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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-10-2003 TOWN OF GROTON – MINUTES OF TOWN BOARD MEETING TUESDAY, JUNE 10, 2000 - 7:30 PM Those present: Glenn E. Morey, Supervisor Ellard L. Sovocool, Councilman Donald F. Scheffler, Councilman Sheldon C. Clark, Councilman Victoria Monty, Town Attorney Absent: Duane T. Randall II, Councilman Also present: Mary Lou Jacobs, Kim Reilly, Kim VanBenschoten, April Scheffler, Liz Brennan MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Clark, to approve the minutes of the May 13, 2003 meeting as presented. Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Clark, Morey. General Fund Claim Numbers 151-179 of the in the amount of $16,680.60 were presented for audit. MOVED by Councilman Sovocool, seconded by Councilman Scheffler, to approve the General Bills for payment. Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Clark, Morey. Highway Fund Claim Numbers 92-110 of the in the amount of $16,694.53 were presented for audit. MOVED by Councilman Scheffler, seconded by Councilman Clark, to approve the Highway Bills for payment. Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Clark, Morey. Special Grant (HUD) Fund Claim Numbers 286-289 of the in the amount of $4,384.14 were presented for audit. MOVED by Councilman Clark, seconded by Councilman Scheffler, to approve the HUD bills for payment. Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Clark, Morey. Town Board Minutes Page 2 of 5 June 10, 2002 Privilege of the Floor: Mary Lou Jacobs, 55 Smith Road returned this month to ask what was happening with the SPCA. She had filed a complaint on April 27, tickets were issued April 29, the Court received them on June 2 and she had received her copy on June 6. Supervisor Morey explained that things were in motion and the attorneys were looking at it. A meeting would be taking place Monday with Kathy Piercey from Ag & Markets to talk about the issue. The Town is looking at other avenues and adjoining towns are also interested. Kim VanBenschoten was there to talk about a fall event promoted by the Village of Groton Pizza Fest, Planning Board and which will be a Town and Village event. They are planning a tentatively for September 13, and wish to use the Town Barn. Local pizza restaurants will be invited to sell pizzas. There will be pizza making competitions and prizes, vendor sales and a farmers’ market. Warming ovens will have to be rented. It has not yet been decided where the profits will go. The Joint Recreation Program was suggested and also computers for the Senior Citizens, Sykes Park, the Historical Society or scholarships. Consensus of the Board was that this would be a good idea and the Town building could be used. Supervisor Morey will check with the Highway Superintendent. Elizabeth Brennan, Bookkeeper/Deputy Highway Superintendent, submitted her monthly report for the Boards review and requested a transfer of funds. RESOLUTION #49 – TRANSFER OF FUNDS MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Sovocool Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Clark, Morey RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby approve the following transfer of funds: General Fund – Town Wide: From: Contingency A1990.4…………………..20.00 To: Health Center A4560.4………………....20.00 George R. Senter, Sr., Code/Fire Enforcement Officer , was not present. Richard R. Case., Jr., Highway Superintendent, was not present April L. Scheffler, Town Clerk/Tax Collector , submitted her monthly Town Clerk’s report and her final 2003 Tax Collector’s report. The new Deputy Clerk, Lisa Rongo, had started the week Kathy Piercey before and was doing a good job. Clerk Scheffler reiterated on the subject of coming the following week and she had invited Lansing and Dryden since they are also Town Board Minutes Page 3 of 5 June 10, 2002 interested in possibly finding someone other than the SPCA for dog control. Clerk Scheffler had talked with Paul Berhans, dog control officer for parts of Cortland County, a told about a problem he had had with the Tompkins County SPCA after taking in a dog for them. When he called and asked them to come and pick up the dog he was told someone would be over to get it, but when no one came and he called again he was told that they would not come and get it. Mr. Berhans had also called Supervisor Morey, who in turn called the SPCA, left several messages, but never received a return call from them. Clerk Scheffler said that she had asked the Dog Control Officers to check on a report that she had received concerning 5 unlicensed dogs and that the Officers did not do it. Instead, the Officers thought the Clerk should issue tickets next month. Clerk Scheffler said that she would not issue tickets based on hearsay. Councilman Sovocool felt that we should speak with the Board of Directors of the SPCA, rather than the people who work there, and try to get them to do their job. Supervisor Morey is going to write a letter to the Board. dog enumeration Clerk Scheffler brought up the subject of the . She finds herself in a awkward situation since it is her husband who is doing the enumeration and no longer desires to finish it, and she was not the person who hired him. She suggested that they pay him for the work that was done, approximately half of it, and get someone else to finish it. She also explained to the Board that there was a lot more to the job than was first thought including the amount of time spent doing it, days spent in court, personal harassment, and danger from unfriendly dogs. Members of the Board thought that the agreement had been to do the whole job. Several roads are left to do in the Town and the Village is also left to do. The Board decided they would think about the situation and make a decision later. Supervisor Moreyvacation asked if the Clerk was going to shut down for this year and she responded that she had not made a decision on that as yet. The Highway Department will shut down for the first two weeks in July. Victoria Monty, Town Attorney,dog said she would inquire as to what other towns do for control and get back to the Board. The attorneys had responded to a letter from Lyle Raymond, campground Chairman of the Zoning Board of Appeals concerning the definition of a and felt that the ZBA’s proposed definition was acceptable. Councilman SchefflerCoit property asked about the . Supervisor Morey explained that a 6- month building permit had been issued earlier this year on the condition that progress be made to bring the building up to code. Previous reports that the property was being sold had proved to be incorrect and it is still being advertised for sale. Alton Alexander & John Norman, Town Justices , submitted their monthly report for the Boards review. No one was present from the Court. Councilman Donald Scheffler, as Recreation Coordinator, reported that summer events were planned. Town Board Minutes Page 4 of 5 June 10, 2002 RESOLUTION #50 – HIRE SUMMER YOUTH WORKERS MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Clark Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Clark, Morey RESOLVED, that the Town Board does herebyauthorize the hiring of three Summer Youth Workers at the rate of $5.15 per hour. Supervisor MoreyLee Shurtleff, Director of Emergency Response received a letter from , requesting the Town’s support for a partnership between Tompkins County and the New York State Office for Technology’s Statewide Wireless Network (SWN), which would allow the County to move forward with a complete rebuild of the public safety communication system starting next year. Mr. Shurtleff asked that the Town join in a letter campaign addressed to key government officials in Albany seeking their help in the approval process. Consensus of the Board was that the Supervisor should send the letters. Supervisor Morey submitted a request from the Court Clerk, Margaret Palmer, for payment of Court Clerks Conference. expenses for an upcoming Supervisor felt payment of all expenses was in order because Mrs. Palmer is president of the Court Clerks Association and very seldom does someone from Groton become president of a statewide organization such as this. He felt that she should be able to go and not have to count pennies. RESOLUTION #51 – APPROVE PAYMENT OF CONFERENCE EXPENSES FOR COURT CLERK MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Clark Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Clark, Morey RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby approve payment of all expenses for Margaret Palmer, Court Clerk, to attend the Court Clerks Conference in Saratoga Springs, New York, September 28 – October 1, 2003, including registration, transportation, room and board. Announcements: th Planning Board Meeting, June 19. Kathy Piercey, Ag & Markets, Monday, June 16, at the Town Hall McLean Community Council, Tuesday, June 17, 7:30 PM, at McLean Fire Hall. Bikes & Blues meeting, Wednesday, June 11, 7:00 PM at the Town Hall Town Board Minutes Page 5 of 5 June 10, 2002 Councilman Clark expressed gratitude for help received from the Town of Groton Highway Groton Rural Department and the Village of Groton DPW for projects he was in charge of in the Cemetery . This kind of help and cooperation is a real plus for our town and village. Councilman SchefflerDiversified Technologies asked about the situation with and Councilman Sovocool wondered why they always had to get a lawyer after them in order to receive any payments and then they would only pay for a couple of months. Supervisor Morey stated that they were tired of dealing with people who had no honesty or integrity. The money that was loaned to Diversified was part of what should have been a renewable fund, with the money being paid back and then loaned out to help bring in other businesses. The Board asked Attorney Monty to start looking into the situation for possible foreclosure. There being no further business, Councilman Sovocool moved to adjourn, seconded by Councilman Scheffler, at 8:20 PM. Unanimous. April L. Scheffler Town Clerk