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Home My WebLink About2014-02-11TOWN OF GROTON -MINUTES OF TOWN BOARD MEETING TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2014 AT 7:30 PM THE TOWN HALL, 101 CONGER BOULEVARD Those present: Glenn E. Morey, Supervisor Ellard L. Sovocool, Councilperson Kelly Smith, Councilperson Richard B. Gamel, Councilperson Sheldon C. Clark, Councilperson Victoria Monty, Attorney for the Town Also present: Harvey Norte, Milton DeGraw, David Norte, Linda Mizer, Dan Mizer, Don Scheffler, John Morey, Dan Klimasewski, Gregory Weiland, Jennifer Schwade, Mike Goldstein, Joe Graham, Dyan Lombardi, Dorothey Pomponio, Gary Coats, Charles Rankin, April Scheffler. MOVED by Councilperson Sovocool, seconded by Councilperson Gamel, to approve the minutes of the January 14, 2014 meeting as presented. Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Morey MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilperson Gamel to approve the minutes of the January 28, 2014 work session as presented. Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Morey Vouchers for the General Fund in the amount of $23,069.53 were presented for audit. MOVED by Councilperson Gamel, seconded by Councilperson Clark, to approve the General Bills for payment. Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Morey. Vouchers for the Highway Fund in the amount of $21,049.26 were presented for audit. MOVED by Councilperson Clark, seconded by Councilperson Sovocool, to approve the Highway Bills for payment. Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Morey. Monthly Reports: Charles Rankin, Bookkeeper - Had mentioned some months ago that the Town would be getting a refund from the Health Care Consortium for our initial investment, which had come in at the beginning of January. This was $6,800.00 and has been appropriated to the proper funds. Town Board Minutes Page 2 February 11, 2014 RESOLUTION #14 -010 - 2014 BUDGET TRANSFER MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilperson Sovocool Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Morey RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves the following 2014 Budget Transfer: General Fund - Part Town: From: Contingency, B 1990.4 .............................$250.00 To: Municipal Association Dues, B 1920.4 .......... 250.00 Gary Coats, Code/Fire Enforcement Officer - Was not present but had submitted monthly reports for the Board's review. Richard C. Case, Jr., Highway Superintendent - Was not present. John Norman and A. D. Dawson, Town Justices - Were not present but had submitted monthly reports for the Board's review. April Scheffler, Town Clerk/Tax Collector - Submitted monthly reports for the Board's review. Has been busy accepting taxes and takes first installments to the County in the morning. Victoria Monty, Attorney for the Town - Had nothing to report. Kelly Smith, Representative to Joint Youth Program - There had been no meeting. Winterfest had been taken place and they did have snow for it this year. Privilege of the Floor: Milton DeGraw - Advised the Board to not have any more discussion or voting on fracking or a moratorium until the State has made its decision, and requested the Board make a resolution to that effect. He thinks that Groton needs any business that would come here and the Board should focus on the job of rebuilding Groton to what is once was. Mike Goldstein - Said that State politics might change at any time and advocated for a year moratorium. He had seen a draft of the road use regulations and thought it looked good but would like to see some direct comparisons between what other towns are doing and we are doing. He thought it would be interesting to form a committee to find out what other towns in the area have done to revitalize their business districts. David Norte - Doesn't want a moratorium. He thinks it is more than five people should decide on. Groton has tried to help or spur business and it hasn't worked well. As a business owner he feels it is his responsibility to decide what business he wants to have and to maintain it. He wants limited government and less taxes. Jen Schwade - Thinks people should keep in mind how what they do affects their neighbors and that the Town Board has the right to regulate this. Town Board Minutes Page 3 February 11, 2014 Dyan Lombardi - Thought that it was stated at the last meeting that there were no leases left in Groton and wanted the Board to know that there were some left. Dorothy Pomponio - Told the Board about an Ithaca Journal article about the financial impacts of gas drilling, that they need to consider the insurance impacts, and how gas leases violate mortgage agreements. Supervisor Morey - I know there are a lot of people here who knew George Totman. George passed away on Friday, January 31St. There are only a handful of people who come into the world and touch a life in a dramatic fashion. Some of the people are just flickers in your life, during your life, while others are a consistent glow for years and years. I think the later best describes what George was for this Town. George believed that you should give back to your community and volunteer for your community. George served for the Town of Groton Planning Board for 32 years and all but two years served as chairperson for that committee. He also served for 12 years as our representative to the County Board. I want to extend our condolences to the family of George Totman, and have a minute of silence in honor of George. Supervisor Morey - Next on the agenda is discussion of Local Law #1 and I think there was a mix-up. Fran Casullo thought that Kelly had the law and was going to correct it, or adjust it, and submit it back to Fran. Kelly thought Fran was going to give it to her and it didn't get done. Attorney Monty - Said that it has since been emailed to Councilperson Smith. Supervisor Morey - So, I guess that's the end of the discussion until Kelly comes back and resubmits it to the Board and then back to Fran. Councilperson Kelly - So, it is still open for discussion? Supervisor Morey - Yes, you were going to comment and then give it back to the Board. Attorney Monty explained that any Board Member can present a local law for further discussion. RESOLUTION #14-011 - TOWN HISTORIAN TO ATTEND CONFERENCE MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilperson Sovocool RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves the payment of expenses for the Town Historian, Rosemarie Tucker, to attend annual Public Historians Conference, March 16 -19, 2014, in Saratoga Springs, NY. RESOLUTION #14-012 - TOWN CLERK & DEPUTY TO ATTEND MEETING & CONFERENCE MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilperson Gamel RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves the payment of expenses for the Town Clerk, April Scheffler, and the Deputy Clerk, Robin Cargian, to attend the New York State Town Clerks Association Regional Meeting in Auburn on March 24, 2014 and the New York State Town Clerks Association Annual Conference in Saratoga Springs, NY, April 27 - 30, 2014. Town Board Minutes Page 4 February 11, 2014 RESOLUTION #14-013 - CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER TO ATTEND CONFERENCE MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilperson Sovocool Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Morey RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves the payment of expenses for the Code Enforcement Officer, Gary Coats, to attend the New York State Building Officials Conference in Syracuse, NY, April 1 - 4, 2014. RESOLUTION #14-014 - AUTHORIZE THE ACCEPTANCE AND ADOPTION OF THE MULTI -JURISDICTIONAL ALL -HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN UPDATE FOR THE TOWN OF GROTON, TOMPKI NS COUNTY, NEW YORK WHEREAS, the Tompkins County Planning Department, with the assistance from Barton & Loguidice, P.C., has gathered information and prepared the Multi -Jurisdictional All - Hazard Mitigation Plan Update for Tompkins County, New York; and WHEREAS, the Multi -Jurisdictional All -Hazard Mitigation Plan Update for Tompkins County, New York has been prepared in accordance with the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 and Title 44 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 201; and WHEREAS, Title 44 CFR, Chapter 1, Part 201.6(c) (5) requires each local government participating in the preparation of aMulti-Jurisdictional Mitigation Plan or Plan Update to accept and adopt such plan; and WHEREAS, the Town of Groton, has reviewed the 2013 Hazard Mitigation Plan Update, has found the document to be acceptable, and as a local unit of government, has afforded its citizens an opportunity to comment and provide input regarding the Plan Update and the actions included in the Plan; WHEREAS, the Town of Groton, will consider the Tompkins County HMP Update during the implementation and updating of local planning mechanisms, and will incorporate the hazard assessment data, hazard vulnerabilities, and mitigation actions in these mechanisms, where applicable; NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town of Groton, as a participating jurisdiction, adopts the Multi -Jurisdictional All -Hazard Mitigation Plan Update for Tompkins County, New York, dated December 2013. RESOLUTION #14-015 - APPOINT ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS CHAIR & VICE CHAIR MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilperson Clark Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Morey RESOLVED, that the Town Board, upon the recommendation of the Zoning Board of Appeals, hereby appoints Paul Fouts as Chair and Patricia Gaines as Vice Chair of the Town of Groton Zoning Board of Appeals. Town Board Minutes Page 5 February 11, 2014 RESOLUTION #14-016 - APPOINT PLANNING BOARD CHAIR & VICE CHAIR MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilperson Gamel Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Morey RESOLVED.. that the Town Board, upon the recommendation of the Planning Board, hereby appoints Edward Neuhauser as Chair and Monica Carey as Vice Chair of the Town of Groton Planning Board. Supervisor Morey moved to schedule a Work Session for Tuesday, March 4, 2014 at 6:00 pm, seconded by Councilperson Gamel Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Morey Supervisor Morey moved to enter into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing litigation, seconded by Councilperson Sovocool, at 7:56 pm. Ayes - Sovocool, Smith, Gamel, Clark, Morey Supervisor Morey moved to return to Regular Session, seconded by Councilperson Sovocool, at 8:07 pm. Supervisor Morey announced that there were no decisions made in Executive Session and that it was for informational purposes only, concerning litigation. Joe Graham - Said that the problem with the amount of deferred compensation being taken out of employees' paychecks had been corrected. However, all of this has raised another concern. Many employees have questions about retirement and insurance and there seems to be no one in charge of Human Resources as there was when Liz Brennan was the Bookkeeper. Supervisor Morey - Said he would take that under advisement and see what can be done to rectify the problem. Announcements: ➢ Planning Board Meeting - February 20 at 7:30 pm ➢ Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting - February 26 at 7:00 pm ➢ Thank you card had been received from the Bert Smith family ➢ Mystery Dinner Theater, February 22, benefits the After Prom Party There being no further business, Councilman Sovocool moved to adjourn, seconded by Councilman Gamel, at 8:10 pm. Unanimous. April L. Scheffler, RMC Town Clerk