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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012 Enfield-Town-Government-Newsletter-Dec-11-March-12.pdf1 Town of Enfield 168 Enfield Main Road http://townofenfield.org December 2011- March 2011 Newsletter Enfield Town Boards Meetings are held in the Community Building, 1st floor Town Board: 2nd Wednesday, 6:45pm Town Supervisor Roy Barriere 277-3843 Deputy Supervisor Debbie Teeter 277-4547 Town Council Members Ron Clark 592-5901 Chris Hern 256-5033 Jean Owens 273-5682 Debbie Teeter 277-4547 Planning Board: 1st Wednesday, 7pm Virginia Bryant, co-chair 387-9376 Mike Carpenter, co-chair 277-4204 Ann Chaffee 272-6460 Steve Givin 273-7434 Calvin Rothermich 272-5930 Dan Walker 387-6394 vacant Town Offices Town Clerk 273-8256 Alice Linton, Town Clerk Sue Thompson, Deputy Town Clerk Town Office/Clerk Hours: Monday-Thursday, 3 pm - 6 pm Highway Department 272-6490 Barry Rollins, Highway Superintendent Town Highway Office Hours: Monday-Friday: 6 am - 2:30 pm Town Court 272-0529 Justice Poole: Monday, 5:00 pm Justice Varricchio: Thursday, 5:00 pm Code Enforcement Office Community Building, 2nd floor Code Enforcement 277-0266 Alan Teeter, Code Enforcement Officer Code Enforcement Office Hours: Monday thru Thursday 8:30 - 11 am Wednesday 5-7 pm Town Historian Sue Thompson 272-6412 Enfield Volunteer Fire Company Art Howser, Chief 272-8757 Roger Lauper, Deputy Chief County Legislators Report from the Supervisor The preliminary budget that was presented to the public back in October was adopted as the final budget for 2012 at the November Town Board meeting. Once again, there were some significant increases in employee benefits, such as compensation insurance and retirement. In order to keep the levy below the NYS Tax Cap, we needed to make some minor cuts in services, such as a 10% reduction in Code Enforcement and a 25% reduction in the Deputy Clerk’s position. Also, there were no salary increases for 2012. To make a long story short, we managed to keep the levy below the “Tax Cap” limit, which equals a tax rate increase of 1.28% for the Town taxes. The new highway facility is within days of completion. More than likely, by the time you read this, it will be completed. The Open House is scheduled for Saturday, the 3rd of December, from 11 am to 1 pm. Hopefully you have a chance to tour this well-constructed facility, and meet some of the contractors and the Project Manager/Engineer – Chuck Feiszle. A lot of thought went into this building. I commend the Facilities Committee for all their hard work and numerous hours of meetings over the past 3 years. The planning for this project has been going on for far more than 3 years, but once we hired an Engineer and acquired bond counsel in 2008, things kept moving forward. The members of the Committee were – Jean Owens, Chair, Denny Hubbell, Frank Podufalski, Debbie Teeter, and Buddy Rollins. Once again – THANKS! We’ve reached that time of year once again, where the Town Board will be changing. At the end of this year, we will be losing Jean Owens and Ron Clark. Their replacements will be Ann Rider and Vera Howe-Strait. Thank you, Jean and Ron, for your service to the Community. And as always, I’m looking forward to building a new working relationship with the new Board. Over the next few weeks, I will be filling committee positions to present to the Board for approval, at the Organizational Meeting in January. If you have an interest in filling any of the positions or would like any information about the positions that are available, please contact me. The committee vacancies that we currently have are: One seat on the Recreation Partnership One seat on the County Environmental Management Council. I would also like to take this time to thank everyone for your support in electing me for another term as the Town Supervisor. We have many challenges facing us in the upcoming future; one of the biggest challenges is dealing with the economy. I hope we can continue to grow as a community, moving forward with infrastructure improvement/replacement plans without having to increase the tax levy beyond the tax cap limit. I also want to wish everyone a very happy and safe holiday season. Last, but not least, don’t forget to visit our new and improved website - http://townofenfield.org/content. Please take time to visit the website for meeting minutes, committee reports, agendas, etc… Our Town Board meetings are normally held on the 2nd Wednesday of every month, starting at 6:45 pm. As always, if you have any questions or concerns about any Town issues, please contact any of the Town Board members. Respectfully, Roy Barriere, Town Supervisor Dave McKenna Enfield/Newfield 564-7243, dmckenna@tompkins-co.org Jim Dennis Enfield/Ulysses 387-4058, jpd821@yahoo.com 2 From the Highway Superintendent Lots of rain (as you know) got us behind for the summer season, but we just finished our summer projects in the nick of time. As with weather like this there is a lot of juggling with vendors, new problem areas, and once you get behind with a crew of 6 guys (including myself) that's all we've got, we can’t call in reinforcements, so we continue to do the best we can to catch up. However, some of what I would have liked to achieve this summer, couldn't get done. I try to prioritize - as all roads are important, and as much as I would like to do everything, sometimes that's not possible. The biggest projects we completed were; repaved the last mile of Harvey Hill, paved the last mile of Fish Road, and as a bonus 1/2 mile of Enfield Center West and Hubbell Drive were stoned and oiled/paved. The bridge on East Enfield Center road was replaced and repaved, making it possible for the fire trucks to now make use of this route. A resident asked a question that I think was a great question, Why do you scrape the roads bare? What you refer to as scraping the roads bare, I think what you are referring to is cutting shoulders. The road is ideally crowned the highest point being the middle with a 3% slope toward the ditch. Why we cut shoulders is the edge of the road has to be lower than the road so the water will drain into the ditches instead of staying on the roads. We try to cut them at a 3% to 6% slope, so the water sheds off the road and shoulder, instead of making small streams, which would In fact erode the edge of the road. As you can also imagine water on the road causes freezing ice, and hydroplaning. During the winter months we use sand. This sand is also the reason we need to cut shoulders more often. The grass will grow back in time. Winter plans are trimming back the bush & trees. If any of the traffic driving down the road is being hit by trees/brush, that is our cue to trim. This is to maintain sight distance and safety. If you have spots you are concerned about, please call the Highway Department and we will get there as soon as we can. Our right-a-way is approximately 24 foot from the center of the road. And we will be ditching when possible, and of course snow plowing! Once again it is my honor to serve the town of Enfield for two more years and I thank you for your confidence and votes. As we approach the winter months remember speed is almost always a factor in winter time accidents, so keep it slow, take your time and arrive safe. See you on the Roads! Buddy Rollins Sr. Enfield Highway Superintendent News from Code Enforcement With the end of the year upon us, it’s interesting to look back over a year that started out as a slow building year in Enfield but is ending with a flurry of activity. Through the summer, the number of building permits issued was down quite a bit from previous years. Perhaps due to a mild November, numbers are suddenly up - and although we still might not equal previous year’s numbers, it will be close. At this point we have seven new homes built or in the process of construction at an estimated value of nearly 2 million dollars and a total value of taxable improvements in Enfield of just over 3 million dollars. With winter knocking at our door it's a good time to check your heating appliances to make sure they are ready for the heating season. Whether you heat with oil, propane or a solid fuel it’s always a good idea to have your system checked and cleaned or serviced to avoid a problem in the middle of winter. Also, a reminder: if you are thinking about installing a new heating appliance, give me a call and I can let you know if a permit is required. With any new solid fuel appliance a permit is required and, once inspected, I issue a Certificate of Compliance which should be sent to your homeowner’s insurance company. I can also inspect existing solid fuel appliances if needed for your homeowners policy. Now is also a good time to check/clean and replace the batteries in your smoke detectors and CO detectors. When you are replacing batteries it's a good idea to vacuum them, as they tend to build up dust over time. If you have any questions about what detectors are required or where they should be installed please give me a call. Lastly, with only one person in the Code Office, you may find the office unstaffed during posted hours due to a needed inspection. I return phone messages as quickly as possible, so just give me a call if you have trouble catching up with me or need something in a hurry. Alan Teeter, Enfield Code Officer Highlights from County Government Legislature Backs Legislation to Implement Phased State Takeover of Medicaid Costs: The Legislature urged passage of proposed State legislation that would implement a multi-year State takeover of the local share of Medicaid over the next eight years. State Medicaid is the number one mandate facing counties and is costing Tompkins County property taxpayers $11.6 million in 2011. If the State takes over Medicaid, County property taxes could be reduced by more than 28%, which would be about a $300 reduction for the average county taxpayer. The measure maintains the State could fund such a takeover through program reforms, state-derived savings, and other spending controls. Legislature Adopts 2012 County Budget: After two-and-a-half months of budget deliberations the Tompkins County Legislature adopted the County’s 2012 budget and its capital program for the next five years. The adopted budget is identical to the amended tentative budget approved by legislators previously. It increases the County tax levy by 3.99% and the countywide average tax rate by 3.1% to $6.67 per thousand. The levy increase is just over 1% above the 2.92% level that would be required to fall within the state property tax cap. The core of the budget contains 24 fewer staff positions, making 68 fewer County positions since 2009, but sustains crucial programs during a time of ongoing economic downturn. The tax change on a $160,000 home $31.85 3 News from the Enfield Town Clerk’s Office Many residents have asked us if we will be moving our office to the new facility that has just been completed. For now, we will be remaining at our current location – 168 Enfield Main Road. Although we don’t like to bring up this topic – it is almost tax season once again. Tax bills will be going out in the mail the last week of December and taxes without penalties will be collected between January 1 and January 31. We will have additional hours during the month of January as follows: Mondays 3-6 Tuesdays 9-12 and 3-6 Wednesdays 3-6 Thursdays 9-12 and 3-6 Saturdays 9-12 During the months of February and March you can still pay your taxes in Enfield, but our office hours will be Monday through Thursday from 3-6 p.m. If these hours don’t work for you, please give us a call at 273-8256 and we’ll be glad to accommodate your work schedule. One final reminder – if you own a dog in the Town of Enfield, town law requires the dog to be licensed. A form for licensing your dog can be found on the town website, www.townofenfield.org, or you can contact our office at 273- 8256 and we’ll mail you a form. Wishing everyone a restful and happy holiday season, Alice Linton, Enfield Town Clerk Sue Thompson, Enfield Deputy Town Clerk Helpful County Web Sites (all begin with http://www.) Government: co.tompkins.ny.us Legislature: tompkins-co.org/legislature Assessment: tompkins-co.org/ assessment Board of Elections: tompkins-co.org/ boe Clerk: tompkins-co.org/clerk Health Department: tompkins-co.org/ health Highway Department: tompkins-co.org/ highway Solid Waste: recycletompkins.org Enfield Town Historian Sue Thompson The fall has passed uneventfully for our Municipal Historians group. We are moving ahead with the Religious Structures of Tompkins County book. I attended an Association of Public Historians of NYS (APHNYS) District meeting on November 5. We met at the Roberson Museum in Binghamton. The group is currently working on a project collecting information on Historical Markers in New York State. They have finished the project for the Hudson Valley area and will be posting the information on http:// www.aphnys.org/. The Museum has a great display on the Civil War for Broome and surrounding counties. I filled a request from Texas to take pictures of the Curry, Murray and Willis family grave markers in the Rolfe and Hayts Cemetery. I am now looking for information on David Vail (Vale). He was in Newfield in 1830 and 1840 according to the Federal Census. He died in September 1849 in Enfield, 1850 Federal Census. The family found a reference to him in the “Vail Genealogy from Descendants of Jeremiah Vail” dying in Huron County Ohio on September 28, 1849. However, no census records for him in Ohio were found. I have not located his burial site here. Does anyone have any information on this family? Don’t forget to stop in at the Town Hall and pick up your house history packet to start recording the history of your house. I will be happy to help you get started on this project. What’s on the Town’s Web Site, Anyway? Enfield’s Deputy Town Clerk, Sue Thompson, was recognized as the Town's Volunteer of the Month in October, and one of the much-appreciated tasks she tends to is managing the Town’s web site. Sue is very thorough and efficient with this task, and as a result, we have a very up-to-date and comprehensive web site. Here’s what you’ll find: · A Homepage with upcoming events, Town office locations and contact information · Boards and committees membership and member contact information · Minutes and agendas from Town Board meetings and committees · The Town Business Directory · A Calendar of Community Events · Information and links for Town cemeteries · A listing of and information about community groups and churches · Extensive information on Dog Licensing and related law · Link to the Enfield Elementary School homepage and the Enfield School Alumni page · Election District information · Emergency Management information including links to the Enfield Volunteer Fire Company, TompkinsReady, and Homeland Security · Wonderful information about and links for the Town's history · Information about some of the Town and County laws and related permits, including Dog Control, Building Permits, Mass Gatherings, Open Burning, Cemetery Policies and Procedures, Wind Energy, and Town board meeting guidelines. · Legal Advertisements · A comprehensive NEWS section · The Town and Community newsletters · Information and links for area parks and recreation · Volunteer of the Month recognition · Youth programming information See anything that intrigues you? Then sit down and visit the web site at www.townofenfield.org - you’ll find lots of helpful information! 4 Dates to Remember December 7 Planning Board Meeting Community Building, 7 pm 7 Volunteer of the Month nominations due 14 Town Board Meeting Community Building, 6:45 pm January 4 Planning Board Meeting Community Building, 7 pm 4 Volunteer of the Month nominations due 11 Town Board Meeting Community Building, 6:45 pm February 1 Planning Board Meeting Community Building, 7 pm 1 Volunteer of the Month nominations due 8 Town Board Meeting Community Building, 6:45 pm March 7 Planning Board Meeting Community Building, 7 pm 7 Volunteer of the Month nominations due 14 Town Board Meeting Community Building, 6:45 pm Town of Enfield 168 Enfield Main Road Ithaca NY 14850 The Enfield Community Center is available for Enfield community events and activities. To reserve space, or report a problem with the facility, contact Chris Hern at 256-5033. Volunteer Recognition Volunteerism runs strong in the Enfield Community; here’s a “Thank You” to our most recent Volunteers of the Month: September 2011: Jim McConkey For his many years of thoughtful and considered service on the Enfield Town Planning Board and for his dedication and devotion to the community. October 2011: Sue Thompson For her tireless, yet enthusiastic, efforts as Town Historian and Town Webmaster and many years of service to the community in general, including at the elementary school and at community events. Do you know someone who goes above and beyond for our community? Submit a letter of nomination for Volunteer of the Month to Roy Barriere at the Town Hall by the first Wednesday of each month for consideration. Town's Business Directory Update Sue Thompson, Deputy Town Clerk, would like to update the Town's Business Directory for the Town web page. She will start with the list from the 2006 Town of Enfield Business Directory, which is currently available on the Town web site: www.townofenfield.org Please take a look at this document to review your listing, if it is there, and call or e-mail Sue (272-6412, sdt1@cornell.edu) with any changes, or with information for a new listing. Include your business name, address, e-mail, phone number, and a short description of your business.