HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes of the Board Meeting February 8, 2010.pdf
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Minutes of the Board of Trustees February 8, 2010
Village of Cayuga Heights
Meeting of the Board of Trustees
Present: Mayor Gilmore, Trustees Andolina, Bors, Riesman, and Szekely, Supt. Cross,
Chief Boyce, Treasurer Silber, Supt. Cross, Chief Boyce, Ass’t. Supt. Frisbie, Clerk
Manning
Absent: Trustees Donner and Supron
Others: Sarah Hatcher, Fred Antil, Suzanne Van DeMark, R.W. Nesbitt, C.J. Lacey,
James LaVeck, Eric Huang, Jenny Stein
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Mayor Gilmore called the meeting of the Board to order at 12:00 noon.
The minutes of January 11 were presented for approval.
Motion by Trustee Szekely
Seconded by Trustee Bors
Move to approve the minutes of January 11, 2009 with corrections as noted.
Mayor Gilmore, Trustees Andolina, Bors, Riesman, and Szekely Voted YES.
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Report of the Treasurer – Treasurer Silber distributed the annual audit for the Village.
He will ask for a resolution accepting the audit at the February 15 Board meeting, giving
the trustees the week to read and absorb the audit.
The transfers were then presented to the Trustees for approval as follows:
Motion by Trustee Andolina
Seconded by Trustee Bors
Move to pass Resolution 6608 approving the transfers as follows:
From: To: Amount:
A1990.400 General Contingency A1210.410 Mayor contr Exp $ 200
A1990.400 General Contingency A3620.400 NYSUFBC:Cont Exp $ 100
A5142.100 SNOW: Pers Serv A5142.150 SNOW: Pers Serv-OT $ 5,000
A8160.200 REFUSE: Eqpt A5142.490 Snow: Eqpt Maint $ 5,000
A1990.400 General Contingency A9050.800 Emp Ben: Unemployment $10,000
A1990.400 General Contingency A8560.400 Comm Env: Shade Tree $ 600
Mayor Gilmore, Trustees Andolina, Bors, Riesman, and Szekely Voted YES.
The abstract of vouchers was then presented for approval.
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Motion by Trustee Bors
Seconded by Mayor Gilmore
Move to pass Resolution 6609 approving the Abstract of Audited vouchers dated
2/8/10 in the amount of $97,173.87 minus voucher #51, and the supplement of two
vouchers, and instruct that the Treasurer make payments thereon.
There was much discussion regarding voucher #51, payment to Fred Cowett for tree
inventory. Trustee Bors prefers that the policy modifying the Purchasing Policy be
discussed first, then the voucher will be brought up again for payment. Trustee Szekely
said that the Village has an obligation to pay this invoice, and it should be paid now.
Treasurer Silber said that the project this voucher is paying for was authorized 2 years ago,
the work was done during the summer, and the services have been delivered to the Village.
A policy discussion is not retroactive. A “conflict” issue is about something being done
before the action is taken and the action was already taken and the work was done. Policy
development is irrelevant to work that was previously done. There was then discussion on
where the policy change should go…the Purchasing Policy or the Code of Ethics.
Treasurer Silber said that the change should go into the Ethics Policy. Trustee Riesman,
wife of Fred Cowett, offered a chronology of the events leading up to this voucher.
A vote was then taken -
Mayor Gilmore, Trustee Bors Voted YES.
Trustees Andolina and Szekely Voted NO.
Trustee Riesman ABSTAINED.
Motion Failed.
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Motion by Trustee Bors
Seconded by Mayor Gilmore
Move to pass Resolution 6610 approving the Abstract of Audited vouchers dated
2/8/10 in its entirety.
Treasurer Silber went thru the minutes of 2008 and pointed out where Mayor Lynn
approved and asked for the tree inventory to go into the budget.
Mayor Gilmore, Trustees Andolina, Bors, and Szekely
Voted YES.
Trustee Riesman ABSTAINED.
Motion Passed.
Treasurer Silber told the trustees that at the February 15 meeting, a date will be set for a
budget workshop. What more information does the Board want? Silber went over
everything he has given the Board so far….is there anything else? Trustee Andolina said
that the info the Board has received is sufficient. The key items to focus on are the
elements that come in the April Board meeting. The Finance Committee will discuss
whether the budget meeting should be held before or after the tentative budget is filed.
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Report of the Supt. Public Works – Supt. Cross reported that Randall Nesbitt recently
applied for a permit/variance for a project that included an 8’ high fence which was mostly
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on his property, but partially on a neighbor’s property (with written consent). Since
variances are granted to properties (not individuals or discrete projects), he was required to
make two separate applications, which resulted in him paying for two zoning permit
applications at $25 each and two zoning variance fees of $100 each. When the first request
(on his property) was denied by the ZBA, he immediately withdrew the request for the
variance on the neighbor property.
He inquired with me about getting a refund for the fees for the second request. I indicated
that I don’t have the authority to grant such a request, but he could seek such approval
from the Trustees. Subsequently, he has made his request, in the attached letter addressed
to me. If you are inclined to grant a refund, I suggest that the amount should be a total of
$125.
Mr. Nesbitt’s request is for $150 on the basis that no building permit (no fee) was required
for a fence in the first place. He is correct that no building permit is required, but in fact he
was charged the $25 application fees for a zoning permit. The confusion about this issue is
inherent in the zoning ordinance language that says that “…this ordinance shall not apply
to fences not over four feet in height…”. This language leads people to believe that fences
do not require a zoning permit. I think this issue will be addressed by the new proposed
ordinance that requires a zoning permit for fences of all heights.
Mayor Gilmore asked if the Nesbitt’s wanted to add anything. Mr. Nesbitt said that money
wasn’t the issue; and the entire process was very painful. Points raised by the Zoning
Board were not germaine to the fencing request, but to deer issues. Mr. Nesbitt offered to
talk to the Board at sometime and show them his powerpoint presentation of 11 slides if
they were interested.
The following motion was offered -
Motion by Mayor Gilmore
Seconded by Trustee Bors
Move to pass Resolution 6611 approving the amount of $125 be returned to Mr.
Nesbitt.
Mayor Gilmore, Trustees Andolina, Bors, Riesman and Szekely
VOTED Yes
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Report of the Clerk – Trustee Andolina said that he was pleased with the call report that
the Clerk and Deputy Clerk made up and distributed to the Trustees. The Clerk’s office
will continue this report on a monthly basis.
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Ass’t.Supt. Frisbie presented his report which is on file. Trustee Riesman asked about he
yellow “caution” tape on the railing in the entryway of the Village Hall. Supt. Cross
answered that the railing needs to be code compliant and that is being done now. The tape
will soon be removed.
The Mayor told Frisbie that the Village has come under criticism by a few residents
regarding the “high” speed that the operator of the sidewalk plow is operating the plow.
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Ass’t Supt. Frisbie addressed the situation by mechanically slowing down the speed of the
plow and by painting it a different color.
Mayor Gilmore also asked if Frisbie would consider whether or not the Village can cut
down on salt usage by not salting on straight roads only on intersections. Supt. Cross said
that he would take this suggestion to the Public Works Committee.
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Report of the Police Chief – The Police report is on file. Chief Boyce made a correction
to his overtime hours – from 101.5 to 112 hours.
Trustee Bors asked what the role of our P.D. is in child safety seats in cars. Chief Boyce
said that the County P.D. takes care of checking safety seats in cars, but as a public
relations aspect, our P.D. is getting training (which is lengthy) so they can check safety
seats in cars.
The Chief then commented that the officers are monitoring the TCAT bus change on the
Northway and things are running smoothly.
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Report of the Mayor – Mayor Gilmore tabled the TCCOG update until the February 15
evening meeting.
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Trustee Privilege of the Floor – Trustee Szekely reported that she enjoyed updating the
Village Clerk’s job position with Clerk Manning. All that is left in the process is to add
qualifications to the description. The Mayor has a copy, both the Clerk and Trustee
Szekely will meet with him, then the Trustees will see the complete job description.
Trustee Szekely wanted to remind everyone that the census is coming up and it is very
important that everyone in the Village, especially the students, be counted. This number
will impact the sales tax that the Village ultimately receives.
Motion by Trustee Bors
Seconded by Trustee Riesman
Move to adjourn the meeting at 1:45 pm.
Mayor Gilmore, Trustees Andolina, Bors, Riesman and Szekely