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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-12-2005 Regular Meeting TB.pdfApproved 11/9/2005 Enfield Town Board Regular Meeting October 12, 2005 at 7:00 PM Enfield Community Building -- 182 Enfield Main Road, Ithaca, NY 14850 Meeting called to order by Supervisor Gary Fisher at 7:00 PM. Present: Supervisor Gary Fisher Councilperson Peggy Hubbell Councilperson Jean Owens Town Clerk Alice Laue Councilperson Sandra Small Councilperson Greg Stevenson Others present: Deputy Town Clerk: Pat Dougherty, Enfield Community Council [ECC] President: Carolyn Tschanz, Legislator Peter Penniman, William Mather, Rob Harvey, George Trutt, Jr., Frank and Pat Podufalski, Ray Hubbard, and students…Bart Harolson, Alex Teeter, Trent Lucas, Cassey Cornish, Danielle Gelinas Pledge of Allegiance: Supervisor Fisher led the assemblage in the Pledge of Allegiance. Privilege of the Floor: William Mather, 305 Iradell Road. “I have a question about where is the Board in its efforts with the recovery of funds of R. J. Switzer. Is that something that can be publicly discussed?” [Supervisor Fisher] “Ah…I suppose we can. Ah…at the present time, ah, to recover those funds I have to file a small claim in the Small Claims Court. I did file a claim in the Small Claims Court.” [Mather] “That went from civil to criminal and back to civil?” [Fisher] “Correct.” [Mather] “Have you looked into using 195 of the Penal Code for Official Misconduct? The burden of proof then shifts to the defendant as opposed to…” [Fisher] “I didn’t. I didn’t look that up because the DA was handling it. I’m not a lawyer.” October 12, 2005 2 [Mather] “You might want to look at 195 of the Penal Code. That gives you another avenue. I appreciate your efforts.” [Mather] “And the other thing I’d just like to mention, as a tax payer I am appalled that two (2) seated members of this Board participated in raising funds to be used by Mr. Switzer to fight the Town. I was under the impression that members of the Board were to look out for the highest good of the Board and not politically motivated at that level. I think that’s appalling. I want it to be on the record that I’ve registered that protest. I think it violates whatever standard of ethics we may have as a Town, I think they went down the toilet. It’s pitiful. It’s disgraceful. I’m appalled. If I had some legal avenue to pursue, which unfortunately I don’t, I would, for what it’s worth.” County Legislator’s Report: Legislator Peter Penniman arrived at the meeting after spending nearly four hours at a County budget meeting where the tentative budget was passed unanimously with a 0$ increase in the tax levy. Supervisor Fisher noted that Lee Shurtleff was suppose to talk to the Board about cell towers. He wasn’t at the meeting. Approval of Minutes: The September 14, 2005 minutes were approved. MOTIONED: Councilperson Small SECONDED: Councilperson Hubbell Vote: Supervisor Fisher…aye. Councilperson Hubbell…aye. Councilperson Owens…aye. Councilperson Small…aye. Councilperson Stevenson…aye. Motion carried. Communications: * SPCA monthly report. $30 impoundment fees to date. * Annual financial statement from Cooperative Liquid Assets Security System. * Notice of change to the bylaws for the Recreational Partnership which concerned changing the alternate member. * Cayuga Lake Watershed request to join the membership. $300/year. * Notice of meeting of Tompkins County Drug and Alcohol Council on October 27, 2005. Tompkins County Public Works Building. Open to the public. October 12, 2005 3 * Civil Service training session October 21, 2005. Committee Reports: Code Enforcement. Supervisor Fisher received written reports from Code Enforcement Officers, Ed Hetherington and Ron Clark. Highway Superintendent. Written report from the Highway Superintendent, David Miller. The Town’s new tractor was delivered October 11, 2005. Personnel. Councilperson Small had nothing to report. Technology Committee. Supervisor Fisher said the committee had not met in the past month but that inputs are still coming in for the website. Cemetery Committee. Councilperson Hubbell asked Larry Weaver of Glenside Monument to give the Town an estimate on repairing 3 stones at Christian Cemetery in danger of tipping over. He will. Economic Committee. Councilperson Owens thanked The Enfield News committee for publishing the directory survey, asking for names of businesses. After a deadline of October 30, 2005 has passed, she will call non responders. Facilities Committee. Supervisor Fisher reported that the committee has looked at energy conservation in the Community Building…specifically an overhead door. They talked some more about furnace replacement and work on windows. Planning Board. Councilperson Hubbell stated that the Planning Board had a very productive meeting. Working on subdivision regulations. Virginia Bryant and Jim McConkey are co-chairing for the time being. Old Business: Dog Control Law. Councilperson Owens agreed at the last meeting to review the law, add the suggestions and changes, and bring it back to the Board, which she did. The Board approved the changes. A final draft will be presented to the Board at the next meeting. It was motioned that dog license and impoundment fees be incorporated into the Town Law. A motion was made to incorporate dog license fees and impoundment fees in the pending Town of Enfield Dog Control Law. MOTIONED: Supervisor Fisher SECONDED: Councilperson Small October 12, 2005 4 Discussion: Vote: Supervisor Fisher…aye. Councilperson Hubbell…aye. Councilperson Owens…aye. Councilperson Small…aye. Councilperson Stevenson…aye. Motion carried. Farm Lease Contract. Supervisor Fisher spoke with the potential renter about mowing the area as a part of his possible contract with the Town. The earliest anything can happen at this point is 2006. Joint Highway Operations Authorization. On the agenda for the Municipal Officers meeting October 18, 2005. Most highway superintendents have not seen the draft language. Each one will discuss it with their individual insurance company and revisit it at the next meeting. Real Property Tax Exemptions. Supervisor Fisher discussed the possibility of raising senior exemptions. He asked Councilperson Hubbell to request a list of Enfield veterans from the Board of Assessment. She says there are 114 vets. Any tax changes will go into effect in 2007. Housing Rehabilitation Grant Proposal. Supervisor Fisher received a letter from Better Housing of Tompkins County indicating they would write a proposal, not to exceed $5,700. for the next grant . Due to a recipient’s lack of fulfilling requirements, a portion of the funds will come back to the Town…with restrictions. Equipment Purchase. Supervisor Fisher purchased a good quality paper shredder. He is still looking for a filing cabinet and checking out computer upgrades. New Business: Building Permits. Supervisor Fisher consulted with Councilperson Owens on her knowledge of when the Town started using building permits and how fees were mandated. She thought they originated with the Roger Rumsey era. It was suggested that Councilperson Stevenson, Code Enforcement liaison, meet and confer with Ron Clark and Ed Hetherington regarding this issue. Councilperson Stevenson will make the arrangements. Supervisor Fisher discussed whether or not we’re breaking even on building permit costs. 2006 Budget Workshops. A motion was made to hold budget workshops on Wednesday, October 19, 2005 at 5:00 PM. and Friday, October 28, 2005 at 5:00 PM. at the Community Building. MOTIONED: Supervisor Fisher SECONDED: Councilperson Small October 12, 2005 5 Discussion: Vote: Supervisor Fisher…aye. Councilperson Hubbell…aye. Councilperson Owens…aye. Councilperson Small…aye. Councilperson Stevenson…aye. Motion carried. ************* A motion was made to hold a public hearing on the 2006 Town of Enfield preliminary budget at 7:00 PM at the Enfield Community Building on November 9, 2005 prior to the regular Town Board meeting. Additionally it was motioned to hold a Special Town Board meeting November 16, 2005 at 7:00 PM, after the November 9, 2005 public hearing, to adopt the preliminary budget for 2006. [The budget has to be adopted by November 20, 2005.] MOTIONED: Supervisor Fisher SECONDED: Councilperson Hubbell Discussion: Vote: Supervisor Fisher…aye. Councilperson Hubbell…aye. Councilperson Owens…aye. Councilperson Small…aye. Councilperson Stevenson…aye. Motion carried. End of Year Meeting. December 29, 2005. ******* Resolutions. Resolution Number 2005-46 Snow Removal Personnel Services Budget Amendment No. 21 WHEREAS, the Snow Removal-Personal Services appropriation is insufficient to pay all projected full-time employee snow removal overtime/double time and temporary employee snow removal personal expenditures for the remainder of 2005, NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Highway Fund appropriation for titled “General Repairs- Personal Services”, DA5110.1 is decreased by $2000.00 from $143,040.00 to $141,040.00 and the Highway Fund appropriation titled “Snow Removal-Personal Services”, DA5142.1 is increased by $2,000.00 from $22,000.00 to $24,000.00. MOTIONED: Supervisor Fisher SECONDED: Councilperson Hubbell October 12, 2005 6 Discussion: Vote: Supervisor Fisher…aye. Councilperson Hubbell…aye. Councilperson Owens…aye. Councilperson Small…aye. Councilperson Stevenson…aye. Resolution carried. ************* Resolution Number 2005-47 Transfer of Funds to the Highway Fund Machinery Appropriation Budget Amendment No. 22 WHEREAS, the Town of Enfield Highway Superintendent has recommended purchase of snow plow quick-hitch assemblies for each of the ten-wheel dump trucks to improve safety, and WHEREAS, the appropriation for machinery equipment purchase needs to be increased to allow purchase and payment of four snow plow quick-hitch assemblies, NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Highway Fund appropriation DA5110.1 titled “General Repairs – Personal Services” is reduced by $3000.00 from $141,040.00 to $138,040.00 and the Highway Fund appropriation DA5130.2, titled “Machinery - Equipment” is increased by $3000.00 from $52,000.00 to $55,000.00. MOTIONED: Supervisor Fisher SECONDED: Councilperson Small Discussion: Supervisor Fisher explained the quick-hitch assemblies. Vote: Supervisor Fisher…aye. Councilperson Hubbell…aye. Councilperson Owens…aye. Councilperson Small…aye. Councilperson Stevenson…aye. Resolution carried. ************* October 12, 2005 7 Resolution Number 2005-48 Appropriation of Local Funds for Gray Road Improvement Budget Amendment No. 23 WHEREAS, the Enfield Town Board agreed in the 2005 Agreement to spend Town Highway Funds (284 Agreement) to provide local funds for improvement of Gray Road, and WHEREAS, the 2005 Town of Enfield Highway Fund budget does not contain an expenditure account code or an appropriation for improvements using local funds, NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the expenditure account code DA5112.22, titled “Improvements – CHIPS – Local Funds”, be added to the 2005 Town of Enfield Highway Fund Budget, and FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that the appropriation for Highway Fund expenditure account code DA5112.22 is increased by $26,370.00 from $0.00 to $26,370.00, and the appropriation for expenditure account code DA5110.4, titled “General Repairs – Contractual”, is reduced by $26,370.00 from $123,600.00 to $97,230.00. MOTIONED: Supervisor Fisher SECONDED: Councilperson Hubbell Discussion: Vote: Supervisor Fisher…aye. Councilperson Hubbell…aye. Councilperson Owens…aye. Councilperson Small…aye. Councilperson Stevenson…aye. Resolution carried. ********** Resolution Number 49 Records Management Contractual Appropriation Increase Budget Amendment No. 24 WHEREAS, the consensus of the Town Board at the September 14, 2005 meeting was that a cross-cut paper shredder should be purchased, and October 12, 2005 8 WHEREAS, the General Fund appropriation in expenditure account code A1460.2, titled “Records Management - Equipment”, is insufficient for payment of the paper shedder, NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that appropriation account code A1220.2, titled “Supervisor - Equipment” is decreased by $100.00 from $10,000.00 to $9,900.00 and, FURTHER BE IT. RESOLVED, that appropriation account code A1460.2 titled “Records Management - Equipment”, is increased by $100.00 from $200.00 to $300.00. MOTIONED: Supervisor Fisher SECONDED: Councilperson Small Discussion: Vote: Supervisor Fisher…aye. Councilperson Hubbell…aye. Councilperson Owens…aye. Councilperson Small…aye. Councilperson Stevenson…aye. Resolution carried. ********** Audit Claims: It was motioned that Supervisor Fisher, on behalf of the Town Board of the Town of Enfield, be authorized to pay the following: - General Fund vouchers #183 - #203 dated October 12, 2005 in the amount of $7,022.52. - Highway Fund vouchers #103 - #117 dated October 12, 2005 in the amount of $126,969.77. - Community Development Grant vouchers #15 - #17 dated October 12, 2005 in the amount of $37,161.37. MOTIONED: Councilperson Stevenson SECONDED: Councilperson Owens Discussion: Vote: Supervisor Fisher…aye. Councilperson Hubbell…aye. Councilperson Owens…aye. Councilperson Small…aye.. Councilperson Stevenson…aye. Motion carried. Announcements: October 12, 2005 9 Councilperson Owens announced a workshop by Cooperative Extension to learn how to cut energy costs in the home. Councilperson Small thanked Alice Laue and Pat Dougherty for the “clean up” they have done at the Town Hall. George Trutt announced that the Cooperative Extension is experimenting with a new breed of grass equilivant to wood pellets. Also, 1% loans are coming to Tompkins County. Enfield is a target area to make homes energy efficient. Privilege of the Floor: Supervisor Fisher thanked the high school students for attending. Adjournment: At 9:30 PM MOTIONED: Councilperson Owens SECONDED: Councilperson Hubbell Discussion: Vote: Supervisor Fisher…aye. Councilperson Hubbell…aye. Councilperson Owens…aye. Councilperson Small…aye. Councilperson Stevenson…aye. Motion carried. ************* Minutes transcribed by Deputy Town Clerk N. Pat Dougherty .