1986-10-03 SP 282
SPECIAL
TOWN BOARD MEETING
OCTOBER 3, 1986
TOWN BOARD MEMBERS
Mrs. Frances Walter - Supervisor
Mr. George Kurosaka - Councilman
Mr. Stephen Borgos - Councilman
Mrs. Betty Monahan - Councilman
Mr. Ronald Montesi - Councilman, Absent
Mr. Wilson Mathias - Town Counsel
PRESS: Glens Falls Post Star
GUEST: Mr. Michael O'Connor, Mr. McCormick, Mr. Boutelle, Mr. Buckley, Mr. Steves, Mr.
Scudder, Mrs. Valenti, Mr. Frank Walter.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE LED BY: Supervisor Walter
MEETING OPENED 3:37 P.M.
SUPERVISOR WALTER - Noted that the Town Budget will be turned over to the Board at the
proper time and second the Public Hearing is relative to proposed changes in subdivision regulations,
Article 3, Section 4 of the Subdivision regulations..Article 3, Section 1, and in several articles...Article
3, Section IA, 3A, change No. of copies from 2 to 10—Article 3, Section 2B, 4B, 5B, to change
the No. of copies from 2 to 10 and in Article 3, Section 2B Article 3 Section 4 B, Article 3,
Section 5 B, change number of copies from to 5 to 10. We are adding additional language in
our Article 3, Section 2A language added...shall be prepared by a licensed professional engineer.
In Article 3, Section 4 A, the language added...shall be prepared by a licensed professional
engineer. Article 3, Section 5A shall be prepared by a licensed professional engineer and the
following language will be added to Article 3 Section 2A and 4A and quoting in addition to
the fee listed on the schedule of fees, the Planning Board may charge a fee to developers of
projects requiring legal and technical review provided that the fee charged, reflects the actual
cost of the legal and technical assistance to the Planning Board.
TOWN CLERK - Noted that the Public Hearing had been advertised.
SUPERVISOR WALTER - As to why we are at the situation we are at today, as everyone realizes
Queensbury is fast developing and a need for uniform applications presenting basic technical
information is needed up front. As we sit here today large scale developments have eaten
up the best land for development in the Town of O,ueensbury and looking to the future, lands
to be developed will be less desirable than those already developed and then we will be looking
at the marginal lands to be developed in the Town, as legislatures we are trying to offer protection
to the present land owner and the taxpayer. From past experience as projects are developed
in the Town the Town Board finds out about problems generally several years down the road,
problems such as drainage, the lowering of water tables in well water areas. Basically some
of these problems have been caused by the increased housing density as a result of the development
of the raw land in this town. Earlier this year the Town Board addressed the water problem
by a passage of local law No. 4, 1986 which requires developers if they are within two thousand
feet of an existing water supply to be a part of that water supply. As we are facing increasing
density, subdivisions are now backing onto each other. No longer can drainage be addressed
with a drainage pipe that runs onto the adjacent woods near by, more sophisticated, technical
information is necessary for the Planning Board in the very first instance for them to formulate --1)
an opinion on the concept of whether that project should be able to locate in that particular
area of town. This Town Board has brought forth the requirements to help us grow in a quality
environment by bringing this to a Public Hearing to amend those subdivision regulations and j
to make each application basically uniform.
MIKE O'CONNOR - Attorney office of Little and O'Connor - I am here to speak on the behalf
of others and on behalf of myself individually.
SUPERVISOR WALTER - Asked Mr. O'Connor if he was speaking for the residents of the Town
of nlueensbury or for people who do business in the Town.
MIKE O'CONNOR - I believe that I am speaking for both people who do business and who are
283
residents. I am speaking on behalf of the firm of Van Dusen and Steves and I believe that Mr.
Steves is a resident. I am speaking on behalf of Coulter & McCormick and I believe Mr. McCormick
is a resident. I myself am a taxpayer here. We have a basic concern with what is being proposed
and I will speak from three different positions. The overall tone of the proposal as we understand
it, is to allow only plans prepared by an engineer to be submitted to the various Boards, although
this is subject to explanation by the Board as to intent, and maybe further definition by the
Board within the regulations and rules that they offer. It also doesn't say what type of engineer
is to make this presentation, this is a concern whether we are talking about a chemical engineer
or what, aeronautic engineer or any type of engineer. We are talking here as I see it as licensed
professional engineer and we have a gentlemen here who is very familiar with the state rules
land regulations of licensing of engineers and surveyors who will speak on our behalf also. He
will get into that distinction a little bit more with the broadness of which you proposed here.
I am not sure is that the intent of the board to accept plans only prepared by a licensed engineer,
it is not clear from here.
SUPERVISOR WALTER - What we are looking for in Article 3 Section 1, for sketch plan, is
information is information that clearly must be provided by someone other than a lay person.
MIKE O'CONNOR - Are you excluding from the preparation those plans prepared by a licensed
surveyor?
SUPERVISOR WALTER - Article 3 Section IA No. 4 says... a map of a surveyor including a
lay out of the proposed subdivision prepared by a licensed professional land surveyor to a scale
of one inch equals 40 feet or one inch equals 50 feet. We are looking for a land surveyor to
be a part of that application.
MIKE O'CONNOR - In the first part of it you say that the sketch shall be prepared by the licensed
professional engineer and likewise back in the beginning language, we are talking about application,
you are saying applications shall be prepared by a licensed professional engineer.
SUPERVISOR WALTER - Yes, that is what it says.
MIKE O'CONNOR - So you are saying you must have a licensed professional engineer on each
application.
SUPERVISOR WALTER - I can clarify as to why that language appears as it does—because
itoo many times before the Planning Board are applications where engineering is necessary
and does not come into play until the very end of the project. The Town Board is saying that
those kinds of information such as no. 7 & 8 particularly no. 7, sketch drainage plan, should
be prepared by someone other than yourself or me.
MIKE O'CONNOR - I am not talking about a layman, I am talking specifically about a licensed
land surveyor.We have strong objection to what is on file because of its vagueness.
SUPERVISOR WALTER - Noted that when someone comes into represent a client they are
making a lot of money and stated that a lot of time has been spent at meetings trying to solve
these problems that arise in neighborhoods after developments have gone in and we don't all
make that much. We are looking out for a responsibility that we have to the people who live
here.
MIKE O'CONNOR - I would take objection to that comment in any manner which it infers
with the people that I represent are responsible for any past problems of this town. I think
that we are working today under a completely different set of rules and regulations as opposed
to the one or two page subdivision regulations that we used to work under which was what
was then the nor and was applicable to everybody, when the subdivisions were presented that
maybe have become town problems. The set of rules and regulation we now have for subdivisions
have more safe guards built into them and I don't think you are running into this current problem
with the current subdivision as you have had in the past.
SUPERVISOR WALTER - That is your opinion Mr. O'Connor.
MIKE O'CONNOR - I want to make it part of the records Mrs. Walter. You are aware are
�1 you not, of the definitions of the practice of land surveying in the practice of engineering
that are within the education law?
SUPERVISOR WALTER - Yes we are. We considered that in making these determinations.
COUNCILMAN KUROSAKA - I think I may be able to submit something later on.
MIKE O'CONNOR - I've got to address Mr. Kurosaka, what's before us because what is there
is objectionable, if there is some amendments, maybe we are wasting a lot of time
284
and if there are some proposed amendments the group will be glad to listen to them and then
maybe go forward.
SUPERVISOR WALTER - I think we need to take the comments on what we have currently
on file. Mr. Kurosaka has indicated that he has an amendment that would be further on down
the line and we are not too sure that will either seconded or approved by the majority of the
board, so we must take comments now on what we have put out for public hearing.
COUNCILMAN KUROSAKA - Asked what the objection was?
MIKE O'CONNOR - The objection is that you are apparently writing your own education law
or your own professional licensing law for the Town of Queensbury as opposed to what the
State of New York has for the State of New York. The State of New York says that the practice
of land surveying includes the application of rules and regulations of the courts with local
requirements incidental to subdivisions for correct determination.
COUNCILMAN KUROSAKA - Asked, incidental?
MIKE O'CONNOR - Yes, we have some regulations which will define what is incidental.
COUNCILMAN KUROSAKA-There are exemptions through the Education Dept. which covers
that.
MIKE O'CONNOR-My first question is, when you use the word licensed professional engineer
in the text of your proposed law are you including those licensed land surveyors, who have
an exemption certificate from the State Education Dept. to act as licensed professional engineers,
with regard to subdivisions within the guidelines of that exception which has been granted
by that Department of Education?
SUPERVISOR WALTER-No, Mr. O'Connor we are not. We are aware of what the State Education
Law says, we feel that with the current situation in the Town of Queensbury that we are looking
for additional expertise in the area of projects coming before the Planning Board we in no
way wish to circumvent the State Education Law that allows land surveyors to do minor engineering,
they still can continue to do minor engineering in the Town of Queensbury. We are saying
that in the applications that are presented before the Planning Board this is the criteria we
would like to see.
MIKE O'CONNOR-I do not know if you answered by question? First you said no you are not
going to accept it then you said yes you are not allow them to do the presentation if it is minor
engineering, where do we get the definition of minor engineering? Are we going with what
the State Education Dept. has set forth?
COUNCILMAN KUROSAKA - Have you got a copy of the exemption Mike, I think that might
answer the question.
MIKE O'CONNOR - Yes... read from the copy of the exemption he had regarding Mr. Leon
M. Steves having re-applied for exemption under Section 7208...paragraph N...Why this exception
he is licensed to do the work that is necessary for subdivision except for bridges, pumping
stations, lift stations or sewer disposal or treatment plants. If that is acceptable would he
still be qualified to make application and present a subdivision that did not include one of these
four items?
SUPERVISOR WALTER - The answer is...the language that we have prepared for amendments.
says shall be prepared by a licensed professional engineer and that the exemption from the
State Department of Education would stand for Mr. Steves on any other project that come
before the Planning Board which will need the criteria of what we have set forth.
MIKE O'CONNOR - I don't understand your answer, I guess. Can he submit a subdivision?
SUPERVISOR WALTER - No, he may not in the Town of Queensbury with this new language
and what we are saying by a licensed professional engineer in the language is that the Town
of Queensbury is now developing to a point where subdivisions are back to back to each other
and we need a sophistication of engineering to take care of these problems. Are you to say
that Mr. Steves can handle all engineering problems that appear in any of the subdivision applicati
currently before the Planning Board?
MIKE O'CONNOR - I am saying as licensed by the State of New York to handle all the problems
except for these four circumstances.
SUPERVISOR WALTER - The Town of Queensbury says we have a need for a sophistication
where we are looking for more expertise. We are asking the land surveyor to be part of the
application and to do what he does best...that is to survey, laying out boundaries of the proposed
2V5
subdivision, the subdivision boundaries, doing the topographic features, doing work that he
does with the USGS baton and those kinds of things we feel are extremely necessary to be
a part of the application. But other parts of the application which we feel need more expertise
and engineering because of the density we are getting today.
1
MIKE O'CONNOR - The density of Rueensbury is no different than of any other town and I
will go to Clifton Park, or some other areas that have become bedroom towns, much more
than the Town of Rueensbury and they haven't tried to do this, they haven't tried to put people
out of business. They haven't tried to put rules and regulations out for the sake of regulations.
I don't see the justification for it. I am arguing from a position where we take strong objection
to it the statements that you need more sophistication does not support the need for the type
of legislation that you have got proposed here. I would like to step aside if I might with the
permission of my clients, to speak on behalf of the open end of this of the expense that you
are going to pass on to individual sub-dividers. I think that if the town is going to come to
a point, and I have no objection to it, where it is going to seek professional advise and have
professional review from the town's point of view as opposed to what is submitted by the sub-dividers,
that is fine, that is something that should be at town expense in general though and not just
passed on to the sub-dividers of the moment. The sub-dividers of the moment seem to be getting
charged with everything coming through the door. I object to the fact that you are going to
now increase or pass on directly, professional fees to the new home owners of the town where
you haven't in the past. I think this should be and as you spoke, part of your motivation here
to benefit not only the new subdivision but the adjoining or old subdivisions that are going
to be affected by what happens with the vacant part of lands that are adjoining them. I think
it should be town wide charge. I also would object as a taxpayer to it being open ended. I
think you ought to hire professionals. You ought to hire them on an annual basis it shouldn't
be opened ended going. I am sure that there are people out there that are available and would
be willing to take on those positions. But the way this particular law is written as far as I
can understand it as a laymen or a lawyer, it is open ended and that the bill would be passed
on to the individual sub-dividers. I don't think that is something that we need. I see through
a lot of what is here on the table as a smoke screen to slow down development I think we've
got a zoning ordinance if you've got a problem with the expansion that is taking place that,
that is the place to address it, as opposed to simply putting out regulations for regulations
sake and making it so expensive that no one wants to do business in the Town of Rueensbury.
The professionals that are coming in may pay it, but they are just going to pass it on to the
people.
ANDREW MCCORMICK - 62 McCormick Drive - I am one of those older surveyors with the
exemption and it is where I have used the exemption from time to time and most of the work
we do might involve that but there are those times when, as many professionals do, they know
their limits of their expertise and at that point they take additional consulting help which
I think most of all the developers at my office have done. Mr. O'Connor has covered most
of that. Mainly I would like to introduce a gentleman who for I think for your benefit and
the other surveyors that are here can explain in great detail, if need be, the education law
as it affects engineers and surveyors.
SUPERVISOR WALTER - I would like to limit the comments to the residents in the Town of
Rueensbury. If your guest is here and if the Board wishes to ask him any questions relative
to the Education Law they are free to do that.
COUNCILMAN KUROSAKA - I am an engineer and I have passed the same board and I don't
know if we can pass the thing unless we know if we are violating the law. There are very few
with exemptions.
COUNCILMAN BORGOS - I would like to hear what he has to say.
MIKE O'CONNOR - Asked as a point of order if residents can't have others speak on their
k behalf?
SUPERVISOR WALTER - As Supervisor of the Town of Rueensbury and running this meeting
I determine what the rules are going to be and this rule has been in effect since before we
i abolished the police department, and that has been on budgets or every other public hearing.
I i
{ We entertain those people who are residents of the Town of Rueensbury, that is to limit other
groups from other communities and across the State wide to come into our Town and tell us
how we ought to run it.
MIKE O'CONNOR - I probably have some sympathy with your feeling, if they come in not at
the request of the local residents but this also pertains to me, as a taxpayer of the Town of
Rueensbury. I ask them to come forward to speak on my behalf and you are going to limit
what they are going to say...
SUPERVISOR WALTER - Mr. O'Connor I said this gentleman may respond to questions of the
board relative to what is contained in the State Education Law.
286
MIKE O'CONNOR - Mrs. Walter I would like to object on the record for that. I do not believe
that this is a public hearing on which the citizens of the Town of Queensbury can participate.
SUPERVISOR WALTER - One other rule I failed to mention is that other people who have
been here for public hearings realize, I try to acknowledge everyone in the room first before
I let someone speak again so I would tell you now that at the end of the meeting after I have
heard from everyone else who wishes to speak I will call on you again.
MR. BOUTELLE - Delmar, New York, and have been in the surveying business for many years.
I am a graduate engineer. I am not a professional engineer but I am a surveyor with a license
and an exemption. I served on the licensing board for engineers and surveyors in the State
of New York for ten years. I was chairman for ten years while many of these rules which
created a problem in the law which were rewritten in 1972, were redefined and eventually
put into what we call the commissioner regulations. They are description of what the law
was intended to mean at the time, the words, minor engineering were put into the law.
,.J
COUNCILMAN KUROSAKA - Asked what a professional engineer was? Basically there is
no definite category for civil, chemical, or anything, we are all professional engineers in the
State of New York. It is professional ethics whether you do what you do or not, if it is something
that is not in your field and someone puts you into disciplinary action, the board will take action
against you.
MR. BOUTELLE- With a professional license as an engineer you can practice in any field in
which you have competence if it is demonstrated that you do not then you have a chance of
-having your license revoked.
COUNCILMAN KUROSAKA-What is the intent of the land surveyor exemption for the older
land surveyors in the area?
MR. BOUTELLE-Simply stated the intent of the exemption 728N in the Education Law was
to permit upon application by.a land surveyor the right to do engineering work in a subdivision
the definition just put to you by Mr. O'Connor was what was in the law, that created some
ambiguity and it was redefined, put in the commissioners regulations about four years ago.
I have that copy here and would be pleased to leave it with you. There are two parts to the
scope of the practice of exempt persons that apply to a land surveyor A. the term engineering
project as used in Subdivision M. of Section 72 of the Education Law that is the part that gives
the engineer the right to do land surveying. Shall not include the survey of land for the purpose
of establishing any real property boundaries within a subdivision, and engineer is excluded
from subdivision work he must be part of the project when the initial plans are submitted to
the Board, it should be professional engineer and land surveyor.
SUPERVISOR WALTER-You are saying a professional engineer and land surveyor should be
a part of the project, that is what our language says. We must have a land surveyor do some
work and we are having the plans submitted by a professional engineer.
MR. BOUTELLE-You are excluding the land surveyor from the initial process.
SUPERVISOR WALTER-He is a part of the application for a sketch plan for a minor and major
subdivision. We are not excluding land surveyor we are asking him to take a major role in
this application.
MR. BOUTELLE-My opinion for what it is worth, both should be in this rule, both take their
equal part I am talking only about the licensed land surveyor that does not have an exemption,
I am talking about the licensed land surveyor who is permitted to subdivide land he is the only
person who can subdivide land and file a map in the county clerk's office. The exempt land
surveyor, I do not think that there should be any question he should be permitted to submit
all the things that are necessary for the preparation of final subdivision plans.
The B. of 68.9 the term minor engineering and this is the commissioners regulation, as used
in a Subdivision B. of Section 7208 of the Education Law shall include and not be limited to
the following projects: 1. the design of water supply systems, sewage disposal systems, storm
drainage systems for individual lots or lots in subdivisions 2. the design of public water distribution
systems for subdivisions where the project is within an existing water district approved by
the appropriate Federal State or Local Agency. If the project does not involve source developmen
treatment, storage and some other things that you would expect, which are solely of sophisticated
engineering problems.
COUNCILMAN KUROSAKA - What are the problems?
MR. BOUTELLE - That is source development treatment, storage transmission maintenance,
pumping or pressure reduction, those should not be with the exempt engineer.
287
COUNCILMAN KUROSAKA - I am the only engineer on this board and I know what you are
talking about, they don't. '
MR. BOUTELLE - The second part of that would be the water mains as determined by the
appropriate state or local agency do not require highly specialized and complex design. That
is not what is considered minor engineering. Then it goes on to say the design of public sanitary
sewage collection for facilities where the project does not include special complex designs,
but not limited to those related to extreme soil conditions requiring special beddings,special
man holes, for instances over 20 feet in depth, major stream or highway crossings or puddling
in the project then sub item is when the existing sewer district...then went on to read when
it is not in the existing sewer district, then a comprehensive study area by the local agency,
he may not be involved in large designs. Old designs for water supply and sanitary sewer collection
-- facilities of minor nature shall be submitted for review of approval to the appropriate federal
and state agencies. That basically is what minor engineering work is in a subdivision. Its saying
that, that land surveyor can design the subdivision and he should be involved in the design from
the onset which is where the familiar work is done.
COUNCILMAN BORGOS - The first question is what are the qualifications of those who do
have this particular exemption? Can you give us roughly in terms of years of experience
or education?
MR. BOUTELLE - No I cannot, once they are licensed by the State of New York that's all been
done by the state board.
COUNCILMAN BORGOS - Do they use any criteria for establishing?
MR. BOUTELLE - Absolutely.
COUNCILMAN BORGOS - Can you tell us what some of the criteria is?
MR. BOUTELLE - The Engineering Board has four functions...they prepare the examination,
they look at applications for admittance to the examination, they give the examination, and
they recommend policy to the State Education Department. In these applications you look
at a persons background in educational value and experience. Engineering and land surveying
are now identical with exception with one part of it. It takes eight years to get an engineers
license, four years of college, four years of experience. It takes eight years for a land surveyor
two years of college, six years of experience, only high school education and some of those
are around. He has to have eight years experience before he can even apply for examination
process.
COUNCILMAN BORGOS - So in order to get the exemption certificate he or she must pass
the licensing exam?
MR. BOUTELLE - No, to get the exemption certificate they already have to be licensed and
practicing engineering in a land surveying business.
COUNCILMAN BORGOS - The certification, the exemption certificate that certifies that
they are able to do this in the State of New York, am I correct in assuming that this certifies
that they are capable of handling subdivisions as we are discussing subdivisions, the 150 lot
the 200 lot subdivisions?
MR. BOUTELLE - I would assume so.
COUNCILMAN MONAHAN - On the side of a mountain and in very sensitive areas like wetlands,
double A streams etc?
SUPERVISOR WALTER - That is not spelled out in the Commissioners regulations.
COUNCILMAN BORGOS - Can you think of another community near here or any where in
the State of New York that's proposing the kind of amendment we are proposing here?
MR. BOUTELLE - No, I don't know of another town that has this exclusion of a land surveyor.
SUPERVISOR WALTER - Relative to subdivisions but other towns have listed those people
who may submit. Isn't that right?
MR. BOUTELLE - I don't know.
SUPERVISOR WALTER - They do.
MR. BOUTELLE - Mr. Kurosaka made the comment and I would like to address that to. That
288
the engineer only applies his ability to that in which he is competent, land surveyor is not going
to be doing what Mrs. Monahan suggested over here, it is a sophisticated problem in drainage
or anything else he'd loose his license immediately if he tried to get involved that complicated,
he would instantly get involved with an engineer. If you sense that as a board, you must certainly
go in that direction, but to leave him out of your present regulations is contrary to the law.
SUPERVISOR WALTER - It is in the present regulation, I really want to make that clear, he
has a very major role in the preparation of the sketch plans for both minor and major subdivisions.
Do you have a copy of what we are dealing with?
MR. BOUTELLE - I only read a part of it.
SUPERVISOR WALTER - It really gives him a great deal to do as part of the preparation and
I want to emphasize that in no way are we trying to exclude surveyors, because they are part
of the criteria that we are spelling out, and which we also have in another
local law for another kind of development. Thanked Mr. Buetelle for his comments.
COUNCILMAN KUROSAKA - Asked how many guys out there were land surveyors and how
many got the exemption? Three of you well, I have worked with these three gentlemen and
as an engineer and my feeling with the three of them is when they got in beyond their head
would call somebody.
SUPERVISOR WALTER - Yes, but what we are dealing with here is not with individuals. We
can be bombarded with any kind of unethical people tomorrow. The point of the matter is
that the Town Planning Board is saying we will take care of looking after the development
in this town but you must give us some tools, and what we are trying to put forth here is a
criteria for a uniform application that will go before the Planning Board, having all parts addressed
the names and address of the applicants, the location map showing the property with 500 feet
a very detailed area for the surveyor. It says in here a map of survey including by a licensed
professional land surveyor. He has got to put all sorts of things on this on this map. We are
looking for environmental assessment describing the potential environment in the town. We
are looking at additional exhibits the developer may feel necessary to describe. A sketch drainage
plan and a sketch landscape plan and that is an area where we are feeling we need to have
additional expertise. Asked for further comments?
RAYMOND BUCKLEY - Resident of the Town Of Rueensbury and an engineer and land surveyor...I
object to the form of this regulation not in requiring a land surveyor and an engineer to be
involved early on in the large projects but simply in that definition of what an engineer is.
I feel that when the education department grants that exemption to allow the surveyor to ---�
act as an engineer who had been in practice prior to 1972 and qualified, I think that handles
the problem. I don't think there has ever been a case of a very large subdivision without an
engineer involved, I don't think it would happen in that the State Agencies also review these
and they don't allow it to happen. If there is a large project which involves public water or
public sewer then they wouldn't accept that with a survey alone. I think the whole thing is
covered and I think at the same time you are proposing this, in another section are giving the
town the authority to impose on a developer the cost of engineering provided at the request
of the town.
SUPERVISOR WALTER - No, I want to set this straight, that is not what we are doing. In
addition to the fee listed on the schedule of fees the Planning Board may charge a fee to the
developers of projects requiring legal and technical review provided that the fee charge reflects
the actual cost of the legal and technical assistance. What we are merely saying here is that
we have in the past, this is not so-inething new, have had an engineer, Mr. Scudder and Mr.
Morris have been reviewing projects for the board and they are looking into see whether all
of the necessary engineering information has been included and if it poses a problem for the
town. What we are saying, we would like to be recouped for those fees and I will tell you why,
because on some projects what we have is some very detailed engineering reports and plans
and someone will take a look at that as been charged by the town an engineer and he will just
see that everything is there. We have had some pretty bad projects come in before the Planning
Board. The Town Board had picked upon several of them just as they have looked in the file
relative to whether we should take land or we are looking for the dollars from that developer
for recreation fees. That is one of the times we have gotten involved. We have found that i
there is engineering needed and we feel at that point that we have to have a thorough review —J
by the engineer. The Town Board is going to receive the 1987 budget and in there I have projected
fees that's recouping from the developer $12000.00 from next year. We are not undertaking
a big full scale engineering review of any new projects. We are merely doing what we have
done in the past but we are saying those of you who are not giving us very much are probably
going to be charged on the other end for a review.
MR. BUCKLEY - I did not say that I was opposed to that. I feel that it has been done in the
past, there is definitely value to it, it should continue to be done and if it is necessary to recover
0n^
40
that cost that is fine. I am just pointing out that you are doing more than one thing to address
this same sort of situation which I don't feel really exist on any broad scale and that is a surveyor
submitting plans and not having proper designs. I don't feel that under the regulations that
kind of thing will go through the Planning Board and get approved under todays standards and
I think that the ordinance as you have written it requiring both the surveyor and the engineer
to be involved initially is fine. I think that simply you should recognize the exemption as the
State has, I think the developer should receive some estimate of what those cost would be
ahead of time. In other words he should be aware of about how much is going to be spent.
I realize that it can't be pinned down too well but I don't want to see it too opened.
SUPERVISOR WALTER - Again why this language appears... there was discussion on what
we are going to do because we currently have a new planner on, new staff, his time exclusively
has been dealing with the agendas and with the projects. We have a lot of other things we
`— want to do but we are finding that is what we need. That cost is reflected in the new budget
and what we thought about and arrived at that, that is going to be fairer to the developers
in the town, was to take our schedule of fees for development and push them way up there
just to cover on the outside all the cost that we incur for development and one of the things
we are trying to do in government is to put a lot of the charges on the people who use the
services. That's why little old ladies can keep their houses so if the person who is using the
services is able to pay for it. It was decided by the board in planning this language that perhaps
the best way o handle it would
y be to encourage the best plans from
the developer and if he
doesn't that review is probably going to cost him more money. But we didn't want to penalize
the developers in the town, which are numerous, that put in the best kind of plan.
MR. BUCKLEY - We shouldn't get that as a shock after its happened through.
SUPERVISOR WALTER - If you are envisioning great big thousands of dollars cost for the
amount of activity we have on our agendas right now, 12,000.00 is like a drop in the bucket.
I am not going to be specifically under estimating, we sat down and we looked at what was
costing us and really we can't get back everything that it is costing. It was suggested at the
Public Hearing was to keep track of the charges, that in itself is an expense and another administrative
cost to keep track of the hours and when a guy goes over a certain amount of dollars then
he gets called off. We came to what we thought was the best solution.
MR. BUCKLEY - A question for George, as I understand it the people who have that exemption
obtained in 1972, no further exemptions ever will be granted is it a one shot deal. Have there
ever been any surveyors come in with that exemption that was not one of these three people
right here. I don't know anybody from out of town that have come in with it. It is not used
that much.
COUNCILMAN KUROSAKA - No it isn't as a matter of fact I don't recollect any of them using
it very much.
MR. BUCKLEY - Its primarily on two or three lot developments.
COUNCILMAN KUROSAKA - Its up to 10 lots.
LEON STEVES - 290 Bay Road, Rueensbury, land surveyor, since 1959 had exemption since
1952. Since John VanDusen retired in 1984, who handled all the application before the board
at that time, I took over and I know I have the right to use my exemption, I have not. There
hasn't been a plan, subdivision of mine in Rueensbury that has not had an engineer stamp approval
review on board. In addition you are asking for an engineering project or subdivision to be
completely engineered on a sketch plan. I think that is unreasonable and unrealistic. We first
have to come to the board to see if we are in agreement with them that the project is proposed
is in agreement with the code and more importantly in agreement with the board members
not the code. We quite often in discussion with them iron these differences out before we
go to the expense of hiring an engineer to design something that wouldn't be used the first
`-- time around anyways and that's why we do what we do. Now as far as drainage is concerned
we have addressed that, as far at the sewage, we have addressed that . When we bring a plan
before you we know that it can be done. We do this because we go to the soil distribution
first, otherwise there is no sense doing the project, it is a waste of our time and your time.
SUPERVISOR WALTER - Well Mr. Steves I disagree with you on some of what you said. I don't
think that in some of the files I have looked through that any sketch plan should have been
given on the sketch sheet, pardon the pun, information that has been supplied to the board.
I am a planner, that's my education, and I don't understand how a Planning Board member can
make a decision as to whether that project that is the best possible project for the area with
something on the back of a brown paper bag. I think the Town of Queensbury, has gotten to
a point where it is extremely important that the Planning Board have in front of them all the
information they need to make a good decision as to whether that project should go on that
property. Interesting items you brought up today, as far as what Rueensbury is doing, we are
290
probably five or ten years behind the times of those towns that are further south of us that
have seen the increased density of their towns and what we are merely trying to do is head
off some of those problems. I think you are wrong when you say the Planning Board has the
information they need and that any developer shouldn't go to any expense. I think you can
walk up to our Planning office, we have made that available to you, and find out whether your
project fits within the code, whether it meets the density requirement. But I do think that
in order for the Planning Board to make a decision they should have a map in front of them
that is one inch to forty or one inch to fifty, that it is two foot interval of contours
and that it clearly states all these kinds of things we are asking for. It gives them the full
picture. That shouldn't be done preliminary or final, but it isn't being done.
LEON STEVES - Yes it is, a sketch plan no, but it is being done in preliminary stages. I don't
know what you are after Mrs. Walter.
SUPERVISOR WALTER - Well it isn't myself, the Town Board feels that we should have all
people coming before the Planning Board supplying the same kind of information.
LEON STEVES - You are trying to exclude me from practicing my profession as an exempt
surveyor and I cannot agree.
SUPERVISOR WALTER - I see that you are very much a part of this application and I don't
see why you feel we are excluding you.
LEON STEVES - You are tampering with the Education law. The Education Law of 1972 has
given me the exempt rights to practice that portion of engineering known as land surveying
which deals with the engineering necessary to do subdivisions. George Kurosaka can well explain
that and address that. We do not use anyone exclusively but we do use engineers often. I don't
think you can show me a project that I have done that does not have an engineer in it.
SUPERVISOR WALTER - OK, what we are saying is, we want to have these people, a team.
This is modified, I really wanted to have the landscape architect, the surveyor and the engineer
to present themselves as a developers team.
LEON STEVES - The board could have accomplished that with me and I am speaking for myself
by asking to do that upfront but with what you are telling me that you are going to change
the law that governs what I can do, I cannot live with that. I have to object to it.
MRS. VALENTI - 60 Sweet Road, I am a citizen and also own and operate with my husband,
Valenti Builders Inc...I am here basically to object to the passing on of the engineering legal
fees, basically because I don't want to pay anymore fees. I just would like to ask you, I can
understand where you are coming from because I have been to enough Planning Boards to see
sketch plans done with pencil and paper and a couple of rulers thrown together and I have also
witnessed in the past of couple of years, one subdivision which shall remain nameless, but just
recently got preliminary approval and in that instance I would say that in all probability your
engineer was looking over their shoulder and giving them a hard time every step of the way
as well as the Planning Board who is pretty thorough and I just have a real simple question...
usually a man works for the guy who butters his bread, who pays the bill, right now you have
an engineer and a lawyer who the town hires to look out for your interest, isn't there any problem
with the fact that if suddenly the developer is paying the tab for this man, engineer and attorney
there is going to be just a little bit of a conflict. I don't honestly think Mike O'Connor could
given you as hard of a time as he has if you were paying his bill today and he is representing
a group of surveyors. In reference to that subdivision that I was talking about for two years
this engineer is obviously been giving them a hard time. I really wonder if they wouldn't maybe
if they wouldn't back off a little bit if they knew that the engineering tab was getting very
high because of the fact.they were having these drainage problems, sewer problems and what
not and that is the only thing I really wanted to ask you. I find there is a conflict there.
I would much rather see the town say yes this man works for me and he's protecting our interest.
But I really find the problem is when I am paying his tab, whether he can be as strong in his
convictions about what he is overseeing if he knows I've got to pay his end to and I really think
you shouldn't penalize like you said, the people who do, do the work ahead of time. I think
it would be more logical to have a ceiling on it and say we will allow you a thousand dollars
worth of engineering, after that you pay the freight. I know what my professional fees ran
me and I feel I have been very consciousness in giving the Planning Board what they need and
I really feel on your end you should be taking care of your business in paying your end of it
so to speak.
COUNCILMAN KUROSAKA - Not every project is going to require this fee, it is only those
projects that require a closer look at.
MR. SCUDDER - Resident of the Town of Rueensbury... I have two or three observations that
I would like to make, I wonder if it was permissible under your rules to address questions to
291
Mr. Boutelle? Mr. Boutelle, I want to ask you if your interpretation of the statue that you
quoted and the regulations quoted from suggestions that land surveyors may do engineering
of a minor nature or minor engineering or engineering of minor projects, if that is restricted
to subdivisions as defined in the law?
MR. BOUTELLE-We are not saying realty subdivisions...
MR. SCUDDER-What is a subdivision as you understand it?
COUNCILMAN BORGOS-I object to this, it is like a court room testimony...
MR. SCUDDER- I would like to make an observation and respond to something Mr. Buckley
said, it has been my experience in being asked to consult to the Town and the Town Planning
Board that the degree of input required from the Town's side has a lot to do with the Quality
of the project that is submitted. If the project is well done the review is simple and the cost
is low.
SUPERVISOR WALTER-I did try to make that point myself.
MR. SCUDDER - If an engineering designer or an engineer is not in on the ground floor of
a project so to speak he is faced with the problem with trying to accommodate himself to
a prepared layout. I think a sketch plan is an extremely important part of the process of moving
up a project through review and approval and the microscopic dimensions of a project are determined
at that point. I have seen sketch plans come in that are so sketchy that the Planning Board
had hardly anything to criticize and without naming any names, a land surveyor has said, well
tell me what you want I'll go back and redesign the project and submit it that way. That's
not what design is all about. Finally I would like to make a remark about the implications
of computers and computer software program that are readily available to anybody who has
the price to purchase them. Everybody has a computer who is in the land surveying business
these days and there are software programs available for all matter of engineering functions,
hydraulics, rainfall and run off computations, water distribution, all sorts of elements of highway
design and many many other engineering disciplines and the computer lends itself to the practice
of people buying the software programs and holding themselves out as competent to making
to make engineering determinations in those fields where they have no particular training
or experience. I think tad about my going out purchasing a set of McKinneys and starting
practicing law. I think that point needs to be made. Finally the law is the law, we respect
the law, nobody, that I know of on our side of the table, is trying to diminish or limit the rights
of anybody who is practicing under the education law.
MR. FRANK WALTER - Resident of Queensbury - I just have a couple of very brief observations.
I think a little much is being made of the matter of the exempt land surveyor. It does apply
to just a relative few individuals and as a matter of general practice I don't think it has any
real effect on the subdivision business on the matter on which they practice. I think the two
things I see in these proposed regulations, I would have to endorse and agree with, is the board
is trying to encourage a team approach to projects and I think this is good and should be encouraged.
The team approach involving the land surveyor and engineer may very well involve a landscape
architect, we haven't heard too much about landscaping architecture but they may very well
be included, legal counsel, perhaps soil experts, there could be any number of people involved
as a team on a project. I think that what is to be avoided is that one discipline getting ahold
of a project and running with it early on and setting perimeters and having the other people
trying to adopt their practice to what was previously set. That brings me up to the matter
of the sketch plans, I think that, that team should be involved early on even in the preparation
of the sketch plan. The perimeters that are set, directions that are given in the development
of a sketch plan carry through the project and they are extremely important. The sketch in
the preliminary stages of a project are much more important than the phase where the project
is flushed out and detailed. Those early phases are planning and should involve all the disciplines
in a coordinate fashion. I think that this is the direction the board is going and the sort of
thing they are trying to encourage and I endorse that approach.
COUNCILMAN KUROSAKA - We have a sort of a gentlemens agreement. They don't do engineering
I don't land surveying.
{ SUPERVISOR WALTER - Asked George what he was going to do when he gets unethical guys
-- that are settling in this area from other places that you don't know, how are we going to control
that.
COUNCILMAN KUROSAKA - They will have to have the exemption. There aren't that many
of them around.
SUPERVISOR WALTER - Those would probably be the fellows who are about to retire to this
area. Asked if the board wanted to put forth some kind of amendment?
292
COUNCILMAN KUROSAKA - Yes, where it says prepared by a Licensed land surveyor I would
like to put or a licensed professional land surveyor with the proper N.Y. State Engineering
exemption. If we don't put it in we are circumventing the New York State Education Law.
I don't think it is legal. We are only talking three individuals here and I have worked with them.
They are very honorable, very professional.
COUNCILMAN BORGOS It is interesting that George and I did not confer this before we
got here. I would propose something the same, I think I would say an engineer licensed professional
land surveyor with the proper N.Y. State Education Department exemption or other person
or persons licensed or authorized by the N.Y. State to perform such activities. There may
be somebody else out there who's licensed that we are not aware of and if they were to come
in certainly wouldn't have to go back through the whole idea of amending our whole regulations.
SUPERVISOR WALTER - Well I could go along with that, I would want to offer that with an
amendment with a second and a vote on it today because I think I could go with that if we -- �
put in the criteria somewhere, where an engineer would be involved early on. I am looking
at what is before our Planning Board and we are looking at mammoth kinds of subdivisions
and 1 really do not wish to see us have nothing less than the best experts looking at drainage.
Particularly we have a problem with drainage in the sandy section of our town which is west
of the Northway and where most of the best land has already been developed and now we are
going to be going off the Ridge Road and off other places where the soil conditions are terrible
and they have to have added special attention. So at some point of that early sketch plan
that we had which shall be prepared but I personally don't care who brings the application into
the office. I do like to see the fact that, that drainage plan is going to be covered by an engineer.
COUNCILMAN MONAHAN - I might mention to some of the people who weren't on board
at the time that we did have quite a severe problem here from some plans that were submitted
to this town by a road that didn't stay where it was supposed to, running down West Mountain
into peoples back yards. These are the things we are saying... lets make sure they don't happen
again and make sure we put into place some mechanism so they don't happen. That is only
one of the examples that has happened in the past. It is quite hard for the Town to correct.
COUNCILMAN BORGOS - I think from what appears we may have crossed at least one hurdle
and that is the inclusion of the people with special State exemption. At least in a portion
of this, so we are not trying to go against the State Education Law at this point.
SUPERVISOR WALTER - I don't think it was the intent ever to go against the State Education
Law but merely point out that the Town of Queensbury is really concerned about the environment
and that we do want to have a project, the size of the ones we are having, have the best possible
attention so that the possible problems are addressed early on and as Betty indicated you haven't
been here long enough, or you would know that we have been in court on several subdivisions
which did not stand up to what they looked like on paper.
COUNCILMAN BORGOS - I have been here long enough and I have followed most of this and
I have been on the properties involved. I am sure it wasn't our intent to violate the State Education
Law, it apparently came out to look like that so perhaps we have solved that problem. I agree
at some point in those difficult situations an engineer should get in and perhaps talk with our
new Planner and with the Board and perhaps with the surveyors and engineers we could all
get together to agree at what that point that should be. Maybe sit down at a workshop or
two and get that in, because it is very important, we obviously should have the best. There
are times perhaps you don't need to pay for things that Mr. Steves talked about, that may be
rejected on the first night so why pay $10,000.00 extra only to have it rejected.
SUPERVISOR WALTER - The questions he referred to can be answered in a conference, it
doesn't have to take the time of the Planning Board. Our Planning Board meetings go on till .�
1:00 o'clock in the morning.
COUNCILMAN BORGOS - But if the Planning Board is not a party to that conference then
walking in, in front of that board means those people haven't heard that conference and you
are going to have the same questions all over again.
SUPERVISOR WALTER - But he mentioned having them meet the Zoning and what ever, those
kinds of things, you know you do not have to just bring in a sketch plan and have it put up on
a board and have those kind of things addressed at a public meeting. We are trying to say
get all these things down, we are making an assertive effort to get the information out to
the Planning Board members well ahead, so if they have any questions, they can call either
our new Planner or the engineer who signed the project for any kind of information that they
want so the meetings will be a little more streamlined and they will have this information
^r`^q
4100
ahead of time and they won't have to grip it out or even have project tabled to come back
for something that really should have been in front of them in the first place. It is all spelled
out so everybody has to do the same thing and nobody is really getting a little bit heavy handed
with any particular individual.
COUNCILMAN MONAHAN - I think that is one reason why we have had Planning Board meetings
so long and I have been to many Planning Board meetings because people come before the
board for either for consultation or sketch plan or what ever you want to call it without enough
information just as, if you talk to our Highway Superintendent, his time is wasted by being
called on to roads before they are ready for him and called back several times when one call
should be sufficient for the whole thing. These are the things we are finding are happening
and perhaps with better engineering in there we can stop some of this. I would like to say
that I would like to qualify that licensed professional engineer after that with a degree in civil
engineering so that we don't have all the types of engineers coming in here that don't quite
belong doing this type of work.
COUNCILMAN KUROSAKA - The education law doesn't separate anybody by degrees.
SUPERVISOR WALTER - But we can.
COUNCILMAN KUROSAKA - You can't because they are licensed engineers that never went
to college.
SUPERVISOR WALTER - We are not defining professional, we are saying that we want a professional
civil engineer, and that is not defining engineer.
COUNCILMAN KUROSAKA - She said degree in civil engineering, she didn't say licensed.
MR. O'CONNOR - Mrs. Walter maybe to avoid all the controversy as to which professional
that you would have and accept the suggestion that was made to you by the fellow who was
chairman of Board of Review, as I understand it, for engineers and land surveyor and simple
go forth with your ordinance as to what you want to submit and allow their own professional
discipline, their own professional integrity govern whether or not they will be making a submittal.
If the town finds itself in a circumstance where it thinks that it shouldn't be there are other
ways to address it then to try to put something here that really won't fit the circumstance.
I use the aeronautical engineer, simply trying to think of the different fields. There are also
marine engineers, there all kinds of engineer. There is an example of being a little bit ridiculous
by trying locally improve upon what the Education Law has been set forth by the Board of
Education and by the Review Boards that govern the Education Law. You've heard only one
comment and I won't necessarily go back to them as to the difference your preliminary approval
and your sketch plan approval. I was involved with your adoption of the subdivision regulations
and at that time if you go back to the many public hearings and the many workshops that were
had, sometimes with developers as well as with professionals who were making the presentations.
The thought was as Mr. Steves has indicated, the sketch plan was simply a sketch plan, a preliminary
shot to the Board as to what we would like to do with that. We can all read the Zoning Ordinance
and find out whether or not we can have single family, two family or multifamily in a particular
zone and I don't think he simplified his presentation as a sketch plan. He meant to simplify
it to that degree. Whether you want one road, two roads, whether you want to hook onto adjoining
subdivision by interior road, those type things are ideas that are passed back and forth between
the developers. That was my understanding with the purpose of what the intent of a sketch
plan was. When you then went from a sketch plan which gave you really no standing is where
you then got into the defined topographical map, showing the contours of the land, showing
all the engineering or the details of the particular parcel. I really haven't addressed that but
I thought it was well addressed when the original subdivision plans or subdivision regulations
were adopted within the last couple of years, if I remember right. I don't know and really
personally think they should be still be given an opportunity to come in and say this is what
we would like to do with our parcel of land. I agree that there are some perimeters that should
be set forth with the brown bag and the hand written detail on the back should be eliminated
but there is a step above that which would certainly let the board let make intelligent idea
determination. It sounds like something that would go in that area, have you considered the
wet area that we are aware of or whatever, here is two Planning Board members who would
like to assign it. When you get your preliminary plans together maybe you want to consult
with them outside of the board and then have that come back with your detailed plans.
SUPERVISOR WALTER- These are sketch plans that we are looking at to make uniform so
we are really in the sketch plan we are just setting forth the criteria to protect. You brought
forth your folder and you said here is the names and addresses of all the applicants and it was
very easy. Our planner was just new to review, to see that everything was there. You gave
us the idea.
MR. O'CONNOR - I am not against that, ok, I think though and you've got to understand that
many times you are talking about a contractor who is purchasing a land who really doesn't
294
have ownership of that particular parcel of land yet. Who wants to get a feeling, a sense
of feeling as to the direction he is going to go. He doesn't, and I don't think it necessarily
fair to require him to get a topographical map of that particular parcel 2 ft. measurements.
SUPERVISOR WALTER - He should have that if he is considering his plan.
MR. O'CONNOR - Then you would be a different developer than maybe 90% of people out
there.
SUPERVISOR WALTER - Well, that's true because they are trying to get a lot of return on
their money. I understand that is what it is all about but on the other hand we have got to
have some criteria that will really protect. Everybody wants to move into Queensbury.
MR.O'CONNOR - All I am trying to do is distinguish, not trying to write the particular regulations,
there ought to be a beginning point and I thought we had it when we did adopt the rules and
regulations. The beginning point was a sketch plan review and it very purposely the amount
of detail information that was required of the developer was limited at that point to let everybody
get their feet wet and they had no standing when they walked out with sketch plan review
and that was the understanding of everybody.
SUPERVISOR WALTER - And that has not worked well for us.
MR. O'CONNOR - Well then maybe we are back to a situation as we are with a lot of our law.
We've got good rules and regulations on the book but they aren't properly enforced and administered.
Maybe we have to go back and look at it internally how we do it. Rubber stamps are great
things, I put rubber stamps on fifty percent on the letters that go out of my office, the latest
one is a mortgage commitment when I tell people what they need to give me so that they start
getting me the information so I can do what I got to do down the road. Maybe on the consent
or the sketch plan review, it should say sketch plan review only, we have no standing until
you get preliminary review. We are not trying to make life difficult for you. We found that
with the rule that you proposed, you are making life difficult for us, and I say us in the sense
of the surveyors that I am representing. Particularly where you did acknowledge to me that
you would not accept a plan by a surveyor, maybe we have gone beyond that, even if it didn't
include one of those foreign areas that were not excluded under minor engineering. I think
we can all work together, I think these surveyors will be glad to get together with you, with
your engineering, consultants to see that things come forward in an orderly manner and something
is not going to be detrimental to the town in any manner. Their name is on the subdivision
maps that get passed around to everyone of the homeowners that are in that subdivision. They - '
don't want to have problem there, they don't want that type reputation. I think that anyone
of these fellows in the room here, what they have submitted have been with engineering help
where there has been engineering problems.
COUNCILMAN BORGOS - I have heard comments form the audience about the open end of
the fees, I have been opposed to the open ended nature of it on paper. I understand that Frank
is speaking historically and hasn't been a lot of money but for everyones protection
I think we should have some kind of limit and we have to work out the language beyond which
the town would not be authorized to spend that would then be charged to somebody else. We
can work that out to.
MR. FRANK WALTER - I don't wish to labor the issue. I would like to speak to that matter
of sketch plan and preliminary plan preparations and approvals. The materials that I have
often seen presented to the Planning Board are very sketchy, the brown paper bag which we
like to call them, I think it does a dis-service to the client, it does a dis-service to the Planning
Board to ask the Planning Board to make judgment on some of this stuff that is brought in.
I think sketch plans should be done in some meaningful detail and I mean that part of that
would include decent contours. We seem to gloss over some of this, well you know you can
just throw the road down and you can do this or that and later on pick up the toad bill. Properly
done the subdivision layout and the roads and the utilities should be done in conjunction with
the topography and in conjunction with the lay of the land so that information should be obtained
and presented up front as part of the sketch plan, not brought in later on to kind of pattern
the thing up and the cost is not that great. The developer should be prepared to pay that cost.
That's the cost of doing business. That's his investment. The investment he has to make in
that project and he is the guy who is looking for a return. He has to make an investment and
part of the investment is the up-front cost. I think the sketch plans should be done in detail
and it is necessary for a proper project.
SUPERVISOR WALTER - Asked for further comments. Hearing None-The Public Hearing was
closed 5:10 P.M.
295
RESOLUTIONS
RESOLUTION TO RETAIN CONSULTING ENGINEER
RESOLUTION NO.252, Introduced by Mrs. Betty Monahan who moved for its adoption seconded
by Mr. George Kurosaka.
WHEREAS, the Town Board of the Town of Queensbury is interested in extending the Queensbury
Water District,
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT
i
RESOLVED, that the Town Board will retain the engineering services of Charles H. Scudder,
P.E. for an amount not exceeding $2,400.00 in the preparation of a map, plan and report for
said Queensbury Water District extension.
Duly adopted by the following vote:
Ayes: Mr. Kurosaka, Mr. Borgos, Mrs. Monahan, Mrs. Walter
Noes: None
Absent: Mr. Montesi
SUPERVISOR WALTER-This is an extension of the Queensbury Water Dist. we have had a
request from the owners of the property Mr. & Mrs. Thorton, there are plans for a new development
on that property and it falls within our local law so that they must have public water. The
developer will take on the expenses of creating a water district and constructing it we must
have this within a district, this will not be charged to anyone but the developer.
(Resolution amended to reflect that this is an extension of the Queensbury Water Dist.-agreed
to by Mrs. Monahan and Mr. Kurosaka)
RESOLUTION TO REAPPOINT ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS MEMBER
I
RESOLUTION NO. 253, who moved for its adoption by Mrs. Betty Monahan seconded by Mr.
Stephen Borgos.
WHEREAS, the term of Jeffrey Kelley has expired and
WHEREAS, the Queensbury Town Board desires to reappoint Mr. Kelley to a five year term
on the Zoning Board of Appeals,
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Queensbury Town Board hereby reappoints Jeffrey Kelley of Queensbury
to a five year term on the Zoning Board of Appeals, due to expire September 14, 1991.
Duly adopted by the following vote.
Ayes: Mr. Kurosaka, Mr. Borgos, Mrs. Monahan, Mrs. Walter
Noes: None
Absent: Mr. Montesi.
RESOLUTION TO REAPPOINT MEMBER QUEENSBURY PLANNING BOARD
RESOLUTION NO. 254, Introduced by Mrs. Betty Monahan who moved for its adoption, seconded
by Mr. George Kurosaka:
WHEREAS, the term of Victor Macri expired on October 1, 1986, and
WHEREAS, the Queensbury Town Board desires to reappoint Mr. Macri to a seven year term
on the Queensbury Planning Board,
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Queensbury Town Board hereby reappoints Mr. Victor Macri of Queensbury
296
to a seven year term on the Queensbury Planning Board, due to expire on October 1, 1993.
Duly adopted by the following vote:
Ayes: Mr. Kurosaka, Mr. Borgos, Mrs. Monahan, Mrs. Walter
Noes: None
Absent: Mr. Montesi
RESOLUTION TO RESCIND AND REAPPOINT-BOARD OF ASSESSMENT REVIEW
RESOLUTION 255, Introduced by Mr. Stephen Borgos who moved for its adoption, seconded
by Mr. George Kurosaka:
WHEREAS, Chapter 193 of the Laws of 1986 requires terms of Office for Members of Board
of Assessment Review must begin on October 1 and end on September 30, ...�
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED, to rescind Resolutions 72 and 73 of 1986 as of this date, and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Queensbury Town Board hereby appoints Mrs. Marilyn Potenza of Queensbury
to a five year term on the Board of Assessment Review, effective October 1, 1986 and expiring
on September 30, 1991, and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Queensbury Town Board hereby appoints C. Powel South of Queensbury
to a four year term on the Board of Assessment Review, term to expire September 30, 1990.
Duly adopted by the following vote:
Ayes: Mr. Kurosaka, Mr. Borgos, Mr. Monahan, Mrs. Walter
Noes: None
Absent: Mr. Montesi
I
RESOLUTION OF APPOINTMENT
RESOLUTION NO. 256, Introduced by Mr. George Kurosaka, who moved for its adoption, seconded
by Mr. Stephen Borgos:
BE IT RESOLVED, that, effective immediately, Victor Lefebvre be and hereby is appointed
Acting Building Inspector and Enforcement Officer of the Town of Queensbury with respect
to all Queensbury Ordinances, with the authority to issue building permits, investigate violations,
issue appearance tickets and pursue such enforcement procedures as authorized by law.
Duly adopted by the following vote:
Ayes: Mr. Kurosaka, Mr. Borgos, Mr. Monahan, Mrs. Walter
Noes: None
Absent:Mr. Montesi
SUPERVISOR WALTER-Our Code Enforcement Officer Mack Dean is currently recuperating
in Albany Medical Center after some heart surgery, and was the opinion of our attorney that
although we have building inspectors we should resolve that the building inspector be appointed
as Acting Enforcement Officer to handle the duties of that department, in the absence of
Mr. Dean.
The only other action tonight would be to take action on the subdivision regulations...it was
agreed to by the entire Town Board to take under consideration the statements that were made..no
action at this time...
COMMUNICATIONS
-Ltr.- on file-Leslie Rymkewicz-resigned from the Board of Assessment Review
(A resolution of appreciation with be forthcoming at the next Town Board Meeting)
Mr. Stephen Borgos- Having served with Les for over 11 years, he is a very dedicated person
who has given above and beyond the compensation of Fifty Dollars per year for all those years,
s1 n rs
G✓C
a very knowledgeable person, we will be very hard pressed to replace him.
-The Town Clerk-Darleen M. Dougher turned the Tentative Budget for 1987 over to the Town
Board Members.
SUPERVISOR WALTER-The Town Clerk by law has turned over the Tentative Budget for 1987
the Budget Officer had to file this by the 30th and our Clerk had five days to turn it over to
the Board. We now begin the in-depth budget process, we will begin a schedule of workshops
with the Department heads we will then have a hearing on the Preliminary Budget, that will
be held on November 6th at 7:30 P.M.(Thursday). The final budget we have until November
j 20th to adopt I would hope that we would be ready to adopt on November the 18th. The appropriations
in this particular budget is up by million dollars, the Town Board Rueensbury's budget is now
eight million eight hundred and forty five thousand one hundred and forty five dollars. That
is approximately a million dollars in appropriations over last year. We are looking at four
hundred thousand dollars more to be raised in taxes on a town wide basis. We have received
additional monies in revenue but not enough to keep up with the one million dollars. There
are no surprises in the budget I would say that the additional expenses are due in part to hundred
and fifty thousand dollars that we have lost in Revenue Sharing Funds cut by the Federal Government.
We need to pick those up particularly in the Highway Dept. where in conversation with our
Highway Supt. and the number of new developments and roads that he must maintain years
in the future we have got to keep up with the paving schedule adding another truck and several
men to the Department for plowing routes and maintenance we have also added a Department
of Planning added Personnel on other Departments in the Town where necessary. My budget
is a very conservative budget, I am going to say review it very carefully I am sure you will
want to make some changes all of the personnel services are in the Budget at 5% above 1986,
that is what I asked the Department Heads to file,telling them that the Town Board wanted
to look at each position in the Town that was not under a Union Contract to make adjustments
as they say fit. I am leaving that up to you to make the necessary changes. Any dollars that
you add will be more dollars to the budget and more dollars that we would have to raise by
taxes. On the good side although we have only had two payments on sales tax that we will
have a good sales tax year, perhaps some of the dollars that we have to raise will be returned
to the taxpayers next year, by adding the excess sales tax. This is the first time you have
seen the budget off the computer it is a little different from last year because the computer
is different in setting it up, we will try to get you budgets from last year to compare the two.
It was difficult to cut over, next year it will be easier. The girls did a super job, they did work
overtime and did have a lot of aborted runs and we did make the deadline.
On motion the Meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Miss Darleen Dougher
Town Clerk-Rueensbury
1
t