Town of Olive
County of Ulster
State of New York
August 7, 2001

Minutes of the regular monthly meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Olive held Tuesday, August 7, 2001 7:30 pm at the Town Meeting Hall in Shokan, NY.

 On a Leifeld/La Monda motion the Town Board approved the minutes of the previous meetings as submitted and as requested corrected by Council Member Johansen to delete a duplicate paragraph.

The following correspondence was read and filed:

#45-01

Amy Fradon of West Shokan expresses her concern that Town Consultant Richard Comi is not unbiased and that his bias leans towards the telecommunications community and not towards the needs and rights of the inhabitants of this town. Ms. Fradon urges the Town Board to consider replacing Mr. Comi with a more “town friendly” consultant. 

#46-01

Ulster County Crime Victims Assistance Program requests anyone interested in volunteering contact the Crime Victims Assistance Program at 340-3446.

#47-01

George Koury of Olivebridge expressed gratitude to Police Officer Peter Wittl for his professionalism, thoroughness, and care in handling recent calls. Council Member La Monda made a motion that a letter of commendation be sent to Officer Wittl, the Police Commissioners, and a copy for his personnel file. Council Member Burkhardt seconded this motion.

On La Monda/Johansen motion the Town Board approved payment of the following preaudited bills: Highway Vouchers #181-#215, $61,979.24; General Fund Prepaid Voucher #326, $50.00; General Fund Vouchers #327-#387, $37,354.69; Reserve “C” Voucher #1, $1,150.00; Special Lighting Voucher #7, $33.04; and General Fund Voucher #388, $250.00.

Supervisor Leifeld stated that Kevin Scanlan had requested being on the agenda; however, he was not present.

Supervisor Leifeld noted the monthly income as cash received for June 2001, as $84,273.80 and interest received through June 2001, as $40,260.91.

The following committee reports were submitted:
PARKS & RECREATION liaison Council Member Burkhardt stated that soccer practice has started and the summer youth recreation program will be finishing next week. 

TRANSFER STATION report issued by Supervisor Leifeld stated that under the amnesty tire program the Town of Olive collected around 1,100 tires with Ulster County collecting approximately 60,000. 

POLICE liaison Council Member Johansen reported (#48-01) two new part-time police officers were hired to fill vacancies created by David Wiswall and Tom Kizis. The two officers hired are Dave Kimberly and Rick Negron. She noted that Officer Kimberly is already academy trained and Officer Negron is attending the Police Academy. Council Member Johansen noted that Jeremy Rushkoski, Olive Police Department Scholarship recipient, has enrolled full time at Ulster Community College. 

TOWN CLERK Rozzelle stated that 119 dogs and cats received vaccinations and/or heartworm checks at the Rabies Clinic held on July 26th. She also noted that as administrator of the Town of Olive Archives, along with the Westchester County and Orange County Archives, she participated in a study conducted by the Southeastern New York State Library Resources Council regarding digitization of archival records.

HIGHWAY Committee liaison Council Member Chase issued a two month report noting that Highway Superintendent Robert Brueckner conducted a road condition report and for each of the five areas he had 1.3 miles in poor condition in Boiceville, 4.7miles in Olivebridge, .6 in Shokan, and 1.7 miles in West Shokan. Of the town’s dirt roads, .6 miles are in poor condition. She stated Superintendent Brueckner has now attended to those roads in West Shokan (Hillside and Drybrook), Mill Road in Olivebridge, Center Lane in Boiceville and will be doing some work on Peck Road. 

On a Leifeld/La Monda motion the Town Board approved the transfer of $9,615.23 from Wireless Telecommunications Escrow Account to the General Fund.

On a Leifeld/Burkhardt motion the Town Board approved the transfer of $1,000.00 from A7110.2 Parks Equipment and $1,717.00 from A1990.4 Contingency to A7110.1 Parks Personal Services.

Supervisor Leifeld read correspondence #49-01 from Patrick Murphy of Shokan. Supervisor Leifeld appointed Patrick Murphy to serve on the Recreation Committee and asked if any Town Board member had any objections to this appointment.

On a Leifeld/La Monda motion the Town Board approved the appointment of Tom Puccini of Boiceville and John Soper of Shokan as members to the Olive Fire Department No. 1, Inc. (#50-01)

Supervisor Leifeld recognized Kevin Scanlan who presented correspondence from Attorney John Tobin (#51-01) and stated he has been talking to a lawyer on behalf of the businesses in Boiceville as they all are feeling the financial crunch from the bridge being closed. He stated he asked his attorney, John Tobin, to look into suing the City of New York for damages. Mr. Scanlan stated his attorney stated they have a case; however, it would be cost prohibitive to pursue the issue. Mr. Scanlan stated the figures are conservatively around $50,000.00 a week, noting this is a lowball figure, of what the Boiceville businesses are losing right now due to the bridge closing. 

Council Member La Monda and Burkhardt read a paragraph from Mr. Tobin’s letter which stated “it is unlikely that you would be able to establish a cause of action against the City under these circumstances and/or that you would be able to establish monetary damages” noting that his attorney is stating that he does not have a case. Mr. Scanlan stated he is sorry that he was unable to get people from the business community to this meeting but stated it was short notice. 

Supervisor Leifeld asked if there were any comments. 

Council Member Johansen stated that at the August 5th audit meeting two people from the ambulance department were present and one thing important to report was that in the drill at the school there were problems with reception for cell phones and pagers noting the town could use towers in this time. 

Council Member Chase stated a major problem in the First Aid Unit is lack of manpower during the day and when they had the drill there were no people to respond. Supervisor Leifeld stated even the volunteerism in the Fire Department is a problem in that people just don’t have the time between the mandated schooling and busy lives.

Chris Johansen stated the Fire Department could help the situation if the schooling was a little closer noting that the closest classes were in Gardiner. 

Everett Cook stated that the OSHA course is held two different days in Olivebridge. In response to Chris Johansen, Everett Cook stated the trainers come from NY State and it is up to the State to determine where the courses are held. Mr. Cook noted the State does try to move the classes around. 

Jay Braman stated he has heard rumors that people have actually felt the Bushkill Bridge safe and are trying to travel over the bridge and asked who would be liable if there was an accident. Council Member La Monda stated that some of these vehicles are DEP cars. Chris Johansen stated there are no signs with lights indicating the road is closed and the wooden signs that were there were broken yesterday. 

Pat Webb asked if the Town Board had decided on a date for a meeting to discuss the amendment to the wireless law. Supervisor Leifeld stated he would get with Olive CARES tomorrow to determine a date. 

All business pertinent having been discussed the Town Board adjourned at 8:12 pm on a Leifeld/La Monda motion in memory of Catherine Barringer, Lucy A. Gray, and Joan Sloven. 

Sylvia B. Rozzelle, Town Clerk