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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-06-2009 TOWN OF GROTON - MINUTES OF TOWN BOARD MEETING ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2009 AT 7:30 PM THE TOWN HALL, 101 CONGER BOULEVARD Those present: Glenn E. Morey, Supervisor Donald F. Scheffler, Councilman Richard B. Gamel, Councilman Sheldon C. Clark, Councilman Absent: Ellard L. Sovocool, Councilman Victoria Monty, Attorney for the Town Also present: Dewey Dawson, John Norman, Chris Norman, Gary Coats, Elizabeth Brennan, Richard C. Case, Jr., Peg Palmer, Donald Palmer, April Scheffler. RESOLUTION #09-001 -2009 ORGANIZATIONAL ITEMS/APPOINTMENTS Item 1 —Depository. - MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Scheffler. Ayes - Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey. RESOLVED, that the First National Bank of Groton be designated as the depository for all monies coming into the hands of the Supervisor and Town Clerk of the Town of Groton. Item 2—Official Newspaper—MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Gamel. Ayes - Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey. RESOLVED, that the Groton Independent be designated as the official newspaper of the Town of Groton with notices also to be published in the Freeville Shopper. Item 3—Law Firm —MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Clark. Ayes - Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey. RESOLVED, that the law firm of Pomeroy, Armstrong, Casullo & Monty be retained as Attorneys for the Town of Groton. Item 4—Zoning Officer—MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Scheffler. Ayes - Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey Town Board Minutes Page 2 January 6, 2009 RESOLVED, that Gary Coats be appointed Zoning Officer and Building and Fire Code Enforcement Officer for the Town of Groton. Item S—Constable— Vacant Item 6—Deputy Supervisor- MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Gamel. Ayes - Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey RESOLVED,that Donald F. Scheffler be appointed Deputy Supervisor for the Town of Groton. Item 7 — Deputy Highway Superintendent — MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Scheffler. Ayes - Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey RESOLVED, that Peter Can be appointed Deputy Highway Superintendent for the Town of Groton. Item 8—Deputy Town Clerk—MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Clark. Ayes - Scheffler, Gamel, Clark,Morey RESOLVED,that Deborah Lane be appointed Deputy Town Clerk for the Town of Groton. Item 9—Bookkeeper—MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Gamel. Ayes - Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey RESOLVED,that Elizabeth Brennan be appointed as Bookkeeper for the Town of Groton. Item 10— Court Clerk—Vacant Item 11 — Part Time McLean Crossing Guard — MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Clark. Ayes - Scheffler, Gamel, Clark,Morey. RESOLVED, that Margaret Albern be appointed part-time McLean School Crossing Guard for the Town of Groton. Item 12—Town Historian —MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Scheffler. Ayes - Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey. RESOLVED,that Rosemarie Tucker be appointed as Town Historian for the Town of Groton. Item 13 — Town Health Insurance — MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Gamel Ayes - Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey. Town Board Minutes Page 3 January 6, 2009 RESOLVED,that full time employees to have 80%of Blue Cross/Blue Shield Health Insurance coverage paid for by Town. Item 14 — Town Board Regular Meetings — MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Clark Ayes - Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey. RESOLVED, that the Town Board will hold their regular Town Board Meetings on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 — 7:30 P.M. to review invoices and 7:30 P.M. for the Board Meeting, at the Town Hall on Conger Boulevard, Groton,NY. Item 15 — Fix Salaries of Town Officers — MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Scheffler. Ayes - Scheffler, Gamel, Clark,Morey. RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby fix the annual salaries of the following Town Officers and employees at the amounts respectfully stated and that such salaries shall be paid at the time respectfully specified: a) Glenn E. Morey, Supervisor $ 10,000.00 Biweekly b) Ellard L. Sovocool, Councilman $ 2,250.00 Quarterly c) Donald F. Scheffler, Councilman $ 2,250.00 Quarterly d) Richard B. Gamel, Councilman $ 2,250.00 Quarterly e) Sheldon C. Clark, Councilman $ 2,250.00 Quarterly f) April L. Scheffler, Town Clerk $ 40,233.00 Biweekly g) Richard C. Case,Jr., Highway Superintendent $ 59,076.00 Biweekly h) John J. Norman, 1st Town Justice $ 13,000.00 Biweekly i) A. D. Dawson, 2nd Town Justice $ 13,000.00 Biweekly j) Gary L. Coats, Code/Fire Enforcement $ 27,379.00 Biweekly k) Rosemarie Tucker,Historian $ 1,000.00 Quarterly Item 16-Set Hourly Rates—MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Clark Ayes - Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey. RESOLVED,that the Town Board does hereby set the hourly rates as follows: a) Deputy Town Clerk $13.00 per hour b) Court Clerk $ per hour c) Bookkeeper $18.62 per hour d) Custodian $11.83 per hour e) Crossing Guard $11.22 per hour Item 17 - Appointment of Representatives to Town and County Programs — MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Gamel Ayes - Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey. RESOLVED,to appoint the following as representatives to Town and County Programs: County Youth Recreation Programs—Vacant Environmental Management Council—Jacalyn Spoon Town Board Minutes Page 4 January 6, 2009 Tompkins County Transportation Council— Sheldon Clark Tompkins County Human Services Coalition—Teresa Robinson Tompkins County Planning Board—Vacant Groton Youth Commission—Glenn Morey, Teresa Robinson,Peggy Ficken Tompkins County Youth Advisory Board—Carol Griep Tompkins County Recreation Partnership—Colleen Gloster-Gray Tompkins County Fire, Disaster and EMS Advisory Board—John Miller Item 18 — Supervisor's Appointment to Committee Members — MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Scheffler Ayes - Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey. RESOLVED,that the Supervisor's appointment of committee members be approved as follows: Finance—Glenn Morey&Donald Scheffler Machinery—Sheldon Clark Building—Richard Gamel&Donald Scheffler Fire Department-Ellard Sovocool Personnel—Glenn Morey&Donald Scheffler Zoning, Bldg. and Fire Code—Richard Gamel HUD Loans - Ellard Sovocool & Glenn Morey Light Districts—Richard Gamel Fixed Assets - Ellard Sovocool Senior Citizens—Sheldon Clark Recreation Committee—Donald Scheffler Highway—Sheldon Clark Planning Board—Rotating Attendance Appeals Board—Rotating Attendance Item 19 - Set fees for Town Services —MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Scheffler. Ayes - Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey. RESOLVED,that fees for the Town services be set as follows: 1) Certification of Taxes/Search $ 5.00 1st yr., $1.00 ea. addn. yr. 2) Photocopies - 8 1/2 x 11 $ .25 3) Photocopies- 8 1/2 x 14 $ .50 4) Photocopies- 11 x 17 $ .50 5) Transcript of Marriage $10.00 6) Marriage Certificate $10.00 7) Marriage License $40.00 8) Town,Village, County Maps $ .50 9) Mileage- Town Officials $ .50 10) Dog Licenses $18.00 unaltered $10.00 altered 11) Returned Check Fee $20.00 12) Fax Copies - Transmit $ 1.00 per page Receive $ .25 per page 13) Duplicate Tax Receipt $ 1.00 Town Board Minutes Page 5 January 6, 2009 14) Town Directory $ 5.00 15) Land Use &Dev. Code $10.00 16) Mobile Home Ordinance $ 5.00 17) Certified Copies $ 5.00 18) Paper Copy of Comprehensive Plan $25.00, CD $15.00 19) Town of Groton Zoning Fee Schedule: Building Permit Fee: $0 - $4000 $25.00 > $4000 $25.00+ $3.00 per$1000 over$4,000 Building Permit Renewals: 1/2 of the original fee and upon approval by zoning officer. Agricultural Buildings. . .... $ 25.00 Swimming Pool,Above Ground- $ 25.00 Swimming Pool, In Ground. $ 50.00 Wood Stove- $ 25.00 Shed. $ 25.00 Deck- $ 25.00 Cellular Tower $ 2.50 Per$1000 of Construction Cost Demolition Permit ... $ 25.00 Site Plan Review/Special Permit ... <2000 sq. ft. $100.00 >2000 sq. ft $250.00 Junk Yard Annual Inspection• ... $25.00 Subdivision-Minor $ 30.00+ $20.00 Per Lot Major ....$ 50.00+$20.00 Per Lot Rural. $ 20.00+ $20.00 Per Lot Flag Lot $ 30.00 Boundary Change- $ 25.00 Planned Unit Development ..$200.00 Application for Variance. .....$ 50.00 Flood Hazard Area Comb. District:... $40.00 Flood Zone Certification. $ 10.00 Certificate of Conformance. $40.00 Additional Fees: a) If a public hearing is required,the applicant shall pay the cost of advertising fees. b) Costs incurred by the Town of Groton for engineering, planning, legal and other necessary expenses for the purpose of reviewing any application with regard to an item covered by this fee schedule shall be paid by the applicant. c) The applicant shall be responsible for costs incurred by the Town of Groton for the review and/or preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement if said statement is necessary. d) When Fees Are To Be Paid: All fees required by this fee schedule shall be paid to the Town of Groton at the time the application is presented. No permit/certificate will be issued until all fees, costs, and/or expenses are paid in full. Item # 20 - Miscellaneous Appointments, Fees, Etc - MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Clark Ayes - Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey. RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby approve the following miscellaneous appointments, fees, etc: Town Board Minutes Page 6 January 6, 2009 1) Annual Retainer Fee for Legal Services rendered by Pomeroy, Armstrong, Casullo & Monty. 2) Authorize Highway Superintendent to give pay raises effective January 1, 2009 3) Authorize Annual Association of Towns Training School—February 15- 20, 2009, in NYC; Glenn Morey to attend. 4) Appoint Glenn Morey as Delegate for Annual Association of Towns Meeting 5) Appoint contact people for Drug and Alcohol Testing Program — Richard Case and Glenn Morey. 6) Appointment of Town Planning Board Member—Reappoint Mary Gloster for a term to begin January 1,2009 and end December 31, 2015. 7) Appoint member to Zoning Board Member — Reappoint Paul Fouts for a term to begin January 1, 2009 and end December 31, 2013. 8) Appoint members of Agriculture Advisory Committee — Daniel Carey (Chairperson), Noreen Atkins,Marlin Houston,Robert Fouts. RESOLUTION#09-002 - CONTRACT FOR AUDIT OF 2008 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Scheffler. Ayes - Scheffler, Gamel, Clark,Morey. RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby retain the services of Cisaschi, Dietershagen, Little, Mickelson & Company, LLP, to audit Financial Statements, including Justice Court, for the year ended December 31,2008. RESOLUTION#09-003 - APPROVE 2009 DOG CONTRACT MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Gamel. Ayes - Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey. RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby approve the 2009 contract with the Country Acres Pet Services for the purpose of dog control in the Town of Groton at a fee of$16,800.00. RESOLUTION#09-004 -AUTHORIZATION TO PARTICIPATE IN COOPERATIVE PURCHASING OF HIGHWAY SERVICES WITH TOMPKINS COUNTY MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Clark. Ayes - Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey. Town Board Minutes Page 7 January 6, 2009 RESOLVED, that the Town of Groton be hereby authorized to participate with Tompkins County in the cooperative purchasing of various highway services. RESOLUTION#09-005 -AUTHORIZE HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT TO PURCHASE ON STATE BID MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Gamel. Ayes - Scheffler, Gamel, Clark,Morey. RESOLVED, that the Groton Town Board does hereby authorize the Highway Superintendent to purchase oil and related products from State Contract Bids as appropriate. RESOLUTION#09-006 -APPROVE FIRE AND AMBULANCE PROTECTION CONTRACTS MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Scheffler Ayes - Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey RESOLVED,that the Town Board does hereby approve the Fire and Ambulance contracts with the Village of Groton Fire Department and Fire Protection with the McLean Fire Department. RESOLUTION #09-007—APPROVE 2009 MUNICIPAL DRUG AND ALCOHOL TESTING MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Gamel Ayes - Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey RESOLVED,that the Town Board does hereby approve Energetix as Third Party Administrator for the 2009 Municipal Agreement Renewal for the Drug and Alcohol Testing. This concluded the 2009 Organizational Items. MOVED by Councilman Clark, seconded by Councilman Scheffler, to approve the minutes of the December 9, 2008 meeting as presented. Ayes - Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey. MOVED by Councilman Scheffler, seconded by Councilman Gamel, to approve the minutes of the December 16, 2008 work session as presented. Ayes - Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey. Claim Numbers 386-415 of the General Fund in the amount of$17,831.14 for the Year 2008 and Claim Numbers 001-011 of the General Fund in the amount of $24,643.00 for the Year 2009 were presented for audit. Town Board Minutes Page 8 January 6, 2009 MOVED by Councilman Scheffler, seconded by Councilman Gamel , to approve the 2008 and 2009 General Bills for payment. Ayes - Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey. Claim Numbers 224-236 of the Highway Fund in the amount of$17,915.35 for the Year 2008 and Claim Number 001 of the Highway Fund in the amount of$25,000.00 for the Year 2009 were presented for audit. MOVED by Councilman Gamel, seconded by Councilman Clark, to approve the Highway Bills for payment. Ayes - Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey. Supervisor Morey offered Privilege of the Floor: Peg Palmer - I would like to ask that Don and I have the opportunity to meet with the Board in an Executive Session after the regular board meeting to discuss a personnel matter. Supervisor Morey- Certainly. Monthly Reports: Elizabeth Brennan, Bookkeeper - Submitted monthly report for the Board's review and requested budget transfers. RESOLUTION #09-008 - 2008 BUDGET TRANSFER MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Gamel Ayes - Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves the following 2008 Budget Transfer in the General Fund, Town Wide: From: Contingency A1990.4 $735.70 To: Historian, Contractual A7510.4 20.00 Health Insurance A9060.8 .715.70 RESOLUTION#09-009 - 2008 BUDGET TRANSFER MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Clark Ayes - Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves the following 2008 Budget Transfer in the General Fund, Part Town: Town Board Minutes Page 9 January 6, 2009 From: Contingency B1990.4 .$96.00 To: Joint Youth Program 96.00 RESOLUTION #09-010 - 2008 BUDGET TRANSFER MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Scheffler Ayes - Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves the following 2008 Budget Transfers in the Highway Fund, Town Wide: From: Service for Other Governments, Personal Services DA5148.1 $470.04 To: Bridges, Personal Services DA5120.1 470.04 Gary Coats, Code/Fire Enforcement Officer - Submitted monthly and year-end reports for the Board's review. Richard C. Case., Jr., Highway Superintendent - In remembrance of my predecessor, "we are plowing snow." On behalf of the Highway Department, I'd like to thank you for our raises for the year. We are in the process of closing the books for 2008. April L. Scheffler, RMC, Town Clerk/Tax Collector - Submitted monthly reports for the Board's review. She told the Board that a $500 Decentralization grant had been received from the Community Arts Partnership of Tompkins County to help with the photography show being planned at the Town Hall during Olde Home Days. John Norman & A. D. Dawson, Town Justices - Submitted monthly and year-end reports for the Board's review. They asked the Board to appoint a temporary court clerk. RESOLUTION#09-011 -APPOINT TEMPORARY COURT MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Clark Ayes - Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby appoints Cindy Vicedomini as temporary Court Clerk at $13.00 and hour, 35 hours per week, retroactive to January 2, 2009. Councilman Donald Scheffler, as Recreation Coordinator - Groton Recreation recently held a coaches clinic through Youth Sports New York. We had 17 coaches complete the clinic which will be ongoing through 2009 until all our youth coaches are certified. We have 35 youth participating in youth wrestling through the end of February. These are kindergarten through 6th graders. Winterfest will be held on February 14 at the Elementary School. New this year will be sled dog demonstrations, education and rides. Returning this year will be the ever-popular Town Board Minutes Page 10 January 6, 2009 recycled toboggan contest. Viola is looking for anybody who wants to volunteer for the day for various jobs. Rosemarie Tucker, Town Historian - In 2008 I logged an average of 120 hours per month working as Town Historian. Having an office in the Town Building makes it easier for me to keep track of the many meetings, emails, correspondence,projects, etc. I have listed my attendance at meetings, conferences, and Board meetings of APHNYS, on my written report. I have itemized and given descriptions of my projects on my written report. Some of the more involved projects were: 1. Early in the year, Dewey Dawson and I took pictures of the churches in Groton. I researched and wrote information about the history of the churches for the Tompkins County Historians website: www.tompkins-co.org/historian 2. In April, I assisted with the project to clean up the cemetery on Route 222. This is a joint project of the Groton Rotary Club, the Town Highway Department, and myself as Town Historian and a member of Rotary. 3. In June April Scheffler and I traveled to the North Country to find bridges that were manufactured by the Groton Bridge Company. We photographed 6 bridges in that area. This will also be an on-going project for us. 4. My application to the New York State Archives Partnership for research at the NYS Archives on the GAR Posts of Groton and those who served in the Civil War from Groton was approved. I spent 4 days in Albany in mid-September doing research. The research into the GAR Posts will be an on-going project in preparation for a commemoration of the Civil War being planned for 2011 through 2015 county-wide. 5. I have been involved in locating and scanning pictures of Groton for a book to be published by Arcadia Publishing,Images of America: Groton, NY, which is due out in spring 2009. I have submitted pictures for the cover and have completed much of the text information. I am working on the captions for the pictures, which are due in early February so I'm right on schedule so far. Dewey resigned as my Deputy Historian effective December 31St. Terry Donlick will be assisting me in 2009. I understand this is not an actual position supported financially by the Town nor is it a title on the books of the Town. She will be acting as a volunteer, the title as Deputy Historian qualifies her to be a voting member of the Association of Public Historians of New York State. I am grateful to members of the Town Board and to our Town Clerk for your continued support of me as the Town Historian and I welcome any questions. Consensus of the Board was that they approved of appointment of Terry Donlick as Deputy Town Historian. RESOLUTION #09-012 - CONTRACT WITH BETTER HOUSING TO WRITE SMALL CITIES GRANT Town Board Minutes Page 11 January 6, 2009 MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Clark Ayes - Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves contracting with Better Housing of Tompkins County to write a grant for the 2009 Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Program. The contract amount with Better Housing to be $2,500.00. Discussion took place on information that was distributed last month concerning raising real property tax exemptions for senior citizens and people with disabilities and limited income. The consensus of the Board was they had raised the exemptions in 2008 and they should wait until next year to do it again. Another discussion was to change the Town's health insurance administrator from Elmira to Dempsey, in Groton. There would be no change in coverage or cost. Consensus of the Board was that a meeting should be set up between Dempsey and the Highway employees to explain everything. RESOLUTION #09-013 - SUPERVISOR TO ATTEND CONFERENCE MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Scheffler Ayes - Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves the payment of expenses for the Town Supervisor, Glenn Morey, to attend the Associations of Towns Annual Conference in New York City, February 15-18, 2009. Work Sessions for Zoning Code Review were set for Tuesday, January 20 and January 27 at 6:00 PM. Motion was made by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Scheffler, to enter into Executive Session, for the purpose of discussing a particular employee, at 8:12 PM. Ayes - Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey Motion was made by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Scheffler, to return to Regular Session at 8:30 PM. Ayes - Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey Supervisor Morey - Let the record show that nothing was decided; it was for informational purposes only. There being no further business, Councilman Scheffler moved to adjourn, seconded by Councilman Clark, at 8:30 PM. Unanimous. Town Board Minutes Page 12 January 6, 2009 April L. Scheffler, RMC Town Clerk