Catskill Town Board Committee Meeting
Catskill Town Hall
January 17, 2007 6:30 pm
Attendance: Supervisor Joseph Izzo
Councilman, Joseph Leggio
Councilman, Robert Antonelli
Councilman, Joseph Hanusik
Councilman, Lewis O’Connor
Code Enforcement, Linda Speckman
Deputy Town Clerk, Kim Leggio
Supervisor Izzo opened the meeting with a moment of silent prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.
Supervisor Izzo announces that there are a few Resolutions to be passed:
RESOLUTION #7-2007 SENIOR CITIZEN & LOW INCOME DISABILITY TAX
EXEMPTION
Councilman Antonelli presented the following for consideration and adoption,
WHEREAS, the Catskill Town Board will hold a public hearing on February 6, 2007 at 6:00 pm, to hear public comment on increasing on increasing of the Town of Catskill’s Senior Citizen & Low Income Disabled Tax Exemption.
Councilman O‘Connor and Councilman Leggio seconded the resolution.
Ayes 5, Nays 0, Absent 0 , Motion Carried
RESOLUTION #8-2007 CATSKILL COMMUNITY
CENTER
Councilman Leggio, presented the following for consideration and adoption,
WHEREAS, the Catskill Community Center offers activities of benefit to youth of the Village and Town of Catskill, and
WHEREAS, the Catskill Community Center has requested funding from the Town of Catskill in the amount of $100,000 for the year 2007, and
WHEREAS, the Town Board wishes to fund this request within the contractual agreement between the Catskill Community Center and the Town of Catskill for youth services, so
THEREFORE WE, the Catskill Town Board hereby approves the Catskill Community Center’s request for $100,000 subject to a contractual agreement for youth services within the Town of Catskill.
Councilman O‘Connor and Councilman Antonelli and Councilman Hanusik, seconded this motion.
Ayes 5, Nays 0, Absent 0, Motion Carried
RESOLUTION #9-2007 AGREEMENT PUBLIC SECTOR
HR CONSULTANTS, LLC
Councilman Antonelli, presented the following for consideration and adoption,
WHEREAS, the Town of Catskill wishes to enter into a retainer agreement for Professional Human Resource Management Services with the Public Sector Consultants, so
THEREFORE WE, the Catskill Town Board hereby approve this retainer agreement for the period January 1, 2007 through December 31, 2007 at a yearly cost of $24,000 or $2000 per month for services outlined in the proposed agreement.
Councilman O‘ Connor, seconded this motion.
Ayes 5, Nays 0, Absent 0, Motion Carried
Supervisor Izzo announces that there are copies of the following Minutes:
1. Organizational Meeting for 2007
2. Monthly Town Board Meeting of January 2, 2007
3. Special Meeting to ratify the Ambulance Contract on January 10, 2007.
Supervisor Izzo reviewed the correspondence.
Letter from the Association of Towns regarding the 2007 Training School and Annual Meeting to be held at the Hilton New York Towers, in New York City, February 18-21, 2007.
Letter from Senator James L. Seward regarding to the upcoming legislative session.
Letter from the Village of Catskill regarding a meeting January 24, 2007 at 7:00pm with regards to West Bridge Street Revitalization to be held at the Washington Irving Senior Center.
A E-Mail from Vincent Seeley, regarding a Pancake Breakfast Sunday January 21, 2007 at the High School Cafeteria, there will be a presentation and a tour of the improvements, it starts at 9:00 a.m. until 12.00 p.m.
Letter from Senator James L. Seward regarding a Special Bulletin on Tax Relief , items in the letter: 2006 Empire State Child Credit, Elimination of state sales tax on clothing & shoes, Elimination of “Marriage Penalty” and State gas tax cut.
Letter from Christopher Miller with regards to the Catskill Little League requesting assistance and possible line item funding for improvements and repairs.
Letter from Lou Yost of the United States Board on Geographic Names, regarding a request to apply a new name “Schoener Island to an unnamed island in the Hudson River.
A copy of this letter was faxed to Doug Brewer at County, Supervisor Salvino in Athens and also to Mayor Riley.
Letter from Greene County Planning & Economic Development, Director Warren Hart, regarding a Greene County Planning Board Meeting Notice, January 17, 2007 at 7:00pm.
Letter from Gary Kistinger supporting the Comprehensive Plan for Catskill & Greene County.
Supervisor Izzo stated that he gave the board a copy of the resume for the applicant for the Greene County Planning Board, and the board could act on this at the February Meeting.
Supervisor Izzo announces the process to pass sub-division regulations. A Resolution to pass the Short SEQR Environmental Assessment Form.
RESOLUTION #10-2007 APPROVE SEQRA SHORT
ENVIRONMENTAL
ASSESSMENT FORM FOR
LOCAL LAW 1-2007
Councilman Antonelli presented the following for consideration and adoption,
WHEREAS, the Catskill Town Board is in the process of enacting Local Law #1-2007, Subdivision Regulations, and
WHEREAS, this Local Law requires a SEQRA Short Environmental Assessment Form for unlisted actions only, and
WHEREAS, this form was completed by the Town Board and read at the Town Board Meeting, so
THEREFORE WE, the Catskill Town Board accept the SEQRA Short Environmental Assessment Form.
Councilman Leggio & Hanusik, seconded this motion.
Ayes 5, Nays 0, Absent 0, Motion Carried
Supervisor Izzo states that we need to adopt a Negative Declaration for the Proposed Adoption of the Subdivision Regulations, but first we have to have a Resolution to Declare a lead Agency Status for this Local Law.
RESOLUTION #11-2007 DECLARE LEAD AGENCY
STATUS FOR LOCAL LAW
#1-2007
Councilman Antonelli presented the following for consideration and adoption,
WHEREAS, the Catskill Town Board is required to prepare a SEQR review for Local Law #1-2007, and
WHEREAS, this SEQR review must have a Lead Agency, so
THEREFORE WE, the Catskill Town Board intend to act as Lead Agent for this Local Law, and as such, will prepare and circulate to all Involved Agencies, the Short Environmental Assessment Form for Unlisted Actions.
Councilman Leggio, seconded this motion.
Ayes 5, Nays 0, Absent 0, Motion Carried
Supervisor Izzo stated we now can voted on the Resolution for the Negative Declaration for the Proposed Adoption for the Town of Catskill Subdivision Regulations.
RESOLUTION #12-2007 NEGATIVE DECLARATION FOR
PROPOSED ADOPTION
OF THE TOWN OF
CATSKILL SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS WILL HAVE NO SIGNIFICANT
IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT
Councilman Antonelli presented the following for consideration and adoption,
WHEREAS, the Town Board of the Town of Catskill is considering the adoption of a Local Law, numerated #1-2007 and entitled “Town of Catskill Subdivision Regulations”; and
WHEREAS, upon review of the proposed Subdivision Regulations, the Town Board determined that the Project is subject to the State Environmental Quality Review Act (ECL, Article 8) and its implementing regulations (6 NYCRR Part 617) (collectively, “SEQRA”), and classified the Project as an Unlisted Action; and
WHEREAS, on December 20, 2006, the Town Board held a public hearing on the proposed Subdivision Regulations on notice, where the public had an opportunity to comment on the proposed Subdivision Regulations; and
WHEREAS, the Town Board completed the Short Environmental Assessment Form dated January 17, 2007; and
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that for the reasons set forth in the attached Statement and Findings dated January 17, 2007, the Town Board hereby finds and determines that adoption of the proposed Subdivision Regulations will not have a significant adverse environmental impact within the meaning of SEQRA; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby directs that this resolution, together with the Findings Statement dated January 17, 2007, shall be on file in the office of the Town Board of the Town of Catskill, and with the contact person listed in the Findings Statement.
Councilman O‘Connor, seconded this motion.
Ayes 5, Nays 0, Absent 0, Motion Carried
Roll Call Vote:
Councilman Leggio, Yes
Councilman Antonelli, Yes
Councilman Hanusik, Yes
Supervisor Izzo, Yes
Councilman O’Connor Yes
RESOLUTION ADOPTED January 17, 2007.
I, Karen Sprague Johnson, Town Clerk for the Town of Catskill, DO HEREBY CERTIFY, that I have compared this copy of Resolution 13-2007 adopted January 17, 2007, with the original record in this office and that the same is a correct transcript thereof and of the whole of said original record.
_____________________________
Karen Sprague Johnson
Catskill Town Clerk
A Letter from Michael G. Sterthous, of Whiteman Osterman & Hanna, regarding comments received at the December 20 public hearing on the new subdivision law.
This now on the record, as per Supervisor Izzo. The only comments made were by Mr. Larry Federman, a member of the Town’s comprehensive plan committee, the first comment pertained to section 140-20(B)& (D) where it was suggested that language be added tying the requirement for conservation subdivisions to all of the recommendations listed in the Comprehensive Plan. Mr. Sterthous advised against this at this time because the Comprehensive Plan is not yet completed.
The second comment suggested a change in the definition of “wetlands” as defined in section 140-10 and as utilized in section 140-14(B0(23). Mr. Sterhous advised against this amendment at this time because the Town has exercised no jurisdiction over wetlands
outside of existing State & Federal jurisdiction and SEQRA.
Next Supervisor Izzo states we have Local Law#1-2007 regarding the Adoption of the Town of Catskill Subdivision Regulations.
RESOLUTION #13-2007 APPROVE ADOPTION OF LOCAL LAW #1-2007,
TOWN OF CATSKILL SUBDIVISION
REGULATIONS
Councilman Hanusik & Leggio presented the following for consideration and adoption,
WHEREAS, the Town Board of the Town of Catskill is considering the adoption of Local Law #1-2007, entitled “Town of Catskill Subdivision Regulations”; and
WHEREAS, the Town Board determined that the Project is subject to the State Environmental Quality Review Act (ECL, Article 8) and its implementing regulations (6 NYCRR Part 617, collectively, “SEQRA”), and that the Project constitutes an Unlisted Action under SEQRA; and
WHEREAS, the Town Board, as lead agency and in accordance with SEQRA, adopted a determination that the Project will not have a significant adverse impact on the environment for the reasons set forth in the negative declaration adopted on January 17, 2007; and
WHEREAS, on December 20, 2006, the Town Board held a public hearing on the proposed Subdivision Regulations on notice, where the public had an opportunity to comment on the proposed Subdivision Regulations; and
WHEREAS, the Town Board finds the proposed Subdivision Regulations to be in furtherance of the public health, safety, and welfare of the Town, and in accordance with the Town of Catskill Comprehensive Plan (currently in draft form) and Zoning Law; and
THEREFORE WE, pursuant to the Municipal Home Rule Law, be it enacted by the Town Board of the Town of Catskill, as follows:
Section One. The Code of the Town of Catskill shall be amended so that Local Law #1-2007, “Town of Catskill Subdivision Regulations” shall be incorporated as Chapter 140;
Section Two. The Town of Catskill Town Clerk is hereby directed to cause this local law to be filed with the New York State Secretary of State and in the offices of the Town Board; and
Section Three. This Local Law shall take effect upon filing with the Secretary of State as provided by statute.
Councilman O‘Connor, seconded this motion.
Ayes 5, Nays 0, Absent 0, Motion Carried
This will now will be sent to the Department of State and also to The Greene County Planning Board as per Supervisor Izzo.
Supervisor Izzo states that we have finished the process for Purchase of the building for the Ambulance Center the last thing was the survey , and hopefully everything is in place so we can move forward .
The Town did adopt the union contract for the Ambulance Service , Supervisor Izzo thanked everyone involved for pulling this together.
Councilman Leggio asks about the ad in the newspaper for EMT, Mr. Leibowitz responded that they are going to place the ad, they waited until the contract was signed.
Councilman Leggio also stated that from now on that any department head who wishes to hire someone that they should contact three Board Members, before they do so to get approval first. The Board makes the decision, that is the Boards function. Councilman O’Connor agreed. Councilman Leggio also suggests that we meet with department heads once a month so we know what is going on. Supervisor Izzo agrees .
Councilman Leggio also states that we have proposal from Story’s Nursery for trees at the cemetery and that we should get a second quote so we could do this before spring so that planting could commence in the spring. Councilman Antonelli also stated that besides the trees we should also put up a fence . Supervisor Izzo stated that we do have a proposal for a fence.
Councilman Leggio also regarding the Babe Ruth Field we need to post signs against Dumping, and fine will be imposed. Supervisor Izzo suggests that the Town Highway Department could make the signs.
Councilman Leggio would like the attorney to review and look over Remodeling & Improvements that homeowners make to possibly to pro-rate on the tax rolls. Supervisor Izzo suggests that we look at the website Office of Real Property Services Tax Services,
there are about 40 different forms that other towns have passed that have a list of items
we could possibly use. After that we could call Mike Sterthous to see what we could do regarding this.
Councilman Leggio also states that there is a property in Palenville, that is tax exempt
and is concerned that all the proper procedures were made for that exemption, possibly a church or religious group. Councilman O’Connor is also concerned about this regarding issue and tax exception. Supervisor Izzo states that we will look into this.
Also Councilman Leggio states that we have to contact Clough Harbor to set up a meeting, regarding the Park and the Grant, also Steve Kirk of DBS Planning.
Supervisor Izzo states that a date in February (not sure of the date) there is a Martin Luther King affair that will recognize individuals in the community for their participation on the ideals of Martin Luther King. Supervisor Izzo has ticket if anyone is interested. The Board may also sponsor someone, Supervisor Izzo states he someone in mind but would like to speak to the Board first. This will be at the High School.
Linda Speckman, the Code Enforcement Officer, states that in regards to Mr. Isrealian, is concerned about the drainage behind his house on Beck’s Road, and had a complaint about the septic system next door. Linda has contacted the Board of Health and they are sending someone down to meet with her to go to Mr. Saunders property to a dye test and also check Mr. Saunders well for contamination from runoff.
Linda also stated that she tested the apartment house on Poney Lane for sewer smell , and she did not get any dye coming through two times and she also tested the property to the right of the lot where the collection of water is and no dye came through. The only other parcel is to the left and she will set that up for a test. Bob Pierce from the Department of Health told her that unless there is a real problem with the leach field you may never see the dye.
Linda Speckman also brought up about passing a law about requiring Carbon Monoxide Detectors for all rental units within the Town, Supervisor Izzo stated he will speak to Mr. Michael Sterthous about this.
Zane Cheek asked the Board if it was possible to pass a ordinance against burning plastic & synthetics, because of the health hazards that can occur. Supervisor Izzo states that there is a possible state law. Linda Speckman states that if it is a nuisance, and we receive a complaint then we go speak with the property owners. Mr. Cheek stated that he has researched the DEC Regulations and would be willing to e-mail them to anyone. Supervisor Izzo assures Mr. Cheek that this will be looked into.
Mr. Cheek also would like the town to ask the State to maintain the property on 32-A & Woodstock Ave.,as there is always garbage, and it is an eyesore. Supervisor Izzo states he will send a letter to Mr. Winans who is the regional engineer, and ask him to make sure it is cleaned up.
Mr. Cheek asked about the Lighting District, Supervisor Izzo states that this is set up by boundaries, and that we have only approved one person to be included in the lighting district Palenville. We did have few people who wanted to look into it but they never pursed it. If it is outside the district, the maps would have to re drawn and have a public hearing and then decide weather or not they want to be part of the Lighting District. Also assuming that Central Hudson looks at that and says it is possible.
Supervisor Izzo suggests that we should probably re survey the lighting district and then get a list from the Assessor and match the name to the map on the lighting district. Councilman Leggio suggests that Clough Harbor could possibly do an overlay.
The process is that the Town sends a letter to Central Hudson and they in return tell the Town how much it is going to cost the Town to put that individual in the Lighting District, if it is a lot of money they do not join.
Also a question came up about drainage on 23-A & 32-A Supervisor Izzo stated he will have someone look into this. Mr. Hanusik, who is Chairman of the Highway Department will speak to Mr. Beers
Motion to adjourn was made by Councilman Antonelli and seconded by Councilman Hanusik.
Meeting ended at 7:30p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Kim Leggio
Deputy Town Clerk
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