The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2007-12-11 TOWN OF GROTON - MINUTES OF TOWN BOARD MEETING TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2007 AT 7:30 PM PUBLIC HEARING - PROPOSED LOCAL LAW #3 FOR 2007 AT 8:00 PM THE TOWN HALL, 101 CONGER BOULEVARD Those present: Glenn E. Morey, Supervisor Ellard L. Sovocool, Councilman Donald F. Scheffler, Councilman Sheldon C. Clark, Councilman Victoria Monty, Attorney for the Town Absent: Richard B. Gamel, Councilman Also present: Gary Coats, Jay Franklin, Tyke Randall, Jacalyn Spoon, Matt Cooper, April Scheffler. MOVED by Councilman Clark, seconded by Councilman Scheffler, to approve the minutes of the November 13, 2007 meeting as presented. Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Clark, Morey. Claim Numbers 373-404 of the General Fund in the amount of$15,454.29 were presented for audit. MOVED by Councilman Sovocool, seconded by Councilman Scheffler, to approve the General Bills for payment. Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Clark, Morey. Claim Numbers 194-218 of the Highway Fund in the amount of$38,686.99 were presented for audit. MOVED by Councilman Clark, seconded by Councilman Sovocool, to approve the Highway Bills for payment. Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Clark, Morey. There were no Special Grant(HUD)Fund bills. Town Board Minutes Page 2 December11, 2007 RESOLUTION#07-088 -2007 BUDGET TRANSFERS MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Clark Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Clark, Morey RESOLVED,that the Town Board hereby approves the following 2007 Budget Transfers: General Fund- Town Wide: From: Contingency A1990.4 $1,614.07 To: Justice, Contractual A1110.4 ...75.67 Youth, Contractual A7320.4 1,400.50 Historian, Contractual A7510.4 .137.90 RESOLUTION #07-089 - 2007 BUDGET TRANSFERS MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Scheffler Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Clark, Morey RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves the following 2007 Budget Transfers: General Fund-Part Town: From: Contingency B 1990.4 .$554.55 To: Zoning Officer Salary B8010.4 134.55 Zoning, Equipment B8010.2 420.00 RESOLUTION#07-090 - 2007 BUDGET TRANSFERS MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Sovocool Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Clark, Morey RESOLVED,that the Town Board hereby approves the following 2007 Budget Transfers: Highway Fund- Town Wide: From: Snow Removal, Sick Time DA5142.12 $6,142.54 To: Health Insurance DA9060.8 ....6,142.54 Monthly Reports: Gary Coats, Code/Fire Enforcement Officer: Submitted monthly reports for the Board's review with the addition of a report on complaints. He reported that he had not heard from Mr. Muka and said that the time that the Board had extended to him last month was almost up. He did not think that Mr.Muka had been on the site working in a couple of months. He said that he and the Town Clerk had done interviews to fill the position of Deputy Clerk and Debbie Lane had been hired. He said that she was very eager to learn and he was happy with how she was coming along. He thanked the Town Clerk for filling in when there was no Deputy. He wished everyone a happy holiday. Town Board Minutes Page 3 December11, 2007 Richard C. Case, Jr., Highway Superintendent - The following report was submitted: The Highway Department is dedicated to winter highway maintenance. I would like to compliment the employees for making this transition as smooth as possible. We had extra projects taking place that warranted some of our snow removal equipment's use right up to the last minute. Dale attended a fuel seminar sponsored by D & W Diesel. The topic was ultra low sulfur bio-diesel and its impact on fuel systems and engine operations. Notices of appreciation and award were sent to the vendors that participated in the shoulder machine bid. Delivery of the shoulder machine is expected any day. The annual NYSDOT Highway Mileage Inventory has been checked and filed. The Town of Groton has 53.45 center line miles of roadway within its jurisdiction. At this time I would like to request a resolution for the joint purchase of a wood and brush chipper with the Village of Groton. RESOLUTION#07-091 -APPROVE PURCHASE OF WOOD & BRUSH CHIPPER JOINTLY WITH VILLAGE OF GROTON MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Sovocool Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Clark, Morey RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves the joint purchase with the Village of Groton of one Hurricane 18" wood and brush chipper under NYSOGS contract for a price of $34,460.00. The Town portion of this purchase will be $17,230.00. April L. Scheffler, Town Clerk/Tax Collector - Submitted monthly reports for the Board's review as well as various 2008 contracts that needed to be signed. Victoria Monty,Attorney for the Town -Had nothing to report. Councilman Donald Scheffler, as Recreation Coordinator - Winterfest is scheduled for February 16 & 17. We are going to have a "recycled toboggan" contest for people to make a toboggan out use things, whatever they can find. Councilman Scheffler has constructed one that is on display in the Village as advertisement for the event. Duane T. Randall, County Legislature - Did not have anything to report. RESOLUTION #07-092 -APPOINT PAUL FOUTS TO ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Clark Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Clark, Morey RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby appoints Paul Fouts to the Town of Groton Zoning Board of Appeals to fill out the position left vacant by the resignation of Tom Tylutki, for a term to end December 31, 2008. Town Board Minutes Page 4 December11, 2007 RESOLUTION#07-093 -APPROVE 2008 DOG CONTROL CONTRACT WITH COUNTRY ACRES PET SERVICES MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Scheffler Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Clark, Morey RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves the 2008 Dog Control Contract with Country Acres Pet Services in the amount of$15,900.00. RESOLUTION#07-094 -APPROVE 2008 HIGHWAY AGREEMENT MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Sovocool Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Clark, Morey RESOLVED, that the Town Board approves the 2008 agreement with the Town of Groton Highway Employees and be it further RESOLVED, that the Town of Groton Highway Employees be granted the following for the year 2008: 1) $.65 per hour raise in pay across the board. 2) Raise clothing/boot allowance to $175.00 per year. 3) Raise Auto Mechanic's tool allotment to $800.00 4) Obtain a rider on Town's liability insurance for Mechanic's tools. 5) Pay $500 incentive, per year, per employee for those not participating on the Town's health insurance plan. RESOLUTION#07-095-APPROVE 2008 FIRE PROTECTION CONTRACT MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Scheffler Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Clark, Morey RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves the 2008 Fire Protection Contract with the Groton Fire Department in the amount of$90,000.00. RESOLUTION #07-096 -APPROVE 2008 AMBULANCE CONTRACT MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Clark Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Clark, Morey RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves the 2008 Ambulance Service Contract with the Groton Fire Department in the amount of$86,000.00. Town Board Minutes Page 5 December11, 2007 RESOLUTION#07-097-APPROVE APPOINTMENT OF DEPUTY CLERK MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Sovocool Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Clark, Morey RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves the appointment of Deborah Lane as Deputy Town Clerk as a full time employee at 35 hours a week at $10.00 an hour for the initial probation period starting December 3, 2008. Jay Franklin, Tompkins County Assessment - Was present to speak to the Board about increased income limits for seniors 65 or older and disabled exemptions set by the State. When the County adopted the higher limits there was about a $17,000 shift county-wide to the remaining tax base. He did not have the figures on what it would mean to the Town of Groton and it would depend on the income levels that the Town chose. Supervisor Morey asked Mr. Franklin to put together some figures for them. The State has also added a Cold War Veterans exemption for veterans who served during the Cold War and not during a period of conflict. Amounts of exemptions would range between $4,000 and $12,000. The County has not opted to adopt this exemption at this time. Mr. Franklin will send the Town a sample resolution if they are interested. Mr. Franklin explained about the 2008 revaluation. In 2006 the County Legislature changed from annual assessment to a 3 year cycle and 2008 will be the third year of that cycle and assessments will return to 100% of fair market value. We will be looking at a 15% - 20% increase in assessments overall, based on what the value was as of July 1, 2007. Notices will begin going out to landowners on January 25, 2008, staggered every 2 weeks between the towns. Informal hearings will begin on February 2 so that the tentative assessment rolls can be completed by May 1. They will also be scheduling a town hall meeting to inform people and answer questions on how to prepare for the hearings. The Town Board set the 2008 Organizational Meeting for January 8, 2008 at 7:30 PM PUBLIC HEARING PROPOSED LOCAL LAW#3 FOR THE YEAR 2007 Supervisor Morey opened the Public Hearing at 8:00 PM. The Town Clerk read the Public Notice as it appeared in the Town's legal paper, the Groton Independent. Supervisor Morey asked if there were any questions or comments from the public, the Board, the Attorney or the Clerk. There were no questions or comments. Supervisor Morey moved to close the Public Hearing, seconded by Councilman Scheffler, at 8:03PM. Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Clark, Morey Town Board Minutes Page 6 December11, 2007 RESOLUTION#07-099 -ADOPT LOCAL LAW#3 FOR THE YEAR 2007 MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Sovocool Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Clark, Morey RESOLVED, that the Town Board adopts Local Law #3 for the Year 2007 entitled A Local Law To Enclose Items Or Information With Tax Bills. RESOLUTION#07-099 -APPROVE INCLUDING INFORMATION ON DOG CONTROL WITH 2008 TAX BILLS MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Scheffler Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Clark, Morey RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves including information concerning Town of Groton Dog Control with the 2008 Town& County tax bills. Announcements: ➢ Planning Board-December 20 ➢ Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting - December 19 ➢ Fun Day - Sponsored by Groton Youth Services, Groton National Honor Society & St. Anthony's Teen Group - December 15, 10:30 - 3:00 at Elementary School. $5.00 fee. Parents can drop kids off for the activities and go shopping or have free time. ➢ Groton Business Association Christmas Party, December 19 at the Groton Hotel ➢ McLean Community Council - January 16 There being no further business, Councilman Sovocool moved to adjourn, seconded by Councilman Scheffler at 8:05 PM. Unanimous. April L. Scheffler, RMC Town Clerk