JEFFERSONVILLE – The Town of Callicoon put out two request for proposals (RFPs) last month for the demolition and cleanup of two unsafe properties - 797 North Branch Callicoon Center Road and 659 North Branch Callicoon Center Road. 

At their latest town board meeting on Monday, September 9, the board took the next steps in handling the unsafe properties.

According to Code Enforcement Officer Kris Scullion, the town received one proposal for 659 North Branch Callicoon Center Road, which is for the removal of seven junk cars, four on Mauer Road and the other three on County Road 123. 

The proposal came from Dick’s Auto Sales at 5065 NY-52 in Jeffersonville, owned by Joseph Herbert. Dick’s Auto proposed to remove the cars for $100 each, for a total of $700 for all seven. 

Town Attorney Marvin Newberg noted that the auto store owner is free to do what he wants with the cars once they are removed from the property. The owner of the property, James Minoux, is allowed to keep one unregistered vehicle per New York State law. 

Minoux, who was not in attendance at the meeting, will keep an old blue Dodge truck to use on his farm.

Councilman Chris Hubert made the motion to accept the bid, which was seconded by Councilwoman Annette Rasmussen and passed unanimously. 

Newberg stated to the board that the bill for the removal will be assessed back to the property owner, after which he will either have to pay it out of pocket or it will be charged back to his property tax.   

The owner of the other property at 797 North Branch Callicoon Center has not made much of an attempt to clean it up, according to both Scullion and Town Supervisor Tom Bose. Scullion said that they had a dumpster up on Callicoon Center Road, but only cleaned up some of the garbage before having it removed. 

Scullion also said that he has been in contact with the ex-wife of the deeded owner, who owns half of the property but is not on the deed. He said the ex-husband has not answered any of his calls after making numerous attempts to reach him. 

The main building and the small out building behind the main house are both required to be demoed. 

Newberg said that since Scullion served the notice by certified mail on the deeded owner and posted to the property, the town can move forward with awarding a bid. The town received one demolition bid back, $44,000 from K. Klein and Sons, which exceeds the town’s procurement policy of $35,000 for Public Works.

“In light of the only proposal that was received exceeds the town procurement policy, we need to advertise a seal bid, come up with specifications and request the bids to be back in for our October meeting,” Bose said.

One of the specifications that is needed according to Newberg is certifying asbestos removal for the buildings. 

Rasmussen made the motion to move forward with advertising sealed bids, which was seconded by Councilman Scott Gaebel and passed unanimously.