No preview available
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-10-26 - TB TOWN OF ULYSSES SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING BUDGET WORKSHOP OCTOBER, 26 , 2006 Present: Supervisor Douglas Austic ; Town Council Roxanne Marino , Don Ellis, Rod Ferrentino and Lucia Tyler; Town Clerk Marsha L . Georgia; Deputy Supervisor Richard Coogan. Supervisor Austic called the meeting to order at 9 : 30 am . Comprehensive Plan Resolution Ms . Marino attended the Comprehensive Plan Committee meeting and reported that the committee is trying to finish the survey. They are asking for comments from the Town Board, and they are planning on sending the survey out to individuals to try out the questions and modify from there . When the committee has the final draft, they would like to send it to the Cornell Survey Research Institute. Cornell will review the questions for problems, so the committee can then modify questions before the survey is finalized and mailed to residents . Ms . Marino read the resolution passed by the Comprehensive Plan Committee requesting $ 5000 from the Town Board to hire Cornell Survey Research Institute. Ms . Marino moved, seconded by Ms . Tyler the following : BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Ulysses enter into a contract with Cornell Survey Research Institute as a consultant to review, analyze and assist with the Comprehensive Plan Survey as requested by the Comprehensive Plan Committee, FURTHER RESOLVE this contract will not exceed $ 5000 . Mr. Austic aye Mr. Ferrentino aye Ms . Tyler aye Mr. Ellis aye Ms. Marino aye Adopted. Ms. Marino was asked by the Committee to ask the Town Board how they see their role in the survey. Specifically, does the Town Board require that the survey be approved through a resolution, or, does the Town Board just wish to review the survey and send comments to the committee before it is mailed. Mr. Ellis is for sending comments . Mr. Austic said he would like to see the final survey before it is sent out, but the Board would not have to make a formal approval . There was unanimous agreement on this. Tentative Budget 2007 * * These minutes reflect the changes and additions to the 2007 Tentative Budget made this date. For the full comments to this meeting the tapes are available. Mr. Austic has made the changes to the tentative 2007 budget as requested by the Town Board at the last budget workshop . Mr. Austic also stated that in addition to that he has received a quote on the insurance that is less than the current amount the Town pays but he has not entered those figures into the budget under unallocated insurance, but he has Special Town Board Meeting 2 10/26/2006 entered the new figures on the workers compensation insurance. He is waiting until further comparison for the other insurance. Mr. Austic provided a sheet with the distributions of sales tax and the fund balances that the Board discussed. Mr. Austic is hesitant in using more fund balance. Ms . Marino is uncomfortable using 91 % of the sales tax revenue. The Board continued to discuss the fund balance versus using sales tax revenue. Mr. Austic will call David Squires and inquire about the sales tax revenue anticipated for 2007 . Ms. Marino suggested increasing B8011 .4 (General Environmental CE) by $ 7, 500 for the Town ' s share to participate in the Rt. 96 transportation corridor study proposed by the County Planning Department as a joint project with the City of Ithaca and the Town of Ithaca . Ms . Marino proposed using $ 7 , 500 of unallocated B Fund balance to cover the expense. The Board discussed this and changed B8011 .4 to $26,250 and B599 to $26 , 500. Mr. Ellis said that the Board has the ability to move the tax levy up or down and seeing that the cost of living is a little over 3 % he feels that the Board should not be so cautious with a 2% tax levy increase that he feels it would be wiser to have a 3 % to 4% target tax rate increase. Ms . Marino agrees with Mr. Austic . Ms . Tyler would like to see additional money put in the B Fund to clean up the Ledger property. fd ' Mr. Austic said that would be an inappropriate use for tax dollars . The Board discussed other ways that funds may be raised, such as, look for grants. This may be something to talk to the attorney about. Ms . Marino feels that it is a complicated issue and should be talked about. Ms . Marino would like to consider increasing the A Fund contingency because of the uncertainty of the attorney costs, given that the Town will have a new attorney and contract arrangement. Ms . Marino purposes increasing A Contingency by $2000. $2000 was added to A1990.4 Mr. Ellis moved, seconded by Ms . Marino to enter into executive session to discuss personal matters relevant to the 2007 Budget. Mr. Austic aye Mr. Ferrentino aye Ms. Tyler aye Ms . Marino aye Mr. Ellis aye Adopted. The Board moved into the conference room for executive session at 10 : 55 am . The Board reconvened. Special Town Board Meeting 3 10/26/2006 Ms . Tyler asked if everyone got an email about the monitoring of Taughannock Creek and the Water Resources Council in supporting these projects . Ms . Tyler is in favor of this because she thinks the Town is getting a pretty good bang for their buck. Mr. Austic said the Town is already paying for this type of project in three different locations, such as part of the Tompkins County Coalition. Mr. Austic said that several municipalities have turned them down because even the Health Department would say their results are questionable because of the types of research they are doing. Mr. Ellis said he does not feel that this is a budget issue at this time. He feels that he would have to talk about the project and have them talk to the Board. This also was the general consensus of the Board that the goals of the project and how the data collected would be used needed better clarifying . Before the next budget meeting of October 31st, Mr. Austic will update the fund balance sheet. Mr. Austic said that the Town Board needs to have a public hearing with the Town of Covert and the Town of Hector for the fire district . At least three from each Town has to be in attendance so that the Fire Chief can present the Fire Budget. The Board discussed the fire district or lack of fire district. Hearing no further discussion Mr. Ellis moved, seconded to adjourn the meeting. Unanimously approved. Meeting was adjourned at 11 : 55 am. Respectfully submitted, Marsha L Georgia Ulysses Town Clerk MLG: mlg