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Home My WebLink About7-11-2023TOWN OF GROTON – MINUTES OF TOWN BOARD MEETING TUESDAY, July 11, 2023, AT 7:30 PM Town Officers Present: Town Officers Absent: Also, Present: Donald F. Scheffler, Supervisor Mack Rankin, Dept. Highway Dan Carey Richard Gamel, Councilperson Julie Graham, Bookkeeper Barry Siebe Brian Klumpp, Councilperson Crystal Young, Councilperson Monica Carey Sheldon C. Clark, Councilperson Ellard Keister, Highway Supt. Robin Cargian, Town Clerk Francis Casullo, Attorney W. Rick Fritz, Code Official The meeting was called into session with the Pledge of Allegiance at 7:30 pm. MOVED by Councilperson Gamel seconded by Councilperson Klumpp to approve the minutes of the June 13, 2023 Town Board Meeting. Ayes – Clark, Gamel, Scheffler, Klumpp Motion Passed MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler seconded by Councilperson Gamel to approve the minutes of the June 27, 2023 Special Town Board Meeting. Ayes – Clark, Gamel, Scheffler, Klumpp Motion Passed RESOLUTION #23-068‐ APPROVE PAYMENT OF INVOICES MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Clark, WHEREAS, vouchers for Abstract #7 for the Year 2023, numbered 278-317 were reviewed and and audited by the Town Board, be it RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves said vouchers which will make the accounts in the Total amounts as follows: A GENERAL FUND 11,440.64 B GENERAL FUND PART TOWN 70.00 DA HIGHWAY FUND 6,174.46 DB HIGHWAY FUND PART TOWN 40,001.90 SL2- PERUVILLE LIGHTING DISTRICT 91.90 SLl- MCLEAN LIGHTING DISTRICT 146.70 Total $57,927.82 Ayes – Clark, Gamel, Scheffler, Klumpp Resolution Passed Nays - Monthly Reports Julie Graham, Bookkeeper – Report was submitted Town Board Minutes Page 2 July 11, 2023 W. Rick Fritz, Code/Fire Enforcement Officer submitted the following report. Building Permits Issued:10 Permits Completed: 1 Fire Safety Inspections: 0 Training: 18 hours Permits Renewed:0 Building Inspections: 34 Complaints: 2 letters Zoning Permits:0 Certificates of Occupancy/Completion: 1 Violation Notices:0 Site Plan Reviews:0 Subdivisions:0 Life Safety Inspections June 2023 - 0 Inspected - 1 Completed - 1 Total 2023 Inspected -14 Total 2023 Completed - 14 Had Nothing new to report and provided copies of the training certifications with the report. Councilperson Gamel- Why is the DEC involving you? They used to come out and do their own enforcement of regulations. Ellard Keister, Highway Superintendent – Everything is going well in the Highway Department. Dale Slocum has reached the end of the probation period with no complaints. He has worked very hard at getting the fleet in working condition. We are finally to the point where he can be back out on the roads mowing. I am recommending him for the .50 cent raise and will need a motion by the board to make that change. RESOLUTION- #23-069- APPROVE A RAISE OF $.50 FOR DALE SLOCUM AT THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT. RESOLUTION moved by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Klumpp to approve the $.50 raise for Dale Slocum who has reached the end of the probation period. Ayes – Clark, Gamel, Scheffler, Klumpp Motion Passed Nays- Robin Cargian, Town Clerk – I will be changing the office hours in anticipation of treatment starting next week. The new hours will be Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday 8 am to 4 pm, and Wednesday- Friday 8 am to Noon. A notice will be on the website, and I will put and add in the shopper. I have been thinking about budget time already and have given the Board September thru November Calendars, I will give them to the department heads as well to be thinking about the timing of the extra meetings and what needs to be accomplished. I have already talked to Julie who is on board with this so we can be ready for the end of the year. Fran Casullo, Town Attorney – Nothing to report. Supervisor Scheffler, CSE Solar Update- CS Energy last held two public hearing sessions on the 22nd and 23rd in Groton and Lansing which were a general overview of the followed by a question-and- answer session. The Lansing Town Supervisor and the Groton Town Supervisor with the legal Council will meet every other week with CS Energy (Yellow Barn Solar) and meet individually or collectively to discuss the host community agreements. If members of the board would like to make suggestions to myself or Fran please pass them along. Councilperson, Gamel- Are we going to sit down for that host community agreement and talk about it? Town Board Minutes Page 3 July 11, 2023 Supervisor Scheffler- Initially it will be the Supervisors and the Attorneys. So far, we have not been given any figures. Fran Casullo, Town Attorney- There should be a teleconference with the supervisors and Paul Sylvestri coming up on Thursday. Councilperson, Gamel – Well, what Lansing does is not necessarily what we are going to do. Town Clerk, Robin Cargian – Where did we end up with the visual impact study questionnaire? Supervisor Scheffler – It was turned over to the engineers who said they could not review it until the maps providing exactly where the panels will be going could be provided. End of Monthly reports Insurance Plan Options Supervisor Scheffler- The Tompkins County Health Care Consortium is offering a similar BC/BS plan that employees have had in the past and would like us to switch to it. Julie, Robin, Denise, and I sat in on the presentation that is offering a lower deductible, similar medication availability changing to a copay instead of a percentage, and the employee cost increase of around $10 per family pay period. We will check with those on the insurance to see who would be interested and perhaps set up another meeting with them so questions can be answered. I don’t think this will affect the contract. Discussion on Local Law #3 2023 section 366, 367 & 442, Land use Code Changes Large Scale Green Energy and Town Board Site Plan Review Procedures. Reopened section Applicability, 367.2 (d) for further discussion. Should the green energy burden for a fairly new technology, without the assurance of a recycling or a removal avenue, with little mitigation for unforeseen negative effects to the environment be applied substantially to Groton? Shouldn’t other towns and cities also be responsible for installation at some level? A reiteration of what zoning is and where it has a place in local protection of fire and safety was countered by allowing landowners the availability to do things on their property that they would like without restrictions. Supervisor Scheffler proposed that anything that ties the land up for more than 30 years restricts what others, such as children, can do to the land. This section was not removed by the council of the Attorney for the Town who will review it along with the document from Tompkins County Planning where the 1.5% goal was established. Reopened section 367.9 (b) Setback: A review of previous changes to balance a wise use of the property, visual screen space, and the ability of fire apparatus to access existing residences that are close to a rear and or back lot lines. Wildfires or fires do happen, as we are all experiencing the effects of low air quality from the Canadian fires. A larger setback and keeping the fence close to the panels is necessary to leave enough room to maneuver around the outside of the fenced area to create a fire lane or to apply water to neighboring buildings. The developers stated at the community meeting to stay outside the fence in case of a fire. Other towns have a setback of at least 100 feet up to as much as 250 feet if it is close to a residence. The Setback was settled to be, the Energy system fencing shall be 75 feet from the side and back lot lines of the property owner’s lot, and energy system panels must be at least 25 feet from the fence to the closest edge of the panel. Front lot lines shall be 150 feet from the center line of the road to the fence. A variance for a smaller setback could be applied should the neighboring lots not have buildings that need protection. Town Board Minutes Page 4 July 11, 2023 367.9 Special Permit Standard Lot coverage was also touched upon and the 75% lot coverage number was confirmed. Depending on the site limitations using the setback restrictions the applicant could also seek a variance from the Zoning Board. Fran Casullo, Town Attorney – The moratorium will expire in November so we need to get this wrapped up by August or September to have this in a final form to set a public hearing. I will work with Robin and Rick to look at other items. The Privilege of the Floor: No one wished to speak. Announcements: • Zoning Board of Appeals, Meeting has been canceled. • Planning Board Meeting, Thursday, June 15, 2023, has also been canceled At 8:45 pm a Motion to enter into an Executive Session to discuss the proposed acquisition/sale/lease of real property when publicity might affect value was made by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Gamel with the Town Board, Town Clerk, and Town Attorney were invited to be present. Ayes – Clark, Gamel, Scheffler, Klumpp Resolution Passed Nays – Councilperson Gamel made the Motion to close the executive session where no decisions were made and resume regular meeting, second by Councilperson Klumpp Ayes – Clark, Gamel, Scheffler, Klumpp Resolution Passed Nays – There being no further business, Councilperson Gamel moved to adjourn, seconded by supervisor Scheffler, at 9:02 pm. Unanimous. Robin Cargian, RMC Town Clerk/Tax Collector