HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-03-08-PI-LL1and 2 of 2016-FINAL-MinutesPUBLIC INFORMATION SESSION
LOCAL LAWS 1 AND 2 OF 2016: Providing for the Abolition of the Elected Position of Town Clerk
and Highway Superintendent and Creation of the Appointed Position of Town Clerk and Highway
Superintendent of the Town of Ulysses
Town of Ulysses
March 8, 2016
Audio of the minutes are available on the website at ulysses.ny.us.
The hearing was held at the Ulysses Town Hall at 10 Elm Street, Trumansburg.
PRESENT:
Supervisor- Liz Thomas
1 st Deputy Supervisor- Nancy Zahler
Board members- Michael Boggs, Rich Goldman, John Hertzler
Clerk- Carissa Parlato
Attorney for the Town- Mariette Geldenhuys
OTHERS PRESENT:
Jim Dennis, Peter Meskill, Todd Parlato, Richard Coogan, Jeff Brown, Scott Sherwood, Linda
Liddle, Glynis Hart, Billy Conroy, Roxanne Marino, Phil Antweiler, Don Ellis, Jim Meeker,
Nancy and Edward Dean
CALL TO ORDER:
Ms. Thomas called the session to order at 6:30 p.m.
SUBJECT OF THE SESSION:
Ms. Thomas announced the subject of the Public Information Session: two local laws pursuant to
Municipal Home Rule Law Sections 10, 22 and 23 that allow the Town of Ulysses government to
change the elected positions of Town Clerk and Town Highway Superintendent to appointed positions.
If passed, these local laws are subject to a mandatory referendum that will take place on Tuesday, May
24, 2016.
Ms. Thomas read through pros and cons of each type of position.
Ms. Zahler added that she spoke with several towns where these positions are appointed and found that
re -appointment rates are high.
Mr. Goldman noted that his reason for pursuing the issue is accountability for elected officials.
PUBLIC QUESTIONS/COMMENTS:
Questions from the public were asked regarding:
x salaries
x the town board's motivation
x the May referendum date
x the board's knowledge of the highway department
x what will happen for the highway superintendent if the referendum doesn't pass
x the procedure for moving from elected to appointed
x whether the board already has a highway superintendent candidate in mind
x what the board's determination of a successful referendum would look like
CLOSING:
Mr. Goldman made a motion to close the hearing at 7:20pm, seconded by Ms. Zahler and passed
unanimously.
Respectfully submitted by Carissa Parlato on 3/24/16.