 1 under SEQRA review.
Aye: 5 nay: 0 abstain: 0 motion carried
The Board reviewed SEQRA Part II EAF:
Resolution # 230 -2024:
Motion: Supervisor Enouen
Second: Councilman Coleman
Whereas, on July 16, 2024, the Town Board classified the proposed local laws as type 1 actions under SEQRA and declared itself lead agency at June 25, 2024 meeting in a review of the proposed local laws as it is the only involved agency and,
Whereas, the proposed local laws will be applicable throughout the Town; and
Whereas, the town board has prepared a full Environmental Assessmetn Form or the proposed local laws; and
Whereas, the Town Board has considered the criteria contained in 6NYCRR 617.7 and troughly analyzed all identified relevant areas of environmental concern disclosed in the FEAF; and
Whereas, the Town Board has reviewed Parts 2 and # of the FEAF setting forth reasons supporting a determination that the proposed actions will not have a significant adverse impact on the environment.
Now therefore be it resolved that the Town board of the Town of Rochester, Ulster County, New York hereby;
Adopts a negative declaration and determines that the adoption of the proposed local laws will not result in any significant adverse environmental impacts and that a draft environmental impacts statement will not be prepared; and
Authorizes and directs the Town Clerk to distribute a copy of this resolution of the Town Suprevisor, file a notice of adoption of a Negative declaration for a type 1 action for publication with the NYS Environmetal notice Bulletin and to any person that has requested a copy to make all other filings required by law.
ROLL CALL:
Councilwoman Ciardi aye
Councilman Coleman aye
Councilwoman Dindial aye
Councilwoman Smiseth aye
Supervisor Enouen aye 5-0aye, motion carried
COMMUNITY CONSERVATION PLAN:
The Board discussed the proposed local laws, the public hearing comments and the Community Preservation plan.
Councilwoman Dindial:Valid concerns, hearing potential seemingly adversary concerns more aligned housing concerns, housing prices I am more compelled to more forward to put on ballot and we work between now and election to get answers and educate and answers more questions.
Councilwoman Smiseth: I don’t share the same opinions, I think we are more divided than ever, this is not a top priority, we had our info sessions and this was a lot of information to swallow. We need to be better about informing the public. This is the first meeting since March that we are all here. I think it’s a useful tool but I don’t think we should push through, and this idea to push through this year. This fund will provide a huge issue keeping generational families in Town. Current climate is it doesn’t feel right, and makes the problem housing issue worse.
Councilman Coleman: I am neutral at this point. I support this as a tool to give towns the option to have more precise ways. In regards to our zoning proposed laws we’ve done a good job from a zoning perspective taking our time and reading the letters and that was last year. We made a lot of changes and gave feedback. Zoning is a blunt instrument and helps to manage development. I value open space and it is specific to tools. It is Important to empower people at home. This tool provides option prime farmland principal. I support the CPP just need to figure out how to shape the language. Sympathetic to the conversation reading through the plan maintaining increasing property values, preserving farmland, selectively preserving open space is important. We are well protected in the north & south. It’s a phenomenal plan.
Councilwoman Ciardi: I feel this plan was driven by passion a lot of time and work. This is a strongly valuable plan for our community. Very empathetic, I had my AG Blinders on and didn’t see a lot of language support for the AG land and would like to have the AG advisory committee involved. Preserving farmland is a necessity for community needs it just needs some tweaking.
Supervisor Enouen: This has been a good test for new supervisor I am very torn. I believe it’s a great tool, it is something that I have wanted to see in our Town and I’m sensitive to development as a farmer. There has to be other tools available to the Town aside from Zoning and would like to see the Town to utilize this plan. It has been a tight timeline for the public and hear the fear of pushing something through. I want to see this happen in our town but not sure if right now is the time.
Councilwoman Smiseth would like to have on record that at the public hearing there was a resident that was setting a timer for opposing comment that would go off before they were finished. This kind of behavior is uncalled for and completely unprofessional and will not be tolerated at a Town Board meeting. Supervisor Enouen stated that each person was asked to keep it within 3-5 minutes and everyone else remained respectfully of a persons time.
The Board agreed to move on with proposed local law G ( creating the advisory board and the fund) with hopes of the committee working on the plan to bring before the public next year
EXECUTIVE SESSION:
Motion: Councilwoman Smiseth
Second: Councilman Coleman
The Town Board entered into executive session to discuss the appointment of particular persons at 8:38pm.
RECONVENE THE MEETING:
Motion: Councilwoman Smiseth
Second: Councilman Coleman
The Town of Rochester Town Board reconvened the meeting at 8:56pm with no action taken nor monies expended.
APPOINTMENT OF CONSTABLES:
Resolution # 231 -2024:
Motion: Supervisor Enouen
Second: Councilwoman Coleman
The Town of Rochester Town Board appoints Mark Smith and Donald Koeppen to the position of Constable – Provisional as if July 16, 2024, at the pay rate in the adopted pay schedule, subject to completion of required training and exams and having updated applications on file.
Aye: 5 nay: 0 abstain: 0 motion carried
ADJOURNMENT:
Motion: Councilman Coleman
Second: Councilwoman Smiseth
The Town of Rochester Town Board adjourned the meeting at 8:58pm.
Motion carried
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
KATHLEEN A. GUNDBERG
TOWN CLERK