HomeMy WebLinkAbout3-9-11 Regular Meeting.pdf
Town of Enfield
Regular Town Board Meeting Minutes
Enfield Community Building
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
6:45 p.m.
Present: Deputy Town Supervisor Debbie Teeter, Town Councilperson Chris Hern, Town
Councilperson Jean Owens, Town Councilperson Ron Clark, Town Highway Superintendent Barry
Rollins, Town Clerk Alice Linton. Absent: Town Supervisor Roy Barriere.
Deputy Town Supervisor Teeter opened the meeting at 6:45 p.m. by leading the
assemblage in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
Public Hearing – Addendum to the Dog Control Law – Licensing Fees:
Deputy Supervisor Teeter stated a legal ad notifying the public of the hearing was published
in the Ithaca Journal and was available at the town hall.
Stan Carpenter spoke on the importance of keeping the purebred kennel license for
breeders. As a Town of Enfield resident for 44 years, he has witnessed how purebred AKC dog
owners have helped each other and spoke of the benefits the purebred license has for these
owners.
Marnie Kirchgessner also spoke in support of the kennel license.
As no own else wished to speak, the public hearing was closed at 6:52 p.m.
Presentation by Dan Klein – Tompkins County Community Beautification Program
Coordinator:
Mr. Klein explained his program is funded through the county hotel room tax. Enfield has
received approximately $5,000 over the past 5 years and more money is available for 2011. The
Enfield Harvest Festival and Enfield beautification program have benefited from these funds.
Approval of Minutes:
Councilperson Owens moved to accept the minutes of the February 9, 2011 regular board
meeting. Second by Councilperson Hern.
Vote: Councilperson Clark aye, Councilperson Hern aye, Councilperson Owens aye,
Deputy Supervisor Teeter aye. Supervisor Barriere absent. Carried
Correspondence:
Letter from Haefele TV stating, that as required by their contract with the town, they are
notifying us that as of April 1, 2011 the basic cable rate will increase $1 per month, digital basic will
increase $2 per month and the internet rate will increase $2 per month.
Notice from State of New York Department of Taxation and Finance with listing of franchise
full values to be filed in 2011.
New York Municipal Insurance will present a series to NYMIR subscribers on the
fundamentals of electrical maintenance.
Presentation by Herb Masser – Tompkins County Health Insurance Consortium:
Herb asked if our employees were covered by disability insurance since there is an
alternative coming up through the consortium. He stressed that this insurance will be equal or
better than the insurance we had previously. There have been some questions regarding drug co-
pays. These have been sent on to the insurance company. There was some discussion regarding
generic drugs.
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The consortium is listening to presentations regarding ancillary benefits such as disability
insurance, life insurance and legal benefits. If the town is unable to give the pay raise they’d like,
they may be able to give employees more benefits.
Audit Claims:
Councilperson Owens moved for the board to authorize the deputy supervisor to pay
General Fund vouchers #71-#90 dated March 9, 2011 in the amount of $12,545.24 and Highway
Fund vouchers #39-#55 dated March 9, 2011 in the amount of $30,169.05. Councilperson Clark
seconded the motion.
Vote: Councilperson Clark aye, Councilperson Hern aye, Councilperson Owens aye,
Deputy Supervisor Teeter aye. Supervisor Barriere absent. Carried
County Legislator’s Report: Dave McKenna reported the county legislature is
reorganizing the way minutes are presented – they will include action items only. The tape
recordings of meetings will be available. Dave is vice-chair of the broadband committee which has
broken into several groups working on technical details, funding and educational which is working
on teaching people how to use the internet. Government Operations is working on redistricting.
The Carpet Bazaar Building has been purchased by the county.
Highway Superintendent’s Report: Buddy Rollins reported the county plans to start work
on the Enfield Center bridge the first of April. They will pull off the deck, sandblast, paint and patch
the beams and then put on a new deck. The town will have to pay for the deck, but the county will
do the work. It will take 4-6 weeks. When it is completed, it will be an unlimited weight bridge and
will go from 19’ to 22’.
The highway employees have asked if they can get direct deposit for their paychecks.
Buddy mentioned there is less sand stockpiled so there will be less to move to the new facility. This
year’s main projects planned are Harvey Hill Road, the last mile; Fish Road, the last mile; ditching,
shoulders, oil and stone on them. As fuel prices go up, some other projects may have to be cut
back.
Superintendent Rollins also stated someone has complained about his use of a town truck
to plow his driveway. He was told that was for official use and was permitted. No town board
member had heard of a complaint.
Code Enforcement Officer’s Report: Alan Teeter reported that in February, 2 building
permits were issued, bringing the year to date total to 4; 1 certificate of occupancy was issued, 1
certificate of completion was issued, 2 framing inspections were completed, 3 insulation/energy
code inspections were completed, 1 plumbing inspection was completed, 2 final inspections were
completed, 8 progress checks were done, 1 meeting with owner was held and 1 valid complaint
was received.
Committee Reports:
Planning Board : Councilperson Clark reported that Dan Walker, a retired Town of Ithaca
engineer, has joined the board. The Site Plan application is ready for review. Virginia Bryant will be
getting a copy to Supervisor Barriere. Ron feels it is a very thorough document. The Site Plan
Review law is almost finished. There have been questions about the Town of Enfield’s ordinance
on cell towers.
Health Insurance Consortium:. Previously discussed with Herb Masser’s presentation.
Enfield Community Council: Marnie Kirchgessner distributed a flyer with annual report
information. Marnie will be working on an information piece about the ECC. The group is looking at
ways to establish a better sense of community – some kind of welcome information for new
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residents. They are hoping to do more projects and they are seeking ideas for more community
participation.
Enfield Volunteer Fire Company: Alan Teeter reported that in February there were 22 EMS
calls, 1 structure fire, 1 chimney fire, 1 smoke condition (unauthorized burning), 1 motor vehicle
accident, 2 severe weather calls, and 3 mutual aid calls. Training for March will include hose rolls
and carries, fire drill procedures, and fire extinguisher inspection procedures. The Fire Company
has agreed, with funds raised from chicken BBQs, to be a major sponsor of the Enfield Community
Counsel Boys and Girls Youth Basketball program held at the Enfield Elementary School.
Facilities Manager: Councilperson Hern reported the radon gas remediation fan is not
working; the contractor is scheduled to check it March 22. It is time to start thinking about placing
the sign on the south end of town.
Communication Access Committee: Councilperson Hern reported Chris McConkey is
working on trying to get some donated equipment and to get Haefele to put a drop in for a public
access channel.
Facilities Development: Councilperson Owens reported Chuck Fezali of Resource
Associates Engineering Firm, has put together the cost estimates for the construction
administration. Presently Resource Associates is handling all the bidding, which has been
challenging. At last report, 34 different companies had requested the bid specifications. Chuck did
present an addendum, and contacted all companies that had requested bid specifications.
Resource Associates will analyze the bids once they are opened and then meet with the committee
and then the recommendations will be brought to the town board.
Councilperson Owens asked the board to make a decision concerning the construction
administration. There are several options available for the onsite overseeing of the work, which
would include making decisions to keep the contractors on schedule, making sure change orders
are processed correctly, and making sure pay requests are processed correctly. The fees of the
office portion of the work were estimated to be between $10,500 and $15,500. That is based on
the length of time for the construction process to take place. An engineer could be hired to be on-
site outside Resources Associates, but the option that Supervisor Barriere and Councilperson
Owens are recommending to the board is an option where Chuck Fezali would be the site
representative. He would be on site 3-5 hours a day and would incorporate the time that he is on-
site with the other jobs that Resource Associates would be doing in terms of processing change
orders and pay requests. To have an engineer inspector on site would cost someplace between
$1,500 and $1,800 a week. The option proposed by Chuck Fezali would be to incorporate both the
office administration and the site management administration responsibilities at the fee of $2,000 a
week. This could save the town about $15,000 by combining those two job responsibilities.
Councilperson Owens moved, with a second by Councilperson Teeter to adopt the
following:
Resolution #2011-21
WHEREAS on-site construction administration is necessary for the construction of the new
Enfield highway facility, NOW THEREFORE
BE IT RESOLVED that Charles R. Fezali of Resources Associates be appointed site
representative to work three to five hours per day on-site, at the same time incorporating the office
administration portion of the work.
Enfield Town Board Meeting, March 9, 2011
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Discussion: Highway Superintendent Rollins asked if he will be doing the storm water
system testing and recording for the DEC for silt and water every day. Councilperson Owens will
confirm this with him.
Councilperson Hern has not been impressed with Resource Associates’ efforts on
engineering of the building. There were things included that should not have been, they overlooked
the width of the doors – it seems they have not been very thorough. Although time is of the
essence, and someone needs to be on site, maybe we should look elsewhere.
Councilperson Owens feels that at this stage of the game, Chuck Fezali is most
knowledgeable about the specifications and he knows all the players. He knows how the town
operates, he knows the community members, and he knows the highway superintendent, so he
seems to be the most appropriate person for the job at this time.
Councilperson Teeter shared Councilperson Hern’s concern about some of the items that
were overlooked. She also feels he will be way ahead of the curve because he knows this building
so well.
Councilperson Clark feels that if someone else were hired they would have to review all the
plans to get to the place where Chuck is. He feels changes are inevitable and they can get costly
once the project has started. He feels hiring Chuck is the best way to go.
Vote: Councilperson Clark aye, Councilperson Hern aye, Councilperson Owens aye,
Deputy Supervisor Teeter aye. Supervisor Barriere absent. Carried
Personnel Committee: No report.
Tompkins County Council of Governments: No report.
Old Business:
Amendment #1 to Local Law #3 – 2010 – Town of Enfield Dog Control Law
This amendment applies only to section 10 of Local Law #3 – 2010 (Dog Control Law), “Annual
License Fees”. Section 10 will be amended to include the Purebred Kennel License and to read as
follows:
SECTION 10. ANNUAL LICENSE FEES.
Pursuant to the provisions of the New York State Agriculture and Markets Law Article 7 the
additional fee to be collected by the town clerk, in addition to those set by the New York State
Agriculture and Markets Law Article 7 shall be:
(1) Ten dollars ($10.00) for each neutered or spayed dog
(2) Twenty dollars ($20.00) for each unaltered dog
(3) Thirty dollars ($30.00) for each Purebred Kennel License (up to 10 dogs total)
(4) Seventy-five dollars ($75.00) for each Purebred Kennel License (greater than 10 dogs)
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a. Purebred Kennel Licenses are offered in the Town of Enfield as an alternative to
individual dog licenses for owners actively involved in the breeding and sale of purebred
dogs.
b. To qualify for a Purebred Kennel License, a person must own three or more purebred
dogs and at least three of those dogs must be unaltered.
c. At the time of application, the Town Clerk shall assign a Purebred Kennel License
identification number.
d Application for a Purebred Kennel License shall be on a form provided by the Town
Clerk and shall include rabies vaccination certification as specified in Part 2 of this
Section for every dog listed on the license, a copy of which shall be kept on file by the
Town Clerk.
e. Copies of registry papers for every dog or a comprehensive list of registry numbers and
associations shall be required and filed with the Clerk’s copy of the license.
f. All dogs over four months of age must be listed and included in the Purebred Kennel
License.
g. Purebred Kennel Licenses shall be issued for one year and renewed annually.
h. All applications for and renewals of Purebred Kennel Licenses shall be accompanied
by a fee as set by resolution of the Town Board. In addition, an assessment of $3.00
for each unaltered dog and $1.00 for each altered dog shall be added for the purpose of
carrying out animal population control, plus $3.00 for each dog requiring a tag. No fee
or portion thereof shall be refundable once the license is issued.
i. The Town Clerk may request that the Dog Control Officer verify the number of dogs
being claimed on any Purebred Kennel License.
j. No purebred license is transferable. Upon change of ownership of any dog licensed
under a Purebred Kennel License, the new owner shall immediately make application
for a license pursuant to Part 1 of this Section, except when the new owner holds a
valid Purebred Kennel License and adds the dog to such Purebred Kennel License.
Deputy Supervisor Teeter moved, with a second by Councilperson Hern, to adopt
Amendment #1 to Local Law #3 – 2010 – Town of Enfield Dog Control Law.
Discussion: Councilperson Owens is opposed to offering kennel licenses because she feels
governments are going to have to start making some tough choices and taking a look at all
expenditures. The license fees collected have to be applied to dog control costs and we are
required to have dog control. Any reduction in fees, such as those with kennels, means that those
funds have to be paid by the rest of the residents. If we offer this recognition of a kennel and
reduce the fees for licensing a kennel, those fees have to be raised by the other taxpayers. So
those without dogs will have to pay a little more in their taxes in order to offset the option of a
kennel license.
Deputy Supervisor Teeter feels that not every dog that gets picked up in this town is owned
by someone who lives in Enfield. So there is some part of dog control that should be covered by
everyone. There are some dogs that have not been licensed, and it would be preferable to try to
get those people who have not done the correct thing to come forward and pay their fair share for
dog control.
Vote: Councilperson Clark aye, Councilperson Hern aye, Councilperson Owens nay,
Deputy Supervisor Teeter aye. Supervisor Barriere absent. Carried
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New Business:
Resolution # 2011-22
Resolution Opposing State Mandated Property Tax Caps
WHEREAS, towns are uniquely dependent upon the real property tax to fund town services; and
WHEREAS, non property tax revenues (e.g. mortgage recording tax, sales taxes, and state/federal
aid/grant programs are subject to market fluctuations and the ability of the federal, state and county
governments to share revenue with towns; and
WHEREAS, the cost to provide town services and fund town operations continue to increase
despite declining revenues, such as:
Health Care
Medical insurance costs represent one of the fastest-growing major categories of
employee benefit expense, increasing more than 62% between 2002 and 2007, and 146%
between 1997 and 2007. Moreover, employers can expect 2011 health care costs to be at
their highest levels in five years, up nearly 9% over 2010.
Pension Contributions
Local governments in New York State will face an unprecedented increase in
pension costs that forced them to triple their contributions to the state pension system over
the next six years. According to one analysis, pension contribution rates for civilian
employees in local governments will soar to 30.3% of payroll by 2015.
WHEREAS, many town expenses are dictated by compliance with federal and state mandates,
most notably prevailing wages and employee benefits; and
WHEREAS, New York State has primarily provided real property tax relief through ad hoc property
tax exemptions rather than comprehensive property tax reform, resulting in a tax shift rather than a
tax reduction as well as additional administrative and litigation costs; and
WHEREAS, simply capping property taxes will not reduce the cost of health care, mandate
compliance, pension contributions or the public’s expectation of governmental services; and
WEHREAS, town governments have taken initiative in lowering property taxes through staff and
salary reductions, program cuts and voluntary tax caps; now therefore be it
RESOLVED that the Town of Enfield, based upon Home Rule principles, has traditionally opposed
state mandated property tax caps; and be it further
RESOLVED that the Town of Enfield calls upon the Governor and Members of the State
Legislature to fund and/or eliminate state mandates, reform the real property tax system and
address cost drivers in the provision of local government services/operations before implementing
a property tax cap; and be it further
RESOLVED that in order for a real property tax cap to lower property taxes while ensuring the
delivery of essential services, the program must include at a minimum:
Exemptions for structured costs such as pension contributions, debt service, contract
obligations, reductions in state or federal aid and emergencies and costs associated with
unfunded and underfunded mandates;
Enfield Town Board Meeting, March 9, 2011
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Hardship relief on a case by case basis;
Mandate relief and reform;
Increased and predictable state revenue sharing and aid formulas;
Additional locally generated revenue streams;
A defined floor of four percent with the possibility of an increased cap based upon a
percent of inflation; and
Local override by a supermajority vote of the Town Board.
Deputy Supervisor Teeter moved, with a second by Councilperson Owens to adopt
Resolution #2011-22.
Vote: Councilperson Clark aye, Councilperson Hern aye, Councilperson Owens aye,
Deputy Supervisor Teeter aye. Supervisor Barriere absent. Carried
Resolution #2011-23
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE TOWN CLERK TO FORWARD ALL SPAY/NEUTER
PROGRAM FUNDS
WHEREAS, the Town Board authorized the Town Clerk, back in December, 2010, to hold
funds collected for the Spay/Neuter Program until it was determined by Tompkins County or New
York State as to where the funds were to be forwarded to, and
WHEREAS, New York State has now determined where the funds are to be forwarded to,
now therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Enfield hereby authorizes the Town Clerk
to forward all funds collected for the Spay/Neuter Program since December, 2010, and going
forward, to the Spay/Neuter Program established by New York State.
Deputy Supervisor Teeter moved, with a second by Councilperson Hern to adopt
Resolution #2011-23.
Vote: Councilperson Clark aye, Councilperson Hern aye, Councilperson Owens aye,
Deputy Supervisor Teeter aye. Supervisor Barriere absent. Carried
Schedule Spring Cleanup:
Highway Superintendent Rollins reported there is an alternate waste service provider – Bob
Mente - out of Newfield. He feels he can beat Casella’s price and he could do a pick up on
Saturday. Teeter’s will provide one dumpster for steel and one for tires with wheels.
Deputy Supervisor Teeter moved, with a second by Councilperson Owens to hold Enfield’s
spring clean-up Tuesday, May 10 to Friday, May 13 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday, May 14
from 7 a.m. until noon and accept no refrigerant/freon, tires on rims only and no hazardous
materials or recyclables.
Vote: Councilperson Clark aye, Councilperson Hern aye, Councilperson Owens aye,
Deputy Supervisor Teeter aye. Supervisor Barriere absent. Carried
Enfield Town Board Meeting, March 9, 2011
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Councilperson Owens moved to authorize the town clerk to attend the Annual Town Clerk’s
Conference to be held in Buffalo, New York. Motion seconded by Councilperson Hern.
Vote: Councilperson Clark aye, Councilperson Hern aye, Councilperson Owens aye,
Deputy Supervisor Teeter aye. Supervisor Barriere absent. Carried
Announcements:
Nancy Spero of 68 North VanDorn Road, a member of the group Enfield Neighbors for Safe
Air and Water, notified the board that there will be a program April 9 at the Enfield Grange that is
free and open to the public about gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale.
Art Howser, Jr. nominated Dennis Hubbell for the Volunteer of the Month. Denny has
volunteered for over 34 years with the Enfield Volunteer Fire Company, has successfully
completed grant writing that resulted in over $100,000 of needed equipment for the fire
department, and is a member of the Town Highway Facility Development Committee.
Highway Supervisor Rollins reminded the board that a decision will need to be made
regarding a radio system. There are 3 pieces of equipment that should have a system before
summer. Either radios will need to be purchased at $500 each, or we could go to the county
system. Deputy Supervisor Teeter asked Buddy to put together a recommendation to the board for
the next meeting. Councilperson Owens mentioned Denny Hubbell was trying to get some financial
assistance for a system.
Adjournment: Councilperson Clark moved, with a second by Deputy Supervisor Teeter to
adjourn at 8:35 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Alice M. Linton
Enfield Town Clerk