HomeMy WebLinkAboutfeb 11, 2009.pdf
DRAFT
TOWN OF ENFIELD
REGULAR TOWN BOARD
MEETING MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2009
7:00 P.M.
The regular monthly meeting of the Town of Enfield Town Board was held Wednesday,
February 11th, 2009 at the Enfield Community Building, 182 Enfield Main Road, Ithaca,
N.Y. at 7:00 p.m. with Supervisor Podufalski presiding.
Present: Supervisor Frank Podufalski, Town Councilperson Roy Barriere, Town
Councilperson Robert Harvey, Town Councilperson Herb Masser, Highway
Superintendent Barry Rollins, Town Clerk Alice Laue, Deputy Town Clerk Pat
Dougherty.
Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag:
Supervisor Podufalski led the assemblage in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
Privilege of the Floor:
Privilege of the Floor was moved to the beginning of the meeting and Supervisor
Podufalski read the following statement: An attorney has challenge the regularity of the
formation process and I have been advised by the Town’s attorney that there appears to
be merit to the contentions raised such that, given the threat of litigation , the board needs
an opportunity to have counsel of its choice more closely research and examine the issues
and promptly report to the Board, most likely at a special town board meeting in the near
future at which time the matters will be addressed publicly.
No action taken what so ever on a fire district or fire protection plan or anything to do
with the fire department to be discussed tonight and Privilege of the Floor was moved
back to the end of the meeting.
Enfield Creek Project: Soil & Water Conservation – Jon Negle
Project in the works for a couple of years for Enfield Creek. Town Highway Dept. and
several land owners approached Soil & Water wondering what could be done about
upstream and downstream creek problems between Bostwick Road and E. Enfield Center
Road. Soil & Water talked with the Town Highway Dept. and land owners. Soil & Water
wrote a grant to N. Y. S. D. E. C., grant was approved for $100,000.00. $100,000.00
would be coming from the state but they want $100,000.00 of in kind matching funds of
funds coming from local highway personnel, local funds. Soil & Water Conservation
talked with land owners, some didn’t want to do anything, fine with creek as is, others
wanted something done with their property. Soil & Water narrowed region areas down to
around Bostwick Road and E. Enfield Center Road. Reviewed plan views for Bostwick
Road and E. Enfield Center Road. Budget figure is $66,000.00. Town’s share would be
Regular Town Board Mtg. Minute 2-11-09 2
approximately $35,000.00 for projects. Time frame for work to be done would be
between June and August of 2009.
Motion made by Councilperson Barriere, seconded by Councilperson Masser approves
and authorizes the participation of the Town of Enfield in the Soil and Water
Conservation Enfield Creek project in the approximate amount of $35,000.00. Time
frame for work is between June and August.
Discussion:
Vote: Councilperson Barriere aye, Councilperson Harvey aye, Councilperson Masser aye,
Supervisor Podufalski aye, Councilperson Gaynor was absent. Motion carried.
Correspondence:
Letter – Dwight Mengle, Rural Feeder Pilot Program, starting service in May.
Fax – Stephen Locey, TCCOG Health Insurance Consultant would like to attend March
board meeting.
NYS Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation letter of acquisition of eleven acres of
Nosewicz property.
USDA Rural Development moving.
Annual report from Tompkins County Board of Elections.
Letter from Community Arts Partnership listing grant awards.
Packet of letter from a HIS Environmental Science teacher’s ninth grade students in
regards to wind farms and wind farm energy technology.
Audit Claims: by Councilperson Masser:
Motion made by Councilperson Barriere, seconded by Councilperson Masser authorizing
the supervisor to pay:
General Fund vouchers # 33 – 59, dated 2-11-2009, in the amount of $14,750.94.
Highway Fund vouchers # 16 – 32, dated 2-11-2009, in the amount of $10,721.83.
Discussion:
Vote: Councilperson Barriere aye, Councilperson Masser aye, Councilperson Harvey aye,
Supervisor Podufalski aye, Councilperson Gaynor was absent. Motion carried
Committees/Reports:
Tompkins County Board of Representatives: No report. County Representative Stevenson
unable to attend February and March meetings because of recent surgery.
Highway: Highway Superintendent Rollins.
Break in the snow, been working on equipment getting it ready for Spring work.
Code Enforcement: Written report.
Regular Town Board Mtg. Minutes 2-11-09 3
Enfield Community Council: Carolyn Tschanz
Annual meeting held 2-9-2009, presentation of programs and numbers served in 2008.
Summer School served 117 youths between 4-13 years of age Teen program served 101..
Harvest Festival raised approximately $5,000.00, published three newsletters sent to 1200
homes. Co-sponsored youth basketball and served about 50 fourth and fifth graders and is
co-sponsoring basketball again this year. Enfield School not available for Summer Camp
this year and ECC is negotiating with Robert Treman State Park to hold camp there at a
cost of $150.00 plus entrance fees per day. Looking into grants, need an other $7,000.00
in budget to hold camp at park .Summer Camp scheduled for 7-6-09 – 8-14-09.
Fall Festival 9-19-2009.
Enfield Volunteer Fire Company: Written report. Fire chief reported that February
chicken barbecue was a success and thanked everyone who participated in its success.
Facility Building Manager: Councilperson Barriere
Justices moving shortly. 2-12-09 Community building and town hall to be rekeyed, Alan
Teeter will sign out keys. Received one bid for the counter in the town hall, will solicit
for bids from local contractors.
Facilities Planning Committee – Councilperson Masser still working on broad banding,
no cooperation from people and companies he has contacted.
Planning Board: No meeting.
Recreation Partnership: No report.
Tompkins County Council of Governments: Supervisor Podufalski
Still working on insurance consortium.
New Business:
Special Town Board Meeting set for Wednesday, February 25, 2009 at 7:00 p.m.
Board of Ethics:
During the discussion on forming a Board of Ethics the question was asked if a private
citizen could file a complaint with the County Board of Ethics. The answer is yes, but
there is a set of guide lines as to how you can do it. Any county employee can lodge a
complaint with the Board of Ethics. For a private citizen to file a complaint they have to
go through either one of the county employees or a board member of a town.
Supervisor Podufalski proposed going before TCCOG asking if other towns the size of
Enfield would be interested in forming a joint Board of Ethics. Board approved the
supervisor’s taking his proposal to the next TCCOG meeting.
Regular Town Board Mtg. Minutes 2-11-09 4
Resolution #11-2009 – Work Log
Resolution moved by Supervisor Podufalski, seconded by Councilperson Harvey.
Whereas, the New York State Comptroller’s Office requires salaried town officials to
keep a log of their work for one month, NOW THEREFORE BE RESOLVED, that all
salaried town officials keep a log from March 1, 2009 through March 31, 2009 including
date, length of time and what work was performed. By April 7, 2009 this log should be
turned into the Town Supervisor.
Discussion:
Vote: Councilperson Barriere aye, Councilperson Masser aye, Councilperson Harvey aye,
Supervisor Podufalski aye, Councilperson Gaynor was absent. Resolution carried.
F-550 Truck:
Spreader on new F-550 truck needs to have a speed control, a hitch plate with D rings,
ball pintal combination, installation of seven way plug, bracket wires, and installation of
variable speed controller for speed control for a total of $976.00. These items weren’t
included in specs for truck.
Motion made by Supervisor Podufalski, seconded by Councilperson Harvey that the
Town Board approve the purchase and installation of this equipment to make this truck
usable to the Highway Department.
Discussion:
Vote: Councilperson Barriere aye, Councilperson Masser aye, Councilperson Harvey aye,
Supervisor Podufalski aye, Councilperson Gaynor was absent. Motion carried.
Drinking Water Fountains:
Discussed the rental of drinking water fountains versus purchasing fountains for the
community building and the town barn.
Motion made by Councilperson Barriere, seconded by Councilperson Harvey that the
Town purchase two water fountains for the community building and one fountain for the
town barn.
Discussion:
Vote: Councilperson Barriere aye, Councilperson Masser aye, Councilperson Harvey aye,
Supervisor Podufalski aye, Councilperson Gaynor was absent. Motion carried.
Clothing and Steel Toed Boot Allowance for Highway Workers.
OSHA requires that highway full time workers wear steel toed boots; therefore, the
highway superintendent requests that highway workers receive $100.00 for the purchase
of these boots after completion of their probation period.
Motion made by Supervisor Podufalski, seconded by Councilperson Harvey that the
Town provided a $100.00 steel toed boot allowance and upon completion of the current
uniform contract the town provides $300.00 to each full time employee per year for
uniform allowance excluding coveralls
Regular Town Board Mtg. Minutes 2-11-09 5
.
Discussion: Boot and uniform allowances. Workers not using full service that is being
paid for. Allowance to be included in paycheck with allowance for steel toes boots being
in first yearly pay check.
Vote: Councilperson Barriere aye, Councilperson Masser aye, Councilperson Harvey aye,
Supervisor Podufalski aye, Councilperson Gaynor was absent. Motion carried.
Plow Truck:
Contracted with state bid for a total of $194,215.20 for a plow truck. Highway
superintendent proposed that we not put a tower on the truck, no wing, change size of the
box. These changes bid o $166,663.30. After discussing lateness of changes board
decided it was too late to make any change in the bid and with the need to soon replace
another aging truck, highway superintendent was asked to research what is available to
possibly have an extra truck, if money is available, or replace the next oldest truck.
Announcements:
Census Bureau looking for 2010 census workers.
Consumer Protection Forum – Cornell Cooperative Extension 2-18-2009 at 11:00 a.m.
Privilege of the Floor:
Keith Smith spoke about price gouging of propane gas.
Diane Aramini thanked Supervisor Podufalski for taking the time and interest in looking
into ethics.
David Dimmick – Questioned if he had a complaint would any of the town board
members forward it to the County Board of Ethics. Ethics law repealed covered all bases
He wants to be able to go to the board directly, voice his complaint without passing
through a municipal official.
Jack Hubbell – Two vehicles were put out for bid, for the record, what were the bids, who
got them? Supervisor answered – One truck went for around $2800.00 to Brandon
McGee. ’84 pick-up dump bid on by Podufalski’s corporation C & M Builders, Inc. and
high bid was $752.00. Supervisor’s bid was high bid.
David Dimmick – With economy what it is the Town Board needs to watch their
spending.
Question was asked about ECC using the fire house for Summer Camp. Answer was –
no place for children to play or for outside activities. In an emergency would not be a safe
place for camp.
Jerry Achilles- When paying bills he didn’t hear the town paying the fire department this
month. Supervisor stated nothing going on as far as the fire department, we have a legal
complaint and he will not answer any questions about the fire department.
Regular Town Board Mtg. Minutes 2-11-09 6
Adjournment:
Motion made by Supervisor Podufalski, seconded by Councilperson Harvey that the 2-
11-09 Town Board meeting adjourn.
Discussion:
Vote: Councilperson Barriere aye, Councilperson Masser aye, Councilperson Harvey aye,
Supervisor Podufalski aye, Councilperson Gaynor was absent. Motion carried.
Meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Alice Laue, Town Clerk