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Home My WebLink About2023-11-02TB 11-2-23 Page 1 of 5 TOWN OF DRYDEN TOWN BOARD MEETING November 2, 2023 Zoom Hybrid Present: Supervisor Jason Leifer, Cl Daniel Lamb, Cl Spring Buck Cl Leonardo Vargas-Mendez, Cl Christina Dravis Elected Officials: Bambi L. Avery, Town Clerk Rick Young, Highway/DPW Superintendent Other Town Staff: Cassie Byrnes, Secretary to Supervisor Amanda Anderson, Bookkeeper Chris O’Connor, Fire Coordinator Supv Leifer opened the meeting at 6:07 p.m. PUBLIC HEARINGS 2024 BUDGET, SPECIAL DISTRICT BUDGETS FIRE AND AMBULANCE CONTRACTS Supv Leifer opened the public hearings at 6:08 p.m. and gave a brief overview of the budget as proposed. The tax rate is lower than the 2023 rate by 2% to 5.290296 per thousand. Fire and Ambulance Districts are flat as far as the tax rates. The levy for Etna and Varna lighting districts is up by 5 percent. Meadow/Leisure Lane lighting district is down due to the new light bulbs. Yellow Barn water district levy will increase by 5 percent. Several members of the Etna Fire Department and their accountant were present. Michelle Robinson said after Chief Lobdell talked with the Town Supervisor, they sent a revised budget this morning and she reviewed that budget with the board. There was discussion about: • The number of certified interior firefighters they have; • PPE needs for interior firefighters and replacement of outdated gear; • Replacement of their hydraulic extraction tool ($40,000) and how often it is used; • Retention of monies to fund their reserves; • Whether NYClass is an appropriate place for their funds and where they may get better rates; • SCBA certifications; • The amount to be set aside toward equipment reserve; • The number of calls the department responds to and some of the difficulties they have; • They are no longer requesting funds to maintain their training building . Bill Ackroyd of Neptune Hose Company said their department has been fiscally responsible since 1939 and their business practice has saved taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars in interest on apparatus and facilities over the years. They came to the town with a detailed 2024 budget request with detail to reflect suggested changes to accommodate recruitment and retention. They considered recent spending and what they needed to provide for such as NYSEG’s 22% increase over 3 years. The budget resulted in a 3.9% increase, mostly in long-term apparatus reserve. The board removed that, leaving an increase over 2023 of .02%, yet apparatus prices have risen over 20% in the last few years. He asked for an explanation to share with their board of directors. TB 11-2-23 Page 2 of 5 The board responded that a tanker that was sold didn’t show up in the budget . B Ackroyd said the residual value goes into the replacement fund for that type of truck. They are forecasting out 20 plus years and trying to grow enough funding in reserves to be able to replace the vehicle. Interest from NYClass is divided into subaccounts for each replacement item. Supv Leifer closed the public hearing at 8:00 p.m. After discussion, the board decided to restore part of Dryden’s and Etna’s budget requests for 2024. Public hearing on contracts for the increased amounts is scheduled for November 16, 2023, at 6:05 p.m. RESOLUTION #171 (2023) – AMEND 2024 PRELIMINARY BUDGET Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: WHEREAS, after the Town Board published the 2024 Preliminary Budget and the public hearing was held, the following changes were made Account Code Preliminary Budget Amended Budget Change SF1-3410.401 Neptune Contract 551,500.00 571,500.00 +20,000.00 SF1-3410.407 Etna Contract 160,000.00 241,000.00 +81,000.00 SF1-0962.4 Fire Dept Capital Reserve 36,558.00 0.00 -36,558.00 RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby amends the 2024 Preliminary budget. 2nd Cl Buck Roll Call Vote Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Buck Yes Cl Dravis Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes RESOLUTION #172 (2023) – ADOPT 2024 ASSESSMENT AND SPECIAL DISTRICT ROLLS Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby adopts the Special District and Assessment Rolls for the Town of Dryden for 2024. 2nd Cl Lamb Roll Call Vote Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Buck Yes Cl Dravis Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes RESOLUTION #173 (2023) – ADOPT 2024 BUDGET AND SPECIAL DISTRICTS BUDGETS Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: TB 11-2-23 Page 3 of 5 RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby adopts the preliminary general budget as presented as the Town of Dryden’s general budget for 2024, and it is further RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby adopts the preliminary special districts budgets, as amended, as the Town of Dryden special districts budgets for 2024. 2nd Cl Lamb Roll Call Vote Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Buck Yes Cl Dravis Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes RESOLUTION #174 (2023) – AUTHORIZE FIRE CONTRACTS Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby approves the following fire contracts for 2024 for the amounts listed and authorizes the Supervisor to execute the same: Varna Volunteer Fire Company, Inc. 400,000 W.B. Strong Fire Company of Freeville, Inc. 234,500 Brooktondale Fire Department 29,561 2nd Cl Lamb Roll Call Vote Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Buck Yes Cl Dravis Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes RESOLUTION #175 (2023) – RELEVY DELINQUENT WATER/SEWER AMOUNTS Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby authorizes the relevy of unpaid water and sewer bills to the 2023 real property tax bills. Property owners were mailed a letter advising them of the date by which payment must be received (at least 30 days from the date of the letter) in order to avoid having the amount due added to their property tax bill. The amount relevied will be the outstanding balance on any account prior to the October billing. 2nd Cl Lamb Roll Call Vote Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Buck Yes Cl Dravis Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes RESOLUTION #176 (2023) – AUTHORIZE AMBULANCE CONTRACT Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby approves the following ambulance contract for 2024 for the amount listed and authorizes the Supervisor to execute the same: TB 11-2-23 Page 4 of 5 Dryden Ambulance, Inc. 1,222,659 2nd Cl Lamb Roll Call Vote Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Buck Yes Cl Dravis Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes RESOLUTION #177 (2023) - Support for Operation Green Light for Active Military Service Members in Transition to Civilian Life (Veteran Status) Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: Whereas, the residents of the Town of Dryden have great respect, admiration, and the utmost gratitude for all who have selflessly served their country and this community in the United States Armed Forces; and Whereas, the contributions and sacrifices of those who served in the Armed Forces have been vital in maintaining the freedoms and way of life enjoyed by our citizens; and Whereas, the Town of Dryden seeks to honor these individuals who have paid the high price for freedom by placing themselves in harm’s way for the good of all; and Whereas, approximately 200,000 service members transition to civilian communities annually , with studies indicating that 44% to 72% experience high levels of stress during their transition from military to civilian life; and Whereas, some among that 200,000 will find their way to the Town of Dryden for education, work, or simply a place to call home; and Whereas, Active Military Service Members transitioning from military service are at a high risk for suicide during their first year after military service, entities including the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Vietnam Veterans of America, Team Red White Blue, Warrior Riders Tompkins, church, and other community groups as well as Tompkins County Department of Veteran Services stand ready to help ease that transition; and Whereas, Operation Green Light is an effort to shine a light on service of veterans using the color green which symbolizes hope for their overall wellbeing while showing support for veterans of all military conflicts, particularly those returning home in r ecent years, and raising awareness about the many challenges they and their families face; and Whereas, in honoring the service and sacrifice of our veterans, our residents are called upon to switch at least one public facing light bulb to green to show visible support for our veterans and community during the first full week of November and beyond, Now, therefore, I, Jason Leifer, Supervisor of the Town of Dryden hereby proclaim November 5 through 11, 2023, as Veterans Week in the Town of Dryden in celebration of our community veterans and further, In observance of Operation Green Light, the Supervisor and Town Board encourage residents in a patriotic tradition to display a green light in a public facing entry or window in their place of residence or business during Veterans Week with the hopes that this simple act of changing one light to green will honor those whose immeasurable sacrif ice helped preserve our freedom. TB 11-2-23 Page 5 of 5 2nd Cl Lamb Roll Call Vote Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Buck Yes Cl Dravis Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:13 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Bambi L. Avery Town Clerk