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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-1992MINUTES OF TOWN BOARD MEETING MONDAY, JANUARY 13, 1991, AT 7:30 P.M. Those Present: Teresa M. Robinson, Supervisor Ellard L. Sovocool, Councilman Gordon C. VanBenschoten, Councilman Carl E. Haynes, Councilman Jack Fitzgerald, Attorney Absent: Donald E. Cummings, Councilman Also Present: Leland Cornelius, Betty Sperger, Liz Brennan, George Senter Corrections to minutes of December 9 - 1) Resolution No. 51 - Robinson abstained and Justice salary should be $4,695.33; also change "Board advised" to "Mr. Haynes advised" in paragraph just prior to Resolution No. 53. Moved by Mr. VanBenschoten, seconded by Mr. Sovocool, to approve the minutes of December 9th as corrected. Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Haynes, Robinson. Claim Nos. 267 to 288 of the Highway Fund in the amount of $71,820.20 and Claim Nos. 425 to 445 of the General Fund in the amount of $17,871.21 were presented for audit. Moved by Mr. Sovocool, seconded by Mr. Haynes, that the bills be approved for payment. Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Haynes, Robinson. GEORGE SENTER - CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER - Presented annual report to the Board for their review and answered any questions they had. 8:OOPM - Board meeting recessed for public hearing on Mobile Home Ordinance. Clerk read legal notice that was published in the Republican Register. Since no one was present from the public to speak for or against the amendment, the public hearing was closed at 8:05 PM. RESOLUTION NO. 1 - AMEND MOBILE HOME ORDINANCE Moved by Mr. Haynes, seconded by Mr. VanBenschoten Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Haynes, Robinson RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby adopt the amendment to Article XV of the Mobile Home Ordinance by deleting Section 15.7 that reads as follows: "Occupancy Certificates shall be reviewed at least every three years and renewed automatically if there are not violations of the provisions of this Local Law. " RESOLUTION NO. 2 - 1992 ORGANIZATIONAL ITEMS Moved by Mr. VanBenschoten, seconded by Mr. Sovocool Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten Haynes, Robinson RESOLVED, that the First National Bank of Groton be designated as the depository for all monies coming in the hands of the Supervisor and Town Clerk of the Town of Groton. RESOLVED, that the Republican Register be designated as the official newspaper of the Town of Groton with notices also to be published in the Shopper. RESOLVED, that the law firm of Fitzgerald, Taylor, Pomeroy and Armstrong be retained as Attorneys for the Town of Groton. RESOLVED, that George R. Senter, Sr. be appointed Zoning Officer and Building and Fire Code Enforcement Officer for the Town of Groton. RESOLVED, that Edwin Dow be appointed Constable for the Town of Groton. RESOLVED, that Gordon VanBenschoten be appointed Deputy Supervisor for the Town of Groton. RESOLVED, that Kenneth H. Marks be appointed Deputy Highway Superintendent for the Town of Groton. RESOLVED, that Carol G. Marks be appointed Deputy Town Clerk for the Town of Groton. RESOLVED, that Elizabeth Brennan be appointed as part -time Bookkeeper for the Town of Groton. RESOLVED, that Margaret Palmer be appointed as part -time Court Clerk for the Town of Groton. RESOLVED, that Margaret Alborn be appointed as part -time McLean School Crossing Guard for the Town of Groton. RESOLVED, that Dorothy Ostrander be appointed as Town Historian for the Town of Groton. RESOLVED, that Gurdon Lockwood and Leonard Proper be appointed as Election Custodians for the Town of Groton. RESOLVED, that small tool expenditures of up to $1000.00 by the Highway Superintendent be authorized. RESOLVED, that Blue Cross -Blue Shield Health Insurance for the Supervisor and Town Clerk be paid by the Town of Groton. MOVED by Mr. Sovocool, seconded by Mr. VanBenschoten Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Haynes, Robinson RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby fix the annual salaries of the following Town Officers and employees at the amounts respectfully stated and that such salaries shall be paid at the time respectfully specified: a) Teresa M. Robinson, Supervisor $12,852.00 BiWeekly b) Colleen D. Pierson, Town Clerk $20,072.00 BiWeekly C) Leland E. Cornelius, Hwy Supt. $33,280.00 BiWeekly d) Arland L. Heffron Town Justice $ 4,936.11 BiWeekly e) Alton I. Alexander, Town Justice $ 4,695.33 BiWeekly f) Ellard L. Sovocool, Councilman $ 1,377.00 Quarterly g) Gordon C. VanBenschoten, Council $ 1,377.00 Quarterly h) Donald E. Cummings, Councilman $ 1,377.00 Quarterly i) Carl E. Haynes, Councilman $ 1,377.00 Quarterly j) George R. Senter, Sr., CEO $13,759.20 BiWeekly k) Dorothy Ostrander, Historian $ 1,000.00 Quarterly Moved by Mr. Haynes, seconded by Mr. Sovocool Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Haynes, Robinson RESOLVED, to appoint the following as representatives to Town and County programs: County Youth Recreation Programs - John Gaines Environmental Management Council - Lyle Raymond Tompkins County CATV Commission - Colleen D. Pierson Tompkins County Planning Board - George Totman Local Youth Group - Teresa Robinson, Ellen Cornelius, Jane Eades Moved by Mr. VanBenschoten, seconded by Mr. Haynes Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Haynes, Robinson RESOLVED, to approve appointments of Supervisor Robinson's committee members as follow: Finance - Carl Haynes Machinery - Gordon VanBenschoten Building - Donald Cummings and Teresa Robinson Fire Department - Ellard Sovocool Personnel - Carl Haynes Zoning, Building and Fire Code - Ellard Sovocool Light Districts - Teresa Robinson Fixed Assets - Carl Haynes Senior Citizens - Ellard Sovocool Planning Board - Donald Cummings Appeals Board - Donald Cummings Highway - Gordon VanBenschoten Policy - Donald Cummings and Carl Haynes Moved by Mr. Sovocool, seconded by Mr. VanBenschoten Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Haynes, Robinson RESOLVED, that fees for Town services be set as follows: 1) Master List for Excavating 2) Certification of Taxes 3) Photocopies 4) Transcript of Marriage 5) Marriage Certificate 6) Marriage License 7) Town & Village Maps 8) County Maps 9) Mileage for Town Officials 10) Dog Licenses $ 2.00 $ 5.00 1st yr., $1.00 addn $ .25 $10.00 $10.00 $25.00 $ .50 $ .50 $ .275 $12.50 unneutered /unspayed $ 7.50 neutered /spayed Supervisor Robinson asked Board to skip to item 14 on the agenda (Bookkeeper Review) and asked for a motion for executive session. Moved by Mr. Haynes, seconded by Mr. VanBenschoten, to move to executive session to discuss personnel at 8:30PM. Board meeting reconvened at 8:50PM. Clerk was advised that the only change in Item 7 (Employee Hourly Rates) was the Bookkeepers from $8.32 to $10.00. Moved by Mr. VanBenschoten, seconded by Mr. Sovocool, to set hourly rate of Custodian at $6.55; Deputy Town Clerk at $7.28; Court Clerk at $7.64; Crossing Guard at $5.46; Recycling Workers at $6.00; Bookkeeper at $10.00 and extra Clerk at $7.00. Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Haynes, Robinson. Moved by Mr. Haynes, seconded by Mr. Sovocool, to set annual retainer fee for legal services rendered by Fitzgerald, Taylor, Pomeroy and Armstrong at $6,500.00. Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Haynes, Robinson. Moved by Mr. Haynes, seconded by Mr. VanBenschoten, to appoint Teresa Robinson as Delegate to the annual Association of Towns Meeting to be held in NYC on February 17 -19, 1992, and to appoint George Tot an as an alternate. Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Haynes, Robinson. Moved by Mr. Haynes, seconded by Mr. Sovocool, to authorize the Town Clerk to hire part time Clerk to assist with taxes. Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Haynes, Robinson. Supervisor Robinson said Mr. LoParco on Pleasant Valley had called regarding hooking up to Cable TV. He had called the cable company and they said it would cost him $40.00. He doesn't think this is right because the cable goes by the house. It is a line extension, however the Town had nothing to do with it. Also, our Franchise is coming up shortly. Attorney said he made an error at our last meeting regarding transfer of ownership. According to our Franchise we should have acted on the resolution that ACC requested. Clerk reported that the residents of Pleasant Valley Road did sign a petition in 1979 for a line extension from Peruville to approximately Peg Palmers. Eighteen people signed petition and the cost to each would have been $621 for the 1.7 miles of extension. Supervisor said that the only line they have now is the first seven houses up Pleasant Valley Road and we had nothing to do with it. RESOLUTION NO. 3 - APPROVE TRANSFER OF CABLE TV FRANCHISE Moved by Mr. Haynes, seconded by Mr. Sovocool Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Haynes, Robinson WHEREAS, American Community Cablevision (the "Franchisee ") is the holder of a cable television franchise (the "Franchise ") for the Town of Groton; and WHEREAS, the Franchisee is a subsidiary or division of American Television and Communications Corporation ( "ATC "); WHEREAS, ATC is a majority owned subsidiary of Time Warner Inc. ( "Time Warner "), a widely held New York Stock Exchange company which intends to create a new limited partnership entity comprised of the business and assets of its filmed entertainment, programming and cable divisions, which entity shall be know as Time Warner Entertainment Company, L.P. ( "TWE ") and WHEREAS, Time Warner will retain majority ownership as well as operating and management control of TWE and will operateTWE as a controlled subsidiary of Time Warner employing the assets of ATC including the Franchise and the Franchisee, and the assets of Warner Cable, Lorimar Telepictures, HBO, and Warner Bros.; and WHEREAS, Time Warner intends to offer minority limited partnership interests in TWE to strategic partners in TWE, including Toshiba Corporation and C. Itoh & Co. Ltd; and WHEREAS, ATC will continue to exist as an operating division of TWE, with the existing management structure remaining at both the local and corporate levels and no change is anticipated in the manner in which the business and operations of the Franchisee are conducted; and WHEREAS, the Franchisee will continue to be the grantee of the Franchise as an operating division of TWE and will continue to operate under the Franchise; NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that, insofar as may be necessary or advisable under the Franchise, transfer of the Franchise and the cable television system operating pursuant to the Franchise from the Franchisee to TWE (including any necessary transfers through one or more subsidiaries of Time Warner), is hereby authorized and consented to in all respects. This resolution shall take effect and be in force from and after the earlier of the date of the final passage hereof or the earliest time permitted by law. Supervisor Robinson reported that she had been to three Sales Tax meetings. Nothing has been resolved. The only thing that happened is that the County wants to keep all of the money themselves to take care of some of the expenses that they have. Supervisor has told them that we want it. We are going to get one or the other. The County would like to keep the one percent increase amd are trying to get us to agree to same. People don't want any more property tax increases. County feels sales tax is more fair. The other thing the County is taking about is Income Tax. They are throwing feelers out at this time. They are talking about a 60 -to 40% distribution. The Office of the State Comptroller has sent the Town a copy of their new publication "Developing Procurement Policies and Procedures ". It contains information on implementing General Municipal Law Section 104 -b and is effective January 1, 1992. This publication has been distributed to all affected personnel so that the governing board can take the necessary actions to comply with this new law. The New York State Planning Federation School will be held April 1st and 2nd from 6:OOPM - 9:OOPM in the Groton Town Hall. George Totman has worked out the details. Supervisor Robinson said she had received notice that the State Auditors will be arriving as soon as the year end report has been completed. Supervisor requested that the Town purchase a word processor, a telephone and a lock cabinet for the Bookkeepers office. Mr. Haynes asked if we had the money in the budget. Supervisor said we did. Mr. Haynes asked about bookkeeper's report. How much money did we put in the 1992 budget from surplus. Liz didn't have it with her but she will have the annual report completed by February 28th. Bookkeeper also presented list of transfers for Board authorization. RESOLUTION NO. 4 - AUTHORIZE BUDGET TRANSFERS Moved by Mr. Haynes, seconded by Mr. VanBenschoten Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Haynes, Robinson RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby approve the following budget transfers: General A - From: Retirement A9010.8 - $690.64 To: Auditing A 1320.4 - $382.02 Medical Insurance A9060.8 - $66.62 Justices A1110.1 - $242.00 Highway DA - From: Retirement DA9010.8 - $444.13 To: Brush & Weeds DA5140.1 - $444.13 Discussed Planning Boards recommendation to amend Land Use and Development Code Section 355 by deleting "the neighborhood- service commercial ". Mr. Senter was not sure why they wanted to delete this info. Attorney Fitzgerald was not sure what the definition of a neighborhood service is. Consensus of Board was to have the Planning Board be present to explain their recommendation at the next Town Board meeting. Supervisor would like to have someone come to check vents and filters on heating system. There seems to be odors entering into the new offices. Supervisor Robinson said we had to decide what we're going to do in 1992. There are several things that have to be done. We have the garage overhead doors, the highway garage electrical problem and the highway garage roof. The roof has been leaking for some time. We should be considering replaceing flat roof with a peeked room. The building is approximately 200' by 60'. The roof and the electric would seem to have priority. Consensus was the we should contact Duke Stevenson to get a rough idea of what the roof would cost and also contact someone to see what the electrical would cost. Blue Cross -Blue Shield health insurance rates have gone up from $133.66 to $146.33 for single coverage and from $324.97 to $355.47 for family coverage. The copier in the kitchenette needs a new fan and drum replacement. The estimate to repair it is $403. The board said to proceed with repair. The board reviewed a notice from the Town of Dryden regarding a flag lot that they intend to hold a hearing on January 20th for. Their purpose in notifying us is that it is adjacent to the Town of Groton. Moved by Mr. Haynes, seconded by Mr. VanBenschoten, that the Town continue to receive the New York State Register as in the past. Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Haynes, Robinson. RESOLUTION NO. 5 - AGREEMENT BETWEEN TOWN AND VILLAGE FOR USE OF TOWN COURTROOM FACILITIES FOR 1992 Moved by Mr. VanBenschoten, seconded by Mr. Haynes Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Haynes, Robinson RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Groton does hereby authorize the Supervisor to sign Agreement between Town and Village for use of Court Room facilities for 1992 at the rate of $300.00 per month. RESOLUTION NO. 6 - SET MONTHLY TOWN BOARD MEETING DATE Moved by Mr. Haynes, seconded by Mr. Sovocool Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Haynes, Robinson RESOLVED, the Town Board of the Town of Groton will hold their regular Town Board Meetings on the second Monday of each month at 7:30 P.M. at the Town Hall on Conger Boulevard, Groton, NY. There being no further business, Mr. Sovocool moved to adjourn, seconded by Mr. Haynes, at 9:55PM. Unanimous Colleen D. Pierson Town Clerk