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Minutes of the Town Board
Meeting held Tuesday, September 11, 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 A. Neville and Lawrence Jaques, Members
of Council. Also present were: 1 Resident/Member of the Press,
6 Residents, Ron Briggs, Town Attorney, Bruce Reed, Highway
Superintendent and Ellen Estes, Town Clerk.
The Chairman, Mr. Ferebee, called the meeting to order at
7:00 PM, inviting those present to join in the Pledge of Allegiance
and a moment of silence for those lost and affected by the
attacks of September 11, 2001.
Mr. Biesemeyer asked to have Resolution No. 146 – 07 clarified.
He said he misunderstood the meaning to be that the Town Board
appoint a Sole Assessor by August 2008 only if someone qualified
is found.
Mr. Jaques said his reasoning in presenting this resolution
as he did was to keep things moving. He said he understands
the system can not be changed if someone qualified is not
found.
There was a brief discussion about permissive referendum,
Mr. Ferebee said it would be further addressed later.
Resolution No. 152 – 07
Ms. Neville offered a resolution and moved its adoption. Be
it resolved, that the Minutes of the Town Board Meeting held
August 14, 2007, be accepted with the clarification on Resolution
No. 146 – 07, that if a qualified candidate is not found to
fill the position, no change will be made and the notes from
the Town Board Meeting held August 28, 2007, be accepted as
presented. 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
Privilege of the floor was offered.
Louise Gregg asked for an update on the plans for the Bicentennial
celebrations.
Mr. Martin said he would be giving an update later tonight.
Doug Whitney informed the Board that people leaving recyclables
at the transfer station on Tuesdays and Thursdays, when it
is closed, has turned into a problem. He said when Jeff comes
back to work the next day there is an awful mess. He suggested
blocking off the approach to the compactor area to keep people
out.
There was a brief discussion regarding advertising and the
possible need to set a fine.
Mr. Ferebee informed the Board that a grant refund of $5000
was received today from a Parks grant for the work done resurfacing
the tennis courts and for work done at Lake Winifred a few
years ago.
He said he is working with John Albert of Parks and Recreation
to close the grant for $75,000 for work done at the Riverside
Park area.
Next, Mr. Ferebee said he had spoken to the local NYS DOT
crew, who said that the water they draw from the fire hydrants
is used in Town and that they do it this way because using
a hose at the shed takes so long.
Mr. Ferebee shared the ad that had been worked up for the
position of Sole Appointed Assessor with the rest of the Board.
He informed them that he planned to have the ad run on Sunday,
Sept. 16th, Wednesday, Sept. 19th and Sunday, Sept. 23rd,
with the applications due in by Monday, Oct. 8th.
Mr. Ferebee said that he had received a request from Greg
Jeffers to have the water rent at the furniture store rescinded.
He explained that as soon as the water was turned on, the
septic caved in, making it impossible to use the water. He
said it has already been shut back off.
Resolution No. 153 – 07
Mr. Martin offered the following resolution and moved its
adoption. Be it resolved, that the 2007 water rent at the
Jeffers’ furniture store be rescinded, leaving only the turn
on and shut off fee of $25.00 each. 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. Reed inquired if it would be okay to go ahead and mow
Marcy Field now that the wildflowers are through.
Everyone thought the timing would be okay.
Mr. Ferebee asked for authorization to sign the contracts
with Verizon on behalf of Water District #1, for the proposed
cell tower, pending Mr. Brigg’s approval.
Resolution No. 154 – 07
Mr. Biesemeyer offered the following resolution and moved
its adoption. Be it resolved, that authorization be given
for Mr. Ferebee to sign the Verizon contracts pending the
Town Attorney’s review and approval. 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 next discussion was in regards to the issue of appointing
a Sole Assessor. Mr. Ferebee said he would like to see the
choice given to the voters by permissive referendum.
Mr. Biesemeyer said he would rather see a mandatory referendum.
He said he had no problem with the people voting on this issue,
he said he didn’t want to “rail road” this issue in.
Mr. Martin said he was against any referendum.
Ms. Neville said she was not in any rush and as a Board she
thought they should look into the choice, she said she saw
no harm in a referendum.
Resolution No. 155 – 07
Mr. Biesemeyer offered a resolution and moved its adoption.
Be it resolved, that the Town Board of the Town of Keene shall
submit to the voters, by way of mandatory referendum, the
following question “Shall the Town of Keene abolish the current
Elected Board of Assessor system and replace it with a Sole
Appointed Assessor?” This resolution was seconded by Ms. Neville.
Roll Call Vote:
Mr. Ferebee: Yes
Mr. Martin: No
Mr. Biesemeyer: Yes
Ms. Neville: Yes
Mr. Jaques: No
Joel Grinker, who was present, said that as a Seasonal Resident,
it is easier to find an Assessor when there are two, than
to find one when there is just one.
Mr. Martin gave an update on plans for the Bicentennial Celebration
saying that the Committee and the Subcommittees have been
meeting.
He showed the results of the logo contest, which he said will
be used on various items that will be marketed to the public.
He said the main Celebration weekend at Marcy Field will be
July 26th and 27th, at which the Adk. Mtn. Club, DEC, etc.
would be represented.
He said Mary Buschman Kelley may head the “George Parker”
art show.
He said a lean-to would be partially built for show and would
be raffled off and moved, the proceeds going to the Veterans
Memorial Committee.
Some other items being worked on are: a Memorial Day Parade,
a calendar sale, a cookbook put together by Golden Peaks,
a trail run, a no-octane Hill Climb, Stamps with the logo
and fireworks on New Years Eve.
He said he would like to see the Airport House cosmetically
fixed up. He spoke of new flooring, plastering and painting
and a new enlarged porch surface for entertainment.
He also spoke again about his interest in updating the Town
website, he suggested taking Josh Whitney’s proposal.
Ms. Neville said she had gone onto the website, since the
last discussion, and found it outdated. She said that Josh’s
proposal was a little confusing and suggested that he come
to a Board meeting to explain it.
There was a brief discussion regarding the plans for fireworks
at Marcy Field, the cost of which is approximately $10,000.
Mr. Jaques suggests starting to look into the DOT requirements,
etc. now.
Resolution No. 156 – 07
The Town Board adopted Resolution No. 156 – 07, a Resolution
Transferring Funds. This resolution, in its entirety, is attached
to and made a part of these minutes.
Resolution No. 157 – 07
Mr. Biesemeyer 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. 468 – 517 $23,710.47
Highway Fund bills No. 158 – 171 63,500.24
Library Fund bills No. 92 – 95 411.54
Water District #1 bills No. 84 – 92 46,798.56
Water District #2 bills No. 78 – 86 4,434.27
Resolution No. 158 – 07
Ms. Neville 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 8:25 PM.
Ellen S. Estes, Town Clerk
September 13, 2007
William B. Ferebee, Supervisor
Paul R. Martin, Robert M. Biesemeyer, Marcy A. Neville
& Lawrence Jaques, Members of Council
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