Minutes of the regular Town Board Meeting held Tuesday, March 11, 2008, at 7:00 PM, at the Keene Town Hall. The following Town Board Members were present: Paul R. Martin, Marcy A. Neville and Lawrence Jaques, Members of Council. Absent: William B. Ferebee, Supervisor and Robert M. Biesemeyer, Councilperson. Also present were: 6 Residents, 1 Resident/Member of the Press, Matt Norfolk, Town Attorney Representative, Bruce Reed, Highway Superintendent and Ellen Estes, Town Clerk.

Mr. Martin, the Acting Chairman, called the meeting to order at 7:04 PM and invited everyone present to join in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Resolution No. 79 – 08
Mr. Jaques offered a resolution and moved its adoption. Be it resolved, that the Minutes from the Town Board Meeting held February 12, 2008, be accepted as permitted. This resolution was seconded by Ms. Neville.
Roll Call Vote:
Mr. Ferebee: Absent
Mr. Martin: Yes
Mr. Biesemeyer: Absent
Ms. Neville: Yes
Mr. Jaques: Yes

Privilege of the floor was offered.
Mr. Martin explained that Paul Nowicki had planned to be present, that he was interested in talking to the Board about a recycle building at the transfer station.
He said that one of the questions that has come up in the past is how long to keep things before their disposal.
Paul Nowicki arrived at this time saying he would like to do something helpful for the Town and asked what he could do to encourage awareness of this issue.
Mr. Martin explained that the Board has discussed this in the past. He said some of the blocks that need to be addressed are getting the project organized, forming a schedule for receiving items and trying to proceed with volunteers for manning the building. He said items would be dated and after a certain amount of time, they would be disposed of. He said he had been supplied with pictures of buildings that may work. He said this would be put back on the agenda for an upcoming meeting.
Ms. Neville said that a temporary building, like a canopy tent could be used.
Mr. Jaques said it wouldn’t cost much to build a pole building.
Mike Hartson asked if anyone was familiar with recycle.com?
Mr. Martin said when this is put back on the agenda, Keene Green can be invited to attend.

Resolution No. 80 – 08
Mr. Jaques offered a resolution and moved its adoption. Be it resolved, that at the request of Keene Fitness, the date of their highway walk/run as designated on their highway permit be changed from May 31st to June 7th. This resolution was seconded by Ms. Neville.
Roll Call Vote:
Mr. Ferebee: Absent
Mr. Martin: Yes
Mr. Biesemeyer: Absent
Ms. Neville: Yes
Mr. Jaques: Yes

Mr. Martin said he had the following list of questions or request for updates from Louise Gregg:
1. Housing Project – Ms. Neville said the Committee hasn’t met in a while, she explained that they had been working on paperwork, including legal work like the deed transfer, etc. She said that HAPEC had received funds for an Adirondack parkwide land trust and had been busy setting policies that may or may not involve this project. She said that the barns will be removed shortly, the road will be put in this Spring and that some houses may go in by fall.
2. Rivermede River Project – Mr. Martin said that the final drawings are complete and the project schedule will be set by conference call.
3. Cemetery Wall – Mr. Martin said the 2007 Budget had included $20,000 for this project which was not used in 2007, so again $20,000 was put into the 2008 budget. He said the artificial stone approach had been looked into. Mr. Jaques and Ms. Neville both felt they would like to have local masons look at the project and give estimates on real stone, both will check with masons they know to see if there is any interest.
4. Cell Tower – Mr. Martin said that because the Keene Valley Congregational Church, is so close to the Neighborhood House and is on the historic registry, a balloon test must be performed to be sure there is no adverse effect. He said that Water District #1 just received a wire for an electronic transfer for the month of March.
5. Liquid De-icer/salt substitute - There was a discussion regarding salt on the roads, in which Mr. Reed said that no matter what the Town does, the State uses a lot more salt than the Town.
6. Water District #2 project – Mr. Martin said that Theresa Sayward has a meeting on the 20th in which she will be exploring funding. He said that AES is working on a current project estimate that will be broken into phases. Mr. Jaques said that estimate was due long before now. The reminder was given that there will be a Special Town Board Meeting, addressing this project, on Thursday, March 20th, at 5:00 PM.
7. Bicentennial Committee – Mr. Martin gave an update on the events planned for the next few months in celebration of the Town’s 200th birthday, including May 26th (fly over, parade, picnic), June 14th (bicycle hill climb) and July 26th/27th (Bicentennial Jubilee including USPS cancellations, animals, booths, food, contests, etc. on Marcy Field).

Mrs. Gregg also expressed her concern regarding a trailer on Beede Road that is in very bad repair. She explained that she had also spoken to the Planning Board.

Mrs. Gregg thanked the Board for their updates.

Resolution No. 81 – 08
Ms. Neville offered a resolution and moved its adoption. Be it resolved, that at the request of the East Branch Friends of the Arts, permission be given for them to use Marcy Field on Sunday, June 15th, for a Kite Fest (with a rain date of 6/22). This resolution was seconded by Mr. Jaques.
Roll Call Vote:
Mr. Ferebee: Absent
Mr. Martin: Yes
Mr. Biesemeyer: Absent
Ms. Neville: Yes
Mr. Jaques: Yes

Resolution No. 82 – 08
Mr. Jaques offered a resolution and moved its adoption. Be it resolved, that at the request of the Keene Valley Neighborhood House, permission be given for them to use Marcy Field on Saturday, July 12th, for a Golf Ball Drop. This resolution was seconded by Ms. Neville.
Roll Call Vote:
Mr. Ferebee: Absent
Mr. Martin: Yes
Mr. Biesemeyer: Absent
Ms. Neville: Yes
Mr. Jaques: Yes

Mr. Reed informed the Board that the 4 bids received for a new 4 Wheel Drive Loader had been opened and that 3 of them were within $400. He said he recommended purchasing the John Deere from Nortrax because Nortrax is out of Plattsburgh and would be more convenient when work needs to be done on it.

Resolution No. 83 – 08
Mr. Jaques offered a resolution and moved its adoption. Be it resolved, that the following bids be accepted as opened:
Nortrax - $59,856.00 w/trade in
Vantage Equipment - 59,359.07 w/trade in
S.C. Hanson - 59,492.73 w/trade in
Tracey Road Equipment - 73,418.00 w/trade in
Also, be it resolved, that at the recommendation of Mr. Reed, Highway Superintendent, the bid be awarded to Nortrax out of Plattsburgh. This resolution was seconded by Mr. Martin.
Roll Call Vote:
Mr. Ferebee: Absent
Mr. Martin: Yes
Mr. Biesemeyer: Absent
Ms. Neville: Yes
Mr. Jaques: Yes

Mr. Reed explained to the Board that he had a request regarding the parking lot in Keene Valley. He said that the sign says “No Overnight Parking” and it would make his job easier if some of the parking that is done on the street could be moved in there instead.
The Board said they had no problem with that, Ms. Neville suggested painting over the no parking part.

Martha Allen asked how the Assessment Suit with the Au Sable Club is coming.
Mr. Martin said the appraisers are working on it.
Mr. Norfolk gave an update on the legal schedule involved. He said cases like this move slowly.
Mrs. Gregg asked whose idea it was to “jack up” this increase.
Ms. Neville said she didn’t think it was any greater an increase than any others.
Mr. Jaques asked Donna Combs, an Assessor who happened to be present, how much the percent increase was going to be this year. He said he has concerns since the higher assessments get higher and the lower assessments go down.
Ms. Combs said the assessments would all be going up 15% this year. She said that is what the State said they had to go up.
Mr. Martin explained the equalization rates.
Jean Clifford said that the attendance at the tax reform meetings that she has been going to is getting bigger and bigger.
Mr. Jaques asked Ms. Combs if the Assessment Board ever suggests to the State to go up a dollar amount per parcel instead of using percentages.
Ms. Combs said she was new to this and all she could say was that 15% had been called for.

Resolution No. 84 - 08
Ms. Neville offered a resolution and moved its adoption. Be it resolved, that the following bills be accepted for payment, including those that were post paid. This resolution was seconded by Mr. Jaques.
Roll Call Vote:
Mr. Ferebee: Absent
Mr. Martin: Yes
Mr. Biesemeyer: Absent
Ms. Neville: Yes
Mr. Jaques: Yes

General Fund bills No. 83 – 136 $ 86,643.12
Highway Fund bills No. 30 - 43 17,460.97
Library Fund bills No. 13 - 22 1,918.90
Water Dist. #1 bills No. 10 - 16 22,659.79
Water Dist. #2 bills No. 9 - 12 3,857.26

Resolution No. 85 – 08
Mr. Jaques 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 Ms. Neville.
Roll Call Vote:
Mr. Ferebee: Absent
Mr. Martin: Yes
Mr. Biesemeyer: Absent
Ms. Neville: Yes
Mr. Jaques: Yes

The meeting was adjourned at 8:28 PM.

Ellen S. Estes, Town Clerk
March 14, 2008

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