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Home My WebLink About2013-11-12 TOWN OF GROTON -MINUTES OF TOWN BOARD MEETING T U ES DAY, N OV EM B E R 12, 2013 AT 7:30 PM THE TOWN HALL, 101 CONGER BOULEVARD Those present: Glenn E. Morey, Supervisor Ellard L. Sovocool, Councilman Donald F. Scheffler, Councilman Richard B. Gamel, Councilman Sheldon C. Clark, Councilman Victoria Monty, Attorney for the Town Also present: Jen Schwade, Kelly Smith, Canny Klimaszewski, Kat Clement, Charles Rankin, April Scheffler. MOVED by Councilman Sovocool, seconded by Councilman Scheffler to approve the minutes of the October 8, 2013 meeting as presented. Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey. Claim Numbers 308 - 340 of the General Fund in the amount of $32,259.71 were presented for audit. MOVED by Councilman Gamel, seconded by Councilman Sovocool, to approve the General Bills for payment. Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey. Claim Numbers 160 - 183 of the Highway Fund in the amount of $39,691 .75 were presented for audit. MOVED by Councilman Clark, seconded by Councilman Gamel, to approve the Highway Bills for payment. Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey. Monthly Reports: Charles Rankin, Bookkeeper - Submitted monthly reports for the Board's review. I did calculate what our actual tax cap was and the Town's tax cap, with the rollover and everything, was 3.25% and we were well under that. Town Board Minutes Page 2 November 12,2013 RESOLUTION #13-068 - 2013 BUDGET TRANSFER MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Sovocool Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves the following 2013 Budget Transfer: General Fund, Town Wide: From: Contingency, Al 990.4...............$1,200.00 To: Buildings, Repairs, Al 620.42..........1,200.00 RESOLUTION #13-069 - 2013 BUDGET TRANSFER MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Clark Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves the following 2013 Budget Transfer: General Fund, Town Wide: From: Justices, Contractual, Al 110.4...............$500.00 To: Justices, Equipment, Al 110.2...................500.00 RESOLUTION #13-070 - 2013 BUDGET TRANSFER MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Scheffler Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves the following 2013 Budget Transfer: General Fund, Part Town: From: Contingency, B 1990.4.....................$1,180.00 To: Joint Youth Program, B7320.4.............1,180.00 Gary Coats, Code/Fire Enforcement Officer - Was not present but had submitted monthly reports for the Board's review. Richard C. Case, Jr., Highway Superintendent- Was not present. April L. Scheffler, RMC, Town Clerk/Tax Collector - Submitted monthly reports for the Board's review. Williamson Law, the company who provides the Town Clerk and Tax Collection programs, has partnered with nCourt for online tax look up and payments as well as over the counter payments. Clerk Scheffler would like to switch from the current credit card payment provider to save the Town some money and have a better online look up portal for the public and asked for a resolution giving her the authority to sign the required agreements. Town Board Minutes Page 3 November 12,2013 RESOLUTION #13-071 - APPROVE CHANGE TO CREDIT CARD PROGRAM PROVIDER MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Gamel Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves contracting with Williamson Law for the TaxGlance Look-Up for online tax bills and contracting with nCourt for the processing of credit card payments for tax bills and town clerk fees, and be it further RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby authorizes the Town Clerk, April Scheffler, to sign any needed agreements or contracts with Williamson Law and nCourt. Clerk Scheffler had spoken to the Board last month about the expected changes in the DECALS conservation license program. They will be moving to a new provider and are requiring an updated contract. RESOLUTION #13-072 - AUTHORIZE TOWN CLERK TO SIGN DECALS CONTRACT MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Sovocool Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby authorizes the Town Clerk, April Scheffler, to sign the required updated contract with New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for the DECALS Conservation Licensing Program. Clerk Scheffler - Said she had the new website up, but still has a lot of work to do on it. Ed Brewer called and wants to have the court room again for an art show on December 14 as part as the Home for the Holidays celebration being planned by the Groton Business Association. Consensus of the Board that it would be fine to use the court room for the art show. Victoria Monty, Attorney for the Board - Had nothing to report. John Norman & A. D. Dawson, Town Justices - Were not present but had submitted monthly reports for the Board's review. Councilman Donald Scheffler, Representative to Joint Youth Program - The Joint Recreation Committee met November 5t". We are working on updating and making a minor change to the Memorandum of Understanding and getting the School to sign it. Youth football and cheerleading season ended well. The junior tackle team finished undefeated. There was a cheer competition in Moravia this past weekend, but haven't heard how they did. This fall, we are sponsoring chess club, youth wrestling, indoor soccer, and boys and girls youth basketball. Our thanks go out to the many volunteers that make this possible. Winterfest is scheduled for February 8, 2014 at the Elementary School. Plans are underway; stay tuned. The High School building and track will be off- limits for the summer due to building repairs. This kind of wets the bed, but we'll deal with it. Town Board Minutes Page 4 November 12,2013 Councilman Gamel heard that all three groups of Groton cheerleaders took third place in the competition. Privilege of the Floor- No one wished to speak. Discussion took place on the 2014 Budget. Mr. Rankin said that after the Public Hearing on the Preliminary Budget, Supervisor Morey had said he was going to reduce his salary by $2,500.00 and put that in for equipment. The Supervisor's equipment line has $1,000.00 in it and we don't really need more in there. Where we really could use more is in the line item for group health insurance since there will be another employee going on the insurance the first of they year and suggested that the Board do that. RESOLUTION #13-073 - APPROVAL OF 2014 BUDGET MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Sovocool Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby amends the 2014 Preliminary Budget by reducing the line item Al 120.1, Supervisor, Personal Services, by $2,500.00 and increasing the line item A9060.8, Medical Insurance, by $2,500.00, and be it further RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves the 2014 Preliminary Budget with the above amendments as the Final Budget for Fiscal Year 2014. RESOLUTION #13-074 - APPROVAL OF 2014 GROTON FIRE & AMBULANCE BUDGETS MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Clark Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves the Fiscal Year 2014 Budgets for the Groton Fire and Ambulance Service. Councilman Gamel - I think we should move ahead with the plans for the voting on the hydrofracking. Supervisor Morey- What would the procedure be, Victoria? Attorney Monty - With respect to that local law, you need to have another public hearing because so much time has passed and you can either do that at your regular meeting in December or if you want to have a special meeting with a public hearing and have your vote after that. Supervisor Morey- So the question is, do we do it in December or January? What is the consensus of the Board? Councilman Sovocool - January. Councilman Scheffler- I'd like to get it done as soon as possible, December if we can. Town Board Minutes Page 5 November 12,2013 Councilman Gamel - December. Councilman Clark- December. RESOLUTION #13-075 - SET PUBLIC HEARING FOR LOCAL LAW - MORATORIUM ON HYDROFRACKING IN THE TOWN OF GROTON MOVED by Councilman Gamel, seconded by Councilman Scheffler Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark Nays - Morey RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby sets a Public Hearing on Proposed Local Law #2 for the Year 2013 - A Moratorium on Hydraulic Fracturing in the Town of Groton for Tuesday, December 10, 2013 at 8:00 pm. Moved by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Gamel, to enter into Executive Session concerning ])the medical, financial, credit or employment, history of a particular person or corporation, or matters leading to the appointment, employment, promotion, demotion, discipline, suspension, dismissal or removal of a particular person or corporation and 2) discussion regarding proposed, pending or current litigation, seconded by Councilman Gamel, at 7:47 pm. Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey Supervisor Morey moved to return to Regular Session, seconded by Councilman Gamel, at 8:03 pm. Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey Supervisor Morey - Let the record show that the Executive Session was for informational purposes only and that no resolutions were made. Announcements: ➢ Planning Board Meeting, November 21 at 7:30 pm ➢ Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting, November 27 at 7:00 pm ➢ Groton Business Association Meeting, November 20 at 6:00 pm at the American Legion; speaker will be representative from Finger Lakes Fresh Food Hub. There being no further business, Councilman Sovocool moved to adjourn, seconded by Councilman Scheffler, at 8:05 pm. Unanimous. April L. Scheffler, RMC Town Clerk