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HomeMy WebLinkAbout4-12-2022TOWN OF GROTON –- MINUTES OF TOWN BOARD MEETING TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 2022 AT 7:30 PM Town Officers Present: Town Officers Absent: Also Present: Donald F. Scheffler, Supervisor Brian Klumpp Councilperson Lee Shurtleff, Legislator Richard Gamel, Councilperson Charles Rankin, Bookkeeper Julie Graham Crystal Young,, Councilperson Ellard Keister, Highway Supt. Zack Anderson Sheldon C. Clark, Councilperson Francis Casullo, Attorney Robin Cargian, Town Clerk W. Rick Fritz, Code Official Paul Lang, Town Justice Mack Rankin, Dept. Highway The meeting opened at 7:30pm MOVED by Councilperson Gamel, seconded by Councilperson Sheldon, to approve the minutes of the March 8, 2022 Town Board Meeting as submitted. Ayes - Clark, Young, Gamel, Scheffler, Motion Passed MOVED by Councilperson Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Young, to approve the minutes of the March 18, 2022 Town Board Special Meeting as submitted. Ayes - Clark, Young, Scheffler, Motion Passed Gamel,- Abstained MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Gamel, to approve expenses for the Town Clerk to attend NYS Association of Tax Receivers and Collectors conference in Ithaca June 12-15, 2022. Ayes - Clark, Young, Gamel, Scheffler, Motion Passed RESOLUTION #22-028‐ ‐ APPROVE PAYMENT OF INVOICES MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Gamel WHEREAS, vouchers for Abstract #4 for the Year 2022, numbered 126- 187 were reviewed and and audited by the Town Board, be it RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves said vouchers with the Total amounts as follows: A GENERAL FUND 20,950.51 B GENERAL FUND PART TOWN 7,950.05 DA HIGHWAY FUND 85,059.08 SFl- SPECIAL FUND - FIRE PROTECTION 12,581.08 SL2- PERUVILLE LIGHTING DISTRICT 81.90 SLl- MCLEAN LIGHTING DISTRICT 151.94 Total 126,775.35 Ayes - Clark, Young, Gamel, Scheffler, Nays - Resolution Passed Town Board Minutes Page 2 April 12, 2022 Monthly Reports Charles Rankin, Bookkeeper – Was absent, report was submitted to the board. W. Rick Fritz, Code/Fire Enforcement Officer – Though things are picking up slowly, there is still great concern among the public as to when they should start their projects, if at all. I will be attending some training sessions in the coming weeks. Mack Rankin, Deputy Highway Superintendent –We are in the winter to spring change over remaining 50% ready for snow. We met recently with the asphalt salesman which will be looking at an $8.00 per ton increase from our quote in the fall and that is a guesstimate from our $1 to $2 dollar increase by the time we are paving end of May early June. Last year we were in the mid $60 per ton range. We have yet to decide if we are continuing with our previous plan or cutting it back. We hired Dale Slocum about a month ago who has been an incredible asset to Ben coming with such a big mechanical background. He has been a great asset during the recent change over with the trucks and we are very happy with him. In the fall we budgeted for a new equipment trailer to upgrade from the current trailer from 1964. We were lucky to see the listing first of used 2001 for the price of $10,800. Checking on the condition, we found it will need tires and general maintenance but would like approval to go forward with that as soon as possible. The mowing tractor ended up being a few thousand more so this trailer will help to offset that expense. MOTION #22-029‐ ‐ APPROVE PURCHASE OF USED 2001 EQUIPMENT TRAILER MOVED by Councilperson Gamel, seconded by Councilperson Clark to approve the purchase of the 2001 equipment trailer that is in the abstract. Ayes - Clark, Young, Gamel, Scheffler Nays - Resolution Passed Robin Cargian RMC, Town Clerk & Tax Collector – Taxes are finished, thank you taxpayers! Good News, I have been awarded a $640 Scholarship to the NY State Town Clerk’s Association conference which will cover the cost of our room, registration, and meals they provide. I thank you for the permission to attend the NY State Tax Receivers conference in June. Crystal and I met with a lady from NYSERDA to go over ways we might be able to reach “points” toward more scholarships but then the comptroller came to visit, and I have been giving my attention to them. They have given me some great ideas to investigate such as using a check deposit reader from the bank which would allow instant deposits, sprucing up some of our policies as well as uploading a lot of the forms we use to Laserfiche in the case of a fire or computer system failure we can get back up and running easily. Denise took her notary exam, and we are still waiting for the results, but she is a quick learner and I have had several people compliment how great she is working with the public. She has surpassed the 3-month probation period if you count the months she was April’s employee so I recommend she receive the $.50 per hour raise and request a motion from the board. I also want to thank the Highway Department for getting rid of that old copier in the kitchen that hasn’t worked for years and bringing in Don’s old filing cabinet for the Town Historian to use. RESOLUTION #22-030‐ ‐ APPROVE PAY RATE INCREASE FOR DENISE SMITH MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Gamel Town Board Minutes Page 3 April 12, 2022 WHEREAS, Denise Smith has reached the probation period proving to be hard working, eager to learn and is helpful to the public, be it RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves a $.50 increase in hourly pay. Ayes - Clark, Young, Gamel, Scheffler Nays - Resolution Passed Paul Lang, Town Justice – It was asked of me last month if things were getting easier, looking at McGill’s Traffic Violations 1180 under speeding, the justice has to determine the range over the speed limit to know how many points will be given as well as the fines. I am also becoming accustomed to the District Attorney accepting plea deals and the variation of the all the violations from penal law to environmental conservation. It is a lot but I think we are getting a handle on it. Hopefully the new judge passes his test today. Right now we have court early Monday, regular court at 5PM and eviction proceeding set for Wednesday afternoon. Councilperson Young as Representative to Joint Youth Program- Councilperson Young reported Jennifer Jones is an amazing recreation director responsible for starting the very successful Central New York’s aquatic network and was recently awarded $1300 from the USA Swimming learn to swim grant and an $800 grant for the concerts. I am happy to sign the voucher for our portion of her salary. There will be a update to the MOU between the school, village and town as it has not been done in a long time. A grant that was received last year for $5000 will be used to repair, paint, and add signage to the tennis courts. Cabin Fever was a huge success! Plans for the Summer consist of baseball/softball (170 have signed up), a women’s and girls’ self-defense course May 24th to June 2nd aimed at senior girls going off to college, Jr. Fireman, hiking, golf, dance, track, sewing, fitness, Kung Fu, Jr. lifeguard, basketball, photography and art. Summer concerts and trucks are confirmed, programs will be out soon. The paint for the pool has been ordered and the Village DPW will sand it down. I have seen a sample of the chipped pieces which are very sharp and some thing we need to keep in mind when we are budgeting for those upgrades. Lee Shurtleff, County Legislator ‐ Last month I was extremely pleased at the County Legislature appointment of Lisa Holmes as the new County Administrator. She previously served as the Deputy Administrator as well as interim human resource director and director of the Office for the Aging. After a long two years, thankfully, the covid report will not be a regular item at the meeting but on an as needed basis. I am sitting on an infrastructure committee evaluating to look at the feasibility of using the buildings adjacent to the court building to possibly clear out the County Clerk’s office as well as the District Attorney. The court system wants that room for court purposes. They must also make decisions on the public safety building which needs emergency renovations. Covid money added 19 million to the county fund balance, the legislature created a $6.9 million dollar community recovery fund that hasn’t got off the ground yet as the grammar hasn’t been finalized yet. Listening to the needs of the pool there may be monies that would be available for this type of community project. The applications and funding topics will perhaps be out in the next two months. I have had some feedback from my constituents regarding my stance on voting. There are some broad topics brought before the county legislature with the responsibility of a $190 million dollar budget, that do not necessarily directly relate to the 26 agencies of county government. It may be nice for us to support but there is a lot of staff people sitting, listening to an argument that is really a State or Federal issue in the end. Eric DeForrest, Groton Fire Chief ‐ Sent in his report. Lee Shurtleff, County Legislator- Last Thursday, I got word of a bill that was passed through the State Legislature to give Fire Department Ambulance services the ability to assess fees. Town Board Minutes Page 4 April 12, 2022 Previously the law did not allow billing in order to protect against predatory practices as well as it created the Volunteer Firefighters Benefit Law which is equivalent to a version of workman’s compensation. The prevision was put in place to prevent the volunteer firefighters from being personally remunerated for providing ambulance services. This won’t change. The bill was going through normal channels, but the Senate moved it to the governors’ budget and passed allowing for the a volunteer ambulance provider to bill for services under general municipal law. Collectively, volunteer services run 300,000 calls a year, the average reimbursement is $300 according to several agencies. Medicaid $170 per call- Medicare $400 per call, Excellus $800 per call to those who cannot pay at all. That means roughly $1 million dollars was unable to be billed for the money that is taken out of our paychecks each week. As of 90 days from last Saturday the Village will have the ability to establish fees for service. This is a conversation the Village must have. Do we want to do this? I don’t know. Right now we are at 240 calls, we will be reaching 900 at this pace by December. When you get down to true transports through all the sign offs, it is around 550-600 calls per year. Keep in mind we have a tax-exempt nursing facility generating 80- 90 calls, senior citizens complex that is tax exempt averaging 60-70 calls, subsidized housing with a lot of Medicaid tenants when the question to the Village Board as well as the Town Board is asked do we want to continue to support the Ambulance through the tax base. We pay about $300,000 for paramedics and a half time driver. Additional costs are the service contracts for the rigs, worker’s compensation for the volunteers, cost for supplies and liability coverage so some financial consideration will still need to be given as unfortunately billing will not replace the contracts. You can only recoup about $125,000 by billing. Paid medical services make money by billing for inter-hospital transports so their business model is really very different. We have always been a free service; I really hate to see it as it was my father’s vision, but costs weren’t what they are today. You may see donations decline because of this, but it is part of a larger conversation that we will have to have. I worked on this legislation just to level the playing field. It may be the best birthday present I have ever had. RESOLUTION #22-031‐ PROCLIMATION TO DESIGANTE THE MONTH OF MAY AS POPPY TIME IN THE TOWN OF GROTON MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Gamel WHEREAS, the Carrington Fuller Post 800 Auxiliary works unselfishly throughout the Town of Groton and, WHEREAS, the American Legion Auxiliary helps to benefit the needs of the Disabled American Veterans by providing workshops and therapy for them through the Veteran’s Hospitals, NOW THEREFORE, I Donald A. Scheffler, Supervisor of the Town of Groton do hereby proclaim the Month of May, 2022 to be “Poppy Time” in the Town of Groton and respectfully encourage all members of the Groton Community to generously support the Legion Auxiliary during “Poppy Time.” Ayes - Clark, Young, Gamel, Scheffler Nays - Resolution Passed MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Young, to appoint Melody Scheffler and Glenn Morey to the Board of Assessment Review. Grievance Day will be May 19, 2022. Town Board Minutes Page 5 April 12, 2022 Ayes - Clark, Young, Gamel, Scheffler, Motion Passed Supervisor Scheffler – I have asked around and I don’t see a consistency from one organization to another of how they handle this. There doesn’t seem to be a standard way. Telecommunication companies building within Town Right of way - Tabled Deputy Superintendent Rankin – Submitted a packet from Palmer Engineering to help them organize a bid for the salt shed. We are looking to get the approval to hire this company. Supervisor Scheffler – Has had a conversation with the Attorney for the Town, once we have the engineer, he can work with them to put together a bid packet hopefully before the next board meeting. We will then have to approve it and put it out to permissive referendum. RESOLUTION #22-032‐ APPROVE RETAINING ELWYN & PALMER CONSULTING ENGINEERS MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Gamel WHEREAS, the Town of Groton desires to construct a salt storage shed on its property located on Spring Street Extension, and WHEREAS, it has been deemed necessary to hire an engineer to design said structure, and WHEREAS, the Town has attempted to acquire proposals from 3 engineers, and WHEREAS, only one engineer firm submitted a proposal, be it RESOLVED, that the Town of Groton does hereby retain Elwyn & Palmer Consulting Engineers, PLLC 213 E. Seneca St. Ithaca NY for consulting engineering services for said salt storage structure, for a fee of $7500.00 (seven thousand fire hundred dollars) to be paid from the ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds received by the Town. Ayes - Clark, Young, Gamel, Scheffler Nays - Resolution Passed Supervisor Scheffler – It has been requested that the Board consider reinstating paid sick leave benefit for those required to miss work due to a positive Covid-19 test. Our previous benefit, like the Federal and State programs, has lapsed. Employees with no accumulated sick time or other benefits have no choice but to take time off with no pay. Some options are to reinstate or modify last year’s sick temporary benefit of up to 10 days extra paid sick days, allow employees with no available accumulated time to build up “negative” sick time to a point which will be paid back as sick time accumulates, create a Town Wide policy instituting a sick time bank where employees can donate excess sick time to those in need or any combination of the above. I have discussed it with the Attorney for the Town who asked that we not make any decisions tonight as this must be worded very carefully. Councilperson Young – Where I work they still give us the 5 days due to covid. Her expert stated the county was still offering covid pay but was unsure where that money is coming from. Perhaps it could come from the ARPA funds. I hate to see someone go without pay as they have no control over it. Town Board Minutes Page 6 April 12, 2022 Deputy Superintendent Rankin – Added that this situation has come up for their employees and had to use his vacation time this winter when he was out. Councilperson Gamel – Stated if there is a positive test they need to send it to the health department so the documentation is there for whatever we decide to do. Supervisor Scheffler- In order to use the time in a sick bank you would have to use up any other time benefit that you have. Councilperson Gamel – Covid aside, the sick bank may not be a bad idea. If someone has a long term illness it should be something we look at. The sick bank at my work was not volunteer to help build it up to a certain position until you have to reinstate it. I think we should have to do some research as to where the covid money may be able to come from. Supervisor Scheffler – We can make this retroactive, but we have one situation we have now. We can do a negative sick bank amounting to 2-3 days now. If we find out we can take it from ARPA we can reimburse ourselves later. MOTION #22-033‐ ‐ APPROVE ACCRUING NEGATIVE SICK TIME DUE TO COVID MOVED by Councilperson Young, seconded by Councilperson Clark to allow employees to go into negative sick days, up to five days while other options of coverage are investigated. Ayes - Clark, Young, Gamel, Scheffler Nays - Resolution Passed Supervisor Scheffler – We have hired Julie Graham to replace Chuck but no doubt there may be questions she has especially during budget time. I would like to compensate him for his needed advice. How would the board like to retain him in some way? MOTION #22-034‐ ‐ APPROVE RETAINER FOR FORMER BOOKKEEPER CONSULTING MOVED by Councilperson Gamel, seconded by Councilperson Clark to pay Charles Rankin $150 per month until the end of the year for needed consulting fees Ayes - Clark, Young, Gamel, Scheffler Nays - Resolution Passed MOTION #22-035‐ CORRECTION TO ORGANIZATIONAL MINUTES MOVED by Supervisor Scheffler, seconded by Councilperson Gamel to correct the term of office expiration dates to the 2022 Ethics Board members of R. Charlton Wright and Jon MacLean from 2022 to 2024. Ayes - Clark, Young, Gamel, Scheffler Nays - Resolution Passed Privilege of the Floor- No one wished to speak Announcements: • Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting, Wednesday, April 20, 2022 at 7:00 pm • Planning Board Meeting, Thursday, April 21, 2022 at 7:30 pm Town Board Minutes Page 7 April 12, 2022 There being no further business, Councilperson Gamel moved to adjourn, seconded by Councilperson Clark, at 8:50 pm. Unanimous. Robin Cargian, RMC Town Clerk/Tax Collector