HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-12-2010 TOWN OF GROTON -MINUTES OF TOWN BOARD MEETING
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2010 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. Gomel, Councilman
Sheldon C. Clark, Councilman
Fran Casullo, Attorney for the Town
Also present: Nick Babel, Robin Cargian, April Scheffler.
MOVED by Councilman Sovocool, seconded by Councilman Scheffler, to approve the
minutes of the September 7, 2010 Board Meeting as presented.
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gomel, Clark, Morey.
MOVED by Councilman Sovocool, seconded by Councilman Gomel, to approve the
minutes of the October 4, 2010 Special Meeting as presented.
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gomel, Clark, Morey.
Claim Numbers 270-301 of the General Fund in the amount of $21,097.34 were
presented for audit.
MOVED by Councilman Gamel, seconded by Councilman Scheffler, to approve the
General Bills for payment.
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gomel, Clark, Morey.
Claim Numbers 173-192 of the Highway Fund in the amount of $65,961 .50 were
presented for audit.
MOVED by Councilman Clark, seconded by Councilman Sovocool, to approve the
Highway Bills for payment.
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gomel, Clark, Morey.
Monthly Reports:
Elizabeth Brennan, Bookkeeper/Highway Clerk- Was not present.
Gary Coats, Code/Fire Enforcement Officer - Was not present but had submitted a
monthly report for the Board's review.
Town Board Minutes Page 2 October 12,2010
Richard C. Case, Jr., Highway Superintendent - Was not present.
April L. Scheffler, Town Clerk/Tax Collector - Submitted monthly report, as well as the
Country Acres monthly report, for the Board's review. Notice had been received that
Stonehedges Golf Course is applying for renewal of their liquor license. Consensus of
the Board was that they had no objection to the renewal of the liquor license.
Clerk Scheffler had met with Attorney Casullo to review the new dog law that she had
been working on. She had also met with Chuck Ranking, the Village Clerk, to discuss
the law's effect on the Village and additions they would like to see. A final draft will be
completed and on the desk of the Board Members 10 days before a Public Hearing.
Clerk Scheffler discussed dog license fees with the Board. Dog control and licensing
costs for 2011 are estimated to be $19,630.00. She had prepared some figures to show
how much money the Town would retain in 2011 if they kept the license fees as they are
now at $10.00 for an altered dog and $18.00 for an unaltered dog. At that fee the
Town would retain approximately $16,715.00. Clerk Scheffler suggested different
options for possible fee increases and the resulting amount of money that the Town
would retain, most of which still would not cover expenses. By raising the fee to $12.00
for an altered dog and $20.00 for an unaltered dog, the Town would just about break
even on income versus expenses for 2011 . Consensus of the Board was that they would
probably go with the fee of $12.00 and $20.00. Further discussion took place on
impoundment fees, purebred licenses and replacement tags. A resolution on fees will
need to be made following passing of the local law.
Fran Casullo, Attorney for the Town - Had nothing to report.
John Norman & A. D. Dawson, Town Justices - Were not present but had submitted their
monthly report for the Board's review.
Councilman Donald Scheffler, as Recreation Coordinator - Programs are going well. We
are starting in with fall programs. The Halloween party is October 30, at the Legion,
followed by the Village's party. Soccer is wrapping up and we are starting basketball
next month. There are more than 180 kids involved in youth football and cheering,
which is just amazing. Tonight we discussed how the County is cutting Youth Services
money. It doesn't directly affect the Groton Recreation, but it does. I think it's wrong.
We're not dropping the Sheriff's Department or the Court system or alternatives to
incarceration but we're dropping preventative measures to help the kids and I think
that's wrong. I encourage everyone to write to their Legislator and let them know what
you think.
Email addresses of all the Legislators are listed on the County website. Supervisor Morey
said that he had written letters. He also said that there is a meeting on Wednesday for
Tompkins County Council of Governments to discuss the issue.
Discussion took place about when to schedule the Public Hearing for the 2011 Budget,
which has to take place by the Thursday following Election Day.
Town Board Minutes Page 3 October 12,2010
RESOLUTION #10-057 - RESCHEDULE REGULAR MEETING & SET PUBLIC HEARINGS
MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Clark
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey
RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby reschedules the Regular Monthly Meeting for
the month of November to Wednesday, November 3, 2010 and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Town Board shall hold a Public Hearing on the Town of Groton 2011
Budget for Wednesday, November 3, 2010 at 7:30pm and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Town Board shall hold a Public Hearing on the Groton Fire and
Ambulance 2011 Budgets to begin immediately following the close of the hearing on
the Town of Groton Budget.
RESOLUTION #10-058 - SET PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED LAW FOR
LICENSING & CONTROL OF DOGS
MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Gamel
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey
RESOLVED, that the Town Board shall hold a Public Hearing on Proposed Local Law #2
for the Year 2010 entitled Licensing and Control of Dogs in the Town of Groton for
Wednesday, November 3, 2010 at 8:00pm.
Announcements:
> Planning Board Meeting - October 21 at 7:30pm
➢ Zoning Board of Appeals - October 27 at 7:00pm
➢ The Town has received a Certificate of Appreciation from Youth Services
> Public Hearing on Town of Groton Land Use & Development Code - October 19
at 7:30pm
➢ Public Hearing on McLean Fire Department 2011 Budget - October 19 at 7:30pm
at the McLean Fire Hall
There being no further business, Councilman Gamel moved to adjourn. Councilmen
Sovocool and Scheffler had a disagreement over who would second the motion, with
Councilman Sovocool's seniority prevailing, having had the very distinct honor of
making this motion swept away from him for the "first time in 40 years." Motion for
adjournment was unanimous.
April L. Scheffler, RMC
Town Clerk