HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-05-11TOWN OF GROTON — MINUTES OF TOWN BOARD MEETING
TUESDAY, MAY 11, 2021 AT 7:30 PM
THE TOWN HALL, 101 CONGER BOULEVARD
Town Officers Present:
Donald F. Scheffler, Supervisor
Richard Gamel, Councilperson
Crystal Young, Councilperson
Brian Klumpp, Councilperson
Sheldon C. Clark, Councilperson
Michael Perkins, Highway Supt.
April L. Scheffler, Town Clerk
Charles Rankin, Bookkeeper
W. Rick Fritz, Code Official
Francis Casullo, Attorney
Town Officers Absent: Also Present:
John Norman, Town Justice Ben Nelson
Ellard Keister
MOVED by Councilperson Gamel, seconded by Councilperson Klumpp, to approve the minutes
of the April 13, 2021 Town Board Meeting as presented.
Ayes - Clark, Young, Klumpp, Gamel, Scheffler
RESOLUTION #21- 35 - APPROVE PAYMENT OF INVOICES
MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Gamel
WHEREAS, vouchers for Abstract #5 for the Year 2021, numbered 189 - 234 were reviewed
and audited by the Town Board, be it
RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves said vouchers for the accounts and in the
total amounts as follows:
Code
Fund
Totals
A
GENERAL FUND
9,22905
B
GENERAL FUND PART TOWN
42,125 00
DA
HIGHWAY FUND
9,903 19
DB
HIGHWAY FUND PART TOWN
19,976 66
SFl-
SPECIAL FUND - FIRE PROTECTION
36,875 00
SLI-
MCLEAN LIGIITING DISTRICT
130 18
Total: 118,239.08
Ayes - Clark, Young, Klumpp, Gamel, Scheffler
Nays -
Resolution Passed
Town BoardMhWes Page 2 May ll, 2021
Monthly Reports:
Charles Rankin, Bookkeeper - Submitted monthly reports for the Board's review and requested
a budget adjustment.
RESOLUTION 421-036 - 2021 BUDGET ADJUSTMENT
MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Young
RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves the following 2021 Budget Adjustment:
Highway Fund, Part Town:
Increase Revenues, State Aid, CHIPS, DB3501.......................$145,170.00
Increase Expenditures, CHIPS, Capital Expenses, DB5112.2......... 145,170.00
Ayes - Clark, Young, Klumpp, Gamel, Scheffler
Nays -
Resolution Passed
W. Rick Fritz, Code/Fire Enforcement Officer - Submitted monthly reports for the Board's
review and had nothing else to report.
Michael Perkins, Highway Superintendent— We've been working with the County for a couple
of days; installing driveway pipes; and cutting trees and brush. As you know, April 22nd we had
to plow and sand again. We've been fixing wing digs; getting the mower ready to mow roadsides;
mowed some cemeteries and around buildings; hauling materials to stockpile; cleaned up some
down trees; cold patching. I'd like to get on the agenda with Suit-Kote to do roughly 2.2 miles of
blacktopping on Town roads. Roughly about 1/2 mile on Stevens Road and Sovocool Hill from the
Village line to Smith Road.
Consensus of the Board was that they should get on the agenda with Suit-Kote and move forward
with the paving. Mr. Perkins also gave the board a written report on the status of Town Highway
machinery.
April L. Scheffler, RMC, Town Clerk/Tax Collector - Submitted monthly reports for the
Board's review and had nothing else to report.
Francis Casullo, Attorney for the Town - Had nothing to report.
John J. Norman, Town Justices - Was not present.
Councilperson Crystal Young as Representative to Joint Youth Program - We are continuing
to review budget for the next year. Everybody is having trouble getting lifeguards. We had a Joint
Rec Committee meeting last week and with everybody having trouble getting lifeguards, we are
trying to come up with some incentives. It's a pretty intense course and the cost may have
something to do with it. We are looking for incentives to help pay for the course or have it paid
through a payroll deduction. The art program at the Legion is going really well. It is funded by
the Community Arts Partnership Grant. They also have had great participation in sign-up for youth
baseball and softball with 156 signed up. Summer camps will be a go including, art, golf, junior
fire camp, tennis, trap, hiking, basketball and one more they are checking on. The tentative
opening for the pool is June 215
Town BoardMhWes Page 3 May ll, 2021
Ben Nelson, Groton Fire Chief - The burn ban is ending Friday. I've been working with Robin
to get the fireworks permit. We're doing them in the same spot as last year, in the field between
Old Stage Road and Route 222. I will try to advertise it a little better and have better directions.
July 12 - 14, we will be doing our junior firefighter camp. We opted to do 3 days instead of 5 this
year because there will be some restrictions. We are going to do something for Olde Home Days
as they are planning on having it. I'm not sure how big we're going to be. We'll have the parade
for sure. Last month our daytime driver for the ambulance resigned his position at the Village.
We've been able to fill the holes with some volunteer drivers but that's going to get harder as time
goes on. We're working in conjunction with the Village DPW and Village Office to hire a
replacement for an ambulance driver and DPW laborer. In April, most of our apparatus goes for
inspection over to Caskey's. Our "new" tanker, which is on a 2006 chassis, but the tank is probably
50 years old. Unfortunately, the saddle, the mounts where the tank sits on the frame, are rotten
and pretty much gone. In the interest of safety and liability, I've taken that truck out of service.
We are serving with one tanker and that means we need to be quicker on the spot. We are working
on solutions. We thought we might have had a temporary "band-aid" solution but it didn't work
out. The dates for Olde Home Days are August 26, 27, and 28.
Supervisor Scheffler - New York State has passed a law to allow Cannabis sales and bars. We
have the option as a Town to opt out by passing a law before December 31st. If we pass a law
banning it, we're not eligible to get tax money from it. On the other side, it's still Federally illegal
and we might stand a chance of not getting Federal funding if we allow it. Attorney Casullo said
that the law was just passed and they haven't even written the regulations for it. He advised the
Board to hold off on doing anything until they have more information. After further discussion, it
was decided that Attorney Casullo will look into it further and get back to the Board.
Announcements:
➢ Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting, May 19 at 7:00 pm
➢ Planning Board Meeting, May 20, at 7:30 pm
➢ Auditors will be here on June 7
MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Gamel, to enter into Executive
Session at 8:15 pm, for the purpose of discussing a contract.
Ayes - Clark, Young, Klumpp, Gamel, Scheffler
MOVED by Councilperson Gamel, seconded by Councilperson Klumpp, to return to Regular
Session at 8:31 pm.
Ayes - Clark, Young, Klumpp, Gamel, Scheffler
Supervisor Scheffler - Let the record show that the Executive Session was for informational
purposes only and that no decisions were made.
Privilege of the Floor: No one wished to speak.
There being no further business, Councilperson Gamel moved to adjourn, seconded by
Councilperson Young, at 8:32 pm. Unanimous.
April L. Scheffler, RMC
Town Clerk