Town of Red Hook Town Board
January 4, 2005
Reorganization Meeting

The Reorganization Meeting of the Red Hook Town Board was held Tuesday January 4, 2005 at the Town Hall with the following in attendance:

Supervisor - Marirose Blum Bump
Councilman - James Ross
Councilman - 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.

Supervisor Blum Bump welcomed all who were present.

Supervisor Blum Bump thanked the town officials, the committees and all who worked to make 2004 a success.

Supervisor Blum Bump on behalf of the Town Board read off their accomplishment in 2004.

Copy Attached

Supervisor Blum Bump said that the first on the Agenda is the Reorganization Appointment and Meeting dates.

Councilwoman Bordewich was asked to read the list of appointments and she said before I read the list I believe there is one item the Supervisor wanted to discuss the meeting dates for the workshops and business meeting.

After much discussion on whether or not to have the business meeting on the third Tuesday it was decided that we follow the same schedule as 2004.

1st Tuesday-Workshop
2nd Monday -Workshop
2nd Tuesday - Town Board Business Meeting
3rd Tuesday -Workshop
4th Wednesday- Workshop

Councilwoman Bordewich said she would read the proposed Town Appointments and that we would be having additional appointments at our February Business Meeting.

On discussion of the Official Newspaper it was decided that we go along with all four newspapers.

Councilwoman Bordewich read the additional appointments for 2005.

Councilman Ross said on the Town Board Organizational Responsibility under Chain of Responsibility, Deputy Supervisor, I would want to check with the Association of Towns as in the past the Deputy Supervisor has always been an elected official one of the board members and I'm not sure it is legal to have an appointed Deputy Supervisor next in line in chain of command, as to my knowledge it should be a board member. I would like a legal opinion on this. My other comment on that was what we had done in the past following the Deputy Supervisor was generally one of us for a three month period was according to seniority and than alphabetical order.

Councilwoman Bordewich...why don't we delete these items from the adoption tonight and than do it at our February meeting.

Councilwoman Crane suggested we do it at our January meeting as it will only take a phone call.

Councilwoman Bordewich agreed to make the calls and get something in writing.

Councilman Ramsey questioned the 2 year appointment of Receiver of Taxes.

Councilwoman Bordewich said that can also be put off until next week whether it should be individual name or Town Clerk.

Under Town Board Liaison Function eliminate Bookkeeper add Business Manager and eliminate miscellaneous.

Supervisor Blum Bump opened the floor for public comment.

Rosemarie Zengen on behalf of Save Our Town said she had a few comments; in the Supervisor's accomplishments for 2004 you said you made government open and fair for all residents. I tried for four times to be on the Agenda and the last time I asked to be on the Agenda and I was sick, four attempts this is not open and fair government.

Right now the people are very confused about the workshops and also the Town Board meetings, when they occur. To change from the second Tuesday to the third Tuesday for the Business meeting would really upset the people. Also, the Agendas were always available a week in advance; and to make it one newspaper instead of all four newspapers would not make it accessible to the people. I think the fair way to do it would put in all four papers.

My last question concerns Mr. O'Neill whom we are all indebted to, is he an official. I would like someone to clarify for me has everyone voted for Mr. O'Neill. I kind of feel Supervisor Blum Bump that you would like to have an attorney present at your meetings but I would like you to clarify how many times other than a board member have been a Deputy Supervisor.

Supervisor Blum Bump said the first question she could answer is you can certainly be on the next business meeting agenda. We have public comment period before and after a meeting and it is sometime sufficient for anyone from the public to make a comment during that time as it is not necessary to be put on the agenda to have a comment heard.

Rosemarie Zengen said you made that very clear from the beginning that people could have a comment period, except for people like Kathy Stewart who is allowed to speak openly at every meeting without even being recognized by the Supervisor. You have always said people could only speak 15 minutes at the beginning of the meeting. Several times this past year we could only speak for a few minutes, the questions that I have asked this board you all have documents of, three letters from me, I want answers to questions, those questions could not be answered in a few minutes, that's why your comment to open and fair government was infuriating because I brought this before you for almost 4 months in a row but I can understand if you limit it to 15 minutes.

Supervisor Blum Bump said we limit it to 15 minutes, but as you know during the 15 minute comment period when you were the only speaker you took up 15 minutes and sometimes more so we are flexible with it.

Concerning the Deputy Supervisor, that is a position that the Supervisor can appoint. The Board must approve a salary and expenditure of money for the salary. This is the power of the Supervisor the appointing of the Deputy Supervisor.

Mr. O'Neill was chosen for his leadership and participation in Working Group Land Use and Conservation Development. He wanted to continue and implement the development from that Working Group. I found it very appropriate, his expertise and his commitment to appoint him to Deputy Supervisor. The Town Board seems to be very happy with that.

Rosemarie Zengen said Mr. Ross didn't know if it was legal for Mr. O'Neill, if something happened to you.

Councilman Ross replied the Deputy Supervisor is a choice of the Supervisor, but for the legal chain of command I'm not sure if it is legal for a non-elected official as second in command in the Supervisors absence, that I asked to check on before we determine the final chain of command.

Supervisor Blum Bump said she was very grateful that Mr. O'Neill was willing to take on a work load in service to the Town Board it will accomplish some of the goals of the Town Board without their having to do the work.

Resident Linda Keeling questioned if on the appointment list were they all paid individuals?

Councilwoman Bordewich said no some are volunteers.

Linda Keeling questioned if there was a budget item for J. Winthrop Aldrich Historian. As I know he spends his own money so he should have a budget.

Supervisor Blum Bump said it would be a good idea to put in a budget item for Town Historian and possibly a clerk for him.

Linda Keeling said the other thing would be having our attorney attend meetings for any legal problems and questions we would have to research and get back to us.

Councilman Ramsey said we don't make decisions at workshops, as far as business meetings I tend to agree with you we could use his expertise.

Councilman Ross....his presence at business meeting could be helpful.

Councilwoman Crane said she would be very happy if Mr. Trezza came to all the business meetings.

Councilwoman Bordewich felt it would be extremely helpful as a lot times there are follow up that need to be done, and a lot of time is lost waiting for his next day in the office. It would be really helpful if he attended our business meeting once a month.

Rosemarie Zengen said getting back to the attorney. I don't have the statistics with me that I gave you at the last meeting, but the attorneys in the surrounding areas $50,000, $60,000 and more. Milan gets $30,000. What I'm saying is that maybe because of our attorney's salary that he doesn't attend every meeting.

RESOLUTION 2005 #1

RE - Town Appointment

Resolution offered by Councilwoman Jean Bordewich, seconded by Councilman Harold Ramsey and carried that we accept the Town Appointments as read and the changes we made.

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Supervisor Blum Bump - Yes
Councilman Ross - Yes
Councilwoman Crane - Yes
Councilwoman Bordewich - Yes
Councilman Ramsey - Yes

Supervisor Blum Bmp read a copy of the agreement between the Town of Red Hook and the Scenic Hudson Land Trust Inc. for the purchase of an Agricultural Conservation Easement on the John Feller Farm.

RESOLUTION 2005 #2

RE - For the Approval of the Purchase of Development Rights of the John Feller Farm.

Resolution was offered by Councilwoman Jean Bordewich, seconded by Councilwoman Sue Crane and carried.

Copy Attached

Supervisor Blum Bump - Yes
Councilman Ross - Yes
Councilwoman Crane - Yes
Councilwoman Bordewich - Yes
Councilman Ramsey - Yes

Motion by Councilwoman Bordewich, seconded by Councilman Ramsey appointing Supervisor Blum Bump as Voting Delegate and Councilman Ross as Alternate Delegate to attend the annual Business Session of the Association of Towns.

The Resolutions from the Association of Towns will be voted upon at the January meeting.

The Town Planner committee was Councilman Ross, Planning Board Chairman Thomas and Deputy Supervisor O'Neill.

Councilman Ross said that six RFP's were received for Planner. Narrowed it down to three that were interviewed and out of the three Greenplan Inc. from Rhinebeck was chosen providing the principal Ted Fink will be representative at our meetings. We thought this would be our best choice to go with Greenplan Inc. Michelle Greig and him coordinate their time to cover meetings so our Planning Board meeting would be covered.

Supervisor Blum Bump said when we have a need like this for a Planner we put out a request or proposal and when it is answered we put together a committee that review the proposals and the selected ones and than given an interview. I think this process is very fair. We come up with the goals and standards we put forth. We are also doing this with consultants for CPA and Engineers.

Rosemarie Zengen questioned when Marcy was chairman how often was the Planner here.

Supervisor Blum Bump said up until now it was Planners East who had an agreement with the town and came when ever they needed him. He did not submit a proposal at this time. He got paid an hourly rate which we had budgeted for.

Resident Marcy Appell questioned if this new planner would be advisory to all committees.

Councilman Ross said the way the Budget was passed this Planner would work with our Planning Board and the Land Use update. Any other committees have to put a request to the Town Board. Ted Fink will be our Planning Consultant for this year.

Motion by Councilwoman Bordewich, seconded by Supervisor Blum Bump that we accept the recommendations of the review committee and accept Greenplan, Inc. as our Consulting Planner.

Supervisor Blum Bump - Yes
Councilman Ross - Yes
Councilwoman Crane - Yes
Councilwoman Bordewich - Yes
Councilman Ramsey - Yes

Councilwoman Crane suggested a letter of thanks be sent to Art Brod for all his years of service to the Town of Red Hook.

Councilwoman Bordewich and Councilman Ramsey met with a grant consultant and discussed the possibility of hiring a grant consultant. Because of the dollar amount Ted Kudzy suggested they go out with an RFP process.

We should also make a request from Senator Saland for a project that would come under his allotment. This would have to be done before the deadline in late January.

The most logic grant to apply for to building of the bridge over the wetlands at the Rec. Park for the Village to Town trails. $25,000 is about what is needed for this.

Motion by Supervisor Blum Bump, seconded by Councilwoman Crane authorizing Councilwoman Bordewich and Councilman Ramsey to draft a proposal applying for a grant on the bridge and trails from Senator Saland's office.

Councilwoman Bordewich said the Ethics Committee has submitted their draft of recommended amendments to our Ethics Law, which we may want to look at before our next workshop.

Councilwoman Crane said at what point do we consider raising the fees on Planning and Zoning.

Supervisor Blum Bump said we will discuss it at our workshop because Planning and Zoning did a lot of work on this, as we need comparison fees.

Councilwoman Crane asked that the Planning Board give us the current figures so we know how much of an increase they are requesting.

Supervisor Blum Bump said she spoke with Mr. Watch today, how the reassessment was coming. He said that February and March would be very busy months. There has to be two public meetings held.

GIS meeting for all committees is January 11, 2005.

Motion by Councilman Ross, seconded by Councilman Ramsey auditing and approving payment bills from the General Fund and the Highway Fund bill nos. to in the amount of $

Motion by Supervisor Blum Bump, seconded by Councilwoman Crane the meeting adjourned 9:20 p.m.

Town Clerk

Margaret E. Doty