Town of Red Hook Town Board
Workshop
February 1, 2005

Tuesday February 1, 2005 a workshop of the Town Board was called to order at 7:30 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
Deputy Supervisor – William O’Neill
Absent: Councilwoman Sue Crane

Supervisor Blum Bump asked if everyone had a chance to review the Request For Proposal Grant Consultant.

Councilman Ramsey said he had a few concerns and had e-mailed Ted Kudzy. Will they be paid hourly or work on commission?

The other question is will they follow through once we get a grant. When a grant is in place a lot of paperwork still has to be done. You have to show what you did with the grant and how it was done. They will be responsible to follow through with all the necessary paperwork.

Supervisor Blum Bump said there are a lot of grants out there for Highway, Recreation and even for St. Margaret’s.

Councilman Ramsey agreed and said we need someone to do the research. He could be paid an hourly fee or he could be paid contingent upon the grant.

Councilwoman Bordewich said she and Councilman Ramsey had met with the Tivoli Grant writer Victor Cornelius, who said that grants are constantly changing fields. The need is to have someone do the tracking as it is very time consuming. You need to know what’s out there and have a chance of getting it.

Councilwoman Ramsey agreed we need a grant writer to look into grants for park lands, Fire Departments, Highway and St. Margaret’s and we need someone who knows what they are looking for.

A letter had been received from Assessor Richard Trotti requesting that the hours for his clerk be temporarily increased for February, March, April and May ranging from 20 to 35 hours per week.

All were in agreement that additional hours were needed.

Supervisor Blum Bump suggested we have our attorney write up something that she would still be a part time employee as this is a temporary position.

Councilwoman Bordewich said the Assessor should be accountable as he will have to work out the hours when they are needed, and I agree this will not come under a full time employee basis.

Supervisor Blum Bump and Councilwoman Bordewich had attended the seminar at Bard College for Energy and Environmental Technologies.

Councilwoman Bordewich said she had attended the whole day seminar and found it extremely interesting.


The Conservation Advisory Committee has requested an additional $500.00 for the funding to the Energy and Environmental Technologies Conference. They had expected about 100 people but 300 pre-registered and even more attended.

Supervisor Blum Bump said we would make a budget adjustment and take the money from the Fund Balance.

On the grants Councilwoman Bordewich explained that she had met with Village of Tivoli, Village of Red Hook and Red Hook School on an inter-municipal grant to improve the quality of our community.

For instance Planning Board would communicate with schools on their planning, input on the growth and getting the school district involved.

This grant proposal has to be applied for by February 23, 2005 which would be about $400 from each municipality and the school. The grant is for $25,000 which does have a big match. It would be how much we apply for and what we commit ourselves to.

Councilman Ross asked who does the study.

Councilwoman Bordewich said we go out with a RFP, linking type of development, land use and more complex type housing.

Councilman Ross suggested we spend the money and apply for the grant which everyone agreed with.

Councilman Ross said we should review our zoning where can we go for businesses as right now we are all residential with mixed use.

All agreed to spend the $400 and have it come out of Economic Development Committee line.

Reviewed the fee schedule proposal for Building and Zoning and came up with a few changes. Minimum Fee permit $50.00 in all permits; new construction $20.00 per 100 sq. ft, above ground pool $750.00, fencing $50.00 minimum.

Deputy Supervisor O’Neill was instructed to speak to them concerning Pole Barn cost.

After reviewing the Planning Board fees suggestion was that the Planning Board attend the workshop on the 23rd of February so they can answer and explain their increase in funds.

The meal allowance for the Annual Conference 2005 was discussed. The guidelines were no lunch paid for on Monday and Tuesday as you may obtain a free lunch at the Dutchess County Hospitality Room.

Councilman Ross asked that John Douglas be allowed to register for the Association of Towns.

Councilwoman Bordewich said if he wanted to attend certain classes he could go down for the day, but there was no money in his budget line to attend the whole session.

Council Ramsey was concerned with the morale in the Town Hall, and also what had appeared on a website concerning the Association of Towns meeting.

Supervisor Blum Bump said she had spoken to a few people at he Town Hall today and the morale was fine, as for the internet she had no control what was on it.

Councilman Ramsey asked that a list be submitted to our Inter-Successors in case we needed to call a State of Emergency.

Supervisor Blum Bump said she would provide the committee with a list.

Motion by Supervisor Blum Bump, seconded by Councilwoman Bordewich meeting adjourned 10:53 p.m.


Town Clerk
Margaret E. Doty