Regular Town Board Meeting

1/13/2011

The meeting was called to order at 7:02 PM.

Supervisor Boisen led us in the Pledge to the Flag.

Board members present were Supervisor Boisen, Councilwoman LaPine, Councilman LaForest and Councilman Wrisley. Also present was Audrey Hoskins, Town Clerk.

Councilwoman LaPine asked for a moment of silence for Louise Christian, Tom Lamb, Isabelle Mallet Sherman and the tragedy in Arizona.

Visitors present were Steve & Debbie Bridge, Grace Drummond, Dianne Lansing & Dave Lansing, Casey Marshall, Harold Mac Dougal, Nancy Dougal, Alvin Rainer. Press Republican, Keith Lobdell, Valley News, Dorothy Bliss, Loren Murphy, Jim & Colleen Van Hoven, Steve Phillips, Kellie Petrie, John Coonrod Norma Goff and Olive Alexander.

Guest were welcomed and rules of order were explained.

Supervisor Boisen said she would like to enter executive session to discuss the appointment of the new Town Councilperson.

Motion to enter into executive session made by Councilman Wrisley. Seconded by Councilwoman LaPine. Roll call Councilman LaForest-yes, Councilwoman LaPine-yes, Councilman Wrisley-yes and Supervisor Boisen-yes.

Entered executive session at 7:06 PM.

Exited executive session at 7:15 PM.

Resumed Regular Board meeting at 7:15 PM.

Motion to appoint Harold MacDougal as Town Councilman for the remainder of 2011 made by Councilwoman LaPine. Seconded by Councilman LaForest.

Roll call Councilwoman LaPine-yes, Councilman LaForest-yes, Councilman Wrisley-abstain and Supervisor Boisen-yes.

Councilman Mac Dougal signed the oath book and joined the Board for the rest of the meeting.

Jim Van Hoven said he had mixed feeling about this as Harold had been a wonderful chairman of the Planning Board and he will be missed greatly. I

want to on behalf of the members of the Planning Board thank him for doing such a great job and wish you the best of luck. Harold stated that he had mixed feelings about leaving.

Motion to enter into executive session to discuss the remaining appointments

Made by Councilman Mac Dougal. Seconded by Councilwoman LaPine. Roll

Call Councilman LaForest-yes, Councilwoman LaPine-yes, Councilman Mac Dougal-yes, Councilman Wrisley-yes and Supervisor Boisen-yes.

Entered executive session at 7:18 PM.

Exited executive session at 7:46 PM.

Resumed Regular Board meeting at 7:47 PM.

Assistant water superintendent appointment – Motion to appoint Casey Marshall for 2011made by Councilman Mac Dougal. Seconded by Councilman Wrisley. Roll call Councilman LaForest-yes, Councilwoman LaPine-yes, Councilman Mac Dougal, Councilman Wrisley-yes and Supervisor Boisen-yes.

Zoning Officer appointment – Motion to appoint David Lansing for 2011 made by

Councilman Wrisley. Seconded by Councilwoman LaPine. Roll call Councilman

LaForest-yes, Councilwoman LaPine-yes, Councilman Mac Dougal-yes, Councilman Wrisley-yes and Supervisor Boisen-abstain.

Water Rents Clerk appointment – Motion to appoint Audrey Hoskins for 2011

Made by Supervisor Boisen. Seconded by Councilman LaForest. Roll call

Councilman LaForest-yes, Councilwoman LaPine-yes, Councilman Mac Dougal-

Yes, Councilman Wrisley-yes and Supervisor Boisen-yes.

Zoning Board of appeals – Lauren Murphy’s term expired. Loren was willing to be reappointed. Motion to appoint Loren Murphy to the Zoning Board of Appeals and to be Chairperson. Made by Councilwoman LaPine. Seconded by Councilman MacDougal. Roll call Councilman LaForest-yes, Councilwoman LaPine-yes, Councilman Mac Dougal-yes, Councilman Wrisley-yes and Supervisor Boisen-yes.

Supervisor Boisen said we failed to accept Harold Mac Dougal’s resignation from the Planning Board. Motion to accept Harold Mac Dougal’s resignation from the Planning Board made by Councilman Wrisley. Second by Councilwoman

LaPine. Roll call Councilman LaForest-yes, Councilwoman LaPine-yes, Councilman Mac Dougal-abstain, Councilman Wrisley-yes and Supervisor Boisen-yes.

Jim Van Hoven said the Planning Board will give the Town Board its recommendation for Planning Board Chairperson.

Supervisor Boisen congratulated the appointees.

Approving Minutes – Motion to approve the following minutes

12/9/10 Regular Board

12/17/10 Town Hall Bid Opening

12/22/10 Dog Law Public Hearing

12/30/10 End of Year meeting

with corrections was made by Councilman LaForest. Seconded by Councilman Wrisley. Roll call Councilman LaForest-yes, Councilwoman LaPine-yes, Councilman Mac Dougal-yes, Councilman Wrisley-yes and Supervisor Boisen-yes.

Discussion of Bills – The bills were discussed.

General Fund $ 9,718.05

Highway 14,794.29

Water 1,373.37

Street Lights 485.56

Transfer Station 10.17

Sewer Fund 26,171.27

Motion to accept bills as present was made by Councilman Wrisley. Seconded by Councilwoman LaPine. Roll call Councilman LaForest-yes, Councilwoman LaPine-yes, Councilman Mac Dougal-abstain, Councilman Wrisley-yes and

Supervisor Boisen-yes.

The Town Clerk requested permission to amend abstract # 12, dated 12/9/10 General Fund. The North Country Life Flight voucher # 331 for $500 and the North Country SPCA voucher # 332 for $713 was removed and rescheduled to be paid 0n 1/13/2011 meeting. The new total for the General Fund is$13,548.62.

Motion to give permission to amend this abstract was made by Councilman LaForest. Seconded by Councilwoman LaPine. Roll call Councilman LaForest-yes, Councilwoman LaPine-yes, Councilman Mac Dougal-yes, Councilman Wrisley-yes and Supervisor Boisen-yes.

The Town Clerk requested permission to amend Abstract #13 dated 12/30/10.

Voucher # 23 Murnane Blg. Contractor for $211,849.83, voucher # 24 for S & L Electric for $9,499.05 and voucher # 25 JE Sheehan for $500,846.83 was paid on a previous voucher. The total of voucher # 13 is $55,224.84.Motion to give permission to ammend this abstract was made by Councilman Wrisley. Seconded by Councilwoman LaPine. Roll call Councilman LaForest-yes, Councilwoman LaPine-yes, Councilman Mac Dougal-yes, Councilman Wrisley-yes and Supervisor Boisen-yes.

Zoning Officer Report

During the month of December 2010 I have issued the following permit:

12/29/10 A-954 Building permit to Larry MacDevitt of 2261 Lake Shore Road (Tax map #40.73-5-10.000) for a new boiler, $25.

I continue to make inspections of on-going projects.

Respectfully submitted David Lansing

The Board requested a copy of the fee schedule for permits. Dave said that he

Would get it and that he would like to set down with the Board and discuss the fee schedule.

Planning Board Report – no report.

Supervisors County Report – no report.

Old Business

Water meter status – John Coonrod update the Board on the water meters. About 70% of the meters are done. The other 30% are in house that closed for the winter. Some houses the meters are inside and you have to get permission to go in to check the meters. The equipment to check the meters for the correct flow is about $3000. John said he now has locks on all the meters that have been checked

The billing for the sewer was discussed. Supervisor Boisen said it look like the sewer will not be billed on usage the fist year. We can not read meter now. The

Residents will receive a flat rate bill. The $222.22 will be to pay back the million dollar loan and the difference between that and $534.00 will go for other operating expenses. Everyone was told their first bill would be $534.10. It may go up 3% in the second year and who knows after that.

Councilman LaForest asked if we would start billing the sewer district resident in January 2012. Supervisor Boisen said we need to start billing now, since we have a loan payment due in June or July of this year. Councilman LaForest asked how we could bill them without providing a service. Supervisor Boisen said that she has recently found out that once a district is form billing will start.

Councilman LaForest said he would like to see a written legal opinion before we start billing.

John said we are pumping 16,000 gallons a day. In the summer we pump

26,000 gallons a day.

Supervisor Boisen asked for a list of houses John has been able to get into to inspect the meters so we can try and contract these residents and see when they will be in Town or if someone in Town has a key.

The meters need to be checked to make sure they have matching numbers inside and outside of the homes.

Councilwoman LaPine discussed the water sampling report that lists her house as the location of the sample with John. She stated samples were not taken from her home.

Norma Goff asked if the Town would give advance notice to the sewer district resident that this billing will be taking place. Supervisor Boisen said she has been talking to the OSC about the proper way to handle this. Supervisor

Boisen explained the interest payment, which will be around $55,000.

Councilman LaForest asked John if he knew how many meters will need to be replaced. John said until he can get into the locked homes he does not have an exact figure. Each new meter will cost around $300.

Octagon School house – status – Supervisor Boisen said she realizes we can not cover the roof now that it is covered with snow. We did not get the grant to replace the roof. We need to preserve the roof and this snow is concerning. Loren Murphy asked if the next step is to stabilize and look into other alternatives. Supervisor Boisen said this is what will be done. Loren offered her services in helping with the roof problem.

NYSERDA grant Town Hall – Emergency efficiency grant is moving slowly we have awarded the bid to Jerry Spooner. NYSERDA would like the project completed by the middle of February.

Easement Status – This was discussed at the sewer meeting. Two easements are still outstanding for the sewer mains. Supervisor Boisen said it was discussed at the sewer meeting that eminent domain will be started on these properties. The funding agencies will not pay us if we do not have these easements. This will cost a significant amount of money. The persons who live in the properties do not have the legal right to sign the easements. The people who own these properties are deceased. Next month we will have a status report on the lateral easements.

Web site committee update – Olive Alexander said that as of this week the

Designer and co-designer expect to get started on it within a week. It can probably be finished in about four hours. The information then can transfer to the new sight. We would like the Board to preview it before we open it to the public. Bill Morgan will give us the proper access to the old site. The old site will direct you to the new site.

Snow plowing at the Smith House building in Town was discussed. It was decided at the last meeting that it was alright for the Highway Department to plow. Supervisor Boisen received a call from Chris at Smith House very concerned as to what the status of the plowing was. Councilwoman LaPine said

She thought there was no rule against but makes a strong suggestion that Town does not plow on privately owned property. It is a gray area when we are plowing the Smith House. We need to check on the legalities and liabilities of this. Councilman MacDougal suggested we check with our insurance carrier.

Councilwoman LaPine will contact our insurance agent to discuss this matter.

New Business

ACAP lease for 2011 for Senior Center- Supervisor Boisen requests permission to sign. $160 a month. Motion was made by Councilman LaForest giving Supervisor Boisen permission to sign the lease with ACAP for 2011. Seconded by Councilwoman LaPine. Roll call Councilman LaForest-yes, Councilwoman LaPine-yes, Councilman MacDougal-abstain, Councilman Wrisley-yes and Supervisor Boisen-yes.

Lake Champlain Committee membership – $40. The last time the Town was a member was 2008. Supervisor Boisen said she feels we need to support the Lake Champlain Committee. Lori Fisher is chairperson of this committee.

Supervisor Boisen said that she and Kevin Rowland, OSC, auditor talked and he would like to schedule meeting with the Board on Friday, January 21 in the afternoon. This was not a good day for most of the Board members. Supervisor

Boisen will reschedule the meeting and notify the Board members.

Amendment # 1 with NYSERDA – The changes were discussed. Motion to give Supervisor Boisen permission to sign amendment #1 made by Councilman Wrisley. Seconded by Councilman MacDougal. Roll call Councilman LaForest-yes, Councilwoman LaPine-yes, Councilman MacDougal-yes, Councilman Wrisley-yes and Supervisor Boisen-yes.

North Country Technology, Inc. The IT contract for 2011 was discussed. Councilman LaForest said he was not in favor of signing this contract. He had done a cost analysis and did not see that there was any savings by having a contract. Councilwoman LaPine said it seems like a lot of money to her. Councilman Wrisley said this is the going rate to have an IT person service the computers we have. It is quite a bit for a small Town to pay. The contract was tabled until next month. Councilman LaForest said we should put the IT contract out to bid. Councilman MacDougal said he agreed with Councilman LaForest.

Supervisor’s Financial report

Motion to accept the Town Clerk’s Report as presented made by Councilman LaForest. Seconded by Councilman Wrisley. Roll call Councilman LaForest-yes, Councilwoman LaPine-yes, Councilman MacDougal-abstain, Councilman Wrisley-yes and Supervisor Boisen-yes.

Motion to accept Water Rent’s report as presented made by Councilman Wrisley. Seconded by Councilwoman LaPine. Roll call Councilman LaForest-yes, Councilwoman LaPine-yes, Councilman MacDougal-yes, Councilman Wrisley-yes and Supervisor Boisen-yes.

Motion to accept the Supervisor’s report as presented made by Councilman Wrisley. Seconded by Councilman LaForest. Roll call Councilman LaForest-yes, Councilwoman LaPine-yes, Councilman MacDougal-yes, Councilman Wrisley-yes and Supervisor Boisen-yes.

The meeting was adjourned at 9 PM.

Respectfully submitted Audrey Hoskins, Town Clerk