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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-14-2005 Regular Meeting TB.pdfA P P R O V E D 12/29/2005 Enfield Town Board Regular Meeting December 14, 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 Councilperson Sandra Small Town Clerk Alice Laue Others present: Legislator: Peter Penniman, Robert Harvey, Jolee Carlisle Pledge of Allegiance: Supervisor Fisher led the assemblage in the Pledge of Allegiance. Privilege of the Floor: There was no one who wished to speak. County Legislator’s Report: Supervisor Fisher welcomed Legislator Peter Penniman and thanked him for his service both to the Tompkins County Legislature and the Town of Enfield. Jim Dennis was elected to replace Penniman who chose not to run again. Greg Stevenson will probably be reporting in Enfield in January, and Jim in February 2006. Penniman started out by saying that Greg Stevenson, Enfield’s Councilperson until this month, voted on a $10 million item at his first meeting. Penniman asked Stevenson if he had many $10 million votes while on the Enfield Board. There are seven new legislators. He went on to say that the budget was passed last month with a zero percent levy increase and with a tax rate decrease. A vote is coming up on whether or not to change annual assessments from a one-year cycle to a three-year cycle. Negotiations for the new safety communication system that includes a tower near the corner of Podunk and Aiken Roads are underway. There will be one tower in Enfield, two in Danby and one in Caroline. Overall, this is approximately a $13 million project. Approval of Minutes: December 14, 2005 2 The November 9, 2005 minutes were approved. MOTIONED: Councilperson Small SECONDED: Councilperson Hubbell Discussion: Vote: Supervisor Fisher…aye. Councilperson Hubbell…aye. Councilperson Owens…aye. Councilperson Small…aye. Motion carried. Communications: * Notice that the water sample taken on November 29th at the Community Building was acceptable/satisfactory. This was from the Tompkins County Health Dept. * Notification from Wal-Mart that they are closing our account because we haven’t used the credit card. * Final environmental impact statement for the Public Safety Communications Network in Tompkins County. We’ve also received the actual EIS, a copy of which is in the Town Hall. * Notification from Cornell Cooperative Extension that no landowners in the Town of Enfield wish to add their land to the existing agricultural district that encompasses Enfield. * Notice from the Department of Assessment that if we wish to increase the ceiling limits on our alternative veteran’s exemption we need to do that in time to have those exemptions apply to the 2006 assessment roll. * Letter from Human Services Coalition of Tompkins County, Inc. about a workshop they held December 8, 2005. * Notification from the Town of Ithaca Planning Board of a public scope meeting concerning the ten-year transportation impact mitigation strategy and the associated transportation focus generic environmental impact statement. * Notice from the New York State Dept. of State of the shared municipal services incentive grant program. * From the Office of the State Comptroller we received notice of 2006 special district cost thresholds. * From Tompkins County Soil and Water Conservation District we received an invitation to join the Tompkins County storm water-working group. December 14, 2005 3 * Minutes from the Tompkins County Environmental Management Council meeting of October 12, 2005 as well as their newsletter published December 7, 2005. * Received Tompkins County SPCA report for November 2005. Note that they have collected $60 impoundment fees to date. * Flyer/poster from NYS Dept. of Ag and Markets concerning the new dog licensing system that’s going into effect on January 15, 2006. Committee Reports: Code Enforcement. Supervisor Fisher did not receive written reports from Code Enforcement Officers, Ed Hetherington and Ron Clark. Supervisor Fisher did report that since our last Town Board meeting there was a meeting with the Code Enforcement Personnel to discuss the fees and the building permit applications and some of the items that were included on that. From that meeting, the consensus was that there is a need to revise the application to make it more user friendly and easier to follow and less confusing. Also, they discussed revising the fees that are charged for building permits, particularly on the lower end of the scale and also for minimum fees for mobile homes. Fisher will be getting something together for the Board to review on the revised format. Fisher asked Councilperson Small, who was at the meeting, if she had anything further to add. She said that she was looking at the revised building permit. A mobile home permit would be $200. She was concerned that it was a big jump from $75 to $200. She’d like to see it be down to about $150. Code Enforcement Officer, Ron Clark, said that the average used mobile home requires them to go out 4-5 times so if you figure $20 - $25 when you figure the cost per person, plus fringe benefits, Small would still like to see it be no more than $150. Highway Superintendent. Written report from the Highway Superintendent, David Miller, saying, “Last month we fixed washouts and dug ditches. Swept the roads. We stoned and oiled. We have been plowing and cindering and working on chains and installing quick hitches on the snowplows.” Supervisor Fisher said they do have all four of the quick hitches installed on the plows as of today. It really simplifies hooking up the plows. Personnel. Councilperson Small had nothing to report. Technology Committee. Supervisor Fisher reported that there are now procedures in effect on the website so individuals can subscribe to the newsletter. There is also a calendar for the next two years showing when the Town Board and Planning Board meet. The current dog-control law is on there with a link to the NYS Ag & Markets website. It is hoped that eventually the building permits can be on the website. Councilperson Small is also waiting for her Personnel information to show up…she has submitted it. December 14, 2005 4 Cemetery Committee. Councilperson Hubbell had nothing to report. Economic Committee. Councilperson Owens reported that only five people had responded to the article in The Enfield News. She noted that she has taken a step back to try to rethink the business directory because of the lack of response from Enfield businesses. She polled the Board for their thoughts. After much worthwhile discussion it was agreed upon to take the initiative, get the ball rolling, reach out and contact businesses, and see if there is any further development/interest on their part. Supervisor Fisher liked the idea of at least trying to pull a directory together. He stated that we spent $9,000 of taxpayers’ money for the Economic Development Plan and little has come of it. Facilities Committee. Supervisor Fisher reported that the committee is still meeting twice monthly and hopes to have scale drawings for the Board to review by year- end. They would include accommodations for the courts upstairs and a teaching kitchen/work area for the youth groups downstairs. He mentioned much needed repair/replacement of the gutters on the Community Building. Planning Board. Councilperson Hubbell reported that the Planning Board is pretty well set on their subdivision project. Hubbell had thought she would have something to present to the Town Board but it had not been forthcoming as yet. Old Business: Multi-year dog licensing. Supervisor Fisher and Town Clerk Laue explained the new multi-year dog licensing option that will go into effect January 15, 2006. Dog owners have the option of licensing for one, two, or three years. Those options must coincide with their rabies certificates. An owner would pay twice the regular fee for two years and three times that fee for three years…with no refund if the dog dies during that period. Laue said the other towns in the area are adopting this option. [A resolution follows under New Business.] All-Hazard Mitigation Plan. A resolution for the adoption of the Tompkins County Multi-Jurisdictional All-Hazards Mitigation Plan was brought to the Board by Supervisor Fisher but was not voted on because several items were missing. In today’s mail there was a CD with the updates on it. It is also apparently on line. Fisher asked the Board to review the new material. New Business: Health Insurance premiums. Supervisor Fisher received notification from Excellus BlueCross BlueShield of new premium rates. Single coverage increased by approximately 8%...$6,200. Family coverage went up about 14%...$15,100. December 14, 2005 5 CLASS -- New York Governing Board Ballot. Supervisor Fisher presented applications for the board that advises CLASS on investments. Enfield is currently a member but has no money invested with them. It was motioned to authorize Supervisor Fisher to nominate Robert Wheeling as a governing board member of CLASS. MOTIONED: Councilperson Hubbell SECONDED: Councilperson Owens Discussion: Vote: Supervisor Fisher…aye. Councilperson Hubbell…aye. Councilperson Owens…aye. Councilperson Small…aye. Motion carried. Liability Insurance. Supervisor Fisher asked for an increase in liability insurance coverage from $1 million to $2 million. Councilperson Small asked if we had any claims pending. We have a lady who is suing the Town after going off the Woodard Road and former Councilperson Switzer is also suing the Town. A motion was made to increase the excess liability insurance coverage from $1 million to $2 million at an additional premium cost of $935 for 2006. MOTIONED: Supervisor Fisher SECONDED: Councilperson Hubbell Discussion: Councilperson Hubbell noted that the $935 was an increase of $270.55 on the unallocated insurance budget line. Vote: Supervisor Fisher…aye. Councilperson Hubbell…aye. Councilperson Owens…aye. Councilperson Small…aye. Motion carried. Resolution: Multi-year dog licenses. Resolution Number 2005 – 61 Multi-Year Licensing for Dogs WHEREAS, a revision, effective January 15, 2006, to Article 7 of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Law, Licensing, Identification, and Control of Dogs, provides towns the option of issuing dog licenses for up to three years duration, and WHEREAS, the Town of Enfield desires to provide the option of a multi -year license to its residents, and December 14, 2005 6 WHEREAS, the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets requires the town board to adopt the multi-year licensing option by resolution or town law, NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Enfield, Tompkins County, Ithaca, New York, hereby adopts the multi-year dog licensing option, effective January 15, 2006. MOTIONED: Supervisor Fisher SECONDED: Councilperson Small Discussion: Supervisor Fisher asked Town Clerk Laue to make a certified copy and send it to the NYS Department of Ag and Markets. Vote: Supervisor Fisher…aye. Councilperson Hubbell…aye. Councilperson Owens…aye. Councilperson Small…aye. Motion carried. 2006 School at Rochester. Supervisor Fisher talked with upcoming Councilpersons Jennifer Fisher and Rob Harvey about attending a training school for newly elected town officials in Rochester, NY on January 9-11, 2006. A motion was made to authorize Supervisor Fisher to pay the registration fees for Jennifer Fisher and Rob Harvey to attend a training school for newly elected town officials in Rochester, NY on January 9 – 11, 2006. MOTIONED: Supervisor Fisher SECONDED: Councilperson Hubbell Discussion: Vote: Supervisor Fisher…aye. Councilperson Hubbell…aye. Councilperson Owens…aye. Councilperson Small…aye. Motion carried. Water Heater for Highway Garage/Town Hall. David Miller, Highway Superintendent, presented Supervisor Fisher with an estimate from Hubbard Heating and Plumbing for $332.25 to replace the on-demand, electric water heater. It probably won’t get done until next week. A motion was made to authorize Supervisor Fisher to spend up to $550 for a new water heater for the highway department. MOTIONED: Councilperson Hubbell SECONDED: Councilperson Small December 14, 2005 7 Discussion: Vote: Supervisor Fisher…aye. Councilperson Hubbell…aye. Councilperson Owens…aye. Councilperson Small…aye. Motion carried. Special Town Board Meeting. Supervisor Fisher wants a short Special Town Board meeting to be held at 7:00 pm on December 21, 2005 to open bids on a mini-spreader and a 1977 auto-car truck. End of Year Meeting. A year-end Special Town Board meeting will be held December 29, 2005 at 7:00 PM. 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 #246 - #266 dated December 14, 2005 in the amount of $9,450.16. - Highway Fund vouchers #134 - #145 dated December 14, 2005 in the amount of $21,005.78. - Community Development Grant vouchers #22 - #23 dated December 14, 2005 in the amount of $1,572.48. MOTIONED: Councilperson Owens SECONDED: Councilperson Hubbell Discussion: Supervisor Fisher has a meeting tomorrow (12/15/05) with Better Housing on housing rehabilitation Community Development Block Grant. It’s the close-out meeting for the grant project. There is $200 left that we won’t be drawing. Vote: Supervisor Fisher…aye. Councilperson Hubbell…aye. Councilperson Owens…aye. Councilperson Small…aye. Motion carried. Announcements: Supervisor Fisher reported that HSC will be installing the new furnace downstairs in the Community Building on December 27th and 28th. He asked that the area be cleaned out. Councilperson Owens noted that the 27th was a food distribution day. Fisher said the work would be in the back area…out of the way. December 14, 2005 8 Councilperson Small reported on Group Work Camp 2005. This camp is sponsored by Better Housing for Tompkins and was held in July of 2005 utilizing the help of 411 young adults for all over the United States. Twelve Enfield residents were recipients. Privilege of the Floor: No one wished to speak. . Adjournment: At 8:30 PM 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. ************* Minutes transcribed by Deputy Town Clerk N. Pat Dougherty.