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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-02-10TB 2-10-21 Page 1 of 9 TOWN OF DRYDEN TOWN BOARD MEETING February 10, 2022 Zoom Hybrid Present: Supervisor Jason Leifer, Cl Daniel Lamb, Cl James Skaley, Cl Loren Sparling, Cl Leonardo Vargas-Mendez Elected Officials: Bambi L. Avery, Town Clerk Rick Young, Highway/DPW Superintendent Other Town Staff: Ray Burger, Planning Director Amanda Anderson, Bookkeeper Supv Leifer called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m. FINANCIALS & HUMAN RESOURCES Abstract Approval RESOLUTION #39 (2022) – APPROVE ABSTRACT #2 Cl Skaley offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby approves Abstract #2, as audited, general vouchers #35 through #133 ($1,238,482.28) and TA vouchers #5 through #9 ($76,013.59), totaling $1,314,495.87. 2nd Cl Vargas-Mendez Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Skaley Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes Budget Modifications Year-end budget modifications were presented for approval. RESOLUTION #40 (2022) – APPROVE BUDGET MODIFICATIONS (2021 FY) Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby approves the attached budget modifications relating to year-end 2021. 2nd Cl Vargas-Mendez Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Skaley Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes TB 2-10-21 Page 2 of 9 Amendment to Personnel Manual Amanda Anderson explained that employers are not allowed to hold pay for employees, even if they don’t turn in their time sheet. So even though we have a deadline, there are no consequences for not turning time sheets in. Employees will still get paid and their pay will not be delayed or docked, but they want to make employee accountable. The HR committee discussed it this afternoon. This is not a situation where a number of people are doing this, but some consistently not turning in their timesheet. These incidents will be recorded in the employee’s personnel file. This follows the Civil Service guidelines and the Fair Labor Standards Act. A statement will be added that this does not apply to Highway/DPW union employees. RESOLUTION #41 (2022) – AMEND PERSONNEL MANUAL Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby amends the Town of Dryden Personnel Manual by adding the following section: Section 404 Time Records Added at the end of the current section. Failure to Submit a Timesheet: If an employee or the Department Head on behalf of the employee does not submit a timesheet by the Monday 10 am deadline, the employee will be paid for their regular scheduled hours. Part -time employees will be paid the same number of hours that the employee worked in the previous pay period (except for Court Security due to their unpredictable schedule). Any corrections to benefit time or actual time worked will be made in the following pay period. If an employee does no t submit their timesheet or the Department Head does not communicate with the Payroll Clerk on behalf of the employee, the following disciplinary steps will be taken. • First offense: Verbal warning to the employee. • Second offense: Written warning to the employee that will need to be signed by both the employee and the Department Head. • Third offense: Employee will be suspended without pay for 3 days. • Fourth offense: Employee will be suspended without pay for 5 days. • Fifth offense: Employee will be dismissed. Any earnings will be paid out in the next pay cycle. All documentation of the above offenses will be filed in the employee’s personnel file. The disciplinary steps are not reset at any time. They are cumulative through the employee’s time of employment at the Town of Dryden. 2nd Cl Vargas-Mendez Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Skaley Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes TB 2-10-21 Page 3 of 9 HIGHWAY/DPW DEPARTMENT Rick Young said he is hoping for substantial funding from CHIPS, but we never know what we will get. The proposed §284 may change depending on conditions after the frost is gone from the ground and winter damage can be assessed. RESOLUTION #42 (2022) – APPROVE §284 AGREEMENT Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby approves the §284 Agreement for 2022 as presented and board members are authorized to execute the same. 2nd Cl Lamb Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Skaley Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes COUNTY UPDATE Mike Lane reported there is progress toward finding a new president for TC3. The search committee has narrowed it down to four individuals who will be interviewed and visit the campus next week. There was a press release today and there will be various public meetings scheduled so the public can hear from the candidates. With respect to the airport, they’ve heard there will be a reduction in some of the service. American is switching back to Philadelphia from Charlotte for its hub. They hope that will not be a long-time situation. This comes on the heels of United no longer having service to Dulles from Ithaca. But things are opening up again for travelers, and we are lucky to have what we do. Things are going well at the county. The last search for a county administrator was not successful, and they are in flux about restarting the search. They have reason to believe the next search will be more successful. Cl Lamb remarked that he is happy that the county’s Planning Department will be informally reviewing the town’s draft comp plan The county Health Department is still recommending masks indoors. Southworth Library Presentation Trustees of the Southworth Library and Diane Pamel, Library Director, gave a presentation on their efforts to put a proposition on the Dryden School District ballot in May to raise $50,000 annually for the library. (See attached flyer.) Remarks made: • Southworth Library is an important resource for the greater Dryden area. • It is really a community center for the village and surrounding areas. • There has been a 300% increase in use since opening the Lincoln Addition. TB 2-10-21 Page 4 of 9 • They produce a lot of programs and services at the lowest cost to the community. • Programs are taken advantage of by people of all ages and in various locations. • Some programs are helped by grant funding. • The building has been enlarged over the years and they did not go to the community for funding for that. • Costs of operation have increased, particularly in staffing. • Cost of operations over the last three years have exceeded revenues and they have a structural deficit in their operations budget. • They don’t want to curtail services or hours of operation. • They would like to increase the hours of operation, and a survey of community indicated the public wants more open hours. • Southworth Library is an association library (one of three rural libraries in the county). The other two (Lansing & Groton) are school district public libraries. • Almost all of the 36 libraries in the Finger Lakes System receive some funding under a school ballot initiative, provided for in NYS Education Law. • This would be a separate proposition and not part of the school district budget. • They think in order to provide more services and pay staff properly, they need to ask the community in the Dryden School District to provide a small amount of funding. • They are requesting a proposition asking that the sum of $50,000 be levied across the school district and it will be a separate line on the school tax bill. • They believe the assessment would be about $.06 per thousand, resulting in less than $10 for a median assessed house ($165,000) in the district. • It would provide more stable funding and spreads across the entire school district. • It will continue year after year at this amount. Any change would require a new vote. • If this passes, they still require the financial help of the Villages, Towns and County and the donors and patrons in the community. • The trustees have asked for time on the school board agenda to explain what they are doing. Diane Pamel thanked the board for its past support. Discussion/Action Items Dryden Fiber Update – Mayors of the Village of Dryden and Village of Freeville, together with some trustees were present for a discussion regarding the town’s broadband project. Ryan Garrison of Hunt Engineers also participated in the discussion. • The town received an ARC grant and dedicated ARPA money (about 1.8 million in Federal money) to this project. • The ARC grant will be used toward building the backbone on the rail trail bed, connecting the villages. • The main equipment room is planned for location in the town hall, with another room near Pinckney Road (there is a Windstream connection there). • They will start at Pinckney Road and build east. • The idea is to offer service (internet only) that is less expensive than Spectrum. • It will be fiber-to-the-home connections rather than fiber. • The price has not been finalized, but the model tends to be a rate reduction model. They expect to start around $50 per month with a goal to pass savings along the customers more sign on. TB 2-10-21 Page 5 of 9 • They will provide symmetrical bandwidth – 400 mps up and down. Most other providers have unequal service with a larger download number. • This will be a superior product with an added app resulting in a better product. • The goal is to get the residents involved to support the project. It will only be as strong as its enrollment. • The town-wide network will reach all residents of the town. • To be feasible the town needs strong support from the villages and hamlets to then be able get to the outer areas where there is no service. • There needs to be support for this community owned project. • The mixed residential and commercial area around Pinckney Road will be targeted first. • The density in the villages will be important. • There is a marketing plan in place; being locally owned is important. • The Village of Freeville offered access to their list-serve. • The Town had to set up an enterprise fund for this project and the point is that funds coming in will be reinvested in the system and eventually the price will drop. Once the debt is paid off, it becomes about maintenance and service and at that stage you can continue to lower the price. • It is an asset that benefits the entire town. The school district and TC3 will be able to hook in. It will put business here at a competitive advantage. • Even without the funding obtained thus far, the financial plan shows a break even in year ten, so that will be sooner with grants. The project will pay for itself. • More participation will lower the cost, exactly when has not been calculated. • The town will bond initially for cash flow purposes. • It will be an all-fiber network, using a more advanced fiber than is currently used in the area. • The town will do everything it can to hook every residence up and anticipate a more reasonable and affordable distance limit from the road arrangement. • The idea is to break even with the project and have it be a true non-profit. • The town has had input from communities that have done this successfully. Appointments RESOLUTION #43 (2022) – APPOINT DRYDEN RECREATION & YOUTH COMMISSION MEMBERS Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby reappoints Rhonda Kowalski and Ronald Szymanski to the Dryden Recreation & Youth Commission for terms to expires December 31, 2024. 2nd Cl Sparling Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Skaley Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes RESOLUTION #44 (2022) – APPOINT CONSERVATION BOARD MEMBERS Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: TB 2-10-21 Page 6 of 9 RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby reappoints Robert Beck, Andrew Miller, Timothy Woods and Anne Clark to the Conservation Board for a term to expire December 31, 2024. 2nd Cl Sparling Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Skaley Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes RESOLUTION #45 (2022) – APPOINT CONSERVATION BOARD MEMBER Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby appoints Steve Bissen to the Conservation Board for a term to expire December 31, 2024. 2nd Cl Sparling Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Skaley Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes Community Housing Development Fund - The board reviewed the fiscal agreement for participation in the Community Housing Development Fund and a commitment of $50,000 toward a project in the town of Dryden. The county will invoice the town when a project is approved. RESOLUTION #46 (2022) – APPROVE AGREEMENT TO IMPLEMENT THE COMMUNITY HOUSING DEVELOPMENT (CHDF) PROGRAM Cl Skaley offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby approves the Agency Agreement to Implement the Community and authorizes the Town Supervisor to execute the same. 2nd Cl Vargas Mendez Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Skaley Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes RESOLUTION #47 (2022) – COMMIT THE TOWN OF DRYDEN TO PARTICIPATE IN THE COMMUNITY HOUSING DEVELOPMENT FUND (CHDF) Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: TB 2-10-21 Page 7 of 9 Whereas, the Town of Dryden participated in the CHDF in 2021 by committing $50,000 in reserve funds to join as an associate member, and Whereas, this participation made possible the commitment of 2nd Wind to propose construction of housing in the Village of Dryden for women and children with special needs to be housed, and Whereas, it is the determination of the Dryden Town Board that further commitment will further additional housing needs in the Town, therefore, be it further RESOLVED, that upon action of the Town of Dryden Board that the Town will commit to the CHDF from reserve funds an amount not to exceed $50,000 for fiscal year 2022. 2nd Cl Skaley Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Skaley Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes Town of Dryden Housing Committee – Cl Vargas-Mendez and Cl Skaley presented a proposed resolution to establish a Housing Committee for discussion. The committee would consist of elected officials from the town and each of the villages as well as other knowledgeable residents. • There are housing shortages in the area and the cost of home ownership and rent have risen significantly causing affordability issues. • The villages would have input on where they see issues and concerns. • Land available for development would need to be determined. • The committee will review the Housing Condition Report done a few years ago. • The town could apply for rehabilitation funds. • The Planning Board should be aware of this. • Any proposed changes in zoning would need to be discussed with the Planning Board. • They would look at what can be done to make portions of a development affordable units. • They would explore options and then come back to appropriate advisory boards and/or the Town Board to participate in the decision-making process. • This committee could provide the issues and information that should be looked at. • A Planning Board member should be involved. • Sending the proposal to the Planning Board chair for feedback is recommended. • The resolution could be less broad in its language. • Current zoning across the county is a disincentive to affordable housing for a variety of reasons including location and availability of public water/sewer. • The committee would have a role of providing information and support for affordable housing options. • The committee would identify potential developers who are interested in doing workforce housing and putting together a slate of areas identified for potential development. • The focus should include an acknowledgement that we lack workforce and affordable housing in the town and the committee will work on ways to address that issue. TB 2-10-21 Page 8 of 9 After further discussion and because of the potential overlap with the Planning Board, Cl Skaley and Cl Vargas-Mendez will bring the proposed resolution to the Planning Board for consideration and comment prior to the Town Board voting on its formation. Owasco Lake Watershed Representative – The municipal representative for the Owasco Lake Watershed Management Council does not need to an elected official. Dave Sprout currently represents the town on the Cayuga Lake Watershed council and is willing to take on this role. Anne Clark, who is on the Conservation Board and lives in the Owasco Lake watershed, is willing to be involved also. RESOLUTION #48 (2022) – JOIN OWASCO LAKE WATERSHED MANAGEMENT COUNCIL Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 1141 of the Not-for-Profit Corporation Law (“N-PCL”, and hereinafter referred to as the “Act”), and a Certificate of Incorporation (the “Certificate”) filed with the New York Secretary of State on the 23rd day of February, 2011, the Owasco Lake Watershed Management Council, Inc. (the “Corporation”) has been established as a nor-for-profit, local development corporation to lessen the burdens of government and act in the public interest in a number of ways, including undertaking programs and activities in furtherance of managing, monitoring and protecting the water resources of Owasco Lake and within its watershed for the well-being and benefit of the residents who use these water resources and the residents who live within the watershed; and WHEREAS, the By-Laws of the Corporation allow the addition of Directors to the Corporation by a majority vote of the current Directors; and WHEREAS, participation of the municipalities located within the Owasco Lake Watershed as Directors of the Corporation will provide all of the Directors a greater understanding of the issues affecting Owasco Lake from a watershed-wide perspective and enhance the Corporation’s abilities to obtain grant funding for the implementation of watershed protection projects ; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town of Dryden hereby declares its intent to join the Corporation through directorship and thereby authorizes and appoints the town’s Planning Director or his designee to become a Director of the Owasco Lake Watershed Management Council and to represent the Town of Dryden on the Corporation’s Board of Directors. 2nd Cl Skaley Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Skaley Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes Newsletter – Supv Leifer encouraged department heads and board representatives to contribute content for the newsletter each month. Agenda Items for Next Week include NEPA report for the Varna water/sewer project, Climate Smart presentation and resolution, Freese Road bridge update, broadband update, local board of assessment review and the fire coordinator position (has been approved by Civil Service). TB 2-10-21 Page 9 of 9 There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:23 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Bambi L. Avery Town Clerk