HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-09-1996MINUTES OF TOWN BOARD MEETING
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1996 AT 7:30 P.M.
Those present: Teresa M.
Ellard L.
Gordon C.
Donald N.
Daniel J.
Fran Casu
Robinson, Supervisor
Sovocool, Councilman
VanBenschoten, Councilman
Palmer, Councilman
Carey, Councilman
llo, Attorney
Also present: Liz Brennan, Leland Cornelius, Oley Houghtaling
Moved by Mr. Palmer, seconded by Mr. Sovocool, that the draft minutes of
August 12, 1996 be approved as presented. Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten,
Palmer, Carey, Robinson.
Claim Nos. 128 to 150 of the Highway Fund in the amount of $36,567.68 and
Claim Nos. 191 to 219 of the General Fund in the amount of $13,226.24 were
presented for audit. Moved by Mr. VanBenschoten, seconded by Mr. Sovocool,
that the bills be approved for payment. Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten,
Palmer, Carey, Robinson.
Claim Nos. 59 to 61 of the Special Grant Fund (HUD) in the amount of
$23,962.35 were presented for audit. Moved by Mr. Palmer, seconded by Mr.
VanBenschoten, that the bills be approved for payment. Ayes - VanBenschoten,
Sovocool, Palmer, Carey, Robinson.
LIZ BRENNAN - BOOKKEEPER - Handed out Monthly Reports and Detail of
Expenditures and Revenues for month ending August 31, 1996. We have some
transfers. We need to set up a fund for the NYS Environmental Permit which is
A1989.41 for $160.00 to be transferred from Contingency A1990.4. There is a
transfer from Contingency A1990.4 to Publicity A6410.4 for $475.00 for the
tent and $100.00 for candy for Old Home Days. In General Part Town we need a
transfer from Worker's Comp. Ins. B9040.8 to Youth Program for salaries,
B7310.1 in the amount of $502.70. We hired a lot more kids this year than
originally planned. In the Highway Part Town Fund, we need to transfer $1000
from Contingency and $3,400 from General Repairs Contractual to General
Repairs Salary $4,100 and Social Security $300.00. That's for work on the
roads. Salaries have gone over budget and will probably be a little bit more
over budget at the end of the month.
Councilman Carey asked Bookkeeper to explain the reason we are taking money
out of the workers comp fund. Liz said that the main bill for workers comp
has already been paid. If anything there will be an adjustment bill and we
could probably take it from some other account so there was room there to move
some money over. There is not much else to move. We only have one
contingency. Councilman Carey asked if that was what we had to do to cover
kids in the summer. Supervisor Robinson said that we would be getting
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reimbursed half of the cost for the Summer Youth Workers from the County.
Councilman Palmer asked if we knew up front that we would go over budget and
would ultimately have to transfer from another to pay for these additional
youths. Liz said that when we did the budget last year that we weren't sure
who we were hiring at that point. Last year I don't think we hired anybody.
Councilman Palmer wanted to know why the money would come out of workers comp.
to fund the Youth overage. Liz said the part town fund we have no contingency
fund. There is not a lot of selection in the part town fund accounts that I
can use. The workers comp. I new the large bill already came in on that and
whatever was left would be a place that I could transfer from. You have to
stay within the part town fund.
Supervisor Robinson explained that one of the Summer Youth Workers worked here
in the office, and two worked for the Groton Health Center. Councilman
Sovocool asked why we would hire more than we had money for? We started out
and we planned to do three, we had four -- that guy lasted about three days
and actually we only had three. I figured that the extra money that was
coming in would cover the extra time that they would be here.
RESOLUTION NO. 34 - AUTHORIZE TRANSFER OF FUNDS
Moved by Mr. Palmer, seconded by Mr. Carey
Ayes - VanBenschoten, Sovocool, Palmer, Carey, Robinson
RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby authorize the following
transfers:
General
(Townwide) Fund:
From:
Contingency A1990.4
$
160.00
To:
NYS Environmental Permit
$
160.00
From:
Contingency A1990.4
$
575.00
To:
Publicity A6410.4
$ 575.00
General
(Part -town) Fund:
From:
Worker's Comp. Ins. B9040.8
$
502.70
To:
Youth Prog. Pers. B7310.1
$
502.70
Highway (Part -town) Fund:
From: Contingency DB1990.4 $1,000.00
From: Gen. Repairs, Contr. DB5110.4 $3,400.00
To: Gen. Repair, Pers. Ser. DB5110.1 $4,100.00
To: Social Security DB5110.1 $ 300.00
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GEORGE SENTER - CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER - Year -to -Date building permits
issued:
1995 68 8 Houses 14 Mobile Homes 46 Other
1996 52 5 Houses 8 Mobile Homes 39 Other
Life safety inspections are current through August. Sherry O'Brien attended
the Planning Board Meeting. They didn't change anything on his Special Permit
except they tried to define turn key cars. Most people are under the
impression that every car that Sherry had up there should be a turn key car.
He's supposed to have ten customer cars and four used cars. The four used
cars are supposed to be turn key cars and the ten customer cars don't have to
be turn key.
LELAND CORNELIUS - HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT - Thank you all for the plant while
I was in the hospital. I didn't get back with Fran on the fuel tanks. The
plan is not to rip the tanks out until spring. The tank and dike is 35' long
and has to be 50' from any buildings. We might have to cut the 10,000 gallon
tank down to 6,000 gal.
Supervisor Robinson said we called C.T. Male Associates in Syracuse because
they are associated with the Village and new the sewer system. They came down
and discussed it with Corney, Dutch and myself and we liked what they had to
say. He said that he would have a proposal for us today. He faxed it in late
this afternoon. Roughly it describes what he is going to do with the drains
and what he told us. For the Professional Service, this is just for them and
the rest will be done in house and we'll have to buy the things we have to put
in the ground, pipes and all of that, but we are going to do it ourselves.
The site visit and the systems layout is $600.00 and to coordinate with the
Village of Groton is $120.00 and to design the plan is $1,650.00, and DEC
permitting and approval is $450.00, and the construction services are $950.00.
It comes to a total of $3,770.00. This entails putting in a filter grease
trap on the front pad and redirecting the roof waters so that we'll have to
dig up and put drains in the building and go to the sewer and go to the creek.
Roof water goes into creek. Garage drain goes into filter and then into
Village sewer. If it is done this way, we do not need a permit from DEC.
Attorney Casullo said we need a design and written agreement from C.T. Male
Associates that will meet with DEC approval. We should also have it in
writing from Village that they intend to hook us up to Village Sewage.
Supervisor Robinson said the response time is October 15. We need to approve
C.T. Male Associate quotation so they can get started. The money will have to
come out of the General Fund and if we don't have it, we'll have to borrow
$7,000 - $8,000 out of Highway for the entire project. This appears to be the
most reasonable recommendation. The other way we would need a permit from
DEC. The Village has their garage drain hooked into the sewer system.
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RESOLUTION NO. 35 - ACCEPT C.T. MALE ASSOCIATES PROPOSAL
Moved by Mr. Palmer, seconded by Mr. VanBenschoten
Ayes - VanBenschoten, Sovocool, Palmer, Carey, Robinson
RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby accept the proposal submitted
by C.T. Males Associates to perform the work as outlined in proposal for
Reconstruction of Floor Drains and Discharge Piping Within Town Garage
for a fee not to exceed $3,770.00.
Supervisor Robinson said that we also received and Agreement from the Tompkins
County Highway Department. It's a snow contract for 1996 and 1997. Highway
Superintendent said it's a contract like we have always done. Every three
years we have to have a contract. We are going to get a lot more money this
year because we had a bad winter last year. We always get paid a year behind.
If we have an easy winter this year, we won't get paid much next year. They
have us down for $105,000 for 96/97. It figures out to 700. One payment
comes in December and that might help us with our monies. Attorney Casullo
said that contract is not all that clear but if it worked in the past we can
go with it for this contract. The Town plows 30.10 miles of County Roads.
RESOLUTION NO. 36 - ACCEPT AGREEMENT BETWEEN COUNTY AND TOWN FOR
SNOW REMOVAL
Moved by Mr. Sovocool, seconded by Mr. VanBenschoten
Ayes - VanBenschoten, Sovocool, Palmer, Carey, Robinson
RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby accept the Agreement made
between the County of Tompkins and the Town
of Groton for snow removal from County roads for the term of three years
commencing January 1, 1997 and terminating December 31, 1999.
COLLEEN D. PIERSON - TOWN CLERK /TAX COLLECTOR - Monthly report was submitted
for the Board to review.
ARLAND HEFFRON & ALTON ALEXANDER - TOWN JUSTICES - Monthly reports were
submitted for the Board to review.
Supervisor Robinson contacted Degear Fire Equipment Company in Dryden to see
if they could lease the Town a sufficient number of fire extinguishers so that
we are covered. We are paying them a minimal amount of money per week until
we are able to recover our own. I have contacted the police in Dryden and as
of now I think we're going to have to turn it over to our Attorney. Attorney
Casullo said he would try to get them back but he didn't know what kind of
condition they would be in, filled or not. They are in Dryden but on private
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property. It will cost us about $50 to rent extinguishers from Degear. This
is a total, not a weekly amount. Supervisor Robinson will firm up price with
Degear.
Supervisor Robinson said the status of the traffic light at the intersection
of Route 38 and 34B is: They have marked the lines. We have had letters from
all of the people who are involved and it is going to be put in within a short
time. They have already requisitioned or made it part of their work in
Syracuse. One of the things that we talked about putting rumble strips on the
McLean Road is something yet to be worked out. Another thing that was brought
up at one of the meetings is that they put in warning lights or flashers on
the hills to alert people of the intersection. Everyone has cooperated -- I
have a letter from Senator Seward and Assemblyman Luster, the County and from
the Board of Representatives and hopefully it will be there within the month
or shortly thereafter. It's not going to solve the problem. It's going to
help solve the problem. People's driving is going to solve the problem.
Estimate of Expenditures from Department Heads are due to the Supervisor by
September 20th. Also, McLean and Groton Fire Budgets are due on the 20th.
Councilman Palmer assured us that we would have Groton Fire Budget by the end
of this week.
Since our October Board Meeting falls on a holiday, Columbus Day, we need to
re- schedule our meeting. We also need to schedule Highway Negotiations. We
will set our budget work session dates at the October Meeting.
Moved by Mr. Sovocool, seconded by Mr. VanBenschoten, to re- schedule our
October Board Meeting for October 7, 1996, at the same time, same place and to
schedule Highway Negotiations for Monday, September 16, 1996, at 7:OOPM. Ayes
- Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Palmer, Carey, Robinson.
Supervisor is to have the tentative budget to the Town Clerk so that the Clerk
can present it to the Town Board by October 5th. The Clerk will present
tentative budget to the Town Board on October 7th. Time permitting after the
meeting, Board may work on budget.
Supervisor received a call from Senator Moynihan's office this morning saying
they have re- authorized our grant for $315,000. We are going to get it for
sure. This is our HUD grant.
The Tompkins County SPCA has sent us a proposal for our 1997 dog contract.
Their proposed dog control contract cost is $9,592 which represents a 2.70
increase over 1996's contract. They would also appreciate it if we would
consider making a donation towards the SPCA's care of stray cats. They have
requested to be put on our October agenda at which time they will have
information on the progress of our dog enumeration.
The Tompkins County Municipal Officials Association will be meeting on
Wednesday, September 25, 1996, at 6:OOPM at the Lehigh Valley Restaurant in
k,
Ithaca. Our 1996 dues in the amount of $5.00 are due at this time. Tentative
agenda includes Bridge Proposals, County Cable Commission Update, Rural
Alliance, and County Flood Litigation and Recreation Partnership. Let us know
if you are interested in going.
Mr. Cornelius got a letter from the State Emergency Management Office stating
that they have received our Disaster Project Application from the Town of
Groton which has been approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in
the amount of $3,011. Seventy -five percent Federal share is $2,258; the 12.5
State share is $376; and an Administrative cost of $90 is also approved for a
total of $2,724 in disaster assistance.
Attorney Casullo said that Diversified's Agreement ran out in August. We need
to put together a new Agreement with them. He suggested that the Town this
time have someone to monitor regulations, etc. Atty. Casullo suggested that
possibly Bernie Thoma attend the October meeting to find out what he would
charge for something like that. We really need someone to monitor this
situation. The new Agreement with Diversified will be changed to include
provisions that are realistic and provisions that can be monitored this time.
Supervisor Robinson received a letter from the NYS Retire System regarding
Pre - Retirement Seminars for Local Government Employees to be held this fall
and next spring. To enroll in these seminars you should contact the
Supervisor.
There being no further business, Mr. Sovocool moved to adjourn meeting,
seconded by Mr. VanBenschoten, at 9:25PM.
Colleen D. Pierson
Town Clerk
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