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Home My WebLink About12-11-1995MINUTES OF TOWN BOARD MEETING MONDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1995, AT 7:30 P.M. Those present: Teresa M. Robinson, Supervisor Ellard L. Sovocool, Councilman Gordon C. VanBenschoten, Councilman Carl E. Haynes, Councilman Fran Casullo, Attorney Absent: Donald E. Cummings Also present: Leland Cornelius, George Senter Minutes of November 6 and 20 were not ready for Board Approval. Claim Nos. 181 through 198 of the Highway Department in the amount of $22,219.48 and Claim Nos. 283 through 333 of the General Fund in the amount of $9,073.84 were presented for audit. Moved by Mr. VanBenschoten, seconded by Mr. Sovocool, that the bills be approved for payment. Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Haynes, Robinson. Claim Nos. 23 through 26 of the Special Grant Fund #1 in the amount of $24,822.22 were presented for payment. Moved by Mr. Haynes, seconded by Mr. Sovocool, that the bills be approved for payment. Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Haynes, Robinson. Claim No. 114 of the Building Fund in the amount of $368.92 was presented for audit. Moved by Mr. VanBenschoten, seconded by Mr. Sovocool, that the bill be approved for payment. Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Haynes, Robinson. LIZ BRENNAN - BOOKKEEPER - Absent - Supervisor Robinson handed out Bookkeeper's Monthly Report. We need a resolution to encumber 1995 highway part -town funds for CHIPS DB 5112.2, $17,000.00, to pay Tompkins County for Walpole Road Bridge. Since we don't have all the funds in there we need to transfer from Highway Part -Town Funds. RESOLUTION NO. 61 - ENCUMBER 1995 HIGHWAY PART -TOWN FUNDS Moved by Mr. Haynes, seconded by Mr. Sovocool Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Haynes, Robinson. RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby encumber 1995 Highway Part - Town Funds: CHIPS DB5112.2 .... .....................$17,000.00 To Pay Tompkins County for Walpole Road Bridge Work. 1 RESOLUTION NO. 62 - BOARD AUTHORIZATION TO TRANSFER FUNDS Moved by Mr. Sovocool, seconded by Mr. VanBenschoten Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Haynes, Robinson RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby authorize the following transfers: From:Gen. Repairs DB5110.4 ........... $4,173.12 Contingency DB1990.4 ............ $ 423.80 To:Chips DB5112 .2 ..................$4,596.92 GEORGE SENTER - CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER - Year -to -date building permits issued: 1994 87 5 houses 13 mobile homes 69 other 1995 10210 houses 22 mobile homes 70 other Life safety inspections are current through November. Motor Vehicle Repair Shops are in process and should be done in December. We are up 15 building permits from last year. Some of these are HUD projects. LELAND CORNELIUS - HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT - Nothing to report other than we are plowing all the time. Attorney Casullo reported that we had to wait for 30 days after we passed the resolution on the Loader Bid Permissive Referendum. Time is up after the 20th of December. We could have a special meeting or wait until the January 8th meeting. We can return bid bonds on the loader. Board decided to wait until the January 8th meeting. 8:OOPM - Hearing - Discuss amending Section 3 (Violations) of the Ordinance relating to owning or harboring an unlicensed dog. C. Pierson - The Town Justices asked that the Board consider amending Section 3, Item 2 to read as follows: The violation shall be punishable upon conviction in accordance with Penal Law Section 80.05, Subdivision 4. This eliminates setting a limit on the fine the Judges can assess. T. Robinson - Are there any questions or comments from the Board? Since no one from the public is present to speak for or against proposed amendment, we will adjourn public hearing. 2 RESOLUTION NO. 62 - AMEND ORDINANCE RELATING TO OWNING OR HARBORING AN UNLICENSED DOG Moved by Mr. Haynes, seconded by Mr. VanBenschoten Ayes - Sovocool, Cummings, Haynes, Robinson RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Groton does hereby amend Ordinance Relating to Owning or Harboring an Unlicensed Dog to provide for increased fees and violations and duly adopted the following ordinance: LEGAL NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, pursuant to Section 130 of the Town Law of the State of New York that the Town Board of the Town of Groton, New York, has on the 11th day of December, 1995, adopted the following ordinance: ORDINANCE RELATING TO OWNING OR HARBORING AN UNLICENSED DOG 1.LICENSE: Any person a resident of the Town of Groton who owns or harbors a dog six months of age or older shall immediately make application for a dog license. No license shall be required for any dog which is under the age of six months and which is not at large. 2. FEE: The license fee shall be as follows payable to the Town Clerk or the Town of Groton (a) For each neutered male or spayed female - $10.00 (b) For each unneutered male or unspayed female - $15.00 3.VIOLATIONS: 1.It shall be a violation for any owner who fails to license any dog and pay the license fee as provided in Section 1 and Section 2 of this ordinance. 2.The violation shall be punishable upon conviction in accordance with Penal Law Section 80.05, Subdivision 4. Effective date of Ordinance is January 1, 1996. The ordinance adopted November 6, 1995, is hereby amended. Colleen D. Pierson, Town Clerk 3 Groton Business Association is having their annual Christmas Party on Wednesday, December 20th, at S:OOPM at the Groton American Legion. All Town Officials are welcome. Discussed Spring Street Storm Drains. Supervisor Robinson could not locate file folder with pictures and letter from Mayor Toolan. Town Board Members received a letter from Erma Lyon on the same subject stating that it appeared that when water comes out of the Town of Groton's gravel pit, at times, the culverts become plugged with gravel and debris. causing water to run down the street, down the ditch, and onto her property causing erosion. Highway Superintendent, Leland Cornelius, said that he didn't think it was anything we created. He felt that the Village should clean the drains. In July when we had trouble with the gravel bank, DEC had us put a berm across to keep clay water from coming out of there. Very little water comes out of there. Mr. Cornelius had previously spoken with Frank Satterly about work that has to be done up there. The Village removed a 24" pipe and replaced it with a 15" pipe and chocked the water down. A big gully washer goes right up over the top of it. They had a big get together this spring. The Village was going to take that pipe out of there and rework the whole thing but they didn't do anything with it. We had Ward Hungerford there and they agreed to line that ditch with concrete so it would keep the erosion down. Nothing was done. Supervisor Robinson said that basically what Mayor Toolan wanted was to get together to talk about this problem. Water does not come from the Town's gravel bank with our berm in there. Consensus was to turn it back to the Village and suggest they clean their storm drains. The Town has been working on this, but the Village has to also work on it. Attorney Casullo suggested that the Town not get involved with a noise ordinance since it is very difficult to enforce. Very few Towns have this type of ordinance. If a person just filed a complaint with the Sheriffs Department, they could use the disorderly conduct section of the penal law. After further discussion, consensus of the Board was not interested in a noise ordinance at this time. Justice Arland Heffron and Court Clerk Margaret Palmer submitted a letter requesting permission to attend annual Association of Towns in NYC on February 18 -21. Town by law must pay for a Town Justice's training and certification. In the past, it was agreed that the Town and Village would split the cost of the Court Clerk's expenses to attend the Annual Association of Towns Seminar. Board decided to wait until we find out how many others plan to attend before giving authorization to attend. This will be on the January 8th agenda. Discussed increase in Blue Cross /Blue Shield. It is going up $13.85 per month for a single person and $30.96 per month for a family. This is approximately 9% increase. Our group is for less than 50 people. TC3 rates are going down, but they have more than 50 which keeps the rates cheaper. No money was budgeted for this increase. Employees are paying 250 of their health insurance. This will be effective the first of the year. Mr. Haynes said that maybe we should start looking around at other plans. With all the competition out there health plans are going down. Other board members hadn't seen any health insurance going down, just up and up. 4 Supervisor Robinson is working on establishing a board to oversee the loaning of money to businesses in the Town of Groton. This is money that has come back into the Town and ready to loan out to other businesses. We need a board of five people. Gary Watrous has agreed to sit on this board. The name of Karl Stamm was mentioned. Supervisor will have five or six people by January 8th meeting. Moved by Mr. Haynes, seconded by Mr. Sovocool, that the Town Board does hereby wish to subscribe to the 1966 state Register. Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Haynes, Robinson Councilman VanBenschoten extended his thanks to Councilman Haynes and Councilman Cummings for their years of work. It has been a pleasure working with you. Thanks. Board discussed Policy on Alcohol and Controlled Substance Testing for the Town of Groton. Employees have received, reviewed and signed that they understand the Town of Groton's drug and alcohol policy. RESOLUTION NO. 63 - ADOPT POLICY FOR ALCOHOL AND CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE TESTING Moved by Mr. Haynes, seconded by Mr. Sovocool Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Haynes, Robinson Absent - Cummings RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Groton does hereby adopt the following: (Policy will be added to minute book) There being no further business, Mr. VanBenschoten moved to adjourn meeting, seconded by Mr. Sovocool, at 9:00 P.M. Unanimous. Colleen D. Pierson Town Clerk 5