HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-08-2002
TOWN OF GROTON
MINUTES OF TOWN BOARD MEETING
JANUARY 8, 2002, AT 7:30 PM
Those present: Glenn E. Morey, Supervisor
Ellard L. Sovocool, Councilman
Donald F. Scheffler, Councilman
Sheldon C. Clark, Councilman
Duane T. Randall II, Councilman
Francis Casullo, Town Attorney
Also present: Arthur Dawson, Peg Palmer, Don Palmer, Amy Randall, April Scheffler.
RESOLUTION #1 - YEAR 2002 ORGANIZATIONAL ITEMS
Item 1 – DepositoryMOVED
. - by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Sovocool.
Ayes – Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey.
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.
Item 2 – Official NewspaperMOVED
– by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Randall.
Ayes – Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey.
RESOLVED,
that the Groton Independent be designated as the official newspaper of the Town of
Groton with notices also to be published in the Freeville Shopper.
Item 3 – Law FirmMOVED
– by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Scheffler.
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey.
RESOLVED,
that the law firm of Pomeroy, Armstrong, Baranello & Casullo be retained as
Attorneys for the Town of Groton.
Item 4 – Zoning OfficerMOVED
– by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Clark.
Ayes – Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey
RESOLVED,
that George R. Senter, Sr. be appointed Zoning Officer and Building and Fire Code
Enforcement Officer for the Town of Groton.
Town Board Meeting Page 2 of 16 January 8, 2002
Item 5 – ConstableMOVED
– by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Sovocool.
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey.
RESOLVED
, that Richard Exton be appointed Constable for the Town of Groton.
Item 6 – Deputy SupervisorMOVED
- by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Randall.
Ayes – Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey
RESOLVED,
that Donald F. Scheffler be appointed Deputy Supervisor for the Town of Groton.
Item 7 – Deputy Highway SuperintendentMOVED
– by Supervisor Morey, seconded by
Councilman Scheffler.
Ayes – Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey
RESOLVED,
that Judson Holl be appointed Deputy Highway Superintendent for the Town of
Groton.
Item 8 – Deputy Town ClerkMOVED
– by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Clark.
Ayes – Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey
RESOLVED,
that April L. Scheffler be appointed Deputy Town Clerk for the Town of Groton.
Item 9 – BookkeeperMOVED
– by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Randall.
Ayes – Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey
RESOLVED,
that Elizabeth Brennan be appointed as Bookkeeper for the Town of Groton.
Item 10 – Part Time Court ClerkMOVED
– by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman
Sovocool.
Ayes – Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey.
RESOLVED,
that Margaret Palmer be appointed as part-time Court Clerk for the Town of
Groton.
Item 11 – Part Time McLean Crossing GuardMOVED
– by Supervisor Morey, seconded by
Councilman Scheffler.
Ayes – Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey.
RESOLVED,
that Margaret Albern be appointed part-time McLean School Crossing Guard for
the Town of Groton.
Item 12 – Town HistorianMOVED
– by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Randall.
Ayes – Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey.
RESOLVED,
that Rosemarie Tucker be appointed as Town Historian for the Town of Groton.
Town Board Meeting Page 3 of 16 January 8, 2002
Item 13 – Election CustodiansMOVED
– by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Clark.
Ayes – Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey.
RESOLVED,
that Lewis Robinson and Lee Shurtleff be appointed Election Custodians for the
Town of Groton.
Item 14 – Town Health InsuranceMOVED
– by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman
Sovocool.
Ayes – Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey.
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. Highway employees to have 75% of coverage paid for by Town.
Item 15 – Town Board Regular MeetingsMOVED
– by Supervisor Morey, seconded by
Councilman Randall.
Ayes – Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey.
RESOLVED,
that the Town Board will hold their regular Town Board Meetings on the second
Tuesday of each month at 7:00 – 7:30 P.M. to review invoices and 7:30 P.M. for the Board
Meeting, at the Town Hall on Conger Boulevard, Groton, NY.
Item 16 – Fix Salaries of Town OfficersMOVED
– by Supervisor Morey, seconded by
Councilman Scheffler.
Ayes – Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey.
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) Glenn E. Morey, Supervisor $ 8,500.00 Biweekly
b) Ellard L. Sovocool, Councilman $ 1,654.00 Quarterly
c) Donald F. Scheffler, Councilman $ 1,654.00 Quarterly
d) Duane T. Randall, II, Councilman $ 1,654.00 Quarterly
e) Sheldon C. Clark, Councilman $ 1,654.00 Quarterly
f) Colleen D. Pierson, Town Clerk $30,102.00 Biweekly
g) Richard C. Case, Jr., Highway Superintendent $44,346.00 Biweekly
st
h) Arland L. Heffron, 1 Town Justice $ 8,051.00 Biweekly
nd
i) Arthur D. Dawson, 2 Town Justice $ 6,396.00 Biweekly
j) George R. Senter, Sr., Code Enforcement $14,988.00 Biweekly
k) Rosemarie Tucker, Historian $ 1,000.00 Quarterly
Town Board Meeting Page 4 of 16 January 8, 2002
Item # 17- Appointment of Representatives to Town and County ProgramsMOVED
– by
Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Sovocool.
Ayes – Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey.
RESOLVED
, to appoint the following as representatives to Town and County Programs:
County Youth Recreation Programs – Glenn E. Morey
Environmental Management Council – Anthony Zarachowicz
Tompkins County Transportation Council – Sheldon Clark
Tompkins County Human Services Coalition – Teresa Robinson
Tompkins County CATV Commission – Dennis Butts
Tompkins County Planning Board - Van Travis
Groton Local Youth Program - Kathleen Howard, Teresa Robinson,
Tompkins County Fire, Disaster and EMS Advisory Board – Lester Coit
Item 18 – Supervisor’s Appointment to Committee MembersMOVED
– by Supervisor Morey,
seconded by Councilman Clark.
Ayes – Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey.
RESOLVED,
that the Supervisor's appointment of committee members be approved as follows:
Finance – Glenn Morey & Donald Scheffler
Machinery – Sheldon Clark
Building – Duane Randall & Donald Scheffler
Fire Department - Ellard Sovocool
Personnel – Glenn Morey & Donald Scheffler
Zoning, Bldg. and Fire Code – Duane Randall
HUD Loans - Ellard Sovocool
Light Districts - Donald Scheffler
Fixed Assets - Ellard Sovocool
Senior Citizens - Donald Scheffler
Recreation Committee – Donald Scheffler
Comprehensive Plan – Duane Randall
Planning Board – Rotating Attendance
Appeals Board – Rotating Attendance
Highway – Sheldon Clark
Item 19 - Set fees for Town ServicesMOVED
– by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman
Sovocool.
Ayes – Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey.
RESOLVED,
that fees for the Town services be set as follows:
Town Board Meeting Page 5 of 16 January 8, 2002
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 $ .32
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
19) Town of Groton Zoning Fee Schedule:
Building Permit Fee: $0 - $4000...…. $10.00
More than $4000.....$2.50 Per $1000 of Construction Cost
Building Permit Renewals: $2.50 Per $1000 of remaining construction cost and upon
approval by zoning officer.
Agricultural Buildings:........…...….. $ 25.00
Certificate of Occupancy:......….…. No Charge
Flood Zone Certification:..……...…. $ 10.00
Certificate of Conformance:..…...…. $ 40.00
Cellular Tower:.................…………. $ 2.50 Per $1000 of Construction Cost
Demolition Permit:......…….........…. $ 25.00
Site Plan Review:...……..............…. $ 30.00
Special Permit:......………...........…. $ 40.00 Following Site Plan Approval
Junk Yard License:....……...........…. $ 25.00 Following Site Plan Approval
Junk Yard Annual Inspection:......….. $ 25.00
Application for Sign:........……....…. $ 10.00
Subdivision - Minor:..……..........…. $ 30.00
Major:.......…….......….. $ 50.00 plus $20 Per Lot
Rural:.........……....……$ 20.00
Boundary Change:….. $ 20.00
Flood Hazard Area Comb. District:... $ 40.00
Planned Unit Development:...….....…$125.00
Application for Variance:.....……...…$ 25.00
Town Board Meeting Page 6 of 16 January 8, 2002
Additional Fees:
a) If a public hearing is required, the applicant shall pay the cost of advertising fees.
b) Costs incurred by the Town of Groton for engineering, planning, legal and other necessary
expenses for the purpose of reviewing any application with regard to an item covered by this fee
schedule shall be paid by the applicant.
c) The applicant shall be responsible for costs incurred by the Town of Groton for the review
and/or preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement if said statement is necessary.
When Fees Are To Be Paid: All fees required by this fee schedule shall be paid to the Town of
Groton at the time the application is presented. Special Permit fee shall be paid following Site Plan
Review and prior to issuance of the Permit. No permit/certificate will be issued until all fees,
costs, and/or expenses are paid in full.
Item 20 – Set Hourly RatesMOVED
– by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Randall.
Ayes – Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey.
RESOLVED,
that the Town Board does hereby set the hourly rates as follows:
1) Deputy Town Clerk $ 9.98 per hour
2) Court Clerk $11.04 per hour
3) Bookkeeper $14.22 per hour
4) Custodian $ 9.69 per hour
5) Crossing Guard $ 8.26 per hour
6) Part Time Clerks $ 9.00 per hour
7) Constable $10.50 per hour
Item # 21 - Miscellaneous Appointments, Fees, Etc – MOVED
by Supervisor Morey,
seconded by Councilman Scheffler.
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey.
RESOLVED,
that the Town Board does hereby approve the following miscellaneous
appointments, fees, etc:
Annual Retainer Fee for Legal Services
1) rendered by Pomeroy, Armstrong, Baranello, and
Casullo be set at $7,500.00 annually.
.
hire Norma Neville as a part time Deputy Clerk
2)Authorize the Town Clerk to to assist with tax
collection at an hourly rate per budget appropriation.
Town Board Meeting Page 7 of 16 January 8, 2002
Authorize Highway Superintendent to give pay raises effective January 1, 2002:
3)
Name & Title_____________1999____2000___+3%_____+__ _2001_ +.62 + 2002
Judson Holl – MEO 13.83 14.23 .43 14.66 .62 15.28
M. Smith – MEO 13.11 13.51 .41 13.92 .62 14.54
L. Coit – MEO 13.11 13.51 .41 13.92 .62 14.54
R. Neville – MEO 13.14 13.54 .41 +.15/15 yrs 14.10 .62 14.72
G. Scutt – MEO 12.99 13.44 .40 13.84 .62 14.46
P. Carr – MEO 12.83 13.53 .41 13.94 .62 14.56
R. Bogardus – Mech. 13.14 13.84 .42 14.26 .62+.15/15yrs. 15.03
J. Graham – MEO 12.60 13.30 .40 13.70 .62 14.32
M. Kirchgraber – Laborer 8.50 .26 +.50/6 mos 9.26 9.88
Annual Association of Towns Training School
4) Authorize in February in New York City for
Margaret Palmer, Barb Clark and Sheldon Clark.
Delegate for Annual Association of Towns Meeting
5) Appoint Sheldon Clark as in New York
and appoint Barb Clark as alternate.
Appoint contact people for Drug and Alcohol Testing Program
6) – Richard Case and Glenn
Morey.
Appointment of Town Planning Board Member
7) – to be done during regular meeting to follow.
Appoint member to Zoning Board Member
8) – to be done during regular meeting to follow.
Retain Doug’s Trash Removal Service
9) at the rate of $65.00 per month for the period January 1,
2002 to December 31, 2002.
RESOLUTION #2 - CONTRACT WITH KIRBY, BEALS & MAIER FOR
AUDIT OF 2001 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MOVED
by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Sovocool.
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey.
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,
2001 at a fee of $4,500.00.
Town Board Meeting Page 8 of 16 January 8, 2002
RESOLUTION #3 - APPROVE 2002 DOG CONTRACT WITH SPCA
Moved
by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Sovocool.
Ayes – Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey.
RESOLVED,
that the Town Board does hereby approve the 2002 contract with the Tompkins
County SPCA for the purpose of dog control in the Town of Groton at a fee of $10,795.00.
RESOLUTION #4 - AUTHORIZATION TO PARTICIPATE IN
COOPERATIVE PURCHASING OF HIGHWAY SERVICES WITH
TOMPKINS COUNTY
MOVED
by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Randall.
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey.
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 #5 - AUTHORIZE HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT TO
PURCHASE ON STATE BID
MOVED
by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Scheffler.
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey.
RESOLVED,
that the Groton Town Board does hereby authorize the Highway Superintendent to
purchase oil and related products from State Contract Bids as appropriate.
Town Board Meeting Page 9 of 16 January 8, 2002
This ended the Year 2002 Organizational Meeting. The Board then proceeded with their regular
monthly meeting:
MOVED
by Councilman Scheffler, seconded by Councilman Randall, to approve the minutes of
the December 11, 2001 meeting as presented.
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey.
General Fundfor the Year 2001
Claim Numbers 361-381of the in the amount of $8,123.93
were presented for audit.
MOVED
by Councilman Scheffler, seconded by Councilman Randall, to approve the 2001
General Bills for payment.
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey.
General Fund for the Year 2002
Claim Numbers 1-6 of the in the amount of $1,358.25 were
presented for audit.
MOVED
by Councilman Clark, seconded by Councilman Sovocool, to approve the 2002
General Bills for payment.
Highway Fund for the Year 2001
Claim Numbers 220-234 of the in the amount of $7,407.05
were presented for audit.
MOVED
by Councilman Sovocool, seconded by Councilman Scheffler, to approve the 2001
Highway Bills for payment.
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey.
Highway Fund for the Year 2002
Claim Number 1 of the in the amount of $104.97 was
presented for audit.
MOVED
by Councilman Randall, seconded by Councilman Sovocool, to approve the 2002
Highway Bills for payment.
Special Grant (HUD) Fund for the Year 2002
Claim Number 224 of the in the amount of
$1258.15 was presented for audit.
MOVED
by Councilman Sovocool, seconded by Councilman Scheffler, to approve the HUD bill
for payment.
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey.
Supervisor Morey invited privilege of the floor. There was no response.
Town Board Meeting Page 10 of 16 January 8, 2002
Monthly Reports:
Arland Heffron and Arthur Dawson, Town Justices
– Presented their monthly report for the
Board’s review.
Justice Dawson
– (Handed out paper showing 2001 approximated closing Court figures). It
says here approximate closing figures because the December figures were not available when I
did this originally. The total money handled in the Town Court was just a little bit shy of
$31,000. Of that, money returned to the Town was a little over $9,000 and money returned to
Tompkins County STOP-DWI was just a little under $5,000. So we got about $14,000 total back
into the community although part of it was Town and part of it was countywide. Total new cases
was 671 and new defendants are not necessarily “new” defendants but they are ones that only
had one case or two cases and didn’t have multiple arrests, not necessarily people that we
haven’t seen before.
Margaret Palmer, Court Clerk
– That word “new” is misleading.
Justice Dawson
– Arland, as a result of his sickness and stuff, he said he was going to change
his time for the Town Court and instead of being on Wednesday nights at 7:00 he’s moved it to
Wednesday morning at 10 a.m. This is working out good for a couple different reasons.
Number one, he doesn’t have to get out twice during the day and Peggy doesn’t have to run
around and get stuff ready both in the morning and afternoon as much as she was. Also, it gives
the police agencies both a daytime court and a nighttime court to send somebody. If they stop
somebody, and if they’re decent, they’ll ask them: they have night court and morning court,
which would you rather go to, things like that.
th
The Magistrates’ Association is having their annual dinner meeting on February 10 at Lake
Watch. The cost is $24 a head. You are all invited. If anybody shows up, it would be kind of
neat. The new president of the association is Betty Poole from the Town of Enfield and I’m the
new vice-president.
Supervisor Morey
– There is an announcement in your folders and you have to send the check
prior to RSVPing. That’s the only way you can RSVP is to send a check. I will go, so I can
drive. It’s a really nice time too.
Elizabeth Brennan, Bookkeeper
– Absent. No report was submitted.
Supervisor Morey
– We will be closing the books for the Year 2001 and reopening them for the
Year 2002 over the next week. The W2 forms were sent out to everyone, so they should have
that in the mail.
GeorgeR. Senter, Sr., Code Enforcement Officer
– Absent.
Richard C. Case, Jr., Highway Superintendent
– Absent.
Colleen D. Pierson, Town Clerk/Tax Collector
– Absent. Submitted her Annual Town Clerk’s
Report for the Year 2001 and her monthly Town Clerk’s Report for the month of December
2001.
Town Board Meeting Page 11 of 16 January 8, 2002
Suggestions were made for possible people who might be called to come in to help in the Clerk’s
Office if necessary.
April L. Scheffler, Deputy Town Clerk
– We have a note from the Pizza Barn informing us
that they are reapplying for their liquor license. We just need a consensus that it is okay with
you guys and that you have no objections.
Consensus of the Board was that they had no objections.
Deputy Scheffler
– We also have a letter from the Tompkins County Personnel Department.
“Dear Colleen, when I processed the recent appointment for George Senter I discovered that the
Town only has a position for a Zoning Officer. Apparently the position was never created for
Code/Fire Enforcement Officer. I don’t know how my office overlooked this for so many
years.”
Colleen was sure that it was created many, many years ago. But nobody has been able to come
up with anything definitive that says that it was. So, what she would like you to do is just make
a motion to create a Code/Fire Enforcement Officer and appoint George and we can send it down
to the County. Then we will have all the paperwork done the way it’s supposed to be.
Supervisor Morey
– One question, do they have a written noncompetitive job description for…?
Deputy Scheffler
– Yes.
RESOLUTION #6 – CREATE POSITION OF CODE/FIRE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
RESOLVED
, that the Town Board does hereby create the position of Code/Fire Enforcement
Officer for the Town of Groton.
RESOLUTION #7 – APPOINT GEORGE R. SENTER, SR. AS CODE/FIRE
ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
RESOLVED,
that the Town Board does hereby appoint George R. Senter, Sr. as Code/Fire
Enforcement Officer for the Town of Groton.
Attorney Casullo
– You and I have been working on that Coit matter. I guess you are still
waiting to get the permits and get everything coordinated. As long as we’re staying on top of
that and moving along, we should be okay.
And then speaking with you this morning, I gave everybody a proposed parking ordinance. I
don’t know what you want to do with that, if you want to act on it tonight, or…
Supervisor Morey
– No, what I want to do is have Rick’s input and find out what it is.
Town Board Meeting Page 12 of 16 January 8, 2002
Attorney Casullo
– You can do it at the next Board Meeting. Fine. Just as long as we keep
moving on this Coit thing and keep the permit process going. Other than that, we’re okay.
Councilman Scheffler, as Chairman of the Recreation Committee
– I really don’t have
anything to report this month. Because of the holidays we moved the meeting to tomorrow night
for this month. So, next month I should have quite a bit. We’re working on hiring a Recreation
Coordinator right now. The ads are in the papers and there’s three campuses locally and also
Tompkins County Job Services and a few other places we’ve placed ads. So, tomorrow night we
should know what’s come in.
RESOLUTION #8 – ATTENDANCE TO ASSOCIATION OF TOWNS
MEETING IN NYC
MOVED
by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Randall
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey
RESOLVED,
that the Town Board does hereby approve Sheldon Clark, Barbara Clark, and
Margaret Palmer to attend the Annual Meeting for the Association of Towns in New York City.
RESOLUTION #9 – APPROVE ADVANCE PAYMENT OF REGISTRATION
FOR NYC MEETING
MOVED
by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Sovocool
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey
RESOLVED
, that the Town Board does hereby advance payment of registration for Annual
Meeting for the Association of Towns in New York City, if needed.
RESOLUTION #10 – APPROVE DUANE RANDALL TO ATTEND
NEW TOWN OFFICIAL SCHOOL
MOVED
by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Clark
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Clark, Morey
Abstain – Randall
RESOLVED
, that the Town Board does hereby approve Councilman Duane T. Randall, II to
attend the New Town Official School in Rochester, New York.
Town Board Meeting Page 13 of 16 January 8, 2002
RESOLUTION #11 – APPROVE ADVANCE PAYMENT OF REGISTRATION
FOR NEW TOWN OFFICIAL SCHOOL
MOVED
by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Scheffler
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Clark, Morey
Abstain – Randall
RESOLVED,
that the Town Board does hereby approve advance payment of registration fee to
attend New Town Official School in Rochester, New York.
RESOLUTION #12 – APPROVE COURTROOM CONTRACT WITH VILLAGE
MOVED
by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Randall
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey
RESOLVED,
that the Town Board does hereby approve the Annual contract between the Town
of Groton and the Village of Groton for the rental of the Courtroom by the Village of Groton for
the amount of $3,600.00 per year.
RESOLUTION #13 – APPROVE FIRE AND AMBULANCE CONTRACTS
MOVED
by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Sovocool
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey
RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby approve the contract for Groton Fire Protection
in the amount of $69,000.00, the contract for Groton Ambulance in the amount of $64,000.00
and McLean Fire Protection in the amount of $53,982.88.
Announcements:
th
1)McLean Community Meeting – January 9, 7:30 PM at McLean Fire Department.
Supervisor Morey
– I hope all the Board members can be there. If they ask me to speak I’m
going to just tell them some of the 2002 goals that I have for myself and the Town Board.
Basically, doing the Comprehensive Plan, being chaired by Tyke Randall. We’re going to form
a committee this month. We’re going to have two members of the Planning Board, two members
of the ZBA, and two community members at large. We’re going to review the existing
Comprehensive Plan. We’re going to prepare a questionnaire for the township and we’re going
Town Board Meeting Page 14 of 16 January 8, 2002
to outline just exactly what we need. So, for the next 10 years we will know exactly where we
want to go. And this is very important because the first thing they ask when you are applying for
grants is do you have a comprehensive plan for the Town. We have to say, basically, it’s an old
one. It was done in 1993.
We’re going to also do the Recreation Coordinator. This is going to be chaired by Don Scheffler
and right now there is going to be a position for the Town of Groton as a whole, so we can get
recreation for the whole town. The committee is already setting up interviews and accepting
applications and things like that.
Communication with different groups throughout the community and this is going to be assisted
by Sheldon Clark with me because I have already talked to him about that. First of all the main
thing is the McLean Community Committee but also I want to get some of the farmers in the
area in to talk to us in February. And this is where Sheldon is going to help me out. One of the
largest industries in the Town of Groton is the farmers. What I would like to do is find out if we
are working for them or doing exactly what they want us to do and just find out what specific
needs they want.
Also, the senior citizens group. I want to open a dialogue with them to find out if we are doing
everything that we need to be doing for them. They are a very active group and I want to
maintain the active group that they are.
Some of our programs that we are going to review this year is the Emergency Preparedness Plan;
the property tax exemptions for different income ranges; the health insurance for retirees we’re
going to revisit; the parking ordinance, which Fran just gave us a copy of it, we’re going to pass
that too; reactivate our web site, which Tyke has also volunteered for; and also we’re going to
have an active member to serve on the committee for the Groton Brochure.
The other things that I want to do is investigate, review and promote existing grants that we
already have and I am going to have Louie help me with this one because he is going to become
an active member of Better Homes of Tompkins County grants. We already have existing first
homebuyers’ grants but we don’t really promote that whatsoever. This is done through the
County. There is also existing home improvement grants which Louie is going to help me out
with. We have $400,000 and we should spend this in the next two years for low to medium
housing. I also want to investigate. There is a lot of money out there if we want to investigate.
And also new housing grants for different developments. I have something in the back of my
head that I still want to create water and sewer districts in places in the Town. And also new
grants for different consultants that we need. If we do need a consultant for the Comprehensive
Plan, I want to try to get a grant for that for 3 or 4 or 5,000 dollars. So, that’s what we’re going
to talk about a little bit tomorrow at the community meeting.
Announcements, Continued:
2)McLean Road status – starts April 2002
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3)January 19 Groton Fire Department Annual Banquet & Installation of Officers – 6PM
Cocktails, 7 PM Dinner at the Fire Station.
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4)Groton Business Association Meeting – January 16 at the Groton Hotel.
Town Board Meeting Page 15 of 16 January 8, 2002
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5)Better Homes of Tompkins County Meeting – January 17 at 9AM at their new office
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6)Magistrates Dinner – February 10 at Lake Watch Inn – 5PM
RESOLUTION #14 – REAPPOINT MARY GLOSTER TO PLANNING BOARD
MOVED
by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Clark
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey
RESOLVED
, that the Town Board does hereby reappoint Mary Gloster to the Town of Groton
Planning Board for a term to begin January 1, 2002 and end December 31, 2008.
RESOLUTION #15 – REAPPOINT STEVE THANE TO ZBA
MOVED
by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Scheffler
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey
RESOLVED,
that the Town Board does hereby reappoint Steve Thane to the Town of Groton
Zoning Board of Appeals for a term to begin January 1 2002 and end December 31, 2006.
Councilman Sovocool
– One other thing, Diversified?
Attorney Casullo
– I guess Bernie Thoma was supposed to keep track of things. I can check.
I’ll do that.
Councilman Sovocool
– I heard rumors the other day they were moving to Auburn. I was just
wondering if they were going to move out and leave us high and dry.
Attorney Casullo
– I’ll check. I haven’t heard that.
Councilman Sovocool
– Well, I see they’re still up there, so…….
Councilman Clark
– The only thing I was going to say about Diversified, remember the last
time we lacked a payment and we called them and it came immediately? Are the payments
coming in as far as we know?
Supervisor Morey
– I don’t know.
Attorney Casullo
– I’ll check with Bernie.
Town Board Meeting Page 16 of 16 January 8, 2002
Councilman Clark
– Okay.
Attorney Casullo
– The only item I had was Colleen called towards the end of the day and she
was concerned about some of this highway negotiations language. I said I knew nothing about it,
but after talking to you you seem to be okay with it?
Supervisor Morey
– Last month we approved what was going to be in the contract. We have
not signed the contract yet because it isn’t in the written word. But we agreed to the hourly wage
increase, the clothing allowance, the other items that we had in the contract.
There being no further business, Councilman Sovocool moved to adjourn, seconded by
Councilman Scheffler, at 8:10 PM. Unanimous.
April L. Scheffler
Deputy Town Clerk