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Home My WebLink About2020-07-14ONN N O GKO ON — NISI TFSOFTONNN ROAKU MINI I'ING TI ESUAI . JI LN 14, 2020 A I":31► P'11 I'IIE ONN N IIALL, 1111 CONGER 1101 LEN AKU Touvr Ofe-erx Present: Iklnald I S%:hJ11cr, Super%i.or Rwhard Ganlcl, Cotuwilper.on Cr+ctal Noting, Cotuwilper.on Iirlan Khmipp, Cotuwilper.on SIIcldan C Clark, Cauncdper.an \hchacl P%Anl., IIIgIIllal Supt \prd I. ScIIcillcr, Talul Clcd. CIIanhRankin, Mal l cglcr \\ Rwk Int/, Cade t ffitoal I rancic Cactlllo, -\Ilan% \ 1) Daltson, Talul lualcc Touvr Ofe-ers lbsent: 1lso Present: John \onllail, lm%n hlstKc IICII \,:kotl \lacl. Rankin Hlard Inc Klcr MON ED II\ C omwI 1per�atl Gatllcl, sccatldcd II\ C omwilllcr�atl Clark, to approl c III,: Illnmtc� of III, hltic 9, 2020 Io\til ILl:ud \ICClltlg :Ix prC�CIllc ll \l e.. Clad., Notnig, Khmipp, Ganlel, ScIIeiller KNSOIJ I'H)N 020-1152 - AI PROM"I{ PAN NUAT OIANS"(N('NS MON ED hl Cauncdper.on Kitunpp, .cauldcd hl Cauncdper.an ( ianlcl NN IINKI{AS, t atichcr. i lr .\hslrao ', nunlhcrrd =25 - to2 llcrr rrt lcllcd and audlicd hl IIIc Talul ILlard, he II KI•:SOLN ED, that IIIc Talul ILlard IIcrrhl approx,: .;ud tatichcr. iar IIIc acalunic and In IIIc Io1a1 at18 tuai as lollo%%s Cede Puod 7 m dr 5 Q -t WN QaHi 4Q&nQQWAV MNI7.1IAX. R14'.N I' xf'%QQ 111:'Q_E4+`I�QC9i1�r /3I'ti.'➢i3t". V" Q6.�Ri_ MtQo tl�aW"W- ANI'MI v 'I`u(al. Ao ^~)► %On A%rN - (lark, l oung. Klun►pp. Gan►cl. Scl►citicr Kcsolullot► I'a.scJ Town Board Allnutes Page 2 Ab' Il, 2020 Monthly Reports: Judge Dawson - There is not much to report because not much has been going on although things are beginning to start up again. Discussion took place on the proposed contract with the Village of Groton for court security. When asked bow long court generally lasted. Judge Dawson said about two hours. Board members were concerned that the contract required paying for a minimum of three hours. Judge Dawson said that it is difficult to get someone to come in for less than three hours. After some discussion it was thought that since the contract would renew in January, the program could be reviewed and re-evaluated prior to renewing it. RESOLUTION 420-053 - APPROVE AGREEMENT FOR COURT SECURITY MOVED by Councilperson Gamel, seconded by Supervisor Scheffler RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves the agreement with the Village of Groton for police protection and law enforcement services for the security of the Town of Groton Court. Ayes - Clark, Young, Klumpp, Gamel, Scheffler Nays - Resolution Passed Charles Rankin, Bookkeeper - Submitted monthly reports for the Board's review and requested budget adjustments. The budget adjustment is for what is expected from CHIPS, however we still don't know if the State will be giving us the frill amount. RESOLUTION 420-054 - 2020 BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Clark RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves the following 2020 Budget adjustments: Highway Town Wide: From: Budgetary Provision for Other Uses, DA962......... $50,000.00 To: Machinery & Equipment. DA5130.2....................50.000.00 Highway Part Town: Increase Revenues: State _-yid. CHIPS. DB3501......... $53,847.00 Increase Expenditures: CHIPS. D135112.2 ......................53.847.00 Ayes - Clark, Young, Klumpp, Gamel, Scheffler Nays - Resolution Passed W. Rick Fritz, Code/Fire Enforcement Officer - Submitted monthly reports for the Board's review. Things have been busy with lots of pennnits, a lot of pools, a couple homes going up, some homes demolished. We're back in the swing of things. nliehael Perkins, Highway Superintendent - We've been busy mowing roadsides and cemeteries: cold and bot patching. I'd like to oil and stone about 3.8 miles on Old Stage Road Town Board Allnutes Page 3 Jilb' Il, 3030 for about $37.600.00. I did call Genson today about the overhead doors and they are about a month out. The last thing, is on Walpole Road, and I'd like Ellard to speak on that. The Board was concerned as to whether there would be money in the budget for the oil and stone for Old Stage Road this year and that maybe they should wait until nest year. Ellard Heister - So, on that oil and stone, a couple weeks ago, we put down some of the best patches that I've seen in the 15 years I've worked here. From good organization to good manpower, everything went smooth and they are amazing. We covered all the bad spots of that road. If you look at the rest of it, we are getting some pretty extensive cracking and it's getting pretty bad. Now that we've done that patching, that T & L. True & Leveling, the integrity of that road is coming back. We still have good pitch: we have slope from the crown: where the shoulders were breaking up, we put some shoulders down. Now if we could put oil and stone over all of this, and the length is from Chipman Corners Road to Champlin Road. Those are where we are getting the most cracks. It gets a lot of traffic and it gets a lot of material in the winter. Every one of these cracks, you saw it on Sovocool Hill Road, they start small and then they get quite large. _after they get to a certain point, we're not going to be able to save it and we'll have to pave over that road. So, what Duke is proposing is a $37.000.00 baud aid that's going to save us some years on this road while the integrity of that road is still there, versus losing it and having to pave the whole thing for $250.000.00. It will look like Salt Road long before you can do that. If we can keep oil and stone to it, while we still have the structure, and maybe even do it again in the future before we have to pave it, and keep it from looking like Salt Road. We have a few other roads in the Town, over the next few years, before Old Stage. Couneilperson Gamel - I understand, but do you think one winter will negate everything that you've done? I just wom, that if we're down to the brass tacks here. I hate to spend it and mavbe leave ourselves a buffer for next vear. Mr. Heister - If we don't get oil in these cracks, then pretty much what we've done with our hot -patching is going to be pointless. These cracks will be starting to open up. I don't know how much longer it's going to be before we can't save it. The salt we put on that road causes expansion: everybody knows what it does. We don't want to lose the integrity of that road. We've got a good road there and we can save it for quite some time. We've got Clark Street, Stauber Road, Sovoeool Hill Road, a lot of other roads that need our attention before we should start womling about this, and not let a high -traffic road like Old Stage end up like Salt Road. So, we all think it will save us in the long tern. _-And that price is lower than last year because oil prices are down right now. Councilperson Clark - You did a beautifiul job with that blacktop that you put on there in the bad spots, and I agree that those cracks hold the salt and will get worse. Mr. Rankin said that he would try to find out if the Town would be receiving the fiull CHIPS allotment or not. If the fiull allotment is forthcoming, there should be enough money to cover the Old Stage Road project. Mr. Heister - So, after the COVID shutdown, we were way behind. We threw in 140 feet of driveway pipe for removals and additions in a matter of a week and a half to two weeks. We did proper ditching and hydro -seeded, everything to get done before the Walpole Road project. It bunt up because of the weather. The County is ditching in the same area now, so we have asked Soil and Water to reseed ours at the same time. It doesn't cost us anything and it makes our work look very complete. The Walpole Road project, we've all been anticipating this for over a year now. Tomorrow is going to be the big day. That's when we can start the stream bed. We've had a couple glitches with our rental equipment. They gave us a brand-new machine and it wasn't quite right and when we tried it, we lost literally every seal in it. It's not our fault. We Town Board Allnutes Page 4 Jilb' Il, 2020 went with Chris Norman, a local guy. That has been so beneficial to us because it's in his hometown and be cares. He's bending over backwards for us with his company and be got us some great deals. He got us a brand-new machine there today. We're all pretty amped up for this project. We had a final meeting today with the engineer with Soil & Water. I was down in the creek with the biologist at the time, going over some paperwork that we've been talking about over the phone. We were finally able to show them visually what is going on. We're pretty proud of ourselves because the guy that's been doing this for over 30 years threw all his papers in a folder and closed it up and said he's never seen a township that's got their act together like we do. So, they're ecstatic with the work that we've put into this so far, as a team. everybody. If the Board members would like to stop up, you're welcome. April L. Scheffler, RMC, Town Clerk/Tax Collector - Submitted monthly reports for the Board's review. DEC has gone to a new licensing system, which was quite frustrating when we tried to set it up, due to lack of information and communication from DEC. We do have it up and running now and it seems to be working okay, although they have a few things that still need to be worked out. I contacted NYSEG and had the billing for the Peruville light district taken off the budget billing, so we should see a reduction in that bill nest month. The County has scheduled a rabies clinic for _august 15th at the TCAT garage in Ithaca. If you know anyone who needs to get their animals vaccinated, have them contact us for the preregistration information. Our State Clerk's _association conference was postponed until _august, but has now been cancelled altogether. Francis Casullo, Attorney for the Town - Had nothing to report. Councilperson Crestal Young as Representative to Joint Youth Program — Had nothing to report. Ben Nelson, Groton Fire Chief - We did do the fireworks and I'd like to thank the Board for your support on that. There were a lot of comments, and some negative ones, but I thought we did a pretty good show with what we had to deal with. (The Board thought it was awesome.) I almost like that location better than the Elementary School, but we'll see about that nest vear. As far as the other events, you know that Olde Home Days has been cancelled, so there will be no parade. As far as our Firefighter Camp goes, we've opted to say that it's postponed indefinitely. We're not saying it's cancelled because maybe there will be some kind of reprieve, but can't get our hopes up. It would be lenge to have that mane kids and social distance. Councilperson Clark - I'd like to compliment you on the report you gave us on the equipment and your thoughts on that. RESOLUTION 420-055 - PURCHASE DUMP TRUCK FROM TOWN OF LEBANON MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, second by Councilperson Clark RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves the purchase, in the amount of $50.000.00, of one used International Work -star 10 -wheel plow and dump trek from the Town of Lebanon, complete and running with a Tenco side -dump bode: Tenco plow and plow frame: righthand wing with all mounting pieces: front -mount material spreader: VIN # 11ITGSSMCM12440: and subject to final inspection, approval, and clear title provided. Ayes - Clark, Young, Klumpp, Gamel, Scheffler Nays - Resolution Passed Town Board Allnutes Page S Jilb' Il, 3030 Ben Nelson, Highway mechanic - I appreciate the swift action in regards to this truck. Obviously, we found our old truck has some serious cracks: cracks about as long as that podium in the frame: all throughout the frame. We immediately took action to take that out of service. It's a huge safety hazard with a cracked frame and hauling the amount of stuff that we do. It puts us in a really tight spot if something were to happen. With that, it was apparent that we needed a quick replacement. We went and checked it out and it ran and drove beautifully. This truck will serve us for a few years. It is a 2012 and does have the motor in it that International kind of regrets. However, they did get on it pretty aggressively while it was still under warranty and worked all the bugs out. That's a lot to be said for a warranty from International. They take care of it relatively quickly. I understand that spending money is a tough thing, and like I said in my report to you. I don't want this to be a plea for spending tons of money on new treks, but I also don't want to see us go down the road where we're buying someone else's issues. It's going to get harder and harder to find good deals like this. I believe we can use this trek for 2-3 years as a mainline trek. I would also like to pursue a good replacement program. A good replacement program should go with a little bit of both, used equipment as well as new. I also think that if we do this properly, and I do not know how to take all the money that you all are responsible for and divvy it up the way you do, that's above me. But I am certainly willing to be open and transparent with the Board as to how we can benefit the Highway Department as well as taking care of the rest of the Town. Right now. I think we should really be looking towards a new trek. As far as a new trick goes, it's going to be a year and a half and we could start looking at how to pay for it: write the check now: write the check later: finance it: I have it all broken down. But I'd really like to start working towards our goal of updating, but we don't have to do it tonight. Councilperson Klumpp - The gentleman who came in and spoke a few meetings ago, how mane years did be say we could expect to get out of a new trek? Mr. Nelson - 10 to 15. I would say about 15 years. The trek that just went down was at 21 years. That's a long life. It had 188.000 bard miles on it and any miles put on all of the equipment out there are bard miles, just because of the type of work. Councilperson Gamel - I love what you did. We've been asking for this for 20 years. So, thank you for doing what we have been asking for for so long. I just want you to understand that our money has been getting tighter and tighter. I think it will open back up in the future. But I just want you to be prepared that for a couple of years, these $50.000 treks, we've got 4 : of those for one new trek. We will do our very best, you guys do a great job, but things have been so tight. And we've spent a lot of money in the past here, and it seemed like all at once it would come up out of the blue that all of a sudden, we needed a $250.000 trek. I'd like to plan but just understand that things are getting tighter and until we get freed back up, we might have to go to some used equipment for a little bit. And newer used equipment is better. Councilperson Young - I also like the idea of putting together a replacement plan because that's going to help, especially if the treks are going to last 15 years, if you budget to replace one every so many years. But if you budget it for every year, you're going to have that. Mr. Nelson - That's what I would absolutely want to have all of you in on, in order to do that. I understand that there was not a lot of transparency in recent years. That's not our goal and not the way I get things done. That's why I wanted to present this to you, kick it around, do what we can. Like I said. I'm not trying to make this a plea for spending. What we've been doing over in the Highway Department is fantastic and I'm just hoping that we can see where we can go with it. Town Board Atlnutes Page 6 Jilb' Il, 2020 Councilperson Gamel - All I was saying is. I think if we were to spend nest year, and maybe instead of a brand new replacement for nest year, we do another used one, that would just open things up for getting on that track where we can start getting those new ones put back into place. Mr. Nelson - With the disposition of our truck, right now it sits up in the gravel pit. Maybe I'm wrong in doing it, but I have listed it on Commercial Truk Trader. I do know that you need a resolution to sell it or something. I do have it listed for $20.000. We did put an awful lot of money into that trek. That was a specialized trek. I think they just ordered a unique trek: the pump had to be specially made: there's two tanks on it and one is just a dummy tank. It might be a tough sell, but I think we can recoup some of our investment. RESOLUTION 420-056 - DISPOSITION OF TRUCK 429 MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Clark RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves the disposal of the vehicle known as Truk 429, and instructs the Highway Superintendent to dispose of the vehicle in the best way and in the best interest of the Town of Groton. Ayes - Clark, Young, Klumpp, Gamel, Scheffler Nays - Resolution Passed Supervisor Scheffler - The Town had been presented with a certificate of achievement from PERNIA for having no claims in the past year. He thanked the Highway Department, Clerk's Office and Court Office for doing a great job. Privilege of the Floor: No one wished to speak. Announcements: Planning Board Meeting, Jule 16 at 7:30 pm Zoning Board of _appeals Meeting has been cancelled. There being no further business. Councilperson Gamel moved to adjourn, seconded by Councilperson Clark, at 8:10 pm. Unanimous. April L. Scheffler, RMC Town Clerk