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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-09-2003 TOWN OF GROTON - MINUTES OF TOWN BOARD MEETING TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2003, 7:30 PM, AT THE TOWN HALL Those present: Glenn E. Morey, Supervisor Ellard L. Sovocool, Councilman Donald F. Scheffler, Councilman Sheldon C. Clark, Councilman Duane T. Randall II, Councilman Victoria Monty, Town Attorney Also present: Richard Case, George Senter, Liz Brennan, April Scheffler, A.D. Dawson, John Norman, Colleen Pierson, Tena McClary, Dan Carey, Rick Gamel Supervisor Morey – Is there any additions or deletions to the agenda? If not, I have one. We have to have an executive session. I’m going to ask Vicki to attend with us and that’s it. MOVED by Councilman Scheffler, seconded by Councilman Sovocool, to approve the minutes th of the November 11 meeting as presented. Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Clark, Morey. Abstain - Randall General Fund Claim Numbers 359-395 in the amount of $26,396.72 were presented for audit. MOVED by Councilman Randall, seconded by Councilman Scheffler, to approve the General Bills for payment. Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey. Highway Fund Claim Numbers 207-231 of the in the amount of $40,785.63 were presented for audit. MOVED by Councilman Sovocool, seconded by Councilman Scheffler, to approve the Highway Bills for payment. Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey. Special Grant (HUD) Fund Claim Numbers 312-315 of the in the amount of $11,877.17 were presented for audit. MOVED by Councilman Scheffler, seconded by Councilman Sovocool, to approve the HUD bills for payment. Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Clark, Morey. Abstain – Randall Town Board Meeting Page 2 December 9, 2003 Supervisor Morey – Privilege of the floor? Would anybody like to say anything? If not, we’ll move in to Liz Brennan. Monthly Reports: Elizabeth Brennan, Bookkeeper/Deputy Highway Superintendent - We’ve got quite a few transfers tonight for the end of the year. RESOLUTION #76 – BUDGET TRANSFERS – GENERAL FUND TOWN WIDE MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Sovocool Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby approve the following budget transfers: General Fund, Town Wide: From: Contingency A1990.4……………..……$2,776.66 To: Supervisor, Equipment A1220.2……….....939.77 Election, Contractual A1450.4……………498.99 Historian, Contractual A7510.4………….…37.90 Reclamation Gravel Pit A8989.4………..1,300.00 RESOLUTION #77 – BUDGET TRANSFERS – GENERAL FUND TOWN WIDE MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Randall Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby approve the following budget transfers: General Fund – Town Wide: From: Youth Coordinator A7320.41……………….…..$1,067.81 To: Youth Program, Contracutal A7320.4……………1,067.81 RESOLUTION #78 – BUDGET TRANSFERS – GENERAL FUND PART TOWN MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Scheffler Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey RESOLVED , that the Town Board does hereby approve the following budget transfers: General Fund – Part Town: From: Contingency B1990.4…………………………...…$25.00 To: Municipal Association Dues B1920.4………………25.00 Town Board Meeting Page 3 December 9, 2003 RESOLUTION #79 – BUDGET TRANSFERS – HIGHWAY FUND TOWN WIDE MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Sovocool Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby approve the following budget transfers: Highway Fund – Town Wide: From: Workers Compensation DA9040.8……….…..$82.84 To: Health Insurance DA9060.8……………………82.84 Supervisor Morey – Thank you. Thank you Liz. George? George R. Senter, Sr., Code/Fire Enforcement Officer – Not much happening in November. We issued 5 building permits, none for houses and 5 for miscellaneous. We issued 4 Certificates of Occupancy or Compliance. The LSIs, there were 3 of them I hadn’t gotten done for November but 2 of them have been done and one more is scheduled. December is a busy, busy month with all the MVRs to do but I’ll catch up. Any questions? Supervisor Morey – And also added to the report that the occupancy requirements for the Groton Town Court changed 244 to 92 so you’ll see on the plaque it’s 92 not 244. George Senter – There’s a lot of reason that was done wrong originally and we discussed that back when Colleen was here. I decided it was time to get it done right. I’m going to leave now but I want to say good-bye to Tyke. Good luck in your new job and I enjoyed having you here. Richard C. Case, Jr., Highway Superintendent – Tyke, I want to thank you for your time served. I guess you get the key to go out the door, kind of like the jail. Thank you for your support for the Highway Department. It’s greatly appreciated. At the present time the Highway Department is dedicated to finalizing all snow equipment changeovers and repairs. As you have probably already heard, the roof of the salt storage shed has been blown off and one of our plow trucks was hit on Sovocool Hill Road. Bob and Lester have worked diligently to repair the truck and I am glad to say it was back in service for last Saturday’s storm. The salt shed will be repaired when time allows. I have submitted the estimates for both to the respective insurance companies. I am now waiting to see how much they are going to reimburse us. Other than that, we have some drainage problems to address when time, weather and manpower allows. I already put this together and as you probably saw on Sovocool Hill Road we’re trying to take care of that water problem up there. We started today. Hopefully we get the water running down through there before we have any other problems. I talked to the insurance company in regards to the salt shed and they still haven’t given me any numbers. What I’d like to do is, with your permission, go ahead and start making those repairs. I’ve got an estimate of $2,267 for materials to put the roof back on. If you would so approve, I’d like to move forward and get that covered so I’d probably need a resolution on that. At this time, I would like to request a resolution and permission to purchase and order, on the New York State bid, 2 single axle snowplow trucks. One to be completely outfitted with power angle plow and Proline dump body, the other to be outfitted in our shop with plow equipment that we can possibly manufacture or salvage from other pieces of equipment as we progress. This is as we discussed at the Budget Workshop. Town Board Meeting Page 4 December 9, 2003 Supervisor Morey – One’s for the plow and one’s for, what’s the other one for? Richard Case – One’s for the money to fix the roof on the salt shed. Supervisor Morey – No, no, no, you want to buy two trucks. Richard Case – Two trucks. One’s going to be completed with a power-angle blade and a dump body already installed. The cost of that first one is $100,472 and the price of the second is $64,519. Supervisor Morey – Wait a minute. You’re buying them both on State contract right? So we don’t have to go through bid process. All right, so the first one is a single-axle truck, the snow removing associated equipment, complete and how much is that? Richard Case – That’s $100,472. Supervisor Morey – All right. What’s the second truck? Richard Case – The second truck would be the cab and chassis, solely, stripped down, which is $64,519. Councilman Sovocool – And what’s that going to be for? Richard Case – To build the second snowplow truck. Supervisor Morey – In the future. Does that come with a dump body? Richard Case – No. Supervisor Morey – So, all it is is just the chassis and the cab? Okay. Any questions for Rick about the truck? Councilman Scheffler - This is going to replace the Brockway? Richard Case – It’s going to replace that ’66 Brockway. I’m hoping that we can take some of that plow equipment off from that. And also, I’m trying to replace in the rotation that Ford 10- wheeler truck that we’re using that we go down into Peruville with. Supervisor Morey – What have we in the budget for this, Rick? Richard Case – We have, with the encumbrances, it came up to $175,000.00. We placed the County money into the equipment fund, which I haven’t spent this year. It’s what we budgeted in the 5130.2 account. I’d like to get this shoved off, like I told you in the Budget Sessions. The trucks have got to be built. It’d been nice to have them this year, but I’d like to have them so we have them ready to go to work next fall. Supervisor Morey – What’s delivery on it? Town Board Meeting Page 5 December 9, 2003 Richard Case – They say 120 days but the Town of Cortlandville just got one that was 2 weeks shy of a year. They are manufactured by Stadium and then they go to Viking in Harrisville, the one that is completed. The other one comes here. There was some more discussion and Mr. Case explained that he was going to try to use the dump body from the ’66 Brockway as well as the plow frame and fabricate some of the mountings. He was quite sure the bump body would fit. The other Brockway, which had been run into, they would be keeping and are repairing it. The new trucks will be out of the 2004 budget. RESOLUTION #80 – SALT SHED ROOF REPAIR MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Randall Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby approve the purchase of materials to repair the salt shed roof. RESOLUTION #81 – PURCHASE TWO SNOW PLOW TRUCKS 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 C. Case, Jr., to purchase, under New York State Bid, 2 single axle snowplow trucks, one to be completely outfitted with power angle plow and Proline dump box in the amount of $100,472 and one to be just cab and chassis in the amount of $64,519 for a total of $164,991. April L. Scheffler, Town Clerk/Tax Collector – Submitted her monthly report for the Board’s review. I don’t have a lot to report. It’s been pretty quiet and we’ve just been getting ready for taxes. (She asked the Justices if they were going to address the dog law and they said they were not). Peg stopped in the other day and pointed out to me that we no longer have section (g) in Prohibited Acts, this was the old law. This is what most people get charged with when we write tickets. Attorney Monty – That is the old law. Clerk Scheffler – Yes, the current law doesn’t have that in there. Attorney Monty – But keep in mind that the Agriculture and Markets Law does apply and it’s section, I believe it’s 109. Clerk Scheffler – But we’re charging them under our local law…. Attorney Monty – Right. Town Board Meeting Page 6 December 9, 2003 Clerk Scheffler - …and SPCA is charging them under our local law. Attorney Monty - They’re using the old law apparently, if I’m understanding the email the sent me correctly. Clerk Scheffler – Yes, but our new law doesn’t have that in it. Attorney Monty – It’s Section 9 of the new law. Supervisor Morey – I thought we passed a law last year to bring our local law up to what the New York State law was. Clerk Scheffler – Yes, we did but this was left out. Supervisor Morey – But the New York State law doesn’t have.. Clerk Scheffler – Yes, it does. Section 9 says that it’s pursuant to Ag and Markets Law, that it must be licensed by four months of age. Ag and Markets Law also goes on to say that you need to renew that license. Our law doesn’t say that. Section (g) under Prohibited Acts originally said that the prohibited act “is unlicensed when six months of age,” it’s four now, “or when a dog license has not been renewed pursuant to Ag and Markets Law.” I don’t know how the Court feels but I would like to see that put back in there because it’s under Prohibited Acts and that’s where people are going to be looking for it. Supervisor Morey – Okay, is that it’s got to be renewed in the Agriculture and Markets Law, Article 7? Clerk Scheffler – Yes. Attorney Monty - …..Agriculture and Markets Law that clearly states that you…… Supervisor Morey – Now, what does the current law say in the Town? Clerk Scheffler - (g) is not in there. Basically, the section above that says the prohibited act is “if not wearing a valid and current New York State dog license while out of the property of the owner of said dog, whether or not restrained by an adequate collar or leash.” So, with nothing in here that says that it has to be renewed, basically that’s looking like, hey, I don’t have to renew it as long as it doesn’t leave my yard. A.D. Dawson, Justice Elect – Looking at it the way it’s written I think the Court would have to interpret it that way too, that you’re required to renew your dog license if you allow it to go on somebody else’s property but not on your own. Clerk Scheffler – There’s nothing in this law that says that you need to renew it. A. D. Dawson – If you’re going to rely on Ag and Markets for enforcement then why are you going to have your local law to begin with? Supervisor Morey – All right, so we have three laws now? We’ve got local, State and Ag and Markets? Is that what we’re saying? Town Board Meeting Page 7 December 9, 2003 Clerk Scheffler – Ag and Markets is the State Law. Attorney Monty – I would say that Section 9 provides that, all dogs in the Town must be licensed once the dog is four months old. And certainly, if you want to pass another law to say something about relicensing, but obviously when that license expires you have to renew it. Clerk Scheffler – No, that’s obvious to us but it’s not obvious to other people. I have so many people who tell me why do I have to license my dog, it never leaves the house or it never leaves my property. And they’re going to look at this and say, hey, I don’t have to because it doesn’t leave my property. I have to license it by the time it’s four months old but there’s nothing here that says I have to renew that license as long as it stays on my property. Supervisor Morey – So there’s nothing in our local law that says that this parallels Ag and Market Law. Attorney Monty – It says pursuant to the Ag and Markets Law. Clerk Scheffler – Yes, it does, but this is what we are charging people on. This is what SPCA is charging people on. We just feel that there should be something clear that…. Supervisor Morey – All right, so Section 2, I’m asking the Judges too and I’m asking April a question, this local law is adopted pursuant to the Ag and Markets Law of the State of New York. That doesn’t tell us that whatever is in Ag and Market Law is not included in the local law? Justice Norman – Let me take a look at that. To tell you the truth I just glanced over this quickly while I was doing some different things. Supervisor Morey – And if we add (g) to our local law is it running parallel to Ag and Markets Article 7 then? Councilman Sovocool – We have to change that six to four months, right? Clerk Scheffler – Yes, it is in the new law. Attorney Monty – I would say that section 5 would be the prohibited act, that it is not wearing a valid and current, when it’s on your property, it doesn’t have to be wearing the tag. If it’s out of the property of the owner then it has to be wearing a valid and current New York State dog license. Clerk Scheffler – Right. Attorney Monty – It’s not that it doesn’t have to be licensed if it doesn’t go off your property. Clerk Scheffler – But that’s the way it could be interpreted. A.D. Dawson Where does it say that it has to be licensed? Where does it say that? Clerk Scheffler – Section 9 says it has to be licensed. Town Board Meeting Page 8 December 9, 2003 Justice Norman – I don’t have my reading glasses. Attorney Monty – Okay, it’s “pursuant to the Agricultural and Markets Law and this local law all dogs in the Town must be licensed once the dog is four months old.” Then it goes on to say that “violation of this provision shall be punishable……………” Justice Norman – Where does it say it has to be renewed? After four months, in other words, I interpret this to say the dog is four months old, I’m going to get my dog license and then I don’t have to license it again, ever. Do you see what I’m saying? Attorney Monty – It must be licensed though and this pursuant to Ag and Markets. Justice Norman – Yes, I know, but what am I going to tell the person who comes before me and I’m going to fine them $25 for not renewing their dog license for two years? What do I tell them when they hit me with this? Attorney Monty – That Ag and Markets Law….. Justice Norman – Now, show me section 10. Attorney Monty – You want section 10? “Penalties, a plea or conviction of this local law shall be deemed an offense and punishable by a fine not exceeding $25.00 for a first offense, not exceeding $50.00 for a second offense and not exceeding $75.00 for a third offense.” Justice Norman – So, in other words, when a person comes before me when they get a ticket for not renewing their dog license, they’re going to say to me, look I renewed my dog license. I bought a dog license when my dog was four months old. Now, we’re going to section 10 and it says a plea or conviction of this local law shall be deemed an offense. Okay, now what does that say to you? Attorney Monty – When they have failed to…….. Justice Norman - ..renew their dog license? Attorney Monty – Then it’s not licensed. Justice Norman – But where does it say it has to be renewed? Attorney Monty – All dogs must be licensed once the dog is four months old. Justice Norman – I think if you got a good lawyer in here like Joey Joch…… Supervisor Morey – So, doesn’t…….. Attorney Monty – Are you implying that I’m not a good lawyer? Justice Norman – I didn’t say that. Supervisor Morey – So, when you apply for a dog, is there an expiration date listed on the application? Town Board Meeting Page 9 December 9, 2003 Councilman Scheffler – On the license there’s an expiration? Clerk Scheffler – Yes. Supervisor Morey – So, why would you, if there’s an, on, just like your for your car, if there’s a registration expiration date…. A.D. Dawson – But DMV law says that you have to renew your registration. There’s nothing here that says you have to renew it. Supervisor Morey – But isn’t that with an expiration date on the license when you first license the dog? Doesn’t that count as…? Justice Norman – Where does it say it’s for a year or two years? Councilman Sovocool – It don’t in this law. Justice Norman – It doesn’t. It doesn’t and that’s what I run into. Supervisor Morey – Okay, what’s your suggestion, April? Clerk Scheffler – I would like to see item (g) put back in under Prohibited Acts and under Licensing, Fees and Surcharges, to have another line in there that it must be renewed annually. That’s what I’d like to see. Colleen Pierson (former Town Clerk) – Item (g) was put in there at the request of the Town Justices some years ago. Clerk Scheffler – Yes, that was put in after the original law. Supervisor Morey – Vicki, the procedure; remind us. Attorney Monty – Well, you’d have to have a public hearing on this. Supervisor Morey – We’d have to have it within 30 days so we could have it in January if we make an announcement. We could advertise it by then. So it’s no big deal. Victoria Monty, Town Attorney – I have received a judgment of foreclosure and sale and terms of a sale……..Rural Housing Services vs. Olmstead. This came up several months ago, you may not remember that, and that’s a lien with Better Housing. So, there’s going to be a public auction on January 7, 2004, 10 AM at the Tompkins County Courthouse relative to that property. I’ve been looking at this Tompkins County Mutual Equipment Shared Services Agreement and I believe I emailed to you, Glenn, that I think I’m missing a page and now I’m convinced that I am because it makes reference to attachment 2 which is not there. I think there are certainly some issues that ….(can’t hear her)….. I did confirm with my office that we had not seen this before. I believe that Rick said before that the other Superintendents did not approve? Town Board Meeting Page 10 December 9, 2003 Richard Case – We had a meeting after we went over this and talked about it the last time and at that meeting the Superintendents were all in favor of not having any changes to anything that we have been doing. Attorney Monty – Have you had any discussions with any other Supervisors? Supervisor Morey – No, they’re not active in doing it. All right, let me get a copy over to you tomorrow. I’ll fax it over to you. Attorney Monty – I have been working on the SPCA contract. I’m waiting for a response asking them to review the proposed changes………….(can’t hear her)……… Clerk Scheffler – Can I get a copy of what you sent to them? Attorney Monty – You can. You can make a photocopy of this…………Certainly not the final form because I have not heard back from the SPCA yet. I think one of the things that we’ve been carrying over is Diversified and I don’t know if you’ve made any contact with him yet? Supervisor Morey – First of the year. Attorney Monty – Okay. I believe that is all. John Norman and Alton Alexander, Town Justices – Submitted their monthly report for the Board’s review. Justice Norman – I really haven’t go much at all. We discussed the dog license situation. There is a lady in the State that’s questioning the judges’ undertakings. Supervisor Morey – All the judges? Justice Norman – All of them. Newly elected, Judge Dawson, has more information than I do so I’m going to call him up here to discuss it. A. D. Dawson – Actually, I just finished basic school for judges and it was brought up several times at that training by several different instructors. There’s a lady that evidently had a problem in Warren County with the Sheriff’s Department and subsequently with the Court and she did some research and found that under the Judiciary Law and the Uniform Justice Court Act that town and village judges have to file an oath of office with the county clerk as well as the town and village clerk and also deposit their undertaking in the amount specified by the municipal board for their area. Now, I don’t think, from what I can find any place, that the Town ever addressed the issue of an undertaking. I contacted Chris Dempsey to find out what this might be and he indicated that he would give John and myself copies of binders that we could file with the Town Clerk and the County Clerk. However, I have since found out that an insurance binder isn’t really an undertaking. Probably what we’re asking you to do is have the Town Attorney look into this situation. I think probably what we’ll have to do because the Town Justices are covered by bonding and insurance through the Town, I think probably what will happen is that you’ll probably have to come up with a resolution or something indicating that attorneys, to meet the requirement, post an undertaking of a dollar or something like that in order to solve this problem. But she has gone through and she has a website. She’s listed several people on the Town Board Meeting Page 11 December 9, 2003 website from this County as well. I just ask that maybe the Board would instruct the attorney’s office to look into it. And I’ll give you all the information too. Supervisor Morey – Go ahead, Victoria, look into it and maybe you can explain what he just said to us. th Justice Norman – I want to elaborate on that. According to the 6 Judicial District, which monitors us, they’re the ones who have ruling power over town justices and judges in this area, including the county judges. We have filed everything the way we were supposed to file it, thth according to the 6 Judicial District. This lady has delved deeper, apparently, than the 6 Judicial District. All the judges, there are several judges listed, and I’m one of them included. I want you to know that. As a matter of fact I have the report on my desk and supposedly we didn’t file properly. We didn’t sign an oath card with the County Clerk. Supervisor Morey – How did you do your oath? Justice Norman – I did an oath card. I did it exactly the way the instructions said when I got my packet. I filed with the Town Clerk; I filed with the State of New York, Albany. It didn’t say anything at all about an undertaking. It didn’t say anything at all about filing with the County Clerk. I mean, I filed, Peg and I were the ones who did it and Peg has been doing this for 30 some odd years. Supervisor Morey – Okay, when they do take the oath, you go down to the County Clerk, don’t you, every year? Clerk Scheffler – No, I have one of the Justices do it. You could go to the County if you wanted to. Supervisor Morey – You did didn’t you? Colleen Pierson – I just had a Judge here do it. Actually, they told us at one time that the only place we had to file them was here in the Town Clerk’s Office. Those that previous to that, that had to go to the County, all you had to do was have a little card, oath card, and you sign it here and you mail it. Clerk Scheffler – I talked to Aurora about the oath cards that need to be filed with her and she sent me the cards so that we can do it here and get it down to her. D. A. Dawson – There is one problem found out since then, though, that the wording in the law specifically states that it’s done in person at the County Clerk’s Office. That’s why it’s got to be looked at. th Justice Norman – But apparently the 6 Judicial District didn’t know that either. Several people talking at once. Councilman Donald Scheffler, as Recreation Coordinator – At our last meeting we discussed th Winter Fest which is our winter carnival which is set for February 28, 2004 at the Elementary School. We hope to have a larger crowd and more activities this year and we are looking into Town Board Meeting Page 12 December 9, 2003 alternative activities in case of mud or dust instead of snow. We’re sponsoring Larry Stamental, he’s a musician, to play at Center Village Court in conjunction with the Youth Commission’s th monthly birthday party on December 30. He’s played there before and they like him and we’re sponsoring him again. That’s where we are in recreation. MovedExecutive Session by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Scheffler, to enter with Attorney Monty for the purpose of litigation at 8:13 PM. Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey MovedRegular Session by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Sovocool, to return to at 8:26 PM. Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey No action had been taken in Executive Session. RESOLUTION #82 - TAKE UP TO 10% OF SALES TAX REVENUES MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Scheffler. Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Clark, Morey. WHEREAS, the Town of Groton receives a County Sales Tax Credit from Tompkins County on an annual basis; and WHEREAS, the Town Board of the Town of Groton believes that a portion of said sales tax credit could be used by the Town to pay for operational expenses; therefore be it RESOLVED, that the Town of Groton take a cash payment of up to ten percent (10%) of its Sales Tax Credit from Tompkins County for the year 2004. Organizational Meeting The Board set the date of January 6, 2004 at 7:30 PM for the . RESOLUTION #83 – SET PUBLIC HEARING ON DOG LAW MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Sovocool Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby set a Public Hearing, as part of its regular monthly meeting, for the purpose of updating the Town of Groton Dog Control Law on January 13, 2004 at 8:00 PM. Town Board Meeting Page 13 December 9, 2003 Supervisor Morey – Tyke, you’re done. I’d just want to say when a person gets involved with community service they want to give back to the community. When a person takes the election process, community service becomes a passion and the community’s a better place for everyone. For the past four years you have taken on this commitment while attending college at a fulltime basis with dedication, honesty and integrity. I’ve learned to trust your judgment and respect all your opinions. We can find somebody to fill your position but we certainly can never find somebody to replace you. The Town Board and community appreciate your service and we want to thank you. Best of luck and God bless. Councilman Randall – Thank you very much. It’s been a great experience and something I’ll always relive forever. I mean that in a positive way, of course. I guess I can leave the position knowing that Groton is in great hands with the group that’s here and I appreciate that. I think I’ll go out and be a strong proponent for mandatory town service. I think it should be just like military service, so, if everybody got a chance to serve this way they’d understand the whole process and what we go through on a daily basis. I think it would be invaluable to the community to do that, so. I’d like to thank the Town and the people here for the opportunity to serve them. Who knows, I maybe I’ll be back some day. So, thank you. Announcements: Lyle Raymond has received the NYS Planning Federation’s first annual David Allee award for outstanding Zoning Board Chair. Comprehensive Plan survey has been mailed. th GBA Christmas Party, Wednesday, December 17 at Groton Hotel, 5-7:30 PM th Town of Groton Holiday Luncheon, December 18 at Groton Hotel, Noon Association of Towns Annual Meeting in New York City, February 15 – 18 There being no further business, Councilman Sovocool moved to adjourn, seconded by Councilman Scheffler, at 8:34 PM. Unanimous. April L. Scheffler Town Clerk