Town of Red Hook Town Board
Regular Business Meeting
February 15 2005

A workshop of the Red Hook Town Board was held Tuesday, February 15, 2005 at 8:40 p.m. with the following in attendance:

Supervisor - Marirose Blum Bump
Councilman - James Ross
Councilwoman - Jean Bordewich
Councilman - Harold Ramsey
Town Clerk - Margaret E. Doty
Absent: Councilwoman Sue Crane.
Also present was Deputy Supervisor Bill O'Neill

Supervisor Blum Bump opened the meeting introducing Planning Board members Betty Mae Van Parys, Paula Schoonmaker and Paul Telesca who were present to explain the proposed fee schedule increases they had submitted.

Paul Telesca explained most of the applications submitted to Planning are more complicated and we rely more on the Planner and we feel the increase would be more in line with the other municipalities.

Paula Schoonmaker said we tried taking mailing and etc. into consideration before we submitted the fees and we feel it is an appropriate raise in the fees.

Betty Mae Van Parys said we still haven't decided on the Recreation Park fees. We are waiting to hear back from the Rec. Park Committee.

Councilman Ramsey said the fee schedule for the Rec. Park did come before the Committee.

Councilman Ramsey said he looked at Planning fee schedule and some of the fees he did agree with. The Site Plan fee did go up about 400% and they are higher than anyone else and I have a concern with that as this is quite a jump.

Betty Mae Van Parys explained that a Site Plan fee is not for a house. It is for a business, or new barn, has nothing to do with subdivision at all.

Councilman Ramsey said we have gone up 400% on that and we're higher on existing and new construction than the other comparisons you did. Why did you feel we should be higher than other municipalities?

Councilwoman Bordewich said I feel we don't want to over burden applicants unnecessarily but I also feel why should the taxpayer pay for developers if we are not meeting our expenses in that department.

Paul Telesca said we are not trying to scare anyone away, when people come in the need to know there is a cost to pursue the application.

Councilman Ross said there is no question we have to raise the fees but I can't go along with the drastic increases. Special permit from $125 to $500, Site Plan $500.00 plus, Major subdivision $500 Sketch Plan $800 per lot plus consulting fee so we're going from $200 to $800 per lot. I can't understand these types of increases. I don't see any justification for these large increases.

Councilwoman Bordewich said I think we should try to compare the different types of fees with the different types of applications, how much for a Site Plan, how much for a minor subdivision, a major subdivision how much work is involved for each. Taking into consideration the changes in two years time what is more cost with our planner and that level of expertise.

Paul Telesca asked why not include in the cost the chair and whatever else costs?

Councilwoman Bordewich said she was not ready to vote on this but I would definitely want to know the various costs. The budget of the Planning Board what are we spending and what are we taking in.

Councilman Ross said I just can't condone quadrupling the cost there is no justification for these fees.

Paul Telesca said if we can come with a number of applications and their cost and justify the cost we will have it clear cut why the fee requested.

Supervisor Blum Bump said she will leave it up to the Planning Board to come up with a reasonable and matched fee. Have no problem with increase in fees for Planning that were submitted. She thanked the three Planning Board members and will discuss what they come up with at the next workshop.

Agricultural Advisory Committee Chairman Robert McKeon said he was asked to discuss the easement/leased development rights program and the Agricultural School.

We are running out of time with this easement/leased development program according to our Assessor.

If the Town Board wanted to do this the Assessor could do this past his taxable status date which is March 1st.

This form of tax abatement is a reduction in property taxes in return for a landowner's commitment to keep the land in agriculture or as other open space. This is a long term solution. We are meeting with a number of large landowners who are willing to have a conservation easement they are looking for a tax reduction. This is a five year easement or more. This would establish a tool to protect the farmland including the purchase of development right, right to farm and property tax relief.

Councilman Ross said he has a problem with a 5 year or even 15 years if we are going to give them a tax break and than after five years they want to develop their land

.Robert McKeon said having this program in place to assure that a farmer's tax burden is in line with his commitment to keep his land open will help insure that the farmer stays in business and the land stays in business and the land remains not only open but in production.

Supervisor Blum Bump said she talked with the Assessor and Mr. Watch who will be at our workshop meeting and will be made available to give us more details on this program.

Councilman Ramsey said you have 130 who could get into this plan, if they commit to this whether it is for 5 years or 15 years. I look at this like our PDR the benefit is a control pace and our school district as a control growth.

Robert McKeon... all we are saying that with this tax abatement a reduction in property taxes in return for the landowner's commitment to keep the land agricultural or open space for whatever years to help us with control growth.

Councilwoman Bordewich... I would like our attorney Al Trezza and Keane and Beane to look into this that maybe at our March meeting we could set a public hearing date and get this done.

Supervisor Blum Bump said she would discuss this with the attorneys and see if we get some sort of schedule set up and you be at our next workshop and we will proceed.

Supervisor Blum Bump said if the Board has additional questions they can meet with you. In the meantime we will come up with some plan to meet a deadline.

Deputy Supervisor Bill O'Neill gave a report on the Implementation of the Working Group Report Recommendations.

1. The maps... The County will be working to direct us in what has to be done to adopt the maps.

2. The inter-municipal agreement... The Supervisor, Mayors of Red Hook and Tivoli and members of the Planning Board of each municipality had a successful and positive discussion regarding the development of a consolidated Planning Board. Greenplan is researching issues raised at these meetings, who will present recommendations for our continue meetings to focus us on the process necessary to accomplish this goal.

3. Training... Ted Fink of Greenplan, Inc. proposed to prepare a work session presentation to be made to the Town of Red Hook Planning Board and local developers on development issues in the Town of Red Hook and to prepare a presentation to the Town Board on the proposal of the CAC to become a Conservation Advisory Board. Greenplan will also be working on projects to implement the Working Group Report. These include preparing design guidelines for Hamlet, Architectural Design Committee, Conservation Subdivision Design and criteria for cluster development and to research specific proposals where mixed use, light industrial and commercial development might be proposed in the Town.

Have met with some landowners regarding their proposals.

Supervisor Blum Bump received a call from the Village of Red Hook who were asked to participate in a project involving 200 citizens including the Village. They wish to produce a show called "Small Town Hero's". They wanted to know if the Town would be interested. This would entail working with the producers of a TV show. They would find people who would be interested in participating.

Councilman Ramsey said it would be a great way to bring money into the Town. He said he would give the Village Clerk a call and get all the necessary information.

Supervisor Blum Bump said she had received a letter from Dutchess County Executive William Steinhaus congratulating the Town of Red Hook $120,000 for the Residential Collector Street linking Route 9 and Route 199 based on this amount.

This amount to be used for the surveying, engineering and official map from Hannaford to Firehouse Lane.

This road is something that has been discussed ad talked about for a number of years.

A letter of thank you will be mailed to the County.

Received a letter from the Office for the Aging that the Red Hook/Tivoli Picnic will be held Wednesday September 21, 2005. Due to rising costs the meal will be increased by 50 cents making it $3.50 per meal.

Sponsors will be contacted regarding desserts, cookies or fresh fruit from local grocery stores.

Supervisor Blum Bump had received a copy of the Village of Tivoli Financial Statement to the Office of NYS Comptroller and a brief explanation of planned recruitment efforts.

Copy is available in Supervisor's office.

Received notice from the Dutchess County Transportation Council on their planned work program for the 2005-2006 program year. Will look at and discuss at next meeting.

All received information on the Association of Towns meeting.

Ruth Oja said it is the CAC job to address the wetlands. John Kuhn thought the engineer would address this bridge over the wetlands and we would pay for it in order to apply for the grant.

Councilman Ramsey said the money comes in from Senator Saland we are still going to need the expertise of Ruth Oja and the CAC.

Councilwoman Bordewich said we should ask the CAC on the wetlands, what has been done and what needs to be resolved find out the status on the project.

Councilman Ramsey since we do have a year before this festival we should do an environment study of Norman Greig's property so if anyone does come in we already have an engineer EIS. We have time to do this now and it would be his expense.

Supervisor Blum Bump said that she would approach Norman Greig about this.

Supervisor Blum Bump said she would contact Susan Goldstein to come to our next workshop to discuss the Ethics Law.

Councilman Ramsey said he looked at the law and a whole section was out of place so he would like that correct before they come in.

Supervisor Blum Bump said on the Town Site Plan that John Clark had submitted she took it back to him and asked him to add the additional acre so she will contact him to see how he's doing.

Committee Report:

Councilwoman Bordewich said she had received a number of letters from people wishing to serve on the various committees.

Discussions were held on each committee where vacancies had occurred. For Planning and Zoning Councilman Ross and Councilwoman Bordewich will do the interviews and final appointments for committees will be made at the next Town Board meeting.

Motion by Supervisor Blum Bump, seconded by Councilwoman Bordewich the meeting adjourned 11:05 p.m.

Town Clerk
Margaret E. Doty