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HomeMy WebLinkAbout9_23_2020 Transcript Special Meeting09-23-2020SpecialTownBoardMeeting.mp3 Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:03:00] ​Hi, everyone. I've called the meeting to order. This is a special Town board meeting. Of the Enfield Town board. Wednesday, September, twenty third. Twenty twenty six, thirty p.m. Via the meeting portal on Zoom. Are there any additions or changes to the agenda? [00:03:27] ​Now, thank you. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:03:32] ​So we can move into privilege of the floor. Each speaker has three minutes. Speaker should address the entire board, not individual board members or the public and the or individual members of the public. And each speaker will have three minutes. I will call on you if you use they raise your hand feature if you are on the phone. You can use star nine to toggle. Raise your hand feature on and off at the end of when anyone else says raise their hand. I will open up and on mute everyone to see if anyone is unable to make that feature work and would like to speak for privilege of the floor. So if there's anyone who would like to speak for privilege right now, if you could please use the raise your hand feature, it's in your participants list if you hover over the bottom of the screen. Open up your participants list. It should be listed there as a button. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:04:41] ​OK. I am going to unmuted. Everyone. Or asked Unu everyone, if you'd like to speak for privilege of the floor, please let yourself be known. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:05:04] ​There will not be a privilege of the floor at the end of this meeting. This is a special meeting. So we only have privilege of the floor at the beginning of the meeting. So if you'd like to speak, you'll need to do that now. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:05:20] ​Tammy Alling. Tammy Alling ​[00:05:24] ​Hi. I was just wondering. Hi. I was just worried if we decided on a date for the Dumpster Days. Maybe it's already been decided and said, but I hadn't seen anything. And I know it talked about the last meeting, so I just didn't know if that was gonna be brought up now or not. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:05:42] ​It should be advertised soon. It'll be in October. Tammy Alling ​[00:05:45] ​Okay. Thank you. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:05:46] ​Okay. Keep an eye out on the Town Web site. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:05:58] ​OK. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:05:59] ​Going once, twice. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:06:16] ​Okay. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:06:22] ​So the first item on the agenda is old business, the comprehensive plan statement of findings and comprehensive plan. So we provided these documents are or the comprehensive plan statement of findings last week. And so we're we've provided a resolution as well as possible corrections to the text. And also one addition to the text that is sensitive to the Native American roots in this area that we thought important to contribute to the historical section of the comprehensive plan. Stephanie, would you excuse me? Would you like to speak to that? Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[00:07:09] ​Sure. I just had noticed in the comprehensive plan that it began at colonialism and I thought it was important to acknowledge the indigenous population that was here previously. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[00:07:21] ​So I wrote us a short entry to be included at the beginning of historical section. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:07:28] ​And did all board members receive that? Were there any questions about that? Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[00:07:34] ​Well done. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[00:07:36] ​And very well done, that was oversight. We missed that. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[00:07:45] ​All of our white privilege. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[00:07:48] ​It's easy to go there. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[00:07:49] ​Yeah. That we that I did. Thank you. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[00:07:54] ​Thank you very much. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:07:57] ​Well, I think it speaks well to the history of the Haudenosaunee people here that we're here predating colonialism. So I was really grateful to see these additions. And also I did ask for a citation on it. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:08:16] ​So it was clear that it wasn't just opinion. And Stephanie did further research on it and sought citation after speaking to. Was someone at Cornell right, Stephanie? Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[00:08:27] ​Yes. Kurt I don't remember his last name right off and I'd have to look it up. A professor at Cornell. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[00:08:34] ​I'm glad you did that, Stephanie. I've been here so many years, what I said. I've spent many years researching on my own long before I ws involved with the Town and being Native Americans in this area. And it's very prolific. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[00:08:52] ​So that's fascinating information. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:08:58] ​So I would move that we accept those edits and changes all the rest of the edits are just like typos in the text that we found separations between words and that sort of thing. So I would move that. We accept these edits to the final comprehensive plan. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[00:09:17] ​I'll Second that. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:09:21] ​Is there any further discussion? Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:09:27] ​OK, Ellen, would you please call the vote? Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:09:30] ​Councilperson Bryant? Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[00:09:31] ​Aye. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:09:34] ​Councilperson Lynch? Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:09:36] ​Aye. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:09:37] ​Councilperson Mahaffey? Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[00:09:39] ​Aye. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:09:41] ​Councilperson Redmond? Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[00:09:42] ​Aye. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:09:44] ​Supervisor McGee? Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:09:45] ​Aye Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:09:46] ​Thank you. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:09:49] ​OK. And so we also have the resolution prepared for adoption of our acceptance of the finding statement, the ten days period from the final acceptance or the moving the draft invite a generic environmental impact statement to the final generic environmental impact statement for the comprehensive plan that ten days has expired. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:10:15] ​So a finding statement was made available to the Town board were there. So I'm going to move that. We adopt that resolution to accept the finding statements and finding statement and the comprehensive plan. And Stephanie, would you like to read that resolution? Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[00:10:37] ​Sir, I'm going to stop my video for Second so I can get right on that. OK, resolution number twenty twenty blank, I don't know what number we're on at this point. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[00:10:53] ​Let's see. Approval of the state Environmental Quality Review Act, finding statement and adoption of the town of Enfield Comprehensive Plan Update and generic environmental impact statement on motion of blank seconded by blank. The following resolution was adopted, slashed, not adopted, and then Aye. and nays. Whereas the Town board of the town of Enfield, also known as the Town, has identified the need to update the comprehensive plan as a result of the town of Enfield growth and change since the adoption of the 2001 comprehensive plan. And whereas with over 50 public meetings and with much research time and effort, the Comprehensive Plan Committee recommended to the town of Enfield a draft comprehensive plan to replace the current 2001 comprehensive plan. And whereas the town of Enfield was established by resolution number two thousand nineteen dash sixty six as lead agency on December 11th, 2019, in preparation for conducting a scoping and A.I.S process for adoptee adoption of the Comprehensive Plan Update. And whereas a public hearing for the draft comprehensive plan was held on December 18th, 2019, and whereas pursuant to State Environmental Quality Review Act Speaker Section six 17 DOT. One zero. A Town may include a generic environmental impact statement in its comprehensive plan. And whereas the scoping process was completed with the acceptance of the draft scope on January 20, Second 2020 and acceptance of the draft, a final two final scope on February 12, 2020 by the Enfield Town board. And whereas the draft Comprehensive Plan Generic Environmental Impact Statement was determined to complete for public review on May 13th, 2020, and subsidy quietly filed along with the Environmental Notis Bulletin pursuant to six N.Y. C are six 17 dot one two. At which time? At which time an additional public comment period commenced for 30 days and closed on June 15th, 2020. And where as pursuant to General Municipal Law. Section two thirty nine Dash and the Comprehensive Plan and a draft environmental impact statement referred to the Tompkins County Planning Board for review. Sorry, the docs here with comment commending the plan and no recommendations. And whereas thereafter the Enfield Town board determined the final GISS complete on September 9th, 2020. And whereas as required by Speaker, a finding statement dated blank related to the action was has been prepared for the Town board for consideration. And whereas the Town board has thoroughly reviewed the proposed comprehensive plan and final generic impact statement and all relative relevant documentation relating here to and whereas a final review of content has been completed and suggested, final edits and core corrections have been offered here into the Enfield Town board for approval. And whereas the Enfield Town board has considered input provided by the many parties who have contributed to the development of the comprehensive plan and the generic environmental impact statement, including a comprehensive plan, committee planning board participants of various community focus groups, a comprehensive survey and the Tompkins County Planning Board. Now, therefore, be it resolved that upon due consideration as set forth here in Anne upon review and consideration of the binding statement, the Town board hereby determines that the finding statement one considers the relevant environmental impacts, facts and conclusions discussed in a closed sorry disclosed in the FDA s two ways and balanced, relevant valances, relevant environmental impacts with social, economic and other considerations. Three provides a rationale for the Town Board's decisions for meets the requirements of speaker and five further certifies that consistent with social, economic and other essential considerations. The action is one that avoids or minimizes adverse environmental impacts to maximize to the maximum extent practice practical practicable, and that adverse environmental impacts will be avoided or minimized to the maximum extent practicable by incorporating as conditions to the decision. Those mitigating measures that were identified as practicable within the finding statements, and be it further resolved that in consideration of the aforementioned, the Town board hereby adopts and approves the statement of findings, and be it further resolved that the statement of findings be distributed and filed as required and as according to the New York law. And be it further resolved that inconsideration should the aforementioned and upon the input of all who have contributed to the development of the comprehensive plan and the generic impact environmental impact statement. The Town board hereby finds that approval of the comprehensive plan and the generic impact environmental impact statement is in the best interest of the health, safety and welfare of the town of Enfield and its citizens and hereby adopts and approves the comprehensive plan and the generic environmental impact statement. And be it further resolved that the comprehensive plan and the GISS be filed in the office of the TOWN CLERK and with the Tompkins County Planning Department and remain posted on the town of Enfield Web site. And be it further resolved that the Comprehensive Planet Update and the GISS Iran shall fully take the place of and fully replace the preexisting comprehensive plan, which was in place prior to the approval of this resolution. [00:17:02] ​Thank you. [00:17:04] ​Thank you. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[00:17:08] ​Thank you, Stephanie. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:17:10] ​It was that was on my motion and seconded by Councilperson Bryant. [00:17:18] ​Thank you, Stephanie. I have a kid, dogs don't bother at all. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:17:25] ​I have just a couple of corrections to that. There is a suggestion about the two thirty nine review, and I should have had it, say, Tompkins County Planning Department and not planning board so that corrections should be made to the minutes when this is in the minutes. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:17:46] ​And also removing a an apostrophe from the word decisions in item number three toward the end of the resolved. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:17:58] ​So I'm going to move that we amend with those corrections. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[00:18:02] ​Second. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:18:09] ​Is there any discussion on the amendment? Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:18:16] ​Ellen, would you please call the vote? Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:18:17] ​Voting on the amendment? Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:18:19] ​Councilperson Bryant. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[00:18:21] ​Aye. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:18:22] ​Councilperson Lynch. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:18:23] ​Aye. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:18:25] ​Councilperson Mahaffey,. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[00:18:28] ​Aye. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:18:28] ​Councilperson Redmond. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[00:18:30] ​Aye. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:18:31] ​Supervisor McGee. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:18:33] ​Aye. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:18:33] ​Thank you. Is there discussion or questions or comments on the motion to accept the finding statement and adopt a comprehensive plan update? Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:18:44] ​Just a question. Are we home? Is this the final vote? Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:18:48] ​This is the final vote. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:18:50] ​Hurray! I kind of wish that I could give a proxy to Becky Simms to vote in my behalf only because she has been so passionate about this and she worked so hard on the comprehensive plan. And back at our hearing in December, she said, quote, I bombed and I'm not going to be able to vote on this. Well, when I cast my vote, I'll remember Becky when I do. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:19:17] ​Becky was really a terrific asset to have again, we had about we had over 50 public meetings. And while she was not participating and the majority of those, she was a great asset to have toward the last last bit of this, putting together the the final plan and also working with the planner with me, Matthew Johnston. She was a great asset to have during that review. So I was really grateful to have her assisting in that. And I also want to thank the planning board who held the initial meetings to do this. And the board to board to go. That actually that recognized the need to really have a thorough review by the community. We had so many meetings and so much input by so many different aspects of this community. I'm really grateful to all of those who participated. We learned a lot and I hope that people will take this plan and really take all of the actions to heart and even people that are outside this community can look at it and see what our hopes and goals are going forward. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:20:50] ​I'd like to add that it's welcome that this issue did not generate any controversy Anne Enfield that I could see that everybody pulled behind the planning board, Anne behind the Town board and developed a good document. We might be able to nit pick and not like this or not like that element of it. But in sum, total, it's a good document and I'm glad I'm voting for it. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[00:21:15] ​I want to I want to this big thank you to Beth who as long as this process has taken kept picking up the thread again and putting it back on the table and I think really saying that we're not done yet. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[00:21:32] ​People, even though it's close and continuing to to make it happen. And I thank you for that, Beth's. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[00:21:42] ​I thank you two, it's a comprehensive plan, is not a static document that needs to be addressed. Continually. Well, I saw one of the lights firecrackers tonight, too. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:21:58] ​It will be great to have this finally completed for the community. So if there's no further discussion can be called a vote on a motion to adopt or the resolution to adopt the comprehensive plan. The findings statement of findings in the comprehensive plan. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:22:19] ​I believe this will be 20 20-66. So calling the vote on the resolution to accept the findings. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:22:32] ​Councilperson Bryant. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[00:22:34] ​Aye Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:22:35] ​Councilperson Lynch. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:22:37] ​Aye Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:22:39] ​Councilperson Mahaffey. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[00:22:41] ​Aye Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:22:42] ​Councilperson Redmond. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[00:22:44] ​Aye. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:22:45] ​Supervisor McGee. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:22:46] ​Aye. Thank you. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:22:53] ​I also want to throw out a special thank you to. Nancy Spero. She hung on when people were too busy and not able to attend meetings and edited and edited and edited. And I just want to want to throw a special thank you out to her and also Judy Hyman for doing the preparation of the first draft of this document and the coalition of all the survey responses. That was a huge job, and I'm really grateful for that. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:23:37] ​But there were countless other people. So I don't want to leave anyone. All right. So thank you, everyone. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:23:48] ​All right. So we have the budget discussion now. Bob has asked that we have a Anne additional budget meeting. For this evening. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:23:59] ​So do you want to go through line by line Bob? Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:24:05] ​I think we ought to go by. Line by line if we want to. We don't have to go by the lines that aren't controversial, but I think we pretty much know, you know, the items that are more an issue than others. And especially I'd like to hear from those in attendance who are part of our administrative team, Clerk Ellen Woods and also Highway superintendent Buddy Rollins, their reactions to the preliminary budget. And we can just have a discussion of the general items. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:24:39] ​So why don't you suggest the lines, a line that you're interested in discussing? Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:24:45] ​I sent out this afternoon an outline of some suggested changes I had. I want to make sure everybody knows they aren't necessarily recommendations. I'm not proposing them for action. I can't proposal for action tonight. Well, what I would like to do is just have a general discussion of why all of these particular items and there are particular advantages or disadvantages. I think the most important issue we have to consider is the budget's recommendation to cut the highway department staff by 20 percent, at least 20 percent, get rid of one of the five subordinate highway worker positions and whether that's a wise thing to do. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:25:33] ​OK. So, like I said, if you had proposed the first line that you want to discuss. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:25:38] ​And that's what I think we should start, because at least earlier, Buddy Rollins was in the meeting. I see looking at the list here. I don't know if he's in attendance right now or not. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[00:25:54] ​If we're going to discuss his portion of the budget, he should be in and say. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:26:03] ​Well, I did a survey of three other rural towns in Tompkins County. They don't have included villages. So they are a little more like Enfield than, say, Ulysses is. And I believe that one of the towns, I think none of the towns had a smaller highway department than we do. And I believe that Newfield, for example, I think the head eight subordinate positions, one of them assigned to the water and sewer department. So take it down to seven. And that also the Deputy Highway superintendent and the Highway superintendent. And Newfield has a slightly larger population, but I think they're quite similar Town. And they also have dirt roads and they they use salt sand mix. They don't use all salt like Ulysses does. And they are. They have. I think I said I think at least seven people on the road crew. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:27:07] ​As I read the file here, but I think that the Danby utilizes. I know, I know Caroline uses PHY. I think Dansy. Uses uses seven and in day at their height, their highway superintendent. Carl Seaman said, 'I wouldn't be cutting' in reacting to what we're proposing to do. I'm worried because I think we've all read what the Buddy Rollins wrote, all of us, and that the parallels with what he told me in a meeting we had a week ago at the highway barn that you could have if you cut the highway staff from five to four, there could be a lot of unforeseen consequences, especially in winter. It's going to delay snow removal, particularly in the northwestern corner of our Town. I showed that Buckel Road, Tucker Road, Fische Road are going to be delayed in getting snow removal if he has to cut his staff. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:28:21] ​He also has to make a point here. Mm hmm. [00:28:26] ​So this year. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:28:29] ​Roads in front of Councilperson McCarthys House and Councilperson Lynch house had basically capital improvements done to them. They are not listed on the COMPRE or the capital plan within the five years of the plan. And yet those improvements were done to two board members, roads who are fairly sympathetic to the Highway superintendent. You'll notice that the Town supervisor lives on Tucker Road. And so now the threat is that the north end of town where Tucker Road is, will be where snowplowing will be done later in the day. That's OK. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[00:29:09] ​Can I ask something? What, Bob? Just for clarification. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:29:13] ​I guess. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[00:29:16] ​When you stayed at the miles for the other towns, you didn't say whether they were central line miles or lane miles. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:29:25] ​Did you receive the list? The breakout that I gave you? Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[00:29:32] ​Yeah. It's in our line. And it doesn't say Lane. It just says miles of road. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:29:37] ​All right. [00:29:42] ​Caroline has 140 lane miles. I know that right? Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[00:29:50] ​Compared to Enfield, IDA. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:30:01] ​I would say from my experience that the road that the number of roads are fairly comparable between the two towns. I've lived here for 51, 52 years with a race variance. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:30:12] ​That's not true. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[00:30:13] ​I want the numbers that numbers are don't don't play that out. Stubble. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:30:26] ​I wrote what I wrote. You can go by what I put. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[00:30:29] ​We have forty three center line miles. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[00:30:35] ​Beth's been established for a very long time. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[00:30:39] ​Oh, yes. I'm just saying you the population of the town makes no difference to me. The amount of roads they're maintaining makes a difference to me. So we have to compare apples to apples. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:30:53] ​Boy, I sure the danby's pretty darn close based on my experience, just a number of roads I've driven in these in these two towns here, it's not a very insulting thing. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:31:03] ​If given give numbers, don't bear it out, but. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[00:31:07] ​Right. And when you're when you're a highway superintendent or planning to be a part of your job is to know those by those miles, those center lane miles. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[00:31:16] ​I mean, we've had that established for a long time, I believe. Long Before I ever came on the board,. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:31:24] ​You know, my perception is my perception. And this is no slight to Buddy Rollins is that Enfield has the worst snowplowing routine of any Town in the county. I hear people say it all the time. Oh, my God. You live in Enfield. You never get to work. OK. Now, I'm not sliding Buddy Rollin's on that. Maybe we need another highway truck out there plowing snow so that we get it done faster. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:31:55] ​All right. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:31:55] ​I actually don't have any problem with it myself. So the center line, Miles, in the town of Danby, our seven point two zero. The center line Miles, in the town of Enfield hour, forty three point one. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:32:08] ​So whatever your experiences doesn't make a difference. The actual data is what makes a difference. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[00:32:16] ​Right. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:32:17] ​I don't think you can judge just by statistics. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:32:20] ​You have statistics. It's a real numbers. It's not statistics. These are real numbers that are pretty mild. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[00:32:28] ​How many miles we plow is how many miles of road. They maintain. It makes a total difference if they maintain double the roads. They probably need double the staff. So that's what we we need to be looking at. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[00:32:44] ​Ulysses has a similar number of center line roads that they maintain, and that's why they would. All. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:32:52] ​ a different. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[00:32:54] ​They maintain those roads. That's right. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[00:32:58] ​It actually doesn't make a difference until spring cleanup, which you notice was perfectly fine this spring, even though we only had our staff. Highway department working not even part time because of CoVid shutdown, they were able to maintain it just fine. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:33:12] ​The highway. I mean, it was different for me. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:33:15] ​Now, when you use sand salt mixed with your after use on gravel roads, you're like she said, it's all paved roads. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:33:22] ​Oh, great. If I could have three and a half highway staff and still get all paved roads out of that, I would be delighted. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[00:33:32] ​Well, then we would have to make the roads paved. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:33:35] ​They probably spend more money on the roads. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:33:37] ​Probably. I'm not. We're working on probably. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:33:40] ​Highway budget in front of me. All I know is the ditch. It's more labor intensive. I am told by the Highway superintendent I spoke with. When you have gravel roads because you have to service them more often than when you have paved roads that can use salt. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[00:33:58] ​You have to service them more often in the spring and over the summer for repairs. When you use sand, for example, you have to clean it up in the spring. And it also causes more road damage that you have to repair over the summer. We have noticed that during this shutdown and even with our staff working in far less than they usually do, they've not only been able to maintain it, but go above and beyond our capital plan. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:34:22] ​What are you going to do when the maintenance budget skyrockets? Because Buddy says he cannot afford with a four man crew to service his own vehicles. He asked, call Cascais. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:34:35] ​That's what we did this year. We spent tens of thousands of dollars on repairs that weren't done in-house. So what's he doing? What's he doing this year? Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:34:42] ​Routine repairs. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[00:34:44] ​Always bad way. I remember signing vouchers for cars that were not routine repairs. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[00:35:04] ​I think if we save the money on the personnel, we'd be able to pave more roads. Then. Next year in next year's budget. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[00:35:14] ​The budgets that you're proposing. No. A significant increase to taxpayers like doubling almost. You know what you're asking? And I just really think that in a time of a pandemic, in a time when people are losing their jobs and financially hurting, it's really inappropriate to pass that expenditure down to our residents. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[00:35:37] ​So it is unconscionable. It's unconscionable. I'm sorry. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[00:35:41] ​Clearly do not need to. You came on this board and you campaigned under tightening our budget. But as soon as you have Buddy Rollins, who is clearly overextended, telling you that he doesn't want to you pander to politics and pander to votes and try to appease this good old boy system. Counilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[00:36:03] ​And it's really highly inappropriate. You're not doing what's what's good and right for the Town. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:36:10] ​I don't want somebody drive off Aye. Town Road this winter because it hasn't been serviced frequently enough. Skids on ice, hits a tree, kills oneself or seriously injures oneself. And I feel that on my conscience because my Town board voted to cut a highway maintenance position. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[00:36:33] ​We only have three plow routes. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:36:36] ​Maybe we should have four. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:36:39] ​No one's asked for that in the past. Not even a highway superintendent. So why would we have four? Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:36:45] ​I haven't been happy. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:36:48] ​ end up with two sounds. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:36:51] ​Why would we end up with two? Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:36:52] ​Because we're home, man. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[00:36:54] ​We can have four people to do three routes. We should be fine. In fact, have an extra in case somebody sick. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:37:02] ​I will let Buddy Rollin's answer further questions. I am not the highway superintendent. I wish you were here. Maybe he will speak at the public hearing next week. I hope he does. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:37:12] ​Well, I think he's here. You can ask him whatever you'd like. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:37:16] ​Is that what it is, that how you'd like to proceed? Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:37:19] ​I would very much like to ask Buddy Rollins. Buddy, do you want to join in here on your show? Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:37:24] ​Oh, well, that's interesting. Yes. OK, there we go. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[00:37:29] ​What's bothering me is the posts on this suggest this budget from. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[00:37:37] ​Robert Mean, this hasit Texan, our townspeople were the Hayts said very little Austin CoVid Town in the county, I believe. Last time I looked at statistics and I can't imagine. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[00:37:53] ​What this kind of thing would do to people who are already suffering from the domino effect of losing jobs, all of the things the pandemic is cause, and believe me, it's caused a lot of things for people who are low income that we don't have we haven't been really hearing about or read deeply into the news. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[00:38:14] ​So when I'm just sitting here appalled that we're even considering increasing the highway budget. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:38:21] ​Virginia, this is nothing personal. All right, but that's that same argument doesn't hold up. When you voted a ten thousand dollar increase for the deputy supervisor, you approved a preliminary budget that grants a four thousand dollar pay increase to the supervisor next year. I mean, there are areas where the administrative budget has gone up and gone up in the case. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[00:38:47] ​I feel that by doing that, we are trying to get better management of our budgets overall. [00:38:55] ​And there are intended. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[00:38:57] ​Have we looked at his budget, his budget as his budget, and he's done things with our approval that affect the Town population and their taxpaying base. So, no, I'm not going to take that as a chastisement at all. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[00:39:14] ​Mentored management you have at the core. Hopefully the better the outcome. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:39:21] ​I would like Buddy to explain the impact of cutting Aye. one of his five subordinate highway worker positions. I'd like him to explain it if he would take a few minutes to do so. Highway Superintendent Rollins ​[00:39:37] ​He's is here all along. Bob, I don't know why you couldn't see me. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:39:41] ​I don't quite know you, but he's been here all along. Highway Superintendent Rollins ​[00:39:44] ​I've been here since the beginning of the meeting. And you didn't see me when you were talking before. So. Highway Superintendent Rollins ​[00:39:53] ​This is very. Highway Superintendent Rollins ​[00:39:56] ​I just don't know what to say about this board. They're totally ridiculous about what they're saying about the miles. They're not doing Apple for Apple. We do run almost for real. That's why they're North-Western we'll take a hit because that is the fourth truck that goes over that way. Highway Superintendent Rollins ​[00:40:14] ​And that's the way we've been operating for the last four years since we got an extra truck. More or less dependable truck anyway. Instead of using the first spare and. Highway Superintendent Rollins ​[00:40:31] ​You guys are way off base on what you're talking about. As far as doing at least. I put in for a flat budget, except for. Fifty thousand dollars for equipment. More and pay raise for the guys. And right now, the general fund is going up. Twenty one thousand dollars, Anne in payroll. Highway Superintendent Rollins ​[00:40:57] ​For administration purposes. Tell me what the people are going to see out of that. At least they see the roads getting fixed and took care of. And with the money they're spending on the highway department, they don't see anything coming out of the general fund. Highway Superintendent Rollins ​[00:41:19] ​And the soup Buddy got actuation. She wants. But I do my job, I've done it well for 12 years and I do it for the residents and the roads and we do the roads, as we've talked about even in January, and stuff as a qualified to be done, how they survived the winter and what we have to do and what not by oil is don't. It took roads that we got this year. We will save close to ten thousand dollars next year because we won't have to dust oil in our dust control. We won't have to grade them. We won't have to add material. And we won't be putting gravel in the ditches for silt. Run. Run down in the cricks. And Bob, with your remark was about, oh, my goodness, you live in Enfield is. I don't think that has anything to do with the plowing is doing with the weather and snow conditions that we have up here. That's what they're talking about. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:42:27] ​And that's maybe why we need more frequent flying. I'm not slighting anybody, I'm just saying because of the weather, because we live in Enfield Anne, because Enfield is a rough place. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:42:36] ​Maybe we can compare ourselves to Ulysses or compare ourselves to the town of Ithaca. or even to places like Dryden or Danby. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:42:44] ​We have a different place and we need more intensive winter road maintenance. Highway Superintendent Rollins ​[00:42:50] ​Well, what I get from that sometimes, Bob, is people say, well, we don't get no snow, we don't get hard winters. We don't do this. But you know what? It's too late when you do get it. If you don't have the people and stuff to take care of, it is too late. When it does come, if you're not prepared and you won't be prepared with them cutting the highway budget as they do, and there's no reason be cutting the highway budget at all other than trying to make an impression on going. It gets me personally, I believe, because our taxes are going to be there the same. We're going to have the same budget, if not a little bit more, next year as far as money. This this COVID stuff is getting totally out of control. People are misusing it and misrepresenting it. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:43:40] ​So it's not real. OK, so is it nastier? My proposal was and we adopted an eighty seven thousand dollar increase to the highway. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:43:53] ​So to highway expenditures. So, you know, sometimes adjustments need to be made. And this is what was proposed. If the Town board would like someone else to do the budget, they could have funded a budget officer for the share. Like I requested. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[00:44:13] ​So you're saying that there's four actually four routes, really three plus an extra. Can you explain why you need five people to do four routes? Highway Superintendent Rollins ​[00:44:25] ​No, there's four big truck routes. We have a little chunk that runs to. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[00:44:30] ​OK. And so, Bill, if we do these four trucks, one of which you're kind of pushed, it seems to be an extra. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[00:44:39] ​Is there no other time that you can use this smaller truck? You actually need that to happen right at that moment. Highway Superintendent Rollins ​[00:44:50] ​If you put that forth, 10 wheeler would be sitting in the shop as a spare total spare net. That route that it takes care of will be put upon the other two trucks that are over in that area. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:45:07] ​When you say change it for roots, because when I did the ride alone, my education on this by your staff was that you had three routes and you also that you had three routes and a smaller truck that did dead end roads and parking lots for the Town, which you've also threatened would no longer be able to be done. Highway Superintendent Rollins ​[00:45:26] ​There's no threats here other than that's what it is. There is no threats other than yours. Highway Superintendent Rollins ​[00:45:31] ​It's basic facts with your smirky face. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[00:45:40] ​Can you explain to me how you were able to go beyond your capital plan this year, given that you had two months of shutdown or three months almost of shut down? Highway Superintendent Rollins ​[00:45:51] ​This has nothing major. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[00:45:54] ​No, I understand that. I'm asking you how you are able to go beyond your capital plan this year. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[00:45:59] ​If you are limited in your staff, even though you had months of shut down. Highway Superintendent Rollins ​[00:46:09] ​I didn't have months of shut how zaja Aiken you guys get. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[00:46:15] ​OK, so given that we had some shut down, I don't want to quantify exactly how much. How were you able to go be on your capital plan this year? Highway Superintendent Rollins ​[00:46:24] ​What do you mean? Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[00:46:26] ​Meaning that you did not only your capital plan, but you did extra roads beyond. Highway Superintendent Rollins ​[00:46:31] ​Is in my state meant we had a lot of help from the Town towns and the county, especially with Aiken Road. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[00:46:41] ​Well, that sounds lovely. We have shared services, so we don't really need this kind of staffing in this town. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:46:47] ​And it was also mentioned that you list is played a part in that. And I'm not really sure. With only three and a half people how they were able to provide. Highway Superintendent Rollins ​[00:46:56] ​You,. Count three and a half people. Highway Superintendent Rollins ​[00:46:58] ​They actually have four people, one person, fifteen hours a week for water. But he's still available for overtime. And anything else the highway department might eating for. Highway Superintendent Rollins ​[00:47:15] ​And they say. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:47:16] ​So they they allow 80, 80 miles for the county and they're still able to assist Enfield with work. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:47:26] ​With that level of staff. Highway Superintendent Rollins ​[00:47:27] ​Summer time, they don't assist us in the wintertime. Highway Superintendent Rollins ​[00:47:31] ​See, you're not doing Apple for Apple. You're you're going off. Apple, oranges. Every time you turn around and every time you even speak. Highway Superintendent Rollins ​[00:47:41] ​And they do 80 miles a road. Highway Superintendent Rollins ​[00:47:43] ​But then some of them are county roads, and there's a big difference when you're doing 10 miles a straight line plowing or if you're doing a half a mile and a mile and you got four intersections to take care of. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:47:55] ​So if we were to maintain five and a half Councilperson, the happy is actually mentioned several times that she would like us to contract with the county. So would with your five and a half staff, would you be able to take on as much as Ulysses is doing for the county and contract because they're making actually about seventy five thousand dollars from that county contract? Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:48:19] ​Yeah, they are Anne Enfield tried that years ago and Norwich isn't it doesn't work too well here because we don't use all. Highway Superintendent Rollins ​[00:48:29] ​And when the wind knocked, Town did it back then. Actually, I worked for the county and they had to plow it and then we the county came out on solid and it wasn't feasible to be running two trucks over the same route. When we can't do say we can't do Sol. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:48:47] ​Why couldn't meet yourself? Don't. Highway Superintendent Rollins ​[00:48:49] ​Have salt storage and we don't run salt? Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:48:55] ​But that's just a matter of purchasing. And we will have salt storage. Highway Superintendent Rollins ​[00:49:05] ​I don't know what you're asking. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:49:07] ​I'm suggesting that the two things that you presented as problems would be resolved just simply by purchasing. Which would be covered not by Enfield, but by the county. And also that we would have salt storage when the salt storage facility is built. Highway Superintendent Rollins ​[00:49:25] ​Well, I think when you get that all done, then you might want to see if the county is interested in that. I can't talk for the county. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:49:33] ​Right. But I'm asking you if with the staff that's in place now, if you would be able to. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:49:42] ​Maintain that level. That, like Ulysses, is taken on because that provides income, that provides revenue for the Town Ulysses. Highway Superintendent Rollins ​[00:49:51] ​And when you do that, you also have expenses that go along with it. So go weigh them out and see if they're really making anything. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:49:59] ​I'm asking you if I am the same level of staff is maintained, if this highway department can take on that level of work or if that's not something that you're willing or able to do with five people. Highway Superintendent Rollins ​[00:50:18] ​How do you say this? Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:50:23] ​It. Said in the past,. Highway Superintendent Rollins ​[00:50:24] ​I'm going to answer any of that, because this all is not even relevant to us right now. . Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:50:32] ​Haven't you said in the past, Buddy, that one of the problems you have in Enfield is that the gravel roads can't take salt? You have to use sand and gravel roads and you have so many gravel roads, Anne, Enfield, Hayts, you're going to have a problem if you have to use salt on the state highways and the paved roads and the dirt, and you have to have a separate truck with with sand on it going on the gravel roads. Highway Superintendent Rollins ​[00:51:00] ​Not just gravel oil and stone lawns. It won't take salt either, got pure blacktop roads and even they get. Messed up with salt over time. You don't have the life expectancy that they're supposed to have. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:51:16] ​And I also suspect there's also the environmental problem with using too much salt that he gets down into the water table and saw is right up there in price. Highway Superintendent Rollins ​[00:51:26] ​Right now, I'm not sure it's I think it's almost triple, if not more. Highway Superintendent Rollins ​[00:51:32] ​The sand is. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:51:41] ​Well, thank you, Buddy, for your comments. Aye.. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:51:45] ​I'm glad you you registered in with your with your comments. Maybe you can clarify this question of the other towns that I studied in terms of their equivalent mileage. Do you have that information at your disposal? Highway Superintendent Rollins ​[00:52:01] ​No, I don't. But I know Ulysses has less miles than we do. I'd say I at least 10 miles less than we do. Caroline is about the same, and I believe Danby's about the same. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:52:19] ​I'm looking at the list right now from de AOT. Highway Superintendent Rollins ​[00:52:24] ​OK. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:52:24] ​This center line, Miles, for Danby, seventy point two zero. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:52:31] ​For Caroline. Twenty nine point six. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:52:37] ​They should really, definitely be looking into why they have so many highways. Highway Superintendent Rollins ​[00:52:41] ​Oh, yes, sure they should. Now you tell them what to do, too. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:52:45] ​No, I'm not telling them. I mean, you act like this is such an anomaly that we would ask questions. Highway Superintendent Rollins ​[00:52:51] ​No. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:52:52] ​So, yes, that's what you're asking. You're suggesting that that's so out of line. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:52:58] ​So. Highway Superintendent Rollins ​[00:53:00] ​You ride in a truck for two hours and you think you know all about it. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:53:06] ​That isn't what informs. Highway Superintendent Rollins ​[00:53:08] ​Did you did you forget about the tree that laid across the road? And I had to pull a guy of the truck to run the loader up there to move the tree out of the road. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:53:17] ​And the driver had to back out all the way because it was across the road at the last mile. Harvey Hill. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:53:24] ​No, I didn't forget that at all. All right. So there's a Town. Highway Superintendent Rollins ​[00:53:27] ​You like the short guys, then? That wouldn't happen this fast. [00:53:33] ​Why couldn't the Highway superintendent do that? Highway Superintendent Rollins ​[00:53:36] ​I was out on the road plowing too. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:53:39] ​OK. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:53:40] ​So if you know, two evenings, Clerks, Enfield, Second point Town if Newfield has twenty six point nine three centerline miles who Town of new field. Highway Superintendent Rollins ​[00:53:52] ​As how much? Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:53:55] ​Town of Newfield. Town of Newfield has eighty six point seventy. Highway Superintendent Rollins ​[00:54:01] ​Yeah, they go. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:54:07] ​What's the other one you were looking for? Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[00:54:09] ​Six. Is that a large. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:54:14] ​Yeah, we have. Yes. That's double ours. Yes. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:54:33] ​Caroline has five full time highway employees and near Highway superintendent, Robert Spencer says. I think we're a man short. So these other departments have more people than we do. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:54:51] ​Now, their mileage may vary from town to town, but they still have more people where they want more people. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[00:54:59] ​Robert, you've clearly heard him say that there's four routes maximum and that's even pushing it. We don't need five people do four routes anywhere in budgetary cuts like this. We really need to be tightening our belts and be fiscally responsible. Like you campaigned under. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:55:15] ​So you literally sexual only has for just over four less centralized males than medium. Thirty nine point five five. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:55:25] ​And Stephanie, I want to remind you that during my campaign, you don't want to get in politics involved in this discussion. This has been my campaign. I said we have to know the difference between wants and needs. And I regard road maintenance as a need. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[00:55:39] ​Yes, it is a need. And that's why we have four routes and we don't need five people to do them. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[00:55:44] ​And that's why it's by far the biggest part of our budget. Highway Superintendent Rollins ​[00:55:49] ​But we do. Eighty six miles a road is the biggest part of your town. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:55:55] ​I know. And to do that, I did some of that money isn't spent on things like our dilapidated community building or other facilities like did you know that our fire company is out of compliance with some of their turnout gear? Highway Superintendent Rollins ​[00:56:08] ​These are maybe they should have. Maybe they should have bought some of that stuff with the money. They built the dry do car wash weigh in. Highway Superintendent Rollins ​[00:56:17] ​Don't even start trying to get us fired me versus the highway. That's not right either. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[00:56:24] ​We're just not. I'm trying to say that we have parts of our Town that have been neglected and we need to readjust it accordingly. Highway Superintendent Rollins ​[00:56:31] ​And in raising your pay, four thousand dollars or ninety two hundred dollars is doing good, right? Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[00:56:39] ​I should hope. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:56:40] ​That's that's actually going to be a discussion later on. So I've actually had enough of this conversation. There's no changes that are gonna be made to the budget this evening. So if we're ready to move on, I'd be happy to have something more to say. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:56:56] ​Go ahead. Highway Superintendent Rollins ​[00:56:59] ​I proposed the budget as a flat budget. Other than fifty thousand dollars more for equipment from last year and the guy's pay raises. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:57:08] ​So what's that total increase? Was that. What would that total increase be? I don't know. That's your job? No, it isn't. It's your job. You are asking for a raise. We're talking almost ninety thousand dollars. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[00:57:23] ​We're supervisor of the highway department. You should be able to come forth with the draft budget that includes everything that you think is properly needed. Highway Superintendent Rollins ​[00:57:33] ​You got it. All of you got it. If you cared to read your e-mails, check your mailboxes. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:57:47] ​Go ahead. I would propose we wrap this up and move on to the next thing. So if you have something to do, you are hurting. Highway Superintendent Rollins ​[00:57:54] ​You're going to be hurting the residents. You're not going to be hurting me. You're hurting the residents of this town because the services will drop. Highway Superintendent Rollins ​[00:58:03] ​You have you guys getting figure that out that if you take one person away and the services aren't going to drop, then there's something really wrong. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[00:58:15] ​Considering that we're going beyond our capital plan. It seems perfectly logical that we would want it to drop. Highway Superintendent Rollins ​[00:58:20] ​You bring your her out here and see how hard we work to do that to. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[00:58:26] ​I'm not suggesting that you're not. I'm suggesting that we maybe shouldn't have so much work going on, all because we get too much work done. Highway Superintendent Rollins ​[00:58:34] ​We're going to get penalized now. Highway Superintendent Rollins ​[00:58:36] ​We'll cut the budget because we get too much work done. That's Apple for Apple. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[00:58:43] ​No, it's readjusting our budget so that we can take care of the things that need to be taken care of. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[00:58:48] ​I just want to ask where there's that Town Road make up a percentage of the town of Enfield Road. There's also a significant number of county roads and state roads. So there's many, many and fielders that are gonna be experiencing, if we go with Bob's plan, a budget increase and receiving no increase in service. And now they're absorbing that. Highway Superintendent Rollins ​[00:59:18] ​I don't know what Bob's propose I propose is a flat budget. What would an increase other than pay and fifty thousand then we can do away with the fifty thousand increase. Just go with the pay in a flat budget from last year. That'll be fine. Highway Superintendent Rollins ​[00:59:35] ​But you're really going to hurt the Town by cutting the guy, actually cutting two guys because you're cutting a seasonal to. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:59:45] ​I think what I've heard you're hearing that from your Highway superintendent Visored cut. Highway Superintendent Rollins ​[00:59:52] ​So you're hearing this information from your elected highway superintendent. Highway Superintendent Rollins ​[00:59:56] ​That is been doing this for well over 12 years for this town and Mandorah, over 30 years in the career. And again, the board does not want to listen to the expertize of what you have as a highway superintendent, whether you want to believe it or not. But this is it. This is what's on the table. And this is what's needs to be done. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[01:00:25] ​I'm on. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:00:27] ​All right. Thank you. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:00:31] ​I want to remind everybody that, by my calculations, restoring the fifth man to the highway crew and granting those five people a two percent raise, which I think is only fair, would only add twenty five cents per thousand to the tax rate, which at one hundred thousand dollar property is twenty five dollars. Is it worth twenty five dollars? That's for the people to decide. That's for this board decide. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:01:03] ​Yeah, I think maybe his point was is well taken for me. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:01:10] ​I think that we've said all that we need to say on this subject tonight, and the next thing to do is to hear what the people have to say a week from now at the public hearing. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:01:20] ​Sounds good. So what's the next line you want to move to? Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:01:23] ​I wanted to have a discussion on Town Clerks pay, because I think it's really. An embarrassment right now. How little a Town Clerk gets paid in this town if we are assuming it's a full time job? If we're assuming it's a half time job. Twenty thousand dollars is probably adequate. And in this, I'd like to have the Town Clerk Ellen Woods register her comments about this. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:01:57] ​She may or may not know that I have suggested that we increase your overall pay next year to twenty eight thousand dollars. Ten thousand dollars for her role as tax collector and Aye.. Six thousand dollar increase for Town Clerk. And that's not just because that's an annual pay raise by any means, but I think it sets things straight, at least works towards setting things straight. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:02:29] ​And yes, provides a little gender equity in this town of Enfield, considering the fact that the Highway superintendent earns several multiples of that. And I think that it it it warrants us to consider that we have to recognize the worth of our town clerk to a greater extent. And from that point, I'd like Ellen to offer her opinion. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:02:58] ​What can I say something before Ellen does? Well, I agree with you in theory. I do have a problem increasing it too quickly, too fast, because I feel like this is a belt tightening here. So to go up four thousand dollars is a huge percentage increase and it's warranted. And I don't disagree. But also, once we present the preliminary budget, my understanding of budgets is that you cannot increase an elected official. Now, maybe I'm wrong, but I think we cannot go higher on any elected official. Once we have published the preliminary budget, somebody can correct me if I'm wrong. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:03:43] ​That is correct. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:03:46] ​So the field I went to a few budget workshops, and that's basically once the preliminary budget is the thing that is set in stone, is elected officials cannot be increased nor decreased below the 2020 budget. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:04:07] ​If that's the case, I wish somebody had shared that with us. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:04:11] ​A week ago, before we raced with breakneck speed to adopt a preliminary budget without giving Line-by-line consideration the facts, the more we accept the law. I regret it. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:04:27] ​But before these budget, you know, the budget was coming up, right, Bob? [01:04:32] ​Did I merely that the supervisor. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:04:34] ​Did you read. Portugal. I didn't read your budget. How to prepare a budget. What a preliminary budget is, what the deadlines are. Did you read that? Because that's our responsibility, too. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:04:45] ​That's not just on the supervisor. We are each responsible for what the preliminary budget does and what it says and what the budget process is and what the timelines are. That's not just one person on this board. That's all of us. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:04:59] ​Which is why I went to the workshops that I went to. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[01:05:05] ​I went to some to that recently. But I think the members that once you passed the preliminary budget, you don't monkey around with things that we're discussing right now. You can't disagree. Law procedure. So. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:05:23] ​I would recall that a number of months ago when the question of raising Town officials compensation was was made and it was made by the supervisor. I said, you can't do that out of an election cycle. And I was admonished by the supervisor saying, oh, yes, you can. You just can't decrease. You can't increase. You can increase them if you want. She never explained to me that you once you adopt your preliminary budget, you cannot increase them further. [01:06:00] ​I lost increased. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:06:02] ​Remember, increase with a would increase what? Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:06:07] ​Increased compensation for elected officials, elected officials. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:06:13] ​We weren't we didn't increase compensation for elected officials. [01:06:18] ​In the preliminary budget. Yes, you know. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:06:22] ​Oh, we did not increase months ago compensation for elected officials. They were appointments. They were appointments that we increased the compensation for the deputy Town Clerk and the deputy Town supervisor. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:06:42] ​At the same time. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:06:44] ​Supervisor McGee, we were discussing the possibility, which you alluded to, of raising pay for your own office. The Town Clerks office. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:06:56] ​No, we did not. We did not discuss that at all. We did not suggest that because you cannot do that. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:07:03] ​You cannot do that. What you can do is you can appoint a budget officer and you can attach a salary to that and you can appoint your Town supervisor. As the budget officer, you can also attach a salary to the tax collector, and you could adopt a resolution stating that you are going to give that to your tax collector who in this town is appointed as the Town Clerk. So those are the ways. Yes. That you could increase the compensation to those positions in a mid year. But you cannot increase the salary compensation in mid year for unless actually you could do it. But it is it's subject to a promise of referendum. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[01:08:00] ​And Bob, I really object to you holding the supervisor responsible for your lack of knowledge. This is literally less than twenty five pages for you to understand. It gives you all the information that you have to know it's in your mailbox. There was no reason that you should not know the information that's in this pamphlet that you were handed. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:08:19] ​I bought read Town Law, which says you cannot decrease during the compensation for an elected official outside of an election cycle. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:08:30] ​I cannot decrease is nothing. Barring had not decreased their salary. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:08:35] ​If they're in the position during their firming up, is simply an increase it during a budget cycle. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:08:43] ​You can. But once you publish the salaries that have been proposed in our preliminary budget, in the public hearing, notice, you can not increase them. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:08:54] ​I will I will accept that position. And it's unfortunate. I will let everyone know everyone in the public know that I voted against moving this Kennedy budget. It was announced at three o'clock on a Wednesday afternoon to preliminary budget stage. Only several hours later, I oppose that. I was the only one who did. And I'm glad I did. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:09:20] ​This budget was actually proposed way before the deadline for the supervisor to do that. People were asked for their recommendations. I didn't really receive anything. I actually only received a couple of budget requests. So one was from the Highway superintendent. The other one was from code enforcement. And so, you know, this budget is basford. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:09:48] ​You you didn't want to appoint or hire a different budget officer. So the budget that I prepared last year was based on a lot of knowledge. It was a capital plan that I put together and presented to the board through a lot of research and observation, a fund, balanced policy that I did the same thing with some input from the Finance Committee and or acknowledgment from the the Finance Committee with also recommendations from Cornell local roads and from the Highway superintendent. The only pushback that I got from the Highway superintendent, although he will tell you that that was none of it was his recommendations. The only pushback that I received on it was that I pushed back a 10 wheeler purchase by Aye. here in order for us to maintain one hundred and thirty thousand dollars a year levy for the reserve in. Over 10 years. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:10:44] ​So he doesn't like that. And that's that's why he complains about that plan. So this is based on observation, knowledge, understanding of what's happened this year, understanding of what taxpayers are going to have to experience with the county and the state and the results of the state budget on us. So if you don't like that, you should maybe pay for somebody else to do the budget. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:11:14] ​Someone who you might trust. I'm telling you what this budget was based on. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:11:21] ​If you don't agree with it, then change. I want to say I don't care. I'll do it. I'll do it next year. Counciperson Robert Lynch ​[01:11:32] ​I'd be glad to. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:11:33] ​OK. So you'll do it for free. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:11:35] ​That makes me pretty nervous, given that you didn't even know the basic laws regarding the book. Do you know the timeline deadlines? You know what has to happen? Do you know the sequence of events? Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:11:50] ​Are any of us lived through the year before you offer to be the budget officer or any of us in this room tonight? Attorneys? I don't think so. We are in that I I'm assuming I am assuming that Supervisor McGee knows the law, but she is not an attorney and neither am I and neither is Mimi my havey and neither is Stephanie Regnant. None of us. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:12:11] ​OK, so you come back and I come back and I'm just finding it very difficult. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[01:12:18] ​I read your emails, Bob, thoroughly. And, you know, it's a lot of words and sometimes it's interesting, but there's a lot of stuff that you really need to learn yet. [01:12:31] ​Before you. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:12:33] ​So let's not devolve any further. So what is what else is there to discuss regarding salaries? Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:12:43] ​By the way, Ellen, I am so sorry if that is the law. I am sorry for you. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:12:49] ​Now that we gave her a 20 percent increase in sexual lean year, that that I'm sorry, we can't make it all up at once. You cannot do it any more than because minimum wage was neglected year after year after year after year. You can make that all up at once without a huge impact on on people. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:13:10] ​So I you know, I'm looking at Ellen, but I'm also looking at after the town of Enfield and their pocket books. So I think that 20 percent increase during this kind of year is pretty huge. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[01:13:24] ​I think it's unconscionable. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:13:27] ​To clarify the point with the supervisor. The preliminary budget, does it lock in place all elected positions that the that the proposed increases cannot be diminished? Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:13:39] ​No, it does not. So the proposed increases can be reduced to. They can't. This year's budget. So in that vein, perhaps the conversation is that the proposals need to be justified. Now. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:14:00] ​I intend to move based on whatever, depending on what is said at the public hearing next week. I will move because I can't affect I can't increase anybody's salary or the proposed increase from two from twenty to twenty four thousand dollars for the supervisor. I will propose next week that it be withdrawn. And the question to remain at twenty thousand dollars. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[01:14:27] ​I have a question about that. Now, Beth. And the last three supervisors before her have gone on record saying that that position is at least full time, if not more. I want to know why that position should be so severely underfunded compared to the highway department. [01:14:50] ​It's happened. I'm sorry. I'm just going to say. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:14:56] ​How is it different than the Town Clerk? How is it different? Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:15:03] ​Elin Woods has given me spreadsheets that show that most problems of comparable size, the Clerk, earns a greater degree of compensation than does the supervisor and the Town clerk. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[01:15:16] ​Many of those towns also does things like signs, all the checks and pictures. All it takes are all the vouchers are filled out. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[01:15:23] ​And there's a of things that those Town Clerks do as well. And I'm not diminishing what the Town clerk is doing because she actually does deserve to have a raise as long as the supervisor, her and her are severely lacking. You know, their compensation is so much less than the highway department. I'm not gonna squabble over the crumbs after about whether the Clerk or the supervisor should have more or less when we're having almost a hundred thousand dollar budget going directly toward the highway superintendent. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[01:15:55] ​It just is so misogynistic to even begin to have that conversation. There's no reason for the Supervisor McGee to Clerk to be squabbling over crumbs when we're talking about a hundred thousand dollar package going toward the highway superintendent. Once we start getting those a little bit more, you know, on even playing fields, then we can start discussing the nuances of, you know, this kind of thing. But we can't. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[01:16:20] ​And there's so many Town Clerks do. These are the Town advisors due to your duties are regarding state law banning or adhering to budgetary concerns. I mean, there's things that they're not even being discussed here that make those two positions something that needs to be reckoned with in terms of them. We haven't looked at that for years. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:16:48] ​I would like to yield the floor to Ellen Woods briefly to make a brief comment as to the person and the CoVid compensation per Clerk should be increased and B, a different level than the supervisor. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[01:17:01] ​Mimi said relevant. [01:17:02] ​We can't do it. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:17:03] ​Would Mimi Mahaffey, please make your comment? Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:17:07] ​Thank you. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:17:10] ​I just want to say that that unitl we really have a spreadsheet of what Clerks do and other towns and what supervisors do in other towns. We really have a hard time comparing. So, you know, I know that our supervisor prepares, you know, finding statements and and, you know, unbuild unbelievable stuff that probably gets farmed out in every other town. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:17:34] ​I would guess, because there's no way one person has all those expertize that you do and that you've worked hard to get. So, you know, I know other Town Clerks, you know, do the water bills. They do payroll. They do. So until we have a spreadsheet for next year for next year's budget and understand what other supervisors are responsible for and other Town Clerks, I don't think you can compare them. The only thing we can do is say both of them are working too hard for the small amount of money that we are giving them. And that's the only overall statement I can make at this point. I cannot compare to another Town and say, well, another Town supervisors make less. Well, they probably are responsible for less. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:18:15] ​They probably have planning boards that do a lot of the work that our supervisor does, you know. So we don't pay a planning board, so we don't get that expertize that, you know, would cut her jobs significantly. [01:18:32] ​Thank you. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[01:18:33] ​Francis plan alone would have been farmed out in Mentored most towns and a comprehensive plan would have been farmed out and would have cost gazillions of money at a long time ago. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[01:18:49] ​Thank you, Amy. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[01:18:50] ​The point is, it's not really a difference between two. For me, it's not a difference between the Clerk or the supervisor. It's those compared to the misogyny that we're seeing with the Highway superintendent in comparison to these two positions. It's just it's inappropriate. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:19:08] ​I would like to share comment and I yield the floor to her, if you can, unmoved her microphone. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[01:19:22] ​I would just like to express to this Town Board that I have worked very hard to provide the utmost data, especially consulting with the Association of Towns. When it wasn't good enough for the Town Board to show every other Town Clerk in Tompkins makes at least 33 percent more than the supervisor and also makes a Living Wage at a full time salary. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[01:19:48] ​When that wasn't enough, I took 14 other New York State Towns and the Association of Towns took 20 other New York state towns with a population of almost equivalent to Enfield, plus or minus seventy eight residents. In those Towns no Supervisor makes the same as the Clerk, the supervisor makes less than the Clerk. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[01:20:13] ​And it's a difference between 33 percent and up to 400 percent. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[01:20:19] ​You know, the Town of Catherine's Clerk makes twenty thousand. The supervisor makes 5. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[01:20:24] ​So for me, it is understanding the comparative workload. A full time supervisor would make more than full time work for our Clerk because the Clerk's workload is not discretionary. If a resolution is passed, it has to be documented. If as a public notice has to go to the paper, it has to go out. I don't set my own workload. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[01:20:46] ​Many people have advised me to just work 20 hours and walk out the door. I can not legally do that and I cannot balance my workload, if I do that, a lot of I mean, I just can't believe that. Bob's number twenty six thousand was minimum wage beat, the idea that. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[01:21:08] ​How is Enfield different from every other Town in New York? [01:21:13] ​Why? Do we have a harder working supervisor and a lazier Clerk than every other Town in New York? Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[01:21:20] ​That's not possible. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:21:20] ​I don't think that's what's been intended here at all. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[01:21:22] ​I'm saying you understand the differential between the position. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[01:21:26] ​I am talking Beth. [01:21:30] ​I was in a meeting of all the local Clerk's today. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[01:21:32] ​I don't have less work than other quirks. And when Clerks have more work, they have additional deputies.Dryden has two deputies, one full time, one part time. Every other deputy in Tompkins makes more than my deputy. And every . . . The difference between my salary and Caroline's salary is $15,000. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[01:21:52] ​But I would also just like to address the psychological impact of being paid less than minimum wage and having the Town Supervisor think that your job is no more time consuming than hers. That is really, really hard. Every day when I'm working 40 hours, what makes it worse is the voices around me saying you should have been able to do this double time. So how about that? Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[01:22:16] ​Mimi if you have a 40 hour week position at Ithaca. Bakery. Have you considered calling it a twenty five hour week position and then just goading them until they can produce 40 hours a week, a week of work in twenty five hours? Because that could be a great money saving strategy! Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[01:22:32] ​Hey, Ellen, I have a question. Can you speak to the fact that Buddy Rowlands has one hundred thousand dollar package? Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[01:22:38] ​Because it is. So, Stephanie, can you speak to the fact that you were upset he. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:22:43] ​No SHE Asked you a question Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[01:22:44] ​OK, so Ellen, Ellen can make minimum wage. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[01:22:48] ​When when sexism is solved because the highway department. Have you looked at what their workman's comp costs because their workman's comp costs about six hundred dollars a month. Your workman's comp, Bob's, mine Mimi's, and Virginia's together costs about 18 dollars a month. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[01:23:08] ​So their job is riskier. And you know as well as I know that Buddy's salaries and the salaries for his employees are commensurate with highway department salaries. The Supervisor's salary is quite in line with other Supervisors. Only the Clerk is 50 percent of other Town Clerks both in New York and in Tompkins. So Ellen can make minimum wage when sexism is solved. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[01:23:33] ​So I just want to clarify, you are okaying the almost four times as much you know that Buddy is being compensated because of the tradition of misogyny? Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:23:44] ​So we're not talking about highway employees. We're talking about the Highway superintendent whose responsibilities are different than highway employees. [01:23:55] ​In Enfield, We should pay people commensurate with their occupations. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[01:24:00] ​We have to acknowledge that commensurate with their occupations has a long tradition of misogyny. [01:24:07] ​And do we know where you are? Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[01:24:08] ​So how do you solve sexism by paying this Clerk less than minimum wage? How are you? Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[01:24:13] ​I was not going to not I'm not saying that we shouldn't. I'm not saying we shouldn't. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[01:24:17] ​And the reason that you and Supervisor McGee conceive of your worth as greater than the worth of the town clerk is because of misogyny. You're both working in traditionally gender neutral or male occupations, which is leadership. And I am working in a traditionally female occupation, which is why you guys try to press me down and pink-collar me so freaking hard. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:24:39] ​That is a ridiculous, that is a baseless accusation and I'm done listening to it. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[01:24:45] ​I am actually interested in not squabbling over the crumbs. I am actually interested in looking at the tradition of misogyny within salaries, within our Town and addressing those issues. I'm not going to squabble over 4000 dollars for the Supervisor versus the Clerk. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:25:04] ​Oh For God's sake. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[01:25:06] ​Okay. Yeah, she's not going to listen. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[01:25:06] ​I'm I'm just looking at job descriptions for positions across the board. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[01:25:12] ​Sort of a basic study. What. What. What are the qualifications, expectations, duties, etc. And then you start to see how it plays out in terms of, you know, different towns and so forth. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[01:25:26] ​It's a very basic study and kind of tedious. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[01:25:29] ​When really if you look at it,. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[01:25:30] ​The the last Clerk that was in there for 10 years will go on record saying that she work 20 to 25 hours a week. The other supervisor was working. You know, we'll go on record saying they were working more than 40 hours a week. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[01:25:43] ​But that's not the point. I don't want numbers. What I really care about is the fact that we have a hugely what we're basing this all on a tradition of misogyny and that we're really not willing to increase those positions because of sexism within our culture. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:25:59] ​I do have a question, Bob. So Buddy says now he's been in office for 12 years. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:26:06] ​Every one of those years, he's had an increase of approximately twelve hundred dollars at two percent. The first Yero supervisor, actually, I proposed and was adopted a four percent increase for him, which would have been double that. Where were you? Then complaining. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:26:25] ​That that position shouldn't have that kind of increase. We're talking about over 12 years. Oh, maybe about 14000, more than fourteen thousand dollars worth of an increase to the Highway superintendent salary without any increase to the Town supervisor. So what is the difference there? Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:26:44] ​Can you can you, you know, express the differences? Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:26:48] ​We can't do anything about the past. Are going. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:26:50] ​No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:26:51] ​I'm not going to answer that question. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:26:54] ​No, of course not. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:26:55] ​Of course not. So where are you? Why would you even. You even proposed this year that in your e-mail that we should increase the Highway superintendent. That would have been twelve hundred dollars. So why would you propose that? But then suggest that the Town supervisor position not get an increase of nine, which is an increase in the Highway superintendent salary. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:27:16] ​I'm sorry. What? Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:27:17] ​I have not proposed an increase in salary. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:27:21] ​So what do you define. The supervisors position as Part-Time. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:27:26] ​Yes. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:27:27] ​And what does that look like for you? Twenty hours a week. OK. So we also have a position that is clearly defined as about that much, and that is the code enforcement officer. That position is twenty nine thousand nine hundred and fifty dollars proposed this year. So do you think that we should cut that position? Twenty thousand dollars. I mean, that's what he makes in Enfield, Lynch. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:27:51] ​I don't know the half time position. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:27:53] ​It is a half time position. I had him do an assessment himself in the busiest month of the year last year. So, yes, it is a half time position. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:28:03] ​Well, I would like to see the Clerks position go up. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:28:05] ​If I asked you a question, when I asked you a question, I asked you a question. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:28:11] ​So that is a clearly defined Half-Time position in this town. So should we reduce that to 20 thousand dollars? Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:28:21] ​Because the Town of you, Newfield, reduce their salary for Alan is just around 20 thousand dollars. A little over. So why not? Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:28:33] ​Why not? Why wouldn't we reduce that? Well, it's not a half time job. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:28:37] ​I think political positions inherently have much compensation. OK. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:28:43] ​That doesn't mean. That's right. You've defined half time. And in Enfield, we have a position that is absolutely defined as halftime. And I will also say that we have a court Clerk position where there's no definition whatsoever that even work is actually being done by that court Clerk. There's no proof of that. There's no time Clerk. There's no affirmation by the judge that that work is being done. In fact, our judge is actually was a court clerk in the past and Probably does much of that work, and yet that's a twelve thousand dollar position that I haven't heard you mentioned anything about. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:29:30] ​I would suggest that next year, after we're done with the budget cycle, we have a complete study that we can do internally. We don't have to farm it out to a consultant that we study what each of these positions is truly worth and what it should be compensated at, rather than doing it piecemeal one by one. It would be a good idea to do next year. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:29:55] ​But I just asked you a question with clear, defined information provided by the code enforcement officer himself. Eighty eight hours a week or a month in the busiest month of the year, also taking approximately three weeks off every January and not being in the office. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:30:23] ​Although on call and I have thought that's a problem. So. Why would you not suggest that that position be reduced to twenty thousand dollars? If you've defined 20000 as a adequate salary for Haaften. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:30:40] ​For a political position. What's the difference between a political position? You're talking about the value of work? Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:30:46] ​Well, I tell you, I work about 20 hours a week on a thirty five hundred dollar a year. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:30:54] ​What are you doing? Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:30:57] ​I'm doing a lot of research. Do you see what I emailed you today? I did an alternate Buddy budget study. I do research in. I called the various Highway superintendent. I called the county administrator and the county finance director yesterday, emailed them, got information from them on state aid. I do a lot. [01:31:21] ​That's their choice. Town. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:31:23] ​Yes, it is. And that's because it's a political position. And I'm not seeking a raise. But the political positions you are likely to be working more than the Clerk would otherwise indicate. In terms of your salary. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:31:38] ​And the Town clerk as a political position, it's elected. [01:31:44] ​That's right. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:31:45] ​And that's one of the reasons why probably the code officer gets a little more than the Town clerk and the Town Supervisor McGee. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:31:54] ​Ten thousand dollars more or half time. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:31:59] ​When you're talking about the amount of work and the amount of hours, you're talking double that in compensation, more, you know, this counts. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:32:09] ​Know. Here is something I would like to point out to you. You have said before. That this supervisor should step down and let someone who is willing to do it for twenty thousand dollars do it. So what? When you said that to me, what that said to me was that a 70 year old white man who didn't have obligations of children or other needs like insurance, like a single person or a single woman might need or a person who needs child care. Those people who may need those additional supports, who could represent this town in this position. That's what what I heard when you said that, that only people like you should be afforded the ability to do these jobs here. And to me, that's so typical and so disappointing. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:33:09] ​And quite honestly, I am going to make a political statement here. It is unlike any Democrat that I have ever heard speak so. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[01:33:19] ​I think there's an inherent difference between what you are doing with your 20 hours a week and what is required of the super visor. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[01:33:26] ​You know, when the supervisor has to do their job, they are doing things like reporting, budgeting, you know, making sure everybody has their Paychex, making sure everything is insured. Meeting with Najma, there's there's things that are required of the Town. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[01:33:41] ​It's not, oh, I'm going to call up and form a political opinion based on something I'm hearing from another Town. It's actually things that make our town run. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[01:33:50] ​It's things that are required to make our town run. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[01:33:53] ​And so that's that's the difference when you're talking about a political opposition versus actual work that needs to be accomplished for our Town to run. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[01:34:02] ​It's just what I am going to go back to what I said. I'm going to make it my business to look at other towns, job descriptions for these positions elected and appointed, because the basic line is when you have a job description in front of you and that Town says this is the description we hire someone for next to do. Then you have a beginning, a mess saying you have a foul mouth, which you have to be kidding because believe me, Lee got upset. Other Town supervisors do Anne Town, Clerks to Anne and on. They encompass many different things within each one. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[01:34:42] ​And and that really boils down to why some towns can afford and should afford to have auxiliary positions that are being complained about here. What the Town to run according to state law, Town law and to the benefit most of all to the people who live here. And that means you better watch your.$. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[01:35:07] ​I don't know if I've made that clear or not, but to me, it's look at job descriptions and requirements. That's something that someone comes up and said, Well, I have to do this, this and this. And we've we find that that really isn't necessary if we had the appropriate people doing certain jobs. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:35:33] ​Do we have a discussion? State aid and sixteen thousand dollars that was in this year's budget for Amy Aye. and is now being zeroed out yet I understand it is because of the state being too stingy and likely to be too stingy in next year's budget. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:35:58] ​So actually, what it is, is that in the past we have budgeted assuming we'd get it, but we've never budgeted, assuming we're gonna get chips until the budget is prepared and we get a letter saying we're going to get it. So it is really poor budgeting to assume you're going to get sixteen thousand thirty one dollars from the state, especially now when the last two years it's been questionable. And we have had issues with wondering if we were even going to get that money. So the reasonable and responsible way to budget is to assume you are not going to get it, just like we do with chips, because that is state aid also. And to account for that appropriately. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:36:41] ​And if you get it, then you'll get it. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:36:45] ​If we get it this year, we won't know until December. [01:36:51] ​Because you don't know until DEC likely that Governor Cuomo will zero it out. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:36:56] ​All right. So what's your question? Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:36:58] ​Or have those golf courses, we either cut things that will provide us services to compensate for this lack of aid or we say, look, our taxpayers are going to have to, to a limited extent, take it on the chin and we're going to have to cover that money that Albany won't give us. I understand that. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:37:26] ​I'm not willing to do that because we have a fund balance policy in place, which you need to respect, that was put in place by a board that worked on that and understood. And actually the fund balance policy that we have is really like the minimal. Policy balance that we we could have and we are right on target with that. And you have a highway superintendent that wants us to keep building and adding 50000 here. Forty thousand there in a flat budget year and want to. And consistently says, oh, every year we always move it from the general fund. You can't do that. You can't have a highway fund. That is not. [01:38:12] ​Fit. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:38:13] ​And then Rob Peter to pay Paul every year. And the general fund budget in order to stay in line with the fund balanced policy. There's only about twenty five thousand dollars in there to play with outside of the fund balance policy. And when you have extra money in your fund balance, your responsibility is to look at the other places in your town in the Aye. fund side, where you need capital improvements and to put that money to that direction, not to make up for shortfalls of other people who overspend and have bloated budgets. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:38:52] ​That's what. Tax increases, responsible tax increase. About why not get involved when necessary. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:39:01] ​I have never. No, I'm sorry. I'm not interested in increasing beyond that. And I'm not it's not going over the taxes that this year making make the tax cap is a mythical beast, as I've said before. [01:39:17] ​I understand that. I R.D. at all. It's not an arbitrary figure. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:39:22] ​It's a meaningless, arbitrary figure. And I know that flies in the face of a lot of things that conservatives say, but it is a mystery. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:39:32] ​Are you a conservative? It's a meaningless number. I'm sorry, did you just say that you're a conservative? Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:39:38] ​I'm a moderate. I'm a centrist. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:39:45] ​OK, I'm not interested in exceeding the fact that the share I think that it's extremely irresponsible and and really I know too many people that are on the brink and I'm just not I'm personally not willing to try to impose that. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[01:40:03] ​I do feel like you're coming from a place of privilege, Robert. Robert Anne, I think it's really important for you to acknowledge that privilege and understand that there are people that are not in that position within our Town and that there are many people that are not in that position in this town. And it's just really not responsible to put that burden on our people, on the staff. [01:40:20] ​Me, I had to wait, let my dog down. But there are so many people in this town that are not in. [01:40:27] ​Give it an. [01:40:29] ​Moderate, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la. When you like like a game of guidelines. [01:40:36] ​Do you realize how low our Town taxes. It's only about seven dollars per thousand? [01:40:41] ​Well, that's funny because the last three years I All Aye. for the last three years. [01:40:50] ​Look at the other towns around Ohio, which discourages people from moving out here. [01:40:59] ​Look at us in relation to other towns. It's high. [01:41:07] ​But what we're talking about making that highway department full is only about it. It's only about twenty five dollars. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:41:14] ​Your definition of holes, you know. You know, I really thought that the letter was back and forth. You asked for help from Ulysses and then you completely ignored and didn't acknowledge anything she said. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:41:29] ​Because the other Town Supervisor McGee, the high highway superintendent, I should say, told me that Ulysses is not a valid comparison for the reasons that I have stated. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[01:41:40] ​You'll come to hear other town clerk you're not a valid comparison either, because they had double the miles. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:41:48] ​They were only a valid comparison because they agreed with Roberts thinking. [01:41:53] ​So there is that and there's also the Ulysses. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:41:57] ​Also, has it included village? And that wraps up Ulysses a whole lot. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:42:08] ​It's not making the highway department whole, it's it's continuing on with a bloated highway department budget. And in doing that, we have to neglect other services within our Town, including increases for the supervisor and the town clerk. That would make these traditionally misogynistic salaries and some sort of equal playing field. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:42:34] ​This discussion really isn't advancing anywhere. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:42:38] ​No, it's not the direction you prefer. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:42:41] ​I'm going to be voting against this budget. If that's if there's going to be no significant change from what the preliminary budget states. And that's just going to have to be the way it's going to have to be. Now, there are several other questions I have about this budget, which I'd like to have answered tonight, if I could go for it. [01:42:58] ​OK. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:43:01] ​Why does unemployment insurance going up can almost eleven grand, so I actually explained this at the last meeting where you're not present. There are people attending this meeting tonight who may not have been present, and I would like you to explain it. [01:43:21] ​If you were here and aware. Go ahead. [01:43:26] ​I want you to explain why. Because I don't know the answer to it. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:43:31] ​OK. OK, so I explained last time that the amount that I budgeted was for worst case scenario. It is only in the event that we go over our threshold, which is approximately fifteen thousand dollars. We are we contribute to unemployment. We've been at this threshold for many, many years and have not had to access unemployment compensation. And so the amount is up to. So it's whatever our rate is that they give us, which is a rating based on many different factors. And we don't know the rating until the beginning of the year of like mid-January. So the amount that they will charge us per employee is up to eleven thousand eight hundred dollars of an employee's salary. By that rate. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:44:31] ​So after speaking or when speaking with the representative from unemployment, I asked them because, you know, I kind of want to be cautious about the situation, how long they'd worked. There was 16 years. What was the highest rate that they had ever seen? That was nine point nine. They confirmed they had worked for unemployment during the crash. And at that point in time, it did not exceed that rate. So I determined that I would propose a budget that would be based on a potential rate increase for Enfield, which I think Enfield right now is that point nine. Nine is our rate. If we were to exceed in this year and go over our threshold, they could determine Aye. the maximum rate. But they also could determine a rate of two percent, not 10 percent. But it's my job to prepare for the worst case scenario. So I based it on a 10 percent rate of up to eleven thousand eight hundred dollars for each of the employees that unemployment applies to. Which does not include elected officials. So that is what that amount is based on. And it may well not be. We don't know. We're about three thousand dollars from the threshold. If we do not exceed the threshold by the end of the year, then we may not have a rate increase. If we do get a rate increase and if it's significant, they will likely give us an opportunity to pay up to the threshold. All in one bulk payment, which would probably be beneficial to the Town to do because they could impose the rate increase. And if it's the maximum of 10 percent, they could potentially impose that for up to three years at a time. But the threshold is still about twenty five thousand dollars less than what the Town actually paid out in payroll or would have lost in payroll. If we had not utilized partial unemployment, we have fire highways jack up the route. [01:46:50] ​If we have to fire a highway worker. [01:46:54] ​What do you mean? [01:46:56] ​What we are. We are eliminating one of our high won't jack up the rate B.. [01:47:01] ​Yeah. So and so I asked them that question. I know what person. Excuse me, Virginia. I'm sorry. So a person we we don't know. I actually ask that question. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:47:12] ​So when a person leaves the employment of the Town that person, if they know it and if this budget is set and they and the highway superintendent has to make a decision about that, they would presumably know about that before the first of the year. They could find another job before that time even starts. And if they do, they're not drawing on unemployment. But even so, they're not going to meet that threshold this year. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:47:43] ​Or they could increase this year or 26 weeks or 52 weeks or whatever the state determines. And I would think our rates would go up. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:47:52] ​You would think or you would know, because I'm telling you, family find out if the men, they're not going to do that because they're not getting the additional benefit anymore. [01:48:04] ​Well, even if the rate did go up, it wouldn't go up as much as the pay that we're paying them with benefits. So financially, it's still a more responsible position to reduce that, to reduce the number of workers. [01:48:19] ​So do you understand that explanation of how unemployment is calculated? [01:48:24] ​It's complex. [01:48:26] ​I don't have it. It's really not actually complex. It was very simple when they explained it. [01:48:32] ​Well, in addition to that, there is the unknown, it's unprecedented at times. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:48:38] ​I know after 9/11, there was a surcharge for everybody, regardless of whether they were at the lowest rate or not. And that surcharge was fairly high. I can't really imagine that there's not going to be a CoVid surcharge. They've got to have they're going to have to boost that fund back up again. And so they're going to they're going to lose control. [01:49:04] ​We have over the elimination of state aid. We have no control over the increase in unemployment compensation or the increase in workers comp. And I know that when you have these things you have no control over, you have to adjust and you may have to ask the taxpayers to pay a little more. [01:49:27] ​Or you have to reassess how you provide service and ask your municipality to be more responsible about how they provide it. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:49:40] ​And that's why I will. I have proposed that the deputy supervisory position be cut to five thousand dollars. OK. [01:49:53] ​We may not even tell a sir. I'd like one to please. CoVid. [01:50:04] ​OK. So where are we now? So unemployment, that conversation, a clear on how that's calculated, but you think everybody Anne in attendance now understands? [01:50:13] ​OK. So what's next is all those things that we've got to realize it up and wash that are affecting us beyond our control. And there are some costs that maybe we have some control over. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:50:30] ​OK. So what's next on the list? Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:50:32] ​Five thousand dollars to the Grainge. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:50:36] ​You don't want to. You do not want to support the Grainge in the amount of five thousand dollars, I think three thousand would be more realistic. [01:50:46] ​OK. So what could they do with 3000? Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:50:50] ​Maybe pay their electric bill. [01:50:55] ​Duly noted. Anybody got questions on that? [01:51:02] ​All right, what's next? [01:51:05] ​I noticed that diesel and gas fuel you knocked down from fifty five thousand to fifty thousand. Is that based on experience? [01:51:14] ​It's based on looking at all of the costs over the last year and a half. All of that is available for Tompkins County online. [01:51:22] ​You can see all of the gas prices for or all of the prices for all the fuel products and and the trends over time. And there has been a seven percent decrease that's been consistent over the last year and a half. [01:51:34] ​And you think it's going to continue? Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:51:38] ​I'm budgeting for that. [01:51:40] ​So. Yeah. Do you not you're not going to run too short. [01:51:44] ​If you don't, you can take it out of another line. [01:51:48] ​If you do, you can take it out of another. [01:51:52] ​Confidential secretary, you proposed a 500 hour increase. Why? [01:51:58] ​Because at first I. So I, I actually spoke with Alice Linton about the position and asked her. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:52:05] ​She thought that it made sense to have the duties of the confidential secretary absorbed by the deputy Town Clerk or the deputy Town supervisor. [01:52:14] ​And she agreed. And. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:52:17] ​And then I suggested the reasons why, because I wanted those funds to support an increase for the Town Clerk position. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:52:26] ​And that did not go over well. So I have now. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:52:33] ​Of course, she has changes in her life and she has resigned. And I think it's completely reasonable that we reduce the budget by this position and that those duties and that check and balance be absorbed by the deputy Town supervisor. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:52:50] ​So I am not proposing a five hundred dollar increase at this point. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:52:54] ​All right. Because that's what's in it. That's within the budget. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:52:57] ​You're right. But she resigned since then. And I wanted to be respectful of her and her thought process going forward. So I wanted to account for that. If there were ways that her assistance in the whole paying bills process would provide an additional check and balance between the three positions and and again, we agreed that it would be fine and suitable for the deputy Town supervisor to absorb that duty. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:53:29] ​So this will be twenty five hundred dollars savings? Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:53:31] ​Yes, it will be. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:53:34] ​And again, not a savings, because the work isn't being saved. The work is being done by between the supervisor and the deputy Town supervisor. So the responsibility and the purpose of that position are being absorbed by. That the two positions. [01:53:54] ​Do any other members of the Town board have any concerns or questions or changes they would like to make legally after the preliminary budget before it becomes a final budget? [01:54:17] ​Nobody has any questions. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:54:21] ​Is it the intent of this Town board, presuming there is not a groundswell of opposition to the preliminary budget at the hearing next week to promptly adopt the preliminary budget as a final budget of that same night, the night of the 30th? [01:54:42] ​I I can't predict that. I would like to hear it. But if you think. [01:54:53] ​Can you hear me now? No. OK. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:54:56] ​I can't predict that, but if you think a ground swell is 15 people like you did before. [01:55:06] ​I'm not sure that's gonna be a groundswell for me. So. [01:55:11] ​I like I said, I I'm interested in what other board members have to say. I'm interested in the public view. I think that this budget is based on is a pragmatic budget. It is based on observation. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:55:28] ​If I had if I could, I would increase the Town clerk salary, even though I did that against. I think that the Town clerk position I wanted the salary in a tough year to go up to what it would have been, at the very least, if Alice Linton were still in the position because it was reduced in last year's budget. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:55:53] ​And so I wanted that position to be at least what it was when she if she were still in the position this year. And then additionally acknowledge that the tax collector position is additional responsibility. And that is why I proposed an additional stipend for that. So in up in a perfect world, if I had a magic wand, I'd take that forty thousand dollars in, like, hopeful additions or with a seventy five thousand dollars in the flat budget that the Highway superintendent proposed. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:56:28] ​Additionally, and add that to the general fund side and to work to do some great things that have been completely ignored in the Aye. funds side of the Town community responsibilities, assisting other organizations in the Town providing equity and salaries. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:56:49] ​I would love to do that and unfortunately I have people there questioning the value of the work of the people. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:56:57] ​And with regard to the Town supervisor, you don't have a planning department. You want legal fees to be limited. You have half the legal fee or legal costs budget of other towns. And you expect your Town supervisor to maintain and manage all of that for you and to keep your asses out of libelous situations. OK. So that's what you put on this Town supervisor and there is historic confirmation of that. So, Bob, you think that you want to do this job and you're going to do it for twenty thousand dollars? Well, you go ahead and do it because I have no doubt that what you think this job is and what you would do for this town is so minimal compared to what's been done for this Town. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:57:49] ​That's fine. I don't really care. Just don't make my taxes go up. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:57:54] ​I really don't see a situation where people are going to show up to the public hearing and rallying support for increased taxes, Robert. I mean, eat year budget is just completely out of hand. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:58:06] ​Will the next week's agenda after the public hearing have adoption of the final budget on the agenda? Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:58:16] ​It will be on the agenda, the budget discussion will any board member can move Mimi it moved last week to put this on or two weeks ago to put this up, move the two preliminary. So I don't know, from one week to next to the next, what Enfield is going to present me with this whole year has been a total cluster with regard to that and trying to navigate what is presented to me as a facilitator of these meetings from one month to the next or one week to the next. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:58:43] ​So I'm sure mean, you could propose that. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:58:50] ​Can I ask a question about the budget? Sure. I'm a little bit confused about how we got the fire contract will not be in place by the time we adopt a budget, and yet we have to have a number in there. Is that a problem? Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:59:09] ​I don't think it's a problem because if they don't negotiate in good faith, if they don't if the Town doesn't come to an agreement with them, then that money sits in the fire fund and you can always appropriate it toward the levy next year if you decide not to. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:59:25] ​Well, I mean, in terms of the rest of the contract, but isn't it also true that if they can't negotiate a contract, that the present contract has to stay? Yes. Flat with no increase. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:59:38] ​Maybe. I think that Stephanie will agree that based on the last meeting we had with the fire company representatives on the 14th, I don't think that it's going to be any problem with we're creating to the fired company the market in the budget. They seem satisfied that the thirty five thousand dollars for the turn out year would be an adequate increase for twenty twenty one. Beyond that point, there are questions, but we only have to worry about twenty twenty one. So, Stephanie, if you disagree with me, feel free to speak up. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[02:00:16] ​But I think that I agree. Wait one. No, no. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[02:00:20] ​You unless you're only doing a one year contract you do have to worry about beyond 2021. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[02:00:27] ​Yeah, we do. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[02:00:28] ​We're just saying that as far as this budget is concerned, they have agreed that this year, saying with a flat budget and also getting that thirty five thousand dollars for turnout gear is agreeable for them. But we haven't negotiated beyond that. So we still have to. They're concerned basically, if they were to tie in their budget with our fluctuations, with Town, Anne Highway, as we were discussing how that would affect them. Should we take a significant decrease? And they are they're basically asked them to come back to us with a baseline of how low they're willing to go with the Town if we should see those kind of cuts. And so they just want a guarantee of that sort. So we will come back when they have those numbers and they actually have come through with with the budgets and things like that now. [02:01:15] ​So I salt barn should be able to. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[02:01:18] ​Not in left in reference to fire in a fire. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[02:01:22] ​We have not seen the total. We're not seeing it. We're near total results of the cuts to carbon. We keep saying they're coming down. We don't have any numbers. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[02:01:34] ​Well, I'm sorry, Virginia. What did you say? Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[02:01:36] ​I'm sorry, I'm saying that over all of this. I love the fire department. I'm thrilled that they're going to get a proper turnout gear. And I think the budget is going to just say overall, we're still all waiting like Godot or somebody for the final or the rain down of the cuts are going to come up and we're going to have to deal with them. We don't know what they are. And little bits and pieces come in and you can't believe everything you read. So I don't certainly. But I'm just putting man out there. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[02:02:13] ​Well, it seems clear that the county is going to increase. I wouldn't be surprised at all if the state taxes increased. So doing our part to keep things as flat as possible. I think that only ansible thing that we could do, and I think that's what people that I would represent would want me to do. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[02:02:32] ​So while I'm on the board, a couple of nonprofits that they're going flat are under flat. Just to be prepared or try to be prepared. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[02:02:48] ​And I guess, you know, we could always look into if the tasks cannot be completed in the way that the board is interested in them being completed by the highway department there, the Town board does have the authority to contract with someone else to do the work. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[02:03:06] ​So there's always that. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[02:03:13] ​Is there anything else? All right. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[02:03:22] ​Then I will. Is there any announcement? OK. Thank you. I'll make a motion to adjourn. Thank you. Goodnight. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[02:03:37] ​Have a good night.