Meeting Overview

TOWN OF ORANGETOWN

SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING

TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2009

This Special Town Board Meeting was opened at 7:05 p.m. Supervisor Kleiner presided and the Town Clerk called the Roll. Present were:

Councilwoman Marie Manning

Councilwoman Nancy Low-Hogan

Councilman Michael Maturo

Absent: Councilman Denis Troy

Also present: Charlotte Madigan, Town Clerk

Eliot Tozer, Deputy Supervisor

John Edwards, Town Attorney

Suzanne Barclay, Executive Assistant to the Supervisor

Charles Richardson, Director of Finance

Charlotte Madigan led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

The Town Board has been working with the Palisades community, Tracker SFI, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Palisades Interstate Park Commission to try to document and identify a large cat like animal in the area. The Town Board wants to take a more affirmative action out of concern for the welfare, safety and health of all residents, including any pets.

Bill Marple, Director of Tracker SFI, said their nonprofit mission is to provide tracking services to the community. Shane Hobel, primary tracking team member, has tracked several areas two or three different times. It is Tracker SFI opinion, that there is a presence of a large cat. If they are hired, the next step is to take a creature inventory of the surrounding area, try to find evidence and to learn the animal’s habits and patterns. In order to provide daily tracking services, camera set-up, monitoring, and reporting of findings, it will cost $3,500 per month for personnel to provide these services. Some additional costs will include cameras, wireless accessories, batteries etc. and traps at an estimated cost between $2,000 and $2,500. After these initial steps, the Town will have to decide whether to set traps to remove the animal from the area. After a discussion, the Town Board decided to fund $3,500 for the next two weeks.

RESOLUTION NO. 441 ENTER STBM/SECUITY CAMERAS RELATED SERVICES/FUNDING

Councilwoman Manning offered the following resolution, which was seconded by Councilman Maturo and was unanimously adopted:

RESOLVED, that the Town Board entered this Special Town Board Meeting, to discuss funding for security cameras and related services.

Ayes: Councilpersons Manning, Maturo, Low-Hogan

Supervisor Kleiner

Noes: None

Absent: Councilperson Troy

* * *

RESOLUTION NO. 442 APPROVE/AUTHORIZE/RETAINING TRACKER SFI/TRACKING SERVICES

Councilwoman Manning offered the following resolution, which was seconded by Councilman Maturo and was unanimously adopted:

Resolution No. 442 – Continued

RESOLVED, that the hiring and retention of Tracker SFI of New Jersey is hereby approved and authorized to provide monitoring and tracking services and for the purchase of surveillance cameras at a cost not to exceed $3,500 and the Supervisor is hereby authorized to enter into a contract that embodies the terms hereof and is subject to review and approval by the Town Attorney.

Ayes: Councilpersons Manning, Maturo, Low-Hogan

Supervisor Kleiner

Noes: None

Absent: Councilperson Troy

* * *

RESOLUTION NO. 443 ADJOURNED

Councilwoman Manning offered the following resolution, which was seconded by Councilman Maturo and was unanimously adopted:

RESOLVED, that the Town Board adjourned this Special Town Board Meeting at 7:37 p.m.

Ayes: Councilpersons Manning, Maturo, Low-Hogan

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Supervisor Kleiner

Noes: None

Absent: Councilperson Troy

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Charlotte Madigan, Town Clerk