Catskill Town Board Committee Meeting
Catskill Town Hall
May 16, 2007 6:15 PM
Attendance:
Supervisor, Joseph Izzo
Councilman, Robert Antonelli
Councilman, Joseph Leggio
Councilman, Lewis O’Connor
Code Enforcement Linda Speckman
Highway Supt. Alfie Beers
Town Ambulance, Kathy Seyforth
DBS Planning, Steve Kirk
Dep. Town Clerk, Kim Leggio
Absent: Councilman, Joseph Hanusik
Supervisor Izzo opened the meeting with a moment of silent prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.
Supervisor Izzo announce that there is correspondence to be reviewed and a few resolutions that are needed to be passed at this evenings meeting.
The following resolution are as follows that are needed to be approved at tonight's meeting:
RESOLUTION # 58-2007 APPROVAL BY TOWN BOARD FOR CEMENTON SEWER USER FEES.
Councilman Robert Antonelli , presented the following for consideration and adoption,
WHEREAS, the bi-annual Cementon Sewer User Fee for July 1, 2007 to December 31, 2007, will be due, and
WHEREAS, the fee for the second half of the year 2007, will be $227.27, per unit, so
THEREFORE WE, the Catskill Town Board hereby approve the Cementon sewer bills for the second half of the year, 2007, in the amount of $227.27, per unit.
Councilman Joseph Leggio, seconded this motion.
Ayes 4, Nays 0, Absent 1, (Hanusik). Motion Carried.
RESOLUTION # 59-2007 APPROVE COMPUTER SERVICE CONTRACT
Councilman Lewis O’ Connor, offered the following for consideration and adoption,
WHEREAS, the Town of Catskill’s computer service contract with Real Life Imaging
terminated as of May 01, 2007, and
WHEREAS, the Town has received two (2) proposals for computer service from
Real Life Imaging and EMU Technologies in the amounts of $4,000.00 and $4,800.00, and
WHEREAS, the Town of Catskill, through it’s Department Heads, have evaluated the two proposals based on real time experience with both vendors, so
THEREFORE, WE, the Catskill Town Board hereby approve the computer service contract with EMU Technologies, effective immediately, for a one-year service agreement, terminating June 01, 2008.
Councilman Robert Antonelli, seconded this motion.
Ayes 4, Nays 0, Absent 1, (Hanusik). Motion Carried.
RESOLUTION # 60-2007 EMPLOYEE TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
Councilman Robert Antonelli, offered the following for consideration and adoption,
WHEREAS, the Catskill Town Board wishes to update the Employee Handbook by adding Section 816, “Tuition Assistance Program”, (SEE ADDENDUM ATTACHED)
and
WHEREAS, the aforementioned reflects the need for the Town of Catskill to modify and add to the Town’s personnel policies, based on changes in law and work conditions, so
THEREFORE, WE, the Catskill Town Board hereby approve the attached addendum, Section 816, “Tuition Assistance Program” to the Town of Catskill’s Employee Handbook.
Councilmen O’Connor and Leggio, seconded this motion.
Ayes 4, Nays 0, Absent 1 (Hanusik) Motion Carried.
RESOLUTION # 61-2007 LANDSCAPING MAINTENANCE FOR WASHINGTON IRVING SENIOR CENTER
Councilman Robert Antonelli, offered the following for consideration and adoption,
WHEREAS, the Catskill Town Board wishes to contract for property maintenance “Landscaping” at the Washington Irving Senior Center, and
WHEREAS, Brockway Landscaping has submitted a proposal for the abovementioned job, so
THEREFORE, WE, the Catskill Town Board hereby approve the agreement between the Town of Catskill and Brockway Landscaping, for the amount of $975.00, subject to the conditions of the work order-contract.
Councilman Joseph Leggio, seconded this motion.
Ayes 4, Nays 0, Absent 1, (Hanusik). Motion Carried.
RESOLUTION # 62-2007 APPOINTMENT OF DEPUTY TOWN CLERK
This Resolution was pulled.
CORRESPONDENCE:
Letter from Time Warner advising that effective May 1, 2007 the Black Family Channel will cease operations, but they will carry the Gospel Music Channel on channel 152 instead.
Letter from William Lawrence, Greene County Legislator with regards to a meeting to be held at the Cooperative Extension Agro-Forestry Center on Route 23 in Acra on May 24, 2007 from 2:00 to 4:00 pm. The basis of this meeting will be to develop strategy concerning the development of environmental review advisory councils for each Town in Greene County.
Letter from Lois M. Ragan, thanking Stanley Dushane for his prompt response to an inquiry.
Notice from the Greene County Planning Board detailing the Agenda for their monthly meeting, to be held at 6:30 pm, May 16, 2007, at the Greene County Office Building, Room 427.
Letter from John Rusack, Chair of the General Decker Committee, inviting the Town Board and all Town Employees to the ceremony dedicating a plaque to the memory of General George H. Decker, which will be placed at the entrance of the Catskill High School Auditorium. The ceremony will be held on June 16, 2007, at 10:00am.
Correspondence from John Van Loan, Director of the Greene County Veterans Service Agency, thanking the Town Board for waiving the $100.00 fee for installing VA markers in its cemeteries.
Copy of a letter to Nancy McCoy, and the Town Board, regarding Ed Moccia’s inability to continue serving on the BAR, due to health reasons.
Correspondence from Governor Eliot Spitzer, describing an Executive Order creating a Commission on Local Government Efficiency and Competitiveness.
Letter from NYS Senator James L. Seward, concerning the need to revitalize the upstate economy, and his Upstate Now plan agenda.
Information from NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation, describing Grants being made available to municipalities and not-for-profit corporations located within the geographic boundaries of the Hudson River, and project categories eligible.
Correspondence from Greene Co. Legislator, William Lawrence, issuing an invitation to the Supervisor/ Board to attend a preliminary meeting to develop strategies concerning the development of environmental review advisory councils for each Town in Greene County.
Letter from Assembly Republican Task Force on Crime in our Communities, regarding forums being held across the State to seek input from law enforcement and concerned citizens about safe practices, and how the State Legislature can support effective solutions.
A Grant Application, under the Assistance to Firefighters Grant, is proposed for the Town of Catskill Ambulance for a Mass Casualty Incident Trailer.
Growing Greene newsletter for May 2007.
Memo from Solid Waste Management regarding a Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event to be held Saturday June 2, 2007 from 8am to 2pm @ 67 Scott Lane in Athens.
E-Mail from Ronnie Travers of the Public Sector HR Consultants LLC, the proposed Town of Catskill Controlled Substances & Alcohol Testing Policy. Copy of said policy will be distributed to all Board Members the voted up upon at the June 5th meeting.
Letter from Alexander B. Grannis from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation regarding ENCON’S Hudson River Estuary Grant Program.
REPORTS:
Town of Catskill Comptrollers Report for month of April 2007
Town of Catskill Highway Report for month of May 2007
Town of Catskill Code Enforcement Report for the month of May 2007
Town of Catskill Ambulance Report for the month of May 2007
* Copies of all reports are available at the Town Clerk’s office upon request.
Supervisor Izzo asked Highway Superintendent Alfie Beers regarding FEMA and if we have applied for any FEMA funds?
Superintendent Beers responded by stating yes and that he will be attending a meeting in Cairo in regards to this.
Councilman O’Connor brought up about the issue of Noise Ordinances in the Town and would like that we pass that we specify a time of 11:00pm as cut off time.
Supervisor Izzo replied that we do have noise ordinance but it does not specify time, so the Board could possibly discuss this and set a possibly time.
Dan Howard from the Town of Catskill Planning Board stated that the Planning Board has recommended Larry Federman be appointed to represent the Town of Catskill for the Greene County Hudson River Town Inter municipal Growth Plan Committee.
Supervisor Izzo requested from Mr. Howard that this be sent in writing and this way the Board can act on this at its June meeting.
At this time Mr. Anthony Vespucci asked the Board if he could speak regarding the recent meeting the Town held with regard to the Five Mile Woods Road Park Project.
Mr. Vespucci stated that he would like this parcel to remain rural with its country atmosphere. He is concerned about the rise of taxes and if this will impact the landowners in the Town. He also asked how much this Park would cost?
Supervisor Izzo replied that at this time we do not have an estimate of the cost of the Park the Meeting on May 10th was basically an informational meeting on the possible proposal of said park.
Mr. Vespucci asked who gave Mr. Dietz the information that he had used to present at the Informational Meeting about the previous landfill on that site?
Supervisor Izzo, relied that the landfill might be bigger than we think, and that nobody is being mislead and that I stated at that Meeting we are not sure of the footprint of the landfill. Mr. Dietz did exactly what the Board asked him to do, and that is come up with a conceptual plan so the public has a visual idea about the proposed park site.
Mr. Vespucci was concerned about at the informational meeting that Larry Federman’s remarks about the survey that people were in favor of the Town developing a Park and a playground did he tell them that it would be on a former landfill?
Supervisor Izzo responded by stating that Mr. Federman was trying to gauge interest as to the people of the Town of Catskill as to a Public Park, he did not say it would be on Five Mile Wood Road he mislead no one he just asked if the people wanted a Park. It was just a survey about creating a Park in the Town of Catskill, that could be anywhere in the Town.
Mr. Vespucci stated that he thought the remarks Mr. Federman stated that they were specifically for Five Mile Woods Road Park.
Supervisor Izzo replied to this comment by that if Mr. Vespucci wished to interpret that his remarks were exclusively for Five Mile Woods Road, do so but do not characterize Mr. Federman as misleading the people.
Mr. Vespucci’s next concern was the cost of said Park?
Supervisor Izzo responded by saying we do not know, again as he stated earlier the basis of the meeting was just informational .We are up front with everyone about the cost. We are not sure until we decide whether or if it is going to be there or how it is going to be laid out.
We understand that the residents do not like that they would like to keep this a rural area. We don’t know if this will go or not.
Mr. Vespucci asked if the local homeowners wells go dry will the Town be accountable for them?
The Supervisor responded by saying Mr. Vespucci was asking a question that is based on supposition .
Mr. Vespucci asked if they the local landowners could go on the property to do their own soil, water and core samples?
Supervisor Izzo responded that this would be up the Town Board for approval, you are more than welcome to come over and watch. The Board cannot answer the question about traffic, and the monetary limit on the cost of the park.
Mr. Vespucci commented that most people from New York City, like Mrs. Signoretti, who was from Brooklyn, was the one who said that in Brooklyn ,they build on dump sites all the time. Personally he did not care what they do in Brooklyn. This Town has grown in the last ten years .Mr. Vespucci claims that by building a park that people will not flock here because of a park.
The Supervisor responded to Mr. Vespucci that if a park is built there or anywhere in the Town of Catskill, that will in fact enhance the quality of life that all of us in the Town of Catskill will have. That will keep & bring jobs here , people like to go where they have recreational facilities . This also may keep some of our young children who graduate school to come back, because it is conducive to raising a family in a community that has recreational areas. That may keep your sons & daughters here to take care of us when we are old. It does not matter where the Park is that will be conducive for a good community.
Mr. Vespucci questioned the fact that St. Patrick’s is for sale, and what about purchasing that parcel?
Supervisor Izzo replied that St. Patrick’s is in a residential zoned area only, the school is there because it was granted a zone variance by the zoning board. When the school leaves or closes, unless another school goes there, it will lose its zoning exemption and revert back to residential R-1. The only individuals that can build on that land for a possible recreation facility would be the Village of Catskill.
The land on Five Mile Woods Road is committed to be used for recreation and forestry, and the Town of Catskill is exempt from its own zoning laws and since the Town of Catskill owns the property there are no issues with zoning. All municipalities are exempt from their own zoning laws.
Mr. Vespucci replied by saying the Town Should give the money back to the state and that the Town keep the land and continue to use this as a brush dump only.
In response to Mr.Schmatz’s question regarding the deed restrictions and issues about recreation and logging the Town Attorney has not sent a formal letter as of yet. The Attorney wanted to take a second look at the deed before that the Town got, to make sure that there were no covenants on that deed as per Supervisor Izzo. Supervisor Izzo also stated that Councilman Leggio asked Mr. Sterthous who we also use as a Town Attorney, and his take on this is that they did look at the quit claim from the state and they did research the issue of self executing version in the event that the property was not used for recreation or reforestation. There is no language in the deed that says it automatically goes back to the state. On the issue of a special Vote Referendum we
have not statutory authority on this issue (the Supervisor then quoted a section of law).
Nick Vespucci presented the Board with a Petition signed by students at the Catskill High School.
Local resident and former teacher Kathy Leggerio stated when she first heard about the park that it would be nice to be put in the Village, but there are other residents of the Town that live in Kiskatom, Leeds, Palenville and Cementon too. No matter where you put this park somebody will have to drive and this parcel is centrally located in the Town for all the Towns people to enjoy.
Ward Osborn raised the question about well pollution?
Supervisor Izzo stated that as long as the parcel is not disturbed the parcel it is usable as per DEC. They did not do any well testing, the Department of Health has not made to the Town aware of any about complaints or problems. The Supervisor the told the audience that we are not going to, build on a site that put s our children and our citizens in jeopardy.
Steve Kirk, spoke to the grant administration office and because the grant was reduced from what was requested they have given us the opportunity to revise the budget. The original application does say that this will include field, walking trails and an amphitheater . We have to stay within the guidelines so, we can possibly cut out the amphitheater. They want us to come back and tell them what we are going to do. If we go back to the State and tell them we want to use all the grant money for an environmental study that would not be consistent with what we asked for in the original grant..
Councilman O’Connor questioned Mr. Kirk if it was possible to get the grant broken up to us on different portions of the Town or possibly on a different location?
Steve Kirk replied to him that it might be possible, but when you go back to the State is they would re-grade the application. The State receives many more application then they have funding to award ,they give each application a points and the Town scored high enough to secure funding for the application . If we go back to the State we might have to revise the application and to have this re- rated for a few smaller parks, to see if we qualify for funding. The State might not refund this grant because it would not have the same impact as a single park. Mr. Kirk is not really sure what the State would do under these circumstances.
Mr. Vespucci stated what if we gave the money back to the State.
The Supervisor then told Mr. Vespucci, to return the funding this might possibly jeopardize any possible future grants that might become available in the future.
Gary Kistinger then stated that he thought another site would be a possible better option.
He also stated that the zoning laws are about 20 years old and are obsolete and need to be updated . I would like to encourage the Board to update these regulations.
Supervisor Izzo replied that the Board will look into this issue.
Councilman Leggio responded the questions and concerns that some of the people had about the proposed park and that it appears that, suddenly ,that there are all these concerns about the site. But there has not been any thing reported to the Town since the landfill closed or when it was there until now.
Kathy Leggerio asked the Board if there were any parcels of land that is equal or similar in size to put a park in the Town?
Supervisor Izzo replied that is the Margraff property on Route 23 that was deeded to the Town , but the State will not give the Town access to this parcel because the State is concerned about accidents. The Town is very lucky that people are very generous in deeding property to the Town, but, then there is always someone or something that happens where we can’t proceed. To purchase lands would be subject to a referendum.
Supervisor Izzo made a statement saying that the immediate need is that we need to spend money on a park for the children of our community, this will enhance the quality of life for the people of the Town of Catskill.
The motion to adjourn was made by Councilman Leggio and seconded by Councilman O’Connor.
The Meeting ended at 8:45 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Kim Leggio
Deputy Town Clerk
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