Town of Olive
County of Ulster
State of New York
June 4, 2002

Minutes of the regular monthly meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Olive held Tuesday, June 4, 2002, 7:30 pm at the Town Meeting Hall in Shokan, NY.

Others Present: Everett Cook, ZBA Member

On a Johansen/La Monda motion the Town Board approved the minutes as corrected of a typographical error as submitted by the Town Clerk.

The following correspondence was read and filed:

#42-02

The Olivebridge Post Office will have its grand opening on Thursday, June 20, 2002 from 1 pm until 4 pm.

#43-02

Supervisor Leifeld stated he appointed a town cablevision committee last month and the NYS Department of Public Service is guiding the town committee through the contract negotiations with Time Warner. Correspondence from the Public Service Commission has determined that it would be in the public interest to grant Temporary Operating Authority to Time Warner-Liberty whose contract expired March 22, 1998 and does grant said Temporary Operating Authority to expire November 22, 2002.

#44-02

Supervisor Leifeld stated the Town has passed the Empire Zone; however, the county’s request to Empire State Development was not approved due to the county not passing a local law supporting it. He entered correspondence from Kingston Ulster Empire Zone Program Manager Catherine Maloney stating the County Legislature is set to vote on the local law June 13.

On a Leifeld/Chase motion the Town Board unanimously approved payment of the following preaudited bills: Highway Voucher #144-#160, $4,895.24; General Fund prepaid Voucher #225, $200.00; General Fund Vouchers #226-#265, $39,503.85; Special Fire District Voucher #1, $155,500.00; Special Lighting Voucher #5, $33.30; and Special Project Pool Voucher #7-#11, $173,746.60.

Under Old Business: Supervisor Leifeld stated the town applied to the Catskill Watershed Corporation (CWC) for a low interest loan, originally requesting $400,000.00 but are only borrowing $100,000.00. He stated that in order to offer collateral for a loan a municipality must implement a bond. Supervisor Leifeld read Resolution #3 of 2002 Bond Resolution for Swimming Pool. Council Member Johansen asked Supervisor Leifeld to clarify that no tax dollars are being spent on this bond. Supervisor Leifeld stated this is strictly a matter that the CWC requires and the only tax dollars being spent are the legal fees as required by the CWC attorneys. The bond is simply to be offered as collateral for the $100,000.00 loan from the CWC. On a Leifeld/Chase motion and unanimous roll vote the Town Board approved said resolution. Roll vote being: Johansen, yes; Chase yes; La Monda, yes; and Leifeld, yes.

Supervisor Leifeld offered Resolution #4 of 2002, Reserve Fund Resolution for expenditures on the Davis Park renovation subject to permissive referendum. The motion was seconded by Council Member La Monda and passed unanimously. Roll vote being: Johansen, yes Chase, yes; La Monda, yes; and Leifeld, yes.

Supervisor Leifeld noted the monthly income for April as cash received $22,524.46 and interest received through April as $8,349.41.

The following committee reports were submitted:

PARKS & RECREATION COMMITTEE liaison Council Member Chase stated the last recreation meeting was dedicated to working out simple details regarding the swimming pool, the drinking fountain location, additional ropes at the 3 ft. level, lifeguard and work crew responsibilities, card files for registration, pool safety plan, emergency numbers and procedures, daily pool log, storage of paper work, and setting aside special swim times. Council Member La Monda stated the swimming pool dedication would be June 23rd with the new pool being dedicated in memory of Pete Tosi, who as a Town Board member served with a commitment to provide recreation for Olive residents.

TRANSFER STATION report #45-02 was submitted by Council Member La Monda on behalf of Transfer Station liaison Council Member Burkhardt. During the month of April the Transfer Station sold 27 permits and 314 tickets for a total revenue of $5,385.00. During April 67.02 tons of refuse were removed from the Transfer Station at a cost of $4,691.82.

POLICE COMMISSIONER La Monda stated the Bicycle Safety Class would be held Friday, June 7th at Bennett School with approximately 63 helmets being given out to fourth graders. He stated that two officers volunteered to put in extra hours to patrol the local banks when the work crews along route 28 disabled all phone lines and alarms last week. Police Activity Report #46-02 for the month of May notes the major responses being: 12 assists to the Fire Department and First Aid Unit, 6 property checks, 6 personal assists, 4 assists to Police Departments, 4 aggravated harassments, 4 harassments, 4 larcenies, 4 personal injury automobile accidents.

HIGHWAY liaison Council Member Johansen stated that Highway Superintendent Jimmy Fugel is currently at Cornell University for training. She submitted May report #47-02 noting crews have been working on Brown Road and Freeman Avery Road cutting brush, the new paver will be demonstrated soon, and the triangle in Boiceville has been cleaned up. The parks are being mowed, trimmed, and maintained and the leach field and septic system at Davis Park will be installed by the Highway Department.

ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY representative Anne Altshuler stated no regular Ulster County EMC meeting was held and in lieu of that a wetlands specialist presented a program on federal wetlands.

TOWN CLERK Rozzelle noted that Tax Collection payment deadline was June 3rd with all revenues and collections being turned over to the Ulster County Treasurer on June 19th.

FIRE DEPARTMENT April Activity Report #48-02 showed Olivebridge Co. #1 with 11 responses, Shokan Co. #2 with 8 responses, West Shokan Co. #3 with 9 responses, Samsonville Co. #4 with 6 responses, and Boiceville Co. #5 with 6 responses.

On a Leifeld/La Monda motion the Town Board approved the transfer from escrow IWO to GF AO1010.4 in the amount of $560.00.

Supervisor Leifeld stated he would like to commend local resident Emily Cole for her success in the national spelling competition. Carol La Monda noted that Emily recently received school awards for social studies, biology, Spanish, English, accelerated mathematics, and music. On a Leifeld/La Monda the Town Board unanimously approved sending Emily Cole a letter commending her for her efforts and excellence.

Supervisor Leifeld stated the town hired a part time assessor after Mr. Every resigned and the Town Board has recently completed an evaluation of the operations of the entire office staff as well as that of the Assessor’s department. After review and much discussion the Town Board has determined a full time Assessor’s Aide is not necessary since the town could draw part time work from another position—that being the Highway Clerk. He noted the Town Board could then hire a part time person for the Assessor’s Office. He stated that in order to do this, Civil Service requires the Town Board to abolish the full time position. He stated the Town Board would evaluate this again at a future date and noted that Assessor Mike Sommer has been agreeable to this decision. Supervisor Leifeld read Resolution #2 of 2002 abolishing the position of Full-Time Assessor’s Aide. On a Leifeld/La Monda motion and unanimous roll vote the Town Board passed Resolution #2 of 2002. Roll vote being: Johansen, yes; Chase, yes; La Monda, yes; and Leifeld, yes. Supervisor Leifeld stated a classified ad has been placed in the FREEMAN and on June 10th & June 11th the Town Board will conduct interviews beginning at 7 pm.

Supervisor Leifeld submitted report #49-02 showing expenditures and balances on the Davis Park renovation project.

Council Member La Monda stated that he and Council Member Burkhardt attended a seminar offered by the Public Service Commission and the committee has opted to negotiate the Time Warner contract themselves along with the help of a person from the PSC. He stated the committee learned of things the town could ask for and the PSC is a lot more organized in getting information to municipalities. He noted the committee would be meeting with the Superintendent of Schools to see if the school district is interested in having an educational channel. He noted the committee will negotiate a government channel that would be beneficial in emergency situations and he noted they are not interested in having a public access channel.

All business pertinent having been discussed the Town Board adjourned at 8:25 pm on a Leifeld/La Monda motion.



Sylvia B. Rozzelle, Town Clerk