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Home My WebLink About2015-04-14TOWN OF GROTON — MINUTES OF TOWN BOARD MEETING TUESDAY, APRIL 14, 2015 AT 7:30 PM THE TOWN HALL, 101 CONGER BOULEVARD Those present: Donald F. Scheffler, Supervisor Ellard L. Sovocool, Councilperson Kelly Smith, Councilperson Richard B. Gamel, Councilperson Sheldon C. Clark, Councilperson Victoria Monty, Attorney for the Town Also present: Dick Rossignol, Glenn Morey, Julie Graham, Joe Graham, Ed Neuhauser, Joan Packard, Charles Rankin, Gary Coats, April Scheffler. MOVED by Councilperson Gamel, seconded by Councilperson Clark, to approve the minutes of the March 10, 2015 meeting as presented. Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark Abstain - Scheffler Vouchers for the General Fund in the amount of $20,331.84 were presented for audit. MOVED by Councilperson Sovocool, seconded by Councilperson Smith, to approve the General Bills for payment. Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Scheffler Vouchers for the Highway Fund in the amount of $44,420.47 were presented for audit. MOVED by Councilperson Gamel, seconded by Councilperson Clark, to approve the Highway Bills for payment, pending verification of Voucher # 168. Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Scheffler. Monthly Reports: Charles Rankin, Bookkeeper - Submitted monthly reports for the Board's review. The Town had received and additional $18,847.00 in CHIPS money from the State for Extreme Winter Aid. RESOLUTION #15-033 - 2015 BUDGET ADJUSTMENT MOVED by Councilperson Sovocool, seconded by Councilperson Smith RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves the following 2015 Budget adjustment: Include in Revenues: CHIPS (Extreme Weather Aid), DB3501.............$18,847.00 Include in Expenditures: CHIPS, Equipment, DB5112.2..................... $18,847.00 Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Scheffler Nays - Resolution Passed Town Board Minutes Page 2 April 14, 2015 Gary Coats, Code/Fire Enforcement Officer - Submitted monthly reports for the Board's review. Things have been slow but are picking up with people planning to do things. There are also a lot of complaint work now that the snow is gone. Richard C. Case, Jr., Highway Superintendent - Was not present April L. Scheffler, RMC, Town Clerk/Tax Collector - Submitted monthly reports for the Board's review, including her final 2015 tax collection report. A letter was received from Senator John DeFancisco in relation to the resolution passed last month in support of the Owasco Lake remediation funding and he said that they had secured $600,000 for the project in the final budget agreement. Victoria Monty, Attorney for the Town - Had nothing to report, but does have something to discuss in Executive Session regarding litigation. John J. Norman & A. D. Dawson, Town Justices - Were not present. Councilperson Kelly Smith as Representative to Joint Youth Program - They have recommended practices for the "moving up" policy. They have finished auditing the youth sports records with only basketball still pending. Sheila Ossitt has been elected to continue as Chair and Betty Conger as Vice - Chair. They are looking for a coach for youth track in May; baseball numbers are on target; softball numbers are up a bit; and they are advertising for summer help. There may be some issues with the youth camp with the High School being closed for construction. The concerts have been scheduled. They will have a free ad in the Ithaca Journal's summer guide coming out soon. Glenn Morey, County Legislator - This summer, Cobb Street will go through drainage improvements and we have authorized to put out construction bids for the Groton City Road and the bridge, so that will be done this year. I have also been invited on the 27th to the budget retreat, so we will be starting our budget. Privilege of the Floor: Dick Rossingnol - Lives on the dead-end of Clark Street Extension and it has been a mess for the last 2 or 3 years. He has called Mr. Case, but has not gotten a return call. He has talked to some of his drivers and asked them to talk to him about fixing it, but never seems to get an answer. About 3 weeks ago his garage burnt to the ground, and he brought a copy of the fire report for the Board. He said that the Fire Department had a hard time as it was muddy and slippery, causing one truck to slide off the road. He would like to see his road get fixed. The mail lady has been complaining about it a lot also. RESOLUTION #15-034 - COMMITTEE RE -APPOINTMENTS MOVED by Councilperson Gamel, seconded by Councilperson Sovocool RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby appoints Donald Scheffler to replace Glenn Morey on the following committees: a) Tompkins County Recreation Partnership b) Finance Committee c) Personnel Committee d) Ethics Committee Ayes - Sovocool, Gamel, Clark, Scheffler Nays - Abstain - Smith Resolution Passed Town Board Minutes Page 3 April 14, 2015 RESOLUTION #15-035 - RE -APPOINT VOTING MEMBER FOR HEALTH INSURANCE CONSORTIUM MOVED by Councilperson Clark, seconded by Councilperson Sovocool RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby appoints Town Supervisor, Donald Scheffler, to serve as the Town of Groton's voting member of the Board of Directors of the Greater Tompkins County Municipal Health Insurance Consortium and appoints Richard Gamel to serve as an alternate who can vote in the absence of the Director. Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Scheffler Nays - Resolution Passed RESOLUTION #15-036 - RE -APPOINT FAIR HOUSING OFFICER MOVED by Councilperson Sovocool, seconded by Councilperson Gamel RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby appoints Donald Scheffler to act as the Fair Housing Officer for the Town of Groton Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Scheffler Nays - Resolution Passed Discussion took place on the donation to the Corona Club Bowling Alley donation, which is in the budget and needs a Board resolution to disperse the money. Supervisor Scheffler had talked to Darryl Campbell at the bowling alley, who said that the money would be used for their bowling program for kids. Councilperson Gamel said he would like to see something in writing saying what the money was going for. If it is for kids, he is all for it but an agreement of some kind would be appropriate. Councilperson Smith said she would also like to be able to advertise it in the youth program booklet. Supervisor Scheffler said that he had even suggested to Mr. Campbell that it be incorporated into the Recreation Department somehow. He will discuss it further with Mr. Campbell and get back to the Board next month. RESOLUTION #15-037 - CLARIFY HEALTH INSURANCE FOR RETIREES MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Sovocool WHEREAS, the Town Board of the Town of Groton desires to clarify the health insurance coverage provided by the Town to retirees with at least twenty (20) years of continuous employment with the Town, now therefore be it RESOLVED that the Town of Groton will pay 25% of the cost of an individual/single policy through the Town's health insurance plan or $110.00 per month toward the cost of medical insurance coverage outside the Town's plan for retirees who retire after at least twenty (20) years of continuous employment service and be it further RESOLVED, that said payment for the Town's plan shall be made directly to the insurance company, and payment for other medical insurance coverage shall be paid directly to the individual, and be it further RESOLVED, that the retiree shall be responsible for paying the remaining cost of health insurance. Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Scheffler Nays - Resolution Passed Town Board Minutes Page 4 April 14, 2015 RESOLUTION #15-038 - AUTHORIZE SUPERVISOR TO SIGN ADDENDUM TO HIGHWAY CONTRACT MOVED by Councilperson Gamel, seconded by Councilperson Smith RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby authorizes the Town Supervisor, Donald Scheffler, to sign an addendum to the Highway Contract reflecting the clarification of the health insurance for retirees. Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Scheffler Nays - Resolution Passed RESOLUTION #15-039 - PAYMENT OF EXPENSES FOR PLANNING BOARD CHAIR TO ATTEND CONFERENCE MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Smith RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves the payment of expenses for the Planning Board Chair, Edward Neuhauser, at the New York Planning Federation Conference held in Bolton Landing, New York on April 12 - 14, 2015. Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Scheffler Nays - Resolution Passed RESOLUTION #15-040 - APPROVE 2015 CEMETERY RECORDS AGREEMENT MOVED by Councilperson Sovocool, seconded by Councilperson Smith RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves the 2014 Groton Rural Cemetery Records Deposit Agreement for storage of cemetery records in the Town Clerk's vault and authorizes the Town Supervisor to sign said agreement. Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Scheffler Nays - Resolution Passed RESOLUTION #15-041 - POPPY TIME IN THE TOWN OF GROTON MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Gamel WHEREAS, the Carrington -Fuller American Legion Post #800 Auxiliary works unselfishly throughout the Town of Groton, and WHEREAS, the American Legion Auxiliary annually sponsors the traditional offering of the "POPPIES" to the Groton area, and WHEREAS, by offering these "POPPIES" the Auxiliary helps to benefit the needs of the disabled American Veterans by providing workshops and therapy for them through the Veteran's Hospitals, NOW THEREFORE, I, Donald F. Scheffler, Supervisor of the Town of Groton, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM, the month of May 2015 to be "POPPY TIME" in the Town of Groton and respectfully encourage all members of the Groton Community to generously support the Legion Auxiliary during "POPPY TIME". Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Scheffler Nays - Resolution Passed Town Board Minutes Page S April 14, 2015 Supervisor Scheffler had contacted Chuck Bartosch, from Clarity Connect, concerning the grant they received to extend broadband services to under served areas of Tompkins County. They are beginning to get the system up and running in some areas. Supervisor Scheffler told him that he would be the main contact for the Town of Groton, but also gave him emails for the entire Board so that he can keep everyone updated. Supervisor Scheffler also asked that Mr. Bartosch include any information that is specific to the Groton area. MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler to go into Executive Session, seconded by Councilperson Gamel, at 8:04 pm. Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Scheffler MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler to return to Regular Session, seconded by Councilperson Sovocool, at 8:17 pm. Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Scheffler Supervisor Scheffler - Let the record show that it was for information and discussion only, and no action was taken. Announcements: ➢ Planning Board, April 16th g 7:30 PM — Rick ➢ ZBA, April 29th g 7 PM — Rick ➢ Board of Assessment Review May 14th, 3:00 to 6:00 PM ➢ Groton Business Assoc. meeting, April 15th at 7:00 PM at the Legion ➢ Happenin' in the Hamlet, Saturday, May 9th ➢ Next Board Meeting, May 12th g 7:30 PM ➢ Tire Collection - Saturday, April 18, 8 AM - 1 PM at gravel bank on Spring St. There being no further business, Councilman Sovocool moved to adjourn, seconded by Councilman Gamel, at 8:18 pm. Unanimous. April L. Scheffler, RMC Town Clerk