Town Board Minutes

Minutes of the regular Town Board Meeting held Tuesday, November 14, 2006, 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: 4 residents, 1 resident/Member of the Press 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. 223 – 06
Mr. Martin offered a resolution and moved its adoption. Be it resolved, that the Minutes of the Special Town Board Meeting held on October 3rd, the regular Town Board Meeting held on October 10th, the Special Town Board Meeting held on October 26th and the Bi-monthly Town Board Meeting held October 31st, 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

Privilege of the floor was offered.
Jean Clifford gave an update on Golden Peaks, saying they had a lot going on. She said they had been to the museum in Tupper Lake, lunch at McKenzie’s, she said that Marcy Neville had given a presentation on Affordable Housing and that Patty Bashaw was coming to give a presentation for the Office of the Aging this month.

Mr. Ferebee informed the Board that it has been discovered that a short term loan payment needs to be paid on the Emergency Project that was done in Keene Valley last year, meaning that the Preliminary Budget will need to be amended. He said that in the Water District #2 Budget, the contractual needs to be reduced by $10,000, to add a new line item for Debt Service, Short Term Loan for $10,000. He said that this amendment does not change the amount of the Budget.

Resolution No. 224 – 06
Mr. Jaques offered a resolution and moved its adoption. Be it resolved, that the Preliminary Budget be amended, reducing the Water Dist. #2 contractual by $10,000 and adding a new line item for Short Term Loan for $10,000. 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. 225 – 06
Mr. Martin offered a resolution and moved its adoption. Be it resolved, that the Town Board adopt the Final Budget for 2007, as amended in its Preliminary form. 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. 226 – 06
Mr. Biesemeyer offered a resolution and moved its adoption. Be it resolved, that the Town Board authorize the annual $500.00 donation to be made to North Country LifeFlight. 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

Resolution No. 227 – 06
Mr. Biesemeyer offered a resolution and moved its adoption. Be it resolved, that the Town Board set the following schedule:
End of the Year Meeting (in conjunction w/ December Bi-monthly Meeting)
- Thursday, December 28th, 2006 @ 5:30 PM
2007 Organizational Meeting - Tuesday, January 2, 2007 @ 5:30 PM
Annual Accounting of Officers - Thursday, January 18, 2007 @ 5:30 PM
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

Resolution No. 228 – 06
Mr. Biesemeyer offered a resolution and moved its adoption. Be it resolved, that Tom Hickey be appointed Co-Chairman of the Planning Board, effective November 14, 2006 through December 31, 2006. 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 he had received the estimates requested from Pella for new Town Hall windows. The Board discussed the different grid options that were estimated.
Mr. Biesemeyer suggested checking on a price for good storms while retaining the original windows.
Ms. Neville said the Keene Valley Congregational Church just put new storms on and she suggested asking Reverend Dudley where they were purchased.
The Board agreed to look into storms with white vinyl trim.

Resolution No. 229 – 06
Mr. Biesemeyer offered a resolution and moved its adoption. Be it resolved, that the Water District #1 contract with AES Northeast be amended to include an additional $923.10 for work performed to close out the project. 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

Resolution No. 230 – 06
The Town Board adopted Resolution No. 230 – 06, a Resolution Transferring Funds. This resolution, in its entirety, is attached to and made a part of these minutes.

Mr. Ferebee informed those present that the Town Budget, as adopted, had only increased 1.8%.

Mr. Biesemeyer inquired about the health insurance, saying he didn’t think it had gone up as much as expected.
Mr. Ferebee responded that it hadn’t and said the Board would discuss the different options available at the Bi-monthly Meeting.

Ms. Neville asked how the curbing for Keene Valley and the proposed intersection project here were coming.
Mr. Ferebee said he had just received the updated drawing and list of materials for the intersection project. He said that the County DOT is looking at the project now. He said the Town and County Highway Depts. are willing to do the work.
There was some discussion on whether they could be paid ahead or whether a contractor would have to be hired so the project could be paid for before the end of this year.
Mr. Biesemeyer suggested showing the plans to a couple local contractors in case the project needs to be pre-paid.

Mr. Ferebee said he had also received updated drawings for the area affected by the proposed curbing in Keene Valley. He said he had received information that the Dept. of Transportation requires 4 feet between a parked car and traffic to allow room to open doors. He said this means the Board will need to go back to the landowners for an additional 1½ ft. easement.
He said that Mr. Ryan’s opinion on the bump outs was that the responsibility is on the driver.
The Board looked over and discussed the new drawings.
Ms. Neville suggested wider sidewalks in the areas where there is no parking to prevent illegal parking.
Mr. Jaques asked what the estimate was on the cost of the curbing as planned.
Mr. Ferebee said he would get this figure for the Bi-monthly Meeting.

Mr. Briggs said that the Grant rules will over rule Town Law, if prepayment for services is allowed.

Ms. Neville estimated that after the cost of the curbing and intersection there may still be enough grant funds left over to move the previously discussed telephone poles.

Resolution No. 231 – 06
Ms. Neville offered a resolution and moved its adoption. Be it resolved, that the Supervisor’s Monthly Financial Statement for October 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

Resolution No. 232 – 06
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 Ms. Neville.
Roll Call Vote:
Mr. Ferebee: Yes
Mr. Martin: Yes
Mr. Biesemeyer: Yes
Ms. Neville: Yes
Mr. Jaques: Yes

General Fund bills No. 644 – 667 $ 7,764.75
Highway Fund bills No. 204 – 214 13,343.11
Library Fund bills No. 97 – 100 478.50
Water Dist. #1 bills No. 108 – 114 1,024.80
Water Dist. #2 bills No. 106 – 114 11,424.18
CPF – Water Dist. #1 No. 3 923.10
CPF – Water Dist. #2 No. 31 4,720.50

Mr. Briggs suggested to the Board that they enter executive session to discuss the Nature Conservancy litigation.

Resolution No. 233 – 06
Mr. Martin offered a resolution and moved its adoption. Be it resolved, that the Town Board enter into Executive Session to discuss a legal matter. 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 Board entered Executive Session at 7:43 PM.

Resolution No. 234 – 06
Mr. Jaques offered a resolution and moved its adoption. Be it resolved, that the Town Board reconvene into regular session. 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 Town Board reconvened into regular session at 8:06 PM.

Resolution No. 235 – 06
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: Yes

The meeting was adjourned at 8:07 PM.

Ellen S. Estes, Town Clerk
November 17, 2006

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