HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB Minutes 1995-06-26 qty OF I p
a TOWN OF ITHACA
126 EAST SENECA STREET , ITHACA , N . Y . 14850
OWN CLERK 273-1721 HIGHWAY 273-1656 PARKS 273-8035 ENGINEERING 273- 1747 PLANNING 273-1747 ZONING 273-1783
FAX (607) 273 - 1704
Special Town Board Meeting
June 26 , 1995
5 : 30 p . m .
1 . Call to Order .
2 . Pledge of Allegiance .
3 . Consider EXECUTIVE SESSION .
4 . Consider appointment of Human Resource Specialist .
5 . Consider ratification of appointment of Justice Court Clerk ,
6 . Consider employee appointments .
7 . Consider ADJOURNMENT .
AGENDA # 15a
Town of Ithaca
Special Town Board Meeting
June 26 , 1995
5 : 30 P . M .
At a special meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca ,
Tompkins County , New York held at the Town Hall , 126 East Seneca
Street , Ithaca , New York there were present :
PRESENT : John G . Whitcomb , Supervisor ; Karl Niklas , Councilman ;
David Klein , Councilman ; Carolyn Grigorov , Councilwoman ; Catherine
Valentino , Councilwoman ; Edward Conley , Councilman .
EXCUSED : Ellen Harrison , Councilwoman
ALSO PRESENT _ John Barney , Attorney for the Town ; Joan Lent
Noteboom , Town Clerk ; Daniel Walker , Town Engineer ; Fred Noteboom ,
Highway / Parks Superintendent ; Andrew Frost , Building / Zoning
Officer ; Sally Alario , Assistant Budget Officer ; Jonathan Kanter ,
Town Planner ; Sherm DiSanto
Call To Orderi The Supervisor called the meeting to order at 5 : 30
p . m . , and led the assemblage in the Pledge of Allegiance .
Agenda Item No 4 - Appointment of Human Resource Specialist •
Mrs . Noteboom introduced Mr . Sherm DiSanto , Human Resource
Specialist for the Town of Ithaca , to everyone in attendance .
21 • Motion made b
Resolution No . 1 y Councilman Niklas , seconded by
Councilwoman Grigorov approving the appointment of Sherwin M .
DiSanto as Human Resource Specialist at $ 10 . 26 per hour , for 37 1 / 2
hours per week , charged to account A1430 . 100 , effective June 26 ,
1995 , A 26 week probationary period applies , after which a
performance review will be made to determine regular employment
status . Full benefits apply .
A vote on the resolution resulted as follows :
Supervisor Whitcomb , aye ; Councilwoman Valentino , aye ; Councilman
Niklas , aye ; Councilman Klein , aye ; Councilwoman Grigorov , aye ;
Councilman Conley , aye . Carried Unanimously .
A_aenda Item No .- 5 Ratification of Appointment of Justice Court
Jerk
Resolution No . 122 : Motion made by Councilman Niklas , seconded by
Councilman Conley ratifying the appointment of Suzanne Bordoni as
Court Clerk retroactive to June 12 , 1995 at $ 9 . 95 per hour , for 15
hours per week: , charged to account A1110 . 100 . Benefits are limited
to the part - time status of this position .
A vote on the resolution resulted as follows :
Supervisor Whitcomb , aye ; Councilwoman Valentino , aye ; Councilman
Niklas , aye ; Councilman Klein , aye ; Councilwoman Grigorov , aye ,
Councilman Conley , aye . Carried Unanimously .
Agenda Item No . 6 - Consider Employee Appointments :
Resolution No , 123 : Motion made by Councilman Niklas , seconded by
Councilwoman Valentino appointing the individuals listed in the
resolution as presented , in accordance with applicable New York
State and Tompkins County Civil Service classification rules or
reaffirms the incumbency of individuals in positions as noted in
the resolution presented .
Discussion followed .
Supervisor Whitcomb - What do we think about 2 - K ? Does that
belong somewhere else ?
Attorney Barney - We could put " provisional pending jurisdictional
certification. as exempt " in parenthesis .
Supervisor Whitcomb - Shouldn ' t they be appointed provisionally in
the spot you ultimately intend them to be ?
Attorney Barney - The way we received them from Civil Service was
in the competitive classification . I do agree however .
Councilwoman Valentino - The County has gone back and forth with
us on this two or three times about where they should be . We make
the change and when we present them with the changes , they change
their minds again .
Councilman Niklas - Have they changed their minds in the past ? Do
they have an opportunity to change their minds after we approve
this resolution ?
Attorney Barney - The purpose of this resolution is to get the
payroll certified .
Councilman Niklas - If the County can eventually " nix " this and
change things , why not make it convenient for us as we understand
it .
Attorney Barney - We want to do it the way the County is most
likely to accept it with the least amount of disturbance and then
go back and readjust it .
Councilwoman Valentino - Nothing is iron clad . We can make
adjustments after .
STBM 6 / 26 / 95
Councilman Conley - What you are saying is the employees that have
been with us for some time are now provisional ?
Councilwoman Valentino - We have to under Civil Service .
Technically they have been provisional all along . This is not any
real change from the past . They must be certified through Civil
Service .
Councilman Klein - I do not understand paragraph 2 . It says " the
following persons are appointed to positions in the competitive
class . . . ; which appointments are provisional unless otherwise
indicated . " So Dan , Mike , Wayne and others are provisional ?
Councilwoman Valentino - I think this is wrong . Erik Whitney
should be Assistant Town Engineer . The provisional part belongs
under Dan Walker , Town Engineer , since we are petitioning for the
Department Heads to be " unclassified . "
Attorney Barney - Civil Service is divided into two classes ,
classified and unclassified . Unclassified includes elected
officials , department heads and a couple of other positions . Then
you have the classified service with four sub - categories exempt ,
competitive , labor class and non - competitive . If you are not a
laborer , exempt , or in the non - competitive class you are then in
the competitive class . That is a residual class , unless you
petition to be reclassified . The exempt class includes a Deputy
Clerk , Judge ' s Court Clerk . . . The Deputy Clerks we are talking
about here probably are exempt or at least one of them may be
exempt .
Councilwoman Valentino - The way Attorney Barney and I read the
law , we could have two . The County is saying we can only have one ,
so we will be testes with this .
Attorney Barney - The answer is everyone is provisional unless
everyone is i.n the competitive class .
Councilman Klein - So they are provisional pending jurisdictional
certification ?
Attorney Barney - Let ' s use the Town Engineer as an example .
Technically Dan would have to take a civil service exam however we
have created the position of Director of Engineering . That would
designate him as a Department Head therefore in the non - classified
service , therefore no exam . The only people who will need to take
the exam is the competitive . Once that determination of Department
Head is agreed to b Civil Service and since Dan has already been
appointed provisionally to the position , pending the determination
of jurisdictional classification he will be permanent . If it is
found to be an unclassified position , then this appointment will
3
STBM 6 / 26 / 95
not mean anything as he has been appointed as Director of
Engineering .
Councilman Klein - Who will give us the " blessing " ?
Attorney Barney - The State of New York Civil Service Commission .
It is a process which could take a year or more .
Councilman Klein - Then everyone else has to take an exam?
Attorney Barney - We are down to I believe only seven who will need
to take exams ; Erik Whitney , Wayne Sincebaugh , Charles White ,
George Frantz , Joanne Cornish - Epps , and Pat Keller . Betty Poole is
an interesting case depending on the exemption status . Sally
Alario is in the classification as Account Clerk Typist , however
she will need to take an exam for Principal Account Clerk as it is
a promotional exam . Gail Kroll is permanent and should be noted as
such on the resolution . Jackie White will need to take an exam and
George Eberhardt is provisional at this point however will not need
to take a test pending information being received from Challenge
Industries .
Supervisor Whitcomb - Does the same hold true for Stanley Schrier ?
Councilwoman Valentino - Stanley is in the non - competitive class as
cleaner . He is ok . The three Senior Typists are all permanent and
Suzanne Bordoni presumably will be in the exempt class as Court
Clerk .
Attorney Barney - The people in the non - competitive class , working
supervisors , laborers , and auto mechanics will not need to take an
exam .
Councilwoman Valentino - The other Court Clerk is exempt
automatically due to seniority . That takes care of everyone .
Councilman Conley - Is the secretary for Highway exempt ?
Councilwoman Valentino - No . She is permanent as she was hired
under Civil Service ,
Councilman Klein - Should we add Suzanne Bordoni , Court Clerk ,
under # 5 ?
Attorney Barney - No . We are only allowed one Court Clerk . We have
to get a determination before she can be classified exempt . That
is why she is initially listed under the competitive class . We may
want to add the same phrase , " provisional pending cerCification " .
4
STBM 6 / 26 / 95
Jon Kanter - The Town Planner ' s and Building Inspector ' s positions
were reclassified as competitive and provisional pending
certification . What happens if an exam with our title is given
during that time . I am assuming we would have to take it .
Attorney Barney - I do not think so . You have actually been
appointed to another position in the Town , which are Department
Head positions and therefore not classified . I do not believe you
would need to take an exam until a ruling is made on the petition .
Councilwoman Valentino - With the passing of this resolution , we
are in compliance with Civil Service ,
Supervisor Whitcomb - When will our payroll be certified ?
Councilwoman Valentino - As soon as the County sets up the
appointments . Joanie and Sherm need coordinate a time with the
County to certify the payroll .
Councilman Niklas - Are these exams focused on the particular jobs ?
Councilwoman Valentino - All of the exams are general and do not
test anyone on their ability to perform their particular job .
Councilman Niklas - Can we assume there is no difficulty in passing
these exams ?
Councilwoman Valentino - I would not assume that .
Attorney Barney - It is a more difficult problem . Provisional is
not only a matter of passing but qualifying in the top three of the
people who took the exam . If you take the exam and do not place in
the top three , an investigation must be made as to whether one of
the persons in the top three want the job . You keep doing this
hopefully until our incumbent becomes one of the top three . There
is the slight possibility if they do not qualify in the top three
they are not eligible for the appointment .
Councilman Niklas - Are there training sessions for people ?
Attorney Barney - The Town Board needs to talk about this as it
depends on how far the Board wants to go in providing help for
people to take exams as far as obtaining materials , text books ,
etc . . .
Councilman Niklas - Since we are talking about this , I would like
to encourage the Board to provide as much opportunity for people to
successfully place in the top 3 of the exam group . I think that is
a moral obligation we should abide by .
5
STBM 6 / 26 / 95
Councilman Conley - Not necessarily in the future but certainly for
our present employees .
Councilman Niklas - Perhaps we could vote on this resolution and
then either pass a resolution or make a statement for the record
encouraging materials to be provided and assistance to prepare for
the exams .
A vote on the resolution resulted as follows :
Supervisor Whitcomb , aye ; Councilwoman Valentino , aye ; Councilman
Niklas , aye ; Councilman Klein , aye ; Councilwoman Grigorov , aye ;
Councilman Conley , aye . Carried Unanimously .
Councilman Niklas - Do we want a resolution or is it enough to say
the spirit of the Board is sufficient to provide materials and
assistance ?
Attorney Barney - I would suggest compiling a list of what is
needed and come back to the Board with some specific proposals .
Councilman Niklas - Would there be enough time to prepare a
resolution by the next Town Board meeting ?
Councilwoman Valentino - We could find out from the County where
to order the materials .
Agenda Item No 3 - Executive Session :
Motion made by Councilman Niklas , seconded by Councilwoman
Valentino to move in to Executive Session to discuss property
acquisition and legal advice . Carried unanimously . The Board
began Executive Session at 5 : 50 p . m .
Motion made by Councilwoman Valentino , seconded by Councilman
Niklas to resume regular session . Carried unanimously . The Board
resumed regular session at 7 : 22 p . m .
No action was taken as a result of the Executive Session .
Agenda Item No 7 - AdZournment :
As there was no further business to come before the Town Board
Councilman Niklas made a motion to adjourn . Seconded by Councilman
Conley and carried unanimously .
6
STBM 6 / 26 / 95
The meeting was adjourned by the Supervisor at 7 : 23 p . m .
Respectfully submitted ,
C)c � jt�+ 'w ^
oan Lent Notebaom
Town Clerk
* * * Next Regular Meeting - July 10 , 1995 , 5 : 30 p . m .
* * * Minutes transcribed by Betty F . Poole
7
fly OF 1 r
_ > TOWN OF ITHACA
4- 126 EAST SENECA STREET , ITHACA , N . Y . 14850
TOWN CLERK 273-1721 HIGHWAY 273-1656 PARKS 273-8035 ENGINEERING 273-1747 PLANNING 273-1747 ZONING 273-1783
FAX (607) 273-1704
Town Board Meeting 6 / 26 / 95
Agenda Item No , 4
Appointment Human Resource Specialist
Resolution No . 121
WHEREAS , there is a vacancy in the position of Human Resource
Specialist ; and
WHEREAS , the Selection Committee interviewed three candidates
from the Civil Service Eligible Listing provided by Tompkins County
Personnel ; and
WHEREAS , the Selection Committee feels Sherwin M . DiSanto
possesses the necessary skills and experience to satisfactorily
perform the duties of this position ; now therefore be it
RESOLVED , the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca does hereby
approve the appointment of Sherwin M . DiSanto as Human Resource
Specialist at $ 10 . 26 per hour , for 37 1 / 2 hours per week , charged
to account A1430 . 1001 effective June 26 , 1995 . A 26 week
probationary period applies , after which a performance review will
be made to determine regular employment status . Full benefits
apply .
MOVED : Councilman Niklas
SECONDED : Councilwoman Grigorov
Supervisor Whitcomb , aye ; Councilwoman Valentino , aye ; Councilman
Niklas , aye ; Councilman Klein , aye ; Councilwoman Grigorov , aye ;
Councilman Conley , aye . Carried Unanimously .
DATED : June 25 , 1995
CLi 'l,v,
Joan Lent Noteboom , Town Clerk
OF I r
F 9 TOWN OF ITHACA
126 EAST SENECA STREET , ITHACA , N . Y . 14850
04
Y
TOWN CLERK 273-1721 HIGHWAY 273-1656 PARKS 273-8035 ENGINEERING 273-1747 PLANNING 273-1747 ZONING 273-1783
FAX (607) 273- 1704
Town Board Meeting 6 / 26 / 95
Agenda Item No , 5
Ratification of Appointment Justice Court Clerk
Resolution No , 122
WHEREAS , Raymond Bordoni , Town Justice has appointed Suzanne
Bordoni , 400 Teton Court , Ithaca , New York to serve as his Court
Clerk effective June 12 , 1995 ; and
WHEREAS , in keeping with Civil Service Law the Town Board must
ratify the appointment of Mrs . Bordoni as Court Clerk ; now
therefore be it
RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca does
hereby ratify the appointment of Suzanne Bordoni as Court Clerk
retroactive to June 12 , 1995 , at $ 9 . 95 per hour , for 15 hours per
week , charged to account A1110 . 100 . Benefits are limited to the
part - time status of this position .
MOVED : Councilman Niklas
SECONDED : Councilman Conley
Supervisor Whitcomb , aye ; Councilwoman Valentino , aye ; Councilman
Niklas , aye ; Councilman Klein , aye ; Councilwoman Grigorov , aye ;
Councilman Conley , aye . Carried Unanimously .
DATED : June 26 , 1995
Join Lent Noteboom , Town Clerk
OF 1p
_ 9 TOWN OF ITHACA
126 EAST SENECA STREET , ITHACA , N . Y . 14850
Y p4
TOWN CLERK 273-1721 HIGHWAY 273-1656 PARKS 273-8035 ENGINEERING 273-1747 PLANNING 273-1747 ZONING 273-1783
FAX (607) 273- 1704
Town Board Meeting 6 / 26 / 95
Agenda Item No . 6
Appointment to Positions Pursuant to Civil Service Laws
Resolution No . 123
WHEREAS , the Town of Ithaca , with considerable help from the
Deputy Supervisor of the Town , has been working with the Tompkins
County and New York State Civil Service Agencies to qualify
employment positions in the Town of Ithaca in accordance with
applicable Civil Service laws , rules and regulations ; and
WHEREAS , after considerable discussions among various
officials a recommendation for the establishment of various
positions in the Town of Ithaca has been made by the Deputy
Supervisor ; and
WHEREAS , the Town of Ithaca by Board Resolution No . 116 on
June 12 , 19 :15 , created the positions as set forth in such
resolution ; and
WHEREAS , the Town Board now wishes to appoint persons to such
positions and / or reaffirm the incumbency of certain individuals in
such position , ,
NOW , THEREFORE , BE IT
RESOLVED ,. that the Town of Ithaca appoints the following
individuals to the following positions in accordance with
applicable New York State and Tompkins County Civil Service
classification rules or reaffirms the incumbency of
individuals in positions as noted below :
1 . The following incumbents hold the positions noted below ,
which positions are by statute believed by the Town to be
position ; in the unclassified service pursuant to Section 35
of the Civil Service Law :
( a ) Town Supervisor - John G . Whitcomb
( b ) Councilmen - Catherine Valentino
Karl Niklas
David Klein
Carolyn Grigorov
Ellen Harrison
Edward Conley
( c ) Town Highway Superintendent - Fred Noteboom
( d ) Town Clerk - Joan Lent Noteboom
2 . The following persons are appointed to positions in the
competitive class pursuant to Section 44 of the Civil Service
Law , which appointments are provisional unless otherwise
indicated :
( a ) Town Engineer - Daniel Walker ( provisional pending
jurisdictional certification of position of Director of
Engineering per Town Resolution No . 117 of June 12 , 1995 )
( b ) Assistant Town Engineer - Erik Whitney
( c ) Assistant to the Town Engineer - Mike Ocello
( permanent )
( d ) Water - Sewer Maintenance Supervisor - Wayne
Sincebaugh
( e ) Engineering Technician - Charles White ( probationary
per Town Resolution No . 104 of June 12 , 1995 )
( f ) Town Planner - Jonathan Kanter ( provisional pending
jurisdictional certification of position of Director of
Planning per Town Resolution No . 117 of June 12 , 1995 )
Assistant Town Planner - George Frantz
( g
s g
( h ) Planner - Joanne Cornish - Epps
( i ) Building Inspector - Andrew Frost ( provisional
pending jurisdictional certification of position of
Director of Building and zoning , per Town Resolution No .
117 of June 12 , 1995 )
( j ) Assistant Building Inspector - Patricia Keller
( k ) Deputy Town Clerks ( provisional pending
jurisdictional certification as exempt ) - Betty Poole and
Mary Saxton
( 1 ) Principal Account Clerk - Sally Alario
( provisional , holds permanent appointment as Account
Clez' k Typist )
( m ) Human Resources Specialist - Sherwin M . DiSanto
( Probationary , see separate resolution )
( n ) Secretary - Gail Kroll ( permanent )
( o ) Senior Account Clerk Typist - Jacqueline White
( p .) Account Clerk Typist - George Eberhardt
( q ) Senior Typists - Mary Bryant ( Permanent )
Starr Hays ( Permanent )
Dani Holford ( Permanent )
( r ) Court Clerk - Suzanne Bordoni ( provisional pending
jurisdictional certification as exempt )
3 . The following persons are appointed to positions believed
to be in the non - competitive class pursuant to Section 42 of
the Civil Service Law :
( a ) Motor Equipment Operators - Brian Berry
Charles Hulbert
Raymond Manning
Gene Redman
Raymond Rose
Larry Salmi
( b ) Working Supervisors - George Krebs
Richard Schoch
Donald Tenkate
( c ) Typists ( part - time ) - Joy Daley
Debbie Raines
Michelle Townley
Cathy Wall
( d ) Automotive Mechanic - John Williams
4 . The following persons are appointed to positions in the
labor class ( subject to any previously determined probationary
period at the Town ) pursuant to Section 43 of the Civil
Service Law :
( a ) Laborers - Scott Dean
Timothy Eighmey
Jeffrey Hulbert
Edward Merrick
Gerry Strosnider
Richard Tenkate
( b ) Cleaner - Stanley Schrier
5 . The following person is appointed to an exempt class
position pursuant to Section 41 of the Civil Service Law and
the Tompkins County Civil Service regulations :
( a ) Court Clerk - Judy Bernal
and it is further
RESOLVED , that the Town Clerk and other Town officers are
requested and directed to forward a copy of this resolution to
the Tompkins County Personnel Office for processing by said
office to obtain certification of the employees in the
positions as set forth ; and it is further
RESOLVED , that the Town Supervisor , Deputy Town Supervisor ,
Town Clerk , and Attorney for the Town are hereby authorized ,
requested , and directed to take such further actions and to
prepare and deliver such other documents as may be necessary
in order to obtain appropriate Civil Service certification for
the employees set forth above .
MOVED : Karl lgiklas
SECONDED : Councilwoman Valentino
Supervisor Whitcomb , aye ; Councilwoman Valentino , aye ; Councilman
Niklas , aye ; Councilman Klein , aye ; Councilwoman Grigorov , aye ;
Councilman Conley , aye . Carried Unanimously ,
DATED : June 26 , 1995
Joan Lent Noteboom , Town Clerk