HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-22-2002 Hearings
TOWN OF GROTON - PUBLIC HEARINGS AND SPECIAL MEETING
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2002, AT 7:00 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: Dewey Dawson, Aimee Randall, Jens Christiansen (from Time Warner
Cable), Peg Palmer, Beverly Graham, Arland Heffron, Frank Satterly,
Dennis Butts (representative to Cable Commission), Richard Case,
Jennifer Case, Victoria Monty
A Special Meeting and three Public Hearings were called at the Town Hall on Conger
Boulevard.
PUBLIC HEARING #1 – CABLE TELEVISION FRANCHISE RENEWAL
Supervisor Morey opened the Public Hearing at 7:08 PM.
Purpose of the Public Hearing was to consider renewal of the cable television franchise held by
Time Warner Entertainment-Advance/Newhouse Partnership (Time Warner Cable). Notice of
said Public Hearing was duly published in the Groton Independent on October 16, 2002, with
same being posted at the Town Hall, Village Hall, Groton Post Office and McLean Post Office.
Clerk Scheffler read the Notice of Public Hearing for the record.
Supervisor Morey read the procedure that should be followed as presented by Attorney
Baranello.
There were no written comments received. There were no comments from the Public.
The Board’s concerns while negotiating contract were as follows:
1)Requirement to notify landowners and apply for permits – Section 2
2)Servicing of rural areas with densities of 20 residences per mile – Section 12
3)No free participation in Public Education Government Access Channel – Section 16
4)Franchise fee – Board wishes to change from 5% to 3% - Section 18
Dewey Dawson asked about the possibility of free access to Road Runner for three Town offices.
Jen Christiansen explained that Road Runner was a separate corporation from Time Warner but
that the possibility could be explored. Presently the agreement allows for one free single serve
cable television outlet.
Special Meeting & Public Hearings Page 2 October 22, 2002
There being no further comments, Councilman Sovocool moved to close the Public Hearing,
seconded by Councilman Scheffler, at 7:21 PM.
RESOLUTION #97 – APPROVE CABLE FRANCHISE RENEWAL
MOVED
by Councilman Randall, seconded by Councilman Clark
ADOPTED by ROLL CALL VOTE:
Ellard L. Sovocool…….Aye Total: 5 Yes
Donald F. Scheffler……Aye 0 No
Duane T. Randall, II…...Aye 0Absent
Sheldon C. Clark…….…Aye
Glenn E. Morey………..Aye
WHEREAS,
an application has been duly made to the Town Board of the Town of Groton,
County of Tompkins, State of New York, by Time Warner Entertainment-Advanced/Newhouse
Partnership, a New York General Partnership, organized and existing under the laws of the State
of New York, d/b/a Time Warner Cable, with a local place of business located at 519 West State
Street, Ithaca, New York, 14850, and holder of a cable television franchise in the Town of
Groton for the approval of an agreement to renew Time Warner Entertainment-
Advanced/Newhouse Partnership’s cable television franchise for an additional ten (10) years
commencing October 22, 2002. The Franchise Renewal Agreement would bring the franchise
into conformity with certain court rulings; and
WHEREAS
, a public hearing was held at the Town Hall located at 101 Conger Boulevard,
Groton, New York on October 22, 2002 at 7:00 PM and notice of the hearing was published in
the Town’s legal paper, The Groton Independent, on October 15, 2002; and
WHEREAS,
the Town Board of the Town of Groton finds that:
1)Time Warner Entertainment-Advanced/Newhouse Partnership has the financial, legal and
technical ability to provide the services, facilities and equipment as set forth in its
proposal; and
2)Time Warner Entertainment-Advanced/Newhouse Partnership can reasonably meet the
future cable-related community needs and interest, taking into account the cost of
meeting such needs and interests.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED,
that subject to approval of the agreement by the Town
Attorney, the Town Board of the Town of Groton hereby renews the cable television franchise of
Time Warner Entertainment-Advanced/Newhouse Partnership in the Town of Groton for ten
(10) years commencing October 22, 2002 and expiring October 22, 2012; and be it further
RESOLVED,
that the Town Board of the Town of Groton hereby confirms that this Franchise
Renewal Agreement replaces the original franchise granted and all amendments thereto.
Special Meeting & Public Hearings Page 3 October 22, 2002
RESOLUTION #98 – DISPOSE OF OBSOLETE EQUIPMENT
MOVED
by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey
RESOLVED
, that the Town Board does hereby approve the disposal of the following obsolete
equipment:
1)Sanitare Upright Vacuum Cleaner – Model #SC888 – Serial #891747808
2)Eureka Upright Vacuum Cleaner – Model #4480 – Serial #9817013783
Councilman Randall announced that Rev. Bob Richardson was leaving. He thanked the Town
and Village for proclaiming Bob Richardson Day. There will be an open house on Sunday,
th
October 27 from 2-4.
Dennis Butts, Representative to the Cable Commission, presented the Board with a map showing
location of houses. He was thanked for his extensive help and service on the Commission.
Dewey Dawson thanked the Board for installing the teller window in the Justice Court Office.
Peg Palmer said that she greatly appreciated the added security since people no longer had direct
access to her office and that she felt much safer.
Clerk Scheffler had received an invitation to meet with the Town of Ithaca and the SPCA
sometime in November to discuss mutual problems and complaints concerning service from the
SPCA.
Peg Palmer, Jim Allen, and Clerk Scheffler had been appointed to look into new carpeting for the
Town Hall. They asked how much the Board intended to spend and what areas of the Town Hall
they intended to carpet. The Board requested that they get prices for all carpeted areas and then
they would decide what areas they would do.
PUBLIC HEARING #2 – HEARING ON PRELIMINARY BUDGET FOR YEAR 2003
Supervisor Morey opened the Public Hearing at 8:02 PM
Purpose of the Hearing was to present the Preliminary Budget for the Year 2003. Notice of said
Public Hearing was duly published in the Groton Independent on October 16, 2002, with same
being posted at the Town Hall, Village Hall, Groton Post Office and McLean Post Office.
Clerk Scheffler read the Notice of Public Hearing for the record. No written comments were
received.
Arland Heffron, Town Justice, pointed out conflicting figures in his wage shown on one page as
$10,000 and in the actual budget as$9,475. Supervisor Morey said that he thought that was what
was agreed to. Justice Heffron said that he had agreed not to take the 3% raise if they had
Special Meeting & Public Hearings Page 4 October 22, 2002
accepted his proposal, which they had not. He stated that the Town already pays him $8,501 and
at $9,475 this would only be $974 more per year for taking on half of the Village Court work.
He felt that this was not reasonable when the Village was now paying him almost $7,000 to do
its work. The Village cases are almost equal to the Town numbers and to expect a judge to take
over that work for under $1,000 is, in his opinion, way off base. Justice Heffron had requested
$11,321 at the last meeting and again requested that the Board consider it. He would accept the
2002 rate, $309.65 per pay period, for the first 7 pay periods and then when the Town takes over
the Village Court he would like to receive $435.42 each for the remaining 19 pay periods. The
$435.42 would represent a yearly wage of $11,321, but his actual total pay for 2003 would be
$10,440.53. This would still be considerably less than originally asked for. Justice Heffron
requested the Board to take a good hard look at it.
Supervisor Morey asked if anyone else wished to speak.
Frank Satterly thought that the tax increase of 1.9% was commendable and hoped that the Town
of Groton never finds itself in the type of situation that the County was presently finding itself in.
Mr. Satterly pointed out that the budget proposed raises for everyone except the Town Clerk. He
said that although this could be justified by saying that this person received a raise when she took
over the new job, one must also realize that this new job comes with a lot more responsibility in
going from a municipal employee to an elected official. Mr. Satterly asked the Board to consider
how they would feel to be singled out to be the only person not to get a raise where they worked.
Supervisor Morey asked the Board for comments.
Councilman Randall indicated that he thought they had agreed that the Board was not going to
get a raise. Supervisor Morey said that would be corrected. Councilman Randall also said that
he thought the new Justice salary was going to remain the same.
Final vote on budget will be at next regular Board Meeting. Supervisor Morey said that it was a
very tight budget and the Board had worked very hard to keep costs at a minimum. Reasons for
increase were 100% increase in Court costs when Village and Town Court merge; 38% decrease
in contributions for maintaining County roads within the Town; minimum of 10% increase in
property and liability insurance; approximately 15% increase in health insurance; 4.3% increase
in both sections of fire protection. Supervisor Morey said that when he started work here that
machinery and equipment were in dire need of repair and replacement and pledged that we
would not be in that situation again. The budget was not meant to insult anyone, it is very tight,
and extreme decisions were made.
Councilman Sovocool moved to close the Public Hearing, seconded by Councilman Scheffler, at
8:17 PM.
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey.
Special Meeting & Public Hearings Page 5 October 22, 2002
PUBLIC HEARING #3 – FIRE DEPARTMENT 2003 BUDGET HEARING
Supervisor Morey opened the Public Hearing at 8:18 PM
Purpose of the Hearing was to review the Fire Department requests for the Year 2003. Notice of
said Public Hearing was duly published in the Groton Independent on October 16, 2002, with
same being posted at the Town Hall, Village Hall, Groton Post Office and McLean Post Office.
Clerk Scheffler read the Notice of Public Hearing for the record. No written comments were
received. No representative from the Fire Department was present. There were no comments
from the Public or the Board.
Councilman Sovocool moved to adjourn the Public Hearing, seconded by Councilman Randall,
at 8:19 PM.
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey
There being no further business, Councilman Sovocool moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded
by Councilman Scheffler, at 8:19 PM. Unanimous.
April L. Scheffler
Town Clerk