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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-13-2018 Town Board Meeting Minutes ApprovedVirgil Town Board Meeting December 13th, 2018 1 | P a g e TOWN OF VIRGIL REGULAR MEETING December 13th, 2018 PRESENT: Supervisor John Kaminski, Board Members Jereme Stiles, Eric Snow, Matt Denniston, Gary Pelton, Attorney for the Town Pat Snyder, Town Clerk/Collector Alane Van Donsel, Ken Scherrieble & David Coish Camden Group, Doug Withy W2Operators, Highway Superintendent Britt Morse, Corena Morse Virgil Youth Commission, Sandy Price County Legislator, Teri Pelton, Carol Rehkugler 6:30 PM –THE REGULAR MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER Supervisor Kaminski called the meeting to order, followed by the salute to the flag. RESOLUTION #18-119 APPROVAL OF MINUTES Draft of the Regular Board Meeting Minutes dated November 8th, 2018: Member Stiles moved to approve the minutes for Nov. 8th, 2018. Member Snow seconded the motion. Vote: Ayes-Members Pelton, Snow, Denniston, Stiles and Kaminski. Nays-None RESOLUTION #18-120 AMEND THE OCTOBER 11th, 2018 MINUTES: Member Stiles made a motion to amend the October 11th 2018 minutes to reflect that the Water and Sewer contracts will be extended for a two-year period, as spelled out in their contracts. Member Snow seconded the motion. Ayes-Members Pelton, Snow, Denniston, Stiles and Kaminski. Nays-None RESOLUTION #18-121 AUTHORIZATION TO PAY BILLS GENERAL FUND FOR NOV. 2018 NUMBER 012: Member Denniston moved to approve payment of the General Fund’s audited vouchers numbered 362-396 in the amount of $71,619.12 Member Snow seconded the motion. Vote: Ayes-Members Pelton, Snow, Denniston, Stiles and Kaminski. Nays- None HIGHWAY FUND FOR NOV. 2018 NUMBER 012: Member Denniston moved to approve payment of the Highway Fund audited vouchers numbered 1221-1245 in the amount of $47,941.96. Member Snow seconded the motion. Vote: Ayes-Members Pelton, Snow, Denniston, Stiles and Kaminski. Nays- None RECREATIONAL AREA CAPITAL PROJECT FUND FOR NOV. 2018 NUMBER 012: Member Denniston moved to approve payment of the Recreational Area Capital Project Fund vouchers numbered 4010-4011 in the amount of $4,053.91. Member Snow seconded the motion. Vote: Ayes-Members Pelton, Snow, Denniston, Stiles and Kaminski. Nays- None SEWER DISTRICT #1 FUND FOR NOV. 2018 NUMBER 012: Member Denniston moved to approve payment of the Sewer District #1 audited voucher’s numbered 2113-2131, in the amount of $16,633.59. Member Snow seconded the motion. Vote: Ayes-Members Pelton, Snow, Denniston, Stiles and Kaminski. Nays- None They questioned WATER DISTRICT #1 FUND FOR NOV. 2018 NUMBER 012: Member Denniston moved to approve payment of the Water District #1 audited vouchers 3060-3066 in the amount of $5,704.47. Member Snow seconded the motion. Vote: Ayes-Members Pelton, Snow, Denniston, Stiles and Kaminski. Nays-None MONTHLY REPORTS SUPERVISOR’S MONTHLY REPORT FOR NOV. 2018 LONG FORM: Member Stiles moved to accept the Supervisor’s Monthly Report in long form for November 2018. Member Snow seconded the motion. Vote: Ayes-Members Pelton, Snow, Denniston, Stiles and Kaminski. Nays –None CONSOLIDATE FUND REPORT: Member Stiles moved to accept the Supervisor’s Consolidated Reserve Fund Report as presented. Member Snow seconded the motion. Vote: Ayes-Members Pelton, Snow, Denniston, Stiles and Kaminski. Nays –None TOWN CLERK’S MONTHLY REPORT FOR NOVEMBER 2018: Member Stiles moved to accept the Town Clerks Monthly Report for November 2018. Member Snow seconded the motion. Vote: Ayes-Members Pelton, Snow, Denniston, Stiles and Kaminski. Nays- None SEWER DISTRICT OPERATIONS REPORT: Ken Scherrieble and David Coish were present from the Camden Group. Coish reported that all was quiet. Supervisor Kaminski said that the board will approve going out to bid on the tank in February. 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 Withy reported that it’s going to be time to read the meters again. Withy said that things are great. He said that he would like permission to scrap the old computer and replace it with one that the town bought for the district. He said that are looking to scrap a few water meters. Member Stiles moved to accept the Water Districts Report. Member Snow seconded the motion. Vote: Ayes-Members Pelton, Snow, Denniston, Stiles and Kaminski. Nays-None RESOLUTION #18-122 APROVE SCRAPPING ITEMS FROM THE WATER DISTRICT: Member Stiles made a motion to scrap the old computer from the pump house as well as the old, broken water meters. Stiles said he would like an accounting of the number of water meters that are scrapping. Member Snow seconded the motion. Vote: Ayes-Members Pelton, Snow, Denniston, Stiles and Kaminski. Nays- None ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER’S REPORT: There was no report sent this month. Virgil Town Board Meeting December 13th, 2018 2 | P a g e CODE ENFORCEMENT AND ZONING OFFICERS REPORT: A written report was submitted by Code and Zoning Officer Kevin McMahon. Member Stiles motioned to accept the Code and Zoning Officers report. The motion was seconded Member Snow. 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 the Village of Homer is withdrawing from the County Workers Compensation plan. She Suspects the sales tax negotiations played a role in them withdrawing. Supervisor Kaminski said that he tried to talked to them and tell them they had to negotiate. She said that the next Worker’s Compensation meeting will be In January and Member Denniston will attend. Member Denniston said that the rates be redistributed due to the Village withdrawing. The new rates will go into effect in 2019. Price is trying to negotiate to have the county pick up the extra cost. She feels it is the right thing to do. Member Stiles wanted to know what was going on with the County Administrators position. Price said that there has been a Committee formed, but it hasn’t been announced yet. She said that they will be announcing it soon. Stiles was wondering what the goal is. Price said that she is not signed up for the committee, but she is hoping they will take some direction of the former administrator and from the Tompkins County Administrator. Stiles is hoping that the County will be filling the position soon. Price said that they are hoping to have it filled within six months. She said that the position is budgeted for. Stiles mentioned that the preliminary County budget was only out for two weeks and that there was only one meeting before it was adopted. Price said that the product was ok, but she was concerned about the process after it was complied. She said that a number of Legislator’s wanted to vote no. She said that they discovered some things in the budget that were of concern and those items are now on hold. One example is traffic diversion. There is a concern that it may affect revenue for the court. Another is raising the age of kids being arrested. She said that a lot of this is coming from the State. She said that the State will reimburse the county fully for any expenses. She said that there were four positions created, because of the raising of the age. Price said that the committee she was on did not vote on it. She said that the traffic diversion rule was taken out of the budget. She said at this point It has only been talked about and that the County needs to have all the municipalities weigh in on the matters. Member Stiles thanked Price for not voting on that. Supervisor Kaminski asked for the job description of the County Administrator position. He was wondering if they were looking for someone with administrator experience, who may not be from this area. Or are they looking for someone with less experience from the area. He said that the two prior administrators came from the outside the area and they raised havoc while they were here. Price said she would like to see someone who cares about the community. Kaminski said that it would be nice to forward the job description on to the other boards members as well. Price said that she will distribute it at the next CCTVS meeting. Member Stiles motioned to accept the County Legislators report. The motion was seconded Member Snow Vote: Ayes-Members Pelton, Snow, Denniston, Stiles and Kaminski. Nays- None VIRGIL YOUTH COMMISSION REPORT: Corena Morse of the Youth Commission submitted a written report. Supervisor Kaminski reported that the town collected a little bit of back money owed the Youth Commission’s Before and After School Program. In January he’ll talk to Pat and Justice of the peace to see about collecting the rest. Member Stiles said that he not in favor of that. Kaminski said that he will work on that next year. Member Stiles 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 was not present. HIGHWAY DEPT. SUPERINTENDENTS REPORT: Highway Superintendent Britt Morse was present and submitted a written report. Member Pelton asked Morse if there was any chance of the Highway department working on the last piece of lake this year. Morse said no, that they plan on finishing that up in the spring. Member Stiles thanked Morse for giving an accounting of the highway department’s equipment. Kaminski said that the board has to look at surplusing a skid steer and an excavator. He said that they don’t use the back hoe and he said that they would get more use out of a new skid steer. Morse said that he received four quotes and the best price was $79,975. Tracey’s quoted $89, 550. Morse said that they are all on state bid. Morse said that Caterpillar quoted $131, 200 and that was a state bid as well. Kaminski said that they are going to have to look at the books and ask Bookkeeper Nourse for the surplus numbers. He said that at budget time there was a surplus of $172,000. Kaminski said that it should be close to that number. Member Stiles said that he would like to use surplus money to buy it. Kaminski said that they are seeking to surplus the Badger too, as it is having some mechanical issues. They would like to put it on Auctions International and to what it brings. Morse said that the pick-up truck should be ready on Dec. 23rd. Member Stiles motioned to accept the Highway Supervisor report. Member Snow seconded the motion. Vote: Ayes-Members Pelton, Snow, Denniston, Stiles and Kaminski. Nays: None. OLD BUSINESS REPORT ON SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING: Member Denniston said the committee met on Nov. 20th and there were fourteen people present. He said that the first session was mainly to see if everyone was on the same page and to let everyone know the current status. He said that there was a lot of brainstorming and there was a wide range of ideas. Some were to use part of the building for public use they are looking to other municipalities for ideas. Some ideas were a satellite library, charter school, rental maker space and or housing opportunities. They are trying to figure out if the town residents wish to pursue the town taking it over. He said that the committee is split on this. Some want to see it stay with the community others do not. The next meeting is scheduled for Dec. 18th. Sandy Price has reached out to other local representatives and County officials. Al Kryger has a connection to Cornell and he was going to see if Engineering students might be interested in doing a study. Sandy Price said she thought it was a good meeting. She said that there were two folks that were quite vocal that they do not want to see the town to take over the building. The committee members all went away with assignments and will report back at the next meeting. It was stated that there will be a public vote. Kaminski said that he wants to come up with a data sheet showing what it will cost the tax payers per thousand if the town took over Virgil Town Board Meeting December 13th, 2018 3 | P a g e the building. He would like to see the town residents have all the information before they vote. He would like to see the town generate revenue to offset the cost to maintain the property. Stiles said that the town doesn’t want to be a landlord and to deal with high turnover. If the Town does take it over, he would like to see the possibility of getting long term tenants. He wants to make sure everyone is able to see the big picture and not feel as if they were runover. Kaminski said that he needs to notify the school as to which way the town wishes to go. Kaminski said that no matter what the Town Board will have a say as to what business goes in there. He said that he is not going to have eye sore or problems. Member Stiles motioned to accept the oral report on the School Building Committee report. Member Snow seconded the motion. Vote: Ayes-Members Pelton, Snow, Denniston, Stiles and Kaminski. Nays: None. RESOLUTION #18-123 APPROVAL OF CHANGES TO THE TOWN’S PERSONNEL POLICY: Member Denniston went back and looked at the proposed changes. Britt Morse said that the highway employees are not opposed to the changes. He said that they did bring up the fact that they will be losing a couple days. Denniston discussed banking emergency time and how it will all fall into one bank. There was much discussion back and forth on numbers. Morse said that besides the two days, they didn’t have an issue with banking the hours. They understood it across the board. He said that there was only one employee that would have the time and he would have to use it at the time of retirement. Member Stiles made a motion to approve the amendments to the personal policy. Member Snow seconded the motion. Vote: Ayes-Members Snow, Denniston, Stiles and Kaminski. Nays: None. A copy will be printed for all non- salaried or elected employees. TRANSFER STATION RULES: Supervisor Kaminski said that they are trying to control flow issues at the Transfer Station. The county is increasing the tipping fees. He said that there have been several complaints about commercial garage trucks. There was some discussion on the increase in the tipping rates. The board said that they budgeted $10,000 more to try and cover the increase. There was concerns that some trash maybe coming from outside Virgil. Kaminski said that the bags need to clear, they can see what’s in them. Someone from Greek Peak stopped in, because they were wondering why they can’t bring their garbage up there. There was also a commercial hauler that, haulers for the trailer park, Blue Moose. Some have questioned why Blue Moose can’t dump at the Transfer Station. Kaminski said that they are not residents and they pick of trash in other areas, other than Virgil. There was some discussion on the possibility of banning all commercial haulers. It was stated that If the garbage is generated in Virgil, they can bring it up there themselves. It was stated that there is a flow problem and the town will need to manage the flow. Attorney Snyder said that he will look at the Local Law. They may need to amend the Law. Supervisor Kaminski said that he will go up and look at the trash. Member Stiles made a suggestion that he is on favor of revisiting the local law and the possibility of amending it. UPDATE ON HUMIDITY ISSUES IN BOARD ROOM: Member Stiles said that there is a humidity issue in the board room. He said that the panels are drooping, sheet rock crumbling and the fan blades are warped. He is making the recommendation that they run a dehumidifier in the room. He said that when the furnace is not running and air is not blowing the humidity is building up. They want to pipe the water directly into the sink drain. He said that it will be a minimal cost to run the dehumidifier. The current thermostat doesn’t test the humidity in the air. Stiles said that he will get a price on a dehumidifier. IT QUOTE: Member Stiles said that he has invited Plan First to come and look at the Towns IT needs. He said that they work with other municipalities. They are willing to assess the towns needs. They plan on being at the Town Hall on Tuesday at 3:00 PM. The board wants to be able to offer a public WIFI password and they want to have a company that responds quickly. REVIEW PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD MEMBER TRAINING REQUIREMENTS (4 HOURS YEARLY MINIMUM): Member Stiles said that he has had many discussions with both boards throughout the year. He said that one member on ZBA has not had any training and their term is up. Stiles recommendation would be not to reappoint this person. He said that is only fair to those who do the training. Stiles recommendation is not to reappoint one member, who’s term is up. Attorney Snyder said that if their term is expired, the board does not need to reappoint them. He said that the alternate can fill the position until it can be filled. The board needs to solicit new members. Member Denniston would like to review all members of both boards at the organizational meeting to see where they stand on their training. DISCUSSION ON FEE SCHEDULE FOR ZONING & PLANNING: Member Stiles said that he’s been working creating a new fee schedule for the codes department. He plans to have a draft by the next meeting. He said that he talked with Kevin Mc Mahon the Code and Zoning Officer and they both agree that it needs to be simplified. DISCUSS FIREWORKS FUNDING FOR 2019: Teri and Gary Pelton have gone to town businesses for donations for an 18-minute fireworks show at Hope Lake Park. It will cost $3500 and they have promises of $1840 plus. They have verbal commitments from Matt Hollenbeck, the Virgil Country Market and Gridley Greek Farms to name a few. They are asking to see if the board would able to pick up the rest of the cost. Stiles wanted to know how they knew if they were going to hit that number. Gary Pelton said that Greek Peak is willing to donate all the staffing. They discussed date options. The dates are filling up and they need some kind of commitment to make sure it’s a go, before they actually reserve the date and collect any money. Kaminski said that he was going to look at the surplus from 2018 and see what they can do, but they gave the go ahead for them to move forward on the planning. NEW BUSINESS RESOLUTION #18-124 SET DATES FOR ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING AND NEXT TOWN BOARD MEETING: Member Stiles motioned to approve January 10th, 2019 at 6:00 PM as the Organizational meeting with the first Town Board Meeting of 2019 to follow immediately after. Member Snow seconded the motion. Vote: Ayes-Members Snow, Denniston, Stiles and Kaminski. Nays: None. Virgil Town Board Meeting December 13th, 2018 4 | P a g e DISCUSSION ON THE PURCHASE OF LAPTOPS/TABLETS FOR BOARD MEMBERS: There was some discussion on purchasing some lap tops for the town board and other boards. Denniston thought it would be a good Investment, as some material is sensitive. But he is not apposed to people using their own equipment. He wouldn’t be opposed to buying a couple laptops for board members to use while they are at the meeting. The laptops would stay at the town hall for folks that don’t have their own equipment. HIGHSPEED INTERNET OPTIONS: There was much discussion on the current internet that is being used and other options that might be available. Member Stiles said that this can be discussed with Plan First when they come to evaluate the Towns IT needs. REVIEW TRANSFER STATION PERMIT APPLICATION: There was discussion that this should be tied into the possible amending of the Local Law that applies to the Transfer Station, they the board will review this at the same time they look at the local law next month. RESOLUTION #18-125 SURPLUS THE 1998 CASE BADGER WHEELED EXCAVATOR: Member Stiles motioned to approve the surplusing of the 1998 CASE Badger Wheeled Excavator on Auctions International. Member Snow seconded the motion. Vote: Ayes-Members Snow, Denniston, Stiles and Kaminski. Nays: None DISCUSSION ON A NEW EXCAVATOR AND SKID STEER: Supervisor Kaminski said that he will get with Gina on the town surplus numbers and Highway Superintendent Morse said that he will give the quotes to Kaminski. FURTHER DISCUSSION: Member Pelton asked about land on the Tioughnioga river that was going to be donated to the town. Kaminski said that he hasn’t talked to the land owner about it further. There were some concerns about flooding. Britt Morse had concerns on who would maintain the property and he was concerned about the possibility of vandalism. There was concern that the town has too many things that don’t make money for the town. With no further business to discuss, Member Stiles moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:53PM. Member Snow seconded the Motion. Vote: Ayes-Members Pelton, Snow, Denniston, Stiles and Kaminski. Nays: None Respectfully Submitted by, Alane Van Donsel, Virgil Town Clerk