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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-4-17 Special Meeting Town of Enfield Special Town Board Meeting Enfield Town Hall Wednesday, October 4, 2017 6:30 p.m. Present: Town Supervisor Ann Rider, Town Councilperson Virginia Bryant, Town Councilperson Beth McGee, Town Councilperson Becky Sims (via speaker phone), Town Highway Superintendent Buddy Rollins, Town Clerk Alice Linton. Absent: Town Councilperson Mike Carpenter. Supervisor Rider led the assemblage in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag at 6:30 p.m. She then asked for a moment of silence for the victims of the Las Vegas tragedy earlier in the week. Privilege of the Floor: No one wished to speak. Town of Enfield 2018 Budget Discussion: Alice Linton, Enfield Town Clerk, presented the 2018 tentative budget to the Town Board. Supervisor Rider opened the meeting for discussion of the tentative budget. Councilperson McGee questioned the salary of the deputy supervisor. It was agreed if Vera Howe-Strait, the current deputy supervisor, felt $800 was an adequate salary that would be the amount to budget. Councilperson McGee asked about the assistant bookkeeper's salary since only $200 has been expended this year. Supervisor Rider said she will contact the assistant bookkeeper to have her do more work. Councilperson McGee asked about payment for the aquifer study. Supervisor Rider stated the final payment was sent, but the report won't be completed until next year. Councilperson McGee asked about the Enfield Community Council contract. Supervisor Rider stated that is a 5 year contract. Councilperson McGee also asked about the miscellaneous expense under brush and weed removal. Highway Superintendent Rollins stated that is used to purchase tools for summer work, training and hearing tests. Councilperson Sims presented a list of questions to the Town Board prior to the meeting. These questions were then discussed. The JCAP grant is a line that carries over from year to year until the money is spent. Court fines and fees paid to NYS are offset by a revenue line. Councilperson Sims stated that although the town attorney's contributions to meetings are valuable, she questioned if his presence would be necessary at every meeting in the coming year. Councilperson Bryant agreed that there were issues this year where an attorney's presence at meetings was valuable, but suggested reducing that line item. It was agreed to reduce line A1420.4 to $17,000. Supervisor Rider felt an increase of $20,000 over last year in line A1620.4, buildings - contractual was needed for repairs to the highway building. Councilperson Sims questioned the cost of the newsletter. Supervisor Rider stated if the Town takes the lead in printing the newsletter, it can be printed at BOCES for a substantially reduced cost. Councilperson McGee felt $2,000 for this line might then be reasonable. Councilperson Sims was willing to work toward streamlining and reducing the cost of the newsletter. Highway Superintendent Rollins stated line A3310.4, traffic control, is used for signs and barrels for traffic control. Enfield Town Board Special Meeting, October 4, 2017 2 For Home Community Services - Planning, it was felt the line for the Planning Board note taker should be separate from the line for a possible Town Planner. Funds for that new position might be available from the money saved in attorney services. Line A9950, inter-fund transfer to building reserve, doesn't get transferred until the end of the year when it goes into a special locked account that can only be used for a new building. Supervisor Rider will check to make sure the funds for 2016 were transferred at the end of the year. Supervisor Rider will research where funds for line A2770 - miscellaneous revenue - come from. Superintendent Rollins reminded the Board that the more funds available in DA5110.4, general repairs - road maintenance, the more work can be done. He has requested that if funds are left in this account at the end of the year that they be put in the equipment reserve account. DA5130.45, diesel and gas fuel was recently separated from the materials line so more accurate records could be kept. The amount of fuel used depends on how bad the winter is. He reminded Board members $95,000 has been spent on equipment repairs this year and replacement of the pipe on Rothermich Road will cost approximately $300,000. He mentioned that funds can be transferred by budget amendments if necessary. Superintendent Rollins further reminded the Town Board that if DA9950.9, equipment reserve, continues to be reduced the equipment exchange program will not be able to continue and a new 10 wheeler needed in 2018 to replace the 1999 truck cannot be purchased. Councilperson Sims stated she would be willing to override the tax cap modestly and felt an additional $50,000 would help the equipment reserve line. Supervisor Rider will contact Town Attorney Krogh to determine the procedure to rescind previous votes on the tax cap override. Councilperson McGee asked why appropriated fund balances were used in 2015 and 2016 for the fire protection district. Supervisor Rider stated this was done to keep the tax rate down. Councilperson McGee asked when the audit for the Enfield Volunteer Fire Department was expected to be completed. Supervisor Rider stated no invoice had been received for the audit yet. Supervisor Rider will schedule time on the agenda for budget discussion at the regular October meeting. Privilege of the Floor: No one wished to speak. Adjournment: Supervisor Rider moved, with a second by Councilperson McGee to adjourn the meeting at 8:15 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Alice Linton, RMC Enfield Town Clerk