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Home My WebLink About2022-11-10TB 11-10-22 Page 1 of 6 TOWN OF DRYDEN TOWN BOARD MEETING November 10, 2022 Zoom Hybrid Present: Supervisor Jason Leifer, Cl Daniel Lamb, Cl Loren Sparling, Cl Leonardo Vargas-Mendez Absent: Cl James Skaley Elected Officials: Bambi L. Avery, Town Clerk Rick Young, Highway/DPW Superintendent Christopher Clauson, Town Justice Other Town Staff: Amanda Anderson, Bookkeeper Cassie Byrnes, Secretary to the Supervisor Ray Burger, Planning Director Nicole Knapp, Court Clerk Supv Leifer opened the meeting at 6:08 p.m. Abstract Approval RESOLUTION #168 – APPROVE ABSTRACT #11 Cl Lamb offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby approves Abstract #11, as audited, general vouchers #918 through #1008 ($1,317,721.39) and TA Vouchers #50 through #54 ($6,442.00), totaling $1,324,163.39). 2nd Cl Leifer Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes Budget Modifications Supv Leifer reviewed requested budget modifications. RESOLUTION #169 (2022) – APPROVE BUDGET MODIFICATIONS Cl Lamb offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby approves the following budget modifications for the 2022 budget: From To A3910 Climate Smart Grants A8710.1 Conservation - Personnel 4,069.80 A1420.402 Legal A1320.4 Independent Audit 1,000.00 A7320.4 Summer Camp Contractual A7020.405 Annual Software Upkeep 83.00 TB 11-10-22 Page 2 of 6 A7020.101 Rec Asst 1 A7020.102 Rec Asst 2 1,000.00 A5010.2 Transportation - Equipment A5010.4 Transportation Contractual 1,400.00 A8790.401 Stormwater Management A8790.403 Watershed Monitoring 305.00 SS8 599 Fund Balance SS8 8130.4 Treatment/Disposal Contr 55,400.00 DB5110.1 Street Maint - Pers Serv DB5110.111 Street Maint - Benefit time 10,391.23 DB5112.1 Road Improvements - Pers DB5112.110 Personal Serv OT 405.85 DB9010.8 Retirement DB9060.8 Medical Insurance 1,099.38 2nd Cl Vargas-Mendez Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes 2023 Budget The board discussed proposed changes to the preliminary budget including increasing the amount paid for the Highway/DPW Superintendent to the amount R Young requested by adding and funding admin lines in the SS8/SW8 water and sewer budgets. Amounts in the Receiver of Taxes and Records Management lines were increased to fund a pay increase for B Avery. Wages were increased for both Court Clerks and Code Enfo rcement Officer 2. There was discussion about developing stages for scheduled increases for longevity. The stipend for Planning Board chair was added at $500.00. Funds intended to purchase a new vehicle for the Planning Department were moved from a maintenance line to B3620.2. The amount for the ambulance was increased to the amount they originally requested. Another public hearing will be held prior to approval of that contract. RESOLUTION #170 (2022) – APPOINT N KNAPP AS COURT CLERK Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby approves the appointment of Nicole Knapp to the position of Court Clerk at an annual salary of $40,000 with a six -month probationary period starting October 11, 2022. Following the probationary period, she will be eligible for a nonretroactive 15% raise. 2nd Cl Sparling Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes Supv Leifer closed the public hearings at 6:25 p.m. RESOLUTION #171 (2022) – ADOPT 2023 ASSESSMENT AND SPECIAL DISTRICT ROLLS Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby adopts the Special District and Assessment Rolls for the Town of Dryden for 2023. 2nd Cl Lamb TB 11-10-22 Page 3 of 6 Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes RESOLUTION #172 (2022) – ADOPT 2023 BUDGET AND SPECIAL DISTRICTS BUDGETS Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby adopts the preliminary general budget as amended below as the Town of Dryden’s general budget for 2023, and it is further RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby adopts the preliminary special districts budgets as amended below as the Town of Dryden special districts budgets for 2023. Account Code Preliminary Budget Amended Budget Change A1110.102 Court Clerk 1 55,719.00 58,252.00 +2,533.00 A1110.103 Court Clerk 2 42,880.00 46,000.00 +3,120.00 A1110.4 Court – Contractual 12,000.00 6,000.00 -6,000.00 A1330.100 Receiver of Taxes 26,697.00 28,032.00 +1,335.00 A1460.1 Records Management – Personnel 4,853.00 4,998.00 +145.00 B3620.102 Code Enforcement Officer 2 59,691.00 60,238.00 +547.00 B3620.405 Car Maintenance 45,000.00 1,000.00 -44,000.00 B3620.2 Car Purchase 0 44,000.00 +44,000.00 B8020.410 Planning Board Chairperson 0 500.00 +500.00 SM4540.401 Ambulance Annual Contract 955,199.00 1,086,045.00 +130,846.00 SS8-8110.1 Sewer Administration – Personnel 0 807.00 +807.00 SW8-8310.1 Water Administration – Personnel 0 807.00 +807.00 2nd Cl Sparling Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes WB Strong had requested $100,000 this year to go to their capital reserve. That amount will not be accounted for in their contract. The fire coordinator (when hired) will look at all of this and if necessary, after review, a transfer can be made. The amount in the budget for Dryden Ambulance was not what they had requested. The board instead budgeted for a cost-of-living increase. After discussion with ambulance staff, the board has decided to fund their initial request. Cl Lamb said the board gave them a significant increase two years ago, but the staffing problem didn’t go away. R Young added that calls for mutual aid for the ambulance have increased as well as trips to hospitals that are further away. RESOLUTION #173 (2022) – AUTHORIZE FIRE CONTRACTS Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby approves the following fire contracts for 2023 for the amounts listed and authorizes the Supervisor to execute the same: Neptune Hose Company No. 1 of Dryden, Inc. $550,000 TB 11-10-22 Page 4 of 6 Varna Volunteer Fire Company, Inc. 341,326 W.B. Strong Fire Company of Freeville, Inc. 194,900 Etna Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. 193,000 Brooktondale Fire Department 29,561 2nd Cl Lamb Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes RESOLUTION #174 (2022) – RELEVY DELINQUENT WATER/SEWER AMOUNTS Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby authorizes the relevy of unpaid water and sewer bills to the 2023 real property tax bills. Property owners were mailed a letter advising them of the date by which payment must be received (at least 30 days from the date of the letter) in order to avoid having the amount due added to their property tax bill. The amount relevied will be the outstanding balance on any account prior to the October billing. 2nd Cl Lamb Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes Amendment to Health Insurance Consortium Agreement New members have been added to the consortium and an amendment to the agreement is necessary. RESOLUTION #175 (2022) - Approval of the 2023 Amended Municipal Cooperative Agreement for the Greater Tompkins County Municipal Health Insurance Consortium Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: WHEREAS, the Town of Dryden is a Participant in the Greater Tompkins County Municipal Health Insurance Consortium (the "Consortium"), a municipal cooperative organized under Article 47 of the New York Insurance Law, and WHEREAS, the municipal participants in the Consortium, have approved and executed a certain Municipal Cooperation Agreement (the "Agreement"; effective date of October 1, 2010) and the 2023 Amendment that provides for the operation and governance of the Consortium, and WHEREAS, the Consortium's Board of Directors has recommended approval of the 2023 amended agreement, and WHEREAS, the Municipal Cooperative Agreement requires that amendments to the agreement be presented to each participant for review and adopted by each municipal boar d, RESOLVED, that the Town of Dryden approves and authorizes the Chief Executive Officer TB 11-10-22 Page 5 of 6 to sign the 2023 Amendment to the Municipal Cooperative Agreement of the Greater Tompkins County Municipal Health Insurance Consortium, RESOLVED, further, that the Clerk of the Town of Dryden is hereby authorized to execute this Resolution to indicate its approval, transmit a copy thereof to the Board of Directors of the Greater Tompkins County Municipal Health Insurance Consortium, and take any other such actions as may be required by law. 2nd Cl Lamb Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes Freese Road Bridge Update It is necessary for the town to request an extension of time for the Fr eese Road Bridge contract. No reimbursement can be claimed for expenses incurred in 2022 until this is done. The extension would be effective until December 31, 2024. Resolution #176 - (2022) Approve No Cost Time Extension for Freese Rd, Bridge NY Program (PIN 3756-41-121) Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: Whereas, the Town of Dryden was awarded funding to replace the Freese Rd Bridge through the Bridge NY Program in 2017. Whereas, due to the historical components of the bridge, the Section 106 process is taking longer to get through than a standard bridge project. Whereas, the Town is requesting an extension for the project until 12/31/2024. Therefore, be it resolved that the Board gives the Supervisor permission to sign the No Cost Time Extension for the Freese Rd Bridge to be submitted to NYS Department of Transportation 2nd Cl Lamb Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes Cl Vargas-Mendez, Craig Anderson and Martha Robertson spoke to the board about the possibility of utilizing some of the land behind Town Hall for affordable housing. This is something they are discussing and wanted the board to be aware. The Town Board has indicated a willingness to use $10,000 from fund balance to pay for a consultant to research housing and go after grant opportunities. With the recent donation of property there are 68 acres, including wetlands, and a portion of that could be used for housing. There would still be space for recreation and ball fields. The board and the Village of Dryden are interested in development and the Village could support this. It seems like a perfect time to assemble ideas and do a careful study of what is possible on the land. Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services are a source of information, and they are extremely intrigued by the prospect of this acreage for affordable housing right in the center of one of the nodes. They would be interested in looking at the area and brainstorming with the committee. There are many questions and opportunities to explore. There is time to take a thoughtful look at the whole area to do something exciting. TB 11-10-22 Page 6 of 6 Supv Leifer said the board will need to discuss this. On motion made, seconded, and carried, the board moved into executive session at 7:35 p.m. to discuss the employment history of particular individuals. They came back to regular session at 8:10 p.m. Supv Leifer said they will offer the fire coordinator position to an individual via letter, and they have agreed on a second choice in the event their first-choice declines. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:11 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Bambi L. Avery Town Clerk