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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-05-1999 MINUTES OF TOWN BOARD ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 1999 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: Richard Case, Peg Palmer, Mark Gunn CLERK PIERSON administered the oath of office to all present. Moved by Councilman Palmer, seconded by Councilman Scheffler, to approve the minutes of the meeting of December 8, 1998 as presented. Ayes - Sovocool, Carey, Palmer, Scheffler, Robinson. Claim Nos. 258 - 274 for the year 1998 of the Highway Fund in the amount of $25,127.72, Claim Nos. 341 - 360 for the year 1998 of the General Fund in the amount of $5446.73 and Claims Nos. 1 - 4 for the year 1999 of the General Fund in the amount of $462.75 were presented for audit. Moved by Councilman Palmer, seconded by Councilman Sovocool, to approve the 1998 and 1999 Highway and General Fund bills for payment. Ayes - Sovocool, Carey, Palmer, Scheffler, Robinson. Claim No. 144 of the Special Grant (HUD) Fund in the amount of $22,720.44 was presented for audit. Moved by Councilman Carey, seconded by Councilman Scheffler to approve the HUD bill for payment. Ayes - Sovocool, Carey, Palmer, Scheffler, Robinson. LIZ BRENNAN, BOOKKEEPER- Was not present and no report was submitted. MARK GUNN, CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER- December's report showed a big increase in building permits for 1998 compared to 1997. We had 2 last year, and we had 6 this year. LSI's are current. I have been currently working and had one meeting with Don (Palmer) and George Totman on the special permit fees and schedules. We're planning to have a rough draft down for next month's meeting, still pending on the Town of Caroline's study that they are doing on permit fees. I've put together an annual report. I see one typo on Life Safety Inspections for Mobile Home Parks: we only have two, not nine. This is a bunch of stuff that I compiled January 5, 1999 - Town Board Meeting - Pg.2 for the entire year, not since I've just been here in June. This includes half the year that George (Senter) had the job. You can see the permits for '98 are down considerably from '97. The Certificates of Occupancy are down also, only because the number of Building Permits is also down. I have had only two complaints since I've been in, and both of those are in progress right now. I plan on doing the Spring check for junk cars in people's yards in April. COUNCILMAN PALMER- Mark, do the Junk Yards get renewed on a calendar-year basis, or is that staggered. MARK GUNN- Once a year. COUNCILMAN PALMER- Are all them being renewed for '99? MARK GUNN- Yes. Well, all the Junk Yards, the same people who own the Junk Yards, also own a Motor Vehicle Repair Shop or a Used Car Dealership, so they were on the same Special Permit. There were two listed on the permit that said they had a Used Car and a Junk Yard or a MVR and a Junk Yard, and at the same inspection, the same fee was paid, and they were renewed for the year. COUNCILMAN PALMER- So it would be the same terms, if there were existing terms, they would be continued on? MARK GUNN- Yes. COUNCILMAN PALMER- In particular, I'm asking about the O'Brien situation. I know there have been some complaints. I've gotten some complaints about it. What has happened there? MARK GUNN- I went up and did an inspection on Sherry's (O'Brien) place and everything looked really good. He had quite a few cars in his driveway all of which were registered. All of which were customer vehicles. All of which he assured me were to be picked up, that they were done. He does have numerous amounts of cars that are down next to the road there in a spot where, as far as I can see, according to his Special Permit, he is allowed to have those cars there, as long as they're in a neat order. It just so happened that the day I was there for the LSI, they were in fairly decent order, and it is worded on his Special Permit, that he can not have any "so-called" junk cars visible. I have yet to talk to the Planning Board, they haven't had a meeting yet, to find out their interpretation of a quote "so-called" junk car. That's what's written right on his permit. A car that I call junk, is to Sherry O'Brien, in his slow time, a car that he's going to put some money into and sell it. So, there is a wide area of who's considering what he has as junk, because he'll have like a truck box over here, a truck without a box over here, well the two go together, he's just got to put them that way. I didn't really find that big a problem. His garage was spotless inside. I think he had about 12 customer vehicles in the driveway. Myself, nobody's even contacted me, except by word of mouth from someone else that they've had a complaint, but nobody has actually called my office to complain about Sherry. Pg.3 - Town Board Meeting - January 5, 1999 COUNCILMAN CAREY- One other question, Mark, were you going to establish office hours? MARK GUNN- Yes. I established them 2 - 5 Monday thru Friday. I put it on the answering machine. COUNCILMAN PALMER- You should get that added to the Town Web Page also. MARK GUNN- I didn't know we had one. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- John Pachai has it. CLERK PIERSON- John told me the other day that he'd probably get rid of that Web Page. It hasn't been used or updated in so long that the information on it is out dated. He spent a lot of time sending notices out to businesses and whatever so that they could have ties on there, but he had only a couple of responses. He doesn't feel like it's worth it to him to try to keep it up because he has no input. COUNCILMAN CAREY- Mark, a couple of months ago we were talking about those trailers being replaced. There were some prior to 1976 trailers in the Town, I can't remember now what the deal was..... MARK GUNN- A complaint I was working on? COUNCILMAN CAREY- No, wasn't there some program that they, ah..... CLERK PIERSON- It was HUD. Their last program. They were going to replace some of these old trailers. There was some discussion on this. Mark Gunn was unaware of the program and had not received any Building Permits pertaining to any trailers being put in under this program. There have however been some permits issued to do work on existing houses under the HUD program. RICHARD CASE, HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT- At the present time, the Highway Department is dedicated to snow and ice removal. Brush and trees are being cut in various locations throughout the Town, when weather permits. NYS Department of Transportation's annual Highway Mileage Report has been completed and filed noting the changes that have been made to the Town Highways this year. The total centerline miles within the jurisdiction of the Town of Groton is presently recorded at 53.45 miles. At this time I would like to summarize the year of 1998 for the Town of Groton Highway Department as transitional and productive. I would like it noted that I appreciate the support that has been given to me and the Highway Department January 5, 1999 - Town Board Meeting - Pg.4 by the Groton community. The information and support given to me on a day-to- day basis by the Supervisor, Town Board, Town Clerk and Deputy Clerk, Bookkeeper and past Highway Superintendent, as well as Fran (Casullo), has made the transition of Highway Superintendent and my first year enjoyable and I believe beneficial to the Town of Groton. It goes without saying that the employees of the Highway Department have had to bear the brunt of change within the Department over the past year. New policies, attitudes and methods of doing business have been placed on their shoulders everyday. They have made the new policies and methods work and have proven to be dedicated and productive employees of the Town of Groton. I would like to thank them for their support and a job well done. At this time I would like to thank Deputy Superintendent, Judson Holl, for his patience, guidance and support of my efforts, and to his dedication to the Town of Groton. I would like it noted to my pleasure that Judson Holl will continue to serve as Deputy Highway Superintendent for the year 1999. I look forward to serving the Town of Groton as Highway Superintendent for 1999 and pledge myself to do the best job possible within our resources. COLLEEN D. PIERSON, TOWN CLERK/TAX COLLECTOR- submitted December monthly report and 1998 Town Clerk's Annual Report to the Board for their review. Taxes are coming in pretty steady already. We don't have our software up and going, so everything is being done manually. Williamson Law has been here several times to try to get it to work with the County's and they haven't been successful. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- I'd like to some way notify the County...if they are doing it in 1999, what are they going to do in 2000? The taxes never arrived here until the day before Christmas and the software wasn't here and some of it still isn't here. I mean, you just can't wait until the very last minute to work on these things. I don't think it's fair to the clerks or the tax collectors that they have to put up with this. I think we should make a complaint and have our Rep. say something about this too. CLERK PIERSON- We have no forms from them to do apportionments. We do a lot of apportionments for people who have split up their property into two, three, or four parcels. They can't even provide us with a blank tax form. They don't have them. Their supplier in Cortland has lost them in their computer, they said. They have nothing. So, we're figuring them out by hand and telling the people how much it is. Whicher assured me we should have it shortly, when I talked to him the other day. This is Steve Whicher, at the Assessment Office. COUNCILMAN CAREY- What's the last day those taxes are due? CLERK PIERSON- Without penalty, January 31st, or actually, February 1st because the 31st is on a Sunday. Pg.5 - Town Board Meeting - January 5, 1999 COUNCILMAN CAREY- Probably there's no chance that two weeks could be added on to that period because of the fact that.... CLERK PIERSON- The majority of them are out, except for all the apportionments. They're not out yet. But I believe that's up to the Town Board to extend the period of time. COUNCILMAN CAREY- Would that help you at all? CLERK PIERSON- Yes, it would help us. We're going to be rather behind as we haven't been able to input anything. It might be something to consider doing. Our collection time starts January 4th, the way the year ran this year, so we're running short anyways. COUNCILMAN CAREY- So you didn't get the tax bills until Christmas? CLERK PIERSON- The day before Christmas. Just before we were ready to go home. We worked during the following week and I came in on a day off to get them out. We did the best we could to get them out. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- They weren't sorted either. CLERK PIERSON- Some of them weren't even folded. They ran into problems I guess with the outfit they had to print them. We did all that ourselves. Do you know how that's done, Fran, to extend that date? ATTORNEY CASULLO- For the Town and County taxes. I'm not too sure you can do that without the County approval, can you? CLERK PIERSON- I think so. It's the Town's finances ATTORNEY CASULLO- I could look into it, but I think the County must have some sort of say in this thing. I could check into it and get back to you. CLERK PIERSON- I think they told me before that we could do whatever we wanted to because the penalty is ours. COUNCILMAN CAREY- So, you collect all the taxes, you send that money....... CLERK PIERSON- First the Town is paid off. Once that is paid off, sometimes by the end of January, then I start sending checks to the County to pay them off. COUNCILMAN CAREY- I don't see why.....that sort of sends a message to the County that they'd get their money on time if they had things straightened out for the Towns to have their software and all that. They came to you what, nine months ago and wanted you to do this? That's my opinion. CLERK PIERSON- They might just need to be jacked up a little. They get worse every year. Granted, you know, it's an all new form, and they had to improve the bill of rights info on there, but they've known that for a long time, and January 5, 1999 - Town Board Meeting - Pg.6 they could have had it done. How would you do that? We don't have a Board meeting before........ ATTORNEY CASULLO- Once I find out, we'd have to call a Special Meeting. If it's something you want to do. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- Have you sent out any of the apportionments yet? CLERK PIERSON- No, I don't have anything to put them on. COUNCILMAN CAREY- Those people should have the privilege of 30 days or whatever it is that the rest of us have had. ATTORNEY CASULLO- I'll check it out. TOWN JUSTICES, ARLAND HEFFRON AND ALTON ALEXANDER- No reports were submitted. COUNCILMAN SCHEFFLER inquired about the deferred compensation program and was told that there would be a sign up meeting on Thursday, January 7 at 3:00 PM. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- We got our Blue Shield/Blue Cross and the first bill came and it's wrong. So Liz tried all day yesterday and couldn't get them and tried today and finally got them. They are going to get back with her and try to straighten it up. But it hadn't even changed from what we had before. We had changed some of our policies so..... COUNCILMAN PALMER- Did we get any feedback from the Highway group on that. We had to get their concurrence before we can make the changes. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- Yes, that's all taken care of. CORRESPONDENCE- Human Services Coalition annual luncheon meeting is January 28th at the Women's Community Building. The Youth Commission meeting is tomorrow night (January 6), here. Invitation to the Groton Elementary School as they celebrate their 100th day of school, Friday, February 19, sunrise breakfast, Elementary School cafeteria, 8:00 AM. After breakfast a tour of the building. Invitation also to assembly on actual 100th day of school. Municipal Officials Meeting, January 19th at the Lehigh Valley House at 6:00 P.M. Copy of resolution passed by Town of Ulysses in support of Tompkins County Aquifer Study. Pg.7 - Town Board Meeting - January 5, 1999 Franchise negotiations for cable TV. A discussion was held on County Compensation Insurance charges to the Town. Supervisor Robinson read a portion of the correspondence received from the County regarding changes in tax rates and bill forms. Letter from George Senter to make appointment for Life Safety Inspection for the Town Hall in January. Further discussion was held on the tax bills and the levy figures and percent of change from prior year shown on the bills and the fact that the County is not really offering explanations of these figures in a way that people can understand. Before motion was made on organizational items, there was some discussion on hiring a Constable. Councilman Palmer suggested that the Justice Court be conferred with before any decision is made. Councilman Palmer expressed concern over appointing Debra Zarton to the Custodian position as the Board had previously discussed complaints about the work being done and the possibility of replacing Zarton. Clerk Pierson said that she had inquired with a cleaning company in Ithaca but had not received a quote from them. It was decided that Zarton's appointment would be month to month, subject to review. Consensus was that the Town Board would send Zarton a letter. RESOLUTION #01 - 1999 ORGANIZATIONAL ITEMS Moved by Councilman Sovocool, seconded by Councilman Carey. Ayes - Sovocool, Carey, Palmer, Scheffler, Robinson Abstain - Palmer - Item 1 - Depository RESOLVED, that the First National Bank of Groton be designated as the depository for all monies coming into the hands of the Supervisor and Town Clerk of the Town of Groton. RESOLVED, that the Moravia Republican Register be designated as the official newspaper of the Town of Groton with notices also to be published in the Freeville Shopper. RESOLVED, that the law firm of Pomeroy, Armstrong, Baranello & Casullo be January 5, 1999 - Town Board Meeting - Pg.8 retained as Attorneys for the Town of Groton. RESOLVED, that Mark D. Gunn be appointed Zoning Officer and Building and Fire Code Enforcement Officer for the Town of Groton. RESOLVED, that there be no appointment at this time for Constable for the Town of Groton. RESOLVED, that Daniel J. Carey be appointed Deputy Supervisor for the Town of Groton. RESOLVED, that Judson Holl be appointed Deputy Highway Superintendent for the Town of Groton. RESOLVED, that April Scheffler be appointed Deputy Town Clerk for the Town of Groton. RESOLVED, that Elizabeth Brennan be appointed as Bookkeeper for the Town of Groton. RESOLVED, that Margaret Palmer be appointed as part-time Court Clerk for the Town of Groton. RESOLVED, that Margaret Albern be appointed part-time McLean School Crossing Guard for the Town of Groton. RESOLVED, that Juanita Griffin be appointed as Town Historian for the Town of Groton. RESOLVED, that Lewis Robinson and Lee Shurtleff be appointed Election Custodians for the Town of Groton. RESOLVED, that small tool expenditures of up to $1000 by the Highway Superintendent be authorized. RESOLVED, that Blue Cross/Blue Shield Health Insurance for the Supervisor, Town Clerk, and Highway Superintendent be paid by the Town of Groton. (Highway Superintendent to be paid for at the single person rate with additional coverage for family being paid for by Highway Superintendent.) RESOLVED, that the Town Board will hold their regular Town Board Meetings on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:30 P.M. at the Town Hall on Conger Boulevard, Groton, NY. FIX SALARIES OF TOWN OFFICERS: Pg.9 - Town Board Meeting - January 5, 1999 Moved by Councilman Palmer, seconded by Councilman Scheffler, to approved the salaries as presented. Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Palmer, Carey, Robinson. RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby fix the annual salaries of the following Town Officers and employees at the amounts respectfully stated and that such salaries shall be paid at the time respectfully specified: a) Teresa M. Robinson, Supervisor $ 9,880 BiWeekly b) Colleen D. Pierson, Town Clerk $26,768 BiWeekly c) Richard C. Case, Highway Supt. $40,000 BiWeekly d) Arland L. Heffron, Town Justice $ 7,332 Biweekly e) Alton I. Alexander, Town Justice $ 5,989 BiWeekly f) Ellard L. Sovocool, Councilman $ 1,583 Quarterly g) Donald F. Scheffler, Councilman $ 1,583 Quarterly h) Donald N. Palmer, Councilman $ 1,583 Quarterly i) Daniel J. Carey, Councilman $ 1,583 Quarterly j) Mark D. Gunn, Code Enforcement $13,520 BiWeekly k) Juanita Griffin, Historian $ 1,000 Quarterly APPOINT REPRESENTATIVES TO TOWN AND COUNTY PROGRAMS Moved be Councilman Carey, seconded by Councilman Sovocool Ayes - Sovocool, Carey, Palmer, Scheffler, Robinson RESOLVED , to appoint the following as representatives to Town and County Programs: County Youth Recreation Programs - Steven Gallow Environmental Management Council - Tompkins County Transportation Council - Teresa Robinson Tompkins County CATV Commission - Tompkins County Planning Board - Van Travis Groton Local Youth Program - Orlando Houghtaling, Edward Mahon, Kathleen Howard SUPERVISOR'S APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS January 5, 1999 - Town Board Meeting - Pg.10 Moved by Councilman Carey, seconded by Councilman Sovocool Ayes - Sovocool, Carey, Palmer, Scheffler, Robinson RESOLVED, that the Supervisor's appointment of committee members be approved as follows: Finance - Teresa Robinson & Daniel Carey Machinery - Daniel Carey Building - Donald Palmer & Donald Scheffler Fire Department - Ellard Sovocool Personnel - Daniel Carey Zoning, Bldg. and Fire Code - Donald Palmer HUD Loans - Ellard Sovocool Light Districts - Donald Scheffler Fixed Assets - Ellard Sovocool Senior Citizens - Donald Scheffler Planning Board - Ellard Sovocool Appeals Board - Ellard Sovocool Highway - Daniel Carey FEES FOR TOWN SERVICES Moved by Councilman Scheffler, seconded by Councilman Carey. Ayes - Sovocool, Carey, Palmer, Scheffler, Robinson Pg.11 - Town Board Meeting - January 5, 1999 RESOLVED, that fees for the Town services be set as follows: 1) Master List for Excavating $ 2.00 2) Certification of Taxes/Search $ 5.00 1st yr., $1.00 ea. addn. yr. 3) Photocopies - 8 1/2 x 11 $ .25 4) Photocopies - 8 1/2 x 14 $ .50 5) Photocopies - 11 x 17 $ .50 6) Transcript of Marriage $10.00 7) Marriage Certificate $10.00 8) Marriage License $25.00 9) Town, Village, County Maps $ .50 10) Mileage - Town Officials $ .30 11) Dog Licenses $18.00 unaltered $10.00 altered 12) Returned Check Fee $15.00 13) Fax Copies - Transmit $ 1.00 per page Receive $ .25 per page 14) Duplicate Tax Receipt $ 1.00 15) Town Directory $ 5.00 16) Land Use & Dev. Code $10.00 17) Mobile Home Ordinance $ 5.00 18) Certified Copies $ 5.00 COUNCILMAN PALMER- Could I just ask a question before we move on, when the fees are set for the planning work, that Mark is working on, and so on, we would come back for ....and have them incorporated for 1999 business also. Board consensus was that this is what would be done. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- On setting hourly rates: Deputy Town Clerk is $9.00. No that isn't what the bookkeeper was saying. She thought it was across the board, everybody got 4%. So, this is a change right? CLERK PIERSON- We discussed this at the work session. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- Yes, so this should be nine, right? CLERK PIERSON- If the Board okays it. I got the impression that they were going to when we discussed it. January 5, 1999 - Town Board Meeting - Pg.12 Supervisor Robinson then read the list of hourly rates. COUNCILMAN PALMER- I'd like to come back to item (1). It was my understanding in the work session, we were talking about 4% across the board, with the exception of Highway Superintendent. CLERK PIERSON- No, that's not true. We discussed the $9.00 at quite a length. In fact I requested by memo to the Board probably six months ago. COUNCILMAN PALMER- Yes, you sent a letter and no action was taken on it at that time. CLERK PIERSON- We postponed it, right. But we did discuss it in work session. Councilmen Sovocool and Scheffler state that it was discussed. COUNCILMAN PALMER- I guess we'd have to get from the Bookkeeper then, how that was calculated for each of these line items. Whether she used the 4% increase or another rate. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- This is what.....cause, I took them in for her to check over and she said that this one was, she had down $8.32, because, was she there for that or not, I don't remember? CLERK PIERSON- No. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- But she thought across the board, so she had written down $8.32. COUNCILMAN PALMER- She came back with a revised budget in that last work session. CLERK PIERSON- Well, I don't know what really is the big deal. You know you have a crossing guard there who is making $7.45 and hour. You have April, who is working in there, and it doesn't matter whether it's April in there or who it is, they work hard, they're responsible for a lot of things, and you can't pay them $9.00 an hour. You know, you're not going to have anybody working out there if you're not going to pay them anything. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- Oh, I'm not disputing it..... CLERK PIERSON- ......the whole Board. $9.00 is not out of line. In addition to that, April takes a lot of work home with her. Forms for the Planning Board. She does all our letter head on her computer at home, nights, doesn't charge the Town for it, saves us spending the money over to Don's Printing. She's saved the Town a lot of money by what she can do with her own printer. Isn't that worth something to the Town? Pg.13 - Town Board Meeting - January 5, 1999 COUNCILMAN PALMER- If she's doing that work on the outside, she should be paid for it. CLERK PIERSON- Maybe by the hour, or whatever, but how do you pay her $8.00 an hour to go home and work on her computer? COUNCILMAN SOVOCOOL- I wouldn't begin to pay on people to take work out of here. CLERK PIERSON- No, but she is doing that to save the Town some money with the letter head and forms..... COUNCILMAN PALMER- What was the previous Deputy Clerk paid? CLERK PIERSON- $8.00. COUNCILMAN PALMER- Okay, so April came in at the same rate as the previous one. CLERK PIERSON- No, that's not true. Carol was at $8.62 or almost $9.00. COUNCILMAN PALMER- But that had the ten year increase in it, correct? So, it was basically at the same rate then. CLERK PIERSON- But we're getting twice the work out of her now, by being able to utilize our computers and things. Carol and I were not computer people. April is a computer person much more than we were. And the other thing: you're saying 4% across the board. You didn't go 4% across the board for everyone. You went probably 14% to 15% for the Highway Superintendent. COUNCILMAN PALMER- I said with the exception of...... CLERK PIERSON- Why did you make exceptions? COUNCILMAN PALMER- That was handled on an individual issue basis when that came up. CLERK PIERSON- No, it wasn't. People work up to these. That's what you were going to tell me, if I hadn't said something. You work up to that salary. Okay. How can you say you can give one that big a raise and another one just a "piddily" little $8.00 an hour? COUNCILMAN PALMER- Well, I think the issue is going to come back to what was included in the budget. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- Well, her budget, her finances, come out of different things. January 5, 1999 - Town Board Meeting - Pg.14 COUNCILMAN PALMER- I understand that. But when the budget was developed, there was a process that was applied to come up with those line item values in the budget. CLERK PIERSON- When I budgeted the appropriations for that account, I figured $9.00 an hour. So, it's whatever you did with it after that. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- I didn't bring the budget in with me tonight. CLERK PIERSON- How you going to figure it out anyway? Her wages come from three different funds. It depends on which one she's working at. She might have excess in one of them and overage in the other. So, how you going to nail it down to exactly what I'm going to pay her out of that account? What I had in there would cover it. It was an estimate. It was an approximate, at $9.00 an hour. That's what I had in each one of those, the number she would be working in the three, based on this past year. COUNCILMAN PALMER- Well, is that what the final number came out to? CLERK PIERSON- I don't know if you cut that down or not. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- Well, we have to do something here. Motion was made by Councilman Sovocool to accept the hourly rates as presented. A second was not made. No response from Board. COUNCILMAN SOVOCOOL I made the motion that we accept Item 8 (hourly rates), items (1) - (6) as presented. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- Okay, do I have a second? There was an extended silence. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- Don't all talk at once. More silence. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- Well, can we with number 8, eliminate item (1) as now, and go from (2) to (6) as presented? COUNCILMAN SOVOCOOL- I'll withdraw my motion. COUNCILMAN CAREY- If you do that, how does that...... ATTORNEY CASULLO- It's none of my business, but I think you're going to run into a problem. She's got to get paid. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- I was just going to move along and come back to Pg.15 - Town Board Meeting - January 5, 1999 it........ Several people speaking at once with Attorney Casullo saying that they had to do something. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- Alright. COUNCILMAN SCHEFFLER- Does anybody know for sure what we budgeted on that? Someone had a copy of the budget that everyone looked at. CLERK PIERSON- Those figures, as I put them in there, were based on the $9.00 and hour. We discussed that at the work session, it was there, there was enough to cover it. COUNCILMAN CAREY- Can we use Lewie's motion, and, ah, with clarification on number one provided to us at next month's meeting. Several people say, she has to get paid. COUNCILMAN PALMER- One alternative might be, just throw out some ideas, would be build a 4% increase to that base rate, for this month. Pay her at the same 4% increase that everyone else got, review this issue again at the February meeting, if in fact it can be proven that that rate was built in for that, then go back and make an adjustment to the beginning of the year. That allows her to get paid the same increase as everyone else percentage-wise. If in fact there is an adjustment due for that later, then you go back and make it retroactive to January 1 and go forward. Several people talking at once. CLERK PIERSON- Well, I say you're either going to do it or you're not. Why beat around the bush and we gotta study this, we gotta do that? You already did that once. So, if you don't want to do it, don't do it. You, yourself all sat there and we all talked about it, the $9.00 an hour. There has been a lot of times that I have gone without things here just not to run over budget. I have seen our funds so run over by other people around here and it doesn't even matter. Now all of the sudden we're concerned. Well, you should be. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- Who's running over? Nobody's running over. CLERK PIERSON- We've all overdrawn accounts. Why do you think we have all these transfers all year long? SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- Well, the transfers are because of the lack of budgeting. January 5, 1999 - Town Board Meeting - Pg.16 CLERK PIERSON- No they're not. We overdrew this year, 1998, your health insurance by thousands of dollars. You overdrew on somebody's salary, I don't know by how much, but it's quite a lot. That didn't concern anybody. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- Well...........do you want to go with Don's suggestion? COUNCILMAN PALMER- I'll put it in the form of a motion. SET HOURLY RATES Moved by Councilman Palmer, seconded by Councilman Carey, that the Town Board approve items (2) through (6) as presented with item (1) being paid at a rate of $8.32 per hour pending review of the 1999 budget to confirm what was actually included. If an adjustment is appropriate, it will be made retroactive to January 1, 1999. Ayes - Carey, Palmer, Scheffler, Robinson (With Councilman Scheffler voting aye with the reservation that Item (1) be taken care of in a day or two, when the paperwork is presented, with a Special Meeting called if necessary. Nays - Sovocool RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby set the hourly rates as follows: 1) Deputy Town Clerk $ 8.32 2) Court Clerk $ 9.96 3) Bookkeeper $12.69 4) Custodian $ 8.62 5) Crossing Guard $ 7.45 6) New Part Time Clerks $ 7.00 - 8.00 MISCELLANEOUS - APPOINTMENTS, FEES, ETC. Moved by Councilman Palmer, seconded by Councilman Carey Ayes - Sovocool, Carey, Palmer, Scheffler, Robinson Pg.17 - Town Board Meeting - January 5, 1999 RESOLVED, that the annual retainer fee for legal services rendered by Pomeroy, Armstrong, Baranello & Casullo be set at $7,200. Moved by Councilman Scheffler, seconded by Councilman Palmer Ayes - Sovocool, Carey, Palmer, Scheffler, Robinson RESOLVED, That the Town Clerk be authorized to hire Laura Haughn as part-time Deputy to assist with tax collection at an hourly rate of $8.00 per budget appropriation. Moved by Councilman Carey, seconded by Councilman Palmer Ayes - Sovocool, Carey, Palmer, Scheffler, Robinson RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby authorizes the Highway Superintendent to give the following pay increases effective January 1, 1998: Name & Title 1998 +4% 1999 5Yr. Incentive Holl, J. -MEO $13.15 .53 $13.68 $13.83 Smith,M.- MEO 12.61 .50 13.11 Coit,L.-MEO 12.61 .50 13.11 Neville, R.- MEO 12.63 .51 13.14 Scutt, G.-Laborer 12.49 .50 12.99 Carr. P.- Laborer 12.34 .49 12.83 Bogardus, R.-Mech. 12.63 .51 13.14 Graham,J. Laborer 12.12 .48 12.60 12.75 Moved by Councilman Carey, seconded by Councilman Scheffler, that the Town authorize the following to attend the Annual Association of Board does hereby Towns Training School on February 14-17, 1999, in New York City: Arland Heffron, Teresa Robinson, Margaret Palmer, Alton Alexander, Van Travis. Ayes - Sovocool, Carey, Palmer, Scheffler, Robinson. Councilman Palmer asked the Board to consider going along with the State "per diem allowance" for these trips rather than individuals having to bother with keeping receipts. A discussion was held and it was the consensus of the rest of the Board to continue as they have in the past. appoint Teresa Moved by Councilman Palmer, seconded by Councilman Sovocool, to Robinson as delegate to the Annual Association of Town Meeting in New York City appoint Arland Heffron as alternate. and to Ayes - Sovocool, Carey, Palmer, Scheffler, Robinson. January 5, 1999 - Town Board Meeting - Pg.18 Moved by Councilman Palmer, seconded by Councilman Carey, appoint Teresa Robinson and Richard Caseas contact people for the Drug and to Alcohol Testing Program. Ayes - Sovocool, Carey, Palmer, Scheffler, Robinson. re-appoint Moved by Councilman Sovocool, seconded by Councilman Carey to Monica Carey to the Town Planning Board for a term of seven years ending December 31, 2005. Ayes - Sovocool, Carey, Palmer, Scheffler, Robinson. re-appoint Moved by Councilman Palmer, seconded by Councilman Sovocool, to George Totman as Chairman of the Town of Groton Planning Board for the year 1999. Ayes - Sovocool, Carey, Palmer, Scheffler, Robinson. re-appoint John Moved by Councilman Sovocool, seconded by Councilman Carey, to Pachai to the Town Zoning Board of Appeals for a term of five years ending December 31, 2003. Ayes - Sovocool, Carey, Palmer, Scheffler, Robinson. re-appoint Moved by Councilman Palmer, seconded by Councilman Scheffler to Lyle Raymond as Chairman of the Zoning Board of Appeals for the year 1999. Ayes- Sovocool, Carey, Palmer, Scheffler, Robinson. appoint Moved by Councilman Carey, seconded By Councilman Scheffler, to Orlando Houghtaling, Edward Mahon, and Kathy Howard to the Youth Commission. Ayes- Sovocool, Carey, Palmer, Scheffler, Robinson. retain Doug's Moved by Councilman Sovocool, seconded by Councilman Palmer to Trash Removal Service at the rate of $65.00 per month for January 1, 1999 to December 31, 1999. Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Palmer, Carey, Robinson. Pg.19 - Town Board Meeting - January 5, 1999 RESOLUTION #2 - CONTRACT WITH KIRBY, BEALS & MAIER FOR AUDIT OF 1998 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Moved by Councilman Palmer, seconded by Councilman Scheffler. Ayes - Sovocool, Carey, Palmer, Scheffler, Robinson RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby retain the services of Kirby, Beals, & Maier & Company to audit Financial Statements including Justice Court for the year ended December 31, 1998 at a fee equal to that paid in 1998. RESOLUTION #3 - APPROVE 1999 DOG CONTRACT WITH SPCA Moved by Councilman Sovocool, seconded by Councilman Palmer. Ayes - Sovocool, Carey, Palmer, Scheffler, Robinson. RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby approve the 1999 contract with the Tompkins County SPCA for the purpose of dog control in the Town of Groton at a fee equal to that paid in 1998 in the amount of $9,876. The Planning Board and Appeals Board attendance sheets were submitted to the Board for their review. A discussion followed in which the Board felt that the attendance at regular meetings was very good. However, it was not clear how many people had attended schooling sessions or seminars as required. It was suggested that the steno continue to keep the attendance sheet with a copy going to the chairmen of the respective boards for verification of attendance at schools. Clerk Pierson asked if the Board would like copies of the local law pertaining to board attendance and they said that they would. No decisions were made at this time. RESOLUTION #4 - SET PUBLIC HEARING DATE TO AMEND January 5, 1999 - Town Board Meeting - Pg.20 DOG ORDINANCE Moved by Councilman Carey, seconded by Councilman Palmer. Ayes - Sovocool, Carey, Palmer, Scheffler, Robinson RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby schedule a Public Hearing on February 9, 1999 at 8:00 P.M. at the Groton Town Hall, regarding amending sections of the Town's ordinance relating to owning or harboring an unlicensed dog. The sections proposed to be amended involve increasing fees payable to the Town and the penalty for violations of the ordinance. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- The Village is thinking of having a referendum and doing away with the Village Court, which will mean that they will dump everything on the Town Court and that means that we will have more expense and more things to do. We'll get money too, and, ah, what did you tell me we wouldn't get money from? In other words, we wouldn't get all the money from the Court. MARGARET PALMER, COURT CLERK- The Town would receive all the income that would come back except any Village law or ordinance, like parking tickets would go back to the Village. But, as I think I think Chuck (Rankin) figured out, there would be about a $12,000 income that would come to the Town now. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- Yeah, but we'd have to pay you. MARGARET PALMER- There would be increased hours that the Town would have to cover. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- And there would be increased hours for the judge. MARGARET PALMER- The other increase would be increased telephone and postage. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- So, I just want you to be advised of it, because I got a telephone call from the Ithaca Journal and the clerk said to me "I see on the Village agenda that they're going to have a referendum to do away with the Village Court, what do you think." Thirty seconds was not enough for me to make a judgement. I just heard it. MARGARET PALMER- If it does happen, it would take effect April 1st because that's when their election year is. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- Another thing is, if they don't pass the referendum, you have to, the parties still have to have candidates so that they can have an election. Pg.21 - Town Board Meeting - January 5, 1999 Some more discussion took place on the subject. COUNCILMAN PALMER- Well, I would suggest, if you haven't done so, you might want to talk with the Mayor, sit down and cover some of these points and get his input so you can share it with us. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- Well, yes, I know, but what I'm saying is they are going to do it anyways, I guess. COUNCILMAN PALMER- We don't know that yet. COUNCILMAN SOVOCOOL- They can't do it without a referendum. MARGARET PALMER- It's a permissive referendum. If nobody petitions for a vote, the Village Board can vote it out. Discussions continued with the Board expressing a desire that Supervisor Robinson speak with the Mayor. COUNCILMAN PALMER I would like to raise the question on where we stand on two issues that have come up before. One is the evaluation of computers and telephone internet. Is anything happening on that? SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- Liz isn't here and I'm not sure how far they got on that. How far did you get, Colleen? CLERK PIERSON- We had a meeting on phones, Rick, Liz and I, and Peg. Apparently, we determined that we had adequate phone lines now, and we don't need to add lines now. Our next step would be to get internet prices. Liz and I have both gotten some. I haven't done anything on those yet. As far as computers, I don't know about Peg's, but ours and Liz's should be Y2000 ready. We have yet to hear from Gateway on....... There was some more discussion. No one used microphone. COUNCILMAN PALMER- Do we have any developments on Diversified? ATTORNEY CASULLO- I am under the assumption that they are paying. They are doing what they are supposed to be doing. I spoke with Bernie awhile ago and the only thing they need to do is sign an extra copy of the UCC. Apparently they are in the process of doing so. Other than that I heard....future plans about moving. They signed everything that we asked them to sign. They are paying as agreed. January 5, 1999 - Town Board Meeting - Pg.22 RESOLUTION #5 - AUTHORIZATION TO PARTICIPATE IN COOPERATIVE PURCHASING OF HIGHWAY SERVICES WITH TOMPKINS COUNTY Moved by Councilman Scheffler, seconded by Councilman Palmer. Ayes - Sovocool, Carey, Palmer, Scheffler, Robinson WHEREAS, the Office of the State Comptroller has ruled that counties may no longer extend their bids for public work (services) to political subdivisions, and WHEREAS, General Municipal Law Section 119-0 provides for municipalities entering into cooperative purchasing agreements to jointly bid needed services, and WHEREAS, General Municipal Law, Article 5-G Section 110-0 states that "any agreement entered into hereunder shall be approved by each participating municipal corporation or district by a majority vote of its governing body," now therefore be it RESOLVED, that the Town of Groton be hereby authorized to participate with Tompkins County in the cooperative purchasing of various highway services. RESOLUTION #6 - AUTHORIZE HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT TO PURCHASE ON STATE BID Moved by Councilman Scheffler, seconded by Councilman Palmer. Ayes - Sovocool, Carey, Palmer, Scheffler, Robinson RESOLVED, that the Groton Town Board does hereby authorize the Highway Superintendent to purchase oil and related products from State Contract Bids as appropriate. Pg.23 - Town Board Meeting - January 5, 1999 There being no further business, Councilman Palmer moved to adjourn, seconded by Councilman Sovocool, at 10:10 P.M. Unanimous. Colleen D. Pierson Town Clerk