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Home My WebLink About12-13-17-Regular-Meeting-1 Town of Enfield Regular Town Board Meeting Enfield Community Building Wednesday, December 13, 2017 6:30 p.m. Present: Town Supervisor Ann Rider, Town Councilperson Virginia Bryant, Town Councilperson Mike Carpenter, Town Councilperson Beth McGee, Town Councilperson Becky Sims, Town Highway Superintendent Buddy Rollins, Town Clerk Alice Linton. Town Attorney Guy Krogh arrived at 7:45 p.m. Supervisor Rider led the assemblage in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag at 6:30 p.m. She thanked everyone for the last five years of her experience as Town Supervisor. She feels residents can look forward to a good transition. Privilege of the Floor: Town Clerk Alice Linton thanked Highway Superintendent Buddy Rollins and resident Norm Smith for the speedy repair work to the furnace in the Town Hall. The furnace repair people were unable to come for several days, but fortunately the furnace was fixed by these two men in 24 hours. Councilperson Beth McGee of Enfield thanked Supervisor Rider for her years of commitment to the Town of Enfield and her willingness to see the will of the Town Board. Councilperson Bryant echoed these feelings and stated she enjoyed working with Supervisor Rider. Laurie Konwinski, Deputy Director of Catholic Charities spoke about the services they provide. In addition to providing clothing, security deposits, and transportation, they look out for the welfare of children and generally advocate for low income folks. She will provide brochures to be available at the Town Hall. Nancy Spero of Enfield thanked Supervisor Rider for her years of service and stated she appreciated her hard work. Correspondence: Letter from the law firm of Costello, et al with a FOIL request regarding Black Oak Wind Farm. Letter from Black Oak Wind Farm dated November 19, 2017: Dear Ann, I regret to inform you that we will be unable to pay our bill with the town for the overdrawn escrow account amount of $8,073.41. We have spent our last dollars filing our final tax returns, and the wind opponents drained everything else. We are closing the company in the coming weeks. Marguerite Wells Project Manager, Vice President Black Oak Wind Farm, LLC County Legislators' Report: No report Highway Superintendent's Report: Highway Superintendent Buddy Rollins reported the rock work on the side of the ditch on Fish Road was completed with help from both Chemung County and Tompkins County Soil and Water. Between $20,000 and $30,000 of rock was provided. Hubbell Drive still needs to be completed - Tompkins County Soil and Water will be paying for rock on that job also. The winter has been mild so far which allows some equipment to be repaired. Both diggers were broken for a month, and they are still waiting for parts on one machine. He mentioned both the Town of Ulysses and the Town of Newfield worked with the Town of Enfield this year. Enfield Town Board Regular Meeting, December 13, 2017 2 Supervisor Rider stated she will have the bookkeeper transfer highway funds that were left at the end of December 2016, in the amount of $42,944.20, into the equipment reserve fund. She asked Superintendent Rollins to meet with her and the bookkeeper on December 14 to look at the bridge reserve accounts. Code Enforcement Officer's Report: Code Officer Alan Teeter reported in November he issued 8 building permits, bringing the year's total to 62. He is working on closing out old building permits. Councilperson McGee asked if there was any further word on energy training. Alan stated there was a backlog, but he will be contacted when the next training is available. Consent Agenda: Councilperson Sims asked to have the minutes of November 13 and November 20, under 2018 budget discussions, changed to reflect her comments were about the tax rate increase and not the tax increase. The audit claims were pulled from the Consent Agenda. Supervisor Rider moved, with a second by Councilperson Carpenter, to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of November 8, 2017, the minutes of the special meetings of November 13, 2017 and November 20, 2017, with changes, and the Budget Amendments. Budget Amendment #2017-20 Attorney - Contractual WHEREAS, expenses have exceeded the budget in the General Fund line A1420.4 titled “Attorney- Contractual", now therefore be it RESOLVED, that line A1620.4 titled “Buildings Contractual” be decreased by $4,000.00 and line A1420.4 be increased by $4,000.00 Budget Amendment #2017-21 Central Printing and Mail WHEREAS, expenses have exceeded the budget in the General Fund line A1670.4 titled “Central Print and Mail - Contractual”, now therefore be it RESOLVED, that line A1620.4 titled "Buildings-Contractual” be decreased by $250.00 and line A1670.4 be increased by $250.00. Budget Amendment #2017-22 Extreme Winter Recovery WHEREAS, expenses have exceeded the budget in the Highway Fund line DA5112.4 titled "Extreme Winter Recovery", now therefore be it RESOLVED, that line DA5110.1 titled "General Repairs-Personal Services" be reduced by $200.00 and line DA5112.4 be increased by $200.00. Budget Amendment #2017-23 Machinery – Contractual WHEREAS, expenses have exceeded the budget in the Highway Fund line DA5130.4 titled “Machinery – Contractual”, now therefore be it RESOLVED, that line DA5110.4 titled “General Repairs-Contractual” be reduced by $10, 678.37 and line DA5130.4 be increased by $10, 678.37. Budget Amendment #2017-24 Brush, Weed Removal – Personal Services WHEREAS, expenses have exceeded the budget in Highway Fund line DA5140.1 titled “Brush, Weed Removal-Personal Services”, now therefore be it Enfield Town Board Regular Meeting, December 13, 2017 3 RESOLVED, that line DA5110.1 titled “General Repairs-Personal Services” be reduced by $3,975.31 and line DA5140.1 be increased by $3,975.31. Budget Amendment #2017-25 Machinery - Contractual WHEREAS, expenses have exceeded the budget in Highway Fund line DA1530.45 titled “Diesel & Gas Fuel”, now therefore be it RESOLVED, that line DA5110.4 titled “General Repairs - Contractual” be reduced by $947.92 and line DA5130.45 be increased by $947.92. Vote on Consent Agenda: Councilperson Bryant aye, Councilperson Carpenter aye, Councilperson McGee aye, Councilperson Sims aye, Supervisor Rider aye. Supervisor's Report: Supervisor Rider reported she attended the TCCOG meeting and the TCAD meeting. Audit Claims: Councilperson Sims moved, with a second by Councilperson Carpenter to authorize the Supervisor to pay General Fund vouchers #276 to 309 dated December 13, 2017 in the amount of $24,426.85 and Highway Fund vouchers #202 to #223 dated December 13, 2017 in the amount of $32,773.48. Vote: Councilperson Bryant aye, Councilperson Carpenter aye, Councilperson McGee aye, Councilperson Sims aye, Supervisor Rider aye. Committee Reports: Planning Board: Dan Walker, chairperson, reported there have been 4 applicants for the openings on the Planning Board. There is 1 opening for a regular member, and 2 openings for alternate members. He is asking all 4 candidates to attend the January Planning Board meeting when the decision will be made of which candidates to recommend to the Enfield Town Board. He also reported that if Delaware Solar goes beyond 1 year before starting construction, they will need to reapply for a permit. Recreation Partnership: Carolyn Tschanz, outgoing Rec Partnership representative, is recommending that a Town Board member be the Town's representative to the Recreation Partnership. Their next meeting is scheduled for January 19, 2018 at 5:00. Enfield Volunteer Fire Company (EVFC): The submitted report showed there were 25 calls in November of which 17 were EMS calls, 3 were fires and 5 were mutual aid given to Trumansburg. The next officer's meeting will be January 2, 2018. Renewable Energy Advisory Committee: Councilperson Carpenter reported their last meeting was held on November 29. Future meetings are scheduled for December 14, 2017 and January 4, 2018. They are focusing on a new solar law and considering decommissioning language. The committee plans to have a draft law ready soon after the 1st of the year. Comprehensive Plan Writing Committee: Councilperson McGee reported the committee is working on data collection. She had hoped for less data, but the committee opted for a longer span - 30 years - to see how things have changed. She would like to begin searching for a planner in January 2018 to start reviewing the Draft Comprehensive Plan. Tompkins County Council of Government (TCCOG): Supervisor Rider reported TCCOG is looking for officers for 2018. Councilperson McGee will attend the December 20 meeting. Old Business: Enfield Town Board Regular Meeting, December 13, 2017 4 Replacement of Light Fixtures in Community Building: Supervisor Rider reported the replacement of light fixtures in both basement rooms of the Community Building is complete. Everything went smoothly. She will do a final accounting to New York State and close out the public works project. Contract with Enfield Volunteer Fire Department: Town Attorney Guy Krogh provided a draft contract which included his comments. He highlighted what parts of indemnity clauses could be eliminated. The contract is an interconnected whole, so if you eliminate one part, there could be an effect on other parts. Councilperson McGee feels the draft contract is ready to be forwarded to the EVFC. She feels everything included is within requirements of the law. Once received, the EVFC will forward the contract to their attorney for review. Councilperson Carpenter questioned what the ramifications would be if a new contract is not agreed on prior to December 31, 2017 when the old contract expires. Councilperson McGee responded the Town Board and the EVFC can agree to continue with the terms of the old contract and determine the amount of money the Town Board will provide. In the old contract, the bulk of the payment from the Town is due by March 1st. Supervisor Rider suggested the Town Board create an agreement to extend the current contract for one year and have it signed prior to December 31, 2017. The 2018 budget has passed and there was an amount budgeted for the EVFC. Councilperson McGee reminded the Board that although funds are budgeted, they don't need to be spent in full. If there is a service that isn't provided, the figure could change and extra funds would remain in the account. The draft proposed contract gives one year for the EVFC to gradually become compliant. The bulk of funds would be given to them by the end of January. Councilperson Bryant suggested extending the current contract for three months instead of one year. There would be time for the EVFC to sit at a public table to meet with the Town Board. Attorney Guy Krogh arrived at this time. Attorney Krogh stated there needs to be a contract with someone to provide services. He suggested getting a proposal to the EVFC to come up with a short term contract on a month to month basis, or by the quarter. Councilperson McGee suggested forwarding the proposed contract to the EVFC and have a temporary agreement in place with 2017 figures until a final contract is signed. A public hearing needs to be held before a temporary agreement can be authorized. Councilperson Sims suggested providing the draft proposed contract to the EVFC now so they can begin their review process. Supervisor Rider moved, with a second by Councilperson Carpenter, to direct Attorney Guy Krogh to write a legal notice for continuation of the present contract with the EVFC for two months to be ended February 28, 2018 and the Town Clerk be directed to file the proper notice for a public hearing to be held December 27, 2017 at 6:30 p.m. at the Enfield Community Building, and further direct Attorney Guy Krogh to write a contract extension with the EVFC. Vote: Councilperson Bryant aye, Councilperson Carpenter aye, Councilperson McGee aye, Councilperson Sims aye, Supervisor Rider aye. Supervisor Rider will forward the draft proposed contract to the EVFC on December 14 and notify them of this motion. Enfield Town Board Regular Meeting, December 13, 2017 5 New Business: Quote on Energy Improvements on Highway Building from NYSERDA: Supervisor Rider asked Casey Mastro, from the NY Power Authority, who gave a presentation to the Town Board in August, 2017 what could be done by the NY Power Authority in relation to the highway building. He wrote back that the building isn't a big enough project in and of itself. If other Town buildings were included, there might be something they could do for the Town. Councilperson McGee stated either way, if a new Town Hall is built or if the old building is kept, it would help to explore energy improvements. Supervisor Rider suggested if improvements were made and the Board decided to dispose of the old Town Hall, the value would be increased. Meanwhile, it would require less of a utility cost. She will send Casey an e-mail stating the Town is interested in adding the older building to the project. Disability Insurance: This item will be added to the agenda of the special meeting of December 27. Paid Family Leave Act: This item will be added to the agenda of the special meeting of December 27. Privilege of the Floor: Nancy Spero of Enfield announced there will be an Old Time Square Dance at the Enfield Grange on Saturday, December 16 at 7:00 p.m. Mimi Mehaffey of Enfield suggested adding wording to the EVFC extension agreement saying if an agreement isn't reached by February 28 the old contract will continue. Jude Lemke of Enfield thanked Supervisor Rider for her service on behalf of residents in the Connecticut Hill area. Adjournment: Supervisor Rider moved, with a second by Councilperson McGee, to adjourn the meeting at 9:10 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Alice Linton, RMC Enfield Town Clerk