Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-10-1996MINUTES OF TOWN BOARD MEETING MONDAY, JUNE 10, 1996 AT 7:30 P.M. Those present: Teresa M. Robinson, Supervisor Gordon C. VanBenschoten, Councilman Donald N. Palmer, Councilman Daniel J. Carey, Councilman Fran Casullo, Attorney Also present: Liz Brennan, Leland Cornelius, George Senter, Peg Palmer, Chris Dempsey, Karl Heck Moved by Mr. VanBenschoten, seconded by Mr. Sovocool, that the minutes of May 13, 1996 be approved as submitted. Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Palmer, Carey, Robinson. Councilman Palmer had two questions prior to voting on minutes: 1) Deals with executive session that we had. Do we have to have minutes that are available to the Board of these meetings? Consensus of Board and Town Attorney was no since no action is taken and also Colleen was not present in this session and does not have privy to anything. You could jot down notes or have someone in the executive session taking notes. 2) Did we decide to go out for two quotes on the eaves trough regardless of the insurance issue? It was my recollection that we were going to get a second quote anyway. Clerk did not contact anyone since she was busy closing out taxes. Clerk did receive a call from the Town's Insurance Company saying that we did have $1,000 deductible and we would be receiving a check for the balance. They were contacting CS & K Roofing to get an itemized list of materials being used. Claim Nos. 69 to 92 of the Highway Department in the amount of $17,437.11 and Claim Nos. 117 to 144 of the General Fund in the amount of $5,169.60 were submitted for audit. Moved by Mr. Palmer, seconded by Mr. VanBenschoten, that the bills be approved for payment. Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Palmer, Carey, Robinson. Claim Nos. 49 to 50 of the Special Grant Fund (HUD) in the amount of $1,810.74 were presented for audit. Moved by Mr. Carey, seconded by Mr. Sovocool, that the bills be approved for payment. Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Palmer, Carey, Robinson. LIZ BRENNAN - BOOKKEEPER - Handed out monthly report and report of revenues and expenditures. I don't know if you want these reports on a monthly basis or not. I met with Councilman Palmer earlier to discuss with him just what is included in those reports. The private audit that we had is finished. They will be getting a draft to us in a week or two. It should be ready for our July Board Meeting. They have changed their partnership. They have an office in Owego and are establishing an office in Cortland now. It will have no effect on us. They are still abiding by our contract. We didn't have any 1 transfers this month. In looking over the reports the snow removal is really getting low with $800 in one account for salt. There is some in the county money. COUNCILMAN PALMER - Maybe it would help the Board if I explained why I asked for some time with Liz in advance and that was just so I could get a better understanding of how the system comes together and what information is available. My original suggesting to Liz was if this system could generate without creating additional work on her part a very simple summary that could be shared at the Board Meeting without having to wade through all the detail if you didn't want to. It might be helpful as you go through the year to in the various categories to, as an example the General Fund, to know as we're going through the year what the total budget was, what we spent to date, and what is remaining for the rest of the year just as a capsule report. If we want further detail, that is available in these more detail reports. It gives us a good flavor as we're going through the year and we can highlight if there is a potential problem early on as with Corney's problem with the heavy snow cost early in the year. We've virtually exhausted some of the funds already and something is going to have to happen before the year is out in order to make funds available for salt and so on. We should know these things early on in the year so it shouldn't be a crisis as we get into November and December. That was my only concern that as a Board we should probably be informed of these things in some fashion and make a more conscious decision as we're going through and approving the bills. Liz asked if they would like to see the reports on a monthly basis or a quarterly basis. Councilmen Carey, Sovocool and VanBenschoten said quarterly would be adequate and Councilman Palmer said he would like to see it monthly. GEORGE R. SENTER, SR. - CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER - Year -to -Date Building Permits issued: 1995 39 7 Houses 9 Mobile Homes 23 Misc. 1996 27 2 Houses 3 Mobile Homes 22 Misc. Life Safety Inspections are current through June. We brought up the question last month about fees for building permits and whether or not officers of the Town should pay or not. It was the position of the Town Board at that time that they should pay. We need a resolution by the Board to this affect. I bring it up only as a reminder because it hasn't changed and it's still there and we still aren't charging fees to any officials. Clerk Pierson said it's not in the new fee schedule but in the old fee schedule which was superceded by a resolution amending that fee schedule. In the old Schedule of Fees enacted in 1983, it stated that applications for administrative actions, except applications from public bodies or officers of the Town, are to be accompanied by nonreturnable fees. Clerk Pierson said that by not including the exemption for Town officials and public bodies in the most recent resolution establishing fees, we must assume that all officials and public bodies should be paying the fee. Consensus of the Board was to have all officials pay the fees and to have public bodies exempt from paying fees. 2 RESOLUTION NO. 25 - AMEND RESOLUTION NO. 48 OF 1995 - ESTABLISH FEES FOR VARIOUS PERMITS/ LICENSES REQUIRED PURSUANT TO THE LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT CODE Moved by Mr. Sovocool, seconded by Mr. VanBenschoten Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Palmer, Carey, Robinson RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby add the following to the schedule of fees required pursuant to the LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT CODE: "Applications for administrative actions in these regulations, except public bodies, are to be accompanied by nonreturnable fees according to the following schedule:" GEORGE R. SENTER, SR.- CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER (CONT'D) - Last month I did the road tour but I didn't have any figures at that time. We sent out 34 letters for unlicensed, unregistered, abandoned or junk motor vehicles. We sent out 6 letters that included those plus rubbish, the combination of those two. We sent out 5 letters just for rubbish. I have sent out more letters since then. Also, Don, you called me about Sherry O'Brien. I took pictures and I sent out a letter with a copy to the Planning Board, saying he is not abiding by the stipulations. This is what was requested by the Planning Board last January. It's in the Planning Boards lap. We will see what response we get from that. If they do deny his permit, then we can go from there. Sherry is illegal. LELAND CORNELIUS - HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT - We have the base coat on Bossard Road. We did Old Stage Road but not the shoulders. We put two loads of black top on the bridge on Sovocool Hill Road where the fill had settled. I called Cortland Pump on the fuel tank and they will help me get the specs. I was going to mention the transmission on the Ford Ranger truck. It has a foreign transmission and it would cost $900 for parts. I got a rebuilt Toyoka Trans for the 87 Ford out of Chicago for $1399.87. COLLEEN D. PIERSON - TOWN CLERK /TAX COLLECTOR - Monthly reports were given to Supervisor. ARLAND L. HEFFRON & ALTON I. ALEXANDER - Town Justices - Submitted monthly reports for Board review. George Senter, Code Enforcement Officer submitted annual inspection reports of the Garage and Office Building to Supervisor Robinson. Life Safety Inspection - Town Hall: No apparent violations. Life Safety Inspection - Town Garage: 1) Southwest exit door not protected from cars parking close and impeding egress. 2) Compressed gas cylinders not secured to prevent toppling (1st bay- south). 3) Listed portable fire extinguishers should be provided at 3 garages dispensing Class 1 or Class II liquids. The extinguisher should be within 100 feet of the pump. There should be a notice posed giving location of the extinguisher. 4) Warning signs should be conspicuously posted in the dispensing area, incorporating the following or equivalent wording: "Warning ". It is unlawful and dangerous to dispense gasoline into unapproved containers; no smoking; and stop motor. Supervisor Robinson read letter that the Town Clerk received from Assemblyman Martin Luster: "Enclosed is a bill that I introduced at the request of the Tompkins County Board of Representatives. It would authorize Tompkins County to collect solid waste fees along with property taxes. I am interested in any comments you may have about this legislation. Please do not hesitate to contact me regarding this or any other matter." Sincerely, Marty. Supervisor and Town Clerk attended a meeting, sort of after the fact, that County Treasurer, David Squires, had called for all the Town Clerks in the County to explain what the County had done regarding the collection of solid waste fees along with Town and County taxes. The County has a new system in place for tax collection which includes the solid waste fee. Towns were not notified of any changes as the County had promised us all last year. They will not be updating our equipment as they initially said they would do. Supposedly, we will be collecting the tax plus solid waste fee in the same manner as we currently collect taxes. The $50,000 that they are supposedly saving by adding the fee to the tax bill will not go to reduce the fee. The Towns will not get anything for collecting the fee. They said the $50,000 would go for their new equipment and people to work. Our current software with Williamson Law has been nothing but a headache since the beginning. Apparently, all Towns in the County will have to obtain their own software that is compatible with the Counties new program. Initially, the surcharge for installment payments was to go to the Towns for equipment. This surcharge has decreased each year due to less people opting for installment payments. Groton had 145 people out of 2385 parcels opting for installment payments. It appears as though if the solid waste fee is not included with the tax payment, the check will have to be returned as it is not payment in full. The Board of Reps intend to adopt a resolution to have the solid waste fee on the tax bills as soon as the Governor signs the bill. I would like to see the County either upgrade our tax program or provide all the Clerks in the County with a new program compatible to their new equipment they just purchased. If the County couldn't work with Williamson Law programs, why do the Towns have to struggle with it? MARGARET PALMER - COURT CLERK - In reference to article written by Michael Cummings from the Office of the State Comptroller regarding Justice Court Reform - Comptroller's Program Bill #45. She is representing the NYS Association of Magistrates Court Clerks to explain the above bill which includes electronic filing of Justice Court data. This would eliminate paper reporting and expense; local share of fines, penalties are reported to state but remain in locality; improved cash flow with monthly disbursement; reduced interest expense - higher interest earnings; EFT transfer of money includes less paper and faster access; and potential extra payment in current fiscal year. They intend to have a demonstration project which includes 100 Town and 4 Village Courts. If the Town Board is interested in having our Justice Court participate in proposed Bill #45 (5.7379) a resolution could be passed indicating our endorsement of the Administrative Reform Justice Court Fund. If the Town is selected the Town has the option of participating or not. This might mean upgrading our computer. CHRISTOPHER DEMPSEY - DEMPSEY INSURANCE AGENCY - I'm just basically here to talk about the disability insurance which is a real small policy we have which you presently have through the New York State Insurance Fund. What I'm proposing is to switch that to Zurich Insurance Company. The rates aren't really any different. The way I added it up the rates should be the same. The difference is the State Insurance Fund they base it on payroll and Zurich they base it on the number of people that are working per person. So if we have a heavy snow year we're going to save money and if we have a low snow year it's going to cost us a little bit more. We're talking about $30 or $40 a year. What the problem is and the reason that I'm asking you to change is, and we're talking about a policy the runs us probably $400 or $500 a year, the problem I have is that if someone here puts in a claim right now we have a hard time with the State Fund tracking claims, we have a hard time tracking payment schedule, they don't send us anything as far as policies, as far as your payment history. We have no handle on the State at all. It's a Governmental entity and so the reason I'm proposing the change is more so I can do a better job with what you're giving me -- plain and simple. This is statutory New York. It is not workman's comp which is through Perma. This is non - occupational like what Rick Neville has now -- getting hurt at home. The other thing is the turn around -- we'll be lucky if he gets his check in five to six weeks where on the other one you're looking at two to three. The turn around on the payment is half plus we don't know who were going to get. Zurich is the biggest disability carrier in New York. Your disability runs from July 1 to July. We propose to switch it on July 1 even. Discussion between Mr. Dempsey and Town Clerk relating to the Town's experiences with The State Insurance Fund which was handled by the Clerk for approximately 20 years and a problem never arose on any disability claims that were submitted. Discussion between Mr. Dempsey and Board members on State Insurance Fund worker's compensation cases. RESOLUTION NO. 26 - CHANGE DISABILITY INSURANCE CARRIER Moved by Mr. Palmer, seconded by Mr. VanBenschoten Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Palmer, Carey, Robinson RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby accept Chris Dempsey's recommendation and change Disability Insurance Carriers July 1, 1996, to Zurich Insurance Company. KARL HECK - HUD GRANT ADMINISTRATOR - Gave a report on Small Cities Community Development Block Grant. The Town of Groton currently has two open grants. The 1994 grant is almost completed and will be sometime this summer. The 1995 k, grant should be completed this construction season. Next week the 1996 grant with two years of funding will be started. HUD gives one year contracts. This will involve around 15 more households under the housing rehabilitation program. (Mr. Heck could not be heard on the tape recorder since he was not using a microphone.) Supervisor Robinson said a trash day which has been set for Saturday, June 15, 1996, from 8:00 A.M. thru 5:00 P.M. at the Spring Street North Gravel Pit. Two men from the Village and two men from the Town will be working at the pit. We have an opening of the Zoning Board of Appeals and Gregory Vestal of 79 McLean - Cortland Road has asked to be on the Board to fill a vacancy. Moved by Mr. Palmer, seconded by Mr. Carey, to appoint Gregory Vestal to fill the unexpired term of David Ofner which expires December 31, 1996, subject to Mr. Ofner's written resignation. Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Palmer, Carey, Robinson. Moved by Mr. Carey, seconded by Mr. VanBenschoten, to go into executive session to discuss litigation at 9:00 P.M. Board Meeting reconvened at 9:35 P.M. The SPCA will be doing the dog enumeration sometime in July or early August. The LINKS Committee will be meeting on Wednesday at 1:30 P.M. at the Town Hall. Everyone is welcome to attend. COUNCILMAN PALMER - I believe we are a member of the Business Association. Do we ever get any reports from them of what's going on? Supervisor Robinson said she gets a Newsletter. Would like it? I'd like to have it available for the meeting. The second item is that we made a commitment to work on the Web page and I don't think too much has happened recently on that. Supervisor Robinson said we have been pretty busy with taxes and getting computers to work. John has been in several times to get a list of people and also to get names of people in business to complete form. Mr. Palmer just wanted to make sure the project keeps moving forward. Mr. Palmer said we could put the minutes and budget out there, and any number of public records that the public would be interested in. Office hours, regulations, etc. Clerk Pierson said that anytime John wanted to stop by and pick info up he could. Supervisor Robinson received a letter from Henry and Joyce Hatch regarding Route 222 Cemetery. Their concern is the repair and maintenance of this cemetery. Their grandfather who was a Revolutionary War Soldier is buried there. They are looking for the Town to maintain cemetery. We currently apply Agro- Statics spray to control weeds. There is myrtle covering the entire plot. Atty. Casullo will check into law to see if we are responsible for repair of headstones. The Town does not have funds to expend on repairs. Possible some group like the Eagle Scouts could volunteer to work on this project. n Briefly discussed eaves trough proposal. Since we have a $1000 deductible and the balance will be picked up by insurance, we need not contact another contractor for a quotation. RESOLUTION NO. 27 - ACCEPT CS & K ROOFING PROPOSAL FOR EAVE TROUGHS Moved by Mr. VanBenschoten, seconded by Mr. Sovocool Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Carey, Robinson Nay - Palmer RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby accept the proposal of CS & K Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc. for the fabrication and installation of new 24 gauge painted Kynar 500 fluorocarbon steel eave troughs, to match existing color - Regal Blue, and repair downspouts for a total cost of $2,750.00. There being no further business, Mr. Palmer moved to adjourn meeting, seconded by Mr. Sovocool, at 9:45 P.M. Unanimous. Colleen D. Pierson Town Clerk 7