Meeting Date: April 13, 2021 7:00 pm
Town of Olive
County of Ulster
State of New York
Tuesday, April 13, 2021
Minutes of the monthly meeting of the Town of Olive Town Board, held Tuesday, April 13, 2021 7 pm via ZOOM link: http://bit.ly/olivetownboard.
Members Present: Jim Sofranko, Supervisor
Drew Boggess, Board Member
Scott Kelder, Board Member
David Edinger, Board Member
Victoria Read, Board Member
Recording Secretary: Dawn Giuditta, Town Clerk
Others Present: Brian Burns, Highway Superintendent; Amanda Winne, Deputy Town Clerk; Gene Sorbellini, Facilities & Recreation Director
Town Supervisor Jim Sofranko called the meeting to order at 7:03 pm.
On a Boggess/Kelder motion, the Town Board approved the March minutes.
Aye: Boggess, Kelder, Edinger, Read, and Sofranko Nay: Absent:
Correspondence: #25-21
Linda Edmundson voiced her opposition concerning the Ashokan Pumped Storage Project.
#26-21
Gregory Keyes expressed his concerns about the Lower Sahler Mill subdivision SEQR.
#27-21
Helene Grant resigned from the Town of Olive Planning Board.
On a Boggess/Sofranko motion, the Town Board asked that a letter be sent to her expressing their gratitude.
Aye: Boggess, Kelder, Edinger, Read, and Sofranko Nay: Absent:
#28-21
Ric Coombe, Chairman of the Coalition of Watershed Towns sent an update.
#29-21
Assemblyman Kevin Cahill responded to the Town of Olive Resolution #27 of 2020 supporting the return of behavioral health and detox services be returned to Mary Avenue Campus.
Approve Payment of Audited Bills: On a Edinger/Read motion, the Town Board approved the payment of the following audited bills:
Aye: Boggess, Kelder, Edinger, Read, and Sofranko Nay: Absent:
General Fund Vouchers #95- #148 $212,052.97
Special Lighting Voucher #3 $69.43
Highway Fund Vouchers #54 – #79 $9,039.92
Sewer Fund Vouchers #17043-#17055 $35,835.67
Cash Received February 2021 $2,892,421.12
Interest Received February 2021 $914.40
Additional Business:
Town of Olive
Resolution # 10 of 2021
A RESOLUTION ADOPTING A POLICY FOR USING THE E-ZPASS TOLL SYSTEM
WHEREAS, the Town of Olive has occasional need to use roads and bridges that require payment of a toll collection system; and
WHEREAS, the toll collection system used in the State of New York and surrounding states is the E-Z Pass toll collection system; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Olive needs to establish the protocols necessary to properly manage the E-Z Pass Account, E-Z Pass Vehicle Tags and E-Z Pass Log.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Town Board, on behalf of the Town of Olive adopt the Town of Olive E-Z Pass Policy.
AND MOVES ITS ADOPTION
Motion made by: Supervisor Sofranko
Seconded by: Board Member Boggess
A Vote was Duly Taken:
AYE NAY ABSENT
Jim Sofranko, Supervisor _X__ _____ ______
Victoria Read, Board Member _X__ _____ ______
Andrew Boggess, Board Member _X__ _____ ______
Scott Kelder, Board Member _X__ _____ ______
David Edinger, Board Member _X__ _____ ______
Dated this 13th day of April, 2021
________________________________
Dawn Giuditta, Town Clerk
On a Sofranko/Read motion, the Board empowered the Supervisor to proceed with the placement of cameras at Davis Park for a cost of no more than $5385.00 from Rest Assured Alarms.
Aye: Boggess, Kelder, Edinger, Read, and Sofranko Nay: Absent:
On a Sofranko/Kelder motion, the Board approved the use of the park facilities to Mountain Valley Little League and Onteora Youth Football.
Aye: Boggess, Kelder, Edinger, Read, and Sofranko Nay: Absent:
On a Sofranko/Boggess motion, the Board approved the Agreement for the Expenditures of highway moneys as per 284 Highway Law.
Aye: Boggess, Kelder, Edinger, Read, and Sofranko Nay: Absent:
Superintendent Brian Burns commented that there might be additional CHIPS money available so he might have to amend the agreement. If those funds come in, it will which will allow for additional work to be completed.
Supervisor Sofranko stated he would be giving the Town Clerk all the documents from the Ashokan Pumped Storage Project for archiving.
Committees, Commission, Department Reports:
Cable franchise Negotiations Committee—Jim Sofranko, Chair
The Committee is not planning on any meetings for right now. Build out in Town is approximately 98% complete after the lower end of County Road 3 and Hanna Lane have been completed.
Parks & Recreation Committee—Scott Kelder, Liaison
The committee did not meet. They are still waiting for Day Camp guidelines from the County and Veronica Lohrer our leader has resigned, so a new leader is needed. Spring sports are getting up and running. Pool should be good. The head lifeguard Ryan Wright is coming back. The Tennis courts should be completed the first part of May weather permitting. Parks are opened except bathrooms; they will be open next week. The Davis Park playground should also be installed first part of May. The older playground sets have been painted to match the new one. Pool cover has been removed and no additional water will be needed Gene and Carl will start hooking up the plumbing and get the water moving. Gene will be talking with the bus company for Day Camp on their protocol next week.
Highway Superintendent—Brian Burns
March brought many wind events cause a lot of trees to come down. The Highway Department has been addressing dangerous trees. They have finished up the sweeping of the roads. The Burgher Road crossing application the town received approval of $538,825.00 for replacement of the Burgher road crossing from the CWC. Superintendent Burns commends Supervisor Sofranko for his support in this matter. He also wanted to thank the Olive Fire Department and the Olive First Aid for the letters of support written on this matter. He thanks the CWC for funding this project. Superintendent Burns requested the Town Board empower him to put on Auction International the 1999 International dump truck that he recently replaced with a 2021 Western Star.
On a Edinger/Boggess motion, the Board empowered the Highway Superintendent to place the 1999 International dump truck on Auction International.
Aye: Boggess, Kelder, Edinger, Read, and Sofranko Nay: Absent:
Superintendent Burns commented that the Burgher Road crossing might not get started until the 2022 construction season. He will try for this year but it might not be possible.
Police Commission—Drew Boggess, Liaison (#30-21)
Board Member Boggess commented that the Police Commission has been working on the Police Task Force suggestions. He also stated that there should be a new police car coming and he wasn’t sure what the plan was for the old one, but maybe it could be auctioned off.
Total Calls for March-68
Year to date – 205
Property checks- 312
Traffic Tickets-21
Arrests: 1
Town Clerk- Dawn Giuditta (#31-21)
March 2021- $65,103.47
Taxes Collected – $229,322.90
Olive First Aid-Chief Yvonne Fuller(#32-21)
Total –33
Olivebridge- 11 Shokan- 15 Boiceville- 3 West Shokan- 0 Samsonville- 3 Shandaken-1
Olive Fire Department-Chief Chris Winne (#33-21)
March Calls 2021—30
Structure Fire-4 Mutual Aid- 5 Automatic Alarm- 3 Wires Down- 13 Auto Accidents-2 Smoke Investigation-1 EMS Assist/Rescue-2
Scenic Byway- Drew Boggess, Liaison
The leadership group for the Scenic Byway has not met in quite a while. There is an effort to extend the byway up thru the Town of Roxbury and West Hurley is showing an interest in joining.
Conservation Advisory Council-David Edinger, Liaison
The Council is looking into clean energy programs. They are compiling a list of vacant land for the Board to analyze for the NYC hamlet acquisition. They are investigating funding for and open space inventory. Supervisor Sofranko complemented the CAC on their assistance with the narrative for the Ashokan Pumped Storage Project.
Zoning Committee-Drew Boggess, Chairman
The Committee believes they have a decent Short Term Rental Code (STR) law. They will send it to the Town Board for review and comments before proceeding any further.
Technology Committee-David Edinger, Chairman
The website did not launch in April they are hoping for a May launch. Dianna is leading the office staff on getting everything together. Once the website is launched the Committee would be looking into the Facebook Policy, and a Town Facebook page.
Buildings and Grounds Committee- Scott Kelder , Liaison
The Committee did not meet, however; Gene did a walkthrough of the Highway Garage and Town Hall for a Lime Energy Audit.
Planning Board- Victoria Read, Liaison
The Planning Board has continued working on the Lower Sahler Mill Subdivision they are utilizing the 2nd meeting of the month strictly for Lower Sahler Mill. The first meeting of the month is for all other applications. There will be a public hearing held the first meeting in May on McMillan Road campsites. There are 2 sites and questions concerning water and wastewater. Bread Alone site plan has been approved and McMillian Road camping site plan has received some push back from people in the community.
All pertinent business having been conducted, the Town Board on a Sofranko/Read motion, adjourned the meeting at 8:27 pm in memory of Ralph Matera, Bonnie Delaura and Gerard Maki
Aye: Boggess, Kelder, Edinger, Read and Sofranko Nay: Absent:
___________________________
Dawn Giuditta, Town Clerk