Town of Red Hook Town Board
Regular Monthly Meeting
November 9, 2004
A regular monthly meeting of the Red Hook Town Board was held Tuesday
November 9, 2004 at the Red Hook Town Hall 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
Deputy Supervisor – William O’Neill
Town Attorney – Albert Trezza
Supervisor Blum Bump opened the meeting promptly at 7:30 p.m. with the Pledge
Allegiance to the Flag.
Supervisor Blum Bump said that the Supervisor’s Report for the month of October
will be presented at the next board meeting.
Motion by Councilwoman Bordewich, seconded by Councilwoman Crane and carried
unanimously dispensing with the reading of the October minutes.
At this time Supervisor Blum Bump opened the floor for a 15 minute public
comment period.
John Douglas questioned Budget Officer Larry Kopczak in the budget how much did
we pay on the Bond Anticipation Note, and the interest rate for next year.
Larry’s response was this year we paid $25,000 and next year the interest rate
will be 1.95%.
Resident Rosemarie Zengen read a letter from The Save Our Town Committee and
requested answers of seven questions listed in this letter.
At the request of Mrs. Zengen a copy of this letter is attached to these
minutes.
Councilwoman Bordewich asked for a copy of the letter to respond to some of the
questions.
On the terms of the Agenda the Supervisor’s office does have a process where the
Agenda is ready Thursday prior to the Tuesday meeting and I currently receive a
copy and let the press know what is expected to be on the Agenda. Sometimes it
gets published and sometimes it doesn’t.
Rosemarie questioned why doesn’t Mrs. Doty get a copy so the public has access
to it?
Councilwoman Bordewich said we can see that Margaret gets a copy as it gets
E-mailed to me.
Councilwoman Bordewich said about the Cold Storage Building that was done in
Executive Session and some is confidential.
Town Attorney Trezza said right now there is no firm proposal to bring before
the Town Board and Mrs. Zengen it is owned by Robert Greig and the trustee in
bankruptcy. And in answer to your question of use we were considering putting
the highway department in that building.
Councilwoman Bordewich said in terms of budget issue and the secretary and
attendance of the Association of Towns. The term Confidential Secretary was not
invented here it is a term personal to Supervisor can appoint. This position
will remain as part time position.
The attendance for Association of Towns I feel we need to discuss at a meeting
and review our attendance whether or not we need to spend $15,000 or so a year
basically to send the same people who go every year or whether we want to look
at a policy having people go alternate years. We are going to be discussing our
policy about this within the next couple of months.
Councilman Ross said to clear up the whole issue the budget has kept that
position as part time as it presently is and also has restored the CE line which
contractual expenses which covers the Association of Towns back in all the
lines. Any further discussion we said we would discuss at workshops, how we
would do that how we would allow for meals and things like that. For now the
lines have been restored to the budget.
Councilwoman Bordewich on the other two items you had “conspiracy” I would like
to read your question again and discuss with you at some point.
As far as the tax map issue and Joel Sachs we have had several discussions on
this and asked our Deputy Supervisor Bill O’Neill to look into this and come
back to us with a report prior to sending it to the state so we are waiting for
that and don’t think we should discuss it further until he is finished with his
work.
Councilman Ross said he would address the selective zoning issue. This is my
fifteenth year on the board and we have never asked our Zoning Officer to go out
and selectively look for problems. He has always gone out and followed upon
complaints, which I feel our Zoning Officer has done that. When we get a problem
we follow up on it. Not everyone is satisfied with the solution but that’s the
facts of life.
Mrs. Zengen said this type of Zoning, tattling on your neighbor has to stop as
that is not ethical. Twice I informed Zoning of two neighbors encroaching on my
property and one was told he shouldn’t have done that building on my property
line and was immediately issued a building permit. And now the other neighbor to
south is burning on my property.
Councilman Ross pointed out after more discussion of zoning was the problem with
the neighbor to the south was now before the Zoning Board of Appeals on
Wednesday evening where the necessary decisions will be made to straighten this
out.
Mrs. Zengen said she had one more question to be answered which was why did
Supervisor Blum Bump say I was fine with not being on the Agenda for the October
meeting when I asked to be put on?
Supervisor Blum Bump said I thought that was the telephone conversation we had
and in you original letter you said you wanted to have your attorney present and
Mr. Trezza was away. And Rosemarie that is your right to come to every meeting
and make a public comment.
Councilwoman Crane said tonight was the first she had heard the word
“conspiracy” and what was it founded on when you say it is used to describe
actions now going on in the town hall.
Rosemarie Zengen said in a telephone conversation with Supervisor Blum Bump she
said that her taxes because of where she stands politically her taxes were
increased 112%. I find that to be terrible, why is her taxes increased and Mrs.
Crane this was shortly after Mrs. Blum Bump was accused of not having building
permits, not one house but two houses.
Resident Kathy Stewart said she was accused but she found her two building
permits in her files.
Mrs. Crane why is Kathy Stewart and Marirose Blum Bump being targeted? Why these
two women. I did go in and talk to Mr. Trotti.
Councilwoman Crane said she did not want to start a whole discussion just wanted
to get some clarification on your grounds for conspiracy and understand your
position.
Councilman Ramsey thanked Mrs. Zengen and said he felt her questions were
answered and couldn’t add anything else.
Legislator Marc Molinaro on behalf of Tivoli Rec. Commission would like to thank
the board for the additional monies that they requested in the budget.
Tuesday November 23, 2004 Marc would be holding a session in the Town Hall to
discuss the County Budget. He will call the Town Clerk and establish a time.
Motion by Supervisor Blum Bump, seconded by Councilwoman Crane appointing Deputy
Supervisor Bill O’Neill to develop and implement a plan based on the Working
Group’s recommendations and present to the Town Board.
Supervisor Blum Bump - Yes
Councilman Ross - Yes
Councilwoman Crane - Yes
Councilwoman Bordewich - Yes
Councilman Ramsey - Yes
Supervisor Blum Bump thanked Bill O’Neill for taking on this task.
Supervisor Blum Bump read the resolution to lease existing site on cell tower
and ground lease for equipment building Cingular (General Dynamics).
RESOLUTION 2004 #36
Re – Authorizing Lease of Surplus Space On Kelly Road (AKA Kelley Road) Tower
Facility.
Resolution was offered by Councilman Harold Ramsey, seconded by Councilman James
Ross and carried.
Copy Attached
Supervisor Blum Bump - Yes
Councilman Ross - Yes
Councilwoman Crane - Yes
Councilwoman Bordewich - Yes
Councilman Ramsey - Yes
Motion by Supervisor Blum Bump, seconded by Councilwoman Bordewich that we
accept the Short Environmental Assessment Form and declare it as a Negative.
Copy Attached
Supervisor Blum Bump - Yes
Councilman Ross - Yes
Councilwoman Crane - Yes
Councilwoman Bordewich - Yes
Councilman Ramsey - Yes
Motion by Supervisor Blum Bump, seconded by Councilman Ross that we set a
hearing November 23, 2004 at 7:30 p.m. at the Town Hall to lease the existing
site on Cell Tower and Ground Lease for equipment building to Cingular (General
Dynamics).
Supervisor Blum Bump read a copy of the renewal of the Bond Anticipation Note on
the Town Hall addition.
RESOLUTION 2004 #37
RE – Town Board of Red Hook Authorizing the Issuance of a Bond Anticipation Note
in the amount of $175,000.00 For the Construction of an Addition to the Existing
Town Hall Located at 7340 South Broadway Red Hook, New York.
Resolution was offered by Supervisor Marirose Blum Bump, seconded by Councilman
James Ross and carried.
Copy Attached
Supervisor Blum Bump - Yes
Councilman Ross - Yes
Councilwoman Crane - Yes
Councilwoman Bordewich - Yes
Councilman Ramsey - Yes
Supervisor Blum Bump said the Town Board is pleased to pass the Town Budget for
2005.
This budget reflects the vision for a rural small town, supports local
agriculture and other small business, cooperating with the school district and
village government as well as keeping Red Hook a place where people with all
incomes can live.
This budget calls for little changes in 2005 in spending and tax rate, despite
increase in pension cost, medical insurance and fuel cost also 4% raise for
employees.
Villages - .96 per thousand
General Fund B- .12
Highway Fund DB- 1.74 per thousand
Town over all rate- 2.82 per thousand
Motion by Supervisor Blum Bump, seconded by Councilman Ramsey that in the Budget
Summer Recreation CE A7140.4 Adopted Budget 2005 that is increased to 22,500.
$3,000.00 change will come from the Reserve A Fund.
Motion by Supervisor Blum Bump, seconded by Councilwoman Crane that with that
change we adopt the Budget for 2005.
Supervisor Blum Bump - Yes
Councilman Ross - Yes
Councilwoman Crane - Yes
Councilwoman Bordewich - Yes
Councilman Ramsey - Yes
Supervisor Blum Bump took this opportunity to thank Budget Director Larry
Kopczak for all his work on the 2005 Budget.
DEPARTMENT REPORTS:
Disaster Preparedness Committee:
Disaster Preparedness Committee met October 22 and welcomed new member Stephen
Cole of Red Hook and Steven Buso of Tivoli. A report on Emergency Plan and
Equipment was submitted by Tivoli Fire Co. and the Red Hook Fire Company.
Assignments were given concerning the needs of the Emergency Plan and will be
discussed at the November 19th meeting.
Economic Development Committee:
Councilman Ramsey said the Economic Development Committee was held October 21st.
Chairman had presented the Dutchess County Economic Development with a
preliminary summary of our community with means of providing Dutchess County
with our Economic position, so they would be prepared to help us.
The Committee also said they would look forward to working with the Land Use
Working Group.
Their next meeting will be held November 18th.
Recycle Center:
Councilwoman Bordewich reported that the Recycle Center for October. TJ Hackett
said there was a slight increase in metal intake. Increase in residents using
recycle center. Increase in good exchange as this really helps people in need.
Boy Scouts taking care of the bottles.
TJ Hackett is very appreciative of his active volunteers.
Dog Control:
Councilwoman Bordewich said the Dog Control was having some difficulty with PANT
in adopting out dogs. We are trying to talk with them about this and will have a
report in a few weeks.
Building and Zoning:
Councilwoman Bordewich reported the Building and Zoning was that 20 Building
Permits issued less this year than last year this time. Closed out 19 old
building permits.
Open Space Agriculture Advisory Committee:
Councilwoman Crane said the Open Space Agriculture Advisory Committee working
hard on their presentation at the Elmendorph November 10, 2004 at 7:00 p.m.
professionals will be present from Scenic Hudson, Dutchess Land Conservancy and
Dutchess County Planners to review and answer questions.
Water Department:
Councilwoman Crane’s report for the Water Department has a monthly status report
that they supply 78,193 gallon a day to customers. All testing this month is
acceptable or below level. Only one meter left to replace.
Senior Service Committee:
Councilwoman Crane said the Senior Service Committee there will be a public
meeting at 7:00 p.m. in the Village Hall. Discussion by NYS Department of
Environmental Conservation, conjunction with NYS Department of Health a meeting
to present the remedial action plan for the PERX property site. Waiting for this
meeting along time and hope the approval of the clean up will come out of this
meeting and lay the ground work for Senior Housing.
Supervisor Blum Bump said the Town Board meeting will immediately follow that
meeting at the Town Hall.
Zoning Board of Appeals:
Councilman Ross said the Zoning Board of Appeals with meeting tomorrow November
10th; they have the continuation of three public hearing, another public hearing
and an appeal.
Agricultural Advisory Chairman said his committee have been working on
the presentation for November 10th and working on PBR proposals. Rhinebeck is
looking into doing a Bond for the PDR program. Some of these parcels they would
be considering are partially in Red Hook and Rhinebeck.
Councilwoman Bordewich said the Red Hook School District Board was willing and
able to present to us the findings of their demographic study recently completed
and had actually some surprise findings. We could put them on the Agenda for
December 14th.
Supervisor Blum Bump said we would allow a half hour to the school giving time
for questions and answers.
Both Councilman Ross and Councilwoman Bordewich agreed and it would be good to
invite our Planning Board as it ties in with our planning projection.
Supervisor Blum Bump opened the meeting for another short comment period.
Resident Linda Keeling said regarding Emergency Shelter handicapped assessable.
Councilman Ramsey responded yes they are looking into all of this. Looking for
different emergency shelter as well.
John Douglas had a question about BAN.
Larry Kopczak responded that a BAN is usually issued for one year. After one
year you pay it off. It could be for 30 years and you would pay off 1/10 per
year plus interest usually you pay it off one year after you borrow it.
Motion by Councilwoman Crane, seconded by Councilman Ross and carried auditing
and approving for payment bills from the General Fund and the Highway Funds
bills no. to in the amount $
Motion by Supervisor Blum Bump, seconded by Councilwoman Crane and carried
meeting adjourned 9:08 p.m.
Town Clerk
Margaret E. Doty