HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006 Oct 11 Regular Meeting TB.pdfAPPROVED November 8, 2006
TOWN OF ENFIELD
REGULAR TOWN BOARD
MEETING MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2006
7:00 P.M.
The regular monthly meeting of the Town of Enfield Town Board was held Wednesday, October
11, 2006 at the Enfield Community Building, 182 Enfield Main Road, Ithaca, New York with
Supervisor Owens presiding.
Present: Supervisor Jean Owens, Councilperson Jennifer Fisher, Councilperson Peggy Hubbell,
Councilperson Sandra Small, Councilperson Robert Harvey and Town Clerk Alice Laue.
Others Present: Doug Willis, Margaret Willis, Pat Dougherty, Calvin Rothermich, Doris
Rothermich, Kay Callahan, John Rancich, Mildred Achilles, Diane Aramini, Gerhardt Achilles,
Amber Achilles, Charles Hubbell, Roy Barriere, Carol Barriere, Bonnie Griffin, Jolee Carlisle,
Michael Miles, Jim Rohan, Byron Smith, Betty Tompkins, Larry Stilwell, Linda Stilwell, Ed
Hetherington, Ron Clark, Greg Stevenson, Larry Lanning, Mary Linton, Carol Givin, Ann Owens,
David Owens, Carolyn Tschanz.
Pledge of Allegiance:
Supervisor Owens led the assemblage in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
Privilege of the Floor:
John Rancich (363 Hines Road): Spoke about being granted permission by the Planning Board to
establish a wind test tower on Black Oak Road to test wind speeds. His intentions are to investigate
the possibility of putting up a 16-30 mega watt wind farm on those lands that he leases. Passed out
some literature to the Town Board on wind farms. Added he would be willing to talk with anyone
on what his plans are.
Approval of Minutes:
October 3, 2006 Special Town Board Meeting Minutes: Motion made by Councilperson
Hubbell, seconded by Councilperson Harvey that the Town Board approve the adoption of the
October 3, 2006 Special Town Board Meeting minutes.
Discussion:
Vote: Councilperson Fisher aye, Councilperson Hubbell aye, Councilperson Small aye,
Councilperson Harvey aye, Supervisor Owens aye. Motion carried.
Regular Town Board Meeting Minutes – October 11, 2006 2
September 13, 2006 Public Hearing Meeting Minutes: Motion made by Councilperson Hubbell,
seconded by Councilperson Harvey that the Town Board approve the adoption of the September 13,
2006 Public Hearing Meeting minutes.
Discussion:
Vote: Councilperson Fisher aye, Councilperson Hubbell aye, Councilperson Small aye,
Councilperson Harvey aye, Supervisor Owens aye. Motion carried.
September 13, 2006 Regular Town Board Meeting Minutes: Corrections: Privilege of the Floor,
page 3, change 5013C to 501C3. Page 4, ten lines from the bottom, change loosing to losing.
Motion made by Councilperson Fisher, seconded by Councilperson Small, that the Town Board
approve the adoption of the amended September 13, 2006 Regular Town Board Meeting minutes.
Discussion:
Vote: Councilperson Fisher aye, Councilperson Hubbell aye, Councilperson Small aye,
Councilperson Harvey aye, Supervisor Owens aye. Motion carried.
Communications/Correspondence:
Town Clerk Laue reported that Local Law No. 1 of the Year 2006 - Town of Enfield Dog Control
Law had been filed with State and confirmation of filing had been received.
Committee/Board Reports:
Tompkins County Legislature: County Legislator Greg Stevenson reported that:
Still reviewing and working on the 2007 budget.
The Recreation Partnership item has been put back in the budget.
Senior and Disability Real Property tax exemption limits were increased by $2,000.00 for
those persons 65 years of age or older or those with qualifying disabilities. A sliding scale
provides a 5% exemption for those with an annual income of not more than $34,399, up to a
50% exemption for an annual income of $26,000 or less. Change shifts about $23,000 in
county tax dollars to the remaining tax group. This passed 14 to 1.
Gadabout ran short in their fuel budget and asked the City and County to look for
emergency fuel funding. County approved pending the receipt of some information from
Gadabout.
Councilperson Small asked why County Legislator Jim Dennis has not appeared recently at the
Town Board meetings. Stevenson responded that he serves on the Environmental Management
Council (EMC) committee and they meet the same time as the Town Board meetings but will pass
along the concern. Bryon Smith asked Stevenson what he anticipated the tax rate increase is going
to be. Stevenson hopes the budget can be put together with no more than a 1.+% tax rate increase
and is unsure if the County will be able to get to zero. Mr. Smith also asked if there has been any
dialogue on how to reduce the tax rate because year after year there has always been a tax increase.
Stevenson responded that this dialogue is ongoing and he will strive for a zero percent increase.
Regular Town Board Meeting Minutes – October 11, 2006 3
Highway Department: Submitted a written report. Last month paved Black Oak Road and South
Buck Hill Road. Cut brush, patched potholes, dug ditches, hauled sand for winter stockpile, hauled
item 4 for shoulder materials on roads, paved and put shoulders on Black Oak and South Buck Hill
Roads.
Code Enforcement: Code Enforcement Officer Ron Clark submitted a written report and spoke
briefly about it.
Enfield Community Council: Treasurer Carol Givin reported that they were getting close to
wrapping up the Harvest Festival finances and a summary will be included in their next quarterly
report.
Facilities Committee:
Site of New Highway Department: Supervisor Owens reported that they met with Engineer, Dan
Walker who suggested a process to pursue. Councilperson Harvey suggested several contacts that
should be made. NYS Department of Transportation is coming next week to look at site distance
and make a report. Highway Department to put up flags where possibly the best entrance would be
located. Still have not heard back from the Army Corp of Engineers.
Community Building: Councilperson Harvey reported that the Community Building is now up to
State ADA requirements and he is moving forward on progress to move the Courts over. A color of
paint for the interior of the Community Building was asked from the public. Color was picked from
three samples presented by Councilperson Hubbell. Consensus, after the flipping of a quarter was
gray with red doors and side rail.
Environmental Management Council: Mr. Miles reported that a couple of weeks ago, Planning
Board co-chairs and himself attended a seminar in Geneva on wind farm issues. Councilperson
Harvey asked if Mr. Miles was involved in the creation of the 2005 Model Municipal Ordinance for
Wind Energy Conversions System prepared by the Tompkins County Environmental Management
Council. Mr. Miles responded that he was and added that the Town of Dryden is going through the
same process.
Reappointment of Michael Miles to the Environmental Management Council (EMC):
Supervisor Owens reported that Mr. Miles has submitted a resume and would like to serve for
another term on the EMC and asked if the Board would like to reappoint him. Motion made by
Supervisor Owens, seconded by Councilperson Harvey that the Town Board approve the
appointment of Michael Miles to the County’s Environmental Management Council.
Discussion:
Vote: Councilperson Fisher aye, Councilperson Hubbell aye, Councilperson Small aye,
Councilperson Harvey aye, Supervisor Owens aye. Motion carried.
Planning Board: Councilperson Hubbell reported that the next meeting is scheduled for November
1, 2006. Looking at a Noise Ordinance, looking at Town of Ithaca’s and tweaking it for Enfield.
With respect to renaming 20 Enfield Center Road East, Code Officer Clark to measure road for
house numbering on October 12, 2006. Supervisor to print a notice for Code Officer Clark to put
on houses advising residents that they need to contact the Town Clerk with their suggested road
Regular Town Board Meeting Minutes – October 11, 2006 4
names by November 1, 2006 and that the Town Board will be naming the road at the November
Town Board meeting.
Tompkins County Council of Governments (TCCOG): Supervisor Owens read the following
resolution suggested by the Tompkins County Council of Governments dealing with health
insurance:
RESOLUTION 2006 - #30
IN SUPPORT OF THE COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS’ GRANT APPLICATION
FOR NEW YORK STATE SHARED MUNICIPAL SERVICES PROGRAM – LOCAL
HEALTH INSURANCE INCENTIVE AWARD
MOVED by Supervisor Owens, seconded by Councilperson Hubbell.
WHEREAS, Town of Enfield has joined the Tompkins County Council of Governments, and
WHEREAS, the Council of Governments has resolved to apply for an incentive award under the
New York State Shared Municipal Services Program, and
WHEREAS, the grant will assist the municipalities in Tompkins County to create a local health
consortium, and
WHEREAS, the health care consortium will seek to develop health care coverage for all
municipalities with the intent to provide a net savings to the taxpayers of Tompkins County, now
therefore be it
RESOLVED, on recommendation of the Town Board of the Town of Enfield, that the Town
Supervisor is hereby authorized to act on behalf of the Town of Enfield in all matters related to this
grant,
RESOLVED, further, that the County of Tompkins shall be designated as the Lead Applicant and
that the County Administrator is authorized to act as the contact person for this grant.
Discussion: Councilperson Harvey added that all municipalities have to participate in order for the
County to apply for the grant.
Vote: Councilperson Fisher aye, Councilperson Hubbell aye, Councilperson Small aye,
Councilperson Harvey aye, Supervisor Owens aye. Resolution carried.
Old Business:
Tentative 2007 Budget: Supervisor Owens reported that the tentative budget represents a 3%
increase. Consensus of the board was to set up a budget workshop meeting due to the fact that there
are two new board members who have not been through the budget process before and it was felt
that more time was needed in going over the budget than just that of a board meeting. A budget
workshop meeting was set for Tuesday, October 17, 2006 at 6:00 p.m. at the Community Building.
New Business
Joint Meeting with Enfield Volunteer Fire Company:
Supervisor Owens asked that a joint meeting with the Enfield Volunteer Fire Company, Inc. be
scheduled for the purpose of contract discussion and stated that she had confirmed with the fire
company that they would be available on Saturday, October 14, 2006 at 10:00 a.m.
Regular Town Board Meeting Minutes – October 11, 2006 5
Councilperson Small presented the Board with a proposed 2007 Town of Enfield Fire Protection
Contract and added that it is a proposal for consideration. She asked Supervisor Owens to deliver a
copy to EVFC President, Dennis Hubbell. Motion made by Councilperson Small, seconded by
Councilperson Hubbell that the Town Board hold a Special Town Board meeting to include
representatives of the Fire Company’s Board of Directors and any interested community residents
for the purposes of further contract discussions, negotiations and for community awareness and
input to be held on Saturday, October 14, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. at the Enfield Community Building and
the notice of such meeting be advertised in the Ithaca Journal.
Discussion:
Vote: Councilperson Fisher aye, Councilperson Hubbell aye, Councilperson Small aye,
Councilperson Harvey aye, Supervisor Owens aye. Motion carried.
Audit Claims:
Supervisor Owens presented monthly bills and vouchers for payment. Motion made by
Councilperson Fisher, seconded by Councilperson Small that the Town Board of the Town of
Enfield authorizes the Supervisor to pay:
- General Fund Vouchers #179-197 dated 10-11-06 in the amount of $8,912.55.
- Highway Fund Vouchers #103-114 dated 10-11-06 in the amount of $103,402.95.
Discussion:
Vote: Councilperson Fisher aye, Councilperson Hubbell aye, Councilperson Small aye,
Councilperson Harvey aye, Supervisor Owens aye. Motion carried.
Announcements:
Enfield Community Council (ECC) Storage Shed:
Motion made by Councilperson Harvey, seconded by Councilperson Small that the Town Board
allow ECC to place their storage shed at the rear of the Community Building on the Town’s
property.
Discussion: ECC storage shed originally sat on Fire Company property and ECC was asked to
move it. Councilperson Small asked how long the POD storage building was going to be sitting out
back. Treasurer Givin responded a couple weeks just until they could get things moved over into
the shed.
Vote: Councilperson Fisher aye, Councilperson Hubbell aye, Councilperson Small aye,
Councilperson Harvey aye, Supervisor Owens aye. Motion carried.
Privilege of the Floor:
Diane Aramini (120 S. Applegate Rd.): Asked the Supervisor if the Food Distribution liability
certificate of insurance had been received. Supervisor Owens to check on status.
Regular Town Board Meeting Minutes – October 11, 2006 6
Byron Smith (496 Fish Road): Asked what the appropriate way to provide the board with input on
the budget prior to the budget meeting if the public had questions or recommendations. Call board
members, contact information is on the Town’s website.
Councilperson Small asked if there was any news on getting rid of the old copier. Councilperson
Harvey has not heard from the National Guard.
Councilperson Small asked if there had been any communications concerning resubmission for the
housing rehabilitation grant. Supervisor Owens has not heard from HUD.
Executive Session:
Motion made by Councilperson Small, seconded by Councilperson Harvey that the Town Board
move into Executive Session to discuss financial arrangements of a particular person with respect to
a draft promissory note.
Discussion:
Vote: Councilperson Fisher aye, Councilperson Hubbell aye, Councilperson Small aye,
Councilperson Harvey aye, Supervisor Owens aye. Motion carried.
Meeting moved into Executive Session at 8:12 p.m.
Motion made by Councilperson Harvey, seconded by Councilperson Hubbell that the Town Board
move out of Executive Session.
Discussion:
Vote: Councilperson Fisher aye, Councilperson Hubbell aye, Councilperson Small aye,
Councilperson Harvey aye, Supervisor Owens aye. Motion carried.
Meeting moved out of Executive Session at 8:25 p.m.
Adjournment:
Motion made by Councilperson Hubbell, seconded by Councilperson Harvey that the October 11,
2006 Regular Town Board Meeting adjourn.
Discussion:
Vote: Councilperson Fisher aye, Councilperson Hubbell aye, Councilperson Small aye,
Councilperson Harvey aye, Supervisor Owens aye. Motion carried.
Meeting adjourned at 8:27 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Alice Laue
Town Clerk