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THE GOODYEAR LAKE AREA IN THE TOWN OF MILFORD Click on the map below to open an interactive window.
Town of Milford-Officers
Supervisor Thomas Gale 12/31/09
Deputy & Secretary Crystal Gale* 12/31/09
Councilmen Harold Couse 12/31/11
John Gill 12/31/09
Karl Vogel 12/31/09
Olin Waters 12/31/09
Town Clerk Kenneth Sosnowski
Town Justices Robert Moore
Carol Rumenapp
Secretary Glenda Moore*
Health Officer Elinor Montgomery*
Zoning Officer Paul Neske* (resigned)
Ken Stone* 12/31/08
Zoning Board of Appeals*
Albert Bullard, Chair 12/31/09
Bruce Osterhoudt, V. Chair 12/31/12
Art Henry 12/31/10
Marcia Membrino 12/31/11
Bruce Shultis 12/31/08
Planning Board* Bruce Milavec, Chair 12/31/08
Gary Wickham, V. Chair 12/31/10
---- Vacant
Patrick Welsh 12/31/12
Gerald Wood 12/31/11
Secretary for Planning & Zoning
Theresa Lombardo* 12/31/08
Dog Control Officer James Waters*
Deputy Brenda Waters*
Environmental Officer Marc LaSalle*
* Appointed
THE TOWN OF MILFORD, NY...OUR TOWN This space will inform you concerning issues that The Goodyear Lake Association feels are newsworthy and of interest to our members: this will include, but not be limited to, copies of Town documents, names & contact points for Town officials, and areas of concern that we as a group might bring before the Town to create a better, safer, and more ecologically sound life for us all.
Our Best Wishes to Susena F. Hulbert on her retirement as Town Clerk. She performed her job with dedicated intelligence, knowledge, and compassion.
Our new town clerk is Kenneth Sosnowski. Hours are: Tues. - 12 - 5 PM Thurs. - 10:30 am - 6:30 pm Fri. - 8 am - 1 pm Phone: 607-286-9033 Fax: 607-286-9361 Address: PO Box 417, Portlandville, NY 13834
NOTE: A previous code officer, Ken Stone, has ben appointed as the latest code officer.
The Town Assessor, Kathleen, is available at the Town Hall Tuesdays 9AM-11:30 AM Ask her about STAR exemptions.
MILFORD TOWN BOARD
MAY 15, 2008 – MINUTES
DRAFT
OPEN MEETING: Supervisor Thomas Gale called the regular monthly meeting of the Milford Town Board to order at 7:00 pm at the Town Hall in Portlandville.
ROLL CALL: Present were Councilmen John Gill, Olin Waters, Harold Couse and Karl Vogel; Town Supervisor Thomas Gale; Highway Superintendent Richard Atwell; Town Clerk Kenneth Sosnowski; and concerned townspersons.
TREASURER’S REPORT: A motion to accept the Supervisor’s Monthly Financial Statement for April 2008 was made by Councilman Waters and seconded by Councilman Gill. Vote: All ayes.
MINUTES: A motion to accept the April 17, 2008, Town of Milford Board Meeting minutes was made by Councilman Vogel, seconded by Councilman Waters. Vote: All Ayes.
OPEN FLOOR:
- Art Henry, President of the Goodyear Lake Association, advised there was a successful highway clean-up the first weekend of May.
- Art Henry contacted ECO Mark LaSalle about the Maple Street area of Goodyear Lake to see if there are violations where the owner of a house was dumping on a vacant lot. LaSalle advised building materials were not illegal. LaSalle asked when it would be cleaned up and was told in 30 days. Townspersons advised they did not see improvement and broken glass was still there. The Town Supervisor advised that he was aware the broken glass was still an issue but that it was on private land. He also stated again that Town Health Officer Jane Montgomery found no health related hazards. Townspersons brought up the question of what is garbage and refuse according to the Real Property Law and that you can’t bury garbage on private property. The Town Supervisor advised if no one saw the garbage buried then the town could not intrude on private property. He also advised, responding to questions about the care of external property under the Property Maintenance Law of NYS, that it is County Code enforcement’s responsibility to enforce.
- Art Henry stated there was a lot of junk in the Goodyear Lake area and people needed somewhere to dump this junk. He prompted a discussion by asking if the town would provide a dumpster so people could dump their junk. The Town Highway Superintendent advised the dump on Crumhorn Mountain was already an isore. Council Harold Couse advised the problem with a dumpster is that people will take advantage and use it to dump tires which cost the town $175 per ton.
- Vince Stater asked if the Environmental Enforcement Officer filed his quarterly report. The Town Supervisor answered no but he requested the report next month.
- Art Henry initiated a discussion over weekly rentals and short term rentals wanting to take weekly rentals out of the Zoning Ordinance, making it its’ own law to make enforcement easier. The town gets its’ short term rental laws from the county but the county has no weekly rental laws. The concern was over the fact that the county has no one to do fire inspections, if there were an incident the county and/or town would be liable. In a county letter sent by David Wilber, there were no fire inspectors but stated there were two positions to be filled. The letter requested the Town of Milford to suspend fire inspections until the positions were filled. Village of Milford Mayor Sabine Currie suggested a letter from the town stating they made the attempt at a fire inspection and have the county sign the letter that they could not do the fire inspections. The Town Supervisor stated he would turn this over to the town attorney to find out from the state who is responsible for the fire inspections since the county started this.
- Bruce Schultis from the Goodyear Lake Association requested an agenda before the town board meeting and provided 88 names on separate slips of paper.
- Mayor of the Village of Milford, Sabine Currie, brought up sluice pipe issue of run off from the water tank filling up village drains with sand. Councilman Couse suggested putting in a three pipe extension next to the sand loading dock to the catch basin east of the area. The Town and Village Highway Superintendents agreed to meet to find a solution to the problem.
HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT:
Average Salt Usage – report provided by towns. Discussed having the county order all the salt and using loading tickets for the towns to draw salt. Advised the towns’ problem of getting salt from the mines in the past and having all town highway superintendents meet on the issue. The Town Supervisor was concerned about liability should the salt be used up. He also expressed concerns over budgeting, funding code and that if money was left over it would go back to the county. He advised he was interested in discussing this and was more interested as long as the town was not liable.
Red Wing Circle Creek - The Army Corps of Engineers with NYS approval gave the town permission to clean and re-do the creek.
CHIPs – 20% increase in money from the state - $103,787.32.
Junk Day – money to the Highway Fund. Three tons of tires were collected. The Town Supervisor advised to use the money collected to off set the cost of disposing of the tires.
1991 Dump Truck – no estimate of worth due to age. The truck will be put up for auction and the plow and wing sold separately after a photo is taken. The town will keep the sander.
2009 International Truck – The Highway Superintendent will go to pick the truck up and the plow and other equipment will be put on in Harrisville.
Roads to Seal – The Town Board will be informed next month of any roads to seal and that are in need of paving. Holes and ditches are done.
Building Funds – sluice pipe and shot rocks are to come out of building funds.
Addition to Town Barn – The Town Supervisor advised that drainage had to be taken care of first and he wanted to know what it was to be used for. The Highway Superintendent advised it was not for truck storage and a regular overhead door or swing door was sufficient. He also advised it was to be for equipment and tire storage and that a bathroom was to be installed. He wanted to know why the project had taken 5 months to approve since he was ready to build earlier but now had too much summer work to do the building. Councilman Waters resigned from the Building Committee.
TOWN SUPERVISOR’S COMMUNICATIONS: Town Supervisor Thomas Gale reported on the following:
OTSEGO COUNTY CODE ENFORCEMENT – Fire Inspections. Fire inspections are a state issue. The Town Supervisor is to call legal as to what the town can and can not do.
SENATOR SEWARD – Resident State Engineer Mike Adams was advised to contact Otsego County Tourism to put trash cans out at the Colliersville rest area off Lifgren Drive.
TIME WARNER CABLE – Check for $2089.02 was sent to the town for 3 months. Time Warner advised the contract is to run out for several channels.
PLANNING BOARD WORKSHOP – May 21, 2008, workshop on a proposed weekly rental law.
OTSEGO COUNTY TOWN SUPERVISORS MEETING – April 24, 2008. Program by Sheila Ross, Board of Elections to discuss new voting machines and getting rid of the old machines.
CATSKILL CENTER FOR INDEPENDENCE – Letter to be posted at the Town Hall.
LETTER FROM SENTOR SEWARD – concerning budgets, taxes etc. is to be posted at the Town Hall.
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION – road work will be performed on ST 28 between the Village of Milford and the Village of Cooperstown.
NYS REAL PROPERTY TAXES – Tentative Equalization Rate.
TOWN BOARD AUDIT – of the Town Supervisor was conducted May 14, 2008. Councilman Gill commended the Town Supervisor on a job well done.
INDIAN HILLS GIRL SCOPUT COUNCIL – annual meting and dinner May 15, 2008, at Camp AMAHAMI with the Deputy Town Supervisor in attendance.
SUMMER RECREATION COMMITTEE – to meet in June to discuss applications for positions of two coordinators and 8 to 10 counselors. The swim program has been put together. There is a question on whether there would be a lunch program. The counselors have to have 1st Aid Certification.
INVITATION FROM OTSEGO 2000 – for a ceremony at the Majors Inn, May 22, 2008, from 5 to 7pm.
TOWN CLERK’S PETTY CASH REPORT – Town Clerk Kenneth Sosnowski reported there was $100.00 in the petty cash fund.
Committees:
Highway Committee Report – Drainage from sand piles was covered under Superintendent’s Report.
Building Committee – plans for the new highway barn addition covered under the Superintendent’s Report. The barn roof is a 12 foot radius roof, six feet on each side. There was discussion if the whole roof should be rubberized on the Quonset hut. Councilman Vogel is to get an estimate.
Emergency Shelter Committee – propose to coordinate a food drive with the Post Offices. The Town Supervisor will follow thru with Senator Seward for assistance in procuring an emergency generator. The Emergency Personnel Listing is handled thru the Otsego County Office of Emergency Management.
Environmental Control Report – There are 3 vehicles on 3 separate lots with one owner on Maple Street. The town attorney is to be contacted next month. The Hinckley case will be going to court in June. If the property is cleaned up, the town will drop it’s case. The Hasenkamp property is, as per the will, an estate. Kip Hasenkamp has been contacted and will remove the vehicles. The town attorney is to send a letter to the estate.
Junk Law – The Town Board review of recommendations, changes or deletions will be discussed at the next board meeting.
MOTION: The Town Supervisor made a motion to set aside $25,000 for materials for the town barn addition. Discussion by the Highway Superintendent if the amount set aside was not enough. The Town Supervisor advised the Superintendent to come to him should that be the case. Councilman Vogel seconded. Vote: All Ayes.
MOTION: The Town Supervisor made the motion to have the Highway Supervisor auction off the 1991 dump truck with the plow and wing auctioned separately. There was no discussion. Seconded by Councilman Couse. Vote: All Ayes.
NEW BUSINESS: Councilman Couse noted that on Junk Day the town trucks looked in great condition.
MOTION: A motion to authorize payment of the following bills was made by Councilman Gill, seconded by Councilman Waters.
General Fund -- vouchers 144 to 163 for $2157.94
Highway Fund -- vouchers 67 to 75 for $5142.67
Lighting Fund -- voucher 5 for $144.00
Vote: All Ayes.
ADJOURNMENT: A motion to adjourn was made by Councilman Couse, seconded by Councilman Vogel. Vote: All Ayes. Meeting adjourned at 9:42 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
________________________________
Kenneth C. Sosnowski, Town Clerk
QUESTIONS WE ASKED THE BOARD– MAY 15TH, 2008
1) Agenda petitions. 81 in favor of an agenda for the Town Meeting.
2) EEO reports. Where are they? Overdue.
3) Maple Street update.
4) Hinckley update. ( Not brought up.)
5) Silliman Cove sign. (Not brought up.)
6) Buildings done without permits. Is there a procedure to bring them up to code and pay the permit fee? (This was not brought up.)
7) Planning Board 5/21 – what are the issues up for discussion. Daily Star did not define issues. Said only it was a “workshop”.
8) Town of Hartwick having “clean-up” days. May we have one as well?
QUESTIONS WE ASKED THE TOWN BOARD – APRIL ‘08
1) Eric Miller to speak regarding water chestnut removal.
2) Has the EEO delivered his quarterly report yet? If so, when will the text of the report be available for review?.
3) Has the EEO and/or the ZEO reviewed the junk situation on Maple Street? Have the owners of these properties been sited for violations of the Junk Law? If not, why does the Town not these cite property owners whose properties compromise both the health and welfare and tax base of their neighbors? GYLA recently received a complaint from one of its members who lives near Maple that one of the tenants in one of these houses was firing an air rifle across the road & into the woods.
4) Please review the pictures of the abandoned trailer on Rte 7 in our Town. Is this violation of the Junk Law?
5) Why are not monthly renters and annual renters held to a standard at least as high as seasonal renters in the Town of Milford?
6) Silliman Cove…..can we get the right signage put back?
QUESTIONS WE ASKED THE BOARD – 2/21/08
1) Thank you for our FILO request that was honored. But is it true that only one person has been found in violation of the junk law? We find that hard to imagine. Has the Town considered yet our request for a change to the Junk Law?
2) For an open government to succeed in this town, the people need to see an agenda. We are offering the Board some other towns’ agendas for comparison. May we have an agenda?
3) We thank Mr. Couse for taking his time to review the potential junk problem on Maple Street, Goodyear Lake. What did Mr. Couse think of what he saw?
4) If the ZBA & planning board members have 5 year terms, what mechanism does the Town have in place to ensure that each member meets his training hours as mandated by NYS law for each year of their term? And if they fail to do so, what will the Town do?
5) Erik Miller of OCCA would like to address the Board regarding common environmental concerns in April. Who should he contact?
6) We thank the board for having councilman Waters meet with GYLA and OCCA this past month. It was very helpful.
7) Thanks to Bruce Shultis & Art Henry for putting together the Town’s cabinet.
QUESTIONS WE ASKED THE BOARD, JANUARY, 2008 1) Status of our Freedom of Information Law request. If the board is not choosing to honor it, why not.
2) For an open government to succeed in this town, the people need to see an agenda. May we have an agenda?
3) Status of the junk vehicles' problem, etc. on Rte. 7. Why are fences being erected? Are permits required for the fences?
4) What is the term of office for both the members of the planning board and the ZBA?
5) How is the Town handling those members of the ZBA & Planning Board whose term is up and have not yet passed the training requirements in 2007 as mandated by law?
6) The garbage piles on Maple Street, Goodyear Lake. It seems that the owners of some properties are using their properties as dump sites for trash, including junk cars & appliances, and broken glass. Is this legal?
TOWN OF MILFORD JUNK LAW At the start of this document you will find the complaint form you will need to lodge a complaint with the Town. You may print it from your computer, but you will need three copies to submit. The original, 3-part forms are available at Town Hall. Right click on the form to save or print it. In a effort to keep us all informed and to continue to make Goodyear Lake a safe, environmentally sound, and econonomically viable place to live, we are including the Town of MIlford's latest "junk law". There is a form in place that allows any citizen to bring to the Town's attention a violation of this law. These forms are now available at the town hall during regular hours. If you believe in a clean, safe lake, please read the law. Thank you.  TOWN OF MILFORD
JUNK ORDINANCE
Adopted May 19, 2005
An amended ordinance regulating the placement and storage of junked vehicles and junk in the Town of Milford.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF MILFORD, AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1: This ordinance shall be known as the "Junk Ordinance" in the Town of Milford, NY
SECTION 2: A clean, wholesome, attractive environment is declared to be of importance to the health and safety of the inhabitants of the Town of Milford, and the general welfare of its citizens. It is further declared that the unrestrained accumulation of junk motor vehicles is a hazard to the health, safety, and welfare of citizens of the Town, necessitating the regulation restraint, and elimination thereof.
SECTION 3: This ordinance shall supersede and replace any prior existing ordinance or sections of ordinances.
SECTION 4.1 - DEFINITIONS:
A. ENFORCEMENT OFFICER - an individual designated by the Town to represent them in particular matters pertaining to this ordinance.
B. JUNK - the outdoor storage or deposit of the following, whether in connection with another business or not:
(1) two or more junked vehicles;
(2) one or more abandoned mobile home(s) or recreation vehicle(s);
(3) waste paper, rags, scrap metal, or discarded materials;
(4) two or more inoperable appliances;
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(5) toxic chemicals and/or radioactive materials at levels that could be injurious to human, animal, and/or biological life, exempting New York State licensed applicators and/or Federally licensed handlers; and
(6) any combination of the above that totals two items.
C. JUNKED VEHICLES - a 'junked vehicle" is any motor vehicle whether automobile, bus, trailer, truck, tractor, mobile home, three- or four- wheeler, motorcycle, motor bicycle, mini bicycle, snowmobile, or any other contraption originally intended for travel on the public highway which:
(1) is unlicensed, old, wrecked, stored, discarded, abandoned, or dismantled or partly dismantled, which is not intended or in any condition for legal use upon the public highway.
(2) is being held or used for the purpose of resale, reclamation, storage or disposal of parts.
(3) is in such condition as to cost more to repair and place in operating condition than its reasonable market value at the time before such repair.
With respect to any motor vehicle not required to be licensed or motor vehicle not usually used on public highways, the fact that such motor vehicle has remained unused for more than six (6) months and is not in condition to be removed under its own power shall be presumptive evidence that such motor vehicle is a 'junked vehicle."
The fact that a motor vehicle may be licensed or registered with the State of New York, but does not display a current license plate, shall be presumptive evidence that such motor vehicle is unlicensed.
The use of the term in the singular herein is intended, where applicable, to include the plural.
D. SCRAP PROCESSING FACILITY - a location that stores and/or process iron, steel and non-ferrous scrap metal.
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SECTION 4.2 - DUTIES OF ENFORCEMENT OFFICER:
A. To observe possible violations at a distance without trespassing on property;
B. To make contact with the violator and explain the Town Junk Ordinance as it pertains to the violation - to supply a copy of the Town Junk Ordinance upon request;
C. To inform the violator that he/she has thirty (30) days to correct violations;
D. To make follow-up visit to the property within the thirty (30) day period to monitor compliance with the ordinance;
E. To refer violation to the Town Board for further action should the violator not comply; and
F. To make written reports to the Town Board on a quarterly basis.
SECTION 4.3 - OBLIGATIONS OF VIOLATOR:
Violators will comply with Junk Ordinance by correcting violations within the proscribed thirty (30) days or there will be further action from the Town Board.
SECTION 5: No person shall engage in or conduct, whether for profit or otherwise, on real property within the Town of Milford, either for himself or for and on behalf of any other person, directly or indirectly, as agent, employee or otherwise, at wholesale, retail or otherwise, any operation which involves the collection, storage, burning, dumping, disassembling, dismantling, salvaging, sorting or otherwise, handling or arranging, for sale, resale, storage or disposal or otherwise, of junk or junk vehicles as defined in this ordinance.
SECTION 6 - PENALTIES FOR OFFENSES:
A. The owner of any such place or business, as defined in Section 4, who commits or permits any acts of violation of this ordinance or fails to comply with the provisions thereof shall be deemed to have committed an offense against such ordinance and shall be liable for any such violation. Each day such violation shall continue or be permitted to exist shall constitute a separate violation
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B. For every violation of any provision of this ordinance, the person violating the same shall be subject to a fine of not more than One hundred dollars ($100) for each offense. Such penalty shall be collectible by and in the name of the Town of Milford for each day that such violation shall continue.
C. In addition to the above provided penalties and punishment, the Town Board may also maintain an action or proceeding in the name of the Town in a court of competent jurisdiction to compel compliance with or to restrain by injunction the violation of this ordinance.
SECTION 7 - SEVERABILITY:
If any clause, sentence, paragraph section or part of this ordinance shall be adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair or invalidate the remainder thereof, but shall be confined in its operation to the clause, sentence, paragraph, section or part thereof directly involved in the controversy in which such judgment shall have been rendered.
SECTION 8 - ADMINISTRATIVE LIABILITY:
No officer, agent or employee of the Town of Milford shall render himself personally liable for any damage that may accrue to persons or property as a result of any action brought against any officer, agent or employee of the Town of Milford as a result of any act required or permitted in the discharge of his duties under this ordinance and shall be defended by the Town Attorney until the final determination of the proceedings.
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