Town opens bids on generators, discusses opening park to non-residents in 2021

WASHINGTON — Town of Washington Supervisor Gary Ciferri opened the Thursday, Dec. 10, board meeting at its newly designated time of 6 p.m. The meeting was held on Zoom due to the COVID-19 pandemic; along with Ciferri were Councilmen Robert Audia, Stephen Turletes and Mike Murphy. 

A resolution to transfer employees’ unused vacation time to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic was approved.  Monthly reports were e-mailed to the Town Board and will be attached to the December minutes. There will be a special public hearing on Thursday, Dec. 17, at 6 p.m. about the fire contract with the village of Millbrook.

A reorganization meeting will be held on Thursday, Jan. 14, at Town Hall at 6 p.m. A meeting was scheduled to interview candidates to fill the position held late Councilman Al DeBonis.

A report from Highway Supervisor Joseph Spagnola was read. He reported on ongoing work, and was asked about winter watch, which calls for a worker to come to work at 2 a.m. Spagnola was asked if it was necessary? The board learned that winter watch is a precautionary measure as the Highway Department checks the roads for possible problems during the winter and predicts how the town should prepare if bad weather is approaching. 

Spagnola asked to make the 40-hour work week consist of four days a week instead of five days a week due to COVID-19 to lessen his workers exposure to the virus. Audia pointed out that the proposed four-day work week amounts to 36 hours of work, not 40. It also posed another question: If the week ran Monday through Thursday, and a snow storm occurred on a Friday, would the crew that came in to work during the storm be entitled to time and a half?  The board said it would like clarification by the next meeting.

A proposal was made to pay down a Bond Anticipation Note (BAN) of $29,504.05 for the town’s loader, bearing in mind that the town’s 1995 truck will probably need to be replaced next year. A Highway Department resolution accepting a number of proposals from Bob Turner was accepted, for a number of highway items.

The Recreation Department said it needs a decision regarding the 2021 park season. Recreation Director Chelsea Edson asked if it should restrict non-residents and only allow town residents to use the park. She said that in years when the park was open to both residents and non-residents, there were times when it was overwhelmed, but that the staff was able to handle the large crowds. The board ultimately decided to allow non-residents from towns that border Washington, and added it could change its decision if it deemed it best. The board and the Recreation Department are also thinking about raising its yearly recreation fee schedule.

Budget transfers were presented by Bookkeeper Lois Petrone, which the board approved.  

Councilman Audia made a motion to authorize Town Clerk Mary Alex to seek bids for the Town Hall and the Highway Garage generators based on specifications presented that night, with bids due back by Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021, at noon, to install generators — one located at the Town Hall and one located at the town garage. The  generators will need to supply an automatic transfer of power for both entire buildings if there is a power outage in either for all four seasons throughout the year. 

Councilman Bob Audia thanked Kelly Cassinelli for her work in clearing, sorting, filing and making arrangements to open up additional office space on the second floor of Town Hall. The work allowed for the much needed space.