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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-10-24-STB TOWN OF ULYSSES SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING OCTOBER 24 , 2005 PRESENT : Supervisor Doug Austic , Town Councilpeople Lee Scott, Robert Weatherby; Roxanne Marino and Don Ellis ; Town Clerk Marsha Georgia; Deputy Supervisor Richard Coogan. Others Present : Steve Ferrari, Free Press Report, Darise Jean-Baptiste Ithaca Journal Reporter, Lucia Tyler and Tammy McMillen. * *Note : Full discussion available on the tape dated 10/24/2005 . Mr. Austic stated that there had been a meeting with John Woychak the Blue Cross Blue Shield representative reviewing different options of health insurance coverage . Ms . Georgia, Mr. Meeker and David Linn and also Mr. Austic attended this meeting. Mr. Woychak presented option called Blue EPO (the Town Board was distributed this information) that is very similar to the current coverage that the employees have currently except that it will have$20 co-pay each time you visit a doctor and the prescription coverage is different. This plan would cost the employees a little money but it would save the Town money. The current policy for single coverage cost the Town around $400 a month and for a family policy around $ 1 , 030 a month. The new policy that is being offered would be around $334 for single and $ 818 for family. Mr. Austic said that it would save around $34, 000 in the 2006 budget across all of the funds . Mr. Austic said using these figures in the budget, assuming it is the way that it was, the budget without any fund balance would increase by $ . 29 or 19%, using $20,000 fund balance would increase it by $ . 22 or 14 . 9%, but could use a little more fund balance . There are still questions on the health insurance that the employees would like answered . The Board asked some questions on the insurance . Mr. Austic has made the changes that were suggested at the last budget meeting. The Board discussed these changes and what Mr. Austic had provided. The Board discussed the fund balance. Mr. Austic is recommending not using any more than $ 30,000 in fund balance for the 2006 budget . The Board discussed a fuel contingency account. The Board discussed that in the future it may be helpful if Mr. Austic could keep a separate accounting of fuel expenses . Mr. Ellis went back to the discussion of the health insurance and thought that it may be a good idea to discuss the overall personal policy compensation . Mr. Ellis would like a commitment " that the Board take an overall look at personal costs, the importance of them, the cost of them and just have a picture that the Board could share for a couple of years rather than picking out piece by piece. Ms . Marino thinks that what Mr. Ellis is saying is that the Board knows basically what the needs are and what the people are doing in the sense of the overall cost not just the health insurance . Mr. Austic asked if the Board had any changes to the A Fund budget. Ms . Marino asked if the Board was going to consider any funding for the energy funding that Corporative Ext. requested? Mr. Austic did not feel the Town could do it. Special Town Board Meeting 2 10/24/2005 Mr. Ellis questioned the sales tax revenue and the impact the change in the retail patterns in Ithaca. Mr. Austic reviewed the sales tax revenue, the Village of Trumansburg takes one third of the Town ' s share, and the sales tax situation in the County will not affect the Town ' s need for sales tax because the Town does not take all of the sales tax . The Town takes what they need and what is left the County uses to reduce the County tax to Ulysses ' taxpayers. Mr. Austic does not feel it will affect the Town ' s budget but will effect the County in the long haul . Mr. Austic explained what the Town took last year, which was about 55 % of what the Town could have taken. The Board discussed what they might take for the 2006 budget, which will be to fund the B Fund and the DB Fund. Attorney Bruce Wilson has presented his proposal for the 2006 budget and his explanation. The Board discussed this proposal and what the attorney had previously expensed and what other towns had expensed. All of the Board did not agree with what Mr. Wilson was requesting (copy of request filed in the Clerk ' s office) . Discussion followed on the rate and the hours the Board wanted and what Mr. Wilson was requesting. It was suggested that $20 , 000 be budgeted for the attorney — A1420 . 4 and add $ 5000 to Contingency A1990 . 4 . B FUND Mr. Austic said that he had talked to Mr. Rachun and he now wishes to double the hours for the Deputy Zoning Officer and make him do some of the extra work. Mr. Ellis liked that idea a lot. That would increase the Deputy Zoning Officer account to $5700 (B8010 . 11 ) . The Board discussed the option of paying the Zoning Board of Appeals members and the Planning Board members . Several members had expressed their views on this and were not necessarily in favor of this . It was decided to reduce the Labor Contingency by the $2835 that was put into the Deputy Zoning salary, which would make B1990 . 41 $ 11 , 165 . Ms . Marino reminded Mr. Austic that at the last meeting the B Fund Balance B599 was changed to $419,000 and this copy of the budget does not reflect that . Mr. Austic said that he could change that. The Board discussed the B Sales Tax, B1120 in the amount of $ 57, 354 and reduces this by $ 14,000. Ms. Marino asked again about putting some money for the energy program proposed by Cooperative Ext . , by putting money into the B fund for a pilot program happen that is only outside the Village . Mr. Austic said that he had asked Attorney Wilson to determine if it would be legal for the Town to do that. Mr. Austic said that Mr. Wilson had not given him an answer yet. Mr. Austic said that it maybe an improper use of Town funds no matter where it is used. The board discussed this . Special Town Board Meeting 3 10/24/2005 The Board considered raising the B Fund by $2000 for this pilot program if they are allowed to do that. Reserving $2000 for Energy Asst. and increasing the Sales tax by $2000. DA FUND Ms . Marino reminded Mr. Austic that at the meeting of October 13th it was discussed to do the following : DA5142 .41 Fuel Contingency $ 10, 000 DA9950 . 9 Capital Reserve Machinery 30,000 DA9950 . 91 Capital Reserve Building 10,000 Mr. Austic apologized that he forgot to do that and will . Mr. Austic said that he had done the Fuel Contingence in two places, DA51. 42 .41 $ 5000 and DA5148 . 41 by $ 5000 . DB FUND No changes made . Mr. Ellis asked Mr. Austic how he felt about the 2006 budget. Mr. Austic said that he did not like it but did not know what else to do . Mr. Austic said that he thinks with the increases in fuel and the other things that need to be done he does not see how to get away with much better than this . Mr. Austic said though that it may be possible after he evaluates in the next couple of weeks before the public hearing he will have more information and a closer look at what fund balances will be and have a better idea and will be able to make some changes . Mr. Austic can provide to the Town Board different scenarios of the amount to be raised by taxes using different amounts of Fund balances for their review . Mr. Austic will also put the reduced expense for health insurance into the budget. Mr. Weatherby moved, seconded by Mr. Scott the following : BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Ulysses moves this budget to Preliminary 2006 Budget as modified tonight . FURTHER RESOLVED that the Town Clerk of the Town of Ulysses will advertise the Preliminary 2006 Budget for a Public Hearing to be held on November 9 ,. 2005 at 7 : 00 pm . Mr. Austic aye Mr. Scott aye Mr. Weatherby aye Ms . Marino aye Mr. Ellis aye Adopted. Ms . Tyler asked if there is a place to get an agenda ahead of time? Mr. Austic takes care of the agenda and try' s to get it done a week before the meeting. It is available at the office . Ms . Tyler asked for some clarification on the budget i . e . accounts and asked if there was a guide for the public on how it is done . Mr. Austic said that unfortunately there is not. Mr. Austic explained the different funds . Special Town Board Meeting 4 10/24/2005 The Board discussed the Fire Budget . Ms . Tyler asked how much is the total cost of personal as part of the entire budget? Mr. Ellis said that is an unknown number. Mr. Austic said it is not an unknown number, add the accounts up, they are the PS accounts in every fund and that will tell you. Ms . Marino said that a summary should be prepared for the public . Something could be . worked on for next year so the Board is ready budget time next year and would be extremely useful for new Town Board members, as well. Hearing no further business Mr. Weatherby moved, seconded by Mr. Ellis to adjourn the meeting. Unanimously approved . Meeting adjourned at 8 : 55 PM . Respectfully submitted, Marsha L. Georgia Ulysses Town Clerk F 7 S.