Monthly Town Board Meeting
Catskill Town Hall
April 4th, 2006 7:00 P.M.
Attending: Supervisor, Joseph Izzo
Councilman, Joseph Hanusik
Councilman, Robert Antonelli
Councilman, Lewis O’Connor
Town Clerk Karen Sprague Johnson
Absent: Councilman, Joseph Leggio
Supervisor Izzo, opened the meeting with a moment of silent prayer, and the Pledge of Allegiance. The Supervisor thanked everyone for attending tonight’s meeting.
MINUTES TO BE ACCEPTED:
03/07/2006 Monthly Town Board Meeting
Motion Councilman Antonelli
Second Councilman Hanusik
Ayes 4, Nays 0, Absent 1,(Leggio) Motion Carried
03/15/2006 Public Hearing #2-2006 (Governor’s Office for Small Cities - Guidelines, Regulation &
Requirements and how it will proceed)
Motion Councilman Antonelli
Second Councilman Hanusik Ayes 4, Nays 0, Absent 1,(Leggio) Motion Carried
03/15/2006 Public Hearing #3-2006 (Governor’s Office for
Small Cities - Towns application, including specific application components and
requirements, budget estimates and implementation procedures.
Motion Councilman Antonelli
Second Councilman Hanusik
Ayes 4, Nays 0, Absent 1,(Leggio) Motion Carried
03/15/2006 Monthly Town Board Committee Meeting
Motion Councilman Antonelli
Second Councilman Hanusik
Ayes 4, Nays 0, Absent1,(Leggio) Motion Carried
RESOLUTIONS:
This resolution is to amend the handbook to exclude from the medical insurance buy out those individuals who are elected officials.
Resolution # 27-2006 Medical Insurance Buy-Out
Councilman R. Antonelli, presented the following for consideration and adoption,
WHEREAS, the Catskill Town Board wishes to amend the Town of Catskill Employee Handbook Section 807 Medical Insurance Buy-Out (Attached) to sections: eligibility, Amount of Buy-out, Method of Payment and Union Employees, so
THEREFORE WE, The Catskill Town Board hereby approves the attached policy change to the Town of Catskill Employee hand book and amend Section 807, Medical Insurance Buy -Out.
Councilman J. Hanusik, seconded this motion.
Ayes 3, Nays 1, (O’Connor) Absent 1, (Leggio) Motion Carried
Resolution # 28-2006 Family & Medical Leave Policy
Councilman R. Antonelli, presented the following for consideration and adoption,
WHEREAS, the Catskill Town Board wishes to amend the Town of Catskill Employee Handbook to add a Family and Medical Leave Policy (attached) since the Town of Catskill has reached the threshold of having fifty or more employees which requires the Town of Catskill to have a Family and Medical Leave Policy, so
THEREFORE WE, the Catskill Town Board hereby approve the attached policy change to the Town of Catskill Employee Handbook and amend Section 606, Family and Medical Leave Policy.
Councilman J. Hanusik, seconded this motion.
Ayes 4, Nays 0, Absent 1, (Leggio) Motion Carried
This complies with the Federal Law, which requires this policy if there are more than 50 employees.
Resolution #29-2006 Additional Thruway Interchange for Catskill
Councilman R. Antonelli, presented the following for consideration and adoption,
WHEREAS, the Catskill Town Board has received a petition from interested business and community leaders as well as interested citizen’s of the Village and Town of Catskill to have a second Catskill Thruway interchange constructed at the original proposed Thruway interchange, and
WHEREAS, the Town board fully supports and recommends that the New York State Thruway Authority seriously consider building a second Thruway Exit at Catskill, so
THEREFORE WE, the Catskill Town Board hereby approves of the petitioner’s
request and forwards a copy of this resolution and petition to the Chairman of the New York State Thruway Authority, to Senator James Seward, and Assemblyman Dan Hooker.
Councilman J. Hanusik, seconded this motion.
Ayes 4, Nays 0, Absent 1, (Leggio) Motion Carried.
Resolution #30-2006 Renovation Bids for Second Floor.
Councilman R. Antonelli, presented the following for consideration and adoption,
WHEREAS, the Catskill Town Board has received town bids to renovate the second floor of the town building, one for $47,400 from One Way Construction Services Inc., and one for $59,110 from Mid-State Industries, LTD, and
WHEREAS, the Town Board after reviewing both bids have decided not to accept either bid, so
THEREFORE WE, the Catskill Town Board hereby reject both bids for the renovation of the second floor of the town building.
Councilman Hanusik, seconded this motion.
Ayes 4, Nays 0, Absent 0, (Leggio) Motion Carried.
Councilman O’Connor asked if it will go out to bid again. Supervisor Izzo explains that it will be done in house.
COUNTY RESOLUTIONS :
Resolution # 123-06 Approving Reimbursement to Community Colleges
(Fall ‘05, Intersession ‘06, Winter ‘06, Spring ‘06)
(Town of Catskill Share .....$ 7,078.04)
CORRESPONDENCE:
Received copy of the 2006 Legislative Program from the Business Session of the Association of Towns, that took place in NY City, on February 22nd, 2006.
E-Mail from Lee Anne Morgan, in regard to the on going traffic and noise problem for the residents of Fyke Rd.
Information of a grant program that will give consideration to projects that enhance the legacy of the Lake Champlain and Hudson River water corridors in commemoration of the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial Celebration to be held in the year 2009 .
Hudson River Valley Greenway, will be having a Board Meeting on Wednesday, March 29th, 2006, in the Blue Room, 2nd Floor, NY State Capitol Building, Room 250, Albany.
The Town has received a petition from concerned business’s and residents of the Town of Catskill, about passing a Resolution in support to the NY State Thruway Authority, in regard to an additional Thruway Interchange in the Town of Catskill, on the west side of Town. This will be sent on to the Chairman of the NYS Thruway Authority, Senator Seward and Assemblyman Hooker.
Letter from William H. Ball, Assistant Principal of Catskill High School, in regard to a Meeting in the High School Auditorium on April 11th, 2006, from 6 to 8 PM, on Internet Safety for our children. Investigator Daniel Bien of the NYS Police will discuss issues related to Internet Safety and abuse, and will answer your questions.
2006 Season Launch Party for the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, on Saturday, April 8th, 2006 from 3 to 5 PM, at the Hudson River Maritime Museum in Kingston, NY.
2005 Annual Report & Form 10-K, from the Central Hudson Energy Group, Inc.
Copy of the election bulletin, for the upcoming 2006-2007 year, this is for review only. The actual election ballot will be sent in the near future, and only members of the Ulster-Greene ARC can vote on the proposed slate of officers.
Letter from Time Warner Cable regarding a cable channel change, the addition of SportsNet NY, will be channel 70.
Email correspondence from Supervisor Izzo, to Greene Healthcare Associates, regarding zoning change for property in Jefferson Hgts.
Another Email from Supervisor Izzo, in response to a letter from Burke & Casserly, P.C., Attys. at Law, regarding Roads in a proposed sub-division in Palenville, Rte 32A.
Letter from Legal Aid Society of NENY, to task force members for the Columbia-Greene Domestic Violence Task Force, discussing highlights of last meeting and the setting of the Agenda for the next meeting , to be held on Thursday, April 06, 2006, at 428 West Main St., Catskill, NY
Correspondence from the Town of Catskill, to Mr. Alvin Brown, regarding a possible donation toward the restoration of the Little Red Schoolhouse, which is listed in the State and Federal Registers of Historic Places. Supervisor Izzo, said that he has received a check for $1250, from Mr. Brown for that expressed purpose of restoration for the Little Red School House.
Facsimile Transmittal from June Faulkner Battisti, Old Kings Rd., putting the Town of Catskill on notice regarding the Explosives and Blasting on Old Kings Rd., in a residential area.
Correspondence from NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation about a Permit issued for Clearing a Walking Path, on the property of Albert Van Aken, 4818 Route 32, with special conditions included, particularly Special Condition 19, expressly prohibiting the use of fill in the wetland. Permit expires 03/21/2007.
Invitation to Supervisor Izzo, from Greene County Dept. of Emergency Services, to attend a Public Official’s Conference to be held on Tuesday, April 25, 2006, in the multi-purpose room of the Emergency Operations & Training Center, 25 Volunteer Drive, Cairo, N. Y., from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00p.m. RSVP by April 10th.
Gr. Co. Volunteer Firemen’s Assc., will be holding their 118th Annual convention in conjunction with the Ladies Auxiliary 77th, annual Convention. The committees are trying to contain costs as much as possible for these events, so are asking for some financial support in order to pay tribute to those individuals past, present and future who volunteer their time and skills to protect the citizens of our community.
Capital Insights for March 2006, was received from Senator James Seward.
The Bank of Greene County Charitable Foundation’s Board of Directors, has reviewed the Towns request for funding for the Town/Village Comprehensive Plan, but due to the large number of requests this year, they are unable to meet any more funding requests at this time.
The Legal Aid Society of Northeastern NY mission is to provide advocacy in civil legal matters for low-income people. The following flyers will be posted for the residents in Columbia and Greene County.
REPORTS:
Town of Catskill Highway Report for the month of March 2006.
Town of Catskill Cemetery Report for the month of March 2006.
Town of Catskill Code Enforcement Report for the month of March 2006.
Town of Catskill Ambulance Report for the month of March 2006.
* Copies of all reports are available at the Town Clerk’s office upon request.
Supervisor Izzo introduced Mr. Joe Wildermuth from Peckham Industries who would like to address the board. Mr. Wildermuth understands there has been controversy regarding Fyke Road and would like to clarify the situation with the board. Peckham’s main operations were at one time on Fyke Road and have since moved their main operations to the 9-W where they anticipate to be for another twenty years. The Fyke Road operation is still used from time to time. It is a permitted resource to Peckhams. They would still like to keep the permit on the Fyke Road property. To do so, they need to keep the existing zoning and land use permits in effect. This past fall, several residents have complained. Mr. Wildermuth offered to allow the Slutzky’s Construction Company to
store barriers on Peckham’s property on Fyke Road which meant tractor trailers were traveling the road to drop off the barriers. In addition, Cranesville and other companies were making several deliveries causing more traffic than usual on the road. In November, the Wal-Mart project began. The contractor was looking for a site for fill. The reason Peckham’s offered the property for the contractor to take materials was that they wanted to stay in conformance with land use and zoning regulations. There was nothing Peckham could do to avoid the traffic. He has personally spoken to the contractor and truckers and explained there was to be absolutely no jake or engine brakes on the road and no speeding.
Another suggestion was to bring a new road in from Olympus Palace Road. Unfortunately there are areas where the terrain rises 50-350 feet. In addition, it bisects their core and there is a company in there that stores explosives. Currently, the activity from the Wal-Mart project has significantly slowed down. There will be one more blast on April 5, 2006 because the holes were already pre-drilled. He does not expect much more activity. There will be a project on the Thruway in July and August.
Supervisor Izzo asks if anyone has any questions. He explains that they did have a meeting with the residents of Fyke Road. The Town has requested that the speed limit be changed to 30mph. The request was sent to the Greene County Highway Superintendent which needs NYS DOT approval. There have been a number of letters regarding the noise and traffic on the road. The board has been advised that the residents of Fyke Rd. have contacted legal counsel. Attorney Wagman has been informed and has been in contact with these residents. Supervisor Izzo thanked Mr. Wildermuth for his update.
Supervisor Izzo then addresses Mr. Lewis who would like to speak to the board. He has a question about the operation of the cemetery. His main concern is that they placed floral arrangements on top of stones and he would like to know why they have to be removed. Supervisor Izzo explains the regulations were put into place to maintain the integrity of the cemetery. Prior to this, he has not had any complaints about the removal of floral arrangements. In reading the cemetery regulations, it does indicate time periods when decorations be placed on the graves. Supervisor Izzo will discuss the situation with Mr. Wooten. Mr. Lewis says the Town spends money to place flags in the cemetery for the Veteran’s . He would like to know why they are taken off and disposed of. Supervisor Izzo explains that he annually visits the cemetery and replaces the old flags just before Memorial Day from the prior year with new ones. It is his understanding that the flags in the village cemetery on
Thompson Street are removed after a certain period of time. Mr. Lewis explains that by Veteran’s Day all the flags are gone. Supervisor Izzo says he will check to ensure that they are not removed, unless someone is taking them. Supervisor Izzo thanks Mr. Lewis.
Supervisor Izzo then introduces Mr. Kistinger who would like to present a letter to the board regarding re-assessment. He believes that re-assessments will cause taxes to go up and details his reasoning in the letter. Supervisor Izzo read the letter.
Amy Sullo would like to speak to the board. She is upset with the cost to remove the water pit and put it back in and problems she has had with the water meter. Supervisor Izzo understands her situation, however, she needs to speak with the Village of Catskill. The Town has no responsibility over the meters or the water systems which are all maintained by the Village of Catskill. Councilman O’Connor explains that he can assist her, and to please call his office tomorrow.
Mr. Milone, a resident of the Town of Catskill, explains that the Greene County Legislature, on March 15, 2006 made a motion on Local Law #2-2006 pertaining to the Greene County Veteran’s Exemptions, section 458-A. Supervisor Izzo says that the Town does have a veteran’s tax exemption. Mr. Milone advises the board that the county has adopted increases to the exemption. Supervisor Izzo explains that the Town generally follows the county limits in regards to these exemptions. Supervisor Izzo states that he will check with the Assessor’s Office. Mr. Milone says he spoke with Carmine Pizza, of the Assessor’s Office and was told to attend a board meeting and discuss it with the board. Supervisor Izzo explains that it is the board’s
intention to pass it. The board was unaware that the county was raising the exemption. If the Town had known, they would have also raised the exemption. In response to Mr. Milone question, Supervisor Izzo informs him that the Town does not receive reports from the county. Supervisor Izzo will speak to the Assessor on how to proceed.
Tracey Ewing asks the Town Board if they have received any requests from the Community Center for funds. Supervisor Izzo says they have not. He would like to know if it was discussed at the last recreation meeting. Councilman Antonelli states it would cost $15,000 just to open the facility. The board would be asked for $7,500. If they sold the building, the town would be reimbursed. Councilman Antonelli does not feel it is fair to hold up the Senior Center with the $15,000 to open the Community Center for six months to have an office if they can sell the building. You still need to do something for the children in the community. In the past, there were people on the board who raised the money for the children; that doesn’t exist anymore. He doesn’t feel
the committee should hold up the community center if it can be sold. If it is sold, the money could be put in a fund and given to different organizations. Supervisor Izzo tells Ms. Ewing that the board must receive a request.
Supervisor Izzo mentions that the town has received the Heart of Catskill’s quarterly report from January through March 2006. The board has also received a list of the Music in the Park summer concert series which begins June 15, 2006 and ends August 31, 2006. There will be a variety of music involved. In the event of in climate weather, it will be held inside the venue at the point.
The Town had a timber contract to log timber of the Margraff property which was left to the Town for a park. The road built by the state went through the middle of the park. Therefore, there was no access to the area. As a result, the Town would like to log timber out of there. He spoke with Mike Greason and the state may not give permission to access the logging. Supervisor Izzo would like permission of the board to sign the agreement so if the state does give their permission, the Town can go through with the project.
Councilman Hanusik made a motion to sign the agreement,
Councilman Antonelli, seconded the motion
Ayes 4, Nays 0, Absent 0, (Leggio) Motion Carried.
Councilman Hanusik asks if they have heard anything from the cement plant pertaining to the lease. Supervisor Izzo says the lease is at Attorney Mike Sterthouse’s office for review now.
Councilman O’Connor believes the board should advertise to have all interested parties attend another meeting that focuses on where the rescue squad is going to be or different location alternatives, as he does not agree with others where it should go.
Dan Howard states that the Surveys forms for the Comprehensive Plan are at the Town and Village Offices. There are two meetings this month. The next step is to put the survey information together, hopefully by late summer or early fall.
With nothing else, Councilman Antonelli made a motion to adjourn.
Councilman Hanusik, seconded the motion.
Meeting adjourned at 7:55 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Karen Sprague Johnson
Town Clerk
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