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Town of Enfield
Regular Town Board Meeting and Public Hearing Minutes
Enfield Community Building
Wednesday, November 16, 2016
7:00 p.m.
Present: Town Supervisor Ann Rider, Town Councilperson Mike Carpenter, Town Councilperson
Henry Hansteen, Town Councilperson Michael Miles, Town Highway Superintendent Buddy
Rollins, Town Clerk Alice Linton. Town Councilperson Virginia Bryant excused.
Supervisor Rider lead the assemblage in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag at 7:00 p.m.
Privilege of the Floor:
Mimi Mehaffey of Enfield thanked the town board for doing a great job with keeping the tax rate
under last year's. She questioned what happens to funds that aren't spent in a given year.
Supervisor Rider responded that unexpended highway funds are placed into a highway savings
account and unexpended general funds are placed into a general fund savings account.
Beverly Gingerich of Enfield stated that although no one likes to see their taxes raised, if an
expenditure is worthwhile, such as keeping our roads clear and safe, she is personally not against an
increase in taxes. She felt a salary increase for the town clerk and town board would be acceptable
due to all the hours they work. As she was reading the October 12, 2016 minutes she was reminded
that the town supervisor was to give town board members a breakdown of the attorney's fees for
FOIL requests that amounted to $19,500. She asked if that had been done. She feels that any
expenses related to the Black Oak Wind Farm (BOWF) should be paid by them. She asked who
paid for preparation of the draft community resolution agreement in June - the town or BOWF.
Supervisor Rider stated she has the information on what was charged to BOWF and what wasn't.
She would be happy to meet with Mrs. Gingerich to go over the information. She stated legal
counsel has given the town board their opinion and she, as an elected town official, will go with
that opinion.
Councilperson Miles stated the explanation he heard is FOIL requests are a service the town
provides and we can't charge BOWF for that. Both town attorney Guy Krogh and town attorney for
wind farm matters, Frank Pavia, were clear on that.
Councilperson Hansteen stated he was told reasonable minds can disagree and he would like to
pursue this further. If the town is trying to keep budget costs down, spending thousands of dollars
for the BOWF attorney fees doesn't make sense.
Marcus Gingerich of Enfield stated, in light of extra costs associated with some of these projects,
the town board might want to look at what is charged for application fees. They should look at what
the cost is to the town, and consider adjusting application fees.
Supervisor Rider asked if the wind farm advisory committee addressed this issue.
Councilperson Miles stated they didn't, as the recommendations of the committee were fairly
narrow in their scope. They scaled back recommendations for changes to the law.
Enfield Town Board Special Meeting, November 16, 2016 2
Highway Superintendent Buddy Rollins handed out packets of information to town board
members that included information and procedures for the Consolidated Local Street and Highway
Improvement Program (CHIPS) funds.
Adoption of the 2017 Final Budget:
Supervisor Rider stated a copy of the final budget had been sent to town board members by e-mail.
A public hearing was held on the 2017 budget. No mathematical errors were found and the budget
is under our tax cap levy.
Supervisor Rider moved, with a second by Councilperson Carpenter, that the 2017 budget be
adopted as presented.
Discussion: Councilperson Miles stated it looked like the tax rate was within the range of where it
should be. The mil rate went down by 4 hundredths of a point.
Councilperson Carpenter asked if the information Superintendent Rollins presented during privilege
of the floor was relevant.
Highway Superintendent Rollins stated the highway budget went down and the general fund budget
went up.
Vote: Councilperson Carpenter aye, Councilperson Hansteen aye, Councilperson Miles aye,
Supervisor Rider aye. Carried.
Adjournment: Supervisor Rider moved, with a second by Councilperson Carpenter, to adjourn at
7:15 p.m. Motion carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Alice Linton, Enfield Town Clerk