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Home My WebLink About2001-10-23TB 10 -23 -01 TOWN OF DRYDEN TOWN BOARD MEETBVG October 23, 2001 Board Members Present: Supv Mark Varvayanis, Cl Ronald Beck, Cl Thomas Hatfield, Cl Charles Hatfield, Cl Deborah Grantham Other Elected Officials: Bambi L. Hollenbeck, Town Clerk Jack Bush, Highway Superintendent Other Town Staff: Dianne McFall Mark Sutton Supv Varvayanis explained that revenues included sales tax, interest, etc; everything except property taxes. 1.6 million was received in sales tax revenues last year. CI T Hatfield with respect to salaries elected officials stated that he had reviewed the survey prepared for the Town of Lansing and it reinforced his thinking: I'm very much a believer that: wages are not necessarily an incentive, but I also believe very strongly that they can be a disincentive. I would like to see our Town Board members, starting next January 1 receive a compensation equal to $5,000 per year per person. I think this is one of the few years that we can make this kind of a change seeing how two of us are not seeking reelection. So we are not going to be in a position where people can say well, you're just: putting money in your own pocket. Ron, you and I haven't talked about that at any length, but I was hoping that you might agree that that might be something we ought to look at. I think it is a disincentive when you look at the amount of work and the number of hearings. I don't think it's an incentive, but I think it does make a difference. I feel quite strongly about that personally. Cl Beck - The way I calculate it, I think a councilperson is going to have to spend twenty plus hours a month and he ought to be making $15 or so, and that comes up to $3,600 annually, which is a fair amount less than what you had. But I still think it's a. bare minimum and there are some tunes of the year when if you are doing your job properly as a councilm person you can put in a heck of a lot more and especially if you are active on some of the other committees, town committees or county -wide things. Cl T Hatfield stated that in comparison to what other Towns the same size are paying, Dryden is low for the Supervisor's salary, and that a minimum ought to be $1,000 per month because of the amount of work involved. Lansing is paying its Supervisor $20,000 and Ithaca is paying $32,000. Dryden currently pays $7,700. Dryden is the largest Town in the County and he would like to see the salary at no less than $12,000. With these increases and some reductions previously discussed in other lines, this would mean a total increase of $15,000 in the budget. Cl T Hatfield - I think this budget that Mark approach. The 25% reduction in sales tax certainly anybody that has a major answer to that, whether t 15% or 35 1/o. We don't know. I think it's prudent to time we're in, there's a little bit of recession started, any higher is criticall has presented us is a pretty balanced could be questioned. I don't think there is he 25% is right or whether it should be be expecting less. Also I think given the for us to keep town taxes at least not going Page 1 of 4 0 W e TB 10 -234)1 Cl T Hatfield noted that: the Highway Superintendent had made a good argument for a look at the high%vay department: wages, and that needs to be.addressed. The Town has 96 • miles of road and these guys are doing a great job. He stated that when he looks at ghat Dryden is paying; its Highway Superintendent and Deputy versus other communities, he believes there is the same inequity. Cl T Hatfield - I've been through the budget in a great amount of detail and those are really the major issues that I saw that jumped out. (Cl T Hatfield left the meeting.) The board discussed the wages for board members and town supervisor. Supv Varvayanis stated that it was difficult to find people to run for office, but he wasn't sure an increase would be much incentive. Cl C Hatfield stated that Nve'd been fortunate in the past to find people to run, but perhaps it was time to get realistic. Cl Beck stated that $5,000 for board members and $12,000 for the Supervisor was more than he had figured, but that it wouldn't be a lesser job as time goes on. After further discussion, the board decided to raise the compensation for board members to $5,000 each per year and $12,000 for the Supervisor. Salaries for Highway Superintendent and Deputy Highway Superintendent were then discussed using the survey prepared for the Town of Lansing by AMTFK Human Resource Consultants and a survey done by the Deputy Highway Superintendent which was based on a sampling of like towns provided by NYS DOT. Jack Bush has asked for a 5% increase and asked the board to consider paying for family medical insurance. Cl Beck stated he had considered 10% plus the health insurance. Cl C Hatfield remarked that the Highway Department is the most organized it has been since he's been on the board and though both the Highway Superintendent and his Deputy are relatively neuv, they need to paid comparatively for what they are doing and he states that he does not feel it is a huge increase. Board discussed the matter of family coverage for the I•Iighway Superintendent. Town employees are provided with family health coverage, but town policy provides that elected ® officials will be covered individually at no cost, but for family coverage they would have to pay the difference. Dianne McFall pointed out that the board has always tried to keep the policy fair to all, and if the board were to pay for family coverage for the Highway Superintendent, they would have to do it for all other elected officials. The difference between the price of single coverage and family coverage is about $350 per month. Cl Beck stated that perhaps the policy should be discussed at another time, and the Board agreed. Cl C Hatfield suggested raising the Highway Superintendent's salary to $44,000 and he would purchase the additional family coverage. Cl Grantham stated that he received a big increase in salary last year so that he could buy the family insurance. Cl Beck stated that was true, but now we have surveys that indicate the salary is still low. Cl C Hatfield said that last year they hadn't been on the job too long, but he thinks they are doing the job right and you need to compensate them for it, and that: in the business field when you get a good man the only way to keep hire is pay him what he's worth. Jack Bush said that if the board makes this decision that the salary would be within range and he doesn't see himself asking for any kind of big; increase next year. Cl C Hatfield stated that the average of the surveys comes out to $45,000 and that: in general lie hasn't heard anyone say that: the highway department wasn't doing a good job and they used to hear that a lot. The Board raised the salary for Highway Superintendent to $46,000 and to $36,000 for his Deputy. With respect to the amount budgeted for the ambulance, Supv Varvayanis stated that it is based on what is happening this year, with a projected $60,000 deficit. Pag;c 2 of 4 TB 10-23"01 Sewer repairs are necessary on Freese Road (Varna Sewer II, 388 units) and half the amount was budgeted for this year and half will be budgeted next, total amount being approximately $55,000. Cortland Road Sewer appropriations are down because the Town no longer expects the Village to ask the Town to become part owner of the sewer plant. Peregrine appropriations are down because of the recent sale and dissolution of a major part of the subdivision and it will no executive session at longer be necessary to buy a share in the sewer plant. Supv Varvayanis noted that amount for the recreation coordinator was reduced from $101000 to $5,0001 The rate of pay for the Highway Clerk was increased from $9.50 to $10.32 /hour. Cl Beck remarked that perhaps the projected sales tax revenues were too conservative, but it was safer that way. Changes made in the budget this morning amount to a tax rate increase of about two cents. The Board discussed whether to decrease the amount of funds in the budget for production of the bicentennial book. There has been little progress in the past few years. Cl Grantham believes it will actually cost less than the $50,000 budgeted to produce the book. After discussion, the Board decided to leave the amount at $50,000. Jack Bush stated that the Red Mill Bridge is still on the County's project list and there is a portion of that expense that will be the Town's responsibility. D McFall staged that has ® been taken into consideration in the budget and there is more than enough money. Cl Beck said that it was his understanding that the County had not received a, determination from the State Historical Society. It was noted that the decking on the bridge is in poor condition and may need to be repaired before the County replaces the bridge. Cl C Hatfield stated that he thought the budget was well put together. On motion of Supv Varvayanis, seconded by Cl Beck, and unanimously carried, the board moved into executive session at 9:50 am. to discuss union negotiations. Board moved back to regular session at 10:10 a.m. RESOLUTION #204 - AUTHORIZE PAY INCREASE FOR HIGHWAY & DPW Cl Grantham offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby authorizes the Town Supervisor to give a 51/0 increase and a $1,400 performance payment to the Highway and Department of Public Works employees according to the tentative agreement. 2nd Cl C Hatfield Roll Call Vote Cl Beck Yes Supv Varvayanis Yes Cl C Hatfield Yes Cl Grantham Yes Page 3 of 4 TB 10 -23-01 On motion duly made, seconded and unanimously carried, the meeting was adjourned at 10:14 a.m. Respectfully submitted, 400'J�; 411�1 13ambi L. Hollenbeck Town Clerk Page 4 of 4