|
Minutes of the regular
Town Board Meeting, held Tuesday, April 10, 2007, at 7:00
PM, at the Keene Town Hall. The following Town Board Members
were present: William B. Ferebee, Supervisor, Paul R. Martin,
Robert M. Biesemeyer, Marcy Neville and Lawrence Jaques, Members
of Council. Also present were: Ron Briggs, Town Attorney,
5 residents, including one member of the press and Ellen Estes,
Town Clerk.
The Chairman, Mr. Ferebee, called the meeting to order at
7:04 PM and invited everyone to join in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Resolution No. 90 – 07
Ms. Neville offered the following resolution and moved its
adoption. Be it resolved, that the Minutes of the April 13th
regular Town Board Meeting be accepted with an amendment to
reflect that she suggested going down the road of a sole “elected”
Assessor not “appointed” and that the Minutes of the April
27th Bi-monthly Town Board Meeting be accepted as presented.
This resolution was seconded by Mr. Biesemeyer.
Roll Call Vote:
Mr. Ferebee: Yes
Mr. Martin: Yes
Mr. Biesemeyer: Yes
Ms. Neville: Yes
Mr. Jaques: Yes
Privilege of the floor was offered.
Jean Clifford gave a very brief update on Golden Peaks saying
they were planning trips and had lots of activities going.
Louise Gregg said she had a list:
She said she would like to see the Cemetery Committee activated,
the wall finished at Norton Cemetery and Fairview Cemetery
mapped out so you could tell who is buried there. She said
she would like to see the stone wall near the Johns Brook
Bridge (near Point Park) fixed. She would like to see a swap
shed at the transfer station (discussion will follow). She
also said she hopes the phone directory is coming along and
that she is delighted that the utility poles on Main Street
are being moved.
There was a brief discussion regarding a swap shop at the
Transfer Station.
Barbara Strowger asked if a tent could be used temporarily.
Mr. Ferebee explained that there just wasn’t time before bulky
days coming this month.
Mr. Martin suggested using space in the existing pole barn.
Ms. Neville suggested talking about a shed during the budget
process this fall.
Mr. Jaques said his concern regarding this is that manning
this shed could be expensive.
Ms. Neville said it could be manned by volunteers and Jeff.
There was a short discussion during which different ideas
on who, how and where was discussed.
Martha Allen mentioned the days of the dump when people left
stuff for other to look over.
Resolution No. 91 – 07
Mr. Martin offered a resolution and moved its adoption. Be
it resolved, that at the request of the High Peaks Radio Control
Club, they be allowed to use Marcy Field for their annual
event on Friday, September 14th and Saturday, September 15th.
This resolution was unanimously seconded.
Roll Call Vote:
Mr. Ferebee: Yes
Mr. Martin: Yes
Mr. Biesemeyer: Yes
Ms. Neville: Yes
Mr. Jaques: Yes
At the request of Katherine Brown, Mr. Ferebee gave the following
resolution to the Board to consider and asked how they wanted
to handle her request.
Resolution No. 92 – 07
Mr. Biesemeyer offered the following resolution and moved
its adoption.
Whereas, our Town is vulnerable to the economic and environmental
impacts of world-wide climate change, and is concerned about
our future in a changing climate;
Whereas we, along with other communities across the Adirondacks,
are concerned about such questions as whether we are going
to be able to sustain winter tourism and recreation opportunities
as the climate warms, whether we will see changes in our natural
forest ecosystems and wildlife populations, whether our northern
identity and related quality of life characteristics will
be impacted, and whether our infrastructure such as clean
water supplies, energy utilities, roads and bridges will suffer
from increased climate variability;
Whereas we recognize the magnitude of the problem will require
complementary actions by many governmental and non-governmental
agencies;
Whereas we would like our country to take a leading role in
addressing this international problem;
Whereas we want to speak out with communities from across
the Adirondacks to bring attention to this issue, the impact
it is already having on our region, and the opportunity to
act collectively to address the problem;
Therefore, be it resolved that we are joining with other communities
to ask our national elected leaders in Congress to address
the problem, possibly by enacting legislation that will put
us on the path to reducing our national carbon emissions by
exploring the use of new technologies, improving energy conservation,
and recommending the use of low carbon-emitting and renewable
energy sources, among other possible responses.
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
Resolution No. 93 – 07
Mr. Jaques offered a resolution and moved its adoption. Be
it resolved, that Jean Hardy, Warren Deland’s sister, be granted
permission to purchase a one grave lot in Norton Cemetery.
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
Resolution No. 94 – 07
Mr. Martin offered a resolution and moved its adoption. Be
it resolved, that Resolution No. 7-07, the Resolution Appointing
a Deputy Superintendent of Highways be amended to appoint
Roland Smith, since Alan Carey declined the appointment. This
resolution was seconded by Mr. Biesemeyer.
Roll Call Vote:
Mr. Ferebee: Yes
Mr. Martin: Yes
Mr. Biesemeyer: Yes
Ms. Neville: Yes
Mr. Jaques: Yes
Mr. Ferebee said that Carl Bigelow had requested that Bill
let the Board know that Carl is in favor of the Veteran’s
Memorial being located at the Old Highway Garage site.
Discussion returned to the Global Climate Change issue.
There was a brief discussion about the Step It Up activities
that are being planned to increase awareness for the issue.
Saturdays activities at the Nature Conservancy will include
music by Stan Oliva, t-shirt painting for the kids, an Adirondack
Harvest presentation, etc, with more to follow in Paul Smiths.
Mr. Martin suggested that a letter of thanks be sent to Bill
Meyers, from the Keene Valley Neighborhood House, who keeps
the litter picked up off the street in Keene Valley.
Mr. Ferebee said that he and Mr. Reed had discussed this and
planned to give him a Town of Keene volunteer t-shirt.
The Board was in full agreement.
The next discussion was in regards to the Airport House and
the APA Grant to renovate it into a Visitors Center.
Mr. Martin said with the Bicentennial Celebration coming,
he felt it would be helpful if the plans for the back porch
area project was complete.
Mr. Ferebee said he has construction quotes from Lauren Murphy
on foundation repair, paint, etc., that he would like to have
Mr. Biesemeyer look over.
Mr. Jaques said he is not convinced that the value of the
renovations would be worth handing over control of the building.
Mr. Ferebee said he understands the building would need to
be manned for 2 years and then it is up to the Town to decide
what they want to do with it.
Mr. Jaques said he is totally against it.
Mr. Ferebee said he questions whether the renovations can
be done for $150,000.
Mr. Martin pointed out that the well is already there.
Mr. Biesemeyer suggested getting any agreements on paper.
Mr. Ferebee explained what he understood about the project.
Resolution No. 95 – 07
Mr. Jaques offered a resolution and moved its adoption. Be
it resolved, that the Town Board accept the Supervisor’s Monthly
Financial Statement for March and have it filed with the Town
Clerk. This resolution was seconded by Mr. Biesemeyer.
Roll Call Vote:
Mr. Ferebee: Yes
Mr. Martin: Yes
Mr. Biesemeyer: Yes
Ms. Neville: Yes
Mr. Jaques: Yes
Resolution No. 96 – 07
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: Yes
Mr. Martin: Yes
Mr. Biesemeyer: Yes
Ms. Neville: Yes
Mr. Jaques: Yes
General Fund bills No. 166 – 193 $ 6,312.52
Highway Fund bills No. 52 - 62 3,061.95
Library Fund bills No. 40 - 46 644.57
Water District #1 bills No. 35 - 40 333.92
Water District #2 bills No. 33 - 40 357.33
Resolution No. 97 – 07
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 Mr.
Biesemeyer.
Roll Call Vote:
Mr. Ferebee: Yes
Mr. Martin: Yes
Mr. Biesemeyer: Yes
Ms. Neville: Yes
Mr. Jaques: Yes
The meeting was adjourned at 7:31 PM.
Ellen S. Estes, Town Clerk
April 13, 2007
William B. Ferebee, Supervisor
Paul R. Martin, Councilperson
Robert M. Biesemeyer, Councilperson
Marcy A. Neville, Councilperson
Lawrence Jaques, Councilperson
|