Meeting Date: December 15, 2020 7:00 pm
Town of Olive
County of Ulster
State of New York
Tuesday, December 15, 2020
Minutes of the monthly meeting of the Town of Olive Town Board, held Tuesday December 15, 2020 7 pm via ZOOM link.
Members Present: Jim Sofranko, Supervisor
Drew Boggess, Deputy Supervisor
Scott Kelder, Board Member
Victoria Read, Board Member
David Edinger, Board Member
Recording Secretary: Dawn Giuditta, Town Clerk
Others Present: Brian Burns, Highway Superintendent; Simon Strauss, CAC & Cable Franchise Committee’s; Kathryn Serra
Supervisor Sofranko called the meeting to order at 7:01pm.
On an Edinger/Boggess motion, the Town Board approved the November minutes after the corrections of location of the meeting on November 9th audit meeting has been changed to Town Meeting Hall, Shokan.
Aye: Boggess, Kelder, Edinger, Read, and Sofranko Nay: Absent:
Correspondence: #131-20
Email: A complaint concerning the Highway Department not wearing facemasks in Tetta’s store.
#132-20
AFSCME Adam Garfield, Labor Relations Specialist- regarding Health Safety pertaining to COVID-19.
#133-20
Catskill Watershed Corporation Alan L Rosa, Executive Director- in reference to the Designation for land acquisitions in the hamlets.
#134-20
Jeffrey Fuller, Hudson Valley Water Co. – regarding the Town acquiring the water system and forming a municipal water district.
On a Sofranko/Read motion, the Town Board voted unanimously to decline the offer to acquire the Mountain Valley water supply.
Aye: Boggess, Kelder, Edinger, Read, and Sofranko Nay: Absent:
Budget Modifications: On a Boggess/Edinger motion, the Town Board approved the following Budget Modifications:
Aye: Boggess, Kelder, Edinger, Read, and Sofranko Nay: Absent:
Transfer $43,875.00 from Highway Health Ins. D9060.8 to fund HAS
Transfer $14,625.00 from Highway Health D9060.8 to HRA Account
Transfer $29,250.00 from General Fund Health Ins. A9060.8 to Fund HAS
Transfer $26,325.00 from General Fund Health A9060.8 to fund HRA
Transfer $330.00 from 1990.4 Contingency to 1110.4 Justice (Contr.)
Transfer $38,000.00 from 1990.4 Contingency to 7110.4 Parks (Contr.)
Transfer $10,000.00 from 7110.1 Parks Personal Svc. To 7110.4 Parks (Contr.)
Approve Payment of Audited Bills: On a Read/Boggess motion, the Town Board approved the payment of the following audited bills:
Aye: Boggess, Kelder, Edinger, Read, and Sofranko Nay: Absent:
General Fund Vouchers #513– #553 $ 89,380.44
Special Lighting Voucher #12 $ 68.75
Highway Fund Vouchers #984 #1012 $ 24,258.22
Sewer Vouchers #16973-#16985 $ 33,446.93
Special Fire Voucher #3 $289,387.00
Cash Received October 2020 $192,480.38
Interest Received October 2020 $521.48
Additional Business:
Town of Olive
Resolution #27 of 2020
RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE RETURN OF ADULT IN-PATIENT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND DETOX UNITS TO THE MARY’S AVENUE CAMPUS OF THE HEALTH ALLIANCE HOSPITAL OF THE HUDSON VALLEY
WHEREAS, The World Health Organization (“WHO”) has declared the COVID-19 outbreak a global pandemic, defined as the worldwide spread of a new virus for which most people do not have immunity and,
WHEREAS, On March 7, 2020, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency based on COVID-1 and,
WHEREAS, As of December 2, 2020, there were over 669,000 documented cases of COVID-19 within the State of New York, and
WHEREAS, Both Governor Cuomo and the New York State Department of Health have issued declarations limiting non-essential employees from work, closing schools, and limits on public gatherings, as well as recommendations on social distancing, staying home if sick, canceling or postponing large group events, and other precautions to protect public health and prevent transmission of this communicable virus and,
WHEREAS, In March, 2020, the Health Alliance Hospital in Kingston, Mary’s Avenue Campus became a designated COVID overflow hospital and the Adult In-Patient Behavioral Health and Detox Unit beds were temporarily and understandably moved to Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital in Poughkeepsie, NY and,
WHEREAS, Ulster County, NY has had some of the highest Opioid overdoses and fatalities in the State of New York going back to 2018. COVID-19 has created a significant increase in Suicides and Drug Overdoses in Ulster County, NY. By March of 2020, Ulster County had already reached 25 Opioid related fatalities, already nearing the overall total number Opioid fatalities of 33 in 2019. By July of 2020, Ulster County had recorded 38 Opioid fatalities. Opioid fatalities from January to July have gone up 171% compared to the same time period in 2019 and,
WHEREAS, Assembly-member Kevin Cahill stated in our local newspaper, The Daily Freeman, on November 8th that “the Health Alliance Hospital’s Mental Health Unit’s move outside of Ulster County violates it’s licensing agreement” and as of November 8th, 2020, the Adult In-Patient Behavioral Health and Detox Unit has not been returned to the Health Alliance Hospital in Kingston, NY and,
WHEREAS, Having the move of the Health Alliance Hospital Adult In-Patient and Detox Units out of Kingston, NY and Ulster County is a great detriment to our community and has created a barrier to care to patients due to longer wait times in the Health Alliance Hospital Psychiatric Emergency Room in Kingston, NY as patients await in-patient beds outside of Ulster County, longer wait time for both adults and children mixed together in the same Psychiatric Emergency Room which creates additional trauma and stress for children and their families, a barrier on visitation for families without private transportation having to travel outside of Ulster County to support and participate in treatment with family members and a barrier to care by lessening overall community support and,
WHEREAS, Westchester Medical Center, the parent company of Health Alliance of the Hudson Valley, has stated that it will seek approval from the New York State Department of Health and New York State Department of Mental Health to move the Adult In-Patient Behavioral Health and Detox Units permanently out of Kingston, NY, to Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital in Poughkeepsie, NY and,
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Olive calls on Westchester Medical Center to honor their licensing agreement and return the Adult In-Patient Behavioral Health and Detox Units back to Health Alliance Hospital in Kingston, NY and not seek approval from the New York State Department of Health and New York State Department of Mental Health to move the units to Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital in Poughkeepsie, NY,
AND, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Olive calls on the New York State Department of Health, the New York State Department of Mental Health, the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports and New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo to reject any application made by Westchester Medical Center to move the Adult In-Patient Behavioral Health and Detox Units from Health Alliance of the Hudson Valley Mary’s Avenue Campus in Kingston, NY to Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital in Poughkeepsie, NY,
AND, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Olive Town Clerk is directed to send a copy of this resolution to Governor Andrew Cuomo, New York State Department of Health Commissioner
Howard Zucker, MD, New York State Department of Mental Health Commissioner Anne Marie Sullivan MD, New York State Office of Alcoholism Commissioner Arlene Gonzalez-Sanchez, MS, LMSW, New York State Senator James Seward, and New York State Assembly-member Kevin Cahill,
AND MOVES ITS ADOPTION
Motion made by: Board Member Victoria Read
Seconded by: Board Member David Edinger
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, 15th day of December, 2020
_________________________________
Dawn Giuditta, Town Clerk
On a Sofranko/Kelder motion, the Town Board approved a 2020 $500 pool maintenance stipend for Jimmy Henderson.
Aye: Boggess, Kelder, Edinger, Read, and Sofranko Nay: Absent:
On a Edinger/Read motion, the Town Board empowered the Supervisor to sign the contract with CT Male as a consultant to the Planning Board after the contract has been sent to the developer to review and return with a letter of approval.
Aye: Boggess, Kelder, Edinger, Read, and Sofranko Nay: Absent:
On a Sofranko/Boggess motion, the Town Board approved the updated IT Policy.
Aye: Boggess, Kelder, Edinger, Read, and Sofranko Nay: Absent:
On a Sofranko/Edinger motion, the Town Board approved the website design proposal by Wiltwyck Design in the amount of $6,700.00. (#135-20)
Aye: Boggess, Kelder, Edinger, Read, and Sofranko Nay: Absent:
On a Sofranko/Boggess motion, the Town Board approved the Agreement for Dog Control Services with Jill Schufeldt and Kevin Hinman allowing for the 2021 mileage rate.
Aye: Boggess, Kelder, Edinger, Read, and Sofranko Nay: Absent:
On a Sofranko/Edinger motion, the Board approved the Agreement for Dog Boarding with the Town of Rochester.
Aye: Boggess, Kelder, Edinger, Read, and Sofranko Nay: Absent:
Committees, Commission, Department Reports:
Cable Franchise Negotiations Committee-Supervisor Sofranko Liaison
The committee did not meet. There has been build out on County Road 3 and Sheldon Hill Road.
Parks & Recreation Committee-Scott Kelder, Liaison
The committee did not meet, but the big news is the tennis courts in Grant Avery Park have been resurfaced, in the Spring they will be coated, lined and ready to go.
Highway Department- Superintendent Brian Burns
Superintendent Burns stated that a grant was written through AWSMP for design and engineering of Bostock and Red Maple crossings. They did receive $135,000 toward design and engineering and RFP went out. DeSilva and Upper Boiceville Culverts are complete there are just a couple of little things the contractor has to come back and fix. Superintendent Burns commented they are in good shape for the impending snow!
Town Clerk-Dawn Giuditta (#136-20)
November Monthly Report- $15,733.05
Olive Fire Department- Chris Winne, Chief (#137-20)
Monthly calls for October & November- 60
Auto Accidents- 5 Structure Fire- 6 Mutual Aid- 4 Automatic Alarm- 7 Wires Down-26
Smoke Investigation- 2 Ems Assist/Rescue- 4 Brush Fire- 2 Public Service- 1
Carbon Monoxide- 2 Good Intent- 1
Olive First Aid- (#138-20)
October Calls – 25
Shokan-7 Olivebridge-7 Boiceville-5 Samsonville-2 West Shokan- 4
Conservation Advisory Council- David Edinger, Liaison
The new council members Matt Kovner and Don Di Martini are jumping right in. Mr. Kovner has already put in an application for an $8000 grant to get the town to bronze level in the climate smart community. The CAC is trying to get a junior member who might possibly help with some trail stuff as well as do some research. The Community Choice Aggregate Law is somewhat on hold but the council hopes next month to get it to the attorney for review. The draft for the Natural Resource Inventory should be available next month to the Board. Board Member Edinger was the Climate Smart Coordinator, but he would like to step down and have Matt Kovner appointed in his place. On an Edinger/Sofranko motion, Matt Kovner has been appointed as the Climate Smart Community Coordinator.
Aye: Boggess, Kelder, Edinger, Read, and Sofranko Nay: Absent:
Technology Committee- David Edinger, Chairman
The Committee has not met but Board Member Edinger has been looking into getting a domain name. He is also looking into a town email.
Zoning Committee- Drew Boggess, Chairman
Met last month and will meet on zoom in January. Dianna has put together a short term rental document from information gathered by the committee that looks pretty good. Hopefully it will be ready for review by the Town Board in the Spring.
On another issue Board Member Boggess gave an update on the Maltby Hollow Bridge repair, which should begin in the Spring. There should be a single lane for use as construction is in progress.
Buildings and Grounds- Scott Kelder, Liaison
The Committee held their walk through of the Highway facilities at the end of November. We have some serious issues starting with the cold storage building, there is a lot of structural damage. Discussions with Brian are that the building has probably served its purpose and due to size of new equipment and expansion of trying to get trucks undercover. The committee asked Brian to come up with a design and size for a new building. Brian stated that they will try and do some temporary repairs to make it safe for a little while. The salt shed has structural issues, the committee believes this project may be done in house. Board Member Kelder stated there are some other issues in the highway garage with concrete and pits but give the committee a couple months to come up with a better plan.
Barry Ruland, LVDV Operations Chief Operator sent the Town Board the Boiceville Sewer Report. (#139-20)
The Board was presented through email the Statement of Expenditures, Encumbrances & Appropriations prepared by Janice Lanzarotta, Bookkeeper. (#140-20)
Superintendent Burns stated he has been in contact with Chief Ryan concerning parking on the highway. He would like the public to be advised not to park on the highway especially during times of inclement weather.
The meeting was adjourned on a Sofranko/Kelder motion at 7:59 pm in memory of Alvah L White, Edward Stevens and John (Storky) Muller.
Aye: Boggess, Kelder, Edinger, Read, and Sofranko Nay: Absent:
_____________________________
Dawn Giuditta, Town Clerk