ESSEX TOWN BOARD
SPECIAL MEETING
APRIL 13, 2012
8:30 a.m.
Present: Sharon Boisen Supervisor
Harold MacDougal Councilman
Claire LaPine Councilwoman
James LaForest Councilman
Mark Wrisley Councilman
Also
Present: Catherine DeWolff Town Clerk
Guests: Norma Goff, Donna Lou Sonnett, Lauren Murphy
Supervisor Boisen opened the meeting at 8:30 a.m.
Norma Goff asked to speak to the Board before they go into executive session to discuss a personnel matter. The Supervisor asked the applicant if she minded that. Lauren Murphy said no, she did not mind.
Mrs. Goff was offered the courtesy of the floor where she expressed her concerns for the repairs being done at the Town Dock. She said that while the job looks great, she was concerned that the timbers are rolled, cracked and rotted, and not in good enough condition to hold what would be replacing it. Mrs. Goff suggested that more money be raised for the dock to have a better job done that will last longer rather than just have it adequate and safe. She proposed a fundraiser to raise enough money to do a better job. Donna Sonnett said that she thought it to be a relatively simple job to take off another tier and the contractor could give us an estimate for doing that.
Supervisor Boisen said that she goes down to the dock a lot to monitor the progress and it looks a thousand times better than it did. She explained that the contractor and the Board think that we can get down to the third level for an additional sum that will include replacing the rotted timbers and that the bid was now at $10,200. The Supervisor advised the Board that she would email them with the cost figures for the expenditure of the additional funds. She said that the Board may need to amend the Resolution awarding the bid to reflect the changes. Mrs. Goff said that they need to look at the outside corner, which is clearly rotted.
There was a discussion of the repairs to the Town Dock. Donna Sonnett spoke about the bowed out section of the dock saying that it was part of the old dock that is under water. The Supervisor said that she talked with Steve McKenna and Steve said he is happy to help the contractor. Mrs. Goff reiterated that funds could be raised to help with the cost.
Supervisor Boisen said that she felt that the public should not have to raise any more money for the dock. She said that a new flagpole is needed there as the old one is rotted.
The Supervisor thanked the guests for their comments and moved that the Board enter into executive session, seconded by Councilman MacDougal – with unanimous agreement by the Board, the Essex Town Board entered into executive session at 8:45 a.m. to discuss a personnel matter.
At 9.55 a.m. the Board exited executive session with no action taken and re-entered the Special meeting.
On a motion to appoint Bill Ball as the new Code Enforcement Officer by Supervisor Boisen, seconded by Councilman Wrisley, the resolution is DEFEATED: Yes-2 Boisen, Wrisley
No-3 MacDougal, LaPine, LaForest
Amendment #3 of the NYSERDA grant was discussed. The Supervisor advised the Board that we must sign Amendment #3 to get our money.
On a motion by Councilman MacDougal, seconded by Councilman LaForest, to give the Supervisor authorization to sign Amendment #3 of the NYSERDA grant, the Resolution is ADOPTED: Yes-5
Boisen, MacDougal, LaPine, Wrisley, LaForest No-0
Resolution 63 – 2012
Resolution Authorizing the Supervisor to Sign Amendment #3 of the NYSERDA Grant
Resolved that the Essex Town Board grants the Supervisor the authority to sign Amendment #3 of the NYSERDA grant by unanimous vote.
There was a discussion of the need by Champlain Bank to have the Town of Essex discharge a lien that was part of grant whereby the Town was the lien holder on properties receiving grants. After living in the house for an amount of time, the owners did not have to pay anything back to the Town. The property is being sold and the bank needs to show that the Town has discharged the lien on the mortgage. The Supervisor said that the County has provided the paper work, however, we do need a resolution to authorize the discharge.
On a motion by Councilman LaForest, seconded by Councilman MacDougal, to Discharge the Mortgage Agreement, the Resolution is ADOPTED: Yes-5 LaPine, LaForest, MacDougal, Wrisley, Boisen No-0
Resolution 64 – 2012
Resolution to Sign the Discharge of Mortgage Agreement
Resolved that the Essex Town Board authorized the Discharge of Mortgage Agreement as presented.
There was a discussion of the contract received by Haroff Auctions to sell the Highway surplus equipment. The Supervisor advised that Haroff wants the Town Attorney to sign off on the contract. The Supervisor asked if we really want to have an attorney look at the contract and if agreeable to Haroff, she would sign the contract.
Councilman LaForest said that he would like to see the contract.
On a motion by Councilman LaForest, seconded by Councilman MacDougal, authorizing the Supervisor to sign the contract with Haroff Auctions, the Resolution is ADOPTED: Yes-5 MacDougal, LaPine, LaForest, Wrisley, Boisen No-0
Resolution 65 – 2012
Resolution Authorizing the Supervisor to Sign the Contract with Haroff Auctions
Whereas the Essex Town Board sees the need to surplus excess Highway equipment using the firm of Haroff Auctions to accomplish this task at no cost to the Town;
Resolved that the Supervisor is authorized to sign the contract with Haroff Auctions to sell the Highway Departments™ surplus items.
Supervisor Boisen asked if there was anything further to come before the Board.
On a motion by Councilwoman LaPine to appoint Lauren Murphy as the new Code Enforcement/Zoning Officer, seconded by Councilman LaForest, the Resolution is ADOPTED: Yes-3 LaPine, MacDougal, LaForest Abstain-2 Wrisley, Boisen
Resolution 66 – 2012
Resolution to Appoint Lauren Murphy the Code Enforcement/Zoning Officer
Resolved that Lauren Murphy is appointed the new Code Enforcement/Zoning Officer of the Town of Essex for the remainder of the year of 2012.
With nothing further to come before the Essex Town Board, the Special meeting is adjourned at 10:07 a.m.
Catherine DeWolff
Town Clerk
