Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout6-11-14 Regular Meeting.pdf Town of Enfield Regular Town Board Meeting Minutes Enfield Community Building Wednesday, June 11, 2014 6:30 p.m. Present: Town Supervisor Ann Rider, Town Councilperson Mike Carpenter, Town Councilperson Vera Howe-Strait, Town Councilperson Beth McGee, Town Highway Superintendent Barry Rollins, Town Clerk Alice Linton. Town Councilperson Virginia Bryant excused due to family illness. Supervisor Rider opened the meeting at 6:32 p.m. by leading the assemblage in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. She then requested a moment of silence in memory of Robbie Cornish, an Enfield teen, who died five years ago in a car accident on Bostwick Road. Supervisor Rider added two items to the agenda under new business: Transfer of Brown land to NYS Park System and a Company Picnic. Privilege of the Floor: Roger Hopkins of the Cayuga Trails Club, part of the Finger Lakes Trail Conference, stated there would be a celebration of the summer solstice, 25th anniversary of the Finger Lakes Trail Conference, and the opening of a new nature trail that goes through the Bock- Harvey Forest Preserve on June 21 at the Bock-Harvey Forest Preserve. All members of the community were invited to attend. Approval of Minutes: Councilperson Carpenter moved, with a second by Councilperson McGee to accept the minutes of the May 14, 2014 meeting. Discussion: Supervisor Rider stated she misplaced the Standard and Poor rating which was mentioned at the May 14 meeting, but the town is up for review so they will receive a new rating. All of this is related to the bonds for the new highway facility. Vote: Councilperson Carpenter aye, Councilperson Howe-Strait aye, Councilperson McGee aye, Supervisor Rider aye, Councilperson Bryant absent. Carried. Correspondence: Notice that Tompkins County is rewriting their Comprehensive Plan and they will be holding several meetings during June for input from the public. Notice of the tentative state equalization rate for assessment, which for all of Tompkins County is 100%. Letter from Ehrhart Propane and Oil offering a Smart Pay Plan, which means fuel bills would be spread out over a full 12 months with an automatic 5 cent per gallon discount if payments are made on time. Highway Superintendent Rollins suggested the Town shop around to find the best possible price. Griffith Oil has been giving the Town the state bid price. Notice of New York Planning Federation summer schools that are available. Announcement of availability of Round 13 requests for proposals to solicit state assisted payment for Farmland Implementation Projects. Notice that Clarity Connect received a NYS Broadband Champion Award. Enfield Town Board Regular Meeting, June 11, 2014 2 Budget Amendments: Supervisor Rider moved, with a second by Councilperson Carpenter to approve Budget Amendment #2014-17. BA#2014-17 Beautification Grant WHEREAS, the Town of Enfield's Beautification Grant for $2,089.00 has been approved by Cornell Cooperative Extension, now therefore be it RESOLVED, that the General Fund line item A1990.4 titled "Contingent Fund" be decreased by $2,089.00 and line item A7555.1 entitled "Personnel" be increased by $1,320.00 and line item A7555.4 entitled "Contractual" be increased by $769.00. Discussion: Supervisor Rider stated the town has received a beautification grant, but the money will not be received until the work has been done and money expended by the town. Vote: Councilperson Carpenter aye, Councilperson Howe-Strait aye, Councilperson McGee aye, Supervisor Rider aye, Councilperson Bryant absent. Carried. Supervisor Rider moved, with a second by Councilperson Howe-Strait to approve Budget Amendment #2014-18. BA#2014-18 Conference Expenses WHEREAS, expenses have exceeded the budget in line item A1220.41 entitled "Supervisor- Contractual", now therefore be it RESOLVED, that the General Fund Account, line item A1990.4, titled "Contingent Fund", be decreased by $1,000.00 and General Fund Account, line item A1220.41 entitled "Supervisor- Contractual" be increased by $1,000.00. Discussion: Supervisor Rider explained there were not enough funds placed in this line item when the budget was made. The budget line is used for the supervisor to attend conferences. Vote: Councilperson Carpenter aye, Councilperson Howe-Strait aye, Councilperson McGee aye, Supervisor Rider aye, Councilperson Bryant absent. Carried. Highway Superintendent Rollins stated there was to be a budget amendment changing the CHIPS amount from $80,901.12, as listed in the 2014 budget, to $116,495.04. This was a $12,392.24 one- time increase for extreme winter recovery from last year’s total of $104,102.80. Supervisor Rider will prepare this budget amendment for the July meeting. She asked if any CHIPS money had been spent yet. Superintendent Rollins replied there were some vouchers in the May warrant that would be covered under CHIPS. Audit Claims: Councilperson Howe-Strait moved, with a second by Councilperson Carpenter to authorize the supervisor to pay General Fund vouchers #159 to #185 dated June 11, 2014 in the amount of Enfield Town Board Regular Meeting, June 11, 2014 3 $17,282.16 and Highway Fund vouchers #103 to #113 dated June 11, 2014 in the amount of $16,591.31. Discussion: Councilperson McGee asked why vouchers #181 in the amount of $814.37, #182 in the amount of $667.73 and #183 in the amount of $342.71 were FICA penalties. Supervisor Rider explained the bookkeeper, for the last half of 2012, failed to make payments in a timely manner and failed to file the quarterly report by the due date. Also payments for the 2nd quarter of 2013 and the 4th quarter of 2013 were not made in a timely manner. Councilperson McGee asked if an internal audit would be done and where was the oversight? Supervisor Rider stated she will demand a paper copy of each quarterly report. Vote: Councilperson Carpenter aye, Councilperson Howe-Strait aye, Councilperson McGee aye, Supervisor Rider aye, Councilperson Bryant absent. Carried. Presentation by Dee Gamble of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County regarding the "Button Up Enfield" program. Dee stated there is a Park Foundation Grant for energy efficiency. This will be an extension of work already started which will include “hands on access” to energy efficiency services and a series of workshops that will provide household kits at no or low cost. County Legislator's Report: County Legislator Jim Dennis reported the search for a new Airport Director has begun, along with a search for a new Commissioner of Personnel for Tompkins County. The Tompkins County Legislature passed a tax levy target of 2.36% for 2015, which is the tax cap levy. This would mean a 1% cut across the board. The legislature also passed a resolution to go over the tax cap if necessary. County Legislator Dave McKenna reported he went to Albany for the second annual broadband convention where Clarity Connect received an award. The legislature has authorized $900,000 for a new jail expansion. Councilperson McGee asked if numbers could be provided of how many have taken advantage of the new broadband. Legislator McKenna responded he will get this information and provide numbers to the board. Highway Superintendent's Report: Highway Superintendent Rollins reported 4 dumpsters were filled at clean-up days - 2 30 yd. dumpsters and 2 40 yd. dumpsters, plus 1 dumpster of scrap metal. There were between 20 and 30 tires with wheels collected. Supervisor Rider stated the check from Teets for scrap metal was for $780 and the bill for dumpsters was $1,950. The annual hearing test will be given to employees on June 12. Tompkins County had a man lift in the area, so Superintendent Rollins was able to use it to get the soffit and light fixed on the new highway building. The bulb was replaced in the yard light, but now it doesn’t shut off. He asked if Supervisor Rider had information on allowing residents to cut wood in the scrap pile at the new highway facility. She responded she did not have information yet, but would get back to Superintendent Rollins by the end of the week. Enfield Town Board Regular Meeting, June 11, 2014 4 Roger Hopkins of the Cayuga Trails Club stated a grant was received from the American Hiking Society that would pay for gravel to be used on Rockwell Road for a pull-off by the Bock-Harvey Preserve. Supervisor Rider moved, with a second by Councilperson Carpenter to authorize the highway department to perform the labor necessary to create a small vehicle pull-off at the entrance to the Bock-Harvey Preserve with the understanding the Cayuga Trails Club will reimburse the town for the cost of up to 2 loads of gravel. Vote: Councilperson Carpenter aye, Councilperson Howe-Strait aye, Councilperson McGee aye, Supervisor Rider aye, Councilperson Bryant absent. Carried. Superintendent Rollins stated residents have been adding driveway pipes and putting rocks in ditches without obtaining permits. There doesn't seem to be an enforcement process. Councilperson Carpenter suggested allowing Buddy to deal with this on a case by case basis. Councilperson McGee feels if a resident breaks the rule and the work was inspected and found to be satisfactory they should pay a fee. If the work was not done right, they should redo the work, and pay the fee. Supervisor Rider stated there should be personal contact with the homeowner, they should be told what the policy of the Town is, they should be given alternatives of how the permit problem can be solved, and they should be given a time limit, plus told the Board takes this policy seriously. She felt a time limit for mitigation of the problem should be 1 month. She would like a copy of the proposed notice for residents who are not in compliance to be forwarded to her and the town attorney before a final notice is approved. Superintendent Rollins asked what the timeline was for electric for welding being installed at the new facility. Councilperson Carpenter stated he will be scheduling a commercial electrician to install the wiring. Superintendent Rollins asked about air conditioners for his office and the break room at the new highway facility. Councilperson Carpenter felt heat pumps would be a good choice as everything would be outside and they are more efficient. He will get a proposal to Superintendent Rollins, who felt the highway department could do part of the installation. Councilperson Carpenter will get two quotes before purchasing the heat pumps. Councilperson Carpenter feels that before purchasing a heat pump or other air conditioning for the community building, he'd like to have an overall picture of the future of the buildings. Superintendent Rollins mentioned to the board that highway equipment is getting old. The 1987 loader has a split tire and other tires are not good, so $9,000 to $16,000 will need to be spent for 4 new tires. Recently $6,000 was spent on each of two trucks - one for spring work and one for motor work. Supervisor Rider plans to do a five year budget projection for the whole town by the end of the year. Superintendent Rollins thanked Supervisor Rider, Councilperson McGee and town bookkeeper Debby Kelley for getting payroll check issues straightened out. Code Enforcement Report: Code Enforcement Officer Alan Teeter reported in May there were 7 building permits issued, with 3 being for new homes, bringing the year to date total to 22. There were 3 Certificates of Occupancy issued, 11 inspections completed, 21 progress checks completed, 2 complaints received and resolved, 1 letter of voluntary compliance sent and 4 house numbers installed. Enfield Town Board Regular Meeting, June 11, 2014 5 Supervisor Rider stated she heard from a resident who was concerned about the house at the corner of Route 327 and Enfield Center Road West. Alan will call the assessment office to see who owns the house and will call the owner to check on the status. Town Supervisor's Report: Supervisor Rider stated she attended budget school, was in contact with the IRS by phone, worked on a report with Standard and Poor to maintain bond rating, arranged to hire a report completed by Municipal Solutions to be filed with MRSB. She called the State Comptroller's Office regarding the town's annual report, attended a meeting regarding the health insurance consortium, chaired a TCCOG meeting, worked with bookkeeper to get things in order. Councilperson McGee stated the supervisor legally needs to provide town board members with monthly financial reports, yet none have been provided yet this year. Supervisor Rider stated she will provide required reports by the end of June. Committee Reports: Planning Board: No report. Comprehensive Plan Writing Committee: Councilperson McGee reported the committee has been discussing the process and how to develop the method of work. They are looking at plans from other municipalities and have scheduled Randy Brown, from the Town of Newfield, to attend a meeting and talk about using a Cornell student from the Planning Department to help with the Plan. Enfield Community Council: No report. Recreation Partnership: No report. County Youth Board: No report. Enfield Volunteer Fire Company: Chief Roger Lauper reported there were 20 calls in May which included 10 rescue calls, 1 motor vehicle accident, 3 outside rubbish fires, 2 gas leaks, 2 mutual aid calls and 2 false alarms. A control burn for the State Park was done on Woodard Road. Trainings held in May were water supply and turbo draft, and motor vehicle accident extraction. There is a new helicopter service in the area based in Seneca Falls called Life Net 712. Councilperson Carpenter asked if the fire department continues to be interested in using the old highway facility. Roger stated that their lawyers are drawing up some papers for a proposal to use the building as a training center. Tompkins County Health Insurance Consortium: Councilperson McGee spoke with Herb Masser who hasn't attended meetings since September 2013. He wasn't asked to continue in 2014 as the Enfield representative. He is running for the New York State Assembly against Barbara Lifton so would be happy to step back from the position if someone else is interested. If not, he will serve in whatever capacity he is able. There is a form that can be used for a proxy vote if the representative is not able to attend. Councilperson Bryant, who is the alternate, will be asked if she would like to work as representative. If not, Councilperson McGee will work with Herb Masser. A new executive director will be appointed to the consortium to start July 1, 2014. The consortium will try to have a brief summary of board meetings to be distributed by e-mail. Enfield Town Board Regular Meeting, June 11, 2014 6 The Consortium will be sponsoring flu clinics for members and asked if the Town would like a flu clinic held here. Highway Superintendent Rollins stated the highway employees would be happy to attend a clinic held at the Town of Ithaca or Tompkins County. Supervisor Rider stated if the Board would like, they can pay for other family members and Town employees to receive the flu shots. The Board was not interested in pursuing this. Supervisor Rider stated she would like an open enrollment period during November in case employees want to enroll in a family plan at the end of the year. Facilities Manager: Councilperson Carpenter reported a new door has not yet been installed at the town clerk's office. Aquifer Study Fundraising Group: A grant was not received from the Community Foundation during the latest round. Facilities Development Committee: Councilperson Carpenter stated the town is waiting for the EVFC to hear back from their attorney to decide if they want to use the old highway facility. Tompkins County Council of Governments: Supervisor Rider stated consolidation of services and deer control was discussed at the last meeting. Old Business: Audit of Town Financial Records: Councilperson McGee feels it would serve the town well to have the State Comptroller's Office audit the town records. Supervisor Rider stated she thought it would cost between $3,000 and $4,000 for an independent audit to set the records straight. This would give a firm foundation to go forward. Councilperson McGee stated this information would be useful for a 5 year plan. Councilperson Howe-Strait agreed it would be a good idea to have an audit done. Supervisor Rider will bring a proposal on having an audit done to the next Town Board meeting. New Business: Creation of New Position - Clerk to the Comprehensive Plan Committee: Supervisor Rider moved, with a second by Councilperson Howe-Strait to approve Resolution #2014-32. Resolution #2014-32 Clerk to the Comprehensive Plan Committee WHEREAS, the town board appointed a Comprehensive Plan Committee in February and that committee needs support, NOW THEREFORE, be it resolved, that a job be created entitled Clerk to the Comprehensive Plan Committee with a salary of $12.48 per hour, paid monthly, and FURTHER RESOLVED, that Sue Thompson be appointed to this position. Enfield Town Board Regular Meeting, June 11, 2014 7 Vote: Councilperson Carpenter aye, Councilperson Howe-Strait aye, Councilperson McGee aye, Supervisor Rider aye, Councilperson Bryant absent. Carried. Budget Amendment: Supervisor Rider moved, with a second by Councilperson Carpenter to approve Budget Amendment #2014-19. Budget Amendment #2014-19 Comprehensive Plan Committee Clerk WHEREAS, a new budget line has been added to the General Fund budget, Personnel (Comp Plan Clerk) A8020.2 and this line is not funded, now therefore be it RESOLVED, that the General Fund Account, line item A1990.4 titled "Contingent Fund", be decreased by $400.00 and General Fund line item A8020.2 entitled "Personnel (Comp Plan Clerk) be increased by $400.00. Vote: Councilperson Carpenter aye, Councilperson Howe-Strait aye, Councilperson McGee aye, Supervisor Rider aye, Councilperson Bryant absent. Carried. Standard Work Day: Supervisor Rider moved, with a second by Councilperson McGee, to approve Resolution #2014-33. Resolution #2014-33 Standard Work Day WHEREAS, the Enfield Town Board is obligated to establish a Standard Work Day each year to be in compliance with the regulations of the New York State Retirement System, now therefore, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town of Enfield hereby establishes the following as standard work days for elected and appointed officials and will report the following days worked to the New York State and Local Employees' Retirement System based on the record of activities maintained and submitted by these officials to the clerk of this body: Standard Work Day and Reporting Resolution Title Name Standard Term Keeps a Days/Month Work Day Time Card Elected Officials Town Clerk Alice Linton 6 1/1/14-12/31/15 n 16 Councilperson Vera Howe-Strait 6 1/1/12-12/31/15 n 6.2 Highway Supt. Barry Rollins 8 1/1/14-12/31/15 n 20 Justice Betty Poole 6 1/1/14-12/31/17 n 13 Appointed Officials Deputy Supervisor Vera Howe-Strait 6 1/1/14-12/31/14 n 3 Bookkeeper Mary Cornell 6 1/1/14-2/28/14 n 14 Bookkeeper Deborah Kelley 6 3/1/14-12/31/14 n 14 Justice Clerk Tiffany Poole 6 1/1/14-12/31/14 n 13 Code Enforcement Alan Teeter 6.5 1/1/14-12/31/14 n 20 Other Employees Deputy Sup./MEO Charles Sinclair 8 full time employee y 20 Enfield Town Board Regular Meeting, June 11, 2014 8 Discussion: Supervisor Rider stated she has gone over this and has a log or statement from all these employees that their time has not substantially changed. These are people who have joined the retirement system. Vote: Councilperson Carpenter aye, Councilperson Howe-Strait aye, Councilperson McGee aye, Supervisor Rider aye, Councilperson Bryant absent. Carried. Adjourn to Executive Session Regarding Personnel Issue: Supervisor Rider moved, with a second by Councilperson McGee to move into executive session with only board members present, regarding a personnel issue, at 9:30 p.m. Vote: Councilperson Carpenter aye, Councilperson Howe-Strait aye, Councilperson McGee aye, Supervisor Rider aye, Councilperson Bryant absent. Carried. The executive session adjourned at 9:45 p.m. Adjournment: Councilperson Howe-Strait moved, with a second by Councilperson Carpenter to adjourn at 9:45 p.m. Carried. Respectfully submitted, Alice Linton, Enfield Town Clerk