Town of Olive

County of Ulster

State of New York

November 8, 2004

Minutes of the monthly audit and regular meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Olive held Monday, November 8, 2004, 7:30 pm at the Town Meeting Hall in Shokan, NY.

Members Present: Berndt Leifeld, Supervisor

Helen Chase, Council Member

Bruce La Monda, Council Member

Members Absent: Linda Burkhardt, Council Member

Henry Rank, Council Member

Recording Secretary: Sylvia Rozzelle, Town Clerk

Others Present: Everett Cook, ZBA Member; Jimmy Fugel, Highway

Superintendent

Supervisor Leifeld stated the Town Board will approve the previous month’s minutes at the December meeting.

The following correspondence was read and filed:

#113-04

David Patterson, member of the Onteora School Board, notified Town Supervisors within the Onteora School District that the Board of Education has endorsed his recommendation to establish a District Wide Communications Committee. He noted the first meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, November 10^th, 2004, at 7 pm in the Middle School/High School cafeteria.

#114-04

Supervisor Leifeld stated that a large contingency of taxpayers in Olive would like to secede from the Onteora School District and the Town Board has empowered him to look into the matter. He stated his trail let to SAANYS (School Administrators Association of New York State) and he has been in contact with Arthur P. Scheuermann, Director of Legal Services. He stated Mr. Scheuermann who works for the state organization will be setting up a meeting with the town to explain the process and to let us know one way or another if it is feasible or not feasible.

#115-04

Robert Schanck submitted his letter of resignation as member of the Board of Police Commissioners effective October 13^th.

On a La Monda/Chase motion the Town Board approved payment of the following preaudited bills: Highway Voucher #307-#347, $15,018.03; General Fund Prepaid Voucher #569, $222.00; General Fund Vouchers #570-#667, $50,999.66; and Special Lighting Onteora Court Voucher #10, $70.44.

Under Old Business: Supervisor Leifeld stated that a few people have expressed interest in serving on the Police Commission. He stated that Ray Nichols, Jr., has been a lifelong resident of Olivebridge, started his career with the Olive Constabulary, and is retired from the New Paltz Police Department. Supervisor Leifeld noted that Ray Nichols has expressed an interest and is well qualified. On a Leifeld/La Monda motion and unanimous roll vote the Town Board appointed Ray Nichols, Jr., to serve as member of the Board of Police Commissioners. Roll vote being: Chase, yes; La Monda, yes; and Leifeld, yes.

Supervisor Leifeld stated the Town Board will hold a workshop meeting on Monday, September 15, 2004 at 6 pm at the Town Meeting Hall. He stated the board will be meeting with CLT representatives to discuss the contract for the evaluation of properties in Olive. He stated the estimated cost of the project is $195,000.00. He noted this fee will be paid for from Capital Reserve "E" which was established several years ago for this purpose.

Supervisor Leifeld stated a Public Hearing was held on the budget on November 4^th with four persons in attendance wanting to discuss the large parcel bill. Supervisor Leifeld gave a synopsis of the budget as presented at the Public Hearing. On a La Monda/Chase motion the Town Board unanimously approved the 2005 Budget. Roll vote being: Chase, yes; La Monda, yes; and Leifeld, yes.

Supervisor Leifeld noted cash received for September as $66,723.76 and interest received through September as $12,405.15.

The following committee reports were submitted:

FIRST AID liaison Council Member Chase presented October report #116-04 noting fifty-eight (58) volunteer hours expended and 282 miles traveled.

PARKS & RECREATION liaison Council Member Chase submitted Recreation Committee report #117-04 noting Junior Basketball began registration on October 25^th with games starting November 18^th; the position of Pool Supervisor will be advertised; conflicts of scheduling from Onteora Soccer using Olive’s fields has been rectified; and the Treasurer of the Olive Athletic Association is creating a financial report for the November committee meeting. Supervisor Leifeld stated the Town Board will be meeting with the Recreation Committee to ensure we don’t have the budget overruns in 2005 as in 2004.

FIRE DEPARTMENT report #118-04 noted the following responses: Olivebridge, 7; Shokan, 11; Samsonville, 7; and the Fire Police, 3.

TRANSFER STATION September report #119-04 as prepared by Council Member Burkhardt and reported by Supervisor Leifeld noted $6,815.00 in revenues and $5,283.60 in expenses. A-1Environmental Recycling removed 400 gallons of used motor oil and 50 gallons of used anti-freeze for no charge.

POLICE COMMISSIONER La Monda submitted October report #120-04 outlining monthly activity not limited to the following: 7 assists to other departments, 6 adult arrests, 4 false 911 calls, 3 disorderly subjects, 3 trespass, 2 larceny, 2 violation of order of protection, and 6 dog complaints. On a La Monda/Chase motion the Town Board unanimously requested a letter of thanks be sent to Robert Schanck for his 13 years of service on the Board of Police Commissioners.

TOWN CLERK Rozzelle thanked all the election officials for their efforts in making the election process in Olive a smooth one. She noted the American Legion will have a service on Veteran’s Day at 11 a.m. at the American Legion Post. Report #121-04 noted monthly revenues of $10,679.12 of which $9,616.15 was submitted to the Supervisor. Town Clerk Rozzelle thanked Mark DuBois for his time and effort that resulted in three cd-roms being created depicting the photo collection of Chet Lyons, Jr. She noted the cd’s have been donated to the Olive Free Library and to the Town Archives.

Council Member La Monda read correspondence #122-04, an open letter to Senator Bonacic and Assemblyman Cahill, requesting they keep Olive informed of any proposed amendments and or revisions to the law commonly referred to as the large parcel bill and request that as our representatives they seek to have reservoir properties exempt from the large parcel bill. On a La Monda/Chase motion the Town Board approved sending said letter to Senator Bonacic and Assemblyman Cahill. Supervisor Leifeld suggested this letter also go as an open letter to the newspapers.

Supervisor Leifeld stated in discussion with residents throughout the community he feels a committee should be formed regarding the large parcel bill and its impact on Olive in the school district and county. He stated that the Town Board has been actively involved with this issue for well over a year and a fresh outlook could be helpful. He introduced John Tisch stating he has been attending many of the meetings and has done much research on this issue.

John Tisch stated he did research at the treasurer’s office and on the internet and feels that he has been able to trace the beginnings of the large parcel bill to Curt Schoeberl, Assessor in the Town of Shawangunk, further stating that Shawngunk and Newburgh are the beginnings of this bill. He stated he spoke in length with Mr. Schoeberl. He stated he also spoke with Wally John as resident of West Shokan who worked in Albany for years. He stated that many suggestions have been made and there are a number of ways this could be approached. He stated that in speaking to various people private funds may be available and the only way to deal with this is to fight back and fight back hard. Supervisor Leifeld stated he has a list of names of people who have been contacting him regarding volunteering their time in this matter so he would like to appoint a committee of five to seven people to serve as a committee noting they can then meet, choose their chairman, and report back in an advisory capacity to the Town Board.

Council Member La Monda stated that no matter what they say when any entity takes away another town’s tax base they cannot remain complacent and it will affect the outcome of future school budgets. He stated we have to keep our representatives feet to the fire and constantly keep this in the public eye. He stated if the town residents don’t ban together and fight this as community we will sink with it.

John Tisch questioned how the county and other towns in the school district can take our main tax base from us and not have to deal with the overhead in maintaining it or any of the liability involved in it. Council Member La Monda questioned why Marlborough wasn’t designated as a large parcel within the county questioning if it could possibly be the Chairman of the legislature happens to be from Marlborough. He questioned why it wasn’t consistent throughout. John Tisch stated we have an up to date value on our reservoir and how does that compare to the reservoir and systems within the Town of Woodstock which could be lower on the assessment rolls than it should be.

It was noted that the petitions from Olive sent certified mail to Senator Bonacic and Assemblyman Cahill received no response from either representative. Supervisor Leifeld stated he would be in touch with Mr. Tisch and will be putting together a committee to address issues relative to the large parcel bill.

On a Leifeld/Chase motion the Town Board unanimously approved the following General Fund Transfers:

From A1990.4 Contingency To A1460.4 Records Management $ 28.00

From A1990.4 Contingency To A5010.4 Supt. of Highways $112.00

From A1990.4 Contingency To A7310.4 Youth Programs $788.00

From A8020.1 Planning PS To A8020.4 Planning Contractual $ 3.00

From A1990.4 Contingency To A9050.8 Unemployment Ins. $297.00

On a Leifeld/Chase motion the Town Board unanimously approved the following Highway Fund Transfers:

From DA5120.1 Bridges PS To DA5110.1 Gen. Repairs PS $830.00

All business pertinent having been discussed the Town Board adjourned at 8:35 pm on a Leifeld/La Monda motion in memory of Christine B. Calderale, Brian Martins, and Merle Tally.

Sylvia Rozzelle, Town Clerk