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Home My WebLink About2022-12-08TB 12-8-22 Page 1 of 9 TOWN OF DRYDEN TOWN BOARD MEETING December 8, 2022 Zoom Hybrid Present: Supervisor Jason Leifer, Cl Daniel Lamb, 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 Cassie Byrnes, Secretary to Supervisor Amanda Anderson, Bookkeeper Supv Leifer opened the meeting at 6:08 p.m. Cl Skaley has submitted a letter of resignation effective December 2, 2022, due to his poor health. The board is hoping he will recover. He has done a lot for the board over the years, particularly his work on the Varna water and sewer projects. The board will make an appointment to fill the vacancy. Financials & Human Resources RESOLUTION #179 (2022) – APPROVE ABSTRACT #12 Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby approves Abstract #12, as audited, general vouchers #1009 through #1102 ($439,434.69) and TA vouchers #55 through #59 ($6,706.42), totaling $446,141.11. 2nd Cl Lamb Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes County Update Mike Lane noted that when Jim Skaley worked for County Planning, he shepherded the grants for the Crispell Dam project in town. The county has been working on their recovery grant program this past month. He apologized, saying the town’s broadband grant application was not initially received by the county’s consultants. There was at least another one missing. The committee did take it up and voted to review it, but it failed to advance on a 3-3 vote. About 50 grants out of 200 applications will come to the full legislature. There is 6.5 million dollars available and over 30 million was requested. M Lane said he will support the town’s application. Cl Lamb expressed his displeasure with the county’s process. The legislature has an opportunity to make Dryden whole since it was this project that the town had chosen out of all possible projects. He asked M Lane to support the town’s application and noted he is the only Dryden legislat or responding to his emails. M Lane said he will bring it up, and there are other options even if this application doesn’t make it through. The county has funded some broadband money for some of the other towns in the county. TB 12-8-22 Page 2 of 9 Katrina McCloy has been appointed as the new legislative clerk, who has been serving as chief deputy clerk. Cathy Covert is retiring after 31 years. The county continues to talk about the buildings they own in the city and what may eventually turn into a center of government meeting. Because of the current economy, they are being conservative and moving slowly. The county was fortunate to have a good fund balance through Covid and because of that, they were able to fund county-wide testing and machinery for testing at Cayuga Medical Center that they may not have been able to do otherwise. With respect to the Game Farm Road trail crossing, the county has accepted the permit application. Signs are being ordered and everything is progressing. Weather permitting, things will be in order in January. With respect to current events in the City of Ithaca Police Department, M Lane asked that people not paint the county with the same brush. County Legislator Henry Granison has passed away and there will be a special election for the third district. The time for parties to nominate candidates and file petitions has passed. At this point there is a candidate, Susan Currie, former Tompkins County Library Director. Town Fire Coordinator Fire Coordinator Chris O’Connor reported he has been in the position about two weeks, and everyone has been great. He has spent a huge amount of time talking to all fire departments. He is anxious to establish an objective look at how well each department is doing and the challenges they face. In the town’s departments there are hundreds of very committed people donating a huge amount of time. Some are doing 20-30 hours a week trying to keep things together and improve things. In all the town departments there are magnificent pieces of apparatus that the folks are taking really good care of. There are four very different fire departments. The culture, leadership and membership are different in each, and each has their strengths and weaknesses. The main thing they all need are more well-trained people to drive and operate the apparatus, and more EMTs and leaders. The experience level in all departments is less than it used to be years ago. The biggest issue facing them all is that they don’t communicate with each other. C O’Connor is trying to impress on them that they can’t stand alone. They need to talk, train with other departments and design the apparatus so they are compatible. There are interoperability issues out there and they need to ad dress it. He hopes to reinstitute department chiefs’ meetings and find a meeting of the minds of the boards of directors of the departments, because they are the administrative branch of the department, and they need to be talking with each other about budgetary and administrative issues. He is pleased that the members he has spoken with have been honest about sharing the shortcomings of their individual departments. Twenty years ago or so, Slaterville Ambulance went out of business. Their service area was automatically given to Bangs Ambulance. Ambulance staff is struggling across the county. R Young noted that Cayuga Medical has purchased six ambulances for the purposes of transferring patients, so that may alleviate some of the burden on the rural ambulances. Discussion/Action Items Highway Superintendent Rick Young explained that the department has one Teleskid and a Cat Skid Loader. They both have equipment, but the equipment is not interchangeable. TB 12-8-22 Page 3 of 9 He would like to trade the Skid Loader and purchase another Teleskid. It will have new attachments that will work on both pieces of equipment. RESOLUTION #180 (2022) – AUTHORIZE PURCHASE OF TELESKID Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board authorizes the purchase of a 2023 JCB 3TS -8T Teleskid per Sourcewell Contract #032615 using equipment budget DA5130.2 (2023 budget year) at a cost not to exceed $105,000.00 after the trade-in value of the Skid Loader w/broom of $43,000.00 is applied. 2nd Cl Lamb Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes R Young reported that he has located a truck to replace the 10 -wheeler that was destroyed by fire. It is a truck they currently have on the lot, and he will be able to acquire it per previous board authorization. Approve 2023 Pay Rates RESOLUTION #181 (2022) – APPROVE 2023 PAY RATES Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby approves the following payrates for the calendar year 2023. Whereas certain employees’ salaries are not reflected on an exclusive budget line; and Whereas certain employees’ budget lines are estimated due to flex in number of hours worked; and Whereas payroll certification to Civil Service must prove why employees receive their rate of pay, be it therefore RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby approves 2023 pay rates for non-union Highway/DPW and Town Hall employees who work less than 40 hours per week, OR do not have their own unique budget lines as follows: Name Title Hire Date 2022 rate 2023 rate % Increase Town Hall Employees: Marty Conger Rec Director 03/29/21 27.30 30.03 10 Christopher Greene Rec Assistant 09/13/22 15.00 15.00 0 Lee Parker Deputy Clerk 12/30/09 14.95 16.45 10 Sherri Crispell Senior Account Clerk 05/17/12 23.56 26.39 12 Cassandra Byrnes Confid Sec’y to Supv 11/19 /18 20.08 22.50 12 Derek Barr PT Court Attendant 05/03/21 45.92 49.36 7.5 James Niemi PT Court Attendant 06/01/14 45.92 49.36 7.5 TB 12-8-22 Page 4 of 9 John Arsenault PT Court Attendant 11/25/19 45.92 49.36 7.5 Peter Tyler PT Court Attendant 02/07/22 45.92 49.36 7.5 Highway/DPW Employees: Shawn Flynn MEO Seasonal/PT as needed 01/13/15 19.81 25.81 30 Richard TenKate MEO Seasonal/PT as needed 08/02/22 22.00 28.00 27 Christopher Clauson Asst. Supt. Of Public Works 09/05/17 $53,997 $59,397 10 2nd Cl Vargas-Mendez Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes Authorize New Bank Account A new account is necessary to fund the new employee health reimbursement account. Resolution #182 - (2022) Approval to Open New Bank Account for Town Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: Whereas, First National Bank of Dryden is the Town of Dryden’s designated depository, Resolution #3 (2022). Whereas, for proper accounting of the Town’s HRA funds, a new bank account needs to be opened. Be it Resolved, this Town Board authorizes the opening of an HRA bank account at First National Bank of Dryden with check signers on the account being: Bambi Avery, Jason Leifer, Lee Parker, and Emily Banwell. Be it also Resolved that this Town Board authorizes transfer of funds between First National accounts by: Amanda Anderson, Sherri Crispell, and Bambi Avery. 2nd Cl Sparling Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes Establish Water and Sewer Rates Increasing rates by 3% over 2022 was discussed by the board during construction of the 2023 budget. Resolution #183 (2022) - Amend Town 2023 Water Rate – SW8 Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: WHEREAS, the water districts served by Bolton Point (SCLIWC) are part of a single water district; and TB 12-8-22 Page 5 of 9 WHEREAS, the Town Board of the Town of Dryden enacted the 20 23 Budget on November 10, 2022; and WHEREAS, no revenues will be generated from property taxes or assessments for the consolidated water district for the 2023 budget cycle; therefore RESOLVED, that effective January 1, 2023, this Town Board hereby establ ishes the Town of Dryden water rate at $8.40 per 1,000 gallons with a 5,000 -gallon minimum per unit for 2023 for water districts served by Bolton Point (SCLIWC). 2nd Cl Sparling Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes Resolution #184 (2022) - Amend Town 2023 Yellow Barn Water Rate – SW7 Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: WHEREAS, the Town Board of the Town of Dryden enacted the 2023 Budget on November 10, 2022; and WHEREAS, the Town Board of the Town of Dryden budgeted $51,979 in non -tax revenue; and WHEREAS, the water rate was last adjusted for the 2022 budget year; therefore RESOLVED, that effective January 1, 2023, this Town Board hereby establishes the Tow n of Dryden water rate at $15.88 per 1,000 gallons with a 5,000 -gallon minimum per unit charge for the units served by the Yellow Barn Water District. 2nd Cl Lamb Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes Resolution #185 (2022) Amend Town 2023 Sewer Rate – SS8 Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: WHEREAS, the sewer districts served by Bolton Point (SCLIWC) are part of a single sewer district; and WHEREAS, the Town Board of the Town of Dryden enacted the 2023 Budget on November 10, 2022; and WHEREAS, no revenues will be generated from property taxes or assessments for the consolidated sewer district for the 2023 budget cycle; therefore RESOLVED, that effective January 1, 2023, this Town Board hereby establishes the Town of Dryden sewer rate at $6.37 per 1,000 gallons with a 5,000-gallon minimum per unit for 2023 for sewer districts served by Bolton Point (SCLIWC). TB 12-8-22 Page 6 of 9 2nd Cl Lamb Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes Resolution #186 (2022) - Amend Town 2023 Sapsucker Sewer Rate – SS1 Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption WHEREAS, the sewer district served by Village of Cayuga Heights; and WHEREAS, the Town Board of the Town of Dryden enacted the 2023 Budget on November 10, 2022; and WHEREAS, no revenues will be generated from property taxes or assessments for the consolidated sewer district for the 2023 budget cycle; therefore RESOLVED, that effective January 1, 2023, this Town Board hereby establishes the Town of Dryden sewer rate at $6.44 per 1,000 gallons with a 5,000-gallon minimum per unit for 2023 for sewer district served by Village of Cayuga Heights. 2nd Cl Lamb Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes Dryden Fiber Supv Leifer explained a second circuit is needed for redundancy in the event the main circuit goes down. Resolution #187 (2022) Approve Quote for Dryden Fiber Second Circuit Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: Whereas, Dryden Fiber needs to secure a second circuit to allow the system to be redundant and prevent loss of service to the customers. Whereas, the monthly expense of $5,822 will not start until Spring 2023 when the circuit is accepted. Therefore, be it resolved that the Board approves the quote dated 12/2/2022 from First Light to provide a second circuit for Dryden Fiber to be a redundant service. 2nd Cl Lamb Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes TB 12-8-22 Page 7 of 9 Service Level Agreement – Supv Leifer explained this document will allow him to negotiate service agreements with business customers. They won’t be the same price as residential customers and having this authority will negate the need to bring each individual agreement to the board for approval. This authority will be renewed at the Town Board’s organizational meeting each year. At some point when the system is large enough, there may be a need to have someone take on these administrative duties. Currently, this is the most efficient way to get these customers up and running. Resolution #188 (2022) - Permitting the Town Supervisor to review, approve, and sign Service Level Agreements (SLA) for business customers on behalf of the Town of Dryden d/b/a Dryden Fiber and to review and approve the standard SLA agreement for residential customers Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: Whereas, the Town of Dryden has established a municipal internet service doing business as Dryden Fiber; and Whereas, Dryden Fiber is being operated as a public utility, in a sim ilar manner to the special districts operated by the Town of Dryden to offer water, sewer, and street lighting services to businesses and residents; and Whereas, at the yearly Organizational Meeting, the Town Board delegates the authority to operate and administer the day-to-day operations of the special districts, which includes adding new customers, to the Town Supervisor; and Whereas, Dryden Fiber has started marketing internet services to local businesses, school districts, non-profits, municipal corporations, and residents; and Whereas, Dryden Fiber will be regularly signing up business service level customers with SLA agreements that may be negotiated on a case-by-case basis based upon that customer’s unique needs; and Whereas, the residential SLA agreements will be standard agreements that apply to all residential service level customers; and Whereas, to compete on an even basis with privately owned and operated Internet Service Providers Dryden Fiber should be able to sign up customers in a similar manner to privately owned and operated Internet Service Providers; and Whereas, the Town Board finds that the Town Supervisor, as the Town’s Chief Financial Officer and administrator, shall have the authority to enter into SLA agreements on beh alf of the Town of Dryden to offer internet services to businesses, school districts, non -profits, municipal corporations, and residents as Dryden Fiber; therefore, be it Resolved that the Town Board of the Town of Dryden permits the Town Supervisor to review, approve, and sign SLA agreements with business customers and review and approve the standard SLA agreement for residential customers without seeking further approval of the board. 2nd Cl Lamb Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes TB 12-8-22 Page 8 of 9 Ambulance Contract The 2023 budget has been approved for the ambulance amount. Supv Leifer needs authorization to sign the contract. Resolution #189 (2022) - Authorize Ambulance Contract Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby approves a two-year ambulance contract with Dryden Ambulance, Inc. for a term beginning January 1, 2023, and ending December 31, 2024, authorizes the Supervisor to execute the same, and authorizes a payment of $1,086,0 45 in calendar year 2023. 2nd Cl Lamb Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes Fire Coordinator Resolution #190 - (2022) Appoint Town Fire Coordinator Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: Whereas, the Town Board has created a new position of Town Fire Coordinator to assist Town contracted fire departments. RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby appoints Christopher O’Connor to the position of Town Fire Coordinator with a start date of November 28, 2022 at a rate of $28.85/hour that is effective through 12/31/2023. 2nd Cl Lamb Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes Confidential Secretary Supv Leifer announced that Cassie Byrnes has passed the Civil Service exam for the Confidential Secretary position. Resolution #191 (2022) - Appoint C Byrnes as Confidential Secretary to the Town Supervisor Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby appoints Cassandra Byrnes, from the certified list of candidates through Tompkins County Civil Service, to the permanent position of Confidential Secretary to the Town Supervisor as of December 6, 2022. 2nd Cl Lamb TB 12-8-22 Page 9 of 9 Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes 1892 Slaterville Road This matter has been discussed for several months. J ack Enslow has been offered an agreement with measurable steps and deadlines to remedy the unsafe structure and violations on his property at 1892 Slaterville Road until September of 2024. The deadline to sign the agreement is today, and it is not signed. J Enslow (attending virtually) said he has hired someone and will have an excavator on site very soon. The agreement is not okay as written, and he still does not have a lawyer yet. It will be a moot point because he has hired this company. The whole project may be done by mid-January. The dates on the document are ok, but the rest of the stuff in it is not. He would like to put the matter off another month. When the contractor finishes their current job, the equipment will be moved to his property. Supv Leifer explained there is a need to sign the document, or the board will instruct Atty VanWhy to proceed. J Enslow made it clear that he is not going to sign the document as it is; that he is remedying the situation, and this would be a needless l egal battle. He does not want to be forced to sign his rights away. There is progress and there will be more progress, but if the board makes things difficult, then it will slow down. He would like the board to wait one more month. After discussion, the board decided to move forward. Atty VanWhy will update the resolutions to clarify and explain the process and the board can adopt them next week and proceed. Mr Enslow will have 30 days to remedy, and if he indeed does that based on what he said, the matter will not proceed. The board should adopt the resolutions and protect its interest in the event Mr Enslow doesn’t get the work done. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:12 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Bambi L. Avery