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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-01-12TB 1-12-23 Page 1 of 4 TOWN OF DRYDEN TOWN BOARD MEETING January 12, 2023 Zoom Hybrid Present: Supervisor Jason Leifer, Cl Daniel Lamb, Cl Loren Sparling, Cl Christina Dravis Excused: 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 Chris O’Connor, Fire Coordinator Supv Leifer opened the meeting at 6:10 p.m. Abstract Approval RESOLUTION #28 (2023) – APPROVE ABSTRACT #13 Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby approves Abstract #13, as audited, general vouchers #1103 through #1186 ($407,944.82) and TA vouchers #60 and #61 ($273.02), totaling $408,217.80. 2nd Cl Lamb Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes Cl Dravis Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes RESOLUTION #29 (2023) – APPROVE ABSTRACT #1 Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby approves Abstract #1, as audited, general vouchers #1 through #38 ($421,251.98) and TA vouchers #1 through #4 ($5,581.55), totaling $427,103.53. 2nd Cl Lamb Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes Cl Dravis Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes TB 1-12-23 Page 2 of 4 Highway/DPW Department Highway Superintendent Rick Young said he will have the §284 agreement ready for signature next week. He would like to increase the credit limit on his town credit card to $5000.00. Supv Leifer said when he calls to do that, he should make sure that he and/or his secretary can access the bills online, so that a voucher can be prepared in time for the monthly abstract payment. The same can be done for the Amazon account. It was noted that supporting information needs to be submitted for purchases. RESOLUTION #30 (2023) – AUTHORIZE INCREASED SPENDING LIMIT FOR HIGHWAY/DPW CREDIT CARD Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby authorizes an increased spending limit for the Highway/DPW credit card at The First National Bank of Dryden to $5,000.00. 2nd Cl Lamb Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes Cl Dravis Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes R Young reported there is a chance they may receive another truck that has been ordered this year. Fire Coordinator Update Chris O’Connor reported it has been a busy month. The fire departments held their election in December and there has been some changes in chiefs and/or board members in some departments. Overall, the departments are in great shape in terms of their apparatus and firefighting and EMS equipment and their fire houses. Two departments are not in tiptop shape, but the members are working on it and fixing things up. Overall, the physical plant of everything is very good. Things are not so good in the numbers of people. There are probably half as many people involved as there were 30 years ago. Responsibilities have grown, the number of calls has grown, and there are fewer people doing more and more work. It has been somewhat difficult to get the departments to acknowledge that. Overall, they are not doing ok in terms of members to respond to fires and rescue calls. There are some things the departments can’t change, including societal changes, and they need to acknowledge that and find a way to begin to address them. Since the 1990s each department has had a crisis of leadership. When that happens, volunteers leave. They don’t want drama or to be led by someone who just orders them around. There have been times when individual departments have seen their membership plummet and they always rebound. They are rebounding and things have improved pretty much across the board. The difficult thing is it takes years for a department to rebuild after a leadership crisis. This is a huge commitment, and members see and deal with some very TB 1-12-23 Page 3 of 4 unpleasant things. It is tough to get people to do that for nothing when they don’t feel like part of a family that really cares about them. C O’Connor has been meeting with chiefs, officers and board members, and the administrative side of each department. He is trying to get them on board with the idea that it is all about the people. There is a growing recognition that things have to change. Part of the issue is that while they are doing their job putting out fires, they are also putting out little fires within the department. Chiefs have to manage the department, a full-time job, family and other responsibilities. This Sunday there will be the first chiefs meeting in several years and one topic will be looking ahead a few years. The town will continue to grow, and they need to grow also. They are great, capable people and they need to refocus their energies a bit. C O’Connor suggested some changes in the upcoming contracts. Those are getting rid of the 1950s language, making a standard contract as far as possible, and begin to introduce some degree of accountability. He has received a huge amount of cooperation from people. He is speaking with the departments, the county fire coordinator, and will be speaking with a grant writer familiar with fire department grants. Discussion/Action Items Payment outside of Abstract – Dryden Fiber needs to purchase ISP addresses and that is done by auction. Supv Leifer asked for authorization not to exceed $50,000. Funds will come from the BAN money that is expected this month. RESOLUTION #31 (2023) – AUTHORIZE PAYMENT OUTSIDE OF THE ABSTRACT Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: Whereas, Dryden Fiber needs to purchase through an auction of ISP addresses. Whereas, when the auction closes, it will require payment within 5 days. And the price could change daily. Therefore, be it resolved that the Board approves purchase of ISP addresses for Dryden not to exceed $50,000 to occur in January 2023. 2nd Cl Lamb Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes Cl Dravis Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes Volunteer Firefighter/Ambulance Worker Exemption - The Governor has signed legislation authorizing local taxing jurisdictions to offer a real property tax exemption for volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers. County Assessment has provided a model local law. It may help with recruitment and retention of members. The exemption could be up to 10% of assessed value. The town attorney will review the law before introduction next week. TB 1-12-23 Page 4 of 4 There will be three public hearings next week: o 1279 Dryden Road – Site Plan approval for an apartment building o Acceptance of a trail easement for the rail trail o Proposed local law updating the town’s building code R Burger said the Design Connect group that did the North Street neighborhood will make a presentation. That may happen in February. Scottie’s Auto will be coming back to the board asking for a site plan amendment. It will be reviewed by the Planning Board before it comes to Town Board. The Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Plant will need some action from the board in February. The boiler project has cost overruns and a plant-to-plant agreement with Cayuga Heights will need approval. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:49 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Bambi L. Avery Town Clerk