HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-12-17 TB Minutes ApprovedVirgil Town Board Meeting January 12th, 2017
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TOWN OF VIRGIL REGULAR MEETING
January 12th 2017
PRESENT: Supervisor John Kaminski, Board Members Eric Snow, Jereme Stiles and Matt Denniston, Member Gary Pelton, Attorney for
the Town Pat Snyder, Town Clerk/Collector Alane Van Donsel, Gina Nourse Towns Bookkeeper, Ken Scherrieble Camden Group, David
Coish Camden Group, Doug & Jenae Withey W2Operators, Sandy Price County Legislator, Hi ghway Superintendent John Morse, Rick
Horner Deputy Highway Superintendent, Demont Lang Highway Department, Britt Morse Highway Department, Teri Pelton and Stacy
Kelsey Virgil Youth Commission, Wes Kryger Greek Peak, Carol Rehkugler
700 PM – THE REGULAR MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER
Supervisor Kaminski called the meeting to order, followed by the salute to the flag.
RESOLUTION# 17-031 APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Draft of Regular Board Meeting Minutes dated December 08th, 2016: Member Stiles moved to approve the minutes for December
08th 2016. Member Snow seconded the motion. Vote: Ayes-Members Pelton, Snow, Denniston, Stiles and Kaminski. Nays-None
RESOLUTION# 16-032 AUTHORIZATION TO PAY BILLS
GENERAL FUND NUMBER #013 DECEMBER: Member Denniston moved to approve payment of the General Fund’s audited vouchers
numbered 325-344 in the amount of $13,786.43. Member Snow seconded the motion. Vote: Ayes-Members Pelton, Snow,
Denniston, Stiles and Kaminski. Nays- None.
GENERAL FUND NUMBER #001 JANUARY: Member Denniston moved to approve payment of the General Fund’s au dited vouchers
numbered 1-11in the amount of $38,763.13. Member Snow seconded the motion. Vote: Ayes-Members Pelton, Snow, Denniston,
Stiles and Kaminski. Nays- None.
HIGHWAY FUND #013 DECEMBER: Member Denniston moved to approve payment of the Highway Fund audited vouchers
numbered 1244-1271 in the amount of $28,182.57, Member Snow seconded the motion. Vote: Ayes-Members Pelton, Snow,
Denniston, Stiles and Kaminski. Nays- None
HIGHWAY FUND #001 JANUARY: Member Denniston moved to approve payment of the Highway Fund audited vouchers numbered
1000-1001 in the amount of $3,725.39, Member Snow seconded the motion. Vote: Ayes-Members Pelton, Snow, Denniston, Stiles
and Kaminski. Nays- None
CAPITAL PROJECTS-HALL ADDITION FUND #013 DECEMBER: Member Denniston moved to approve the audited vouchers numbered
5013-5014 in the amount of $13,231.76. Member Snow seconded the motion. Vote: Ayes-Members Pelton, Snow, Denniston, Stiles
and Kaminski. Nays- None
SEWER DISTRICT #1 FUND #013 DECMEBER: Member Denniston moved to approve payment of the Sewer District #1 audited
voucher’s numbered 2160-2188 in the amount of $5,608.35. Member Snow seconded the motion. Vote: Ayes-Members Pelton,
Snow, Denniston, Stiles and Kaminski. Nays- None
SEWER DISTRICT #1 FUND #001 JANUARY: Member Denniston moved to approve payment of the Sewer District #1 audited
voucher’s numbered 2000-2002 in the amount of $4,098.22. Member Snow seconded the motion. Vote: Ayes-Members Pelton,
Snow, Denniston, Stiles and Kaminski. Nays- None
WATER DISTRICT #1 FUND #013 DECEMBER: Member Denniston moved to approve payment of the Water District #1 audited
vouchers 3056-3060 in the amount of $1,430.94 Member Snow seconded the motion. Vote: Ayes-Members Pelton, Snow,
Denniston, Stiles and Kaminski. Nays-None
WATER DISTRICT #1 FUND #001 JANUARY: Member Denniston moved to approve payment of the Water Distric t #1 audited
vouchers 3000-3002 in the amount of $3,263.63, Member Snow seconded the motion. Vote: Ayes-Members Pelton, Snow,
Denniston, Stiles and Kaminski. Nays-None
MONTHLY REPORTS
SUPERVISOR’S MONTHLY REPORT FOR JANUARY 2016: Member Stiles moved to accept the Supervisor’s Monthly Report in Long
form for December 2016. Member Pelton seconded the motion. Vote: Ayes-Members Pelton, Snow, Denniston, Stiles and Kaminski.
Nays –None
TOWN CLERK’S MONTHLY REPORT: Member Snow moved to accept the Town Clerks Monthly Report for December 2016. Member
seconded the motion. Vote: Ayes-Members Pelton, Snow, Denniston, Stiles and Kaminski. Nays- None
TAX COLLECTORS REPORT: Member Snow moved to accept the Tax Collectors Monthly Report for the period of January 01st 2017-
January 11th 2017. Member Snow seconded the motion. Vote: Ayes-Members Pelton, Snow, Denniston, Stiles and Kaminski. Nays -
None
SEWER DISTRICT OPERATIONS REPORT: Representatives Ken Scherrieble and Dave Coish were present from the Camden Group.
Scherrieble said that the transition went smoothly and the plant is running well. Member Stiles asked if there were two dump sters
at the plant still. Scherrieble said there is only one. Member Stiles moved to accept the Sewer Districts Report. Member Snow
seconded the motion. Vote: Ayes-Members Pelton, Snow, Denniston, Stiles and Kaminski. Nays- None
WATER DISTRICT OPERATIONS REPORT: Doug Withey reported that the town is considering buying a new meter reading gun, as the
one that is being used now is having issues. Withey said that for now they are going to borrowing one from the City of Cortland, so
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that the first quarter bills can be sent out. Member Stiles was wondering the cost. Withey was unsure at the time. Kaminski said
that they need to be mindful of the procurement policy. There was some discussion regarding a leaky fire hydrant and the cos ts
involved with either fixing it or replacing it. Withey said that the meter at 21A froze and broke. They are planning to replace the
meter at the owner’s expense. Kaminski asked if the town owns a spare hydrant, Withey said no and that they really aren’t
available. Member Snow asked Withey if the leak at Greek Peak was fixed. Withey said it was and that it was unmeter3ed and had
been leaking for a long time. Member Denniston moved to accept the Water Districts Report. Member Snow seconded the motion.
Vote: Ayes-Members Pelton, Snow, Denniston, Stiles and Kaminski. Nays-None
ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER’S REPORT: Member Stiles moved to accept the Animal Control Officer’s Report. Member Snow
seconded the motion. Vote: Ayes-Members Pelton, Snow, Denniston, Stiles and Kaminski. Nays-None
CODE ENFORCEMENT AND ZONING OFFICERS REPORT: A written report was submitted by Code and Zoning Officer Craig
Umbehauer. Supervisor Kaminski said that Craig is going to be away for a week. Umbehauer has made previsions with the Town of
Cortlandville’ s Code and Zoning Officer, Kevin McMann to fill in, in case there is an emergency. Umbehauer said he informed folks
that he is leaving. Member Snow motioned to accept the Code and Zoning Officers report. The motion was seconded Member
Denniston. Vote: Ayes-Members Pelton, Snow, Denniston, Stiles and Kaminski. Nays- None
COUNTY LEGISLATOR’S REPORT: County Legislator Sandy Price submitted A written report. Price reported that there was some
discussion regarding Worker Compensation. Price was glad that Member Denniston could attend the meeting. Supervisor Kaminski
asked Denniston to report. Denniston said that here will be two considerations that are different about Worker Compensation next
year. He said that the new numbers were included in the report. The administration costs will be split with a soft landing with the
towns paying 25% at first. The following year it will increase to 50%, then 75% the year after. He said there will be a $28,000
increase in Workers compensation next year, because the town had a claim. Supervisor Kaminski said that the towns going to p ay
their share. Member Stiles said that this must be a joint venture. Price said that she is working on communications and that all
parties need to be at the table. Member Stiles was wondering if the town could get information regarding the case claims that the
town has. The city administrator Mack Cook said that that outside attorneys said that municipalities should be able to get that
information, otherwise it’s hard to be proactive with claim management. They are encouraging full disclose of information.
Kaminski said that the town is paying the money to the county and should have access to the information. Cook said the city has the
same option. Stiles said that with Worker’s Compensation there is a right to appeal. Attorney Snyder said that he towns should
have access to the information. Price said that at all four meetings, this has come up every time. Stiles was wondering if it would
help if the town sent a letter to the county administrator? Cook said that he would hope that th e county would abide by outside
council saying they are exempt from HIPPA. Member Denniston was wondering if the County has access to the information. Cook
said that the Workers Compensation Board said they do not have a client relationship with anyone else but the County. Stiles said he
disagreed with that, Stiles said that he’d like to do some research. Kaminski said that he is not happy and didn’t feel like the Town
was not getting treated fairly. Cook said that the only way to keep costs down is by claim prevention and by putting safety measures
in place. Stiles asked if the County Attorney plays more than one role. Price said that she does play different roles. Kaminski said
that the perception is that he County Attorney is running the County. Price said that the Attorney works for the Legislator not the
other way around. Stiles said that judging by what is put in the newspaper, it sounds like the attorney is speaking out of turn and he
hopes the county legislators see that. Price did agree that the attorney is taking on a larger role because there is no county
administrator. She said that the next CCTV meeting will an overview of proper parliamentary procedures. She is hoping this training
will help run meetings in an orderly fashion. Supervisor Kaminski said that Price came to him regarding the speed limit on Church
Street. He said that the Town did send a request to the County Highway department and he did forward it on to the departme nt of
Transportation. The town is now waiting on the DOT.
Member Stiles motioned to accept the County Legislators report. The motion was seconded Member Denniston. Vote: Ayes-
Members Pelton, Snow, Denniston, Stiles and Kaminski. Nays- None
VIRGIL YOUTH COMMISSION REPORT: Teri Pelton of the Youth Commission submitted a written report. T. Pelton said that
everything was going well. She said they have had a few successful events. They are now working on streamlining paperwork a t the
Before and After School Program. T. Pelton said there is one family that is behind in payments and that a letter will be going out
shortly. Member G. Pelton motioned to accept the Virgil Youth Commissions report. The motion was seconded Member Snow. Vote:
Ayes-Members Pelton, Snow, Denniston, Stiles and Kaminski. Nays- None
HOPE LAKE OPERATIONS REPORT: Wes Kryger said that the Nordic Center is open, because they have enough natural snow.
Member Pelton mentioned that the last Hope Lake Park Committee meeting there was mention of free admission for Virgil residents
to the Nordic Center. Kryger said that he will check into that. He said the issue is that the Town doesn ’t own the skis nor does it
maintain the trails. Pelton mentioned that the admission from the summer does cover the usage of residents. Pelton mentioned
that the three-year agreement is ending this year. Kryger said he would have to get back to him, he thought they might be able to
work something out. Kryger said that there will be a winter Spartan Race on March 4th. He said there may be 2300-4300 people in
Virgil for the race. He said that there can be 6000-8000 people in town at the ski area on any given day. He is looking to allow folks
to park on the Page Green Road fields, if there is an overflow. He said this is a one day event, but if there are a lot of folks sig ned up,
it could turn into a two-day event. He said that the racers will run up by the mountain coaster and onto South Hill Road. They are
interested in going through a gate on top of the mountain on to the Olympian trail, if its ok with the Town. He sai d that Greek Peak’s
insurance would cover any liability. Kaminski said that would be ok. Kryger was wondering if Greek Peak could borrow some of the
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picnic tables from Hope Lake, they would be under tents. Member Pelton motioned to accept the Hope Lake Operations report. The
motion was seconded Member Snow. Vote: Ayes-Members Pelton, Snow, Denniston, Stiles and Kaminski. Nays- None
HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENTS REPORT: Highway Superintendent John Morse was present and submitted a written report. Morse
said that it has been a tough year for sand and salt because of the fluctuation in the weather. There has been a lot of ice and t hey
had to put chains on the trucks. Morse said the new backhoe will be arriving in February. Member Denniston motioned to accept
the Highway Supervisor report. Member Snow seconded the motion. Vote: Ayes-Members Snow, Denniston, Stiles and Kaminski.
Nays- None.
OLD BUSINESS
UPDATE ON THE GRANT FOR THE CREEK RECLAMATION: Supervisor Kaminski said that all the paperwork has been sent to the State
and now the Town is waiting for reimbursement for the grant.
UPDATE ON GREEK PEAK LAWSUIT: Supervisor Kaminski said that here is nothing new to report now.
NEW BUSINESS
RESOLUTION #17-033 AUDIT TOWN CLERKS BOOKS: Member Denniston motioned to approve that the Town Clerks books were
audited and signed by the Town Board. The motion was seconded Member Stiles. Vote: Ayes-Members Pelton, Snow, Denniston,
Stiles and Kaminski. Nays- None
RESOLUTION #17-034 Audit Town Supervisors Books Member Denniston motioned to approve that the Supervisor’s books were
audited and signed by the Town Board. The motion was seconded Member Snow. Vote: Ayes -Members Pelton, Snow, Denniston,
Stiles and Kaminski. Nays- None
RESOLUTION #17-035 Audit Court Books Member Denniston motioned to approve that the Court Justice’s books were audited by
Council Member Matthew Denniston and Supervisor John Kaminski on Saturday January 7 th 2017. Supervisor Kaminski stated that
everything was in order and all the money was accounted for. The Town Board signed the Town Justices books . The motion was
seconded Member Snow. Vote: Ayes-Members Pelton, Snow, Denniston, Stiles and Kaminski. Nays- None
GRANT LETTER TO SENATOR SEWARD- HOPE LAKE PARK: Supervisor Kaminski said he will be working on a letter to send to Senator
Seward to see if there is any grant money available for work that needs to be done at Hope Lake Park. A bridge needs to be r eplaced
and the sand bar needs to be dredged. Kaminski said that he and Member Pelton are working on this.
SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM FOR TOWN HALL: Supervisor Kaminski said he will be looking into putting in a surveillance system at the
Town Hall. He also said that the Judge is concerned with the low lighting that in is the board room. He would like for the board to
consider upgrading the lighting.
DRAFT LOCAL LAW #1- RENEWABLE ENERGY FACILITIES LAW: Supervisor Kaminski said that He and Pat Snyder are working on this
Law. He said that they are looking at the laws from Homer and Dryden and that Snyder has some suggestions. This law would take
into consideration large solar arrays of five or six acres or more. Snyder said that the current zoning law would not cover this. Stiles
said that some residents have already been approached about solar farming. Kaminski said that he would like to work with residents
to ensure safety rules are in place. Such as fencing rules and cleaning up any messes.
RESOLUTION #17-036 ACCEPT BID FROM AUCTIONS INTERNATIONAL- RECYCLING TRAILER Member Stiles motioned to accept the
bid from Auctions International for the used recycling trailer in the amount of $3,450.00. The motion was seconded Member Snow.
Vote: Ayes-Members Pelton, Snow, Denniston, Stiles and Kaminski. Nays- None
ASSOCIATION OF TOWNS ANNUAL MEETING AND DESIGNATED DELEGATE: Supervisor Kaminski said the Town normally doesn’t
take part in this.
APPROVE USING PACE FOR WATER TESTING- SEWER DISTRICT #1: This was voted on during the reorganization meeting.
ALL ELECTED & APPOINTED OFFICIALS SHALL FILL OUT CALENDARS FOR RETIREMENT: Supervisor Kaminski said that he Towns
Bookkeeper will be developing a calendar that all elected and appointment officials will fill out for three months. The calendar will
then be submitted to the state for retirement purposes.
RESOLUTION #17-037 MAVAC CONTRACT Member Stiles motioned to accept the 2017 MAVAC contract in the amount of $4,900.
The motion was seconded Member Denniston. Vote: Ayes-Members Pelton, Snow, Denniston, Stiles and Kaminski. Nays- None
RESOLUTION #17-038 APPROVE ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS CONTRACT FOR 2017 Member Stiles motioned to accept the Dog
Control and Shelter Agreement for County Acres for 2017. The motion was seconded Member Denniston. Vote: Ayes-Members
Pelton, Snow, Denniston, Stiles and Kaminski. Nays- None
Further Discussion took place: Supervisor Kaminski said that the Town will need to purchase a new meter reader for the water and
sewer department, as the one that the town owns now isn’t functioning correctly.
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Kaminski also said that he met with the Homer Town Supervisor, Fred Forbs on Friday, to meet with the Assessor Brian Fitts. They
plan on meeting with him quarterly to keep on top of things.
Kaminski wanted to mention that the Board received a report from the County Treasurer’s Office and to make the board aware that
the town has not received the payment for the 4th quarter sales tax as of date.
With no further business to discuss, Member Stiles moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:05 P.M. Member Denniston seconded the
Motion. Vote: Ayes-Members Pelton, Snow, Denniston, Stiles and Kaminski. Nays: None.
Respectfully Submitted by,
Alane Van Donsel, Virgil Town Clerk