HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-11-2002
TOWN OF GROTON
MINUTES OF TOWN BOARD MEETING
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 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, Jean True, Diana Lindebury, April Scheffler
Following the Pledge of Allegiance Councilman Randall delivered a prayer in remembrance of
the victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack. Supervisor Morey then gave a short
speech on the same subject.
MOVED
by Councilman Randall, seconded by Councilman Scheffler, to approve the minutes of
the August 2002 meeting as presented.
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey.
General Fund
Claim Numbers 236-266 of the in the amount of $18,615.98 were presented for
audit.
MOVED
by Councilman Sovocool, seconded by Councilman Scheffler, to approve the General
Bills for payment.
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey.
Highway Fund
Claim Numbers 153-175 of the in the amount of $64,649.05 were presented for
audit.
MOVED
by Councilman Scheffler, seconded by Councilman Clark, to approve the Highway
Bills for payment.
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey.
Town Board Meeting Page 2 September 11, 2002
Special Grant (HUD) Fund
Claim Numbers 250-255 of the in the amount of $4,967.18 were
presented for audit.
MOVED
by Councilman Randall, seconded by Councilman Clark, to approve the HUD Bills for
payment.
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey.
Supervisor Morey offered privilege of the floor to Jean True. She explained that she was there
with a student who was required to attend a Town Board meeting.
Monthly Reports:
Elizabeth Brennan, Bookkeeper:
Submitted her monthly reports to the Board. There were no
transfers.
George R. Senter, Sr., Code Enforcement Officer:
Was absent.
Richard C. Case, Jr., Highway Superintendent
– Reported that the highway department was
grader true and leveling Bossard, Devlen, Wood and Stauber Roads in preparation of chip-
sealing.
The building and grounds had been cleaned before Old Home Days and were left in the same
condition afterward by the Historical Society and Rotary Club.
The Town had received an achievement award from PERMA for lack of lost time due to
accidents.
Superintendent Case asked for several resolutions.
RESOLUTION #88 – AUTHORIZE SALE OF EQUIPMENT AT AUCTION
MOVED
by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Clark
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey
RESOLVED
, that the Town Board does hereby authorize the Highway Superintendent, Richard
Case, to take the following pieces of equipment to the Municipal Auction to be held in Lansing
on Saturday, September 14, 2002:
1.1994 Ford ½ ton pick-up truck
2.1976 Ford tandem-axle salt spread
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED
that the proceeds from said sale be place in the
DA5130.2 Equipment Account.
Town Board Meeting Page 3 September 11, 2002
RESOLUTION #89 – AUTHORIZE HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT TO
PURCHASE EQUIPMENT AT AUCTION
MOVED
by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Clark
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey
RESOLVED
, that the Town Board does hereby authorize the Highway Superintendent, Richard
Case, to bid up to $15,000.00 on a piece of equipment needed by the town. Said money to come
from the DA5130.2 Equipment Account.
Superintendent Case reported that he had received the following bids for a mower attachment:
1.New Holland of Binghamton - $9,700
2.Niagara Frontier Equipment - $13,319
3.Cazenovia Equipment - $7,750 (Did not quote mower attachment as requested.)
RESOLUTION #90 – AWARD MOWER ATTACHMENT BID TO
NEW HOLLAND BINGHAMTON
MOVED
by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Scheffler
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey
RESOLVED,
that the Town Board does hereby award the bid for a mower attachment to New
Holland of Binghamton in the amount of $9,700.00.
Supervisor Morey asked about the purchase of five first aid kits. Superintendent Case explained
that one was needed in every truck that went to a job site. Each truck also has a fire extinguisher.
Safety equipment had also been purchased for the newest highway employee.
April L. Scheffler, Town Clerk/Tax Collector
– Reported that the Department of
Environmental Conservation Automated Licensing System was up and running. Initial
difficulties seemed to be improving.
James Baranello, Town Attorney
– Reported that he had reviewed the Cable Franchise
Agreement and said that it seemed like a simple agreement and looked to be all right.
Supervisor Morey said that Ben Curtis, negotiator for the Tompkins County Consortium was
going to contact the Public Service Commission to arbitrate on our behalf but had not spoken to
him since.
Attorney Baranello suggested that the Town might want to have its own cable commission and
Supervisor Morey explained that we were members of the Tompkins County Cable Commission
Consortium.
Town Board Meeting Page 4 September 11, 2002
Attorney Baranello had also reviewed the local law on telecommunications towers. He
explained that the Town could not exclude anyone who wanted to do business but could put
reasonable restrictions on them. He felt that the model ordinance was a good one.
Arland Heffron and Alton Alexander, Town Justices
– Were not present, but submitted their
monthly reports for the Board’s review.
Councilman Donald Scheffler, as Recreation Coordinator
– Did not have a report other than
that winter activities were being planned.
RESOLUTION # 91 – APPROVE BY-LAWS OF RECREATION PARTNERSHIP
MOVED
by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Scheffler
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey
RESOLVED,
that the Town Board does hereby approve the By-laws for the Recreation
Partnership as adopted by the Recreation Partnership Board on April 23, 2002.
Supervisor Morey had received a thank you letter from Jim Shurtleff, Director of Public Works
and Utilities for the Village of Groton thanking the Highway Department for the municipal
cooperation between the Town and Village on several highway projects.
Dates were set for Budget Work Sessions:
Thursday, September 19 at 7:00 PM
Saturday, September 21 at 8:30 AM
Tuesday, September 24 at 7:00 PM (to have everyone come in and discuss their budgets)
Thursday, September 26 1t 7:00 PM
Saturday, September 28 at 8:30 AM
Some discussion that would take place included wage for Recreation Coordinator, increased
insurance premiums, the dissolution of the Village Court in April of 2003, and tax exemptions.
Announcements:
th
Planning Board Meeting – September 19at 7:30 PM
th
Groton Businessmen’s Dinner September 18 at 6 PM at the American Legion.
There being no further business, Councilman Sovocool moved to adjourn, seconded by
Councilman Scheffler, at 8:00 PM. Unanimous.
April L. Scheffler
Town Clerk