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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-11-2025 Reg meetingTOWN OF GROTON - MEETING MINUTES OF TOWN BOARD
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2025 AT 7:30 PM
Town Officers Present: Town Officers Absent: Also Present:
Brian Klumpp, Councilperson Donald F. Scheffler, Supervisor
Crystal Young, Councilperson
Sheldon C. Clark, Councilperson
Richard Gamel, Councilperson
Ellard Keister, Highway Supt.
Robin Cargian, Town Clerk
Julie Graham, Bookkeeper
Don Armstrong, Attorney
W. Rick Fritz, Code Official
The meeting was called into session with the Pledge of Allegiance at 7:30 PM.
MOVED by Councilperson Klumpp, seconded by Councilperson Gamel to approve the Organizational
Meeting Minutes of January 14, 2025
Ayes – Clark, Young, Klumpp, Gamel Motion Passed
MOVED by Councilperson Gamel, seconded by Councilperson Klumpp to approve the Town Board
Meeting minutes of January 14, 2025.
Ayes – Clark, Young, Klumpp, Gamel Motion Passed
RESOLUTION #25-021 ‐ APPROVE PAYMENT OF INVOICES
MOVED by Councilperson Klumpp, seconded by Councilperson Young,
WHEREAS, vouchers for Abstract #02 for the Year 2025, numbered 22-64 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 25,596.71
B GENERAL FUND PART TOWN 90,847.23
DA HIGHWAY FUND 75,212.04
DB HIGHWAY FUND PART TOWN 9,380.29
SF1- SPECIAL FUND – FIRE PROTECTION 81,250.00
SLl- MCLEAN LIGHTING DISTRICT 204.70
Total $282,490.97
Ayes – Clark, Young, Klumpp, Gamel Resolution Passed
Nays -
Monthly Reports
Town Board Minutes Page 2 February 11, 2025
Julie Graham, Bookkeeper – I have provided you with two reports this month. The year end and the
month end which is January’s number. I am still working on the State Report. There is one budget
adjustment needed for the new truck.
RESOLUTION #25-022 - APPROVE BUDGET TRANSFER
MOVED by Councilperson Klumpp seconded by Councilperson Gamel to approve the following
Budget Transfer:
From: DA5130. Machinery Contractual…..…$193,862.86
To: DA962 Budgetary Provisions ………..$193,862.86 for new truck purchase
Ayes - Clark, Young, Klumpp, Gamel Resolution Passed
Nays -
W. Rick Fritz, Code/Fire Enforcement Officer: You have my report and that’s about it until we get
into the flood plain permit law discussion.
Building Permits Issued: 4 New Businesses: 0
Permits Completed: 8 Fire Safety Inspections: 0
Permits Renewed: 0 Building Inspections:14
Zoning permits: 0 Certificates of Occupancy/Compliance:8
Site Plan Reviews: 0 Violation Notices: 0
Subdivisions: 1 Complaints:0
Life Safety Inspections for January 2025: Inspected - 0; Completed – 0 Training Hours -2
Highway Superintendent, Ellard Keister – Presented the serious issue of the deicing salt shortage to
the board, being grateful for having built the larger storage shed that we currently have, or we would
be in trouble. His crew has always mixed with sand to stretch the tax dollars as well as being mindful
of spreading it only where and when it is necessary. Unfortunately, the amount used is often
determined by the winds on any given day. He questioned if a lack of control on the part of other
agencies may have attributed to the current condition. In past years it was common practice to mix
with sand but not everyone does that. For reference, for a whole year I put in for 2700 tons for our 204
lane-miles. A town north of here that has only 52 lane-miles, has requested 1800 tons of salt. Only
municipal or state bids are being fulfilled now but they may shut off everyone except the State if
necessary. It is rumored that a representative may be checking salt storage before agreeing to provide
salt so municipalities cannot just stockpile. Councilperson Gamel asked if he was aware of why this
had happened. It was thought that there was a mine collapse at American Rock which takes care of the
areas north of us. As they began to buy salt from Cargill in order to keep up with their contracts, it has
now affected other areas.
Superintendent Keister gave high praise of the work performance so far for new employee Art Stevens
and asked for a pay raise as he has been here over 4 months now.
RESOLUTION #25-023 – APPROVE PAY RAISE FOR ART STEVENS
MOVED by Councilperson Gamel, seconded by Councilperson Klumpp
RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves a .$50 per hour pay raise for Art Stevens to take
effective immediately.
Ayes - Clark, Young, Klumpp, Gamel Resolution Passed
Nays -
Town Board Minutes Page 3 February 11, 2025
Superintendent Keister brought the updated truck quote as discussed with the board at budget time.
The price difference for the 2026 International HX620 for the truck cab, heavy duty chassis, and large
hauling motor was $5000. The total would be $311,488.20. He explained the town could avoid paying
a holding fee of $35 per day if we purchase the cab and chassis now for $176,988.00. The plow
package is $134,250. This truck will replace the Max Force used truck that was purchased and is
currently on blocks 6-7 years ago. He reminded the board the truck to be replaced is newer than two
other trucks that are older, but they are not costing the town as much to maintain. It was very doubtful
that the trucks we have on order would come in at the same time but there would be enough in the
account. He added that there is a letter that will be sent to the DEC that this vehicle meets the
exemption requirements for fleet electrification.
After checking with the bookkeeper, a brief discussion took place and it was decided that by ordering
now, the board would avoid the storage fee, possible tariffs on the steel and other price increases.
RESOLUTION #25-024 – APPROVE PUIRCHASE OF A 2026 INTERNATIONAL HX620
MOVED by Councilperson Gamel, seconded by Councilperson Young
RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves the purchase of a 2026 International HX620 truck
package.
Ayes - Clark, Young, Klumpp, Gamel Resolution Passed
Nays -
Mr. Keister offered a quote for a public AED for the building at $2000 for the unit and wall mount.
You could rent at $99 per month. This was tabled to investigate any intermunicipal group rate. A
review of the two cameras purchased for road condition information was encouraged by Councilperson
Gamel. Superintendent Keister reassured him that the software fee was well worth it as saves the town
in time and materials as they can know if the road will thaw on it’s own or if they need to immediately
respond to a blast of lake effect snow that doesn’t have much warning. This saves on fuel and
equipment and increases the safety for the public.
Town Clerk, Robin Cargian Tax collections went well. Denise took a Zoning Board course online to
increase her familiarity with terms. Along with the Floodplain Permit law and speaking with Fran
about the foil policy, I have been working on updating the Town’s domain name as we have to switch
over to a “.gov” account by law. That has been a real process, and I am looking for suggestions. I feel
our current domain is too long and the advice online is to not use a hyphen as this causes issues for
mobile users. The highway superintendent suggested something that won’t get us confused with
Connecticut or Maine and unfortunately that would be up to the algorithm.
Attorney for the Town, Don Armstrong – It was asked of the town clerk which policy suggestions
she would prefer, and it was explained that it should not be up to the clerk, as this policy becomes
effective after the clerk as the records management officer, has to deny a FOIL request. It is up to the
board to determine what the next steps should be. There are only a few instances when a document is
denied and in that time is when someone who requests a document can then take their request to
another process in the municipality. It also needs to include how an employee shall be notified of a foil
request for disciplinary records.
Recreation Coordinator, Councilperson Young – Things are going well with all the programs.
Youth volleyball is being expanded to 4th-8th graders. A Red Cross babysitting course is planned for
Feb 22nd with the registration fee being covered by the 21st Century Grant. Adult programming
Town Board Minutes Page 4 February 11, 2025
includes chair yoga, regular yoga & sewing classes. Group Hike events have good participation each
month. Cabin Fever is set for March 1st with the Cornell Raptor’s, Crossroads the Clown, games,
Science Center and adding a possible corn hole tournament. Becky will be running a skills and drills
baseball program for 4-6 year olds. Adopt a trail and community wide trail clean up will be May 17th.
Baseball and softball registrations are out.
Employee Handbook – Tabled
Floodplain Management
FEMA as well as the DEC sent a draft local law to be adopted by each town in Tompkins County. The
Town’s previous law was drafted in 1988. This new law is for applicants who are proposing to build in
a flood plain and includes new provisions and requirements in addition to a building permit as well as
new maps established by FEMA that the Town must adopt, or their residents do not qualify to purchase
flood insurance. Rick and Robin went over the law, made suggestions to the board but the board
needed more time to review. It was stressed that this project needs to move forward quickly as a Draft
is required to be sent to the DEC by March 20th which will leave only one more meeting to accomplish
the updates. The law needs to be passed as any local law to include a review by the county planning
department as well as public hearing by June. The board decided to send comments and suggestions to
Robin for updates by the next meeting.
Privilege of the Floor
No one wished to speak.
Announcements:
• Planning Board Meeting for Thursday, Feb 20, 2025 has been cancelled.
• Zoning Board Meeting February 19, 2025 has been cancelled
• Yellow Barn Solar Public Comment Meeting Thursday February 20, 2025 at the High School
There being no further business, Councilperson Gamel moved to adjourn, seconded by Councilperson
Young, at 8:39 PM Unanimous.
Robin Cargian,
Groton Town Clerk