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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006 Oct 14 Special Meeting TB.pdfAPPROVED November 8, 2006 TOWN OF ENFIELD SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING MINUTES SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2006 7:00 P.M. A Special Meeting of the Town of Enfield Town Board was held Saturday, October 14, 2006 at the Enfield Community Building, 182 Enfield Main Road, Ithaca, New York at 7:00 p.m. 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, Shirley Hubbell, Charles Hubbell, Diane Aramini, Jerry Achilles, Ed Hetherington, David Dimmick. Supervisor Owens reported that she delivered the proposed 2007 fire contract that was distributed at the October 11, 2006 Town Board meeting to Fire Company’s President, Dennis Hubbell and commented that although the topic for tonight’s meeting was to meet with the Fire Company for contract discussion, the Fire Company was unable to meet because of conflicting work schedules. Supervisor Owens then read President Dennis Hubbell’s October 12, 2006 e- mail response to the scheduling of tonight’s meeting. “Please accept this as official response to the meeting the Town scheduled on Saturday, October 14th 2006 at 7:00 PM. First, the Town Board members are well aware that some of our Board of Directors work third shift with rotating days off. [Supervisor Owens thinks Mr. Hubbell really meant second shift.] We have tried to comply with a meeting time, but you schedule them at times not convenient to this type of shift work. One would think if the Town Board is truly interested in meeting with the Fire Company that we could find a time acceptable to both parties. Scheduling a meeting when you know the Fire Company cannot attend and then advising the public that the Fire Company refuses to meet is truly a flat out lie. Additionally, I personally have sent requests to all Town Board members via e-mail and on the initial budget request, soliciting any questions of concerns they may have. The only person that has contacted me to date has been Councilperson Rob Harvey. Secondly, where did this draft contract come from? The Fire Company was under the impression that these meetings where to discuss the contract, it appears its done. If this draft contract is what we will be discussing then I need more than two business days to respond. You must understand once I receive this I need to make copies, distribute those copies to the members of the Board of Directors, have it reviewed by legal counsel and then set up a meeting with the Board of Directors to review. With all this in mind I unfortunately must advise you that we are unable to meet on the scheduled date and time.” Supervisor Owens reported that she had forwarded this email to all board members and added that she would like to get three or four more dates and times that the board would be available to Special Town Board Meeting Minutes – October 14, 2006 2 meet with the Fire Company’s Board of Directors for the remainder of the month and to get the meeting process started. Councilperson Small said the process has been started and that the Fire Company has refused to attend any meetings. Councilperson Small then proceeded to read parts of an email forwarded by President Dennis Hubbell to Supervisor Owens dated September 8, 2006, which in turn was then forwarded to all Board members on September 8, 2006, as follows: “I have read over the proposal in reference to the Fire Protection Contract Committee. I must say it looks more to me like a organized street fight, each side is allowed two gang members and two outside ringers. It is apparent that the Town Board has already selected its town residents or they would have given us more time to come up with our choices. It is also no secret that someone from the Town Board has been in contact with at least one of our neighboring fire departments inquiring if they would be interested in contracting with the Town of Enfield. With the current history, and the present format for this committee, its got nothing but bad written all over it, best case scenario would be a stalemate and a lot of wasted time. Even if we were interested in this present proposal, it would still have to be reviewed by our Board of Directors at our meeting on September 12th, that leaves us with very little time to come up with two town residents. I have to be truthful, as it stands now under this type of format I don’t think they would be interested. However, if you are really interested in bringing all parties together to work for the benefit of the Town as a whole, I would suggest the following format. The Town Board picks two members of the Fire Company Board of Directors and the Fire Company pick two members of the Town Board. Those four then pick four committee members from the town that are competent, unbiased residents, maybe having them submit a short resume. The committee would not only review contract proposals but also be a ongoing committee responsible for researching all issues as they relate to the Fire Company and Town Board. This would include recruitment. . .” Councilperson Small stated that given the proposal made in this email, the committee’s make-up would consist of a majority of Fire Company members. Supervisor Owens added that she would like to work beyond this and announced that she has resigned from being a member of the Fire Company and will not be a member as long as she is a Town official. Owens also added that she was never involved in any financial decision making of the Fire Company. Councilperson Small asked if her husband, Dave Owens had resigned from the Fire Company’s Board of Directors. Supervisor Owens responded that he did not and that a relative is not considered a conflict of interest. Councilperson Harvey asked what dates are good for the Fire Company and felt that the Supervisor was asking the Board to make allowances for the Fire Company. He felt that the Fire Company has had many opportunities to participate and chose not to. Supervisor Owens proceeded to ask board members for dates and times they would be available to meet with the Fire Company’s Board of Directors. After further discussion, Supervisor Owens obtained dates and times and will discuss with the Fire Company their availability as well and report back to the Board via email and phone messages. Special Town Board Meeting Minutes – October 14, 2006 3 Adjournment: Motion made by Councilperson Harvey, seconded by Councilperson Fisher that the October 14, 2006 Special Town Board Meeting adjourn. Discussion: Vote: Councilperson Fisher aye, Councilperson Hubbell aye, Councilperson Small aye, Councilperson Harvey aye, Supervisor Owens aye. Motion carried. The Special Town Board meeting adjourned at 7:25 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Alice Laue, Town Clerk