HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-11-09 Town Board Minutes
Public Hearing + Special Town Board Meeting
Held on 9 November 2022 at &:00pm
Roll Call:
Town Board Joel Gagnon, Super visor
Leslie Connors
Katharine Hunter
Patricia Woodworth
[Vacant Board Seat]
Town Bookkeeper Laura Shawley (via videoconference)
Recording Secretary Janice Adelman, Town Clerk (via videoconference in
Town Hall office)
Transcript and audio recording are available online.
1.Public Hearings
1.1.Preliminar y Budget 2023
Opened at 19:08
Super visor Gagnon introduced the budget noting that year over year, the
increase in budget is 7%; 10% of that from Highway, 4% from General. Last
year’s increase was 5.2%. To have a balanced budget there are only 2 places of
revenue that offset the expenses. Since Danby does not collect sales tax because
it is a variable amount and thus difficult to budget, that potential town revenue
is applied to county tax that essentially reduces the amount of County tax that
residents pay. Instead the revenue comes from property taxes and unexpended
funds left in the fund balance. Every year the town uses some of that fund
balance; e.g., $40,000 last year with $20,000 in highway and $20,000 in the
general fund. This year, the town will use $23,000 in highway and $23,000 in the
general fund for a total of $46,000, or 1.7% of the budget. But every $20,000 in
the budget, in order to raise that amount in taxes, amounts to about a 1%
increase in the tax levy amount. Gagnon asked Bookkeeper Laura Shawley to run
an analysis of what has happened to the fund balance over time.
Other analyses presented by Laura included:
a 5-year expense analysis
budget changes from 2022 budget
Mary Ann Barr 2021
T he Town of Danby
1830 Danby Road
Ithaca, NY 14850
danby.ny.gov
Janice Adelman, Town Clerk
Cindy Katz, Deputy Town Clerk
+1-607-277-4788 | clerkoffice@danby.ny.gov
Town Board Regular Business Meeting Tuesday 1 November 2022 at 6PM
tax rate analysis
Clarifying questions from public attendees continued until 19:48 when public
attendees then spoke in favor or against the budget as documented below.
All those who submitted written comments or spoke at the hearing:
In favor Against Questions/Concerns
Marnie Kirchgessner Judy Bargher
Janice Adelman
Cindy Cerrache
Sarah Schnabel
Ted Crane
Ronda Roaring
Hearing closed at 20:29
2.Special Meeting Called to Order at 20:29
3.Additions/Deletions to Agenda
3.1. Highway Resolution: Operating Funds Loan from General Fund
4. Privilege of the Floor
4.1.Sarah Schnabel, resident: noted the recent expansion of income guidelines from
200% to 300% of poverty level; recommended battery storage law that town
might want to consider.
4.2.Ronda Roaring, resident: raised the OSC audit released on May 22, 2022. Asked
about receiving the corrective action plan that should have been submitted
within 90 days of the audit report’s publication date.
4.3.Ted Crane, resident: stated that the agenda is not on the web in a format
accessible to the public. Noted that the response from the Town is included in
the audit report, but stated it is a non-response.
5. Consent Agenda
5.1.Meeting Minutes
5.1.1. 3 Oct 2022 Public Hearing + Board Meeting
5.1.2. 12 Oct 2022 Budget Workshop
5.1.3. 19 Oct 2022 Regular Board Meeting
5.1.4. 25 Oct 2022 Budget Workshop
5.1.5. 28 Oct 2022 Budget Workshop
5.1.6. 1 Nov 2022 Regular Meeting
5.2.Warrants
5.2.1. General Fund Abstract 21 Vouchers 319–338 for $14,006.64
5.2.2. Highway Fund Abstract 21 Vouchers 186–198 for $27,805.92
Woodworth asked to address the minutes separately.
Page 2 of 5
Town Board Regular Business Meeting Tuesday 1 November 2022 at 6PM
Resolution 210 of 2022 To Approve the Warrant Abstracts
Moved By:Woodworth Seconded By:Gagnon
Vote:
Councilperson Aye Nay Abstain
Connors X
Hunter X
Woodworth X
Gagnon X
Resolution 210 of 2022 passed on 9 November 2022
6. Business
6.1.Highway Resolution 211 of 2022: To Approve Extending a Loan from the General
Fund to the Highway [DA] Fund for Cash Flow Purposes
Moved By: Hunter Seconded By: Woodworth
WHEREAS: The Highway Department has made many improvements to the
roads in 2022 that are to be funded by the CHIPS program from New York State.
This work on roads and culverts has been paid for out of the Highway Fund and
will be turned in for CHIPS reimbursement for the month of December 2022.
WHEREAS: The Highway Department purchased a Backhoe that will be funded
with other equipment that will be sold at auction. The large trucks to be sold to
fund this purchase will not be sold until we have delivery of the new truck
purchases. This waiting process is to ensure that the town will be properly
supplied with snow plows during the rest of November and December.
RESOLVED: The Danby Town Board authorizes a loan from the General Fund to
the Highway Fund in the amount of $200,000 to be used for operating cash until
the CHIPS reimbursement is received by the town.
Vote:
Councilperson Aye Nay Absent
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Town Board Regular Business Meeting Tuesday 1 November 2022 at 6PM
Connors X
Hunter X
Woodworth X
Gagnon X
Resolution 211 Approved on 9 November 2022
6.2.Consideration of Changes to the Preliminar y Budget
6.3.Resolution 212 To Adopt the 2023 Preliminary Budget
Moved By: Gagnon Seconded By: Connors
Vote:
Councilperson Aye Nay Absent
Connors X
Hunter X
Woodworth X
Gagnon X
Resolution 212 Approved on 9 November 2022
6.4.Resolution 213 To Move Into Executive Session To Discuss Complaint Against
Town Clerk
Moved By: Gagnon Seconded By: Woodworth
Vote:
Councilperson Aye Nay Absent
Connors X
Hunter X
Woodworth X
Gagnon X
Resolution 213 Approved on 9 November 2022
6.4.1.Town Board entered executive session at 20:56
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Town Board Regular Business Meeting Tuesday 1 November 2022 at 6PM
6.4.2.Town Board exited executive session at 21:52
6.4.3.Supervisor Gagnon summarized the session and acknowledged that
some behavior was inappropriate and there is a commitment to tr y to
resolve to do better. Gagnon will convey this to the court.
7.Discussion of Next Meeting Agenda
8. Meeting adjourned at 21:53
Recorded by Janice Adelman
Town Clerk
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