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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-07-1996 & budget work sessionsMINUTES OF TOWN BOARD MEETING MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1996 AT 7:30 P.M. Those present: Teresa M. Ellard L. Gordon C. Donald N. Daniel J. Fran Casu Robinson, Supervisor Sovocool, Councilman VanBenschoten, Councilman Palmer, Councilman Carey, Councilman llo, Attorney Also present: Liz Brennan, Leland Cornelius, John Pachai, Lyle Raymond, Oley Houtaling, George Totman, Cecil Twigg, Pam Stonebacker, George Senter Moved by Mr. Palmer, seconded by Mr. VanBenschoten, that the minutes of September 9, 1996 be accepted as mailed. Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Palmer, Carey, Robinson. Claim Nos. 144 to 159 of the Highway Fund in the amount of $6,292.48; Claim Nos. 220 to 244 of the General Fund in the amount of $12, 133.38; and Claim Nos. 62 to 64 of the Special Grant Fund (HUD) in the amount of $12,101.22 were presented for audit. Moved by Mr. Sovocool, seconded by Mr. Carey, that the bills be approved for payment. Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Carey, Robinson. Nay - Mr. Palmer (Opposition to CS &K bill for $2750 since it was not done in conformity with Town Purchasing Policy.) GEORGE TOTMAN, TOMPKINS COUNTY BOARD OF REPRESENTATIVES - There are a couple things that I want to say. I have a meeting tonight at 8:OOPM with the State Police in McLean. We are going to have a community briefing. I feel that it is important that I be there. Lyle is here on behalf of himself and the Planning Board and I hope that you take into consideration very seriously what he is going to present to you. A couple other things that I want you to take a look at. I think you all got a copy of the Counties proposed Bridge Replacement Agreement. This is an advanced thing that hasn't been totally let out county -wide nor has it gone to the press or anything like that. I got a copy of it and I thought I would brief you on it so that you would have a chance to read it over and condense it before anybody called up and asked questions about it. Secondly, I would like to just tell you that its about 100% sure that the County is going to close the recycling center on Route 38 and also the one in Caroline and the one in Lansing as of the first of the year. They haven't made it public yet but Frank Proto and I have asked to have a meeting with the Solid Waste Committee and Superior and Doug Brown to see if we can't get some kind of a deal, they've got one in Trumansburg, where the haulers leave a dumpster some place in Town for a few hours Saturday morning and someone will be there for a few hours to monitor what goes into it. The County has said it costs them about $45,000 per year to have those recycling centers. It has not been made public yet. I wanted to stay here with Lyle and Cecil is supposed to be here but I have to go. 1 LYLE RAYMOND - ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS - Proposed changes in the Town of Groton Land Use & Development Code came from three meetings attended by George Totman, Cecil Twigg, John Pachai and myself. Some cases have come before the Planning Board and the Appeals Board and some cases have been picked up off the Zoning Ordinance. Mr. Raymond explained the 10 proposed changes plus the two additional suggestions on the last page of the Proposed Changes. Supervisor Robinson said that the Board would look these changes over and get back with any questions or answers. JOHN PACHAI - ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS - This is in regards to Section 428 which is requirements for granting an area variance. Section 430 refers to guidelines for granting a variance for public access. In any case, that really deals, in our case, with frontage. It is in there for flag lots basically. So that makes it an area variance. My initial suggestion was shouldn't that be a subsection of the section that deals with area variances instead of being its own section. You have two sections dealing with a fairly similar situation. I will be getting information in writing from Scott Chatfield who is a specialist in zoning and Phil Sharp with the Department of State. Supervisor Robinson asked Mr. Pachai to get information and get it back to the Board. At 8:15PM the Town Board Meeting had to be move to another room since the Court Room was needed by the Town Justice. Supervisor Robinson thanked Lyle, Cecil and John for their efforts. LIZ BRENNAN - BOOKKEEPER - Handed out monthly report and expenditures and revenues. Also handed out was copies of the tentative budget. Supervisor Robinson said we need to schedule a meeting to go over the budget. Moved by Mr. Carey, seconded by Mr. VanBenschoten, to schedule a budget work session for Monday, October 21, 1996 at 7:30PM. Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Palmer, Carey, Robinson. PAM STONEBACKER - SPCA - Presented proposed 1997 Dog Contract. They are asking for a 2.7% increase. The 1996 Dog Contract is $9,340. The 1997 Dog Contract will be $9,592. GEORGE SENTER - CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER - Building permits issued year -to- date 1995 9 houses 20 mobile homes 57 other 1996 6 houses 11 mobile homes 55 other Life Safety Inspections are current through September. Was approached by neighbor of Junkyard on West Groton Road. Fence is across front and hedgerow is down sides. Original license was issued by Town this way. Consensus was that it is up to the land owners to settle. LELAND CORNELIUS Male Associates. DEC doesn't have - HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT - Talked with Dave Fritz of C.T. We need a 1500 gallon tank and a set of heavy duty manholes. to approve as long as we're going into sewer. Drawings 2 aren't ready. Tank is for grease trap. We should have the prints by the end of the week. ARLAND HEFFRON & ALTON ALEXANDER - TOWN JUSTICE - Town Justice Report was presented to Board for their review. COLLEEN D. PIERSON - TOWN CLERK /TAX COLLECTOR - Town Clerk's monthly report for September was presented to the Board for their review. Moved by Mr. Palmer, seconded by Mr. Sovocool, to re- schedule the regular November Town Board Meeting for Monday, November 4, 1996 at 7:30 P.M. to be followed by the Budget Hearing at 8:00 P.M. and the Fire Budget Hearing at 8:30 P.M. Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Palmer, Carey, Robinson. Moved by Mr. Sovocool, seconded by Mr. Carey, that a Special Meeting of the Town Board be held on Thursday, November 7, 1996 at 7:30 P.M. with Fuel Tank Bid Opening at 7:30 P.M. Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Palmer, Carey, Robinson. The Town's fire extinguishers appeared outside the Highway Department one week ago Friday. They evidentally were left their sometime during the night. All were returned but Colleen's personal extinguisher. DeGear of Dryden checked them out and put proper tags on and picked up their loaners. The concrete base for the traffic signals on the corner of Route 38 and 34B are in. Board discussed proposed change in investment company for the Town's monies in the First National Bank of Groton. They are changing from Chase to M &T. Attorney Casullo has no problem with this. Moved by Mr. Sovocool, seconded by Mr. Carey, that the Town has no objection to the First National Bank changing investment companies to M &T. Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Carey, Robinson. Abstain - Palmer. Moved by Mr. Sovocool, seconded by Mr. hereby authorize Groton Central School referendum on Wednesday, October 23, Palmer, Carey, Robinson. VanBenschoten, that the Town Board does to use a Town Voting Machine for their 1996. Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Just a reminder that Voter Registration Days are Thursday, October 10th from 4:00- 8:OOPM and Saturday, October 12th from 2:00- 9:OOPM. RESOLUTION NO. 37 - APPOINTMENTS TO TOMPKINS COUNTY FIRE DISASTER AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE nna,pn Moved by Mr. VanBenschoten, seconded by Mr. Carey Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Palmer, Carey, Robinson RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Groton does hereby appoint 3 the following members of the McLean Fire Department to serve on the Tompkins County Fire, Disaster and Emergency Medical Service Board: Donald R. Hatch - Alternate - Replacing Steve Foote - Term expires December 31, 1998. Leslie Gifford - Delegate - Replacing Michael Totman - Term expires December 31, 1996. RESOLUTION NO. 38 - APPROVAL OF HIGHWAY NEGOTIATIONS Moved by Mr. Sovocool, seconded by Mr. Palmer Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Palmer, Carey, Robinson RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby approve a three (3) percent raise across the board per agreement at highway negotiations held on September 16, 1996. RESOLUTION NO. 39 - APPOINTMENT TO ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS Moved by Mr. VanBenschoten, seconded by Mr. Sovocool Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Palmer, Carey, Robinson RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby appoint Gregory Vestal to fill the unexpired term of David Ofner - Term expires December 31, 1996. OLEY HOUGHTALING - GROTON DFY PROGRAM - Submitted 1997 budget proposal for DFY Program. The bottom figures are the same as last year - $42,643. This was put together by Coordinator of Cooperative Extension Assoc. of Tompkins County. Two employees work together - one with 40 hrs. and one 20 hrs. In other words, we have 1 1/2 employees. There is a meeting on Local Government in Watkins Glen on October 9th. There being no further business, Mr. Sovocool moved to adjourn meeting, seconded by Mr. VanBenschoten, at 9:30PM. Unanimous. Colleen D. Pierson Town Clerk 4 BUDGET WORK SESSION HELD MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1996 AT 7:30 P.M. Those present: Teresa M. Robinson, Supervisor Ellard L. Sovocool, Councilman Gordon C. VanBenschoten, Councilman Donald N. Palmer, Councilman Daniel J. Carey, Councilman Also present: Liz Brennan, Leland Cornelius Purpose of meeting was to work on budget. Board Members went through budget item by item. Some items were reduced. Discussed highway equipment fund. Leland said a new roller would cost $85,000 and a new digger would cost $100,000 +. We need to start saving for these items. It was decided to put $50,000 equipment monies into our equipment reserve fund. After some deletions and changes, Supervisor and Bookkeeper were to refigure and see what kind of an increase we come up with. There being no further work done this evening, Mr. Palmer moved to adjourn meeting until Thursday, October 24, 1996 at 7:30PM. Seconded by Mr. Sovocool at 9:30PM. Unanimous. Colleen D. Pierson Town Clerk BUDGET WORK SESSION - CONTINUED FROM MEETING ON OCT. 21, 1996 Those present: Teresa M. Robinson, Supervisor k, Ellard L. Sovocool, Councilman Gordon C. VanBenschoten, Councilman Donald N. Palmer, Councilman Daniel J. Carey, Councilman Also present: Leland Cornelius Purpose of meeting was to again review budget after changes had been made at October 21st meeting. Supervisor Robinson said the tax rate is $6.545 which is a 15 1/2o increase over last year. This is due to a decrease in the amount of fund balance available to offset the taxes. Estimated revenues for 1997 are at a low level due to cuts from the State and County. It allows a three percent increase for employes with the exception of the Supervisor and Town Board who have kept their salaries at the 1996 rates. Briefly discussed sales tax monies received from the County. These are left at the County to lower County taxes for town outside people. Consensus was that we should leave as is so that money doesn't come in and possibly get spent on something else. Board decided to present budget as is to the public at the hearing. Moved by Mr. Sovocool, seconded by Mr. Carey, that the Town Board does hereby adopt the tentative budget as the 1997 preliminary budget to be presented at the Budget Hearing on November 4, 1996 at 8:OOPM. Ayes - Sovocool, VanBenschoten, Palmer, Carey, Robinson. There being no further business, Mr. Sovocool moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Mr. VanBenschoten, at 8:55PM. Unanimous. Colleen D. Pierson Town Clerk n