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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAugust 14, 2024 - Town of Enfield Regular Town Board Meeting Minutes1 Town of Enfield Regular Town Board Meetfng Wednesday August 14, 2024 6:30 PM In-Person and Via the Zoom Meetfng Platiorm Present: Town Supervisor Stephanie Redmond; Town Councilperson’s, Jude Lemke, Melissa Millspaugh, Robert Lynch. Town Clerk Mary Cornell Virtual Attendance: Councilperson Cassandra Hinkle. Call to Order: Supervisor Redmond called the meetfng to order at 6:30 PM Privilege of the Floor: Councilperson Lynch led the assemblage in the Pledge of Allegiance and read the Town’s resolutfon on civil behavior. An Enfield Resident was at Tonight’s meetfng to hear Buddy’s report and she would like to know when he will be in attendance. Supervisor Redmond responded that he can be contacted directly. He does not need to be at every meetfng and is usually at most meetfngs. Additfons and Changes to the Agenda: Executfve Session to discuss the Haefele TV Contract. Discussion of the need for the NYSDOT to investfgate the intersectfon of Rte. 79 & Waterburg Rd. Monthly Reports County Legislature – Anne Koreman/Randy Brown. They passed a resolutfon to go over the tax cap in preparatfon for the upcoming budget season. Sales Tax revenue has decreased county wide. They have had a number of reports on outward racial aggression, including towards a college professor and children in local parks. She asked those that are compelled to stand with those that are being affected to show support. The Fire Company contacted the County Legislature regarding issues they have been experiencing with county supported initfatfves. Legislature Koreman asked for input on the severe power outage that happened and if the town would like to have community discussions Supervisor Redmond responded that she is going to ask the town board to set a small budget to be able to purchase water and dry ice when emergencies happen in the future. She asked if the county could also provide this resource. Supervisor Redmond suggested funding for backup generators for both the ECC and the Enfield Courthouse. An Enfield Resident commented on the fact that there may be Enfield residents who have backup generators and they may be willing to offer assistance to other residents. Supervisor Redmond also spoke of the need for at risk residents who may need assistance and the town does not have this informatfon, where would we find this informatfon? Anne – during covid this informatfon was compiled by local agencies, she will check to see if the county stfll has access to this informatfon. Councilperson Lynch had a couple of comments. Emergency communicatfons: the CAD system which is the county’s notfficatfon system for emergency services. Enfield is weak in this area as they do not have a computer for this purpose or a way to monitor the system from vehicles. During this weeks Fire district meetfng they have penciled in $6,000 to purchase a base computer and two associated tablets and would like the county to consider funding for this purchase. He strongly urges the County to not claw back the 1.5 mil from the Community Recovery Fund and use it for the county’s own purposes should Cayuga Medical Center not be able to secure state approvals to use it for a Crisis Stabilizatfon Center, and should instead consider distributfng the funds to initfatfves within the Recovery Fund. , Town Supervisor’s report – Stephanie Redmond. We have received a NYSERDA grant and will be doing an energy audit of the Highway Dept. We have received the contract for the Bostwick Rd grant. She asked the board if they would give her permission to sign the contract when she receives it, so that it is not delayed while waitfng for a future board meetfng. Councilperson Lemke asked if the contract should go by the town attorney before the supervisor signs the contract. Supervisor Redmond is working on the three RFPs for the project and is hopeful to have them ready for the September town board meetfng. Highway Superintendent report – Buddy Rollins. N/A 2 Code Enforcement report – Alan Teeter. He issued seven permits for July. He worked on existfng complaints, two have been completed and he is contfnuing to work on the others. Planning Board report – Dan Walker. They met last week and Becky Simms gave a presentatfon on the water needs survey and the planning board is on board with that project. They had a sketch plan review for Patrick Heads project. 4 tfny homes on one lot, which would share one septfc system and well (It would be considered a 4-bedroom home). He had some comments on the Subdivision regulatfons. Supervisor Redmond shared that we need to come up with some questfons and send them out in the ECC quarterly newsletter. Dan shared that he has the old list of questfons and how many questfons would you like to include in the newsletter. She responded with less than 10 questfons. Dan will get something together later this week and send it to the Town Board for their review. Councilperson Lynch asked for a tfme table for the Site Plan review law, Dan responded that he is cleaning it up and hopes to have it to the Town Board by the September meetfng. Tompkins County Council of Govts – Robert Lynch. The full report is on file with the Town Clerk’s Office. Consent Agenda: Audit Claims: General Fund vouchers #178-200 dated August 14, 2024 in the amount of $38,111.75. Highway Fund Vouchers #119-141 dated August 14, 2024 in the amount of $67,027.19. Councilperson Lynch had a questfon as to why the ECC having for the remaining amount for the rest of the year and would like to see how the rest of the town board feels about this. Supervisor Redmond shared that they had asked her for the remaining funds. Board members did not have any issues with approving the voucher at this tfme. Supervisor Redmond moved and Councilperson Lemke seconded. Vote: Councilperson Hinkle, Aye; Councilperson Lemke, Aye; Councilperson Lynch, Aye; Councilperson Millspaugh, Aye; Supervisor Redmond, Aye; Carried. New Business Councilperson Lynch moved and Councilperson Lemke seconded to allow the Town Supervisor to sign the WQUIP WQIP contract for the Bostwick Rd Project, pending approval of the contract by town legal counsel. Vote: Councilperson Hinkle, Aye; Councilperson Lemke, Aye; Councilperson Lynch, Aye; Councilperson Millspaugh, Aye; Supervisor Redmond, Aye; Carried. Discussion: Approve Budget Calendar. The board reviewed the calendar and made note October 2 is a Town Planning Board Meetfng date and a correctfon to line 7 to change the date to 2024 from 2023. Supervisor Redmond moved and Councilperson Lynch seconded. Vote: Councilperson Hinkle, Aye; Councilperson Lemke, Aye; Councilperson Lynch, Aye; Councilperson Millspaugh, Aye; Supervisor Redmond, Aye; Carried. Discussion: Dog Licensing and Control Law – Set Public Hearing. The Board went over the law and proposed additfonal changes. Discussion will contfnue at the September Town Board Meetfng. 3 Discussion: SPCA Contract. The board went over the law and had several questfons regarding imposed requirements and the advisory board. Supervisor Redmond will follow up with the SPCA and will put the contract on the September agenda. Resolutfon #2024-55 Approval of August 2024 Budget Modificatfons WHEREAS, it is necessary to modify the 2024 budget based on updated estimates of revenues and expenditures in 2024, and WHEREAS, a detailed listing and description of each budget adjustment by Fund has been provided to the Town Board for review as presented below, be it therefore RESOLVED, that the Enfield Town Board approves the budget modifications as outlined below. GENERAL FUND - A AUGUST 2024 BUDGET MODIFICATIONS Current Increase/Modified Account #Description Budget (Decrease)Budget Expenditures A7320.4 Joint Youth Project - Contractual 8,404.00$ 5,000.00$ 13,404.00$ A7555.4 Beautification - Contractual 1,100.00$ 2,100.00$ 3,200.00$ A7620.4 Adult Recreation - Contractual 3,000.00$ 1,200.00$ 4,200.00$ A1990.4 Contingent Account 23,682.00$ (1,200.00)$ 22,482.00$ Total Expenditure Adjustments 7,100.00$ Revenues A2089 Other Culture and Recreation Income -$ 7,100.00$ 7,100.00$ Total Revenue Adjustments 7,100.00$ HIGHWAY FUND - DA AUGUST 2024 BUDGET MODIFICATIONS Current Increase/Modified Account #Description Budget (Decrease)Budget Expenditures DA5112.3 PAVE NY/POP 35,633.00$ 23,682.00$ 59,315.00$ DA5130.2 Machinery - Equipment 193,360.00$ 23,600.00$ 216,960.00$ Total Expenditure Adjustments 47,282.00$ Revenues DA2665 Sale of Equipment -$ 23,600.00$ 23,600.00$ DA3589.2 Pave our Potholes -$ 23,682.00$ 23,682.00$ Total Revenue Adjustments 47,282.00$ Description of Proposed Adjustments: These General Fund budget adjustments reflect the Parks and Trails grant and the CCE beautification grant received by the Town, and the anticipated related spending. Also reflected in this budget adjustment is the additional payment to the Senior Citizens per their contract; contingency is being used to cover this cost. Description of Proposed Adjustments: The proposed amendment is to recognize additional revenue earned, and allocate to budgetary expenditures accordingly. 4 Supervisor Redmond moved and Councilperson Lemke seconded. Vote: Councilperson Hinkle, Aye; Councilperson Lemke, Aye; Councilperson Lynch, Aye; Councilperson Millspaugh, Aye; Supervisor Redmond, Aye; Carried. RESOLUTION #2024-56 A Resolutfon to guide Tompkins County in its final distributfons from the Community Recovery Fund Whereas, by Resolutfons adopted in September 2021 and June 2022, the Tompkins County Legislature established the Community Recovery Fund (CRF), to be supported with $6,535,344 from the $19,847,267 Tompkins County has received or will receive through the federally-supported American Rescue Plan (ARPA), with the CRF’s stated purpose being to “address community needs arising from or exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic;” and Whereas, Tompkins County subsequently established a Community Recovery Fund Advisory Committee (the Advisory Committee) within the Legislature, retained a professional consultant, and invited businesses, non-profit community organizatfons, and municipal governments to apply for CRF awards; and Whereas, Enfield Food Distributfon, the Enfield Community Council (ECC), the Enfield Volunteer Fire Company (EVFC), and the Town of Enfield were among those that sought CRF awards from the Advisory Committee; and Whereas, following the Advisory Committee’s and its consultant’s review, as well as a review by the full Tompkins County Legislature, the Legislature on December 20, 2022 awarded CRF funds to 55 of the program’s 212 applicants, with neither the Town of Enfield nor its resident agencies having been among those selected, but with Cayuga Medical Center (CMC) and its parent agency, Cayuga Health, having received the largest funding award, $1.5 Million, to establish a Crisis Stabilizatfon Center in Tompkins County, subject to New York State approval; and Whereas, the Tompkins County Legislature on May 2, 2023, in response to a major funding recipient’s withdrawal of its applicatfon, and with legislators and the Advisory Committee having prepared a refined list of 35 potentfal CRF award recipients from the 212 initfally submitted, awarded funding to 14 of those 35, providing the Town of Enfield $26,592 for purchase of Highway Department radios, but providing neither the ECC nor EVFC, each of which was included on that narrowed list of 35, any support; and Whereas, CMC has to date been unable to secure the requisite New York State approvals needed for it to access its $1.5 Million from the CRF for constructfon of a Crisis Stabilizatfon Center, with the Advisory Committee on June 24, 2024 having set an August 30, 2024 deadline for CMC to either secure those approvals or forfeit its award; and Whereas, at a meetfng of the Advisory Committee on August 5th, its chairman indicated that should CMC default on its funding, the contractfng deadlines imposed by ARPA rules would likely prompt the Advisory Committee and/or the Legislature, as a contfngency, to redirect the $1.5 Million to “highway equipment or something expensive and easily justffied with ARPA money,” but with the chair then qualifying that “if anybody has a different idea, we can revisit that questfon;” and Whereas, both the Enfield Volunteer Fire Company and the Enfield Community Council stand ready, willing and able to utflize CRF funds and comply with appropriate government deadlines, and Whereas, contrary to the representatfons by some, strict New York State “gifting” prohibitfons will limit Tompkins County Government’s ability to assign its own taxpayer funds to replenish the CRF’s resources for distributfon to agencies otherwise eligible under the more lenient rules of ARPA, a prohibitfon that affirms the predictfon of Enfield legislator 5 Randy Brown that for many such agencies, without direct Community Recovery Fund support, “the opportunity is lost;” and Whereas, the removal of nearly one-quarter (23%) of the original CRF allocatfon through redirectfng its resources to County purposes would severely weaken the program’s beneficial community impact and run contrary to the program’s original intent and its stated promise to Tompkins County residents; therefore, be it Resolved, that the Enfield Town Board urges the Tompkins County Legislature, assisted by its Community Recovery Fund Advisory Committee and its consultant, to reopen the applicatfon process for Community Recovery Fund awards, redistributfng up to $1.5 Million, should Cayuga Medical Center and its parent organizatfon fail to meet the August 30, 2024 deadline set for it to secure New York State approvals for its Crisis Stabilizatfon Center; and be it further Resolved, that in redistributfng CMC’s forfeited funds, the eligible applicant pool for these funds shall be restricted to the 21 partfes that qualified on the May 2023 list of 35, yet did not receive funding, said partfes including the Enfield Community Council and the Enfield Volunteer Fire Company; and be it further Resolved, that to be eligible for this final CRF distributfon, applicants must demonstrate to the satfsfactfon of Tompkins County legislators, administrators, and consultant staff their ability to meet all American Rescue Plan funding deadlines so as not to jeopardize Tompkins County’s eligibility to receive those ARPA funds; and be it further Resolved, that the Town Clerk shall forward a copy of this Resolutfon to the Clerk of the Tompkins County Legislature, for distributfon to all legislators. Councilperson Lynch moved and Councilperson Lemke seconded. Discussion: The community recovery fund in 2022 allocated 6.5 million in (ARPA) funds to a number of community organizatfons. In the first round Enfield did not receive any funding. There was an adjustment in May 2023 and Enfield Hwy dept received funds for new radios $26,592. None of the other Enfield agencies that had then met requirements received funding. Cayuga Medical Center has been unable to get approval from NYS to establish the Crisis Stabilizatfon Center for which it intended to spend its fund appropriatfon. Some county legislators were considering clawing back the 1.5 mil to put the funds into highway equipment for the county. He thinks this will affect applicants in Enfield and other agencies within Tompkins County were passed over when these funds were allocated to CMC. He would like the funds not be clawed back and allocated to needy agencies which include the Enfield Fire Company and the Enfield Community Council. Vote: Councilperson Hinkle, Aye; Councilperson Lemke, Aye; Councilperson Lynch, Aye; Councilperson Millspaugh, Aye; Supervisor Redmond, Aye; Carried. Discussion: SkateGarden. Greg Hutnik had some updates that he shared. They have insurance and Supervisor Redmond shared that they will be ready to start pouring the concrete on Sept 5. This would be a quarter pipe. RESOLUTION #2024-57 A Resolutfon establishing general rules for the operatfon of Enfield SkateGarden concerts Whereas, on July 17, 2024, the Enfield Town Board authorized Enfield Skate Garden Inc. and its associated entftfes to hold a series of Benefit Band Series concerts at the Enfield SkateGarden, under constructfon on Town property off Enfield Main Road in this Town; and Whereas, this Town Board believes the health, safety, and community well-being of Enfield requires certain identffiable and enforceable rules to protect Town property, neighboring propertfes, and community safety; therefore be it 6 Resolved, that this Town Board stfpulates that Enfield Skate Garden Inc. and those with whom it may contract to oversee and operate the afore-stated Benefit Band Series concerts abide by the following general Rules as a preconditfon to holding said concerts: • That the concert operator or operators demonstrate Proof of adequate event insurance to cover potentfal liabilitfes for each concert, coverage amounts and conditfons acceptable to the Town Board or its designee prior to holding the first of said concerts; • That available portable restroom facilitfes be present at each scheduled concert, facilitfes sufficient to meet the sanitary requirements of attendees; • That traffic/pedestrian control staff be statfoned on NY 327 near the SkateGarden entrance and near designated parking areas during and for a reasonable tfme period prior to and after concerts, said staffing levels adequate to ensure public safety; • That clearly-marked prohibitfons of spectator parking along NY Route 327 be posted or otherwise made obvious during tfmes when concerts are held, with traffic control staff adequate to enforce such prohibitfons; • That concert organizers prohibit alcohol consumptfon on premises during, prior to, and after concerts, said prohibitfon in accordance with Town of Enfield policy governing said consumptfon on Town premises; • That adequate steps be taken to ensure the protectfon of adjacent private propertfes, including the prohibitfon of property trespass or parking on private property by concert attendees; • That reasonable precautfons be taken by concert organizers to protect the co-located Enfield Pollinator Garden; • That after-dark concerts be permitted only should Skate Garden Inc. or its designee provide adequate on-site illuminatfon during said concerts; and • That concerts for the current 2024 season contfnue through, but not beyond, October 31, 2024, concerts conditfoned upon the absence of reasonable objectfons from surrounding residents and/or property owners and conditfoned on the contfnued compliance by Skate Garden Inc. with the requirements herein stated. Supervisor Redmond moved an amendment to strike the need for water availability and Councilperson Lemke seconded as amended. Vote: Councilperson Hinkle, Aye; Councilperson Lemke, Aye; Councilperson Lynch, Aye; Councilperson Millspaugh, Aye; Supervisor Redmond, Aye; Carried. Discussion: Subdivision Regulatfons. Supervisor Redmond went over the three pages she had requested that the Town Board review. For a major subdivision a major subdivision would need to have Planning Board approval and then Town board approval. Councilperson Lemke ask asked for clarificatfon of who this applied to, residentfal or all builds. There was discussion on what oversight the Town Board should have and when they should become involved. Major subdivisions we do not hold them accountable for road improvements, etc. A Road use law needs to be determined. Discussion contfnued. Supervisor Redmond asked the town board to go over the next final plat sectfon, which is less than 4 pages. Safety Review of Rte. 79 & Waterburg Rd. TE 9A form submit to the Tompkins County. Discussion: Councilperson Lynch brought this to the board attentfon tonight as there was a recent bad accident at this intersectfon and he would like tfme to prepare a resolutfon to bring to the September Town Board meetfng. 7 Executfve Session: Supervisor Redmond moved that the Town board go into Executfve session to discuss a matter of Attorney client communicatfon. The Town Board entered executfve session at 9:41 PM and returned from Executfve Session at 10:24 PM. Privilege of the Floor: N/A Announcements: Clerk Cornell shared that she was made aware that Norbut Solar Farms Pilot Agreement will take effect in January and the Town should receive approx. $18,000 in revenue. Adjournment: Councilperson Lynch motfoned to adjourn, adjourned at 10:24 PM. Respectiully submitted, Mary Cornell Mary Cornell Town Clerk