Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-16-2002 TOWN OF GROTON MINUTES OF TOWN BOARD MEETING APRIL 16, 2002, AT 7:30 PM Those present: Glenn E. Morey, Supervisor Ellard L. Sovocool, Councilman Donald F. Scheffler, Councilman Sheldon C. Clark, Councilman Duane T. Randall II, Councilman Also present: Robert Walpole, Phyllis Randall, April Scheffler Robert Walpole was present to discuss the letter from Tompkins County Community Action concerning the purchase of property at 110 Sykes Street and its proposed use for a Head Start Program. Bob Walpole – You each have a copy of the letter. Basically, I’m looking for a letter of support on it. It’s a federally funded program. We met with Tompkins County and this is the only grant they are going to submit. Basically, the building, 4 years ago, they submitted the grant for 6- week to 3-year olds. If turned out that because it was a building complex and this particular building, I met with George Senter, and there will be no new money invested from the Village standpoint. The Village is acceptable to the general effort to try to make this thing work if we can get the application approved. They were quite encouraged with …(not using microphone)… There’s new rules and regulations coming down and all of this includes some of the changes in st the Zoning Code, July 1 of this year. We’re trying to get them faxed to us today from Albany but we haven’t got them yet, to see if the changes are going to be realistic. But that’s not going to be our expense though, that will be the Federal expense. Basically, I’ll be glad to answer any questions. There’s no guarantee that we’re going to get it. The only thing that the bank has told them they would do half. At this point they have committed to $88,000……………..(not using microphone)… The other thing is that I thought we should have the support of the Town behind it because a lot of these people that would be using it would be out of the Town. Supervisor Morey – Any questions for Bob? I did check around and there is no planned use for this building in the near future so this is the only real option. Bob Walpole – We had some other options. I don’t know whether they would work or not. But this particular thing here seems to fit. I know the bank was real pleased we could get it back. And the Village was real pleased if we could put it back into child development. Councilman Sovocool – That’s what it was originally. Bob Walpole – Yes. It would be nice to put it back in. The other thing is that all of this, including the first year Federal budget, that the money is often from the grant, including the Town Board Meeting Page 2 April 16, 2002 payroll 5 years, 10 years, and 15 years down the road are totally Federal funded. And there would be no request to come back for anything additional from the Town. RESOLUTION #49 – SUPPORT OF HEAD START PROGRAM MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Sovocool Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby give its support to the proposed project by the Tompkins County Community Action for an Early Head Start Program at the property located at 110 Sykes Street, Groton, NY. Supervisor Morey said that he would prepare a letter of support for Mr. Walpole. Supervisor Morey – I’d like to move on to the appointment of the Town Clerk. A motion was made and seconded. Before the vote was taken, Councilman Randall requested to speak. Councilman Randall – I can honestly say that after serving two years on this Board as a Councilman, I’ve gotten to know and respect each of the other Board Members was men who only desire to serve the Groton Community. Much thought and dedication goes into each of the issues that face the Town by each of the Board Members. Their focus has been on what is best for the Town of Groton and its community members. I’m proud to say that though we have disagreed at times we have been able to work as a team to accomplish the tasks set before us. Most of the Board Members have personally been involved in sports programs in high school. We were taught the value of team play at the cost of personal sacrifice. We were taught what could be accomplished collectively and we were taught that to be successful in life we had to drop our personal agendas in favor of the greater good for our families and for our communities. The Town Board is team. We’re here tonight to make a decision that will in all likelihood affect that team spirit. The Town Clerk serves as a vital communication link between the Board, the Highway Department, and the Bookkeeper, and the community. We all need to take a good thorough look at who fills that position. We need to not only look at qualifications, but we need to most importantly decide if that person will be one of our team members, one who supports the team despite any differences, one who knows the value of a collective voice, one who is willing to drop any personal agenda for the greater good of the community, a team player. Supervisor Morey – Thank you, Tyke. Any other comments? There has been a motion and a second. Town Board Meeting Page 3 April 16, 2002 RESOLUTION #50 – APPOINT APRIL SCHEFFLER AS TOWN CLERK MOVED by Councilman Sovocool, seconded by Supervisor Morey Ayes – Sovocool, Scheffler, Morey Nays – Randall, Clark WHEREAS a vacancy exists in the Office of the Town Clerk due to the resignation of Colleen D. Pierson, effective April 10, 2002; BE IT RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of Groton, County of Tompkins, State of New York does hereby appoint April L. Scheffler to the position of Town Clerk for the Town of Groton for a term which will expire December 31, 2002. RESOLUTION #51 – SET WAGE TOWN CLERK MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Scheffler Ayes – Sovocool, Scheffler, Morey Nays – Randall, Clark RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby set the wage for April L. Scheffler, Town Clerk at $27,000.00 per year. Supervisor Morey – Congratulations, April. RESOLUTION #52 – SPRING CLEAN-UP DAY MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Sovocool Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey RESOLVED, that the Town Board wishes to sponsor the annual spring clean-up day in joint cooperation with the Village of Groton to be held Saturday, May 18, 2002, form 8AM to 3 PM at the Town Gravel Bank on Spring Street Extension. Town Board Meeting Page 4 April 16, 2002 RESOLUTION #53 – DESIGNATE POLLING PLACES MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Randall Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey RESOLVED, that the Town of Groton designates the following polling places: District #1 – West Groton Church District #2 & #3 – Town Hall District #4 – McLean Fire Station RESOLUTION #54 – GRIEVANCE DAY MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Sovocool Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby set Tuesday, May 21, 2002 as Grievance Day to be held in joint session with the Village of Groton from 306 PM at the Town Hall on Conger Boulevard. Representatives for the Town to be Glenn Morey (3-6 PM), Councilman Sovocool (3-4 PM), Councilman Scheffler (4-5 PM), and Councilman Clark (5-6PM). Supervisor Morey – I’d like to set a meeting to discuss tax exemptions for the disabled and the veterans as well as the income. Date and time were discussed by the Board and set for April 30, 2002 at 7:00 PM. April Scheffler asked it that was to be an advertised public meeting and Supervisor Morey answered yes. Supervisor Morey – Also, we just had a person retire as a Town Clerk after 25+ years. I’d like to have authorization to spend some money for an open reception here. Tentatively, it will be April 28 for punch and or devours from 3-6 or something like that. We have to have Colleen approve the date and make sure that she can make it or some point in time like that. But I really feel like this is a worthwhile expense. We don’t have to go over $300.00 and it can come out of celebrations. What does everybody think? Can we have a consensus? Consensus was that the Board was in favor. Supervisor Morey – I’ll get in touch with April and we’ll work it out through the Groton Hotel, just to do something like that. It will be here. They have a catering service. I’d much rather have it here for people, first of all, to come in and see our beautiful area and also to just sit around and talk. Town Board Meeting Page 5 April 16, 2002 th The 24, everybody got the information on the ZBA meeting and the Planning Board meeting this week. Any other changes to the agenda? April Scheffler – Can I go ahead and start looking for a Deputy. Supervisor Morey – Yeah, but can you give us some time to, just give us time before you make a motion. If it’s going to be next month, can you give us some advance warning of who it’s going to be? April Scheffler – Okay. So, I can’t hire anybody until next month? Supervisor Morey – Yeah. April Scheffler – I need to be able to tell them what they are going to be paid. Supervisor Morey – Okay. Do you have the person in mind right now? April Scheffler – I have a couple of people that I want to talk to. Supervisor Morey – All right. Can you make that public? April Scheffler – No, I haven’t talked to them yet. Supervisor Morey – All right. Get ahold of us and let us know, okay, because I have no idea. April Scheffler – But I can’t talk to someone until I can tell them what they are going to get paid. Supervisor Morey – All right, then we’ve got to go into executive session, boys. April Scheffler – I don’t feel like I can just go ask somebody if they want the job without at least giving them some idea of what they are going to be paid. Moved by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Sovocool, to go into Executive Session to talk about personnel at 7:15 PM. Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey. Moved by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Scheffler, to return to Regular Session at 7:28PM. Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey. Supervisor Morey – Let the record show that we discussed a salary of the Deputy Town Clerk. We made a decision and are ready to make a motion on that situation. $9.00 an hour. The job description is going to be administrative services for the Supervisor, the Board, Rick Case, George Senter, the Planning Board and ZBA, and the Clerk. That’s what you do now. Town Board Meeting Page 6 April 16, 2002 April Scheffler – We don’t technically work for you or the Highway. Supervisor Morey – Well, that’s the job description, April. April Scheffler – No, it’s not the job description. Supervisor Morey – Then it will be the job description. The rate’s going to be $9.00 an hour and how many hours do you work.? April Scheffler – I worked 35 hours. Councilman Sovocool – 35 hours. Supervisor Morey – At 35 hours a week. RESOLUTION #55 – SET WAGE FOR NEW DEPUTY TOWN CLERK MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Sovocool Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Randall, Clark, Morey RESOLVED , that the Town Board does hereby set the wage for the new Deputy Town Clerk at $9.00 per hour at 35 hours per week. The job description to be administrative services for the Supervisor, the Board, Rick Case, George Senter, the Planning Board and ZBA, and the Town Clerk. Supervisor Morey – Congratulations, April. Councilman Sovocool moved to adjourn, seconded by Councilman Scheffler, at 7:30 PM. Unanimous. April L. Scheffler Town Clerk