Jerusalem town board 3/16/11

Meeting: The Jerusalem town board met for approximately two hours on Wednesday, March 16. The meeting was followed by an executive session to discuss personnel matters lasting approximately one hour.
Attendance: All town council members were present. Fifteen members of the public were in the audience.
Action: The board approved a request from the zoning subcommittee. The group asked the town to allow them to use $4,000 from the planning board budget and an additional $2,000 of the funds allocated for the Branchport Hamlet Master Plan. Member Mary Coriale said the board had been looking at different zoning districts in the town. The committee was asked to look at Route 54A from Branchport to the Indian Pines area. Coriale said due to the complexity of the project a professional consultant is needed.
• The board approved charging developers engineering and other costs related to large projects. The vote was taken at the conclusion of the meeting.
• The board approved a municipal services agreement for 2011 with Larson Design Group. Councilmen Ray Stewart and Daryl Jones voted no. Jones said Larson’s represent 19 gas companies, although none are within this area. The other two companies, Clough Harbor and Clark Patterson Lee are familiar with Jerusalem water and sewer systems.
Discussion without action: The board held a public hearing on a proposal to require reimbursement of professional fees. Supervisor Daryl Jones said approval of the law would allow the town to recoup some of the town’s costs for projects that come before the board.
• Councilman Neil Simmons asked if there was any possibility of adjusting interest in bonds. J.C. Smith told the board he is nearly certain the town’s Rural Finance loans cannot be refinanced.
• Use of time cards was discussed as was overtime for part-time employees. Jones said overtime cannot be paid unless the employee works 40 hours. The matter will be researched.
Upcoming meetings: The next regular board meeting is April 20 at 7 p.m. in the town hall on Italy Hill Road.