Town of Hardenburgh
Organizational and Regular Town Board Meeting
March 9, 2023
Town Hall, 51 Rider Hollow Road, Arkville, NY 12406
Present: Supervisor Fairbairn and Councilpersons Shaver, Schluter and Fairbairn
Also present: Town Clerk Buerge, Highway Foreman Kyle Brewer and Stephanie Seminara
NOTE: February 9, 2023 meeting did not take place due to lack of quorum.
Supervisor Fairbairn called the meeting to order at 7:02 PM and Councilperson Fairbairn led the Pledge of Allegiance.
SPECIAL MEETING
Supervisor Fairbairn made a motion to correct the minutes of the January 12, 2023 Organizational meeting, which seconded by Councilperson Shaver, with all in favor.
Supervisor Fairbairn made a motion to accept the minutes as written, which was seconded by Councilperson Fairbairn, with all in favor.
Supervisor Fairbairn made a motion to audit the books of all departments who collect and disperse funds, which was seconded by Councilperson Fairbairn, with all in favor.
Note: Town Justice resigned as of November 30, 2022 and therefore these records are not available for audit.
Supervisor Fairbairn made a motion to accept the books as audited, which was seconded by Councilperson Schulter, with all in favor.
Supervisor Fairbairn moved by resolution to amend the End of Year 2022 Meeting Minutes, regarding “Year-End Budget Appropriations” to move surplus funds of $125.00 from the General Fund Account A9050.8 Unemployment Insurance to the Highway Fund DA9030.8 Social Security.
This was seconded by Councilperson Shaver.
Roll Call Vote:
AYE NAY
Councilperson Jake (John) Fairbairn: X
Councilperson Bill Schluter: X
Councilperson Sherry Shaver: X
Supervisor Jerry Fairbairn: X
Resolution 23-13 adopted.
Supervisor Fairbairn moved by Resolution to amend the Organizational Meeting, Resolution 23-03 to replace Lauren McKendry with Thomas Delehanty as Deputy Town Clerk.
This was seconded by Councilperson Shaver.
Roll Call Vote:
AYE NAY
Councilperson Jake (John) Fairbairn: X
Councilperson Bill Schluter: X
Councilperson Sherry Shaver: X
Supervisor Jerry Fairbairn: X
Resolution 23-14 adopted.
Supervisor Fairbairn offered the following Resolution:
WHEREAS; the Town’s various administrators have decided to upgrade our current website to current standards and security needs,
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board authorizes Catskill Marketing to create a website for the Town using the domain “Hardenburghny.gov” at the cost of $1,500.00 and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Catskill Marketing shall be the host for this website at a cost of $30.00/month and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Resolution further authorizes Catskill Marketing additional expenditures of $75.00 per hour to create Microsoft Business Accounts for the Town Clerk/Tax Collector, Assessor and Highway Bookkeeper and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that this Resolution supersedes any other Resolutions that pertain to the creation of a “Hardenburghny.gov” website.
This was seconded by Councilperson Shaver.
Roll Call Vote:
AYE NAY
Councilperson Jake (John) Fairbairn: X
Councilperson Bill Schluter: X
Councilperson Sherry Shaver: X
Supervisor Jerry Fairbairn: X
Resolution 23-15 adopted.
CORRESPONDENCE:
A. From Catskill Watershed Corporation-Notice of Preliminary Decisions of the Catskill Watershed Corporation as of February 8, 2023.
B. NYS mandates for Ulster County Services
C. From Association of Towns to Supervisor Fairbairn-Memo regarding Home Rule and “Fast Track Approval” for new housing developments.
D. From Delaware County Department of Public Works to Supervisor Fairbairn-Solid Waste Disposal Fees and Contract for Service
E. From Town of Hardenburgh Assessor-Discussion on Senior Citizen Exemption notification process
F. Et Cetera newsletter-Regarding the state of affordable housing and the “Fast Track” process
G. Newspaper article on Solar Valuation Suits
Code Enforcement Officer VonHassel submitted his 2022 yearly report on all activity, along with receipt of said report from NYS Division of Building Standards and Codes.
Discussion on Justice vacancy. Supervisor Fairbairn gave a report on this. Justice from Town of Halcott may be able to take Hardenburgh cases, but Supervisor Fairbairn has not heard anything definitive.
Supervisor Fairbairn made a motion to adjourn the Special Town Board meeting at 7:10 pm, which was seconded by Councilperson Shaver, with all in favor.
Supervisor Fairbairn called the Regular March 9 Monthly Meeting to order at 7:11 pm.
Highway Foreman Brewer gave his update on the Highway Department.
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 Shaver, with all in favor.
Revenue:
A. Town Clerk’s monthly report for January, $512.00 and February, $649.99
B. Sales Tax for October-December 2022 and estimate for January 2023-$10,879.30
Correspondence:
A. From Catskill Watershed Corporation-Notice of Preliminary Decisions of the Catskill Watershed Corporation as of January 4, 2023.
B. From MTC-notification of rate increase as of April 1, 2023
C. From Catskill Watershed Corporation-Ballot for Board of Directors
Supervisor Fairbairn made a motion to authorize the nomination of Richard Parate to the Catskill Watershed Corporation Board of Directors. This was seconded by Councilperson Fairbairn, with all in favor.
D. From Cindy Hilbert, Hardenburgh Assessor-Tentative Equalization Rate
E. From Supervisor Fairbairn to Ulster County Department of Finance-Yearly application for extension of time to collect taxes
F. From Margaretville Central School-Copy of resolution for the amendment to the income level in relation to the partial tax exemption for persons of 65 years of ago or more
G. Resignation letter from Theo Martin as Animal Control Officer.
Supervisor Fairbairn offered the following Resolution,
WHEREAS, Jeff Bank holds the account of the Town of Hardenburgh’s former Town Justice Thomas Engel’s Justice account at said bank,
BE IT RESOLVED THAT, Linda Fisk, serving at Vice President/Regional Manager of said bank, be authorized to close the account of said Hardenburgh Town Justice Thomas Engel and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED THAT, the appropriate administrators of Jeff Bank forward the funds of said closed account to the Town of Hardenburgh at 51 Rider Hollow Road, Arkville NY 12406.
This was seconded by Councilperon Shaver.
Roll Call Vote:
AYE NAY
Councilperson Jake (John) Fairbairn: X
Councilperson Bill Schluter: X
Councilperson Sherry Shaver: X
Supervisor Jerry Fairbairn: X
Resolution 23-16 adopted.
Councilperson Fairbairn made a motion to adjourn at 7:50 which was seconded by Supervisor Fairbairn, with all in favor.
Next meeting: April 13, 2023
Date: March 13, 2023 ___________________________________
Wendy M. Buerge, Town Clerk