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Home My WebLink About2018-08-14TOWN OF GROTON — MINUTES OF TOWN BOARD MEETING TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2018 AT 7:30 PM THE TOWN HALL, 101 CONGER BOULEVARD Those present: Donald F. Scheffler, Supervisor Richard Gamel, Councilperson Crystal Young, Councilperson Randy N. Jackson, Councilperson Sheldon C. Clark, Councilperson April L. Scheffler, Town Clerk W. Rick Fritz, Code Official Richard C. Case, Jr., Highway Superintendent Charles Rankin, Bookkeeper Fran Casullo, Attorney for the Town Absent: A. D. Dawson, Town Justice, John Norman, Town Justice Also present: David Fuller, Glenn Morey, Terrance Carroll, Ellard Keister MOVED by Councilperson Gamel, seconded by Councilperson Young, to approve the minutes of the, July 10, 2018 meeting as presented. Ayes - Gamel, Young, Jackson, Clark, Scheffler. Vouchers numbered 307 - 355 in the total amount of $129,798.57 were presented to the Board for their review. Vouchers for the General A Fund in the amount of $15,122.86; for the General B Fund in the amount of $50,363.97; the Peruville Light District in the amount of $155.81; the McLean Light District in the amount of $262.71, and the Special Fund - Fire Protection in the amount of $32,500.00 were presented for audit for a total amount of $98,405.35. MOVED by Councilperson Young, seconded by Councilperson Jackson, to approve the General Bills for payment. Ayes - Gamel, Young, Jackson, Clark, Scheffler. Vouchers for the Highway DA Fund in the amount of $ 20,869.62 and in the Highway DB Fund in the amount of $10,523.60 for the total amount of $31,393.22 were presented for audit. MOVED by Councilperson Gamel, seconded by Councilperson Jackson, to approve the Highway Bills for payment. Ayes - Gamel, Young, Jackson, Clark, Scheffler. Monthly Reports: W. Rick Fritz, Code/Fire Enforcement Officer - Submitted monthly reports for the Board's review. Eleven inspections were done and nine were completed. Town Board Minutes Page 2 August 14, 2018 Mr. Fritz and Councilperson Young discussed the possibility of Mr. Fritz attending special training being offered through NYSERDA for Code Enforcement Officers. Richard C. Case, Jr., Highway Superintendent - Thanked the Board for going on the recent road tour. He said that since Councilperson Young was not able to attend, that he would take her on a tour at another time if she would like to. He asked for a resolution to hire Brian Weir. RESOLUTION #18-043 - HIRE BRIAN WEIR MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Jackson RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves the hiring of Brian Weir as Motor Equipment Operator at the rate of $17.15 per hour as of July 30, 2018. Ayes - Gamel, Young, Jackson, Clark, Scheffler Nays - Resolution Passed April L. Scheffler, RMC, Town Clerk/Tax Collector - Submitted monthly reports for the Board's review. Fran Casullo, 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 Crystal Young as Representative to Youth Programs - There were no meetings for the Youth Commission or the Joint Recreation Committee this month. The Recreation Partnership discussed and voted on a 2% increase to the budget. Glenn Morey, County Legislator - Did not have anything to report on. Stevens Road through McLean is finished and a list is started for next year. Charles Rankin, Bookkeeper - Submitted monthly reports for the Board's review and requested a budget transfer. RESOLUTION #18-044 - 2018 BUDGET TRANSFER MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Young RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves the following 2018 Budget Transfer: Highway - Town Wide: From: Services to Other Governments, Contractual, DA5148.4........ $15,000.00 To: Snow Removal, Contractual, DA5142.4.............................15,000.00 Ayes - Gamel, Young, Jackson, Clark, Scheffler Nays - Resolution Passed Terrance Carroll, Street Light Initiative - Works for Cornell Cooperative Extension as an energy educator and runs a program called Clean Energy Communities in the Southern Tier on behalf of NYSERDA. One of the big projects right now is street light conversion. The Clean Energy Communities Town Board Minutes Page 3 August 14, 2018 program is a statewide program through the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) specifically for municipalities. There is a list of 10 actions and when a municipality completes 4 of them, they become designated a Clean Energy Community and the eligibility to apply for $5,000.00 in grant funding. Mr. Carroll went through the list and briefly explained each to the Board. Converting street lights to LED was also discussed. The two options are to pay to have NYSEG convert the streetlights and continue to lease them or to buy the streetlights outright from NYSEG and then the Town would pay to have them converted and maintained. Mr. Carroll has been working with municipalities to do an audit of the streetlights that they have. Charles Rankin, Bookkeeper - Had spoken to the Village Light Board about the Town possibly buying the lights in Peruville and McLean. They said that they would be willing to install the lights, but did not want to maintain them. Mr. Rankin had just attended a retirement online seminar so that we will be able to certify and do the reporting. He will soon be submitting budget worksheets to department heads. Councilperson Gamel - Presented quotes he had gotten from two different companies to install a glass barrier in the Clerk's Office on the existing counter. The quotes were very similar in price. Discussion took place between the Board and the Clerk about the project. RESOLUTION #18-045 - APPROVING QUOTE FOR GLASS BARRIER IN CLERK'S OFFICE MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Gamel WHEREAS, two quotes have been received to install a glass barrier in the Town Clerk's Office on the existing counter, which are very similar in price, and WHEREAS, the Town Board desires to move forward on this project as soon as possible, now therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby directs Councilperson Gamel and Clerk Scheffler to finalize the design and choose whichever contractor they decide has presented the most responsible quote, and be it further RESOLVED, that once a final quote is received, each Board Member will be contacted for any questions they may have. If Board Members approve, the project may commence. Ayes - Gamel, Young, Jackson, Clark, Scheffler Nays - Resolution Passed Supervisor Scheffler - Has been getting prices for roof repair and/or replacement on the Town Hall and Highway Garage. They will be repairing the roof over the Court Room when the rain stops and we get some sunny weather. Discussion took place pertaining to two local laws that the Board would like to pass. One would be amendments to the subdivision section of the Town of Groton Land Use and Development Code. The second would make the exemption from taxation for Cold War Veterans permanent rather than expire after ten years. A motion was made to set public hearings for both proposed local laws for the September meeting. A second on the motion was not made and after further discussion the following resolution was made: Town Board Minutes Page 4 August 14, 2018 RESOLUTION #18-046 - DECLARE TOWN OF GROTON AS LEAD AGENCY FOR STATE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY REVIEW (SEQR) MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Gamel RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Groton hereby declares itself as Lead Agency for the purpose of the State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) required for a proposed local law entitled "Proposed Local Law #2 of the Year 2018 - A Local Law to Amend Various Sections of the Town of Groton Land Use and Development Code," and be it further RESOLVED, that a complete packet containing said proposed local law shall be forwarded to the Tompkins County Planning Board, adjoining municipalities, and any other interested agencies as required by Section 239 of the General Municipal Law. Ayes - Gamel, Young, Jackson, Clark, Scheffler Nays - Resolution Passed Supervisor Scheffler - Said that budget season was fast approaching and he would like to have estimates and requests back from department heads by September 7th so that the Board would have more time to review them before the budget workshops and meetings with department heads. Privilege of the Floor: David Fuller - Expressed his concern for the safety issues that had been discussed concerning the Clerk's Office and feels that Town employees should be allowed to have an "equalizer" of some sort, such as a gun or knife, to defend themselves in the event of an aggravated assault. The Board thanked him for his comments and said they would take it into consideration. MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Gamel, to enter into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing an issue that may lead to litigation, at 8:31 pm. Ayes - Gamel, Young, Jackson, Clark, Scheffler MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Gamel, to return to Regular Session at 8:54 pm. Ayes - Gamel, Young, Jackson, Clark, Scheffler Supervisor Scheffler - Let the record show that no decisions were made and the Executive Session was for informational purposes only. Announcements: ➢ Planning Board Meeting, August 16 at 7:30 pm ➢ Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting, August 22 at 7:00 pm ➢ Groton Olde Home Days, August 23 - 25 ➢ Annual Verne Morton Memorial Photography Show & Contest August 24 & 25 There being no further business, Councilperson Gamel moved to adjourn, seconded by Councilperson Clark, at 8:59 pm. Unanimous. April L. Scheffler, RMC Town Clerk