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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-08-09 I13 8-9- 12 • TOWN OF DRYDEN TOWN BOARD MEETING August 9, 2012 Present : Supervisor Mary Ann Sumner, Cl Stephen Stelick , CI Joseph Solomon , Cl Jason Leifer , CI Linda Lavine Elected Officials: Bambi L . Avery , Town Clerk Other Town Staff: Dan Kwasnowski , Director of Planning Jennifer Case , Bookkeeper Supv Sumner opened the meeting at 7 : 30 p . m . The Varna Development Plan will be presented at the Town Board meeting by Jane Nicholson next week. 0 Kwasnowski distributed printed copies to board members. The proposed zoning amendments are attached to the plan , but are not part of the plan . It will also be available online . The public hearing for CEAs 6 through 12 will be September 6 , 2012 at 7 : 30 p . m . The property owner packets will go out in the next day or so. Budget - Supv Sumner will be sending a memo to department heads in the next day or O so to launch the budget process . She said this year is all about fund balance because of depending on it so heavily in the past. She said we are getting close to a comfortable fund balance target, and we will not be able to depend on it quite so heavily in the future . Other agencies she is dealing with are targeting 2% wage and salary increases , and that is what she is recommending. The last time that was recommended most departments came back with enough other program cuts to afford higher salary increases. A 10% increase in health insurance premiums is anticipated . There are no retirement figures yet, but it is expected be in that neighborhood as well . CI Lavine said there should be a discussion about whether the town can continue to provide health insurance at the level it does. Supv Sumner said that discussion will likely happen eventually . The current health insurance plan is wonderful . Many other municipalities and agencies are beginning to require employee contributions . She said personally she probably won 't recommend low pay increases at the same time as an increased contribution for health insurance. She would be happier with some kind of employee contribution if there was a choice of plans so that employees have more control over the cost . A plan with less benefits is more affordable . She may look at wellness plans or a savings plan for next year. CI Lavine said of the people that she spoke with nobody, private or public , comes close to what the Town provides. Ulysses is comparable . Supv Sumner said it seems that those with lower salaries have higher benefits. Cl Lavine said it seems we don 't have the right balance to not be the fall guy that everyone dumps in to if they have a choice , and that seems to be a problem . The bookkeeper is gathering information from surrounding municipalities . Supv Sumner said in 2011 we budgeted to use 2 . 6 million from fund balance , but only used 1 . 3 million . We have been slowly been reducing the fund balance to a reasonable target. • When she started it was 10 million , which was more than 100% of our total budget. it has been slowly reduced , and they have been talking about targeting a fund balance at 50% of appropriations , although the state recommends something between 3 months of expenses and Page I of 3 TB S-9- 12 • 8% of the budget. Some of the fund balance reduction is because a portion has been moved to designated reserves, and the finance committee is working on policies for their growth . Supv Sumner said the goal is to keep the levy under the 2% cap and the tax rate the same , and not over expend on fund balance . We need to look at flat budgets again this year. Department heads did a great job with this last year and the year before. The benefit costs drove it up, and department heads don 't have control over that. Assessment appears up about 3 . 5%, largely due to NYSEG and Dominion improvements. A small amount of that counts toward what we can increase the levy by . We still have good resources . Cl Leifer said he wants more detail in the contractual lines in budget requests, and will not approve budget requests that don 't have that detail . The contractual line includes trainings, mileage, organizational dues , and supplies. Cl Lavine said she wants to address unexpected expenditures for attorney expense from the Planning Dept and national conventions considering our close proximity to institutions such as Cornell . D Kwasnowski said there isn 't much offered locally with respect to the ASEP credits that he and Jane Nicholson require . Supv Sumner asked Cl Lavine to review the current budget to see if there is anything that she thinks needs closer look for 2013 . D Kwasnowski said the new zoning amendments are subdivision law are now in effect . A new zoning ordinance book needs to be prepared . D Kwasnowski will determine the expense of that packet and the board will decide what the fee for a printed version will be . Supv Sumner said there will be a couple of road name changes coming before the board (corrections in spelling) . D Kwasnowski reported there will be a couple of telecommunication co-location applications corning before the board , probably not before the end of the year. New antennas will be required on the tower near NYSEG for 4g coverage . Supv Sumner and Jeff Kirby have been working on changing the telecommunications law. D Kwasnowski said that next year he plans to work on parks & trails, especially the Varna trail . He had convinced Cornell to dedicate $300 ,000 toward the trail as part of the transportation mitigation plan . They are now giving mixed messages with respect to that . He also plans to work on the Varna plan implementation , focusing on sidewalk construction in Varna . That will take some coordination with DOT. There was some discussion about whether the town or the property owner would be responsible for maintenance of the sidewalk. Cl Lavine asked about charges on the attorney 's voucher with respect to Liberty Solar. D Kwasnowski explained those had to do with the contracts for putting solar panels on the town hall and highway garage . The contracts needed a lot of work and Atty Perkins reviewed them . D Kwasnowski is now negotiating with Solar Liberty to make the changes. This is a NYSERDA funded project. Negotiating the contract is our only expense. D Kwasnowski and Supv Sumner said there are some serious deficiencies in the documents. Cl Lavine suggested we share this with other towns involved with Solar Liberty . RESOLUTION # 14,(2012 ) - APPROVE ABSTRACT #8 • Supv Sumner offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption : Page 2 of 3 TB 8-9- 12 RESOLVED , that this Town Board hereby approves Abstract #8 , as audited , vouchers • #696 through # 784 , totaling $337 , 670. 73 . 2nd Cl Stelick Roll Call Vote CI Stelick Yes Cl Solomon Yes Supv Sumner Yes Cl Leifer Yes Cl Lavine Yes There being no further business, on motion made , seconded and unanimously carried , the meeting was adjourned at 8 : 30 p. m . Respectfully submitted , Ake At 'XalVar l3ambi L. Avery Town Clerk S ! • Page 3 of 3