HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-08-13T6 8 -13 -03
TOWN OF DRYDEN
TOWN BOARD MEETING
August 13, 2003
Board Members Present: Supv Mark Varvayanis, Cl Charles Hatfield, Cl Stephen Stelick,
Jr., Cl Christopher Michaels
Absent: Cl Deborah Grantham
Other Elected Officials: Bambi Hollenbeck, Town Clerk
Jack Bush, Highway Superintendent:
Other Town Staff: Mahlon Perkins, Town Attorney
Henry Slater, Zoning Officer
David Herrick (TG Millers), Town Engineer
Supv Varvayanis opened the meeting at 7:05 p.m.
RECREATION DEPARTMENT
Jennifer Glaab provided the board with a financial report. Dryden Old Homes days _
went well and those who attended enjoyed themselves. Boat rentals were free to the public for
the weekend, ($75 /day paid by Dryden Old Home Days). Music in the Park concerts are going �0
well. Over 500 people attended the Steve Southworth & the Rockabilly Rays concert. Tink 1
Bennett &. Tailor Made are scheduled for August 20, and August 27 will be Ruben Everidge and
the SanAntones.
Boat rentals are going well, but were closed last week due to a death in the family of
Kristi Gallerani, the boat rental agent. Her last day will be August 24, and they are looking for (%
someone to take her place. A double kayak will be available this week.
Summer baseball and softball is over. Dryden held their first annual tournament, with
Dryden taking first at the "13" level and second at the "A" level.
Football and cheerleading will begin next week. 63 are registered for junior and senior
football, 16 for flag football, and 75 for cheerleading. A Pepsi Punt, Pass & Kick competition
will be held September 6 at 10:00 a.m. at the Middle /High School, and is open to girls and
boys ages 8 -15. Winners will be eligible to compete in sectionals and possibly at the team
championship level.
The Recreation Partnership Board voted on July 22 for a zero percent increase, meaning
the total municipal contribution for 2004 would be $190,552, the same as 2003. This will
include facility operation costs, program funding targets, elimination or partial elimination of
eight programs, a reduction in staff hours and an increase in the recreation coordinators
hours. The cost sharing formula was changed to enable the County to fulfil its 1/4
contribution by appropriating $38,110 and paying the balance of $9,528 with un-kind staff
support to the partnership. The balance of $9,528 will be reallocated among the remaining
municipalities based on the original cost sharing formula. The Health and Human Services
committee voted 4 -1 to recommend the same and will be discussed by the County Legislature
on August 19. Dryden's 2004 contribution is $11,238 (a$910 increase from last year).
page 1 of 16
TB 8 -134)3
COUNTY BRIEFING
lqq° Michael Lane reported that a tropic of discussion at the Planning Committee meeting
last week was the aquifer study. Dryden and Caroline have already commenced work on
studying the aquifer. The County has looked at the aquifers and evaluated and ranked thew,
with the Dryden project coming out on top. There is a limited amount of money for assistance
in funding. There has been discussion whether to put money into the Towns that have already
started, or look at some of the other Towns. The consensus of the committee was that no Town
should be penalized because it started ahead of the County. He said in the near future the
Town should hear from the planning commissioner regarding how the County may assist with
the study.
The situation with the County budget is pretty grim. They have had preliminary
projections and know they have a serious problem. They have to meet medicaid, pension and
health insurance costs, together with other state mandates. There will be a reduction in local
spending. At. the last meeting, the legislature directed the County Administrator to give them a
proposal, in addition to his regular budget review, that would show what would happen if they
demanded no more than a 50/o tax increase last year. M Lane said he does not believe they will
get down to a 5 %) increase and still be able to maintain their level of essential services.
CITIZENS PRIVILEGE
David Stotz of 172 Hunt Hill Road presented petitions signed by residents for the repair
of Hunt Hill Road. He said he understood that at the last meeting the subject came up and
there was some resolution to the matter, but: he still wanted to present the petitions. He said
the petitions represent 5a" /> of the residents of :Hunt Hill Road and they are asking that
immediate action be taken in remedying the dangerous condition of the road. He said it is a
19 mess, there are large potholes, and extensive sections have become delaminated with blacktop
pieces scattered about. Patched surfaces are extremely uneven and bumpy. The petitioners
consider the road to be unsafe. Two examples are that recently his wife was almost hit head on
because of a car swerving into her lane to avoid a large section of delaminated surface, and on
other occasion another a. piece of pavement kicked up by a passing car missed his head by
inches while he was getting his mail.
He said he realizes this past winter was hard on roads and the Highway Department
has backlogs of work, but it is mid - August and nothing has been done. It almost appears that
the Town has through conscious or benign neglect abandoned them. They are all afraid that
another winter such as the one just experienced might: render the road impassable. They know
about the law suit brought against the town concerning certain improvements to town roads
and understand there are even court injunctions against going ahead with any such
improvements. He said the existence of such legal action does not absolve the town from
responsibility for maintaining Hunt HM Road in a good static of repair as the road presently
exists. It appears the Dryden Highway Department has chosen not to fulfill. this responsibility.
If such neglect is in retribution for lawsuits or threats of lawsuits against the Town or the
Highway Superintendent, then such tit for tat behavior is most reprehensible because it places
the safety of people and property in jeopardy simply to make a point and he hopes this is not
the case. The residents of Hunt Hill Road use the street every day and do not wish to risk their
safety and the safety of others in doing so. He said they are placing the Town on notice that
unsafe conditions exist on this road because of the present deteriorated state of the road
surface and the Town will be held responsible if death, injury or property damage occurs. The
petitioners demand that the To%cm properly repair Hunt: Hill road before winter weather arrives,
repair all delaminated surfaces, repair all loose pieces of pavement, repair the road margins, fill
and pave all potholes, remove existing bumpy and deteriorating patches and replace with
® smooth pavement. They are confident the Town Board and Town Highway Superintendent will
abide by their obligations to maintain the welfare and safety of the town's residents.
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TB 8 -13 -03
® Ron Gorewit, 68 I•Iunt Hill Road, said he has lived there since 1986 and has never seen
the road as bad as it is noun. He talked with the Highway Superintendent in November a year
ago and discussed his driveway which is mostly sand. He has spent $5,000 on his driveway.
The Superintendent said if they bought the culvert pipe he would install it and make sure he
( Gorewit) would not have to shovel any more sand. He said he has a heart condition and
should not be shoveling sand and gravel. Then the Highway Superintendent called and said he
could not do the work because of the injunction.
Mr Gorewit said they have lost power on Hunt Hill [toad at least fifteen times in the past
ten years or so and one of the principal .reasons is the fact that the trees fall on the power lines.
The trees are dead or dying and fall on the power lines. A lot of this occurs in the winter
months and they are sometimes days without power. 'There trees that are dead and dying and
are a hazard. They have also have had people slide in the gravel and hit trees and end up in
the gully. He has a daughter with a ne%v car and have had to put a wheel bearing in the car
and he believes it is because of the condition of Hunt Hill Road.
He said his assessment has increased by $35,000; they say it is a $270,000 home, but
to him it isn't worth more than a log cabin on a dirt road. If he was to put his house on the
market., he could get more money if the street was repaired and his driveway was clean.
Pictures of his driveway were presented to the board.
Jack Bush, Highway Superintendent, said he is very concerned about: Hunt Hill Road
and has been since 1999. The interesting thing is that each person who lives on the road has a
different scenario and they are trying to come up with a way to help each one, from cutting
trees to water and shoulder issues. He did not want to put a lot of money into the road for
® temporary work. What he is proposing to do to get through the winter will cost at least
$10,000 to $20,000. He had been hoping to put that money toward the actual work that needs
to be done to the road to repair the distresses that are causing the problems. What has
happened since 1999 is a continuing process of the road breaking down and starting to fall
apart. It does not make sense to pave the whole road in its current condition because of the
distresses under the blacktop. There is water under the road causing the problems and that
needs to be drained. That work should have already been done. At this point it is too late in
the season. In the beginning of the year he had hoped to have this road put on the 284
Agreement (the agreement between the Highway Superintendent and the Town Board).
Because of the law suit and people at the board meetings voicing their concerns, and he
commended the board for trying to come up with a solution with him to make residents happy
and move forward with repairing the road, they decided to have a fly over done of Hunt Hill
Road. That would create a map showing the ditch lines, etc and would give people something
to look at that would show where right of ways were because that was one of the issues in the
law suit. From that map the Town Engineer would develop a plan that could be taken to
residents to show the work that was proposed and how it would affect their property and
whether it would be necessary to enter onto private property (he does not believe that will be
necessary in most places). He said that even after the decision of the Judge in the law suit
there was still a gray area. There was no clarification of exactly where the right of way was in
some areas.
There are 162 town roads and J Bush said he is constantly talking to residents and
trying to resolve issues and it is amazing what they get done. Unfortunately, this is the current
situation with Hunt Hill Road. He is ashamed of it. A good example of the kind of work they
do is Hurd Road. I-Ie does not feel that anything was done on that road that should not have
been done and that that road is in great condition. At this point there is no way to repair Hunt
Hill Road without major work. There needs to be work done on the ditches. INIr Gorewitz has a
unique situation where the water drops off the shoulder and there is no backslope to a ditch,
so in that case they need to make a ditch to trap the water and send it into a pipe, underneath
Page 3 of 16
TB 8 -13 -03
® his driveway and down the road. However, the property that borders his is a person that is on
the lawsuit and that prevents the work from being done. He said he does not want to create a
panic in the town, though there are people that have done that by misleading or whatever. The
worst thing he could do is go up there and upset certain people. They have had to plow snow
and remove trees from the road, etc.
With respect to what is going to be done now, J Bush has met with the County because
they have equipment the Town doesn't. to box out the bad spots and help get through the
season until the work can be done next _year. The County has advised that is too much labor
and too expensive, but have a paver they can bring up neat: Wednesday to "bandaid" over the
bad spots. It will provide a smooth surface to drive on, but is simply temporary. The water
under the road will continue to cause the pavement to break up and will be a problem until the
drainage can be properly addressed. He would like to repair the road properly next year.
J Bush noted that he had asked people who called to complain about the condition of
Hunt Hill Road to come to the Board and make it known that they support work being done on
the road. He would like the Board to know that the resident.. not only want the temporary
work done, but the real work done next year (installation of drain tile, ditching and correction
of the drainage problems).
Cl Michaels explained that there was a public hearing scheduled for 7:30 p.m., and they
are already ten minutes late, and he proposed that the Citizens Privilege and discussion of
Hunt Hill Road could resume after the public hearing.
Dan Strawbridge said he had lived on Hunt Hill Road since 1979 and he has never seen
the road this bad, He asked when residents would see maps, etc. and said he did not want: the
Town to spend foolish money in a bandaid. He said it is always next year that the road will be
fixed and he believes that the bandaid will be gone this Spring. He does not want the Town to
foolishly spend money, but we need to get to the bottom of this. He would like to start with
distributing the flyover map and then everyone on the hill would know what the intentions are
and for certain residents that live on the hill that have tight quarters to the road maybe
something can happen. He asked the board to take this seriously.
Cl Michaels said the board is taking it seriously and would love to take this up, but the
Village Board is joining the Town Board for a public hearing. He would love to continue the
conversation, but in order as it is on the agenda.
Supv Varvayanis asked David Herrick to give a summary of what. is going to happen.
Mr Herrick explained that he represented TG Nliller, one of the engineering consultants that
serve the board. The aerial photography will be taken in the Fall once the majority of the
leaves have fallen from the trees so that they can get a. good resolution of the photo along the
%% rhale corridor. The reason for going with the aerial mapping is that it does provide a less
expensive process for getting the information on what the conditions are now *. It will be a
historical document showing how things existed before the Town took action to modify ditch
lines, tree lines, the center lines of the road. It's been given top priority by the company that is
going to be doing the mapping. From that there will be a planmetric and a topographic
representation of the existing conditions. Then they would be in a position to propose what
would be modified. They would work with Jack Bush to understand where certain situations of
less than safe conditions are. Some of the 90 degree curves in the road may require some
super elevation for improved safety for vehicles coming around corners. They will be
developing some typical cross- sections of the road; how it appears from the neighbor's property
line across the street. Those would be available for the town to share with residents. That is
the effort that would go into developing a program for whatever amount of modification and
improvements can invest in.
Page 4of16
TB 8 -13 -03
D Strawbridge asked if this was a result of the law suit or if it was typical of all roads,
D H rick said it was ijFpical. D tsawliridgc said uraitirig untrU ball seemed a little late.
Supv Varvaynnis said they were fifteen minutes overdue for the public hearing and
would pro ueed with it, and get back to the matter of the road_ Floyd Ayers said that the board
was well aware of the issue and that there would be many people at the meeting, and he thinks
it is somewhat of a, travesty in holding public hearings and allowing this portion of the meeting
to be suspended until later. There are a lot of people who carne specifically to talk about the
I
ssue,
PUBLIC HEARING
ANNEXATION PETITION OF KONSTANTINO I!wATSIROUMBAS
upv Varvayanis opened the public hearixV for annexation, a. joint meeting with tl.7e.
Village of Dryden, at 7;50 p,m. 7Y nscript of court reporter will be attached to minutes when
received, The public heari
e ng was closed ail 9:48 p.m.
CITIZENS PRIVILEGE. (contiuued)
upv Varvayanis asked if there were anymore comments about Hunt Hill Road,
Liam Moses, 42 Hunt Hill Road, said he had driven the road for the last 31 years, and
this is about) the worst he has ever seen it. Before it w',as resurfaced it was always solid; there
was a cloud of dust but it was not as destructive as it is now to cars and pedestrians. What he
vmLLId like to see happen is the Town put together a plum and circulate it to the people who live
on the road so they know what the Town plans to do. If something has to be done for short
term, he said the Town knows better than he how Far the nxarsey will ga. If any serious
restructuring needs to be done like was done to Hurd Road, just let them know and they can
consciously comment on it and try to assess it and get the ball rolling. It has been frustrating
seeing this go on and on. He thinks it is obvious to the Board and the Highway Superintendent
that something needs to be done and he would certainly like to see ii. If anything is going to be
done with the ditches, he would like to rnuktc sure. that whoever is driving the backhoe is
accountable for destroying private property. He had paid for a culvert and someone came
along and cleaned the ditches and destroyed the uphil1 side of the culvert. The sand and stuff
coming down can't get through and it is ruining his driveway. All those things need to be
identiiEed, planned for, the residents told what is planned, and if no one complains, go do it.
He said he appreciates the To ss's conmideration.
Peggy Walbridge said that given some of the corarnents tonight' t' she wind ]%ke to
reiterate than, the temporary injunction has not prevented the Highway Superintendent from
working between the two ditches and also it only was related
to abo u t' uigla t praperties on the
roars so a lot of places where the road has collapsed arc not related to the temporary
injunction. She also wanted to remind people of the 11i$t0ry. In 1999 when some of the
citizens of Hunt Hill asked the board (Cl Hatfield and Cl Grantham were on the board at that
time) and they convinced the Jack Rush to weet wish them. They asked for an engineering
plan and they asked for input and they would like to go with it and do a sensible job. It has
been four years before that was taken up. In 1999 they were told that it was one of the tvm
worst roads in the Town and there has been a lot of foot dragging,
upv Varvayatuis asked if there were citizens with comments regarding anything other
than Hunt Hill Road_
Dan Tier presented the Town Board with fire contracts executed by Neptune Hose
Company. He tneide the following statement,
F'UgC 5 of I C�
TB 8 -13 -03
When Neptune Hose Company was presented with the fire ec,ntract oeaX the end of
2002 for the year of 2003 some significant charges were made without discussion or input
from the representatives of Neptune Hose Company. Needless to say, the changes were of
some concern to our orgartizKt'ion becamw they reduced overall f ixiding, sec a different pay
schedule, and added a certified audit. We felt these changes should have been discussed with
our Board of Directors,
A Tueedng was held with all the town Fire Departments and the Town of Dryden Public
Safety to address the changes in the 2003 contract_ We had looped to resolve the concerns
with the 2003 contract changes. Town fire departments conceded to payment schedule
changes to have future discussions of equipment fording in exchange for changes in the
language coricer=' g the proposed audit. After this meeting, the contract language still
reflected that Neptune Hose Company and ether Town fire departments would be responsible
for the cast of an audit., even though we were assured at the meeting chat the language would
charge to reflect t1:.e practice of the actual audit. Without the audit language changes,
Neptune (lose Company refused to sign the contract that reflected the agreers upon
concessions.
The lack of willingness by the Town to work through these differences required Neptune
Hose Company to hire legal counsel to address the 1anlruage in the contract and protect out
orgz nmlzation. At considerable expense of time and money by Neptune Hose Company and the
Town of Dryden, chimes of the language in the contract were instituted.
The removal of set -aside hinds. for the ladder truck replacement continues to concern
us. Our Town Supervisor has stated 'that Neptune had purchasers dae ladder truck and was
no longer entitled to the set =aside money". -We strongly disagree with his posilion because the
truck will need to be replaced in twenty years_ To start the process of fLmding the replacement
of a truck that w111 potentially cost $800,000 to $1,000,000 when it is due for replacement is
not only foolish but fiscally irresponsible.
Neptune Hose Company has successfully managed its business for decades with a
Board of Directors made up of respected community and department members_ Through that
process our organization has kept our contract increases at M per year, which has been below
the rate of inflation. We have done this with planting and forecasting for operational reeds
and equipment' replacement. entsary to the current goverment philosophy of buy now and
pay later at considerably higher cost, Neptune continually reviews its need% and sets aside
capital project accounts and contingency funds to pay directly for needed equipment, such as a
ladder truck that will need to be purchased in 20 years, or unforeseen emergencies,
Finally, I want to make clear that contrary to the statements made by the Town
Supervisor, Neptune Hose Company has never refused to comply with the certified audit. Our
organization has maintained that it will participate full }r in the audit process once a contract
has been agreed to and signed by all parties. At this juncture we are concerned that the audit
w u
ill provide a jmping -off place for the Town government to attempt to manage an emergency
service #hall it neither understands nor is qualified to run, such as the fiscal disaster that
resulted when the Town managed the financial aspects of the ambulance service,
In the past, Neptune Nose Company has maintauied a trusting relationship with the
Town of Dryden, This trust has been seriously breached. It is nur desire for the relationship to
be restored to that level.
Cl Michaels asked if the contract presented was the latest one discussed with Neptune's
attorney and the Town's attorney and was told that it was_
Page 0 of 1
TB 8 -1303
upv Varvayanis asked thic Town Clerk to read a letter received from Che Varna
Volunteer ire Co., Inc.:
'Dear Members of the Town Board and interested parties,
The Varna Volimteer Fire Company (VVrC) is submitting is 2003 fire contract. With
this letter, we wish to explain our objections to a -number of pravisions in the contract as
written and request that this letter be read into the minutes of the Town Board meeting as
public record. We have four major concerns with the con tract1, %Teeifically= (1) the isz"- duct'iaa
of periodic payments, { } not recogn=g the funds required to address unanticipated
mandates, (3) not rewriting the contract to accuraiEly express who wo Ldd pay for the annual
audil:s, and (4) ignoring the VVFC stated financial needs for long -term planning for comraux ily
safety. Additionallv, what had seemed to V[TFC i :o be fruitful discussions with members of the
Town Board regarding the contract ultimately had no bearing on the outcome of the final
contract as delivered,
1. We request to go on record opposing the periodic payrn eats, or anything except
the one lump sum that has occurred over ibe past 49 years. Tax revenues for fire protectio -n
are collected by January 131x'. with the exception of those few 1:axpayers who wish to defer half
of their 1:axes until the end of Jun 3.
June with a 0°fo A13R assessment. There is no logical reason. in
our opimm, why rho se revenues collected for fire pTotecLioxn should not be distributed
I
mmediately for that purpose. If contract payments must be &52rresd, we would request a
similar rate of assessment: to be added to the deferred payments.
_ The contract does not provide sufficient funds Co cover unanticipated mandates.
Provision 12 addresses compliance to all laws, statutes, codes, rules arod. regulations. The
V fIC snakes every, effort to be compliant, but in doing so incurs unanticipated expenses which
we all know as "unfLmded randates," For example, in 2002, we updated our Seffmcontained
bread ing Apparatus to comply with NFPA regulations at a cost of $12,210. Just this month,
our defibrillators became unacceptable by Board of health regulations and had to be replaced
at s enst of just under $5,000 for used, revcoT)dilioned units. We malke two recommendations to
the Town Board=
• First, that the Town Board recognize that our requests for contract funds are n.ot "the sky's
the limit" guesses, but rather our best effort attempts at estimating cosCs involwo5d in
mainta,iuirXg and updating our equipment to meet code when necessary, for oLu members'
safety and the safety, and vmEbeing of these we serve_
• Second, that in future c%antracts., the wording of the provis -ion is changed to, "Tire company
shall wake every effort: to comply,_. ", or something si.rn ar. That's what use try to do,
The Town Hoard refused to rewrite the section in the contract coacernisng who
would actually pay for the audit. The fire compa -ny voted in Marsh to accept the contract for
this year with hopes that these issues coti.ki be addressed in the 2004 contract negotiations
with the Town Board. The one conditiun Co this vote was that the con iTact would be amended
with a. Memorandum of Understanding for Provision 18 stating that the Town of Dryden would
pay for the audit. In previous raced -ngs with Counctilmen SteHck and Michaels, it was geed
that this would be done. Hnwvever, already ui the Rebruary 12, 2003 meeting of the Town
Board, Attorney Perkins stated, "...There is no need to amend 1'a [5 1c] the contracts," since the
contract does specifically state that ",..the Company shall provide to the Town, at the
Companys expense, an independent, audit or review of the financial affairs of the company...,"
the VV1FC Board of Directors deteimi ned that a rewriting of Provision 18 or a Memorandum of
Undermtandirng morns d.ef rdtcly in order, The failure of the Town Boexd to comply with this
simple request has reinforced our position that iC seems futile to spend additional time in the
2003 flee contract negotiations,
Page 7 of 16
TB 8= 13-13
4, The Town Board ignored the VVFC stated financial needs for long -term planning for
community safety, and this deficiency is reflected in the 2003 contract. Our financial
sYgLtements, budget, replacement program history and furore schedule, as weJ1 as our request
for contract funds, were all opened to Supervasvr Varvayanis and Councilman Stelick before
the Supervisor's Contract was approved by the Tawas Board on December 4, 2002. Not only
were our requests totally ignored, an additional $6,000 was gut from the contrast for 20031
During the failed negotiations of this past year, we have been a;idmonisiied by the Town
Brand not to revisit the past or review our disagreements with the Town of Dryden.
Unfortunately, ibe past is still the present. However, with the sin�C of this contract, we 1mU
make every effort to put the past into the past. As we enter negotiations for the year 2004, we
look forward to meaningful discussions with Councilmen Steve Stefick and Chris Michaels, and
we ]tope that the results of these discussions will be considered by the Supervisor aad the rest
of the Town Board.
The letter was signed by Oliver S, Habicht, Board Chairman, Varna Volunteer Tire
Company, Inc,
Cl Stelick said he wanted it clear that it wo,5 the Board's intention tha.11 the fire contract
as signed with Neptune Hose would also be offered to other fire cernpamies within the Town and
they would be able to sign a revised oontra,ct or }seep the one they have. Cl Aichaels explained
that there were what he would classify as relatively mirror modification% to the contract that
was finally signed with Neptune. Varna's contract as originally proposed and delivered to the
Town. Supervisor today-
RESOLUTION #125 - OFFER REVISED CONTRACTS TO FIRE COMPANIES
0 Cl Michaels offered the following resolution and asked- for its adoption;
RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby offers to other fire companies within the Town
of Dryden the opportunity to revise their contracts for 2003 to reflect similar terms as in the
contract wiih Neptune Hose Company No. 1 of Dryden, Inc, as finally negotiated, su1 ecll to
review by the Town Attorney and Town Supervisor,
210 Cl Stelick
Roll Cali Vote C1 Hatfield Yes
Cl Stelick Yes
Supv Varvayanis Yes
Cl Michaels Yes
Cl Stelick said rbat one of the terms in the contract now is "the Tawas shall pay for the
,services, casts and di$bursemcnts of the auditor and the Company shall have no responsibility
for any such items",
upv Varvayanis said they claimed that the con liact had to be changed and they
quoted part u a sentence, leaving out "if the Town required It" and the Town stated that they
weren't requiring it. It was not the '.Gown Attorney's that the contract didn't have to be
chat d, but that it was a moot point because the Town was not requn -mg it of the company
and was paying for it.-
RESOLU'T'ION # 126 - APPROVE ABS'TRAC'T` # 108
Cl Hatfield offered the following resolution and asked fc ;r its adoption:
Page 8 of 16
TB 8 -11w03
'RESOLVED, that this Tolmm Board hereby appiuves abstract # 108, as audited, vouchers
9560 through #66 (excepihng 4661 & #663), totaling $319,955-66-
2rlrl Cl Stelick
Roll Call Vote
COUNCIL PRIVILEGE
Cl Hatfield Yes
C1 Stelick Yes
Sulav Varvayaris Yes
C11N'iit.haels Yes
Cl Seliek thanked llama and Neptune fire companies for sia '
t g and returning their
contra Cs,
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
Virgil Creek Project Update - Dave Herrick said the DEC permit had been received.
They have had a request from the Army Corps representative for one additional piece of
information which was sent out yesterday, They were led to believe that when it was received
the Army Corps permit, would be issued. integrated River Sohitior4s has been a consultan t. to
TG Miller and are the principal designer of the natural stream bank stabilization work and they
have been. having problem in their area (Greene County) and are building a lot of the projects
in that area for the New York City watershed. They have encountered problems because of
water and are behind schedule. It was expected they would provide the Town with a certain
level of layout services, but are now unable to be on site with the frequency they represented
they would be, Because the limited window of construction, TG Miller is proposing an
alternate method of getting the project laid out, It involves u sing a dfferent technology of
laying out the new alig =cTit and new elevations and all the rock structures associated with
the realer{ Arid stablized channel. There is a company in Lansing (LRS Excavating) that has
a global positioning system layout equipment capability to stay ahead of the Town and County
bulldozers and excavators. Mr Renick has faith in Erw system and recommends that the town
entertain an anwndment to the agreement that will allow TG Miller to retain LRS to provide the
stakeout service. The additional cost to the project, whicb he understands is still witbi.n the
budget, would be $16,500 (not to exceed). This is based on five weeps of layout by a technician
on a 30 hour work week. The services of the technician is an hourly basis, The Town would
only pay for the hours actually incurred, and the total will riot exceed $16,500. ZO Slater and
J Bush also recommend this,
J Bush said that part of the project requires pumping the water in the creek and
moving it away from the area to be worked in. This will require two 12 water pumps and there
are only two companies in the area that can provide those, Depending on bow things go
(weather, etc) il; could cost up to $50,000 to rent the two pumps. He asked how the
procurement policy would affect this; it is a reins) not a purchase and the term is unknown.
There are limited suppliers. Fart of the cast would be delivery, setup grid instruction on how to
run the pumps, which will run all day and all night. Atty Perkins said he would work on this,
but did not think it would be a problem.
Atty Perkins said he has had some experience with LRS E cavatizxg and it was
uncharacteristicaUy awful. D lierrick has said that TG Miler would be responsible for the
performance of LR because they would be a subcontractor. Atty Perkins said he would not
recommend LRS, but if somenne else is being respomsible, than may be different, He was upset
with the job they did for another wunicipality, and said if anyone had any questions they could
contact the Town of Virgil, Regource Associates in Cortland or Tom Hatfield of Greek Peak, In
that case they were the general contractor and 'n this case they would be providing somewhat
different services.
Pagc 9 of 16
B -13 -03
1) Herrick said I.RS would be providing the stakeout tecInaology, no construction
,services. It would be technical service and TO Miller would be responAsible for the information
given to LRS. He has worked with the technici<7n and the technology before and was impressed
with how fl, worked. They are hoping to begin the work next week_
Cl Michaels asked if there would be a reduction in the cost of the conlraCt with
Integrated River Solutions and D Herrick said dzere would be a reduction of $4,000. He said
with LIDS they would have a better understanding of how the project will get done_ With a
better system of laying out the work they will have a better level of control and a better
understanding for the operators who have to create and shape this product. ZO Stater pointed
out that because they have to complete the work in the creek prior to October 1, they don't
have time to wait for Integrated River Solutions to get here_
RESOLUTION #127 - AUTHORIZE INCREASE IN CONTRACT WITH TQ MILLER FOR
VIRGIL CREEK STABILIZATION PROTECT
Cl Michaels offered the follu ing resolution and asked for its adoption:
RESOLVED, that this Town Roard does hereby authonzc an increase in the Agreement
with TG Miller and approves subcontracts with LRS Excavaling for a sutra not to exceed
$167500 for stakeout services,
2nd Cl SteliCk
Roll Gail Mote
ATTORNEY
C1I•IatMd Yes
Cl Steli.ck Yes
Supv Varvayants Yes
Cl Michaels Yes
Atty Perkins said that the board had previously agreed an agreement whereby the town
would subordinate its mortgage ($7,633 awed) to a new mortgage to be given to The First
National Bank of Dryden for one of its Community Developmeu t Block Grant recipitrats. It
turns out that all the facts had not come out yet, and briefly in 1995 when the loan was made
to Charlene Sovncool, the First. National Bank had a mortgage for $20,000 and the Town
advanced just over $19,000. She apparently did not disclose a Departruent of Social Services
Medicaid lien, at the tune $1,500, axid such other and f u her sums as shall he expended. In
2003 it is now up to $18,000. The Town would have to take the position of third (behind D S)
or second. The total owed with the three liens would total about $55,600 and the property is
assessed for $51,000_ After discussion, the hoard decided that it would not subordinate and
would like the amount due paid off,
Atty Perkins said the transcript of tonight's annexation hearing should be ready in
approxim ely two weeks. When he receives it, 13e will distribute copies to board members.
Supv Varrvayanis said that Stale Law the Town and Village would share the expense.
C1 Hatfield asked about the status of the TenKate mortgage lien and subordination
agreement. Atty Perkins said that the batik would not sign the ,suburdiztation agreement as it
was written and it would be redrafted and the documents held in escrow until the Town could
be paid,
C1 Michaels asked when the objections with respect to the petitions had to be :submitted_
My Perkins said the objections must be submitted in writing and placed on fife with the
Page 10 of 16
TB 5 -13-}3
bnards holding the hearing and made a part of the record. The findings and the resolution on
whether doe petition will be granted have to be in wrung. But the statute requires that the
objections that Atty Perkins set forth and read into the record bave to be in writing- The rest of
it will be conclusions and findings of fact, but the objections must be apecilied and put in
wril; ng and made part of the record- C I Michaels asked Atty Perldiis to review the objections.
Atty Perkins - The petition is signed o n behalf of an en ti that i
s not an owner. The
statute says only owners or electors (voters). It is sued by the County of Tompkins. It is
signed by Gus (Konstantirms Katsiroumbas) as -id Steve Whicher.
T.he authentication attached to the petilion refers to one signature and it cannot be
determined whether the authenticaLtion is for are authorized or unauthorized signer. If you look
at the next page of the Petition, it says "I know each of the person whose names are subscribed
to the above sheet have one Signature; and each of them was subscribed m my presence" -
Well, which one? Was it the authorized shier, who was G u Or was it the unauthorized
signer? He's the County Attorney. There is a requirement to have an authentication. The
statute ae is forth the farm of it and its supposed. to say how matey signatures there are i cant
tell whether -..
CI Michaels - Whit about the certificate of the assessor?
Atty Perkins - The statute ways that if it's a petition based on the petition of the owners
of more than half the assessed valuaticm of the property, there shall be attached a certificate of
the assessor attesting to those facts. Well, that's not a certificate of anything- That's a little
memorandum from the Assistant Director of Assessment- It doesn't certify anytbing. Any
definition of a oeTtdficate that I could find anywhere says it doesn't look anything lilac that.
0 Cl Steak - Su that's something lhey could tastily correct.
upv Varvayanis - But thev would have to do an entire Mig and another hearing.
Cl Michaels - What would happen if we didn't make these objections and a neighboring
hmdownY.er was objecting to the aruiexation? Would they have atanding? Or one of the
taxpayers inside what would now be the Ville and didn't want to?
Atty Perkins - Well, nobody else raised the objections- 'They can do it and make it part
of the record I suppose, But they didn't make the objections,
1 Mir haelS - What happens if it gets annexed and one of the taxpayers that wasn't
making the the petition contests these issues? is there a jurisdiebon issue?
upv VarvayRkn.is - What happens if nobody raises the issue, we do it, it's illegal and
then somebody I guess files an Article 78? I assume we'd be told to have the hearing all over
again and do it right the second firne.
Atty Perkins - There are two times that you get to an Article 78. One is if you make a
decision aixd its ineffective by an error of law, in which case you don't even have to rely on
wMI's in the General Munieipal Law. Secondly, revicvw under the General Mulucipal Law
occurs only if one of the bodies, but riot both, rejects ill= Them the governing board of guy other
affected local government may apply to the Appellnw Division for adjudication and
determination on the law and the facts on the issue of whether the proposed annexation is in
the overall public interest. So I think there is a possibility there could be an Article 78
IS proceeding, even if both modes approve it. Although the statute says its conclusive, l wouldn't
rely on that. Or if Both sides reject it, the statute says that's conclusive, but f wouldn't rely on
that either.
Rage 1 J of 1
TS 8=1.3 -03
The caption refers to two 11�Lx parcels, and if you look at the caption it's got two parcel
numbers. ff you look at the exhibit, it's proposed to annex this parcel also_ I mean the caption
refers to that. The petition doesn't necessarily do that, bm it,'s confusing. The description
attached, to the petition contains errors as to the point of beg mrig and Phil Whui agrees with
that. There are errors in the deseripl on. I'm not certain that they're So insufficient that you
don't know what they're ttAking about as far as the legal description goes_ Hmvever, the tax
parcel cmitains property not oumed by the petitioner. (Atty Perkins idezndfie d. a portion of the
property in the petition_) If you look at the survey zoap which was made part of the record
tonight, you 11 see that a big chunk of ibis parcel, everything from this line extended south i.s
owned by somebody else, the Slottje Family Trusi..
Supv Varvoyanis - Steve, Charlie and l were having a conversation right before the
meeting Uying to xre out whaIN was and wasn't included_
O telick - And it looked like; this was in it and it's been sold_
Atly Perkins - If it's a question then, , . , .
Cl Michaels - Why are the tax parcels still joined if it's been sold? When was the deed
re =corded?
Atty N rkin q - it seems to me it's been qui lie a. while. The date on the survey is 2401. I
can check the need and find out_
Ct Stelick - So that take &s another two acres off.
Atty Perkins - Well, you get into the question of whether the property is properly
des
e_ribed,
1 Michaels - Absolutely, and what would happen if there is another taxpayer in that
parcel? Do they get to vote? Does it have to go to re=ferendum?
Atty Perkins - They don't reside there. There's no improvements there_ And that gets to
the other potential objectium,4_ 1 checked with the Boatel of Elections and they don't have
anyone registared to vote on Ellis Drive right now. They did have satnerine re istered to vote on
Ellis Drives, but that person was purged from their records in January of this year because they
hadn't voted in the last two federal elections_ '[hat person is Iordanis M. garadolus, I don't
know whether that-'s us's former partners, his wiFe, his wife's maiden nam=e, or what. I just
point tliase out. Those are inaccuracies in the petition among other things.
CI Michaels - I notice the Building isn't on the tax maps, Is it on the survey?
Atty Perkins - Yes, it's on the survey.
Cl I•Iatfield -'This is when the person voted from?
Atty Perkins - I believe so, yes.
upv Varvayanis - I should point out that when Kevui went with Parnela Kingsbury to
look ac that site as a potential Town bail site, it looked like an occupie=d apartment there.
Cl b ichaels - What is the effect of there being a resi&nt there? Does it make a
difference?
Page 12 of 16
TB 5 -13 -03
Atty PerkLns - I don't thfnJ< it makes a substantive difference. It's just one of many
deficiencies, One of the things that you're supposed to determine is whether or not the petition
sublstantially complies with the requirements of Article 17 of the General MunivVd Law.
Cl Michaels - We had a town board meeting where we discussed whether there was
anyone living there.
Atty Perkins - That is ono of the specific determinations you are permitted to make.
One of the objections that you need to make in writing is whether the petition does not
otherwise substantially comply with the requirements of General Municipal Law. And you are
required to state '21 the petition, the law says you have to determine how many inhabitants
reside in the territory.
Cl Hatfield asked if the parcel sold was included in the petition and Atty Perkins said
that it had been a. while since he looked at the legal description, but he thought it did not
include the part that was sold- But they have referred to and attached a copy of the tax map at
that's at variance from wbat they are describing. And it all goes to the adequacy of the
description- Cl Michaels said that could cause a problem with the Village as to where the
boundary lines are in the future.
Cl Michaels pointed out that in February they told the board this material would
received very soon_ and Supv Varwaplmis said they were cancerned that the March meetings
would not be soon enough to hold the hearing-
Atty Perkins said they have 90 d; }ys to make a decision and his recommendation is that
if they are considering at all the objections, to Ele the objections- They don't have to
necessarily use any of them as a basis for the decision, or some or all of there could be used. Cl
Michaels said he would make all of them, Atty 'Perkins said the Supervisor woLild have to sign
the objections and it should be done after a resolution of the booatd- Cl Michaels said in
fairness to allow thorn to refile the petition in a lamely way, the objections should be made
soon, Atty Pt�rkins said one the objections were filed he would send them a copy.
Cl Michaels - I think that the most sigruficant thing; on 1 e petition is that there is not a
uniform description of what property is requested to be annexed. I do not see that as a
reconcilable situation. There is no way, regardless of the feelings on annexation, that it could
go tbxougli that way. I thin -k the other stuff is si riiricant, It's a big deal whether or not
somebody is living there, and I think it's "id of silly that they don't have a certificate when it's
so easily available, given they're getting so much help from the County Attorney,
upv Varnpayanis - Is this or is this not a County pTcject?
Cl Michaels - It's a County p"ect. Read the Mexaorandum of Underst nding, The
County is the one that has the option to purchase the property. I thought they were strangely
hedging on that,
Su pv Vatvayanis I wondered if there's some legal loop that I'rn ruiss'
Cl Michaels - Well the Mem mandum of Understanding as :pi ed yesterday and the day
before,
CI Stelick - And they were already plane kg to be here before that,
Cl Michaels - Yeah, I guess I want to know the one that superceded this. Fyu sure they
had one prior to tdxas and decided to duo anew one I don't know that this. is highly relevant to
the motion, but - -,
Pagc 13 of 16
TB 8 -13 -03
Atty Perkins - Acl&ually, all I have is a draft of June 26, 2003- That's all I was ever
given,
upv Varrayanis - Actually i have another question, wh{ch is only of interest, I guess
not really germane. What would the purpose of Mr- Whicher signing g that have been? What
were they trying to accomplish? Do you know?
Atty Perkins - You know the statute is not that hard to comply with. It's like a recipe,
You do this, you do this, you do this. I don't know- l cant answer your questiaz1-
C1 Stelick - Do these objections get sent to the County Attorney to respond to quickly?
Atty Perkins - We can do that if you want zne to. We should give a copy to the Village-
I Stelick - I want to be able to make
a decision on this based on no objections and
then come to a conclusion
by this Board
and by
The Village Board. I don't know. We can't
decide this lased on what
you're telling us, and
Chris's feeling on iC-
1 Michaels - It's ludicrous that we would be discussing the annexation and not know
the bozuidaries of the annexation.
Cl Stelick - It changes substantially- He brought his ovm map in here and it just cuts
two acres right off.
Cl Hatfield � And Hezuy got a tax map ,lumber for us, so.,,
0 C I Michaels - I'm looking at a bunnh of different maps and all of bacm are drawn a little
differently. People are trying to figure out what it says and reasonably competent people are,,.
Atty Perkins � Len if you give hive the benefit of the doubt, and his description
adequately describes what he intends and it is shown on the. survey, it's still at variance gwith
what he's attached as far ajs the tax map,
Cl Michaels - I would highly encourage them if they are worried about timing to
resubmit the pec'tion and the only other comment I would make if they think that are not going
to love enough time even then, is if they had filed 11-iis in March when they said they were
going to we would have raised these objections and they would be stall five months ahead r)f
,where they are now-
Supv Vatvayanis = When they first said the money was about to go and we had to work
quickly we were still considering putting it back here and it was still pretty hat, that was in
September.
Atty Perkins - It's been a year.
RESOLUTION #1$8 - FILE OBJECTIONS TO PETITION FOR ANNEXATION
Cl Nfichaels offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption:
RESOLVED, that the �zpeYVisor is directed to the file the objections to the PtAition for
16 Annexation by Konsta ntirnos Katsiroumbas, numbers I through 6, as read inter 11he record
during the he
aring -
na Supv Varvayanis.
page 14 of J 6
TB 8 -13 -03
Roll Call Vote Cl Hatfield Yes
Cl Stelick Yes
Supv Varvayanis Yes
C1 Michaels Yes
Supv Varvayanis - Procedurally, if they come in and have this wonderful new map, do
we still go through a hearing similar to this one? Stmt all over?
Atty Perkins - Yes.
Cl Michaels - I wrote down every one of the benefits that they had for annexation. All of
them were related to the DOT and water being provided to the site. And it seemed that all of
them were cured if we provided water to the site.
Atty Perkins - 1 think he admitted it.
Supv
Varvayanis - He
admitted it,
and
then Barbara reminded him that he was
supposed to
say annexation was the only
way
it would work.
Atty Perkins - The time frame.
Supv Varvayanis explained that Dryden School had sent a SEQR form on the
renovations to be done on the Elementary Schools and they had asked if the Town wanted to
comment as an interested party. They are bringing the schools up to standards and there is no
expansion. The board decided not to comment.
TOWN CLERK
No report.
ZONING OFFICE
ZO Slater gold the board that there is a lady who owns land adjolung the Town's access
to the Virgil Creek dam. When trucks use the access road and turn around they damage her
property. She would like to give the Town land for a turnaround in exchange for a right -of- -way.
Atty Perkins pointed out the land was owned by three municipalities and it would be tough for
the town to accomplish that. C1 Stelick and Atty Perkins suggested a fence could be put up to
protect her property.
ZO Slater presented information on Kevin h zell's desire to attend the ]C80 conference
in Nashville, Tennessee. After discussion, the board authorized up to $1,500 toward necessary
expenses.
RESOLUTION # 129 - AUTHORIZE EXPENSE FOR ATTENDANCE AT ICBO CONFERENCE
Cl Michaels offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption:
RESOLVED, that this Town Board does hereby approve the expense of an amount not
to exceed $1,500 in connection with the IC30 conference to be held in Nashville, Tennessee, in
to September, 2003.
2nd Cl Hatfield
Page 15 of 16
TB 8 -I 3-03
oRoll Call Vote Cl Hatfield Yes
Cl Stelick Yes
Supv Varvayanis Yes
Cl Michaels Yes
Supv Varvayanis said he had received a request. from Lincoln Young at 504 Lower Creek
Road who would like to considered for an out of district: user for water. At:ty Perkins will
analyze the hookup cost and provide him with that information.
RESOLUTION # 130 - TRANSFER FUNDS
Supv Varvayanis offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption:
RESOLVED, that this Town Board does hereby authorize the transfer of $6500 from
A1220.101 (bookkeeper payroll) to A1220.4 (contractual) and $2600 from A 1220.101.
(bookkeeper payroll) to A1220.2 (equipment).
2n,i Cl Michaels
Roll Call Vote Cl Hatfield Yes
C1 Stelick Yes
Supv Varvayanis Yes
Cl Michaels Yes
On motion of Cl Nlichaels, seconded by Cl Stelick, and unanimously carried, the board
moved into executive session at 10.55 p.m. to discuss collective bargaining negotiations. No
action was taken and on motion made, seconded, and unanimously carried, the board
adjourned at 11:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Bambi L. Hollenbeck
Town Clerk
Page 16 of 16
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