HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-01-14TOWN OF GROTON -MINUTES OF TOWN BOARD MEETING
ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING
TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014 AT 7:30 PM
THE TOWN HALL, 101 CONGER BOULEVARD
Those present: Glenn E. Morey, Supervisor
Ellard L. Sovocool, Councilperson
Kelly Smith, Councilperson
Richard B. Gamel, Councilperson
Sheldon C. Clark, Councilperson
Fran Casullo, Attorney for the Town
Also present: Rosemarie Tucker, Gary Coats, Charles Rankin, Joe Graham, Joan
Packard, Carole Daugherty, Greg Weiland, Dan Klimaszewski, Julia
Ganson, Elizabeth Snyder, Susan Cerretani, Jen Schwade, Stefanie
Jacobs, Faith Tyler, Ruth Williams, April Scheffler.
RESOLUTION #14-001 - 2014 ORGANIZATIONAL ITEMS/APPOINTMENTS
Item 1 - Depository. - MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilperson
Sovocool
Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Morey.
RESOLVED, that the First National Bank of Groton be designated as the depository for all
monies coming into the hands of the Supervisor and Town Clerk of the Town of Groton.
Item 2 - Official Newspaper - MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilperson
Gamel.
Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Morey.
RESOLVED, that the Groton Independent be designated as the official newspaper of the
Town of Groton.
Item 3 - Law Firm - MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilperson Gamel.
Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Morey.
RESOLVED, that the law firm of Pomeroy, Armstrong, Casullo & Monty be retained as
Attorneys for the Town of Groton.
Item 4 - Zoning Officer - MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilperson Clark.
Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Morey.
RESOLVED, that Gary Coats be appointed Zoning Officer and Building and Fire Code
Enforcement Officer for the Town of Groton.
Item 5 - Constable - Vacant
Town Board Minutes Page 2 January 14, 2014
Item 6 - Deputy Supervisor - MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilperson
Sovocool.
Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Clark, Morey.
Abstain - Gamel
RESOLVED, that Richard Gamel be appointed Deputy Supervisor for the Town of Groton.
Item 7 - Deputy Highway Superintendent - MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by
Councilperson Clark.
Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Morey.
RESOLVED, that Peter Carr be appointed Deputy Highway Superintendent for the Town of
Groton.
Item 8 - Deputy Town Clerk - MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilperson
Smith.
Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Morey.
RESOLVED, that Robin Cargian be appointed Deputy Town Clerk for the Town of Groton.
Item 9 - Bookkeeper - MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilperson Gamel.
Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Morey.
RESOLVED, that Charles Rankin be appointed as Bookkeeper for the Town of Groton.
Item 10 - Court Clerk - MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilperson Smith.
Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Morey.
RESOLVED, that Cindy Vicedomini be appointed as Court Clerk for the Town of Groton.
Item 11 - Part Time McLean Crossing Guard - MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by
Councilperson Gamel.
Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Morey.
RESOLVED, that Margaret Albern be appointed part-time McLean School Crossing Guard
for the Town of Groton.
Item 12 - Town Historian - MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilperson
Smith.
Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Morey.
RESOLVED, that Rosemarie Tucker be appointed as Town Historian for the Town of Groton.
Item 13 - Town Health Insurance - MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by
Councilperson Sovocool.
Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Morey.
RESOLVED, that full time employees to have 80% health insurance coverage paid for by
Town through the Greater Tompkins County Municipal Health Insurance Consortium.
Town Board Minutes Page 3 January 14, 2014
Item 14 - Town Board Regular Meetings - MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by
Councilperson Sovocool.
Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Morey.
RESOLVED.. that the Town Board will hold their regular Town Board Meetings on the
second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 - 7:30 P.M. to review invoices and 7:30 P.M. for
the Board Meeting, at the Town Hall on Conger Boulevard, Groton, NY.
Item 15 - Fix Salaries of Town Officers - MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by
Councilperson Gamel.
Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Morey.
RESOLVED.. that the Town Board does hereby fix the annual salaries of the following Town
Officers and employees at the amounts respectfully stated and that such salaries shall be
paid at the time respectfully specified:
1. Glenn E. Morey, Supervisor
2. Ellard L. Sovocool, Councilperson
3. Kelly Smith, Councilperson
4. Richard B. Gamel, Councilperson
5. Sheldon C. Clark, Councilperson
6. April L. Scheffler, Town Clerk
7. Richard C. Case, Jr., Highway Superintendent
8. John J. Norman, 1St Town Justice
9. A. D. Dawson, 2nd Town Justice
10. Gary L. Coats, Code/Fire Enforcement
11. Charles Rankin, Bookkeeper
12. Rosemarie Tucker, Historian
$ 12,500.00 Biweekly
$ 3,750.00 Quarterly
$ 3,750.00 Quarterly
$ 3,750.00 Quarterly
$ 3,750.00 Quarterly
$ 46,215.00 Biweekly
$ 66,251.00 Biweekly
$ 14,580.00 Biweekly
$ 14,580.00 Biweekly
$ 30,000.00 Biweekly
$ 26,300.00 Biweekly
$ 1,000.00 Quarterly
Item 16- Set Hourly Rates - MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilperson
Clark.
Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Morey.
RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby set the hourly rates as follows:
a) Deputy Town Clerk $15.56 per hour
b) Court Clerk $15.84 per hour
c) Custodian $13.43 per hour
d) Crossing Guard $12.76 per hour
Item 17 - Appointment of Representatives to Town and County Programs - MOVED by
Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilperson Sovocool
Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Morey.
RESOLVED, to appoint the following as representatives to Town and County Programs:
Environmental Management Council - Peg Ficken
Tompkins County Transportation Council -Sheldon Clark
Tompkins County Human Services Coalition - Teresa Robinson
Groton Youth Commission - Glenn Morey, Teresa Robinson, Peggy Ficken
Tompkins County Youth Advisory Board -
Tompkins County Recreation Partnership - Glenn Morey
Town Board Minutes Page 4 January 14, 2014
Tompkins County Fire, Disaster and EMS Advisory Board - John Miller
Item 18 - Supervisor's Appointment to Committee Members - MOVED by Supervisor
Morey, seconded by Councilperson Gamel
Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Morey.
RESOLVED.. that the Supervisor's appointment of committee members be approved as
follows:
Finance - Glenn Morey & Rick Gamel
Machinery -Sheldon Clark
Building - Richard Gamel & Kelly Smith
Fire Department - Ellard Sovocool
Personnel - Glenn Morey & Rick Gamel
Zoning, Bldg. and Fire Code - Richard Gamel
HUD Loans - Ellard Sovocool & Glenn Morey
Light Districts - Kelly Smith
Fixed Assets - Ellard Sovocool
Senior Citizens - Sheldon Clark
Recreation Committee - Kelly Smith
Highway -Sheldon Clark
Tompkins County Council of Governments (TCCOG) - Kelly Smith
Greater Tompkins County Municipal Health Insurance Consortium - Glenn Morey &
Jeffrey Brockway
Planning Board - Rotating Attendance by Town Board Members
Appeals Board - Rotating Attendance by Town Board Members
Item 19 - Set fees for Town Services - MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by
Councilperson Sovocool.
Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Morey.
RESOLVED.. that fees for the Town services be set as follows:
1. Photocopies - 8 1/2 x 11
$ .25
2. Photocopies - 8 1/2 x 14
$ .50
3. Photocopies - 1 1 x 17
$ .50
4. Transcript of Marriage
$10.00
5. Marriage License/Certificate
$40.00
6. Town, Village, County Maps
$ .50
7. Mileage -Town Officials
$ .50
8. Dog License -Unaltered Dog
$20.00 + $3.00 NYS Animal
Population Control Fee
Dog License -Altered Dog
$10.00 + $1.00 NYS Animal
Population Control Fee
9. Returned Check Fee
$20.00
10. Fax Copies -Transmit
$ 1.00 per page
Receive
$ .25 per page
11. Duplicate Tax Receipt
$ 0.00
12. Town Directory
$ 5.00
13. Land Use & Dev. Code
$25.00,, CD $15.00
14. Certified Copies
$ 5.00
15. Paper Copy of Comprehensive Plan
$25.00,, CD $15.00
16. Town of Groton Zoning Fee Schedule:
Town Board Minutes Page 5 January 14, 2014
Town of Groton Zoning Fee Schedule
Building Permit: $0 - $4,000
Building Permit: More than $4,000
Building Permit Renewal
Agricultural Buildings
Non -Structural Roof Replacement
Swimming Pool, Above Ground
Swimming Pool, In Ground
Solid Fuel Burning Appliance
Shed
Deck
Fence 6ft or higher/Replace pool fence
Residential Green Energy
Disability Ramp
Cellular Tower
Demolition Permit
Sign Permit
Operating Permit
Operating Permit - Public Assembly >100 People
Outdoor Fireworks/Indoor Pyrotechnics Permit
Manufacturers' Pyrotechnics Testing Permit
Junk Yard Annual Inspection
Subdivision - Minor
Subdivision - Major Level One
Subdivision - Major Level Two
Boundary Line Change
Cluster Development
Planned Unit Development
Site Plan Review (Land Use Permit)
Site Plan Review for Echo Housing
$25
$25 + $3 per $1,000 over $4,000
'/2 Original Fee &approval of CEO
$25
No Charge
$25 (includes original fence if needed)
$50 (includes original fence)
$25
$25
$25
$25
$25
No Charge
$2.50 per $1,000 of Construction Cost
$25
$10
$25
No Charge
$25
$25 Annually
$25 Annually
$30 + $20 per lot
$50 + $20 per lot
Preliminary Review - $100 + $20 per lot
Final Review - $100 + $20 per lot
$25
Preliminary Review - $100 + $20 per lot
Final Review - $100 + $20 per lot
Town Board Review - $200
Site Plan Review by Planning Board - $200
2000 sq. ft. &under - $100
2001 sq. ft. &over - $200
No Charge
Town Board Minutes
Page 6 January 14, 2014
Special Permit -
Cemetery
$200
Special Permit -
Junk Yard
$500
Special Permit -
High Density Housing
$500
Special Permit -
Mining
$500
Special Permit -
Manufactured Home Park
$500
Special Permit -
Sexually Oriented Businesses
$750
Mass Gathering Permit
$750
Application for
Variance or Interpretation
$50
Additional Fees:
1. Fees listed do not include postage, which may be an additional charge at current
postal rates.
2. If a public hearing is required, the applicant shall pay the cost of advertising fees.
3. Costs incurred by the Town of Groton for engineering, planning, legal and other
necessary expenses for the purpose of reviewing any application with regard to
an item covered by this fee schedule shall be paid by the applicant.
4. The applicant shall be responsible for costs incurred by the Town of Groton for the
review and/or preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement if said
statement is necessary.
5. When Fees Are To Be Paid: All fees required by this fee schedule shall be paid to
the Town of Groton at the time the application is presented. No permit/certificate
will be issued until all fees, costs, and/or expenses are paid in full.
Item # 20 - Miscellaneous Appointments, Fees, Etc - MOVED by Supervisor Morey,
seconded by Councilperson Sovocool.
Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Morey.
RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby approve the following miscellaneous
appointments, fees, etc:
1. Annual Retainer Fee for Legal Services rendered by Pomeroy, Armstrong, Casullo
& Monty.
2. Authorize Highway Superintendent to give pay raises effective January 1, 2014
3. Authorize Annual Association of Towns Training School - February 16-19, 2014, in
NYC;
4. Appoint Glenn Morey as Delegate for Annual Association of Towns Meeting
5. Appoint contact people for Drug and Alcohol Testing Program - Richard Case and
Glenn Morey.
6. Appointment of Town Planning Board Member - Reappoint Barbara Clark term to
begin January 1, 2014 and end December 31, 2020.
7. Appoint member to Zoning Board Member - Reappoint Paul Fouts for a term to
begin January 1, 2014 and end December 31, 2017.
Town Board Minutes Page 7 January 14, 2014
8. Appoint members of Agriculture Advisory Committee -Daniel Carey (Chairperson),,
Marlin Houston, Robert Fouts.
9. Appoint members of the Ethics Board - Glenn Morey, John Watkins, John MacLean,
Daniel Carey, John Miller
RESOLUTION #14-002 - CONTRACT FOR AUDIT OF 2013 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilperson Clark.
Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Morey.
RESOLVED.. that the Town Board does hereby retain the services of Cisaschi, Dietershagen,
Little, Mickelson & Company, LLP, to audit Financial Statements, including Justice Court,
for the year ended December 31, 2013.
RESOLUTION #14-003 - APPROVE 2014 DOG CONTRACT
MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilperson Smith
Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Morey.
RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby approve the 2014 contract with the Country
Acres Pet Services for the purpose of dog control in the Town of Groton at a fee of
$18,,600.00 ($1550.00 per month).
RESOLUTION #14-004 - AUTHORIZATION TO PARTICIPATE IN COOPERATIVE PURCHASING OF
HIGHWAY SERVICES WITH TOMPKINS COUNTY
MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilperson Gamel.
Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Morey.
RESOLVED.. that the Town of Groton be hereby authorized to participate with Tompkins
County in the cooperative purchasing of various highway services.
RESOLUTION #14-005 - AUTHORIZE HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT TO PURCHASE ON STATE BID
MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilperson Clark
Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Morey.
RESOLVED.. that the Groton Town Board does hereby authorize the Highway
Superintendent to purchase oil and related products from State Contract Bids as
appropriate.
RESOLUTION #14-006 - APPROVE FIRE AND AMBULANCE PROTECTION CONTRACTS
MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilperson Sovocool
Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Morey.
RESOLVED.. that the Town Board does hereby approve the 2014 Fire and Ambulance
contracts with the Village of Groton Fire Department and Fire Protection with the
McLean Fire Department.
Town Board Minutes
Page 8 January 14, 2014
RESOLUTION #14-007 - APPROVE 2014 MUNICIPAL DRUG AND ALCOHOL TESTING
MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilperson Gamel
Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Morey.
RESOLVED.. that the Town Board does hereby approve Energetix as Third Party
Administrator for the 2014 Municipal Agreement Renewal for the Drug and Alcohol
Testing.
This concluded the 2014 Organizational Items.
MOVED by Councilperson Gamel, seconded by Councilperson Sovocool, to approve
the minutes of the December 10, 2013 meeting and Public Hearing as presented.
Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Morey.
Claim Numbers 341-364 of the 2013 General Fund in the amount of $12,313.04 were
presented for audit.
MOVED by Councilperson Sovocool, seconded by Councilperson Gamel, to approve
the 2013 General Bills for payment.
Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Morey.
Claim Numbers 1-20 of the 2014 General Fund in the amount of $290,332.91 were
presented for audit.
MOVED by Councilperson Clark, seconded by Councilperson Gamel, to approve the
2014 General Bills for payment.
Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Morey.
Claim Numbers 204-224 of the 2013 Highway Fund in the amount of $70,,028.38 were
presented for audit.
MOVED by Councilperson Gamel, seconded by Councilperson Sovocool, to approve
the 2013 Highway Bills for payment.
Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Morey.
Claim Numbers 1-8 of the 2014 Highway Fund in the amount of $119,,072.43 were
presented for audit.
MOVED by Councilperson Sovocool, seconded by Councilperson Smith, to approve the
2014 Highway Bills for payment.
Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Morey.
Monthly Reports:
Charles Rankin.. Bookkeeper - Submitted monthly reports for the Board's review.
Town Board Minutes Page 9 January 14, 2014
Gary Coats, Code/Fire Enforcement Officer - Submitted monthly and annual reports for
the Board's review. 2013 was probably the most productive year since I've been here.
Complaints were way down and building permits were way up. I see no reason why
that won't continue.
Richard C. Case, Jr., Highway Superintendent - Was not present.
April L. Scheffler, RMC, Town Clerk/Tax Collector - Submitted monthly and annual Town
Clerk's report, monthly Tax Collector's report and Country Acres Pet Services report.
Gave Board resolutions that will be addressed at the Annual Association of Towns
Meeting and a packet from the Assessment Department explaining the property tax
cycle. We have the DEC program up and it is not as easy as we thought it would be as
it is not compatible with current web browsers. I have the Human Services contract
that needs to be approved.
RESOLUTION #14-008 - APPROVE 2014 AGREEMENT WITH HUMAN SERVICES COALITION
MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Gamel
Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Morey
RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves the 2014 agreement between the
Human Services Coalition and the Town of Groton.
Fran Casullo, Attorney for the Town - Had nothing to report.
John Norman & A.D. Dawson, Town Justices - Were not present, but had submitted
monthly and annual reports for the Board's review.
Councilperson Smith, Representative to Joint Youth Program - The youth wrestling
tournament was well attended by Lansing, Owego, Trumansburg and Groton. Girls'
youth basketball has low numbers, but the boys' teams are full. There's been some
sportsmanship issues so they had to have a meeting with parents. Winterfest is
Saturday, February 8t" at the Elementary School, so we're hoping for some snow for that
event. They're still lining up performers and may have a Red Cross blood drive. There
will be a chainsaw artist, food booth, bake sale, bounce house, obstacle course,
toboggan competition.
Brian Robison, County Legislator -Said that with three new members, they were also just
getting organized and appointing committees. They are working on the temporary
bridge in Groton City and should be close to getting open. (Councilperson Clark
interjects that is will be Thursday.) This year is slated for a study to decide whether to put
a permanent bridge back in or not and there will probably be a public hearing at some
point. He assured the Board that the County Highway Superintendent is not in the
business of closing if he can help it.
Privilege of the Floor:
Faith Tyler - Had written to Senator Seward about the playground at the Memorial Park
and is hoping that Councilperson Smith could help the Village out with the playground
problem.
Town Board Minutes Page 10 January 14, 2014
No one else wished to speak.
Rosemarie Tucker, Town Historian - Submitted her annual report for the Board's review.
She has sent it to the Tompkins County Historian who will forward the reports of all
Historians within the County to the Legislators and has sent a copy to the New York
State Historian. She is back in her office and available to help anyone who needs it.
She is very grateful for the continued support of the Board.
Supervisor Morey set a Work Session for Tuesday, January 28, 2014 at 6:00 pm.
Supervisor Morey asked for a consensus for Steve Foote and Richard Gamel to
represent the Town on a committee in conjunction with the Village of Groton to put a
survey out on the ambulance service. Consensus of the Board was that this would be
okay.
RESOLUTION #14-009 - REVISIT PROPOSE MORATORIUM ON HYDROFRACKI NG
MOVED by Councilperson Smith, seconded by Supervisor Morey
Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Morey
Nays - Gamel, Clark
RESOLVED, that the Town Board shall revisit the proposed six-month moratorium on
hydrofracking in the Town of Groton.
Joe Graham - Said that ever since a new payroll program was instituted, his deferred
compensation account has not been correct. He had brought it to the Bookkeeper's
attention on a couple of occasions. The last thing he had been told was that a
programmer would have to come in and it would cost money.
Supervisor Morey asked the Bookkeeper if he could have someone come in to do it.
Charles Rankin, Bookkeeper - Didn't know. He said that the person at Williamson Law
has interpreted the law in this way and this is the way they have set it up for every single
program. She may just say no, this is the way we do it across the board and just not do
it. So, our choice will be to either live with it or go get some other software.
Joe Graham - I don't believe that for a second. If that's the case, we've been doing it
wrong for seventeen years. Cornell University does this without a problem, so I don't
understand why we can't get this fixed.
Supervisor Morey asked the Bookkeeper to contact the person at Williamson Law and
Mr. Ranking said that he is dealing with some other issues concerning the W-2 forms and
will call the person the next day and say this the way the Town wants it.
Joe Graham - I'd just like to say, when it does get straightened out, I have the figures of
what has not gone into my retirement account and it can come out of one check, but I
would like that to be retro from the time this problem started.
Town Board Minutes
Announcements:
Page 11 January 14, 2014
➢ Planning Board, January 16 at 7:30 pm
➢ Zoning Board of Appeals, January 29 at 7:00 pm
➢ Winterfest, February 8
➢ Next Board Meeting, February 1 1 at 7:30 pm
There being no further business, Councilman Smith moved to adjourn, seconded by
Councilman Sovocool, at PM. Unanimous.
April L. Scheffler, RMC
Town Clerk