No preview available
HomeMy WebLinkAboutJune 12, 2024 - Town of Enfield Public Hearing and regular Town Board Meeting Minutes1 Town of Enfield Public Hearing & Regular Town Board Meetfng Wednesday, June 12, 2024 6:30 PM In-person at the Enfield Town Courthouse and Virtually via the Zoom Meetfng Platiorm Present: Town Supervisor Stephanie Redmond; Town Councilpersons, Cassandra Hinkle, Melissa Millspaugh, Robert Lynch; Town Clerk Mary Cornell. Public Hearing - A Proposed Local Law – Dog Control and Licensing Local Law and Regulatfons Supervisor Redmond opened the hearing at 6:30 PM. Supervisor Redmond asked Clerk Cornell if we should postpone the public hearing. Clerk Cornell gave an overview of why a change was needed. Councilperson Lynch said the original plan was to increase the fee’s slightly and we wanted to impose a modest late fee of $5 accruing monthly. The town clerk submitted what we had come up with to the town attorney and he replied with a major overhaul of the dog law. What we had was legal, but changes with ag and markets have taken place. The dog law the attorney came up with does not really have any major regulatory changes. It has more clarity and legal specifhcity. It would clarify the law a little bit. What we can legally present at the public hearing tonight is what was presented to the public and we would need to have a second public hearing, so that everyone is aware of what we are now proposing. Overall Councilperson Lynch does not have any issues. Supervisor Redmond would like to postpone untfl the July meetfng and have another public hearing and Clerk Cornell suggested the August meetfng to give the board plenty of tfme to review the law. Supervisor Redmond closed the public hearing at 6:39 PM Called to Order: Supervisor Redmond called the meetfng to order at 6:39 PM Privilege of the Floor: Councilperson Lynch led the assemblage in the Pledge of Allegiance. Councilperson Lynch spoke on the recent adoptfon of a law to clarify the procedure for new Fire District Electfon’s that went before the state assembly. Back in March we had asked the legislature to make changes to the existfng law. State Senator Lea Webb led the initfatfve, which, was unanimously adopted. The law will clarify the electfon process which would allow voters to select 5 candidates with the fhrst electfon for a newly established fhre district. This is now on Gov. Hochul’s desk. This is too late for Enfheld, but will be instrumental for municipalitfes looking to form fhre districts. Supervisor Redmond scheduled a vacatfon in early July and her flight has a long overlay and she will miss the July meetfng. Deputy Town Supervisor Greg Hutnik will run the meetfng and complete the dutfes of the Town Supervisor in her absence. Councilperson Lynch clarifhed that Greg will not be a votfng member and confhrmed that the other board members would be at the meetfng. Supervisor Redmond was embarrassed and apologized for her oversight. Additfons and Changes to the Agenda: A brief discussion on the WQIP grant and the Haefele TV Franchise agreement will be moved above the subdivision regulatfons. Clerk Cornell had requested a discussion on the local laws to increase terms of office for the Town Supervisor, Highway Superintendent and Town Clerk. Correspondence: NYSDOT sent a response to our request to close the passing zone in front of Enfheld School. Councilperson Lynch thanked Enfheld Resident Gretchen Kirchgessner for bringing this to the Town Board. It should be restriped soon. Quarterly Reports Environmental Management Council: Peter Penniman – They are in the middle of updatfng their bylaws, their website was updated and should be more user friendly. There are a number of associate memberships available if anyone is 2 interested. They are doing work on updatfng the unique natural areas. Supervisor Redmond asked if Connectfcut Hill was part of a unique natural area on the Enfheld side. Peter checked and it does not appear so. Enfheld has the smallest collectfve of areas that are marked as unique natural areas in the County. Enfield Community Council: Robert Lynch – If anyone is thinking of joining the ECC as a volunteer they are in need of more help. Those that are currently volunteering have a lot on their shoulders and more volunteers can help spread the burden. They are planning the harvest festfval for mid-September; they may have the ping-pong ball drop this year (Weather dependent). This will be the 49th Annual Harvest Festfval so they are looking to plan the 50th next year. They are planning a robust summer camp and they are hoping to increase their campers to pre pandemic levels, with a full summer program. Vera Howe-Strait emailed about the basketball court there is a crack in the asphalt and grass was growing through it. Greg Hutnik there appears to be bubbles that may need to be pounded down and Vera would like gravel added on the roadside of the basketball court. This really falls under the responsibility of the ECC at this point. The paving of the court was done by a private contractor, who may need to come back and look at it. Supervisor Redmond asked Highway Superintendent Rollins if he would be willing to bring gravel. he replied that he would be willing to do it if the board approves it. Tompkins County Youth Board: N/A Food Pantry: Jean Owens – Clerk Cornell read the report that Jean had submitted. The full report is on fhle with the Clerk’s Office. Recreatfon Partnership: Cassandra Hinkle – It is budget season and they looked at three budget models. There would have been cuts if they had not chosen to increase the budget by 2%. The Current budget is $8,391.00, the new budget is $8,554. Park Committee: Greg Hutnik – He shared that we are well into the year and new projects are limited at this tfme. The current project is the SkateGarden. Rich Teeter has offered equipment, etc., to assist in brush hogging by the Highway Department if the Town decides to build/create a Town Park there. Cayuga Lake Watershed ID - Supervisor Redmond – The Fingerlakes Land Trust holds a lot of property that they are in the process of handing over to the NYSDEC. They recently had a conference. The watershed manager has put a lot of effort into educatfng municipalitfes on ditch cleaning, the best tfme is mid-May or well before winter and to make sure that the sides of the ditches are not too steep as this can cause erosion. Tompkins Health Consortfum: Supervisor Redmond – They had an open house on May 2 at their new locatfon. Members became certffhed in adult mental health fhrst aid on June 10. They passed a resolutfon on pharmaceutfcal plan benefhts. Subscriber and member have increased by 8% and costs have increased by 10%. Cemetery Committee: Cassandra Hinkle – They had a good turnout for the cleanup and they are working on creatfng the rose garden. Councilperson Lynch stated that every tfme the contractor mows, he charges $900. Currently it is at the discretfon of the cemetery mower if he mows once or twice a month. Councilperson Hinkle suggested that we can talk about this, and decide who we want to make the decision at a future committee meetfng. Aesthetfcally speaking two seems good at this tfme, however, it could be mowed less often later in the year. Clerk Cornell shared there was confusion regarding fees charged for a recent crematfon burial, and it might be a good idea for the committee to look at the verbiage and consider clarifying it. Water Protectfon Committee: Stephanie Redmond. MJ, our specialist from the New York State Rural Water Associatfon, has left her positfon and they are waitfng for the new person to start. They have not done additfonal testfng yet, but they are planning on doing so soon. There has not been any manure dumping near where they are testfng, which is why they have not done additfonal testfng. Becky Simms shared a presentatfon on the needs-based survey, they are picking their way through the survey from Steve Winkley. 3 Sustainability Committee – Cassandra Hinkle. They are looking at ways for tfre recycling. She went to a repair café in Hector and there was a great turnout. People attended with lamps, clocks, vacuums, etc. Ann Rider has offered her services for sewing repairs. The town has received a $60,000 grant and she is working on a quote from Renovus and an Energy audit will be completed on the Town Hall. They are also working with Climate Smart Communitfes for a $5,000 grant for the repair café. The committee will be meetfng in the next week. Fire District Report: Robert Lynch –The full report is on fhle with the Town Clerk. Monthly Reports County Legislature: Anne Koreman – The County approved funding to contfnue virtual meetfngs. They had a vote on a tax cap increase, which was voted down. This year ’s tax increase is looking at being a 2% increase. They are startfng discussions on increasing room tax. They have made improvements at the airport they do not have all of the funding to pay off the bonds. The county has had to chip in funds over the last couple of years, as they have not had additfonal revenue to cover the bond payments. Southern tfer reginal conference is on June 20 from 3-5 at cinemapolis. She is hopeful someone from the Town can attend this meetfng. After hearing about the repair café’s she is feeling very motfvated to fhx her grandmothers coocoo clock. Town Supervisor’s Report: Stephanie Redmond – In additfon to the normal dutfes of the office of Town Supervisor; she met with area town supervisors and they had a presentatfon from Cayuga Medical Center. She attended the County mitfgatfon plan meetfng, the water protectfon committee meetfng, the sustainability committee meetfng, and a SkateGarden meetfng. Highway Superintendent Report: Buddy Rollins. They fhlled almost three dumpsters of trash and they fhlled a dumpster ¾ of the way with steel. They have their new radios and they are set, he would like to distribute the old ones out to other highway or fhre companies. Danby and Mecklenburg Fire Dept ’s . would like to have a couple. Enfheld Fire Company has not responded if they would like a couple yet. They are doing road prep. The two new used trucks have arrived and they have them cleaned, prepped and are ready to go. Councilperson Lynch proposed that maybe later in the meetfng the Town Board should pass a routfne motfon to approve this actfon of rehoming the radios Code Enforcement Report: Alan Teeter – This past month he issued 6 building permits. he reissued a permit for a shed that was issued last year, but not completed. He issued a permit for a building on Applegate Rd that may be converted to a house. He is stfll working on a couple of complaints. The Newfheld Code Enforcement Officer passed away a couple of weeks ago, he has been assistfng them untfl they hire a new one. Planning Board Report: Dan Walker – They met last week, there have not been any new projects coming in. They scanned through the comprehensive plan quickly. The foundatfon of the plan is solid and he does not think we need to rewrite the plan. They do need to update the census data, and an addendum to the main plan would be appropriate. He went through some of the six sectfons and the goals are stfll good, we may want to add one or two more. Some of the actfons have been completed (site plan, subdivision, aquifer) he asked if people have looked at the survey recently. As he was looking through the four pages of comments, he was reminded of some of the concerns. In reading those and the comments from the public hearings, etc. He thinks it is great that the Town Board has the planning board as the repository for any questfons, interest in a committee, etc. Due to the holiday, they have canceled the July planning board meetfng which was scheduled for July 3. Supervisor Redmond would like to use the ECC newsletter (Thank you to Clerk Cornell for this suggestfon) to ask questfons of what the Town wants to discuss instead of sending a survey out to residents. Councilperson Lynch has there been any future communicatfon regarding Mr. Scholl’s subdivision on Van Dorn’s Rd. Dan replied that he last spoke with him a couple of months ago and he was working on drilling the test well. He will come back to the planning board before moving forward. Discussion concerning the possibility that we would need to establish a lot size regulatfon, with what you can demand and what you can’t. If you get lots to too small you may have a water issue. Councilperson Lemke attended the recent meetfng with Crystal Buck, Crystal had given a 4 presentatfon at a recent planning board meetfng concerning Conservatfon Easements, which limit future development of agricultural land. It really does restrict what you can do with the land in the future. You get paid up front, but it can affect future generatfons. There was discussion on Crystal Buck presentfng her presentatfon at a future Town Board meetfng. Tompkins County Council of Govts: Robert Lynch – They met on May 23. Tompkins Food System Plan was the main topic: to encourage local food productfon. The full report is on fhle with the Town Clerk. Consent Agenda: Audit Claims – General Fund Vouchers #125-151 dated June 12, 2024 in the amount of $31,051.13. Highway Fund Voucher #86-104 dated June 12, 2024 in the amount of $70,470.11. Minutes – May 8, 2024 Town Board Meetfng Minutes Supervisor Redmond moved and Councilperson Lynch seconded. Vote: Councilperson Hinkle, Aye; Councilperson Lemke, Aye; Councilperson Lynch, Aye; Councilperson Millspaugh, Aye; Supervisor Redmond, Aye; Carried. New Business: Discussion: Public Hearing for Dog Law. Supervisor Redmond moved to schedule a public hearing for the August Town Board meetfng and Councilperson Millspaugh seconded. Discussion: Councilpersons Lemke and Lynch agreed that the board should discuss the changes from Legal Counsel before setting a public hearing, Supervisor Redmond thought asked if changes could be discussed during the public hearing. The board will have a discussion at the July 10 board meetfng to decide what they would like the law to say and will schedule a public hearing for the August meetfng. RESOLUTION NO. 48-2024 – Approval of June 2024 Budget Modificatfons WHEREAS, it is necessary to modify the 2024 budget based on updated estfmates of revenues and expenditures in 2024, and WHEREAS, a detailed listfng and descriptfon of each budget adjustment by Fund has been provided to the Town Board for review as presented below, be it therefore RESOLVED, that the Enfheld Town Board approves the budget modifhcatfons as outlined below. 5 Supervisor Redmond moved and Councilperson Hinkle seconded. No Discussion. Vote: Councilperson Hinkle, Aye; Councilperson Lemke, Aye; Councilperson Lynch, Aye; Councilperson Millspaugh, Aye; Supervisor Redmond, Aye; Carried. Discussion: Set a public hearing date for local laws. Supervisor Redmond asked Clerk Cornell to explain why she had asked for this to be discussed. Clerk Cornell gave an overview of why she would like to see the terms of office for the Town Supervisor, Highway Superintendent, and Town Clerk to change from 2 yr. to 4 yr. terms. Highway Superintendent Rollins and Town Supervisor Redmond generally shared Clerk Cornell’s reasoning. Councilperson Lynch to broach this topic and bring it before the voters again, just three years after when it was offered last tfme is incredibly disrespectiul to the voters. He shared the percentages of yes/no votes of the 2021 electfon results. He won’t vote to put it before the public and he may campaign against it. Councilperson Lemke can see both the positfves and negatfve sides, it can be hard to get someone removed from an elected positfon. Superintendent Rollins, the Towns of Enfheld and Danby are the only two municipalitfes that offer two-year term in the county. Supervisor Redmond moved and Councilperson Lemke seconded to hold a Public Hearing on July 10, 2024 for the proposed local laws. Vote: Councilperson Hinkle, Aye; Councilperson Lemke, Aye; Councilperson Lynch, Nay; Councilperson Millspaugh, Aye; Supervisor Redmond, Aye; Carried. GENERAL FUND - A JUNE 2024 BUDGET MODIFICATIONS Current Increase/Modified Account #Description Budget (Decrease)Budget Expenditures A1620.42 Buidings - Maintenance and Improvements 4,730.00$ 45,780.00$ 50,510.00$ A7310.4 Youth Program - Contractual 54,400.00$ 17,000.00$ 71,400.00$ A8810.41 Cemeteries - Burial Coordinator 1,900.00$ 1,100.00$ 3,000.00$ Total Expenditure Adjustments 63,880.00$ Revenues A2774 Burial Fees 1,500.00$ 1,100.00$ 2,600.00$ A4089 Federal Aid - Other 8,955.00$ 62,780.00$ 71,735.00$ Total Revenue Adjustments 63,880.00$ HIGHWAY FUND - DA JUNE 2024 BUDGET MODIFICATIONS Current Increase/Modified Account #Description Budget (Decrease)Budget Revenues DA2706 Grants from other Goverments -$ 26,592.00$ 26,592.00$ Total Revenue Adjustments 26,592.00$ Expenditures DA5130.2 Machinery - Equipment 166,768.00$ 26,592.00$ 193,360.00$ Total Expenditure Adjustments 26,592.00$ Description of Proposed Adjustments: These General Fund budget adjustments account for use of ARPA funds for the Town Hall and ECC payment for 2024. In addition, additional burial fees and the costs associated with the burials are addressed. Description of Proposed Adjustments: The Highway Fund budget adjustment reflects funds granted from Tompkins County community recovery fundings for the purchase of highway radio equipment. 6 Tax Cap Override – Set a Public Hearing Date – Supervisor Redmond moved and Councilperson Millspaugh seconded to set the public hearing for October 9, 2024 at 6:30 PM. Discussion: Councilperson Lynch he is glad that we are setting the hearing for later in the budget season as we do not yet know we will be facing. Vote: Councilperson Hinkle, Aye; Councilperson Lemke, Aye; Councilperson Lynch, Aye; Councilperson Millspaugh, Aye; Supervisor Redmond, Aye; Carried. Discussion: Court Audit. Honorable Heather Knutsen-King. Supervisor Redmond asked Judge Knutson-King the following questfons that the court had marked incomplete at the January 17, 2024 Audit Meetfng. Do dockets for disposed cases appear to be complete. Response - They are stfll working on them stfll. Are monthly reports made tfmely to the Justfce Court Fund. Response – yes. Are reports from TSLEF maintained and utflized, is this all set, Response -yes. Several unknowns show as pending, etc. They are working on wrapping up cases, however, the DA’s have adjourned consistently. They are stfll working on clearing them up. How many cases are showing pending for more than 90 days, she did not know ofifand. What actfons are shown to have disposed of these cases. Clerk Champion and Justfce Knutsen-King are going through everything that former Justfce B. Poole had left them with. She is having a hard tfme getting dog tfckets dealt with. She is getting tougher on residents. Supervisor Redmond asked if we should set another date to update the Town Board. Judge Knutsen-King would like to schedule a tfme to review the audit. Discussion: SkateGarden- Greg Hutnik. The SkateGarden is pulling in funding from a Tompkins County Parks grant. The beautffhcatfon grant that the Town Clerk had received for pollinator gardens has separate funding. Dan would like to have power added to the pole next to the SkateGarden and across the road from the Town Hall. It was suggested that a generator be used instead. Supervisor Redmond shared her screen with the most recent proposal from Dan Woodring. Councilperson Lynch asked if we needed to have a fhnal plan voted on by the Town Board before concrete can be poured and Supervisor Redmond confhrmed that, yes it does need to be voted on by the board before the concrete can be poured. D. Woodring said it would be best to not have the design change and have it be set before concrete is poured as a lot of work goes into building the forms, etc. Supervisor Redmond shared that some of the Skate board professionals that D. Woodring is consultfng with that have seen the design were concerned with the heart shaped bowl as it is not meant for beginners, but intermediate skaters. Which is in part why changes were needed. Councilperson Lynch asked when the design will be completed and he responded before excavatfng is completed in the next week or so. Discussion: Fundraising/Donatfons. Supervisor Redmond - as a Town we cannot fundraise directly. However, when presented to the public this needs to be portrayed as this is being completed via whatever grant is being used. We can have a budget line/reserve line where we can hold funds that are donated. We can put a sandwich board sharing funders, It can say this is being funded by this grant, etc. She does have approval to place a sandwich board, which shows the names of those who have sponsored the SkateGarden Councilperson Lynch asked if the AOT attorney that she spoke with knew that this is town property, and will be municipality owned. D. Woodring would like to put up large banners at the SkateGarden. Councilperson Lynch asked what happens if someone comes down a and volunteers and gets hurt? Supervisor Redmond we have waivers that have to be completed that were drafted/provided for by our insurance company. The ECC and D. Woodring ’s non-profht can seek donatfons and then give the funds to the town. We can accept funds, but cannot solicit funds. Councilperson Lynch asked for confhrmatfon that doing this would not jeopardize our insurance, Supervisor Redmond responded that it does not have an impact on our insurance. Councilperson Lynch asked that Supervisor Redmond share the clear guidelines that she had received. Supervisor Redmond will share the informatfon she had received from Lori Mithen-Demasi. D. Woodring would like to put a link to his website on the sandwich board, etc. Supervisor Redmond will check to see if this is allowable, it would be great D. Woodring can send her exactly what he is thinking which will assist her in getting a correct response. Councilperson Lynch asked if individuals donated funds directly to the Town that they would be tax deductfble. Supervisor Redmond confhrmed that Clerk Cornell can provide a receipt that funds were donated and they can be used as a tax-deductfble gift. 7 Resolutfon #49-2024 Establishment of the Enfield SkateGarden WHEREAS, youth in the Town of Enfheld have expressed more recreatfonal opportunitfes in the Town, specifhcally a skate park; and WHEREAS, the Town of Enfheld was awarded a $5000 grant through the Tompkins County’s 2024 Municipal Parks and Trails Grant Program toward the constructfon of the skate park; and WHEREAS, additfonal funds have been secured through a Tompkins County Beautffhcatfon Grant to plant a Pollinator Garden; now therefore be it RESOLVED, The Town Board of the Town of Enfheld hereby designates the property at 169 Enfheld Main Rd as the locatfon for the Skate Park and Pollinator Garden to be known as the Enfheld SkateGarden Supervisor Redmond moved and Councilperson Hinkle seconded. Discussion. Supervisor Redmond is open to suggestfons on changing the name, this is the name she came up with, the board is good with this name and no changes were suggested. Vote: Councilperson Hinkle, Aye; Councilperson Lemke, Aye; Councilperson Lynch, Aye; Councilperson Millspaugh, Aye; Supervisor Redmond, Aye; Carried. Old Highway Radios. Supervisor Redmond moved that Buddy be allowed to disperse the radios at his discretfon and Councilperson Lynch seconded. Vote: Councilperson Hinkle, Aye; Councilperson Lemke, Aye; Councilperson Lynch, Aye; Councilperson Millspaugh, Aye; Supervisor Redmond, Aye; Carried. Discussion: ECC Newsletter: Supervisor Redmond – she thinks it is great that Councilperson Lynch drafted an artfcle for the newsletter. WQIP grant update: Supervisor Redmond had contacted Angel Hinikle and they have not received a contract yet. Councilperson Lynch had also contacted Angel. He is under the impression that this award needs to be implemented by 2025. Lynch shared his email conversatfon with Angel with the board and those present. Most signifhcant is that any work that is completed before a contract is in place in not reimbursable. Councilperson Stephanie, Buddy and anyone else involved with the grant can meet to design the stream. Councilperson Lynch is concerned with the shifting sands of politfcians that we could lose the ~$600,000 that was awarded for this project. G. Hutnik suggested that we start drafting an RFP and Supervisor Redmond shared that she already has informatfon to start drafting an RFP. Councilperson Lynch it is a godsend that we received this grant and we need to be ready to go ahead with this project. Discussion: Franchise Agreement with Cohen Law. Supervisor Redmond shared that she does not yet have a draft and she is hopeful to have it within the next few weeks and they can have a meetfng, which does not need to be an open meetfng. Councilperson Lynch asked if the attorney was actfvely negotfatfng with Haefele TV at this tfme, Supervisor Redmond responded that no they are not. Councilperson Lynch this is basically a meetfng that will be considered covered by attorney/client privilege and does not need to be a public meetfng. Discussion: Subdivision Regulatfons – Supervisor Redmond shared that it is late do we want to review any of the regulatfons or postpone them. Councilperson Lynch asked Greg Hutnik if he could report on what he spoke to the planning board last week. The department of state is that you cannot regulate minimum lot size in subdivision regulatfon. If not through zoning it can be through a separate local law. There are other instruments other than zoning. He is under the impression that they need to be set in areas other than subdivision regulatfons. The minimums are dealt 8 with separately. Councilperson Lynch would not be in favor if a zoning law, however, he will be in favor of other avenues. We should have a very tfghtly constrained lot size law, without going into a full-blown zoning ordinances. Discussion contfnued. Superintendent Rollins - County bid is out and gravel had an increase of $2 a ton and blacktop went up $15 a ton. Announcements: N/A Adjournment: Councilperson Hinkle motfoned to adjourn, adjourned at 9:38 PM Respectiully submitted, Mary Cornell Mary Cornell Town Clerk