Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-1992MINUTES OF TOWN BOARD MEETING MONDAY, MAY 11, 1992 AT 7:30 P.M. Those Present: Teresa M. Robinson, Supervisor Ellard L. Sovocool, Councilman Donald E. Cummings, Councilman Gordon C. VanBenschoten, Councilman Carl E. Haynes, Councilman Jack Fitzgerald, Attorney Also Present: Leland Cornelius, Liz Brennan, George Senter, Betty Sperger, John McConkey Moved by Mr. Cummings, seconded by Mr. Sovoc000l, that the minutes of April 13th be approved as mailed. Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Cummings, Robinson. Absent - Haynes. Claims were reviewed by the Board. Mr. Haynes asked Leland Cornelius if he obtained quotes for Claim #93, Air Breathing Respirator. Mr. Cornelius said he did from Seneca Supply and Steuben Supply and they were in the range of $1200 - $1250. Mr. Cornelius said Groton Auto is $1300. Mr. Haynes said he thought Groton Auto had something like this advertized for $600. Mr. Cornelius said he didn't have this kind. Procedure is to have written quotes if item cost $1,000 or more. Claim Nos. 91 to 113 of the Highway Fund in the amount of $8,758.07 and Claim Nos. 122 to 154 of the General Fund in the amount of $13,862.24 were presented for audit. Moved by Mr. VanBenschoten, seconded by Mr. Haynes, that the bills be approved for payment with the exception of Highway Claim No. 93. Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Cummings, Haynes, Robinson. GEORGE SENTER, CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER - Year to date building permits issued in 1991: 23 - 1 house, 3 mobile homes, 19 misc. Permits issued in 1992: 24 - 5 houses, 1 mobile home, 18 misc. A total of 77 letters went out for unlicensed vehicles. Twenty are still unresolved. Seventy -four percent of them have been resolved. Supervisor Robinson reported that Gary Wood called and said that he would not be here tonight and that as far as he knows everything has stopped concerning the C &D Site at the Gleason Mine. Superior is hauling debris daily from the Main Street School property. DEC in Syracuse referred the project to DEC in Cortland. DEC would have to issue new type of permit on closing of mine. Roger still owes them money and applications were incomplete. George Senter reported on the status of Main Street School project. Completion is anticipated to be in July. Liz Brennan, Bookkeeper, handed out Bookkeeper's Report. She also requested authorization to transfer funds from Unallocated Insurance to Worker's Comp Ins. in the amount of $5,682.85 1 RESOLUTION NO. 29 - TRANSFER FUNDS Moved by Mr. Haynes, seconded by Mr. Cummings Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Cummings, Haynes, Robinson RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby authorize the transfer of $5,682.85 from Unallocated Insurance A1919.4 to Worker's Comp. Ins. A9040.8. BETTY SPERGER - Asked if the electric problem in the Town Barns has been taken care of. Answer was no. Asked if roof problem had been taken care of. Supervisor made inquires about trusses and then got laid up. A gentlemen stopped and gave us a sample of roofing material and will be back to discuss project. Asked if we were progrssing with John Anderson. George Senter said Jack will call lawyer tomorrow. The Senior Citizens wanted to know if they could park over here on Wednesday, June 10th from about 7AM to 7PM. There will be about 20 cars. They are going on a bus trip and they need a place to park. Wednesday is court day, but if they parked along the back they shouldn't be in the way. No one objected to them parking in the back out of the way. Colleen has her new computer. The one we got six months ago never worked, so now they have replaced it. Inspection of fuel tanks is due. This has to be done every five years. The Fee for the permit is $400. We have to have someone come in and run a 24 hour air test. This will cost approximately $700 to $800. We have a 10,000 and a 2,000 gallon tank. Mr. Cornelius asked if he had to get more than one price to get this done. Three verbal quotes if it's more than $1000. None if it's under $1000. Moved by Mr. VanBenschoten, seconded by Mr. Sovocool, to solicit bids for the testing precedure on the Town's fuel storage tanks. Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Cummings, Haynes, Robinson. Moved by Mr. VanBenschoten, seconded by Mr. Cummings, to authorize the Highway Superintendent to attend the Annual Cornell Highway Superintendents School on June 8 through 10 and pay the registration fee of $50.00. Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Cummings, Haynes, Robinson. Mr. Bonowitz asked the Highway Superintendent if they could burn Scott house in the gravel pit. Mr. Cornelius wanted the board to make this decision. We would have to get a permit from DEC to burn in our gravel mine. Consensus of Board was not to set a precedent by allowing this. There will be no burning in the gravel pit. Supervisor Robinson reported that the Reapportionment Committee will be making their final presentation of the proposed reapportionment on May 15th. Do we still go along with the added people from the Town of Dryden. Consensus of the Board was to remain in favor of adding Town of Dryden people to our area. 2 RESOLUTION NO. 30 - APPOINT CLEANER Moved by Mr. Sovocool, seconded by Mr. Haynes Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Cummings, Haynes, Robinson RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby appoint James Zartun as Cleaner at an hourly rate of $7.00. Grievance Day is scheduled for tomorrow, May 12, from 3:00 to 6:OOPM. Mrs. Robinson and Mr. VanBenschoten will be sitting from 3 to 4:30 and Mrs. Robinson and Mr. Sovocool from 4:30 to 6:OOPM. It was decided to leave the annual road inspection until next month when more would be able to attend. RESOLUTION NO. 31 - 1992 CONTRACT WITH GAD -A -BOUT Moved by Mr. Haynes, seconded by Mr. Sovocool Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Cummings, Haynes, Robinson RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby authorize the Supervisor to sign 1992 Agreement with Gadabout for the sum of $3000. RESOLUTION NO. 32 - INVESTMENT POLICY OF THE TOWN Moved by Mr. Haynes, seconded by Mr. Cummings Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Cummings, Haynes, Robinson RESOLVED, that the Town does hereby adopt the following Investment Policy: The objective of the Investment Policy of The Town of Groton is to minimize risk; to insure that investments mature when cash is required to finance operations; and to insure a competitive rate of return. In accordance with this policy, the Supervisor is hereby authorized to invest all funds including proceeds of obligations and reserve funds in: a) Certificates of Deposit issued by a bank or trust company authorized to do business in New York State; b) Time Deposit Accounts in a bank or trust company authorized to do business in New York State; c) Obligations of New York State; d) Obligations of the United States Government. 3 All funds except Reserve Funds may be invested in: a) Obligations of agencies of the federal government if principal and interest is guaranteed by the United States b) With the approval of the State Comptroller, in Revenue Anticipation Notes or Tax Anticipation Notes of other local governments. Only reserve funds may be invested in: a) Obligations of the Town of Groton Repurchase Agreements may only be invested by the Supervisor with prior approval of the Town Board, involving the purchase and sale of direct obligations of the United States. All other Town of Groton officials receiving money in their official capacity must deposit such funds in interest bearing negotiable order of withdrawal accounts. All investments made pursuant to this investment policy shall comply with the following conditions: 1. COLLATERAL a. Certificates of deposit shall be fully secured by insurance of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or by obligations of New York State or obligations of the United States or obligations of federal agencies the principal and interest of which are guaranteed by the United States, or obligations of New York State local governments. Collateral shall be delivered to the Town of Groton or Custodial Bank with which the Town of Groton has entered into a Custodial Agreement. The market value of collateral shall at all times equal or exceed the principal amount of the certificate of deposit. These parimeters will also apply to time deposits. b. Collateral shall not be required with respect to the direct purchase of obligations of New York State, obligations of the United States, and obligations of federal agencies the principal and interest of which are guaranteed by the United States Government. 2. DELIVERY OF SECURITIES Payment shall be made by or on behalf of the Town of Groton for obligations of New York State, obligations the principal and interest are guaranteed by the United States, United States obligations, certificates of deposit, and other purchased securities upon the delivery thereof to the custodial bank, or in the case of book -entry transaction, when the purchased securities are credited to the Custodial Bank's Federal Reserve System account. All transactions shall be confirmed in writing. 4 3. DESIGNATION OF CUSTODIAL BANK Manufacturer's Hanover Trust Co., charted by the State of New York, is designated to act as Custodial Bank of the Town of Groton's investments. 4. FINANCIAL STRENGTH OF INSTITUTIONS All trading partners must be credit worthy. Their financial statements must be reviewed at least annually by the Supervisor to determine satisfactory strength or the Supervisor may use credit to determine credit worthiness of trading partners. Concentration of investments in financial institutions should be avoided. The general rule is not to place more than $100,000 in overnight investments with any one institution. Investments in time deposits and certificates of deposit are to be made with banks or trust companies. Their annual reports must be reviewed by the Supervisor to determine satisfactory financial strength. When purchasing eligible securites the seller shall be required to deliver the securities to our Custodial Bank. 5. OPERATIONS, AUDIT AND REPORTING a) The Supervisor shall authorize the purchase and sale of all securities and certificates of deposit on behalf of the Town of Groton. Oral directions concerning the purchase or sale of securities shall be confirmed in writing. The Town of Groton shall pay for purchased securities upon the delivery or book -entry thereof. b) The Town of Groton in most instances shall use its official depository, The First National Bank of Groton. If the Supervisor determines that it may be advantageous to solicit quotes for competitive interest rates at other banks or trust companies, the process must involve at least three telephone solicitation bids. C) At the time independent auditors conduct the annual audit of the accounts and financial affairs of the Town of Groton, the independent auditors shall audit the investments of the Town of Groton for compliance with the provisions of these investment guidelines. d) Within sixty days of the end of the first three quarters of the fiscal year, the Supervisor shall prepare and submit to the Town Board of the Town of Groton a quarterly investment report which indicates new investments, the inventory of existing investments and such other matters as the Supervisor deems appropriate. e) Within 120 days of the end of the fiscal year, the Supervisor shall k, prepare and submit to the Town Board an annual investment report; recommendations for change in these Investment Guidelines; the results of the annual independent audit, if so completed by this date; the investment income record; a list of total fees, commissions or other charges, if any, paid to the Custodial Bank of such other matters as the Supervisor deems appropriate. f) The Town Board of the Town of Groton shall review and approve the annual investment report, if practical, at its November meeting. g) At least annually, and if practical, at the November meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Groton, the members shall review and amend, if necessary, these Investment Guidelines. h) The provisions of these Investment Guidelines and any amendments hereto shall take effect prospectively, and shall not invalidate the prior selection of any Custodial Bank or prior investment. Adopted on May 11, 1992 by vote of the Town Board of the Town of Groton. RESOLUTION NO. 33 - THIRD PARTY AGREEMENT Moved by Mr. Haynes, seconded by Mr. VanBenschoten Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Cummings, Haynes, Robinson RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby authorize Supervisor to work with the Groton Bank in obtaining third party backing for all funds. RESOLUTION NO. 34 - AGREEMENT WITH TOMPKINS COUNTY FOR CIRCUIT RIDER PLANNER Moved by Mr. VanBenschoten, seconded by Mr. Haynes Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Cummings, Haynes, Robinson RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby authorize the Supervisor to sign Agreement between the Town and Tompkins County to make use of their Circuit Rider Planner to perform various consulting services in connection with planning and development in the Town of Groton for an hourly rate of $14.00. Correspondence consisted of the following: 1) Letter from DOT regarding bridge on Route 38 being closed; 2) Equalization rate is 100 percent; 3) Letter from Chamber of Commerce regarding 15% increase in County taxes plus Sales Tax Increase; 4) Letter from Health Department stating that all cats and dogs must be vaccinated against rabies; 5) Letter from Department of Labor wanting to know the status of our building project; 6) Letter from Cornell n Cooperative Extension regarding amendment of the Agriculture District Law providing for Emergency Service Tax Exemption for farms receiving agricultural assessment. This would allow farmland to be taxed for emergency service (fire and ambulance) bases on Ag Use Values. Supervisor will check with County Assessment Office to see how this would affect tax base; 7) Dryden Lodge is having a dinner for Mr. Watrous. Moved by Supervisor Robinson to go into executive session, seconded by Mr. VanBenschoten, at 9:45PM. All ayes. Board meeting reconvened at 10:45PM. The following were reviewed: Zoning violation letters, Town Justice reports, Town Clerk's monthly report and Tax Collector's monthly report. Supervisor Robinson said the Town's Cable TV Franchise expires in July 1993. She reported that we also have to have policies on Drug Free Work Place and Civil Rights Policy which Bernie Thoma should be able to provide us the information. There being no further business, Mr. Haynes moved to adjourn meeting, seconded by Mr. Cummings, at 11:OOPM. Unanimous. Colleen D. Pierson Town Clerk 7