Minutes of the Town Board Meeting held Tuesday, November 13, 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: 4 residents, Ron Briggs, Town Attorney and Ellen Estes, Town Clerk.

The Chairman, Mr. Ferebee, called the meeting to order at 7:06 PM and invited everyone present to join in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Resolution No. 182 – 07
Mr. Biesemeyer offered a resolution and moved its adoption. Be it resolved, that the Minutes of the Special Town Board Meeting held Tuesday, October 2nd, the Minutes of the Regular Town Board Meeting held Tuesday, October 9th, the Minutes of the Bi-Monthly Town Board Meeting held Tuesday, October 30th and the Notes from the Bid Opening held Wednesday, October 31st, all be accepted as presented. This resolution was seconded by Mr. Martin.
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 projects.
Mr. Ferebee asked which ones.
She asked about the Rivermede project.
Mr. Ferebee said the surveys should be complete, that they have been working on them. He said he had received a contract from the Corp of Engineers stating that the Town of Keene would pay them $95,500, he said he contacted them informing them that the Town of Keene would have to receive it from their sources first.

Mrs. Gregg also asked about Water District #2.
Mr. Ferebee informed her that the repairs at the intersection of Route 73 and Adirondack Street had been advertised, resulting in 1 bid being received. He also said that Mike Fayette from NYS DOT has determined that the road is not in any danger of collapse. He said that due to this new information, the project will not be done at this time as an emergency, but will be done in the Spring.

Barbara Strowger asked if the rocks at the Rivermede Project site are going to be used.
Mr. Ferebee said some will be used as fill for the project and what is not used will be removed.

Doug Whitney was present to say that he was not informed of the Budget schedule and had missed the budget meetings. He said he had been told by Mr. Ferebee to come to the Board at that time to discuss the possibility of replacement for the 755 tractor. He said the one the Town is currently using is in bad shape and in need of replacement.
Mr. Ferebee said the tractor is in the shop now being checked over and that an assessment will be made. He said he felt it was a bad year to replace an item like this.
Ms. Neville agreed, saying she felt the Board was hoping to squeak by another year with this tractor.

Mr. Ferebee said that at Ms. Neville’s request he had contacted BTI and they had responded saying that they would let the Town know when they are in Town working and that they would mark their vehicles for easy identification and would give a report upon completion.

Resolution No. 183 – 07
Mr. Biesemeyer offered a resolution and moved its adoption. Be it resolved, that the Final Budget for the Year 2008 be accepted as presented. This resolution was seconded by Mr. Martin.
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 a request by a non-resident to purchase a cemetery lot.
Mr. Ferebee said that Willem Lange had made this request explaining that years ago he had lived in Keene Valley. The Board were all familiar with Mr. Lange, who has stayed in contact with many residents and returned to the area often.
Mr. Martin suggested that the cemetery policy be looked at and revised if necessary.

Resolution No. 184 – 07
Mr. Jaques offered a resolution and moved its adoption. Be it resolved, that when the cemetery is reopened for sales, Willem Lange be allowed to purchase a plot. 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 next discussion was in regards to the request to name a private road “Dart Brook Way”. This request was made by the Jeffers, who have recently built a house on the same driveway, off Hickey Lane, as Cecil Wray.
There was a little concern about whether this would be confusing with the Dartbrook Lodge in Keene, but was accepted since E911 had okayed it first.

Resolution No. 185 – 07
Mr. Jaques offered a resolution and moved its adoption. Be it resolved, that at the request of the residents on 46 Hickey Lane, that private way be named “Dart Brook Way”. This resolution was seconded by Mr. Martin.
Roll Call Way:
Mr. Ferebee: Yes
Mr. Martin: Yes
Mr. Biesemeyer: Yes
Ms. Neville: Yes
Mr. Jaques: Yes

Resolution No. 186 – 07
The Town Board adopted Resolution No. 186 – 07, a Resolution Transferring Funds. This resolution, in its entirety, is attached to and made a part of these minutes.

Resolution No. 187 – 07
The Town Board adopted Resolution No. 187 – 07, a Resolution Transferring Funds. This resolution, in its entirety, is attached to and made a part of these minutes.

Mr. Jaques asked for an update on the issue with the Nature Conservancy.
Mr. Briggs said he had received a call from their legal representative and from Mike Carr saying that everything has been done and that they are still agreeable to the PILOT program.

Mr. Jaques also asked for an update on the Assessor issue.
He was informed that the next step would be for the Town Board to adopt a Local Law to go to Sole Appointed Assessor. The time frame for doing so seemed to be around the first of the New Year with plans for the appointment of the Sole Appointed Assessor by the end of the year.
Mr. Biesemeyer asked what was going on with interviews.
Mr. Ferebee said he was going to talk to an applicant tomorrow.
There was also the comment made that there would be time to advertise the position again.

Mr. Martin gave a brief update on Water District #2.
He said that for the last 12 days, 177,000 gallons of water has been pumped through the system daily.
Mr. Ferebee asked for clarification on what the Board had decided, he asked if what they wanted to do was go to bid for the Route 73 distribution lines, with the tank bid out as an alternative.
The Board said yes.
Mr. Jaques said he thought the sooner the bid goes out the better.

Mr. Martin, who has been taking care of water quality for the past few weeks, said that Kirk Bassarab will be taking over, he said that tomorrow is his last day.
He suggested that the Water Law be looked at to check out whether the fees are high enough to cover expenses.

Mr. Martin said that the Bicentennial calendars and stamps are ready for sale.

Barbara Stowger asked what happened with the chlorinator at Water District #2.
Mr. Ferebee said it just stopped working, requiring a simple repair.

Mike Hartson asked to be put on the list to be notified when the cemetery is opened back up for plot sales.

Barbara Stowger asked if there was any update on the cell phone tower.
Mr. Ferebee said he had answered more questions for Verizon last week.

Mr. Ferebee said that anyone wishing to make a donation to Armand and Robin Lawrence can do so in care of Donna Reed Austin, at P.O. Box 156.

Resolution No. 188 – 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. Martin.
Roll Call Vote:
Mr. Ferebee: Yes
Mr. Martin: Yes
Mr. Biesemeyer: Yes
Ms. Neville: Yes
Mr. Jaques: Yes

General Fund bills No. 629 – 657 $ 9,446.52
Highway Fund bills No. 206 – 218 31,816.25
Library Fund bills No. 109 – 111 362.68
Water Dist. #1 Fund bills No. 108 – 109 137.80
Water Dist. #2 Fund bills No. 112 – 117 10,547.13
CPF – WD#2 No. 18 5,319.44

Resolution No. 189 – 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.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:49 PM.

Ellen S. Estes, Town Clerk
November 15, 2007

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