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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-05-1998 MINUTES OF TOWN BOARD MEETING THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1998 AT 7:30 P.M. 1999 PRELIMINARY BUDGET HEARING AT 8:00 P.M. 1999 GROTON FIRE DEPARTMENT BUDGET HEARING AT 8:30 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: Liz Brennan, Peg Palmer, Mark Robinson, Richard Case, Ken Aaron (Ithaca Journal), Chris Dempsey, Arland Heffron, Colleen D. Pierson (Town Clerk). Moved by Councilman Palmer, seconded by Councilman Scheffler, to approve the October 13, 1997 minutes as presented. Ayes - Sovocool, Carey, Palmer, Scheffler, Robinson. Claims Nos. 263 - 309 of the General Fund in the amount of $10,862.66 were presented for audit. Moved by Councilman Palmer, seconded by Councilman Sovocool, to approve the General bills for payment with a minor clerical adjustment which was noted on the abstract (zip code). Ayes- Sovocool, Carey, Palmer, Scheffler, Robinson. Claims No. 138 - 140 of the Special Grant (HUD) Fund in the amount of $4,586.42 were presented for audit. Moved by Councilman Carey, seconded by Councilman Scheffler, to approve the HUD bills for payment. Ayes - Sovocool, Carey, Palmer, Scheffler, Robinson. Claims Nos. 206 - 230 of the Highway Fund in the amount of $30,547.20 were presented for audit. Moved by Councilman Carey, seconded by Councilman Palmer, to approve the Highway bills for payment. LIZ BRENNAN, BOOKKEEPER presented her monthly report of cash balances and requests for transfers. COUNCILMAN PALMER - Just one question on the cash balance. I was curious, November 5, 1998 - Town Board Meeting - Pg.2 the Part Town at this point we are showing overdrawn in the checking account. LIZ BRENNAN- We had to put another five thousand in there. The Town Wide and the Part Town are in one checking account. So if you look at the Town Wide, there's something like thirty thousand. So it is going to be evened out already at this point. But we just went past the end of October and we still have that one check that we have to move from the Highway into the Capital Reserve and that will be for almost thirty two thousand. So that's what that money is sitting in there for. But it's not short. Nothing is going to be overdrawn. It's just a combination account. COUNCILMAN PALMER- The money that's not actually in checking, is that actually in certificates of deposit or is that a money market fund? LIZ BRENNAN- It's a money market and $110,000 is in a CD between the General and the Highway. RESOLUTION #59 - TRANSFER OF FUNDS Moved by Councilman Sovocool, seconded by Councilman Carey, Ayes - Sovocool, Carey, Palmer, Scheffler, Robinson. Resolved that the Town Board does hereby authorize the following transfers of monies as specified in the Bookkeeper's Report: General Fund - Townwide: From: Engineer A1440.4.........................$1,979.60 To: Bookkeeper, Personal Serv. A1220.12.......$1,481.60 Personnel, Personal Serv. A1430.1........$ 498.00 (Deputy Clerk) General Fund - Part Town: From: Contingency B1990.4.......................$ 23.90 To: Refuse B8160.4............................$ 23.90 MARK GUNN, CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER was not present. His report was read by Supervisor Robinson: Building Permits for Oct. 1998 for Oct. 1997 Homes...........0.................2 Mobile Homes....1.................1 Other...........7.................4 Life Safety Inspections for October are current. Pg.3 - Town Board Meeting - November 5, 1998 RICHARD CASE, HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT- At the present time the Highway Department continues to finish summer maintenance projects and at the same time prepare for winter maintenance projects. Deicing materials have been manufactured and stored (sand and salt). Plow equipment is being repaired, serviced and is in the process of being mounted on snow removal vehicles. The excavator is back in service after the engine rebuild at an estimated cost of $8,608.00. I would like it noted that this cost includes more repairs than just a rebuilt engine. This cost also includes a general tune-up of the rear excavator engine and airbrake repairs that were needed. Delivery was taken on the one ton dump/snowplow combination truck and is presently in service. We had a couple of fellows up on the roof and we did some patch work. You'll notice those bills in the General. We went through and patched and put some flashing around all of the vent tubes and the outer edge of building is all sealed. I'm not sure if that will take care of the problem, but it's a start. We'll see where that takes us and maybe by spring have some suggestions. Tomorrow we're going to clean all the drains. COLLEEN D. PIERSON, TOWN CLERK/TAX COLLECTOR submitted her Town Clerk's Report to the Board for their review. ARLAND HEFFRON, TOWN JUSTICE submitted the monthly report for the Town Justices to the Board for their review. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- The New York City school in February is coming up, and if there's anybody who wishes to go, I wish they would tell us early on. Arland Heffron said that he would like to go and that he felt that everyone on the Board should go for the education that they would receive. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON announced that the Cayuga Lake Management Program will hold a meeting in Aurora, on Poplar Ridge Road, at the Ledyard Town Hall on November 9, beginning at 6:30 P.M. The Municipal Officials Meeting is coming up on November 17 at the Cooperative Extension for Town and Village officials only. A reminder that the meeting to discuss proposed road construction in Mclean will be at the McLean Fire Station on November 16. Moved by Councilman Carey, seconded by Councilman Palmer, to recess for Budget Hearing at 8:00 P.M. Ayes - Sovocool, Carey, Palmer, Scheffler, Robinson. November 5, 1998 - Town Board Meeting - Pg.4 1999 PRELIMINARY TOWN BUDGET HEARING CLERK PIERSON read the Legal Notice of Hearing which was published in the Moravia Republican Register on October 28, 1998. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- The over-all cost that went up was a 4% raise in salary. So across the board that shows up in different places making it more expensive. Other than that, there have been some equipment expenses, but most of that is going to be in small vehicles. We don't have any big projects. And the other would be in computers. Do you have any questions? As you can see, we don't really get that much revenue. This is what we get from a few of the operations that we have here, and the rest of it is state money, or county money. So we don't get that much. And our expended balance is not that much because we've been playing it very close to the bills that we have and the expenses that we've had. If there's any questions about this, ask the question. In the Village it's going to be $4.643. You add the two, the Part - Town and the Village and you get the whole Town, so the people outside are paying $7.240 or 5.85%. The other thing about this is that we don't take the sales tax. The sales tax goes to help pay for the Town, not the Village, but the Town. So the sales tax will not pay this bill, but the County bill. Our County bill has been reduced down. In the future we'll probably have to take the sales tax and reduce the Town. But as it is now, we don't spend it, we take it for the.....and it does help the people in the Town. We don't have to pay as much as they might. The other thing about it is that the money that you get in the Town is, if they can't pay the County taxes with it, then it comes over and they put towards this one. Hopefully, if the County........... Any questions? ARLAND HEFFRON- The only thing I have to say is what I presented to the Board at an earlier time. We're concerned about the expense of the training sessions in New York. There's no doubt what it benefits anybody who goes to the Association of Towns Conference that they're going to bring something helpful back to the community. Our Supervisor's gone for a number of years, I have, some of the Board Members have, over the years. And it's no longer possible to go to that convention on the allocated funds of $500. I would propose that that be increased to $600, which would barely cover the expenses of those who attend. Those of you who have attended, I'm sure came home with some benefits from the sessions if you went to them. We don't go down there just for a weekend of good times in New York, we go to learn something. It's a part of the training sessions that are provided. Secondly, we have a concern about the updating of the computers situation. I don't see any item in the budget that would compensate for that cost. As far as the Court is concerned, the updating of the computers should not be a Court Budget, it should be a part of the Town operating expenses. We have to know before long, whether the Court is obligated to provide for that service or whether the Town is going to do it, and when. Those are the only comments I have. The Board previously had estimated costs of updating the computer system and whether you're in favor of spending the money or not, you're going to have to do it before long to bring the computer system update to the year 2000. Whatever the Town spends for it, the Village would probably compensate Pg.5 - Town Board Meeting - November 5, 1998 50% of it. Some action should be taken on it, and you should let the Court know whether the Court is to do it on its own, or whether the Town is going to do it. That's all I have to comment on. But we need to have some action on it. The Board can't sit on whatever it is that they sit on, two months longer, before they make a decision on it. I urge you to do it timely. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- We are considering having somebody check the capacity of our computers. ARLAND HEFFRON- Well, when you do that, we'd appreciate hearing about it. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- Well, we intend to. ARLAND HEFFRON- Well, I didn't know that. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- It's a secret. ARLAND HEFFRON- Well, I know, a lot of things that go on here are a secret until all of a sudden it's sprung on us. We'd like to know about it. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- It was discussed after you came to our meeting the other night. PEG PALMER- I have just one question. Is there someplace in the budget that is deemed appropriated for the technology of going on line, getting a server for the access of on line? SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- This is another thing that we are going to check into. PEG PALMER- You're going to check into it. But my question is, is there someplace in the budget where there has been money appropriated to cover that service? That would have to be done before next year, before the year 2000. ARLAND HEFFRON- That's what I'm talking about. There has to be some action taken on this.... PEG PALMER- .....in this budget. Is there some place in this budget where the Town is appropriating money to help with the technology of upgrading the whole system, for on line access? ARLAND HEFFRON- The Supervisor says they are looking into it, but I don't know if it's in the budget. PEG PALMER- That's what I'm asking. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- I don't know that we put it into the budget, did we, directly? Several Town Board Members answer at once that they didn't think that it was done specifically. November 5, 1998 - Town Board Meeting - Pg.6 COUNCILMAN CAREY- I don't think we can put a specific figure in until we have someone come in and do an evaluation. Then we would know better what it is going to cost. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- Is there any other questions? The hearing was adjourned at 8:15 P.M. Moved by Councilman Palmer, seconded by Councilman Scheffler, to reconvene general session after adjournment from the budget presentation. Ayes - Sovocool, Carey, Palmer, Scheffler, Robinson. FRAN CASULLO, TOWN ATTORNEY- What I'd like to do is take about five, ten minutes tops. I'd like to go into executive session to 1) provide you with an update on the Sirens litigation and 2) talk about another matter that could be potential litigation from a letter that I received. Moved by Councilman Carey, seconded by Councilman Sovocool, to enter into Executive Session at 8:15 P.M. Ayes - Sovocool, Carey, Palmer, Scheffler, Robinson. Moved by Councilman Palmer, seconded by Councilman Carey, to reconvene into regular session at 8:30 P.M. Ayes - Sovocool, Carey, Palmer, Scheffler, Robinson. RESOLUTION #60 - DIVERSIFIED TECHNOLOGIES, INC. OUTSTANDING BALANCE FIGURE AND PAYMENT Moved by Councilman Scheffler, seconded by Councilman Palmer. Ayes - Sovocool, Carey, Palmer, Scheffler, Robinson. Resolved , that the Town Board has received the letter dated October 15, 1998, from Diversified Technologies, Inc., to Thoma Development Consultants. Pursuant to said letter, the Town Board has authorized the Town attorney to contact Thoma Development Consultants to notify Diversified Technologies, Inc., that the Town will accept the lower outstanding balance figure in said letter provided that all documentation regarding payment of said figure and securing the payment thereof is completed on or before December 7, 1998. In the event that the Pg.7 - Town Board Meeting - November 5, 1998 documentation is not completed by said date, the Town will insist that the higher outstanding balance figure contained in said letter is to be paid by Diversified Technologies, Inc. The Town Board Meeting was recessed at 8:30 P.M. for: 1999 FIRE DEPARTMENT BUDGET HEARING CHRIS DEMPSEY, GROTON FIRE CHIEF- What I want to go over, and have you ask me any questions about, is the reason we're asking for this. I think there's a lot of this changing in the Fire Department, EMS side, mostly on the ambulance side. We train, at our fire department, right now we have a class with 42 people taking EMT class at our fire department. Out of that 42, only 3 are from the Groton Fire Department. So we're training people all over this county right from our fire department. And we are reimbursed from the State depending on how the students do and what not. The point is that we are not going to get repaid the percentage, what the State is funding us is decreasing. And that's a concern of ours. That's the reason we're trying to increase what we're doing. And we have obvious increased cost, just like everybody else. I'd say one of the things I've noticed this year is that our ambulance is one of the few in the area that is a total, you know, we go and we take somebody, no cost. Four Town they charge, Dryden they charge $350, $450 a time, where here in "Sun Valley" it's nothing. It's a donation if you like. It's a great benefit to the community. Obviously, we have and increased cost on the ambulance supplies and things like that. And I'd like to remind the Board that if you look at the equipment that we run with as Groton Fire Department, we don't have the great big $400,000 ladders that Dryden and Lansing have. We don't have great big equipment. We don't try to go out, we're not out there buying things to put a big press on against the community. I think that's important, if you look, we've got a fire truck over there that's a first line fire truck that's 25 years old. I mean, I think that that is a good showing of how conscious we are to keep our cost down and try not to come in here and ask for gigantic amounts of money. I think that's important, that we're conscious of the money we spend, and I think that shows in the kind of equipment we have. Also, what it appears is that the County has notified us that they're going over to a different type of radio system. What this means is, is that our trucks will all have to be re-equipped with different radios. And our hand held radios we have, we'll have to go and change them. We have no idea what this is going to cost us. It could cost us $20,000, could cost us $40,000, could cost us, they say if we get money back from the State it could cost us $5,000. We have no idea. This could happen in a year, could happen in two, could happen in five. But it's something that we're going to have to take on. So it's another reason why our budget is up a little bit. We're going to try to set aside money for this on a year by year task. November 5, 1998 - Town Board Meeting - Pg.8 Pretty much, that's the thrust of what I'm trying to say. I think that we're trying, we have 100 people, and I think they tend to volunteer their time to this community. I think they do a fine job. I don't see any great huge needs that we're going to be asking for in the near future. But I do think that we're very conservative in the needs that we ask for. I don't think that we, at any time, lightly go over-bounds. Did anybody have any questions, or anything they'd like to know about? COUNCILMAN CAREY- Chris, how long do you anticipate you can continue to operate the ambulance with no fee charge, no fee structure? CHRIS DEMPSEY- Well, I personally feel, it's like anything you know, that's like someone asking me if their insurance isn't going to go up in six months. You're nuts. You can't ask that for the pure reason we don't know what the State's going to do. You know, we don't know what kind of funding we're going to get in the future. I would say that we can fairly much guarantee that we're pretty much set for that kind of, or anything like that, as far as being able to make sure that we don't have to do any kind of fee situation. And I don't, you know, that's because what the person that's got the job now is set for a few years. But after that, you know, who knows. Right now we're running on a basic EMP level, and obviously if paramedics, which I'm not as wise to this as maybe Don is, but if at some point in time they could come out and say, well, everybody that goes on an ambulance has to be a paramedic, obviously you aren't going to get a bunch of volunteers who want to be paramedics. They just won't want to put the time into it. So if we went into a situation like that, obviously, we wouldn't be able to do it. Then you'd be put into that kind of situation. But I would say, at least, you know, we can comfortably say two or three years, that we will be able to operate the same type of way that we're operating now. I think that, and this is from my standpoint as fire chief, we just had our first fire this Saturday of any consequence, and we were able to make sure that it wasn't much of anything. You know, we did our job well, but I guess to that point I can say that I don't see, hopefully, there'd be any huge spending on any kind of fire apparatus because we just don't have the calls we used to. We have people who are around, that go to the school, do the fire safety, and I think that is one of the reasons. We're so much into the fire safety these days that we just don't have, we just don't have the fires. Another thing of increased cost, they have a new, down in Ithaca, they have a new fire teaching center where we're supposed to be able to be active in their fire center. It has all sorts of replaceable walls and roofs. They let them burn and you replace them. Obviously, there's some cost there that Ithaca is going to try to pass on to us for using it. I don't know how that affects everybody's taxes, but somebody's paying for it. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- Any more questions anybody has? ARLAND HEFFRON- It's come to my attention, being around the Village as often as I am, that the firemen throw a lot of parties. There are three companies in the Groton Fire Department, the Hooks, the Pioneers, and the Congers. I'm not going to relate as to the efficiency of one over another, they're all good. But when they have an affair going on at the fire station, it's not at the tax payer's expense. It's an expense that those companies raise through Pg.9 - Town Board Meeting - November 5, 1998 their own efforts, and not a lick of that comes out of the Fire Department's budget. And when somebody tells you that the firemen are spending a lot of money to have a party, you better check into it and see where the money is coming from, because it is not coming out of the Fire Department's budget. It's coming out of the individual company that put on chicken barbecues, or Christmas tree sales, or one thing or another, and raised the money themselves. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- And Foreign Fire Insurance. That's all that's for, is their entertainment. COUNCILMAN SOVOCOOL- That comes into the Department. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- Yes, but that's what it's for. (Several people speaking at once.) That's good. I mean, I have no qualms with that. The other thing I'd like to say, and I'm prejudice, but I think that we have one of the best fire departments around. CHRIS DEMPSEY- I do, you know, being I'm sort of a rookie at this, but what I would appreciate from the Board, you know, if there's any other concerns or if there's any other questions, I'd really wish they'd direct them. If someone's wanting me to come, you know, I'm more than willing to come to your board meetings, you know. I know they're exciting, but I'm not going to every one....... COUNCILMAN SOVOCOOL- Say "good night", Chris. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- Thank you very much. CHRIS DEMPSEY- Thank you for having me. Moved by Councilman Scheffler, seconded by Councilman Palmer, to close the Fire Department Budget Hearing at 8:45 P.M. Ayes - Sovocool, Carey, Palmer, Scheffler, Robinson. Regular session was reconvened at 8:45 P.M. COUNCILMAN PALMER- I think we really should, before we take action on the budget, resolve the issue that we've had on the floor for a number of months, and that's to resolve the position of bookkeeper and deputy clerk as far as eligibility for benefits. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- Yes, I believe that was discussed in our work sessions. We agreed that 30 hours would make full time, right? November 5, 1998 - Town Board Meeting - Pg.10 RESOLUTION #61 - ESTABLISH 30 HOURS AS FULL TIME STATUS FOR BOOKKEEPER AND DEPUTY TOWN CLERK Moved by Councilman Palmer, seconded by Councilman Carey. Ayes - Sovocool, Carey, Palmer, Scheffler, Robinson. Resolved , that the Town Board does hereby authorize 30 hours as the benchmark to determine full time status for benefit participation. Be it further resolved, that the Town Board does hereby designate the Bookkeeper and Deputy Town Clerk jobs to have a standard work day of six (6) hours per day, or thirty (30) hours per week. RESOLUTION #62 - APPROVAL OF 1999 TOWN BUDGET Moved by Councilman Carey, seconded by Councilman Palmer. Ayes - Sovocool, Carey, Palmer, Scheffler, Robinson. Resolved , that the Town Board does hereby approve the Town of Groton Budget for the fiscal year 1999 as presented. (Entire budget will be printed in Minute Book.) SUPERVISOR ROBINSON presented a letter from the Town's auditor, Rick Beals, stating he has left the firm of Nolis & Beals and become a partner in Kirby, Beals, Maier, & Co. in Elmira, NY and is looking forward to providing services to the Town of Groton in the future. Supervisor Robinson also stated that she was looking for someone to join the Environmental Management Council, and asked if anyone was interested or knew of anyone who was interested. CLERK PIERSON- I would like to know why this Board is reducing the Deputy Town Clerk's hours. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- We aren't reducing any hours. CLERK PIERSON- Yes, you just did. Several Board Members say "no". Pg.11 - Town Board Meeting - November 5, 1998 CLERK PIERSON- You reduced them both to six hours. She works seven hours a day. She has worked that for over a year. And you're just telling me she's down to six. How do you expect the work to get done? My office is open seven hours a day. Several people speaking at once, saying she can work seven. CLERK PIERSON- But that's not what you worded. COUNCILMAN SCHEFFLER- No, that's the minimum for full time for that job. COUNCILMAN CAREY- Thirty hours is a minimum requirement for full time for a full time position. CLERK PIERSON- For both jobs. But either one of those two can work over? COUNCILMAN CAREY- Yes. Anything less than thirty will be considered part time. CLERK PIERSON- Then we better specify that. I took it as meaning both Bookkeeper and Deputy would be six hours. COUNCILMAN PALMER- We said the standard work day is six hours for both positions. If there's work to justify working more than that, then they would work that. But the standard work day would be defined as six hours. CLERK PIERSON- So, you understand then, that she is working seven? SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- Well, you set the hours, right? CLERK PIERSON- Well, the Town Board does. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- Not for your office. CLERK PIERSON- Not for my office. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- That's what I mean. That's what we're talking about. CLERK PIERSON- I want this to be very clear. That the standard work day for both positions is six. However, she's working seven and you're willing to pay her for those seven. COUNCILMAN PALMER- But the standard work day for benefits and holidays and so on, would be based on a six hour work day. CLERK PIERSON- Okay. And that's for any other employee that you may have..... COUNCILMAN PALMER- These two positions, that's all. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- Those are the only two in question. November 5, 1998 - Town Board Meeting - Pg.12 Supervisor Robinson reminded the Board of the Municipal Officals Meeting on November 17th. There being no further business, Councilman Sovocool moved to adjourn, seconded by Councilman Scheffler, at 8:50 P.M. Unanimous. Colleen D. Pierson Town Clerk