CANAAN TOWN BOARD MEETING
June 14th, 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 David Patzwahl
Councilperson Carrie Bither
Town Clerk Charlotte Cowan
Highway Superintendent Bernhard Meyer
Assessor Jean Rohde
ABSENT: Councilperson Peter Stelling

AUDIENCE: 26

MINUTES: Councilperson Brenda Adams made a motion, seconded by Councilperson David Patzwahl, to approve the May 10th, 2010 and the June 02, 2010 minutes. 4-ayes.
Roll call showed: Supervisor Richard Keaveney – yes;
Councilperson Brenda Adams – yes;
Councilperson Carrie Bither – yes;
Councilperson David Patzwahl – yes. Motion Carried.

BILLS: Councilperson Brenda Adams made a motion, seconded by Councilperson Carrie Bither, to approve the payment of all bills presented: General Fund Bills: #161 - #203, in the amount of $42,641.59. Highway Fund Bills #58 - #70 in the amount of $33,397.91. 4-ayes.
Roll call showed: Supervisor Richard Keaveney – yes;
Councilperson Brenda Adams – yes;
Councilperson Carrie Bither – yes;
Councilperson David Patzwahl – yes. Motion Carried.

Supervisor’s Monthly Finance Report:
Town Clerk Revenues: $ 100.32
Highway Fund Balance: $569,818.66
Highway Fund-Capital Balance: $ 96,889.17
Lighting Districts Balance: $ 3,206.70
Ambulance Districts
and Fire Districts Balance: $ 86,586.99
Building Inspector Revenues: $ 1,506.52
Planning Board Revenues: $
Recreation Balance: $ 3,177.36
General Fund Balance: $300,656.23
Court Revenues: $ 5,179.00
Tax Collector: $ 82,621.37
Covanta – Transfer Station Revenues for April, 2010, $10,716.18.

Supervisor Richard Keaveney pointed to the “Emergency Exits” located at each side of the conference room, through the doorways.

RESOLUTION #54 –BOARD OF ETHICS POSITIONS, JACK LEAL chairperson; PAUL NAAMON- deputy chairperson; and DAVID PEARCE-secretary.
MOTION: Councilperson Brenda Adams made a motion, seconded by Councilperson Carrie Bither, to adopt Resolution #54. 4-ayes.
Roll call showed: Supervisor Richard Keaveney – yes;
Councilperson Brenda Adams – yes;
Councilperson Carrie Bither – yes;
Councilperson David Patzwahl – yes. Resolution #54 adopted.

RESOLUTION #55 – INTER-MUNICIPAL AGREEMENT WITH AUSTERLITZ REGARDING ZEO AND BUILDING INSPECTOR. MOTION: Supervisor Richard Keaveney made a motion, seconded by Councilperson David Patzwahl, to adopt Resolution #55. 4-ayes.
Roll call showed: Supervisor Richard Keaveney – yes;
Councilperson Brenda Adams – yes;
Councilperson Carrie Bither – yes;
Councilperson David Patzwahl – yes. Resolution #55 adopted.

RESOLUTION #56 – LETTER TO LVPA GUARANTEEING 2011 PAYMENT FOR SERVICES IF LVPA MUST BE RETAINED FOR A PERIOD BEYOND DECEMBER 31, 2010.
MOTION: Councilperson Brenda Adams made a motion, seconded by Councilperson Carrie Bither, to adopt Resolution #56. 4-ayes.
Roll call showed: Supervisor Richard Keaveney – yes;
Councilperson Brenda Adams – yes;
Councilperson Carrie Bither – yes;
Councilperson David Patzwahl – yes. Resolution #56 adopted.

RESOLUTION #57 – TOWN OF CANAAN WORKPLACE VIOLENCE PREVENTION POLICY.
MOTION: Councilperson David Patzwahl made a motion, seconded by Councilperson Carrie Bither, to adopt Resolution #57. 4-ayes.
Roll call showed: Supervisor Richard Keaveney – yes;
Councilperson Brenda Adams – yes;
Councilperson Carrie Bither – yes;
Councilperson David Patzwahl – yes. Resolution #57 adopted.



RESOLUTION #58 – RELEASING FUNDS FROM THE CAPITAL RESERVE FUND FOR THE “PHASE ONE” CONSTRUCTION OF A HIGHWAY SAND/SALT SHED.
MOTION: Councilperson Brenda Adams made a motion, seconded by Councilperson Carrie Bither, to adopt Resolution #58. 4-ayes.
Roll call showed: Supervisor Richard Keaveney – yes;
Councilperson Brenda Adams – yes;
Councilperson Carrie Bither – yes;
Councilperson David Patzwahl – yes. Resolution #58 adopted.
Supervisor Richard Keaveney said that the reserve account, collected for said project, was collected by a referendum and is subject to a permissive referendum to release said funds.

Supervisor Keaveney read a letter received from the Department of Environmental Conservation, which reads as follows:

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Division of Environmental Permits, Region 4
1130 North Westcott Road, Schenectady, New York 12306-2014
Phone: (518) 357-2069 FAX: (516) 357-2460
Website: wwwdec.state.ny.us
Alexander B. Grannis
April 21, 2010
Via e-mail at: supervisor@canaannewyork.org
Rick Keaveney, Supervisor
Town of Canaan
P.0. Box 459
Canaan, NY 12029
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
JR\Canaan Supervisor Rick Keaveney salt storage building.042110.wpd

BOARD DISCUSSION:
1. AMBULANCE – Supervisor Richard Keaveney read fee comparison chart of the Canaan ambulance comparisons if done by LVPA/Chatham Rescue Squad in 2010, and comparisons of LVPA/Chatham Rescue Squad; Chatham Rescue Squad – District 1 & 2; Valatie Rescue Squad – District 1 only / District 1 & 2; and Northern Duchess (District 1) – Chatham Rescue (District 2) for 2011.
MOTION: Councilperson Carrie Bither made a motion, seconded by Councilperson David Patzwahl, to have the town of Canaan and New Lebanon ambulance districts served by Chatham Rescue Squad. 4-ayes.
Roll call showed: Supervisor Richard Keaveney – yes;
Councilperson Brenda Adams – yes;
Councilperson Carrie Bither – yes;
Councilperson David Patzwahl – yes.

2. Supervisor Keaveney said, “Thank you”, to the Board of Assessment Review for all of their work.
3. Councilperson David Patzwahl had contacted the New York State Troopers on the Berkshire Farm and an activity report. Councilperson Patzwahl has met with the Berkshire Farm and felt the meeting was productive.
4. RED ROCK CEMETERY- Supervisor Richard Keaveney read a letter he received which reads as follows:
Sent: Monday, June 14,2010 2:16 PM
Subject: Red Rock Rural cemetery
Mr. Keaveney
My name is Joseph Ambrose and I am an accountant for the Department of state Division of cemeteries. This letter concerns the Red Rock cemetery association located in the town of Canaan. We have audited the books of the Red Rock cemetery and found them to be essentially out of funds. The treasurer explained that they have just enough money for this summer’s maintenance but none for future years. Under these circumstances, by N.Y. state law, the town in which the cemetery is located takes over maintenance of the cemetery grounds in perpetuity. I have contacted the President, Ward Stone, and the treasurer, John Helliwell and explained the situation to them. It appears that Mr. Stone is reluctant to take this step and believes that he can restore the depleted cemetery monies. He has not responded to our letters or telephone calls requesting a plan for such restoration and I am sending this letter to alert you of the present situation. I am listing below the names and addresses of the current trustees.
Ward Stone President
108 Game Farm RD Delmar N.Y. 12054
John Helliwell, Treasurer
RD Box 258 East Chatham, N.Y. 12060
518-392-9379
Mrs. Tammy Flaherty said that she is on the board for the cemetery and that the President is working with the state. The committee is having a tag sale on July 3rd, 2010, and they are working on activities to raise funds. Mr. Flaherty said that they had Berkshire Farm Boys clean up the cemetery.
ASSESSOR: Jean Rohde said that the BAR (Board of Assessment Review) will have decisions ready to be mailed out next week. Jean would like to recommend that we plan to schedule appointments for next years’ hearings. She also suggests that someone help with the preparation (phone & files) as well as help after the grievances in getting all the information back to the files.

HIGHWAY REPORT: Superintendent of Highways, Bernhard Meyer, read his monthly report.
Present:
Road side mowing is in progress.
We had a Dept of Labor inspection
Past: Highway school was informative - Retirement requirements, ROW rights & limitations, and Basics of Good Roads.
The trucks have been inspected
The culvert for Maple Drive has been delivered
Truck #9 has been repaired by Ben Funk. This was a wing impact damage which happened this past winter
Future: CHIPS funding was approved last week so we can go ahead as planned now that funding is available. Lots of pressure & impute was directed at appropriate members of the Senate & Legislature by N.Y.S.A. of H.S.
We are going out to bid for a used mini excavator to replace the one we currently have
NATURAL OCCURANCES:
Heavy sudden rain/cloud bursts caused gravel roads to be washed out on the steeper hills with drainage issues. The wader has been busy.
DISCUSSIONS & REQUESTS:
Work place violence policy
Retirement Std work day policy for elected officials
What decisions were made regarding the Procida water damaged ditch line? Supervisor Richard Keaveney said that the board needs a price and an agreement from the town attorney before any decision is made.
MOTION: Supervisor Richard Keaveney made a motion, seconded by Councilperson Brenda Adams, to have Highway Superintendent, Bernhard Meyer, purchase culvert for Maple Drive. 4-ayes.
Roll call showed: Supervisor Richard Keaveney – yes;
Councilperson Brenda Adams – yes;
Councilperson Peter Stelling – yes;
Councilperson David Patzwahl – yes. Motion Carried.
Superintendent Meyer explained that a resident on Dean Hill road has asked that the town rectify a drainage issue. Highway has placed large rocks to assist the drainage but the problem still exists. Superintendent Meyer is asking the board to look at the situation because the Town is causing the water issue toward the property.

ADJOURNMENT: Councilperson Brenda Adams made a motion, seconded by Councilperson Carrie Bither, to adjourn the meeting at 8:39 p.m. 4-ayes.
Roll call showed: Supervisor Richard Keaveney – yes;
Councilperson Brenda Adams – 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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