May 26, 2004
7:30pm
Town of Red Hook Special Meeting
A special meeting of the Red Hook Town Board was held Wednesday May 26, 2004
with the following in attendance:
Supervisor – Marirose Blum Bump
Councilman – James Ross
Councilwoman – Sue Crane
Councilwoman – Jean Bordewich
Councilman – Harold Ramsey
Town Clerk – Margaret E. Doty
Supervisor Blum Bump opened the meeting at 7:30 p.m. with the Pledge Allegiance
to the Flag.
Councilwoman Bordewich introduced Scott Johnstone who will have a presentation
on Wastewater and Sewer systems.
Glad to be here and talk about the issues of wastewater and sewers, the options
that are available beyond the old central systems you hear about. How to come to
a solution that works for you. A couple of choices to have today centralized
systems were established through grants in the 70’s, than in the 80’s they had
to apply for loans as grant money was no longer available and this had to be
paid back. Today people use the centralized system, find water pipe so you have
it returned to the water shed.
On the on site world here are some things you can do on your property,
traditional septic system that runs through pipes in the ground this works well
if you have a lot of depth to ground water and if you have bedrock.
Secondly if you have shallow depth to ground you basically pick it up by adding
soil. Drip irrigation is used as well as water lands or other such models. You
want water to recharge into your aquifer.
There are a lot of ideas and options out there as this allows you to do more
cluster buildings.
You need to collect a lot of information you need to know what soils in your
community you need to know depth of ground water, bedrock depth whole series of
information you need to know. This allows you to understand your natural
resources and you add to this what you hope to accomplish. Where is the best
site for this, you look at all of this as this requires a lot of knowledge so
you look for your engineer. You have to work this out for your planning systems.
How you grow and how this works for you.
Supervisor Blum Bump thanked Scott Johnstone for his presentation.
Budget Officer Larry Kopzcak gave a Comparative Expenditure Report from January
to April 2003 and January to April 2004. After doing the reports Larry felt our
expenditures were pretty much in line with last year.
This was very helpful and easy to read so Larry said he would do it on a monthly
basis if they would request it.
The Board took this opportunity to thank Budget Officer Larry Kopzcak.
Supervisor Blum Bump said the World Unity Festival was open for discussion with
the Board.
Councilman Ramsey said he appreciates Mike DiMartino coming in last night and
giving more information you cleared a lot of things up.
Like to see all the contracts in place, the fire contracts, medical contracts,
sanitary contracts, approval from the Red Hook Police and Northern Dutchess
Hospital. One of the biggest concerns now is the safety coverage and police
coverage based on what I have seen in the past. I believe we need to tie in more
with the Sheriff’s department since you need more coverage on the perimeter of
your grounds. Extra police patrol to cover the whole three days of this event.
The other thing is traffic control at all the areas they will be coming into our
area.
Councilwoman Bordewich said she agreed with Harold on the health and safety
issue. She said she was not ready to grant final approval even with what we
received today. I have a concern about the success of this project as there
isn’t enough time to pull this off. This is a big event and I feel this year
we’re trying to cram it in too fast. I support having the right kind of event I
would be comfortable with a one day event. Than October start working on a three
day event for next year.
Councilwoman Crane said this is a difficult decision because there are two sides
to this. Our job is to look out for the public safety and health. Knowing the
timing of the event I would like what Jean suggested to scale down the concert
to a one day event. It is really hard for us to not remember the last event and
most of this centered on the camping issue. Other problems with this event is
traffic control, crowd control and health are concerns. Glad to see you have
engaged the hospital the paramedics, fire department the EMT locally. Would
rather not do a three day conference this year, but would favor a one day
festival.
Councilman Ross said he was pretty much in agreement with what Harold said. My
two biggest concerns are the traffic control and would like to see expeditors at
major intersection within our town would solve that problem. The on site
security would want our mass gathering code met. The on site security plus the
sheriff’s department. Would also insist upon a bond to cover all those expenses
also a bond for clean up of our roads as some of these will be newly paved
roads.
Supervisor Blum Bump said she was very open for Red Hook hosting festivals
however I share the good will and positive views supporting our community
special events and also supporting our farmers.
Supervisor Blum Bump at this time read a copy of the town code on Public
Assembly.
Have talked to the fire company and the department of health. Supervisor Blum
Bump agrees with the Councilwomen that we schedule a one day event. Our local
police, fire department whom I know will do an excellent job, but about the
safety and welfare of the people the risk is very high. So after listening
tonight I would be in favor of a one day event this year.
Councilman Ross said he would like to make a motion.
Motion by Councilman Ross, seconded by Councilman Ramsey that we go with the
original proposal providing they meet all the conditions involved in addition to
expeditor to cover our highways, bonds to cover all the expenses the town may
incur and the figures we would come up with when issuing the permit within 30
days providing us with all the requested conditions we want. Liability insurance
to cover themselves as well as the town. Answering all our questions and meeting
all our demands
Supervisor Blum Bump - No
Councilman Ross - Yes
Councilwoman Crane - No
Councilwoman Bordewich - No
Councilman Ramsey - Yes
Michael DiMartino at this time gave a brief update of what he had been doing
since the last meeting, has contacted health department, update his
security-have had local venders contact him, talk to local fire company and etc.
He also said he could not sponsor a one day event but would consider scaling
down to accommodate the town.
Councilman Bordewich said she would like to appoint a seven member board known
as “Road and Traffic Safety Committee” who will make recommendations, coordinate
with and keep track of road traffic accidents, etc. with highway department as
safety issues. Five members are to be appointed tonight.
Bob Calio
David Levine
Emily Houpt
Anibal Garcia
Karen Fraleigh
Motion by Councilwoman Bordewich, seconded by Councilman Ramsey and carried
unanimously appointing the five people listed above as members of the “Roads and
Traffic Safety Committee”.
Supervisor Blum Bump - Yes
Councilman Ross - Yes
Councilwoman Crane - Yes
Councilwoman Bordewich - Yes
Councilman Ramsey - Yes
Councilwoman Bordewich said St. Margaret’s Committee will be meeting and they
will get back to us.
The Working Group will be meeting June 16th at 7:00 p.m.
The Ethics Committee will also be organizing and will be choosing a chairman.
Councilman Ramsey said the EDC Committee came up with five names, two
acceptances and one who said no. We are moving forward and would like to have at
least seven members in place at the next board meeting.
Councilman Ramsey asked about the Disaster Preparedness Committee?
Supervisor Blum Bump said it wasn’t going to be committee its just 3 people.
Spoke with John Douglas who will contact 3 communities who have a disaster plan,
this is our first step. Looking at these plans it will help us decide what we
need to do.
Councilwoman Crane suggested that we table this until John has contacted these
three towns and gotten copies of their plans and discuss it at a workshop.
DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS:
Building Department:
Councilwoman Bordewich reported on Building Inspector – 29 Building Permits
issued 5 single family housing.
Dog Control:
Councilwoman Bordewich said the Dog Control Officer had picked up 3 dogs – 3
adopted out.
Recycling Center:
Councilwoman Bordewich read a letter from TJ Hackett for his May Recycling
Report. There is weed whacking and mowing to be done. Bill Szigethy already
employed at the center would take on the job but would need additional hours.
Motion by Councilwoman Bordewich, seconded by Councilman Ramsey that we
authorize Bill Szigethy to do the mowing and weed whacking with the additional
hours approved by Supervisor Blum Bump.
Supervisor Blum Bump - Yes
Councilman Ross - Yes
Councilwoman Crane - Yes
Councilwomen Bordewich - Yes
Councilman Ramsey - Yes
Just a reminder that June 5th you will be able to get rid of your household
waste products at the Recycle Center. This is sponsored by Dutchess County
Resource Recovery Agency at a cost of $5.00. You can also go on their website
for more information.
Highway Department:
Councilman Ramsey reported on the Highway Department where the month of April
was spent sweeping roads and patching potholes.
Shared Services with Pine Plains, Tivoli, Red Hook School district and the Rec.
Park.
Vehicle Maintenance - $2,672.02
Vehicle Fuel Cost - $5,415.42
Vehicle Fuel Usage - 4520.3 gallons
Motion by Councilman Ramsey, seconded by Supervisor Blum Bump and carried
awarding the bid for asphalt concrete paving for Mill Road, Kelly Road,
Rockefeller Lane, Scism Road and Woods Road to A. Colarusso and Son of Hudson at
$39.25.
Supervisor Blum Bump - Yes
Councilman Ross - Yes
Councilwoman Crane - Yes
Councilwomen Bordewich - Yes
Councilman Ramsey - Yes
Recreation Park:
Councilman Ramsey reported that the Rec. Park at last months meeting they are
having hydrants installed at ball fields, playground mats installed. Summer
programs schedules are all set and it is on the website.
Agricultural Committee:
Councilwoman Crane gave a report on the Agricultural Committee from Chairman
Robert McKeon saying they will be meeting June 3, 2004.
The committee received a Farmland Protection Award from the County for work
relating to the PDR. The award is a model tractor (1956 Farmall) that needs a
home.
Also studying the PDR’s to accomplish the Master Plan’s stated goal of
preservation of farmlands and open space.
They are at present reviewing applications for PDR funds.
Planning Board:
Councilman Ross said the last Planning Board meeting they had a presentation on
the purposed overlay maps and a couple of public hearings on the regular
business issues that came before that meeting.
Working Group Land Use and Development:
Supervisor Blum Bump read a report on the Working Group Land Use and
Development.
Community meeting was held to identify land use tools and techniques that are
presently available to Red Hook and identify land use and development.
Have drawn up recommendations that have to be drafted from the Working Group to
the Town Board.
Water Board Chairman discussed with them the protection of water supply and the
Environmental Protection Overlay maps.
Working Group focused on the maps protecting natural resources, water quality
and wetlands.
Their last meeting continued the map study and their recommendations to the Town
Board study on land development purposed for development.
The May 15th meeting will be rescheduled.
Water Department:
Councilwoman Crane said the Water Board will be meeting less often as there is
little reason to meet on a monthly basis.
Councilwoman Bordewich said she was part of Career Day at the Middle School. One
of the things the students were asked to do was write down 3 issues in Town that
you care about if you were on the Town Board what would you do. One of the
issues was the deterioration of the Skate Board Park at the Recreation Park.
They asked that we have it fixed so they could skate safely and built more
durable.
Councilman Ramsey said he would bring it up to the Recreation Park Commission.
Motion by Councilwoman Crane, seconded by Councilman Ross and carried auditing
and approving for payment bills from the General Fund and the Highway Fund bills
nos. to in the amount of $
Supervisor Blum Bump - Yes
Councilman Ross - Yes
Councilwoman Crane - Yes
Councilwomen Bordewich - Yes
Councilman Ramsey - Yes
Motion by Councilwoman Bordewich, seconded by Councilman Ramsey and carried
meeting adjourned 11:22 p.m.
Town Clerk
Margaret E. Doty