VILLAGE OF HOBART BOARD MEETING MINUTES MAY 20, 2019
The regular meeting was called to order by Mayor Aaron Kaufman at 6:35 p.m. Those in attendance were Mayor Kaufman, Trustees Kayla Mason and Amy Reinshagen, Clerk Treasurer Kellee Estus, Superintendent of DPW Lucas McMullen, Hobart Fire Chief Josh Mason, Andrew Flach, Donna Muthig, Janet Key and Jeremy Pickens.
Superintendent McMullen reported to the Board that the crew serviced the Bobcat, installed more cellular meters and repaired potholes on Railroad Avenue and High Street. They also reinstalled a street sign that had fallen over. Superintendent McMullen stated the culvert on Maple Avenue was looked at by Delaware Bulldozing, and they agreed it was in really bad shape. After Delaware Bulldozing reached out to DEC, DEC responded that they require an eight inch diameter culvert pipe rather than the existing 5 inch diameter culvert pipe. McMullen stated since then, he has been going back and forth with DEC and trying to explain to them that increasing the size would have a large impact on the property of the homeowners that live near the stream/culvert and on traffic on Maple Avenue. He also explained that it’s something that has to be fixed soon.
Chief of Waste Water Richi Horne was absent from the meeting due to training but left a written report for the meeting. Mayor Kaufman stated it said that the press and sand filter compressors were serviced, Atlas Copco came to fix a micro filter issue, the blowers were serviced, Jake’s test was scheduled for 6/3 and the LED light project was finished in the micro filter end of the plant.
Andrew Flach stated the Farmer’s Market will start on June 7th. On the 21st of June, there will be a free of charge bike clinic from the Otsego Bike Company. Flach also stated the fitness class held at the HAC gym is great.
Fire Chief Josh Mason reported that he had a proposal from KJBL Electronics for radios and pagers. He said the fire department had spoken to the Rural District and the Rural District was good to move on the purchase of the radios and portables. They agreed to pay half of the $17,260 bill. The Board agreed unanimously to pay for the other half of the bill. Josh will get in touch with the Rural District to see how they want to pay the bill.
A motion to approve the April Treasurer’s report with the following changes was made by Trustee Reinshagen with a second from Trustee Mason, with all in favor, carried. In the General Fund, transfer $430.97 from 1620.1-3 to 1620.4-2; transfer $21.24 from 1325.4-2 to 1325.4.; transfer $202.00 from 1620.4-A to 1620.4-4; transfer $329.73 from 4530.4 to 5142.4-1. In the Water Fund, transfer $40.00 from 8340.4-10 to 8340.4-2; transfer $462.00 from 8340.4-10 to 8340.4; transfer $12.80 from 8320.1-5 to 9060.1. In the Sewer Fund, transfer $72.50 from 8130.2-13 to 8110.1; transfer $428.30 from 8130.4-1 to 8130.4-11; transfer $19.82 from 8130.4-40 to 8130.4-6; transfer $1095.04 from 8130.4-34 to 8130.4-7. In the NYC Fund, transfer $191.32 from 8130.4-8 to 8130.1-2; transfer $12.79 from 8130.2-29 to 8130.4-26; transfer $2918.70 from 9061.2 to 8130.4-3; transfer $226.91 from 8130.4-8 to 8130.4-7; transfer $417.04 from 9061.2 to 9060. A motion to accept the minutes of last month’s meeting was made by Trustee Mason with a second from Trustee Reinshagen, with all in favor, carried.
Mayor Kaufman continued the meeting with old business. Regarding the water issues, there was nothing new to report as the Village had not heard anything new from Lamont Engineers or Rural Development since the last meeting. In regard to the HAC rentals/space available Mayor Kaufman stated there is still space for rent and this will be removed from the agenda. The Board agreed to advertise the available space in the paper for a couple of weeks. Fire Chief Mason asked the Board what they wanted to do with the excess fire hose they have. Some of it can be thrown out. In regard to policy updates, Mayor Kaufman had a sheet with those updates stating all unscheduled absences will result in the employee using his/her sick time and all employees are reminded that unscheduled absences are documented as per Policy PER-06 “Six Month Attendance Records”. A motion to approve these updates was made by Trustee Reinshagen, with a second from Trustee Mason, with all in favor, carried. Mayor Kaufman stated to Superintendent McMullen to speak to Chief Operator Horne when she returned regarding the Village’s uniform policy as an employee was spotted with blue sneakers on during work. Also, admittance restrictions for the water and sewer plant need to be addressed again. In regard to a police officer, Mayor Kaufman stated he spoke with the Captain of the Delhi police department and he said the Village could pass a resolution to make a department or agency and then put a law into effect with a public hearing, etc. just as the Village passes laws now. Mayor Kaufman stated the Village would have Village Attorney Hubbard draft the law. Mayor Kaufman also asked the Trustees what they wanted to do with the curb in front of Wetmore’s. After discussion the Board decided that Aaron will contact Dottie first and then see about the granite curb that is down at the sewer plant or contact Pickett’s to see what they have for options.
Mayor Kaufman stated the Village has almost enough CHIPS money to pay for the road paving of Maple Avenue. The Board discussed and agreed to do River Street next. On a side note, Trustee Reinshagen stated Dave Holsher of Roxbury Mt. Maple is interested in buying the Village property so to keep him in mind before selling to DEP. A motion to pave 2 streets, with Maple Avenue first then River Street was made by Trustee Reinshagen, with a second from Trustee Mason, with all in favor, carried. Superintendent McMullen asked if the Board wanted to wait to see how much the culvert repair was going to be. Mayor Kaufman said no and asked for McMullen to get a price for River Street from Peckham. Mayor Kaufman opened the floor to community participation. Donna Muthig stated she had been paying for the utility availability of the 9th trailer in the trailer park since the trailer was demolished in July of 2017. She stated it had been dug up and capped off and asked for a refund for that utility bill. Mayor Kaufman figured it to be a refund of $960. The Board agreed unanimously to refund $960 to the trailer park account and to stop the charge of the 9th trailer lot. Janet Key stated her reason for being at the meeting was similar. Her trailer burned on 8/26/18 and she has been charged the minimum quarterly since then. Mayor Kaufman asked if she had plans to put another trailer or double wide in there. She said she was thinking of selling it with the utility included. Mayor Kaufman stated if the utility was still there it would still be a minimum quarterly charge of water and sewer availability. If it was dug up and capped off that would be another story. Mr. Pickens asked the Board to give her a break since her house burned. Mayor Kaufman said it would be setting a precedent for other residents to get a break on their bill due to issues. This was the first time the Board has heard from Ms. Key. Her water and sewer bill is therefore still due in full and the outstanding charges prior to the April billing have been relevied to her tax bill.
A motion to approve the following bills on Abstract No. 12 was made by Mayor Kaufman with a second from Trustee Reinshagen, with all in favor, carried.
General Fund Voucher No. 317-348 $54,942.17
Water Fund Voucher No. 186-203 $ 5,390.83
Sewer Fund Voucher No. 220-245 $18,855.71
NYC Fund Voucher No. 240-271 $46,137.66
A motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:05 p.m. was made by Mayor Kaufman with a second from Trustee Mason, with all in favor, carried. Meeting adjourned.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kellee J. Estus
Clerk-Treasurer
