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Home My WebLink About2017-10-10TOWN OF GROTON — MINUTES OF TOWN BOARD MEETING TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2017 AT 7:30 PM THE TOWN HALL, 101 CONGER BOULEVARD Those present: Donald F. Scheffler, Supervisor Kelly Smith, Councilperson Randy N. Jackson, Councilperson Sheldon C. Clark, Councilperson Victoria Monty, Attorney for the Town Absent: Richard Gamel, Councilperson Also present: Patrick O'Neill, Mike Neville, Charles Rankin, Richard C. Case, Jr., Patrick Jordan, April Scheffler. MOVED by Councilperson Jackson, seconded by Councilperson Smith, to approve the minutes of the September 12, 2017 meeting as presented. Ayes - Smith, Jackson, Clark, Scheffler. Vouchers numbered 428 - 462 in the total amount of $63,639.31 were presented to the Board for their review. Vouchers for the General Fund in the amount of $9,081.31 were presented for audit. MOVED by Councilperson Smith, seconded by Councilperson Jackson, to approve the General Bills for payment. Ayes - Smith, Jackson, Clark, Scheffler. Vouchers for the Highway Fund in the amount of $54,558.00 were presented for audit. MOVED by Councilperson Clark, seconded by Councilperson Jackson, to approve the Highway Bills for payment. Ayes - Smith, Jackson, Clark, Scheffler. Monthly Reports: Charles Rankin, Bookkeeper - Submitted monthly reports for the Board's review. He said that the Tentative Budget had been completed today. W. Rick Fritz, Code/Fire Enforcement Officer - Was not present, but had submitted monthly reports for the Board's review. Richard C. Case, Jr., Highway Superintendent - The shop is busy with repairs and getting ready for the snow equipment changeover. They are hauling and stocking up on deicing sand and roadside mowing. The drainage and gravel work is still being done on Wickham Road. April L. Scheffler, RMC, Town Clerk/Tax Collector - Submitted monthly reports for the Board's review. Attached to the Country Acres report was a copy of the shelter inspection done by Ag & Markets. She gave the Board communication from the Assessment Department concerning the Cold War Veterans Exemption, which was originally allowed for only 10 years, but there is an option to extend that Town Board Minutes Page 2 October 10, 2017 longer now if the Board wishes to. Clerk Scheffler will contact Jay Franklin from the Assessment Department and invite him to a future meeting to discuss the options. Victoria Monty, Attorney for the Town - Had nothing to report. John J. Norman and A. D. Dawson, Town Justices - Were not present but had submitted monthly reports for the Board's review. Councilperson Kelly Smith as Representative to Joint Youth Program - They are still talking about a background check policy. Ithaca Youth Bureau does not have a policy. The Rec Committee has decided to not get into the issue at this time and let the company that does the background checks just handle it. There are community service spots for kids. They talked about making certain areas tobacco -free but there is no policy on that. For fall programming, there are 15 kids registered for cross-country; Zumba will be on Monday and Wednesday; there is a drop in youth football and basketball registrations; Cabin Fever is set for March 3rd. Next year they are thinking about adult dance class and baby sitting class. Trunk or Treat is October 31 St at the old Shara's lot. Clerk Scheffler - And the Bicentennial Committee is going to one last thing and participate in that. We have pencils left over and will get some candy. Mike Neville, Groton Fire & Ambulance - For this week's public education, Mr. Neville and Jeff Barron will be kindergarten and Head Start on Friday. They will be hosting a senior dinner at Center Village Court on November 12th. They have met with the Village on the building lot and are moving forward as well as looking for fundraising ideas. The Fire Department will be participating in the Trunk or Treat and will have a haunted fire truck and haunted ambulance. Patrick Jordan, Insero & Company, Public Accountants - Mr. Jordan presented the Board with copies of the annual audit for the fiscal year 2016. He explained some change in the language in the audit report which due to recent State requirements, but that it is really the same report that they have been doing for the Town in past years. He went through the various sections of the report and talked about some of the highlights. RESOLUTION #17-058 - APPROVE RECREATION PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Smith RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves the 5 -year Tompkins County Youth Services Recreation Partnership Agreement. Ayes - Smith, Jackson, Clark, Scheffler Nays - Resolution Passed RESOLUTION #17-059 - APPROVE JOINT RECREATION PARTNERSHIP MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING MOVED by Councilperson Smith, seconded by Councilperson Clark RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves the 5 -year Joint Recreation Partnership Memorandum of Understanding between the Town of Groton, the Village of Groton, and the Groton Central School. Ayes - Smith, Jackson, Clark, Scheffler Nays - Resolution Passed Town Board Minutes Page 3 October 10, 2017 Clerk Scheffler presented the 2018 Fiscal Year Tentative Budget to the Town Board. RESOLUTION #17-060 - ACCEPT 2018 FISCAL YEAR TENTATIVE BUDGET MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Jackson RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby accepts the 2018 Fiscal Year Tentative Budget as presented. Ayes - Smith, Jackson, Clark, Scheffler Nays - Resolution Passed Supervisor Scheffler - The Bookkeeper will prepare the Preliminary Budget and get it to the Clerk and Board. RESOLUTION #17-061 - SET DATE FOR SPECIAL MEETING AND PUBLIC HEARING ON 2018 FISCAL YEAR PRELIMINARY BUDGET MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Clark RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby sets a Special Meeting and Public Hearing on the 2018 Fiscal Year Preliminary Budget for Monday, October 30, 2017 at 7:30 pm, and be it further RESOLVED, that immediately following, a Public Hearing on the 2018 Fiscal Budgets of the Groton Fire Department and Groton Ambulance will take place. Ayes - Smith, Jackson, Clark, Scheffler Nays - Resolution Passed Supervisor Scheffler - Spoke to the Board about a fund that he would like to use to give housing repair grants to people of low to moderate income. It would need to be set up, advertised, rules written, and ways to monitor it. It was previously a loan program that has not worked out well. Councilperson Smith - Expressed an idea that it be used for people who maybe lost their well due to drought or had a fire or something like that where their homeowner's insurance might not cover all of their loss. The Board thought that they would like to think about it and revisit the idea at another meeting. Privilege of the Floor: No one wished to speak. MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Smith, to enter into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing a contract, at 8:04 pm Ayes - Smith, Jackson, Clark, Scheffler MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Jackson, to return to Regular Session at 8:23 pm. Ayes - Smith, Jackson, Clark, Scheffler Supervisor Scheffler - Let the record show that the Executive Session was for discussion only concerning the employee contract and that no resolutions were made. The consensus of the Board was to allow the Town Supervisor to talk to the employees about the contract. Town Board Minutes Page 4 October 10, 2017 Announcements: ➢ Planning Board, October 19th at 7:30 pm ➢ Zoning Board of Appeals, October 25th at 7:00 pm, if needed ➢ Thank you card from Shadows of the Old West for our sponsorship during Olde Home Days There being no further business, Councilperson Clark moved to adjourn, seconded by Councilperson Jackson, at 8:25 pm. Unanimous. April L. Scheffler, RMC Town Clerk