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HomeMy WebLinkAboutmarch 11, 2009.pdfDRAFT TOWN OF ENFIELD PUBLIC HEARING and TOWN BOARD MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2009 6:30 P.M. A public hearing was held Wednesday, March 11, 2009 at 6:30 pm. on the purposed 2009 Enfield Volunteer Fire Protection contract. The hearing was held at the Enfield Community Building, 182 Enfield Main Road, Ithaca, N.Y with Supervisor Podufalski presiding. Present: Supervisor Frank Podufalski, Town Councilperson Roy Barriere Town Councilperson Herb Masser, Town Councilperson Stephanie Gaynor, Town Councilperson Robert Harvey, Town Clerk Alice Laue. Supervisor Podufalski opened the public hearing by leading the assemblage in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and by reading the public hearing notice published in the Ithaca Journal. The four paragraphs relating to money payment anticipating the creation off a fire district were not deleted. Other questions and or comments raised were the $50,000 increase the 22% increase in Enfield’s fire tax rate, the payment and allocation of an additional $18,000 in worker’s compensation insurance above and beyond the $280,000 budget for 2009 and economic times means everyone should cut back. After everyone wishing to speak had spoken at least once the public hearing was closed. REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING MINUTES: The regular monthly town board meeting was held following the public hearing. Formation of Health Insurance Consortium: Dave Sanders, representative from Locey & Cahill, LLC., gave a presentation on the formation of a health insurance consortium, hoping to include employees from Tompkins County, City of Ithaca and other local municipalities. A bigger membership could mean better benefits and cost savings for everyone. Better Housing of Tompkins County, Housing Rehabilitation Grant – John Spence Talked about their yearly HUD grant and agreed to resubmit the Town’s application on behalf of the Town at no additional cost to the Town because for the past couple of years, the Town has been unsuccessful in obtaining the grant. Out of the $400.000 grant, approximately $320,000 would be used for eligible residents to help defray the costs of small homeowner projects. They will be using last year’s applicants and will consider new applicants provided they submit an application. Applications can be picked up at the Town Hall. Approximately 15 residents will be helped. Approval of Minutes January 14th regular Town Board Meeting Minutes – Motion made by Councilperson Gaynor, seconded by Councilperson Barriere that the January 14th, 2009 regular Town Board Meeting Minutes be approved for adoption. Discussion: Vote Councilperson Barriere aye, Councilperson Masser aye, Councilperson Gaynor aye, Councilperson Harvey aye, Supervisor Podufalski aye. Motion carried. January 17th, 2009 Audit Meeting Minutes – Motion made by Councilperson Gaynor, Seconded by Councilperson Barriere that the January 17th, 2009 Audit Meeting minutes Be approved for adoption. Discussion: Vote: Councilperson Barriere aye, Councilperson Masser aye, Councilperson Gaynor aye, Councilperson Harvey aye, Supervisor Podufalsk aye. Motion carried. February 11th, 2009 Regular Town Board Meeting Minutes – Motion made by Councilperson Barriere, seconded by Councilperson Harvey that the February 11, 2009 Regular Town Board Meeting minutes be approved for adoption. Discussion: Vote: Councilperson Barriere aye, Councilperson Masser aye, Councilperson Harvey aye, Councilperson Gaynor abstained, Supervisor Podufalsk aye, Motion carried. February 25th, 2009 Special Town Board Meeting Minutes – Motion made by Councilperson Barriere, seconded by Councilperson Harvey that the February 25th, 2009 Special Town Board Meeting Minutes be approved for adoption. Discussion: Vote: Councilperson Barriere aye, Councilperson Masser aye, Councilperson Gaynor aye, Councilperson Harvey aye, Supervisor Podufalski aye. Motion carried. Correspondence: Tompkins County Board of Assessment – Letter asking the Town set a date for Assessment Review. Date of May 6th, 2009, 3-6 p.m. Town Hall set for Assessment Review. Tompkins County Board of Assessment notice of 2009 assessment change for property on Enfield Main Road – 2008 final assessment was $66,000 – 2009 preliminary assessment $80,000.TV rate increase 4-1-2009. Community Outreach - Office of Attorney General – Meeting March 18, 2009 – Cornell Extension ` 11 a.m. 1 p.m. – Overview of In’s and Out’s of Insurance. Environmental Management Council 2008 annual report. Budget Amendment: Motion made by Councilperson Masser, seconded by Councilperson Gaynor that we accept the return of the used 1984 1-ton Chevrolet truck and reimburse the $752.00 purchase price. Discussion: Vote: No vote was taken. Resolution #12-2009 –Budget Amendment #1 Whereas, the Town of Enfield Town Bard has agreed to accept the return of the used 1984 1-ton Chevrolet truck and has authorized the reimbursement of the $752.00 Purchase price, NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Unexpended Balance for the 2009 Highway Fund be increase from $162,000 to $162,752 and Highway Budget line DA1930.4 be created titled, “Judgments and Claims” in the amount of $752.00. Discussion: Vote: Councilperson Barriere aye, Councilperson Masser aye, Councilperson Gaynor Aye, Councilperson Harvey aye, Supervisor Podufalski abstained Audit Claims: Motion made by Councilperson Gaynor, seconded by Councilperson Harvey that the Town Board authorized the Supervisor to pay: Highway Fund Vouchers #33-45, dated March 11, 2009, in the amount of $3,619.94 General Fund Vouchers #61-81, dated March 11, 2009, in the amount of $14,934.81. Discussion: Vote: Councilperson Barriere aye, Councilperson Masser aye, Councilperson Gaynor Aye, Councilperson Harvey aye, Supervisor Podufalski aye. Motion carried. Committees/Reports: Tompkins County Board of Representatives – no report. Highway – Highway Superintendent Rollins New 550 has had the additional work done. Took those who wanted to go to the hard hat show today to see new equipment, talked to truck dealer, ten wheeler is in , cab and chassis at equipment factory now and should be done by the end of April first of May. Doing brush mowing on Hines, Woodard and Stone House Roads, training guys on brush mower who haven’t used it. Main rotor fell apart last Friday and it will cost around $4, 500.00 to fix it and three weeks to get the part. When roads dry up will be cutting shoulders and doing ditching. If anybody wants fill or wood chips contact the Highway Department. Discussed starting a wood chips pile for residents to come and take them. If Highway Department has a name and is working in that area easier to dump it where someone wants it. Concern is if they have a full load dumping it at the closes place and getting back to work and it’s a service for people who don’t have a way of getting them. Code Enforcement – Alan Teeter Reviewed his monthly report again stating that it was another slow month. He announced that another Code Enforcement Officer was hired mid-February. Interviewed by Councilperson Masser and Councilperson Barriere, candidate was the only applicant, highly qualified and working on recertification. Member of the public reminded board members that this is an appointed position which needs to be appointed by the Town Board. Councilperson Harvey expressed his unhappiness with the person being an out of county resident and that the hiring; procedure was not properly done. Enfield Community Council- Ann Rider 99% sure Summer Camp is going to be held at Treman State Park this summer. Current News hopefully out April 1, 2009, on going team programs are meeting. Article in upcoming Current News on youth programs. Enfield Volunteer Fire Company – Art Howser 54 calls this year to date. 24 calls this month which includes EMS, motor vehicle accidents and mutual aid calls. Chicken barbeque sold out in forty minutes, 420 halves were sold, one more in April. Facilities Building Manager – Councilperson Barriere All locks have been changed, Justices moving 3/23/2009 – first Court date to be 3/25/2009. Water coolers purchased, contracting with Chemung for water delivery. A water cooler for downstairs was donated by Ann Rider. Counter that Supervisor Podufalskl wanted estimates on for the town hall Councilperson Barriere has received only one for over $3,000 and at the boards suggest he has sent out RFP’s to local contractors and received only one bid from Night Owl. Discussed buying a used counter space. New lights installed outside of Court door, dusk to dawn lights. Facilities Planning – Councilperson Masser Struck out on better cell phone coverage. Broad Band meeting with County and Brocnco next month. More to report next month. Planning Board – no meeting. Tompkins County Council of Government – Supervisor Podufalski Didn’t attend last month’s meeting. Did put on agenda for this month’s meeting the request we look at Board of Ethics what can be done to set something up looking at possibly putting together a board from members from each small town. Old Business: Resolution #13-2009 – Rescinding Resolution of Formation of Town of Enfield Fire District; (Resolution #41 of 2008) (Resolution attached). Resolution read by Supervisor Podufalski and when several members of the public expressed their objection to the word disgruntle and requested that it be removed from the resolution Supervisor Podufalski responded “no” I will not. Resolution moved by Councilperson Gaynor, seconded by Councilperson Barriere. Discussion: Vote: Councilperson Barriere aye, Councilperson Masser aye, Councilperson Gaynor aye, Councilperson Harvey aye, Supervisor Podufalsk aye. Resolution carried. Discussion and Vote on Fire Protection District Contract: Due to proposed changes in Fire Protection District contract, the removal of four paragraphs regarding Fire District and rewriting of contract, a second public hearing will be held. Public hearing scheduled for Thursday, March 26th, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. at the community building. Appointment of Code Enforcement Officer: Motion made by Councilperson Masser, seconded by Supervisor Podufalski that the Town Board approve the appointment of Carl Staley as Code Enforcement Officer commencing February 15, 2009. Discussion: Recertification, who pays for it? Lack of board appointment before starting date. Vote: Councilperson Barriere aye, Councilperson Masser aye, Councilperson Gaynor aye, Councilperson Harvey no, Supervisor Podufalski aye. Motion carried. New Business: Request from Highway Superintendent for Creation of New Starting Pay for New Hires. This request ensued a big controversy. Councilperson Gaynor was opposed to this idea. New employees were hired in November 2008 by a Highway Deputy Superintendent and now at least one of these employees is not fully qualified to be a maintenance equipment operator and instead of lowering his salary and getting the training necessary to become a maintenance equipment operator, the majority of the board felt it was improper to decrease the person’s pay. Supervisor Podufalskire4cused himself from this discussion and upon a member of the public telling the board they needed to move into Executive Session the motion was made by Councilperson Gaynor and seconded by Councilperson Masser that they move into Executive Session. No reason for holding an Executive session was given nor a vote taken. Nor was a motion made and vote taken to move out of Executive Session. Discussion was tabled. Contract for Uniform Service: Highway Superintendent Rollins submitted a contract bid from CINTAS to Superintendent Podufalski. Contract bid is a tow year contract at the same price covering six employees to be furnished with an inventory of two coveralls at $1.32 per person a week and one hundred shop rags at ten cents a piece. Names on coveralls and company logo at $25.00 a week. Motion made by Councilperson Gaynor, seconded by Councilperson Harvey that the Town Board authorizes the Highway Superintendent to sign a contract with CINTAS for uniform services. Discussion: Vote: Councilperson Barriere aye, Councilperson Masser aye, Councilperson Gaynor aye, Councilperson Harvey aye, Supervisor Podufalsk aye. Motion carried. Privilege of the Floor: Three minute time limit and speaking only once. Ann Rider- Need to incorporate and utilize shared services, suggested the board appoint an ad-hoc lay committee to research all services that could be shared. David Dimmick – stated he was embarrassed and ashamed of the existing Town Board, the wasted energy and taxpayer’s money they are spending on trying to get people kicked out of office and the vendetta they come to the table with. Adjournment: Motion was made by Councilperson Harvey, seconded by Councilperson Gaynor that the regular 3/11/2009 Town Board Meeting adjourns. Discussion: Vote: Councilperson Barriere aye, Councilperson Masser aye. Councilperson Gaynor aye, Councilperson Harvey aye, Supervisor Podufalski aye. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned. Respectfully submitted, Alice Laue, Town Clerk