Minutes of the Town Board Meeting held Tuesday, December 13, 2011, 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: about 25 residents, including 2 Members of Council Elect, Debra Whitson, Town Attorney and Ellen Estes, Town Clerk.
The Chairman, Mr. Ferebee, called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM and invited everyone present to join in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Resolution No. 222 – 11
Mr. Biesemeyer offered a resolution and moved its adoption. Be it resolved, that the Town Board accept, as presented, the notes and minutes of the following: the November 2nd Special Town Board Meeting, the November 4th Special Town Board Meeting, the November 9th Public Hearing, the November 9th Town Board Meeting, the November 15th Public Hearing, the November 15th Special Town Board Meeting and the November 29th Bi-Monthly Town Board Meeting. 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.
Jean Clifford said thank you on behalf of the Golden Peaks for their use of the Community Center for their meetings and activities.
She also commended Mr. Ferebee on the remarkable job he did following the flood.
John Hudson, Building Code Office, turned in his 2011 Permit Log and stated that the permit process has slowed down. He also gave the reminder that if anyone is making changes they need to obtain a permit.
Frank Owen said he would like to thank Marcy Neville for her years of service on the Town Board.
Karen Glass thanked Mr. Ferebee for the County reinstatement of funds for the CEF Library System.
Mr. Ferebee gave an update on the Library saying that the rest of the carpet has been installed, the septic has been installed and the back wall has been repaired. He said that the books will be moved back to there proper locations starting tomorrow with the help of volunteers. He said that KVVI would be hooking up the computers next week. He said there are no guarantees but he is hoping to reopen by the first week in January and would like to have a grand opening during the second week of January. He said this was a long process due to a lack of local contractors who were all busy.
Mr. Ferebee said that the Town is waiting for easements on Bucks Lane.
He said that river work is being done, that it is a NYS DOT project. He said the contractors are channeling under the Johns Brook Bridge to protect the bridge from sediment building up.
Mr. Ferebee said that he had signed for $78,000 from FEMA for the spring floods saying this payment has been approved and sent on to the State for distribution.
Mr. Ferebee informed those present that volunteer hours can go towards the Town’s 12 ˝% contribution and asked that anyone who had volunteered let him know.
Suzie Doolittle asked for an update on Gulf Brook.
Mr. Ferebee explained that was the project he was referring to which he called Bucks Lane. He said the plan is to try to stabilize the brook. He said the Board has met a number of times with engineers and explained the situation concerning private property.
Mr. Biesemeyer spoke about the other side of the brook and said he would like to try to retain that bank with material removed from the other side.
Mr. Martin talked about this project in phases.
Mr. Biesemeyer informed those present that the problem is that no one wants to sign this project as the engineer.
Bruce Berra asked Mr. Ferebee if there has been cooperation between the Towns of Jay and Keene.
Mr. Ferebee said yes, they are working together well.
Rob Hastings asked for an update on the Rivermede River Project.
Mr. Ferebee said that this project is supposed to go out to bid again this winter.
Mr. Biesemeyer said it is unrealistic to think a bid will be accepted saying that the estimated project cost and the bids are around a million dollars apart.
Mr. Martin stated that the Corp. of Engineers were supposed to throw in a ˝ million dollars.
Mr. Ferebee said that all the river material coming out of the rivers is being saved for this project.
Mr. Hastings said it is too bad that all the root wads had been ground up.
Mr. Ferebee informed the Board that a time needed to be scheduled for the Annual Audit of Employees and Officers.
Resolution No. 223 – 11
Mr. Martin offered a resolution and moved its adoption. Be it resolved, that the Annual Audit of Employees and Officers be scheduled for Tuesday, January 31st at 5:00 PM, to precede the Bi-Monthly Town Board Meeting. 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
At this time the floor was turned over to Marcy Neville.
Ms. Neville said she would like to say a few words about her time as a Board Member. She said the first project she worked on as a Board Member was the first time she ever received hate mail. She said this project was the sidewalks/curb project in Keene Valley.
She said she wanted to tell the rest of the Board how much she has appreciated working with them. She wished Mike Buysse and Jerry Smith, the new Councilmen, who were present, the best.
Mr. Ferebee said it had been a pleasure working with Marcy and said the Board will miss her.
Tony Goodwin said he and Bunny would be hosting a small reception for Marcy, following tonight’s meeting and invited everyone to stop in.
Resolution No. 224 – 11
Mr. Biesemeyer offered a resolution and moved its adoption. Be it resolved, that the Town Board enter into Executive Session. This resolution was seconded by Mr. Ferebee:
Roll Call Vote:
Mr. Ferebee: Yes
Mr. Martin: Yes
Mr. Biesemeyer: Yes
Ms. Neville: Yes
Mr. Jaques: Yes
The Board entered Executive Session at 7:26 PM.
Resolution No. 225 – 11
Mr. Ferebee 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 Board reconvened into regular session at 7:44 PM.
Debra Whitson read aloud the following resolution amending the Town of Keene Employee Handbook concerning Retirement Health Plan Provisions to be entered into the minutes.
Resolution No. 226 – 11
Mr. Jaques offered this resolution and moved its adoption. Be it resolved, that the current provision set out on page 31 of the Employee Handbook shall be amended as follows;
The final sentence of the relevant paragraph concerning retirement health plans shall be deleted and replaced with this sentence… “Upon the death of the retiree, the surviving spouse may elect to continue coverage on a self-pay basis, if such coverage is elected by the spouse, the Town shall pay one half of the cost of individual coverage thru COBRA for the surviving spouse only (but not other covered dependents) for a period not to exceed ninety (90) days. 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. 227 – 11
The Town Board adopted Resolution No. 227 – 11, a Resolution Transferring Funds. This resolution, in its entirety, is attached to and made a part of these minutes.
Mr. Ferebee gave an update on the County Budget saying that it was finished and there would be an increase of 28 cents per thousand.
Mr. Biesemeyer and Ms. Neville both felt that at 10% this was too high.
Mr. Ferebee said the Board of Supervisors had received numerous emails and letters everyday from people not wanting lay offs and cuts.
Resolution No. 228 – 11
Ms. Neville offered a resolution and moved its adoption. Be it resolved, that the Town Board accept the following bills 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: Yes
Multi-fund Vouchers numbered 815 to 858, totaling:
General fund - $14,006.90
Highway fund - 24,184.72
Library fund - 1,223.55
Water Dist. #1 fund - 1,134.94
Water Dist. #2 fund - 925.93
CPF-Water dist. #2 - 3,213.60
Resolution No. 229 – 11
Mr. Jaques offered a resolution and moved its adoption. Be it resolved, that with all business having been transacted, this meeting be adjourned. 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 meeting was adjourned at 7:49 PM.
Ellen S. Estes, Town Clerk
December 15, 2011
William B. Ferebee, Supervisor
Paul R. Martin, Councilperson
Robert M. Biesemeyer, Councilperson
Marcy A. Neville, Councilperson
Lawrence Jaques, Councilperson