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Home My WebLink About10-1994 & budget wrk sessionsMINUTES OF TOWN BOARD MEETING MONDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1994, AT 7:30 P.M. Those present: Teresa M. Robinson, Supervisor Ellard L. Sovocool, Councilman Gordon C. VanBenschoten, Councilman Donald E. Cummings, Councilman Francis Casullo, Attorney Absent: Carl E. Haynes, Councilman Also present: Leland Cornelius, George Senter, George Totman, Betty Sperger, Elsie DeCamp Moved by Mr. Cummings, seconded by Mr. Sovocool, that the minutes of September 12th and 15th be approved as mailed. Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Cummings, Robinson. Claim Nos. 168 to 182 of the Highway Fund in the amount of $80,733.06 and Claim Nos. 227 to 251 of the General Fund in the amount of $7,011.58 were presented for audit. Moved by Mr. VanBenschoten, seconded by Mr. Sovocool, that the bills be approved for payment. Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Cummings, Robinson. LIZ BRENNAN - Since Liz was sick, Supervisor Robinson handed out Bookkeepers Monthly Report and Tentative Budget to Board Members. She indicated that we needed a transfer from Contingency Fund to Reclamation of Gravel Pit. RESOLUTION NO. 59 - AUTHORIZATION TO TRANSFER FUNDS Moved by Mr. Sovocool, seconded by Mr. Cummings Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Cummings, Robinson RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby authorize the following transfer: From Contingency A1990.4 - $913.00 To Reclamation of Gravel Pit A8989.4 - $913.00 GEORGE TOTMAN - COUNTY BOARD REPRESENTATIVE - Glad you changed your meeting night. I wish I could come more often but I have to work that night. I'm sure you've been reading all about the budget. I like the idea of the Ithaca Journal putting in how people vote. That way people can call me if they don't like how I vote. Unfortunately, the Sheriff's Department has been whittled 1 down. The Counties standpoint is to eliminate road patrols. Also, the Counties Public Works Department is being cut. There are six bridges and several roads that are being cut. Walpole Road bridge is scheduled for the 1st week in April of this year. If you have any questions, I would be happy to answer them. Discussed the number of employees in several departments of the county. Also, as Chairman of the Groton Planning Board, we have been meeting three times a month working on the Comprehensive Plan. We are working to make it more user friendly. Hopefully, by the end of October it will be done. Then, what we'd like to do is meet with the Town Board and go over Plan. After that the Planning Board and the Town Board could have a joint hearing on the Plan, if you agree to hold a joint hearing. Also, it would be nice if the Town Board wrote the Editor of the Ithaca Journal and each County Rep individually expressing the opposition to the cut back for Sheriff's Department patrols. RESOLUTION NO. 60 - OPPOSE COUNTY CUT BACK OF SHERIFF PATROLS Moved by Mr. VanBenschoten, seconded by Mr. Sovocool Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Cummings, Robinson WHEREAS, the Tompkins County Sheriff's Department provides police protection to the citizens of the Town of Groton, and WHEREAS, adequate police protection is vital to the safety and security of the citizens of the Town of Groton, and WHEREAS, the Tompkins County Board of Representatives is currently considering reducing the Tompkins County Sheriff's Department Budget to an extent that it will significantly impact the ability of the Sheriff to provide police protection to the citizens of the Town of Groton, and it is FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Groton recommends that the Tompkins County Board of Representatives provide sufficient budget to the Sheriff's Department so that additional manpower can be provided for the safety and security of the citizens of the Town of Groton. 8:00 P.M. - Bid opening for Used 1985 or newer 10 -wheel truck with snow plow equipment. Supervisor Robinson read legal notice which was published in the Republican Register on September 21, 1994. Two bids were received. Bid #1 - Southern Tier Truck Equipment, Inc. 11 Hall Street Binghamton, NY 13902 1985 Model #L9000 10 -wheel truck with snow plow equipment per 2 specifications - $22,640.00 Bid #2 - Burr Truck & Trailer Sales, Inc. 2901 Vestal Road Vestal, NY 13850 1985 Ford L9000 10 -wheel truck - $20,950 Attorney and Highway Superintendent found both bids to be in order. RESOLUTION NO. 61 - ACCEPT BID FOR USED 1985 10 -WHEEL TRUCK Moved by Mr. VanBenschoten, seconded by Mr. Cummings Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Cummings, Robinson. RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby accept the low bid of $20,950 for a used 1985 Ford L9000, 10 -wheel truck with snow plow equipment from Burr Truck & Trailer Sales, Inc. GEORGE SENTER - issued: 1993 77 1994 73 Fran and I were We're also going before January. CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER - 13 homes 11 mobile homes 5 homes 11 mobile homes supposed to go to John Ande to set a date to work on ADA Year -to -date building permits 53 other 57 other rson's but it didn't work out. requirements to get it in place LELAND CORNELIUS - HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT - We have one mile of sealing to do tomorrow on the other end of Salt Road. We need more gravel in the center of Brown Road. We have paved both ends of Brown Road. We sold the bucket truck at the Lansing auction for $1,050. We also sold a power tailgate, hydraulic, for $350.00 at the auction. BETTY SPERGER - Passed along a comment that she got at Old Home Days. I was set up in the Highway Garage and people wanted to know why calcium and /or salt was left in truck with a load on the tires. L. Cornelius - That wasn't salt in there, that's sand. I use the sand on weekends when it is hot to keep tar down. I leave the truck load so that I don't have to load it on a Sunday. It was in there so if we got a rain storm it wouldn't get wet and hard. That was a $75.00 spreader that we bought and we never got around to paint it. That's why it doesn't look good. Time Warner Entertainment Company, L.P., which is the parent of Time Warner Cable and the franchisee under our cable franchise, has recently announced an agreement with Advance Publications and Newhouse Broadcasting Corporation to create a new joint venture cable operation to be called Time Warner Entertainment - Advance /Newhouse partnership. Although the day -to -day operations and management control of Time Warner Cable will not change, The 3 Town of Groton franchise may require the Town's approval of the transfer. RESOLUTION NO. 62 - TRANSFER OF TIME WARNER CABLE TV FRANCHISE Moved by Mr. VanBenschoten, seconded by Mr. Sovocool Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Cummings, Robinson. WHEREAS, Time Warner Entertainment Company, L.P. ( "TWE ") is the holder of a franchise (the "Franchise ") to provide cable television service for the Town of Groton; and WHEREAS, TWE with Advance Publications and Newhouse Broadcasting Corporation will create a new joint venture cable operation to be called Time Warner Entertainment - Advance /Newhouse Partnership; and WHEREAS, the joint venture will be managed by TWE and be two - thirds owned by TWE and one -third owned by Advance /Newhouse, a partnership of Newhouse Broadcasting and Advance Publications Inc.; and WHEREAS, the Time Warner Entertainment - Advance Newhouse Partnership will be bound by the terms and conditions of the Franchise subject to applicable law. NOW THEREFORE, be it resolved that, insofar as may be necessary or advisable under the Franchise, transfer of the Franchise and the cable television system operating pursuant to the Franchise from TWE to Time Warner Entertainment - Advance /Newhouse Partnership (including any necessary transfers through one or more Time Warner entities) is hereby authorized and consented to in all respects. Floyd R. Jenson, Commander of the Cortland Chapter of the Disabled American Veterans, has asked that the Groton Town Board consider a bill recently enacted as Chapter 410 Laws of New York State allowing Towns to adopt local legislation preserving the benefit of veterans eligible funds exemptions after reassessments. This would allow the taxing districts to extend to a veteran the option of switching back to an eligible funds exemption for those who have previously opted out of the eligible funds exemption in favor of the alternative veterans exemption. Moved by Mr. Sovocool to table action until next Board Meeting. Seconded by Mr. VanBenschoten. Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Cummings, Robinson. Board discussed when to schedule Budget Work Session. Moved by Mr. Cummings, seconded by Mr. VanBenschoten, to schedule a special board meeting on Thursday, October 13, 1994, at 4:00 P.M. to work on budget. Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Cummings, Robinson. Moved by Mr. Cummings, seconded by Mr. Sovocool, that the November Town Board Meeting be held on Monday, November 7, 1994, at 7:30 P.M. and the 1995 Budget Hearing be held on November 7, 1994, at 8:00 P.M. followed by the Fire Budget 4 Hearing. Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Cummings, Robinson. At 9:00 P.M., Supervisor Robinson moved to go into executive session to discuss negotiations. Seconded by Mr. VanBenschoten. Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Cummings, Robinson. Board Meeting reconvened at 9:30 P.M. Supervisor Robinson received the following correspondence: 1) Form from Hartford Insurance Company; 2) Retirement information pertaining to Tier 3 and 4; 3) Information regarding Election Officials earnings for 1995; 4) Information that our Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Application is complete and we should be hearing on funding around October 9th; 5) PERMA insurance review. Board and Attorney discussed action to be taken against Diversified. Are they still up on the hill? Have they made any payments? Supervisor Robinson will check at the bank to see what they have paid. Attorney Casullo said that the Town had priority lien on most of the equipment according to the original Agreement. Attorney needs to know what kind of payments have been made prior to writing any letter. Original loan was approximately $350,000 out of the $400,000 grant. Do we know if they spent all of the $350,000 for equipment or did he use it for wages? Consensus of the Board was for the Supervisor to find out information so that Attorney Casullo could write a letter. There being no further business, Mr. Sovocool moved to adjourn meeting, seconded by Mr. VanBenschoten, at 10:10 P.M. Unanimous. Colleen D. Pierson Town Clerk MINUTES OF SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1994 AT 4:00 P.M. Those present: Teresa M. Robinson, Supervisor Ellard L. Sovocool, Councilman Donald E. Cummings, Councilman Gordon C. VanBenschoten, Councilman Absent: Carl E. Haynes, Councilman Also present: Leland Cornelius and Liz Brennan Purpose of meeting was to work on 1995 budget. k, Supervisor Robinson handed out revised copies of tentative budget. Went through budget figures with board members. All employees will be receiving a 3 -1/2o increase. Discussed highway equipment fund and also highway equipment capital reserve fund with Highway Superintendent. Highway Superintendent had quotation for two overhead doors for storage facility on Spring Street. Existing doors are in bad shape. RESOLUTION NO. 63 - AUTHORIZE PURCHASE OF OVERHEAD DOORS Moved by Mr. VanBenschoten, seconded by Mr. Cummings Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Cummings, Robinson RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby authorize the Highway Superintendent to purchase two overhead doors for the Spring Street garage for a total cost of $2796.00 from Genson Overhead Door of Moravia. Moved by Mr. Sovocool, seconded by Mr. VanBenschoten, to accept tentative budget as presented this afternoon as the Preliminary Budget to be presented at Public Hearing on November 7th. Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Cummings, Robinson. There being no further business, Mr. Sovocool moved to adjourn meeting, seconded by Mr. Cummings, at 5:45PM. Unanimous Colleen D. Pierson Town Clerk BUDGET WORK SESSION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1994, AT 5:00 P.M. Clerk was notified of meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 25th, around one o'clock. The purpose of the meeting was to work at reducing the preliminary budget for 1995. Due to prior commitments, the Clerk was unable to attend. Those present: Unknown Minutes or Notes: None given to Clerk C. D. Pierson Town Clerk n BUDGET WORK SESSION WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1994 , AT 4:30 P.M. Meeting was held without any notification to the Town Clerk and Highway Superintendent. Those present: Unknown Minutes or Notes: None given to Clerk. C. D. Pierson Town Clerk 7