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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-04-10 TOWN OF GROTON - MINUTES OF TOWN BOARD MEETING TUESDAY, APRIL 10, 2007 AT 7:30 PM THE TOWN HALL, 101 CONGER BOULEVARD Those present: Ellard L. Sovocool, Councilman Donald F. Scheffler, Councilman Richard B. Gamel, Councilman Sheldon C. Clark, Councilman Victoria Monty, Attorney for the Town Absent: Glenn E. Morey, Supervisor Also present: Dewey Dawson, Gary Coats, Elizabeth Brennan, Richard C. Case, Jr., Duane Randall, Matt Cooper, Jay Franklin, April Scheffler. MOVED by Councilman Sovocool, seconded by Councilman Clark, to approve the minutes of the 2007 meeting as presented. Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Clark Abstain- Gamel Claim Numbers 34-53 of the Highway Fund in the amount of $17,138.09 were presented for audit. MOVED by Councilman Gamel, seconded by Councilman Sovocool, to approve the Highway Bills for payment. Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark. Claim Numbers 104-134 of the General Fund in the amount of$21,660.83 were presented for audit. MOVED by Councilman Clark, seconded by Councilman Gamel, to approve the General Bills for payment. Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark. Claim Numbers 66-67 of the Special Grant (HUD) Fund in the amount of $1,972.56 were presented for audit. MOVED by Councilman Sovocool, seconded by Councilman Gamel, to approve the HUD bills for payment. Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark. Town Board Minutes Page 2 April 10, 2007 Privilege of the Floor: No one wished to speak at this time. Monthly Reports: Elizabeth Brennan, Bookkeeper/Highway Clerk — Submitted monthly report for the Board's review and asked for budget transfers. RESOLUTION#07-034—2007 BUDGET TRANSFERS MOVED by Councilman Scheffler, seconded by Councilman Sovocool Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark RESOLVED,that the Town Board hereby approves the following 2007 Budget Transfers: General Fund— Town Wide: From: Contingency A1990.4 $3,377.48 To: Insurance A1910.4 3,377.48 Highway Fund—Part Town: From: Disability DB9055.8 .$1.00 To: Retirement DB9010.8 1 00 Richard C. Case, Jr., Highway Superintendent: At the present time the Highway Department is taking the steps to start the changeover from winter maintenance to summer maintenance. The PM program is on schedule and repairs of equipment are taking place daily. When weather allows the Highway Crew is patching, cutting brush and trees. Maybe you saw the project on Walpole Road. We had water in the substation down there so we straightened that out. We are starting to clean up the plow damage and repairs and I hope we don't have to plow any more snow. The dump body for the new truck has been ordered from Viking Cives and has a tentative completion date of June 8. I've filed the paperwork with the NYS OGS to participate in the 2007-2008 Salt Contract. I had an opportunity to talk with John Lampman the other day and the Spring Street Bridge project, he has a tentative plan and will be moving forward.....(not speaking into microphone.....) RESOLUTION #07-035— SPRING CLEANUP DAY MOVED by Councilman Scheffler, seconded by Councilman Gamel Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves participation in the Joint Town and Village of Groton Spring Cleanup Day, tentatively scheduled for Saturday, May 12, 2007 Town Board Minutes Page 3 April 10, 2007 RESOLUTION#07-036—HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT TO ATTEND SCHOOL MOVED by Councilman Scheffler, seconded by Councilman Clark Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves paying expenses for the Highway Superintendent to attend the New York State Association of Towns Highway School in June in the amount of$85.00. Gary Coats, Code/Fire Enforcement Officer — The building permits are going up every day and there have been some really nice ones issued lately. There was a lot of complaint work done for the month. A report was given on the Muka property along with some pictures of the progress being made. Mr. Coats feels that he is on schedule with the agreement that had been made with the Town. April L. Scheffler, Town Clerk/Tax Collector — Submitted monthly Town Clerk's Report for the Board's review and also a final Tax Collector Report for 2007. She explained various parts of the Tax Collector Report showing adjustments to the warrant, money collected and how money was dispersed. She had provided the Board with copies of the 2007 Town Directory that had been recently completed by her office. Information had been received that the State part of the dog license fees would be going up by $1.00 but there was no date yet as to when this would happen. Clerk suggested that the Board make a resolution to hire Summer Youth Workers and said that she would like one for her office, the Code Enforcement Officer would like one for his office and the Highway Superintendent would like two. RESOLUTION #07-037—HIRE SUMMER YOUTH WORKERS MOVED by Councilman Scheffler, seconded by Councilman Gamel Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves the hiring of up to four Summer Youth Workers to work approximately 100 hours at minimum wage. Victoria Monty, Attorney for the Town — Would discuss things that appear later on the agenda. A. D. Dawson, Town Justice — The Town Justices had submitted their monthly and quarterly reports. Justice Dawson spoke to the Board about a training seminar that he and the Court Clerk planned to attend. He also said that he and the Town Historian are attending a conference in Binghamton on April 14 and also a conference in Utica April 29 — May 1. There would be no cost to the Town but the County Historical Association would be reimbursing him $100 towards the cost of the conference in Utica. Town Board Minutes Page 4 April 10, 2007 RESOLUTION#07-038—TOWN JUSTICE AND COURT CLERK TO ATTEND TRAINING MOVED by Councilman Scheffler, seconded by Councilman Gamel Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves the reimbursement of expenses for lunch and mileage for the Town Justice and Court Clerk to attend the Users Group Meeting and Training on May 14, 2007 in Chenango. Councilman Donald Scheffler, as Recreation Coordinator—Had no report this month. Duane Randall, County Legislator — Had received email from Supervisor Morey concerning ECHO Housing and had discussed it with Jay Franklin. It is possible for the Town to have some provision for this type of housing and have it be tax exempt but it would take a local law to do so. Celebration grants have been awarded to McLean for $1,400 for the Happening in the Hamlet and $400 for Halloween. Groton had also received a grant of $900 for Winterfest. Authorization has been received to put the Spring Street Bridge out to bid. The 5-year road rehabilitation schedule has also been discussed. Specifically for Groton, in 2007, there will be rehab on Peruville Road from School Street to Salt Road; South Main Street Extension from Lick Street to the Village line; Old Peruville Road a retaining wall installation; and McLean's School Street bridge replacement. A breakdown of the next five years is available with approximately 2.51 miles to do in 2007. The County was not very successful in getting additional State money for road projects for this year. The first budget retreat for the County Budget is scheduled for April 26, where they will try to set a target for the tax rate. There have been meetings about the Health Depaitment building, which has been set as one of the priorities and they have been looking at possible sites. There are quite a few vacancies on advisory boards including EMC, Ag & Farmland Protection, Fish and Wildlife Management and Youth Services. If anyone is interested they should contact Mr. Randall. Jay Franklin, Tompkins County Assessment — Was there to talk to the Board about the Alternative Veterans Tax Exemption. Currently there are two veterans exemptions. Prior to 1984 there was something called the Existing Vets in which you received an exemption of up to $5,000 if you used your mustering out pay to buy a home. In 1984 the State allowed the different taxing jurisdictions to opt into the alternative exemption. This allowed for a greater exemption if you served during a period of conflict. This is specifically stated within Real Property Tax Law. It allows for 15% exemption if you served during a period of conflict; 25% if you served in the combat theater; and up to 50% if you were disabled during that service. Currently only the Town of Danby, the Village of Dryden and the Groton Town and Groton Village have not opted into the Alternative Veterans Exemption. The impact on the Town's tax base would take about a million dollars off of the tax base and result in about of a half of a percent decrease. Based upon last year's tax rate around $7,300 would be shifted to the other property owners in the Town of Groton. This might be about 3 cents per thousand or 30 cents on a $100,000 house. It would provide on average a tax savings of$160 to the veteran within the Town of Groton. There is a one time application and it does not take away any exemption that a person already has. Town Board Minutes Page 5 April 10, 2007 It was the consensus of the Board that they would like to implement the Alternative Veterans Exemption and after further discussion it was decided to have the local law ready to be introduced at the May meeting and have a public hearing on it at the June meeting. By passing the law in June, the exemption could still be applied to the 2008 taxes. Mr. Franklin also explained that there is an additional exemption available which is the Gold Star Parent Exemption. In this case a parent who had a child who was killed in action could receive the exemption. Presently, only Newfield has this option. Mr. Franklin then talked to the Board about ECHO Cottage which allows for an exemption for the increase of assessment when property is constructed or reconstructed to provide housing for an aging parent or disabled family member. The largest exemption for this would be $35,000 to $40,000 off the total assessment. Once the person no longer occupies the unit or addition, the exemption is removed. The County already has this exemption. The Town would have to pass a local law to enact it. Mr. Franklin said that he would get the Board samples of other towns' local laws and also a list of all exemptions available in the event that the Board may want to consider implementing other exemptions. RESOLUTION #07-039—ADJUST SALARY FOR CODE/FIRE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER MOVED by Councilman Scheffler, seconded by Councilman Clark Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves adjusting the salary, effective March 26, 2007, for the Code/Fire Enforcement Officer, Gary Coats, from $19,500 a year to $22,000 a year to be paid out of contingency. There was a discussion concerning a proposed local law for the administration and enforcement of the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code. This had first been brought up at the March meeting and Gary Coats had provided copies of a sample law provided by the State and edited for the Town of Groton. Attorney Monty said that she had made further revisions and explained these to the Board. She would have the final form on their desks within the required timeframe. RESOLUTION #07-040— SET PUBLIC HEARING FOR PROPOSED LOCAL LAW#1 OF 2007 MOVED by Councilman Scheffler, seconded by Councilman Sovocool Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby sets a Public Hearing for May 8, 2007 at 8:00 pm for the purpose of reviewing Proposed Local Law #1 of the Year 2007 entitled A Local Law Providing for the Administration and Enforcement of the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code. Town Board Minutes Page 6 April 10, 2007 Announcements: ➢ Planning Board Meeting—April 19 at 7:30 pm ➢ Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting—April 11 at 7:30 pm ➢ Thank you from the 1st National Bank of Groton for loan of chairs for annual meeting ➢ Magistrates Association Dinner—May 4 at 6:00 pm at the Holiday Inn ➢ Thank you from Morey Family There being not further business, Councilman Sovocool moved to adjourn, seconded by Councilman Scheffler. Unanimous. April L. Scheffler, RMC Town Clerk