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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006 Oct 28 Special TBMAPPROVED November 8, 2006 TOWN OF ENFIELD SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING MINUTES SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2006 10:00 A.M. A Special Town Board meeting of the Town of Enfield Town Board was held Saturday, October 28, 2006 at the Enfield Community Building, 182 Enfield Main Road, Ithaca, New York at 10:00 a.m. with Supervisor Owens presiding. The meeting was called in order to continue Fire Company contract discussion and to allow the attendance of same by EVFC President Dennis Hubbell. Town Board Members Present: Supervisor Jean Owens, Councilperson Jennifer Fisher, Councilperson Peggy Hubbell, Councilperson Sandra Small, Councilperson Robert Harvey and Town Clerk Alice Laue. [Councilperson Fisher left at 11:00 a.m.] Fire Company Board of Directors Present: President Dennis Hubbell, Vice-President Larry Stilwell, Members Art Howser and Larry Lanning. Others Present: Diane Aramini, Betty Tompkins, Mildred Achilles, Gerhardt Achilles, David Dimmick, Bertha Hubbell, Shirley Hubbell, Charlie Hubbell, Jolee Carlisle, Linda Stilwell, Ed Hetherington, Gary Nesbitt. Pledge of Allegiance: Supervisor Owens led the assemblage in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. Announcement: Jolee Carlisle (Black Oak Road): Announced that she works in Attorney Jim Baker’s office that represents the Fire Company. Fire Company Board of Directors had some concerns with the legality aspect of their files being in Attorney Baker’s office. She reported that first and foremost, she is a professional and that confidentiality is a requirement of her job. Because of her integrity she has the ability to keep Fire Department information confidential. She felt it should not be an issue, that while she may not agree with some of the philosophy in how the Fire Company chooses to do conduct their business with the town, she can assure that confidentiality is in tact. As a taxpayer of the town, however, she will continue to be involved in the budget process, not just on the Fire Company level, but the overall town budget process. She added that it is every taxpayer’s right and responsibility to be actively involved in how their money is being spent as well as it is high time more people became involved in the issues of the town. Business Meeting: Fire Company President Dennis Hubbell then proceeded to go over the two-page Cash Flow Report for the period 1/1/2006 through 10/26/06 reflecting inflows and outflows that had been Special Town Board Meeting Minutes – October 28, 2006 2 previously distributed to Board members prior to this meeting. Each item was reviewed line by line, giving examples under each category and showing the amounts expended to date. Other topics discussed included grants/donations, accounting software, equipment turnover/purchases and payment, differences in quarterly reports received, surplus money, audit of records, wants versus need, fire districts, fire department holding an open house for the community and the need to discuss the Board’s 2007 proposed fire contract. Supervisor Owens asked that the Board meet on Saturday, November 4, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. at the Fire House for a walk through. Privilege of the Floor: David Dimmick (466 Fish Road): Commented that it doesn’t put a lot of confidence in him as a citizen to hear that the Town can’t manage the Town’s money. The Fire Company is part of the Town’s budget. He doesn’t know much about a fire district but maybe the Town should explore it. Supervisor Owens responded that the Town is in charge of contracting with the Fire Department not to manage the Fire Department. The Town doesn’t manage the Highway Department, the Town provides financing and the Highway Superintendent manages the Highway Department. The Town knows where the money is going and where it is being spent for the Highway Department. A Fire District may be an option to consider in the future. Jolee Carlisle (Black Oak Road): Asked if the Fire Company pays municipal electricity rate or the flat rate that an individual customer has to pay? Response: Pay commercial rate. Town pays business commercial rate too. She also asked why the payment from the Town was set up the way it was? Response: Payment schedule is based on what is needed for that month. She believes that at this time, a three-year contract is not the way to proceed for an entity you are paying a quarter of a million dollars for. David Dimmick: Says the residents of the Town do not know what is going on. There is never an Enfield article in the paper. Other municipalities have articles in the Ithaca Journal. He believes that someone who attends the Town Board meetings should write an article so others would know what is happening in Enfield. Supervisor Owens said it would be great to find someone who could do this and said she would be in touch with him. He also commented that the Fire Company’s Cash Flow Report is a good step but he would still like to see more detail. He questioned what appears to be a surplus (reserve) of funds at this point. He agreed with Councilperson Harvey in his view on what a Fire Company wants versus what the Town could afford and suggested that the Fire Company do a risk assessment. Budget Workshop Meeting: Councilperson Small requested a need for another Budget Workshop meeting. Budget Workshop meeting scheduled for Thursday, November 2, 2006. Special Town Board Meeting Minutes – October 28, 2006 3 Adjournment: Motion made by Councilperson Harvey, seconded by Councilperson Hubbell that the October 28, 2006 Special Town Board meeting adjourn. Discussion: Vote: Councilperson Hubbell – aye, Councilperson Harvey – aye, Councilperson Small – aye, Supervisor Owens – aye. Motion carried Respectfully submitted, Alice Laue Town Clerk