The regular meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Ballston was held Tuesday evening, June 5, 2007 at the Town Hall on Charlton Road. Members present were Supervisor Raymond Callanan, Councilmen James Briaddy, Harold Townley, Robert Boice, and Councilwoman Mary Beth Hynes. Also present were Town Attorney Carlton Pott and Deputy Town Clerk Carol Shemo. Town Clerk Muriel K. Swatling was absent.
Supervisor Raymond Callanan called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
A motion was made by James Briaddy and seconded by Mary Beth Hynes to approve the minutes of the April special meeting and the May regular meeting.Roll Call: Ayes – all; Noes – none. Carried.
Highway/Water Superintendent Joseph Whalen, Building Inspector Thomas Johnson, Dog Control Officer John Christopher, Deputy Dog Control Officer Thomas Shambo, Library Trustee Scott Porter, Town Clerk Muriel Swatling, and Supervisor Raymond Callanan submitted reports for May, and they are on file in the Town Clerk’s Office.
Supervisor Callanan reported that Household Hazardous Waste Day will be held on August 11th. Paints, driveway sealer, pesticides and acids are some of the waste materials that will be accepted at the Town of Milton collection site. Some electronics, such as computer monitors and televisions, will also be included. Residents can obtain forms from the Town Clerk’s Office to participate in this program. These forms should be returned to the Town Clerk so that the participants will receive an appointment time for the August 11th program.
The popular Flag Day Parade will be this Thursday with fireworks at the BH-BL High School in the evening.
Mosquito Dunks are available free of charge to residents at the Town Clerk’s Office.
The Saratoga County Water Project Meeting, which was cancelled from last Thursday evening due to power outage, will be rescheduled for next week for Wednesday or Thursday. This meeting will be posted on the Town’s web page, Town Hall Calendar, in the paper and at the Library.
There were two water main breaks in the Town last month. One break was on Route 146A and the other was in Carpenter’s Acres. The problem was not the pipes, but the bolts, holding the sleeves together, had rusted out.
The Town of Ballston had a very successful Clean-up Week. County Waste picked up all the metal items and the rubbish at no charge to the Town. The Supervisor asked residents, who are customers of County Waste, to please include a thank you for a job well done when you send in your payments.
Supervisor Callanan submitted his financial report for May.
A motion was made by Harold Townley and seconded by James Briaddy that the Supervisor’s report for May be approved. Roll Call: Ayes – all; Noes – none. Carried.
Supervisor Callanan opened the meeting for Privilege of the Floor.
Ann Pierce expressed her concern that the Planning Board Meeting rescheduled from May 31st to June 4th was not posted on the Town's website or the Town Hall Calendar before the meeting day. Also, no one at the Wednesday Planning Board Meeting gave the information that it was a split agenda meeting. Supervisor Callanan said that he will look into this matter and talk to the people involved.
Frances Cappiello stated the need for traffic lights on Route 50 at the Post Office and at the intersection of Route 50 and Middleline Road.
Arnold Palmer would like to see more commercial development and less residential development in the Town to decrease the school tax burden on residents. He also expressed concern about the effects of residential development on the increased discharge of stormwater into Ballston Lake.
Cathy Wilcox inquired about the status of the house in disrepair on Nolan Road. Supervisor Callanan stated that the Town Attorney had written a letter to the owner and the process is in place to address this situation.
David Stern submitted his resume and asked that the Town Board consider him for a position on the Planning Board or Zoning Board. Mr. Stern and his neighbor Mr. Escher have issues with the repaving of Currie Court since they feel it has caused water problems.
Nick Cristy asked the Board for an update on Bettys Tavern. Supervisor Callanan said that CT Male evaluated the building and the Town has decided against doing anything with the building. Mr. Cristy asked the Town Board to consider putting a guardrail on Route 50 to prevent accidents.
Ann Brandt asked the Board to help her with a water problem on Woodside Drive. She explained that water runoff from other properties is causing flooding on her property. Supervisor Callanan stated the Town could assist her only if the water problem was in the Town right –of-way; if the problem was on her property, she would need to handle this situation. Councilman Townley stated he, along with Highway Superintendent Joseph Whalen, would be willing to take a look at this water situation and the drainage problems.
The following items were presented for discussion and action.
Town Assessor, June Maniacek, submitted a letter requesting to be reappointed as Town Assessor for another six year term. The Board agreed June has been doing a good job for the Town for many years.
07-72: James Briaddy made a motion to reappoint Town Assessor June Maniacek to a 6 year term commencing October 1, 2007 and ending September 30, 2013. Mary Beth Hynes seconded this motion. Roll Call: Ayes – all; Noes – none. Carried.
New York State mandates that the Town has a NIMS Emergency Operations Plan. The Town has asked LaBerge Inc. for a professional service contract to develop this plan for the Town at a cost of $18,500.
07-73: A motion was made by James Briaddy and seconded by Harold Townley to approve the professional service contract with LaBerge Inc. for NIMS Emergency Operations Plan at a cost of $18500. Roll Call: Ayes – all; Noes – none. Carried.
Highway Superintendent Joseph Whalen has inspected the road Meadowbrook Court in the Benuscak Development and reports that the road is up to highway standards for acceptance as a Town Road. Town Attorney Carlton Pott stated that the fidelity bond has been received to cover the last part of the blacktop.
07-74: A motion was made by Mary Beth Hynes and seconded by Harold Townley to accept Meadowbrook Court as a Town Road. Roll Call: Ayes – all; Noes – none. Carried.
Jackson Demolition has removed the unsafe structures on parcel number 249.-3-72.1 on Round Lake Road. The Town Board needs to authorize the cost of $30,500 for the demolition plus 10% of the cost for a total of $33,500 with an additional cost of filing a temporary lien to be relevied on the 2008 Town and County Tax Bill.
07-75: A motion was made by James Briaddy and seconded by Harold Townley to authorize the cost of $33,500 plus the additional cost of filing a temporary lien for the demolition of structures on parcel number 249.-3-72.1 to be relevied on the 2008 Town and County Tax Bill. Roll Call: Ayes – all; Noes – none. Carried.
Thursday, June 7, 2007 is the annual Flag Day Parade and fireworks display. Building Inspector Thomas Johnson has inspected and approved the fireworks site. The Town Board is required to approve the fireworks permit.
07-76: A motion was made by Harold Townley and seconded by Robert Boice to approve the fireworks permit for the Flag Day celebration. Roll Call: Ayes – all; Noes – none. Carried.
The Town Board has received a request for the extension of the water district to the Lazare property on Goode Street. Michael Brooks presented a map showing the development of this property to explain the conservation design. Mr. Brooks stated that there are 24 homes proposed and 1/3 of the property is green space. Councilman Briaddy said that there is more than an adequate allowance of green space for this development. Councilman Townley questioned how much of the green space is usable and added that the size of the wet lands needs to be determined. Mr. Townley also asked the location of the retention ponds and Mr. Brooks replied that they were adjacent to the wet lands. Councilwoman Hynes asked the question of the Board whether the water line, installed to bring town water to the Town Hall addition, should be extended to properties along Goode Street, resulting in further development of this area. Supervisor Callanan said at the time of construction of the water extension on Goode Street, vacant land was not allowed to be included in this water district. This decision was to prevent overdevelopment of this area. Extending the water line to vacant land on Goode Street is considered now on an individual case basis. Supervisor Callanan stated that this water line extension would depend on whether the Planning Board reviews and approves this application. Supervisor Callanan asked for a roll call vote of the Town Board to approve the water extension to the Lazare property on Goode Street contingent on Planning Board approval.
07-77: A motion was made by James Briaddy and seconded by Harold Townley to approve the water extension to Lazare property on Goode Street, contingent on Planning Board approval.
Roll Call: Councilman Briaddy Yes
Councilwoman Hynes Yes
Councilman Townley Yes
Councilman Boice Yes
Supervisor Callanan Yes
Carried.
The Town received the Route 50 Turn Lane Project schedule from CT Male. The construction is scheduled to be completed by November 30th.
07-78: A motion was made by Mary Beth Hynes and seconded by James Briaddy to approve the Time schedule for the installation of the left turn lane on Route 50, Corporate Tech Park. Roll Call: Ayes – all; Noes – none. Carried.
The Town Board is looking to create a part-time position, not to exceed 20 hours a week, of Deputy Building Inspector /Stormwater Management Coordinator at an hourly rate of $18.
07-79: A motion was made by Harold Townley and seconded by James Briaddy to create the part-time position (not to exceed 20 hours a week) of Deputy Building Inspector / Stormwater Management Coordinator at an hourly rate of $18. Roll Call: Ayes – all; Noes – none. Carried.
07-80: A motion was made by James Briaddy and seconded by Robert Boice to appoint Lester Bonesteel to the positon of Deputy Building Inspector / Stormwater Management Coordinator. Roll Call: Ayes – all; Noes – none. Carried.
A public hearing was held May 29, 2007 to consider changes to the site plan sections 138.11.3 and 138.11.5 of the Town Code.
07-81: A motion was made by Harold Townley and seconded by James Briaddy to approve Local Law #7 of 2007 concerning changes to Site Plan Sections 138.11.3 and 138.11.5. Roll Call: Ayes – all; Noes – none. Carried.
A motion to adjourn the meeting was made by James Briaddy and seconded by Harold Townley. Carried.
Respectfully submitted
Carol R. Shemo
Deputy Town Clerk