HomeMy WebLinkAboutOctober 12 2022 Town Board Meeting Minutes
1
Town of Enfield Public Hearing for proposed “Code Enforcement Law and Regulations”.
6:30 pm
Regular Town Board Meeting
Wednesday, October 12, 2022
6:45 pm
In-person and Via the Zoom Meeting Platform
Present: Supervisor Stephanie Redmond, Town Councilperson’s; James Ricks, Robert Lynch; Town Clerk Mary Cornell;
Code Office Alan Teeter.
Virtual attendance: Town Councilperson’s Cassandra Hinkle; Jude Lemke.
Supervisor Redmond opened the Public Hearing at 6:30 pm
Public Comments: Code officer Alan Teeter shared that a code law is required in New York State and the Town has not
passed a new law in 16 years. Alan worked with Town Attorney Guy Krough to change some of the language in the
proposed law and updated it as needed. Supervisor Redmond asked Alan his thoughts on what Ulysses has done with
their penalty system. Alan answered that he is not that familiar with what Ulysses is doing, the penalty is currently set at
a maximum of $1,000 per day, and no adjustments need to be made. Councilperson Lynch commented that this is a
normal part of what needs to be done and we are answering the request from the State. A brief discussion was held on
the NY Stretch law/standard and if Enfield was interested in continuing any discussions, at this point the Planning Board
has not suggested adopting the law/standard.
Supervisor Redmond closed the Public Hearing at 6:42 pm
Supervisor Redmond called the Regular Town Board Meeting to Order at 6:42 pm
Privilege of the Floor: Ed and Helen Hetherington led the assemblage in the Pledge of Allegiance. Helen Hetherington
thanked the Town Board, Supervisor Redmond, and Mary Cornell/David Cornell for the support of replacing the barrels
near the light poles and placing the mums at the Town Welcome Signs, light poles, and Town buildings.
Additions and Changes to the Agenda: Supervisor Redmond would like to add Budget Modifications and a resolution
for the senior tax rates for the next Board Meeting. Councilperson Lynch had a shared a document with the Board via
email and asked to have a discussion on Tompkins County Assessment at tonight’s meeting.
Correspondence: N/A
Monthly Reports
County Legislator – Anne Koreman. The application period is still open for the County recovery funds. They are currently
in the middle of their budget season and are trying to keep the tax rate as low as they are able to. They are still looking
to add staff for Reimagining Public Safety.
Town Supervisor’s Report – Supervisor Redmond. In addition to the normal duties of the Office of Town Supervisor.
Supervisor Redmond attended meetings with other Town Supervisors, had calls with the County and worked on applying
for grants with the County recovery fund. She attended a webinar on Solar Farms. Councilperson Lynch shared that he
wished he had been able to attend the webinar.
2
Town Clerk Report – Mary Cornell. In addition to performing the normal duties of the Clerk’s office. Clerk Cornell has
worked with the Town Dog enumerator and the enumeration has started. Homeowners should expect a visit from
enumerator Pat Baker in the next couple of months. We have had ~15 new dogs since the enumeration was announced.
Highway Superintendent Report – Buddy Rollins. They are still working on ditching and working on regular
maintenance patching. The Salt Barn is almost completed, they will be sealing it tomorrow and should be able to start
putting materials in within the next week. They are still waiting for the engine for the truck that was purchased earlier
this year. They will start preparing for winter changeover. Supervisor Redmond asked if Parklane will be completing the
work on the ceiling and Superintendent Rollins shared that he and the guys will be doing the work.
Code Enforcement Report – Alan Teeter. He issued 5 building permits this past month, he had posted a condemned
structure over the summer and the homeowners were able to do the necessary work, he has been able to lift the
condemned status and it is inhabitable again.
Volunteer Fire Company – Alan Teeter/Ellen Woods. There were a total of 28 calls for the month. Trainings for the
month will include; Extrication training (Whole crew plan of attack), Radio training, EMS training. Ellen spoke on EMS
trainings. They will have a pit training tomorrow night, they have one member in EMS training and they expect good
results. They have one who has finished the course and is just waiting for testing. They have not applied for the grant for
the radios yet, it should be submitted by the 15th. She thanked the Town Board for considering the County EMS
resolution and asked that they continue to monitor the progress at the county level. Ellen shared that it was announced
today that Bangs Ambulance will unionize.
Planning Board Report – Dan Walker. They have not had any approval actions in front of the Planning Board recently.
He referred a simple two lot subdivision to Alan Teeter to handle. They spent a large part of the last meeting talking
about stream buffers. Councilperson Lynch shared that they are doing a thoughtful job on protecting streams and
writing their own protections/restrictions.
Tompkins County Council of Government – Robert Lynch. The next meeting will be held on October 27th. There is no
report this month. Several TCCOG members had appealed to the Tompkins County Legislature for the proposed new
EMS regulation and that is why the coordinators position is being recommended.
Consent Agenda
Audit Claims: General fund vouchers # 226 to 247, dated October 12, 2022 in the amount of $13, 290.81.
Highway fund vouchers #168-179, dated October 12, 2022 in the amount of $26, 117.93.
H fund – Capital improvement voucher #236, dated October 12, 2022 in the amount of $13,998.00
Councilperson Lynch moved and Supervisor Redmond seconded.
Vote: Councilperson Hinkle, Aye; Councilperson Lemke, Aye; Councilperson Lynch, Aye; Councilperson Ricks,
Aye; Supervisor Redmond, Aye; Carried.
New Business:
Discussion: Review of the Tentative Budget.
Supervisor Redmond shared the reasoning on why she has suggested the raises she did and why we should move
forward with them. Councilperson Lemke thanked Supervisor Redmond for gathering the benchmarking from area Town
Supervisors and she is in support of the increase for the highway crew. Councilperson Lynch commented that he will
support this so that it is unanimous. Supervisor Redmond shared that she had not seen the financials for the Fire
3
Company yet. Clerk Cornell received them from Fire Company President Denny Hubble (late afternoon on October 11th)
for Fiscal Years 2019 & 2020, and a YTD fiscal analysis 2022. She will send them out to the Town Board Members this
week. Councilperson Lemke asked if she could take $2,000 from the Councilperson’s budget line (her position) and
increase the Town Supervisor’s salary by $2,000 as she does not currently take a salary. Subsequent Board member
discussion led to the conclusion that Councilperson Lemke’s proposal is not allowable. Supervisor Redmond thanked
Councilperson Lemke for the suggestion. Highway Superintendent Rollins asked to comment on the Fire Company
request being in the 2023 budget. He shared that in the past funds were taken away from the Highway Department and
redistributed to the Fire Company for Turnout gear and for Salary increases to other Town Officials. They are still
currently still running on a $200,000 budget deficit. Councilperson Lemke thanked Superintendent Rollins for his
adaptability on working with the town to correct his budget needs as they are able to.
Town Bookkeeper Blixy shared that even though fund lines are increasing funds were able to be reduced in other areas
which is showing a total increase of just over 8 %. Councilperson Lynch asked that after the public hearing, what are the
restrictions on what can be changed in the budget? Town Bookkeeper Blixy will look into this and email the board with
her findings.
Councilperson Lemke moved to adopt the tentative budget as the preliminary budget and Supervisor Redmond
seconded.
Vote: Councilperson Hinkle, Aye; Councilperson Lemke, Aye; Councilperson Lynch, Aye; Councilperson Ricks,
Aye; Supervisor Redmond, Aye; Carried.
Supervisor Redmond motioned and Councilperson Lynch seconded to hold a Public Hearing on October 26, 2022 at 6:30
pm for residents to discuss the Preliminary Budget.
Vote: Councilperson Hinkle, Aye; Councilperson Lemke, Aye; Councilperson Lynch, Aye; Councilperson Ricks,
Aye; Supervisor Redmond, Aye; Carried.
Discussion: Spirit of Tompkins – Stephanie Redmond.
Robyn Wishna has recommended that we put two banners on the concrete dividers in between the overhead doors at
the Town Hall. The banners will contain images from the Fire Department (Robyn is a member of the Fire Company).
Supervisor Redmond said the banners will be funded by the History Center.
Councilperson Hinkle moved and Supervisor Redmond seconded to place the banners as requested.
Vote: Councilperson Hinkle, Aye; Councilperson Lemke, Aye; Councilperson Lynch, Aye; Councilperson Ricks,
Aye; Supervisor Redmond, Aye; Carried.
Deck the Halls Event: December 3, 2022 – 11am-1 pm
The Town will provide Cider and donuts and some crafts at the Town Hall while decorating Town buildings. The Enfield
Community Council’s Winter celebration will start at 1 pm. The Grange will be selling Chili to benefit their building fund.
The Fire Company will have coffee.
Resolution #80-2022 to adopt local law #6 Code Enforcement Law.
Resolution #80 -2022 Move to Adopt Local Law #6 of 2022 “Local Law # 6 of 2022 Code Enforcement Law and
Regulations” WHEREAS, upon proper notice a Public Hearing was held on the 12th day of October 2022, where all
persons wishing to speak regarding proposed Local Law #6 of 2022 “Code Enforcement Law and Regulations” were
heard by the Enfield Town Board, and
4
WHEREAS, after consideration of all information presented and available, it is the determination of the Enfield Town
Board that the Town will be best served adopt Local Law #6 of 2022 “Code Enforcement Law and Regulations”, so now
therefore it be
RESOLVED: that the Town Board of the Town of Enfield hereby enacts, adopts and approves Local Law #6 of 2022 in the
form as presented to this meeting, being the same as was presented at the Public Hearing; and further be it RESOLVED,
that the Town Clerk file this Local Law with the New York Department of State.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that said Local Law shall take effect immediately upon filing with the Secretary of State.
Supervisor Redmond moved and Councilperson Ricks seconded. No discussion.
Vote: Councilperson Hinkle, Aye; Councilperson Lemke, Aye; Councilperson Lynch, Aye; Councilperson Ricks,
Aye; Supervisor Redmond, Aye; Carried.
Resolution #81-2022 to approve MCA agreement
Approval of the 2023 Municipal Cooperative Agreement for the Greater Tompkins County Municipal Health Insurance
Consortium
WHEREAS, the Town of Enfield is a Participant in the Greater Tompkins County Municipal Health Insurance Consortium
(the "Consortium"), a municipal cooperative organized under Article 47 of the New York Insurance Law, and
WHEREAS, the municipal participants in the Consortium, including this body, have approved and executed a certain
Municipal Cooperation Agreement (the "Agreement"; effective date of October 1, 2010),
WHEREAS, Article 47 of the New York Insurance Law (the "Insurance Law") and the rules and regulations of the New
York State Department of Financial Services set forth certain requirements for governance of municipal cooperatives
that offer self-insured municipal cooperative health insurance plans, and
WHEREAS, the Agreement sets forth in Section Q2 that continuation of the Consortium under the terms and conditions
of the Agreement, or any amendments or restatements thereto, shall be subject to Board review and upon acceptance
of any new Participant hereafter, and
WHEREAS, by motion 001-2022 the Consortium's Board of Directors recommends approval of the 2023 Amended
Agreement, and WHEREAS, the Municipal Cooperative Agreement requires that amendments to the agreement be
presented to each participant for review and adopted by its municipal board,
WHEREAS, the Town of Enfield is in receipt of the proposed amended Agreement and has determined that it is in the
best interest of its constituents who are served by the Consortium to amend the Agreement as set forth in the attached
2023 Municipal Cooperative Agreements, now therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the Town of Enfield approves and authorizes the Chief Executive Officer to sign the 2023 Municipal
Cooperative Agreement of the Greater Tompkins County Municipal Health Insurance Consortium, and
RESOLVED, further, that the Clerk of the Town of Enfield is hereby authorized to execute this Resolution to indicate its
approval, transmit a copy thereof to the Board of Directors of the Greater Tompkins County Municipal Health Insurance
Consortium, and take any other such actions as may be required by law.
Supervisor Redmon moved and Councilperson Ricks seconded.
5
Vote: Councilperson Hinkle, Aye; Councilperson Lemke, Aye; Councilperson Lynch, Aye; Councilperson Ricks,
Aye; Supervisor Redmond, Aye; Carried.
Resolution #82-2022 A Resolution in Support of the Enfield Community Council Application under Tompkins County’s
Community Recovery Fund
Whereas, the Enfield Community Council (ECC) serves a vital role in providing essential services to residents of the Town
of Enfield and giving this Town a valued sense of community; and
Whereas, the ECC anticipates filing in October 2022 an application for grant funding under the Tompkins County
Community Recovery Fund, funding to provide the ECC the resources it needs to make beneficial capital improvements
at its Community Center, including the replacement of its “Teen Space” modular building with a permanent structural
addition intended to provide facilities advancing mental health, youth services, and related community activities; and
Whereas, the Town of Enfield has been assigned nearly $350,000 under the Federal Government’s American Rescue
Plan (ARPA), funding that this Town Board has deemed suitable to appropriate, in part, to further ECC’s aforementioned
project; and
Whereas, the Enfield Community Council has requested that the Town of Enfield commit a sum of twenty thousand
dollars ($20,000) in Enfield’s assigned ARPA funding toward this purpose, the ECC to apply this money as a local
matching share as part of its application under Tompkins County’s Community Recovery Fund; and
Whereas, ECC officers have requested this Town Board commit the funds prior to ECC’s filing of the Community
Recovery Fund application, so as to provide an expression of good faith; therefore, be it
Resolved, that the Enfield Town Board hereby commits to appropriate a sum of twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) from
Enfield’s assigned ARPA funding as local matching funds toward the Enfield Community Council’s forthcoming
application for grant funding under the Tompkins County Community Recovery Fund; and be it further
Resolved, that this local commitment of matching funds shall in no way limit or preclude this Town Board’s
consideration of further applications by the ECC for Enfield ARPA funding, regardless of Tompkins County’s action upon
ECC’s instant request.
Councilperson Lynch moved and Supervisor Redmond seconded. A brief discussion followed.
Vote: Councilperson Hinkle, Aye; Councilperson Lemke, Aye; Councilperson Lynch, Aye; Councilperson Ricks,
Aye; Supervisor Redmond, Aye; Carried.
Resolution #83-2022. A Resolution in Support of the Creation of the Position of Tompkins County EMS Coordinator
Whereas, the Enfield Town Board has identified the need for reliable, rapid-response emergency medical services as a
top community priority; and
Whereas, medical emergencies often constitute a majority or near-majority of monthly calls requiring response by the
Enfield Volunteer Fire Company (EVFC) and its Rescue Squad; and
6
Whereas, officials within the EVFC have communicated to this Town Board’s members the need for improved
emergency medical services to supplement, but not replace, those that EVFC volunteers can provide; and
Whereas, the commercial ambulance provider serving Enfield has found itself increasingly tasked responding to
emergencies in other parts of Tompkins County, thereby often lengthening the response times to answer medical
emergencies in Enfield; and
Whereas, officials in Tompkins County, including numerous County legislators, municipal leaders, and members of the
Tompkins County Council of Governments have recommended the establishment of a County-based and County-funded
rapid response medical service to support and supplement existing private and public agencies through a “flycar”
delivery system employing a specially-equipped SUV with advanced life support apparatus and paramedics on board, a
vehicle capable of providing first response to medical emergencies when an ambulance might not otherwise be
immediately available; and
Whereas, at the September 15th meeting of the Tompkins County Legislature’s Public Safety Committee, committee
members and County officials recommended that the first step toward this rapid response model be the creation of the
position of EMS Coordinator within the Tompkins County Department of Emergency Response, a position estimated to
cost $110,699 in first-year salary and benefit expenses; and
Whereas, the Expanded Budget Committee of the Tompkins County Legislature will consider at its October 13th meeting
the inclusion of the position of EMS Coordinator as a Member-Filed Over Target Request for inclusion within the 2023
Tompkins County Budget; therefore be it
Resolved, that the Enfield Town Board hereby recommends that the Expanded Budget Committee, and subsequently the
full Tompkins County Legislature approve, create, and fully fund the position of EMS Coordinator as an Over Target
Request within the 2023 Tompkins County Budget; and be it further
Resolved, that the Clerk shall communicate this Board’s support for said position to members of the County Legislature’s
Expanded Budget Committee and to the Legislature.
Discussion: Councilperson Lynch shared the purpose of the creation and how it would potentially operate. Supervisor
Redmond asked if they would consider Enfield as a satellite station. Councilperson Lynch said the “flycar’s” location is up
in the air and has not been decided. Supervisor Redmond shared that she has not heard any opposition and this may go
through. Councilperson Lynch shared a copy of member filed OTR Request.
Councilperson Lynch moved and Supervisor Redmond seconded. A brief discussion followed.
Vote: Councilperson Hinkle, Aye; Councilperson Lemke, Aye; Councilperson Lynch, Aye; Councilperson Ricks,
Aye; Supervisor Redmond, Aye; Carried.
Discussion: Tompkins County Assessment. Councilperson Lynch
Market values in assessments are going up quickly. As assessment does not have enough staff to assess everyone’s
property yearly he has proposed a 3-year assessment cycle. This has since gone out the window as Mr. Franklin has
proposed that everyone’s properties get assessed each year. If all the homes are similar in a geographic region, then
they will be assessed and will receive the same increase/decrease in assessment. Changes will be made to the
assessment complaint system. In the past if you wanted to complain then you could schedule an appointment to meet
with an accessor. Now you need to first fill out a form and provide documentation to back it up before you can meet
with an accessor. The third element is that there will be an elimination of local assessment board for a review/grievance.
7
They recently reimplemented the boards this year after several years of not imposing the boards. They found that they
did not receive high attendance at these scheduled reviews. Councilperson Lynch shared he does not believe that the
County will address these issues until their November meetings.
Privilege of the floor: Ellen Woods is speaking as herself not as in any role she has in the community. She does not
believe that the Town Supervisor works harder than the Town Clerk. This has been stated by a Town Board Member on
multiple occasions. She will reiterate her challenge to the Town Board Members to shadow the Town Clerk preferably
during Tax Season. She spoke on PPE for the Fire Company, as their gear is out of date. She only has one set of gear and
if she responds to a fire then she cannot respond to another call until her gear is cleaned. Councilperson Ricks wanted to
congratulate area Law Enforcement (There was an incident where Pitbull’s could have been used and guns pulled.). He
spoke that good people can have a bad day and those involved found out they were better neighbors then enemies.
Announcements:
Adjournment: Councilperson Ricks moved to adjourn and Councilperson Lynch seconded, adjourned 8: 05 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Cornell
Mary Cornell
Town Clerk