Present were,
Mayor: Brian W. Wona, Village Trustees: Kenneth
Coppola, Robert Bennett, Diane Loeven, and Ike Palmer; Christine DiPoalo,
Howard Dallow, Mary Beth Horzepa, V.M.
Coppola Jr., Kathy Coppola, Frank Valentino Jr., Tom Bonaguara, Betty Jean Bonaguara,
Gary Ketcham
Mayor Wona opened with the Pledge of Allegiance to the
Flag and called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. Mayor Wona reminded everyone
that the meeting was being recorded.
Please remember to keep all comments to audience participation. There will be a limit of 5 minutes per
person. Please turn off all cell phones
and electronic devices.
CORRESPONDENCE:
- Draft Copy of Minutes from August 7, 2014 Regular Meeting
- Letter to Mayor Wona from Grace Yin regarding persecution
against practitioners of Falun Gong in China including a copy of a
Resolution against the persecution
- A letter to Mayor Wona from Edward L’Estrange regarding
the persecution of Falun Gong practioners in China including a request for
a Board Resolution against the persecution
- Gross Utilities payments from: Vonage, Ting, and Time
Warner
- Letter from PERMA regarding program
agreement
- Invitation to Association of Towns,
Villages, and Cities to be held at the River Grill on August 26th
- Water systems operations report for July
2014
- Otisville Correctional Facility Water report
for July 2014
- Annual Financial Report for the Village of
Otisville for Fiscal Year ending 5/31/2014
- Letter from the Port Jervis Human Society to
the Board Members
- Flyer for WW I veterans mass to be held on
September 28, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church in Newburgh
TOWN OF MOUNT HOPE:
- Town of Mount Hope Trash Clean-up is being held
during the month of October. Village of Otisville and Town of Mount Hope
residents are able to bring bulk trash items to the Town of Mount Hope
Highway Dept. for disposal
- The Town of Mount Hope will be holding a public
hearing on September 15, 2014 at 7:15 re: changes to several local laws
- Town is working on tentative budget for 2015
- The Town also received a letter from the Falun
Gong. The organization will be attending one of the Town meetings
TRUSTEES’ REPORTS:
Diane Loeven’s Report:
TOWN OF MOUNT HOPE & MHPD
- Town has
contracted with General Code Publishers to develop a comprehensive code
book for the Town
- Discussion
about use of recreational fire pits in densely populated residential areas
- Sunday, Sept
21st, the Rotary will have a ceremony to dedicate the
International Peace Pole recently installed; They have also installed one in Shannon
Park and may approach the Village Board about installing one in Veterans
Memorial Park
SUMMER RECREATION
- Will hold
recap meeting with director within the next couple of weeks
- As soon as
final bills have been paid, an order will be placed to replenish supplies
for next year
- Once final
accounting is completed, any surplus funds will be returned to the Town at
the established ration.
AUDIT ASSIGNMENTS
- Bob and I have
reviewed the Annual Financial report and all appears to accurately reflect
the information documented on bank statements and in the reports generated
by our computer based accounting software.
After a final review, a memo will be prepared for the Mayor’s file.
- Ike and I
completed the quarterly review of the mail logs and made several
suggestions to the clerks;
suggestions will be detailed in a memo to the Mayor
- Communications
equipment audit is ongoing
- Quarterly
review of bank statements will be conducted next week
VILLAGE NEWSLETTER
- Next issue in October
- Please email
articles to me ASAP – but no later than Sept 18th
- Time frame to
be thinking about are fall/winter events & issues; Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan
Robert Bennett’s Report:
Planning Board has a proposed 5 lot subdivision for Glenn Terrace.
Plans are being returned to our Engineer for review. Once the Engineer for the
Village has approved the plans there will be a Public Hearing.
Kenneth Coppola’s Report:
Ken met with the Otisville Little League and the Minisink Youth
Football League. The two Leagues were able to work out the scheduling. The DPW
will be making the decision from now on regarding canceling games/practice due
to wet fields, as the cleats tend to tear up the fields if they are too wet.
Ken received a complaint today regarding children running on top of the
wooden train at the Veteran’s Memorial Park. This could be a liability for the
Village. Ken will be making a sign to put on the train.
Ike Palmer’s Report:
Trustee Report – Ike Palmer
·
DCO (Dog
Control Officer)
July 2014 Report: 2-Complaints, 2-Verbal Warnings, 2-Written
Warnings, 1-Dog Bite, 1-Domestic Animal (a cat) was killed by a car
August 2014 Report: Not Available.
Our new Chip Reader has
arrived. We will be asking the Review
Committee to review our Local Law and a Fee structure to address the new Chip
Reader. We are currently proposing no
fee for a first offense and $100.00 fee for subsequent offenses.
·
Fire
Department IDs
Ike has developed new, 2-Sided preliminary ID card for Fire
Department. Need to review with Fire
Chief before final approval
·
Audit
Assignments
Cash Receipts have
not been completed.
Mail Log has been
completed with Diane’s assistance.
Everything looked fine. The
following recommendations are suggested:
1) An entry should be made for every day of the week, indicate weekend
or Holiday. This will eliminate the need
for cross referencing with a calendar when dates are not written. 2) Use of approved abbreviations for mail log
for simplification.
·
Otisville
School Committee
There will be a Clean-up Day at the Old Otisville School on
Saturday, September 6th from 9am to noon. Gloves and supplies will be provided. A waiver will have to be signed and there
will be no climbing.
ATTORNEY REPORT:
Last week the Clerk dropped off two Building Department Violations.
Howard will get in touch with Pete in order to discuss how to proceed.
DPW REPORT:
·
Water
Report August 2014; Village Average Daily Usage 58,418 gallons, State
Correctional Facility Average Daily Usage 109,447 gallons
·
The
2,000 gallon containment tank has been installed at the Firehouse. The DPW
still needs to blacktop around the tank, but both single axel trucks are still
being repaired
·
The DPW
dug up and repaired two water spigots at the ball fields
·
Lines
have been painted on Main Street; the handicap spaces and a few more stop lines
still need to be painted
·
The DPW
worked at the ball fields setting up and cleaning-up after the Otisville
Country Fair with the Town of Mount Hope Highway Department
·
The DPW
picked up the summer recreation supplies and equipment and stored it in the
basement of the Community Center
·
Frank
spoke to Arkel Motors regarding truck #9, one of the parts is still on back
order
·
Deep
Green NY picked up 3 loads of the contaminated soil from the Firehouse Fuel Tank spill, they will pick up the remaining
soil tomorrow
·
61 State
Street Water Service- received the permit from the State DOT. The DOT is still
waiting for submittals from the contractor. When they receive them the DPW can
do the drilling in order to repair the service
·
The
200,000 gallon water storage tank on Mercy Lane was inspected there is some
work which needs to be done. Frank will supply the Board with copies of the
report
·
The
Chevy Kodiac- Frank spoke with Dane at Regional Truck today. The front end
parts for the truck will cost $8,800.00, clutch is $525.00, transmission rebuild
will be about $2,950.00. If the transfer case needs to be replaced, the cost
will be $16,200.00. The transfer case may be able to be rebuilt with new seals,
etc. which will save a significant amount of money. The Board asked Frank to
find out how much it will cost to send the transfer case out to be tested. The
body and motor of the truck are still in good condition.
FIRE CHIEF’S REPORT: Chief Coppola was at
Fire Fighter Training. Robert Bennett read the report in his absence
- There were 7 calls in August; 3 medical, 4 Fire
- Ladder Inspections will be done in
October or November
MAYOR’S COMMENTS:
- Marge Bonanto’s 100th Birthday is September 16th. There
will be an Open House Birthday party for Marge on September 14th
at Marge’s house.
- Brian Carey has been providing the Village with Security Equipment
and technical support for our security systems for some time now. His
price quotes are always well under other security companies. Mayor Wona
requested that the Board approve Brian as the official Village of
Otisville Security System Specialist.(see Motions and Resolutions)
- Jeremy Vitas contacted Mayor Wona regarding building a flower box
and sign at Berger’s Field as an Eagle Scouts project. Mayor Wona asked
Jeremy to speak to Frank Valentino and Peter Ackerson to insure the
project would stay within the proper guidelines and building codes
- August 12th DPW workshop
-Mayor Wona asked Frank to find out about drilling a larger space for
the future
-Still waiting on the parts for the Sanitation truck refurb.
-Emboden Avenue water Main- Frank came up with an estimate of
$10,000.00 to extend the water main down to the 2 end lots on Emboden Avenue
- August 12th Fire Department Workshop
-Chief Coppola has been working on setting up inspections for the Fire
Trucks
-Fire Dept. Physicals have been completed
- Mayor Wona met with TJ Kalin of the Hugonaut; received 3 UHM/700
series radios with 3 chargers and extra batteries for the Fire Company
radios. Mayor Wona delivered the radios to Chief Coppola
- August 18th there was a joint workshop between the Town
of Mount Hope and Village of Otisville to discuss the possibility of a
Joint Municipal Fire District. The next joint workshop will be on October
2, 2014 at 7:30 or immediately following the Village Board meeting at the
Village Hall. (see Motions and Resolutions)
- We received the new Pet chip reader for the Village of
Otisville/Town of Mount Hope Dog Control Officer
- The DPW/Fire Department monthly workshop for September will be
rescheduled to September 8th (see
Motions and Resolutions)
- Mayor Wona received a letter from the Public Service Commission
regarding the adding a link to the Lifeline website on our village
website(see Motions and Resolutions)
- Seybolt Avenue Water Main project- We are waiting for approvals
from Orange County Department of Health and Community Development for the
go-ahead to post the bid request for the project
- Municipal Capital Projects Grant(Senator Bonacic)- We are still
waiting for contracts for the grant we were awarded for the Veterans
Memorial Park
- Mayor Wona had a visit from
Grace Yin during Mayor’s hours. Ms. Yin would like the Village Board to
pass a Board Resolution and/or Proclamation supporting the Falun Gong and
denouncing the horrific treatment that the practitioners are receiving in
China. The consensus of the Board members was that while this is certainly
a human atrocity, and none of the Board members condones what is going on
in China against the Falun Gong, this is not something that needs to be
dealt with at a local level. This issue is currently before the House of
Representatives. The Board members were also all in agreement that there
are many Human atrocities taking place in the world, it would be difficult
to single out any one example and they are not comfortable doing so.
AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION:
- Betty Jean Bonagura asked if the water was going to be turned on
at the Plains Cemetery. Frank said he would check into it.
- Betty Jean Bonagura stated that the Village Residents should know
about the Municipal Fire District before it comes to any kind of a vote.
Most Village residents do not go to Board meetings and/or Workshop
meetings. There are many rumors going around and it is very upsetting.
Diane Loeven pointed out that there really is nothing planned at this
point. We have only had a few workshops to see if this is even a possibility.
Kenneth Coppola pointed out that all minutes are posted on the Village and Town
website. Village Attorney, Howard Dallow pointed out that at the point that
something was going to be decided upon, there would be a Public Hearing or
possibly even more than one Public Hearing, however it will not be a
referendum, it will be subject to permissive referendum. Permissive Referendum
means that when the Boards take an action, the voters have an opportunity to
submit a petition to hold a vote.
Diane asked for Betty Jean’s input as to how to get the information to
those residents who do not attend meetings or read the website. Betty Jean
suggested putting an article in the Village Newsletter.
Mayor Wona asked the Village Attorney if the decision could be made via
referendum. The Attorney said he did not think so, because the law sets forth a
procedure for the Boards to make the decision in the best interest of the
residents, the Boards should not be abdicating that reponsibilty.
Tom Bonagura asked if the reason for combining the Fire District is for
financial reasons for the Town and the Village; what is the excuse for having a
Town and Village DPW? It was pointed out by the Board members and the Attorney
that the Town does not have a DPW, they only have a Highway Dept. The Village
has very specific service that they offer (water, garbage pick- up) which the
Town does not offer. Robert Bennett explained that money is not the only issue.
Man power has become an issue as well, although we do have mutual aid if need
be.
OLD BUSINESS:
A. Surplus
Fire Vehicle: 143 Mini still waiting for title.
B. CAP
Assignments:
Mail Log - Diane and Ike-
complete
Cash Receipt- Ken and Bob- complete
Bank
Rec’s- Diane and Ike
C. Fire
Dept. Old Radio Inventory- Diane and Ike have been working on this. It is an
ongoing process
NEW BUSINESS: No new business
MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS:
Motion to approve the minutes of August 7, 2014 Regular Village Board Meeting:
motion made by Robert Bennett, second by Kenneth Coppola, all in favor, zero
opposed; motion carried
Motion to appoint Brian Carey the official Village of Otisville Security
Systems Specialist: motion made by Kenneth Coppola, second by Robert Bennett,
all in favor, zero opposed; motion carried
Motion to add Public Service Commission’s Lifeline link to the Village of
Otisville website: motion made by Diane Loeven, second by Kenneth Coppola, all
in favor, zero opposed; motion carried.
Motion to hold a
workshop with the Town of Mount Hope at the Village Hall, to discuss the Joint
Municipal Fire District on October 2, 2014 at 7:30p.m., or immediately
following the Village Board meeting: motion made by Ike Palmer, second by Diane
Loeven, all in favor, zero opposed; motion carried
Motion to
reschedule DPW and Fire Dept. workshop originally scheduled for Tuesday,
September 2nd to Monday, September 8th at 5:00 for DPW
and 5:30 for Fire Department: motion made by Kenneth Coppola, second by Robert
Bennett, all in favor, zero opposed; motion carried
Motion to approve the bills:
GENERAL: $32,229.43
WATER:
$17,868.68
Motion made by Diane Loeven, second by Kenneth Coppola, all in favor,
zero opposed; motion carried
Motion to adjourn the meeting made by Kenneth Coppola, second by Robert
Bennett, all in favor, zero opposed; motion carried
Mayor Wona adjourned the meeting at 8:04 p.m.
Respectfully
submitted,
Christine M. DiPoalo
