VILLAGE OF HOBART BOARD MEETING MINUTES MARCH 21, 2016
The regular meeting of the Village of Hobart Board of Trustees was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Mayor Aaron Kaufman. Those present were Mayor Kaufman, Trustees Jim Quarino, David Hotaling, Gordy Key and Charlie Reinshagen, Village Attorney John Hubbard, Clerk-Treasurer Kellee Estus, Superintendent of DPW Lucas McMullen, Head of Waste Water Rich Reightmyer, First Assistant Chief of the Hobart Fire Department Josh Mason and South Kortright Central School representative Nathan Kanarek.
The February Treasurer’s Report was reviewed by the Board. A motion to accept the report with the following changes was made by Trustee Hotaling with a second from Trustee Key, with all in favor, carried. In the General Fund, transfer $349.06 from 1620.4-2 to 1325.44; transfer $1000.00 from 3410.4-3 to 3410.4; transfer $1488.12 from 5142.1-3 to 3410.4; transfer $50.00 from 1620.4-2 to 5110.4-2. In the Water Fund, transfer $20.00 from 1910.2 to 8310.4-1; transfer $34.97 from 1910.2 to 8310.4-4; transfer $245.99 from 8320.4-2 to 8320.4-1; transfer $575.00 from 8320.4-2 to 8320.4-4; transfer $600.00 from 8320.4-2 to 8340.4; transfer $267.12 from 8310.4-2 to 8340.4; transfer $37.88 from 8330.4-1 to 9060.1. In the Sewer Fund, transfer $37.70 from 8130.4-21 to 8130.4-11; transfer $76.16 from 8130.4-2 to 8130.4-14; transfer $112.38 from 8130.4-2 to 8130.4-26. In the NYC Fund, transfer $131.50 from 8130.2-1 to 8130.2-3; transfer $496.80 from 8130.4-2 to 8130.4-11; transfer $1750.56 from 8130.2-7 to 8130.4-20; transfer $1876.02 from 8130.2-7 to 8130.4-26; transfer $15.63 from 8130.2-7 to 8130.4-28; transfer $2892.82 from 8130.2-7 to 8130.4-4; transfer $230.90 from 8130.2-1 to 8130.4-6. A motion to approve the minutes of last month’s meeting was made by Trustee Hotaling with a second from Trustee Key, with all in favor, carried.
Superintendent of DPW Lucas McMullen reported to the Board that he has been working on the maintenance of the curb stops and the crew has been moving the shop items from one building to another. He stated they cleaned out and repaired the ditch on the corner of Maple Park and Railroad Avenue and they have been doing some lawn clean up when the weather permitted. He reported that Cobleskill Stone came out to look at the Village roads and their suggestions were to make more drainage where we can and make everything ADA compliant before grinding any roads.
Head of Waste Water Rich Reightmyer reported to the Board that they are still doing the copper testing, they did a jar test with the MetalZorb and it looks promising. He said the new wall in the lab and office made a big difference during the cold winter weather. They have cleaned some of the racks for the micro filters as well. Reightmyer also stated Mallinckrodt’s sewer use permit is not quite in place yet.
First Assistant Chief Josh Mason stated hydrant flushing has not been done in a few years and it should be done. He stated Stamford does theirs twice a year. He also asked about getting hydrant reflectors like Stamford has. Mayor Kaufman asked Superintendent McMullen to see if he could find them for a price. Superintendent McMullen said he had recently become aware that the hydrants had not been flushed in a few years and planned on doing it in late April after he returns from his water license class.
Mayor Kaufman stayed with fire department business regarding the issues with truck #1812. Trustee Hotaling stated the truck is back to Roberts and Nichols Fire Apparatus in Rensselaer and has been there for approximately 7-8 weeks. The problem is there is no governor communication, which is the same problem that it has had in the past. He found out from Roberts and Nichols that two wires were touching in the harness so the harness was replaced, then there was a voltage problem with the governor so it now needs a new governor. The truck is ten years old and started to have trouble in its second year when it would automatically go into high idle, since then it has had problems. Trustee Hotaling doesn’t think we should continue to pay for the repairs. Village Attorney Hubbard suggested the Board wait to see what Roberts and Nichols has to say.
Mayor Kaufman reported to the Board that the South Kortright Fire District is looking to hook in with Hobart or Bloomville Fire Departments. They have three members and a new fire truck. The Board discussed the advantage of having them with our fire department. Mayor Kaufman will invite the Chief or a representative to the next board meeting.
Mayor Kaufman stated it has been brought to the Village’s attention that fire department members, when renting the community center, need to provide the Village with proof of insurance just like anyone else who rents the center. Mayor Kaufman asked Mason to relay the information to the members.
Nathan Kanarek of South Kortright Central School stated to the Board that the SKCS Building Project has been put on hold due to sewer problems. Parts of the septic system do not function properly. The problem needs to be corrected before the Building Project can take place. The Town of Stamford had approached the school to get them to pay a connection fee to hook into Hobart’s sewer plant. This would result in school taxes going up. Mayor Kaufman suggested rather than the school paying for capacity, possibly charging the school for the actual usage and the leasing of the pipe and maintenance fees of the pipe would be between the school and the Town of Stamford. Trustee Hotaling made a motion to charge South Kortright Central School 1.5% the rate of the sewer fee for usage as per the Village’s sewer rent law and any other costs to hook up would be at the cost of the school. They will not have to purchase capacity. The motion was seconded by Trustee Key, with all in favor, carried.
In old business, Mayor Kaufman stated the only update he had for the SK Project was that a water test was going to be done this month. In regard to the cellular read meters, Mayor Kaufman stated that the meters that will be installed at Mallinckrodt would be purchased and owned by the Village so that the Village would be in charge of them. The current meters at Mallinckrodt are the property of Mallinckrodt. The Board agreed to purchase them. Mallinckrodt had contacted the Village to ask about who was responsible for the willow trees on Pearl Street. They were told that it would depend on what their deed says.
In regard to the foreclosures, Attorney Hubbard stated Attorney Carey Wagner has done them before, and he has contacted him regarding the Village’s situation. The Village will reach out to Attorney Wagner.
In new business, Mayor Kaufman reported the results of the Village election which was both incumbents winning. Trustee Hotaling and Trustee Key both won with 31 votes each. Both Trustees took their oath of office. Mayor Kaufman continued with the Flood Damage Prevention Local Law change which will require a public hearing for the changes. He read an explanation from Kent Manuel of the Delaware County Planning Board which stated it was a requirement by FEMA to remain compliant with the Flood Insurance Program. If the Village didn’t update the law within the given timeframes, Village residents wouldn’t be able to obtain a new flood insurance policy or renew an existing policy. Any federally backed mortgage requires flood insurance if in the regulatory floodplain. It is the Village’s civic duty to remain compliant. A motion to set a public hearing for the changes to the law at 6 p.m. prior to next month’s Board meeting was made by Trustee Hotaling, with a second from Trustee Reinshagen, with all in favor, carried. Mayor Kaufman continued with discussion regarding the current term of Mayor and Trustees at two years. He said he would like to change it to four years. This would save the Village money. Attorney Hubbard stated it could be done one of two ways, by resolution or local law. Both would be subject to permissive referendum. This process includes putting a notice in the paper and giving 30 days for Village voters to petition the resolution. A resolution will be prepared for next month’s meeting. In regard to the hiring of a WWTP employee, Mayor Kaufman said the Village has received one application and there are possibly two or three more to be submitted. Mayor Kaufman brought up the idea of the Village offering free garbage removal to the residents. Board members discussed positives and negatives. Mayor Kaufman asked the Board members if they would like to explore the idea further. All Board members said yes. Mayor Kaufman asked Board members to bring their ideas to the next Board meeting. The Village DPW have moved out of the old shop and are currently moving into the new one. Mayor Kaufman stated a possible construction project for the firehouse/community center would involve taking out the bathroom off of the kitchen, closing that off and making it a hallway from the old DPW shop to the fire department meeting room. This way, fire department personnel could enter both vehicle bays without having to come into the Village side of the building. The Village will look for quotes for this possible project.
Mayor Kaufman went over the Tentative 2016-2017 Budget with the Board members. Mayor Kaufman stated health insurance had gone down slightly, and the retirement lines had been reduced. He showed the electric was reduced as well since the Village is saving money in electric. There is a 2% raise across the board for all employees. Taxes would increase from a rate of 18.0 per unit to 19.25 per unit. A public hearing for the budget adoption is scheduled for April 18th at 6:15 p.m.
First Assistant Chief Josh Mason asked the Board what could be done regarding High Street, as they would not be able to get fire trucks or the ambulance up there. A discussion followed. The Village will contact DOT to see what they say. A motion to pay the bills of abstract #10 was made by Trustee Reinshagen with a second from Trustee Quarino with all in favor, carried.
General Fund Voucher #s 269-303 $17,525.72
Water Fund Voucher #s 154-172 $ 3,034.37
Sewer Fund Voucher #s 238-278 $42,584.14
NYC Fund Voucher #s 218-250 $14,221.78
A request to waive the fee for the community center was made by Karen Barkman to teach an AARP driving class for senior citizens. The Board agreed to waive the fee. A motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:20 p.m. was made by Trustee Hotaling with a second from Trustee Reinshagen, all in favor, carried. Meeting adjourned.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kellee J. Estus
Clerk-Treasurer
