HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-12-2009 TOWN OF GROTON - MINUTES OF TOWN BOARD MEETING
TUESDAY, MAY 12 , 2009 AT 7:30 PM
THE TOWN HALL, 101 CONGER BOULEVARD
Those present: Glenn E. Morey, Supervisor
Ellard L. Sovocool, Councilman
Donald F. Scheffler, Councilman
Richard B. Gamel, Councilman
Sheldon C. Clark, Councilman
Victoria Monty, Attorney for the Town
Also present: Dewey Dawson, John Norman, Gary Coats, Richard C. Case, Jr., Tyke
Randall, Donald Palmer, April Scheffler.
MOVED by Councilman Sovocool, seconded by Councilman Scheffler, to approve the minutes
of the April 14, 2009 meeting as presented.
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey.
MOVED by Councilman Gamel, seconded by Councilman Scheffler, to approve the minutes of
the April 27, 2009 Work Session as presented.
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey.
MOVED by Councilman Clark, seconded by Councilman Sovocool, to approve the minutes of
the May 5, 2009 Work Session as presented.
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey.
Claim Numbers 124-150 of the General Fund in the amount of$28,598.18 were presented for
audit.
MOVED by Councilman Gamel, seconded by Councilman Scheffler, to approve the General
Bills for payment.
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey.
Claim Numbers 64-80 of the Highway Fund in the amount of $21,706.93 were presented for
audit.
MOVED by Councilman Clark, seconded by Councilman Sovocool, to approve the Highway
Bills for payment.
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey.
Town Board Minutes Page 2 May 12, 2009
Supervisor Morey offered Privilege of the Floor. No one wished to speak.
Monthly Reports:
Elizabeth Brennan, Bookkeeper/Highway Clerk - Submitted monthly reports for the Board's
review.
RESOLUTION#09-037 -AMENDMENT TO 2009 BUDGET
MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Sovocool
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark,Morey
RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves the following amendment to the 2009
Budget:
General Fund- Town Wide:
Funds from Unemployment Reserve
Debit: A511 Appropriated Fund Balance $2,804.80
Credit: A9050.8R Unemployment Insurance .2,804.80
Gary Coats, Code/Fire Enforcement Officer - Thanked the Board for sending him to classes
last week. He has been doing a lot of complaint work but almost everyone has complied. He
submitted monthly reports for the Board's review.
Richard C. Case, Jr., Highway Superintendent - The changeover of equipment from winter to
summer highway maintenance is complete. All intersections and hills have been broomed twice
and are clear of de-icing material. The highway crew has been active cutting trees and brush,
addressing drainage problems and reclaiming the shoulders on Stauber Road. This is in
preparation to pave the Town of Groton's portion of this road. This project is planned to tie in
with the Town of Summerhill's paving of their portion of this highway. Tomorrow we are
scheduled to pave Elm Street from Fuller's Farm to Champlin road which will complete this
project.
I have received notification from NYS DOT that the Town of Groton's portion of the CHIPS
fund for 2009 will be $99,982.36. This is a $3.00 increase over 2008. As you have heard me
state for the last 10 years, I believe this is very insignificant considering what is collected in
taxes for highway use. The NYS Association of Town Highway Superintendents continues to
lobby for the existence and increase of this program. The Town of Groton hosted the Highway
Superintendents Association at a breakfast meeting held at the Groton Rod & Gun Club on April
21St. The meeting was well attended by Tompkins, Cortland, and Tioga County Highway
Superintendents. Jeff Griswold from the NYS Association of Town Highway Superintendents
was the guest speaker.
Ellard Keister has started working for the Highway Department for the summer under the Youth
Program. He has worked for the Town in previous years and has already proven to be an asset to
the highway crew.
Town Board Minutes Page 3 May 12, 2009
I have a quote from Stanley Access to install an automatic door opening system to operate the
double door at our main entrance. In the scope of work, Stanley will install the complete system
except the electrical power needed at the head of the door. The estimate to install the system is
$3,950.00 plus the cost of the electrical work. With your approval, we can proceed. The Town
buildings were inspected by our insurance carrier, Selective Insurance, last month. It was
suggested that a couple of electrical issues be checked by an electrician. I thought I could tie this
together with the door project.
After some discussion, the annual road tour for the Highway Superintendent and Town Board
was set for Thursday, May 21, 2009 at 9:00 AM.
RESOLUTION#09-038 - INSTALLATION OF AUTOMATIC DOOR SYSTEM
MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Gamel
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark,Morey
RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves the installation of an automatic door system
to be installed by Stanley Access at an estimated cost of$3,950.00 and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Town Board approves the installation of any electrical wiring needed for
said door.
April L. Scheffler, Town Clerk/Tax Collector - Submitted her monthly reports for the Board's
review. The Enumerator is almost done counting dogs and is wrapping up the Village. Follow-
up letters have been sent to dog owners outside the Village and some tickets have been issued.
The Deputy Clerk is out with an illness and Stacie Vance is filling in for the month of May as a
summer youth worker.
Supervisor Morey announced that the Clerk's Office had received a certificate of appreciation
for being in the top 10 for collection of funds in 2008 for the Venison Donation Program.
Victoria Monty,Attorney for the Town - Had nothing to report.
John Norman, Town Justice - Monthly reports from both judges had been submitted for the
Board's review. Things continue to go well in our department. Cindy is doing a great job.
Business is beginning to pick up now that the warm weather is here. We're getting busier and
busier. We are going to have an intern as soon as school is out, through the Learning Web.
Cindy is going to be working with her, updating resource material and all kinds of things. The
filing cabinets that belong to us in the conference room, we are going to give one of those to
Rosemarie Tucker because she said she needs one, and we're going to organize things so it's a
little roomier and nicer in the conference room. Things in our office are being organized so
things are more accessible to us.
Supervisor Morey- Who's going to be paying for the intern?
Town Board Minutes Page 4 May 12, 2009
Judge Norman - It's all taken care of through the Learning Web. It gives a person an
opportunity to see how courts are run and keeps a teenager busy for the summer. We think that's
a great idea.
Councilman Donald Scheffler, as Recreation Coordinator - Had nothing to report. The
summer brochure has not been printed yet but will be soon.
Duane Randall, County Legislator - As you know, we have set a goal to raise your tax levy a
little bit more. I did vote for that, but it does mean about 4 million dollars in cuts with a 3% tax
increase. I did get a call from April about cat control. The SPCA rose again. I know you
thought you were rid of the SPCA and didn't have to deal with them anymore but I guess we still
have to a bit here in Groton. There seems to be a big discrepancy on what the County pays for as
far as cat control. I just got a copy of the contract. I just came from a Health and Human
Services Committee meeting and asked that it be put on the agenda because what we say we're
getting, there's some confusion over that. Hopefully we'll get that straightened out and we will
know what we are paying for. It's pretty difficult for April to tell people what's going on
because they're going to be calling her before they call anyone at the County level. I appreciate
the insight and hopefully we'll get it taken care of.
Clerk Scheffler - I appreciate you looking into it.
Mr. Randall - Coming up is the youth employment opportunity this summer. There was a
bunch of stimulus money that went towards green jobs and that sort of thing. Community Action
is going to be one of the leaders in hiring youths. They're doing a presentation tomorrow to
BOCES faculty. Stacie Murphy is coming on the 26th to do a presentation to the carpenters class.
We live in a district with a lot of poor people and this is a good opportunity for a lot of youth. I
think they are going to hire up to 400 at minimum wage. I think it's four days a week, one day a
week training, go out with the energy services sector, and a lot of opportunity.
Supervisor Morey - I'd like to call attention to the Country Acres report, that the dogs
euthanized was zero and it's been that way for the last six months that I recall. They are doing a
great job for us too.
RESOLUTION #09-039 -APPROVE 2009 HUMAN SERVICES AGREEMENT
MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Scheffler
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey
RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves the 2009 Agreement with the Tompkins
County Human Services Coalition in the amount of$1,500.00.
Supervisor Morey - Discussion of Draft of Town of Groton Land Use and Development Code.
It's gone to the printer. There will be 40 hard copies printed; there will be discs made; and it will
be put on the website. We'll have two public hearings.
Several Board Members say, get it done.
Town Board Minutes Page 5 May 12, 2009
RESOLUTION #09-040 - SET PUBLIC HEARING FOR DRAFT CODE
MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Gamel
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey
RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby sets two Public Hearings on the Draft of the Town of
Groton Land Use and Development Code for Tuesday, June 9, 2009 at 7:45 PM and Tuesday,
July 14, 2009 at 7:45 PM.
Announcements:
➢ Zoning Board of Appeals, May 27 at 7:00 PM
➢ Planning Board, May 14, at 7:30 PM
➢ Assessment Review, May 14, 3:00 - 6:00 PM
➢ Emergency Preparedness meeting, May 27, 4:00 PM at the School
➢ Clean-up Day, May 16, 9:00 AM.
There being no further business, Councilman Sovocool moved to adjourn, seconded by
Councilman Scheffler, at 7:58 PM. Unanimous.
April L. Scheffler, RMC
Town Clerk