HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-06-11TOWN OF GROTON — MINUTES OF TOWN BOARD MEETING
TUESDAY, JUNE 119 2019 AT 7:30 PM
THE TOWN HALL, 101 CONGER BOULEVARD
Town Officers Present:
Donald F. Scheffler, Supervisor
Richard Gamel, Councilperson
Crystal Young, Councilperson
Brian Klumpp, Councilperson
Sheldon C. Clark, Councilperson
Michael Perkins, Highway Supt.
April L. Scheffler, Town Clerk
Charles Rankin, Bookkeeper
W. Rick Fritz, Code Official
Francis Casullo, Attorney
Town Officers Absent:
A. D. Dawson, Town Justice
John Norman, Town Justice
Also Present:
Ben Nelson
Calvin Carr
Andrew Sullivan
MOVED by Councilperson Klumpp, seconded by Councilperson Gamel, to approve the minutes of the
May 14, 2019 meeting as presented.
Ayes - Clark, Young, Klumpp, Gamel, Scheffler
Supervisor Scheffler - Said that when the Board had appointed Councilperson Klumpp that he had
neglected to appoint him to any committees. Basically, these were appointments given to former
Councilperson Jackson at the 2019 Organizational Meeting.
RESOLUTION #9-055 - SUPERVISOR'S APPOINT TO COMMITTEES
MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Clark
RESOLVED, that the Supervisor makes the following committee appointments:
Buildings - Richard Gamel & Brian Klumpp
Zoning, Building and Fire Code - Brian Klumpp
Light Districts - Crystal Young & Brian Klumpp
Community Development Block Grant Section 3 Coordinator - Brian Klumpp
Ayes - Clark, Young, Klumpp, Gamel, Scheffler
Nays -
Resolution Passed
Discussion took place on the current alarm system and the continued annual cost increases. Supervisor
Scheffler had spoken to the representative earlier in the day but he didn't think he could help us save very
much money. It was decided that the Building Committee will look into the situation and price
alternative alarm services.
Town Board Minutes Page 2 June 11, 2019
RESOLUTION #19-056 - REVIEW AND PAYMENT OF INVOICES
MOVED by Councilperson Young, seconded by Councilperson Clark
WHEREAS, vouchers for Abstract #6, numbered 237 - 285 were reviewed and audited by the Town
Board, be it
RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves said vouchers for the accounts and in the total
amounts as follows:
Code
Fund
Totals
A
GENERAL FUND
25,350.20
B
GENERAL FUND PART TOWN
1,164.96
LSA
HIGHWAY FUND
16.576.62
IAB
HIGHWAY FUND PART TONS I
276.952.71
SL2-
PERU 'ILLS LIGHTING TIN DISTRICT TRICT
160.81
SLI-
MCLEAN LIGHTING DISTRICT
48A4
Total{ 320,453.74
Ayes - Clark, Young, Klumpp, Gamel, Scheffler
Nays -
Resolution Passed
Monthly Reports:
Charles Rankin, Bookkeeper - Submitted monthly reports for the Board's review. The accountants are
here and looking at the books.
W. Rick Fritz, Code/Fire Enforcement Officer - Submitted monthly reports for the Board's review.
Everyone is way behind with projects because of the rainy weather, so when the sun does come out it gets
really busy. There was some dumping out on Champlin Road by someone from Cortland. Mike and his
crew did a super job cleaning it up. It's great to work with Mike and his crew now.
April L. Scheffler, RMC, Town Clerk/Tax Collector - Submitted monthly reports for the Board's
review and had nothing else to inform the Board of.
Francis 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 Joint Youth Program - Copies of the proposed
amendments to the by-laws for the Tompkins County Recreation Partnership Board had been provide for
review and approval by the Town Board. Councilperson Young pointed out the changes that had been
made.
Town Board Minutes Page 3 June 11, 2019
RESOLUTION #19-057 - APPROVE AMENDMENTS TO BY-LAWS OF THE
TOMPKINS COUNTY RECREATION PARTNERSHIP BOARD
MOVED by Councilperson Young, seconded by Councilperson Klumpp
RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves the Tompkins County Recreation Partnership Board
By -Laws as amended.
Ayes - Clark, Young, Klumpp, Gamel, Scheffler
Nays -
Resolution Passed
Councilperson Crystal Young as Representative to Joint Youth Program - The Joint Recreation
Committee Color Run is Saturday, June 22nd. Youth track ended last week with 40 participants from
grades 3-6. Greg Pinkowski has been hired as the Pool Director. More lifeguards are needed. Hoping to
open pool on June 21St. Swim lessons will begin July 1St and craft shack will open July 8th. Youth
football will be moving to a new league this Fall. We will be leaving the YFL and moving to the Route
81 League. This change will bring a central location for games and fully certified refs. All games will be
played in Cortland and Homer, which is better than traveling all over the place (i.e. Candor, Newfield,
etc.) Youth basketball may also be moving into a league with Cortland, Homer and Dryden for the
2019/20 season, offering a centralized game schedule. This will cut down on a lot of confusion for
coaches, coordinators and parents. Games will be played in Dryden and Cortland.
She had not attended the meeting for the Youth Commission but had received an email highlighting their
meeting. Summer Camp enrollment is going very well with ranges of 34-49 students per week
(maximum is 50). Campers will be able to take swim lessons this year and will be provided with
breakfast, lunch and snack provided through the Groton School food service. Shannon Alvord, Tompkins
County Youth Services Coordinator, presented 2 reports: 2018 Communities that Care Youth Survey for
Tompkins County, and Profile of Town of Groton Youth Survey, both with interesting results (attached
and on file with the Tompkins County Youth Services Dept. and TST BOLES. Each school
superintendent and building principal has a copy of these results as well). Copies were given to the Town
Board.
Michael Perkins, Highway Superintendent - Paving has been completed on Champlin Road and Elm
Street Extension. They have been working with the Tompkins County Highway Department and the
Towns of Dryden, Caroline, and Cortlandville. They have been helping us too. There has been some
culvert pipes replaced, roadside mowing, cemetery mowing, cleaning ditches, and cold patching potholes.
Ben Nelson's probation has been completed and Keller Pai is returning as summer help. Ben has been
doing a fine job of keeping things running and working on stuff.
RESOLUTION #19-058 - RAISES FOR BEN NELSON & KELLER PAI
MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Gamel
WHEREAS, Ben Nelson has successfully completed his probationary period, and
WHEREAS, Keller Pai is returning as summer help for the Highway Department, now therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves a raise for Ben Nelson of 50 -cents per hour and a
raise for Keller Pai of 25 -cents over minimum wage.
Ayes - Clark, Young, Klumpp, Gamel, Scheffler
Nays -
Resolution Passed
Town Board Minutes Page 4 June 11, 2019
Ben Nelson, Groton Fire Chief - There have been 375 ambulance calls and about 75 fire alarm calls to
date. Nothing real serious has happened. The daytime driver should be back by the end of the week. The
Firefighter Summer Camp will start July 15 with the first night at the fire station and the rest of the time
at the park. Last year they had a helicopter come in for the last night and they will be planning something
special again for this year.
Discussion took place on establishing a policy that Host Community Agreements be required for
businesses or corporations coming into the Town and asking for a PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes).
Attorney Casullo said that his partner was looking into this for some of the municipalities in
Cortlandville. He said that he would do more research on the subject and report back to the Board.
Councilperson Young said that Rachel Clar, from Abundant Solar, had asked if their proposed solar
farm would be discussed at this meeting. She wondered if the possibility of a Host Community
Agreement should be discussed with Ms. Clar and if she should be invited to another meeting.
Councilperson Gamel said no, that he had made it quite clear to Ms. Clar that there would be no further
discussions until the Town received a completed application and the application fee.
Supervisor Scheffler - Reiterated this and said that she could get an application at any time.
Clerk Scheffler - Said that they already had an application.
RESOLUTION #19-059 - SET DATE FOR SPECIAL MEETING
MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Gamel
RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby sets a Special Town Board Meeting for Wednesday, June 26,
2019 at 7:00 pm for the purpose of opening bids for the Highway Garage Roof Replacement; for
discussion and action on awarding such bid; and for action on a Permissive Referendum to spend funds
from the Town of Groton Capitol Municipal Building Repair Account for said purpose.
Ayes - Clark, Young, Klumpp, Gamel, Scheffler
Nays -
Resolution Passed
Discussion took place on the Food Scrap Recycling that Tompkins County wanted to do in Groton. The
Board was not sure if they wanted to proceed and Supervisor Scheffler said that he would check with
some other towns that were doing it and see what their experiences have been with the program.
The Board talked about the streetlight conversion to LED lights proposed for the McLean and Peruville
light districts. At this point they needed to decide what color was preferred: 3 000 Kelvin, which is a
golden color, or 4000 Kelvin, which is a white color. They also needed to choice Option A and let
NYSEG replace existing lights with the recommended equivalent, or Option B where the Town would
survey the lights and make their own choice on the replacements.
RESOLUTION #19-060 - APPROVE AGREEMENT WITH NYSEG FOR STREETLIGHT
CONVERSION TO LED LIGHTS
MOVED by Councilperson Gamel, seconded by Councilperson Clark
RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves the agreement with New York State Electric and Gas
to replace the current streetlights in the McLean and Peruville Light Districts with 4000 Kelvin LED
lights and chooses Option A, whereby NYSEG will install the recommended equivalents, and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby authorizes the Supervisor Scheffler to sign said agreement.
Ayes - Clark, Young, Klumpp, Gamel, Scheffler
Nays -
Resolution Passed
Town Board Minutes Page S June 11, 2019
RESOLUTION #19-061 - ESTABLISH POLICY FOR CULVERT INSTALLATION
MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Klumpp
RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby declares that it shall be the policy of the Town of Groton
regarding all new culvert installations, that the pipe shall be ordered, purchase, and delivered to the site by
the property owner subject to the specifications of the Highway Superintendent. Installation will be
performed by the Highway Department.
Ayes - Clark, Young, Klumpp, Gamel, Scheffler
Nays -
Resolution Passed
RESOLUTION #19-062 - APPOINT REPRESENTATIVE TO CAYUGA LAKE WATERSHED
INTERMUNICIPAL ORGANIZATION
MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Young
RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby appoints Brian Klumpp as the Town of Groton's
representative to the Cayuga Lake Watershed Intermunicipal Organization.
Ayes - Clark, Young, Klumpp, Gamel, Scheffler
Nays -
Resolution Passed
Privilege of the Floor:
Calvin Carr, McLean Fire Department - They had received a letter letting them know that they had
received the grant from TRIAD Foundation for purchase of radios in the amount of $10,000.00.
Supervisor Scheffler - Said that the check had come and had been put into the Town accounts and that a
voucher had been approved tonight to pay the money to the McLean Fire Department. He said that the
Board was happy to have been able to help with the process. He also asked that the Town receive a copy
of whatever report they send to the TRIAD Foundation after the purchases have been made.
Announcements:
➢ Planning Board, June 20, 2019 at 7:30 pm
➢ Zoning Board of Appeals, June 19, 2019 at 7:00 pm
➢ Olde Home Days, August 22 - 24, 2019
➢ Annual Verne Morton Memorial Photography Show & Contest, August 23 - 24, 2019
There being no further business, Councilperson Gamel moved to adjourn, seconded by Councilperson
Clark, at 8:3 8 pm. Unanimous.
April L. Scheffler, RMC
Town Clerk