Minutes of the Town Board Meeting held Tuesday, October 9, 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: Carol Treadwell, Associate Director of the AuSable River Association, 6 residents, including 1 Member of the Press, Paula McDonough, Clerk to the Supervisor, Ron Briggs, Town Attorney, Bruce Reed, Highway Superintendent and Ellen Estes, Town Clerk.

The Chairman, Mr. Ferebee, called the meeting to order at 7:02 PM and invited everyone present to join in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Resolution No. 166 – 07
Mr. Jaques offered a resolution and moved its adoption. Be it resolved, that the Minutes of the Special Town Board Meeting held Tuesday, September 11th, the Minutes of the regular Town Board Meeting held Tuesday, September 11th, the notes from the Budget Workshop held Tuesday, September 18th and the Minutes of Budget Workshop and Bi-monthly Town Board Meeting held Wednesday, September 26th, all 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: Yes

The first discussion was in regards to the 2007 Budget.
Mr. Ferebee explained that the budget in its Preliminary form has increased from the 2006 Budget, $43,000 in the General Fund, $40,000 in the Highway Fund and $4,500 in the Library Fund. He said the Keene Fire District is up $13,000 and the Keene Valley Fire District is up $5,100.
The mandatory testing of the Landfill Closure Project is up $1000 for additional testing required in 2008. Mr. Martin suggested that checking for salt be made a permanent part of the landfill testing to prove the Town’s contaminated wells could not have been a result of the Town’s salt storage.

Resolution No. 167 – 07
Mr. Biesemeyer offered a resolution and moved its adoption. Be it resolved, that the Town Board file the 2008 Preliminary Budget with the Town Clerk, with the amendments that were discussed and decided upon at the meeting held on Tuesday, October 2, 2007. This changes can be found in the Minutes of said meeting. 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

Jeanne Clifford gave an update on Golden Peaks.
She said the members are not interested in having the internet connected, she said most already have it at home. She said that the members are interested in having a senior bus.
Ms. Clifford reported on being active in a tax group that meets in Port Henry.

Carol Treadwell, Associate Director of the AuSable River Association was present to make a presentation.
She began by listing past local projects saying that the Association had done the footwork behind the Rivermede Project and the Indian Cup Management Plan.
She said they are now working on AuSable River Watershed Management Planning which includes any tributaries that drain into the river and end up in Lake Champlain. She handed out brochures and information on meetings to be held Tuesday, October 23rd in Lake Placid and Thursday, November 15th in Upper Jay. She encourages the public to attend these meetings in which the Association is looking for public input.
Mr. Martin questioned the Clarkson Study on sand in the Cascade Lakes, Ms. Treadwell said she was not familiar with that study and would check into it.
She said that with the development of a Management Plan, they hoped to get larger grants.
Ms. Neville said she is a member of the AuSable River Association and said she is glad to see that road salt is on the agenda for discussion at these meetings.
Mr. Biesemeyer said this weekend was the busiest he has ever seen the trailheads and said that he is an advocate for an Adirondack use fee with the funding going to the Towns and local Associations.
Lorraine Duvall said she is the Town of Keene representative in this Association and said she would like to see official endorsement for this planning project.
Ms. Treadwell asked the Town Board for their support and asked to have the Town Board make official appointments.

Resolution No. 168 – 07
Mr. Biesemeyer offered a resolution and moved its adoption. Be it resolved, that the Town Board show support to the AuSable River Association by appointing an official representative and encouraging other Officials to participate. 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 gave a very brief update on the Verizon cell tower.
He said the application to the APA is in and will be reviewed on October 16th, he said there is typically a 2 week turnaround.

Mr. Ferebee told the Board that the budget explanation, of “other” that they had requested from the Keene Valley Fire District is here, he was told this should have come with the budget estimate.

The next discussion was in regards to Water District #2.
Mr. Reed filled in the Board about the water break last week at the intersection of Route 73 and Adirondack Street. He said they had turned off two valves, one on each end of the break which was in the center of Route 73. He said this leak was so bad it would probably create a cavity. He explained that he would like to see an emergency project done by a contractor to do away with the dead end in that area. He said he would like to see a continuous circuit, then if one side of Town needed to be shut off, the rest of the Town would not be without water. He said he didn’t think this should be put off.
Mr. Ferebee said he would talk to Vic Putman about emergency funding.
Mr. Martin said that there is always problems at the end of a line, he agreed this area needed a T to keep the water moving in both directions.
Mr. Jaques was also in agreement.

Mr. Martin also spoke about the back feed on the old water main which goes through Adrian Edmond’s basement. He said that valve was mistakenly turned on during this water break releasing water into that basement. He said the plans at the time of the previous water project, which eliminated the use of this main, called for that line to be plugged and not the installation of a valve. He said something permanent will need to be done there.

Resolution No. 169 – 07
Mr. Jaques offered a resolution and moved its adoption. Be it resolved, that the Town Board authorize that the Maximum Earnings Allowance for the elderly taxpayer be increased from the current $16,500 to $22,500. 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 AES needs a Board Resolution to continue with the use of Smith Controls in the Water District #2 filtration plant.

Resolution No. 170 – 07
Mr. Martin offered a resolution and moved its adoption. Be it resolved, the Town Board of the Town of Keene has designated Smith Control Systems as the Integration and Control Services provider for the Water District #2 filtration plant. 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

Mr. Ferebee informed the Board that the days chosen for the bulky days in October were the 24th, 26th & 27th.

Resolution No. 171 – 07
Mr. Jaques offered a resolution and moved its adoption. Be it resolved, that the Board accept the Project Management Plan for the Rivermede Project and that authorization be given for Mr. Ferebee to sign the Design and Construction Agreement between the Army Corp. of Engineers and the Town of Keene. 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

Ms. Neville asked if the Airport House funding had been lost due to the amount of time being used to make plans.
Mr. Ferebee this was not 100% the reason, he said all the funding through the corridor had been pulled.
Mr. Martin said he would still like to see some improvements made on the Airport House for the bicentennial celebration. He said he thought there was money enough somewhere that he would like to see the back porch replaced and extended for events to be held there.

Resolution No. 172 – 07
Mr. Ferebee offered a resolution and moved its adoption. Be it resolved, that the Town Board enter into Executive Session to discuss a litigation issue. This resolution was seconded by Mr. Martin.
Roll Call Vote:
Mr. Ferebee: Yes
Mr. Martin: Yes
Mr. Biesemeyer: Yes
Ms. Neville: Yes
Mr. Jaques: Abstain

The Town Board, with the exception of Mr. Jaques, and Ron Briggs, Town Attorney, entered into Executive Session at 7:43 PM.

Resolution No. 173 – 07
Ms. Neville offered a resolution and moved its adoption. Be it resolved, that the Town Board reconvene into regular session. This resolution was seconded by Mr. Martin.
Roll Call Vote:
Mr. Ferebee: Yes
Mr. Martin: Yes
Mr. Biesemeyer: Yes
Ms. Neville: Yes
Mr. Jaques: Abstain

The Town Board reconvened into regular session at 8:20 PM.

Resolution No. 174 – 07
Mr. Jaques offered a resolution and moved its adoption. Be it resolved, that the Town Board accept the following bills for payment, including those that were post paid. 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

General Fund bills No. 547 – 585 $19,692.62
Highway Fund bills No. 182 – 192 12,961.67
Library Fund bills No. 101 – 104 333.27
Water District #1 bills No. 98 – 104 899.39
Water District #2 bills No. 95 – 102 2,317.91
CPF – Water District #2 bills No. 16 - 17 1,187.14

Resolution No. 175 – 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 September and file it 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. 176 – 07
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 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 8:22 PM.

Ellen S. Estes, Town Clerk
October 16, 2007

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