VILLAGE OF HOBART BOARD MEETING MINUTES AUGUST 20, 2018
The regular meeting of the Village of Hobart Board of Trustees was called to order at 6:32 p.m. by Mayor Aaron Kaufman. Those present were Mayor Kaufman, Trustees Jim Quarino, Amy Reinshagen, Kayla Mason and Gordy Key, Village Attorney John Hubbard, Clerk-Treasurer Kellee Estus, Superintendent of DPW Lucas McMullen, Chief of Waste Water Richi Horne, Kristina Zill, Jennifer Renwick and James Barr III (late).
Mayor Kaufman began the meeting with Department Head reports. Superintendent McMullen reported to the Board that the crew patched Maple Avenue, Cornell Avenue, Church and Pearl Street where the pavement had pulled out of the road during a hot spell. He said they had installed a few more cellular read meters and got the GMC ready for his road test for his CDL license. They have been making sure storm drains are clear and fixed the shoulder on the corner of Maple Park and Railroad Avenue. McMullen asked Mayor Kaufman and Trustee Quarino what their schedule looked like to paint the basketball court lines. Trustee Quarino will have to get back to him. Mayor Kaufman asked Village Attorney Hubbard to draft a letter to give to the remaining residents that have not contacted the Village to have their meter changed.
Chief of Waste Water Richi Horne reported to the Board that the waste water plant had an inspection from DEP and everything was found to be satisfactory. She stated the plant had a telephone issue and the Village contacted Verizon. It turned out to be an old corroded phone that they have since replaced. She stated the Hughes Net modem that is in the NYC side of the plant had to be replaced. Chief Horne stated they had to de-rag the return pump again. She also stated they had a water heater replaced. Horne reported that Jake will take his test on Friday, August 24th. She also said the manhole insert with activated carbon was put in on High Street and the manhole is now closed. The new bar screen is in at the plant and working. Their energy efficiency audit went well and it was recommended that they replace the light bulbs with LED bulbs. They also requested the Village of Hobart sponsor a hands-on class with local area operators. The class would be held at the waste water treatment plant. The Board members all said yes to this request. Chief Horne also stated they had high flows due to the rain and water use. She said she spoke with Mrs. Fortune last Friday and told them their lateral would be discussed tonight and will be moving forward. Mayor Kaufman told the Department Heads they were free to leave after their report or welcome to stay if they chose to do so.
The Board reviewed the Treasurer’s Report. A motion to accept the report with the following suggestions was made by Trustee Mason, with a second from Trustee Key with all in favor, carried. In the Water Fund, transfer $.30 from 1990 to 1910.2. In the Sewer Fund, transfer $19.00 from 1990 to 8130.4-5. In the NYC Fund, transfer $19.00 from 1990 to 8130.4-25. A motion to accept the minutes of last month’s Board 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. In regard to the Village owned property off of Reservoir Road, Trustee Reinshagen stated a letter and contract was received from Northeast Timber Services, which was the company that was involved in the original timber cut. Northeast Timber Services would take 16% of the highest bid. Trustee Reinshagen said a State forester would assess the property for free. This process would take longer. The Board discussed the two options and voted unanimously for the contract with Northeast Timber Services. Mayor Kaufman asked the Board if they all agreed that the plan was to log the property and then sell it. All Board members said yes. The topic of fowl in the Village was tabled. Kristina Zill of Transition Catskills stated the solar presentation held on August 7th had a small turnout but she thinks they still have 10 accounts that signed up. She spoke to the Board about a unified solar permit and asked the Board to google clean energy communities. In regard to the police officer, Mayor Kaufman stated there were no new updates, he had attended a Town of Stamford meeting and they were supportive but wanted more information. Village Attorney Hubbard stated an option would be to have a Village Constable as opposed to a Town Constable. The Village could then have an agreement with the Town for shared services where the Town would pay the Village for those services. The Village would need to pass a local law for a Village Constable. Mayor Kaufman asked the Board if they still wanted to move forward on this subject. The Board all agreed yes. The next question was to advertise the position or give it to the person in mind. The Board agreed to advertise but with the same criteria that the guy in mind already has. A job description needs to be put together. Village Attorney Hubbard stated the local law for a Village Constable would come first. Trustee Mason asked if the Board could have a meeting specifically on this topic. A special meeting regarding the possibility of a Village Constable is scheduled for Tuesday, August 28th at 6 p.m.
In new business, Jennifer Renwick approached the Board to rent the gym for fitness classes she would be running including the work out called Insanity. Ms. Renwick carries liability insurance. She would do an evening class one night a week to start and would like to try to cover the $15 an hour fee with donations from participants to begin. The Board all agreed to allow this to move forward.
In regard to water issues, Trustee Reinshagen stated Mallinckrodt had a liquid line running that used a lot of water. It will be down for 2 months but will be back up and running so the Village needs to do something now. Mayor Kaufman stated Francois Vedier of Lamont Engineers suggested running the Maple well along with both Eklund wells manually during the day. Emergency authorization to use the Sheffield well if need be was given by both DOH and DEC. Mayor Kaufman stated Francois did think the Village could apply for and receive an emergency grant that would cover 2 wells and upgrade the panel at the water treatment plant facility. Mayor Kaufman read an agreement letter from Lamont Engineers to move forward with this. In regard to junk vehicles, a letter was sent to the property owner from Tom Little notifying her of the violation and giving her until September 22nd to remedy the situation before receiving a ticket. There are at least 4 vehicles sitting on the property just behind a neighbor’s fence. In regard to the sewer lateral agreement, it was noted that the new agreement should state that it’s the homeowner’s responsibility and the Village fixing the lateral is a one-time deal because the program is for laterals that are failing, where water is getting into the pipe through holes causing infiltration. In regard to the State Comptroller’s audit, Mayor Kaufman stated all the Board members received the draft findings and he read the response and corrective action for each of the findings found that was submitted to the state by the deadline given. In regard to the request to waive the rental fee for the Blood Drive the Board agreed unanimously to waive the fee. Mayor Kaufman stated fire truck no. 1861 had some paint and side damage after an incident on August 17th. The next step is to get estimates to repair the damage. A suggestion was made by a resident to have a shredding company come to the Village. The Board agreed to do this and to contact Shred-it. A resident that lives in an apartment next to the Village parking lot by the Coffee Pot contacted the office after receiving a notice that their vehicle could not stay overnight as the lot has no overnight parking. She stated she has bad knees which deters her from parking elsewhere. The Board all agreed that the vehicles and their owners all have to be treated the same for this situation. A request was made from the Women’s Writer’s Festival to carefully take down the picture frames on the walls of the community center and place them back up after their event. The Board all agreed yes but they will be responsible if there is any damage. A request to place something in the Village parking lot (Coffee Pot) to deter the sediment and runoff water from going across the sidewalk was made by Joyce Barber. The Board discussed this and found there was no immediate solution to this issue.
There was no community present for community participation.
A motion to accept the following bills on Abstract No. 3 was made by Trustee Mason with a second from Trustee Key with all in favor, carried.
General Fund Voucher No. 57-90 $12,377.54
Water Fund Voucher No. 37-57 $ 4,420.74
Sewer Fund Voucher No. 31-45 $ 2,658.23
NYC Fund Voucher No. 35-52 $ 2,727.55
A motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:04 p.m. was made by Trustee Mason with a second from Trustee Reinshagen, with all in favor, carried. Meeting adjourned.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kellee J. Estus
Clerk-Treasurer
