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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1977-05-23 1 PUBLIC HEARING ON FEDERAL REVENUE SHARING MONIES Held at the Town Hall , Groton , New York Monday - May 23 , 1977 - 8 * 15 P . M . PRESENT : H . Dow - Town Supervisor C . Pierson � Town Clerk A . Heffron - Town Justice R . Walpole - Town Justice L . Sovocool - Town Councilman V . Rankin - Town Councilman Be Bucko as Town Attorney D . Snell - Zoning Enforcement Officer L . Cornelius - 'Gown Highway Superintendent J . Bell - Recording Clerk The Town Clerk read the Notice of Public Hearing aloud which was published in the Journal and Courier on May 11 , 1977 , a copy of which is on file in the Town Clerk ' s Office . H . Dow ; What we have to start off with - - let ' s speak of our assets , - - this is our regular one . We have $ 11 , 058 . 16 , - -what we ' ll get the 7th of July is $ 6 , 963 and again in October 6 , $ 963 so that makes a total of approximately $ 24 , 984 , - - say $ 25 , 000 lacking $ 16 . Now then , these are the goals we set for our regular Federal Revenue - - Old Stage Road Bridge $ 8 , 000 , Superintendant ' s Salary $ 12 500 (half of this is paid ) Day Care Center $ 1 , 250 ( paid ) Senior Citizens as needed , - - now they have come in for $ 190 which we have paid . We put $ 250 . there as - - - - value . Human Services Coalition $ 250 ( paid ) road oils $ 10 , 000 , road signs $ 1 , 000 , Youth Recreation Program $ 600 ( paid) . What we ' re obligated for is $ 25 , 250 , - - now we ' re going to have almost $ 25 , 000 so will be $ 297 short actually if none of these are flexible . Some of them might be like say road signs . So probably by the year ' s end we have our more than $ 297 made up . We don ' t know how firm this figure is * ( $8 , 000 Old Stage Road ) we are assuming that . The only thing we are sure of is Corny ' s salary . Maybe the road oil will be leas , - - we don ' t know . But that isi the total for the entire year out of which we have paid some things . V . Rankin : How do you get $ 25 , 000 - - H . Dow : The other half of Corny ' s salary . V . Rankin : 0 . K . H . Dow : But the net we will have is $ 24 , 984 , - - that ' s why I used the figure $ 297 as possible deficit which we will have to adjust . - 1 - 1 A . Heffron : I ' m not sure how we come to that figure if receipts are $ 33 , 850 . Is some of it carried over from last year ? H . Dow : Yes , - - in other words these are all in order . R . Walpole : How much money did we pay out of it last year , Hicks ? H . Dow : We use up all the money we get . L . Cornelius : We paid our new truck out of it last year . H . Dow : And then we bought 2 new trucks and paid all of it and then we bought this building here and paid that out of it . R . Walpole : In the original budget we didn ' t have the Youth Program in , did we ? H . Dow : No , but we ' ve been getting with - - - - - - - - - - in the Village Hall and are in a - - - - - - - - - - - - - whether we are going to go with the County Youth Bureau or keep our own program . R . Walpole : We decided to keep our own , didn ' t we? H . Doxv : Yes , but then they upped the price . Now DesRochers says we have to put in $3 , 200 . R . Walpole : We did last year . l H . Dow : Whatever it was , we did what we had to do to get $ 1 , 600 back this year so we ' ll get back half of the $ 3 , 200 this year . We only got $ 1 , 300 last year so that is what makes me wonder where we ' re getting these figures . A . Heffron : We got back the matching funds for what we put in . He Dow : Yes , that ' s what we got . So what we ' re talking about now is not $ 2 , 600 plus but $ 3 , 200 if we are going to stay independent . If the County comes in will get more but will also be paying for the County administrative - - 2 or 3 assistants and clerical help . Didn ' t they talk about that , Verl ? V . Rankin : I wasn ' t there . That was the night before . A . Heffron : Your comments are a little misleading , - -we put in $3 , 300 , - - - - - haven ' t we put in half of it? H . Dow : We put in whatever we budgeted , - - I believe $ 2 , 600 . R . Walpole : We turn the money over? A . Heffron : We turned over that much but half of it came back from the State . We didn ' t actually put $3 , 200 of our own money in . H . Dow : I know what we put in but we don ' t all agree on that . - 2 - A . Heffron : We paid it into the program but got half of it back so didn ' t actually spend $ 1 , 600 . H . Dow : We get matching funds back but the net outlay was half of that . A . Heffron : You have to come up with the total amount . R . Walpole : Right , to get half of it back . H . Dow : You folks who just came in , - - we have two to three minutes running on our second hearing which has to do with the use of Federal Revenue monies and this first part is the 1972 Federal Revenue Act which we plan to use as listed here . The next act came out this year , - - the 1976 Anti -Reserve Revenue Fund which is managed in a different way . The Anti-Reserve Fund has to be used in the 180 days , - - is of 6 months ' duration so the first allotment was $ 1 , 949 which has to be used by August 7th this year , the next one was $ 883 and that has until October so really these monies that we now have $ 2 , 847 . 36 have to be spent or obligated by October and here is what we ' re planning to do with it and this is what we use it for - - helps our community picture that much . We have some suggestions here - - $ 2 , 800 - - we have clerk ' s desk down here , which would be approximately $300 plus or minus and when we build the bridge our supervisor ' s pay will be somewhere between $ 750 - $ 900 and then we find we need extra help to do :.: inor construction so those are the three things we have up til now and we ' ll have more . As time goes by we ' ll probably think of things that will be coming along that we can do . R . Walpole : How ' s the rating based ? 2nd February received $ 1 , 949 , - -how do they base it ? Second time only $883 ? H . Dow : Because when it started out this was a two - quarter allotment and now it changes every month . It started out at 7 . 2 , now it ' s 6 . 4 and if it gets down to 4 . 5 we drop out of the picture . R . Walpole : What happens if we don ' t use it ? H . Dow : We send it back . They set that deadline for that reason . If you don ' t need it they assume you don ' t want it . It is now 8 : 30 F .M . our hearing time has elapsed so will close this hearing . Respectfully submitted, o Jos phine Bell - 3 - PUBLIC HEARING ON STATE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY REVIEW ACT Held at the Town Hall Groton , N . Y . Monday - May 23 , 1977 8 : 00 P.m . PRESENT : H . Dow an Town Supervisor C . Pierson as Town Clerk ! A . Heffron - Town Justice R . Walpole - Town Justice L . Sovocool - Town Councilman V . Rankin - Town Councilman Be Bucko - Town Attorney I D . Snell - Zoning Enforcement Officer L . Cornelius - Town Highway Superintendant J . Bell - Recording Clerk Mr . Dow asked the Town Clerk to read the Notice of Public Hearing aloud and Mrs . Pierson did so . This notice was published in the Journal and Courier May 11 , 1977 and a copy of same is on file in the Town Clerk ' s office . H . Dow : So much has happened to SEQRA since we met last , - -maybe , Ben , - -you could explain why we ' re doing what we ' re doing . Be Bucko : Everyone was concerned about the June lst deadline and before we could pass a resolution to have SEQRA adopted have to have this public hearing . Since the notice was published the, State legislature is delaying enforcement of SEQRA for another year ntil its all straightened out so my suggestion is that you don ' t act on the resolu- tion . You have a resolution and public hearing now and because of the intervening action of the legislature , the Town Board should take no action . H . Dow : I think that is what is generally being done all over the State . I think , though , for the record we should have a motion to shelf this action until such time as we are clear on the State requirements . Be Bucko : I think a motion is out of order as this is only a public hearing , so I suggest , - - Corny is the only public here , so we delay action until June 6 meeting and if the State has not clarified it by then table it again until the State clarifies the position . Mr . Dow closed - the _pub lib" hearing at 8 : 10 P .M . Respectfully submitted , % &OCC Jo ephi Bell PUBLIC HEARING ON JUNKYARD APPLICATION OF JAMES W . LOCKWOOD , R . D . 2 , 625 OLD STAGE ROAD , GROTON Held at the Town Hall Groton , Ne Y . Monday - Play 23 , 1977 8 * 30 P . M . PRESENT : H . Dow - Town Supervisor C . Pierson - Town Clerk A . Heffron - Town Justice R . Walpole - Town Justice L . Sovocool - Town Councilman V . Rankin - Town Councilman Be Bucko - Town Attorney D . Snell - Zoning Enforcement Officer L . Cornelius - Town Highway Superintendent J . Bell - Recording Clerk Approximately 40 members of the general public . The Town Clerk read the Notice of Public Hearing aloud which was published in the Journal and Courier on May 11 , 1977 , a copy of which is on file in the Town Clerk ' s Office . 11 , Dow : Is Mr . Lockwood here ? Be Bucko : I phoned and his wife said she didn ' t think he could come and wanted the hearing adjourned and I told her the hearing was on and would start in 4 minutes . H . Dow : So in that event , we ' ll start . You have heard the Clerk read the notice regarding James Lockwood ' s request to operate a Junkyard on Old Stage Road and as we always do at public hear- ings , involving all nearby neighbors and all who have an in- terest in it at all , we ' d like your input because in this manner only can the Town Board know what people think so this hearing is now open for input by you people and would you please give your name so that Mrs . Bell can take your name down and your testimony so when we refer to it later we ' ll know from whence it came . Be Bucko : Would you read the application of Mr . Lockwood For the record . H . Dow : I have here several papers relating to this , - - can probably sum _ them up in this way . James W . Lockwood residing at 625 Old Stage Road being the owner of a parcel of land located there and known as Lot 5 on Map 20 Section 1 Parcel 40 . 2 - - that 40 . 2 applies to a piece of land which is approximately 17 acres , in other words what he is referring to is parcel 40 . 2 would be a 17 acre junk- yard . Now that was signed July lst , - - the ordinance governing this whole 1 - H . Dow : procedure was adopted July 1 , 1968 known as the Groton Junk- yard Ordinance . This was signed by Mr . Lockwood on 5th March , 1977 and paid his fee 6th April , 1977 . Leading up to that the enforcement officer , Mr . Snell , in visiting the premises up there found a need to write this letter . This letter was sent to Mr . Lockwood dated March 30th . (Mr . Dow read the letter aloud , a copy of which is on file in the Town Clerk ' s Office . ) Mr . Lockwood then filed an application for a junkyard license and paid the required fee and I believe I read the dates of those actions . Now then that brings us up to date . We have to make judgment tonight on terms of his application and this hearing . Mr . Lockwood , did you just get here? J . Lockwood : Yes . H . Dow : We always ask the person who is making the application to stand up and state his case and give his reasons for the request and his intended procedure once he gets such a license . Now , Mr . Lockwood , would you stand up and state your case for the hearing ? J . Lockwood : I want it for one simple reason , so I can make an honest living - if I have to put up a fence , I ' m willing to do it . H . Dow : Mr . Lockwood , are we correct in stating that your parcel 40 . 2 is that 17 acres approximately ? J . Lockwood : Down in the corner , - -will keep them all back up in gravel pit out of the way . B . Bucko : You have drawn a map here , ,"Jim , haven ' t you left out 2 - - - - - - - - J . Lockwood : I just bought that back last night . B . Bucko : Alright , - -didn ' t you file for a subdivision and it ' s been approved ? J . Lockwood : Yes . li . Dow ; Now then , Mr . Lockwood , would you refer to the Fisher contract , - - what did you sell the Fisher ' s ? J . Lockwood : 4,�-5 acres between where Wood ' s trailer sits . H . Dow : Is that not 2 parcels ? D . Snell : Yes , it is . J . Lockwood : It ' s all combined , - -had to pay for one acre in order to get the money but it all goes together . 2 - D . Snell : It ' s 2 numbers on your tax map , - - 2 parcels recorded . B . Bucko : What Mr . Snell is saying and what Mr . Lockwood is saying that under subdivision regulations was a lot approved for just one acre parcel then you sold him another parcel . J . Lockwood : It was all sold at once . B . Bucko : But you had 2 deeds . J . Lockwood : No . B . Bucko : But it shows up as 2 prarcels on the tax map so is indicated by 2 separate deeds . J . Lockwood : It ' s only one deed . B . Bucko : Mr . Fisher can only build on that one lot . J . Lockwood : He had to pay cash for one acre to get the money to build house but he bought the whole chunk . B . Bucko • Did you give him e w y g on or two deeds ? J . Lockwood : I gave him one deed . B . Bucko : We ' ll have to check because they have listed as 2 separate parcels but if he builds on one he can ' t build on the other without subdivision regulations . H . Dow : Do you know why the subdivisions regulation is there , - -because it ' s 2 or more parcels . J . Lockwood : It ' s not , though . B . Bucko : You had approval for 4 lots and the map here doesn ' t show Wood lot which you sold them which you now say you bought . J . Lockwood : I sold it to them and they decided they didn ' t want it any more so I bought it . B . Bucko : So now this application , - - do you still want 17 acres where Wood lot included in the junkyard ? J . Lockwood : Yes . B . Bucko : So now you want 20 acres instead of 17 so your application is defective to that extent . H . Dow : Now , we have heard from the owner requesting the permit . Would someone lead off for those who might have a different point of view? R . Haskell : I ' m Richard Haskell and I live at 670 Old Stage Road right across from the area in question . I , for one , am not opposed to someone making an honest living but do not believe it should be at the expense of others who live in the neighborhood . I think I can - 3 - R . Haskell : state for most evetybody on Old Stage Road that we do not want a junkyard . As a matter of fact I have a formal petition drawn up by the residents which I would like to submit if possible . (,fir . Haskell handed the petition to Mr . Dow) I think if the Town Board would consider that over the course of the last couple of weeks have had two new houses on Old Stage Road between Chipman and Salt Roads and presently there ' s another house being built . We have kids in that neighborhood and are interested in the beauty of the community and we think this would be very adverse to that and I guess my main point is build - ing a junkyard right across from my property is going to devaluate that property and I don ' t believe that - should be the case . S . DeShields : I ' m Stephen DeShields of 823 Old Stage Road , - - I ' m a relatively new member to Groton or at least to Old Stage Road and I left Washington for various reasons , - - pollution , garbage , stuff like that and I know the parcel of land you ' re referring to and I consider I have invested a lot of money in my property and I don ' t want a junkyard and if you put in a junkyard there will be trucks hauling to and from and I don ' t feel that ' s the proper place for it . I am opposed to a junkyard on that road . H . Dow : As we proceed , Mr . Lockwood , - - if any statement is made you want to take issue with , you have a right to the floor . J . Lockwood : I ' m willing to listen to people . R . Walpole : Mr . DeShields , do you border on Lockwood ' s property ? S . DeShields : No , I ' m down a little further . H . Dow : How much road frontage do you have ? Be Buckoe He has 1700 ' or 1800 . A . Phillips : I ' m Althea Phillips , - -we have 2 pieces of property across from his existing junkyard . We have had several realtors tell us we can ' t get as much value because of the junkyard across from our property . Would like to know why it can ' t be cleaned up ? C . Creech : I ' m Clifford Creech , - - I ' m currently not a resident of the Town of Groton but am in the process of buying property from Mrs . Phillips and as you can see my interest is similar to that of a resident and I ' m concerned that the property value may not be what I thought it was and of course am interested that the property value might decrease very rapidly in the future with a junkyard across the road so would like to make it well known that I ' m opposed to a junkyard there . H . Dow : Yes . Be Williams : I ' m Barbara Williams and I want to go along with Mr . Creech here . I ' m in the process of buying some property also and not in favor of having a junkyard there either . - 4 - J . Carloni : I ' m Jean Carloni , we just purchased land that is down the road from Loclaaood ' s , the first house to our west would be the Wood residence now . It ' s on the other side of the gravel pit from the land we bought . We have a wooded lot and one thing I was informed of tonight if Air . Lockwood does own the Woods ' property and wants to change that into a junkyard also he made the state - ment he would be keeping cars in the gravel pit which is in the back of our property so I think that would be hazardous - - there are quite a few children and I think that would be danger - ous for children . We are building a house this summer and are going to the bank to get a mortgage and the assessor has to come over and I ' m con- cerned about what he might say if he knows there ' s going to be a junkyard there . There ' s also a junkyard farther down and I don ' t think we need two . R . Beech : I ' m Robert Beech of 246 Old Stage Road directly across from Mr . Lockwood ' s property . I can ' t see any point to granting this junkyard permit because it ' s an awful mess right now . I can ' t see that it would do that much good really because you have small kids and things around there and the area is growing - - all this is going to do is make property value go down in this area in years to come . Matter of fact ours is directly across - number 646 . H . Dow : Thank you . B . Irving : I ' m Bob Irving of 690 Old Stage Road , - - I have nothing against Mr . Lockwood . I ' ve put up with the dust and dirt from the gravel bank and I ' m still putting up with it but I don ' t want to have to put up with a junkyard also . R . Haskell : I just got through putting in about $ 3 , 500 inground swimming pool and I have watched the neighborhood since I ' ve been there the last 3 years and have watched people tidying up their places and have seen new houses built there and think the Phillips have done a fine job on their house which they are in the process of selling and hate to see all that backbreaking labor going to waste because of a junkyard - - would like to see value go up rather than down . T . Brown : I ' m Thomas Brown , - -I ' m presently in the process of buying my father ' s farm on Route 222 which borders almost every bit of that property on the back side of it and I don ' t think it would help to have it on the back side of house . I would not be looking at it like these people but would like to reassert what they are saying . It would be dangerous for children and I don ' t think it should be allowed . H . Dow : Are there any others who would like to make a statement ? M . Jacobs : I ' m Marvin Jacobs of 643 Old Stage Road and would like to know how high a fence would have to be ? H . Dow : 8 feet . M . Jacobs : At an 8 ft level could look all through the whole mess , - -we al- ready have a landfill for Tompkins County , - -we don ' t need another one . - 5 - M . Jacobs : That ' s the biggest reason I ' m against it . Everybody has to have a permit to build and when you do , you want it to look decent and so far as I can see zoning laws stink because of what is going on down there , - - they don ' t enforce them in any way . H . Dow : There ' s a lot that doesn ' t apply to the zoning law and certain things pre -date it . I can appreciate your feelings but be merciful and make a real study of it before you draw up any more conclusions . B . Bucko : Mr . Jacobs , he has been sent a letter to clean up or apply for a junkyard so have to follow this procedure and at the conclusion of this hearing at the next Town Board meeting will consider the comments made tonight and then act on it . If they deny it , then they will advise him he has a certain period of time to clean it up and if he doesn ' t as Town Attorney I ' ll have to represent the Town in court . I ' m making that as a statement of procedure . And , for your information , Mr . Snell has sent , - -I don ' t know how many letters to other people in other parts of town to clean up their junk and if they don ' t will go through this same pro - cedure and then we ' ll be right back in court . B . Irving : What about the Conservation Department , - -with the creek going through there and grease and oil going down - - I understand Carter just passed a bill which will pertain to these things not being allowed . H . Dow : Anything you mention at this time , - - if it ' s a health hazard , - - then it ' s in the hands of the Health Department . C . Creech : I work for the Conservation Department as a biologist: and the stream there is classified CI+ which places it very high among those streams which would be protected , - - the regulations would be quite stringent . H . Dow : Are you familiar with the Fall Creek Management Project? C . Creech : Only remotely . K . Haskell : I ' m Karen Haskell of 670 Old Stage Road and would like to say we ' re right across the street from the existing gravel pit and a 20 ft . fence would not hide anything in that gravel pit . All our friends and neighbors have spent a great deal of money and our futures are in Groton and would hate to see all that go down the tubes . Thank you . H . Dow : Mr . Lockwood , would you like to make any more statements ? J . Lockwood : No , - -I ' m just listening to people . 11 . Dow : Again , would like to hear from anyone else before we close this hearing . If not this hearing is closed at 9 PA1 . Res ectfully sub ted , Jos hine Bell 6 -