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Home My WebLink About2005-08-23T13 8 =23 -05 TOWN OF DRYDEN TOWN BOARD MEETING Budget Workshop August 23, 2005 ]'resent: Supv Stephen Trumbull, Cl Stephen Stelick, Jr., and Cl Martin Christofferson, Cl Michaels, Cl Michael Hattery Elected Officials: Bambi i., Hollenbeck, Town Clerk Supv Trumbull opened the meeting at 4:15 p.m. Cl Hattery said that the board had appointed Henry Slater to the Tompkins County Water Resources Council at the last meeting, but had not made a formal resolution and the County would like a resolution. RESOLUTION #128 - APPOINT H SLATER TO TOMPKINS COUNTY WATER RESOURCES COUNCIL Cl Hattery offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby appoints Henry Slater to serve as its representative on the Tompkins County Water Resources Council. 2nd Supv Trumbull Roll Call Vote 2006 Budget Cl Stelick Yes Cl Christofferson Yes Supv Trumbull Yes Cl Hattery Yes Cl Christofferson said he would like to start with projected revenues as a base to work with and asked what the projected increases might be. Dawn Bogdan, said she would have a better idea next month. Cl Christofferson said i1'we knew that revenues would be up 3 %, then we could ask departments to submit no more than a 3% budget increase. He said he understood that some departments may go up more than that because there are some things that are really needed. Cost of living increase should be taken into account, and Cl Christofferson said he expects big changes in fuel expenses. Cl Hattery said the board should agree on a benchmark for where they would like either the tax levy or the tax rage. Cl Stelick said he would like to come in with a flat tax levy or a 5% increase, which should result in a tax rate decrease. The board decided to set a goal of a levy increase of no more than 5 %. D Bogdan said the board should provide for unanticipated expenses in connection with the new town hall. She will have projected fund balances next month. The fund balance in A is around 2.8 million dollars, and there is a reserve fund for the new building of five hundred thousand dollars. The board briefly discussed combining the town's water and sewer districts, and Cl Hattery said he would like to have a conversation with the Planning Board about implementing Page I of') T13 8-23-05 the Comprehensive Plan. He said perhaps they should take a look at consolidating some existing districts and grow it. Cl Michaels said this was worth looking at, would take several years to accomplish and the real issue would be deciding where to expand. The bookkeeper will prepare the budget two different ways. One way will be using a 5% levy increase, and the other by using the current. tax rate. Anticipated smiles tax revenues will have an effect on the budget. With respect to any additional staff positions for the coming year, CI Stelick said he would like to have the emergency services coordinator made a permanent part time position, where last year it was in the budget as a consultant -type position. There will also be funds in the budget for administrative assistance to be used at the discretion of the Town Supervisor. Cl Michaels said he felt the Supervisor position was underpaid for the responsibilities and he was in favor of creating this position. There will be a position created for an assistant to the bookkeeper. This person may also assist other departments as necessary. Cl Hattery suggested that the salary for the environmental planner be increased for next year. The salary for Supervisor will be increased. Cl Hat:tery said the trail consultant will soon have some estimated costs, some of which may be covered by the grant, and after that estimate is received, the town will need to decide how it is going to move forward and the town should have funds available for what is not covered by the grant. He said there is also interest in extending the East Hill Recreation Way into the Town of Dryden. CI Michaels said he would also like to see the trail connect to the East Hill Recreation Way. He would also like to help some of the community centers with renovations and by doing ® so improve the recreation system. Supv Trurribull said the parents of Chris Ackley would like to see a skateboard park constructed, as he was collecting signatures in support: of this when he was killed. Cl Christofferson said this is something that could be considered when recreation space is expanded. C1 Stelick noted the Village is not interested in having it in the Village. Supv 'Crumbull said Neptune Fire Company would like to purchase self- contained breathing apparatus units. They have applied for a grant for $99,000 and if they receive that money will be able to fund the purchase. In the event the grant is not approved, they would like a memorandum of understanding with the Town for the purchase. Cl Christofferson said it should be submitted with their budget request. Cl Michaels & Cl Stelick said that years of 2% increases with no special requests has put the departments in the position they are now, with having to upgrade equipment to meet standards and not having available finds. Cl Michaels said he believes that we are under funding our emergency services on a yearly basis. Cl Stelick said that Freeville's base budget is flat, but they have some additional needs that must be addressed. He noted that having a coordinator in place would help with this. Cl Stelick said he has met with representatives of all the community centers at the Ellis Hollow Community Center about the needs of the centers. Ellis Hollow Community Center has the largest parcel of recreational space in the Town of Dryden. Each center has some specific needs and they need help. The Ellis Hollow Community Center serves a lot of people. Cl Stelick is looking into the cost of some of the repairs and upgrades they would like to make. He has spoken with Atty Perkins about putting a contract in place similzu• to the contracts used for Gadabout, Sout:hworth Library, etc. The centers need t:o be a part of the overall recreation plan. C1 Stelick wants to make provisions in the budget to help the community centers. Cl is Stelick said the golf course has been purchased by a gentlemen and his wife from New ,Jersey. He is a 26 year PGA pro. The new owners are anxious to work with the town Page 2 of 3 '113 8-23 -05 about things such as access in the wintertime. Ci Hattery said this might be a good time to get a trail all around the lake. Cl Steliek said he would also like to gain access to the darn project for cross-country skiing. Cl Christofferson said it might: be a good idea for the Planning Board to look at some of these ideas and make some recommendations in connection with the Comprehensive Flan. Cl Christofferson said we need to be aware that the population is getting older and that needs to be taken into consideration in the recreation plan. Cl St:elick said that Thoma Development is looking for grants for recreation and renovating the community centers. Cl Michaels said the board might want to consider setting aside funds for recreational capital improvements because he anticipates there will be large blocks of funding need, but not necessarily frequent, Cl Hattery said there should be some allocation in the budget for furnishings for the new town hall. Cl Michaels said some of that could be put into the cost of construction, desk space can be built in. D Bogdan said the old furniture can be sent to We auction. Cl Hattery asked about moving a portion of the levy to town outside in the budget. D Bogdan has prepared a spreadsheet on the effects of this and distributed it to the board for their review. On motion made, seconded and unanimously carried, the meeting was adjourned at 6:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Bambi L. Hollenbeck Town Clerk Nge 3 of 3