The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2017-04-11TOWN OF GROTON — MINUTES OF TOWN BOARD MEETING TUESDAY, APRIL 11, 2017 AT 7:30 PM THE TOWN HALL, 101 CONGER BOULEVARD Those present: Donald F. Scheffler, Supervisor Richard Gamel, Councilperson Kelly Smith, Councilperson Randy N. Jackson, Councilperson Sheldon C. Clark, Councilperson Victoria Monty, Attorney for the Town Also present: Glenn Morey, Dan Carey, W. Rick Fritz, Richard Case, Charles Rankin, David Norte, Jack Norte, April Scheffler. MOVED by Councilperson Smith, seconded by Councilperson Gamel, to approve the minutes of the, February 14, 2017 meeting as presented. Ayes - Gamel, Smith, Jackson, Clark, Scheffler. Vouchers numbered 128-178 in the total amount of $61,936.10 were presented to the Board for their review. Vouchers for the General Fund in the amount of $24,372.67 were presented for audit. MOVED by Councilperson Gamel, seconded by Councilperson Jackson, to approve the General Bills for payment. Ayes - Gamel, Smith, Jackson, Clark, Scheffler. Vouchers for the Highway Fund in the amount of $37,563.43 were presented for audit. MOVED by Councilperson Clark, seconded by Councilperson Jackson, to approve the Highway Bills for payment. Ayes - Gamel, Smith, Jackson, Clark, Scheffler. Monthly Reports: Charles Rankin, Bookkeeper - Submitted monthly reports for the Board's review. The Annual Report has been filed with the State Comptroller and the Town Clerk. W. Rick Fritz, Code/Fire Enforcement Officer - Submitted monthly reports for the Board's review. The new building permit program is up and running. I have set up my ipad to see all the permits and information I need at the job site, and take pictures of what is going on. After a little over a year, 1 School Street finally has a certificate of compliance for its life safety inspection. The new fee schedule is going smoothly. We are up to 5 new homes and 2 commercial building permits for the year. Mr. Fritz has been spending some time with contractors and working with them on the new energy codes. Town Board Minutes Page 2 April 11, 2017 Richard C. Case, Jr., Highway Superintendent - The shop is changing over snowplows to dump trucks. They've been tied up on Brown Road with beaver and a pipe situation, which has taken some time. The pipe was delivered and they hope to have the road open by the mid part of next week. Intersections are being broomed. They are working on Wickham Road, removing some brush, to provide the far end of the road better access where a new house is being built. The new "Welcome to Groton" signs had been delivered but when opened they were "Don't Feed the Wildlife" signs with pictures of ducks. Apparently they belong to the City of Ithaca and hopefully our signs will show up soon. April L. Scheffler, RMC, Town Clerk/Tax Collector - Submitted monthly reports for the Board's review. We will be gone to conference April 23 - 26, so office will be closed. The County Highway guys came and installed the post for the Bicentennial historical sign that the County is providing. The official unveiling will be May 20 and the County will be furnishing ice cream cones. Victoria Monty, Attorney for the Town - Had nothing to report. John J. Norman and A. D. Dawson, Town Justices - Were not present but had submitted monthly reports for the Board's review. Councilperson Kelly Smith as Representative to Joint Youth Program - I am going to be the chair of the committee again. Scott Weeks is the vice -chair. Summer programming is moving along. So far the camps are tennis, basketball, art, not a bummer summer, golf, and science. Still working on archery, soccer, and track & field. They are going to have a junior fire academy for a week. The summer concerts are scheduled but for the 4th of July we are just going to have a DJ. They will be hiring for the pool and are getting binders ready for the different sports groups. On May 3 at 7:00 pm, they are going to talk about the two needs assessments that were done and come up with an executive summary by the end of the summer. Town and Village Board Members, School Board, Scout Leaders, Churches, etc. have been invited to participate in that. Glenn Morey, County Legislator - The ice cream that will be served at the sign unveiling will be a special Tompkins County ice cream that will only be made this year. There are no major projects scheduled for the roads in the County this year, so if you have something, get with me and let me know what you want to do, because I also understand that the CHIPS fund is going up for the County. The budget process for the County starts April 25. RESOLUTION #17-028 - APPROVE 2017 CEMETERY RECORDS AGREEMENT MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Smith RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves the 2017 Groton Rural Cemetery Records Deposit Agreement for storage of cemetery records in the Town Clerk's vault and authorizes the Town Supervisor to sign said agreement. Ayes - Gamel, Smith, Jackson, Clark, Scheffler Nays - Resolution Passed RESOLUTION #17-029 - APPROVE 2017 HUMAN SERVICES CONTRACT MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Gamel RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves the 2017 contract between the Town of Groton and the Human Services Coalition of Tompkins County in the amount of $1,500.00. Ayes - Gamel, Smith, Jackson, Clark, Scheffler Nays - Resolution Passed Town Board Minutes Page 3 April 11, 2017 RESOLUTION #17-030 - APPOINT REPRESENTATIVE TO GROTON YOUTH COMMISSION MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Smith RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby appoints Donald Scheffler as the Representative to the Groton Youth Commission. Ayes - Gamel, Smith, Jackson, Clark, Scheffler Nays - Resolution Passed RESOLUTION #17-031 - DECLARE APRIL AS FAIR HOUSING MONTH MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Jackson WHEREAS, in accordance with the Title VIII Fair Housing Policy of the Civil Rights Act of1968 and the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 and, WHEREAS, the Month of April 2017 has been designated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Office as Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity as Fair Housing Month, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Groton hereby declares and proclaims April 2017 as Fair Housing Month in the Town of Groton. Ayes - Gamel, Smith, Jackson, Clark, Scheffler Nays - Resolution Passed RESOLUTION #17-032 - POPPY TIME IN THE TOWN OF GROTON MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Clark WHEREAS, the Carrington -Fuller American Legion Post #800 Auxiliary works unselfishly throughout the Town of Groton, and WHEREAS, the American Legion Auxiliary annually sponsors the traditional offering of the "POPPIES" to the Groton area, and WHEREAS, by offering these "POPPIES" the Auxiliary helps to benefit the needs of the disabled American Veterans by providing workshops and therapy for them through the Veteran's Hospitals, NOW THEREFORE, I, Donald F. Scheffler, Supervisor of the Town of Groton, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM, the month of May 2017 to be "POPPY TIME" in the Town of Groton and respectfully encourage all members of the Groton Community to generously support the Legion Auxiliary during "POPPY TIME". Ayes - Gamel, Smith, Jackson, Clark, Scheffler Nays - Resolution Passed Privilege of the Floor: Jack Norte - Was there with his father David. Jack is a Scout, working on his merit badge in government, so had come to observe. Dan Carey - Wanted to let the Board know that they had gotten an agricultural program started in the Groton School. He has been working on this since last fall. He had contacted, Derrick Hill, Executive Town Board Minutes Page 4 April 11, 2017 Secretary of the National Future Farmers of America (FFA), who helped him form a steering committee, put together a charter for their group and then met with the School Board. The great thing we have going for us here in Groton is that we have a teacher with Ag Accreditation. That is something that is lacking throughout the State. Mr. Hill is working with 60 districts throughout the State who want to get this program going, but they don't have a teacher. Cornell walked away from the program several years ago, but Ithaca College has picked it up. The Superintendent has been a great help and is forthcoming with anything we can do to get the program started. This fall there will be one ag course, Introductory Ag Science, which will kind of a survey class covering several subjects. The following year they are going to try to have two classes. Once there are two classes, they can start an FFA Chapter, which is one of their goals. There is a great team at the school and they have received a sizable contribution from the Tompkins County Farm Bureau. Going forward, they will form a 501-3C, non-profit organization so they can do fund-raising for the FFA Club, etc. Announcements: ➢ Planning Board, April 20th at 7:30 pm ➢ Zoning Board of Appeals, April 26th at 7:00 pm ➢ National Day of Prayer, May 4th ➢ Happenin' in the Hamlet, May 4th, 5th & 6th in McLean ➢ Assessment Review Day, May 11th at Town Hall ➢ Annual "Donuts with the Farmers" April 13th at 10:00 am ➢ Next Board Meeting, May 9th at 7:30 pm There being no further business, Councilman Gamel moved to adjourn, seconded by Councilperson Jackson, at 8:08 pm. Unanimous. April L. Scheffler, RMC Town Clerk