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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-1992 & Budget Work SessionsMINUTES OF TOWN BOARD MEETING MONDAY, OCTOBER, 5, 1992 AT 7:30 P.M. Those present: Teresa M. Robinson, Supervisor Gordon C. VanBenschoten, Councilman Donald E. Cummings, Councilan Ellard L. Sovocool, Councilman Carl E. Haynes, Councilman Jack Fitzgerald, Attorney Also present: Leland Cornelius, Liz Brennan, George Senter, George Totman Moved by Mr. Cummings, seconded by Mr. Sovocool, that the minutes of the September 14th and 15th meetings be approved as mailed. Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Cummings, Robinson (Haynes - Absent). Claim Nos. 190 to 203 of the Highway Fund in the amount of $21,456.04 and Claim Nos. 275 to 303 of the General Fund in the amount of $11,388.24 were presented for audit. Moved by Mr. VanBenschoten, seconded by Mr. Haynes, that the bills be approved for payment. Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Cummings, Haynes, Robinson. Board meeting recessed for bid opening at 8:OOPM. 8:OOPM - Clerk read legal notice advertizing for bids on a 1993 pick up truck. Two bids were received. Walter's Chevrolet -Olds Northtown Dodge,Inc. Groton, NY Tonowanda, NY $11,853 $8,765 Attorney checked bids and all related documents and turned them over to Highway Superintendent to make sure specifications were met. Mr. Cornelius would like to check and see what he can get a pickup truck for on State bid before awarding this bid. Moved by Mr. VanBenschoten, seconded by Mr. Sovocool, to table awarding bid on pickup truck. Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Cummings Haynes, Robinson. GEORGE SENTER - CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER - Year to date building permits are: 1991 69 - 7 houses, 11 mobile homes, 51 other 1992 78 - 13 houses , 11 mobile homes, 54 others Highway Garage roof update: Beginning Sept. 15 an inspection of roof was made whenever roofers were on the job. Job was now progressing much better. On Sept. 17th approximately 1/3 of roof was completed. On many nice days there was no activity. On the 24th Jim was there and he thought they might have the roof done by Tuesday. They aren't going to make it. They worked Oct. 2nd and 3rd but were gone by 2:30PM. They almost have the next three bays completed, so when they get that done they will have almost 2/3 of it done. The are removing all roofing boards and replacing with a thinner structo board as a 1 replacement. John Anderson case: We served him with a notice to remedy on September 16th which he has 30 days to comply. The neighbors up there are upset and you can't blame them. It is understood from the neighbors that Anderson is hauling loads off his property and dumping it in the Town of Dryden. Attorney Fitzgerald spoke with George Pfann and he indicated the County is going to proceed through the Health Department. Sherry O'Brien: Was given 30 days to abide by his Special Permit that he was issued and also told him that he could attend the Planning Board Meeting on the 15th so that we could either satisfy the problem or pull the permit. LIZ BRENNAN - BOOKKEEPER - There are no transfers. Handed out Bookkeeper's Report as of 9/30/92. No discussion. RESOLUTION NO. 64 - 1993 HIGHWAY NEGOTIATIONS Moved by Mr. Haynes, seconded by Mr. Cummings Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Cummings, Haynes, Robinson RESOLVED, that the Town of Groton Highway Employees be granted a four (4) percent pay increase across the board for the year 1993. Board discussed proposed 1993 Dog Contract with the SPCA in which they requested a seven percent increase. Consensus of the Board was to keep the increase to no more than four percent. Supervisor relayed this information to the SPCA but as of this date had not received a copy of new contract. GEORGE TOTMAN - CHAIRMAN, PLANNING BOARD - Passed out copies of changes in the law regarding planning board members that was passed in March of this year. What it does, it gives the Town Boards and Village Boards a little more authority in removing members from the Planning boards. Up to now they are appointed for seven years and could not be removed unless they committed a felony nor do they have to attend any seminars. Now with the new law you can say how many meetings they have to attend and the most important thing about the new law is you can demand that they attend at least one seminar a year. This is very important not only to the Planning Board but also the Zoning Board of Appeals. With the opening we now have on the Planning Board, I'm very concerned about getting members on that won't know what planning is about and possibly making the wrong decisions and subsequently getting the Town in trouble. I really would strongly recommend that instead of appointing someone tonight out of those three people that the Planning Board suggested, I would personally recommend that the Town Board look at that and think about this and maybe talk to the people before they are appointed to see if they maybe would agree to attend one planning session a year or just put an extra foot forward rather than just coming to one meeting a month. Supervisor will make contact with the three names submitted for possible membership on the Planning Board. TOWN LINE ROAD ABANDONMENT - It has come to our attention that the Town of Lansing abandoned the Town Line Road running along the town line between the Towns of Lansing and Groton between Goodman Road on the South and Munson Road 2 on the north being 2,100 feet, more or less. We have a realtor inquiring whether the Town of Groton has officially abandoned our 25 feet of the road or can he consider the property along this section as having road frontage. Attorney Fitzgerald advise that the 25 feet remaining is not a legal road in the Town. It is understood that once a Town abandons a Town Line Road, the road is officially abandoned and reverts back to adjoining property owners. Attorney Fitzgerald said the whole jist of the thing seems to be that the noticing is more a ministerial act, you abandoned a road by none user procedures. He suggested the Highway Superintendent file another report on town highways that have not been opened or worked for more than six years and that the same have been abandoned by the public. We might also want to be thinking about naming these roads something other than Town Line Road in the event our County goes with a 911 system and no road names can be duplicated within the County. We also have other road names that are duplicated in our Town. LETTER OF COMPLAINT FROM TINA HAGG DATED 9/29/92 - I am complaining about the piles of stones on the corner of Old Stage Road and Champlin Road. As we were turning the corner the stones threw my friend into the ditch. It destroyed the front end of my car. Something has got to be done. Highway Superintendent and Supervisor went out to site and took pictures of skid marks. The County had oiled and stoned Champlin Road. The car came down from Haines way at a high rate of speed and tried to make corner and skidded across road into ditch. Any loose stones were swept off the County Road. RESOLUTION NO. 65 - AGREEMENT BETWEEN TOWN AND VILLAGE FOR JOINT OWNERSHIP OF JUSTICE COURT COMPUTER SOFTWARE Moved by Mr. Sovocool, seconded by Mr. Haynes Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Cummings, Haynes, Robinson RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby enter into the following agreement: THIS AGREEMENT made this 5th day of October, 1992, by and between the TOWN OF GROTON, a municipal corporation having its principal place of business on Conger Boulevard, Groton, New York, hereinafter referred to as the "TOWN" and the VILLAGE OF GROTON, a municipal corporation having its principal place of business at 108 East Cortland Street, Groton, New York, hereinafter referred to as the "VILLAGE "; WHEREAS the Town and the Village desire to join in the acquisition, ownership, custody, operation and maintenance of computer software to be used by The Town & Village Justice Courts all in accordance with the provisions of General Municipal Law, Section 119 -0 (2.e); and WHEREAS by separate resolutions the Town and Village have agreed to contribute proportionately the total purchase price of the aforesaid computer software, but not to exceed a total of $4,404.00, with the Town of Groton contributing 350 of the total and the Village of Groton contributing 650 of the total cost. 3 NOW, THEREFORE, it is mutually agreed as follows: 1. The Town of Groton will pay 350 of the total cost and the Village of Groton will pay 650 of the total cost of the acquisition of the computer software including set -up costs, if any. 2. Both municipalities shall exercise joint ownership and custody of the aforesaid computer software. 3. The Town and Village agree to share the operation of the computer software on near equal time basis with due difference given by each municipality to the case load of the respective courts. 4. Both the Town and the Village agree to exercise reasonable care in the operation of the computer software and that they will maintain them in a good state of repair. All costs of maintenance shall be borne equally by each municipality. 5. The computer software may not be sold without the joint consent of both the Town and the Village. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their corporate seals to be hereunto affixed, and these presents to be signed by their duly authorized officer the day and year first above written. VILLAGE OF GROTON TOWN OF GROTON By:H. Beldon Marlett By: Teresa Robinson The following letter was received from the McLean Community Council: The McLean Community Council has recently reorganized. This council is open to all interested residents of the McLean area. The main goal of this group is to work together towards meeting the needs of our community. We would like to ask you to keep us up to date concerning any activities or events that would effect our area so that we can help work towards solutions. McLean Community Council officers are: President - George L. Totman; Vice President - Fred Billard; Treasurer - Robert Skinner; Secretary -Norma Totman. Discussed setting budget work session(s) for board to review tentative budget. It was decided to meet on Tuesday, October 13th at S:OOPM to go over the tentative budget. Attorney reviewed joint Sales and License Agreement for the Courtroom Program. Everything appears to be in order. 4 RESOLUTION NO. 66 - JOINT TOWN AND VILLAGE SALES AND LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR COURTROOM PROGRAM Moved by Mr. Haynes, seconded by Mr. Cummings Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Cummings, Haynes, Robinson RESOLVED, that the Town does hereby authorize the Supervisor to sign the joint Sales Agreement and License Agreement with Service Education, Inc. for the Court Room Program and disk -based User Manual. Supervisor Robinson reported that we do not have Fellowship Hall any more for our Youth. The Village and the Town Youth Commission would like to do this on our own in house rather than going through the Ithaca Family and Childrens' Center. We're spending a lot of money on the outside. We had a meeting with the school and the school agreed to work with us. It will not be a part of the school but it will be in conjunction with the school. They will help us. We will hire a local person to run the program. The monies from the Town will go directly to the person whom we are going to hire. The school has cooperated in allowing us to have the space in the elementary school and the high school. We haven't told the Family and Childrens' Service yet because we wanted to get the feeling of the Village and Town Boards. We've been in this business for about 15 years and all along we wanted to have it here but they kept putting different things like insurance, filling out reports and different things, getting monies from the State, getting monies from the County and we feel that too much of it is going out of here and we should be using it here. It gives a person a reasonable salary having them working directly through us. They hire them down in Ithaca and we have a say but the say is three or four down the line. We would still be getting most of the monies that we are getting now. The school likes the program in the sense the way it is working but are upset that they have so many turnovers because they can get a better salary somewhere else. You can't blame them but it doesn't help our program any. We can find someone here that has the qualifications. The salary would be roughly around $30,000. The Local Youth Commission comprises of people appointed by the Town and Village Board. Glenn Morey is the laison for the Village and I'm (Teresa Robinson) laison for the Town. There are about five people on the Youth Commission right now. Board discussed pros and cons of keeping program local which includes insurances, reports, vouchers for reimbursement, payroll, etc. and who would be doing what, the Town or the Village. Discussed dollar amounts that the Town and Village each contribute towards this program which ranged from $8,000 to $18,000. An exact amount could not be ascertained at this time. If we're going to be assuming administrative overhead, there could be additional costs involved. It was suggested that the Supervisor ask the Commission to come before the board to address their concerns before the Town Board makes any decisions. Supervisor Robinson reported that we now have our Disability and Workman's Comp. with The State Insurance Fund. A representative from PERMA which is Puplic Employee's Risk Management Association, would like to quote rates next year for our disability and workman's comp insurance. The Village plus quite k, a few other businesses in the area have it and all of them speak very well of it. Board discussed when we would be holding our November meeting and also the budget and fire hearings. Consensus was to combine them all at our November meeting. Moved by Mr. VanBenschoten, seconded by Mr. Cummings, that the November Town Board meeting be held on Monday, November 2, 1992, at 7:30PM. Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Cummings, Haynes, Robinson. Moved by Mr. VanBenschoten, seconded by Mr. Cummings, to schedule budget hearing for Monday, November 2nd at 8:OOPM followed by fire budget hearing at 8:30PM. Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Cummings, Haynes, Robinson. There being no further business, Mr. Sovocool moved to adjourn meeting, seconded by Mr. VanBenschoten, at 9:50PM. Unanimous. Colleen D. Pierson Town Clerk BUDGET WORK SESSION - TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1992, @ 5:0 Those present: Teresa M. Robinson, Supervisor Ellard L. Sovocool, Councilman Gordon C. VanBenschoten, Councilman Donald E. Cummings, Councilman Carl E. Haynes, Councilman Also present: Leland Cornelius, Liz Brennan Purpose of meeting was to work on tentative budget. Discussed Account A1220 which is the Supervisor and Bookkeeper which totals $30,366. These are both part time positions. A comparison with the Town of Dryden was passed around by a Board Member. Discussed Account A1340 - Budget which is $23,000. Why an increase of $15,000? Software, possible payment to IRS. Discussed Accounts A1430 and B8010.1 which cover the Deputy Town Clerk and Secretary to Code Enforcement Officer. This combined position is a full time position. There is no increase in amount budgeted for next year. Supervisor gave following budget summary comparison: 19931992 n General A $467,930 $406,597 General B $120,910 $118,025 Highway DA $485,500 $415,000 Highway DB $204,650 $188,000 McLean Lts. $ 3,750 $ 3,750 Peru Lts. $ 2,100 $ 2,100 Groton Fire $ 54,500 $ 52,500 McLean Fire $ 42,077 $ 41,992 $1,381.417 $1,227.963 Supervisor and Bookkeeper estimated 1992 year end fund balances to be as follows: General A $225,000 General B $ 40,000 Highway DA $135,000 Highway DB $ 37,500 Total $437,500 Discussed Bookkeepers last report indicating cash in bank to be approximately $910,000. How much will be needed to finish this year out, fund balance at the end of the year and how to move excess monies into capital reserve funds. There appears to be a 13 percent increase in appropriations, however the tax rate figures were not available since the Supervisor had not received information from County on taxable assessed value. The Board recessed until next Tuesday, October 20, 1992, at S:OOPM at which time the Supervisor will have more information on excess monies, surpluses, appropriations and a tax rate. Colleen D. Pierson Town Clerk BUDGET WORK SESSION - TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1992 @ 5:OOPM Those present: Teresa M. Robinson, Supervisor Ellard L. Sovocool, Councilman Gordon C. VanBenschoten, Councilman Donald E. Cummings, Councilman Carl E. Haynes, Councilman Also present: Liz Brennan Meeting was continued from Tuesday, October 13, 1992. 7 Supervisor Robinson said cash in bank is committed. The taxpayer will look at rate not bottom line. County taxes will be higher. Taxes will be higher at bottom with line item at bottom. Taxes are holding at same or slightly lower rate using fund balance. Three sheets were handed out to board members. Sheet #1 - Available unappropriated cash surplus is defined as the excess of actual revenues received, including cash surplus (fund balance) over the budgeted estimated revenues and appropriated fund balance. It is NOT the balance of the asset account Cash. (An example of Highway DA Fund was given.) Sheet #2 - Budget Summary of General Fund A comparing 1992 and 1993. Sheet #3 - Summary of Fiscal Budget by Funds for 1993. The tax rates are as follows: 19931992 Townwide Parttown Groton Fire McLean Fire McLean Lights Peru Lights 3.353.35 2.232.22 .93 .93 1.701.713 .67 .67 .81 .82 Highway Superintendent is interested in getting monies into machinery fund. $150,000 was taken from the highway to build building and should be returned. The Town currently exchanges services with Dryden since they have a road roller but we should be thinking about purchasing one. Discussed putting $75,000 in Highway Machinery Fund this year and another $75,000 next year. Supervisor Robinson said cash in bank is committed to budget and appropriations. We also have a two million increase in assessment. The 1993 budget has a 12 1/2o increase in appropriations. We are looking at $20,000 for the IRS, $20,000 for electrical and $30,000 for salt building. Some additional items we need are sodium lights for garage, rewiring garage, salt house, possible truck, two doors for Spring St. building, new lights for front of building. Appropriations have increased $150,000 for 1993. Board asked how much additional surplus is available that we have not used as appropriated surplus. Bookkeeper said $200,000 setting off to the side. Supervisor Robinson went to Moravia to find roofer. He will be picking up stacks today and will be on the job tomorrow. Job should be finished in three days. Doug Brown has been hauling stones, etc. from the removed roof. This is the roofers responsibility not the Towns. Moved by Mr. Sovocool, seconded by Mr. VanBenschoten, that the Tentative Budget be approved as the Preliminary Buget to be presented at a hearing on November 2, 1992. Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Cummings, Haynes, Robinson. There being no further business, Mr. Sovocool, moved to adjourn meeting, seconded by Mr. VanBenschoten, at 6:30PM. Unanimous 8 Colleen D. Pierson Town Clerk