CANAAN TOWN BOARD MEETING
May 10th, 2010
Supervisor Richard Keaveney opened the workshop meeting at 6:00 p.m.
PRESENT: Supervisor Richard Keaveney
Councilperson Brenda Adams
Councilperson Peter Stelling
Councilperson Carrie Bither
Councilperson David Patzwahl
Town Clerk Charlotte Cowan
Highway Superintendent Bernhard Meyer

AUDIENCE: 5

Supervisor Richard Keaveney read the Public Notice: Please take notice that the Canaan Town Board will hold a Special Health Insurance workshop meeting at the Canaan Town Hall, 1647 County Route 5, Canaan, New York 12029, at 6:00 p.m. on May 10th, 2010. The regular monthly town board meeting will follow.

Supervisor Richard Keaveney explained that costs have escalated significantly due to the uncertainty of costs relating to the new National Healthcare legislation.

The board discussed the different options and reviewed the costs offered by MVP Health Care.

MOTION: Councilperson Brenda Adams made a motion, seconded by Councilperson Carrie Bither, to close the workshop at 6:59 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Charlotte L. Cowan, RMC, CMC
Canaan Town Clerk



CANAAN TOWN BOARD MEETING
May 10th, 2010

Supervisor Richard Keaveney opened the meeting at 7:00 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag followed by a moment of silence.

PRESENT: Supervisor Richard Keaveney
Councilperson Brenda Adams
Councilperson Peter Stelling
Councilperson Carrie Bither
Councilperson David Patzwahl
Town Clerk Charlotte Cowan
Highway Superintendent Bernhard Meyer
Assessor Jean Rohde

AUDIENCE: 23

MINUTES: Supervisor Richard Keaveney made a motion, seconded by Councilperson David Patzwahl, to approve the April 12th, 2010 minutes. 4-ayes.
Roll call showed: Supervisor Richard Keaveney – yes;
Councilperson Brenda Adams – yes;
Councilperson Peter Stelling – yes;
Councilperson Carrie Bither – abstained;
Councilperson David Patzwahl – yes. Motion Carried.
Supervisor Richard Keaveney made a motion, seconded by Councilperson Brenda Adams, to approve the May 3rd 2010, Special Board Meeting minutes. 5-ayes.

Roll call showed: Supervisor Richard Keaveney – yes;
Councilperson Brenda Adams – yes;
Councilperson Peter Stelling – yes;
Councilperson Carrie Bither –yes;
Councilperson David Patzwahl – yes. Motion Carried.

BILLS: Councilperson David Patzwahl made a motion, seconded by Councilperson Carrie Bither, to approve the payment of all bills presented: General Fund Bills: #132 - #161, in the amount of $11,357.74. Highway Fund Bills #40 - #57 in the amount of $67,516.07. 5-ayes.
Roll call showed: Supervisor Richard Keaveney – yes;
Councilperson Brenda Adams – yes;
Councilperson Peter Stelling – yes;
Councilperson Carrie Bither – yes;
Councilperson David Patzwahl – yes. Motion Carried.

Supervisor’s Monthly Finance Report:
Town Clerk Revenues: $ 192.26
Highway Fund Balance: $639,363.31
Highway Fund-Capital Balance: $ 96,874.31
Lighting Districts Balance: $ 3,535.58
Ambulance Districts
and Fire Districts Balance: $ 86,586.99
Building Inspector Revenues: $ 484.20
Planning Board Revenues: $ 50.00
Recreation Balance: $ 3,177.36
General Fund Balance: $289,861.43
Court Revenues: $ 6,615.00
Tax Collector: $201,098.65
Revenues for the month of April - 2010
Covanta – Transfer Station Operations – host fee received for April 2010 –
$9,592.72.

MOTION: Councilperson Brenda Adams made a motion, seconded by Councilperson Peter Stelling, for Town Clerk, Charlotte Cowan, to attend Cornell school, July 18th – 22nd . 5-ayes.
Roll call showed: Supervisor Richard Keaveney – yes;
Councilperson Brenda Adams – yes;
Councilperson Peter Stelling – yes;
Councilperson Carrie Bither – yes;
Councilperson David Patzwahl – yes. Motion Carried.

RESOLUTION #53 –HEALTH CARE EMPLOYEE COVERAGE MVP AND DELTA DENTAL - JUNE 01, 2010 TO MAY 31, 2011.
MOTION: Councilperson Brenda Adams made a motion, seconded by Councilperson David Patzwahl to approved resolution #53. 5-ayes.
Roll call showed: Supervisor Richard Keaveney – yes;
Councilperson Brenda Adams – yes;
Councilperson Peter Stelling – yes;
Councilperson Carrie Bither – yes;
Councilperson David Patzwahl – yes. Resolution #53 approved.

MOTION: Councilperson Carrie Bither made a motion, seconded by Councilperson David Patzwahl, to appoint Supervisor Richard Keaveney and Councilperson Brenda Adams to be members of a joint New Lebanon-Canaan committee to interview ambulance companies. 5-ayes.
Roll call showed: Supervisor Richard Keaveney – yes;
Councilperson Brenda Adams – yes;
Councilperson Peter Stelling – yes;
Councilperson Carrie Bither – yes;
Councilperson David Patzwahl – yes. Motion Carried.
Supervisor Richard Keaveney explained that interested paid services to take over the coverage district are Valatie Rescue Squad, Greenport Rescue Squad, Northern Duchess Paramedics, and Empire.

BOARD DISCUSSION:
1. Inter-municipal Agreement: Supervisor Keaveney said the agreement has been received by the Town of Austerlitz and is being reviewed.
2. Garage: Supervisor Keaveney said that the town can hire a Sheriff Deputy/ officer, to be at Flints Crossing to patrol vehicles entering the transfer station. Pick up trucks do not have to be covered as long as trash is secured.
MOTION: Councilperson Peter Stelling made a motion, seconded by Councilperson Brenda Adams, to explore having the transfer station patrolled for three months at staggered intervals. 5-ayes.
Roll call showed: Supervisor Richard Keaveney – yes;
Councilperson Brenda Adams – yes;
Councilperson Peter Stelling – yes;
Councilperson Carrie Bither – yes;
Councilperson David Patzwahl – yes. Motion Carried.

3. Sand/Salt Storage: Supervisor Richard Keaveney has spoken with Mike Higgins, Deputy Permit Administrator of NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. Supervisor Keaveney read the letter received:
Storage of Road Salt and Sand
Re: Town Highway Garage NYS Route 295 - FWW-CA-12
To of Canaan, Columbia County
Dear Supervisor Keaveney:
Having recently been made aware of funding that the town has, or will have available to build a salt storage shed at the Town Highway garage I am writing to express the Department’s strong desire to see this storage facility finally approved and constructed. As you are probably aware the Town of Canaan has been indicating for at least 20 years that such a Storage facility was a priority and would be built to eliminate and/or reduce the amount of salt that leaches into the groundwater and wetland.
As we have discussed the Department notified the Town by letter in September of 1997that construction of such a storage facility should be a high priority. Our concerns at that time were that although the amount of salt that may leach into the groundwater and/or wetland in a given year may be small, over a period of years the cumulative impacts may be significant. Given that almost 13 years has lapsed since our recommendation, it is very likely that long term and cumulative negative impacts to the groundwater and wetland have occurred because no such facility has been constructed.
Existing aerial photos appear to indicate that the current salt/sand stockpiles are very close to the regulated wetland boundary and during storm events runoff from this stockpile would directly discharge into the wetland. This has and continues to be unacceptable.
I urge you and the town board to immediately commence with the necessary steps to design, construct and begin using an acceptable salt storage facility to eliminate the existing runoff of salt laden storm water. Further delays are unacceptable.
Staff would be happy to assist in any way and would welcome the opportunity to review and comment on proposed plans, layouts and restoration of the existing salt/sand storage areas, to ensure that the site will be compatible with the nearby wetland. Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Michael T. Higgins
Deputy Permit Administrator
CC; Nancy Heaslip

Supervisor Richard Keaveney said that Town attorney, Andrew Howard, advised that at the June town board meeting, the board pass a resolution to release the $250,000.00 for the project. The resolution would state a permissive referendum is to be held. If residents present the required % of signatures, a mandatory referendum will be held on what type of sand/salt storage shed will be built. If the vote is not to build a storage shed the monies would be returned to the public but not without a fine from DEC and an increase in town taxes.
A public meeting prior to the June 14th, 2010 town board meeting will be held before moving forward.

ASSESSOR REPORT: The assessor’s monthly report is on file at the Town Clerk Office and may be viewed during normal office hours. Assessor Jean Rohde said that all grievance forms must be filed by 8:00 p.m. on May 25th, 2010.

MOTION: Councilperson David Patzwahl made a motion, seconded by Councilperson Brenda Adams, to hire a clerk to schedule appointments for grievance hearings. 5-ayes.
Roll call showed: Supervisor Richard Keaveney – yes;
Councilperson Brenda Adams – yes;
Councilperson Peter Stelling – yes;
Councilperson Carrie Bither – yes;
Councilperson David Patzwahl – yes. Motion Carried

HIGHWAY REPORT: Superintendent of Highways, Bernhard Meyer, read his monthly report. The report is on file at the Town Clerk Office and may be viewed during normal office hours.

Town culvert drainage is “eating away” toward the property of Mr. Richard Procida, on Dean Hill. The town will discuss what the best way to rectify the problem.

MOTION: Councilperson Brenda Adams made a motion, seconded by Supervisor Richard Keaveney, to accept the rental bid recommendation for the Maple Drive project of an excavator/hammer, by Superintendent Meyer. 5-ayes.
Roll call showed: Supervisor Richard Keaveney – yes;
Councilperson Brenda Adams – yes;
Councilperson Peter Stelling – yes;
Councilperson Carrie Bither – yes;
Councilperson David Patzwahl – yes. Motion Carried.

PUBLIC DISCUSSION:
1. Ms. Wendy Dwyer would like to be notified when Berkshire Farm residents are wondering off the premises. She called the Farm to ask if any boys were out and was told “no”. If there is a call list to alert town residents, she would like her name added to the list.
2. Mr. Al Vinck said that the Ethics committee would meet May 29th, at 9:30 a.m.
3. Mr. Walt Williams said the Town should address the issue of Berkshire Farm boys breaking out. Ms. Cim Smith, Mr. & Mrs. Gary Flaherty are on the community relationship committee to attend meetings at the Farm. Councilperson David Patzwahl volunteered to be the Town Board Representative to attend such meetings.
4. Mrs. Vivian Vispo asked the status of the Teiger property. Supervisor Keaveney said that the Town still has a lien on the property.

ADJOURNMENT: Councilperson Brenda Adams made a motion, seconded by Councilperson Peter Stelling, to adjourn the meeting at 8:35 p.m. 5-ayes.
Roll call showed: Supervisor Richard Keaveney – yes;
Councilperson Brenda Adams – yes;
Councilperson Peter Stelling – yes;
Councilperson Carrie Bither – yes;
Councilperson David Patzwahl – yes. Motion Carried.

Respectfully submitted,


Charlotte L. Cowan, RMC, CMC
Canaan Town Clerk

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