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Home My WebLink About12-10-2024 Town Board Meeting MinutesTOWN OF GROTON –MINUTES OF THE TOWN BOARD TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2024, AT 7:30 PM Town Officers Present: Town Officers Absent: Also Present: Donald F. Scheffler, Supervisor Francis Casullo, Attorney David Durrett, Ithaca Times Richard Gamel, Councilperson Eric Deforrest, Groton Fire Chief Brian Klumpp, Councilperson Sheldon C. Clark, Councilperson Crystal Young, Councilperson Mack Rankin, Dept. Highway Ellard Keister, Highway Supt. Don Armstrong, Legal Counsel Julie Graham, Bookkeeper W. Rick Fritz, Code Official Robin Cargian, Town Clerk The meeting was called into session with the Pledge of Allegiance at 7:30 PM. MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Klumpp to approve October 22, 2024, Minutes with correction adding motions numbers 2024-083, 2024-084 & 2024-085 for quick search purposes. Ayes –Clark, Young, Klumpp, Gamel, Scheffler Motion Passed MOVED by Councilperson Klumpp, seconded by Councilperson Young to approve the Town Board Meeting minutes of November 12, 2024. Ayes – Clark, Young, Klumpp, Gamel, Scheffler Motion Passed RESOLUTION #24-097‐ APPROVE PAYMENT OF INVOICES MOVED by Councilperson Gamel, seconded by Councilperson Sheldon WHEREAS vouchers for Abstract #12 for the Year 2024, numbered 448-497 were reviewed 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 30,966.07 B GENERAL FUND PART TOWN 39.65 DA HIGHWAY FUND 42,088.61 DB HIGHWAY FUND PART TOWN 11,931.98 SL2- PERUVILLE LIGHTING DISTRICT 103.89 SLl- MCLEAN LIGHTING DISTRICT 198.03 Total $85,328.23 Ayes – Clark, Young, Klumpp, Gamel, Scheffler Resolution Passed Nays - Monthly Reports Town Board Meeting Minutes Page 2 December 10, 2024 Julie Graham, Bookkeeper – Short and sweet, report is submitted. The funds that came in to pay the Attorney fees for Yellow Barn were placed in an account to pay them and are going out to them. This money was not in the original budget, it is invoiced through the ORES system and is paid by NYSERDA. MOTION by Councilperson Gamel to proceed with the fund transfer to have the budget reflect the NYSERDA Grant that will pay the Attorney hired for the Yellow Barn Solar project, seconded by Councilperson Young. Ayes –Clark, Young, Klumpp, Gamel, Scheffler Motion Passed becoming #24-098 W. Rick Fritz, Code/Fire Enforcement Officer: We were very busy but now it seems to have slowed down. You have my report if you have any questions. We have gotten a lot of Life Safety Inspections done. Building Permits Issued: 6 New Businesses: 0 Permits Renewed: 2 Building Inspections: 23 Permits Completed: 12 Certificate of Occupancy/Compliance: 11 Site Plan Reviews: 0 Violation Notices: 0 Subdivisions: 0 Complaints: 0 Life Safety Inspections for November 2024: Inspected - 9; Completed – 19 Training Hours-0 Ellard Keister, Highway Superintendent- We are doing much better financially this year than last. We did not have many breakdowns thanks to Dale and the rest of the crew. Art is doing a spectacular job as he is mild-mannered, eager to learn, and doesn’t take things too fast. We are glad to have him on board and as he is a great addition putting us at full staff which helps us to reach roads faster and leaves our mechanic in the garage doing mechanical things. Mr. Keister answered Councilperson Clark's inquiry about the new react plow blade voucher answering him that those just purchased were what was required to outfit all the trucks. Due to the efficiency of these blades and how much tighter they can scrape the road bare; they see huge savings in deicing material (cutting back by almost two- thirds) and a decrease in the amount of runs taken, they are safer as well and they are much quieter with little vibration. The county seems very happy with this as well. Robin Cargian, Town Clerk- Reported attending a NY State Town Clerk’s meeting on Monday which reviewed many topics including Foil. It became clear that the town does not have the state-required FOIL policy. The Attorney was given samples and will draft a policy for the Town. If a fraud alert takes place on the Town Credit card, it is difficult to determine the correct purchases as two people are using the card. Despite good communication with the Highway Superintendent, it would be more efficient to have two cards, one for the necessary recurring town expenses for the Clerk and one for the Highway Superintendent. RESOLUTION #24-099 –APPROVE THE TOWN CLERK AND THE HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT TO APPLY FOR A SEPARATE TOWN CREDIT CARD IN EACH OF THEIR NAMES WITH A LIMIT OF $3000 EACH. MOVED by Councilperson Gamel, seconded by Councilperson Gamel to go from one credit card to two credit cards, one in the Town Clerk’s name and one in the Highway Superintendent’s name to assist in tracking purchases. Town Board Meeting Minutes Page 3 December 10, 2024 Ayes - Clark, Young, Klumpp, Gamel, Scheffler Resolution Passed. The clerk also gave an update on a legislative bill that was passed and sitting on the governor’s desk to be signed that would eliminate the current local tax delinquent percentage system of 1% for each month after January 31 to splitting the prime rate as of January 1, 2025, into 12 parts and applying for that number. The problem is the tax bills will be sent with an unknown number if the governor does indeed sign the bill as there will be no time to change the information and still have them mailed out to be received by January 1. She requested adding an insert in the tax bill to explain this situation should it become necessary, and permission was granted so long as she shared the insert wording with the board before mailing. She asked the board to consider moving the June meeting at their upcoming organizational meeting to the first or third Tuesday so that she and Denise could attend the Tax Collector and Receiver conference which takes place during that Second Tuesday board meeting week. The NYSERDA grant to audit the building's energy efficiency is moving along with the agreement signed and copies of the bills submitted. Don Armstrong, Attorney for the Town: Fran mentioned working on the FOIL policy and communications from Molly about the Host Community Agreement which I have feedback from her. Recreation Services Representative, Crystal Young: Winter programs are going well. The sewing class was a big hit, and they are looking to add more classes. The January 1st hike is set with the Girl Scouts providing hot chocolate. Cabin Fever is set for March 1st and roller skating has been canceled due to liability issues potentially converting it to a movie night. Eric Deforrest, Groton Fire Chief: It has been a busy year just cresting 1100 calls, which I believe is a department record. The tree lighting went well with a decent turnout. The fire department has adopted one more family this year for Christmas. We are currently gathering the items needed for them. We will be bringing back the pancake breakfast beginning this Saturday from 8 AM to 10 AM. Ride around town with Santa has been upgraded to include a weeklong food drop-off for the pantry. Groton did have a fatal fire early Sunday morning. The determined cause was a faulty Kerosene heater. As a Public Service Announcement for anyone using that as a secondary heat source to fuel them when they are cool, clean them according to the manufacturer's specifications each season and make sure there is plenty of space around them. Clean those chimneys! Solar Projects, Supervisor Scheffler: Nothing new to report. ARPA Funds MOTION #24-100- CLARIFY THE DESIGNATION OF THE ARPA FUNDS MOTION by Supervisor Scheffler that the Town Board of the Town of Groton designates the remaining ARPA funds to be used to make improvements to the front entrance to the Town Building located at 101 Conger Boulevard to enhance safety and accessibility for the public and our employees. These improvements will be performed according to the blueprints previously approved by the Town Board. Seconded by Councilperson Gamel. Councilperson Young asked if it would cover all that we need for the project, but a price has not been determined as the final structural pages are missing to be able to finalize the bid packet. Ayes –Clark, Young, Klumpp, Gamel, Scheffler Motion #24-100 Passed Extend the Deadline for Taxes without penalty for Seniors. Town Board Meeting Minutes Page 4 December 10, 2024 RESOLUTION #24-101- APPROVE EXTENDING THE DEADLINE TO PAY TAXES WITHOUT PENALTY FOR QUALIFYING SENIOR CITIZENS RESOLUTION MADE BY Councilperson Klumpp, seconded by Councilperson Gamel and RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby authorizes the extension of five business days for the payment of taxes in full, without interest or penalty, to Town of Groton resident senior citizens who receive either the Enhanced STAR exemption or a senior exemption on their principal residence within the Town of Groton. Said exemption would apply to their principal residence only. Ayes –Clark, Young, Klumpp, Gamel, Scheffler Resolution #24-101 Passed Youth Commission Appointment MOTION BY Supervisor Scheffler to appoint Joshua Dwyer to the Youth Commission seconded by Councilperson Young. Ayes –Clark, Young, Klumpp, Gamel, Scheffler Motion Passed becoming #24-102 MOTION #24-103– APPROVE THE DATE FOR THE 2025 ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING OF THE TOWN BOARD MOTION BY Supervisor Scheffler to set the Town Board 2025 Organizational and regular meeting date for January 14th at 7:30 PM seconded by Councilperson Young. Ayes –Clark, Young, Klumpp, Gamel, Scheffler Motion Passed becoming #24-103 Clark, Young, Klumpp, Gamel, Scheffler Resolution Passed. MOTION #24-104- APPOINT CRYSTAL YOUNG AS ASSOCIATION OF TOWNS DELEGATE AND TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE IN FEBRUARY MOVED by Councilperson Gamel, seconded by Supervisor Scheffler to appoint Crystal Young as the Town of Groton delegate to the Association of Towns and approve her to attend the annual conference in February Ayes –Clark, Young, Klumpp, Gamel, Scheffler Motion Passed becoming Motion #24-104 Privilege of the Floor was offered but no one wished to speak. Supervisor Scheffler moved to enter an executive session at 8:05 PM with the Attorney and the Town Board to discuss confidential attorney-client information, seconded by Councilperson Klumpp. Ayes –Clark, Young, Klumpp, Gamel, Scheffler Motion Passed Motion to return from executive session made by Councilperson Gamel, second by Councilperson Clark with the record showing no decisions were made and with no further business, Councilperson Gamel moved to adjourn, seconded by Councilperson Young at 8:24 PM Unanimous. Robin Cargian, RMC Town Clerk/Tax Collector