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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-08-08 TOWN OF GROTON - MINUTES OF TOWN BOARD MEETING TUESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2006 AT 7:30 PM 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: Robert Elliott, Sara Elliott, Tyke Randall, James Cosgrave, Gary Coats, Elizabeth Brennan, April Scheffler. MOVED by Councilman Sovocool, seconded by Councilman Gamel, to approve the minutes of the July 11, 2006 meeting as presented. Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey. Claim Numbers 228-258 of the General Fund in the amount of$19,224.48 were presented for audit. MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Clark, to approve the General Bills for payment. Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey. Claim Numbers 123-138 of the Highway Fund in the amount of$5,170.26 were presented for audit. MOVED by Councilman Gamel, seconded by Councilman Sovocool, to approve the Highway Bills for payment. Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey. Claim Numbers 29-30 of the Special Grant (HUD) Fund in the amount of $22,145.66 were presented for audit. MOVED by Councilman Sovocool, seconded by Councilman Scheffler, to approve the HUD bils for payment. Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey. Town Board Minutes Page 2 August 7, 2006 Privilege of the Floor: Robert & Sara Elliott from Pleasant Valley Road presented a petition containing 64 signatures of residents from Pleasant Valley Road requesting that the Town review the speed limit and make a request for a reduced speed limit on the road or to at least have the 55 miles per hour posted. The road is often used as a short cut and many motorists not only do not obey the 55 miles per hour but are often going 70-75 miles per hour. Mr. Elliott had been involved in an accident as have other residents. The Sheriff's Department has set up an electronic sign to let people know what speed they are going but that will not be there for very long. Supervisor Morey— We will start the ball rolling right now and although Rick Case is not here tonight, we will discuss it with him. Monthly Reports: Elizabeth Brennan, Bookkeeper/Highway Clerk — Submitted monthly report for the Board's review. Thomas Surowka, The Bay Ridge Group, Inc. — Was there to talk to the Board about his company and the health insurance options that they offer. There are many different options with different deductibles and co-pays, many of which he explained to the Board. His company represents various insurance carriers and work to get their clients the best coverage at the best price. He feels that we could get equal or better coverage than we have now for less money. The Board thought that they would look over the information and make it available to the employees. Mr. Surowka is also going to help the Bookkeeper with the required IRS document that will allow the Town to begin taking health insurance premiums out of employee paychecks pretax. Gary Coats, Code/Fire Enforcement Officer — Submitted his monthly report for the Board's review. Mr. Coats discussed the Muka case, which they had gone to court as ordered and Mr. Muka had not shown up. The Judge said that he would be giving a written order very soon. An architect had called Mr. Coats this morning wanting to go over the plans he had made up for Mr. Muka and Mr. Coats had told him that it was too late since Mr. Muka had not adhered to the court date. There was also a phone call from Mr. Muka accusing the Town with having secret meetings with Judge Mulvey. Any further contact with Mr. Muka should be done through the attorney's office. Mr. Coats also told the Board about the demolition of a building that had burned in McLean and some of the problems he has been having with illegal swimming pools. Inquiry was made as to the status of the property on Brown Road and Mr. Coats said that a violation had been mailed to them and they had until somewhere around the 15th of the month to comply. After that, if the property had not been cleaned up they would have to go to court. April L. Scheffler, Town Clerk/Tax Collector— Submitted her monthly report for the Board's review. Request had been received from Steve Thane to attend NY Planning Federation Conference. Town Board Minutes Page 3 August 7, 2006 RESOLUTION#06-069—APPROVE EXPENSES FOR NY PLANNING FEDERATION CONFERENCE MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Scheffler Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves payment of expenses for Planning Board Members Steve Thane and Lyle Raymond to attend the New York State Planning Federation Annual Conference to be held in Saratoga Springs for October 8—October 11, 2006. Clerk had informed the Board that there was a problem with the copier in her office and that it was so old that there were no more parts available to fix it. She had received three price quotes and told the Board that it would probably last until next year's budget. Board consensus was that she should go ahead and order a copier this year. Victoria Monty, Attorney for the Town — Had copies of local laws from other municipalities concerning sidewalks which provide for owners to clean sidewalks. Before she goes ahead and writes the law, she needed to know what the Board was thinking about as a timeframe to allow owners to clean sidewalks before the Highway crew came in and did it. She had contacted the person who had previously represented Diversified and found that he no longer represented them. She would be filing a special proceeding in Supreme Court sometime the next week. Councilman Donald Scheffler, as Recreation Coordinator — I don't really have anything except that things are going well and the summer programs are going well. Duane Randall, County Legislator — I just wanted to acknowledge that I did get your resolution and I've asked for it to be included on the Government Operations agenda. That's where it would have to go first and that meeting is next Wednesday at 3 o'clock so if you want to come there is a public part of that.. Glenn got a letter from the County about the Environmental Management Council. It's been vacant for awhile and that needs to be in by December 1. The other thing is, I have information on the Tompkins County Rural Small Business Program. Not too many people know about this, including myself, until it came forward in a committee. It's a program that's designated toward small businesses with five or fewer employees, operating in rural areas of Tompkins County, which excludes the City of Ithaca, Village of Lansing, Cayuga Heights and portions ' There's a 3% fixed loan. They provide loans from $5,000 to $25,000 and they can be used for real estate acquisitions, home improvements, equipment related improvements, working capital, and new inventory. Depending on the application, the term can be from 20 years down to 5 years. There's another program for businesses with more employees. I think those limits are $25,000 to $50,000. The other criteria is that you have to take a small business training program but in some cases if you've operated a small business for awhile you can substitute that for the criteria. Town Board Minutes Page 4 August 7, 2006 The Farm City Day is next Saturday from 11 to 4. It's in the Town of Lansing at Mike and Rebecca Pollack's. It's on West Groton Road, Lansing. The only other thing of major interest at the County level right now is the discussion about the transfer tax. I'm sure you've read about it. I can honestly say that I certainly don't support it. There was a public hearing for it at the last meeting but that was kind of putting the cart before the horse because the Governor hasn't signed the legislation yet to let counties charge to get some of that money. The State gets $4.00 per thousand and this legislation lets the counties get part of that by adding another $2.00 per thousand. It's going to just hurt the taxpayers that much more especially the first time home buyers and the elderly. If you have any concerns, give me a call. RESOLUTION #06-070—RESCHEDULE SEPTEMBER MEETING MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Clark Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby reschedules the September Board Meeting for Tuesday, September 19, 2006 due to the fact that Primary Day will be on the regular Board Meeting night. Supervisor Morey — McLean sidewalks, I'm going to table that until Rick can be here. He wanted to talk about the bridge and the gravel bank and what's been happening there. Attorney Monty—I can tell you that Fran hasn't heard anything back on the gravel pit yet. Supervisor Morey set the first Budget Meeting for the year for September 7th. Supervisor Morey welcomed James Cosgrave who was there as part of fulfilling his Eagle Scout requirements. Announcements: ➢ Planning Board—August 17 ➢ ZBA -August 10 at 7:30 ➢ Benefit Dinner for Olde Home Days and the Historical Association on September 9 & 10 at the Benn Conger Inn 4:30— 11PM ➢ Groton Olde Home Days—August 18 & 19 ➢ Groton Youth Commission Carnival—Thursday, August 17 at the Memorial Park Town Board Minutes Page 5 August 7, 2006 Special Announcement: "Let it be known that Nicholas Richard Gamel was born July 24 2006 at 4:30 PM. He weighed in at 7 lbs. 1 oz. and was 20 inches long. He was born in Crouse Hospital, Syracuse, New York to the proud parents of Rick& Becca Gamel." There being no further business, Councilman Sovocool moved to adjourn, seconded by Councilman Scheffler, at 8:41 PM. Unanimous. April L. Scheffler, RMC Town Clerk