HomeMy WebLinkAbout9-24-2024 Town Board Meeting Minutes1 | Page
TOWN OF GROTON –MINUTES OF THE TOWN BOARD
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2024 AT 7:30 PM
Town Officers Present: Town Officers Absent: Also Present:
Donald F. Scheffler, Supervisor Mack Rankin, Dept. Highway David Durrett, Ithaca Times
Crystal Young, Councilperson Ellard Keister, Highway Supt.
Richard Gamel, Councilperson Francis Casullo, Attorney
Brian Klumpp, Councilperson W. Rick Fritz, Code Official
Sheldon C. Clark, Councilperson
Julie Graham, Bookkeeper
Robin Cargian, Town Clerk
The meeting was called into session with the Pledge of Allegiance at 7:30 PM.
Supervisor Scheffler provided a brief synopsis of the proposed information for the tentative budget. The
budget information so far is under the tax cap. The Highway Superintendent’s numbers were the same as
last year. All Insurances saw an increase. The health insurance increase would not specifically be known
until the meeting this coming Thursday, so a best estimate was used. The fire/ambulance budget has not
been provided to date, so a projected increase was used. The state CHIPS funding was the same as last
year and there was an increase in interest collected which cannot be relied on when the trucks, we are
waiting on arrive. The Town of Groton has an amazing skillful and dedicated group of employees who all
work together as a team, but they cannot provide for their homes and feed their kids on gold stars and “at
a boy” alone to get ahead. To retain our outstanding employees there is a pay rate increase proposed.
This budget brings us $600 under the tax cap, respecting the public’s direction not to override it. Any
further increases without cuts somewhere else will result in overriding the tax cap. There were
suggestions to update the comprehensive plan or hire a planner. I don’t think that is within the realm of
possibility this year, but I would like to utilize the planning and zoning boards to work on the
comprehensive plan for next year as time and meetings will allow. They haven’t had a whole lot of
meetings, and I think as we have money budgeted for meetings, we can have them work on that without
raising the budget. The tax rate has gone down, assessments have gone up.
Questions were raised about the differences in the Groton Youth Commission, Tompkins County Youth
Partnership, and the Groton Recreation line items.
MOVED by Councilperson Youngs that the board and Julie Graham attend an executive session to
discuss a contract, seconded by Councilperson Gamel.
Ayes – Clark, Young, Klumpp, Gamel, Scheffler Motion Passed
Nays –
MOVED by Councilperson Clark to reconvene the regular meeting and the executive session was for
informational purposes only and no decisions were made at this time. Seconded by Councilperson
Klumpp.
Ayes – Clark, Young, Klumpp, Gamel, Scheffler Motion Passed
Nays -
Town Board Meeting Minutes Page 2 September 24, 2024
2 | Page
Bookkeeper, Julie Graham advised to submit changes to her before the tentative is submitted to the
Town Clerk on Monday. The Health Insurance increase along with the Groton Fire and Ambulance are
estimates included for tentative preparation purposes.
RESOLUTION #24-075- SET A SPECIAL MEETING FOR THE 2025 TENTATIVE BUDGET
PRESENTATION
MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Gamel
RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby sets a Special Meeting for October 2, 2024, at 7:00 PM for the
Board to receive the Tentative Budget.
Ayes – Clark, Klumpp, Young, Gamel, Scheffler
Resolution Passed
Nays -
It was recognized there was not enough time to advertise this meeting in the newspaper. As per open
meetings law, the notice will be sent to the local press and posted on the Town website as well as the
post office and clerk’s office.
The Town Clerk & Deputy Town Clerk will attend a Laserfiche meeting on Wednesday. HPM services
will be coming in to install the new computers. The Town Clerk has received 194 dog enumeration
cards, and 124 online census responses which grew new licenses to 64 so far. This will cover the cost
of the cards and postage. There is a 2024 Planning School in Corning Monday, October 7th and the Town
Clerk was permitted by the board to attend. Chris from Cornell Cooperative Extension supplied options
for the grant distribution for the board to preview.
There being no further business, Councilperson Gamel moved to adjourn, seconded by Councilperson
Clark, at 8:07 PM Unanimous.
Robin Cargian, RMC
Town Clerk/Tax Collector