CANAAN TOWN BOARD MEETING – JULY 21, 2007 –
Saturday 11:00 a.m.

Supervisor Gary Flaherty opened the meeting at 11:00 a.m. There were five board members present: Supervisor Gary Flaherty, Councilperson Stephen August, Councilperson David Patzwahl, Councilperson Carrie Bither, and Councilperson Virginia Nightingale. There were thirty-nine people in the audience.

MOTION: Councilperson Virginia Nightingale made a motion, seconded by Councilperson Carrie Bither, to approve the June 11 and July 6, 2007 minutes. 5-ayes, Motion Carried. Roll call showed: Supervisor Gary Flaherty-yes, Councilperson Carrie Bither-yes, Councilperson Virginia Nightingale-yes, Councilperson David Patzwahl-yes, Councilperson Stephen August-yes. Motion Carried.

MOTION: Councilperson David Patzwahl made a motion, seconded by Councilperson Virginia Nightingale, to pay all bills presented: General Fund #145 - #188 in the amount of $52,501.35 and the Highway Fund #67 - #85 in the amount of $47,206.50. 5-ayes, Motion Carried. Roll call showed: Supervisor Gary Flaherty-yes, Councilperson Carrie Bither-yes, Councilperson Virginia Nightingale-yes, Councilperson David Patzwahl-yes, Councilperson Stephen August-yes. Motion Carried.

SUPERVISOR’S FINANCIAL REPORT: Town Clerk, Charlotte Cowan, read the monthly report:
Town Clerk Revenues $ 317.59
Building Code Officer $ 190.00
Highway Fund $193,297.69
Highway Fund-Capital $ 47,701.71
Lighting Districts $ 1,871.92
Ambulance Districts $ 29,259.21
Recreation $ 1,601.32
General Fund Balance $282,060.61
Court Revenues $ 4,209.97 (April)
$ 2,714.97 (May)
Planning Board $ 125.00 (June)
Zoning Board of Appeals $ 75.00
Tax Collector $ 8,595,00
B-3 Transfer Station Operations – April - $14.260.96 (6,856.23 @ $2.08) - May - $18,384.52 (8,838.71 @ $2.08).

Supervisor Gary Flaherty informed everyone of the Fall Tax rebate. Notices and forms will be mailed.

CORRESPONDENCE LIST:
1. Highway Report.
2. Columbia County Safety Board Letter re: Changing Local Speed Limits.
3. NY Public Service Commission re: Public comments on Fixed Price Commodity Service.
4. Monthly Report from Assessor.
5. Copy of Citation for the Driscoll Award for Ms.Tyson.
6. LVPA Monthly Report.
7. Letter from David Cooper, Chairman of ZBA re: Change in Attendance Requirement Law. (Need to schedule a public hearing.) Planning Board has requested the same change. One word change from shall to may.
8. Letter of Support for Moratorium from NYS DOT. (Flints’ Crossing)
9. Monthly Report from ZEO.
10. News article re: Limits on ridgeline construction.
11. Letter from Columbia Hudson Partnership re: County Accomplishments.
12. ZBA May Meeting minutes.
13. Copy of Student Guide re: Disaster Preparedness Commission Training. (Supervisor attended)
14. ORPS 2007 Equalization Rates for Columbia County.
15. Letter from Wes Powell re: being paid monthly. (Resolution for same being prepared.
16. Second letter re: Procedure Change for Local Speed Limits.
All correspondence is on file at the Town Clerk office and may be seen during normal office hours.

RESOLUTION #50 – AMENDS ORGANIZATIONAL RESOLUTION FOR ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER PAY PERIODS TO BIWEEKLY INSTEAD OF QUARTERLY.
Councilperson Virginia Nightingale made a motion, seconded by Supervisor Gary Flaherty, to adopt said resolution. 5-ayes, Motion Carried. Roll call showed: Supervisor Gary Flaherty-yes, Councilperson Carrie Bither-yes, Councilperson Virginia Nightingale-yes, Councilperson David Patzwahl-yes, Councilperson Stephen August-yes. Resolution #50 adopted.

MOTION: Supervisor Flaherty wanted the town board to honor Doctor “Peg” Margaret G. Tyson acknowledging her receipt of the Driscoll Award from the Foundation of New York State Nurses for her contributions to the growth and development of the Foundation. Supervisor Flaherty will write her letter. Councilperson Carrie Bither made a motion, seconded by Councilperson Virginia Nightingale 5-ayes, Motion Carried. Roll call showed: Supervisor Gary Flaherty-yes, Councilperson Carrie Bither-yes, Councilperson Virginia Nightingale-yes, Councilperson David Patzwahl-yes, Councilperson Stephen August-yes. Motion Carried.

PAVING UPPER QUEECHY MOTION: Supervisor Gary Flaherty made a motion, seconded by Councilperson David Patzwahl to double-chip-seal Upper Queechy Road from State Route 295 to the first bridge on said road (18 feet). 5-ayes, Motion Carried. Roll call showed: Supervisor Gary Flaherty-yes, Councilperson Carrie Bither-yes, Councilperson Virginia Nightingale-yes, Councilperson David Patzwahl-yes, Councilperson Stephen August-yes. Motion Carried.

MOTION: Councilperson Stephen August made a motion, seconded by Councilperson Carrie Bither to approve Permit 149 for buried lines for the Braun property on Bradley Crossing Road. 5-ayes, Motion Carried. Roll call showed: Supervisor Gary Flaherty-yes, Councilperson Carrie Bither-yes, Councilperson Virginia Nightingale-yes, Councilperson David Patzwahl-yes, Councilperson Stephen August-yes. Motion Carried.

MOTION: Supervisor Gary Flaherty made a motion, seconded by Councilperson Virginia Nightingale to increase the appropriation line item for CHIPS from $76,626.00 to $79,291.00. 5-ayes, Motion Carried. Roll call showed: Supervisor Gary Flaherty-yes, Councilperson Carrie Bither-yes, Councilperson Virginia Nightingale-yes, Councilperson David Patzwahl-yes, Councilperson Stephen August-yes. Motion Carried.

Supervisor Flaherty said that the State inspector inspected the town hall furnace and said that a temperature control monitor is needed on the system. Supervisor Gary Flaherty said he would get quotes. The pay phone has been installed on the Town Hall.

Mr. Al Vinck, Town Board of Ethics Committee, asked that Mr. Joe Davis’s term become a three-year term. A letter of request must be submitted to the board for a resolution to be presented at the August 13th, 2007, town board meeting.

MOTION: Councilperson David Patzwahl made a motion, seconded by Councilperson Virginia Nightingale, to move $2,356.00 from General Fund Miscellaneous Account 2770, to Highway Fund Account 92665. This money was received from the sale of the 1988 International Dump Truck. 5-ayes, Motion Carried. Roll call showed: Supervisor Gary Flaherty-yes, Councilperson Carrie Bither-yes, Councilperson Virginia Nightingale-yes, Councilperson David Patzwahl-yes, Councilperson Stephen August-yes. Motion Carried.

MOTION: Councilperson David Patzwahl, seconded by Supervisor Gary Flaherty to move $54,255 out of the General Fund account (A4960) into the Highway Fund account (DA4960). 5-ayes, Motion Carried. Roll call showed: Supervisor Gary Flaherty-yes, Councilperson Carrie Bither-yes, Councilperson Virginia Nightingale-yes, Councilperson David Patzwahl-yes, Councilperson Stephen August-yes. Motion Carried.

MOTION: Councilperson David Patzwahl made a motion, seconded by Councilperson Virginia Nightingale, to move $75,000.00 into the Salt Shed account, from the Capital Fund 962. 5-ayes, Motion Carried. Roll call showed: Supervisor Gary Flaherty-yes, Councilperson Carrie Bither-yes, Councilperson Virginia Nightingale-yes, Councilperson David Patzwahl-yes, Councilperson Stephen August-yes. Motion Carried.

TIEGER: Supervisor Gary Flaherty said that all requested documents have been sent to the town Attorney and forwarded to the courts.

RECREATION COMMISSION status, is it a “committee” or a “commission”?

HIGHWAY GARAGE: A question was asked why the highway garage has not been mowed. Highway Superintendent, Bernhard Meyer, responded that he had received a memo from the town Supervisor on April 24th, 2007, stating that the Highway clerk, Ms. Daryl Schiffer, was hired as a clerk and was to do only clerical work. Superintendent Meyer said that it is a board issue and they will have to hire someone to mow and do the janitorial work at the garage.

MOTION: Supervisor Gary Flaherty made a motion, seconded by Councilperson David Patzwahl, for Superintendent of Highways, Bernhard Meyer, to rent a “hammering” machine to remove rocks at many sites on town roads. 5-ayes, Motion Carried. Roll call showed: Supervisor Gary Flaherty-yes, Councilperson Carrie Bither-yes, Councilperson Virginia Nightingale-yes, Councilperson David Patzwahl-yes, Councilperson Stephen August-yes. Motion Carried.

JUDGES: Councilperson Virginia Nightingale asked if Justice Pam Melville could do both judge positions, with pay for both positions, until election. Suggestion that Justice Pam Melville submit a letter stating her interest in doing the position of resigned Judge Stelling to be discussed at the August town board meeting.

Town Clerk, Charlotte Cowan, informed all that the office would be closed July 22, 23, and the 26th, while she attends the Cornell Municipal Clerks classes.

AUDIENCE: The audience asked about the status of the Assessment Litigation, and the Tieger case. Supervisor Gary Flaherty said that the Assessment Litigation has a trail date of February 14th, 2008, and the Tieger case information has been forwarded to the court.

Adjournment: Supervisor Gary Flaherty made a motion, seconded by Councilperson Stephen August, to adjourn the meeting at 1:15 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,


Charlotte L. Cowan, RMC
Canaan Town Clerk

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