April 14, 2009

 

Minutes of the regular Town Board Meeting held Tuesday, April 14, 2009, 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 and Marcy A. Neville, Members of Council.  Absent:  Lawrence Jaques, Member of Council.  Also present were:  6 residents, 1 Member of the Press, Bruce Reed, Highway Superintendent and Ellen Estes, Town Clerk.

 

The Chairman, Mr. Ferebee, called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM and invited those present to join in the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

Resolution No. 88 – 09

Mr. Biesemeyer offered a resolution and moved its adoption.  Be it resolved, that the Minutes of the Town Board Meetings held March 10th and 24th and the notes from the Surplus Bid Opening held March 16th, be accepted as presented.  This resolution was seconded by Ms. Neville.

Roll Call Vote:

Mr. Ferebee:              Yes

Mr. Martin:                 Yes

Mr. Biesemeyer:       Yes

Ms. Neville:               Yes

Mr. Jaques:               Absent

 

Privilege of the floor was offered.

Jean Clifford gave a brief update on Golden Peaks saying that Wednesday would be their 5th anniversary; she invited the Town Board to come to lunch at the center at 12:00.

She said that she had spoken to Mr. Ferebee about the bus issue saying that they don’t have many drivers for day trips and events and she worries about the liability.

Mr. Ferebee responded saying that he had supplied Ms. Clifford with the law saying that the only way the bus could be used is through a charter route.  He said a route could be developed, but the rider ship would have to support the expenses.  He also said he would pull the original contract on the bus to see what that said.

Mr. Ferebee told Ms. Clifford that the Seniors could apply for grant funds to have their own Senior Bus.

 

Barbara Strowger asked what the yellow flags are on Marcy Field.

Mr. Ferebee responded saying that KVVI will be running fiber optic cable and the flags show Verizon and NYSEG lines.

 

Spen Nye was next to be given privilege of the floor.

He said he was present to call for the resignation of the Town Building Code Officer saying that he believes that he sets policy over coffee.

He explained that he had looked at a roofing job for Donna Combs saying that the existing roof on her dome was improper and substandard.  He said he advised her to have the Code Officer inspect it.  He said she was told that since she had no permit for the roof job he couldn’t do that. 

Mr. Ferebee said it was his understanding that a permit is not needed for roofing.

Mr. Nye said it was the Code Officer’s job to perform inspections and that he was not the man for the job, saying that he would be following through with a lawyer.

Mr. Ferebee said he would talk to Mr. Slycord to see if it was necessary to have a permit for a roof job before inspecting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Resolution No. 89 – 09

Mr. Martin offered a resolution and moved its adoption.  Be it resolved, that the application for a Highway Permit for the Ironman Event be accepted and a Permit be issued for Sunday, July 26th.  This resolution was seconded by Ms. Neville.

Roll Call Vote:

Mr. Ferebee:              Yes

Mr. Martin:                 Yes

Mr. Biesemeyer:       Yes

Ms. Neville:               Yes

Mr. Jaques:               Absent

 

Resolution No. 90 – 09

Mr. Biesemeyer offered a resolution and moved its adoption.  Be it resolved, that at their request, the Adirondack Mountain Club be granted permission to use Marcy Field on April 27th and 28th (with April 29th and 30th as inclement weather dates) for their annual fly-in to Johns Brook Lodge.  This resolution was seconded by Mr. Ferebee.

Roll Call Vote:

Mr. Ferebee:              Yes

Mr. Martin:                 Yes

Mr. Biesemeyer:       Yes

Ms. Neville:               Yes

Mr. Jaques:               Absent

 

Mr. Ferebee informed the Board that the Construction Bid for Water District #2 would be advertised next week.

He also said that he has been advised by Vic Putman that it was going to be necessary to increase the Bond Resolution for the Project to cover the entire cost, though it will not necessarily all be used.

 

Resolution No. 91 – 09

Mr. Biesemeyer offered a resolution and moved its adoption.  This resolution, A Resolution Authorizing The Issuance Of $6,301,370.00 Serial Bonds Of The Town Of Keene, Essex County, New York, To Pay The Cost Of The Increase And Improvement Of The Facilities Of The Water District No. 2 In The Town Of Keene, Essex County, New York, in its entirety, is attached to and made a part of these minutes.  This resolution was seconded by Mr. Martin.

Roll Call Vote:

Mr. Ferebee:              Yes

Mr. Martin:                 Yes

Mr. Biesemeyer:       Yes

Ms. Neville:               Yes

Mr. Jaques:               Absent

 

Mr. Martin presented the Board with a Bicentennial Committee Financial Report.  He said that the Total Net from Sales of Merchandise and the Lean-to was $9,128.58.   He said he does not have the figures spent on fireworks, signs and banners, which was budgeted and paid for by the Town.

He said that $4,535.00 (the Lean-to Sale) is supposed to go to the Veterans Memorial Committee recommending that amount be bumped up to $5,000.

He also said he would like to see about $400 spent on a device to check the river water for contaminates.  He said the Bicentennial Committee would consider where else these funds should go.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Resolution No. 92 – 09

Mr. Martin offered a resolution and moved its adoption.  Be it resolved, that $5,000 from the Net Profit for Bicentennial sales be donated to the Veteran’s Memorial Committee.  This resolution was seconded by Mr. Biesemeyer.

Roll Call Vote:

Mr. Ferebee:              Yes

Mr. Martin:                 Yes

Mr. Biesemeyer:       Yes

Ms. Neville:               Yes

Mr. Jaques:               Absent

 

Mr. Biesemeyer and Ms. Neville suggested that Mr. Martin get literature about the device for testing river water.

The Board discussed having Kirk Bassarab include this testing in with the water samples tested monthly.

Louise Gregg congratulated Mr. Martin on finishing the Bicentennial events in the black, saying that seldom happens.

Ms. Neville said the people had loved all the events.

Ms. Neville asked if a thank you had been sent to Kevin Straight for his help with the lean-to.

Mr. Martin said a plaque would be made for the lean-to with Kevin’s name on it and he asked the Board how they felt about giving him a certificate for dinner.  The Board were all in agreement.

 

Mr. Ferebee reminded the Board that the School Board would be coming to the meeting on April 28th.

 

Mr. Ferebee said there was no update on the cell towers, except that the boring test at the Keene site had gone well.

 

Ms. Neville gave an update on Outdoor Wood Burning Furnaces.

She said there is legislation for regulations being reviewed in the Governor’s Office.  She said that the regulations will include pre-existing furnaces.

 

Ms. Neville said that at this time the surveying that is being done along Route 73 looks like it is for an arial survey only, saying she would like to see a resolution calling for the Town of Keene to be informed by DOT if there is any type of project being planned to widen the road.

Mr. Ferebee shared an e-mail with the Board that he had received from Mike Fayette at DOT regarding the preparation of Route 73 for photogrammetry to develop highway plans, though he said no project is being planned at this time.

 

Resolution No. 93 – 09

Ms. Neville offered a resolution and moved its adoption.  Be it resolved, that the Town Board of the Town of Keene requests, that in the event of any pending projects for Route 73, NYS DOT be required to notify the Town of Keene.  This resolution was seconded by Mr. Biesemeyer.

Roll Call Vote:

Mr. Ferebee:              Yes

Mr. Martin:                 Yes

Mr. Biesemeyer:       Yes

Ms. Neville:               Yes

Mr. Jaques:               Absent

 

Ms. Neville asked what is being done at the John’s Brook Bridge in Keene Valley.

Mr. Ferebee responded that, around mid-June, NYS DOT will be painting the bridge and repairing the wall below.

Ms. Neville said she would like to be kept informed on the wall repair.

 

 

 

 

 

Resolution No. 94 – 09

Mr. Biesemeyer offered a resolution and moved its adoption.   Be it resolved, that at the request of Bruce Reed, Highway Superintendent, authorization be given to sign the Agreement to Spend Town Highway Funds for the 2009 CHiPs Funds for improvements on Gristmill Lane, Molly Nye Lane and Airport Road (a copy of the Agreement is attached).  This resolution was seconded by Mr. Ferebee.

Roll Call Vote:

Mr. Ferebee:              Yes

Mr. Martin:                 Yes

Mr. Biesemeyer:       Yes

Ms. Neville:               Yes

Mr. Jaques:               Absent

 

Mr. Reed said that he had had complaints of dust from neighbors of the Keene Valley Parking Lot. 

Mr. Reed and the Board discussed options for new surfacing.

Mr. Reed suggested and will get a price on using 2 1/2” of binder topped with oil and stone.

 

Resolution No. 95 – 09

Mr. Biesemeyer offered a resolution and moved its adoption.  Be it resolved, that the Town Board accept the Monthly Statement of the Supervisor for March as presented and place it on file with the Town Clerk.  This resolution was seconded by Mr. Martin.

Roll Call Vote:

Mr. Ferebee:              Yes

Mr. Martin:                 Yes

Mr. Biesemeyer:       Yes

Ms. Neville:               Yes

Mr. Jaques:               Absent

 

Resolution No. 96 – 09

The Town Board adopted Resolution No. 96 – 09, a Resolution Transferring Funds.  This resolution, in its entirety, is attached to and made a part of these minutes.

 

Resolution No. 97 – 09

Ms. Neville offered a resolution and moved its adoption.  Be it resolved, that the following bills be accepted for payment, including those that were prepaid.  This resolution was seconded by Mr. Biesemeyer.

Roll Call Vote:

Mr. Ferebee:              Yes

Mr. Martin:                 Yes

Mr. Biesemeyer:       Yes

Ms. Neville:               Yes

Mr. Jaques:               Absent

 

General Fund bills                           No. G135 – G165     $16,794.01

Highway Fund bills                         No. H48 – H57              4,460.50

Library Fund bills                             No. L26 - L32                   783.46

Water Dist. #1 bills                           No. K16 -  K19              2,212.42

Water Dist. #2 bills                           No. KV19 – KV22            145.81

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Resolution No. 98 – 09      

Mr. Biesemeyer 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:              Yes

Mr. Martin:                 Yes

Mr. Biesemeyer:       Yes

Ms. Neville:               Yes

Mr. Jaques:               Absent

 

The meeting was adjourned at 7:50 PM.

 

 

 

                                                                                    Ellen S. Estes, Town Clerk

                                                                                    April 17, 2009

 

William B. Ferebee, Supervisor

Paul R. Martin, Councilperson

Robert M. Biesemeyer, Councilperson

Marcy A. Neville, Councilperson

Lawrence Jaques, Councilperson