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Home My WebLink About9-12-2023TOWN OF GROTON – MINUTES OF TOWN BOARD MEETING TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2023, AT 7:30 PM Town Officers Present: Town Officers Absent: Also Present: Donald F. Scheffler, Supervisor W. Rick Fritz, Code Official Andrew, Keister Richard Gamel, Councilperson Francis Casullo, Attorney Crystal Young, Councilperson Sheldon C. Clark, Councilperson Brian Klumpp, Councilperson Robin Cargian, Town Clerk Ellard Keister, Highway Supt Julie Graham, Bookkeeper Mack Rankin, Dept. Highway The meeting was called into session with the Pledge of Allegiance at 7:30 PM. MOVED by Councilperson Gamel, seconded by Councilperson Young to approve the August 8th, 2023, Town Board Meeting minutes. Ayes – Clark, Young, Klumpp, Gamel, Scheffler Motion Passed MOVED by Councilperson Klumpp, seconded by Councilperson Gamel to approve the August 29, 2023, Special Town Board Meeting minutes. Ayes – Clark, Young, Klumpp, Gamel, Scheffler Motion Passed RESOLUTION #23-076‐ APPROVE PAYMENT OF INVOICES MOVED by Councilperson Klumpp, seconded by Councilperson Clark, WHEREAS, vouchers for Abstract #9 for the Year 2023, numbered 357-399 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 15,752.52 B GENERAL FUND PART TOWN 51,806.77 DA HIGHWAY FUND 35,609.26 DB HIGHWAY FUND PART TOWN 13,303.56 SL2- PERUVILLE LIGHTING DISTRICT 91.90 SLl- MCLEAN LIGHTING DISTRICT 172.82 Total $155,736.83 Ayes – Clark, Young, Klumpp ,Gamel, Scheffler Resolution Passed Nays - Monthly Reports Julie Graham, Bookkeeper – You have my report. There are budget adjustments, would like to read them out loud or I can? Town Board Minutes Page 2 September 12, 2023 RESOLUTION #23-077- -APPROVE BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS MOVED by Councilperson Gamel, seconded by Councilperson Klumpp to approve the Budget Adjustments as read by the Supervisor. From: A1990.4 Contingency $2750.00 To: A1320.4 Auditing $2750.00 From A1990.4 Contingency $3,067.50 To 1420.4 Attorney Contractual $3,067.50 Increase Revenue A4098 $37,927.00 Increase Expenditures A9901.9 $37,927.00 Increase Revenue DA5031 $37, 927.00 Increase Expenditure DA5142.2 Salt Shed $37,927.00 Ayes – Clark, Young, Klumpp, Gamel, Scheffler Motion Passed Nays- W. Rick Fritz, Code/Fire Enforcement Officer submitted the following report. Building Permits Issued:19 Permits Completed: 2 Fire Safety Inspection 0 Training: Permits Renewed:2 Building Inspections: 40 Complaints:6 Zoning Permits:0 Certificates of Occupancy/Completion: 2 Violation Notices:0 Site Plan Reviews:1 Subdivisions:1 Life Safety Inspections August 2023 Inspected - 0 Completed - 0 Total 2023 Inspected -14 Total 2023 Completed - 14 Town Clerk, Robin Cargian: We have gone live with the Cloud Permit software and have put in a few permits to test. So far so good. I asked about the renewal fee for next year, which will be $3,500.00. Recreation Coordinator, Councilperson Young: We were unable to meet last month and have rescheduled for October 14, 2023. Ellard Keister, Highway Superintendent – We are getting ready to pave Clark St. and a section of Champlin Rd. and plan to oil and stone tomorrow. This cost will draw down all of the Chips money to be in time for the November session. The quote for paving Old Stage Rd., which was brought up last month, came in at $720,000. I am looking at other priorities with the budget given unless you want to add that in. Mack has a 100% success record for passing new drivers through the new DOT program, as of last week Graydon has his manual license and Zack has his full CDL class D license. I will need a resolution to increase Zack’s rate of pay by $.50 as he is officially a Motor Equipment Operator. That will bring him up to the rate of $19.50 that we hire. Councilperson Gamel: Where does that put us as far as staff needed? Ellard Keister, Highway Superintendent- We still need one more employee. I am constantly running the vacant position on the County Website every time it expires. In the last four months, I have had zero applicants. We are one spot down, which is why we have Graydon here, getting him filled in as part-time. That is where it is. Town Board Minutes Page 3 September 12, 2023 RESOLUTION #23-078‐ APPROVE THE PROMOTION OF ZACHARY TAGLIAVENTO TO A MOTOR EQUIPMENT OPERATOR AND PAY RATE INCREASE Supervisor Scheffler made a MOTION to promote Zachary Tagliavento to a Motor Equipment Operator and increase his rate of pay by $.50 per hour, seconded by Councilperson Klumpp. Ayes – Clark, Young, Klumpp ,Gamel, Scheffler Resolution Passed Nays - Supervisor Scheffler- Where are we with the front entrance updates? Highway Superintendent Kiester: I have not heard anything on that, last I knew he wanted to come here and pop a tile to look at the structure up under the ceiling. This is on my list of things to do and will return to it once more pressing projects are completed before the weather changes. On the subject of winter weather, the Salt Shed is Done. Councilperson Klumpp: That is a big step! We have talked and talked and talked about it and now it’s done. That is great. Supervisor Scheffler – We have talked about it since I came in 1998. Highway Superintendent Kiester: The entrance was pushed back on my priority list. I know the money is not there, then this issue with the boiler popped up. I will keep rolling with that because we do need a ballpark for next year’s budget. Supervisor Scheffler – How did the boiler situation end up? Highway Superintendent Kiester: I had two companies come in to write us quotes but they were unable to get them to me. We are grandfathered in by replacing this system here. As time is of the essence, I have called Climate Control and they have it on order. They are looking to install it sometime before the end of October. We certainly can’t be without a boiler. Councilperson Clark: When do you plan on putting salt in the shed? Highway Superintendent Kiester: Not until October to give the special sealant time to cure properly as long as I can. Once it’s cleaned out we can use it for storage in the summer. We are in a dilemma right now with sand, RMS may not be able to have the quantities for a town that they used. We could go with Vitale’s but their sand is unwashed. This isn’t the most practical because it acts like pudding in the trucks and isn’t as nice on the roads. We are now at an advantage, in that it will be stored inside and won‘t have that moisture content in it to start. With the new Salt Shed, we can do it now if we have to. Councilperson Clark: Getting back to storing equipment in the shed in the summer, I have a neighbor who does that and on hot summer days the equipment is covered in salt as it comes up off the floor. I am not sure they are washing it properly. Highway Superintendent Kiester: We could get a fire truck up there and wash it out. We will keep an eye on it. Town Board Minutes Page 4 September 12, 2023 Supervisor Scheffler, CSE Solar Update: We have met with CS Energy about the host community agreement. Our attorney on the project has yet to receive any feedback from the attorney representing CS Energy. The consensus from the attorneys, officials, and engineers has been that these meetings are unproductive with no new content. Draft of Local Law #2 of 2023 Supervisor Scheffler- Harter Secrest reviewed our draft and has submitted suggestions. We need to get this wrapped up because we need to set a public hearing soon The draft document was reviewed line by line with the following Resolution. RESOLUTION #23‐079 –APPROVE THE SUGGESTIONS SUBMITTED BY THE ATTORNEY FOR SECTIONS 366, 367 AND 442 OF THE DRAFT LOCAL LAW #2 OF 2023. MOVED BY Councilperson Klumpp, seconded by Supervisor Scheffler, to use the suggestions submitted by the attorney to include creating a Medium Scale Solar Energy System definition as suggested and have the Planning Board review these under site plan review. Not suggested by the attorney but was approved to remove the word “Green” and use the type of energy system as well as change the five-foot contour requirement on a topographical map to a two-foot contour. Ayes – Clark, Young, Klumpp, Gamel, Scheffler Resolution Passed Nays - Supervisor Scheffler:-Julie and the employees that participate in the health insurance provided by the Town have met with representatives from the Tompkins Health Insurance Consortium who are asking the Town to switch to a different health plan. The new plan has a lower deductible, flat copay versus a percentage cost on prescriptions, and no other changes in coverage compared to the current plan. It would increase the cost to the employees by a few dollars a paycheck. They were assured that by switching, the new plan would not change or be removed. RESOLUTION #23‐080 –CHANGE THE TOWN HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN TO THE CLASSIC BLUE 100/200 WITH 3T10RX PRESCRIPTION RESOLUTION BY Councilperson Gamel, second by Councilperson Klumpp to approve the Town health insurance plan through the Greater Tompkins County Municipal Health Insurance Consortium be changed to the Classic Blue 100/200/with 3T10 RX Prescription Plan. Ayes – Clark, Young, Klumpp, Gamel, Scheffler Resolution Passed Nays - Supervisor Scheffler- I spoke with Tim Buhl today about engineering services as needed for the Town. We have the South Main St. Solar project review coming up and if Ellard has something on the highway that needs engineering services, he said he would be available. He would be available for a flat rate to review plans and an hourly rate for inspections or meetings. Councilperson Young- Can you clarify why this person is needed and how we know him? Supervisor Scheffler- When we have applicants come with blueprints, we need an engineer to look it over and have somebody in line for projects, or if Ellard is putting in a bridge or something. He looked over the plans for the garage roof repair and replacement. Town Board Minutes Page 5 September 12, 2023 Councilperson Klumpp- He is very knowledgeable and has worked on many different projects. I believe he was the engineer we used for the last solar application we saw. RESOLUTION #23‐081 –APPROVE TIM BUHL AS TOWN ENGINEER ON RETAINER AT NO FEE FOR SPECIAL PROJECTS AS NEEDED MOTION BY Councilperson Gamel, second by Supervisor Scheffler to place Engineer, Tim Buhl on retainer at no fee for special projects as needed. Ayes – Clark, Young, Klumpp, Gamel, Scheffler Resolution Passed Nays - RESOLUTION #23-082 – APPROVE TOWN HISTORIAN TO ATTEND APHNYS CONFERENCE IN ITHACA MOTION BY Councilperson Klumpp, second by Councilperson Gamel to approve the Town Historian, Rosemarie Tucker, to attend the Association of Public Historians of New York State conference in Ithaca on September 18th at the cost of $50.00. Ayes – Clark, Young, Klumpp, Gamel, Scheffler Resolution Passed Nays - Supervisor Scheffler- Our current crossing guard would like a day off now and again, she’s been doing this for many years. The Town has to provide a crossing guard for elementary schools on State Highways. I am proposing we ask around before putting out an ad to see if anyone would like to do it. It is one hour a day, split shift which would be $17.00 a day. MOTION BY Councilperson Gamel, second by Councilperson Clark to start the search for a substitute crossing guard for the elementary school in McLean. Ayes – Clark, Young, Klumpp, Gamel, Scheffler Resolution Passed Nays - Supervisor Scheffler- We also need to look for another Planning Board Secretary as Jessica may no longer be available. MOTION BY Councilperson Gamel, second by Councilperson Clark to start the search for a Planning Board Secretary. Ayes – Clark, Young, Klumpp, Gamel, Scheffler Resolution Passed Nays - Councilperson Young explained the Village of Groton’s plans to apply for a 4.5 million New York Forward Grant through Thoma, to revitalize businesses and storefronts, improve public parking, create a waterfront trail, and existing trailhead improvements. There is going to be an Open House on Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Benn Conger. The grant application includes letters of support from local municipalities, and we have been asked to write one. They want flyers and pictures of community events that would add to the support. Councilperson Klumpp- I reviewed what the State is looking for on these grants. We are in the southern tier area where there were only a few awards given. It appears to aim money to downtown centers to make them walkable and attractive to relieve the carbon footprint. Town Board Minutes Page 6 September 12, 2023 RESOLUTION #23-083 – AUTHORIZE THE TOWN SUPERVISOR TO PROVIDE A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR THE VILLAGE OF GROTON NY FORWARD GRANT APPLICATION. MOTION BY Councilperson Gamel, second by Councilperson Clark to write a letter of support for the Groton NY Forward grant application with Crystal’s help. Ayes – Clark, Young, Klumpp, Gamel, Scheffler Resolution Passed Nays - It was brought to the attention of Supervisor Scheffler that the Franchise Agreement with Time Warner Cable was over 20 years old. The last agreement was in 2002 and “expired” in 2012 when the County got a committee together to attempt a renegotiation. This committee fell apart with no new agreement. It is thought that Dryden and Lansing are negotiating their agreements. Jay Franklin explained to Robin there is writing within NY law if the agreement expires, the agreement functions remail. Would anyone like to renegotiate the Franchise Agreement? Councilperson Gamel: So they service this area and whatever they make off of the residents of this area, we get a percentage? RESOLUTION #23-084 – AUTHORIZE COUNCILPERSON GAMEL TO RENEGOTIATE A FRANCHISE AGREEMENT WITH TIME WARNER CABLE/CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS. MOTION BY Supervisor Scheffler second by Councilperson Clark to authorize Councilperson Gamel to renegotiate a franchise agreement with Time Warner/Charter Communications. Ayes – Clark, Young, Klumpp, Gamel, Scheffler Resolution Passed Nays - Privilege of the Floor No one wished to speak. At 8:40 PM a MOTION by Councilperson Klumpp seconded by Councilperson Gamel to enter into an Executive Session to discuss the proposed acquisition/sale/lease of real property when publicity might affect value. Ayes – Clark, Young, Klumpp, Gamel, Scheffler Resolution Passed Nays - A MOTION to return to regular session was made at 9:10 PM by Councilperson Gamel seconded by Supervisor Scheffler without a decision made. Ayes – Clark, Young, Klumpp, Gamel, Scheffler Resolution Passed Nays - MOTION BY Councilperson Gamel second by Councilperson Klumpp to authorize the payment for two appraisals of land for possible acquisition at no more than $1600.00. Ayes – Clark, Young, Klumpp, Gamel, Scheffler Resolution Passed Nays - Announcements: • The Zoning Board of Appeals, Meeting has been canceled. Town Board Minutes Page 7 September 12, 2023 • Planning Board Meeting, Thursday, September 21, 2023, Crystal There being no further business, Councilperson Gamel moved to adjourn, seconded by Supervisor Scheffler, at 9:20 p.m. Unanimous. Robin Cargian, RMC Town Clerk/Tax Collector