January 13, 2004
Town Board Minutes
A Regular Meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Cortlandt was conducted on Tuesday, January 13, 2004 in the Vincent F. Nyberg Meeting Room of the Cortlandt Town Hall located on One Heady Street, Cortlandt Manor, NY (10567) with the following elected officials and appointed staff in attendance:
LINDA D. PUGLISI Supervisor
JOSEPH D. CERRETO Councilmember
ANN LINDAU Councilmember
JOHN E. SLOAN Councilmember
Absent: FRANK X. FARRELL Councilmember
Also present: JO-ANN
DYCKMAN Town
Clerk
GLENN CESTARO Comptroller
THOMAS WOOD, ESQ. Town Attorney
EDWARD VERGANO DOTS/Director
KATHLEEN BURLESON DES/Director
JEFF TKACS DES/Safety
& Sec. Coor.
FRAN SURAK DES/Office
for Aging
PETER
McMILLAN Purchasing
Director
CLAUDIA VAHEY Human
Res. Dir.
CATHERINE M. HOFFMAN Dep. Town Clerk/Steno.
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Supervisor Puglisi called the meeting to order at 7:43 p.m.
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Councilmember Sloan led all in attendance in a Pledge to the Flag.
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Another item reported by J. Tkacs was a survey indicating six out of ten residents of New York State are not adequately prepared with a family disaster plan or action they would take in anticipation of a disaster.
The Town of Cortlandt provides for the unexpected with a Red
Cross modified program that will help members of our community to be
prepared. Meetings to prepare for the
unexpected last about one hour and are open to the public. The next are scheduled in this meeting room
for February 2nd from 7 to 8 p.m.; February 12th from 2 to 3 p.m.; February
19th from 7 to 8 p.m. Additional
information is available on the Towns web-site
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January 13, 2004
ROLL CALL
On a roll call attendance taken by Town Clerk Dyckman, all Councilpersons indicated their presence with the exception of Councilmember Farrell, who was absent,
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Councilmember John Sloan wished everyone a Happy New Year and noted that the Towns website is new and improved over the last couple of months. There is now the ability to register on-line for sports. Agendas and minutes of meetings of various boards may be obtained also.
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Councilmember Ann Lindau thanked the DES Chairman for his work in making an entryway to the other section of Town Hall. She thanked Joe Robertine for his extra work on the project.
Tonight there should be a vote on the proposed program that the Economic Challenge Committee has been working on to have additional programs on our cable station which will promote the Town of Cortlandt and make residents aware of local businesses that we have in the Town.
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Councilmember Joe Cerreto said he was advised today that the unions representing employees at the Veterans Hospital in Montrose are holding a petition signing meeting January 14th, between 1 and 3 p.m. in the theater lobby. They are urging everyone that can possibly attend to do so to sign a petition protesting cuts in services.
Petitions are also available in Town Hall.
.
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Councilmember Sloan moved that the minutes of the regular
meeting of December 9, 2003 be approved as presented by Town Clerk
Dyckman. Councilmember Cerreto seconded
the motion. All voted AYE.
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(All Public Hearings conducted at this meeting are to be found in full context transcribed in the Official Public Hearing Minute Book located in the Office of the Town Clerk.)
Public Hearing to consider adopting Local Laws providing for an increase in the income limits for tax exemption of real estate property owned by certain persons with disabilities or who are sixty-five (65) years or older.
Town Clerk Dyckman presented and read the Notice of Hearing as had been published in the official Town of Cortlandt newspaper.
Supervisor Puglisi called the hearing to order at 8:51 p.m.
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January 13, 2004
PUBLIC HEARING (cont.)
1. Increase income limits for tax exemption.
Supervisor Puglisi stated this is a very positive step the Town takes each year following the lead of New York State in helping those with disabilities and/or senior citizens.
There was no one additional who wished to speak and the
hearing was closed at 8:53 p.m. on motion of Councilmembers Cerreto and Lindau,
all voting AYE.
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Councilmembers Cerreto and Lindau then moved to adopt the following legislation:
providing increase
in income limits for tax exemption of real estate property owned by certain
persons with disabilities.
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LOCAL LAW NO. 1-04 RE: Provide for an increase in the income limits for tax exemption of real estate property owned by certain persons with disabilities.
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LOCAL LAW NO. 2-04 RE: Provide for an increase in the income limits for tax exemption of real estate property owned by certain persons with limited income who are sixty-five years of age or older.
There was no additional discussion. All voted AYE.
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Reconvene a Public Hearing to consider construction of a wireless communication facility by Sprint Spectrum L.P. at 477 Albany Post Road or an alternate site under consideration by the Town Board.
Town
Clerk Dyckman read the Notice of Hearing.
Supervisor
Puglisi said this hearing will be adjourned to the February 10, 2004 meeting and
asked for a motion.
Councilmembers Lindau and Cerreto moved that the Public Hearing be adjourned to February 10, 2004. All voted AYE.
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January 13, 2004
Town Board Minutes
HEARING of CITIZENS, (agenda items only.)
None.
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BID REPORTS
Councilmember Lindau moved that the bids opened on
December 11, 2003 for the upgrade of the Tommy Thurber Playground be received
and ordered filed. He further moved that
a resolution be adopted awarding the contract for the project.
Councilmember Sloan seconded the motion.
RESOLUTION NO. 304 RE: Award contract as specified in bid for the upgrade of the Tommy Thurber Playground.
Discussion: Edward Vergano said the firm that submitted
the low bid did an excellent job on a previous project. This is a CDBG funded project and
construction is expected to begin sometime this spring.
There was no discussion.
All voted AYE.
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REPORTS
Councilmember Sloan moved that the following reports be
received and ordered filed, seconded by Councilmember Cerreto:
November,
2003 DOTS/Water, DES/Recreation and Town Justices.
December,
2003 - DES/Office for the Aging,
DOTS/Water, Receiver of Taxes,
Town Justices, Town Clerk.
2003
Annual Report Director of DOTS on Capital Improvements, Receiver of
Taxes and Town Clerk.
Discussion: Supervisor Puglisi thanked Ed
Vergano for his report on Capital Improvements saying a lot of projects were
done last year.
There was no additional discussion. All voted AYE.
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OLD BUSINESS
Correspondence:
Councilmember Cerreto moved that the following documents
be received and ordered filed, seconded by Councilmember Lindau:
Report from DES on the Oriole Lane Field. (R. Sarcone.)
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Report from DES on the Van Cortlandtville Cemetery. (W. Lancaster.)
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REMOVED - Report from DES on Use of the Letteri Field. (Natalie Furfaro.)
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January 13, 2004
OLD BUSINESS, (cont.)
Petition presented at the December 9, 2003 Town Board meeting in opposition to the proposed Residential Alternative located on Gallows Hill Road.
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Draft Emergency Operations Revision Update from the Town Homeland Safety and Security Coordinator.
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Letter from Gail Ruh with respect to drainage issues at Seventh Street and Lake Meahagh, Verplanck. Refer, also to DOTS and DES.
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Inspection reports from the NRC pertaining to Indian Point Units 2 and 3 dated December, 2003.
There was no additional discussion. All voted AYE.
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Correspondence:
Councilmember Lindau moved that the following documents be received and ordered filed and the resolution adopted, seconded by Councilmember Sloan:
Letter dated December 15, 2003 from David Steinmetz with respect to the proposed subdivision known as Emery Ridge Estates. Refer, also to the Legal Department and DOTS. AMENDED, as follows:
RESOLUTION NO. 4-04 RE: Authorize a determination with respect to an open space parcel located in Emery Ridge.
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Memo from the Planning Division of DOTS with respect to Wetlands Permit expiration.
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Letters from residents of College Hill Road to the Zoning Board of Appeals with respect to a parcel located on College Hill Road.
There was no additional discussion. All voted AYE.
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(All resolutions adopted at this Town Board meeting are to be found in full context affixed to the end of this document.)
Councilmember Lindau
moved that the following resolutions be adopted, seconded by Councilmember Sloan:
RESOLUTION NO.
504 RE: Reappoint Ivan Klein
as member on the Planning Board.
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January 13, 2004
RESOLUTIONS, (cont.)
RESOLUTION NO. 604 RE: Designate Steven Kessler as Chairman of the Planning Board and Loretta Taylor as Vice-Chairman.
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RESOLUTION NO. 704 RE: Reappoint Raymond Reber as a member of the Zoning Board of Appeals.
Discussion: Ray Reber who was in the audience, was introduced by Supervisor Puglisi.
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RESOLUTION NO. 804 RE: Designate John Mattis as Chairman of the Zoning Board of Appeals and Wai Man Chin as Vice Chairman.
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RESOLUTION NO. 904 RE: Appoint Councilman John Sloan as Deputy Supervisor for the year 2004.
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RESOLUTION NO. 1004 RE: Appoint the Town Attorney, Town Comptroller, Director of Technical Services.
Supervisor Puglisi thanked Councilmember Sloan for accepting the appointment as Deputy Supervisor.
There was no further discussion. All voted AYE.
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Councilmember Sloan and Cerreto moved to adopt the
following:
RESOLUTION NO. 1104 RE: Authorize employment contracts with respect to various Department Heads, Deputies and Managers.
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RESOLUTION NO. 1204 RE: Appoint the Purchasing Director.
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RESOLUTION NO. 1304 RE: Reappoint Garrison Jackson and Kathryn Catala as members of the PRC Advisory Board and Kathryn Catala as the Chairperson for the year 2004.
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RESOLUTION NO. 1404 RE: Reappoint John Lentini as a member of the Board of Assessment Review.
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January 13, 2004
RESOLUTIONS, (cont.)
Discussion: Rich Cohen was introduced by Supervisor Puglisi.
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RESOLUTION NO. 1604 RE: Appoint the members to the Traffic Safety
Advisory Committee.
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RESOLUTION NO. 1704 RE: Appoint members of the Cortlandt Regional ALS Committee and reappoint Councilman Cerreto as Chairman, Jeff Tkacs as Staff Coordinator and Councilman John Sloan as an alternate for the year 2004.
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RESOLUTION NO. 1804 RE: Authorize setting the salaries for Town employees for the year 2004.
There was no additional discussion. All voted AYE.
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Councilmember Cerreto moved for adoption of the following resolutions, seconded by Councilmember Lindau:
RESOLUTION NO. 1904 RE: Appoint Voting Machine Custodians for the year 2004.
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RESOLUTION NO. 2004 RE: Appoint a Bingo Inspector.
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RESOLUTION NO. 2104 RE: Appoint the Town Safety Committee with Jeff Tkacs and Claudia Vahey as Co-Chairpersons.
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RESOLUTION NO. 2204 RE: Appoint Bennett-Kielson & Co. as Town Auditors.
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RESOLUTION NO. 2304 RE: Authorize an agreement with Triad Group as the manager of the Towns Self-Insured Workers Compensation fund.
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RESOLUTION NO. 2404 RE: Authorize an agreement with Insurance Corporation of Hanover for Excess Workers Compensation Insurance.
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January 13, 2004
Town Board Minutes
RESOLUTIONS, (cont.)
RESOLUTION NO. 2504 RE: Adopt the Rules of Procedure for Town Board meetings.
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RESOLUTION NO. 2604 RE: Designate the 2004 Official Newspaper and alternates.
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RESOLUTION NO. 2704 RE: Designate the 2004 depositories.
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RESOLUTION NO. 2804 RE: Designate the Supervisor and Human Resources Coordinator as authorizing authority to execute all Civil Service forms.
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RESOLUTION NO. 2904 RE: Designate Town Board liaisons to various Town Departments, Boards, Councils and Committees for 2004.
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RESOLUTION NO. 3004 RE: Authorize mileage rates for Town officials and employees for 2004.
There was no discussion.
All voted AYE.
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Councilmembers Lindau and
Sloan moved to adopt the following resolutions:
RESOLUTION NO. 3104 RE: Authorize Town officials to attend the Association of Towns training sessions February 15 through 18, 2004 in New York City.
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RESOLUTION NO. 3204 RE: Designate Supervisor Puglisi as voting representative and John Sloan as voting alternate to attend the Association of Towns business session on February 18, 2004.
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RESOLUTION NO. 3304 RE: Authorize Supervisor to execute all contracts awarded by the Purchasing Director in the year 2004.
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RESOLUTION NO. 3404 RE: Authorize the Supervisor to execute applications for pool and concession permits for the year 2004.
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January 13, 2004
Town Board Minutes
RESOLUTIONS, (cont.)
RESOLUTION NO. 3504 RE: Authorize the Supervisor to execute applications for State Aid for Youth and Senior Citizens for the year 2004.
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RESOLUTION NO. 3604 RE: Authorize the Supervisor to execute an agreement with Westchester County covering Employee Assistance Program for the year 2004.
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RESOLUTION NO. 3704 RE: Authorize the Supervisor to execute an agreement with Westchester County with respect to Youthful Drug Abuse Prevention Program funding for the year 2004.
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RESOLUTION NO. 3804 RE: Authorize the Supervisor to execute Inter-Local Agreements for Nor-West Regional Services for the year 2004.
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RESOLUTION NO. 3904 RE: Authorize the Supervisor to execute all nutrition contracts for the year 2004.
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RESOLUTION NO. 4004 RE: Authorize the Supervisor to execute an Agreement with New York State OMRDD for Recreational Inclusion Services for the year 2004.
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RESOLUTION NO. 4104 RE: Authorize the Supervisor to execute an Agreement with the City of Peekskill to provide meals for the year 2004 under Title 3C of the Older Americans Act.
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RESOLUTION NO. 4204 RE: Authorize the Supervisor to execute a cultural services letter agreement for the year 2004 with the Paramount Center for the Performing Arts.
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RESOLUTION NO. 4304 RE: Authorize the Supervisor to execute agreements with the Villages of Buchanan and Croton-on-Hudson covering shared equipment. during the year 2004.
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RESOLUTION NO. 4404 RE: Authorize the Supervisor to execute agreements with the Villages of Buchanan and Croton-on-Hudson covering freon disposal for 2004.
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January 13, 2004
Town Board Minutes
ADDITIONS to the AGENDA, (cont.)
RESOLUTION NO. 4504 RE: Authorize the Supervisor to execute agreements with the Villages of Buchanan and Croton-on-Hudson authorizing the Town Purchasing Director to advertise bids on behalf of the Villages for the year 2004.
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RESOLUTION NO. 4604 RE: Authorize the Supervisor to execute all personal service contracts for the year 2004.
There was no additional discussion. All voted AYE.
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Councilmembers Lindau and Sloan moved to adopt the
following:
RESOLUTION NO. 4704 RE: Authorize the Supervisor to execute contracts with Westchester County with respect to CDBG projects for 2004.
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RESOLUTION NO. 4804 RE: Authorize a One Thousand ($1,000.00) Dollar grant to the Van Cortlandtville Historical Society in memory of Walter (Skeet) and Grace Kelly.
Discussion: Supervisor Puglisi expressed sadness
in hearing about the passing of Grace Kelly within days after her husband had
died. Since they were both interested in
the history of our community, in particular with the Van Cortlandtville
Historical Society, the Town is pleased to make this donation in their
memory. Further memorials are planned
for the spring time.
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RESOLUTION NO. 4904 RE: Direct the preparation of as-built surveys for use in the acceptance of a town road in the Stonefield Farms subdivision.
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RESOLUTION NO. 5004 RE: Direct the Town Attorney and DOTS/Planning Director and Deputy Director to draft a Town Affordable Housing Program for consideration by the Town Board.
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RESOLUTION NO. 5104 RE: Authorize the Department of Technical Services to amend their fee schedule.
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RESOLUTION NO. 5204 RE: Authorize the Department of Technical Services to extend a Professional Service Agreement with Diane DiNunzio for Master Plan and Open Space Services for three additional months.
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January 13, 2004
Town Board Minutes
RESOLUTIONS, (cont.)
RESOLUTION NO. 5304 RE: Authorize the Department of Technical Services to award a Professional Service Contract for the Westchester Lake Dam evaluation.
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RESOLUTION NO. 5404 RE: Authorize the Department of Technical Services to award a request for proposal and design services in conjunction with New York State Department of Transportation with respect to a proposed sidewalk along Route 9A from Springvale Road to Maiden Lane.
Discussion: Supervisor Puglisi thanked Senator
Vincent Liebell who is supplying the Town with some funds from his sources in
New York State to assist with this project.
Councilmember Lindau thanked Peter McMillan for his work
on this project, saying he did a yeomans job.
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RESOLUTION NO. 5504 RE: Authorize the Department of Technical Services to enter into an Inter-Municipal Agreement with the Village of Buchanan for construction of drainage improvements at the intersection of Bannon Avenue and Kings Ferry Road.
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RESOLUTION NO. 5604 RE: Award a request for proposal for production of a Cable TV show promoting local businesses.
Discussion:
Supervisor Puglisi echoed the
sentiments of Councilmember Lindau thanking members of the Economic Challenge
Committee for their involvement in Town government and assisting local
businesses.
There was no additional discussion. All voted AYE.
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ADDITIONS to the AGENDA
Councilmen Sloan and Cerreto moved that the following
items be added to the agenda:
Correspondence:
Councilmember Sloan moved that the following documents be
received and ordered filed and the resolution adopted, seconded by
Councilmember Cerreto:
Report from DOTS with respect to flooding in the area of the clayhole along Riverview Avenue, Verplanck.
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Report from DES regarding drainage in the area of 141 Kings Ferry Road.
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Memo from the Town Attorney to DOTS/Planning with respect to a text amendment to the Wetlands Ordinance.
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January 13, 2004
Town Board Minutes
ADDITIONS to the AGENDA, (cont.)
RESOLUTION NO. 5704 RE: Schedule a Public Hearing on February 10, 2004 to consider a proposed amendment to the Wetlands Ordinance.
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Letters from Carol Abraham of 30 Westminster Drive and Uta Wussing of 54 Pamela Road regarding use of renewable energy. Refer to DOTS Director.
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Letter dated January 8, 2004 from Katharine McLoughlin with respect to traffic in northeast Cortlandt. Refer to the Traffic Safety Committee.
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Memo from the Supervisor with respect to a proposed dog run park area and a soap box derby. Refer to the PRC to identify a possible location.
Discussion: Supervisor Puglisi said she remembers
having a lot of fun participating in a soap box derby with her father and she
thought it might be something that the Town government could sponsor.
She said when she visits her son they take his new dog to
a dog run and she felt perhaps this would be something interesting and fun for
the Town of Cortlandt in the proper
location.
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Letter dated December 24, 2003 from the New York Power Authority with respect to a Supplemental Agreement and the purchase of electricity for municipal use.
There was no additional discussion. All voted AYE.
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Resolutions
Councilmembers Sloan and Cerreto moved to adopt the
following resolutions:
RESOLUTION NO. 5804 RE: Authorize an Agreement with General Code for a LaserFich Imaging Document Management System.
Discussion: Councilmember Sloan said this is
another instance where the infrastructure of the Town is being improved. A great deal of Town Hall for decades has
been based on paper. This system will
allow the scanning of a great deal of paper, i. e. marriage licenses, birth
certificates, death certificates, contract information. Index it and allow it to be pulled up on the
pc for viewing and printing. This is the
beginning of a great deal of efficiency with regard to our operations in Town
Hall in that if there is a request for a document, there will not be the
necessity of going into the myriad of files and paper work we have.
The Town Comptroller, the Director of Technology, the Town
Clerk and Councilmember Sloan have reviewed the technology, have visited one or
two communities that have this project working.
If this program is successful in the Town Clerks office, it is quite
easily expandable to the rest of Town Hall and will be quite a revolutionary
way of doing business.
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January 13, 2004
Town Board Minutes
ADDITIONS to the AGENDA, (cont.)
Town Clerk Dyckman said she is very excited and anxious to
begin this new technology in her office.
She thanked Councilmember Sloan, Comptroller Cestaro, Peter McMillan and
Melissa Hoffman for their assistance in investigating this project.
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RESOLUTION NO. 5904 RE: Authorize the Purchasing Director to solicit bids for a Vac-All for use by DOTS.
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RESOLUTION NO. 6004 RE: Schedule a Public Hearing for February 10, 2004 to consider a Franchise Agreement with Cablevision.
There was no additional discussion. All voted AYE.
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REPORTS from VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS
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REPORTS from STANDING and SPECIAL COMMITTEES
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HEARING of CITIZENS, (second)
Speaker: Karen Wells on behalf of United
Communities of Westchester.
Subject: Thank Town for their efforts against
Millennium pipeline.
(She read statement that is attached to
the end of this document.)
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ADJOURNMENT
Councilmembers Lindau and Cerreto moved that the meeting
be adjourned at 8:13 p.m.
Respectfully
submitted,
JO-ANN DYCKMAN,
Town
Clerk
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