HomeMy WebLinkAboutReg Mtg. Minutes 12/17/2001Minutes of the Regular Meeting
December 17, 2001
Village of Cayuga Heights
Board of Trustees
Present: Mayor Anderson, Trustees Fleming, Kusse, Lynn, Collyer, and Anti], Supt.
Cross, Treasurer Silber, Attorney Tyler, Police Chief Lansing, Fire Chief Day,
Absent: Trustee Dunning
Others: Paul Tunison, Bob Mitchell, Mike Zona
At 7:35 PM, Mayor Anderson opened the meeting to the Privilege of the Floor. Paul
Tunison, General Manager of Bolton Point gave an overview of the Bolton Point Union
Contract that had been negotiated and answered some questions from the Board on
specifics. He then asked the Board to approve the contract as it requires the approval of
the respective Boards of each of the five constituent municipalities.
Motion by Trustee Flynn, Seconded by Trustee Fleming
VOTED to pass Resolution 5244 approving the contract negotiated with the
International Union of Operating Engineers on behalf of the Southern Cayuga Lake
Intermunicipal Water Commission's employees that have elected to be represented
by the union for the purposes of collective bargaining.
Mayor Anderson, Trustees Fleming, Collyer, Kusse, Antil, and Lynn voted YES
RESOLUTION 5244
December 17, 2001
WHEREAS, the majority of the Southern Cayuga Lake Intermunicipal Water
commission's (Commission) non - managerial employees in the Production and
Distribution Departments voted affirmatively on January 31, 2001 to be represented by
the International Union of Operating Engineers for the purposes of collective bargaining,
and
WHEREAS, the Commission, in good faith, entered into contract negotiations
with the union, and
WHEREAS, on October 1, 2001, the Commission's negotiating team reached
tentative agreement on a contract with the union's negotiation team, and
WHEREAS, on October 4, 2001, the employees in the union bargaining unit
ratified the tentative contract, and
WHEREAS, the Commission has reviewed and approved the tentative contract,
and
WHEREAS, the Village of Cayuga Heights Board has reviewed the tentative
contract and determined it to be acceptable, NOW THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Village of Cayuga Heights Board approves the tentative
contract, copy which is appended to Resolution, AND BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, that the Village of Cayuga Heights Board authorizes the
Commission's negotiating team to sign said contract as presented.
There was one correction to the minutes of November 19. On the motion to approve the
minutes of October 15, Trustee Lynn seconded the motion made by Trustee Kusse to
approve the minutes.
Mayor Anderson asked for a motion to approve the minutes.
Motion by Trustee Fleming, Seconded by Trustee Kusse
VOTED to approve the Minutes of the October 15, 2001 Board of Trustees Meeting
with the one correction on page 2.
Mayor Anderson, Trustees Fleming, Collyer, Kusse, Antil, and Lynn voted YES
The Mayor recognized Bob Mitchell of Mitchell -Ross regarding the Fire Station project.
The station "finish up" work is almost done — there was a plumbing dispute but it is being
fixed now. The general contractor, Christa Construction, is currently working on many
punch lists. The project is basically done. The building came in a few thousand dollars
under budget. By May, Christa should have received all the money except the holdback
for paving. Trustee Kusse asked about the paving. Supt. Cross reported that he had
conveyed the Board's interest in holding the holdback ($36,000) until August 2002.
Attorney Tyler and Treasurer Silber requested an Executive Session with the Fire Chief,
the Fire Station Architect, and Trustees to consult with counsel as to the conclusion of the
station project.
At 8:10, Motion by Trustee Fleming, Seconded by Trustee Kusse.
VOTED to move into Executive Session to consult with counsel as to the conclusion
of the fire contract.
At 8:40, Motion by Trustee Fleming, Seconded by Trustee Kusse.
Voted to move out of Executive Session.
Mayor Anderson, Trustees Fleming, Collyer, Kusse, Antil, and Lynn voted YES
Bob Mitchell departed the meeting
There was discussion regarding the proposed Lock Box Law. Some revisions were
discussed. There was a slight change in Section 1 and the date change in Section 2. It
was felt that the revision of the Preamble and the extension of the effective date were
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responsive to comments made at the Public Hearing held November 19`h. A copy of the
proposed law is attached to these minutes.
Motion by Trustee Fleming, Seconded by Trustee Lynn.
Voted pass Resolution 5245 Enacting Local Law 2 — Emergency Lock Box Law
Mayor Anderson, Trustees Fleming, Collyer, Kusse, Antil, and Lynn voted YES
Mayor Anderson gave his report.
Movement on the Intermunicipal Projects has been very slow. Next month
there will begin to be data on the N.E. Subarea Transit project.
The second grade from Cayuga Heights Elementary School will be visiting
the Village Hall for an introduction to Municipal government. The Mayor,
Clerk, Justice, Public Works Dept, Zoning Dept. and Police Dept will give a
short presentation on their departments.
Mayor Anderson left and turned the meeting over to Deputy Mayor Fleming at 9:00 pm.
Police Chief Lansing presented his report, which is on file.
The 15 mph speed zone signs in the Cayuga Heights Elementary School area
have been erected. There will be a public hearing on making the area around
the school a School Speed Limit Zone at 7:15 pm on January 21 before the
monthly Board meeting, pursuant to the Resolution of the Trustees passed at
the November 19`h meeting.
There was a suggestion made to the Mayor to put a blinking light at Hanshaw
and Pleasant Grove Road which will blink red when the fire horn is activated.
Chief Lansing received a generous donation from Mrs. Park of $5000 for the
police department's use. The chief would like to put it into a special fund to
save for changes in communications, i.e., new radios. Chief Lansing wrote a
letter to Mrs. Park thanking her.
Regarding the new computer systems in the police cars, at a recent meeting at
the 911 center a suggestion was made to use a mouse for the computers in the
police cars. Chief Lansing said that is not an option for safety reasons.
Fire Chief Day presented his report which was on file.
The fire department automobile (Caprice) was up for bid but none were received. Chief
Day received an e -mail from Chris Katz of University Taxi offering $2000 for the car. It
was the general consensus of the Board to sell the car at that price.
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Motion by Trustee Fleming, Seconded by Trustee Kusse.
Voted to pass Resolution 5246 authorizing Fire Chief Day to sell the Fire
Department Caprice to Chris Katz for $2000.
Deputy Mayor Fleming, Collyer, Kusse, Antil, and Lynn voted YES
There was discussion on the change in the wording in Section 5 of the Fire Station Use
Policy to the "hold harmless" provision in lieu of the mandatory insurance provision in
the previous draft. The amount of the deposit required in Section 5 will be set by the Fire
Chief at the time of the station use.
Motion by Trustee Fleming, Seconded by Trustee Kusse.
Voted to pass Resolution 5247, Fire Station Use Policy, as amended and attached to
these minutes.
Deputy Mayor Fleming, Collyer, Kusse, Antil, and Lynn voted YES
Fire Chief Day discussed with the Board the problems which are growing with Cayuga
Heights Fire Department assisting Lansing Fire Department on their calls. Chief Day
feels that we are being used too often, and Lansing seems to be picking and choosing the
calls that they want to answer. Chief Day has met with the Lansing Fire Chief and
suggests that the Board be aware of the situation and keep an eye on the matter
Attorney Tyler reported on the letter to him from Shirley Egan of Cornell previously
distributed to each Trustee regarding the sewer hook up for the Laboratory of
Ornithology Maintenance Building located east of Sapsucker Woods Road in the Town
of Dryden. Trustee Fleming suggested that the Mayor and Supt. Cross discuss this in
detail before the January meeting. Tyler also suggested that we consider an addendum to
the existing contract excepting these properties from the requirement of being in a
dedicated sewer district in order to be permitted sewer hook up because of "unique
circumstances." Attorney Tyler will inform Shirley Egan that we are leaning toward
amending the Dryden contract but we will take it up further at the January meeting.
Superintendent of Public Works Cross presented his report, which is on file.
Supt. Cross hopes to have a full report of the costs involved in the Highland
Road project at the January meeting.
Regarding the Burgess Trucking Contract, Supt. Cross has been back and
forth with their and our attorney. We requested an increase in their insurance
to $1 million and they increased their figure from $650 to $700 per month.
There was discussion between Supt. Cross and Burgess' attorney as to the
source of the brush that they will be hauling away. Burgess knew where the
brush came from, but their attorney's didn't. Attorney Tyler is now satisfied
with the way the contract reads as redrafted by his office. Supt. Cross asked
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the Board for a Resolution allowing the Mayor to sign a contract with Burgess
Trucking at $700 per month (an increase of $600 /year).
Motion by Trustee Kusse, Seconded by Trustee Antil.
Voted to pass Resolution 5248 authorizing Mayor Anderson to sign a contract with
Burgess Trucking to collect brush (a minimum of once per month) at our request at
a cost of $700 /month.
Deputy Mayor Fleming, Collyer, Kusse, Antil, and Lynn voted YES
Supt. Cross received information that the solid waste tipping fee will be
increased from $48 to $50 /ton.
Supt. Cross reported that the DPW needs to replace the oldest pickup truck in
the fleet (1995 Ford F150 4x4 w /plow). There is a 2002 Ford F250 pickup
truck available on NYSOGS Contract Item 14B through Van Bortel Ford, Inc.
that can be purchased for $23,315.25. Supt. Cross recommends that we
purchase the unit with the diesel engine package for an additional $4,224.40.
The money for this unit is included in the current FY '01 -'02 budget.
There was discussion on whether a diesel engine package is really necessary.
Supt. Cross explained why he thought it was necessary, and asked the Board
to approve the purchase of the vehicle with the diesel engine package.
Motion by Trustee Antil, Seconded by Trustee Lynn
Voted to pass Resolution 5249 authorizing the Supt. of Public Works to purchase
from Van Bortel Ford, Inc. a 2002 Ford F250 diesel powered pickup truck for
$27,539.65 to be paid for from the following accounts:
A5110.200 Street Maintenance @ 0
A5142.200 Snow Removal @ $10,780.00
A8160.200 Refuse Collection @ 0
F8350.200 Water System @ $8,379.83
G8120.200 Server Lines @ $8379.83
Deputy Mayor Fleming, Collyer, Kusse, Antil, and Lynn voted YES
Trustee Lynn questioned if we have a specific schedule to replace DPW
vehicles.
Regarding the issue of determining the value of the NYSDEC Funding
commitment to the Village's WWTP, Stearns & Wheeler can prepare a work
plan document at a cost of $1200 for each of the two projects which will get
us to the point of knowing if we're "in the running" or not for the bond money
on the plant upgrades and joining with the city plant (WWTP consortium).
Supt. Cross will authorize Steams & Wheeler to prepare this work plan.
There is an MEO vacant position due to the promotion of Jeff Ellis to Sr.
MEO. No one at this time is eligible to apply for the position. Trustee Lynn
wants to post the job both inside and outside the DPW.
Supt. Cross reported that Mike Zona was at this meeting to defend his position
on his compensation. The issue is that in the past and currently, Mike Zona,
as an exempt employee, has put in more hours than expected. DPW
employees in the past, and more so now, have exceeded Mike's salary from
overtime hours. Supt. Cross has talked to Laurie Johnston about exempt vs.
non - exempt status. She recommends that we not change Mike's status — he
needs to be a Supervisor, which is an exempt position. Brent then asked the
Board to hear from Mike so he could present his proposal. Mike presented
figures to the Board showing how his compensation compared to a Laborer
with overtime. In conclusion, Mike Zona requested a $5000 increase, along
with a one time allotment of money towards the hours he worked overtime.
At 10:45, Trustee Lynn moved, and Trustee Antil seconded the motion to move into
Executive Session to discuss a personnel matter on a specific employee.
At 11:20, Trustee Anti] moved, and Trustee Fleming seconded the motion to move
out of Executive Session.
Deputy Mayor Fleming, Collyer, Kusse, Antil, and Lynn voted YES.
Motion by Trustee Lynn, Seconded by Trustee Collyer
Motion to pass Resolution 5250 to increase Mike Zona's salary to $43,000 per
annum retroactive to June 1, 2001.
Deputy Mayor Fleming, Collyer, Kusse, Antil, and Lynn voted YES.
Attorney Tyler presented his report (most of it which had been already discussed).
There was a notice of mechanics lien received by the Village of Cayuga Heights
from NES Equipment Services Corp. d/b /a Albany Ladder Co. The rental of machinery
is regularly not lienable and a letter has been sent to remove the lien by the attorney for
the subcontractor (Hovanec) which liened the equipment rental.
Treasurer Silber presented his report, which is on file.
There was discussion on the Village's longevity policy as it pertains to the 5
employees not covered by Unions. Treasurer Silber presented a proposal to
change the current longevity policy for those 5 employees to the following:
Years of Service Amount
5 -9 $250
10 -14 $500
15 -19 $800
20 -24 $1200
25+ $1600
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Motion by Trustee Lynn, Seconded by Trustee Antil
VOTED to pass Resolution 5251 which modifies the Longevity Policy for employees
not covered under Union contracts.
Deputy Mayor Fleming, Collyer, Kusse, Antil, and Lynn voted YES.
A Resolution required to adopt section 41J pension; Treasurer Silber expects
to have a proposed resolution at the January meeting.
Motion by Trustee Lynn, Seconded by Trustee Antil
VOTED to pass Resolution 5252 to adopt section 41J.
Deputy Mayor Fleming, Collyer, Kusse, Antil, and Lynn voted YES.
Treasurer Silber presented the Abstract of Vouchers.
Motion by Trustee Collyer, Seconded by Trustee Kusse
VOTED to pass Resolution 5253 to approve abstract of vouchers.
Deputy Mayor Fleming, Collyer, Kusse, Antil, and Lynn voted YES
There was no Clerk's report.
Motion by Trustee Antil, Seconded by Trustee Lynn
VOTED to adjourn at 11:58 PM.
Deputy Mayor Fleming, Collyer, Kusse, Antil, and Lynn voted YES
Norma Manning
Clerk
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