Friday, April 8, 2022

County works to add Buck Mt. Fire Tower to Fire Tower Challenge

 Supervisors April 7 2022



County works to add Buck Mt. Fire Tower to Fire Tower Challenge 

By PETE KLEIN

LAKE PLEASANT—When the Hamilton County Board of Supervisors met to consider what country resolutions to approve this month, it approved the following resolutions, including one that could add a fire tower in Long Lake to the Fire Tower Challenge, as follow:

LOCAL LAW AUTHORIZING THE LEASE OF PROPERTY IN THE TOWN OF LONG LAKE OWNED BY CEDAR HEIGHTS TIMBER, LLC

WHEREAS, in the Town of Long Lake, on lands owned by Cedar Heights Timber, LLC exists the Buck Mt. Fire Tower, and

WHEREAS, Hamilton County has a very successful Fire Tower Challenge, and WHEREAS, the Town of Long Lake wants to add this Fire Tower to the existing Fire Tower Challenge, and

WHEREAS Cedar Heights Timber, LLC is willing to enter into a 10-year agreement to open the Fire Tower to the public, and

WHEREAS, Hamilton County possesses or has access to the resources and partners to implement this project, now, therefore,

BE IT ENACTED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF HAMILTON, AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1. Cedar Heights Timber, LLC is the owner of property located in the Town of Long Lake by virtue of a deed from Lyme Adirondack Timberlands 1, LLC dated September 17, 2010 and recorded in the Hamilton County Clerk’s Office on September 21, 2010 in Book of Deeds 251 at Page 504, being Tax Map Parcel No. 10.000-1-7.100.

Section 2. Cedar Heights Timber, LLC has agreed to lease to the County of Hamilton and to the Town of Long Lake a portion of the foregoing property including parking lot, trails and lands including a fire tower, being the historic Buck Mountain Fire Tower.

Section 3. The term of the proposed lease is ten (10) years.

Section 4. An analysis of the potential environmental impacts of the said lease, if any, has been done under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA); the County of Hamilton authorized and directed the Town of Long Lake to act as lead agency. The Town of Long Lake determined the proposed action constitutes a Type II action, which determination the County of Hamilton ratifies and confirms.

Section 5. This Local Law is enacted to amend and supersede County Law Section 215(3) so as to authorize the County of Hamilton to enter into a lease of private property identified and as set forth hereinbefore, the purpose of superseding County Law Section 215 is to authorize the County to enter into a lease for a term exceeding five (5) years.

Section 6. The Chairman of the Board of Supervisors is authorized to enter into any and all agreements and execute all documents deemed necessary by the County Attorney for the lease of the above-described property from Cedar Heights Timber, LLC for a period of ten (10) years.

Section 7. This Local Law shall take effect upon filing in accordance with the provisions of the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York

AUTHORIZING THE LEASE OF PROPERTY IN THE TOWN OF LONG LAKE OWNED BY CEDAR HEIGHTS TIMBER, LLC

BE IT RESOLVED, that proposed Local Law No. 9 of the year 2022 entitled respectively, “LOCAL LAW AUTHORIZING THE LEASE OF PROPERTY IN THE TOWN OF LONG LAKE OWNED BY CEDAR HEIGHTS TIMBER, LLC” be and the same are hereby introduced to the Board of Supervisors, and be it further

RESOLVED, that the copies of the aforesaid proposed Local Laws be laid upon the desks of each member of the Hamilton County Board of Supervisors, and be it further

RESOLVED, that the Hamilton County Board of Supervisors shall hold a public hearing on said proposed Local Law at the County Office Complex, Route 8, Lake Pleasant, New York, on the 5th day of May, 2022, at 11:00 AM, and be it further

RESOLVED, that the Chairman of the County Board of Supervisors publish or cause to be published a public notice in the official newspaper of the County of said public hearing at least five (5) days prior thereto.

PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE ADIRONDACK MOUNTAIN CLUB AND HAMILTON COUNTY

WHEREAS Hamilton County and the Adirondack Mountain Club began to partner together around our two Fire Tower Challenges several years ago, and

WHEREAS, the parties expanded that partnership, looking at opportunities to collaborate on trial work, and

WHEREAS, that has prompted joint review of several trails, and the exploration of training opportunities for our Soil and Water team and volunteers, and

WHEREAS these partnerships have involved the exchange of many hours of partnership on Buck Mt. and other trails, including a 2021 contract for trail work on Buck Mt, and

WHEREAS this partnership has been dramatically enhanced through the County contract with Hamilton County Soil and Water, and

WHEREAS, ADK has now offered to partner with the County in training Soil and Water Staff, and

WHEREAS, specific to the Buck Mt. Fire Tower Trail project; the County, Soil and Water, and ADK have identified the need for two additional weeks of professional trail work by ADK, and

WHEREAS, said work is an eligible expense for the ARP Act monies, now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the Hamilton County Board of Supervisors hereby determines the following: Neither Hamilton County, nor Hamilton County Soil and Water have the technical expertise to finish the trail work on the steepest part of the Buck Mt. Trail

The Adirondack Mt. Club has the technical expertise to do this work, and has proposed a design/build model for same in an amount not to exceed $10,500

Hamilton County wants to codify the existing partnership in a more formal agreement, which assures the availability of training for Soil and Water

The Adirondack Mt. Club is the sole source for this work, on this particular trail project plus as a local source for the training.

ADK has also committed significant volunteer capacity beyond the work of their professional Trail Crew and also be it

RESOLVED, that based on the determinations above, that the Chairman of the Hamilton County Board of Supervisor is hereby authorized to enter into an agreement with the Adirondack Mountain Club to formalize our partnership, contract for the one specific portion of the Buck Mt. Trail work, and assure the availability of training for Soil and Water, in an amount not to exceed $10,500, with the approval of the County Attorney.

CONTRACTS WITH FACILITATORS, PRESENTERS AND GUIDES

FOR THE 2022 BIRDING FESTIVAL

WHEREAS Hamilton County is sponsoring a county-wide Birding Festival in June of 2022, and

WHEREAS this Festival consists of numerous separate events from June 9-12, 2022 including outings, lectures, seminars, and certain events will require paid guides, facilitators, or presenters, be it

RESOLVED, that the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors is hereby authorized to sign contracts with guides, facilitators and presenters’ approval of the County Attorney as follows: Each guide or facilitator will receive per outing, with a daily limit of two (2) guided outings per guide as follows: 4 hours or less $100 5 hours or less $125 6 hours or more $150.

Total number of guided outings not to exceed eight (8) per each day of the festival.

Outings, Lectures, and Related Events not to exceed a total of $5,000 from Publicity budget 6410.404, Event Funding and the County Treasurer be so notified.

INDIRECT COST REIMBURSEMENT PLAN

WHEREAS Thomas J. Faughnan has prepared indirect cost allocation plans for the County of Hamilton for many years, and

WHEREAS Thomas J. Faughnan has made a proposal to implement the indirect cost allocation plan for the fiscal years 2021 and 2022 at a cost of $4,100 for each year, which is a reduction of $100 since our last contract, and

WHEREAS the County Treasurer recommends the County contract with Thomas J. Faughnan for the professional service, now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the County of Hamilton contract with Thomas J. Faughnan to prepare the indirect cost allocation program for the County of Hamilton for the fiscal years 2021 and 2022. The County shall pay and Thomas J. Faughnan agrees to accept the sum of Four Thousand One Hundred Dollars ($4,100) for the preparation of the program for the year 2021 and Four Thousand One Hundred Dollars ($4,100) for the year 2022, and be it further

RESOLVED, with the approval of the County Attorney, the Chairman be authorized to sign the necessary contract on behalf of the County.

SUBRECIPIENT AGREEMENT FOR NYS CDBG PROJECT

WHEREAS Hamilton County was awarded NYS CDBG Project # 500HR311-21 in the amount of $297,603, be it

RESOLVED, that upon approval of the County Attorney, the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors is hereby authorized to sign a Subrecipient Agreement with Housing Assistance Program of Essex County, Inc. (HAPEC) for the purpose of implementing a single purpose residential rehabilitation program for said grant.

ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFYING OFFICER COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT

WHEREAS, Hamilton County was awarded a Community Development Block Grant from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development through the New York State Office of Community Renewal, as administered by the State of New York, and

WHEREAS Hamilton County is required to designate an environmental certifying officer for the purpose of signing required environmental documents pertaining to the CDBG award, now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors of Hamilton County be hereby designated as the County’s environmental certifying officer for the purpose of signing correspondence and other required documents and forms.

DETERMINATION OF A TYPE II ACTION - COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT

BE IT RESOLVED that the determination has been made that the Environmental Review Record for Hamilton County be classified as a Type II Action (6NYCRR Section 617.4 and 617.5) for the Hamilton County Housing Rehabilitation Program funded by the New York State Office of Community Renewal Community Development Block Grant project #500HR311-21. Classification of Type II Action was determined based on review of https://www.dec.,y.gov/permits/32521.html.

COUNTY-WIDE EMAIL UPGRADE

WHEREAS, Hamilton County has contracted with MyTechs Global, Inc. for IT managed services for maintenance and security, and

WHEREAS, it has been determined that a county-wide Email Upgrade is needed, be it RESOLVED, that MyTech Global, Inc. is hereby authorized to upgrade County emails to Microsoft 365, and be it further

RESOLVED, that the County Treasurer is hereby authorized to transfer $13,000 from Account No. A1990.0401 Contingent to Account No. A1040.0410 Computer Maintenance for said IT managed services and the Countywide email upgrade.

BOARD OF ELECTIONS COMMISSIONERS’ DEPUTIES – HOURLY PAY

WHEREAS, the Board of Election Commissioners have met with the Central Government Committee to discuss the salaries of the Deputy Commissioners, and

WHEREAS it was determined that the Deputies should be paid by an hourly rate, be it RESOLVED, that the Republican and Democratic Commissioners’ Deputies be paid an hourly rate of $17.434 effective April 17, 2022.

PUBLIC DEFENDER TO RENT OFFICE SPACE

WHEREAS, the Public Defender met with the Central Government Committee and discussed renting office space, and

WHEREAS, the Public Defender has funding available in the Statewide Expansion of Hurrell-Harring grant, be it

RESOLVED, that upon approval of the County Attorney, the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors is hereby authorized to sign a lease for the office space owned by Mountain Abstract Company at 2559 St. Rt. 8, Lake Pleasant, NY beginning August 1, 2022 at $600 per month (utilities included) with the rent increasing to $700 per month (utilities included) effective April 1, 2023.

FUNDING IMMUNIZATION OUTREACH

WHEREAS, Hamilton County Public Health has been awarded the Immunization Grant for 2022-23 for $31,050, and

WHEREAS the county budget only has $8,000 in expenses for personal service and fringe and there is a need for funding in Account No. A4052.0403 Immunization Outreach, be it

RESOLVED, that the County Treasurer be authorized to fund Account No. A4052.0403 Immunization Outreach at $2,000 to be totally offset by increasing Revenue Account No. 4489.0400 by $2,000 and the Director of Public Health be so advised.

CONTRACT WITH MOUNTAIN LAKE ACADEMY

WHEREAS children placed in the care and custody of the Commissioner of Social Services as a result of abuse, neglect, maltreatment, or voluntary surrender require out-of-home placement in residential treatment centers, and

WHEREAS, these residential treatment centers are certified by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS), and

WHEREAS, maximum state reimbursable rates are established by OCFS, be it RESOLVED, the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, upon review and approval of the County Attorney, is hereby authorized and directed to enter into an agreement with Mountain Lake Academy for said services for a term of July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022.

APPOINTMENT TO THE COMMUNITY SERVICES BOARD AND ALCOHOL AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SUBCOMMITTEE

WHEREAS, the Chair of the Community Services Board can recommend appointment and reappointments to the Community Services Board (CSB) and its subcommittees, and

WHEREAS the Board of Supervisor Representative on the CSB as required in the CSB Bylaws has resigned their position on the Board and on the CSB’s Alcohol and Substance Abuse Subcommittee due to changes on the Hamilton County Board of Supervisors (BOS), and

WHEREAS this member’s term on the CSB and the CSB’s Alcohol and Substance Abuse Subcommittees was set to expire on December 31, 2024, be it

RESOLVED that, William Farber of Morehouse will be replaced on the CSB and the CSB’s Alcohol and Substance Abuse Subcommittee by current BOS Chair Brian Wells with a term expiring December 31, 2024, and the County Treasurer be so advised.

PROJECT EXPENDITURES FOR PAVING WORK – LAKE PLEASANT TRANSFER STATION

WHEREAS the DPW Superintendent met with the Public Works Committee to discuss repairing and repaving the entry road and sections near the weigh scale and lower road around the Lake Pleasant Transfer Station, and

WHEREAS the Superintendent estimates the costs for the said work will be $170,000, and

WHEREAS, the Public Works Committee approves of the said work, and

WHEREAS there is a current balance of $84,000 in Account No. A8189.0401 Solid Waste Capital Reserve Expenditure, be it

RESOLVED, that $86,000 be transferred from the Solid Waste Equipment Reserve to Account No. A8189.0401 Solid Waste Capital Reserve Expenditure for the said Lake Pleasant Transfer Station project as recommended by the DPW Superintendent and the County Treasurer be so authorized to make the transfer and Clerk of the Board and DPW Superintendent be so advised.


EXTENSION OF AWARD OF BID FOR DUST CONTROL MATERIALS

WHEREAS Hamilton County DPW solicited bids for Dust Control Materials per Specification No. 3-2021, and

WHEREAS, by Resolution No. 81-21 the Hamilton County Board of Supervisors awarded the Dust Control Materials bid to Gorman Brothers, Inc., for Calcium Chloride, and

WHEREAS the referenced bid provides the bid pricing for a one-year contract with the option of extending the contract by one year if both parties (Hamilton County and Gorman Brothers, Inc.) agree that terms and conditions remain the same for the duration of the extension, and

WHEREAS, the County Highway Superintendent has contacted Gorman Brothers, Inc. and that Gorman Brothers, Inc. will agree to a contract extension for Dust Control Materials at the same terms and conditions for a one (1) year period, and

WHEREAS the County Highway Superintendent believes it is in Hamilton County’s best interest to extend the current contract with Gorman Brothers, Inc. due to price stability resulting in no increase to 2021 bid prices, be it

RESOLVED, that the Hamilton County Board of Supervisors has determined that the bid awarded to Gorman Brothers, Inc. for Dust Control Materials should be extended for a period of one (1) year subject to the approval of the County Attorney, and the County Treasurer, Highway Superintendent and Clerk of the Board be so notified.

EXTENSION OF AWARD OF BID FOR COLD IN-PLACE RECLAMATION

WHEREAS Hamilton County DPW solicited bids for Cold In-Place Reclamation per Specification No. 2-2021, and

WHEREAS, by Resolution No. 85-21 the Hamilton County Board of Supervisors awarded the Cold In-Place Reclamation bid to Gorman Brothers, Inc., and

WHEREAS the referenced bid provides the bid pricing for a one-year contract with the option of extending the contract by one year if both parties (Hamilton County and Gorman Brothers, Inc.) agree that terms and conditions remain the same for the duration of the extension, and

WHEREAS, the County Highway Superintendent has contacted Gorman Brothers, Inc. and that Gorman Brothers, Inc. will agree to a contract extension for Cold In-Place Reclamation at the same terms and conditions for a one (1) year period, and

WHEREAS the County Highway Superintendent believes it is in Hamilton County’s best interest to extend the current contract with Gorman Brothers, Inc. due to price stability resulting in no increase to 2021 bid prices, be it

RESOLVED, that the Hamilton County Board of Supervisors has determined that the bid awarded to Gorman Brothers, Inc. for Cold In-Place Reclamation should be extended for a period of one (1) year subject to the approval of the County Attorney, and the County Treasurer, Highway Superintendent and Clerk of the Board be so notified.

PURCHASE ONE VEHICLE FOR PUBLIC HEALTH 2022

WHEREAS, the County Board of Supervisors have duly adopted the 2022 Hamilton County Budget, and

WHEREAS, within the said adopted 2022 budget the Board appropriated $25,000 for the purchase of one vehicle for the Public Health Department, and

WHEREAS Resolution No. 116-22 authorized the Fleet Coordinator to purchase one (1) 2022 Subaru Impreza, and

WHEREAS, when the Fleet Coordinator placed the order for the said Subaru vehicle, the vehicle was no longer available, and

WHEREAS, the Fleet Coordinator has located a 2022 Nissan Altima that is available under State Contract for purchase, and

WHEREAS the Fleet Coordinator recommends the purchase of one (1) sedan for use in 2022 as follows:

(1) - 2022 Nissan Altima AWD 4 door sedan - $26,420 be it

RESOLVED, that the Fleet Coordinator is hereby authorized to order one (1) 2022 Nissan Altima for Public Health mentioned herein for a total of $26,420 delivered from Maguire Nissan of Ithaca, 320 Elmira Road, Ithaca, NY 14850, be it further

RESOLVED, that the County Treasurer be authorized to transfer $1,420 from Account No. A4050.0402 Car Upkeep to Account No. A4050.0201 Automobile to cover the cost of the vehicle and the County Treasurer, Fleet Coordinator and the Clerk of the Board be so notified.

PURCHASE ONE TRUCK FOR 2022

WHEREAS, the County Board of Supervisors have duly adopted the 2022 Hamilton County Budget, and

WHEREAS, within the said adopted 2022 budget the Board appropriated $315,000 for equipment purchases for the Highway Department, and

WHEREAS Resolution No. 155-22 authorized the Fleet Coordinator to order one crew cab and one small regular cab dump truck and since that time one more crew cab has become available by the awarded bidder, and

WHEREAS the Fleet Coordinator recommends that the department purchase an additional crew cab truck for use in 2022 as follows:

(1) 2022 Ford F550 4X4 Crew Cab w/Utility Body - $78,215 be it

RESOLVED, that the Fleet Coordinator is hereby authorized to order one (1) 2022 Ford truck for the DPW as mentioned herein for a total of $78,215 for one (1) Ford truck delivered from Don’s Ford of Utica, 5712 Horatio St., Utica, NY 13502, be it further

RESOLVED, the Chairman of the Board be authorized to enter into a contract with the approval of the County Attorney for the said truck and the County Treasurer, Fleet Coordinator and the Clerk of the Board be so notified.

BURNHAM MILL BRIDGE PROJECT

WHEREAS, Resolution No. 138-21 Authorizes the Burnham Mill Bridge Project, and WHEREAS, the DPW Superintendent recommended the initial appropriation of $100,000, and

WHEREAS, the County has received the new superstructure steel and decking for the bridge project and will begin with the rehabilitation in the coming weeks, and

WHEREAS the Superintendent recommends the transfer of $125,000 from D5112.0203 Bridge Projects to Account No. D5120.2008 Burnham Mill Bridge Project, be it

RESOLVED, that the Board of Supervisors of the County of Hamilton does approve the transfer of $125,000 from Account No. D5112.0203 Bridge Projects to Account No. D5120.2008 Burnham Mill Bridge Project as recommended by the DPW Superintendent, and the County Treasurer be so authorized to make the transfer and Superintendent and Clerk of the Board be so advised.

SECOND PAYMENT FOR HYPER-REACH SERVICES

WHEREAS Resolution No. 203-20 authorized an agreement with Sam Asher Computing Services, Inc. (aka Hyper-Reach) for a Hyper-Reach Notification System for a 3-year term to be paid in two 18-month payments, and

WHEREAS Resolution No. 203-20 also authorized the first payment and committed Public Health DSRIP funding in the amount of $7,425 for the second payment, and

WHEREAS Hamilton County is now in receipt of Invoice No. 31908 in the amount of $7,425 for the second payment, be it

RESOLVED, that $7,425 of Public Health DSRIP funding currently in the unappropriated General Fund balance be transferred from the Unappropriated County General Fund Balance in accordance with Section 366 Subdivision 1 of the County Law to Public Health Account No. A4050.0446 AHI DSRIP PPS, and be it further

RESOLVED, that the County Treasurer be hereby authorized to issue a check in the amount of $7,425 to Sam Asher Computing Services Inc. (aka Hyper-Reach) for Invoice No. 31908 to be paid from Public Health Account No. A4050.0446 AHI DSRIP PPS, and be it further

RESOLVED, that the Sheriff and Director of Public Health be so notified.