The regular meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Clayton was held in the Board Room with the following present:

Robert W. Cantwell Jr. Vivian Black, George Kittle, Justin Taylor, Donald Turcotte, Robert Boulton, Bonnie Rose, Kathy LaClair, Sherie Derrickson

Supervisor Cantwell opened the meeting at 5:00 p.m.

Town Clerk:

Town Clerk gave Town Board a revised Abstract #1 of 2005 to sign.

Town Clerk stated that she would like to go to the Annual Town Clerk’s Conference in April 2005.  Consensus of the Town Board was for her to attend this years’ conference.

Correspondence:

Judge Clarence Giles’s January 2005 report.  (See attached report.)

Judge Clifford James’s January 2005 report.  (See attached report.)

Letter from Kevin Wilder, Engineering Supervisor, County of Jefferson Office of Superintendent of Highways Re:  Preparations for Editing County Map.  (See attached letter.)

Letter from Senator Charles Schumer Re:  Informing the Town that the U.S. Dept. Of the Interior, National Park Service is currently accepting applications for funding under the 2005 Save America’s Treasures Grant Program.  (See attached letter.)

Letter from Senator Charles Schumer Re:  Informing the Town that the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA), Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is currently accepting applications for funding under the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program.  (See attached letter.)

Letter from Karen Goetz, Executive Director, Chamber of Commerce Re:  requesting the use of the JHG for the Annual 1000 Islands Spring Boat Show the Weekend of April 8 – 10, 2005.  (See attached letter.)

Letter from Robert Gawrelski, Regional Director, State of New York, Office of Real Property Services Re:  2004 Maintenance Aid Certification for the Town of Clayton.  SWIS:  223200    Aid:  $7,404.00 Parcels:  3,702  (See attached letter.)

Letter from Linda Schleher, Executive Director, Thousand Islands Museum Re:  asking for financial support for their history research consultant.  (See attached letter.)

Notes of Interest:

Supervisor Cantwell discussed:

$129.50 per quarter for drug testing.

 Joe Kehoe, from the Rotary Club asked if the Town would get involved with the bathrooms at Frink Park, with the bathroom fixtures.  They may want to ask the Village about the fixtures.   Councilman Taylor will respond to this request.

Writing a letter for Joe Green, sponsoring a project for his Eagle Scout project.  (See attached letter.)

 His letter to Tom Zyskowski, Coastal Resources Specialist Re:  The Town of Clayton would be in support of a portion of the value of the Frink America property to be the “local match” to the remaining $490,000 of the NYS Department of State grant for dock constructed on the adjacent Frink America property.  (See attached letter.)

A copy of a resolution from the Town of Cape Vincent Re:  County Route 9 being a hazardous highway, and several accidents have occurred and the Thousand Islands Middle School and High Schools are located along this highway and that the Town of Cape Vincent requests that a “Reduce Speed” sign be installed between NYS Route 12E intersection and the school property and another “Reduce Speed” sign be installed 500 feet beyond the school property.  Additionally, they requested a “Reduced Speed” sign on County Route 9 before the intersection of County Routes 4 and 9.  Supt. Boulton suggested that the Town Board write a letter supporting the Town of Cape Vincent’s resolution.  (See attached resolution.)

Motion by George Kittle, 2^nd by Justin Taylor to approve minutes from 1/12/05 as written.  Motion carried.

Motion by George Kittle, 2^nd by Justin Taylor to approve minutes from 1/26/05 with changes.  Motion carried.

Public:

Sherie Derrickson discussed her article in the T.I. Sun Re:  “Optimism Abounds for Clayton Business Growth”.  She discussed the buildings that are vacant and the new businesses that are in the process of opening.

Supervisor:

Motion by Donald Turcotte, 2^nd by Vivian Black to approve Supervisor’s report for January 2005.  Motion carried.  (See attached report.)

Town Board discussed TIERS and the bills that people owe for ambulance service who have received re-imbursement from their insurance companies but have not paid the bill to TIERS.  Town Board will follow up with letters and give them 30-days to pay and if they don’t pay, turn them over for collection.

Motion by Justin Taylor, 2^nd by Donald Turcotte to approve abstract #2 of 2005, voucher #92 thru #246, totaling $220,997.03.  Motion carried.  (See attached abstract.)

Frink America Remediation Committee:

Supervisor Cantwell discussed the meeting held on February 2, 2005 and their agenda.  (See attached copy of agenda.)

Motion by Justin Taylor, 2^nd by George Kittle to sign contract between the Town of Clayton and LaFave, White & McGovern for $3,150.00 to do a land survey of the Frink America property.  Motion carried.

Planning Board Alternate member:

Town Board discussed letter from Bud Baril, Chairman, Joint Town and Village of Clayton Planning Board in reference to his recommendation of Ronald Duford Sr. for the position of Alternate to the Joint Planning Board.  (See attached letter.)

Motion by George Kittle, 2^nd by Donald Turcotte to approve Ronald Duford Sr. as an Alternate on the Joint Planning Board.  Motion carried.

Town Board discussed resignation letter from Joseph Schauer as a member of the Town and Village Planning Board.

Motion by George Kittle, 2^nd by Vivian Black to accept Mr. Schauer’s resignation with regret.  Motion carried.  (See attached letter.)

Town Board discussed a letter from Bud Baril, Chairman, Joint Town and Village of Clayton Planning Board in reference to his recommendation of Rena Kandler as a full board member to the Joint Planning Board.  (See attached letter.)

Motion by Donald Turcotte, 2^nd by Vivian Black to appoint Rena Kandler as a full board member on the Joint Planning Board.  Motion carried.

Outdoors wood burning furnaces:

Supervisor Cantwell stated that some residents in the Town of Clayton were complaining about the smell of outdoor wood burning furnaces.  Town Board discussed and Councilman Taylor suggested looking at this problem cautiously.

Assessor status:

Town Board discussed Assessor Paul Warneck’s letter of resignation and wishes him the best of luck in his new position as Director of Real Property Tax Services, for Jefferson County.  (See attached letter.)

Motion by George Kittle, 2^nd by Justin Taylor to accept Paul Warneck’s resignation with regret.  Motion carried.

Postcard and newsletter:

Supervisor Cantwell and Town Board discussed the postcard and newsletter that the Town will be sending out soon.  The Town Board discussed the cost of sending out the postcards and newsletter.  Supervisor Cantwell stated that the newsletter would have information on when the Town meetings and associated boards meetings are being held, where tax dollars go and other general information.

TIERS agreement:

Supervisor Cantwell discussed the final draft of the TIERS agreement.  (See attached agreement.)

Motion by Justin Taylor, 2^nd by George Kittle to sign the TIERS agreement as amended.  Motion carried.

Quality Communities Grant, resolution:

RESOLUTION NO. 26 OF 2005 offered by George Kittle, 2^nd by Donald Turcotte, a resolution authorizing an application for the 2004-2005 New York State Dept. of State “Quality Communities Program”.  Robert W. Cantwell Jr. aye, Vivian Black aye, George Kittle aye, Justin Taylor aye, and Donald Turcotte aye.  (SEE RESOLUTION BOOK.)

Highway Supt.:

Supt. Boulton discussed:

Sand & Loader shed possible grants.

Weather stripping and fans done at JHG.

Working at Transfer Site – Insulating equipment bay.

Boom mower out – cutting back brush and trimming corners.

County contract coming up for 2006-2008.

Niagara Mohawk letter and agreement to work and place materials in the ROW.

Committee Reports:

Vivian Black discussed:

Paynter Center doing well, she goes to lunch there and would like to see more seniors take advantage of their lunches.

George Kittle discussed:

Youth Commission (Skate park).

Planning and Zoning Boards having their own budgets.

Showers at Recreation Park (more expensive than anyone thinks).

Justin Taylor discussed:

GIS, ready to put in for the rest of monies for the grant.  Town Clerk will get form to do this.

NYC school voting representative (will caucus on the bus going to NYC).

Combining services – not all surveys are in yet.

Grant monies for combining services and combining municipalities.

Niagara Mohawk power is very competitive, working on savings for the Town.

Donald Turcotte discussed:

Both pumps working well at Heritage Heights, spare pump is being repaired at a cost of $1,500.00.  Surface water discussed.

Setting meeting for Depauville Route 12 water district, making sure everyone contacted.

Transfer Site – Insulating building and means to heat it.

Recreation Park – New Show June 24 – 26, Food and wine.

New Business:

Cancel the 2/23/05 meeting:

Motion by George Kittle, 2^nd by Vivian Black to cancel the Workshop meeting on 2/23/05 due to the Association of Towns meetings.  Motion carried.

Item for March meeting – Resolution and agreement for the North Country Home Consortium.

Motion by George Kittle, 2^nd by Vivian Black to adjourn meeting at 7:40 p.m.  Motion carried.