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Home My WebLink About04-10-1995MINUTES OF TOWN BOARD MEETING MONDAY, APRIL 10, 1995 AT 7:30 P.M. Those present: Teresa M. Robinson, Supervisor Gordon C. VanBenschoten, Councilman Carl E. Haynes, Councilman Fran Casullo, Attorney Absent: Donald E. Cummings, Councilman Absent: Ellard L. Sovocool, Councilman Also present: Leland Cornelius, Liz Brennan, Mary Decker, Peg Palmer, George Senter, Robert Walpole, Orlando Houghtaling Moved by Mr. Haynes, seconded by Mr. VanBenschoten, that the minutes of January 9, February 13 and March 13 be approved as mailed. Ayes - VanBenschoten, Haynes, Robinson. Claim Nos. 37 to 51 of the Highway Fund in the amount of $6,919.86; Claim Nos. 78 to 105 of the General Fund in the amount of $6,645.84; and Claim No. 112 of the Building Fund in the amount of $2,841.08 were presented for audit. Moved by Mr. VanBenschoten, seconded by Mr. Haynes, that the bills be approved for payment. Ayes - VanBenschoten, Haynes, Robinson. Councilman Haynes asked about audio system - if the cost fell within our purchase agreement. Supervisor Robinson said yes, it was under $10,000. LIZ BRENNAN - BOOKKEEPER - Handed out monthly reports along with a work sheet showing deficit fund balances. We will have to amend 95 budget. Also discussed revenues and appropriations and where we could cut this year. Suggested we not amend budget at this time but wait another month to get better idea where you want to cut. Highway seems to have the biggest shortage problem. Loader 10 year program is up in June. County will get $16,000 for Walpole Bridge. Sovocool Hill bridge is being replaced this year. Councilman Haynes, Liz and Leland discussed existing highway budget and up coming expenditures. Councilman Haynes suggested they manage spending plan very, very tightly for this year and start planning for the 1996 budget now. Councilman Haynes said this is not a control issue but a management issue and we would have to reduce dependency on fund balance and preserve fund balance for next year. GEORGE SENTER - CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER - Building permits issued year -to- date: 1994 -55 misc 1995 - 144 homes 4 mobile homes 6 misc Will be doing vehicle survey at the end of April. LELAND CORNELIUS - HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT - We need to set a date for the annual road inspection. Our high priorities are Sovocool Hill Road bridge and Walpole Road Bridge. $16,000 is committed to the County for Walpole Road bridge. We have spent $6000 for steel of the last three years for Sovocool Hill bridge. We have to rent a hoe to get cement out of creek which will cost about $16,000 on Sovocool Hill bridge. COLLEEN D. PIERSON - TOWN CLERK /TAX COLLECTOR - Town Clerk's and Tax Collector's monthly reports were submitted. TOWN JUSTICE'S - Monthly reports were submitted for Board review. ROBERT WALPOLE - The County Board of Representatives are considering giving full responsibility of all bridges back to the Towns. MARY DECKER - ZBA MEMBER - Delivered a letter to the Town Board from George Totman regarding reimbursement for meals while attending the four day NYC Conference or any seminars without submitting any receipts. Mary said she 1 felt the same as George, we haven't submitted receipts before and we were not informed that we had to. Colleen Pierson, Town Clerk, also attended the same conference and did tell all individuals that a receipt was required for their meals in order to be reimbursed. In fact, all Town personnel ate together the first evening and each received a receipt for same. Clerk said that the State Auditors had advised Town Board Members in their 1991 Report of Examination that no payment may be made for conference expenses unless a properly itemized claim supporting such payment has been presented to the Town Board for audit and allowance. (Town Law, 118(1). Claims for travel in connection with conference expenses should be supported by an itemized listing of expenses (travel, meals, etc.) as well as receipts where required. A similar comment relating to itemization and documentation of claims for conference expenses was included in the Auditor's prior Report of Examination. All employees were verbally notified that they must have receipts in order to get reimbursed for expenses. Supervisor Robinson concurred that employees were advised to obtain receipts. PEG PALMER - COURT CLERK - When the Town makes policies and procedures we should get a memo on them. You should let people know in writing. FRAN CASULLO - ATTORNEY - This happened in 1991. It is Town Law 118 and we should be complying with the law. Itemized vouchers and receipts are required in order to get reimbursed for conference expenses including meals. PEG PALMER- COURT CLERK - My other reason for being here is to follow up in February on my request that health insurance be available to employees. My request was for the Town to make plan available or possible for Town part -time employees. Consensus of the Board was that if it was feasible under our plan with Blue Cross Blue Shield, that part -time employees could be members of the Town plan but would be obligated to pay the total premium themselves. Colleen will call Blue Cross Blue Shield to see if there is any problem. Supervisor Robinson said that they had a discussion on underground tanks in NYC. Our tanks are certified through June of 1997. We have one 10,000 gal. tank of diesel fuel and one 2,000 gal. gas tank. Councilman Haynes asked what it would cost to bring above ground. Highway Superintendent, Leland Cornelius, will get a price. This is something that should be done in the near future. Discussed CDL alcohol and drug testing mandates that become effective on January 1, 1996. Attorney Casullo will be working on a draft of procedures for the Town to act on. There are several retirement seminars available to employees who will be interested in retirement in the next few years or so. Attorney Casullo explained to the Board the two hearings that are needed for the Zoning Local Law. Local Law No. 1 would be to amend the Land Use and Development Code and Zoning Map. Local Law No. 2 would amend the Land Use and Development Code and Zoning Map pursuant to Municipal Home Rule Law. Also, a long form environmental assessment form has to be complete by the Lead Agency. Also, we have to follow our current code in sending out notices plus referral to County Planning Board. All of these should have 30 days to reply prior to the hearing. 2 RESOLUTION NO. 22 - HEARING - AMEND LAND USE & DEVELOPMENT CODE AND 7nNTNr_ MAD Moved by Mr. Haynes, seconded by Mr. VanBenschoten, Ayes - VanBenschoten, Haynes, Robinson RESOLVED, that the Town Board will hold a public hearing on Monday, May 8, 1995, at 8:OOPM at the Town Hall regarding the adoption of a Local Law of the Town of Groton for the year 1995 which would substantially amend the Land Use and Development Code and Zoning Map for the Town of Groton. RESOLUTION NO. 23 - HEARING - LOCAL LAW ALLOWING AMENDMENT OF LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT CODE AND ZONING MAP Moved by Mr. Haynes, seconded by Mr. VanBenschoten, Ayes - VanBenschoten, Haynes, Robinson RESOLVED, that the Town Board will hold a public hearing on Monday, May 8, 1995, at 8:30PM at the Town Hall regarding the adoption of a Local Law of the Town of Groton for the year 1995 which would allow the Town of Groton to amend the Land Use and Development Code and Zoning Map for the Town of Groton pursuant to the provisions of the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York. RESOLUTION NO. 24 - DESIGNATE LEAD AGENCY FOR ZONING CHANGES Moved by Mr. Haynes, seconded by Mr. VanBenschoten Ayes - VanBenschoten, Haynes, Robinson RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Groton hereby assumes the role of lead agency to coordinate the SEQR review process for the amended Land Use and Development Code. RESOLUTION NO. 25 - DESIGNATE 1995 POLLING PLACES Moved by Mr. VanBenschoten, seconded by Mr. Haynes Ayes - VanBenschoten, Haynes, Robinson RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby designate the following polling places for 1995: District #1 - West Groton Church District #2 & #3 - Groton Town Hall District # 4 - McLean Fire Hall 3 RESOLUTION NO. 26 - CUSTODIAL AGREEMENT WITH FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF GROTON Moved by Mr. Haynes, seconded by Mr. VanBenschoten Ayes - VanBenschoten, Haynes, Robinson RESOLVED, that the First National Bank of Groton shall keep monies covered at all times, provide safekeeping services and to hold any securities pledged to the Town in an account established for benefit of the Town as secured party pursuant to this Agreement. RESOLUTION NO. 27 - AGREEMENT BETWEEN TOWN, VILLAGE AND COUNTY YOUTH BUREAU Moved by Mr. Haynes, seconded by Mr. VanBenschoten Ayes - VanBenschoten, Haynes, Robinson RESOLVED, that the Town of Groton does hereby enter into Youth Services Program Agreement with the Village of Groton and the County Youth Bureau for a 1995 annual fee of $5,078 to be paid quarterly to the Village of Groton. There being no further business, Mr. Haynes moved to adjourn meeting, seconded by Mr. VanBenschoten, at 9:35 P.M. Unanimous. Colleen D. Pierson Town Clerk 4