VILLAGE OF HOBART BOARD MEETING MINUTES NOVEMBER 16, 2020
The regular meeting of the Village of Hobart Board was called to order by Mayor Aaron Kaufman at 6:30 p.m. Those present were Mayor Kaufman, Trustees Jim Quarino, Amy Reinshagen and Gordy Key, Village Attorney John Hubbard, Clerk-Treasurer Kellee Estus, Don Thomases and Cody Hager. Mayor Kaufman read a report from the DPW that they have been busy vacuuming leaves, repaired a shut off valve and serviced all of their equipment. He also read a report from the Waste Water treatment plant that they scraped and painted the grit chamber and rebuilt air reducers. Trustee Quarino asked about the gate not being locked. It should be so the employees will be told again to keep the gate closed and locked. Trustee Reinshagen asked about the sidewalk in front of Hanley’s. There is a board over it and it has been there for quite some time now. She’s not sure what else needs to be done to it. Don Thomases, representing the Hobart Business Alliance stated the organization would like to help with the holiday lights. This would be something that would have to be next year at this point. He also stated he has been getting information on what would need to take place in order to do the foot bridge, such as engineering, permits, etc. The board reviewed the Treasurer’s Report. A motion to accept the report with the following change was made by Trustee Reinshagen with a second from Trustee Key, with all in favor, carried. In the General Fund, transfer $693.53 from 1990 to 1620.4(HAC). A motion to accept the minutes from the last meeting was made by Trustee Quarino, with a second from Trustee Reinshagen, with all in favor, carried. Mayor Kaufman continued the meeting with old business stating that there was nothing new to report for the water plant upgrade. The police officer item was tabled. Regarding training, the employees were able to quickly get into a sexual harassment training provided by the Town of Stamford. The Maple Avenue culvert was surveyed on the one side only due to lack of permission from one property owner to access his property for the survey. Regarding the issue with Tee Gould’s driveway, Mr. Gould received a letter from Village Attorney Hubbard stating it was not the Village’s responsibility to repair his driveway. Regarding Dena Fiscus’s lawn sinking issue, Mayor Kaufman stated he looked at it with Superintendent McMullen and did not see where any sinking had occurred due to the water line that goes up the length of her side yard. He contacted her with his findings and she seemed satisfied. Regarding pump issues, Mayor Kaufman asked the board if they were still good with having the pumps pulled and cleaned on a rotating schedule and they all said yes. This item will be taken off the agenda. Regarding EMS issues, Mayor Kaufman said it in ongoing, and they are still working on it. Regarding truck issues, Mayor Kaufman stated the 2012 Dodge just had an $8000 bill in repairs and has broken down yet again. It had to be towed back to the garage. Mayor Kaufman told the board to keep this in mind and at some point will have to look for another used truck. Trustee Quarino asked about leasing trucks instead, the mileage stays low enough and the Village wouldn’t have to worry about maintenance. Mayor Kaufman said he would look into this possibility. In regard to the fire alarm system at HAC, Fyr Fyter is doing well getting everything installed. Regarding foreclosures, Mayor Kaufman stated Andrew Van Buren is willing to work with the Village in sending letters giving notice that the Village will be foreclosing on their property due to years of unpaid taxes. Mayor Kaufman stated Head Start is still coming along with items needed for licensing. A deck was built in the front so the exit could be used. There were a few items that were brought up to be addressed. One was interior gym doors that need to be repaired or replaced. The other was the heaters in the downstairs bathrooms get too hot and the children will not be able to touch them. The fix was to raise them up so children will not be able to touch them. Mayor Kaufman said Head Start can do the replacement of the heaters and the Village will replace the doors in the gym. In regard to the fitness center update, Mayor Kaufman said it was a nightmare in ordering the equipment for it with multiple items being accidentally ordered and delivered and having to be sent back.
Mayor Kaufman continued the meeting with new business. NYCDEP pays the Village quarterly payments for expenses for the year. After a payment was not received in early October and the account started to run low, it was found that they have not been releasing money as they say invoice payments have been deferred to Covid expenses. After multiple phone calls and emails, NYCDEP said the Village could take out a loan to cover their bills and they would be willing to pay the interest. They are currently opening funding back up and the Village should see the payment come through in about 40 days or late December. The Board agreed taking out a loan was not a good idea. Clerk Treasurer Estus informed the Board that two sewer CDs matured today and she didn’t roll them over yet. There is approximately $55,000 total. The Board agreed to have Clerk-Treasurer Estus close out those two CDs to cover the NYC portion of expenses until their payment comes in. There were over $20,000 in bills to be approved at the Board meeting for NYC and Mayor Kaufman stated approximately $2700 a week comes out of the NYC account for payroll.
SpecGX, LLC also known as Mallinckrodt has filed bankruptcy, Chapter 11. With that being said, the October water and sewer bills- approximately $42,000 has not been paid and the Village is not able to go after them for payment or shut their water off for nonpayment. This is revenue that helps pay the Village’s water and sewer fund bills. It is a big hit especially to the Village’s water fund account. Moving forward, when the January water and sewer bill comes out, they will be responsible to pay. Mayor Kaufman has been in touch with the company’s lawyer and will contact her again to see about an advance. Regarding the Bond update, there was only one bank that answered the notice, Greene Bank. There was a verbal of the interest rate but the paperwork has not been received yet. Mayor Kaufman thought in light of everything brought to the board meeting tonight, the Village should put a stop on purchasing anything unless it is absolutely necessary. The Board agreed. Regarding infrastructure security, Mayor Kaufman stated it wouldn’t happen now due to a hold on purchases but eventually a new security system will be installed at the community center and the water and sewer plants. In regard to Covid-19 policy and procedure, Mayor Kaufman stated the Village currently has the waiver and has recently purchased wall mount thermometers to go into each Village owned building/facility. Temperatures will have to be taken upon entering the buildings as well as signing the waiver. Regarding the FD truck issue, truck 1812 once again has had repairs made to it and the Village has received a bill for over $7000 for those repairs.
Mayor Kaufman opened the floor to community participation. Trustee Key said that the railing in front of the post office needs to be addressed as it has been hit and it has pieces sticking out that could be dangerous to the public. It was believed to be the owner of the post office building which would be Don Dales. Mayor Kaufman will notify him.
A motion to go into executive session regarding employee matters was mad by Trustee Quarino at 8:02 p.m. with a second from Trustee Reinshagen. A motion to open the meeting back up at 8:04 p.m. was made by Trustee Quarino, with a second from Trustee Key. A motion to approve the following bills on Abstract No. 6 was made by Trustee Reinshagen, with a second from Trustee Key, with all in favor, carried.
General Fund Voucher No. 157-181 $23,395.84
Water Fund Voucher No. 80-100 $22,503.23
Sewer Fund Voucher No. 88-110 $ 6,710.64
NYC Fund Voucher No. 105-129 $22,581.67
A motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:32 p.m. was made by Trustee Reinshagen, with a second from Trustee Key, with all in favor, carried. Meeting adjourned.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kellee J. Estus
Clerk-Treasurer
