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Home My WebLink About08-13-2002 TOWN OF GROTON MINUTES OF TOWN BOARD MEETING, AUGUST 13, 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 James Baranello, Town Attorney Also present: Richard Case, Liz Brennan, April Scheffler, Rick Beals MOVED by Councilman Sovocool, seconded by Councilman Randall, to approve the minutes of the July, 2002 meeting as presented. Ayes - Sovocool, Randall, Clark, Morey. Abstain - Scheffler General Fund Claim Numbers 199-235 of the in the amount of $13,272.39 were presented for audit. MOVED by Councilman Scheffler, seconded by Councilman Sovocool, to approve the General Bills for payment. Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey. Highway Fund Claim Numbers 134-152 of the in the amount of $14,946.48 were presented for audit. MOVED by Councilman Clark, seconded by Councilman Randall, to approve the Highway Bills for payment. Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey. Special Grant (HUD) Fund Claim Numbers 245-249 of the in the amount of $2030.62 were presented for audit. MOVED by Councilman Randall, seconded by Councilman Scheffler, to approve the HUD bills for payment. Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey. Town Board Meeting Page 2 August 13, 2002 Rick Beals, Accountant with Kirby, Beals, Maier – Mr. Beals presented the independent audit of the Town of Groton Financial Statements for the year ending with December 31, 2001. It was the auditors’ opinion that the general purpose financial statements for the year were in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Mr. Beals went briefly through the pages of the audit, pointing out fund balances, assets, liabilities, revenues, expenditures, budgeted amounts, etc. He pointed out that one of the additions to the audit was the five year statutory bond in the amount of $136,194 for the 2001 caterpiller excavator. It was reported that prior year comments had been resolved and that there were no new comments or recommendations for the year 2001. Financially, the Town had a good year and the books and records were in good shape. An audit had also been made of the Justice Court books for the purpose of determining whether the Town of Groton Justice Court was properly collecting and recording bails, fines and other charges as well as reporting and remitting funds to the State in an accurate and timely matter. It was found that everything was in compliance and these books were in good shape too. RESOLUTION #80 – ACCEPT AUDIT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2001 MOVED by Councilman Sovocool, seconded by Councilman Scheffler Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby accept the audit of the Town of Groton’s financial statements for the fiscal year 2001 as prepared and presented by Kirby, Beals, Maier, Certified Public Accountants, PLLC. RESOLUTION #81 – ACCEPT AUDIT FOR THE TOWN OF GROTON JUSTICE COURT MOVED by Councilman Scheffler, seconded by Councilman Clark Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby accept the audit for the Town of Groton Justice Court for the fiscal year 2001 as prepared and presented by Kirby, Beals, Maier, Certified Public Accountants, PLLC. Monthly Reports: Elizabeth Brennan, Bookkeeper – Presented the Board with their lists of revenues and expenditures. There were no transfers to be made. Town Board Meeting Page 3 August 13, 2002 George R. Senter, Sr., Code Enforcement Officer – Was absent but submitted his monthly report. 10 Building Permits were issued in July – 2 houses, 2 manufactured homes, 6 other. 3 Certificates of Occupancy were issued in July. Life Safety Inspections are up to date. Richard C. Case, Jr., Highway Superintendent – Mr. Case described his summer highway maintenance projects, including the completion of the Salt Road paving. On July 25, while working in Salt Road, the NYS Department of Labor Safety Inspector, David Merriman, paid a visit and sited them for not having water in the water jug and not having any certified first aid personnel on the job site. The water jug problem was quickly taken care of and Fire Chief Lester Coit is looking into first aid training and certification for all workers. Bids had been opened pertaining to sale of the 4630 Ford tractor with the highest bid going to New Holland of Binghamton with a bid of $9,200.00. Highway employee, Marvin Smith, resigned effective July 24, 2002 and the summer youth employees have finished their program of employment. Mr. Case reported that he was promoting Mark Kirchgraber from laborer to M.E.O. at a pay rate of $13.50 per hour and hire Rick Satterly for the vacant position as laborer at $9.00 per hour. RESOLUTION #82 – APPROVE SALE OF 4630 FORD TRACTOR MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Clark Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby approve the sale of the 4630 Ford Tractor to New Holland of Binghamton for $9,200.00 with the funds being deposited in the DA5130.2 Equipment Account. RESOLUTION #83 – APPROVE PROMOTION FOR MARK KIRCHGRABER MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Randall Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby approve the promotion of Mark Kirchgraber to Motor Equipment Operator at a rate of $13.50 per hour. Town Board Meeting Page 4 August 13, 2002 RESOLUTION #84 – APPROVE HIRE OF RICK SATTERLY MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Sovocool Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby approve the hiring of Rick Satterly as laborer at a rate of $9.00 an hour with a starting date of August 26, 2002. Supervisor Morey reported that a letter had come from Tompkins County Highway Division in reference to the McLean-Cortland Road project indicating that it had been divided into two phases with scheduled starting dates of 2003 and 2005. April L. Scheffler, Town Clerk/Tax Collector – Submitted her monthly report for the Board’s review. Clerk Scheffler reported that she and the Deputy Clerk had attended training for DECALS and were still waiting for the computer to arrive. Local Laws #1 and #2 had been mailed to the State and had been duly filed. Councilman Randall asked how the dog enumeration was going and Clerk Scheffler reported that the Town had almost been finished and at the moment it was on hold due to other obligations of the enumerator. James Baranello, Town Attorney – Reported that his firm had hired a new associate, Victoria Monti and she would be visiting the Town soon. He has a draft of Local Law #3, pertaining to Elder Cottages and would be sending that over to Lyle Raymond and the ZBA. Mr. Baranello mentioned a letter that had been received from the Tompkins County District Attorney, George Dentes, concerning the turning over of prosecution of crimes to the Towns rather than the County. He explained that the district attorney is constitutionally charged with prosecuting all crimes within the county in which that person is elected. That duty can be delegated to another agency, such as the Town Attorney or City Attorney’s Office, if and only if that agency accepts it. The District Attorney cannot allow any crime to go unprosecuted. Supervisor Morey asked Attorney Baranello to review the Cable Franchise Agreement and report back to the Board. Arland Heffron and Alton Alexander, Town Justices – Submitted their monthly reports for the Board’s review. Councilman Donald Scheffler, as Recreation Coordinator – Reported that summer programs were winding down. A lot had been learned and fall programs were being planned. Fall and winter programs would be more family weekend type things. Town Board Meeting Page 5 August 13, 2002 th Councilman Scheffler had attended a meeting on July 27 in Ithaca pertaining to the creation of an Empire Zone within Tompkins County. He explained that there were 12 counties in the State that did not have Empire Zones and possibly 6 more would be chosen. Tompkins County does not at this time meet the requirements but could receive approval later if an application has been filed. An Empire Zone would give tax breaks as business incentives. It was felt that the area along Route 222 would meet required criteria if an Empire Zone were created within the County. RESOLUTION #85 - SUPPORTING AND CONCURRING WITH TOMPKINS COUNTY AREA DEVELOPMENT'S APPLICATION FOR DESIGNATION OF CERTAIN AREAS WITHIN TOMPKINS COUNTY AS AN EMPIRE ZONE MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Scheffler Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey WHEREAS, Section 961 of Article 18-B of NYS General Municipal Law authorizes application by Tompkins County Area Development for designation of Tompkins County as an Empire Zone within the meaning of said statute; and WHEREAS, such designation could greatly benefit Tompkins County in that new businesses would be encouraged to locate in the zone area, and existing businesses would be encouraged to expand in the zone area and such new and expanded businesses would generate new employment opportunities for Tompkins County residents; and WHEREAS, Tompkins County intends to authorize submission of an application for designation of areas within Tompkins County as an Empire Zone; and WHEREAS, Tompkins County Area Development, in consultation with the Town of Groton wishes to designate certain areas within the Town of Groton as part of the proposed Empire Zone; and WHEREAS, the Town of Groton is desirous of working with Tompkins County Area Development through the Empire Zones Program to provide enhanced employment opportunities for its residents; now therefore BE IT RESOLVED, by the Town Board of the Town of Groton that it fully supports and concurs in the Tompkins County Area Development actions to authorize and submit an application for an Empire Zone designation within the Town of Groton and other areas of Tompkins County. Town Board Meeting Page 6 August 13, 2002 RESOLUTION #86 – RESCHEDULE SEPTEMBER BOARD MEETING MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Scheffler Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby reschedule the regular monthly meeting for September for September 11, 2002 at 7:00 PM for the review of invoices and 7:30 PM for the th meeting due to Primary Day being on September 10. Announcements: th Groton Youth Commission/Recreation Carnival – August 14 at Groton Memorial Park ththth Groton Old Home Days – August 15 – 17 – Parade on Saturday, Aug. 17 at 6 PM th Dialog for elected officials – Tuesday, September 19, 7-9 PM at Cornell Cooperative Extension. August Planning Board cancelled. Thank you from family of Charlotte Scheffler for flowers. Thank you from Maxine Flynn for donation to Senior Citizens for bus trips th State Fair Luncheon with Carl McCall – August 26. st GBA dinner – August 21, 6 PM at Groton Hotel. Budget Meetings will be set up next month. Clerk Scheffler requested a 50-cent raise for her Deputy Clerk, Kris Strickland, since she had satisfactorily completed her 3-month probationary period. RESOLUTION #87 – APPROVE PAY RAISE FOR KRIS STRICKLAND MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Sovocool Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby approve a 50-cent per hour pay raise for the Deputy Town Clerk, Kris Strickland. There being no further business, Councilman Sovocool moved to adjourn, seconded by Councilman Scheffler, at 8:22 PM. Unanimous. April L. Scheffler Town Clerk