HomeMy WebLinkAboutTown Board Minutes 2013 04 10.pdf
Town of Enfield
Regular Town Board Meeting Minutes
Enfield Community Building
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
6:30 p.m.
Present: Town Supervisor Ann Rider, Town Councilperson Mike Carpenter, Town Councilperson Chris
Hern, Town Councilperson Vera Howe-Strait, Town Highway Superintendent Barry Rollins, Town Clerk
Alice Linton. Absent: Town Councilperson Debbie Teeter,
Town Supervisor Rider opened the meeting at 6:33 p.m. by leading the assemblage in the Pledge of
Allegiance to the Flag.
Privilege of the Floor: No one wished to speak.
Presentation regarding Bock Land and Conservation Easement Donation: Kelly McKosh of the
Fingerlakes Land Trust and Roger Hopkins from the Cayuga Trails Club briefly explained that the Bock
family has donated 48 acres which borders on Rockwell Road. This property includes half a mile of the
Fingerlakes Trail. This will be a partnership between the Fingerlakes Trail Conference, the Cayuga Trails
Club and the Fingerlakes Land Trust. There will be no development allowed on the property. There are
trees along the trail that are estimated to be over 300 years old. They hope to add a small parking area, a
spur trail to connect to the Fingerlakes Trail and a 3 mile loop trail that will follow the Fingerlakes Trail
for a while, then cross Porter Hill Road. The land trust is applying for a grant to help cover some of the
costs, and would appreciate the town's endorsement of this opportunity and to encourage the county to
help out with costs.
Approval of Minutes: Supervisor Rider moved, with a second by Councilperson Hern to approve the
minutes of the March 13, 2013 regular town board meeting.
Vote: Councilperson Carpenter aye, Councilperson Hern aye, Councilperson Howe-Strait aye,
Supervisor Rider aye. Councilperson Teeter absent. Carried
Correspondence: Invitation to the 8th Annual Enfield School Age Formal Art Gallery Showing /
Fundraising Auction to be held May 3, 2013 in the Enfield School Cafeteria from 6 - 8 p.m.
Certificate of Final Special Franchise Assessments / Full Values for 2013 from the State of New York
Department of Taxation and Finance.
Information on applying for grants through the Consolidated Funding Application process from Laberge
Group.
Copy of Disclosure Statement from Sprague Insurance.
Copy of Proceeding on Motion of the Commission to Examine the Safety of Electric Transmission and
Distribution Systems from the State of New York Public Service Commission.
Notice of Girl Scout Bronze Award to Cassondra Lisk.
Supervisor Rider moved, with a second by Councilperson Howe-Strait to approve Budget Amendment
#2013-2.
Enfield Town Board Regular Meeting, April 10, 2013 2
Budget Amendment #2013-2
WHEREAS, expenses have exceeded the budget in the General Fund Account, line item A1220.42, titled
“Contractual (Bookkeeper)”, now therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the General Fund Account, line item A1990.4, titled “Contingent Account”, be
decreased by $1,000.00 and General Fund Account, line item A1220.42, titled “Contractual
(Bookkeeper)”, be increased by $1,000.00.
Discussion: Councilperson Hern asked why this item for the annual fee with Williamson Law wasn't
included in the 2013 budget.
Supervisor Rider explained it was an expense for the program purchased just last year, and no one thought
to include it in the budget.
Vote: Councilperson Carpenter aye, Councilperson Hern aye, Councilperson Howe-Strait aye,
Supervisor Rider aye. Councilperson Teeter absent. Carried
Audit Claims: Councilperson Hern moved, with a second by Councilperson Carpenter to authorize the
supervisor to pay General Fund vouchers #93 to #118 dated April 10, 2013 in the amount of $66,199.77,
Highway Fund vouchers #62 to #81 dated April 10, 2013 in the amount of $25,542.54, and H-Fund
voucher #119 dated April 10, 2013 in the amount of $43,955.76.
Discussion: Councilperson Hern asked why the amount remaining in the H-Fund was being proposed to
make part of the bond payment on the new highway facility when there is unfinished work on the facility.
He feels the payment could be made with contingency funds if there isn't enough in the assigned line
items without using the H Fund.
Supervisor Rider stated that the building, as put out to bid, is done. The NYS Comptroller's opinion is the
H-Fund should be utilized or there will be an increase in taxes.
Councilperson Hern stated the public voted for the bond and he feels the public knew there would be an
increase in taxes if the bond was approved. He feels the project is not complete and if there are funds left,
more work should be done. He understands the bond money can't be used for anything besides the
highway facility project. Councilperson Hern stated the project went out to bid with add-ons, so
everything got bid on. Then when the bids came in, it was more money than the town would have
available, so the add-ons were set aside to focus on the primary project with the idea that whatever was
left would be used to finish some of the other projects - they could be prioritized. That way they wouldn't
have to be resubmitted for bid.
Councilperson Howe-Strait asked what projects could be done with $43,000.
Councilperson Hern stated the salt spreader hanger could be installed and part of the driveway could be
paved.
Councilperson Carpenter stated he felt there was not a clear understanding and information was not
communicated. He feels at this point the board should go back and see what is actually needed to finish
the project and how they can be funded.
Enfield Town Board Regular Meeting, April 10, 2013 3
Highway Superintendent Rollins asked where the $100,000 went that was in a line item in the budget to
make the bond payment last year. That money was not used to make the bond payment since the H Fund
was used for the payment.
Councilperson Carpenter stated he feels the board needs to know how this money can legally be used.
Highway Superintendent Rollins stated the project hasn't closed yet. He stated there is still money owing
to contractors since all issues haven't been resolved. Chuck Fezali of Resource Associates, the project
engineer and project manager, was supposed to be dealing with problems.
Supervisor Rider stated she will contact Chuck Fezali, Roy Barriere, the State Comptroller's Office, Guy
Krogh, Jean Owens and Chase Bank to get information on this issue.
Councilperson Hern moved, with a second by Councilperson Carpenter for a friendly amendment to the
previous motion to remove H-Fund voucher #119 in the amount of $43,955.76 and General Fund voucher
#104 in the amount of $34,309.87 from the authorized payments on the April 10, 2013 warrant.
Vote: Councilperson Carpenter aye, Councilperson Hern aye, Councilperson Howe-Strait aye,
Supervisor Rider aye. Councilperson Teeter absent. Carried
The vote was then taken on the motion authorizing payment of the remaining vouchers.
Vote: Councilperson Carpenter aye, Councilperson Hern aye, Councilperson Howe-Strait aye,
Supervisor Rider aye. Councilperson Teeter absent. Carried
County Legislator's Report: Dave McKenna reported the county will begin their budget process at the
end of the month. The county is trying to find a way to fund the $50,000 shortfall from the broadband
grant so that Enfield and Caroline can have broadband service.
Highway Superintendent's Report: Highway Superintendent Buddy Rollins had nothing to report.
Code Enforcement Officer's Report: Code Enforcement Officer Alan Teeter reported in March there
were 4 building permits issued or renewed, which brings the year to date total to 9. There was 1 certificate
of occupancy issued and 2 certificates of completion issued. There were 2 inspections completed, 7
progress checks, 2 valid complaints received and 1 resolved. There will be new building codes coming out
next year, and it appears likely that new construction will be required to have a sprinkler system installed,
which can be hooked to the domestic water supply.
Committee Reports:
Planning Board: Dan Walker reported the Planning Board continues to work on the Comprehensive Plan.
Health Insurance Consortium: Herb Masser reported the Village of Freeville and Town of Newfield are
the only municipalities that have yet to join the consortium. The City of Cortland recently joined. There is
a new website where employees can contact a coach to see if medications conflict with each other. The
consortium is working on Employee Assistance Programs and flexible spending accounts.
Enfield Community Council: No report.
Recreation Partnership: Carolyn Tschanz reported the total number of participants in the program from
Enfield was 161 for 2012. Scholarships going to Enfield families was $1,840 for 27 participants. A youth
Enfield Town Board Regular Meeting, April 10, 2013 4
development survey was taken which looks at risk factors for youth in schools and protective factors for
youth in schools for 6th through 12th graders. She also reported that if the minimum wage goes up, it will
impact their budget.
Youth Board: Supervisor Rider reported there was a recent evaluation of youth services.
Enfield Volunteer Fire Company: The final chicken barbeque for 2013 will be held April 14.
Facilities Manager: No report.
Communication Access Committee: No report.
Aquifer Study Fundraising Group: Nancy Spero reported $3,220 has been raised to date, with $1,725 in
2013. Councilperson Howe-Strait has submitted a grant application to the Community Foundation for
$5,000.
Facilities Development: No report.
Personnel Committee: No report.
TC Council of Governments: Supervisor Rider was not able to attend the last meeting.
Old Business:
"Welcome to Tompkins County" sign: There has been no word on this since the presentation at the
March meeting.
Update on Road Preservation Plan: Dan Walker reported several public meetings have been held in
Caroline on this issue. He feels Enfield roads should be posted for 8 or 10 tons. Since large projects
generate more traffic, he recommends the town consider requiring permits for large projects. That way
some of the cost of the wear and tear would be covered. He will be meeting with Supervisor Rider and
town attorney, Guy Krogh, to draft a Road Use Law for Enfield.
Update on Local Law #1 of 2013: Supervisor Rider explained some things were done improperly and one
item was not done at all when the board voted in March to pass a local law to effect a Prohibition Within
the Town of Natural Gas and Petroleum Exploration and Extraction Activities, Underground Storage of
Natural Gas, and Disposal of Natural Gas or Petroleum Extraction, Exploration, And Production Wastes.
The copy of the draft law posted on the town's website and distributed did not include changes suggested
by the town attorney. Also a SEQRA needs to be completed. Another public hearing needs to be held and
then the law can be re-passed.
Councilperson Howe-Strait mentioned the moratorium passed last year is still in effect.
A public hearing on the proposed Local Law #1 of 2013 will be held prior to the May 8, 2013 town board
meeting, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
New Business:
Black Oak Wind Farm Draft Environmental Impact Statement: Supervisor Rider stated the Wind
Farm DEIS is almost completed. The Wind Farm engineering firm and town attorney for the Wind Farm
Project are reviewing the document and will make recommendations before the document is submitted to
the town board. Both the engineering firm and attorney would be able to meet with the town board to go
Enfield Town Board Regular Meeting, April 10, 2013 5
over the document at a special working board meeting to be held May 15 at 6:30 p.m. The DEIS should
be in the hands of board members at least a week before May 15.
Bock Land and Conservation Easement Donation:
Supervisor Rider moved, with a second by Councilperson Howe-Strait to approve Resolution #2013-22.
Discussion: Supervisor Rider stated that the town's support will help the land trust secure funding from
the county.
Resolution #2013-22 Bock Land and Conservation Easement Donation
Whereas, the proposed Bock land donation to the Finger Lakes Trail Conference and conservation
easement to be held by the Finger Lakes Land Trust, will permanently protect significant natural
resources and public access opportunity within the Town of Enfield; and
Whereas, the Bock property contains over 3000 feet of the Finger Lakes Trail, and is located within a
natural resource focus area identified in Tompkins County’s Comprehensive Plan and also within the
Emerald Necklace Greenbelt – a priority project of New York State’s Open Space Plan; and
Whereas, funds are needed to cover transaction costs associated with completion of the conservation
easement as well as to provide for long-term monitoring of the land; and
Whereas, on behalf of the Finger Lakes Trail Conference, Cayuga Trails Club and the Finger Lakes Land
Trust, the Finger Lakes Land Trust seeks an allocation of $5,000 from Tompkins County’s Capital
Reserve Fund for Natural, Scenic, and Recreational Resource Protection; and now therefore,
Be it resolved that the Enfield Town Board supports this allocation in furtherance of the conservation
goals of both the Town of Enfield and Tompkins County.
Vote: Councilperson Carpenter aye, Councilperson Hern abstain, Councilperson Howe-Strait aye,
Supervisor Rider aye. Councilperson Teeter absent. Carried
Beautification Committee: Supervisor Rider stated she has submitted a grant once again this year for
funds from the Tompkins County Room Tax Fund for beautification in Enfield. This will help maintain
areas around the Park and Ride, the Welcome to Enfield Signs and flower containers in the center of
town. There is raking and weed wacking involved also.
Supervisor Rider moved, with a second by Councilperson Carpenter to rehire Mark Stilwell and Justin
McNeal at a rate of $10 per hour for up to $600 for the season, for beautification purposes.
Vote: Councilperson Carpenter aye, Councilperson Hern aye, Councilperson Howe-Strait aye,
Supervisor Rider aye. Councilperson Teeter absent. Carried
Announcements: A grant to provide broadband service to more area residents has been awarded with the
majority of funds going to Clarity Connect. There may be a tower built on Mecklenburg Road in Enfield.
Supervisor Rider has information on how to get on the list for broadband coverage through Clarity
Connect and will have this information available at the town hall. Residents can go to the town hall if they
need help signing up to be on the list for possible broadband coverage.
Enfield Town Board Regular Meeting, April 10, 2013 6
Councilperson Carpenter asked how much of the town would be covered. Supervisor Rider stated all but a
very few households would be covered.
There will be an Enfield Country Fair on May 11 at Enfield School with a pig roast and old fashioned
games.
Adjournment: Supervisor Rider moved, with a second by Councilperson Hern, to adjourn at 8:20 p.m.
Carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Alice Linton, Enfield Town Clerk