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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-09-08TOWN OF GROTON — MINUTES OF TOWN BOARD MEETING TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 , 2015 AT 7:30 PM THE TOWN HALL, 101 CONGER BOULEVARD Those present: Donald F. Scheffler, Supervisor Ellard L. Sovocool, Councilperson Kelly Smith, Councilperson Richard B. Gamel, Councilperson Sheldon C. Clark, Councilperson Dan Ellis, Attorney for the Town Also present: Randy Jackson, Ed Neuhauser, Julie Graham, Joe Graham, Aryeal Jackson, Charles Rankin, Richard C. Case, Jr., April Scheffler. MOVED by Councilperson Sovocool, seconded by Councilperson Gamel, to approve the minutes of the, August 11, 2015 meeting as presented. Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Scheffler. MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Gamel, to approve the minutes of the Joint Meeting between the Town of Groton, Village of Groton, and Groton Fire Department on August 4, 2015. Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Scheffler Vouchers for the General Fund in the amount of $23,041.23 were presented for audit. MOVED by Councilperson Sovocool, seconded by Councilperson Smith, to approve the General Bills for payment. Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Scheffler. Vouchers for the Highway Fund in the amount of $14,165.24 were presented for audit. MOVED by Councilperson Gamel, seconded by Councilperson Clark, to approve the Highway Bills for payment. Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Scheffler. Vouchers for the Community Development Grant Fund in the amount of $16,391.03 were presented for audit. MOVED by Councilperson Sovocool, seconded by Councilperson Smith to approve the Community Development Grant 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 2014 audit from Patrick Jordan and he will probably be on the agenda for a presentation next month. A budget transfer was requested. Town Board Minutes Page 2 September 8, 2015 RESOLUTION #15-060 - 2015 BUDGET TRANSFERS MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Gamel RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves the following 2015 Budget Transfers: General Fund - Town Wide: From: Justice Court Contractual, A 1110.4 ......... $265.00 To: Justice Court Equipment, Al 110.2 ........... 265.00 From: Town Clerk Contractual, A1410.4 ........... $257.00 To: Town Clerk, Equipment, A1410.2............257.00 Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Scheffler Nays - Resolution Passed Gary Coats, Code/Fire Enforcement Officer - Was not present but had submitted monthly reports for the Board's review. Richard C. Case, Jr., Highway Superintendent - Everything is moving along for the end of summer. We are getting ready to do stone and oil work out on Townline Road, Cobb Street and a couple other locations. Lansing is having the municipal equipment auction on September 12 and I have some equipment I'd like to take to that: a 1978 Ford tandem snowplow truck, a 2008 Chevy 1 -ton dump snowplow, a very old John Deere flail mower, and a 1978 John Deere 330 lawn mower that we mow the cemetery with. Last month we discussed the purchase from Stadium International, of a small dump truck to replace the Ford which is a 2016 International Terrastar with an 11 -foot dump body and a Western 10 - foot power angle blade for a price of $69,040.00 on Onondaga County's contract #7974 bid. Councilperson Gamel - That's to replace the 2008 Chevy dump you want to take to the auction? Supervisor Scheffler - We discussed this last month and thought maybe the whole Board should be here for this. So, can we run it buy everybody again? We were going to buy a roller and now you want to buy a truck. Mr. Case - We discussed in last year's budget workshop to put money away for a roller. I can't find the roller that I would like to purchase so I'd like to switch this around and do the roller next year. The money is appropriated in the 2015 budget. Supervisor Scheffler - You think now is the time, rather than fix the Chevy? You gave us prices last month and that is cheaper. Mr. Case - You can fix anything, but I think this is the time to take it while it's still got some equity and it seems it will get a good price at the municipal auction. I'm thinking we'll get somewhere between $10,000.00 and $15,000.00 for this type of vehicle. So, that coming back and added to what we had for the roller would give us a vehicle that would replace it ahead of time without having to do the emissions stuff that's coming due on this 2008. Supervisor Scheffler - What's the Board think? Councilperson Sovocool - I think it's alright. Councilperson Smith - I think okay, but we haven't set the budget for the coming year and I don't know if we'll be able to replace the $45,000.00 that you had this year. Mr. Case - I can show you on paper, if you want me to real quickly, where the money comes from. We are under contract to the County for snow and ice removal, which is well over $200,000.00, for doing their work. Town Board Minutes Page 3 September 8, 2015 Councilperson Gamel - And what is your budget total for the year? Mr. Case - I think it is just under a million. Councilperson Gamel - Okay, that's where my questions lie. I know you keep saying you're bringing money in but that's really not the issue. The issue is we have a 2008 truck we're going to sell for 10 or 15 thousand dollars to buy, and I thought it was a $74,000 truck that you told us last month, but you've got it at $69,000 now. And you had the repairs at what for the 2008? Mr. Case - I think it was about $3,000 Mr. Case brought a copy of the budget up to the Board to show them the line item, Services to Other Governments, showing what gets paid by the County. Councilperson Gamel - Understood, but we're spending money on salt out of that; we're spending on our trucks. I mean it's wearing our trucks out; it's wearing our tires out; it's doing all of that stuff. It's really not free money income. I understand your point, but to me it sort of came as a big shocker that all of a sudden, roller, roller, roller, can't find what you want so we'll replace it with a truck. That's what the whole thing has come down to for me. I know you took it as we would take money from you to put it somewhere else. That's not how it is. We have, I'd like to say a pool of money, but we don't. We've got a puddle of money that we've got to disperse here, there, and everywhere. That puddle of money is getting shallower and shallower and we're trying to keep our cap under 2%. If it was something that I really thought, or you thought, was absolutely necessary, you would have asked for it last September. Mr. Case - Rick I have to assess this equipment daily. Councilperson Gamel - My only thing is, if we could roll this over for a couple years for 3,000 bucks as opposed to 70,000 bucks, that makes sense to me. That's just a money thing. It's not against anything or the work you guys do. You guys do great work and I love that. If this is something that you really need, I'll say yes. Mr. Case - In this equipment game, I see the John Deere rollers that you run, they are not cheap. You get good equipment; these guys take care of this equipment. We've got stuff, such as the stuff I want to take to the auction, a 1978 Ford? Come on! There isn't another town in this area, especially in Tompkins County or Cortland, that's running that stuff like we are. Now, are you saying to me that because we do such a good job that we're not going to replace equipment? Because that's the way it was when I walked in here. Councilperson Gamel - I totally understand that and in my 12 years, that's been you're argument every time you come up with a new piece of equipment. And I'm okay with that, and I want to keep you in new equipment. But you just said, we take really good care of stuff. And now we've got a 2008, with 50,000 miles on it, and maybe I'm wrong, but if we could fix a 2008 for 3,000 bucks and get a couple more years out of it in a time when we might need to move some money around somewhere, I would say hold up. If it's something you need, I would say yes. I'll take your word. Look me in my eyes right now and tell me this is something we need and I'm good with it. Mr. Case - I think, and I'm not bragging, nobody in this room knows this budget any better than I, the total budget. Councilperson Gamel - I'm not arguing it either. Mr. Case - This is the time of year I'm looking at that stuff and when we come in tomorrow night to discuss this, I will still have a plan for you for this equipment. I know it sounds like a lot of money; it is a lot of money; but if you start falling behind it's going to cost you more in the long run. I understand what you're saying, but that Chevy truck, you can repair it and keep using it, but the equity in that, if we put $3,000, trade it in and we might lose $5,000. Councilperson Gamel - Not if you get a couple, three more years out of it. If we're not spending that $70,000 for two or three years, it's worth it's way out. Mr. Case - I guarantee we'd be putting more repairs into it because it's a lighter duty truck and we've maintained it right along. I understand the way you look at it, but that's what I'm presenting. Town Board Minutes Page 4 September 8, 2015 Councilperson Gamel - This '78 Ford is something you use? Mr. Case - That's what we replaced with the new truck. Supervisor Scheffler - We have no problem with the '78 Ford, it's the 2008 we're really concerned about. It's our job. Mr. Case - No, no, I just want you to understand the way I've got to look at it. I understand you pull the purse strings. Councilperson Gamel - We're the ones who get the phone calls and catch the heat because we just got a new truck. It's all out there in public record. Mr. Case - You don't think people talk to me? Rick, I'm telling you, this is smart money. Councilperson Gamel - And you still think we'll need that roller next year? Mr. Case - We will talk about that tomorrow night. Councilperson Clark - I would go along with Rick Case Supervisor Scheffler - If we go with the truck, I can't guarantee you that we can do the roller next year. We're still working on the budget and you guys have to understand that. You guys want to take a look at the truck? Will that help anybody? I sense that everybody is sitting on the fence about it. Councilperson Clark - I would take Rick Case's word for the truck as he says it is. Just like all of his equipment, the oldest trucks they've got, they've worked on them and they look good and run good. RESOLUTION #15-061 - PURCHASE 2016 INTERNATIONAL DUMP TRUCK MOVED by Councilperson Clark, seconded by Councilperson Sovocool RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves the purchase from Stadium International, of a small dump truck to replace the Ford which is a 2016 International Terrastar with an 11 -foot dump body and a Western 10 -foot power angle blade for a price of $69,040.00 on Onondaga County's Contract #7974. Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Clark, Nays - Gamel, Scheffler Resolution Passed RESOLUTION #15-062 - TAKE SURPLUS EQUIPMENT TO MUNICIPAL AUCTION MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Smith RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves that the Highway Superintendent, Richard Case, take the following surplus equipment to the Municipal Auction to be held in Lansing on September 12, 2015: a 1978 Ford tandem snowplow truck, a 2008 Chevy 1 -ton dump snowplow, John Deere flail mower, and a 1978 John Deere 330 lawn mowe. Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Scheffler Nays - Resolution Passed April L. Scheffler, RMC, Town Clerk/Tax Collector - Submitted monthly reports for the Board's review. She also submitted a final report on the Annual Verne Morton Memorial Photography Show. Dan Ellis, Attorney for the Town - Just a quick update, we received the satisfaction for the Beck case. John J. Norman & A. D. Dawson, Town Justices - Were not present but had requested approval for the Court Clerk to go to conference. Town Board Minutes Page S September 8, 2015 RESOLUTION #15-063 - COURT CLERK TO ATTEND CONFERENCE MOVED by Councilperson Gamel, seconded by Councilperson Smith RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves the payment of expenses for the Court Clerk, Kathy Barron, to attend the New York State Magistrates Court Clerks Conference, September 27 - 30, 2015, in Niagara Falls. Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Scheffler Nays - Resolution Passed Councilperson Kelly Smith as Representative to Joint Youth Program - We met tonight. Due to low staff numbers the pool was forced to close early, on August 23rd. That's primarily a problem with lifeguards being college students rather than high school students. So, we discussed ways to get more high school students involve, possibly a scholarship where we pay for their accreditation and earlier recruitment. We need a minimum of three guards to keep the pool open and we just couldn't do it. We're also going to be losing our pool director. Fall youth sports programs are starting to fill up. It looks like football and cheer both have low numbers but enough to proceed. Soccer, it was low enough that Jennifer decided that it would be a good idea to combine it with Dryden so they could play the Dryden teams more often. Jeff Cronk is looking at starting up cross-country. She gave us numbers how the summer programs came out and we did really well this year. For example, in 2014 we had 189 participants and revenue of about $1,100. This year we had 198 participants and brought in $1,300. Family movie night is not doing so well so we will probably phase that out next year. The Groton Concert Series was really well attended and we did very well on that this year by moving it to the Legion. Privilege of the Floor: No one wished to speak. The following Budget Work Sessions were set: Wednesday, September 9 - Meet with Highway Association at 3:30 pm Meet with Highway Superintendent at 4:00 pm Thursday, September 10 - Meet with Town Clerk at 4:3 0 pm Meet with Town Justices at 5:00 pm Monday, September 14 - Town Board meets Tuesday, September 22 - Town Board meets RESOLUTION #15-064 - SET SPECIAL MEETING FOR PRESENTATION OF TENTATIVE BUDGET MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Smith RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby sets a Special Meeting so that the Town Clerk may present the Town Board with the 2016 Tentative Budget for Tuesday, September 29, 2015 at 4:30 pm. Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Scheffler Nays - Resolution Passed Town Board Minutes Page 6 September 8, 2015 RESOLUTION #15-065 - SET PUBLIC HEARING ON 2016 PRELIMINARY BUDGET MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Gamel RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby sets a Public Hearing on the 2016 Preliminary Budget for Tuesday, October 13, 2015 at 8:00 pm, as part of its Regular Monthly Meeting, and be it further RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby sets a Public Hearing on the 2016 Groton Fire and Ambulance Budgets immediately following. Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Scheffler Nays - Resolution Passed The Town Clerk is going to conduct a dog enumeration by mail and needs a Board resolution for an additional enumeration fee that will be charged to owners of dogs found to be unlicensed after the October 31 deadline. RESOLUTION #15-066 - SET DOG ENUMERATION FEE MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Gamel RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby sets a Dog Enumeration fee of $10.00 per dog in addition to the regular license fee for owners of dogs found to be unlicensed by the Dog Control Officer after the October 31, 2015 deadline Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Scheffler Nays - Resolution Passed MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Gamel, to enter into Executive Session on a personnel matter at 8:09 pm. Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Scheffler MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Sovocool, to return to Regular Session at 8:27 pm. Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Scheffler Supervisor Scheffler - Let the record show the Executive Session was for informational purposes only. Announcements: ➢ Thank you from the Senior Citizens for continued support. ➢ Thank you from the Groton Old Home Days Committee for money donated. ➢ The Groton City Road Bridge will be closed on September 14, 2015 until the spring of 2016 for bridge replacement and will be closed to all through traffic. ➢ From Department of Public Services - Public Hearings around the State on Energy Affordability for Low Income Utility Customers and additional Public Hearings for the Proposed Merger of Charter Communications and Time Warner Cable. Town Board Minutes Page 7 September 8, 2015 ➢ Groton Business Association Meeting - September 16th ➢ Planning Board Meeting - September 17th at 7:30 pm. ➢ Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting - September 30th at 7:00 pm. ➢ Next Town Board Meeting - October 13th at 7:30 pm. There being no further business, Councilperson Sovocool moved to adjourn, seconded by Councilperson Gamel, at 8:29 pm. Unanimous. April L. Scheffler, RMC Groton Town Clerk