Minutes of NVC Meeting of March 17, 2002

President Ken Vlodek convened the meeting of the Northport Village Corporation Board of Overseers at 10:08 AM in the Drinkwater School with Overseers Rohweder, Lightner, Whitten, Trenholm, Doucette, Smith, Handler (Treasurer), and Lagner (clerk) present. Also attending were Bill Paige (Agent), Todd Merolla, John Fancy (superintendent), Beverly Crofoot, Kevin Hall, and Galen Plummer. The minutes of February 17 were accepted.

The Treasurer's report was accepted as presented by Treasurer Handler:                   General Government

                     Checking                      $38,925.26

                     Community Hall                    290.27

                     Money Market                 42,414.40

                       Total Government         81,629.93

                   Water Department

                     Checking                          51,362.49

                   Sewer Department

                     Checking                           14,398.46

                     CD721053                        19,359.70

                     Money Market                   21,712.29

                       Total Sewer Dep.            55,470.45

Village Resident Concerns

Nitzburg: A letter has been received, asking for further information. Agent Paige will look into the situation.

Dykstra: John Dykstra has expressed several concerns. (1) The water and sewer bills could have been mailed together, thus saving postage; and (2) the community has not been consulted about water meters, which have been refused in previous years. Ken stated that mailing the bills separately was to avoid confusion. The installation of meters is required in order to receive the Infrastructure phase I project grant. A public hearing about the water meters will be held this summer. Ken suggested that we expedite the preparation of cost estimates and their effect on user bills, but Beverly pointed out that the figures cannot be prepared before all the information is available.

Flemming: A thank-you note has been received for the gift in memory of Henrietta Pond. It was suggested that a tree be planted to honor the Ponds. Since the present library is located on an early site of a Water Company building, it would be appropriate to plant it there. It was moved to have a planting dedicated to the memory of Eldon and Henrietta Pond with the location to be determined by the Parks Committee. A dedication ceremony will be held during the summer of 2002. VOTED.

Hall: Kevin Hall described the culvert work at the Fieldings. After discussion, it was moved to pay Kevin Hall of Fire Island Construction Co. $269. VOTED.

Steve asked Kevin to trim hedges encroaching on the road in front of the Community Hall, and on Broadway near Savitz's driveway.

Village Agent

Ken is working on the parks specifications to be ready by the April meeting. Drinkwater is asking for an estimate for the work.

Garbage collection: The Northport Selectpersons are considering using printed garbage bags rather than the stickers. Also, the recycling problem has been resolved, and now they are taking cardboard, plastic, cans, but no glass. No leaves or brush will be accepted, even if packed into trash bags.

Moorings: Drexell White will be asked to register the moorings for the town. There is some question as to whether or not NVC will receive a share of the mooring registration money.

Water/Wastewater

Final plans are being prepared for the Phase I project, which will then have to be reviewed by the regulatory agency, then John and Bill.

Birchcrest has been told that the town will pay for the improvement and paving of the entrance road after the water pipe is installed.

John Fancy reported on their review of the treatment plant efficiency, and has written a letter to the D.E.P. outlining plans for improvement. (See attached)

John reported on a letter from Harlan Pease, Industrial Instruments, who returned our check for $1200 for his work on the Belfast water main connection at Little River. Plans called for a magnetic-flow measuring meter and a flow recorder. At the last minute Belfast would not accept the magnetic meter (they didn't trust its accuracy) and wanted a compound meter, so it was agreed to because that is all Belfast would accept. The magnetic meter connects to an interface, then to the recorder. However, with the compound meter, the interface is not fast enough to pick up all the changes in the flow that the compound meter could read. So the readings might be off by 5% to 7% in the winter time, and possibly by 10% in the summer.

Harlan Pease, the inspector of instruments for Industrial Instruments, investigated the situation two years ago, and discovered the problem, and presented a bill of $1200. However, he was not able to correct the problem. In the meantime, the contractor, Prescia, who did the work, retired and closed his business. Dirigo then made a claim to the bonding company, who sent a letter saying they would pay it.

Last fall Pease asked where his money was, so we paid his bill rather than make him wait for the bonding company. Now Pease returned the check, saying he does not want to take the money without a letter from the Board saying he did a good job. Dan suggested that we consider this a warranty matter, and Pease should be dealing with Prescia. Meanwhile, we will attempt to have the bonding company pay, but we cannot promise payment.

It was moved to notify Industrial Instruments that the bill as presented should have gone instead to Prescia Construction or to the bonding company, and that the Village Corporation will assist in whatever way possible to expedite payment by the bonding company. In discussion, the letter accompanying this decision should state that our payment was in error based upon information that we had at the time concerning as to how the bonding company was to proceed. The motion was VOTED.

Water/Wastewater Sub-Committee Report

Todd Merolla reported that the committee has begun working with Michelle Gagnon, who asked the committee to create a map of all the arsenic-polluted wells, (59 in 1999 in Northport; 30 are in the Village). Studies show that the arsenic levels are increasing. CBDG grant money deadlines are October/November of this year. Discussion included surveys being taken, dividing the mapped area into quadrants, and the possibility of FEMA (Federal Emergency Management) money coming available. Meetings will now be monthly.

Recreation

The Community Calendar will be sent out with the May Newsletter, which will also include the Information Pak. It was decided not to distribute the calendar to the general public, as some of the activities are meant for residents only.

Safety

Lifeguard: Lifeguard hours were discussed. Steve will check to see if we have a back-up guard, then discuss with Mary the hours she wants to work.

Police: Special duty assignments will be added as follows: prom night (6:00 PM to 2:PM) and Memorial Day. Regular hours will begin June 21, and end Sept. 2. It was moved to increase the wages for the policeman to $11.00 per hour. VOTED.

Legal

Beverly reported on a meeting with the legal representative from Kelly's office to listen to the tapes. She felt that it is not in the best interests of the Village Corporation to have the meetings recorded.

In lieu of payment for her time, Beverly requests that the IMac computer and printer which belong to the Village but are no longer in use, be donated to the Historical Society. It was moved to give the IMac and the printer to the Historical Society. VOTED.

In order to save time and simplify the minutes, committees will be asked to submit written reports. Legally, committee meetings must be published. It was moved that every committee/sub-committee submit a written report to the Overseers' meetings. VOTED.

Zoning

Fielden: Blaine will send a registered letter asking for a building permit to Fielden and others who have not submitted permits.

The meeting was adjourned at 1:15 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

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