HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-18-19 Public Hearing and Special Meeting
Town of Enfield
Public Hearing and Special Town Board Meeting
Enfield Community Building
Wednesday, December 18, 2019
6:30 p.m.
Present: Town Supervisor Beth McGee, Town Councilperson Virginia Bryant, Town Councilperson Mike
Carpenter, Town Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey, Town Councilperson Becky Sims, Town Clerk Alice
Linton.
Supervisor McGee called the Public Hearing on the Comprehensive Plan and Special Meeting to order at
6:40 p.m.
Town Clerk Linton led the assemblage in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
Public Hearing on the Town of Enfield Comprehensive Plan Update:
Supervisor McGee gave a brief background on the writing of the Comprehensive Plan. She has led 41
meetings since becoming chair of the Comp Plan Committee and there were many months of work prior to
that – Planning Board work, putting out a survey, compiling survey results, formatting the draft, etc. There
was a lot of public interaction, which included two ag specific meetings that were open houses. She is
pleased with everyone’s efforts in helping write the Plan and revising the draft.
Nancy Spero of Enfield was really happy to be a part of this project from the beginning to the end. She likes
that this is something that can give a new resident a way to know Enfield. The Plan will be helpful when the
Town applies for grants, as it states what the goals of the Town are. She thanked everyone for all their work.
Becky Sims, Councilperson, stated she first got involved with the Town when working on the Comp Plan
Committee. Comprehensive Plans are important when considering issues such as fracking. She is proud of
how the Plan has come together. It’s an honest reflection of our Town – where it has been and where it’s
headed. There is a lot of good, genuine effort here. It looks great.
Alice Linton, Town Clerk, stated the document looks really good. She suggested changing, on page 17 under
Enfield Town Clerk services, the term handicap parking to accessible parking as that is the terminology now
used by New York State.
Virginia Bryant, Councilperson, stated it’s a good document and will help in the grant process. There was a
lot of work that went into it.
Mimi Mehaffey, Councilperson, got involved as a spin off from the fracking issue. It seemed like a natural
step at that point as a positive vision. It’s important to turn around from what we don’t want, to what we do
want. She liked the ag meetings, participation, and diverse opinions. She thanked Supervisor McGee for her
perseverance to get the Plan completed.
Beth McGee, Supervisor, stated she is very pleased with the formatting. It is an elegant and professional,
easy to read Plan. Dawn George, a former member of the Planning Board, had stressed the need for the Plan
to be readable at a 5th grade level.
Ellen Woods, Town Clerk elect, stated she appreciated that it’s readable at a 5th grade level, as she also feels
that is important for this kind of document. She mentioned, under Public Safety on page 18, that it would be
good to spell out Emergency Medical Services for EMS, and add fire “protection” in the 4th paragraph.
Enfield Town Board Public Hearing and Special Meeting December 18, 2019 2
Robert Lynch, Councilperson elect, stated he feels it’s a good document. There are some things he might
change, but it’s a good vision for Enfield.
Joe Dawson of Enfield stated he enjoyed helping with the Plan and he feels it turned out really good. He
thanked everyone for their hard work and lots of time involved; it’s very appreciated.
Supervisor McGee explained that the next steps are to have the scoping document for the Environmental
Impact Statement completed, which will be prepared for the Board in January. Once the Board accepts that,
there is a 20-day waiting period. She described the further steps needed in order to complete the process and
vote to adopt the final Comprehensive Plan, which could be done as early as the end of February 2020.
Supervisor McGee closed the public hearing at 7:00 p.m.
Announcements: CHIPS funds have been received, along with AIM funds, from New York State.
Changes to the Agenda: Supervisor McGee asked to add a resolution to change authorization for Town
Clerk bank accounts. She asked to remove the Smoking Policy and will add it to the January agenda. She
also removed budget amendments as there are none.
Privilege of the Floor: Bob Lynch, Councilperson elect, has received the agenda for the Tompkins County
Public Safety Committee and noted under reports there is listed discussion regarding the proposed Town of
Enfield sheriff satellite station.
New Business: None
Old Business:
RFP Update: Supervisor McGee stated 3 proposals were received. She feels it’s not appropriate to open the
proposals at this time, as the new Board starting in January will be the ones making decisions on this project.
No one requested a site visit. All 3 proposals came by e-mail since there was no specific requirement for
submission. Notification is due by January 30, 2020 on who will receive the job.
Audit Update: Supervisor McGee stated the audit went really well last week. There were 3 gentlemen
performing the audit over a 4-day period. Most everything they requested was well organized and readily
available. They will have a lot of recommendations – based mostly on policy and procedure. The report
should be ready by mid-January. Questions about the purchasing policy were brought up and it was realized
the current policy passed in 2014 had nothing about the highway superintendent. The policy will need to be
amended to include highway purchases. Supervisor McGee would like to see more Board involvement,
especially with auditing vouchers, as oversight is important.
Resolution to Change Authorization on Town Clerk Accounts:
Supervisor McGee moved, with a second by Councilperson Bryant to adopt Resolution #2019-67.
Resolution #2019-67 Changing Authorization for the Enfield Town Clerk’s Bank Accounts
WHEREAS, two bank accounts have been maintained by the Enfield Town Clerk for various financial
activities as specified in the Town of Enfield’s Policy and Procedure Manual, through Tompkins Trust
Company (TTC), and
WHEREAS, on the 1st of January, 2020, Ellen Woods will officially become the Town Clerk for the Town
of Enfield, now therefore be it
Enfield Town Board Public Hearing and Special Meeting December 18, 2019 3
RESOLVED, that in 2020, TTC will continue as the depository of funds belonging to the Town of Enfield
for the specified activities of the Town Clerk, and further be it
RESOLVED, the Town Clerk as noted above is designated as the Authorized Person to establish a
depository relationship with TTC and further be it
RESOLVED, TTC will be notified promptly after December 31st, 2019, that Ellen Woods, Enfield Town
Clerk, is the Authorized Person designated to maintain and sign on these two bank accounts.
Vote: Councilperson Bryant aye, Councilperson Carpenter, Councilperson Mehaffey aye,
Councilperson Sims aye, Supervisor McGee aye. Carried
Adjournment: Supervisor McGee adjourned the meeting at 7:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Alice M. Linton, RMC
Enfield Town Clerk