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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-1992MINUTES OF TOWN BOARD MEETING MONDAY, MARCH 9, 1992 AT 7:30 P.M. Those Present: Teresa M. Robinson, Supervisor Ellard L. Sovocool, Councilman Gordon C. VanBenschoten, Councilman Jack Fitzgerald, Attorney Absent: Donald E. Cummings, Councilman Absent: Carl E. Haynes, Councilman Also Present: Leland Cornelius, George Senter, Betty Sperger Moved by Mr. VanBenschoten, seconded by Mr. Sovocool, that the minutes of February 10th be approved as mailed. Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Robinson. Claim Nos. 40 to 66 of the Highway Fund in the amount of $17, 952.48 and Claim Nos. 40 to 80 of the General Fund in the amount of $12,896.25 were presented for audit. Moved by Mr. Sovocool, seconded by Mr. VanBenschoten, that the bills be approved for payment. Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Robinson. GEORGE SENTER - CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER - Year to date building permits issued are eight. In 1991 we had nine at this time. We had a ZBA Hearing last month. Two cases were cleaned up so they were dismissed. Rawson was given until March 14th to clean up. I am going to start inspecting the town for junk cars. This will be accomplished in four sections. Board is invited to attend a workshop on "The Board of Zoning Appeals ", Saturday, March 28 from 9am to 4pm at the NYSEG auditorium. A box lunch can be reserved. Anyone planning to attend can let George Senter know. Dutch VanBenschoten said to put him down. Supervisor mentioned the NYSPF school that will be held here on April 1 and 2. Because we are holding it here, we are getting one free registration for every three we have that attend. Supervisor urges everyone to attend. Monthly reports from the Town Clerk, Tax Collector, Bookkeeper and Town Justices Heffron and Alexander were presented. Also the Supervisor's Annual Financial Report for 1991 was presented. The 1991 Groton Fire Department Annual Report was also submitted for review. RESOLUTION NO. 16 - TRANSFER OF FUNDS (1991) Moved by Mr. VanBenschoten, seconded by Mr. Sovocool Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Robinson RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby approve the following budget transfers: General A - From Retirement A9010.8 - $263.54 1 To: Health Insurance - A9060.8 - $263.54 RESOLUTION NO. 17 - TRANSFER OF FUNDS (1992) Moved by Mr. VanBenschoten, seconded by Mr. Sovocool Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Robinson RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby approve the following budget transfers: General A - From: Engineer A1440.1 - $5,000.00 To: Misc. Attorney's A1421.4 - $5000.00 Correspondence from Attorney Fitzgerald's Office containing document that will formally substitue the MacKenzie Law office as Attorneys for the Town in Hedlund and Brown case. Consent to change attorneys document was signed by the Supervisor. The Town Board ratified this arrangement at the February 10th meeting. As discussed there, billable hourly rates are as follows: partners $125.00, associates $100.00 and paralegals $60.00. This arrangement was acknowledged by Supervisor Robinson signing letter dated March 5, 1992, from MacKenzie, Smith, Lewis, Michell & Hughes. Attorney Fitzgerald requested that the Town Clerk get the declaration pages from our insurance policies from 1986 to 1990. RESOLUTION NO. 18 - RETAIN MACKENZIE, SMITH, LEWIS, MITCHELL n*m vTU21TV C Moved by Mr. Sovocool, seconded by Mr. VanBenschoten Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Robinson RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby retain the law firm of Mackenzie, Smith, Lewis, Mitchell and Hughes to represent the Town in the defense of the action brought against the Town by Grace A. Hedlund, Donald V. Hedlund, Lynnette M. Brown and Douglas R. Brown, and all others similarly situated, and FURTHER RESOLVED, that it is the Town's understanding that the firm of Mackenzie, Smith, Lewis, Mitchell and Hughes billable hourly rates are as follows: partners $125.00, associates $100.00 and paralegals $60.00. Supervisor Robinson reported that while in New York there was discussion on Cable TV and some of the illegal uses. Our Cable TV Franchise is coming up and the head fellow from the State offered to come down and assist us during our Franchise Renewal. Supervisor Robinson also provided Mr. Laparco with a copy of our current Franchise for his use in taking care of his personal problem with line extension on Pleasant Valley Road. Supervisor Robinson reported that she had met with representatives from the 2 Town of Dryden, Town of Lansing, Town of Ithaca and Village of Lansing to discuss the reapportionment for the County Board of Representatives. Groton needs additional people and these will either come from McLean area in the Town of Dryden or North Lansing from the Town of Lansing. We would like to select an area that has something in common. McLean area seems to have more in common since the people are all in the McLean Fire District, they are involved with happenings in McLean, their interests are in McLean thus making this area more desirable to be included in the Groton Representatives area. Consensus of the Board was to go with Map R -29 which is an option from the Town of Dryden to the Town of Groton. Supervisor Robinson spoke with Jack Little of Ciaschi, Dietershagen regarding proposal to perform 1991 financial audit. Mr. Little agreed to look over contract offer and would consider lowering it. Supervisor Robinson stated that the last day for dumping at the landfill is April 3. March 21 and March 28 are the two Saturdays that residents can bring items to Spring Street gravel pit. We will be sharing cost with the Village. Since we can't take plows or sanders off, we have agreed to hire trucks to come in and haul to landfill during the week. Also we have agreed to pickup from Senior Citizens and Handicapped. All items must be sorted. RESOLUTION NO. 19 - REAPPOINT MONICA CAREY TO PLANNING BOARD & DAVID OFNER TO APPEALS BOARD Moved by Mr. Sovocool, seconded by Mr. VanBenschoten Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Robinson RESOLVED, that Monica Carey be reappointed to the Planning Board for a term of seven years expiring in 1999, and David Ofner be reappointed to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a term of five years expiring in 1997. RESOLUTION NO. 20 - COMBINE ELECTION DISTRICTS FOR PRIMARY DAY Moved by Mr. Sovocool, seconded by Mr. VanBenschoten Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Robinson RESOLVED, that Election Districts #2 and #3 be combined for Primary Election Day on April 7. Supervisor Robinson stated we had asked the Planning Board to come up with a master plan. We can hire what they call a circuit rider from the County. They come around and assist our Planning Board in coming up with a new plan. This circuit rider would be considerably less expensive than a professional. The Planning Board seems to be quit enthusiastic about it. 3 RESOLUTION NO. 21 - APPOINT JOHN PACHAI TO APPEALS BOARD Moved by Mr. VanBenschoten, seconded by Mr. Sovocool Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Robinson RESOLVED, that John Pachai be appointed to the Zoning Board of Appeals to fill vacancy of Janet Bell with term expiring in 1994. Supervisor Robinson received letter from Gary L. Wood, P.E., advising the Town and Village that he is making application to the NYS Department of Labor for a license to keep a nuclear density meter or meters at 120 Spring Street. This device will be similar in function to those currently maintained by Empire Soils Investigations at their lab, but ours uses a natural isotope rather than manmade. He would like us to sign a copy of this letter to indicate that the Town and Village have been made aware of this and have no objections. Consensus of Board was that they had no objection. Correspondence from Thoma Development Consultants: As you are probably aware, Title VIII of the 1968 Civil Rights Act states that it is a policy of the United States to provide fair housing for its citizenry, within constitutional limitations. Specifically prohibited under this law is discrimination in the sale, rental or financing of dwellings on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin. The Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 added two additional protected classes to this list, namely, handicapped persons and families with children. As federal CDBG recipients, our municipality is charged with the responsibility of furthering fair housing efforts. One of the suggested ways for meeting the goals of the program is to have our municipal board proclaim "April is Fair Housing Month" and publish a notice in the designated newspaper. RESOLUTION NO. 22 - PROCLAIM APRIL AS FAIR HOUSING MONTH Moved by Mr. VanBenschoten, seconded by Mr. Sovocool Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Robinson WHEREAS, in accordance with the Title VIII Fair Housing Policy of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 and the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 and, WHEREAS, the Month of April 1992 has been designated by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity as Fair Housing Month, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Groton hereby declares and proclaims April as Fair Housing Month in the Town of Groton. Teresa M. Robinson, Supervisor 4 The Town Supervisor's Office is the designated Fair Housing Office of the Town of Groton. If any individual or family feels that they have been discriminated against in obtaining suitable housing or housing accommodations of their choice, they can contact the Town Supervisor's Office at 898 -5102, 101 Conger Boulevard, Groton, New York. There being no further business, Mr. Sovocool moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Mr. VanBenschoten, at 8:45PM. Unanimous. Colleen D. Pierson Town Clerk k,