(Randallsville, NY – April 2014) Lebanon town officials will take public input on a proposed 2014 road repair plan and finalize their decision on a pending junkyard violation involving HR Refuse when they convene for their monthly board meeting on Monday, April 14 at the Smith Valley Community Center in Randallsville at the intersection of River and Randallsville Roads at 7:30 pm.
Town officials will also be opening washed road sand bids, consider putting surplus equipment out to bid and finalizing the planned sale of a used highway truck to the Village of Hamilton related to the arrival of a new 2014 Stadium International Truck this summer or fall.
Town officials will also hear updates from Code Enforcement Officer Donald Forth on his road inspection tour of town properties in visible violation of town and state building codes.
The Lebanon road plan for 2014 includes the following proposals, many contingent on state funding and local initiatives (see attachment):
Oil and Stone Maintenance/General Repairs
Niles Road – oil and stone – $16,000
Bisbee Road – oil and stone – $19,000
Keefe Road – oil and stone – $9,000
Road Patch – 300 tons – $18,000
Total proposed oil and stone/general maintenance for 2014 = $62,000
Road Reconstruction and Repair – contingent on receipt of state 2014 CHIPs funds
Carncross Road, Texas Hill Road, Reynolds Hill Road – $101,000 – contingent on DOT state aid letter being received tied to state budget.
New York Rising – Madison County
These projects are contingent on special New York Rising state funding and Madison County approval for hazard mitigation or future anticipated storm events.
Projects are scored based on history of flood impacts and how work would mitigate against future flood impacts. The town has identified areas where damage occurs for nearly every flood event and similar hazard mitigation approved by state and federal agencies allowed similar improvements to the Deep Spring Road bridge with good results the last two flood cycles.
Carncross Road Bridge Replacement – $93,294
Thompson Hill Road Stabilization – $65,800
Total = $159,094
Total proposed spending for 2014 Town of Lebanon road program = $322,094 contingent on state funding requests.
Town officials will address the deadline that has come and gone with respect to the HR Refuse property on South Lebanon Road and the proposed resolution that HR Refuse owners were supposed to act on which included removal of the garbage truck, improving the property and submitting a change of use permit for that property to the Town Planning Board and holding a public hearing on utilizing the property as a business property for storage with the expectation of additional improvements including the erection of a fence and re-organization and cleanup of the site.
The Town Board held its initial public hearing on the matter last May and had attempted to resolve the matter of a junkyard violation with the property owner by granting timelines and extensions to meet town requirements.
Others items on the agenda include:
*Supervisor Goldstein has requested an update from Time Warner Cable on its build-out of new service to the town and contract updates but has not yet had a response, and hopes to be able to circulate information prior to the April 14 meeting on finalizing a new contract and build-out schedule for expanded cable service. Time Warner had estimated expanding service around the Lebanon Reservoir area this spring but it was contingent on the cooperation of other public utilities that they have to work with.
*Review of estimates for considering changing the current gas powered generator at the town office to a propane operated generator that could also assist town residents during an emergency by offering electricity to charge cell phones or place to come to get warm in the event of a power outage.
*Updates on status of former Justice Bartlett investigation by Madison County District Attorney and state police into missing funds.
*Results of internal audit committee – Supervisor, Town Clerk/Tax Collector, Code Enforcement Officer and Town Justice are audited annually.
*Plans for April 26 town-wide cleanup day at the Town Highway Garage where all residents can bring two bags of roadside trash and up to two furniture items for free disposal in dumpsters provided for by the county landfill. Recyclables and other items will be eligible to be taken as well including ag plastic.
*Finalizing contract with Georgetown ambulance and starting the establishment of insurance billing procedures using the town’s new ID number.
*The public is invited to attend and offer public comment on the road plan for 2014 or to address the town board on any issue of concern.
*Lebanon town boards members met on March 10 and agreed unanimously to enter into a road use law contract with Delta Engineering, discussed changes in code enforcement policy that they gave town residents prior notice to prepare for via news announcements and paid advertisements, and adopted a tentative road repair plan for 2014 that they will accept public comment on at the April 14 meeting in Randallsville.
The road repair plan and announcement of the code enforcement changes are attached.
Town officials also authorized advertisement for washed sand bids and established a town-wide Lebanon Cleanup Day for April 26 where each resident will be able to bring two bags of roadside trash or two furniture items for free disposal at the Town Highway Garage. Residents will also be eligible to turn in certain recyclable items including TVs, computers, refrigerators, ag and other items for the same cost the landfill charges. Recyclables including ag plastic will be taken for free. The Madison County landfill will provide free dumpsters for this activity and the town is encouraging all local community groups and churches to participate.
Town officials agreed that having Code Enforcement Officer Donald Forth ride all town roads, take pictures and cite the most visible violations from the road was appropriate and necessary given the number of violations he has identified in the past few months in discussion with town board members. Town officials also agreed to have a notice posted in the Mid York Weekly to give residents prior notice. Forth said some violations would take some time to correct and town officials were in agreement that the goal was to work cooperatively and collaboratively with town residents to resolve code violations.
Supervisor Jim Goldstein discussed opportunities for the town to gain funding for hazard mitigation projects through Madison County and New York Rising funding and also discussed why county officials oppose Gov. Cuomo’s proposed tax cap freeze.
Town officials also took the following actions:
Confirmed that the Town of Lebanon now has an operating certificate for its ambulance with Georgetown and will enter into a contract shortly.
Agreed to make a final decision about the HR Refuse junkyard citation at the April meeting as the owner has not yet complied with the agreed upon timeline for correction.
Discussed a recent Justice Court grant obtained by Town Justice Brian Forsythe and its implementation.
Reviewed a proposed letter CEO Forth would send out for violation notices resulting from roadside inspections.
Discussed getting quotes for a new propane fired generator for the town office that could double as an emergency location for residents in the event of a local natural disaster.
Discussed arrival of new Stadium International Truck in the fall and approved sale to the Village of Hamilton of the 2001 Stadium International that would be available for Town use in a crisis as part of the agreement.
The Town Board will meet again on April 14 at the Smith Valley Community Center in Randallsville and will take public comment on the proposed road plan at that time.