VILLAGE OF HOBART BOARD MEETING MINUTES MARCH 26, 2018
The regular meeting of the Village of Hobart Board of Trustees was called to order at 6:33 p.m. by Mayor Aaron Kaufman. Those present were Mayor Kaufman, Trustees Amy Reinshagen and Gordy Key, Clerk-Treasurer Kellee Estus, Village Attorney John Hubbard, Superintendent of DPW Lucas McMullen, Chief Operator of Waste Water Richi Horne, Andrew Flach, Kayla Mason, Marc Estus and Christine Kaufman.
The Treasurer’s Reports for November and December of 2017 and January and February of 2018 were reviewed by the Board. A motion to accept the reports with the following transfers was made by Trustee Key with a second from Trustee Reinshagen, with all in favor, carried. November 2017: In the General Fund, transfer $9.34 from 1325.4 to 1325.4-4; transfer $ 629.43 from 5110.4 to 9010.8. In the Water Fund, transfer $24.91 from 8340.4 to 8340.4-2; transfer $267.54 from 8320.4-1 to 9010; transfer $6.40 from 8310.4-5 to 9060.1. In the Sewer Fund, transfer $22.96 from 8130.4-10 to 8130.4-28; transfer $1128.04 from 8130.4-2 to 8130.4-3; transfer $212.70 from 8130.4-8 to 9010.8. In the NYC Fund, transfer $112.16 from 1990 to 8130.1-5; transfer $859.34 from 1440.4 to 8130.2-7; transfer $2838.48 from 8130.4-3 to 8130.4-20; transfer $1017.33 from 8130.4-2 to 9010.8. December 2017: In the General Fund, transfer $58.37 from 1325.4 to 1325.4-4; transfer $78.91 from 5182 to 9055. In the Water Fund, transfer $355.45 from 8340.4 to 8310.4-2; transfer $15.42 from 8340.4 to 9055. In the Sewer Fund, transfer $3000 from 8120.4 to 8120.1; transfer $1000 from 8130.4-1 to 8120.1; transfer $ 455.50 from 8130.4-4 to 8130.4-3; transfer $5.22 from 9060 to 9055. In the NYC Fund, transfer $11.01 from 8130.1-7 to 8130.1-5; transfer $48.79 from 8130.4-27 to 8130.4-28, transfer $709.53 from 8130.2-3 to 8130.2-7; transfer $90.73 from 9060 to 9055. January 2018: In the General Fund, transfer $435.00 from 4540.4-3 to 3410.4-7; transfer $253.50 from 5110.4 to 5142.4. In the Water Fund, transfer $477.57 from 8340.4 to 8340.4-2; transfer $25.60 from 9040 to 9060.1. In the Sewer Fund, transfer $74.24 from 8130.4-1 to 8130.4-40. In the NYC Fund, transfer $2400 from 8130.4-21 to 8130.2-7; transfer $654.86 from 8130.4-21A to 8130.2-7; transfer $309.63 from 8130.2-3 to 8130.1-5. February 2018: In the General Fund, transfer $358.20 from 1620.4 to 1910-F; transfer $603.86 from 5110.4 to 5142.4. In the Water Fund, transfer $79.60 from 1910.2 to 1910.1; transfer $175.00 from 8320.4-2 to 8310.4-1; transfer $20.00 from 8310.4-5 to 8340.4-2; transfer $16.00 from 9060 to 9060.1. In the Sewer Fund, transfer $ 111.44 from 1910-5 to 1910-3; transfer $45.84 from 8130.4-7 to 8130.4-13; transfer $74.24 from 8130.4-7 to 8130.4-40. In the NYC Fund, transfer $246.76 from 1910-5 to 1910-3; transfer $57.21 from 8130.1-7 to 8130.1-5; transfer $1000 from 8130.4-2 to 8130.2-8; transfer $1016.92 from 8130.4-1 to 8130.2-8; transfer $119.98 from 8130.4-26 to 8130.4-33; transfer $129.90 from 8130.4-27 to 8130.4-4. A motion to accept the November 2017 and January 2018 meeting minutes was made by Trustee Key with a second from Trustee Reinshagen with all in favor, carried.
Superintendent of DPW Lucas McMullen reported that they have been busy working on maintenance and upkeep on the trucks. They had also been busy with snow and did not have any breakdowns with the trucks. He stated the new GMC truck helped out a lot with the snowstorm and made a big difference. There was a problem with the defroster on that truck which was fixed by Doug McMullen. Superintendent McMullen wished to state that employee Dan Wade has done a great job during the snowstorms with plowing streets and sidewalks. Mayor Kaufman asked about employees being trained on the equipment. Kaufman stated Superintendent McMullen was to go through all training forms and have employees trained on all equipment that they haven’t been trained on yet. Mayor Kaufman also questioned placing Dan Wade in a water class. He also asked McMullen if he had completed the bridge grant application yet. McMullen stated he was working on it.
Chief of Waste Water Richi Horne reported to the Board that Muthig’s Plumbing and Heating changed the transformer on the boiler, Rural Water did an energy audit and Power Generation serviced the generator. She stated Jake Palmatier passed the activated sludge test and has one more test to pass before he can take the state test. Chief Operator Horne stated she and Tim Rausch met with Tara Beck and Carl Hanselman at Mallinckrodt to see how their water flow goes through the plant. She stated the sewer plant employees have been pulling pumps and de-ragging due to excessive rags. She is looking into a rag catcher that would catch the rags at the lift station. She stated DEP and DEC had come to the plant for inspections. Horne stated the Delaware River Basin Commission docket is due next June and the application and fee is due 12 months ahead of time – she just needs to update the emergency plan. She said the copper limit is being met easily right now. She asked if the Board would be open to her and Tim networking with other local sewer plants. Mayor Kaufman said yes.
Mayor Kaufman asked Superintendent McMullen to move the speed sign once a month, so the day after a Board meeting would be a good way to remember.
Andrew Flach stated the speed sign was terrific and asked if it could be allowed on Route 10. Mayor Kaufman stated he had already asked for verification of that and is waiting for an answer. Flach stated the Farmer’s Market will once again begin in June. He stated they have a schedule with special features and events this year including a Heritage Day and ice cream social.
Mayor Kaufman continued the meeting with old business. In regard to the room at the Activity Center, the potential tenant felt there were too many restraints with the state to work out so she will not be renting the room. A brief discussion of a community exercise room followed. Mayor Kaufman stated Rosie Lamport was applying for grants to do this. In regard to the Village property off of Reservoir Road, there was nothing new to report. Mayor Kaufman asked Trustee Reinshagen if she would like to take this on as a project. In regard to snow, Mayor Kaufman asked Attorney Hubbard what the procedure would have to be. Village Attorney Hubbard stated it would be a local law and it would have to be established as to who is declaring a snow emergency – the Mayor or Deputy Mayor. Discussion of a snow emergency followed with time frames for no parking and noting authorization to tow vehicles at owner’s expense. Andrew Flach asked if Project Independence could keep a staff vehicle in the parking lot at the Activity Center. The Board said it was okay but the Village is not responsible for it.
In regard to health insurance, Mayor Kaufman stated the policy from last year would be going up again. He and Trustee Quarino met with employees to discuss a new option. This option lowered the premium for the Village considerably. It is a health reimbursement account which the Village contributes $6550 per employee in an account for their medical expenses. Once that money is used, the rest is 100% the health insurance provider. The employee does not have any copays or out of pocket cost for the year. The only thing the employees pay is a set fee of $25.62 per pay period which is what they were currently paying with last year’s plan. This option was feasible due to NYC paying a considerable portion of 3 out of 4 employees as a benefit. Although already passed, Mayor Kaufman stated the election inspectors for the Village election were Barbara Hoover Stevens and Barbara Coleman with Dawn Bals as an alternate. Mayor Kaufman stated Delaware County had a list of foreclosures that the Village could go in with to try to collect tax monies. Mayor Kaufman read a resolution to do this with all three Board members voting yes. Fran Pardee asked if SK Royals could use the gym again for practices once a week until June. The girls are once again all SK students. The Board agreed to allow them to use it free of charge with the stipulation if someone wanted to rent the gym during their time, SK Royals would have to pick another time. Mayor Kaufman discussed the Tentative Budget. He asked the Board members if they had any ideas for the budget and to get back to him. Mayor Kaufman stated that the water shut off day was still time consuming to employees. The Village crew still knocked on doors or made their presence known to give the people one last chance. Village Clerk-Treasurer Estus tried contacting a few residents in the trailer park to make sure they were aware that even if their actual bill was less than $10, according to the new water law, they would be charged $25 once their water was shut off. This fee would have to be paid also before water service would be turned back on. Mayor Kaufman asked the Board if the employees should just turn water off from now on, no knocking on doors or phone calls. The Board agreed as that is what the law says to do. Mayor Kaufman stated one resident had cut the wire to their meter. This is destroyed property and this resident was sent a letter informing them that they will be charged to have it fixed.
Mayor Kaufman stated the Village had just finished a state audit. A few items that have been discussed already were the conflict of interest issue with purchasing items from Hobart Hardware while having an owner on the Board, not giving paid vacation ahead of time to an employee and attaching bank statements to the Treasurer’s report once a month. The state auditors have left and will be finishing up their report in the next several weeks.
Mayor Kaufman stated he had several complaints to address. He proceeded to do so.
He then stated a Village employee will be suspended for 5 days due to disciplinary actions for violation of policy and procedures effective tomorrow.
Mayor Kaufman stated he had spoken to Town Supervisor Michael Triolo regarding the ambulance coverage issue and some options to resolve the problem. The first option would be for Grand Gorge, Stamford and Hobart to combine EMS and pay for the services during the day and change it to volunteer at night. The second option would be for Cooperstown Medical Transport (CMT) to supply a crew with Hobart supplying the rig and equipment and CMT would bill patients and keep the money. Mayor Kaufman asked the Board members which option they were for. Trustee Key said the first option and Trustee Reinshagen said the first option but should still explore the second option.
Mayor Kaufman stated he had been pondering the idea of a Village police officer or Town Constable. He spoke with Town Supervisor Michael Triolo and said he seemed interested to a point. Mayor Kaufman stated this would have to be funded correctly. He stated the drug problem in Hobart alone is horrendous. Main Street is not an area to walk after dark. He has spoken to Judge Jackie Lamport. She stated last year $55,480 was paid in fines and $16,175 was what the Town of Stamford got back so the state received the big chunk of that money. Ideally, a lot of the salary of a police officer or constable would be paid by tickets and fines. A lengthy discussion continued with members of the audience and the Board. Mayor Kaufman asked for the audience’s opinion on whether or not it was a good idea and all residents said it was. He also asked Village Attorney Hubbard and Hubbard stated he thought it was a good idea and worth pursuing. Mayor Kaufman asked if the Board felt it was worth pursuing. They agreed it was. Mayor Kaufman opened the floor to community participation and there was none.
Mayor Kaufman motioned for a public hearing to be scheduled for 6 p.m. on Monday April 16th prior to the Board meeting for the adoption of the 2018-2019 Budget. A motion to accept this was made by Trustee Reinshagen with a second from Trustee Key.
A motion to accept the following bills on Abstract No. 10 was made by Trustee Key, with a second from Trustee Reinshagen with all in favor, carried.
General Fund Voucher #s 281-321 $12,784.88
Water Fund Voucher #s 144-162 $ 2,535.58
Sewer Fund Voucher #s 212-239 $ 6,559.52
NYC Fund Voucher #s 224-254 $ 9,211.31
A motion to move into executive session in regard to employee disciplinary matters was made by Trustee Reinshagen with a second from Trustee Key, with all in favor, carried.
A motion to come out of executive session at 9:30 p.m. and adjourn the meeting at 9:30 p.m. was made by Trustee Key with a second from Trustee Reinshagen with all in favor, carried. Meeting adjourned.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kellee J. Estus
Clerk-Treasurer
