Minutes of the Annual Audit of Officers and Employees held Tuesday, January 15, 2008, at 5:00 PM, at the Keene Town Hall. The following Town Board Members were present: William B. Ferebee, Supervisor, Paul R. Martin, Robert M. Biesemeyer, Marcy A. Neville and Lawrence Jaques, Members of Council. Also present were: Kent Wells and Connie Hickey, Town Justices and Ellen Estes, Town Clerk.

The Chairman, Mr. Ferebee, called the Annual Audit to order at 5:00 PM.

The Town Board audited the records of Connie Hickey, Town Justice on her computer, followed by Kent Well’s records in hardcopy. They then performed their audit on Ellen Estes’ Town Clerk records.

Resolution No. 62 – 08
Mr. Martin offered a resolution and moved its adoption. Be it resolved, that the 3 aforesaid audits performed by the Town Board be accepted as performed. This resolution was seconded by Mr. Ferebee.
Roll Call Vote:
Mr. Ferebee: Yes
Mr. Martin: Yes
Mr. Biesemeyer: Yes
Ms. Neville: Yes
Mr. Jaques: Yes

Resolution No. 63 – 08
Mr. Biesemeyer offered a resolution and moved its adoption. Be it resolved, that the Town Board accept the Receipts and Disbursement Reports submitted by Connie Hickey and Kent Wells, Town Justices, Donna Reed Austin, Tax Collector and Ellen Estes, Town Clerk, these reports will be placed on file with the Town Clerk. This resolution was seconded by Ms. Neville.
Roll Call Vote:
Mr. Ferebee: Yes
Mr. Martin: Yes
Mr. Biesemeyer: Yes
Ms. Neville: Yes
Mr. Jaques: Yes

Mr. Ferebee said that Paula McDonough would present the Supervisor’s books for audit at the January Bi-Monthly Meeting.

Resolution No. 64 – 08
Mr. Ferebee offered a resolution and moved its adoption. Be it resolved, that the Town Board give authorization for the Town to purchase a $150.00 KCS yearbook ad. This resolution was seconded by Ms. Neville.
Roll Call Vote:
Mr. Ferebee: Yes
Mr. Martin: Yes
Mr. Biesemeyer: Yes
Ms. Neville: Yes
Mr. Jaques: Yes

It was suggested that the ad be split between a Town ad and a Bicentennial ad.

Next was a discussion regarding the salt contamination to Water District #1.
Mr. Martin initiated the discussion saying that he felt the Town should pursue forcing the State to acknowledge their responsibility.
Mr. Ferebee suggests drafting a letter explaining the time line.
Ms. Neville agreed it may be good to document this occurrence.
Mr. Biesemeyer felt the Town had “missed the boat” when they did not challenge Brad Caswell’s reasoning that it was the Town’s salt storage that had caused this contamination.
Mr. Jaques and Mr. Biesemeyer agreed that neither wanted to spend any money trying to prove this was the State’s fault.
Mr. Martin and Ms. Neville both felt a letter should be drafted and sent to Senator Betty Little.
Mr. Biesemeyer suggested that the Town may want to form a team, with organizations like the Au Sable River Association, to form a lobbying voice large enough to be listened to.
Mr. Martin said that sodium chloride was going to be tested each month when the water samples from both districts are taken for testing.
Mr. Wells, a former State DOT employee, said years ago there was a huge hole at the State shed that salt was dumped into and that rain could have leached it into the ground.
Mr. Martin said that would have been the cause for the well that Jane Owen had at the Garden Center to be too high in sodium for use.
Ms. Neville again said she would like to see the facts documented in a letter to be sent to the AuSable River Association, Senator Little, etc.

Resolution No. 65 – 08
Mr. Martin offered a resolution and moved its adoption. Be it resolved, that all business having been transacted, this meeting be adjourned. This resolution was seconded by Mr. Jaques.
Roll Call Vote:
Mr. Ferebee: Yes
Mr. Martin: Yes
Mr. Biesemeyer: Yes
Ms. Neville: Yes
Mr. Jaques: Yes

The meeting was adjourned at 5:25 PM.

Ellen S. Estes, Town Clerk
January 18, 2008

William B. Ferebee, Supervisor
Paul R. Martin, Councilperson
Robert M. Biesemeyer, Councilperson
Marcy A. Neville, Councilperson
Lawrence Jaques, Councilperson