VILLAGE OF HOBART BOARD MEETING MINUTES FEBRUARY 23, 2022
The regular meeting of the Board of Trustees was called to order at 6:28 p.m. by Mayor Aaron Kaufman. Those present were Mayor Kaufman, Trustees Gordy Key, Jim Quarino and Kayla Mason, Village Attorney John Hubbard, Clerk-Treasurer Kellee Estus, Superintendent of DPW Lucas McMullen, Don Thomases, Daisy McMullen, Tim Rausch, Richi Horne, Joe Andreno, Cody Hager, Duane Martin, John Muccino, Mary VanValkenburg and Brent Trimbell.
Superintendent Lucas McMullen reported to the board that the Village would most likely be in the boil water advisory for another week before it could be lifted. He also stressed to the board that the water plant is in really bad shape at this point. So bad that we may have to start repairing and replacing before we receive the grant/loan funding from EFC. He stated the crew had taken the holiday lights down and were prepping for the next storm. Don Thomases informed the board that there is a property line issue with the footbridge project. It turns out the Village does not own all of the land where the footbridge would go. The new owners of what is known as the Brown House on Maple Avenue own some of it according to tax maps. Don has approached the new owners and they are not comfortable with the project on their property. It was determined that the survey and deed of the property needs to be looked at to see what it says. Don also informed the board that the thank you banner for the holiday light donation will be coming down and a Welcome to Hobart banner will take its place until the Farmer’s Market starts. Joe Andreno of the ZBA distributed two drafted applications for the board’s review. Mayor Kaufman said as long as Village Attorney Hubbard reviewed and stated the applications were good, they would be accepted. The board reviewed the January Treasurer’s Report. A motion to accept the report with the following changes was made by Trustee Quarino with a second from Trustee Key, with all in favor, carried. In the General Fund, transfer $52.22 from 1620.4 to 1620.4-3; transfer $1470.97 from 5110.4 to 3410.4; transfer $118.83 from 4540.4 to 4540.4-7; transfer $5.28 from 1950-A.1 to 1950-B; transfer $2624.31 from 5110.4 to 5142.4. In the Water Fund, transfer $16.00 from 9060.2 to 9060.1. In the Sewer Fund, transfer $25.87 from 8130.4-23 to 8130.4-13. In the NYC Fund, transfer $619.71 from 1990 to 8130.1-5; transfer $54.96 from 8130.4-2A to 8130.4-13; transfer $949.05 from 1440.4 to 8130.4-23; transfer $5.93 from 1990 to 8130.4-32. A motion to approve the minutes of last month’s meeting was made by Trustee Mason, with a second from Trustee Quarino, with all in favor, carried.
Mayor Kaufman continued the meeting with old business. Regarding the water plant upgrade, he said we are now in year 3 and it looks like the funds are not going to be released until May of 2022. In regard to EMS, Mayor Kaufman spoke with Don VanEtten and VanEtten said that names were submitted for a local board and that board will meet next month to develop a non-profit organization. Regarding properties on Main Street, they are all in the same status that they were last month. In regard to a police officer, Mayor Kaufman stated he submitted the grant application to Robinson Broadhurst. Duane Martin introduced John Muccino, a retired New Jersey police officer to the board to talk about community policing. Mr. Muccino gave a little of his background to the board and explained how community policing does really work when it is implemented in the right way. A police officer would get to know the community he is in, talk to people, shoot hoops with kids at a basketball court, etc. Become someone the community can trust.
Mayor Kaufman continued the meeting with new business. During the storm that took out power to the water plant, Mallinckrodt had a water main break that drained out water tower. With the combination of water loss and no way to produce water it left the Village in a situation unknown to them before. It has been a slow process to regain water. Mallinckrodt offered to truck in water to our water tower and even with that happening another undetected leak and issues at the water plant set back the regaining of the water capacity over that weekend. Mayor Kaufman said the Village employees did a great job working to get this whole situation resolved. Brent Trimbell stated he had pricing for the guardrail replacement on Maple Avenue. Approximately 300 feet is the Village and approximately 250 feet is the Town of Stamford. The county crew would come in with materials and we would provide 5 workers, Village and Town and it would be a one-day job. The Village’s total estimated cost would be approximately $8950. Trustee Quarino made a motion to move forward with this project. Trustee Key second the motion, with all in favor, carried. Trimbell stated he will be setting up a scholarship fund in Reggie Brunson’s name and will be funding it yearly. He would like to do a basketball tournament in Reggie’s name this summer. He offered to draw up a plan and provide it to the board at next month’s meeting. Mayor Kaufman stated since the water emergency happened, he has been kicking around ideas of how to get the word out better to residents and businesses. He is meeting with Superintendent Dengler tomorrow to discuss how the all-call system runs. Residents would have to sign up for it in order to get the messages. Village Attorney Hubbard had a few changes to the ZBA application forms. The board agreed to approve the forms with Hubbard’s changes and will set a fee schedule that they can implement after it’s voted on for approval. The meeting was opened to community participation. There was none. A motion to move into executive session regarding employee issues was made by Trustee Quarino at 7:50 p.m. and second by Trustee Mason with all in favor, carried. A motion to move out of executive session at 8:00 p.m. was made by Trustee Quarino, with a second from Trustee Mason, with all in favor, carried. A motion to approve the following bills on Abstract No. 9 was made by Trustee Quarino, with a second from Trustee Key with all in favor, carried.
General Fund Voucher No. 225-258 $25,518.15
Water Fund Voucher No. 127-146 $ 5,473.61
Sewer Fund Voucher No. 136-154 $ 7,101.99
NYC Fund Voucher No. 167-188 $ 6,933.15
A motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:40 p.m. was made by Trustee Mason, with a second from Trustee Key with all in favor, carried. Meeting adjourned.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kellee J. Estus
Clerk-Treasurer
