Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-08-11TOWN OF GROTON — MINUTES OF TOWN BOARD MEETING TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2015 AT 7:30 PM THE TOWN HALL, 101 CONGER BOULEVARD Those present: Donald F. Scheffler, Supervisor Kelly Smith, Councilperson Richard B. Gamel, Councilperson Victoria Monty, Attorney for the Town Absent: Ellard L. Sovocool, Councilperson Sheldon C. Clark, Councilperson Also present: Charles Rankin, Richard C. Case, Jr., Glenn Morey, Robin Cargian, Rachel Cargian, Emily Cargian. MOVED by Councilperson Gamel, seconded by Councilperson Smith, to approve the minutes of the July 14, 2015 meeting as presented. Ayes - Smith, Gamel, Scheffler. Vouchers for the General Fund in the amount $3 5, 5 83.82of were presented for audit. MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Gamel, to approve the General Bills for payment. Ayes - Smith, Gamel, Scheffler. Vouchers for the Highway Fund in the amount of $15,049.85 were presented for audit. MOVED by Councilperson Gamel, seconded by Councilperson Smith, to approve the Highway Bills for payment. Ayes - Smith, Gamel, Scheffler. Vouchers for the CDBG Housing Grant Fund in the amount of $15,000.00 were presented for audit. MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Smith, to approve the CDBG Bills for payment. Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Scheffler Monthly Reports: Charles Rankin, Bookkeeper - Submitted monthly reports for the Board's review. He had received a draft of the audit from the auditors and they will probably be in to do a report to the Board next month. He will be getting budget worksheets to department heads before too long. A budget transfer was requested to pay for a new server required in the Clerk's Office. Town Board Minutes Page 2 August 11, 2015 RESOLUTION #15-059 - 2015 BUDGET TRANSFER MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Smith RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves the following 2015 Budget Transfer: From: Clerk, Records Management, A1410.42........$1,167.00 To: Clerk, Equipment, A1410.2 ........................1,167.00 Ayes - Smith, Gamel, Scheffler Nays - Resolution Passed Gary Coats, Code/Fire Enforcement Officer - Was not present. Submitted monthly reports for the Board's review. Richard C. Case, Jr., Highway Superintendent - Everything is running the same as last month. We are doing some ditching and replacing driveway pipes on Sovocool Hill Road. We're going back to Sobers Road tomorrow because Asplundh is going to come in and take down some dead maple trees that are tangled up in the wires. Other than that, I have some information on the truck I was going to bring back to you. Do you want me to go ahead with that proposal? Councilperson Gamel - This is the truck that was going to be in place of the roller? Mr. Case - Yes. It will be coming out of the DA5130.2. There's $45,000 there. This truck is going to replace a 2008 one -ton truck that has a plow on it. We use it right now for patching and plowing the driveway and intersections. This is a little bigger truck that still sits low to the ground. It will be a patching truck and then in the wintertime something to go clear intersections. It's going to have a power angle blade so when we get into McLean intersection.... Supervisor Scheffler - So what are we going to do about the roller? Mr. Case - Bring that back when we have the budget workshops. Councilperson Gamel - We've already got it though. We've already put in for the roller. Mr. Case - Yes. I've not been able to find a roller that suits what I'd like to have. I'm still shopping. Supervisor Scheffler - So, we need this truck? Mr. Case - I'd like to replace this truck, because we're into, it's 400 and some horse and..... Luke listed out the parts that we've got to have to fix it and just in parts it would be around $3,300. I think we could get, because of the shape it's in, I think I could get pretty good money out of it at the auction. Councilperson Gamel - What's pretty good money? Mr. Case - I'm going to say between $8,000 - $10,000. Supervisor Scheffler - So, we're getting a truck for $30,000? Mr. Case - No, this is a diesel truck. This is a little more truck than what we've got. Supervisor Scheffler - How many do we have now? Mr. Case - We have two ton trucks that we do the patching with. And it's going to have a longer bed in it. It's going to have an eleven foot bed in it so if we have trees or stuff on the side of the road, we go out and pick it up later with a loader. The bed's a little longer. It's not going to have any sander. It's just going to have a plow. Councilperson Gamel - How many miles on the 2008? Mr. Case - 5000. Councilperson Gamel - What does it need? And it comes to what? Town Board Minutes Page 3 August 11, 2015 Mr. Case - $3,350, and that's catalytic converter, 02 sensors, evaporative emissions components, fuel lines, brake lines, brakes on all four wheels, and spring work need to be rebuilt. Part of that, and that's why I want to go to this other truck, it's a heavier suspension and it gets us kind of out of this, with a diesel engine, which there are emissions on it, but it gets us away from this stuff, which has been a pain from about the third year we had it. This is gas, not diesel. We still use it. Councilperson Gamel - Is that something that can be fixed? The only reason I ask is we had a meeting here the other night about ambulance. We've got to have money coming from somewhere and everybody can't have everything all the time. Mr. Case - Don't take it out of the Highway. Councilperson Gamel - We're not taking it out of the Highway. You're asking for something extra that you didn't plan for and then you're going to ask for the roller that you already asked for next year. Mr. Case - The money is there. Councilperson Gamel - It's there for a roller though. Mr. Case - The money is there. I've got enough in the roller to buy this truck. The rest of it is going to be a transfer out of the 5148.4, which is the money that we make under contract to the County for snowplowing. Councilperson Gamel - Any thoughts, anybody? Supervisor Scheffler - So, you are going to buy a roller next year? Mr. Case - If I find the one I want. Supervisor Scheffler - New or used? Mr. Case - No, it won't be a new one. I don't think for the amount that we use it that we should go buy a $160,000 piece of equipment when we could get it off the rental line. Supervisor Scheffler - How much would it cost to fix the one we've got? Mr. Case - We have to get into hydraulics, .....?...... and the drum is shot. Just to get into the hydraulics would be ridiculous. Councilperson Smith - Did you say what the full price is on the truck you want to buy? Mr. Case - No, I did not. The total price, I'm going to ask for $70,000. It will be less than that. $69,040. And we have $45,000 that's in the 5130.2 for equipment. In the 5148.4, right now, we have $115,250. So, I want to take $25,000 and transfer it 5130.2. It is snowplow equipment and that's what the County pays us for is the snowplowing. Supervisor Scheffler - So, the truck and the plow is going to be about $70,000? Mr. Case - Yes. Supervisor Scheffler - And the roller when we get it is, what's a ballpark on that? Mr. Case - I'm going to have to say next year, if I find a roller that we want, is transfer the money. Councilperson Gamel - What do you think that will cost then? Mr. Case - It's looking like somewhere around $75,000, $70,000. Councilperson Gamel - What are you asking from us tonight? Mr. Case - A resolution to purchase this. Councilperson Gamel - I think we need to wait until we have everybody here, that's my opinion. Mr. Case - I just want to tell you though, when you start saying you're going to take money, don't take it out of the Highway Fund or you'll have me to battle with. Councilperson Gamel - Well, the only thing is... Town Board Minutes Page 4 August 11, 2015 Mr. Case - No, I don't want to hear it. Councilperson Gamel - Well, you're going to hear it because this is something we've talked about for years and years and years, that the well has got to start to dry up at some point. We keep doing .... we've got gorgeous trucks.... Mr. Case - The Highway Department generates 300 and some thousand dollars, what does the Fire Department generate for you? Councilperson Gamel - Lives, and that's priceless. Priceless. Mr. Case - If you don't have roads to get to the hospital and snow equipment to move the..... Councilperson Gamel - If we don't have anybody to take them, it doesn't matter if we have roads or not. They're going to die at home. It was decided to table the discussion until the full Board was present. Supervisor Scheffler said that they could schedule a special meeting if needed, but one was not scheduled. April L. Scheffler, RMC, Town Clerk/Tax Collector - Was not present but had submitted monthly reports for the Board's review. John Norman and A. D. Dawson, Town Justices - Were not present but had submitted monthly reports for the Board's review. Victoria Monty, Attorney for the Town - Had nothing to report. Councilperson Kelly Smith as Representative to Joint Youth Program - Had nothing to report Glenn Morey, County Legislator - Reported that Cobb Street paving project was done and they will be replacing the bridge in Groton City. Privilege of the Floor: No one wished to speak. Announcements: ➢ Planning Board Meeting - Thursday, August 20th at 7:3 0 pm ➢ Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting - Wednesday, August 26th at 7:00 pm ➢ Groton Old Home Days - August 14th and 15th ➢ Next Board Meeting - September 8th at 7:30 pm ➢ Next Joint Meeting on the Ambulance Service - September 1 St at 7:00 pm at Town Hall There being no further business, Councilman Gamel moved to adjourn, seconded by Councilman Smith, at 7:55 pm. Unanimous. April L. Scheffler, RMC Town Clerk