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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-08-1998 MINUTES OF TOWN BOARD MEETING TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1998 AT 7:30 P.M. Those present: Teresa M. Robinson, Supervisor Ellard L. Sovocool, Councilman Daniel J. Carey, Councilman Donald N. Palmer, Councilman Donald F. Scheffler, Councilman Francis Casullo, Attorney Also present: George Totman, Mark Gunn, Joe Graham, Jack Miller, Lee Shurtleff, Colleen D. Pierson, Richard Case SUPERVISOR ROBINSON opened the meeting and asked for action on the minutes of the August 11, 1998 Board Meeting and the August 27, 1998 Special Board Meeting and Public Hearing. Moved , by Councilman Palmer, seconded by Councilman Scheffler to accept the minutes of the August 11, 1998 Town Board Meeting as presented. Ayes - Sovocool, Carey, Palmer, Scheffler, Robinson. COUNCILMAN SCHEFFLER- (In the August 27, 1998 minutes) On page 3, I don't know if I miss-spoke or didn't complete a thought, but where I said it was 3 3/4 tenths of a mile when the lady asked what's 1000 ft. What I was trying to say was that it's 1000 ft. from one property and 1000 from another and if you are measuring between them, that's 3 3/4 tenths. I think if we just change that to 3 3/4 tenths between property lines it would get the idea across. COUNCILMAN CAREY- Did you want to change the wording on that, Don, or are you just talking about clarifying the intent of it? COUNCILMAN SCHEFFLER- Yes, I just want to clarify it. Moved , by Councilman Carey, seconded by Councilman Sovocool, to accept the minutes of the August 27, 1998 Special Town Board Meeting and Public Hearing as presented. Ayes - Sovocool, Carey, Palmer, Scheffler, Robinson. Claims Nos. 205 - 231 of the General Fund in the amount of $5916.96 were presented for audit. Moved by Councilman Palmer, seconded by Councilman Sovocool to approve the General bills for payment. Sept. 8, 1998 - Town Board Meeting - Pg.2 Ayes - Sovocool, Carey, Palmer, Scheffler, Robinson. Claims Nos. 166 - 182 of the Highway Bills in the amount of $7652.90 were presented for audit. Moved by Councilman Sovocool, seconded by Councilman Scheffler, to approve the Highway bills for payment. Ayes - Sovocool, Carey, Palmer, Scheffler, Robinson. Claim No. 136 of the Special Funds (HUD) Fund in the amount of $670.89 was presented for audit. Moved by Councilman Carey, seconded by Councilman Palmer, to approve the Special Funds bill for payment. Ayes - Sovocool, Carey, Palmer, Scheffler, Robinson. LIZ BRENNAN, BOOKKEEPER, was not present and her report was handed out by Supervisor Robinson. COUNCILMAN PALMER- What's the reason for the health insurance transfer? SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- Because when we did the health insurance in our budget, we didn't put in enough money. We've had more people join up than we planned on. COUNCILMAN PALMER- Then we're going to have to face that the rest of the year? SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- That or come up with some other idea, yes. COUNCILMAN PALMER- So you have more people enrolled than you planned on? SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- Yes, as families. RESOLUTION # 47 - APPROVE TRANSFERS OF FUNDS Moved by Councilman Sovocool, seconded by Councilman Carey, Ayes - Sovocool, Carey, Palmer, Scheffler, Robinson Resolved that the Town Board does hereby approve the following transfers of funds: General Fund - Townwide: From: Contingency A1990.4........................$935.41 To: Health Insurance A9060.8...................$935.41 General Fund - Part-town: From: Contingency B1990.4........................$295.89 Pg.3 - Town Board Meeting - Sept. 8, 1998 To: Youth Program, Summer Help B7310.1.........$295.89 Highway Fund Townwide: From: Machinery, Personal Service DA5130.1......$2426.58 To: Brush & Weeds, Personal Service DA5140.1..$2426.58 COUNCILMAN PALMER- Just a question on this before we move off this one. On the pipe damage recovery, maybe Rick can answer this. We recovered $3680 on insurance proceeds from the..... what was the total claim submitted, do you know? RICHARD CASE- $3970. RESOLUTION # 48 - AMEND BUDGET FOR ADDITIONAL REVENUES FROM COUNTY YOUTH PROGRAM Moved by Councilman Carey, seconded by Councilman Scheffler. Ayes - Sovocool, Carey, Palmer, Scheffler, Robinson. Resolved, that the Town Board does hereby approve the amendment to the budget as follows: Debit Estimate Revenue - Youth Services B2350........$296.00 Credit Appropriations - Youth Program, Summer Help...$296.00 RESOLUTION #49 - AMEND BUDGET TO SHOW INSURANCE RECOVERY FOR PIPE DAMAGE Moved by Councilman Palmer, seconded by Councilman Carey Ayes - Sovocool, Carey, Palmer, Scheffler, Robinson. Resolved, that the Town Board does hereby approve the amendment to the budget to show insurance recovery for pipe damaged credited to machinery account to purchase new pipe: Debit Estimated Revenue - Insurance Recovery: DA2680.........$3680 Credit Appropriations for Machinery, Contractual: DA5130.4.......$3680 Sept. 8, 1998 - Town Board Meeting - Pg.4 RICHARD CASE, HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT- At the present time the Highway Department is involved in a variety of highway maintenance. Shop repairs for both summer operations and winter preparations are presently under way. The right-of-way and drainage reclamation on Davis Road is near completion. I'd like you to note we have four cross-over culverts that have been opened and repaired but will need replacing in the future. These culverts are estimated to be 40-60 years old. They are constructed of 12" clay tile and boiler pipe. The Town's gravel bank reclamation and disposal of the Groton High School construction debris has begun. The DEC's special conditions are being adhered to and being followed as guidelines. (Mr. Case showed pictures of the project that will be turned over to the DEC upon completion) The first portion has been started and is nearly 70% completed. At this point the job has been done with the Town's equipment, personnel and a bulldozer borrowed from the Town of Dryden. Within the next 90 days, the remaining portion of the job will need to be completed. This may require renting a bulldozer since ours is inoperable. Preparation is being made for chip-sealing. A grader true and leveling course using blacktop is being done as a first step. The insurance company has reimbursed the Town for the plastic culvert that was destroyed by fire. Payment received was $3680. I am requesting that this money be put in the machinery account. I have not yet located an engine for the excavator that would be cost- effective. 453 Detroit Diesels are in the obsolete category. I have found them, but we can buy a 3406 Cat or a 350 horse Cummings engine for the same price they want for a 453 Detroit, which is sometimes a little bigger than a Wisconsin. While working exclusively on Davis Road we have continued operation by parking on site. When it becomes necessary to transport the excavator we will be severely handicapped. I want to stress that this is a very essential piece of equipment for everyday use in the maintenance of road drainage and right-of-way clearing. Placing electricity in the back storage building has not been forgotten. I have not received any estimates and have not had the time to pursue electrical contractors. The Municipal Equipment Auction is being hosted by the Town of Lansing Highway Department on September 12, 1998, Saturday. With your permission it is my intention to place unsafe, inoperable and outdated equipment in this sale. There are some other broken hand tools, etc. that I'd like to send. COUNCILMAN PALMER- What happens to these vehicles? Are they just put out for sale to the highest bidder? And if no one bids on them, what happens? Pg.5 - Town Board Meeting - Sept. 8, 1998 RICHARD CASE- Then we'd bring them back and probably look for a salvage yard or somebody who would give us the highest price for them. ATTORNEY CASULLORICHARD CASE asked if they were sold "as is" and explained that they were, and there were no guarantee. Some of it actually is bought for scrap. RESOLUTION #50 - AUTHORIZATION FOR HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT TO TAKE OUTDATED VEHICLES TO MUNICIPAL AUCTION Moved by Councilman Palmer, seconded by Councilman Scheffler. Ayes - Sovocool, Carey, Palmer, Scheffler, Robinson. Resolved that the Town Board does hereby authorize Richard Case, Highway Superintendent, to take the following vehicles to the Municipal Equipment Auction at the Town of Lansing Highway Department on September 12, 1998: 1968 Ford one tone utility body, which was a fuel truck. 1968 White tractor with sander on back which is corroded 1969 White truck cab & chassis 1960 Brockway single axle dump truck with a blown engine RICHARD CASE- In anticipation of getting some money back, I'm trying to, which I told you earlier, we're trying to do a lot of fabricating within the shop. We're have three plows that need to be rebuilt. We're welding floors in a small pick-up truck that we're going to make into our fuel truck. It will take care of what little outside fueling and greasing we do. I've got estimates on wire feed welders. I think I'm authorized to go to $1000. The lowest estimate I've got is $1642 which is a Miller 250 amp, wire feed welder. It has the capabilities if in a future time we could purchase a spool gun to do aluminum, which right now isn't necessary. I would need permission to pursue that, if you are so interested. COUNCILMAN SCHEFFLER- What's the duty cycle on the welder? Is it industrial or..... RICHARD CASE- It's a heavy duty, industrial machine. Just for information, I received a quote back for the software for the Highway Department, which I'll probably submit when we do the new budget. That software is $1200. In that program, it includes our inventory for signs, when they're replaced, the last time they were inspected. There's a place for a daily log so when complaints come in, they can be registered, and any action taken. Culverts such as what we're dealing with on Davis Road, that's all within an inventory of each road, where they're placed in the road. Also there's a machinery section for our P.M. work and it would keep a history on that. I will present that to you when it's time. Sept. 8, 1998 - Town Board Meeting - Pg.6 COUNCILMAN SCHEFFLER- What is inoperable on the dozer? RICHARD CASE- The idlers are worn off. The drive sprockets are right to a razor's edge. The pins are worn right into the bushings. If you got on a side hill, you would run the tracks right off. The tractor itself, what year is that, back in the 40's, I'm guessing. To put a new undercarriage under it is between $9000 and $12,000. The tractor, when you took it to an auction with a new undercarriage, you might get $5000. RESOLUTION #51 - AUTHORIZE HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT TO PURCHASE WIRE FEED WELDER Moved by Councilman Palmer, seconded by Councilman Scheffler Ayes - Sovocool, Carey, Palmer, Scheffler, Robinson Resolved that the Town Board does hereby authorize Richard Case, Highway Superintendent, to purchase the Miller, 250 amp, wire feed welder for the sum of $1642. LEE SHURTLEFFJACK MILLER and , from Tompkins County Fire & EMS Service, presented a program on the proposed County Communication System. This is a project that will be fazed in over several years and will cost approximately 8 million dollars. This is a system that will tie together the fire and emergency services as well as the police agencies, schools, public works, and municipalities throughout the County. Many of the radio frequencies now in use are being reallocated by the FCC and a new system will be needed. A slide show was presented which explained the system presently in use and the proposed system. The major cost to the Towns will be replacing radios, and there is talk about assistance of some kind to do this. MARK GUNN, CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER- Building Permits for this year are down about 50% compared to last year. In 1997 there were a total of 10 for August of last year and 5 for this year. One house in August of 1997 and none in August 1998, and 5 others, such as pools, additions, electrical systems, that sort of thing. Life Safety Inspections are current. I completed a SEQR training in Binghamton on Friday. It was about three hours long and there are about 3 other sessions of that that I will be taking. The Deputy Clerk took that one on Friday as well. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- Can I ask you a question? I've had, I don't know how Pg.7 - Town Board Meeting - Sept. 8, 1998 many calls, got stopped on the street, got stopped in the bank, about the sale of this property and what's happening and what they're going to do about it. I don't know exactly what to answer them. If you don't know the answer, maybe George (Totman) does. (This question referred to property on Durfee Road belonging to Harry Frazier, Tax Map # 24.-1-9). MARK GUNN- George? GEORGE TOTMAN- Well, it's being auctioned off September 23rd, or something like that. If you look at the front of your folder there, it says "pending Planning Board approval." So, he's announcing that there is a sale. They don't expect to sell it like that. Munson and Walpole have done quite a few of those in the Town, where they divide them up into large lots, or whatever, and then they tell people that the sale is pending on approval. And they'll bring it back to the Planning Board to see what the rules and regulations.....Like all those lots there meet the exact size of the sub- division regulations. There's a couple people up there who are really upset about it because they didn't think trailers were going to be allowed in their area, you know, selling lots that size, they're going to have trailers up there. I probably talked to every resident up there, I think, over the phone, I can't tell who they are when they call me up. There's nothing in the Town of Groton rules and regulations says you can't have a trailer out in the country long as you have the right sized lot. Those lots are all at least 150 ft. of road frontage and most of them are all 5 acres of land. But the auctioneer doesn't really believe that they're going to sell that way. He thinks he might sell it in 2 or 3 parcels. If he came in and got the subdivision approval for the way it is now, and then he sold it in 2 or 3 parcels, then he would have to come in and re-do the whole thing over again and re-subdivide it. So, he's telling them when they buy it, that it's pending approval. Then they'll bring it in the way they sell it to the Planning Board. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- If I bought 3 pieces of property and brought it in to you, and it didn't pass, what would happen. Who gets it back? Does the guy get it back? GEORGE TOTMAN- The owner. It's pending approval of the Planning Board, the sale is. COUNCILMAN SOVOCOOL- Where is this property anyway? It was explained that it was on Durfee Road and extended to Sovocool Hill Road. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- You don't have any SEQR? You don't have any of that to deal with ahead of time? GEORGE TOTMAN- Normally you would....present it to you. The Planning Board can't take any action until you do a SEQR. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- Well, I was going to say, if they have the auction and they sell this off, then you have to go back and have a hearing? Sept. 8, 1998 - Town Board Meeting - Pg.8 GEORGE TOTMAN- If they turn out to be a major subdivision, yes. If they sell it in three large parcels then they might not have to return. Undoubtedly, we'd probably have to have a hearing. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- You have to have a hearing, and then you have to have a study, a SEQR too? COUNCILMAN SCHEFFLER- I attended their little neighborhood meeting the other night and listened to them, and they're not happy about it. They are going after the Planning Board and they plan on passing out leaflets or flyers at the auction. I said, whatever, it's a free country, but I'm not going to recommend that. MARK GUNN- So, if every one of these 150ft road frontage lots sells as separate lots, what is there 9 of them there? (Someone answers 10). If each one of them sold to a separate person, then what? The Planning Board's not going to approve that? GEORGE TOTMAN- I didn't say that. I said that whatever is sold, and it states that, that it's subject to Planning Board approval. There's........ You also have to realize that if....the rules and regulations of the Town of Groton, it says you have to have a certain acre lot and a certain road frontage, and you have all those. You have to have a pretty good reason for turning something down like that. MARK GUNN- Did the Health Department have to be notified of that at all? GEORGE TOTMAN- They will be if it's a major subdivision. But we don't know yet about the size of the subdivision. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- But if you sold it, and you had all 10, so you had 10 trailers there, you've got 10 wells, and you've got 10 septic systems. GEORGE TOTMAN- Yeah, but see, the Health Department won't even worry.........an acre of land. MARK GUNN- And 100ft. from wetlands. GEORGE TOTMAN- Yeah, well that's........but there's no designated wetlands.........in the far corner...we looked it up the other day. MARK GUNN- There is a back portion on a couple of them. That's where I was wondering, whether or not those swamps draining into it is going to be able to take nine 7000 gallon septic systems. GEORGE TOTMAN- Well, if it's presented the way it is, the Health Department will have to give an approval on it. We don't give approval on septic systems. Actually, a subdivision is division of the land, you can take 5 acres of wetland and subdivide it, it's just that the people who buy the land can do nothing with it. Maybe they can hunt ducks on it or something. The division of land is just land, it's not what you're going to........ Pg.9 - Town Board Meeting - Sept. 8, 1998 MARK GUNN- I think just their intent of making sure that each lot that is divided up at least had the minimum road frontage for a building lot is enough to tell the people who are purchasing it that, hey, I can put a house on it. Yet, they are going to go and purchase it and not have a clue that they might not be able to do that. So, the intent is that they are selling it in the Town of Groton as a building lot and the people purchasing it don't know that they can't build on it, possibly. And then after they purchase it, the Planning Board tentatively could tell them, we don't like this subdivision. COUNCILMAN SCHEFFLER- The flyer is misleading. MARK GUNN- The auctioneer, I don't think, is going to sit up there and say, now mind you, we did give you everything you need to have a building lot, but keep in mind, I'm not telling you that you can do anything with it. GEORGE TOTMAN- He told the Planning Board that he would announce that at the sale, and have the approval of the Planning Board before they do anything with it. COUNCILMAN SCHEFFLER- There are a lot of people around my area saying a lot of things about this. I would suggest, I called the auctioneer and asked him if I could walk on it, and he said look it over all you want. I would suggest everybody go look at it. Take some boots and.... COUNCILMAN SOVOCOOL- Take some boots! COUNCILMAN SCHEFFLER- Take some boots, take a gun, whatever, a lunch. Because everybody's spreading a lot of stories and until you've seen it, you don't know what you're talking about. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- Well, I just wanted to....it's very annoying to have all these calls coming in and you don't know how to answer them. I guess, like Dan says, buyers beware. COUNCILMAN SCHEFFLER- The calls we're getting, you give them an answer, and they don't want to hear the answer. COLLEEN D. PIERSON, TOWN CLERK/TAX COLLECTOR- Monthy Report was not ready for submittal. THE TOWN JUSTICES, ARLAND HEFFRON AND ALTON ALEXANDER- Monthly Reports were submitted to the Board for their review. Supervisor Robinson attended ceremony in Niagara Falls for Norma Neville who was sworn in as President of the New York State Fireman's Auxiliary. She would like to have a local recognition day for Norma on February 8, 1999. This is also Norma's birthday. Moved by Councilman Sovocool, seconded by Councilman Palmer that the Town declare February 8, 1999 as Recognition Day for Norma Neville in honor of her Sept. 8, 1998 - Town Board Meeting - Pg.10 election to the Presidency of the NYS Fireman's Auxiliary. Ayes - Sovocool, Carey, Palmer, Scheffler, Robinson. Clerk Pierson was informed by the Tompkins County Assessment Department that all Towns would need Windows 95 to run Tompkins County Assessment database and 1999 Town and County Taxes. The equipment the Clerk and Zoning Officer have does not have Windows 95 nor the capacity to handle this data. The bookkeeper's new computer is the only one in the town that has Windows 95 and sufficient capacity. It was suggested that the Clerk look into getting someone in to look at present computers to see if they are all compatible and what we really need to network down the road in preparation for eventual hookup to internet to include the towns phone system. Supervisor Robinson's appointments to the HUD Administration Committee are as follows: Gary Watrous (non-voting member), John McLean, Dan Carey, Judy Demond, Teresa Robinson. Board Members asked Supervisor Robinson to find another voting member for a total of five voting members. Supervisor Robinson received a call from Bernie Thoma regarding DIVERSIFIED. He is waiting for them to sign agreement. They have been slow in making September payment. They paid $500 on June 18, July 22 and August 26. No action was taken on Bookkeeper's part-time or full-time job classification. Supervisor Robinson said she'd like to get that out of the way. Councilman Palmer said normally full time jobs are 40 hours. Also are benefits paid for over 20 hours? We need to find out what is considered a full time job. It was suggested to contact Anita Fitzpatrick of the Tompkins County Personnel Office to find out what they do. We need to review each position to get an idea of how much work is involved and how much time is spent weekly in order to arrive at a standard work day for everyone. Moved by Councilman Palmer, seconded by Councilman Sovocool that a three person committee to include Supervisor Robinson, Deputy Supervisor Carey and Town Clerk Colleen Pierson be charged with reviewing all positions and making a recommendation to the full board by September 30. Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Palmer, Carey, Robinson. Tompkins County Municipal Officials will be meeting on September 29th at 6:00PM at Turbacks in Ithaca. Discussed position of Cleaner. Board received copy of letter sent to Debbie Zartun by the Town Clerk indicating everyones' displeasure in the cleaning of the Town Hall facilities. The letter stated that the cleaning job being done was unacceptable. The board concurred that if no improvement has been made, we should be advertising for a new cleaner. Clerk will observe and also talk personally with cleaner. There being no further business, Councilman Carey moved to adjourn meeting, seconded by Councilman Sovocool, at 9:50 P.M. Pg.11 - Town Board Meeting - Sept. 8, 1998 Unanimous. Colleen D. Pierson Town Clerk