Town of Essex New York
Town Board Meeting
May 8, 2014
Supervisor Gardner Absent
Deputy Supervisor LaPine Present
Councilman Garvey Absent
Councilman MacDougal Present
Councilman Wrisley Present
Town Clerk Morgan Present
Visitors: Bonnie Monoski, Jane Terlouw, Janice Moran, Steve Phillips, Emily Gardner-Phillips, Sharon Boisen, Tina Gardner, Lauren Murphy, Bradley French
Deputy Supervisor LaPine called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM and led the Pledge of Allegiance. Immediately following she requested a moment of silence for Al Umber.
The Town Clerk read the meeting minutes of the previous meeting. Motion to Approve by Councilman MacDougal and Seconded by Councilman Wrisley. All in favor.
Presentation to the Board by Rod Boula (ECH)
Presentation to the Board by Clark’s Truck Center on a Truck Purchase for the Highway Department ($187,014.00). Provided differing payment/lease options that he has gone over with Ed (Gardner) and gave copies to the Board Members present. Councilman LaPine, I already told Brad he couldn’t have it. Councilman LaPine stated she would read the material and then will have questions. Councilman MacDougal and Wrisley had no questions at this time.
Councilman LaPine – Accept Resignation of Mary Hopkins as Deputy Water/Sewer Rents Clerk. Councilman LaPine – Will be advertising position. Post maybe here, bulletin board, or here. Resolution 51(per Town Clerk) offered by Councilman MacDougal, seconded by Councilman Wrisley. All in favor.
Councilman LaPine – Accept Resignation of Mary Hopkins from the Board of Assessments Review. Councilman LaPine -Trying remember if replacement. Jim ZBA and Frank ZBA. Stanley has to go to training. BAR is Colleen and Rob Ivy and Stanley has till EOY. If going training has to go now. Resolution 52 (per Town Clerk) offered by Councilman MacDougal, seconded by Councilman Wrisley. All in favor.
Councilman LaPine – Review of a letter from Steve Mastrovich reference removal of a tree on 3 Church Street. Tree by house that’s old, near end of life, imminent danger of splitting. Contacted NYSEG, believe Mike says if near power lines they will attend to it. Mike Blanchard suggested he get someone take it down. Not on Town Property may be on Town right away. Do we know who responsible? Councilman MacDougal suggested it is owner’s responsibility, not on Town Property but may be on Town right away. Do we know who responsible? Councilman MacDougal suggested it is owner’s responsibility. Bradley (French) has another letter at the shed, didn’t bring it. Councilman LaPine, so we need send him letter stating owner’s responsibility? Sharon Boisen- I remember we have done before (Jim Morgan). Councilman MacDougal – May have done it but not their responsibility to take it down. Councilman LaPine, where is tree? Bradley (French), between sidewalk and road. Councilman LaPine, what is your pleasure? Councilman MacDougal, right away his responsibility. Motion to send letter informing him the tree is his responsibility. Correct? Councilman MacDougal, not on town property. Councilman MacDougal offered motion to send letter, Councilman Wrisley second. All in favor.
Councilman LaPine – Lou Comeau is working with County on grant for the garden. In order to get the grant we have to have capital account. Will be ten beds to start with, other towns have done it. It is in the back corner of Town property. We need a resolution to establish a Capital Fund Account for the Essex Community Garden. Motion to approve resolution offered by Councilman Wrisley and seconded by Councilman MacDougal. All in favor
Councilman LaPine – Consideration to hire John Crandall of Westport to replace Tracey Smith of Ticonderoga as Certified Treatment Sewer Plant Operator at $50.00 per day every other week-end. Councilman LaPine, has John been spoken to? Tina Gardner, yes, he actually came to the plant and I let him do sampling. Right now he works for Westport. Would work every other weekend or how we work it out with Derrick Wrisley and me and him. Councilman MacDougal, we need to save every penny we can. Tina Gardner, I told Tracey Smith all about it. He understands completely. He is considering retiring and he might consider helping out. A nice asset to have. If we went forward with accepting septic, Tracey (Smith) knows all about. Councilman LaPine, I think we need to talk about more, very satisfied with Tracey’s work. Want to table this. Councilman Wrisley – Derrick (Wrisley) going to test for certification and determined he couldn’t take test. Not enough hours, needs 6 months 40 hours a week. Doesn’t work that much. Ed (Gardner) asked him to step it up and put in more hours. Derrick (Wrisley) and Board agreed he would work every other weekend. This would take a couple of years and pay would be $5 or $6 an hour. Derrick (Wrisley) understands he needs to step it up to get it done. Tina Gardner – he needs 200 hours. Councilman Wrisley – not sure of the last half in training and doesn’t see where he will get that. He has over 200 hours hands on. Outline says 6 months before you can apply to take test (need 6 months at 40 hours per week). Problem is he started and worked under Tracey’s (Smith) certification. When Tina (Gardner) was certified Derrick believed he could work under only her but no, need two certified operators. Councilman Wrisley – we thought that John could come in till September at a lower rate and then Bob Murphy from Willsboro and there would be two operators. Derrick’s (Wrisley) concern is should he continue to pursue when you are hiring two other people? Councilman LaPine – on shared services, Governor says to have 1% next year, has to be new. Councilman Wrisley – Balancing budget at expense of employees. Tina Gardner – Willsboro tests 3 times a day and Essex only one. Would be more work. We would have more week-ends off but the Operators there don’t want to do it. Councilman LaPine – this is going to be a long process. Councilman Wrisley, we need to think do we want to do shared services or Public Works? Don’t know which directions want to go. Councilman LaPine – no, need to talk about Public Works first. Tina Gardner – Bob (Willsboro) just wants to help out when necessary, share supplies and tools. Councilman LaPine – at next meeting we need more discussion. Also need to decide about John Crandall. Will still need two operators. Councilman MacDougal – Tracey won’t be offended. Councilman LaPine – would be willing go with John but want Ed Gardner and Bryan Garvey input. Councilwoman LaPine – let’s table this.
Councilman LaPine – Next, Need motion to accept Supervisors Report: Motion offered Councilman Wrisley, second Councilman MacDougal, All in favor, so moved.
Councilman LaPine – Motion accept the Town Clerk’s report. Councilman MacDougal offered motion, Councilman LaPine second, all in favor.
Councilman LaPine – Motion Accept Zoning Officers report, like to look at it, have you read it? Councilman LaPine reviewed the entries (report attached) and ZBA Report. Any questions? Councilman Mac Dougal clarified require school fire inspections/regulations completely different for a school than business, requires further training on your part. Lauren will check. Councilman Wrisley offered the motion, Councilman MacDougal seconded. All in favor.
Councilman LaPine – Bills are all here, I’ve looked at them. LeeAnn didn’t have time to put in computer, so there is no report. There are a couple we have questions on: Request for Battle of Bouquet Commemoration on Wednesday 14th. Requesting wreath for the cemetery $200. Cathy DeWolff organized, also organized a tour of Noble Property, lunch and dinner. Asking $200. mentioned if Board wouldn’t do she would undertake herself. Councilman MacDougal, scraping every penny, $200 wreath seems foolish to me. Anyone know when Willsboro reenactment is scheduled? Councilman LaPine – No organization, is independent of Willsboro Reenactment but related. Donation of $50. Live wreath, by Tracey’s flowers. Councilman Wrisley suggested $50. Councilman LaPine agreed donation of $50. Any other questions? Motion approve bills, with one correction? Councilman Wrisley offered and Councilman MacDougal second. All in favor.
Councilman LaPine – Need motion to go into Executive Session to discuss a personnel matter. Motion offered by Councilman Wrisley, seconded by Councilman Wrisley. All in favor.
The recording ends here. If any action was taken in Executive Session and action taken following the Executive Session, that should appear in the Official Town Board Meeting Minutes when received. There may be errors in who offered motions and seconded – Councilman Wrisley and MacDougal were difficult to identify from the tape.
