VILLAGE OF RED HOOK
WORKSHOP MEETING
NOVEMBER 19 2020
7PM
Present: Mayor Blundell, Deputy Mayor Kovalchik, Trustee Laing, Trustee Norris,
Trustee Noonan.
Presentation: Mayor Blundell opened up the meeting by letting Tim Booker from Civil Space Software present a product that can be linked to our current website under CivicPlus. The thinking is that we are getting new residents who are far more tuned into digital interaction and we are in the covid19 era of remote interaction. The product would generally let Red Hook residents voice their opinions and offer their ideas on projects but on our website. Nothing decided yet to use their software. The issue is pricing and whether we have the IT sense to keep it current with staff.
Cell Tower Generator - Bid: We did receive a low bid at $83,500.00 to do the Shared Generator Project at the Water Tower. Our original projection from our tower consultant was $45,000 and we started to
revise the leases so the tenants were going to equally share in with the cost. The problem is the bids came in far higher and the Mayor does not feel we can lay out that much money without the tenants being legally signed into commitment to reimburse us.
Cost was to be shared by the tenants and we were to lay out the amount and get reimbursed but this is a much higher number and the Mayor sees no way to lay that out from operating lines in the budget. He examined the reasons for the difference. Our engineers
feel the price is appropriate. It does include the actual hook up from the unit to the individual tenant’s sections. Our consultant predicted $45,000 but with tenant doing their own hook up. The engineers say this hook up work would be about $7,000.00 per tenant. That includes everything being built, including wires right to the tenant’s sub stations. Removing that work would only bring the cost down to $63,000 which is still more than we thought and can afford.
Brent mentioned that we engineered the project based on guidance from our advisers, paid for the engineering services already and received 8 bids. If we go back and revise the scope of work that we would be required to re-bid the project and pay additional engineering fees to have the drawings revised. Salisbury line of credit an option? FCC, any deadline on when they need to be up and running?
Blundell feels we would not want to use the line of credit since it still poses the high cost factor without firm commitment from the tenants. Blundell indicated that one option was to bond it in a BAN format but bond counsel is reviewing this since it may not qualify. He has reached out to our consultant but it may be that we cannot allow the contract or project at this time.
Our goal is to consolidate 3 generators to one and reduce footprint, noise and logistics so the tenants can have the FCC required back-up in case of power failure.
Water Administration/Sewer Administration: The Mayor reminded the board it’s going to require a larger coordinated effort to maintain water and shortly a sewer operation. We’ll havde two plants and continue with running and billing our water program. Currently now our water program brings in half a million plus; sewer will start
shortly at $12,000.00 revenue a year but move to $240,000 range at build out. We need to consolidate various functions more into an admin picture that stays on top of all the moving parts; billing; complaints; leaks; repairs; planning, etc.
The Mayor stating that right now we are getting it done but not in a sustainable fashion. He does certain work, staff does work, operator does some work, highway does some work but there is no central office handling it in a coordinated fashion.
The Mayor brought up a problem with the current leaf collector truck that just became unusable. The vacuum motor is an 85 hp unit and it blew apart. HO Penn is the Caterpillar repair and dealer. They sampled the engine oil, found metal chips and find the unit not repairable. Replacement costs for the leaf truck $18,000.00. This rips through the Highway line item for repairs so we will have to hit the CD reserve as well. But, no immediate replacement motor is available in the US. It requires the company to build again! And, that causes delays
in leaf pick-up.
Highway and Mayor will arrange an interim way to get leaves picked up since time and weather will not wait for this necessary service we provide. Police Redesign –
The Mayor has developed key words and concepts that arose in the course of private meetings, community forums, and public input. We will review them all again over the course of the project but two for tonight are:
Body Cameras – Quote for 8 cameras and body packs/ training/warranty is $12,895.00. Reached out to the Town to share costs with them, a 65% / 35% split
for the capital purchase. 65% to the Village and 35% to the Town. Discovery and privacy issues still to be discussed, police policy manual insert needed, as well as union contract considerations.
Police Foot Patrol – we need to develop contract/policy wording for minimums for our police for next contractual meetings.
Mayor motioned to adjourn at 8:30pm, DM Kovalchik
seconded. All in favor.
Submitted by Dep Clerk – Gregg Stolarik.