HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-30-18 Special Meeting and Public HearingTown of Enfield
Special Town Board Meeting and Public Hearing
Enfield Community Building
Tuesday, October 30, 2018
6:00 p.m.
Present: Town Supervisor Beth McGee, Town Councilperson Virginia Bryant, Town Councilperson Mike
Carpenter, Town Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey, Town Councilperson Becky Sims, Town Highway
Superintendent Buddy Rollins, Town Clerk Alice Linton.
Town Clerk Linton lead the assemblage in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag at 6:05 p.m.
Public Hearing for Tax Cap Override Law: Town Clerk Linton read the legal ad that was published in the
Ithaca Journal. Supervisor McGee opened the public hearing at 6:10 and read the proposed Town of Enfield
Local Law #2 of 2018 – A Local Law to Override the Tax Levy Limit Established in General Municipal
Law Section 3-C.
Ann Rider of Enfield urged the Town Board to pass this tax cap override law as she felt it was good business
to alleviate any problems due to emergencies or bad addition.
Supervisor McGee read a letter from Robert and Laurie McCarney who are disappointed that the Town
Board is thinking about raising Town taxes above the tax cap. They stated that Enfield is a small town and
does not need better equipment than much larger municipalities and would like to see the brakes put on
higher highway expenditures.
Supervisor McGee agrees that the tax cap formula is complicated and it is easy to make errors.
Councilperson Mehaffey felt it was prudent to pass the tax cap override law, but continue being concerned
about the tax rate.
Supervisor McGee closed the public hearing at 6:30 p.m.
Privilege of the Floor: No one wished to speak.
Old Business:
Tax Cap Override Resolution and Law:
Supervisor McGee moved, with a second by Councilperson Bryant to adopt Resolution #2018-45 and Local
Law #2 of 2018 as follows:
Resolution #2018-45 Local Law to Override the 2019 Tax Cap Limit
WHEREAS, according to New York State’s Property Tax Cap legislation, if a town government decides to
adopt a budget with a property tax levy that exceeds the level set by the State, the town government must
pass a local law to override that cap, and;
WHEREAS, adopting said local law is not predictive of the final tax levy but will provide the Enfield Town
Board flexibility to exceed the Property Tax Cap if it is deemed necessary, and to ensure that any State
recalculation of the applicable limit will not make the Town inadvertently out of compliance, and;
WHEREAS, public hearings were held before the Enfield Town Board on October 15, 2018 and October
30, 2018 to hear all persons interested in proposed Local Law No. 2 of 2018, now therefore be it
Enfield Town Board Special Meeting and Public Hearing, October 30, 2018
RESOLVED, That Local Law No. 2 of 2018, Local Law Overriding Tax Levy Limit for 2019, is hereby
adopted pursuant to subdivision 5 of General Municipal Law Section 3-c, which expressly authorizes the
Enfield Town Board to override the tax levy limit by the adoption of a local law approved by vote of sixty
percent (60%) of the Enfield Town Board,
RESOLVED, further, that the Enfield Town Clerk shall file one copy with the Secretary of State.
TOWN OF ENFIELD LOCAL LAW #2 of 2018
A LOCAL LAW TO OVERRIDE THE TAX LEVY LIMIT ESTABLISHED IN GENERAL MUNICIPAL LAW §3-C
Be it enacted by the Town Board of The Town of Enfield as follows:
Section 1. Legislative Intent: It is the intent of this local law to override the limit on the amount of real
property taxes that may be levied by the Town of Enfield pursuant to General Municipal Law §3-C, and to
allow the Town of Enfield to adopt a budget for the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2019 and ending
December 31st, 2019 that requires a real property tax levy in excess of the “tax levy limit” as defined by
General Municipal Law §3-C.
Section 2. Authority: This local law is adopted pursuant to subdivision 5 of General Municipal Law §3-C,
which expressly authorizes the Town Board to override the tax levy limit by the adoption of a local law
approved by a vote of at least 60% of the Town Board.
Section 3. Tax Levy Limit Override: The Town Board of the Town of Enfield, County of Tompkins, is hereby
authorized to adopt a budget for the fiscal year 2019 that requires a real property tax levy in excess of the
amount otherwise prescribed in General Municipal Law §3-C.
Section 4. Severability: If any clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, or part of this Local Law or the
application thereof to any person, firm or corporation, or circumstance shall be adjusted by any court of
competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unconstitutional, such order or judgment shall not affect, impair, or
invalidate the remainder thereof, but shall be confined in its operation to the clause, sentence, paragraph,
subdivision, or part of this Local Law or in its application to the person, individual, firm or corporation or
circumstance, directly involved in the controversy in which such judgment or order shall be rendered.
Section 4. Effective Date: This Local Law shall take effect immediately upon filing with the Secretary of
State.
Vote: Councilperson Bryant aye, Councilperson Carpenter aye, Councilperson Mehaffey aye,
Councilperson Sims aye, Supervisor McGee aye. Carried
Budget:
Supervisor McGee opened the discussion on the 2019 Town of Enfield proposed budget.
Councilperson Mehaffey stated although she felt Supervisor McGee and the finance committee did a good
job on preparing a proposed budget, she would like to see the tax rate remain flat and proposed doing that by
making changes in the highway equipment reserve and bridge contractual lines. She proposed reducing the
bridge reserves to $5,000 and the equipment reserves to $50,000 to reduce the highway lines by $35,000.
Councilperson Carpenter stated there was a difference between dealing with the reality of the budget and his
feelings on what should be in the budget. Enfield is not a rich town but has a lot of expenses. He felt a 1% to
3% increase would be acceptable. Because the highway budget is such a large part of the total budget, he
would like to see a 5-year plan. He is supportive of a flat tax rate but doesn’t feel it is something the Board
should ask residents to expect every year. Costs go up every year.
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Enfield Town Board Special Meeting and Public Hearing, October 30, 2018
Councilperson Mehaffey stated her ultimate goal is to get a real commitment to do multi-year planning and
start right away. She would want input from the entire Town Board and decide what amount should be in
reserves. It’s up to the Town Board to turn the vision into a plan.
Councilperson Bryant stated she is also in favor of a long-term plan and would like to see reserves built each
year.
Supervisor McGee felt Councilperson Mehaffey’s plan was risky, but presented another possible plan for the
next 5 years. If the new excavator could be paid off in January of 2019, it would save the Town $24,000 in
interest over the next 4 years. There is currently almost $138,000 in the equipment reserve line now, $70,000
could be moved from what was to be put in equipment reserves and $25,000 of the $51,000 that was to be
the 2019 payment could pay for the excavator in full. There would still be $100,000 in the reserve line and
whatever highway funds are left at the end of 2018 could be moved over.
Councilperson Sims stated she felt this was a viable solution and that Superintendent Rollins has been
conservative. She would like a sound budget and would like to be deliberate about equipment reserves.
Supervisor McGee will get a payoff figure for the excavator as of January 15, 2019. There is no early
payment penalty. She asked the Board to commit to moving the remainder of highway funds from 2018 into
equipment reserves. If $97,500 is moved from equipment reserves instead of $70,000 then line DA9710.6
could be eliminated and $10,000 unassigned fund balance could be removed from the levy.
Councilperson Mehaffey suggested leaving $30,000 in reserves and not putting $15,000 in repairs.
Councilperson Sims was more comfortable reducing contractual by $15,000 but putting $5,000-$10,000 of
that in reserves.
Councilperson Carpenter felt adding to bridge reserves was a smart idea. He liked the idea of taking funds
from contractual and putting it in reserves. If necessary one lane of Rothermich Road could be closed until
the culvert/bridge can be replaced.
Highway Superintendent Rollins stated money was spent several years ago from the bridge contractual line
to do bridge inspections. If the Town wants to compare Enfield’s highway budget to that of other towns,
they should look at all aspects such as having repair work sent out instead of doing it in-house. He requested
that if any highway lines be cut, that they should be materials lines. If $35,000 is cut, that would be one road
that won’t be chip sealed in 2019, and that would be better than cutting equipment or bridge lines.
Supervisor McGee suggested cutting Town Board training, line A1010.4 from $3,000 to $2,000. There are
many free trainings available. There should also be a line added for $200 to cover the bond filing fee. She is
not comfortable pulling $20,000 from the fund balance to offset taxes.
It was asked where the fund balance from the General Fund would go at the end of 2018. Supervisor McGee
responded funds in the 2018 Buildings line A1620.4 could still be used for improvements, upon approval of
the Board, such as a heat pump at town hall and for the downstairs bathroom at the Community Building.
Funds would need to be encumbered for those projects if they are in process at the end of the year.
Councilperson Carpenter asked where the Town of Enfield was in relation to other towns as far as property
taxes. This is a bit complicated as different towns have different ways of funding and receive different
amounts from Tompkins County.
Supervisor McGee stated Enfield was distracted for about 10 years with the Black Oak Wind Farm issue
which stole energy, time and money from the Town. She is concerned about the fund balance, a capital plan
and Town audit. Now the Town has energy and focus, but the brakes are on due to finances. This year there
was a large savings in health insurance, but that won’t happen again.
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Enfield Town Board Special Meeting and Public Hearing, October 30, 2018
Councilperson Bryant does not want to go with a flat tax rate.
Supervisor McGee stated the Town Board has until November 20 to move to adopt the 2019 budget. If this
is not done, the 2019 Preliminary Budget will be used. She will work with figures presented and prepare
another possible budget for Board members to review by the end of the week. All changes from the
Preliminary Budget will be presented in a Resolution to go before the Town Board.
Superintendent Rollins asked the Board to consider how important roads are to the Town. Calls come in to
him regarding work being done vs. work not being done. It’s the Town’s equipment so the Board needs to
decide what quality of equipment they want. More work can be done with good equipment. What condition
does the Town want their roads to be in? Good roads are needed to attract more residents.
Councilperson Carpenter would like to have about 20 minutes of each Town Board meeting devoted to
discussion of the larger planning process and long-term goals. Supervisor McGee stated she can put this on
the agenda, but it isn’t a task she can take on. The Finance Committee can help with this, but it is ultimately
up to the entire Town Board to make the decisions. A structure for this would need to be worked out.
Councilperson Mehaffey asked if $10,000 could be removed from the 2019 budget for reserves for a new
Town Hall so the unassigned fund balance could be lowered by $10,000. This is because the Town doesn’t
know if they want a new building, or a redesign of the buildings already in existence.
Announcements: Supervisor McGee reminded everyone to vote on November 6.
Adjournment: Supervisor McGee adjourned the meeting at 8:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Alice M. Linton, RMC
Enfield Town Clerk
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