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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-03-08TOWN OF GROTON — MINUTES OF TOWN BOARD MEETING TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016 AT 7:30 PM THE TOWN HALL, 101 CONGER BOULEVARD Those present: Donald F. Scheffler, Supervisor Ellard L. Sovocool, Councilperson Kelly Smith, Councilperson Randy N. Jackson, Councilperson Sheldon C. Clark, Councilperson Victoria Monty, Attorney for the Town Also present: Jamie Babcock, W. Rick Fritz, Lee Shurtleff, Glen Morey, Ed Neuhauser, Julie Graham, Joe Graham, Robert Walpole, Steve Foote, Casey Keech, Rick Rude, Nick Totman, Kristie Robinson, Mike Totman, James Robinson, Ron Space, Jerry McConnell, Liam Murphy, Dan Carey, Richard C. Case, Jr., Chuck Rankin, April Scheffler. MOVED by Councilperson Sovocool, seconded by Councilperson Smith, to approve the minutes of the, February 9, 2016 Town Board Meeting as presented. Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Jackson, Clark, Scheffler MOVED by Councilperson, seconded by Councilperson, to approve the minutes of the February 15, 2016 Special Town Board Meeting as presented. Ayes - Sovocool, Jackson, Clark, Scheffler Abstain - Smith Vouchers for the General Fund in the amount of $ 76,613.27 were presented for audit. MOVED by Councilperson Smith, seconded by Councilperson Sovocool, to approve the General Bills for payment. Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Jackson, Clark, Scheffler. Vouchers for the Highway Fund in the amount of $37,234.61 were presented for audit. MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Clark, to approve the Highway Bills for payment. Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Jackson, Clark, Scheffler. Vouchers for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Fund in the amount of $1,567.25 were presented for audit. MOVED by Councilperson Clark, seconded by Councilperson Sovocool, to approve the CDBG Bills for payment. Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Jackson, Clark, Scheffler Town Board Minutes Page 2 March 8, 2016 Monthly Reports: Charles Rankin, Bookkeeper - Submitted monthly reports for the Board's review. He is in the process of filing the annual report with the Secretary of State electronically. W. Rick Fritz, Code/Fire Enforcement Officer - Submitted monthly reports for the Board's review. He had done 22 Life Safety Inspections in February with 6 completed and others are waiting for some issues to be corrected and updated. Spring is here and we have a new and improved building permit application. All applications must be submitted in full in order to review. The new application has had a check list added so all applicants know what they need and it has been updated on the Town website. We are asking for a complete package of information on any application that is being presented to the Town. Next week he will be in Rochester for training and will available by phone. Mike Anderson will be covering for him here. The McLean Fire District application had been received by email about 3:00 and will be reviewed. Richard C. Case, Jr., Highway Superintendent - The Highway Department is still dedicated to snow removal, but they have been doing some brush and tree cutting particularly on Stevens Road and Walpole Road. With the good whether they have a good start on that. The shop has been busy with repairs and NYS heavy equipment inspections. The required 70% purchase of salt has been met. That doesn't mean it's on the road, but is stored. They have used much less this year. April L. Scheffler, RMC, Town Clerk/Tax Collector - Submitted monthly reports for the Board's review. John J. Norman and A. D. Dawson, Town Justices - Were not present. Victoria Monty, Attorney for the Town - Had nothing to report. Councilperson Kelly Smith as Representative to Joint Youth Program - Cabin Fever Festival was on Saturday and was well attended. The Shred -It truck broke down in Cortland and showed up late so it is going to be re -scheduled to come for the Spring Clean-up in May. Summer and fall programming has started with the concert series nearly set up. The Village road construction crew made a stage out of a hay wagon, so they will have a movable stage. They are looking for lifeguards and a pool director. Background checks will take place on the coaches. They are working with Cortland State on the youth needs assessment. Chuck Rankin had provided the yearly budget and the portion provide by the Town is down $1,000.00. Movie night will be eliminated this year as it was not well attended. Glen Morey, County Legislator - Had nothing to report. Privilege of the Floor: Jamie Babcock, Groton Fire Chief - We've had a lot of things going on at the Fire Department lately. We just hired the third fulltime medic that we've all been working toward. Do to other commitments right now, he'll start in a couple weeks. We also hired another part-time medic, so our schedule is looking very good. He handed out copies of the schedule so the Board could see the current level of coverage. I also want to let you know, last month the Deputy Clerk touched on the ISO stuff, and we have had an ISO inspection and everything was looking good. They were very pleased with the way we were organized; our training was up to par; trucks were looking good. Something they are doing now is including our training and that helps toward the ISO rating, so I don't expect anything to change in our rating. We've also had five new members come in this month and three more coming in next month. We started a mentor program, as we talked about during our meetings. Ben and Matt Duso really put the program together and are working with the five individuals and the next three coming in will be assigned to the program too. The mentors are involved on a daily basis with these individuals, making them feel welcome and part of the Fire Department so we can keep them. The other thing is that you may have heard the horn going off lately. We've gotten the horn back into service and are only going to use it for Town Board Minutes Page 3 March 8, 2016 serious fire calls so people can hear it from a distance if they don't hear their pager. Mr. Babcock had also brought copies of their audit and financial for the Board. He pointed out the many McLean Fire District people in the room and said that the Groton Fire Department works closely with them and supports the project that they want to do in McLean. Ron Space, II, McLean Fire District - We, the Board of Directors and Board of Fire Commissioners are representing the members of the McLean Fire Department and the taxpayers of the McLean Fire District. We began the process of wanting to build an addition onto the Fire Department about 7, 8 years ago. At that time, we appeared in front of the Town Planning Board to show an informal plan of the addition to the Fire Station. From the beginning, it was our intent to remain fully transparent with the public and the Town and to fully cooperate with any and all local laws. Through the process of considering an addition, we discovered that the entire property was shown inside an undetermined flood zone on the FIRM. As you know, the Federal Government has changed the flood insurance regulations a number of times in the past few years. Our insurance company has recommended that we work to bring the majority of the property out of the undetermined floodplain in order to avoid large penalties with flood insurance. Based on that recommendation, the Board of Fire Commissioners hired a FEMA consultant, Alton Knapp, to determine the floodplain elevation and assist us with the FEMA process. A portion of the property was determined to be above the calculated floodplain, however a minimum amount of structural fill was needed in order to increase that area to be removed from that flood zone. In our continued attempts to cooperate with the Town, the Board of Fire Commissioners applied for a fill permit in 2014. We were issued a fill permit by Mr. Coats, the Code Enforcement Officer at that time. That project has been completed allowing us to move ahead with the FEMA process, which we have done. Our desire and need to remove a portion of the property from the flood zone exists regardless of any possible addition. The property needs to be removed from the flood zone to avoid undue tax burden to the constituents within our fire district. The FEMA application process includes a community acknowledgment form. We have been unsuccessful in obtaining the signed form for several months. We have met numerous times with our consultant and a number of those with Town representatives to request that information. The Fire District operates on a bare -bones budget and Board of Fire Commissioners is acutely aware of the cost to our taxpayers. Each meeting with our consultant or our lawyer has a taxpayer cost attached to it. In addition the construction costs for any possible addition increases 17 - 23% every year. Though we appreciate that the Town is trying to be cautious, the Board of Fire Commissioners must also answer to our taxpayers. As an independent taxing authority, we are frustrated with the ongoing delays. We invited the members of the Town Board, by a written invitation, to attend the meeting of Fire Commissioners on February 24th. We were very discouraged to have no response or showing. The Town continues to request a complete packet prior to signing the form. Our FEMA consultant feels that he has provided all the required items to the Town, some of them numerous times. To date, the Town has failed to provide a specific list of what additional items it believes is necessary to sign the form. Now, I understand, that a packet has arrived to the Town and I hope that everything is in that packet and if it's not, we look forward to hearing from you with what we need to provide you with so we can continue this process. Last winter we had a meeting and most of the Town Board members were there; we had people from the County; and a lot of support from our community. They were all there. They are aware of what we are doing. They are in support of this. We look forward to working with you through the completion of this project. Supervisor Scheffler - I've been told, and I haven't seen the packet, but I've been told that it came today. It is what we have been asking for. We have this form here that says our Code Enforcement Officer needs to sign off on it, you've seen the same form. We have gotten pieces of it and he doesn't feel comfortable and I don't feel comfortable, and I don't think anyone else would either, signing something that we haven't seen. So now that we have it, we'll review it and move on. Attorney Monty - Neither Rick or I have had an opportunity to go through it and review it and determine if it is everything that is needed or not, but we hope so. Town Board Minutes Page 4 March 8, 2016 RESOLUTION #16-027 - ESTABLISH CAPITAL MUNICIPAL BUILDING REPAIR RESERVE FUND MOVED by Councilperson Sovocool, seconded by Councilperson Smith RESOLVED, that pursuant to Section 6-c of the General Municipal Law, as amended, the Town Board of the Town of Groton hereby establishes a capital reserve fund to be known as the "Capitol Municipal Building Repair Reserve Fund" (hereinafter "Reserve Fund"). The purpose of this Reserve Fund is to accumulate the moneys to finance the cost of major repairs and/or reconstruction for capital improvements to Town of Groton municipal buildings. RESOLVED, that the chief fiscal officer is hereby directed to deposit the $110,000.00 from the Town's Certificate of Deposit and the $20,000.00 from the 2016 Budget - A0962.2 Budgetary Provision for Other Uses, and secure the moneys of this Reserve Fund in the manner provided by Section 10 of the General Municipal Law. The Town Board may invest the moneys in the Reserve Fund in the manner provided by Section 11 of the General Municipal Law, and consistent with the investment policy of the Town of Groton. Any interest earned or capital gains realized on the moneys so deposited or invested shall accrue to and become part of the Reserve Fund. The chief fiscal officer shall account for the Reserve Fund in a manner which maintains the separate identity of the Reserve Fund and shows the date and amount of each sum paid into the fund, interest earned by the fund, capital gains or losses resulting from the sale of investments of the fund, the amount and date of each withdrawal from the fund and the total assets of the fund, showing cash balance and a schedule of investments, and shall, at the end of each fiscal year, render to the Board a detailed report of the operation and condition of the Reserve Fund, and be it further RESOLVED, that except as otherwise provided by law, expenditures from this Reserve Fund shall be made only for the purpose for which the Reserve Fund is established. No expenditure shall be made from this Reserve Fund without the approval of this governing board, s u b j e c t to permissive referendum pursuant to Section 6-c of the General Municipal Law, and such additional actions or proceedings as may be required by Section 6-c of the General Municipal Law and any other law. Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Jackson, Clark, Scheffler Nays - Resolution Passed RESOLUTION #16-028 - APPROVE 2016 HUMAN SERVICES CONTRACT MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Smith RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves the 2016 contract between the Town of Groton and the Human Services Coalition of Tompkins County in the amount of $1,500.00. Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Jackson, Clark, Scheffler Nays - Resolution Passed RESOLUTION #16-029 - SET DATE FOR LOCAL ASSESSMENT REVIEW MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Sovocool RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby set Thursday, May 12, 2016, from 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm, for the Local Assessment Review (Grievance Day). Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Jackson, Clark, Scheffler Nays - Resolution Passed Town Board Minutes Page S March 8, 2016 RESOLUTION #16-030 - APPOINT LOCAL BOARD OF ASSESSMENT REVIEW MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Clark RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby appoints Jack Miller, Fran Sovocool, Elizabeth Conger, Jean Morey and the Town Board on a rotating basis as the Local Board of Assessment Review. Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Jackson, Clark, Scheffler Nays - Resolution Passed RESOLUTION #16-031 - APPROVE 2016 FIRE PROTECTION CONTRACT MOVED by Councilperson Sovocool, seconded by Councilperson Jackson RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves the 2016 Fire Protection Agreement between the Town of Groton, the Village of Groton, and the Groton Fire Department in the amount of $117,500.00. Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Jackson, Clark, Scheffler Nays - Resolution Passed RESOLUTION #16-032 - APPROVE 2016 EMERGENCY AMBULANCE SERVICE CONTRACT MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Clark RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves the 2016 Contract for Emergency Ambulance Service between the Town of Groton, the Village of Groton, and the Groton Fire Department in the amount of$128,500.00. Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Jackson, Clark, Scheffler Nays - Resolution Passed RESOLUTION #16-033 - BOOKKEEPER TO ATTEND CONFERENCE MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Smith RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves the payment of 1/2 of the expenses for the Bookkeeper, Charles Rankin, to attend the New York State Government Financial Officers Association Conference April 6-8, 2016 in Albany, NY. Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Jackson, Clark, Scheffler Nays - Resolution Passed RESOLUTION #16-034 - DECLARE APRIL AS FAIR HOUSING MONTH MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Jackson WHEREAS, in accordance with the Title VIII Fair Housing Policy of the Civil Rights Act of1968 and the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 and, WHEREAS, the Month of April 2016 has been designated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Office as Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity as Fair Housing Month, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Groton hereby declares and proclaims April 2016 as Fair Housing Month in the Town of Groton. Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Jackson, Clark, Scheffler Nays - Resolution Passed Town Board Minutes Page 6 March 8, 2016 Supervisor Scheffler - We have an agreement with our retirees to pay either $110.00 or a percentage of the cost of single health insurance policy if they wish to continue the insurance after they retire. It's been at $110.00 and now the 25% should be in the neighborhood of $185.00, so we need to up what we are paying them towards insurance if they want to go off the Town policy and buy their own. We made that agreement but missed it at the beginning of the year and I'd like to make the motion to pay what we owe and make it retroactive to January 1St RESOLUTION #16-035 - HEALTH INSURANCE FOR RETIREES MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Clark RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves the following agreement for partial payment of health insurance for retirees: Any full time employee that has retired and that has at least twenty (20) years of continuous employment and is enrolled in the health insurance plan at the time of retirement will be entitled to have 25% of the cost of an individual/single policy through the Town's health insurance plan or one hundred eighty five dollars ($185.00) toward the cost of medical insurance coverage outside the Town's plan. Said payment for the Town's plan shall be made directly to the insurance company. Payment for other medical insurance coverage shall be paid directly to the individual on a monthly basis, and the employee shall be responsible for paying the remaining cost of their health insurance. AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that payment to persons currently covered under this agreement shall be paid retroactive to January 1, 2016 Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Jackson, Clark, Scheffler Nays - Resolution Passed Councilperson Clark - I'd like to speak to the McLean people. I'm not going to speak for the rest of the Board, but I, as a Board Member, came to your other community meeting and was very happy that I did. I didn't come to this meeting because I felt that there was nothing I could add. I didn't want to be saying something that would stir you up. We couldn't do anything until we got what we got today. I was one of the big pushers to get this thing moving and I wanted it as bad as you did. I hope I didn't slight you by not showing up at your meeting but there was nothing I could add and I thought it best that I didn't stick my nose in it. Announcements: ➢ Planning Board Meeting - March 17, 2016 at 7:30 pm ➢ Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting - March 23, 2016 at 7:00 pm ➢ Groton Business Association Spring Community Spirit Day - May 14, 2016 There being no further business, Councilman Sovocool moved to adjourn, seconded by Councilman Smith, at 8:06 pm. Unanimous. April L. Scheffler, RMC Town Clerk