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HomeMy WebLinkAbout3-14-07 TBM.pdf TOWN OF ENFIELD REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 2007 7:00 P.M. A Public Hearing on the housing rehabilitation grant and the regular monthly meeting of the Town of Enfield Town Board was held Wednesday, March 14, 2007 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, Town Councilperson Jennifer Fisher, Town Councilperson Peggy Hubbell, Town Councilperson Sandra Small, Town Councilperson Robert Harvey and Town Clerk Alice Laue. Others Present: Brian and Melinda Durfee, Doug and Margaret Willis, Bertha Hubbell, David Dimmick, Diane Aramini, Amber Achilles, Tom and Rebecca Gunningsmith, Helen and Ed Hetherington, Kirk VanDee, Larry Lanning, Judy Hetherington, Larry and Linda Stilwell, Steve Wampler, Pam and Jim Whittaker, Roy and Carol Barriere, Alan and Debbie Teeter, Jolee Carlisle, Jim Rohan, Carolyn Tschanz, Robert Lisk, Lin Hurd, Dana Alexander, Peter Meskill, Dan Achilles, Henry and Linda O’Grady, John Chauez, Barb and Bill Parker, Jackie Braum, Wilmot Parker, Mildred Achilles, Jerry Achilles, Mark Roach, Arthur Howser, Maryanne Burlew, Betty Tompkins, Jack Hubbell, Mary Jo and Eugene Lovelace, Liz Muse, William Eisenhardt, Tammy Alling, Lisa and Gary Laue, Scott Turcsik, Eric Hooton, Denise Hubbell, Shawnna George, Ron Clark, Geoffrey Hollister, Gary Nesbitt, David Owens, Ray Hubbard, Michelle and John Baker, Raymond Bennett, Elaine Sumner, Karen Stevenson, Sherry Stevenson, Carl Emery, Jim Dennis, Roger Lauper, Rich Neno, Wayne Snyder, Shawn Lauper, Ben Giles, Patrick Paolangeli, Victoria Woodcock, Lee Shurtleff, Dennis Hubbell, Sue and Ed Thompson, Ellen Ricketson, Katie Howell, Jessica Gardner, Bonnie Turcsik, Roger Turcsik, II, Roger Turcsik, Robert Besemer, Cindy Vicedomini, Byron Smith. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag: Supervisor Owens led the assemblage in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. Public Hearing – Housing Rehabilitation Grant: Supervisor Owens opened the public hearing by welcoming Bob Hunt, the Construction Manager for Better Housing for Tompkins County. Mr. Hunt reported that the Town is reapplying for a housing rehabilitation grant through the Governor’s Office for Small Cities, which is funded by money that comes from Housing and Urban Development. Approximately $40 million dollars is available for Community Development Block Grants under which this grant is going to be funded. Town is eligible to apply for up to $400,000 for such activities for a single purpose project. Projects can include housing rehabilitation, public facilities, micro-enterprise, economic develop, public water and waste water systems, home ownership and new construction of housing. Funds to be used for people with low to moderate income. Town has indicated it wishes to reapply for a single purpose program. Program divided into two separate components. Competitive round in which the housing grant will be submitted and applications for competitive round due April 9, 2007 in Albany. Grant proposal is in the Regular Town Board Meeting Minutes – March 14, 2007 2 process of being re-written. The grant proposal is essentially the same grant proposal that was turned down last year. Ninety-nine grants were submitted last year and only thirty-three funded. Q: First grant submitted at a cost to the Town of $5,700, resubmitting with no changes? A: Have to fill in and submit using the new forms that the Governor’s Office sent out. Governor’s Office offered no constructive comments as to what would make the grant stronger. History is that they do not fund grants that are submitted the first time. Q: By the time program delivery expenses and administration expenses are deducted, proposal is only $336,000 for housing construction, the Town Board is going to contribute how much for the resubmission of this grant? A: Another $2,000. The $2,000 covers Better Housing costs. Better Housing is not charging anymore than what it actually costs them to do the work. Q: Who can be on the Oversight Committee? Can a Town Board be on that committee? When do we need to submit for being on the Oversight Committee? A: When the grant has been approved we will have to have another public hearing at which point an announcement will be made that an Oversight Committee will need to formed and the Town Board will decide who will be on that committee. A Board member can be on the committee. Public Hearing closed at 7:15 p.m. Privilege of the Floor: Less that 100 people were in attendance to voice their concerns with respect to the lack of a fir e contract. Public comment lasted for about an hour. Comments centered around the need for fire protection and appreciation of what the fire company volunteers do for the Town. Other concerns were: lack of a contract, money, possibility of the elementar y school closing and students being bussed to other schools, the need for the fire company to be more accountable for spending of taxpayers’ money, county’s mutual aid plan and liabilities, lack of Town Board and Fire Company leadership, fire company operating budget vs. capital costs, posting of fire company public notices in an out of county newspaper, lack of communication, need for fire company to be more community oriented, need for fire company facility to be open to the public, and homeowner’s insurance rates could increase or cancel if there is no fire protection contract. Approval of February 15, 2007 Regular Town Board Meeting Minutes and February 28, 2007 Emergency Special Town Board Meeting Minutes: Motion made by Councilperson Small, seconded by Councilperson Harvey that the Town Board approve the February 15, 2007 Regular Town Board Meeting Minutes and the February 28, 2007 Emergency Special Town Board Meeting Minutes. All ayes. Motion carried. Special Agenda Item: Michael Carpenter, Marriage Officer Supervisor Owens introduced Michael Carpenter who is interested in performing a marriage ceremony for his son and asked that he be appointed as a marriage officer for a specific period of time in order to Regular Town Board Meeting Minutes – March 14, 2007 3 do so. After doing some research, Supervisor Owens said it is something the Town can do and offered the following resolution: RESOLUTION NUMBER 2007-13 – MARRIAGE OFFICER WHEREAS, the Enfield Town Board has the authority within the provisions of the Domestic Relations Section of Town Law to name a Marriage Officer, and WHEREAS, Michael Carpenter of 192 S. Van Dorn Road has requested that designation for the period of March 23 through March 31, 2007 for the purpose of conducting the wedding ceremony of a family member in the Town of Enfield, therefore BE IT RESOLVED THAT Michael Carpenter of 192 S. Van Dorn Road be named MARRIAGE OFFICER for the Town of Enfield for the period of March 23 through March 31, 2007. Moved by Supervisor Owens, seconded by Councilperson Small. Discussion: Vote: All ayes. Resolution carried. Committee/Board Reports: Tompkins County Legislature: County Legislator Jim Dennis said he and his colleagues are very concerned with what is or isn’t done this evening with respect to fire protection for Enfield. Historian: Town Historian Sue Thompson reports that she continues to meet with municipal historians monthly. One of the biggest projects, the county visitor’s brochure showing places to visit in each town, is just about finished. Highway: Supervisor Owens presented the Board with an Agreement to Spend Town Highway Funds for General repairs in the sum of $236,679.83 maybe expended for general repairs on 44.45 miles of Town highways. Improvements indicated are on the roads commencing at N. Van Dorn Road from Hayts Road leading to Iradell Road at a distance of one plus or minus miles spending not over the sum of $66,000.00 for overlay with traveled surface of 20 feet, thickness of 3 plus inches, sub-base gravel. Motion made by Supervisor Owens, seconded by Councilperson Small that the Town Board approve the acceptance of the 2007 Agreement to Spend Town Highway Funds. Discussion: Vote: All ayes. Motion carried. Code Enforcement: Code Enforcement Officer Ron Clark gave a brief monthly report. Audit Claims: Supervisor presented monthly bills and vouchers for payment. Motion made by Councilperson Fisher, seconded by Councilperson Hubbell that the Town Board of the Town of Enfield authorizes the Supervisor to pay: - General Fund Vouchers #51-69 in the amount of $13,607.00, and - Highway Fund Vouchers #5-14 in the amount of $19,113.55. Regular Town Board Meeting Minutes – March 14, 2007 4 Discussion: Councilperson Small asked about the finance charge on one of the bills. Supervisor Owens responded that she was not able to do anything about it. Councilperson Small asked about the repairs to the Code vehicle and it was determined that it was the Highway Department truck and not the Code vehicle. Vote: All ayes. Motion carried. Executive Session: Motion made by Councilperson Harvey, seconded by Councilperson Fisher that the Town Board move into Executive Session to discuss fire contract issues. Enfield Volunteer Fire Company Board of Directors met with the Town Board during the Executive Session. Fire Company asked that Lee Shurtleff, Director of Tompkins County Emergency Response be present. Discussion: Vote: All Ayes. Motion carried. Moved into Executive Session at 8:30 p.m. Councilperson Harvey moved that the Town Board move out of Executive Session at 11:30 p.m. to continue with Town Board business. Councilperson Small seconded. All ayes. Motion carried. Councilperson Small moved that a Public Hearing be held at 7:00 p.m. on March 28, 2007 at the Enfield Community Building as required for the submission of the Housing Rehabilitation Grant request. Councilperson Hubbell seconded the motion. All ayes. Motion carried. Councilperson Fisher moved that a Public Hearing be held at 7:15 p.m. on March 28, 2007 at the Enfield Community Building to hear public input on the proposed Local Law #1 2007 Providing for the Administration and Enforcement of the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code. Councilperson Small seconded the motion. All ayes. Motion carried. Audit Claims – Amended: Councilperson Fisher moved to amend her previous motion approving the vouchers for payment moving the repairs to the Highway vehicle in the amount $245.95 from General Fund to the Highway Fund and authorized the Supervisor to pay the bills as amended: - General Fund Vouchers #51-69 with the exception of voucher #59 in the amount of $13,361.05, and - Highway Fund Vouchers #5-15 in the amount of $19,359.50. Seconded by Councilperson Hubbell. Vote: All ayes. Motion carried. At the suggestion of Town Attorney Tim Mattison, Councilperson Small moved that the Town Board move back into Executive Session at 11:50 p.m. to further discuss the EVFC contract and a proposal offered by the Fire Company. Councilperson Hubbell seconded the motion. All ayes. Motion carried. Regular Town Board Meeting Minutes – March 14, 2007 5 Councilperson Harvey moved that the Town Board move out of Executive Session at 12:00 p.m. to vote on the following 2007 Fire Protection Contract resolution. Councilperson Small seconded. All ayes. Motion carried. RESOLUTION 2007-14 – FIRE PROTECTION CONTRACT 2007 BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Enfield agrees to enter into a contract with the Enfield Volunteer Fire Company for provision of fire service for the calendar year 2007 for a total payment of $230,000, and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Schedule of Payments for 2007 will remain the same as the schedule of Payments for 2006, and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the contract for 2007 will remain substantially the same as the terms and conditions in the 2006 contract including: a. The Town reserves the right to conduct audits of the Fire Company at a cost to the Town not to exceed $1,000.00. b. The Fire Company will report to the Town on a monthly basis as it did in January 2007. c. The Fire Company will report to the Town on a quarterly basis in the same form and manner as agreed in the contract extension. d. A representative of the Fire Company’s Board of Directors will be present at the Town’s regular monthly board meeting. e. The Fire Company will provide a written report on or before July 1, 2007 on restructuring their current debt service including what savings could potentially be realized. f. The Town Board agrees to conduct a public hearing relative to Section 172 of New York State Town Law for the formation of a Fire District. Resolution moved by Councilperson Small, seconded by Councilperson Hubbell. All ayes. Resolution carried. Councilperson Hubbell moved to set the public hearing on the 2007 Fire Protection Contract for April 11, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. at the Enfield Community Building. Councilperson Harvey seconded. All ayes. Motion carried. Adjournment: Motion made by Councilperson Fisher, seconded by Councilperson Harvey that the March 14, 2007 Regular Town Board Meeting adjourn. All ayes. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 12:15 a.m. on the morning of March 15, 2007. Regular meeting minutes submitted by Town Clerk Alice Laue Executive Session meeting minutes submitted by Supervisor Jean Owens.