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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-12-2010 TOWN OF GROTON -MINUTES OF TOWN BOARD MEETING TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2010 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. Gomel, Councilman Sheldon C. Clark, Councilman Fran Casullo, Attorney for the Town Also present: Nick Babel, Robin Cargian, April Scheffler. MOVED by Councilman Sovocool, seconded by Councilman Scheffler, to approve the minutes of the September 7, 2010 Board Meeting as presented. Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gomel, Clark, Morey. MOVED by Councilman Sovocool, seconded by Councilman Gomel, to approve the minutes of the October 4, 2010 Special Meeting as presented. Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gomel, Clark, Morey. Claim Numbers 270-301 of the General Fund in the amount of $21,097.34 were presented for audit. MOVED by Councilman Gamel, seconded by Councilman Scheffler, to approve the General Bills for payment. Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gomel, Clark, Morey. Claim Numbers 173-192 of the Highway Fund in the amount of $65,961 .50 were presented for audit. MOVED by Councilman Clark, seconded by Councilman Sovocool, to approve the Highway Bills for payment. Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gomel, Clark, Morey. Monthly Reports: Elizabeth Brennan, Bookkeeper/Highway Clerk- Was not present. Gary Coats, Code/Fire Enforcement Officer - Was not present but had submitted a monthly report for the Board's review. Town Board Minutes Page 2 October 12,2010 Richard C. Case, Jr., Highway Superintendent - Was not present. April L. Scheffler, Town Clerk/Tax Collector - Submitted monthly report, as well as the Country Acres monthly report, for the Board's review. Notice had been received that Stonehedges Golf Course is applying for renewal of their liquor license. Consensus of the Board was that they had no objection to the renewal of the liquor license. Clerk Scheffler had met with Attorney Casullo to review the new dog law that she had been working on. She had also met with Chuck Ranking, the Village Clerk, to discuss the law's effect on the Village and additions they would like to see. A final draft will be completed and on the desk of the Board Members 10 days before a Public Hearing. Clerk Scheffler discussed dog license fees with the Board. Dog control and licensing costs for 2011 are estimated to be $19,630.00. She had prepared some figures to show how much money the Town would retain in 2011 if they kept the license fees as they are now at $10.00 for an altered dog and $18.00 for an unaltered dog. At that fee the Town would retain approximately $16,715.00. Clerk Scheffler suggested different options for possible fee increases and the resulting amount of money that the Town would retain, most of which still would not cover expenses. By raising the fee to $12.00 for an altered dog and $20.00 for an unaltered dog, the Town would just about break even on income versus expenses for 2011 . Consensus of the Board was that they would probably go with the fee of $12.00 and $20.00. Further discussion took place on impoundment fees, purebred licenses and replacement tags. A resolution on fees will need to be made following passing of the local law. Fran Casullo, Attorney for the Town - Had nothing to report. John Norman & A. D. Dawson, Town Justices - Were not present but had submitted their monthly report for the Board's review. Councilman Donald Scheffler, as Recreation Coordinator - Programs are going well. We are starting in with fall programs. The Halloween party is October 30, at the Legion, followed by the Village's party. Soccer is wrapping up and we are starting basketball next month. There are more than 180 kids involved in youth football and cheering, which is just amazing. Tonight we discussed how the County is cutting Youth Services money. It doesn't directly affect the Groton Recreation, but it does. I think it's wrong. We're not dropping the Sheriff's Department or the Court system or alternatives to incarceration but we're dropping preventative measures to help the kids and I think that's wrong. I encourage everyone to write to their Legislator and let them know what you think. Email addresses of all the Legislators are listed on the County website. Supervisor Morey said that he had written letters. He also said that there is a meeting on Wednesday for Tompkins County Council of Governments to discuss the issue. Discussion took place about when to schedule the Public Hearing for the 2011 Budget, which has to take place by the Thursday following Election Day. Town Board Minutes Page 3 October 12,2010 RESOLUTION #10-057 - RESCHEDULE REGULAR MEETING & SET PUBLIC HEARINGS MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Clark Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby reschedules the Regular Monthly Meeting for the month of November to Wednesday, November 3, 2010 and be it further RESOLVED, that the Town Board shall hold a Public Hearing on the Town of Groton 2011 Budget for Wednesday, November 3, 2010 at 7:30pm and be it further RESOLVED, that the Town Board shall hold a Public Hearing on the Groton Fire and Ambulance 2011 Budgets to begin immediately following the close of the hearing on the Town of Groton Budget. RESOLUTION #10-058 - SET PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED LAW FOR LICENSING & CONTROL OF DOGS MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Gamel Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey RESOLVED, that the Town Board shall hold a Public Hearing on Proposed Local Law #2 for the Year 2010 entitled Licensing and Control of Dogs in the Town of Groton for Wednesday, November 3, 2010 at 8:00pm. Announcements: > Planning Board Meeting - October 21 at 7:30pm ➢ Zoning Board of Appeals - October 27 at 7:00pm ➢ The Town has received a Certificate of Appreciation from Youth Services > Public Hearing on Town of Groton Land Use & Development Code - October 19 at 7:30pm ➢ Public Hearing on McLean Fire Department 2011 Budget - October 19 at 7:30pm at the McLean Fire Hall There being no further business, Councilman Gamel moved to adjourn. Councilmen Sovocool and Scheffler had a disagreement over who would second the motion, with Councilman Sovocool's seniority prevailing, having had the very distinct honor of making this motion swept away from him for the "first time in 40 years." Motion for adjournment was unanimous. April L. Scheffler, RMC Town Clerk