JEFFERSONVILLE – The Callicoon Town Board unanimously passed two resolutions regarding the demolition of the unsafe building at 797 North Branch Callicoon Center Road on Monday, December 9.

The first resolution was for awarding the bid for the full demolition itself, which was awarded to Gorick Construction Inc. based in Binghamton for $48,840 - the lowest bidder out of four proposals. The other three contractors to send in a bid proposal were Tweedie Constriction Services ($93,378), NGS Construction LLC ($156,000) and Itsnotapain.com ($120,000). 

The second resolution was to award the bid for air monitor services of the above mentioned demolition, which must be separate from the contractor doing the demolition. Two bids were received for this portion - one from Delta Engineers and the second from JPM. The proposal was awarded to Delta Engineers, for terms of not to exceed $3,740.90 or at a $745 per day rate if it is to go beyond three days. 

The board also agreed to use the remaining $55,000 of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, which were received as federal relief funds during COVID-19, on the Youngsville Water District for new software and a new water reader as the old one is outdated. 

Town Supervisor Tom Bose said that they are having trouble with the billing system at the Youngsville Water District and will look to replace it with the funding. Bose also said they will have to use the remaining funds by the end of next year and an appropriation of the funds was required before the end of this year. 

Also regarding the Youngsville Water District, the board resolved to accept an application for payment submitted by the replacement water tank project’s engineering firm, Delaware Engineering, for Tweedie Construction. 

In the application, Delaware Engineering said that they agree with the level of work completed to date and the cost presented therein. Therefore, it was recommended that the town provide payment to the contractor in the amount requested by the contractor. 

“The invoice includes costs, invoice to Tweedie by their supplier for the water tank for submittals and initiating fabrication of the new tank,” said Bose. “This is for the funds that we received through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG).”

Bose said that the funding amount that Delaware Engineering is requesting is $128,400.57. Upon the board’s approval, Bose said that it will go to the grant writer (Mark Blauer) who will make the submittal to the CDBG. Following that, he said it will come back to the town for their required signatures and then the contract will be paid directly through the CDBG. 

Other business

The board also set a date for their reorganizational meeting to be held at their regular board meeting on January 13 at 7:30 p.m. Councilman Charlie Schadt was also reappointed as Justice Court Auditor. Also being approved by the board was the renewal of their Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) agreement (union contract) with employees of the town’s highway department. 

Bose noted a couple of changes to the agreement after negotiating with the head of the union in Sullivan County, John R. Wagner, Jr. which he believes would be a fair settlement. The agreement will be for a two-year period beginning on January 1, 2025 and lasting until December 31, 2026. 

The changes Bose mentioned are an increase in compensation in the hourly rate, as well as a $200 stipend to be paid per employee per year for personal cell phone use for work-related needs, as he noted the radios were not as effective. 

Bose also said that the town will reimburse each employee up to $120 per Department of Transportation (DOT) required physical, but the employee must submit proof of payment for their physical prior to reimbursement. 

The board agreed to sign the memorandum of agreement and get it back to CSEA for their approval to then have the agreement in place for the first of the year.