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Home My WebLink About2015-04-09TB 4-9-15 Page 1 of 4 TOWN OF DRYDEN TOWN BOARD MEETING April 9, 2015 Present: Supervisor Mary Ann Sumner, Cl Gregory Sloan, Cl Jason Leifer, Cl Linda Lavine, Cl Joseph Solomon Elected Officials: Bambi L. Avery, Town Clerk Richard Young, Highway Superintendent Other Town Staff: Jennifer Case, Bookkeeper David Sprout, Code Enforcement Officer Richard Case, Deputy DPW Superintendent Supv Sumner called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m. and introduced Ray Burger, applicant for Planning Director. Jay Franklin, Director of Tomkins County Assessment, explained that Tompkins County is unique in that assessment services are provided by the County as opposed to an assessor for each town. This is more professional and provides a cost savings for residents (about $400,000 per year). It was noted that Dryden is not different from other towns in the county in the rate at which the tax base has increased. He spoke with the board about the assessment process and how different classes of properties are valued. The number of special district that the town has and their formulas are very time consuming for the assessment office when tax bills are prepared. Supv Sumner noted that the Town has a grant to study the feasibility of combining some or all of the water and sewer districts. RESOLUTION #61 (2015) – ABSTRACT APPROVAL Supv Sumner offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby approves Abstract #4, as audited, general vouchers #216 through #297 ($384,638.19) and TA voucher #37 ($76.40), totaling $384,714.89, and further approves payment outside the abstract of the health insurance premium to Tompkins County Health Insurance Consortium in an amount not to exceed $70,000.00. 2nd Cl Leifer Roll Call Vote Cl Sloan Yes Cl Solomon Yes Supv Sumner Yes Cl Leifer Yes Cl Lavine Yes Supv Sumner prepared and distributed a fund balance report because the board has discussed a fund balance policy and projecting needs into the future. Fund balances at the end of 2014 were: TB 4-9-15 Page 2 of 4 A Fund – Restricted (4 funds) $ 443,099.00 A Fund – Unrestricted 1,447,466.00 DA Fund – Restricted 298,564.00 DA Fund – Unrestricted 154,723.00 B Fund – Unrestricted 97,246.00 DB Fund – Unrestricted 841,591.00 The board has discussed the possibility of targeting a figure of 20% of expenditures for the fund balances. The Comptrollers Office sometimes recommends the equivalent of two months of expenditures. There is a possibility of the board establishing other specific reserves, such as tax rate stabilization or snow removal. Cl Sloan would like to get a ballpark estimate for completion of all trails currently being discussed. The Recreation reserve was discussed and Supv Sumner asked board members to review the Recreation Master Plan. Supv Sumner said she is not yet alarmed by the amounts of the fund balances, but it is time to get policies in place and make sure that we continue to fund the reserves and maintain a comfortable level of fund balance. Planning Department Update – Supv Sumner reported that she, Cl Lavine, Joe Laquatra, and Marty Hatch have interviewed Ray Burger. He has met some of the staff. They checked references and received all positive feedback. She asked the board for a resolution appointing him to the position of Director of Planning. RESOLUTION #62 (2015) – APPOINT DIRECTOR OF PLANNING - BURGER Supv Sumner offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby appoints Ray Burger to the position of Director of Planning at an annual salary of $57,000.00. 2nd Cl Lavine Roll Call Vote Cl Sloan Yes Cl Solomon Yes Supv Sumner Yes Cl Leifer Yes Cl Lavine Yes DPW Position – Because of new responsibilities for the Yellow Barn Water District, R Young has proposed hiring someone who will be responsible for YBWD water (and a certified water tester) and also have other DPW duties. The Department currently doesn’t have a certified water tester. He has someone in mind for the position that has a lot of knowledge. Supv Sumner said the Yellow Barn district will pay half or less for the cost of this person. A Sciarabba figured a ¾ time position for YBWD and there was discussion about that. At first the position will be quite labor intensive. There was discussion about the hiring process, Civil Service, whether this person can be hired as maintenance worker. Water tester is a higher qualification and has not been added to the job description. It may affect the pay rate. Jen Case will talk with Civil Service, they will decide how to account for the water operator license, and the board can take action next week. Comp time/overtime policy issue –is a matter for executive session because the board will discuss the employment history of a particular individual. TB 4-9-15 Page 3 of 4 Trail Maintenance Guideline - This was drafted by the Conservation Board and reviewed with Rick Young. DPW maintains the trails. This is the Conservation Board’s effort to clarify park maintenance based on conservation principals. The Conservation Board would like the Town Board to accept the guidelines and Supv Sumner said she thinks it clarifies the tow n’s intent for park maintenance. The resolution will be amended to reflect that the guidelines have been reviewed by the Superintendent of Public Works. An advisory committee (sub -committee of the Conservation Board) will be established to advise the Superintendent. R Case stated that these are guidelines, and the Superintendent still has the authority to maintain the trail as needed. R Young and R Case have some concerns and said they are willing to work with everyone, but there are certain things that may still have to be done. Bob Beck said they’ve tried to put together some guidelines that make it clear that the trails are thought of as parks for enjoyment and nature study. Road management long range plan – Cl Leifer and R Young will meet Monday mornings to come up with a plan based on the recent audit. They’ve talked about the Ihelper program used for job costing. Using GIS to help has been suggested. Catch basins and drains were mapped a few years ago. R Burger has GIS experience and can possibly help staff. The Comptrollers Office said the plan should be available in 60 days, but that isn’t likely to happen. Supv Sumner would like to get a decent start on a meaningful plan, rather than have a meaningless plan in 60 days. Proposed local laws amending the Zoning Law and Local Law #1 of 2005 with respect to code enforcement are scheduled for public hearings next week. On motion made, seconded and unanimously carried, the board a djourned to executive session to discuss the employment history of a particular individual at 9:00 p.m. The board moved back to regular session at 10:15 p.m., and reported passing the following resolution: RESOLUTION #63 (2015) – EXCEPTION TO COMP TIME LIMIT Cl Sloan offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board is making a one-time exception to the Town’s comp- time limit and raising this limit from 40 hours for Deborah Gallagher. The new limit will be whatever comp time she has accrued through Monday, April 13, 2015. If over 60 hours, the employee must be at or below 60 hours by Friday, April 17, 2015. The comp time limit reverts to 40 hours on July 1, 2015. The employee must be below 40 hours comp time at this time. No overtime pay will be made. This exception applies only to this employee. 2nd Cl Lavine Roll Call Vote Cl Sloan Yes Cl Solomon Yes Supv Sumner Yes Cl Leifer Yes Cl Lavine Yes Trails update – postponed. Amendment to 2015 Zoning Law – the public hearing is scheduled for next week. Cl Leifer said that one section, 900E2, doesn’t seem to need to be there. There was discussion about the language of that paragraph being confusing and what the actual intent was. It was said that it has the apparent effect of making it impossible to request a special use permit from NYSEG or other public utility. If the language is removed, it becomes much clearer. The board agrees that this needs clarification. Supv Sumner will talk with Atty Perkins. It was noted that TB 4-9-15 Page 4 of 4 the board can hear comments at the public hearing next week, but does not need to take action at that meeting. There being no further business, on motion made, seconded and unanimously carried, the meeting was adjourned at 10:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Bambi L. Avery Town Clerk