Town of Hardenburgh
Regular Town Board Meeting
January 12, 2023 7:00 PM
Town Hall, 51 Rider Hollow Road, Arkville, NY 12406
Present: Supervisor Fairbairn and Councilpersons Schluter, Fairbairn, Shaver and Sackel
Also present: Town Clerk Buerge, Highway Foreman Kyle Brewer and Stephanie Seminara
REGULAR MEETING
Supervisor Fairbairn called the meeting to order at 7:01 PM and Councilperson Sackel led the Pledge of Allegiance.
MINUTES CORRECTION:
Supervisor Fairbairn made a motion to correct the minutes of the December 8, 2022 meeting, which seconded by Councilperson Sackel, with all in favor.
Supervisor Fairbairn made a motion to accept the minutes as written, which was seconded by Councilperson Sackel, with all in favor.
Supervisor Fairbairn made a motion to correct the minutes of the December 29, 2022 meeting, which seconded by Councilperson Fairbairn, with all in favor.
Supervisor Fairbairn made a motion to accept the minutes as written, which was seconded by Councilperson Sackel, with all in favor.
Supervisor Fairbairn made a motion to audit the bills, which was seconded by Councilperson Shaver, with all in favor.
Supervisor Fairbairn made a motion to accept the bills as audited, which was seconded by Councilperson Sackel, with all in favor. Vouchers approved for payment were numbered 1-34 with $93,620.19 in General accounts and $24,576.72 in Highway accounts.
HIGHWAY: Highway Foreman Brewer gave his monthly report on the highway department.
Supervisor Fairbairn moved by resolution to approve $2.00 per hour pay raises for three (3) specific highway employees and raises of $1.00 per hour for all other highway employees, except for two probationary Motor Equipment Operators.
This was seconded by Councilperson Fairbairn.
Roll Call Vote:
Councilperson Jake (John) Fairbairn: Yes
Councilman Bill Schluter: Yes
Councilpeson John Sackel: Yes
Councilperson Sherry Shaver Yes
Supervisor Jerry Fairbairn: Yes
Resolution 23-01 adopted
Supervisor’s statement: “I foresee an austere budget year for fuel costs for our Town due to inflationary moves of shuttering fuel depots and other ancillary fuel chain channels by NYS politicians. Since fossil fuels are used in making clothing – I suggest all NYS and Federal politicians dress in straw hats and burlap bags as a means of saving our environment”. – JAF
REVENUES:
A) Monthly TC’s report for Dec. $58.00
B) – Electronic transfer of CHIPs funding – $98,001.33
FYI:
A) Catskill Watershed Corporation- – Various Septic Rehabs etc. as of Dec. 31st.
B) – From NYS Ag & Markets – Dog Control Inspection – 12/28/22 – Satisfactory
C) – From Catskill Watershed Corporation – Nomination of CWC Board Member
D) – From UC Emergency Management – Has new software to assist in incident management
E) – From Bottini – Possible fuel shortages this winter –
F) – Certification of Final Tax Extension
JUSTICE:
A) – Town Revenue Report ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING / BUSINESS
OFFICIAL UNDERTAKING:
Supervisor Fairbairn made the following statement and asked that it be included in the minutes:
“As our Supervisor I am offering this official undertaking for the year. I intend to conduct my portion of our Town’s responsibilities in an effective, efficient, and productive manner.”
Supervisor Fairbairn moved by resolution to accept the following Committee appointments:
1. Highway Committee: Councilperson Shaver and Supervisor Fairbairn;
2. Emergency Preparedness Committee: Councilperson Sackel and Supervisor Fairbairn;
3. Building Committee: Councilperson Sackel and Supervisor Fairbairn;
4. Refuse Committee: Councilperson Shaver and Supervisor Fairbairn;
5. Administration of Sexual Harassment Policy: Councilperson Shaver and Supervisor Fairbairn;
6. Judicial Oversight Committee: Councilperson Sackel and Supervisor Fairbairn;
7. Ethics Committee: Dawn Lipstein, Supervisor Fairbairn, Shawn Lipstein.
Resolution seconded by Councilperson Sackel.
Roll Call Vote:
Councilperson Jake (John) Fairbairn: Yes
Councilman Bill Schluter: Yes
Councilpeson John Sackel: Yes
Councilperson Sherry Shaver Yes
Supervisor Jerry Fairbairn: Yes
Resolution 23-02 adopted
Supervisor Fairbairn moved by resolution to accept the following Individual appointments:
1. Deputy Supervisors: Councilpersons Sackel and Shaver;
2. Second Signatory for checks totaling more than $50,000.00: Councilperson Schluter;
3. Animal Control Officer: Theo Martin – salary $800.00 per year, paid annually;
4. Code Enforcement Officer: Karl von Hassel – salary $5,430.00 per year, paid monthly;
5. Flood Plain Administrators: Code Enforcement Officer Karl Von Hassel and Supervisor Fairbairn;
6. Solid Waste Attendant & Refuse Officer: Linda Utter and Deputy Mary Rampe – $14.75 per hour, paid bi-weekly;
7. Deputy Town Clerk / Tax Collector: Lauren McKendry – $15.30 per hour paid on monthly payroll on an as-needed basis;
8. Supervisor’s Bookkeeper A1220.11 – Thomas Delehanty: $9,700.00 per year, paid monthly. Supervisor’s Bookkeeper A1220.12 -no appointee at this time.
9. Planning Board: for a term of seven (7) years – Looking for volunteers to appoint for seven-year term; Chairman Bill Scholl, $100 annual stipend:
10. Zoning Board of Appeals: Chairperson Debra Storms, $100 annual stipend;
11. Drug and alcohol Coordinators: Highway Foreman Klye Brewer & Town Supervisor
12. Historian: Town Clerk – $17.50 per hour, with a cap of $250.00 per year – paid upon submission of a time sheet with explanation of tasks
13. Attorney for the Town: Stephanie Whidden Esq.;
14. Budget Officer: Supervisor Jerry Fairbairn, salary $2,500 per year;
15. Assessor: Cindy Hilbert – $9,745.00 per year, paid quarterly;
16. Civil Defense Directors: Supervisor Fairbairn and Councilperson Sackel;
17. Assessor Clerk – Thomas Delehanty $15.10 per hour, also authorized to attend Assessor related training with charge backs of mileage per federal allocation and food and lodging per Ulster County per diem amounts – payroll: To be paid on monthly payroll and training costs by voucher;
18. Safety Net Officers – The Town no longer has any responsibility in this matter.
19. Conservation Advisory Council – Three-member Board – Jerry Fairbairn – re-appointed for 2023, FYI – going forward info – for 24 Scott Gould & Tom Delehanty for 25.
20. Board of Assessment & Review – Three-member board – Stephanie Seminara has been reappointed 2023 – Lisa Sackel needs reappointment 2024
21. All hourly pay rates above become effective on the first full pertinent payroll of 2023.
Resolution Seconded by Councilperson Fairbairn.
Roll Call Vote:
Councilperson Jake (John) Fairbairn: Yes
Councilman Bill Schluter: Yes
Councilpeson John Sackel: Yes
Councilperson Sherry Shaver Yes
Supervisor Jerry Fairbairn: Yes
Resolution 23-03 adopted
Supervisor Fairbairn moved by resolution to accept the following pay rates:
1. Mileage rate – Federal rate of 65.5 cents per mile;
2. Town Highway Full Time Employees – (Motor Equipment Operators): Employee raises will be addressed under Highway business in this Regular Meeting portion.
3. Three (3) part-time/summer highway laborers/help as needed- $17.50 per hour, no additional benefits;
4. Board of Assessment Review – $16.50 per hour, inclusive of required training hours plus mileage to/from training. Board shall meet at Town Hall, 51 Rider Hollow Road, Arkville NY 12406. The Board shall meet for a period of two (2) hours minimum and shall be extended, if necessary, to address all complaints. The Meeting date is set by Town of Hardenburgh enacted Local Law;
5. Building & Maintenance Worker II – $55.00 per hour for up to (2) employees;
6. Housekeeping Services – $20.50 per hour;
7. Registrar of Vital Statistics, Records management Officer, Records Access Clerk – Additional duties of Town Clerk, $200.00 per year.
Resolution Seconded by Councilperson Sackel.
Roll Call Vote:
Councilperson Jake (John) Fairbairn: Yes
Councilman Bill Schluter: Yes
Councilpeson John Sackel: Yes
Councilperson Sherry Shaver Yes
Supervisor Jerry Fairbairn: Yes
Resolution 23-04 adopted
Supervisor Fairbairn moved by resolution to accept the following General Provisions:
1. Highway Payroll and Highway Superintendent shall be paid every 14 days, ending Sundays @ 11:59 PM;
2. General Payroll shall be paid bi-weekly, monthly, quarterly and yearly;
3. Town Clerk shall have two (2) petty cash funds of $100.00 each;
4. Town Justice shall have a petty cash fund of $100.00 and be authorized a checking account at a banking facility of his choice: We are without a Justice at this time and are awaiting instructions from the Unified Court System.
5. Regular Town Board Meetings shall be held on the second Thursday of each month. Special Town Board Meetings shall be convened following pertinent Town Law;
6. Planning Board Meetings shall be convened the third Wednesday of the month;
7. Zoning Board of Appeals Meetings shall be convened at the discretion of the Chairperson and as business dictates.
8. The Supervisor’s Health Coverage package was put forth as recorded and adopted as written below:
WHEREAS: The previous Resolution 17-7 i.e. the Supervisor’s health needs seems to be outdated, and
WHEREAS: There is a need to update said Resolution.
BE IT RESOLVED THAT: The Supervisor shall receive a stipend of one half the sum of the yearly full-time NYSHIP allotment for single individual coverage, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT: This stipend shall be used for Medicare Part B and any other ancillary health and wellness needs of the Supervisor.
Resolution #22-5 Seconded and adopted by Roll call vote
Roll Call Vote:
Councilperson Jake (John) Fairbairn: Yes
Councilman Bill Schluter: Yes
Councilpeson John Sackel: Yes
Councilperson Sherry Shaver Yes
Supervisor Jerry Fairbairn: Yes
Resolution 23-05 adopted
Supervisor Fairbairn moved by resolution to allow the Highway Foreman – KYLE BREWER – to authorize equitable overtime for the Highway Employees as he deems necessary to ensure a safe and passable Highway System.
Roll Call Vote:
Councilperson Jake (John) Fairbairn: Yes
Councilman Bill Schluter: Yes
Councilpeson John Sackel: Yes
Councilperson Sherry Shaver Yes
Supervisor Jerry Fairbairn: Yes
Resolution 23-06 adopted
Supervisor Fairbairn moved by resolution to certify the pay rates of elected Town Officials as advertised and reflected in the 2023 Certified Budget per Town Law.
Resolution Seconded by Councilperson Shaver.
Roll Call Vote:
Councilperson Jake (John) Fairbairn: Yes
Councilman Bill Schluter: Yes
Councilpeson John Sackel: Yes
Councilperson Sherry Shaver Yes
Supervisor Jerry Fairbairn: Yes
Resolution 23-07 adopted
Supervisor Fairbairn moved by resolution to authorize the Catskill Chronicles Section E as the Town’s official publication, and the National Bank and Trust Company of Norwich as the official depository of the Town, with the Bank of New York as Third-Party Custodian.
Resolution Seconded by Councilperson Sackel.
Roll Call Vote:
Councilperson Jake (John) Fairbairn: Yes
Councilman Bill Schluter: Yes
Councilpeson John Sackel: Yes
Councilperson Sherry Shaver Yes
Supervisor Jerry Fairbairn: Yes
Resolution 23-08 adopted
Supervisor Fairbairn moved by resolution to authorize the following individuals to be the signatory for checks and transfer monies for their respective banks: Supervisor, Deputy Supervisors, Town Clerk/Collector and Town Justice. (Second signatory for checks over the amount of $50,000) – Councilman Schluter.
Resolution Seconded by Councilperson Sackel.
Roll Call Vote:
Councilperson Jake (John) Fairbairn: Yes
Councilman Bill Schluter: Yes
Councilpeson John Sackel: Yes
Councilperson Sherry Shaver Yes
Supervisor Jerry Fairbairn: Yes
Resolution 23-09 adopted
Supervisor Fairbairn offered the following resolution:
WHEREAS there exists an agreement dated January 1, 1988 by and between the Board of Fire Commissioners of the Beaverkill Valley Fire District and of the Town of Hardenburgh, and
WHEREAS, the aforementioned parties have agreed to renew such an agreement in its entirety for a period of one (1) year beginning January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023 with the same terms and conditions,
BE IT RESOLVED, that pursuant to Section 209-d of General Municipal Law said agreement shall be approved, and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the Board Members of the Town shall be authorized to sign the agreement on behalf of the Town.
Resolution Seconded by Councilperson Sackel.
Roll Call Vote:
Councilperson Jake (John) Fairbairn: Yes
Councilman Bill Schluter: Yes
Councilpeson John Sackel: Yes
Councilperson Sherry Shaver Yes
Supervisor Jerry Fairbairn: Yes
Resolution 23-10 adopted
Supervisor Fairbairn moved by resolution to accept all of the Town’s policies for the year 2023 that were in effect as of December 31, 2022. Changes in policies shall be formulated as the need arises.
Resolution Seconded by Councilperson Shaver.
Roll Call Vote:
Councilperson Jake (John) Fairbairn: Yes
Councilman Bill Schluter: Yes
Councilpeson John Sackel: Yes
Councilperson Sherry Shaver Yes
Supervisor Jerry Fairbairn: Yes
Resolution 23-11 adopted
Supervisor Fairbairn moved by resolution to authorize individual health insurance coverage through New York State Health Insurance Plan for the Town Clerk.
Resolution seconded by Councilperson Shaver. R
Roll Call Vote:
Councilperson Jake (John) Fairbairn: Yes
Councilman Bill Schluter: Yes
Councilpeson John Sackel: Yes
Councilperson Sherry Shaver Yes
Supervisor Jerry Fairbairn: Yes
Resolution 23-12 adopted
Supervisor Faiirbairn made a motion to adjourn at 7:40pm, which was seconded by Councilperson Fairbairn, with all in favor.
Next meeting: February 9th 2023 @ Town Hall @ 7 PM
Date: January 13, 2023