HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-6-19 Public Hearing and Special Town Board Meeting Enfield Town Board Special Meeting and Public Hearing, November 6, 2019 1
Town of Enfield
Wednesday, November 6, 2019- 6:30 PM
Public Hearing and Special Town Board Meeting
Enfield Community Building
Present: Town Supervisor Beth McGee, Town Councilperson Virginia Bryant, Town
Town Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey, Town Councilperson Becky Sims, Deputy Town
Clerk Sue Thompson
Absent: Councilperson Mike Carpenter
Public Hearing on 2020 Budget
Supervisor McGee called the public hearing to order at 6:34 p.m. Deputy Town
Clerk Thompson, read the legal ad that was published in the Ithaca Journal.
Robert Lynch of Enfield commended the Town Board on the Capital Plan. He stated
it was a positive move looking ahead for 10 years but wondered if it they could
legitimately look that far ahead. He feels that a review of the Capital Plan should be
reviewed annually. Supervisor McGee answered that both the Capital Plan and
Fund Balance Policy should be reviewed yearly.
Supervisor McGee closed the public hearing at 6:40 p.m.
Regular Meeting: Supervisor McGee called the regular meeting to order at 6:41 p.m.
Deputy Town Clerk Thompson lead the assemblage in the Pledge of Allegiance to the
Flag.
Changes to the agenda: Supervisor McGee asked to add to the agenda the tree
removal from the Presbyterian Cemetery estimate and to change the Hearing date
for the Comprehensive Plan.
Announcements: Supervisor McGee shared that the Town of Ulysses is rescinding
their zoning law. A copy of the notice will be placed at the Enfield Town Clerks
office.
Privilege of the Floor: No one wished to speak.
Public Comments on Sheriff Satellite Office Proposal: Supervisor McGee gave a
brief explanation of the proposed satellite office for the Tompkins County Sheriff’s
Office. She stated that all the e-mails that were received were positive except for
one.
Enfield Town Board Special Meeting and Public Hearing, November 6, 2019 2
Michael Miles of Enfield, stated he thought it was a great idea. He is also thinks that
the officers should be familiar with the many demographics of the town residents.
There are lots of people struggling and falling through the cracks. He wondered if a
public group/committee could be put together to help with all these problems and
connect the dots for all the services.
Sheriff Osborne stated he wants people to be comfortable and is not aiming at any
one group. He would like one deputy from the day and night shift to work out of the
satellite office. He wants the deputies to be community driven. They will not be
policing the schools as they are not serving as school resource officers, but may
stop occasionally at the schools as a community engagement tool.
Supervisor McGee stated she was been talking with Jean Owens regarding the
demographics of residents and the challenges they have. She thought Jean Owens
would be a good source for any public program.
Robert Lynch of Enfield stated he informed the Tompkins County Public Safety
Committee he thought it was a great idea. He thanked Darren McGee for the great
idea. He suggested that the town request to exchange free rent for the satellite office
for paying for fixing the Town Hall Garage roof.
Supervisor McGee stated there were no leaks in the proposed satellite office, but 3
leaks elsewhere in the garage. There is an issue with the backdoor, which includes
a drainage problem. She feels it is not the County’s problem to fix the roof. She
would like to ask the county for half that expense for the heat/air conditioning.
Sheriff Osborne stated he spoke with Jason Molino, County Administrator, about
funding the satellite office for furniture, phone, etc. Sheriff Osborne said he was not
sure going through Jason Molino is the answer for funding, possibly legislative
support would be better.
Nancy Spero of Enfield stated she would like to have some review of what is going
on and how it is working for the satellite office.
Supervisor McGee read the concerns from the Briana Binkerd-Dale and Greg
English e-mail. Their concerns involved increased police presence, why the sheriff
did not have a satellite office in Newfield or Ulysses, long term costs on tax payers.
Sheriff Osborne answered that Newfield satellite office has been closed a number of
years, because the town needed their space back. Ulysses has their own police
presence. He also stated there would not be a sudden large presence of police
officers in the community.
Enfield Town Board Special Meeting and Public Hearing, November 6, 2019 3
Councilperson Bryant stated she has been a long time resident and had many
conversations with Jean Owens of Enfield regarding a neighborhood watch Program.
She thinks the satellite office is a good idea.
County Legislator Anne Koreman stated she spoke with the Ulysses Town Board
and they are in support of the satellite office.
Supervisor McGee stated they would be replacing the window and lighting in the
satellite office. The bathroom would be fixed in the town hall garage. They would
like to use a key for the outer door and key pad for the satellite office door.
Councilperson Sims Becky read off the names of the emails indicating support of the
satellite office.
Councilperson Mehaffey shared that she spoke to one resident and they were very
much in favor of the satellite, if the Sheriff is seen in the community it helps with
school problems.
Councilperson Sims asked Sheriff Osborne if the idea of the town helping to choose
the deputies for the satellite office would be happening. Sheriff Osborne stated he
would be selecting the deputies. They would be was someone that clicked with the
community. There is no staff that live in Enfield or Newfield.
Councilperson Mehaffey stated that she had spoken with Judge Poole. Judge Poole
informed her that she felt vulnerable, which is why she changed the time of the court
to morning hours. She would feel more comfortable with the Sheriff close by.
Supervisor McGee said she spoke with Jean Owens and Jean was glad to hear
about the proposal because they have had problems at the food pantry. They worry
about potential drug use in the food pantry area also.
Supervisor McGee will put building use for the satellite office on the agenda for next
week.
2020 Preliminary Budget
Supervisor McGee stated she sent the town budget to Tompkins County Assessor,
Jay Franklin, to check over. He did find an issue that was related to the JCAP funds.
The town board is moving those funds to a dedicated savings account and it will no
longer show on the budget as it has previously. The JCAP line in the expenditure
side was removed and on the revenue side was showing zero. Since it was removed
on the expenditure side, it was not registering in the final rate change figure at the
end of the budget on the expenditure side. This will be corrected by appropriating
fund balance so the rate will not increase.
Enfield Town Board Special Meeting and Public Hearing, November 6, 2019 4
Supervisor McGee stated that the CHIPS money should be in by December 15. She
recommended that money should go into a new reserve for Building Construction
and Upgrade Reserve and the highway fund. She r ecommended that the Town not
move any money until after the Annual Update Document and the internal audit are
completed- by February of 2020.
Supervisor McGee reported that Highway Supervisor Rollins was concerned about
making the CHIPS line higher. Supervisor McGee addressed this by putting the
additional funds to be levied in a new line “Unappropriated Revenue” on the
expenditure side of the Highway budget, per recommendation of the Office of State
Comptroller. Funds may be budgeted to build the fund balance this way as long as
there is a Fund Balance Policy that details fund balance requirements and goals.
Insurance under the A fund there will be a 4% percent increase for insurance the
reason is that the town had claims against the policy for this year. Health insurance
amounts were also double checked for accuracy in each fund. Nichole Cervoni of
Sprague Insurance will be giving a presentation on insurance renewal at the next
regular Town Board meeting. The CHIPS line was decreased by $30,846 and
$30,000 was added to the Unappropriated Revenue line.
Highway Superintendent Rollins emailed regarding the NYSERDA grant funds and
the issue related to over budgeting the CHIPS line. These were answered: Some
NYSERDA funds were already received and will need to be appropriated from fund
balance to accommodate the expenditure for the solar array that will be installed in
2020. The CHIPS funds issue was resolved by moving the funds to the
Unappropriated Revenue line. The Capital Plan is for large pieces of equipment.
Purchases of tools and chainsaws and such are purchased through the Tools line.
Councilperson Mehaffey suggested adding $500 to the Town Clerk line for trainings.
It was also noted that there is a lot of on-line training for all government positions.
Supervisor McGee will locate training information regarding new local government
officials.
Supervisor McGee stated the position for cemetery maintenance and the building
cleaner will have to have access to the highway truck to use the trailers, about once
every other week. The person would use our mower, trailer and vehicle. They will
be hiring this person through the county so the town will follow the process the
county follows.
Capital Plan and Fund Balance
Supervisor McGee made the recommended changes she was given for the Capital
Plan. Highway Superintendent Rollins sent an e-mail that he felt the Highway
Superintendent should be the person to decide when equipment should be replaced.
Enfield Town Board Special Meeting and Public Hearing, November 6, 2019 5
He believes unspent Equipment funds should go into the Equipment Reserve and
unspent Bridge funds should go into the Bridge Reserve.
The time line of the items on the list were adequate, age and recommendation
concerns is replacing the equipment. Supervisor McGee stated that the timeline
allows us a continuous amount for equipment without burdening the tax base.
Councilperson Mehaffey said it is not in stone, it is for budgeting purpose, we will
look at things on how they are moved, it is how they will pay for it. This doesn’t tie
the Highway Superintendents hands it allows the money to be there when it is
needed.
Supervisor McGee said this plan is set with the plan to purchase all new equipment.
If, in a year that is not scheduled for a large new purchase, the Highway
Superintendent finds a piece of used equipment that meets our reserve guidelines,
that purchase could be considered.
Councilperson Sims said the estimated resale column, minus the trade sale column
should be taken out. Funds for resale can be put into reserve.
Supervisor McGee stated she added the definition of T and L under road
maintenance. As long as we consistently allocate funding at the level in this budget
and continue to receive CHIPS funds, we should be able to meet the road
maintenance plan provided by the Highway Superintendent and Cornell Local Road’s
report.
Supervisor McGee reported she had all 3 septic systems pumped this week, town
hall, community building, and highway. The highway system had a clogged filter.
Supervisor McGee and Highway Superintendent Rollins will put together a map
showing where the septic system was in the building. They should be pumped at
least every 5 years.
Supervisor McGee read sections that were added to for the Capital Plan Draft: page
9 regarding that the town has not planned for the expense of salt/sand storage
building. This included a General Fund balance reduction in the amount of $100,000
to be transferred to a reserve fund for Building Construction and Upgrades. Page 12
– Auxiliary Equipment for Highway Department. The Highway Superintendent has a
concern because they now use the Town Hall Garage for storage in the winter. It
was suggested to eliminate the salt spreader hanger and add cold storage instead.
If it was on the backside of the building you would only need two sides. It would be
just a gravel floor.
Councilperson Sims stated a final piece stating that it is expected to be reviewed and
updated annually should be added. She feels it is a huge improvement for the town
than what they have been doing with operating on a one year plan.
Enfield Town Board Special Meeting and Public Hearing, November 6, 2019 6
Fund Balance Policy
Supervisor McGee made changes on recommendations based on
minimum/maximum on the A fund. CHIPS is approximately $104,000 annually and
Extreme Weather funds are approximately $25,000- fund balance should consist of
100% CHIPS ($130,000) and 10% of expenditures (minus CHIPS, Internal Transfers,
Unappropriated Revenue,) adding approximately $100,000 to the fund balance
minimum requirement for a total of $230,000-250,000 range.
Councilperson Mehaffey stated they don’t know until April about the Chip fund
payments.
Supervisor McGee said the Extreme Weather funding will continue. It’s good to have
it sitting in the fund balance, because the State decides if we will get it months after
we budget.
If you have to readjust because of what you spent then you have the fund balance
will be there to cover it. Capital Plan and Fund Balance Policy only require a A
resolution of the board by simple majority. They don’t require a public hearing they
are just a policy.
Look at funding needs during the year and consult the Capital Plan for future needs.
This will help determine the budget each year.
Supervisor McGee stated she will make corrections and bring it back to the Board.
Clean Energy Community Grant – RFP
Councilperson Sims stated they needed to decide who they would be sending letters
to for installing a solar array at the Highway Facility. They are looking for both solar
array and batteries. It was decided to send to the installers on the list provided by
NYSERDA that lists battery installers, plus additional companies in Tompkins County
that are not on that list.
Councilperson Sims made a motion and seconded by Councilperson Mehaffey to
have the Town Clerk send out the RFP for the Enfield Solar Project to the energy
storage participants list provided by NYSERDA and NYsun contractors in Tompkins
County and to change the Site Visit Times to December 9 and 13 th.
Vote: Councilperson Bryant aye, Councilperson Carpenter absent, Councilperson
Mehaffey aye, Councilperson Sims aye, Supervisor McGee aye. Carried.
Supervisor McGee will provide needed e-mails from the list. Dan Walker, of Enfield,
offered to check on contacts for solar batteries and will report back to the Board.
Enfield Town Board Special Meeting and Public Hearing, November 6, 2019 7
Wind Law- SEQRA- County Review
Councilperson Mehaffey reported that the county came back with recommendations
for the wind law. The Enfield Renewable Energy Committee came back with
comments. Supervisor McGee made a motion seconded by Councilperson Sims to
hold a second public hearing November 19 th , 6:30 pm Enfield Community Building,
for the proposed adoption of the Town of Enfield Wind Energy Facilities Local Law #
___ 2019.
Vote: Councilperson Bryant aye, Councilperson Carpenter absent, Councilperson
Mehaffey aye, Councilperson Sims aye, Supervisor McGee aye. Carried.
A special meeting was also set for November 12, 6:30 pm, Enfield Community
Building to review the Wind Law – SEQRA County Review and comments.
Supervisor McGee reported she received the review for the Comprehensive Plan
from the county the final Draft of the Comprehensive Plan from the designer. A
Public Hearing and special meeting was set for December 18 th at 6:30 PM in the
Enfield Community Building. The Public Hearing is on the Draft Comprehensive Plan,
and the special meeting is to review the Generic EIS and any possible changes to
the plan based on the Public Hearing.
Supervisor McGee reported that Ted Schiele, Tompkins County Health Department,
will give a presentation on a Smoking Policy for the town at the next meeting. Jean
Owens requested the town have a smoking policy for town property.
Supervisor McGee reported she has received estimations for removal of the tree in
the Presbyterian cemetery. The estimations were from KJ’s Property Care and
Thompson Tree and Crane. The town will have to receive right-of-way permission
from the Burlews. A truck will have to drive on to their property in order to remove
the tree. The Enfield Highway Department will remove the wood. The project will
have to wait till the ground is frozen. Clarification will be needed according to the
estimates as to who will do the removal of the cut tree. Payment for the project will
come from the cemetery savings account.
Adjournment: Supervisor McGee adjourned the meeting at 9:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sue Thompson
Enfield Deputy Town Clerk