Town Board organizes for the year ahead

PINE PLAINS — The Town Board got straight to work at its organizational meeting on Thursday, Jan. 6, as it made annual appointments, designations, authorizations and other decisions affecting town business for the upcoming year.

One of the most important and noteworthy facts: The board will continue to meet monthly on the third Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall on Route 199.

Town Supervisor Gregg Pulver went through a list of annual appointments, including everything from the officer in charge (Mike Lawson) to the animal humane officer (James Reilly). The meeting also appointed The Millerton News as the official town newspaper, the Bank of Millbrook (Stissing branch) as the official bank, Little Nine Partners Historical Society as the town historian, Eileen Ciaburri as the tax collector, Town Clerk Judy Harpp as the clerk to the board, registrar and marriage official, Gary Keeler as water superintendent, Drew Weaver as zoning enforcement officer and building inspector, Warren Replansky as town attorney, Scott Chase as Zoning Board of Appeals chairman and numerous others.

No one was appointed as Planning Board chair, as former Chair Rick Butler stepped down at the end of 2010; town Super visor Gregg Pulver asked Sarah Jones if she would lead the next Planning Board meeting in the meantime.

“We’re at a loss other than that,� Pulver said to Jones at the organizational meeting. “We will not appoint a chairman until the next meeting [at the earliest].�

The Town Board also made of- ficial the new Trails and Bikeways Committee, which is being chaired by Scott Chase.

Pulver noted that one thing the appointment list did not include was an official town planner, as it’s not sure who will take that post.

“The Town Board’s planning consultant is Bonnie Franson,� he said. “The Planning Board consultant is Nan Stolzenburg. We’ll wait to [make that decision] until the next meeting.�

The board did review and accept its salary list for 2011, which Pulver said “mirrors� the 2010 list, with one small exception. There was a salary increase for one employee, Mike Coons, in this year’s list, from $16.90 per hour to $17.40 per hour. The matter led Pulver to speak to the board about raises.

“As I mentioned to the board, we have three groups: elected officials, part-timers and full-timers,� he said. “This would be a meeting to talk about no budget implications if we give the full-timers a 50-cent raise. I know there are concerns with the economy, but we’re not raising the budget because the budget passed. The employees are now subject to pay large insurance deductibles [we’re in a huge deductible plan and we can no longer afford to pay for it as in the past], in huge amounts that could potentially lead to $1,500 for a single plan or $3,000 for a family plan that the employee would have to pay half. I can support a 50-cent raise.�

“I can support that,� Councilman George Keeler said.

“My only concern is the recession,� Councilwoman Sandra David said. “But obviously the highway guys do a great job and if anybody deserves it [those who work for the town do].�

“So is that a consensus?� Pulver asked, reiterating the raise would affect five full-time employees including three highway workers and two secretaries.
The response was a unanimous “yes.�

The board then briefly spoke about billing the school for police hours; the town has been charging the school district $50 an hour for police coverage that averages about 20 hours annually. The rate will remain the same for 2011. It was next mentioned that the fire commission would like to add its information to the town’s municipal website. Everyone agreed the idea was a good one

Lastly, the board discussed its need to advertise for summer recreation positions, specifically for its beach crew. It will need a beach director (the previous one is out of the country this year), lifeguards and beach assistants. Those interested in working at the beach should contact Town Hall at 518-398-7155.

“January is not too soon to start thinking about swimming,� Pulver said with the heat humming in the background.