Meeting Date: April 14, 2020 7:00 pm
Minutes of the monthly meeting of the Town of Olive Town Board, held Tuesday April 14, 2020 7 pm via Zoom link due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Due to the change in the meeting location a legal ad was placed in the Daily Freeman on April 8, 2020 advising the public of the cancellation of the Monday audit meeting and providing the link to the Zoom Town Board Meeting. The change was also posted on the bulletin boards in the Town Office and outside the Town Office and Town Hall. The notice was posted at Olive Country Store and Village Pizza in Shokan.
Members Present:
Jim Sofranko, Supervisor
Drew Boggess, Deputy Supervisor
Scott Kelder, Board Member
David Edinger, Board Member
Victoria Read, Board Member
Recording Secretary:
Dawn Giuditta, Town Clerk
Others Present: Brian Burns, Highway Superintendent; Simon Strauss, CAC & Cable Franchise Committee; Steven Dibbell, Planning Board; David Sorbellini, Planning Board; Janice Lanzarotta, Bookkeeper
There were a couple of other residents logged on, however; they did not have full names available to the Clerk.
Supervisor Jim Sofranko called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. Supervisor Sofranko welcomed everyone to the Town of Olive’s first remote Town Board meeting on the Zoom platform. He stated that we are proceeding with the meeting remotely due to the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic. NYS Governor Executive Order prohibits public gatherings of any size in addition the Town of Olive is adhering to NYS Executive Order 202.1 which allows essential meetings to be held remotely and recorded, but unfortunately with no public participation. Supervisor Sofranko advised that this meeting will be made available on the Town’s website. Supervisor Sofranko thanked Board Member Edinger for putting this meeting together and for being the Technical Facilitator during the meeting.
Supervisor Sofranko asked Board Member Edinger if we were recording and Board Member Edinger advised that we were.
On a Sofranko/Boggess motion, the Town Board approved the March minutes.
Aye: Boggess, Kelder, Edinger, Read and Sofranko
Correspondence: #47-20
Penny Schetzel- Thank You for the Town of Olive involvement in Project Resilience and our response to COVID-19.
#48-20
NYCDEP- Paul Lenz, Section Chief City Land Stewardship- Acknowledging the Town of Olive recommendation to not allow hunting on Land Acquisition Parcel #9558.
#49-20
NYS Senator James Seward- Response to the Town of Olive opposition of the merge between the NYS Bridge Authority and the NYS Thruway Authority.
#50-20
Gabrielle La Lima resigns from the Town of Olive Police.
On a Sofranko/Boggess motion, the Town Board requests a letter be sent to Officer La Lima thanking her for her service.
Aye: Boggess, Kelder, Edinger, Read and Sofranko
Approve Payment of Audited Bills: On a Sofranko/Kelder motion, the Town Board approved the payment of the following audited bills:
Aye: Boggess, Kelder, Edinger, Read, and Sofranko
General Fund Vouchers #120-#164 – $38,363.61
Pre-Paid Voucher #119 – $ 1,600.00
Highway Fund Vouchers #49-#79 – $48,855.79
Special Lighting Vouchers #3-#4 – $ 125.80
Cash Received February 2020 – $1,960,564.56
Interest Received February 2020 – $5,275.88
Additional Business:
On a Sofranko/Edinger motion, the Town Board approved Resolution #10 of 2020 a resolution suspending of landfill fees.
Resolution #10 of 2020
The Suspension of Landfill Fees
WHEREAS, on March 1, 2020, U.S. President Donald J. Trump declared a national emergency in response to the COVID-19 outbreak and,
WHEREAS, on March 7, 2020, Andrew Cuomo, the Governor of New York State, issued Executive Order #202 declaring a State of Emergency in New York State to address the threat the COVID-19 virus poses to the health and welfare of its residents and visitors and,
WHEREAS, the Town of Olive Town Board recognizes the severe public health implications of the COVID-19 outbreak in our community and recognizes the need to implement immediate public safety protocols where necessary and,
WHEREAS, the Town of Olive Town Board recognizes the need to continue scheduled operation of the waste and recycling systems in place at the Olive Transfer Station to maintain the health and safety of our community during the COVID-19 outbreak and,
WHEREAS, the Town of Olive Town Board recognizes its obligation to protect the health and safety of its workforce and the public in the operation of the Olive Transfer Station,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Town of Olive Town Board hereby allows the Town Supervisor at his discretion to waive the per bag garbage disposal fee at the Olive Transfer Station to minimize employee contact with the public until the health and safety concerns of the COVID-19 outbreak have subsided. The Town Board also acknowledges its agreement with the decision by the Supervisor to waive the fee since March 18, 2020 for the immediate health and safety concern of its residents and employees.
AND MOVES ITS ADOPTION
Motion made by: Supervisor Sofranko
Seconded by: Board Member Edinger
A Vote was Duly Taken:
Jim Sofranko, Supervisor __X__ _____ ______
Andrew Boggess, Board Member __X__ _____ ______
Scott Kelder, Board Member __X__ _____ ______
David Edinger, Board Member __X__ _____ ______
Victoria Read, Board Member __X__ _____ ______
Whereupon, the motion was duly adopted.
Dated this 14TH day of April 2020
_________________________________
Dawn Giuditta, Olive Town Clerk
On a Sofranko/Read motion, the Town Board approved resolution #11 of 2020 Non-Essential Personnel in Response to COVID-19
Resolution #11 of 2020
Non-essential Personnel in Response to COVID-19
WHEREAS, on March 1, 2020, U.S. President Donald J. Trump declared a national emergency in response to the COVID-19 outbreak and,
WHEREAS, on March 7, 2020, Andrew Cuomo, the Governor of New York State, issued Executive Order #202 declaring a State of Emergency in New York State to address the threat the COVID-19 virus poses to the health and welfare of its residents and visitors and,
WHEREAS, on March 17, 2020, the NYS Governor issued Executive Order #202.4 that allows non-essential personnel, as determined by local government, to be able to work from home or take leave without charging accruals and,
WHEREAS, the NYS Executive Order #202.4 directs non-essential personnel to total less than 50% of the total workforce of the town and,
WHEREAS, the Town of Olive Town Board recognizes the need to protect the health and safety of its workforce, residents and visitors,
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, to the extent allowable by law, the Town Board acting pursuant to the authority granted by New York General Municipal Law §92 and Governor’s Executive Order 202.4, grants to any Town employee, determined by the Town to be a non-essential employee, idled by the COVID-19 emergency, paid leave without charging accruals, or the ability to work from home, for all and any days the employee is directed by the Town not to report to their work location. This resolution does not restrict the Town from requiring any non-essential personnel to work regular and/or modified work schedules, from requiring any employee to work from home, and/or from requiring any employee to work via an on-line, electronic, or other such platform. To the extent allowable by law, for all essential workers who are reporting to their work location on a full-time basis and/or are working alternative schedules, they will continue to be paid their normal hourly or salary rates. The paid leave granted by the action of the Town Board or the continued payment of employees’ normal hourly or salary rates as granted by the action of the Town Board shall sunset on the date of the discontinuation of Executive Order 202.4, or as further modified or determined by the Town Board.
AND MOVES ITS ADOPTION
Motion made by: Supervisor Sofranko
Seconded by: Board Member Read
A Vote was Duly Taken:
Jim Sofranko, Supervisor _X___ _____ ______
Andrew Boggess, Board Member _X___ _____ ______
Scott Kelder, Board Member _X___ _____ ______
David Edinger, Board Member _X___ _____ ______
Victoria Read, Board Member _X___ _____ ______
Whereupon, the motion was duly adopted.
Dated this 14TH day of April 2020
_________________________________
Dawn Giuditta, Olive Town Clerk
On a Sofranko/Kelder motion, the Town Board approved the Video Conference Policy.
Aye: Boggess, Kelder, Edinger, Read, and Sofranko
Supervisor Report:
Boiceville Storm Water System- This system is supposed to have annual maintenance completed on it and there is a Capital Reserve Fund available to complete the task. In the past it has been difficult to find a contractor to perform the work. Request for proposals have been sent out to three companies, Hydrovac Excavating, Safety Kleen, and J Mullen and Sons. We are asking for a two year contract and all RFP’s are due back into the Town Clerks office by April 24th at 2 pm.
Culvert Replacement Project we have received NYSDEC permits for Burgher Road, DeSilva Road and Upper Boiceville Road.
Bushkill Stream and Streambank Rehabilitation Project- Baker Bros. were able to complete the tree removal by the required date of 3/31/2020. The balance of the contract is to be completed by September 2020, with luck work will commence again after May 1, 2020.
COVID-19 Update– the County has tested over 3500 people, there are approximately over 750 positive COVID cases in Ulster County. Olive has confirmed 7 cases.
In the United States there are over 600,000 tested positive and over 25,000 have died due to COVID-19.
New York State has over 200,000 confirmed cases and over 10,000 have died.
Project Resiliency- Is sponsored by Ulster County. It is primarily funded through a non-profit fund. Project Resiliency purchases meal from local business and delivers them to residents. Supervisor Sofranko thanked County Executive, Aaron Bennett and Amanda LaValle for coordinating the program from the County level, Daphne Dejesus for organizing the Town of Olive volunteers and the volunteers for delivering the meals. Supervisor Sofranko stated that we have coordinated for the Town of Olive in the Town Office. We have done some reach out to senior citizens to advise them of the program and this is an ongoing project. Meals are picked up by Supervisor Sofranko and brought to either the Legion Hall or the Town Office to be doled out to volunteers for delivery door to door. The volunteers knock on the door and leave the meals by the door in order to keep with social distancing. Residents that are signed up must be home to receive the meals. To date the Town of Olive has 85 meals being delivered 3x a week, there have been over 700 meals delivered. Local businesses that are participating are: Marty’s Mercantile in West Shokan, Olive’s Country Store in Shokan, Santa Fe in Woodstock, Bistro to Go in Kingston and the Phoenicia Diner, Shandaken.
Board Member Edinger thanked Supervisor Sofranko for spear heading the program in the Town of Olive.
The Town of Olive has responded to the COVID-19 Executive Orders in the following ways:
Reduced the Town workforce by 50%.
Highway personnel rotating 1 day on 1 day off.
Office Staff has regulated schedules to reduce office staff in the office without closing any office or reducing hours of operation.
Warning signs- have been placed on 3/15/20 identifying symptoms and emphasizing safety protocols in all buildings.
Canceled all meetings for April except the Town Board meeting.
Parks/Playgrounds- remain open, however; have been posted to keep social distancing recommendations and safety protocols. The Olive Police Department will be gently enforcing these protocols.
Limited public access to Town Office to only essential business.
Waived the bag fees at the Transfer Station in mid-March and restored them on April 13th. We do have a new system for marking the cards with a pen by the permit holder. Supervisor Sofranko gave Bruce Proper credit for regulating the flow into and out of the Transfer Station.
Rail Trail-Supervisor Sofranko stated that even though there is parking for the Rail trail on NYCDEP property near Cold Brook Road residents are finding people parking on Coldbrook Road. This could become a real problem. The County has agreed to design no parking signs for this area if the Town will install them.
The County is also watching the Rail Trail closely for social distancing and if this becomes a problem they will do something about it.
The Town Clerk advised that reports were received from Highway Superintendent Burns, Olive Police, Olive First Aid, Janice Lanzarotta, Bookkeeper, Dianna Carchidi, Assessor and Barry Ruland, LVDV Operations Director. All the above reports are available for review in the Town Clerk’s Office Monday- Friday 9am-4 pm.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:42 pm on a Sofranko/Edinger motion in memory of Robert James
Newman, Raymond Earl Baker and Marci L Berman.
__________________________________
Dawn Giuditta, Town Clerk