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HomeMy WebLinkAbout8-12 2025 Reg meetingTOWN OF GROTON - MEETING MINUTES OF TOWN BOARD TUESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2025, AT 7:30 PM Town Officers Present: Town Officers Absent: Also Present: Donald F. Scheffler, Supervisor Fran Casullo, Attorney G. Beldock, Bullrock Corp. Crystal Young, Councilperson Don Armstrong, Attorney M. Carey, Planning Board Sheldon Clark, Councilperson Sheldon Clark, (arrived late) Richard Gamel, Councilperson Brian Klumpp, Councilperson Ellard Keister, Highway Super. Mack Rankin, Deputy Highway Julie Graham, Bookkeeper Robin Cargian, Town Clerk W. Rick Fritz, Code Official The meeting was called into session at 7:30 PM with the Pledge of Allegiance. MOVED by Councilperson Klumpp, seconded by Councilperson Gamel, to approve the Meeting Minutes of July 8th which included a public hearing. Ayes – Young, Klumpp, Gamel, Scheffler Motion Passed RESOLUTION #25-060 ‐ APPROVE PAYMENT OF INVOICES MOVED by Councilperson Gamel, seconded by Councilperson Young, WHEREAS, vouchers for Abstract #08 for the Year 2025, numbered 298-340, 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 30,251.97 B GENERAL FUND PART TOWN 48,398.97 DA HIGHWAY FUND 13,102.32 DB HIGHWAY FUND PART TOWN 19,485.00 SF1 SPECIAL FUND- FIRE PROTECTION 40,625.00 SL2- PERUVILLE LIGHTING DISTRICT 117.89 SLl- MCLEAN LIGHTING DISTRICT 225.69 Total $152,206.84 Ayes – Young, Klumpp, Gamel, Scheffler Resolution Passed Nays - Monthly Reports Julie Graham, Bookkeeper – You have my monthly report. There are no transfers, and I have begun to work on next year’s budget. Town Board Minutes Page 2 August 12, 2025 W. Rick Fritz, Code/Fire Enforcement Officer: Submitted a report and stated that the 2025 Energy Codes which restrict fossil fuels, have passed and will go into effect January 1, 2026. Due to this, the State is requiring at least 24 more hours of training before the change. Building Permits Issued: 9 New Businesses: 0 Permits Completed: 9 Fire Safety Inspections: 0 Permits Renewed: 3 Building Inspections: 34 Sketch Plan Reviews 3 Certificates of Occupancy/Compliance 9 Site Plan Reviews: 1 Violation Notices: 2 Subdivisions:1 Complaints 0 Life Safety Inspections for July 2025: Inspected - 0%; Completed – 4%; Training Hours -0 Highway Superintendent, Ellard Keister reported the highway crew has been putting asphalt down by hand, but with the skid steer mill, projects are moving forward quickly. His goal is to prepare some spots for maintenance rather than a total re-pave. Depending on the condition of the road, some are a band-aid for a year or two, while others are a longer-term repair. From the extensive work being done with it, it is working out well. In the vouchers, there is an invoice for a truck cab and chassis. The truck ordered back in February, not the one approved for in January of this year, is in and sitting at Viking. As we discussed previously, the one that we have had on order for four years is still not built and is under the old contract, where if it comes in, it can sit there till it gets the equipment. Somewhere along the line, somebody added a provision to the contract that when the cab/chassis comes in, you start getting charged roughly $970 a month. The last truck we got in December sat there for roughly a year. The way around this is to pay for it now; we own it, and we don't get charged. It is the same price we agreed and planned within the budget in the event this happened. If you approve spending the $71,988.00, Robin can send out the notice for public referendum because it is coming out of the reserve account. The company is granting us a grace period of two months because of the public referendum. Getting the truck in the summertime would be ideal to run it and find any flaws before winter, as we have had the other truck up there for recall work. Luckily, it nursed us through winter. After confirming with the bookkeeper that the funds were in the reserve account, a motion was made. RESOLUTION #25-061 –AUTHORIZE THE PURCHASE OF 2026 INTERNATIONAL HX620 SBA 6x4 DUMP AND PLOW COMBINATION TRUCK IN THE AMOUNT OF $171,988.00 SUBJECT TO PERMISSIVE REFERENDUM. MOVED by Councilperson Gamel, seconded by Councilperson Young RESOLVED, Authorize the purchase of one (1) new 2026 International HX620 SBA 6X4 dump and plow combination truck, for $171,988.00 per Onondaga County Bid #0010914. The purchase amount of $171,988.00 will be taken from the Town’s Capital Highway Equipment Reserve Account for new truck #24. Ayes – Klumpp, Young, Gamel, Scheffler Resolution Passed Nays - Superintendent Keister continued to explain that the documentation for the CHIPS funding was sent in, and a confirmation email was received. Pavement, oil, and stone will be taken out of the road repair, which is why it was set up that way. The chips account will be completely depleted this year due to the length of the Old Stage Road project and how out of shape it was. Stauber Road was originally quoted using a cold pave; however, the cold pave put on Sears Road last year began to sink in hot weather, so I will be switching it to a hot pave. I spoke with Suit Kote about it throughout the year, and they agreed to re-shoot it with oil and stone at their expense, to reseal. Due to that change, Stauber Rd. will cost Town Board Minutes Page 3 August 12, 2025 $15,000 to $20,000 more once stone is included, which should make it last longer. Until we see improvements in using the cold pavement, they will back away from it. The mechanic has resigned, and the position is posted. Keep in mind, everyone is also looking for a mechanic. I want to thank Mack and Mike for stepping up to do the shop work, finding and fixing different issues. Mack keeps the computer system up and runs the diagnostic software. We have talked about buying tools for the shop, which you will see in the invoices, is ongoing. Some specialty tools will need to be acquired. Anything that logically needs an inventory tag number will have it. We realized too late that after the front entrance bid went out, the ADA button and provisions for the door, plus a few minor items, were missing. That contract quote is in your packets. Supervisor Scheffler read the contract quote as follows: Remove all existing metal roofing from the dormer and install new union SL150. Snap work standing seam the entire dormer so all of it matches the play. Union underlayment, ice, and water barrier, and each total price $9,150.00. Item 2, provide additional electrical outlets to the exterior and interior that were not shown on the scope of work. Two outside and two inside. Total added price $1,250. Item 3, Stanley Access Handicap opener at the Main entry door with two buttons, one at the exterior and 1 interior. Total added price $5,650, and I understand that we can do all three or pick. A brief discussion followed to add in the amount for the concrete to be done by the highway department, and a motion was made for the contract and referendum posting. MOTION #25-062 – APPROVE CONTRACT FOR FRONT ENTRANCE ITEMS AND CONCRETE EXPENSES FROM THE CAPITAL BUILDING RESERVE ACCOUNT SUBJECT TO PERMISSIVE REFERENDUM A MOTION to approve signing the contract for the front entrance, additional items, and concrete to be paid from the Capital Reserve Building account, not to exceed $27,000.00, was made by Supervisor Scheffler, with a second by Councilperson Klumpp. Ayes – Clark, Young, Klumpp, Gamel, Scheffler Motion Passed Town Clerk, Robin Cargian provided an image of the new Civic Plus “.gov “website, which will have different photos. The current website has updated subdivision and special permit applications. The building permit appliance application was updated to require a manual “J” and not a copy of the manual. She attended 3 different webinars on tax collection, the Judicial Privacy Act, and workplace violence prevention training. The judicial privacy act is if a judge or a former judge requests public information for themselves or family members to be scrubbed from public view. The PERMA auditor went through the building, and her report is pending. A municipality of over 20 employees is required to have a workplace violence prevention policy. We are at 17 employees if you do not count the planning and zoning boards, which might be worth adding, as they do have direct contact with the public on contentious applications. A sample statement and policy were sent to the employee handbook committee along with my suggestions, which should wait until the highway agreement is made. The family of Mr. Dawson has not gotten back to me about the bench. The $8,900 quote for the fire/alarm system was provided and could be reviewed for next year's budget. The comprehensive plan committee has asked for a consultant to work with, but to get a grant, you need a matching amount. I did not feel we were making progress, and it might be best to postpone until a consultant could be found. This could be a budget item if you are willing. Supervisor Scheffler offered to reach out to someone formerly at Cornell who may be able to provide some student interns. Town Board Minutes Page 4 August 12, 2025 Recreation Coordinator, Councilperson Young – Nothing to report as the committee was busy running the programs. They would meet next month. Yellow Barn Solar Update, Supervisor Scheffler. There isn’t anything valuable to report except they are close to finalizing the permit. The budget hearings with the department heads were scheduled. Greg Beldock- Bullrock Solar Mr. Beldock reiterated information provided to the board on the process by which the new applications were brought before them, as well as the differences in these applications compared to the approved Special Permits for Delaware River Solar. The new applications will use a racking system that allows the panels to move with the sun, less earth will be moved, creating better water retention, and will use newer inverter technology, stated to be quieter than the previously approved tech. With this design, they will not cut as many trees, using less of the wooded area, and can be on slopes of up to 15%. A noise study has been provided for the new equipment. The board responded that they represent the people of the town in these applications, and the review will look at how it is to coexist with the neighbors directly affected, as some do not want this in their backyard. The board would like assurances as they felt it would be sold immediately once approved and asked if it would be sold. Mr. Beldock stated his company is vertically integrated. Assuring them that he was unique in that, as a construction professional, he had built forty of these projects, each about 300 MW, with high-quality contractors, professional crews, and landscapers. They use their own management team, software, and cameras, including drones, to locate broken panels. He would be happy to provide an address of an existing project so the board could visit a site to hear what they sound like. He hoped they would talk with the town attorney and engineer before making any decisions. MOTION #25-063 – SET PUBLIC HEARING AND SEQR REVIEW FOR SOUTH MAIN ST SOLAR PROJECTS MOVED BY Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Klumpp, to set the Public Hearings for the large-scale energy production applications of Groton I LLC and Groton II LLC for September 23rd at 8 PM. These hearings will include a SEQR review as discussed by the board. Ayes - Clark, Klumpp, Young, Gamel, Scheffler Motion Passed Nays - Privilege of the Floor: Monica Carey asked if they would be redoing the application for the Solar Array, adding that her concerns were about noise from the array equipment, noise during the construction, and well contamination. She would be interested in going to a site that has been built if an address is given. The board responded that the applications have been filed and are online to view or copies could be provided. There is also a noise assessment included. The Town Clerk was asked to place an ad in the paper to fill the ZBA and Ethics Board vacancies currently posted at the Town Hall, as well as the website. Town Board Minutes Page 5 August 12, 2025 Announcements:  Planning Board Meeting for Tuesday, August 19, 2025 @7:30PM  Zoning Board Meeting on August 20th has been cancelled with no new business.  Groton Olde Home Days is the 22nd and 23rd. There being no further business, Councilperson Gamel moved to adjourn, seconded by Councilperson Young at 8:50 PM. The Motion was Unanimous. Robin Cargian, Groton Town Clerk