REGULAR BOARD
Monday, May 1, 2023 - 10:00 AM
Shaun Gillilland, Chairperson
Jim Monty, Vice-Chairman
Chairman Gillilland called this Regular Board meeting to order at 10:00 A.M., with the following supervisors in attendance: Clayton Barber, Robin DeLoria, Stephanie DeZalia, Derek Doty, Shaun Gillilland, Charles Harrington, Roy Holzer, Ken Hughes, Stephen McNally, Noel Merrihew, Jim Monty, Thomas Scozzafava, Matt Stanley, Michael Tyler, Joe Pete Wilson, Meg Wood and Mark Wright. Davina Winemiller had been previously excused.
Department heads present were: Angie Allen, Jim Dougan, Judith Garrison, Mary McGowan, Dan Manning, Mike Mascarenas, David Reynolds, Heather Sheehan and Matt Watts.
Deputies present were: William Tansey, Jennifer Fifield and Krista Moran.
News Media present: Sun Community News – Alana Penny.
GILLILLAND: I will call this regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors to order. Will you join me in the salute to the flag. Thank you, roll call please. Good morning, before we get started I asked Assemblyman Simpson this morning if he could give us any update because they went into session just about 10 o’clock to vote on the State budget deal so none of the members actually had the ability to read the budget, the only thing they were able to look at is what was sent out early to them last night. Assemblyman Simpson had his staff up all night going over what they could get but most of the budget has just been delivered to the desks so once again, but he did say, what he squeezed out a little bit was $15 million for elections capital for the State so I think that’s voting machines and those kind of things, tech upgrades to voting machines. CHIPS which is $598 million which is $60 million more than last year so that’s good news for our highway people, Pave New York was the same and Pot Holes was the same so the highways will be good and the other good news is the excess funds from foreclosures is not in the budget that’s all I got so far.
McNALLY: Medicare?
GILLILLAND: Nothing yet. I don’t know yet as to whether it is in or out. Alright, we will go to resolutions please.
RESOLUTION #115 – OF CONGRATULATIONS TO LUISA TOWNE FOR HER VOTER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, ESSEX VERSION 02.22.23 AND ITS APPROVAL BY THE NEW YORK STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS.
This resolution was moved by Mrs. DeZalia, unanimously seconded and duly adopted.
RESOLUTION #116 – AUTHORIZING ESSEX COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS TO CHANGE THE HOURS TO BE OPEN FROM 8:00 A.M. TO 4:00 P.M. BEGINNING MAY 15, 2023 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 15, 2023.
This resolution was moved by Mr. Barber, seconded by Mr. Holzer and adopted.
RESOLUTION #117 – AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASING AGENT TO AWARD BIDS, ISSUE CONTRACTS/AGREEMENTS OR PURCHASE ORDERS.
This resolution was moved by Mr. Scozzafava, seconded by Mr. Merrihew and adopted upon a roll-call vote as follows:
AYES: 2734 votes
NOES: 0 votes
ABSENT: 119 votes (Winemiller)
RESOLUTION #118 – RECOGNIZING THE WEEK OF APRIL 9-15, 2023, AS NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATORS WEEK.
This resolution was moved by Mr. Hughes, unanimously seconded and duly adopted.
RESOLUTION #119 – AUTHORIZING THE ADOPTION OF THE NEW YORK STATE AGRICULTURE AND MARKETS STATE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY REVIEW (SEQRA) SHORT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FORM FOR AGRICULTURAL DISTRICTS UNLISTED ACTIONS ONLY.
This resolution was moved by Mr. Stanley, seconded by Mr. Merrihew and adopted.
RESOLUTION #120 – AUTHORIZING APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS, COMMITTEES AND/OR COUNCILS.
This resolution was moved by Mr. Hughes, seconded by Mr. Monty and adopted.
RESOLUTION #121 – OF APPRECIATION TO CHRISTY PETRO UPON HER RETIREMENT FROM ESSEX COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES.
This resolution was moved by Mr. Scozzafava, unanimously seconded and duly adopted.
RESOLUTION #122 – AUTHORIZING VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS TO APPLY FOR AND ACCEPT GRANTS.
This resolution was moved by Mr. Wright, seconded by Mr. Doty and adopted upon a roll-call vote as follows:
AYES: 2734 votes
NOES: 0 votes
ABSENT: 119 votes (Winemiller)
RESOLUTION #123 – AUTHORIZING BUDGET AMENDMENTS FOR VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS.
This resolution was moved by Mr. Scozzafava, seconded by Mr. Barber and adopted upon a roll-call vote as follows:
AYES: 2734 votes
NOES: 0 votes
ABSENT: 119 votes (Winemiller)
RESOLUTION #124 – OF APPRECIATION TO THE ESSEX COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
This resolution was moved by Mr. Tyler, unanimously seconded and duly adopted.
RESOLUTION #125 – AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ATTORNEY CREATE AN EDUCATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IN ESSEX COUNTY FOR THE PURPOSES OF ASSISTING MOTOR EQUIPMENT OPERATOR TRAINEES WITH THE COST OF TUITION FOR THE ENTRY LEVEL DRIVER TRAINING COURSE.
This resolution was moved by Mr. Holzer, seconded by Mr. Monty and adopted upon a roll-call vote as follows:
AYES: 2734 votes
NOES: 0 votes
ABSENT: 119 votes (Winemiller)
RESOLUTION #126 – AUTHORIZING TO RECLASSIFY THE MOTOR EQUIPMENT OPERATOR TRAINEE POSITION FROM GRADE 6 TO GRADE 7 AT THE RATE OF $21.66/HOUR PRIOR TO 2009; TO RECLASSIFY THE CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT OPERATOR POSITION FROM GRADE 11 TO GRADE 12 AT THE RATE OF $27.29/HOUR PRIOR TO 2009.
This resolution was moved by Mr. Monty, seconded by Mr. Doty and adopted upon a roll-call vote as follows:
AYES: 2734 votes
NOES: 0 votes
ABSENT: 119 votes (Winemiller)
RESOLUTION #127 – AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF A PERMIT TO LAKE PLACID MARATHON/LPM EVENTS, LLC FOR THE USE OF THE COUNTY ROADWAYS FOR THE 2023 LAKE PLACID MARATHON.
This resolution was moved by Mr. Doty, seconded by Mr. Holzer and adopted.
RESOLUTION #128 – AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF A PERMIT TO MINERVA CENTRAL SCHOOL FOR THE USE OF THE COUNTY ROADWAYS FOR A 5K RACE TO BE HELD ON SUNDAY, JUNE 11, 2023.
This resolution was moved by Mr. McNally, seconded by Mr. Hughes and adopted.
RESOLUTION #129 – AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF A PERMIT TO IRONMAN LAKE PLACID FOR THE USE OF COUNTY ROADWAYS FOR THE 2023 IRONMAN TRIATHLON RACE ON JULY 23, 2023.
This resolution was moved by Mr. Doty, seconded by Mr. Holzer and adopted.
RESOLUTION #130 – AUTHORIZING CONTRACT AMENDMENTS/CHANGE ORDERS IN VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS.
This resolution was moved by Mr. Scozzafava, seconded by Mr. Monty and adopted upon a roll-call vote as follows:
AYES: 2734 votes
NOES: 0 votes
ABSENT: 119 votes (Winemiller)
RESOLUTION #131 – AUTHORIZING THE ESSEX COUNTY PURCHASING AGENT TO GO TO BID FOR VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS.
This resolution was moved by Mr. DeLoria, seconded by Mr. Doty and adopted.
RESOLUTION #132 – AUTHORIZIING THE SUMMARY REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION TASK FORCE.
This resolution was moved by Mr. Wilson, seconded by Mr. Wright and adopted.
GILLILLAND: Discussion? Under discussion I just want to say to the members of the task force, good work, thank you very much you have brought a lot of good stuff forward recognized throughout the county for what we are doing so bravo, good job. Further discussion? Being none, all in favor, opposed – carries.
RESOLUTION #133 – AUTHORIZING TO CHANGE THE HOURS IN THE OFFICE OF THE ESSEX COUNTY CLERK AND DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES TO BE OPEN FROM 8:00 A.M. TO 4:00 P.M. BEGINNING MAY 29, 2023 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 1, 2023.
This resolution was moved by Mr. Tyler, seconded by Mr. Doty and adopted.
RESOLUTION #134 – AUTHORIZING TO CHANGE THE HOURS IN THE OFFICE OF THE ESSEX COUNTY TREASURER TO BE OPEN FROM 8:00 A.M. TO 4:00 P.M. BEGINNING MAY 1, 2023 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 1, 2023.
This resolution was moved by Mr. Scozzafava, seconded by Mr. Doty and adopted.
RESOLUTION #135 – RESOLUTION ADOPTING PROPOSED LOCAL LAW NO. 3 OF 2023 ENTITLED, “A LOCAL LAW SUPERSEDING THE RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS OF PUBLIC OFFICERS LAW §3 FOR THE POSITIONS OF ASSISTANT PUBLIC DEFENDER AND ASSISTANT CONFLICT DEFENDER OF ESSEX COUNTY”
This resolution was moved by Mrs. DeZalia, seconded by Mr. Merrihew and adopted upon a roll-call vote as follows:
AYES: 2734 votes
NOES: 0 votes
ABSENT: 119 votes (Winemiller)
RESOLUTION #136 – CHANGING THE DATE OF THE JUNE REGULAR BOARD MEETING FROM JUNE 5, 2023 TO JUNE 6, 2023.
This resolution was moved by Mr. Wright, seconded by Mr. Merrihew and adopted.
RESOLUTION #137 – ACCEPTING THE MORTGAGE TAX REPORT.
This resolution was moved by Mr. Scozzafava, seconded by Mr. Merrihew and adopted.
RESOLUTION #138 – RECOGNIZING LONG-TERM EMPLOYEES OF ESSEX COUNTY.
This resolution was moved by Mr. Tyler, unanimously seconded and duly adopted.
RESOLUTION #139 – OF CONDOLENCE TO THE FAMILY OF THOMAS “TOMMY” MOULTON GILLILLAND.
This resolution was moved by Mr. Hughes, unanimously seconded and duly adopted.
GARRISON: Resolutions from the floor. Resolution authorizing Essex County to transfer two parcels of property in the Town of Schroon pursuant to General Municipal Law §72-H for no consideration.
GILLILLAND: Twelve to allow it on the floor please.
GARRISON: Yes, we do.
RESOLUTION #140 - AUTHORIZING ESSEX COUNTY TO TRANSFER TWO PARCELS OF PROPERTY IN THE TOWN OF SCHROON PURSUANT TO GENERAL MUNICIPAL LAW §72-H FOR NO CONSIDERATION.
This resolution was moved by Mr. Merrihew, seconded by Mr. Tyler and adopted upon a roll-call vote as follows:
AYES: 2734 votes
NOES: 0 votes
ABSENT: 119 votes (Winemiller)
GARRISON: Resolution authorizing the purchasing agent to award bids, issue contracts/agreements or purchase orders in the Office of Emergency Services.
GILLILLAND: Twelve to allow it on the floor please.
GARRISON: Yes, we do.
RESOLUTION #141 - AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASING AGENT TO AWARD BIDS, ISSUE CONTRACTS/AGREEMENTS OR PURCHASE ORDERS IN THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES.
This resolution was moved by Mr. Stanley, seconded by Mr. Wright and adopted upon a roll-call vote as follows:
AYES: 2734 votes
NOES: 0 votes
ABSENT: 119 votes (Winemiller)
GARRISON: Resolution of condolence to the family of Kent J. Pratt.
GILLILLAND: Twelve to allow it on the floor please.
GARRISON: Yes, we do.
RESOLUTION #142 - OF CONDOLENCE TO THE FAMILY OF KENT J. PRATT.
This resolution was moved by Mr. Doty, unanimously seconded and duly adopted.
GARRISON: Resolution authorizing the payment of Fitzgerald Morris Baker Firth, P.C. in the amount of $615.00, to come from 2023 contingency account as and for payment of legal expenses regarding the 2019 tax foreclosure
GILLILLAND: Twelve to allow it on the floor please.
GARRISON: Yes, we do.
RESOLUTION #143 - AUTHORIZING THE PAYMENT OF FITZGERALD MORRIS BAKER FIRTH, P.C. IN THE AMOUNT OF $615.00, TO COME FROM 2023 CONTINGENCY ACCOUNT AS AND FOR PAYMENT OF LEGAL EXPENSES REGARDING THE 2019 TAX FORECLOSURE.
This resolution was moved by Mr. Scozzafava, seconded by Mr. Barber and adopted upon a roll-call vote as follows:
AYES: 2734 votes
NOES: 0 votes
ABSENT: 119 votes (Winemiller)
GARRISON: A resolution to amend the list of proposed Board of Directors for the land bank corporation in Essex County.
GILLILLAND: Twelve to allow it on the floor please.
GARRISON: Yes, we do.
RESOLUTION # 144 - TO AMEND THE LIST OF PROPOSED BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE LAND BANK CORPORATION IN ESSEX COUNTY.
This resolution was moved by Mr. Tyler, seconded by Mr. Monty and adopted upon a roll-call vote as follows:
AYES: 2261 votes
NOES: 0 votes
ABSENT: 119 votes (Winemiller)
ABSTAIN: 473 votes (Monty, Wright)
MONTY: I do have a quick question Mr. Chairman, should I abstain because I am listed as one of the Board of Directors?
GILLILLAND: Yes.
GARRISON: That’s all I have from the floor.
GILLILLAND: County Manager.
MASCARENAS: Yes, recommendation out of the building and facilities committee this morning to award architectural services to AEDA for the youth and agricultural building in an amount not to exceed $320,000. This was based on a recent RFP/RFQ that the county received on that structure.
GILLILLAND: Twelve to allow it on the floor please.
GARRISON: Yes, we do.
RESOLUTION #145 – AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASING AGENT TO AWARD BID FOR ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR THE YOUTH AND AGRICULTURAL BUILDING TO AEDA IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $320,000.00, WITH FUNDS TO COME FROM ARPA AND ISSUE CONTRACTS/AGREEMENTS FOR THE SAME.
This resolution was moved by Mr. McNally, seconded by Mr. Stanley and adopted upon a roll-call vote as follows:
AYES: 2734 votes
NOES: 0 votes
ABSENT: 119 votes (Winemiller)
GILLILLAND: Discussion?
HUGHES: Good morning. What will their responsibility be?
MASCARENAS: They will be the architect of the project. They will be responsible for the design of the new facility. They will be responsible for assisting us in the environmental review process, the application process with rural development and construction phase oversight when the project finally goes out to bid for construction.
HUGHES: Thank you.
MASCARENAS: Yes, sir.
GILLILLAND: Further discussion? Being none, roll call please. Is there any resolutions from the floor?
McNALLY: I’d like to make a comment on resolution #118, that’s a resolution recognizing the week of April 9-15 as National Public Safety Telecommunicators week and we all appreciate what is done in Emergency Services in Essex County but is should be noted that we could do a lot better if we could get some relief on cell phone tower placement in the Adirondack Park. Where 80% of EMS calls are made from a cell phone and as you see when they removed the temporary cell phones there is a need for cell phones in the Adirondack Park and to improve safety for all people to come here, live here and visit here we need relief from the APA for placement of cell phone towers in our communities.
GILLILLAND: Would you like to make that a formal resolution?
McNALLY: I would.
GILLILLAND: I need twelve to allow it on the floor.
GARRISON: Yes, we do.
GILLILLAND: Thank you do I have a second? Thank you Mr. Stanley. All in favor, opposed – carried. Thank you.
RESOLUTION #146 – URGING THE ADIRONDACK PARK AGENCY TO PROVIDE RELIEF OF CELL PHONE COVERAGE BY ALLOWING THE PLACEMENT OF CELL PHONE TOWERS WITHIN THE ADIRONDACK PARK TO IMPROVE THE SAFETY FOR ALL PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN AND VISIT ESSEX COUNTY AND ITS SURROUNDING AREAS.
This resolution was moved by Mr. McNally, seconded by Mr. Stanley and adopted.
GILLILLAND: The County Attorney has something.
MANNING: Yes, we previously passed a resolution a while ago authorizing the County Chairman or the County Manager to send deeds and any or other transfer documents relative to tax sales and I would like to clarify that so I would like to do a new resolution which would authorize the Chairman or County Manager to execute all deeds and transfer documents for properties sold in past, current and future tax sale proceedings so that will cover the whole gamut and there won’t be any question. The other resolution was fine but this will clean it up better.
GILLILLAND: I need twelve to allow it on the floor.
GARRISON: Yes, we do.
RESOLUTION #147 – AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY CHAIRMAN OR COUNTY MANAGER TO EXECUTE ALL DEEDS AND TRANSFER DOCUMENTS FOR PROPERTIES SOLD AT PAST, CURRENT AND FUTURE REAL PROPERTY TAX FORECLOSURE SALE PROCEEDINGS.
This resolution was moved by Mr. Merrihew, seconded by Mr. Barber and adopted upon a roll-call vote as follows:
AYES: 2734 votes
NOES: 0 votes
ABSENT: 119 votes (Winemiller)
GILLILLAND: Discussion?
HUGHES: Please restate the motion Mr. Manning.
MANNING: It’s a resolution authorizing the County Chairman or the County Manager, one of these two guys, to execute all deeds and transfer documents for properties sold in past, current and future tax sale proceedings so it just puts it on the record. Generally without that resolution, the Chairman can always do it but without that resolution Mike wouldn’t be able to do it and sometimes one isn’t here and the other is here and we want to get those deeds signed and out.
HUGHES: That helps, thank you. I appreciate it.
GILLILLAND: Further discussion? Being none, roll call please. Did you have something else?
MANNING: Just one more. This basically is a housekeeping issue. We need to establish a public hearing for, two of them for tendencies of the Essex County current civil service laws and what we’re looking to do is add a clerk to the Town Justice in the exempt class and then also, add a caseworker in the health program in the non-exempt class and final add a social services worker in noncompetitive class and in order to do this, in order to amend our civil service rules we have to have a public hearing so I’d like to give the Chairman or the County Manager the ability to establish that public hearing for these purposes which will, after the public hearing will be a resolution amending these articles.
GILLILLAND: Twelve to allow it on the floor please?
GARRISON: Yes, we do.
RESOLUTION #148 – SETTING THE DATE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING TO AMEND THE TEXT AND APPENDICES OF THE ESSEX COUNTY CIVIL SERVICE RULES.
This resolution was moved by Mrs. DeZalia, seconded by Mr. Scozzafava and adopted upon a roll-call vote as follows:
AYES: 2734 votes
NOES: 0 votes
ABSENT: 119 votes (Winemiller)
GILLILLAND: Discussion?
MASCARENAS: In terms of the clerk I’m not certain about that but the whole program is something that has been pushed forward by New York State civil service basically they’ve heard our cry and reached out and helped us a little bit in terms of giving us a venue to allow people to come into our system in those positions that are hard to recruit and hard to retain and we’ll be willing to waive the civil service testing requirement for caseworker and social services worker if this board so decides that so basically, we have an application process, it’s going to be part of the public hearing process. If the board decides that’s what they want to do the State would then sign off on it up to a year that would mean any person that came as a caseworker and/or social services worker during that year time could still be a permanent employee of Essex County without having taking the exam. This is something that would have to be done annually by our board at this time and approved annually by the State so it’s something they are trying. I think we owe to them, they helped us out to see if it works and see if we can get some of those individuals through the door. What happens now is we hold the exam and people are afraid of leaving the job for a job that is provisional where you have a testing requirement in place that may prevent them long term from holding a permanent job so this would help in only those positions that we can show where we are having recruitment. We can’t just add every position countywide into that, we have to show them that we are not getting applicants, we have openings there are some criteria that we, a position has to meet to be included those have been perpetually that way for probably the last few years.
SCOZZAFAVA: Did I hear clerk in there also, somewhere in the beginning Dan?
MANNING: Yes, it was the Clerk to the Town Justice into the exempt class. So the Town Justice’s Clerk would be included.
SCOZZAFAVA: So, why would that be the counties? Why would that not have to come from the town?
MASCARENAS: Because we regulate the towns in terms of all your positions, we set certified payrolls, we quality them for the work in your towns all those applications are supposed to start with the county and then be filtered out to the towns in terms of qualification.
SCOZZAFAVA: Right now all the court clerks are classified as clerks, correct?
MASCARENAS: I can’t give you that answer only you guys can. I don’t know what you’ve got in your individual towns.
SCOZZAFAVA: We have clerk.
GILLILLAND: Ms. DeZalia I think can answer that.
DEZALIA: Ok, so what I found out was all the clerks are of the competitive class because Essex County doesn’t have a clerk’s position that is noncompetitive. Justices are allowed to have one clerk in the exempt class if it’s within the county’s rules but because we don’t have one within the rules that’s why we need to create one. Otherwise they all fall under civil service competitive if they are full time. If they are part time then they would not have to take the exam so most of you probably have part time clerks. It turned out that mine is full time so we ran into this issue where if we create this if you have a full time clerk because the Justices are allowed to have an exempt clerk if it’s in our rules.
MASCARENAS: Right.
GILLILLAND: Further discussion?
MONTY: But that would include the, because my understanding Judges were allowed to have a confidential clerk of their choosing.
SCOZZAFAVA: Correct.
DEZALIA: If you look at it, it’s with the board’s approval.
MONTY: With the board’s approval, right.
DEZALIA: But it has to be in our rules.
MONTY: Has to be in the county rules for that.
DEZALIA: Yes for full time.
MONTY: For full time but not part time.
SCOZZAFAVA: The town board creates the position and sets the salary, they can do the appointment.
MASCARENAS: The town board can set their own pay scale, the positions are created here at the county and put into a title based on a series of activities that you’re asking that individual to do.
SCOZZAFAVA: I’m well aware.
MASCARENAS: Right, I just think it’s a little backwards in terms of the process and it starts and ends here.
GILLILLAND: Further discussion?
WOOD: I’m just wondering what the time frame is for clearing this up on the county level.
MANNING: We have to have I think three public hearings. It will be within the next couple of weeks.
WOOD: Okay.
GILLILLAND: Further discussion? Being none, roll call please. Any further business to come before the Board of Supervisors?
WILSON: I wanted to just revisit a conversation that any towns that have Verizon cell phone lease, I got my letter with their offer to pay us less and I wanted to compare notes with any other town who may have received a similar notice from Verizon that they want to renegotiate the lease in their favor. So if anybody did get that, I know Meg you did, let’s talk afterwards and compare some notes.
WOOD: Is yours the end of your term or is it mid-term.
WILSON: Immediately, starting June 1st yes.
WOOD: Yeah, well you can drag your feet.
WILSON: So let’s compare notes if any other towns got this, let’s talk.
DEZALIA: Does anyone know that these are also going to private landowners or just municipalities? Do we know?
WILSON: I haven’t heard yet. There is one private land owner in Keene and I haven’t heard from them because I just got mine like five days ago.
MONTY: We have five in Lewis and I haven’t heard from any of the private land owners.
DELORIA: Joe, can you scan that and send that to us so that we can watch for it in the mail? I haven’t got one yet but we do have Verizon.
WILSON: Okay so far Meg you and I are the only one that got the concrete?
MANNING: I think St. Armand got one too.
WILSON: Oh, okay. Let’s talk. Thank you.
HOLZER: In regards to Stephanie’s question, one of my constituents came up to me last week and said they received a letter from Verizon asking them if they would be interested in renting them property it’s like a 200 foot by 200 foot area, a 30 year lease like $800.00 a month or something like that. I asked for a copy of it. I haven’t received it yet, is that what you’re referring to?
DEZALIA: No, I was just wondering in North Hudson I know there are several on private land that they are also offering them or now are telling them they are going to pay less. The only thing I’ve gotten recently on the private ones is that they are going to be shutting some of them down to do maintenance for a period of time and that our cell service may be effected in that time period.
MONTY: It would be Roy only on property that towns own.
DOTY: I can only add that I know there is an aggressive effort in our area where one and possibly two contracts are coming to term within the next year and they are not sighted to be renewed but there is an effort to add more so I think what you’re going to find is the effort is to make coverage better and maybe looking at sites to lessen payments in order to put in more towers for better service and it’s only my first one and I’m seeing different attitudes at different sites.
WILSON: Thank you that’s helpful.
GILLILLAND: Further discussion? Being none, County Attorney.
MANNING: I would like to ask for a brief executive session for legal advice and this is relative to the assessment of the cost of demolition to blighted properties on to the tax rolls. I sent out a letter earlier last week I think and I just want to go over some of the issues so that you have them and we can address them.
GILLILLAND: Motion by Mr. Wilson, second by Mr. Doty. We are in executive session. Thank you.
THE COMMITTEE MOVED INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 10:33 A.M. TO DISCUSS LEGAL ADVICE AS IT RELATES TO THE COST OF DEMOLTION TO BLIGHTED PROPERTIES
AND MOVED BACK INTO OPEN SESSION AT 11:06 A.M.
GILLILLAND: We are out of executive session. I will note the time is 11:06 a.m. and I will also not no decisions were made in executive session. We are now into regular session. Any further business to come before this board?
BARBER: Yes, Chairman so over the weekend it was actually on Friday night I had my Highway Superintendent and Robin Allen from One Work Source was informing us that One Work Source will help people get licenses Class B, Class A and they will actually pay for it.
MASCARENAS: Yeah, we’ve tried that with a couple of our individuals. I think there is some specific criteria around that we struggled with. I know Jim could probably speak better to it than I can but I know since January we’ve had several guys who have been trying to go through that process and weren’t real successful. I think they are limited in the amount of funding they have which could be further problematic which is why I’m asking that we do our own program so I think basically it’s first come first serve Jim there’s limited funds so you might get some trained, you might not and I think we need at the county to have that tool for all of us.
BARBER: And I totally understand that she told me that it’s very unfortunate that there’s not enough people that take advantage of this. I know she did tell me if you’re twenty-four and under it depended on your eligible income but after twenty-four she said it’s pretty much an open book.
MONTY: What is the woman’s name?
BARBER: Robin
MONTY: No, I know Robin but she’s not the one that runs it.
WILSON: Sylvie
MONTY: No it’s –
MASCARENAS: Jim, do you remember? I’ve got it written down right in my office on my desk.
MONTY: She is the one that actually runs the program.
DOTY: Sylvie Nelson.
MONTY: No. You’re talking Work Force Development, it’s not Work Force Development it’s One Work Source through ACAP. Joyce Marinelli
MASCARENAS: Yes sir. I’ve got her card right there.
MONTY: Joyce Marinelli runs the program and when we talked to her she only had about $9,000 in her budget for that and it’s between four and six thousand to get a CDL. They are definitely willing to help unless they’ve got more money since the last time I talked to Joyce which was about a month ago.
BARBER: She told me if that if a constituent and it was better for them if they say they don’t have a job when they get this list.
MASCARENAS: Yeah, the Planning Department is in the process of assisting us and the Chairman was part of this discussion last week in trying to put together a grant that may be able to be all inclusive with the towns which would be a really good goal for us all so that you could also take advantage of that program and then the county, if we were successful with the grant we could reimburse you for basically what you’ve approved us to do. I think would be a win to have some of those funds available and for you to be able to do the same program that we’re doing.
BARBER: It was under my understanding that this is where they get their money from, through grants.
MASCARENAS: I think so. I just know in our experience we haven’t been super successful when we’ve sent people there they are either are income eligible or they just don’t have the funds to do it.
BARBER: Okay.
GILLILLAND: Further business to come before this board?
DEZALIA: Only because you brought up One Work Source so this thing they had out too for the youth it’s an income type based thing too because we had sent youth there and their parents made too much money so they couldn’t work through this program.
MONTY: Summer youth, yes.
DEZALIA: So just so you know this.
MONTY: That’s actually Robin’s program, summer youth.
McNALLY: Just a reminder, invitations are out for the June 4 and 5th AATV meeting in Lake Placid. If you don’t receive one, please let me know. A good time will be had by all.
GILLILLAND: Further business? Being none, we are adjourned.
As there was no further discussion to come before this regular board, it was adjourned at 11:11 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Judith Garrison, Clerk
Board of Supervisors