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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-30-2020 Special Town Board MeetingTown of Enfield - Public Hearing & Special Meeting 9/30/2020 6:00 pm DRAFT Minutes 1 Town of Enfield PUBLIC HEARING- 2021 PRELIMINARY BUDGET 6:00 PM Special Town Board Meeting, Wednesday September 30, 2020, immediately following. Virtual Meeting via Zoom Meeting Portal Meeting Link: ​ ​https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82595846961 Meeting ID: ​825 9584 6961 Call in Number: (646) 876- 9923 (landline or cell) Supervisor Beth McGee called the Public Hearing to order at 6 pm. Present Supervisor Beth McGee, Councilperson Virginia Bryant, Councilperson Robert Lynch, Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey, Councilperson/Deputy Supervisor Stepahnie Redmond, Town Clerk Ellen Woods, Deputy Town Clerk Patricia Speno, Highway Superintendent Buddy Rollins Additions and Changes to Agenda Supervisor McGee requests additions or changes to agenda: No requests for changes or additions to agenda were presented. Town Clerk Ellen Woods: No emails or other correspondence regarding the hearing were submitted to the Town Hall regarding the Public Hearing. The Public Hearing Notice was published in the Ithaca Journal, the Town paper of record as required by law eight days prior to the date of the Public Hearing. Privilege of the Floor (See Transcript) ●Mackenzie Newhart ●Pete Meyers (Tompkins County Workers’Center) ●Gabe Newhart ●Uriel Carpenter ●Nancy Spero ●Becky Sims, ●Ray Barriere ●Diane Armini ●Beverly Rollins ●Julie McGee ●Michael Carpenter ●Patricia Speno Supervisor Beth McGee closed the Public Hearing at 6:58 pm Town of Enfield - Public Hearing & Special Meeting 9/30/2020 6:00 pm DRAFT Minutes 2 Special Meeting Supervisor McGee calls the Meeting to Order at 6:59 pm Privilege of the Floor Diane Aramini - Asks what has changed with the position of Town Clerk. Town Clerk Ellen Woods responds at the request of Supervisor Beth McGee Old Business Attorney Access Policy Supervisor Beth McGee moves her submitted Attorney Contact Policy Councilperson Stepahnie Redmond seconds. Town of Enfield Policy Regarding Authorization to Contact Town Attorney WHEREAS, the Town of Enfield contracts with an attorney for the purposes of counsel to the Town regarding legal matters, and; WHEREAS, communication with and payment for services of the Town Attorney are at the discretion of the Enfield Town Board, and; WHEREAS, the Town Supervisor tends to legal concerns for the town as a representative for the Town Board, therefore be it RESOLVED, the Town Supervisor is authorized to communicate with the Town Attorney within the bounds of the amount budgeted as is necessary to complete the tasks relating to town legal matters, and; RESOLVED, the Town Board may, from time to time, authorize another Town Board member to communicate directly with the Town Attorney upon agreement of the Board on specific issues at hand, and; RESOLVED, all other parties, elected or appointed, may reach out to the Association of Towns, contingent upon continued membership thereof, for legal consult, or may appeal to the Town Board for legal consultation on specific issues as necessary. Town of Enfield - Public Hearing & Special Meeting 9/30/2020 6:00 pm DRAFT Minutes 3 Discussion Councilperson Robert Lynch moves the policy he submitted previously per Board Request. Link: ​Prop. REVISED Draft Policy,Authorization for Contact with the Attorney, 09-03-20 No second. Discussion Supervisor Beth McGee, Councilperson Virginia Bryant, Councilperson Robert Lynch, Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey, Councilperson Stepahnie Redmond Councilperson Virginia Bryant calls the question VOTE on Attorney Contact Policy 2020-3 Councilperson Virginia Bryan, Aye, Councilperson Robert Lynch, Nay, Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey, Aye, Councilperosn Stepahnie Redmond, Aye, Supervisor Beth McGee, Aye. Policy 2020-3 Adopted 2021 Budget 2021 Preliminary Budget Discussion Supervisor Beth McGee, Councilperson Virginia Bryant, Councilperson Robert Lynch, Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey, Councilperson Stepahnie Redmond Supervisor McGee offers Amendments to the 2021 Preliminary Budget 1.Move Unappropriated Revenue to DA9950.2 Fund Balance 2.Confidential Secretary (former Town Clerk Linton) has resigned. The $2500 appropriated for her Salary will be redistributed to PayChex Payroll Services (this was formerly handled by the Bookkeeper) ($1,400) (Line 1316.44) and Councilperson Stepahnie Redmond moves that $1100.00 from the (vacant) Confidential Secretary line be appropriated as seed money for a Community Library project. Councilperson Virginia Bryant seconds motion Discussion Supervisor Beth McGee, Councilperson Virginia Bryant, Councilperson Robert Lynch, Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey, Councilperson Stepahnie Redmond Town Clerk Ellen Woods states concern regarding inviting the public into Enfield Elementary School during a Pandemic. Is not recognized. Town of Enfield - Public Hearing & Special Meeting 9/30/2020 6:00 pm DRAFT Minutes 4 VOTE on Appropriation for Community Library Seed Fund Councilperson Virginia Bryant, Aye, Councilperson Robert Lynch, Aye, Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey, Aye, Councilperosn Stepahnie Redmond, Aye, Supervisor Beth McGee, Aye Motion Carried Councilperson Robert Lynch presented and moved several Budget Amendments ●Councilperson Lynch moved Proposed Modification 1, 2021 Preliminary Budget, HD Staff Restoration, Raise, 09-30-20 No Second ●Councilperson Lynch moved Proposed Modification 1-A, 2021 Preliminary Budget, HD Staff, Raise, 09-30-20 No Second ●Councilperson Lynch moved Proposed Modification 2, 2021 Preliminary Budget, Supervisor's Salary, 09-30-20 No Second ●Councilperson Lynch moved Proposed Modification 2-A, 2021 Preliminary Budget, Supervisor's Salary, 09-30-20 No Second ●Councilperson Lynch moved Proposed Modification 3, 2021 Preliminary Budget, Deputy Supervisor's Salary, 09-30-20 No Second ●Councilperson Lynch moved Proposed Modification 4, 2021 Preliminary Budget, Increase Contingency Fund, 09-30-20 Second, Supervisor Beth McGee Discussion Supervisor McGee offered Amendment to increase fund by $3000. VOTE on Amendment Councilperson Virginia Bryant Nay, Councilperson Robert Lynch Aye, Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey, Nay, Councilperson Stepahnie Redmond, Nay, Supervisor Beth McGee, Aye. Motion NOT Amended. Town of Enfield - Public Hearing & Special Meeting 9/30/2020 6:00 pm DRAFT Minutes 5 VOTE on Motion VOTE: Councilperson Virginia Bryant Nay, Councilperson Robert Lynch Aye, Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey, Nay, Councilperosn Stepahnie Redmond, Nay, Supervisor Beth McGee, Aye. Motion NOT carried. Supervisor McGee responds to a comment made during the Public Hearing regarding Highway and Roads. Supervisor Beth McGee moves to adopt Preliminary Budget as Final Budget with changes proposed at Special Meeting. With 1.57% increase. 2nd Councilperson Stephanie Redmond Town Clerk Ellen Woods declines to call VOTE on this motion, asking Deputy Town Clerk Patricia Speno to call the VOTE instead, stating that she cannot call a vote on a Budget that does not pay the Town Clerk New York State Minimum Wage for her Full Time Elected Office. VOTE: Councilperson Virginia Bryant, Aye, Councilperson Robert Lynch, Nay, Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey, Aye, Councilperosn Stepahnie Redmond, Aye, Supervisor Beth McGee, Aye. 2021 Town of Enfield Budget Adopted Supervisor Beth Mcgee announces her resignation effective immediately. Supervisor Beth McGee Reads Letter of Resignation ●Supervisor McGee states that there is now a Vacancy in the Office of Town Supervisor ●Supervisor McGee states that all timelines for Special Election have lapsed. ●Supervisor McGee states that anyone the Town Board nominates to fill this vacancy will serve until December 31, 2021. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey moves to nominate Councilperson Stephanie Redmond to the Office of Enfield Town Supervisor effective immediately. Councilperson Virginia Bryant seconds motion. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey calls for discussion Town of Enfield - Public Hearing & Special Meeting 9/30/2020 6:00 pm DRAFT Minutes 6 Councilperson Robert Lynch moves that Board Adjourn pending legal advice. Moves that board Adjourn and postpone action for a full month. No Second VOTE: Councilperson Bryant, Aye, Councilperson Lynch, Nay, Councilperson Mehaffey Aye Town Clerk Ellen Woods declines to call a Vote from Councilperson Redmond based on legal advice from the Association of Towns ●Former Supervisor Beth McGee disagrees with this Town Clerk Ellen Woods states that she is obligated to follow the Legal Counsel she sought on this matter. Councilperson Mehaffey suggested that a Special Meeting be held Thursday evening October 2, 2020. Friday evening October 3 was also suggested and tentatively set. Town ClerkEllen Woods states that a 48 hour public notice period is required by Law to hold a Special Town Board Meeting. Councilperson Mehaffey and Acting Supervisor Redmond ask Patricia Speno to do the notice for an earlier meeting. Patricia Speno states that she is unable to do this. Town Clerk Ellen Woods states that the Town Board is not permitted to ‘jump’ the Town Clerk on this matter. Councilperson Redmond states that she is willing to wait until Wednesday, October 7, 2020. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey states she is planning to be out of town. Special meeting is set for Monday, October 5, 2020 at 6 pm Acting Supervisor Redmond called for Adjournment at 8:24 pm Councilperson Robert Lynch seconded motion