FEBRUARY 9, 2010

Regular meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Chester was held February 9, 2010 at 7:30 pm in the Town of Chester Municipal Center Chestertown, NY.

Roll Call: Fred Monroe, Mike Packer, Edna Wells, Karen DuRose and Steve Durkish. Mark Schachner - Attorney for Town.

RESOLUTION 14: ACCEPT MINUTES OF THE JANUARY MEETINGS.

Introduced by Mr.Packer, 2nd by Mrs.Wells to accept minutes of the January 4th and 12th Town Board meetings. AYE 5 NO 0

Privilege of the floor:

Jason Monroe - Water superintendent - will check into the possibility of purchasing a snow gun, for making snow at Dynamite Hill. He felt that he could do this in the winter along with his other duties as water superintendent. Occupancy tax money may be able to be used for the purchase of equipment, as Dynamite Hill is used not only by local people but people from other areas.

Jay Forbes - 21 Finne-For Lane, Olmstedville 12857 -Request for list of unmandated programs. Supervisor Monroe will provide list.

Old business:

Milfoil bid has been published and bids will be opened on March 1 at 2:30pm and reviewed at next town board meeting.

Request for sand for businesses - sand is available, but has to be loaded by individual - no town equipment is used to load personal vehicles. People usually just get a couple of pails for use in driveways.

New business:

Resolution re: bonding and to purchase loader - Bob Haffner and Supervisor Monroe have reviewed two different options for the bonding. Issue a Bond Anticipation Note - can be renewed for 5 years or a Statutory Installment Note. Mr.Haffner is checking to see if any of the local banks would do a ten year installment, if this can not be done a Bond Anticipation Note will be done.

RESOLUTION 15: AUTHORIZE PURCHASE OF CASE 721E TIER 3 WHEEL LOADER FROM MONROE TRACTOR, UNDER STATE CONTRACT.

Introduced by Mr.Monroe, 2nd by Mr.Packer authorizing purchase of Case 721E Tier 3 wheel loader, from Monroe Tractor, 423 Old London Rd., Latham, NY 12110. Loader is under state contract. Purchase price $129,087.84 without warranty. AYE 5 NO 0

Floating object zoning changes - review Arnold Jensen’s concerns over “floating objects” in Loon Lake, definition for floating objects, and change current limit of 50‘ from shore to 75‘, an exception would be the milfoil markers. Request to have Mr.Schachner draft proposed changes to the town’s zoning ordinance.

RESOLUTION 16: AUTHORIZE CLERK TO ADVERTISE POSTING OF TOWN ROADS.

Introduced by Mrs.Wells, 2nd by Mrs.DuRose authorizing town clerk to advertise posting of town roads. AYE 5 NO 0

Recommendations for First Wilderness Corridor Action Plan Working Group (5 to 9 people) - Mary Jane Dower will bring this up at the next Main Street Enhancement Committee meeting.

Mrs.Dower reported that at the last meeting approximately 57 people. Next meeting will be at 7:00pm February 10 and then a regular meeting tentatively set for March 3.

Reminder that beach permit for Loon Lake needs to be done.

Advertise for lifeguards - 2 applications have been received - Elizabeth Helms and Ryan McNally.

Councilperson Wells has had request that the time for swimming lessons be changed from morning to late afternoon. Suggested time be from 5pm to 6 pm.

RESOLUTION 17: ADVERTISE FOR LIFEGUARDS.

Introduced by Mrs.Wells, 2nd by Mrs.DuRose authorizing clerk to advertise for life guards for the 2010 summer. AYE 5 NO 0

RESOLUTION 18: SUPPORT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY IN ST.LAWRENCE, FRANKLIN, LEWIS, JEFFERSON AND CLINTON COUNTIES WITH SPURS TO MASSENA, OGDENSBURG, LOWVILLE AND PLATTSBURGH.

Introduced by Mr.Monroe, 2nd by Mrs.Wells:

WHEREAS, the economic impact of North Country transportation improvements is a key component of the North Country Transportation Study; and

WHEREAS, the economic development impact analysis has measured the value to the regional economy of efficiency gains through user benefits such as reductions in travel time, reductions in operating costs, and reductions in accidents due to improved safety; and

WHEREAS, the gains through increased social and economic development opportunities due to improved transportation access will reduce unemployment rates, reduce government transfer payments such as social welfare and unemployment insurance, and increase employment in the region; and

WHEREAS, the transportation improvements can enhance access to labor, customer, tourism and supplier markets, as well as to intermodal transportation facilities, making the overall region more attractive to transportation-dependent industries; and

WHEREAS, the construction of a four-lane highway within the boundaries of St.Lawrence, Franklin, Lewis, Jefferson and Clinton counties and the construction of four-lane spurs connecting Massena, Ogdensburg, Lowville and Plattsburgh will begin to address the transportation improvements necessary to foster such economic growth; and

WHEREAS, our elected New York and Congressional representatives can be assured that the Town of Chester, Warren County adamantly supports such four-lane highway construction; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the Town of Chester urge New York State Acting Commissioner of Transportation to cooperate with local transportation taskforce groups to support the construction of a four-lane highway within St.Lawrence, Franklin, Lewis, Jefferson and Clinton counties and the construction of four-lane spurs connecting Massena, Ogdensburg, Lowville and Plattsburgh.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be forward to Jason Clark, Executive Director, Business Development Corp. of Greater Massena, PO Box 5217, Massena, NY 13662, Senators Schumer and Gillibrand and Representative Murphy.

AYE 5 NO 0

Assistance in grant writing - Supervisor Monroe reminded the board that in July of 2009 a proposal was received from Melissa McManus, to apply for the Waterfront Revitalization Program Grant. Supervisor Monroe went on to say that “the nice thing about that grant was that money could be included to write another grant.”

Discussion on doing Request for Proposals for a grant writer.

List of grants is available through Warren County Planning.

Grant writer would also be required to work with various groups in deciding what the grant would be for and then prepare the grant application.

Suggested to send proposal to Laura Moore. Supervisor Monroe will draft the RFP.

RESOLUTION 19: REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR GRANT WRITER.

Introduced by Mr.Monroe, 2nd by Mrs.DuRose to advertise for Request for Proposals for a facilitator and grant writer.

AYE 5 NO 0

Maxam flooding problem - Supervisor Monroe requested Gary Clark look at the drainage problem on Foster Flats. Suggested to ditch along fence line, but Gary did not feel that would stop the problem. It was felt that this is a problem that was created from the old route 9 design of the road and the lay of the ground.

Supervisor Monroe suggested having a release signed.

Supervisor Monroe reported that he has talked with Warren County Planning in regards to funding for June Maxam’s recent mishap with a tree going through her trailer roof.

Highway superintendent, Gary Clark, paving schedule for this year will be 1.4 miles of total reconstruction on Lane Road.

Discussion on Dynamite hill operations and the need for more lighting.

RESOLUTION 20: AUTHORIZE SUPERVISOR TO SIGN LARAC GRANT AGREEMENT AND SEAGLE MUSIC COLONY CONNTRACTS.

Introduced by Mrs.Wells, 2nd by Mrs.DuRose authorizing Supervisor Monroe to sign LARAC Grant Agreement and Seagle Music Colony contract. LARAC award was for $800, for the presentation of Jack in the Beanstalk by the Seagle Music Colony Children’s Opera on July 24, 2010. AYE 5 NO 0

Request for use letters: Gregory and Nancy Klingler - use of auditorium for possible performances and Wesleyan Church, Pastor Jon Wixson use a room in town hall to hold a study on depression. No decision was made at this meeting.

RESOLUTION 21: AUTHORIZE PAYMENT OF ABSTRACT AND CLAIMS PAID PRIOR TO AUDIT.

Introduced by Mrs.Wells, 2nd by Mr.Packer authorizing payment of abstract:

General Fund $166,158.59 ( 15-57)

Highway Fund $ 16,622.00 ( 2-23)

Chestertown water $ 212.10 ( 1- 4)

Pottersville Water $ 2,307.57 ( 1- 8)

Library $ 2,512.37 ( 1-10)

Chtwn Fire Comm $ 5,000.00 ( 1 )

No.Creek Fire Dist $ 30,000.00 ( 1 )

R’side Fire Dist $ 7,000.00 ( 1 )

GENERAL FUND 2009 $4,194.77 (659-665)

HIGHWAY FUND 2009 $2,705.80 (273)

Ctwn Water 2009 $ 140.43 (85 )

Pville Water 2009 $ 140.42 (78 )

AYE 5 NO 0

Motion by Mr.Packer meeting was adjourned at 8:45pm.

____________________ Town Clerk