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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-07-12TOWN OF GROTON — MINUTES OF TOWN BOARD MEETING TUESDAY, JULY 129 2016 AT 7:30 PM THE TOWN HALL, 101 CONGER BOULEVARD Those present: Donald F. Scheffler, Supervisor Ellard L. Sovocool, Councilperson Kelly Smith, Councilperson Randy N. Jackson, Councilperson Victoria Monty, Attorney for the Town Absent: Sheldon C. Clark, Councilperson (Arrived at 8:32 and attended Executive Session) Also present: Richard C. Case, Jr, W. Rick Fritz, Ed Neuhauser, Robin Cargian. MOVED by Councilperson Sovocool, seconded by Councilperson Jackson, to approve the minutes of the June 14, 2016 meeting as presented. Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Jackson, Scheffler. Vouchers for the General Fund in the amount of $33,846.84 were presented for audit. MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Smith, to approve the General Bills for payment. Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Jackson, Scheffler. Vouchers for the Highway Fund in the amount of $50,765.82 were presented for audit. MOVED by Councilperson Smith, seconded by Councilperson Jackson, to approve the Highway Bills for payment. Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Jackson, Scheffler. Vouchers for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Fund in the amount of $22,211.52 were presented for audit. MOVED by Councilperson Smith, seconded by Councilperson Sovocool, to approve the CDBG Bills for payment. Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Jackson, Scheffler Monthly Reports: Charles Rankin, Bookkeeper - Was not present but submitted monthly reports for the Board's review and requested a budget transfer. Town Board Minutes Page 2 RESOLUTION #16-048 - 2016 BUDGET TRANSFER MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Jackson RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves the following 2016 Budget Transfer: General Fund - Town Wide: From: Contingency, A1990.4 ............................................. $4,108.00 To: Employee Benefits, Unemployment Insurance A9050.8 ....... 4,108.00 Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Jackson, Scheffler Nays - Resolution Passed July 12, 2016 W. Rick Fritz, Code/Fire Enforcement Officer - Submitted monthly reports for the Board's review. Part of the new Codes require each project location have a 911 number visible from the road. I would like to start making this requirement prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy or completion. We have sent a letter to the Fire Department asking if they would be able to continue their blue sign program and we want to make sure that the information that we have been giving out is correct. October 3rd is when this will become mandatory from the State. This makes things a lot easier when there is an emergency. Richard C. Case, Jr., Highway Superintendent - We are on our 2 -week shutdown. The projects that we had going, are still going. We are closing in on the shoulder work. Then we will be going to asphalt. Robin Cargian, Deputy Town Clerk - Submitted Town Clerk's monthly reports for the Board's review. I went to a meeting in Ithaca about the building permit software. They didn't get the grant. So, they are going to back up and use the LaserFich software that we already have through the County and build something through that. Victoria Monty, Attorney for the Town - Had nothing to report. John J. Norman and A. D. Dawson, Town Justices - Were not present. Councilperson Kelly Smith as Representative to Joint Youth Program - We didn't meet this month but Jen Jones did submit a report. She said that all camps have been running smoothly. There are 12 camps. Basketball had 42 students. Arts and crafts at the park has started and they have had 25 - 30 kids per day. Art camp has 13 people enrolled. Other camps coming up are archery, golf, science, and tennis. Summer concerts began July 2 at the fireworks show and they had about 1000 people in attendance. Youth baseball and softball raised $1,200.00 from concessions. Concerts will continue on Fridays. Swim lessons are running smoothly. There is still an issue with the Babe Ruth Team which is not under the Joint Recreation Committee. We're getting complaints about them so Jen checked with the school and they have filled out the school building use forms and have their own insurance, but there doesn't seem to be any overseeing body to take care of complaints. They installed cameras at the park and the police are patrolling more often. People have been swimming in the pool after hours and drawing on the tables, but now that the pool is open and more people are around, we hope that solves the problem. Glenn Morey, County Legislator - Was not present. Privilege of the Floor: No one wished to speak. Town Board Minutes Page 3 July 12, 2016 RESOLUTION #16-050 - DESIGNATION OF SECTION 3 COORDINATOR FOR THE TOWN OF GROTON MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Smith WHEREAS, the United States Congress passed the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968, as amended, 12 U.S.C.1701u ("Section 3"), and WHEREAS, the purpose of Section 3 is to ensure that employment and other economic opportunities generated by certain federal assistance, including assistance provided by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) or HUD -assisted projects covered by Section 3, shall, to the greatest extent feasible, be directed to low- and very low-income persons, particularly persons who are recipients of HUD assistance for housing, and WHEREAS, the Town of Groton is currently, and anticipates it will continue in the future to be, a recipient of certain HUD assistance covered by Section 3, and WHEREAS, HUD and the administrative entity of HUD's Small Cities Program in the State of New York, the Housing Trust Fund Corporation, have determined that Community Development Block Grant grantees must designate a municipal employee to serve as the Section 3 Coordinator to facilitate compliance with Section 3, and WHEREAS, it will be the job of the Section 3 Coordinator to prepare, implement, and undertake certain plans and procedures to facilitate compliance with Section 3 to the greatest extent feasible, now therefore be it RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby designates Randy Jackson, Councilperson as the Section 3 Coordinator for the Town of Groton. Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Jackson, Scheffler Nays - Resolution Passed RESOLUTION #16-051 - APPOINT ROBIN CARGIAN TO BICENTENNIAL COMMITTEE MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Smith RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby appoints Robin Cargian to serve on the Bicentennial Committee. Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Jackson, Scheffler Nays - Resolution Passed Councilperson Smith - Gave a report on the Bicentennial Committee. The actual date of Groton's formation was April 7th of 1817, so we are going to start the celebration in April and carry the Bicentennial theme through until October if the Board deems that we are not being overly ambitious. We will plan some of our own events but we're hoping to tag onto events that are already happening in the community, so it's not like we're going to have our own event every month. Councilperson Smith went on to describe a few of the things that have been tentatively discussed. Supervisor Scheffler - Last month we made a donation to Olde Home Days and I was asked to check on insurance for the pony rides. I was assured that the Olde Home Days Committee will get a certificate of insurance from the company that does it. Town Board Minutes Page 4 July 12, 2016 RESOLUTION #16-052 - SUPPORT OF TOMPKINS CONSOLIDATED AREA TRANSIT, INC. MOVED by Councilperson Smith, seconded by Councilperson Jackson WHEREAS, Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit, Inc. (TCAT) operates an outstanding public transportation service that provides people in the Town of Groton with mobility and access to employment, community resources, medical care, and recreational opportunities, and WHEREAS, every day people in the Town of Groton depend on TCAT to provide a basic and essential mobility service that is relied upon, particularly by those without access to a car, and WHEREAS, to respond to fiscal pressures and a shortage of drivers, TCAT has been forced to make significant cuts in service, and WHEREAS, these potentially permanent cuts in service will disproportionately affect working poor families, immigrants, and students, and WHEREAS, in the Town of Groton there is a large number of residents who are members of young families, senior citizens on fixed incomes, immigrants, students, and people who work and earn less than a living wage who regularly depend on the services of TCAT, now therefore be it RESOLVED, that the Town of Groton encourages municipalities in Tompkins County to promote and advocate on behalf of TCAT and consider ways to alleviate the burden of meeting transportation needs of the community, such as creating more Park and Ride hubs, creating more trails and greenways for walking and bicycling, supporting more rideshare opportunities in towns, villages, the local mall, shopping centers, parks, and business centers, be it further RESOLVED, that the Town of Groton supports promoting creative solutions such as Gadabout and FISH (Friends In Service Helping), and keeping the public transit needs of our residents high on our municipal agendas, and be it further RESOLVED, that the Town of Groton calls upon Tompkins County's State Representatives to encourage all New York State Legislators to recognize and financially support public transit and its vital role in our battle against poverty and in meeting our economic development goals, and be it further RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to all municipalities in Tompkins County, United States Senators Schumer and Gillibrand, United States Congressman Tom Reed; New York State Assemblywoman Lifton, New York State Senators Seward, O'Mara, and Nozzolio, New York State Governor Cuomo, and President Obama. Ayes - Smith, Jackson, Scheffler Nays - Sovocool Resolution Passed RESOLUTION #16-053 - ADOPT OFFICIAL BICENTENNIAL EMBLEM & TOWN SEAL MOVED by Councilperson Smith, seconded by Supervisor Scheffler WHEREAS, the Town of Groton, established in 1817, currently uses a seal with only "Town of Groton erected in 1817" and "County of Tompkins", and WHEREAS, April Scheffler, Town Clerk of the Town of Groton, has masterfully created an emblem that beautifully represents Groton, and WHEREAS, the Town of Groton will be celebrating the bicentennial of its establishment next year, now therefore be it RESOLVED, that the emblem created by Town Clerk, April Scheffler, will be the official Bicentennial emblem as well as the Town Seal when one has been made available. Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Jackson, Scheffler Nays - Resolution Passed Town Board Minutes Page S July 12, 2016 Richard C. Case, Jr., Highway Superintendent - Said that they had used the emblem quite often already and that Clerk Scheffler had made a clock for the Highway Department with the emblem on it. He also said that they had discussed putting up new signs coming into Groton and that they would be on board with that project. MOTION was made by Supervisor Scheffler to enter into Executive Session with the Board and Attorney to discuss pending legislation, seconded by Councilperson Sovocool, at 8:01 pm. Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Jackson, Scheffler (Councilperson Clark arrived just as the Board was entering Executive Session.) MOTION was made by Supervisor Scheffler to return to Regular Session, seconded by Councilperson Smith, at 8:30 pm. Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Jackson, Clark, Scheffler Announcements: ➢ Planning Board Meeting, July 21 at 7:30 pm ➢ Zoning Board of Appeals, July 14 at 7:30 pm ➢ Relay for Life is July 16 from 4:00 pm to 4:00 am at Ithaca College ➢ Next Board Meeting, August 9 at 7:30 pm There being no further business, Councilman Jackson moved to adjourn, seconded by Councilman Sovocool at 8:32 pm. Unanimous. April L. Scheffler, RMC Town Clerk