HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-10-25 Town Board MinutesThe Town of Danby
1830 Danby Road
Ithaca, NY 14850
danby.ny.gov
PRESENT:
Joel Gagnon, Town Supervisor
Patricia Woodworth
Leslie Connors
Paul Hansen
Katherine Hunter (arrived 6:11. p.m.)
OTHER ATTENDEES:
Town Bookkeeper
Deputy Clerk
Public (virtual)
(1) CALL TO ORDER
Town Board Budget Meeting
Wednesday 25 October 2023 at 6:OOPM
MINUTES
Laura Shawley
Cindy Katz
Garry Huddle, Ted Crane, Jim Holahan
The meeting was called to order at 6:05 p.m.
(2) ADDITIONS/DELETIONS TO AGENDA
None
(3) BUSINESS
Supervisor Gagnon explained that the goal of this meeting was to review the Tentative 2024
budget, make any revisions, and then approve it to be the Town's Preliminary Budget. Once
the budget is Preliminary, a Public Hearing will be held, providing residents a chance to
comment.
Bookkeeper Shawley approached the mic and explained that this version of the budget is
quite similar to the last one. The tax levy is exactly the same, and it is still $600 under the tax
cap. The major difference is that they "sharpened up" some line items, especially in the IT
section. She explained that the Fire District increased their budget by ilk, but that is not
related to our tax cap as they have their own and they stayed at about the same increase.
She moved on to discuss the specific accounts that they looked more closely at:
• Building Contractual had been 4ok but has now been reduced to $31,ioo. The
changes are due to internet service, computer services, and postage going to different
account numbers.
• Information Technology went from 6k to 3Sk due to a reallocation of the TCNS (Triple
Cities Network Services) contract.
• Email Maintenance went from $660o to 580o due to a new quote from TCNS for
[Microsoft] 365. Supervisor Gagnon clarified that this was actual email, not really
"maintenance." They thought to change the line name to "email services." Hunter
arrived.
• Newsletter and Other Support is anew line item. In this line there is i6k allocated for
the newsletter and 9k for other support like website work, for a total of 25k. These
expenses used to be lumped into Central Communication.
• Central Communication went from $37,400 to i6k. It now includes Mitel phones,
Verizon cell phones, and internet services. That includes Highway and Town Hall.
• The Contingent Grant Match line went down after speaking to Greg Hutnik, Town
Planner]. Previously, this line had 7k in it in case it was needed as a "match" to grant
funding that town might receive. Greg thought it would be ok to go down to 5900.
Shawley explained this was part of trying to stick to the goal of staying under the tax
cap. She added that although there is nothing on the horizon, if they needed more for
a grant match they could take from other contractual line items.
• Garage Contractual went down from $75,000 to $73,20o due to re -allocation of cell
phones, Internet, and drug testing charges to other accounts.
• Street Lighting went down over the last few years and they identified the cause of that
to be the switch to LED lights.
• They added $200 for the Danby Youth Commission and $850 for the Danby
Community Park Association.
Nothing new taken from the fund balance; nothing that changes the tax levy; just moving
around lines and cleaning it up. She thinks we are in a good place.
Supervisor Gagnon asked what is in Central Communications now? Shawley directed them
to the location in their packet that shows it, and explained it is just phones, cell phones, and
internet services, as everything else was pulled out of it. Supervisor Gagnon wondered if they
should change the name to just "communication" or to "phone and internet." They decided
to call it "Phone and Internet."
Hansen wondered if they could list what is in each section in the front section of each part of
the budget packet. Shawley explained where to look to see that, and agreed that this could be
helpful and they can revisit it, maybe by adding in parentheses. They discussed how it could
help with clarity for the public. They discussed how contractual means everything else that
isn't personnel.
Connors was concerned with the Garage Contractual but Shawley explained she was looking
at an older one. They discussed a few of the other names and the state format that is
required. Shawley explained that some of the line names are from the NYS manual. Some of
the language can be confusing and takes time to get used to.
(4) PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR
Supervisor Gagnon called for privilege of the floor.
Huddle spoke over Zoom and wondered if they were going through each line item or is this
it? Supervisor Gagnon said this is hopefully going to be it. Huddle was hoping to plug the
senior's request for extra funds, going from 5k to $7500 this year. He explained there are 175 of
them and they haven't had an increase in a long time. This just funds the transportation, not
the tickets themselves. Supervisor Gagnon said that the money has been allocated.
Supervisor Gagnon asked if they were good to go?
MOTION: To pass Resolution 214 of 2o23 approving the Tentative Budget as the Preliminary
Budget.
Moved by Gagnon, seconded by Connors.
The motion passed.
In favor: Connors, Hansen, Hunter, Woodworth, Gagnon
(5) ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 6:28p.m.
--Recorded by Cindy Katz, Deputy Town Clerk