Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-11-2009 TOWN OF GROTON - MINUTES OF TOWN BOARD MEETING TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2009 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: Ed Jacobs, Nick Babel, Scott Doyle, Gary Coats, Elizabeth Brennan, Richard C. Case, Jr., April Scheffler. MOVED by Councilman Gamel, seconded by Councilman Sovocool, to approve the minutes of the July 14, 2009 meeting as presented. Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey. MOVED by Councilman Sovocool, seconded by Councilman Scheffler, to approve the minutes of the August 4, 2009 work session as presented. Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey. Claim Numbers 215-248 of the General Fund in the amount of $19,387.73 were presented for audit. MOVED by Councilman Scheffler, seconded by Councilman Gamel, to approve the General Bills for payment. Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey. Claim Numbers 127-146 of the Highway Fund in the amount of$19,105.78 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. Supervisor Morey offered Privilege of the Floor. Ed Jacobs - The reason I came was to talk about the Ithaca Journal and how they're throwing these yellow packets in everybody's driveway. Whether you want them or not, you get them. Town Board Minutes Page 2 August 11, 2009 We get them week after week and it's getting to be a nuisance. No matter where you go, you see them. I suggest maybe through zoning they should have to get a permit and if the homeowner does not pick them up, they should have to go back and get them. In the long run it's our tax dollars that have to get rid of them. Supervisor Morey said he would call them in the morning. Monthly Reports: Elizabeth Brennan, Bookkeeper/Highway Clerk - Submitted monthly reports for the Board's review and asked for transfers. RESOLUTION#09-051 - 2009 BUDGET TRANSFER MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Gamel Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves the following 2009 Budget Transfer: General Fund- Town Wide: From: Contingency A1990.4 .$49.64 To: Buildings, Alarm System A1620.41 49.64 RESOLUTION #09-052 - 2009 BUDGET TRANSFER MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Sovocool Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey RESOLVED,that the Town Board hereby approves the following 2009 Budget Transfer: General Fund-Part Town: From: Contingency B1990.4 $1,387.88 To: Youth, Summer Jobs B7310.1 1,387.88 Gary Coats, Code/Fire Enforcement Officer - Submitted monthly reports for the Board's review. We've been working on the annual inspections and by next month they should be pretty much wrapped up. Robin has been a big help in getting stuff ready and keeping me on schedule. Richard C. Case, Jr., Highway Superintendent - There's been a lot going on. We've had a major rebuild on our roller, rebuilt the engine and we're rebuilding some of the hydraulics. Dale has done a good job on it and we hope to have it in service by tomorrow afternoon. We had a visit from PESH (Public Employee Safety and Health). Glenn will remember the size of the packet when it started and we are pretty well through that list of stuff. I have to sit down with April and we have to come up with an emergency evacuation plan. Then I have to go through the lock-out tag-out"procedure with everyone. You probably noticed that the handicap entrance door isn't working yet. The electrician will be back in to finish that and take care of some of the Town Board Minutes Page 3 August 11, 2009 overhead doors that didn't have the proper sensors in them. It should be operational by Monday. Along with the PESH thing, we have been going through the shop, cleaning, fixing some of the grates and drains that weren't up to spec and we will be ready to turn it over to the Historical Society for their annual flea market and the tractor show. Our youth program is up and running. We have two young fellows working, Don Evener and Chris Graham, and they received two days of safety training. They have been very helpful. They've been flagging traffic and they've been doing a real good job for the last couple of weeks. Next month I'll be coming to you with specifications for the broom/mower/loader tractor that we've been saving for and I'll be asking for the permission to go out to bid on that. We helped the Village do their paving and next week we are tentatively on to pave Stauber Road. April L. Scheffler, Town Clerk/Tax Collector - Submitted monthly reports for the Board's review as well as the County Acres report. The office has been busy and, as Gary said, Robin has been a really big help to both of us. We're getting ready for Olde Home Days. The photography show will be in the court room, SPCA will be out front with cats; County Acres will be out front with dogs; Enemy Opposition will be out here in the parking lot like they were last year. Vicki, Debbie, Janette and I are retiring from the Olde Home Days Committee this year. We have done it for five years and it's time to pass it on to someone else. Victoria Monty, Attorney for the Town - Had nothing to report. She had given everyone a memo to highlight a few things. Councilman Donald Scheffler, as Recreation Coordinator - Did not have a lot to report. This week's concert, August 13, will be at the Legion under the pavilion just in case it rains. Other than that, this weekend is Olde Home Days, and everyone have fun. Supervisor Morey - One other note, Thursday night, at the Groton Municipal Park, there's an end-of-summer celebration for the Youth Commission at 5:00. Scott Doyle, from Tompkins County Planning, was there to talk about the Purchase of Development Rights Program, which is a State grant program with funds that are provided for farmers to voluntarily sell their development rights. That land is then held in a conservation trust and the agricultural use of the land is protected. The program seems to be getting better each year. The Benson farm in West Groton had expressed interest in the program and that was one of the reasons that Mr. Doyle was there to talk to the Board. The Town's support would be needed to proceed with any project. Mr. Doyle described some of the projects that had been done in other towns in Tompkins County. There are various approaches that may be taken depending on the level of involvement for the Town. Some towns with a lot of staff are able to do grant applications themselves and those without the staff may choose to let the County handle everything for them. The County would like to support one or two of these projects in Groton. There are still many things that would have to be done before even starting an application for the Bensons but Mr. Doyle felt this was the time to let the Board know about it and if they are in support of the idea, to have the Board do a resolution to that effect at some time. Mr. Doyle explained some more about the grant process, how long it takes, and some of the expenses for the farmer, such as income taxes and attorney fees. Town Board Minutes Page 4 August 11, 2009 An initial Budget Work Session was set for Thursday, September 3, 2009 at 7:00 pm. Announcements: ➢ Zoning Board of Appeals, August 26 at 7:00 pm ➢ Planning Board, August 20 at 7:30 pm ➢ Groton Olde Home Days, August 14 - 15 ➢ Thank you from the Kelly family(Peg Palmer's mother) There being no further business, Councilman Sovocool moved to adjourn, seconded by Councilman Scheffler, at 8:15 pm. Unanimous. April L. Scheffler, RMC Town Clerk