HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-01-2005
TOWN OF GROTON – MINUTES OF TOWN BOARD MEETING
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2005 AT 7:30 PM
PUBLIC INFORMATIONAL HEARING ON SMALL CITIES GRANT
PUBLIC HEARING ON 2006 BUDGET/FIRE & AMBULANCE BUDGETS
THE TOWN HALL, 101 CONGER BOULEVARD
Those present:
Glenn E. Morey, Supervisor
Ellard L. Sovocool, Councilman
Donald F. Scheffler, Councilman
Richard B. Gamel, Councilman
Sheldon C. Clark, Councilman
Victoria Monty, Attorney for the Town
Also present:
Gary Coats, Elizabeth Brennan, April Scheffler, Tyke Randall, Phyllis
Randall, Rosemarie Tucker, Frank Satterly, Daphne Slater, Stacey
Crawford, Kathy Cornell, Shirley Greene, Barbara Watts, Arthur Whalen,
Sr., Shirley Whalen, Robin Terwilliger, Valerie Beckley, Janice McFall,
Bud McFall, John Hartfor, Alan Edwards, Jr., Theresa Hoffman, Kevin
Parker, Joni Parker and several other members of the public.
MOVED
by Councilman Sovocool, seconded by Councilman Gamel, to approve the minutes of
the October 11, 2005 meeting and Public Hearing on the Joint Town and Village Comprehensive
Plan as presented.
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey.
General Fund
Claim Numbers 330-355 of the in the amount of $19,245.90 were presented for
audit.
MOVED
by Councilman Gamel, seconded by Councilman Scheffler, to approve the General
Bills for payment.
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey.
Highway Fund
Claim Numbers 175-193 of the in the amount of $23,889.96 were presented for
audit.
MOVED
by Councilman Clark, seconded by Councilman Sovocool, to approve the Highway
Bills for payment.
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey.
Town Board Minutes Page 2 November1, 2005
Privilege of the Floor
Supervisor Morey offered but no one wished to speak.
Monthly Reports:
Elizabeth Brennan, Bookkeeper\Highway Clerk
– Submitted monthly reports for the Board’s
review and asked for budget transfers.
RESOLUTION #05-107 – 2005 BUDGET TRANSFER – GENERAL FUND
MOVED
by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Scheffler
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey
RESOLVED,
that the Town Board approves the following 2005 Budget Transfer:
General Fund – Town Wide:
From: Contingency A1990.4…………………………$3,491.95
To: Buildings, Personal Services A1620.1………….. 438.67
Health Insurance A9060.8……………………..3,053.28
RESOLUTION #05-108 – 2005 BUDGET TRANSFER – HIGHWAY FUND
MOVED
by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Sovocool
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey
RESOLVED,
that the Town Board hereby approves the following 2005 Budget Transfer:
Highway Fund – Town Wide:
From: Bond, Interest DA9730.7………………………$1,708.36
Sick Leave DA5142.12………………………….2,146.80
To: Health Insurance DA9060.8……………………..3,855.16
Richard C. Case, Highway Superintendent
was absent. Report read by Highway Clerk:
At the present time the Highway Department is dedicated to the preventive maintenance program
and winter equipment change-over. Roadside mowing, drainage and culvert repair is still taking
place daily. Hot-patch work is being done when weather permits.
With regret, I accepted Randy Crispell’s resignation for the position of Highway Mechanic.
Randy saw us through one of the most productive summers the Highway Department has ever
had. Everyone at the Highway Department wishes him well in his future.
I have hired Dale Kinney from Stevens Road, Groton, to fill the position of Highway Mechanic.
th
Dale started work on October 26. Dale is providing his own tools and brings with him a very
impressive resume and a lot of experience. I request a Board resolution to pay Dale Kinney
$15.50 per hour to perform the position of Highway Mechanic.
Town Board Minutes Page 3 November1, 2005
RESOLUTION #109 – APPROVE WAGE FOR HIGHWAY MECHANIC
MOVED
by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Clark
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey
RESOLVED,
that the Town Board hereby approves a wage of $15.50 per hour, effective
October 26, 2005, for the Highway Mechanic, Dale Kinney.
Supervisor Morey
– We’d also like to thank Randy Crispell for very dedicated service and we
thank him very much.
Gary Coats, Code\Fire Enforcement Officer
– We’ve had a lot of houses finished up and a lot
of woodstoves. Life safety inspections are up to date. Yesterday Sheldon and Rick and I and
Rosemarie and Leslie Chatterton, the Historic Preservation Planner for the City of Ithaca, met at
Muka’s property and went through the property. There’s been large changes, all cosmetic. I’m
going to have to write a report again. There’s two buildings, actually, in one, in my opinion. As
you look at the house the one on the left, it’s tied to a telephone pole kind of thing inside the
house and perhaps with a cable with turnbuckles and the turnbuckles draw it to the house.
Evidently it had started pulling away from the house because it has no footer. It just has laid up
blocks like you’d put underneath a mobile home. As far as the house goes, there are major issues
with it. The foundation is sound. The floor joists, there’s three or four of them broken and they
could be easily repaired. But to build this to the energy code, to build this to the building code
the way it should be done, I believe it’s not going to be done by the current owner. If somebody
bought that and wanted to make it into a nice, beautiful little house and they had, I would say at
least $50,000 to put into it; a new kitchen, walls; make it energy efficient; deal with the ceiling
height issues; deal with the stairway issues; yes it could be done. But I don’t see the current
owner as being that individual. I mean, he did an awful lot of work but he’s just adverse to
spending a dime. He had the Stetsons from Summerhill hauling stuff out of there. All the
appliances are out of the house but there’s two or three bedrooms that he hasn’t gotten to yet and
there’s stuff two or three feet high all over.
Supervisor Morey
– But one of the additions up there has to be taken down. Isn’t that correct?
Mr. Coats
– In my opinion, yes, it can’t be safe. I fell through it. There’s rough-hewn sill, and
it’s not even there underneath the door. There’s a piece of luan plywood covering it up and I
broke through the luan plywood. The block walls, I don’t believe they are mortared and I
believe there’s no footer under that and that’s what caused it to sink. It’s pulling away from the
house so they put this turnbuckle in there to pull it back in and then they flashed it to cover the
gap where it pulled away from the house. So, I believe that has to go. We also did some quick
math up there. If someone was going to go in and redo the house they wouldn’t have to get
signed blueprints from and architect or engineer in New York State to do the house only but if
you added in the addition, then you would have to get stamped prints because it goes over the
1500 square foot threshold. There’s no saving to it; there’s no foundation. The house has got a
foundation and it’s fairly decent. I have confidence that house is not going to fall down but the
other part will. Is that pretty much what you guys think, having been in it?
Town Board Minutes Page 4 November1, 2005
Councilman Gamel
– That’s how I felt, Gary, I think the addition on the left is dangerous. I
think that could come down at any time and I think it should come home. But the main house I
think is a solid structure.
Mr. Coats
– To the right person that could be an asset.
Councilman Gamel
– I agree.
Mr. Coats
– Since he’s started cleaning up the price has gone up. His interest is in selling the
property, not to create a house there and live in it or fix it up and sell it as a house, he wants to
get $25,000 for it and sell it to somebody who would do the work. But that person coming in
better have the money, $50 – 70,000.
Supervisor Morey
– So, basically what your opinion is, is we’re just going to wait until he sells
it and hopefully the next owner and meanwhile this could go on for years and years?
Mr. Coats
– I think we should continue to get that one side torn down.
Supervisor Morey
– So, the recommendation for the Board is to keep going the way we have
been in the court to get rid of it. So, I think we should force the issue and carry on the way we
have been doing it. I don’t care what happens but I want a safe house and have somebody do
something with it. It’s gone on too long.
Councilman Clark
– I agree with you.
Councilman Scheffler
– Pursue it to the point where it’s safe. If that section comes down and
the rest of it’s doable I’d be willing to go that far with it. But the dangerous part definitely we
need to continue on. We might as well continue until he can prove that the house is no longer
dangerous and he can do that by taking down the bad spot. It’s up to him. Put the ball is in his
court.
Supervisor Morey
– We’d like to see some good faith.
Councilman Scheffler
– Yes, let’s see some good faith. If he knocks it down and the place is
solid then I’m happy.
Councilman Gamel
– I’d like to see the main house stay and I’d like to see the addition down. I
don’t think it’s necessary to tear that house down. Because it’s not the prettiest thing on the face
of the earth I don’t think it needs to come down. I don’t think that’s an issue that I need to make
a judgment on. I don’t think that’s my position. I think my position is to make it safe and I think
the only thing that needs to be done to make it safe is to take the addition off.
Councilman Clark
– I have a lot of mixed feelings on it but I’ll go along with that. My gut
feeling is that it ought to go but I will agree to give him a chance if he will show good faith.
Councilman Scheffler
– I would like to add that as a building I’d like to see it stay, if it’s safe,
but as a house that may be a different issue. For someone to live in a house that needs
everything that you say it needs……
Councilman Gamel
– No one could live in it as it sits right now, Don.
Town Board Minutes Page 5 November1, 2005
Councilman Scheffler
– You’d be surprised.
Councilman Gamel
– Yes, I know, the last person lived in it that way.
Councilman Scheffler
– But I’d be willing to call it a building and leave it standing. If
somebody wants to make a house out of it someday, they can get the permits.
Supervisor Morey
– Okay, carry on Vicki.
Councilman Clark asked about property located on the Groton/Summerhill border where junk
vehicles were accumulating on the Groton side of the road. Mr. Coats said that the appropriate
parties had been cited and told to remove the vehicles.
April L. Scheffler, Town Clerk\Tax Collector
– Monthly report was not submitted at this time
because bank statements had not yet been received. Next week is elections. The County may be
picking up some of the machines following the elections.
Supervisor Morey
– Have we worked anything out with the school?
Clerk Scheffler
– We don’t have the choice to work it out with the school. They are saying that
they are thinking of eventually giving them to the school after they get the new machines. But of
course eventually there won’t be anyone who knows how to set them up and there will be no
parts for them so it won’t be long before they’re obsolete. We have a meeting on December 16
with the Assessment Department and Budget and Finance to talk about new tax bills and all that
stuff. I told you that they are not going to extend the warrant so we have a lot of questions about
that and how it’s going to work. I have the Gadabout contracts to be signed. We have the
website just about ready to go. And that’s about it.
RESOLUTION #05-110 – APPROVE 2005 GADABOUT CONTRACT
MOVED
by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Sovocool
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey
RESOLVED
, that the Town Board hereby approves the contract with Gadabout Transportation
Services, Inc. for the calendar year 2005 in the amount of $4,370.00.
Victoria Monty, Attorney for the Town
– I have given the Board Members a confidential
memo on pending litigation. That’s all I have to report.
Councilman Donald Scheffler, as Recreation Coordinator
– Our Halloween Party went well
Saturday. The kids had a lot of fun. Parents had a lot of fun. I had a lot of fun. April had a lot
of fun. She darn near froze to death but had a lot of fun. We’re going to try to promote it again
next year.
Town Board Minutes Page 6 November1, 2005
PUBLIC HEARING – PROVIDING INFORMATION ON SMALL CITIES GRANT
Supervisor Morey opened the Public Hearing at 8:00PM. The Notice of Public Hearing was read
by the clerk, which had been published in the Town’s official paper, the Groton Independent.
Stacey Crawford, Better Housing for Tompkins County
– Basically the housing rehabilitation
program that the Town was awarded will provide enough funds to help as many as 20 people
with repairs on their homes. The cost of materials and things are going up so we’re not quite
sure if we will be able to help that many but we certainly will try. It can be to provide
rehabilitation for a number of major systems: roof, well, septic, windows, lead paint issues. A
total maximum for everything, it can’t be more than $25,000 per home. Not all homes need that
much so some get less than that and some get that much. It just depends on each individual
household and it has to be for health and safety things, not aesthetic things or just to enlarge a
house or something like that. The page I handed out has a chart on it that shows what the income
limits are.
Ms. Crawford explained some of the paperwork that would be needed if a person was selected.
She also explained that there would be a 5-year diminishing lien on the property after the work is
done and at the end of the five years it is totally forgiven. Better Housing has also started home
maintenance classes to help people who are interested.
She said that there is a long waiting list due to applications that have been previously submitted
and the oversight committee would be deciding how the grant would be distributed. There is still
paperwork that needs to be done before they begin but hope to start in December or January.
People can call Better Housing to find out if they are already on the waiting list. Staff would be
writing the bid specs and give help with finding contractors as well as be available if problems
arise along the way.
There were a few questions from the public. One person asked if replacing floor joists would
qualify and Ms. Crawford said yes. Someone else asked if they would do work on trailers and
she said they would if they were on private property and not in a park.
Supervisor Morey
– There are applications here on the table and there will be some in the Town
Clerk’s Office.
Councilman Scheffler
– Is this just for outside the Village or does it include the Village?
Supervisor Morey
– Outside the Village. The Village has their own program. The Committee
is going to be Lewie Sovocool, myself, usually the County Representative and Stacey. We
promise you that we will make this money go as far as possible and help everybody that we can.
We will take care of the emergencies and the most needy first and go on from there. It will take
time but we will not forget you. If you think we’re not working fast enough, please call me.
Supervisor Morey moved to close the Public Hearing, seconded by Councilman Sovocool, at
8:18PM.
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey
Town Board Minutes Page 7 November1, 2005
RESOLUTION #05-111 – APPROVE CONTRACT WITH NYSEG SOLUTIONS
MOVED
by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Sovocool
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey
RESOLVED,
that the Town Board hereby approves the natural gas sales agreement with
NYSEG Solution for a variable price.
RESOLUTION #05-112 – ADOPTION OF THE TOMPKINS COUNTY
MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL ALL-HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN
MOVED
by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Gamel
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey
WHEREAS,
Tompkins County and the municipalities therein have identified a history of
damages resulting from flooding, severe storms, winter storms, and other weather-related
phenomena, and have recognized the potential for future damages resulting from natural, human-
caused, and technological disasters, and
WHEREAS,
an all-hazards mitigation plan can provide recommendations to help prevent and
minimize the damages resulting from such events, and
WHEREAS,
the adoption of an all-hazards mitigation plan is required to be eligible to receive
State and Federal funding for hazard mitigation initiatives, and
WHEREAS,
the County of Tompkins and the towns of Caroline, Danby, Enfield, Groton,
Ithaca, Lansing, and Ulysses (Partners) executed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2003 to
develop a Multi-Jurisdictional All-Hazards Mitigation Plan (Plan), and
WHEREAS,
the Plan has been drafted in accordance with the requirements of the New York
State Emergency Management Office (SEMO), Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA), and Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, and
WHEREAS,
the Plan includes jurisdiction-specific recommendations to minimize the damages
associated with natural, human-caused, and technological disasters, and
WHEREAS,
the Plan has been made available for public review online at the Tompkins County
Planning Department Hazard Mitigation website and by placement in municipal offices, the
Tompkins County Planning Office, and the Tompkins County Public Library, with notices
published in the Ithaca Journal, the local paper of record, inviting public comment, and
WHEREAS,
public meetings were hosted by the Partners throughout the development of the
Plan to discuss the contents of the Plan with members of the public, and
WHEREAS,
comments from the public and Partners have been incorporated into the Plan, and
WHEREAS,
the Plan is wholly supported by its reviewers, and
Town Board Minutes Page 8 November1, 2005
WHEREAS,
the Town of Groton has reviewed the Plan and affirms that the Plan will be
updated no less than every five years,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED,
that the Town Board of the Town of Groton hereby
adopts the Tompkins County Multi-Jurisdictional All-Hazards Mitigation Plan as its all-hazards
mitigation plan, and resolves to execute the actions in the Plan.
RESOLUTION #05-113 – ADOPTION OF THE JOINT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
FOR THE VILLAGE AND TOWN OF GROTON
MOVED
by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Gamel
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey
WHEREAS,
the Comprehensive Plan Committee of the Town of Groton has worked in concert
with the Village of Groton Planning Board to develop a Joint Comprehensive Plan for the
Village and Town of Groton, and
WHEREAS,
the proposed Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village and Town of Groton is
intended to provide a framework for the future growth and development of the Village and Town
in a manner that promotes the health, safety and general welfare of all residents, and further,
promotes cooperation and coordination between the Town and the Village in addressing issues of
mutual cooperation, and
WHEREAS,
the Town Comprehensive Plan Committee, on August 17, 2005, held a Public
Hearing on the proposed Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village and Town of Groton to
receive public comments for and against the draft document, and
WHEREAS,
after receiving public comment, the Town Comprehensive Plan Committee, on
August 17, 2005, did forward the Plan document, with minor revisions, to the Town Board with
a recommendation that the Town Board adopt it, and
WHEREAS,
the Town of Groton Town Board, acting as lead agency for environmental review
under the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act, did on October 11, 2005 make a
negative determination of environmental significance, and
WHEREAS,
on October 11, 2005 the Town Board did hold a Public Hearing on the proposed
Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village and Town of Groton to receive public comments for
and against the draft document
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED,
that the Town of Groton Town Board hereby adopts the
Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village and Town of Groton, with those minor revisions, as
recommended by the Town Comprehensive Plan Committee.
Supervisor Morey
– I’d like to take this opportunity, personally, to thank the Town of Groton
Comprehensive Plan Committee, Chairperson Lyle Raymond, Mary Gloster, vice-chair, Monica
Carey, Steven Thane, our members at large, Julie Graham and Doug Albern and our consultant
Town Board Minutes Page 9 November1, 2005
George Frantz. Through their tireless efforts and dedication over the last three years, I believe
they have produced a truly comprehensive plan for the Town and Village which we can use as a
growth map for the future prosperity of the Town. The plan covers ten goals and objectives
which cover quality of life, community character, economy, agriculture, housing, education,
municipal services, the environment. I personally know that the committee spent many hours on
each and every one of these goals. Public opinions were received and incorporated into the plan.
I believe this is a flexible document that the Town will benefit from. I applaud the committee for
their work and I want to thank them.
PUBLIC HEARING UPON THE 2006 PRELIMINARY BUDGET
Supervisor Morey opened the Public Hearing at 8:30 PM. The Notice of Public Hearing was
read by the Clerk which had been published in the Town’s legal paper, the Groton Independent.
Supervisor Morey asked if there were any public comments and there were none. Amounts to be
raised by taxes are as follows:
A.General Fund…………………………$ 323,331.00
B.Part Town…………………………….$ 126,586.00
DA. Highway Fund Town Wide…………$ 562,600.00
DB. Highway Fund Part Town…………..$ 240,728.00
Total Town $1,253,245.00
Tax Rate for 2005………………………….$7.22 per thousand
close the Public Hearing
There being no further comments, Councilman Sovocool moved to ,
seconded by Councilman Scheffler, at 8:35 PM.
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey
RESOLUTION # 01-114 – ADOPT 2006 BUDGET
MOVED
by Councilman Sovocool, seconded by Councilman Gamel
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey
RESOLVED,
that the Town Board hereby adopts the 2006 Town of Groton Preliminary Budget
as the 2006 Town of Groton Final Budget.
PUBLIC HEARING ON FIRE AND AMBULANCE CONTRACTS
Supervisor Morey opened the Public Hearing at 8:35 PM. The Notice of Public Hearing was
read by the Clerk which had been published in the Town’s legal paper, the Groton Independent.
Supervisor Morey asked if there were any public comments and there were none. Supervisor
Morey pointed out that the Town of Groton Fire budget will be $81,000.00 for the Year 2006
and the Town of Groton Ambulance budget will be $75,000.00.
Town Board Minutes Page 10 November1, 2005
close the
There being no comments from the public or the Board, Supervisor Morey moved to
Public Hearing
, seconded by Councilman Gamel, at 8:37 PM.
RESOLUTION #05-115 – ACCEPT 2006 FIRE AND AMBULANCE CONTRACTS
MOVED
by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Scheffler
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey
RESOLVED,
that the Town Board hereby accepts the Town of Groton Fire and Ambulance
Contracts for the Year 2006.
Set Public Hearing Date:
The Town Board, wanting to pass a Local Law for disability tax exemption, set a Public Hearing
on said local law for Tuesday, December 13, 2005 at 8:00 PM.
Announcements:
Planning Board Meeting, November 17
Groton Historical Association Annual Dinner, November 12 at 5 PM at the Benn Conger
Inn, RSVP required
Executive Session
Motion was made by Councilman Scheffler to go into for reasons of
discussing a contract issue, seconded by Councilman Sovocool, at 8:22 PM.
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey
return to Regular Session
Motion was made by Supervisor Morey to , seconded by Councilman
Gamel, at 9:04 PM.
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey
Supervisor Morey
– Let the record show that nothing was decided.
There being no further business, Councilman Sovocool moved to adjourn, seconded by
Councilman Scheffler, at 9:05 PM. Unanimous.
April L. Scheffler, RMC
Town Clerk