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HomeMy WebLinkAbout9-12-12 Regular Meeting.pdfDraft Town of Enfield Regular Town Board Meeting Minutes Enfield Community Building Wednesday, September 12, 2012 6:30 p.m. Present: Town Supervisor Roy Barriere, Town Councilperson Vera Howe-Strait, Town Councilperson Ann Rider, Town Highway Superintendent Barry Rollins, Town Clerk Alice Linton. Absent: Town Councilperson Chris Hern, Town Councilperson Debbie Teeter Supervisor Barriere opened the meeting at 6:30 p.m. by leading the assemblage in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. Haefele Presentation: Jeff Golden, Marketing and Communications Manager for Haefele TV stated Haefele will be applying for a state grant for broadband development in rural areas. This grant would cover service and line extensions in Enfield and other towns serviced by Haefele. In Enfield this would include about 19 miles of new wire and would provide service for about 231 homes. Areas would include Enfield Falls Road, Gray Road, Rockwell Road, Hines Road, Halseyville Road, Iradell Road and Sheffield Road. The state would provide up to 80% of the construction cost, with Haefele providing the remaining 20%. Jeff asked the board for a letter in support of the grant application, which is due October 5. There are some areas already serviced by Trumansburg Telephone Company which would not be included in the grant. Also, Time Warner serves part of Sheffield Road in the Town of Enfield. Assuming Haefele receives the grant, no one will be forced to use Haefele for their internet provider. The state is of the opinion that broadband internet access is an inalienable right, and their goal is to get it to everyone. This is about giving options to those who currently don't have them. Privilege of the Floor: Judy Hyman of 632 Bostwick Road read an e-mail from resident Dave Bock, who was not able to attend the meeting, urging the town board to initiate the drafting of a local law to ban hydrofracking. Judy agrees that the ban approved in the Town of Caroline provides Enfield with a time line. She urged drafting of a local law by the October town board meeting. Mary Jo Lovelace of 2504 Mecklenburg Road stated she is in agreement that drafting of a local law to ban hydrofracking should begin soon. She also stated the importance of broadband for all residents and feels the Aquifer Study will only cost a small amount for each household. Nancy Spero of 68 N. VanDorn Road stated she is in favor of moving ahead with an Aquifer Study, since the USGS funding is only certain for this year. Social Ventures is a not-for-profit group that is willing to help raise outside funds for the town's Aquifer Study. Approval of Minutes: Councilperson Rider moved, with a second by Councilperson Howe-Strait to approve the minutes of the August 8, 2012 regular board meeting. Vote: Councilperson Howe-Strait aye, Councilperson Rider aye, Supervisor Barriere, aye. Councilperson Hern and Councilperson Teeter absent. Carried Enfield Town Board Regular Meeting, September 12, 2012 2 Correspondence: Soil and Water Conservation District Newsletter advertising a Tire Collection Day on October 13 at the Lansing Highway Department, along with fish stocking information and items for sale. Press release from Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit, Inc. stating Gadabout has a new executive director, Kristen Wells. Invitation to honor and support our local Veterans for the 93rd annual celebration: Veterans Parade on Sunday, November 4 at 2 p.m. in downtown Ithaca and Veterans Day Ceremony in Dewitt Park on Sunday, November 11, 2012. Letter from Tompkins County Water Resources Council seeking applications for municipal representatives or designees to serve on their Council from January, 2013 to December 31, 2015. Budget Amendments: Supervisor Barriere moved with a second by Councilperson Rider to approve Budget Amendment #2012-14. Budget Amendment #2012-14 WHEREAS, expenses have exceeded the budget in the General Fund Account, line item A1110.41, titled “Justice – Conferences and Mileage”, now therefore be it RESOLVED, that the General Fund Account, line item A1110.22, titled “Justice – JCAP Grant Funds”, be decreased by $100.00 and General Fund Account, line item A1110.41, titled “Justice – Conferences and Mileage”, be increased by $100.00. Vote: Councilperson Howe-Strait aye, Councilperson Rider aye, Supervisor Barriere, aye. Councilperson Hern and Councilperson Teeter absent. Carried Supervisor Barriere moved, with a second by Councilperson Howe-Strait to approve Budget Amendment #2012-15. Budget Amendment # 2012-15 WHEREAS, expenses have exceeded the budget in the General Fund Account, line item A5182.4, titled “Street Lighting - Contractual”, now therefore be it RESOLVED, that the General Fund Account, line item A1990.4, titled “Special Items – Contingency Account”, be decreased by $400.00 and General Fund Account, line item A5182.4, titled “Street Lighting - Contractual”, be increased by $400.00. Vote: Councilperson Howe-Strait aye, Councilperson Rider aye, Supervisor Barriere, aye. Councilperson Hern and Councilperson Teeter absent. Carried Audit Claims: Councilperson Howe-Strait moved, with a second by Councilperson Rider to authorize the supervisor to pay General Fund vouchers #246 to #265 dated September 12, 2012 in the amount of $12,294.41 and Highway Fund vouchers #145 to #159 dated September 12, 2012 in the amount of $83.409.77. Enfield Town Board Regular Meeting, September 12, 2012 3 Vote: Councilperson Howe-Strait aye, Councilperson Rider aye, Supervisor Barriere, aye. Councilperson Hern and Councilperson Teeter absent. Carried County Legislator’s Report: Dave McKenna reported Clarity Connect plans to apply for a grant to provide high speed internet access for areas including Enfield. The county redistricting plan was accepted and approved. The district line splitting Enfield follows along Route 79. Highway Superintendent’s Report: Highway Superintendent Buddy Rollins reported summer work is done, except chip sealing Enfield Center Road which will need to wait until next year. A culvert pipe on Fish Road had to be replaced due to collapse from rot. Roadside mowing is done, so ditching and regular maintenance work is beginning. Paperwork to receive CHIPS funds will be submitted, so payment can be received in December. Code Enforcement Officer's Report: Code Enforcement Officer Alan Teeter reported in August there were 8 building permits issued, 1 for a new house, which brings the year to date total to 50, with 6 being new homes. There was 1 certificate of occupancy issued, 3 certificates of completion issued, 1 certificate of compliance issued. There were 33 building inspections and progress checks, 1 meeting with owners/builders, 2 fire and safety inspections, and 1 property number issued. Committee Reports: Planning Board: Co-chair Virginia Bryant presented a survey on the proposed Comprehensive Plan which will be printed in the newsletter, available at the Harvest Festival, and hopefully on-line if the town board approves it. Completed surveys can be mailed or dropped off at the Town Hall. November 10 is the survey deadline with February or March the hoped for completion date of the Comprehensive Plan. The Planning Board is also hoping the town can move forward with an Aquifer Study. Supervisor Barriere moved, with a second by Councilperson Rider, to accept the proposed Comprehensive Plan Survey as presented, and allow the Planning Board to move ahead with distribution of same. Vote: Councilperson Howe-Strait aye, Councilperson Rider aye, Supervisor Barriere, aye. Councilperson Hern and Councilperson Teeter absent. Carried Health Insurance Consortium: No report Enfield Community Council: Councilperson Rider reported summer camp was successful with 100 campers. Plans are underway for the 37th Annual Harvest Festival to be held September 22nd from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Enfield Elementary School. There will be new games this year, in addition to cow pie bingo. The new Enfield School playground looks great and is open to the public until dusk. Enfield Volunteer Fire Company: Art Howser reported in August there were 30 calls: 20 EMS, 1 stove fire, 1 outside wiring fire, 1 unauthorized burning, 2 smoke detector activation no fire, 3 motor vehicle accidents, 1 tree down in roadway, 1 mutual aid to Trumansburg structure fire. Training for September will include gator, stokes, mule training; person search; SCBA donning and doffing. Medical personnel have been talking about the benefits of continuous CPR. The EVFC will be supporting the Harvest Festival chicken BBQ and equipment display and holding a blood drive on September 18 from 1:30 to 6:30. They are looking for business ads for the 2013 EVFC calendar. Enfield Town Board Regular Meeting, September 12, 2012 4 Facilities Manager: No report Communication Access Committee: No report Facilities Development: No report Personnel Committee: No report Tompkins County Council of Governments: Supervisor Barriere reminded everyone of the Safe Medication Disposal Event to be held September 29, 2012. Two more volunteers are needed for the Enfield Town Hall location. There is discussion of a permanent drop box at TCAT on Willow Avenue for medication disposal. Old Business: Update on Road Preservation Plan: Supervisor Barriere reported the committee is close to drafting a law. The Town of Enfield's will probably be very similar to the Town of Caroline's and Tompkins County's. Park-and-Ride Update: No further information has been received from TCAT. Aquifer Study: Supervisor Barriere stated there are a lot of items driving next year's budget up, including retirement , worker's compensation and health insurance expenses. It will be difficult to fund an aquifer study since $15,000 more in the budget would equal an approximate 2% tax rate increase. Councilperson Howe-Strait asked if grants could be used to help offset costs. There are Community Foundation grants that the town could apply for. Councilperson Rider stated Social Ventures is a group that can gather money and forward it to the town, as long as it benefits the entire community. There would be no fees. She wants to be sure the Park Foundation is approached for grants. Supervisor Barriere suggested an option whereby the town would sign the Agreement with USGS at this time with the anticipation that $10,000 to $15,000 could be funded each year, but if the funding doesn't come in, we could cancel the work. Planning Board co-chairperson Virginia Bryant stated the Park Foundation will be approached, but if other funding is in place the chance for Park funding will be stronger. Supervisor Barriere would like this matter to go before the public for a vote in a referendum. That way the taxpayers could decide if they want to pay for an Aquifer Study. The town could agree to start the Aquifer Study and then if the referendum doesn't pass, the study could be cancelled. Councilperson Howe-Strait feels there is enough energy going that Social Ventures may raise a substantial part of the funding needed for the first year. Supervisor Barriere moved, with a second by Councilperson Howe-Strait to authorize the supervisor to sign an Agreement with USGS for a 6-10 year Aquifer Study and put the issue up for referendum. Enfield Town Board Regular Meeting, September 12, 2012 5 Discussion: Highway Superintendent Rollins asked what would happen with the information if one year of the study was completed and there was no funding to continue. Supervisor Barriere replied a large amount of information would be gathered the first year. This information could be used to put together an aquifer protection law. This law could be built on as more information is gathered from their studies. Information on the referendum can be included in the next newsletter. If the referendum failed, and enough funds were raised by individuals, the Aquifer Study could go ahead. Vote: Councilperson Howe-Strait aye, Councilperson Rider aye, Supervisor Barriere, aye. Councilperson Hern and Councilperson Teeter absent. Carried Cable Television Franchise Agreement with Haefele TV, Inc.: The Agreement has not yet been finalized. New Business: Schedule public hearing for Haefele's TV Franchise Agreement: If a public hearing is scheduled for the next town board meeting, an Agreement would have to be received by the town from Haefele two weeks prior to the date for board members to have time to review the Agreement. Supervisor Barriere moved, with a second by Councilperson Rider to schedule a public hearing on the Haefele TV Franchise Agreement for October 10, 2012 at 6:30 p.m. Vote: Councilperson Howe-Strait aye, Councilperson Rider aye, Supervisor Barriere, aye. Councilperson Hern and Councilperson Teeter absent. Carried Schedule public hearing for the 2% Tax Cap Override: Supervisor Barriere would like to have a local law in place in case the budget needs to be increased over 2%. Supervisor Barriere moved, with a second by Councilperson Howe-Strait to hold a public hearing on a 2% tax cap override immediately following the public hearing on the Haefele Franchise Agreement, October 10, 2012 at approximately 6:40 p.m. Vote: Councilperson Howe-Strait aye, Councilperson Rider aye, Supervisor Barriere, aye. Councilperson Hern and Councilperson Teeter absent. Carried Resolution supporting Clarity Connect, Inc. grant application: Supervisor Barriere moved, with a second by Councilperson Rider to accept Resolution #2012-39. Resolution #2012-39 Resolution Supporting Clarity Connect, Inc. with the Broadband Grant Application for the Town of Enfield WHEREAS, the Town of Enfield recognizes that the development of Broadband infrastructure is critically important to our community, and WHEREAS, New York State is offering broadband grants to expand service to unserved and underserved communities, especially to public-private partnerships, Enfield Town Board Regular Meeting, September 12, 2012 6 THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Town of Enfield wishes to partner with Clarity Connect, Inc. to apply for a grant for our community and FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that the Town of Enfield as a part of its contribution to the project (1) will waive all fees related to the implementation of the project (2) will bring electric service to each tower location, and (3) will help inform the public and promote where appropriate the service availability, and FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that the Town of Enfield will do everything practical to expedite zoning, rights of way and any other needs of the project. Discussion: Councilperson Rider asked what fees might the town be charged. Supervisor Barriere replied the town might need to pay for electricity to 4 or 5 poles at about $1,000 each. He also explained that if Haefele gets a grant for broadband expansion in Enfield, Clarity Connect wouldn't get a grant and vice versa. Vote: Councilperson Howe-Strait aye, Councilperson Rider aye, Supervisor Barriere, aye. Councilperson Hern and Councilperson Teeter absent. Carried Haefele TV grant support: Supervisor Barriere moved, with a second by Councilperson Howe-Strait, to send a letter of support for the Haefele TV broadband grant application, sending a copy of the proposed letter to board members before submitting it to Haefele, TV. Vote: Councilperson Howe-Strait aye, Councilperson Rider aye, Supervisor Barriere, aye. Councilperson Hern and Councilperson Teeter absent. Carried Enfield Volunteer Fire Company proposal: A proposal was received from the EVFC Board of Directors stating they are willing to renegotiate the fire contract and reduce their annual expenses for the next 5 years as follows: 2013, 1%; 2014, 1.25%; 2015, 1.5%; 2016, 1.75% and 2017, 2%. Supervisor Barriere moved, with a second by Councilperson Howe-Strait to authorize the preparation of a new contract between the Town of Enfield and the Enfield Volunteer Fire Company with reduced increases as suggested by the EVFC. Vote: Councilperson Howe-Strait aye, Councilperson Rider aye, Supervisor Barriere, aye. Councilperson Hern and Councilperson Teeter absent. Carried Announcements: Supervisor Barriere announced he is working on a tentative budget for 2013. He would like feedback from board members and hopes to have a tentative budget to present to the board at the October meeting. A public hearing would then be set. Figures on employee benefits and total assessed value in the town are not yet set. Budgeting for an Aquifer Study and savings for a new town hall/community center would have a large impact on the budget. Also, the highway superintendent has asked for an increase in his budget, as have the town justices. Councilperson Rider asked about the town justices requested increase. Supervisor Barriere responded there are still funds available to them from their grant, so it is unlikely they will receive increases in this budget, beyond salary increases. Enfield Town Board Regular Meeting, September 12, 2012 7 Councilperson Howe-Strait asked about the highway department requested increase. Highway Superintendent Rollins responded the price of fuel has almost doubled since 2009, along with materials and repairs. There have been no increases in the budget for these items in the last three years. In the past, there has been a huge stockpile of material such as stone, but recently for every 3 loads used, only 1 has been replaced. Culvert pipes can cost as much as $5,000, and many in the town are weak due to old age and need to be replaced. Supervisor Barriere asked board members to get back to him within 10 days with their recommendations on the budget, and he will get the information to all board members within 2 weeks. Community News: There will be a blood drive sponsored by the EVFC on September 18 from 1:30 to 6:30 at the fire house. There will be a square dance at the old Baptist Church to benefit the Enfield after school program on September 15 at 8:00 p.m. The annual Harvest Festival will be held September 22 at the Enfield School. Volunteer of the Month: Cortney Bailey, Enfield PTA president, was nominated by Ann Rider for her work organizing the new playground build at Enfield School. She spent many hours soliciting donations, coordinating volunteers, food shopping and attending to the many details necessary to making this large event a success. Adjournment: Supervisor Barriere moved, with a second by Councilperson Rider to adjourn at 8:25 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Alice Linton Enfield Town Clerk