Village Board Minutes

June 20, 2007 (4)

A public hearing and regular meeting of the Village Board was held June 20, 2007, 6:00 PM in the firehouse, 16 Saratoga Ave.

Deputy Mayor Denno called the meeting to order & led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Roll Call: Trustees Densmore, Enekes & Lescault were present.  Mayor Winslow was excused.

A public hearing having been duly advertised in the Post Star on June 13, 2007 was held June 20, 2007 re: proposed local law to restrict Outdoor Wood Burning Furnaces.

Deputy Mayor Denno opened the public hearing and read the legal notice as advertised.

PUBLIC COMMENTS, QUESTIONS & CONCERNS

Jim Murray, Center St, spoke supporting the law as written.

Dean Seelow, Hamilton Ave, expressed concerns with several items in the law.  Mr. Seelow owns an outdoor wood boiler and has had no complaints in 11 years.  He feels that the smoke from his stack is cleaner than the smoke from many woodstoves and fireplaces operating in the village.  Mr. Seelow stated that he feels a smokestack of 12 feet is a sufficient requirement instead of the 15 feet called for in the current proposed law. He also questioned what a spark arrestor is and was answered by Trustee Enekes.  Mr. Seelow also would like to see the operation period extended to the end of April instead of March 31.  Mr. Seelow spoke against the provision in the proposed law that an existing outdoor furnace could not be replaced; he would like to have a provision that would allow a replacement furnace of the same size.  This furnace is his main source of heat and hot water.  Mr. Seelow also questioned who would be responsible for the inspection and if there would be a fee.  Atty Avigdor stated that the Building Inspector would be responsible for inspections and that any fees would be set by Board resolution.

Bob Hudak, Ash St, stated he would not be opposed to allowing existing furnaces be replaced if necessary.

Louise Kirkpatrick, Dunn Ave, stated she supported the proposed law as written to protect health & welfare.

John Jacon agreed with Mr. Seelow that existing furnaces should be allowed to be replaced and that operation should be permitted through April.

With no further comments from the public Deputy Mayor Denno closed the public hearing at 6:15 PM.

Nicole M. Colson
Clerk

A regular meeting of the Village Board was held June 20, 2007, 6:15 PM in the firehouse, 16 Saratoga Ave.

Deputy Mayor Denno suspended the regular order of the agenda in order to cover certain items before Atty Avigdor left for a prior commitment.

SPECIFIC REQUESTS

John Clinch, Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus, appeared before the Board to request permission to apply for a vendor’s license to conduct a farmer’s market at the Knights of Columbus hall.  The Knights wish to hold the farmer’s markets every Saturday from 9:00 AM – 12:00 noon June 30 – October.  Mr. Clinch stated that this would be a good opportunity for village residents to buy fresh produce & a good opportunity for local growers to sell produce.  Mr. Clinch is trying to make it more worthwhile for vendors by holding one blanket vendor’s permit instead of requiring individual permits from the participants (which would cost $100 each).

Motion by Trustee Lescault, seconded by Trustee Densmore approved granting a vendor’s license to allow the Knights of Columbus to conduct a Farmer’s Market on their property, provided they supply the Village with a certificate of insurance naming the Village as additional insured and sign a hold harmless agreement.
Carried – 3 – 0

DEPARTMENT REPORTS

ATTORNEY – Atty Avigdor was present, report for 6/20/07 read & filed.

The Board discussed a request from Saratoga Mentoring to donate unclaimed bicycles held at the police department.  Atty Avigdor will draft a letter legally addressing the ownership of the bicycles.

Resolution #8 approved, donation of bicycles to Saratoga Mentoring.

Resolution #9 approved, termination of the remaining police officers due to the abolition of the police department.

Resolution #10 approved, transfer of one laptop computer to the Emergency Management Response Committee and two laptop computers to the fire department from the police department.

Resolution #11 approved, transfer of various items to the fire department from the police department.

At 6:40 PM Atty Avigdor was excused.

Motion by Trustee Densmore, seconded by Trustee Lescault approved minutes of regular meeting June 6, 2007 as typed.
Carried – 3 – 0

The Board decided to table the proposed Outdoor Wood Burning Furnaces law in order to consider comments made by the public.

CLERK – Clerk Colson was present, report for 6/20/07 read & filed.

Resolution #12 approved adjustment to water/sewer roll.

Motion by Trustee Enekes, seconded by Trustee Densmore approved Clerk’s attendance at a Records Management training session in Ballston Spa with no registration fee.
Carried – 3 – 0

Resolution #13 approved, sale of police department ammunition to Richard Pelzer, NYS authorized dealer, for $203.

TREASURER – Treas Fuller was excused, report for 6/20/07 read & filed.

Motion by Trustee Densmore, seconded by Trustee Lescault approved payment of abstract #26: Payroll $49,878.59; General $4,735.20; Water $1,819.54; Sewer $3,192.50; Commercial Development $1,006.19 and abstract #2: General $21,091.31; Water $29.91 and Sewer $73.24.
Carried – 3 – 0

Resolution #14 approved, budget transfers.

FIRE DEPARTMENT – Chief Kelley was present.

Supt Lozier, Chief Kelley and the Board discussed various options of where to put the fire siren at Jessups Landing Park.  One electrical service for the siren and the park building would be the most cost effective solution.  If power needs to be run two separate places there will be more extensive costs involved in running new power lines.  Supt Lozier, Chief Kelley and Trustee Densmore will meet to discuss the layout of the Park.  Supt Lozier will have more accurate numbers once they discuss where the buildings will be located in the Park.

The Fire Department has purchased a new emergency raft to replace the boat destroyed last year.

DPW/WATER/WWTP – Supt Lozier was present, report for May 2007 read & filed.

July 9 the old blacktop will be ripped up at the Village Garage; the Town of Day has kindly offered the use of their crusher to recycle the blacktop and fill which will save quite a bit of money.  Supt Lozier would like a thank you letter sent to Scott York of the Town of Day once the project is completed.

BUILDING INSPECTOR – Insp Jacon was present, report of 6/7/07 – 6/20/07 read & filed.

The Board has decided to move Insp Jacon’s office to Chief Kane’s office to give him more room.  Problems with the internet in his office are currently being addressed.

OLD BUSINESS

The appointment to the Planning Board was tabled.

NEW BUSINESS

Saratoga County has purchased a reverse 9-1-1 system to be used to notify residents by phone of threats to their safety such as flooding and water emergencies.  The County will pay for this emergency alert system.

Resolution #15 approved, mayoral signature on contract with Saratoga County for Reverse 9-1-1 system.

Deputy Mayor Denno stated that a technical amendment to the Zoning Law has been distributed to the Board for their review and is available to the public on the village website on the mayor’s update page.  The proposed amendment will be discussed at a future meeting and a date for a public hearing will be set.

PUBLIC COMMENTS, QUESTIONS & CONCERNS

Dean Seelow asked for an update on the GOSC grant, Deputy Mayor Denno informed him of a meeting Wednesday June 27, 2007 in the firehouse at 6:00 PM which will be an update for the public.  Applications are still available.

Bob Hudak, Ash St, asked the amount of the settlement with a former police officer; Deputy Mayor Denno stated that there was no settlement at this time and she could not comment on matters still in litigation.

Louise Kirkpatrick, Dunn Ave, asked the Board to consider making the Beach nonsmoking.

Dean Seelow asked if we can do anything about people loitering in front of the Mollie’s.  The Board stated that most of them are residents of the apartments, property owners would need to file complaints with the sheriff’s department.

BOARD COMMENTS, QUESTIONS & CONCERNS

Trustee Lescault requested an executive session to discuss the potential sale of real estate.

Trustee Lescault also asked the Board to consider prohibiting dogs from the parks because people are not cleaning up after their dogs.  She also thanked the DPW for mowing the Philmet property by the railroad tracks which had been neglected.

Trustee Enekes discussed the Independence Day celebration on Saturday July 7, 2007.  There will be a foot race, duck race, bake sale, car wash, water ski show, parade, patriotic program, and fireworks.  Vendors will be located in the TD Banknorth parking lot and Kenny T and the Back Road Band will be performing from 5:00 – 7:00 and 8:00 – 9:00.  A full schedule is on the website under Events & Celebrations.

ADJOURNMENT

Motion by Trustee Lescault, seconded by Trustee Enekes that the Board adjourn to executive session as requested by Trustee Lescault to discuss potential sale of real estate, 7:05 PM.
Carried – 3 – 0

At 7:20 PM the Board reconvened.

Motion by Trustee Lescault, seconded by Trustee Enekes that Board adjourn, 7:21 PM.
Carried – 3- 0

Nicole M. Colson
Clerk