Wednesday, June 3, 2020

Pandemic closes Camp of the Woods

LPTB May 18 2020

Pandemic closes Camp of the Woods
By PETE KLEIN
LAKE PLEASANT—When the Lake Pleasant Town Board met on May 18, Jim Hammond, President/CEO of Camp of the Woods gave the Board an update on what Camp of the Woods plans are for the Summer due to the Wuhan China Virus (COVID-19).
He reported that he has canceled all operations before the stay at home phase was put in effect. Camp has been closed there have been no guests or staff since March. The staff who have apartments at Camp have been told no temporary visitors and anyone new coming into area need to self-quarantine for 14 days.
Jim Hammond will be giving his presentation to the Regional Health Dept., Erica Mahoney, and Chairman of the Board William Farber.
The staff that will be working at Camp this year has been cut in half and when they do arrive, they will have to self- quarantine for 14 days. There will be no chapel services, all will be done in a virtual way. The children’s programs will be canceled for the summer there was no way Jim felt comfortable trying to keep the kids at a safe distance.
Camp Tapawingo will not be opening this summer either. Camp will be running at a 40% capacity and of course social distancing and wearing masks will be required.
Supervisor Bain thanked Jim for all the steps he is taking to keep everyone safe.
HIGHWAY
Highway Superintendent Randy Lavarnway reported that he, Councilperson Braunius and Supervisor Bain meet at the Elm Lake Road tennis courts and decided to close the eastern court because of all the cracks causing an unsafe court. The court on the west side, the regulation size court will be open with some repair as will the courts at the Court House.
Superintendent Lavarnway was able to locate the old bike trail maps. Laura O’Brien (Oak Mt.) will GPS the present trails and see if they compare to the old bike trail on the map. If most of the trails are the close hopefully DEC will issue a temporary revocable permit to do trail repair work.
Lavarnway reported that there are still sections of Perkins Clearing Road closed in the middle, but he hopes to have the other areas open by the weekend. If anyone wants to get into their camps at Pillsbury Mt., they must park at Sled Harbor and walk the remaining trail about a ¼ of a mile, there is still so much washout.
Councilperson Braunius did drive to both ends of the Road and reported that the Highway Crew is doing a great job.
The Gorman Group will start grinding the blacktop on Page St. and old Page Hill on June 3 then start black topping after the road settles for 2 weeks. Hamilton Lake Road work should start around the 3rd week in June.
FEMA wants Superintendent Lavarnway to do virtual tour of the road but that is not possible as there is no cell service. A lot of dirt work needs to be done before the black top can be started.
Supervisor Bain informed Lake Pleasant Sacandaga Association that Lavarnway will move the Wash Station to its location. The Library step prep work has been started. Lavarnway asked the Board if anyone knows where he can find Trex system that has an anti-slip material for the stairs. Councilperson Seifts suggested Curtis Lumber as they are a dealer for Trex. Lavarnway will contact them. Lavarnway asked the Board what they want him to do about the stone pillars at
Still no response to the Senior Mechanic position that has been advertised. The present Senior Mechanic is firm on his retirement date in August. Councilperson Meixner remembers a large advertising network of newspapers and is willing to reach out to them which would give the ad a great exposure.
The new hours for the Transfer Station are Monday 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., Wednesday 10:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m. Saturday 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Transfer Station Post-Closure Monitoring will now be done once a year instead of two times a year. Discussion on if the old Transfer Station should be mowed. After discussion Superintendent Lavarnway will have it mowed in August.
YOUTH REC
Youth Rec. Director Samantha Desrochers is unsure of what is going on this summer with the summer rec. program. She still has money remaining in her budget and made many suggestions to acknowledge the kindergarten, eight grade and high school graduates.
Councilperson Braunius agreed that putting up signs acknowledging the graduates would be great idea and suggested putting them on the Corner of Dean Lanes Park. Supervisor Bain said let us go with the signs first.
Samantha will investigate the signs with KC Morrison Sign Company. There will be further discussion at the next Board Meeting.
OLD BUSINESS
Supervisor Bain and Councilperson Seifts met with the Hamilton County Treasurer’s office about taking on the Town of Lake Pleasant’s payroll and reports. They agree that they will need Nancy Seifts (Former Principal Account Clerk) to help with the transition.
Town Clerk Deborah O’Rourke informed the Board that the Annual Financial Report for the Period of January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019 has been filed in the Town Clerk’s Office and it has been electronically filed with the N.Y.S Dept. of Audit and Control.
TOWN HISTORIAN
RESOLUTION #53 APPOINT AARON WEAVER TO BE TOWN HISTORIAN.
OFFERED BY Neil McGovern 2nd by Don Braunius
RESOLVED, that after review of applicants for the Town Historian by the personal committee, Aaron Weaver will now be the Town Historian to replace Anne Weaver who died. Same amount of pay as stated in the Budget.
ADOPTED by the following vote. Ayes: Supervisor Bain, Councilperson: Cristine Meixner, Neil McGovern, Nancy Seifts, Don Braunius. Nays: None
ACCOUNT CLERK
RESOLUTION #54 TO ACCEPT ACCOUNT CLERK KATHLEEN AIRD’S RESIGNATION LETTER.
OFFERED BY Neil McGovern (with regret) 2nd by Cristine Meixner
RESOLVED, that the Board received a letter of resignation from Account Clerk Kathleen Aird effective immediately. The Board thanks Kathy for her years of service.
ADOPTED, by the following vote. Ayes: Supervisor Bain, Councilperson: Neil McGovern, Nancy Seifts, Cristine Meixner, Don Braunius.
EMPLOYEE FOR THE LAKE PLEASANT LIBRARY
RESOLUTION #55 TO ACCEPT THE HIRING OF GARY RHINEHART JR. AS PART TIME EMPLOYEE FOR THE LAKE PLEASANT LIBRARY.
OFFERED BY, Neil McGovern, 2nd Nancy Seifts
RESOLVED, Whereas, the Lake Pleasant Library Board of Trustees has received a letter of resignation from Tanisha Hinds effective May 21, 2020
WHEREAS, The Lake Pleasant Library Board of Trustees have approved the hiring of Gary Rhinehart Jr. starting May 25, 2020 budgeted at 12 hours per week @ 12.00 per hour.
ADOPTED by the following vote. Ayes: Supervisor Bain, Councilperson: Cristine Meixner, Neil McGovern, Don Braunius, Nancy Seifts. Nays: None
LIBRARY TRUSTEE
RESOLUTION #56 THE BOARD APPROVED ELIZABETH KNAPP AS A LIBRARY TRUSTEE.
OFFERED BY Nancy Seifts, 2nd by Don Braunius
WHEREAS, The Lake Pleasant Library Board of Trustees recommend Elizabeth Knapp to fill a vacancy.
WHEREAS, Elizabeth Knapp’s term of office will be May 18, 2020-December 31, 2020 ADOPTED by the following vote. Ayes: Councilperson: Nancy Seifts, Cristine Meixner, Mike O’Connor, Robert Peck Nays: None.
ROUNDTABLE
Councilperson Meixner asked if Supervisor Bain if she received the Lake Pleasant Fire Dept. the LOSP report which is an annual report that is supposed to be presented to the Town Board with a list of credits earned by the fireman that gets applied to their retirement benefit. Supervisor Bain said she had not received it. Councilperson Seifts said that the annual actuarial report (AUD) includes that information.
Supervisor Bain said that all 283 COVID-19 tests that were taken last week all came back negative.

This article is based upon minutes provided by Deborah O’Rourke, Town Clerk.

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