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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJuly 17, 2024 - Town of Enfield Public Hearing and Regular Town Board Meeting1 Town of Enfield Public Hearing & Special Town Board Meetfng Wednesday, July 17, 2024 6:30 PM In-Person at the Enfield Town Courthouse and Via the Zoom Meetfng Platiorm Present: Town Supervisor Stephanie Redmond; Town Councilpersons, Melissa Millspaugh, Cassandra Hinkle, Jude Lemke, Robert Lynch. Town Clerk Mary Cornell; Highway Superintendent Buddy Rollins. Public Hearing Proposed Local Laws 1-3, 2024 to increase the terms of office for the Office of Town Supervisor, Highway Superintendent, and Town Clerk. Call to Order: Supervisor Redmond called the Public Hearing to order at 6:30 PM Councilperson Lynch read a statement from Julie Magura from 101 Rockwell Road opposing the local laws. Councilperson Lynch stated these were her opinions and not necessarily his. Supervisor Redmond read a letter from former Town Supervisor and Councilperson Jean Owens in support of the local laws. Buddy Rollins – He as the Highway Superintendent spoke that he feels that this would be a benefit for the Highway Superintendent positfon. This would give residents a right to place their vote. Beverly Rollins – We are in a very dangerous place in society where we are complaining more than being grateful. None of the people that had attended the special meetfng on June 26th know how many people work for the highway department as most have never been there. As a whole people should be more grateful for those that are in office and can operate the equipment. Supervisor Redmond shared that some residents were confused that the board was votfng to extend the terms of the current offices instead of an increase for future terms. The past has shown that it is hard to get a lot of work done when terms are limited. Councilperson Hinkle. It takes a long tfme to learn the language and the networking. It has taken her over two years to become comfortable in her positfon. Supervisor Redmond moved to close the public hearing and Councilperson Hinkle seconded. Call to Order: Supervisor Remond called the special meetfng to order at 6:47 PM Privilege of the Floor: Supervisor Redmond read a letter from a young Enfield Resident on tree cutting on Rockwell Road. Councilperson Lynch attended the Tompkins County Legislature meetfng last night and shared with them on what the Town of Enfield is currently doing; Local Laws, Tree cutting meetfng, SkateGarden. He started by giving a shout out to the Highway Dept. and the Fire Company on their response to Monday’s storm. He attended the Board of Fire Commissioners meetfng last night. There was an issue that came up and he spoke with both Chief Stevens and Commissioner Stevenson briefly on the response to Monday’s storm. Fire Company President Denny Hubbell stated that the Fire Company did an excellent job Monday night. There is one little wrinkle that they are all going to have to deal with. It involves the CAD system. When the CAD system receives calls each emergency responder can see what the call is for. Chief Stevens shared with the Fire District that they do not have an adequate way to monitor the CAD system at the Fire Company. They had an Ithaca Fire Fighter monitor the CAD system during the storm. The Fire Company needs to purchase a computer and a monitor to adequately access the CAD system. Fire Commissioner Rollins stated that the County was overwhelmed and wouldn’t take any more calls and individual departments had to then take the calls 2 themselves. Fire Commissioner Teeter shared that the Fire Company is to ask the County to purchase a monitor and a new laptop specifically to assist with the CAD System. Additfons and Changes to the agenda: Remove the minutes from the Agenda. Correspondence: N/A Monthly Reports Town Supervisor’s – Stephanie Redmond. She attended the sustainability committee meetfng, facilitated a Special Town Board Meetfng, and attended a Transportatfon meetfng. Councilperson Lynch thanked Deputy Supervisor Hutnik for running the abbreviated meetfng last week. Highway Superintendent Report – Buddy Rollins. This little storm we just had showed issues with limbs being all over the roads. He thought we had Rockwell Rd put to bed. He had sold two of the three trucks that he had on auctfon and he received good prices for them. The bid was too low to accept for the third truck and they may turn it into a water truck. He received the new loader and the new Truck probably won’t be delivered untfl next year. Paving is completed for the three road roads and they have some oil and stone completed. The roads that had oil and stone last year are having warranty work done, which will be done at the contractor ’s expense. He spoke with the homeowners and they are fine with the tree cutting and would like to keep the wood for firewood. Councilperson Lynch asked Superintendent Rollins which roads have issues. His response was Bostwick, Rothermich, Enfield Center W are the three roads that are affected by the need to re-oil and stone and will be started in the middle of August. Buddy was told by some people that the Highway Department should get training on cutting trees, he stated that maybe residents should have training or become informed on the laws and policies that are required of the Highway Department. The Highway Department h as been working well with the Fire Company. Code Enforcement Report – Alan Teeter. He issued three permits last month, which brings him up to 68 permits for the year and he has been working with many people who are planning on startfng building this fall. He had a couple of complaints. Supervisor Redmond asked if there has been any progress on Hayts Rd. He had issued the homeowner a second letter of work to be completed and the next step will be taking it to the court and issue them a summons. Planning Board Report – Dan Walker. N/A New Business: SkateGarden – Dan Woodring. Supervisor Redmond shared her screen with the current proposal. Greg Hutnik - what is being asked of the board tonight is to look at the latest design for approval so that the concrete can be poured and then signs can be placed and community events can start this summer. Dan- Teets delivered urbanite and they purchased crushed limestone. They have completed the raised beds. They spread all of the gravel on top of the urbanite. He planted out the pollinator garden plants (The Cornell Family planted the raised beds) he had received a truckload of plants from Early Bird. There has been over 150 hours of volunteer hours so far. He had a Home Depot grant writfng workshop on Saturday for the rebar. He wanted to follow-up on the approval of the establishment of the SkateGarden and the Towns approval of receiving funds. Supervisor Redmond asked if he wanted to create a committee as part of the town or if it should be a committee separate of the town. Greg suggested that the SkateGarden committee be separate from the Town and that there be a liaison from the Park Committee that can report back to the committee. Councilperson Lynch - the town owns the land and provides oversight of the park. Dan the park is supported by the Town and he would like to include the Town’s website on his flyers. Dan would like to purchase a vinyl banner. This year the ramp will be completed, which is phase one, the bowl will be part of phase two. Councilperson Lynch asked for clarificatfon that phase two will be dependent on fundraising. Greg – Dan would like to fundraise locally. Councilperson Lynch asked for clarificatfon on what the board is approving tonight. It is the design that is before the board. Councilperson Lynch stated that at a previous meetfng that the heart design was to too advanced for most skateboarders which is why they went with the halfpipe. 3 Dan this was designed based on love park it has yet to be decided what is the future design. Councilperson Lynch will we be able to complete all of phase one with the town grant funds. Greg confirmed that it will be kept to just the grant money. Dan - regeneratfve funding is important, waitfng on grants in not assured. The Amphitheatre space design is so that they could have fundraisers. Terry from StoneBend farm has proposed to raise funds for the events. He is able to have a food truck, this isn’t an opportunity to make money for himself, but to assist the park in growth. Dan we are promotfng tolerable music, mostly bluegrass country side. The dates would be from Thursday August 8 through Halloween. He spoke with Fire Chief Stevens who had no issues with it, he spoke with Code Officer Alan and as long as it is under 250 people a permit would not be required. He only wants to create a family friendly environment and he wants everyone happy with what is being done here as for the vision evolving and he is really surprised how open everyone has been. So he wants councilperson lynch to be happy with what is happening. Councilperson Lynch it is not the music it is the locatfon. The locatfon is very small and he is worried people will walk over the pollinator garden and damage it, and people spilling out onto the public road. Supervisor Redmond asked about insurance and suggested only offering tentatfve approval untfl she can check with the town insurance company to see if they would cover the events with no additfonal charges to the Town. Clerk Cornell – Our insurance company had required a certfficate of insurance listfng the town as additfonal insured for events on town property in the past and would most likely require this for future events on town property. Discussion followed and concluded with Supervisor Redmond moving and Councilperson Hinkle seconding to tentatfvely approve events to be held at the Enfield SkateGarden from August 8 untfl Halloween pending approval from our insurance company with no additfonal cost incurred by the Town. If there is a cost this will be revisited at the July 31 Special Town Board Meetfng. Vote: Councilperson Hinkle, Aye; Councilperson Millspaugh, Aye; Councilperson Lynch, Nay; Councilperson Lemke, Aye; Supervisor Redmond, Aye; Carried. Supervisor Redmond asked Dan if he had anything further that he would like to address with the Town Board and Dan read a proposed contract between the Town and SkateGarden. The Town Board stated that legal counsel would need to be involved and could be a tfmely process. Greg Hutnik suggested that this be revisited at another tfme and the Board concurred. Vouchers: Supervisor Redmond asked Clerk Cornell to read the vouchers for approval. General fund vouchers #178-179 in the amount of $688.00 and Highway fund voucher #119 in the amount of $500.00 Supervisor Redmond moved and Councilperson Hinkle seconded. Vote: Councilperson Hinkle, Aye; Councilperson Millspaugh, Aye; Councilperson Lynch, Aye; Councilperson Lemke, Aye; Supervisor Redmond, Aye; Carried. Local Laws Discussion: Supervisor Redmond asked if any of the Board members had any changes to the Local Laws as presented. The Board does not have any changes to the Local Laws. During the discussion, Councilperson Lemke concluded that New York State law would not permit Town Board actfon on the laws that night, as printed copies of the proposed local laws had not been physically placed onto Town Board members’ desks seven days (excluding Sundays) ahead of a Town Board vote, nor distributed by mail. Given this legal requirement and the need for any adopted local law to be filed with the Tompkins County Board of Electfons to give sufficient tfme for those laws’ placement onto the November General Electfon ballot, Board members concluded they’d need to schedule a Special Meetfng to vote on the laws. The Board then set July 31, 2024 as the date for that Special Meetfng. Physical copies of the proposed local laws were then distributed to the Town Board members at the current session so as to comply with state law. Dog Law Discussion. Supervisor Redmond asked Councilperson Lemke what concerns she had that she had mentfoned before. Councilperson Lemke said the law seemed to have some extreme requirements. Those residing in the town for 90 days would be required to license their dogs, what if they are a temporary resident. Discussion contfnued. 4 Resolutfon #2024-50 SCT Contract 2024-2027 WHEREAS, SCT has presented the Board with a three (3) year contract to provide IT services, and, WHEREAS, they are offering this service at a reduced cost now therefore be it; RESOLVED, the Enfield Town Board authorizes Supervisor Redmond to sign a contract with SCT Supervisor Redmond moved and Councilperson Hinkle seconded. No discussion. Vote: Councilperson Hinkle, Aye; Councilperson Millspaugh, Aye; Councilperson Lynch, Aye; Councilperson Lemke, Aye; Supervisor Redmond, Aye; Carried. Adjournment: Councilperson Millspaugh moved and Councilperson Hinkle seconded. Adjourned at 8:37 PM. Respectiully submitted, Mary Cornell Mary Cornell Town Clerk