Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-09-13TOWN OF GROTON — MINUTES OF TOWN BOARD MEETING TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 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 Sheldon C. Clark, Councilperson Victoria Monty, Attorney for the Town Also present: Lance Coit, Ed Neuhauser, Glenn Morey, Cassandra Negley, W. Rick Fritz, Michael Kelleher, Richard C. Case, Jr., April Scheffler. MOVED by Councilperson Sovocool, seconded by Councilperson Smith, to approve the minutes of the August 9, 2016 meeting as presented. Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Jackson, Clark, Scheffler. Vouchers numbered from 399 to 450 amounting to a total amount of $135,502.87 were presented to the Board for their review. Vouchers for the General Fund in the amount of $24,914.70 were presented for audit. MOVED by Councilperson Smith, seconded by Councilperson Jackson, to approve the General Bills for payment. Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Jackson, Clark, Scheffler. Vouchers for the Highway Fund in the amount of $66,397.41 were presented for audit. MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Jackson, to approve the Highway Bills for payment. Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Jackson, Clark, Scheffler. Vouchers for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Fund in the amount of $44,190.76 were presented for audit. MOVED by Councilperson Smith, seconded by Councilperson Sovocool, to approve the CDBG Bills for payment. Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Jackson, Clark, Scheffler Monthly Reports: Charles Rankin, Bookkeeper - Was not present but had submitted monthly reports for the Board's review. W. Rick Fritz, Code/Fire Enforcement Officer - August went fast. We're working with the Fire Department to get the 911 signs out so that ambulances and fire trucks can find addresses easily. Town Board Minutes Page 2 September 13, 2016 Beginning on October 3rd, the ICC Codes will require the 911 signs on any new building permit. We will require it before anyone gets a Certificate of Occupancy or Compliance. Richard C. Case, Jr., Highway Superintendent - We've been working on shoulders and drainage on Elm Street, Odgen Hill, Eden and Old Stage Road from Champlin to the County line. Old Stage Road is going to be a project for the rest of this season and hopefully pave it in the Spring. Mr. Case requested resolutions to take a 1973 Ford tandem to the municipal auction and to give Donald Evener a raise. He also asked for a resolution subject to permissive referendum to purchase a rubber tired excavator to replace the one purchased in 2001. They have tried out 4 of them. Mr. Case recommended they purchase the low bid, which is a Caterpillar similar to the one they have. Eventually, they will take the old excavator to a sale. RESOLUTION #16-059 - PERMISSION TO TAKE 1973 FORD DUMP TRUCK TO SALE MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Jackson RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby grants permission for the Highway Superintendent to take the 1973 Ford tandem axel dump truck to the annual Municipal Auction in Lansing during the month of September. Ayes - Smith, Jackson, Clark, Scheffler Nays - Sovocool Resolution Passed RESOLUTION #16-060 - APPROVE RAISE TO DONALD EVENER MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Clark RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves a 50 -cent per hour raise for Donald Evener to take effect at the beginning of the next pay period. Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Jackson, Clark, Scheffler Nays - Resolution Passed RESOLUTION #16-061 - PURCHASE 2017 RUBBER TIRE EXCAVATOR SUBJECT TO PERMISSIVE REFERENDUM MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Jackson RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby authorizes the purchase of one (1) new 2017 Rubber Tire Caterpillar Excavator, Model M -314-F, and be it further RESOLVED, that the purchase amount of $194,911.00 will be taken from the Town's Capital Highway Equipment Reserve Account, and be it further RESOLVED, that said purchase will occur unless a petition, in compliance with Section 91 of New York State Town Law is received by the Town Clerk protesting said resolution and requesting a referendum thereon. Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Jackson, Clark, Scheffler Nays - Resolution Passed April L. Scheffler, RMC, Town Clerk/Tax Collector - Submitted monthly reports for the Board's review. Olde Home Days went well. The photo show had fewer entries than last year, but last year was a higher than average year. We think the actual attendance at the show was somewhat higher than usual. For the second year in a row Robin and I sponsored a pirate's treasure hunt for little kids and that was a Town Board Minutes Page 3 September 13, 2016 lot of fun also. We had lots of help setting things up with Robin's girls: Sam, Rachel and Emily and my grandsons: Hunter and Sawyer. You probably noticed the bill to reimburse Tom for plywood and hinges for our photo show sign. Last year we ordered large banners to put out front and I intended to make a plywood sandwich board type thing to mount them on but was sick right before Olde Home Days and didn't get that done. So, this year I enlisted Tom's help and got that built. It worked out good and we will be able to use it for years to come as well as maybe use it during our Bicentennial celebrations. I gave you a spreadsheet on our expenses for the show and if all my figures are correct, we should have just $14.74 cents left in the account when all bills are paid. Winning photos will be displayed at the Bank during the last 2 weeks of September. I am in the process of writing a grant for next year's photo show. I am applying for a different grant than the one we have received in the last few years. This is more of an arts grant and I am hoping I can get it and then apply for the celebrations grant in the spring to help with one of our Bicentennial events. I did receive responses from Barbara Lifton and Jim Seward concerning our resolution in support of TCAT, as well as copies of resolutions passed by several other towns in the County. Don and I both received letters from Diana Graser, the Regional Traffic Engineer concerning our request for a lower speed limit in Groton City. Coincidently, she called me right after I mailed our request as she had had a call from someone on Chipman Corners Road wanting the speed limit reduced. She wanted to know what our process was, and after I told her, she said that we were doing everything correctly and would advice the man to contact the Board if he wants to pursue it. We had a long talk about how she determines whether or not to reduce a speed limit and it was quite interesting. Interestingly enough, a person driving too fast is not a reason to lower the speed limit. If the conditions warrant the posted speed she will not approve setting a lower than posted speed. Lowering the speed limit will not necessarily make people drive slower. Speeding is a police problem, not the DOT's. I attended a NYS Town Clerks Assoc Regional Meeting yesterday. The speakers were from the State Comptroller's Office. There are some things that I believe we should be working on or could be doing a little better. I talked with Don briefly about that today and we will probably be bringing some things to you for your consideration within the next few months. Victoria Monty, Attorney for the Town - Had nothing to report. John J. Norman and A. D. Dawson, Town Justices - Presented monthly reports for the Board's review. Judge Dawson said that the State Police had been writing quite a few tickets in McLean and were covering that really well. For Olde Home Days, the court was able to give 18 hours of community service from certain individuals in lieu of a fine, although they still had to pay the surcharge. This is the second year that we have done this and it has worked out well. Next week Kathy will be gone to a conference and training. Councilperson Kelly Smith as Representative to Joint Youth Program - There is a lot going on with the Recreation Committee. I hope you've all heard by now that Senator Seward gave the Village and Town a $14,100.00 grant for park upgrades. We will be putting in new playground equipment and it will be a community build on October 14 and 15. We will have an organizational meeting on that on September 27. The summer programs went very well this year, other than archery. They did 312 swimming lessons with 60 to 70 kids swimming per day. Part of the grant money is going to be used to make improvements to the pool itself. There are issues with the fiberglass grates and the kids get little splinters from them. So until that's fixed we won't be able to open the pool next year. The concert series went really well also. We will be meeting with the coaches and committee members on November 1 sr Glenn Morey, County Legislator - The County is working on the budget. The taxable rate for New York State was supposed to be 2.2% but the County, in its infinite wisdom, voted for a 3% at least increase in County tax. Next month I'll come back and report to you exactly what the County is doing with the taxes. Town Board Minutes Page 4 September 13, 2016 Mr. Morey congratulated Councilperson Sovocool and his wife Fran for receiving an award as Republicans of the Year by the Tompkins County Republican Party. Patrick Jordan, from Insero & Company - Was there to present the audit report for the 2015 fiscal year. He handed out copies of the report and went over highlights for the Board. He also handed out copies of the audit of the 2015 fiscal records for the Court. There were no problems found during the audit. RESOLUTION #16-062 - ACCEPT AUDIT OF 2015 FISCAL YEAR FINANCIAL RECORDS MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Smith RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby accepts the audit of the 2015 Fiscal Year Financial Records conducted by Insero & Company, and be it further RESOLVED, that the Town Board also accepts the audit of 2015 Fiscal Year Financial Records of the Town of Groton Justice Court. Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Jackson, Clark, Scheffler Nays - Resolution Passed Privilege of the Floor: Mike Kelleher - Lives on Old Stage Road is concerned about some of the work that has been done there, especially the shattered trees along the road. He had spoken to Highway Superintendent Case about not doing that to the apple trees on his side of the road but had come home today to find them cut and shattered. He said it looked like he lived in a war zone. He thought that the cutting and damage being done to the trees is excessive. His property also boarders Groton City Road where the County had done similar work this summer and they trimmed the trees the right way and did very nice work. He is disappointed that Mr. Case had told him that he wouldn't trim the apple trees and he did. He works at the College of Environmental Science and Forestry and I know something about good tree trimming and not good tree trimming and this is just damage that doesn't need to be done. Richard C. Case, Jr., Highway Superintendent - Said they did have a conversation and that the stuff sticking up know, they call the "totem poles", and they would be going back in and cutting them off at ground level. They had talked about not infringing on the horse fence and they have not done that. Mr. Kelleher - The horse fence is 50 feet from the road. What we talked about is you not cutting down the old apple trees that have been there since long before I owned the farm and that's what you're trimming. They're well back from the road and don't cause any issue. Mr. Case - Yes they do and that's my opinion and that's my responsibility for that visibility going around the curve from your place to Sheldon's property and into that straight-away. We stopped and the apple trees that aren't covered with vines and roots and a bunch of dead stuff in it. The stuff that they cut was nothing but material. If you're a forester, you know that those vines and stuff do not support good growth. They are not good trees and will never grow with that vine work that is over them. Councilperson Clark - I agree it looks pretty tough right now, because it's not completed. Hopefully, we won't have to go so far with the rest of the roadway. I hope we can get a median here. Mr. Case - I was asked by Mr. Fouts to take that back on Groton City Road because he doesn't have enough visibility to see to come out of the field. No, it's not done. We will clean up all the debris and it will be manicured. Town Board Minutes Page S September 13, 2016 RESOLUTION #16-063 - SET PUBLIC HEARING ON 2017 TOWN BUDGET AND 2017 FIRE AND AMBULANCE BUDGET MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Sovocool RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby sets a Public Hearing on the Fiscal Year 2017 Town Budget for Tuesday, October 11, 2016 at 8:00 pm, as part of the Regular Monthly Meeting, and be it further RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby sets a Public Hearing on the Fiscal Year 2017 Fire and Ambulance Budget to immediately follow. Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Jackson, Clark, Scheffler Nays - Resolution Passed RESOLUTION #16-064 - SET SPECIAL MEETING FOR PRESENTATION OF 2017 TENTATIVE BUDGET MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Jackson RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby sets a Special Meeting for the purpose of the presentation of 2017 Tentative Budget by the Town Clerk to the Town Board for Tuesday, October 4, 2016 at 7:00 pm. Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Jackson, Clark, Scheffler Nays - Resolution Passed RESOLUTION #16-065 - CHANGE DATE OF NOVEMBER MEETING MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Jackson RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby changes the date of the Regular Monthly Meeting for the month of November due to a conflict with Election Day, to Wednesday, November 7, 2016 at 7:30 pm. Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Jackson, Clark, Scheffler Nays - Resolution Passed MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Smith, to enter into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing threatened legislation, at 8:27 pm. Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Jackson, Clark, Scheffler MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Jackson, to return to Regular Session at 9:01 pm. Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Jackson, Clark, Scheffler Supervisor Scheffler - Let the record show that the Executive Session was for informational purposes only and no decisions were made. Announcements: ➢ Planning Board, September 15, at 7:30 pm ➢ Zoning Board of Appeals, September 28, at 7:30 pm ➢ Budget Workshops with Department Heads, September 21 beginning at 3:00 pm ➢ Budget discussions continue on September 28 if needed Town Board Minutes Page 6 September 13, 2016 ➢ Next Town Board Meeting, October 11, 7:30 pm ➢ Thank you from Groton Olde Home Days Committee There being no further business, Councilperson Sovocool moved to adjourn, seconded by Councilperson Smith at 9:05 pm. Unanimous. April L. Scheffler, RMC Groton Town Clerk