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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1973-01-08 TOWN OF DANBY TOWN BOARD MINUTES • January 8 , 1973 The regular meeting of the Danby Town Board was held in the Danby Elementary School , January' 8 , 1973 at 8 : 00 D . M . Board members present : Supervisor A . Francis Wright Councilman Ralph Wilbur Councilman Gerald Crance Justice Floyd Dorn Justice Milton Todd • Others present : Gordon Roberts , Ed Slights , Roy Casterline , Mary Casterline , Barbara Mosher , Joe Hulbert , Erie J . Miller and Paul Smith . The minutes Of the regular meeting of December 11 , 1972 , were mailed to board members for reading and correction . The minutes were approved as presented . The motion was made by Justice Floyd Dorn that the November minutes , under the report of the Zoning Officer , be changed to read Used Car Lot instead of Junk Car Lot . The motion was seconded by Milton Todd and carried by a vote of five ayes and no noes . COMMUNICATIONS : 1 . A letter from the Shell Oil Company to Joseph Hulbert , Highway' Superintendent , concerning roads damaged by their equipment . 2 . A letter from the Department of the Treasurey Washington D . C . concerning the Federal Revenue Sharing allocations for the Town of Danby . 3 . A letter from Governor Rockefeller concerning the Federal Revenue Sharing allocations . 4 . The agenda of the Tompkins County' Board of representatives meeting of December 18 , 1972 . 5 . The agenda of the Tompkins County Board of Representatives meeting of January 8 , 1973 . 6 . A letter from Mr . & Mrs . Allen Cropf of 7 Jennings Pond Road concerning logs in the ditch in front of their home . 7 . A letter from the Association of Towns concerning the annual meeting of February 5- 7 , 1973 , 8 . A letter from Hugh Hulbert listing changes in the Civil Service rules . 9 . A letter from the Tompkins County Department of Budget and Administration listing payments made to the supervisor during the year of 1972 . PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR : Gordon Roberts mentioned that the cinder trucks go over some roads and the snow plows follow soon after . He felt that this was a waste of time as the cinders were cleaned off the road by the snow plows . After some discussiom it was decided that this is a problem with no easy solution . The plowing is done by the town and the cinders are put on by the County . They each have a heavy schedule to maintain and must meet certain deadlines . Danby Town Board Minutes - January 8 , 1973 - Page 2 Privilege of the floor continued : Tompkins County Representative , Erie J . Miller , reported that he would be glad to answer any questions people might have at the County level . He mentioned there still is much unhappiness over the S . P . C . A . taking charge of the dog problems in the County . He feels that in another year this should be changed . Paul Smith brought to the attention of the board that the Planning Board Meetings are held the third Wednesday of the month . There has been some confusin_n about the date of the meeting in the past . If the date is changed the members will be notified . Mr . Smith • also mentioned that the creek that flows from Jennings Pond crossing Bald Hill Road and continues on in back of the Town Hall and Fire House is polluted . Erie J . Miller said that the Health Department should be contacted so they can check this situation . Mr . Miller will follow through on this . Mr . Smith asked if the Danby Zoning Ordinance could be edited to be more understandable to the layman . Mary Casterline asked if there were listings of the house numbers in West Danby . Gordon Roberts has this list and she will get in touch with him for the information she needs . COMMITTEE REPORTS : A . Highway Report - Councilman Ralph Wilbur reported that the roads are being worked on to smooth them up . The unseasonable weather has made them rutty . He also reported that the safe has been moved from the old fire house to the new fire house . B . West Danby Water District - Roy Casterline said that there has been some problem with the tax numbers . A perrson was billed in error for a past due water bill . There was some discussion as to how this could be taken care of in the future . Supervisor A . Francis Wright asked that the fire department be billed for the fire hydrants for 1972 . C . Insurance - No report . D . Refuse Collection and Disposal - A letter was given to the town clerk to read to the board by Councilman Gerald Crance . This letter concerned the licensing of refuse collectors ; what the township can and cannot do pertaining to the use of a land fill site ; and collection of garbage of private citizens . Mr . Crance will read up on the town law pertaining to the licensing of refuse collectors . E . Youth - No report . F . Zoning - No report . G . Fire - Councilman Ralph Wilbur reported that there was a • problem of plowing the fire house driveway but that it has been resolved . The old fire house has been sold . The money has been received and Mr . Seley has taken title to the property . H . Cemetaries - No report . OLD BUSINESS : Report of the Highway Superintendent - Joseph Hulbert reported that a representative from Shell Oil Company had called him as well as sending the letter that was read to the board . This person told him that he was aware of the damage done to Town of Danby roads by their equipment . As soon as the weather makes it Danby Town Board Minutes - January 8 , 1973 Page 3 Old Business Continued : permissable they will come and repair the roads or the town could do the work and Shell Oil Company will pay the bill . They will do which ever the town decides . Raises for the highway employees were discussed . If they could have a pension plan they would rather have this than a raise . This was not included in the 1973 budget therefore a pension plan cannot be installed this year . The pension plan was discussed at great length . A . Francis Wright expressed the feeling that a pension plan should be considered when the Federal Revenue Sharing moneys were budgeted . Milton Todd made the motion that a committee be appointed to look into a pension program for the highway employees . Councilman • Gerald Crance seconded the motion which was carried by a vote of four ayes and nne no . Supervisor A . Francis Wright asked the town clerk to make a survey of the town employees as to age , years of service and salary , Joseph Hulbert will take care of the report on the highway people . Ralph Wilbur will chair this committee and Joseph Hulbert will assist him . Report of the Zoning Officer - Zoning Officer Gordon Roberts submitted a report of his business for the year . There were more permits issued in 1972 but the income was down $100 . 00 from 1971 . Appeals Board Chairman - No report . Planning Board Chairman - No report . NEW BUSINESS ; Supervisor A . Francis Wright said that a budget must be set up for Federal Revenue Sharing moneys received by the town . He feels that the money should be spent to pay for the Michigan Hollow Bridge and to set up a retirement program for town employees and or put in Capital Reserve funds for taking care of the Town Hall . This budget when set up must be published . Councilman Gerald Crance made the motion that the matter of the Federal Revenue Sharing budget be tabled for 30 days . Justice Milton Todd seconded the which was carried by a vote of five ayes and no noes . Supervisor A . Francis Wright wants to keep the committees as they are at the present time . Carolyn Makie was appointed as Deputy' Supervisor ; Edgar Oltz and Mary Casterline were appointed deputy town clerks ; Harold Bernhardt was appointed town constable ; Tresa Cortright was appointed town historian ; Gordon Roberts was appointed Zoning Officer ; Edward Slights was appointed town custodian ; Roy Casterline was appointed Water District Superintendent ; Perry Crance was appointed water district meter reader . The motion was made by Supervisor A . Francis Wright that the above appointments be approved . The motion was seconded by Councilman Gerald Crance and carried by a vote of five ayes and no noes . The above salaries to be as set up in the 1973 budget . The board named • the Tompkins County Trust Company the official bank of the town , The Ithaca Journal the Official Newspaper , and 12 cents per mile for official mileage . Councilman Gerald Crance reported that he had received a letter from McPherson Builders in connection with the renovation of the Town Hall . The Town Clerk read the letter to the board . Mr . McPherson estimates the cost of repairs and minor renovations to be $25 , 000 . 00 . He felt that it was a large amount to spend on an old building . He felt that it made more sense , if money must be spent , to use it for a new struct &re . Each board member was polled to see what their feelings were on razing the old building and building a new one or repairing the town hall . Danby Town Board Minutes - January 8 , 1973 - Page 4 New Business Continued : All board members felt that the cost of razing the town hall should be investigated and the building of a new office building at that location should be looked into . Supervisor A . Francis Wright asked that Councilman Gerald Crance get an estimate on a new moderately priced building . A 24X60 with a full basement . Also get estimates of cost of razing the town hall . Supervisor A . Francis Wright said that all the 1972 bills for the clerkts office were not paid by the end of the year . This means that resolution #15 adopted in December of 1972 to take Icare of these bills must be rescinded in part to cover only those bills that were paid in December . The balance of the 1972 bills are to be taken care of by modifying the 1973 budget . RESOLUTION # 1 RESCIND IN PART RESOLUTION X15 ADOPTED DECEMBER 1972 Moved by Councilman Ralph Wilbur and seconded by Justice Floyd Dorn . Roll Call Vote : Wright - aye Wilbur - aye Crance - aye Dorn - aye Todd - aye Carried five ayes and no noes . Supervisor A . Francis Wright said that $ 151 . 00 was needed in the election account A1450 . 1 RESOLUTION #2 TRANSFER $151 . 00 FROM CONTINGENT ACCOUNT TO ELECTION ACCOUNT A1450 . 1 Motion was made by Justice Floyd Dorn and seconded by Councilman Ralph Wilbur . Roll Call Vote : Wright - aye Wilbur - aye Crance - aye Dorn - aye Todd - aye Carried five ayes and no noes . Supervisor A . Francis Wright brought to the attention of the board that 5732 . 66 was needed to cover unpaid bills for 1972 . The 1973 budget must be modified to take care of this . RESOLUTION # 3 MODIFY 1973 BUDGET BY 0732 . 66 TO COVER UNPAID BILLS FOR 1972 • Moved by Justice Milton Todd and seconded by Councilman Gerald Crance . Roll Call Vote : Wright - aye Wilbur - aye Crance - aye Dorn - aye Todd - aye Carried five ayes and no noes . Danby Town Board Minutes - January 8 , 1973 - Page 5 New Business Continued : Supervisor A . Francis Wright reported on interest earned on idle funds in 1972 . These funds were invested by former Town Supervisor Donald 4akie . $60 , 000 was invested from the highway account earned interest of *31 , 028 . 98 ; $20 , 000 was invested from the general fund which earned interest of $ 606 . 87 ; $7 , 000 from the West Danby Water District was invested and earned interest of $244 . 15 . A total of $1 , 880 . 00 interest was earned . This is $413 . 00 more than in 1971 . The motion was made by Justice Milton Todd that the supervisor be authorized to invest 1973 idle funds . The motion was seconded by Justice Floyd Dorn and carried by a vote of five ayes and no noes . General Find Warrant # 1 in the amount of $838 . 29 was approved to be paid . The motion was made by Councilman Ralph Wilbur and seconded by Justice Milton Todd and carried by a vote of five ayes and no noes . The Highway Warrant #1 in the amount of $974 . 73 was approved to be paid . The motion was made by Councilman Ralph Wilbur and seconded by Councilman Gerald Crance and carried by a vote of five ayes and no noes . West Danby Water District Warrant # 1 in the amount of $650 . 47 was approved to be paid . The motion was made by Justice Milton Todd and seconded by Councilman Gerald Crance and carried by a vote of five ayes and no noes . Supervisor A . Francis Wright will call the Ithaca Agency to find out if the people handling funds are bonded . The supervisors report will be presented again at the next meeting for approval as there was a question brought up about a bill . The annual audit of the town books was completed . The meeting was adjourned at 11 : 40 P . M . Respectfully submitted r Mary uz , Clt' k