Town Board Meeting Minutes
Posted on: 9/19/2007
Date of Minutes:
04/09/2007
APRIL 9, 2007 TOWN OF
The Supervisor opened the meeting at 4:45 in Town
Hall with council members Dod Crane, Linda Souers, Paul Niedercorn and Counsel
Warren Replansky present. On motion from
Dod and second by Linda the Board went into Executive Session to interview
candidates for the Board of Assessment Review and to discuss special counsel on
planning and zoning issues. All were in
favor.
At 6:40 on motion from Paul
and second by Dod the executive session was unanimously closed and the meeting
was reconvened to the Rhinecliff Fire House at 6:45.
Council
woman Ellen Silverstein came at 7:35.
Announcements:
The 17th annual
town roadside cleanup day will be held on April 14th from 7AM to
12noon. The transfer station will be
accepting plastic bags at no charge.
Please call Nancy Cunningham at the transfer station for further
details, 758-3405.
Rhinebeck Summer Recreation
Program Registration Day - Saturday April 28, Town Hall, 9:00 to 12 noon.
Notice of Household
Hazardous Waste Day - Saturday May 5 - at the Dutchess County Resource Recovery
Agency. Pre-register & pre-pay by
Wednesday May 2. Call 463-6020 for more info, or www.DCRRA.org
Presentation:
Emery Ruger, Chair,
Rhinebeck Board of Assessors, was introduced by Supervisor Block. Since PANDA is not here tonight to tape the
meeting Emery was asked to also come to the April 23rd Town Board
meeting. Emery then introduced the
other two assessors; Jack O’Brien and Al D’Imperio. He reviewed this year’s property assessment
process. The data collection was handled
by MJW in 2005. The State mandated the
revaluation to get the equalization rate back to 100%. There is a trending process over a 5 year
period which will produce different assessments for each home. Field review, size of house, number of rooms,
number of bathrooms, size of garage are all factored into each assessment. A comparison against sales is also
analyzed. The sales are based on last
year’s figures. All the assessors are
state certified appraisers. Steve Block
asked what happens in 2010 when the trending period is over and Emery said that
is up to the State. They may initiate a
new program; they like to keep the towns at 100% valuation.
suggested explaining how the yearly trending might affect people’s taxes. Emery said this year the assessments seem to
be going up 4-10%. If individuals
receive an increase between 4-6% their taxes will probably go down and if they
receive a 7-10% increase their taxes will probably go up. The trending actually fine tunes our
assessments.
Emery encouraged everyone to
come in and talk to the assessors, ask questions and get informed. Open Book will be May 7th 2-4 and
7-9 pm, May 8th 12 noon- 4, May 9th 10-12, May 10th from 12-4. May 11th from 12-2 and
May 12th 12 noon – 4 downstairs at Town Hall. This is your opportunity to see our records
and meet with us. We are here to work
with you. If you disagree with our
assessment you can then go before the Board of Assessment Review with you grievance.
BUSINESS
1. Linda
opened bids from Larry Hoyt for $576.76 and Garcia & Son Welding for
$2,150. to purchase the transfer station’s Hyster H60C fork lift truck. On motion from Linda and second from Paul
Garcia & Sons was unanimously awarded the truck for $2,150.00.
2. Linda
motioned and Paul seconded to appoint Svend Beecher to the Recreation Committee
through 12/31/08. Motion carried 4-0.
3. Dod
moved to accept the resignation of Cathy Washburn and Brenda Klaproth from the Board
of Assessment Review with Linda seconding.
All were in favor. Then Paul motioned and Linda seconded to expand the
Board of Assessment Review from three to five members. Dod feels a larger board will better service
the community. All were in favor.
4. Dod motioned
and Linda seconded to appoint Mildred Young through 9/30/2008, Mary Cassese
through 9/30/2009, Bob Babirad through 9/30/2010 and Mary Myerson as a
temporary through 4/30/2007 to the Board of Assessment Review. Motion carried 4-0.
5. Paul
motioned and Linda seconded to accept with considerable regret the resignation
of Kristen Simmons as Secretary to the Zoning Board and Assessors Clerk,
effective this Friday, April 13. Carried unanimously.
6. On
motion by Paul and second by Linda Jadeen Murray was unanimously appointed to
the position of Secretary to the Zoning Board, effective Monday, April 16, for
ten hours per week plus Zoning Board meetings at $10.50 per hour.
7. Linda
motioned and Dod seconded to approve a $50 fee for road closure, consistent
with the local law #3 of 2007. All were
in favor.
8. Paul
motioned and Dod seconded to approve request of the Web site committee to
retain the design services of Todd Poteet, Pen & Ink Graphics, to complete
development of graphic design for the new Web site for an amount not to exceed
$2000. Carried 4-0.
9. Paul
motioned and Linda seconded to accept the resignation of Joanne Engle from the
CAC. Unanimously approved.
10. Paul
motioned and Dod seconded to appoint Bill Dowden through 12/31/07; Gloria Fox,
Carol Smith, and Tess McKellen through 12/31/09 to the Conservation Advisory
Council. All were in favor.
11. Paul
motioned and Dod seconded to authorize distribution and advertisement of a bid
request to resurface the outdoor basketball court at the
4PM, Monday, April 23rd.
Carried 4-0.
12. Paul
moved and Linda seconded to approve the Recreation Committee request to retain
Red Hook Fencing to remove and replace four sections of fencing surrounding the
town pool for the low bid amount of $6850.
Linda showed the actual fence wiring which is green vinyl. The new fence will not have barbed wire and
will be eight feet tall. Motion carried
5-0 with Ellen now here.
13. Paul
motioned and Ellen seconded to approve a $25 transfer from Highway Department
garage repairs to contracts. All were in
favor.
14. Paul
motioned and Ellen seconded to approve the minutes of February 26th,
March 12th, March 19th and March 26th. Motion carried unanimously.
15. Paul motioned and Ellen seconded to approve
Abstract 4, vouchers 318-355,
checks 2230-2261 for
$110,196.60. All were in favor.
16. Paul motioned and Dod seconded to approve
the following cap project payments:
# ABS VOU Check # Amount
43 3 3 2265
$644.10
62 3 4 2266 61.46
78 3 5 2267 $1,590.00
31 2 2-3 2263 1,128.50
38 4 5 2264
423.00
Motion
carried unanimously.
17. Supervisor
chose not to report on his liaison assignments since PANDA is not present. Tabled to April 23rd meeting.
Mike Hagerty from Winnakee Land Trust explained an
oversight has occurred and the Town of
Town Board
and Walk Trail which runs throughout the town.
Once dedicated there is an added benefit to the town for grant
eligibility. We need your endorsement,
once the trail is designated there will be an added benefit, because the
communities involved will be eligible to request additional insurance coverage
and better awareness of the trail system.
Greenway has the liability but it is transitional until all the
easements are secured. Steve pointed out
that a resident on
is concerned about hikers, bikers and cars all sharing the same road. It could be dangerous. Mike agrees that rural roads need extra
caution. Steve feels if we invite more
bikers and walkers without proper construction we may be creating dangerous
situations. Mike thinks more signage
would help. Meg Crawford is interested
in learning about other motorized roads with trails on them in the surrounding
towns. Steve asked if
was one of the trails and Mike said no.
Kathy Kinsella thinks this raises several issues; for example
limited shoulders. It seems simple on
the surface but it is a complicated issue.
Some of our roadways cannot accommodate bikers, hikers and cars. Paul stated that 5 years ago the road was not
as traveled as it is today. Over time congestion might occur.
Warren Replansky thinks it is more appropriate for
this to be named a route and not a trail since it is on such heavily traveled
roads. He has a problem with the current
signage. The route should be better
marked. Steve wondered if honoring the
request will intensify our safety concern.
Mike said he knows that Greenway is willing to help in any manner they
can and they can provide the technical support.
Dod questioned what benefit they would provide and Mike replied they can
assist in grants. Kathy Kinsella is
concerned since she was elected there have been numerous complaints about
speeding cars along
need to slow traffic down. Oil and stone
is not as bike friendly but it slows cars down.
Cornell states that roads are shared entities. Clearer signage is necessary. Steve feels that a prudent decision is
necessary and would feel more comfortable with tabling this until the next
meeting. Linda would like more
information of types of trials on motoring roads and what has been done. Will Greenway sponsor a signage grant? Mike
will get some answers before the April 23rd meeting.
After much discussion consideration
for official town board support for Hudson River Valley Greenway Trail
Designation of the Winnakee Land Trust Rhinebeck/Red Hook Historic Bike and
Walk Tour was tabled until the April 23rd meeting
18. 2000 Greenway Trail improvement grant: Mike Haggerty explained that the Town
partnered with Winnakee and asked for $70,000 back in 2000. We received $57,000 with Winnakee getting
$10,000 to administer the grant; managing the contract, working with Hudsonia
and reviewing documents with the Department of State. The Winnakee Board has agreed to lower their
part to $5,000. We need to finalize the
contract so we can start drawing down the funds immediately.
Adjourn:
At 8:35 on motion from Paul
and second from Linda this meeting was unanimously adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Barbara Cunningham
Town Clerk