HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-03-11 Town Board Minutes
MARCH 11, 2024 4:00 P.M.
SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING
The Special Meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Cortlandville was held at the
Raymond G. Thorpe Municipal Building, 3577 Terrace Road, Cortland, New York with
Supervisor Williams presiding.
Members present: Supervisor, Thomas A. Williams
Councilman, David J. Donlick
Councilman, Jeffrey D. Guido
Councilman, Gregory K. Leach
Councilman, Glenn D. Reisweber
Town Clerk, Kristin E. Rocco-Petrella
Others present were: Town Attorney, John DelVecchio; Highway Superintendent, Larry
Drach; Recreation Director, John McNerney; Town Residents: Pamela Jenkins; Bob Martin;
Andrea Niggli; Bernice Potter-Masler; Barbara Leach; Dustin Smith; Cheryl Ann Crispell. Others
present via Zoom video/telephone conference: None.
Supervisor Williams called the Special Meeting to order, which he explained was called to
address three items. The first two items were tabled at the March 6, 2024 Town Board meeting
regarding the creation of additional positions for laborers and recreation attendants for civil service
purposes. The third agenda item was regarding the interior build-out of the concession building at
Gutchess Lumber Sports Complex (GLSC).
Prior to discussing the agenda items Supervisor Williams explained that it was not normal
protocol to offer privilege of the floor at special meetings. It was the consensus of the Board to
grant privilege of the floor to those in attendance.
Supervisor Williams offered privilege of the floor to Pamela Jenkins.
Town resident, Pamela Jenkins questioned the need for the short-noticed special meeting,
asking why the Board did not discuss the agenda item regarding engaging the services of Resource
Associates to prepare engineered drawings for the interior build-out of the concession building at
GLSC at the meeting last week. She also asked what the total cost would be for engineering and
suggested it be specified and not open-ended. She referenced the Town’s consulting agreement
with Resource Associates and the fees of $200/hour.
Supervisor Williams explained that the decision to conduct the special meeting was made
on Thursday. The appropriate notice was provided to the news media. The public notice was
posted to the Town’s website and signboard. Attorney DelVecchio agreed that the notice was
sufficient.
There was discussion regarding the creation of an additional five part-time seasonal
Laborer positions and an additional ten part-time seasonal Recreation Attendant positions.
Supervisor Williams explained that to comply with civil service rules, the Town was required to
formally create additional positions before hiring for them. The Town currently has eight Laborer
positions and three part-time Recreation Attendant positions approved by Civil Service.
Recreation Director, John McNerney explained the need for the additional positions, noting that
hiring for the positions and the wages were included in the 2024 budget. He estimated a total of
779 hours would be worked between the months of March and November. Based on the number
of Recreation Attendants needed in 2023, he expected that eight attendants would be hired; only
one attendant is needed per day at GLSC. However, since the positions are part-time and seasonal,
there could be a need to hire more attendants depending on the schedules/availability of those he
hired. Regarding the additional Laborer positions, highway Superintendent Drach explained that
five part-time employees are typically hired during the summer months to work at the Highway
Department. The position of Laborer was also used for part-time cleaners at the parks. Again, the
hiring of Laborers was included in the budget.
MARCH 11, 2024 SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING PAGE 2
RESOLUTION #107 AUTHORIZE SUPERVISOR TO CREATE AN ADDITIONAL
FIVE (5) PART-TIME SEASONAL LABORER POSITIONS FOR
THE TOWN OF CORTLANDVILLE HIGHWAY
DEPARTMENT
Motion by Councilman Leach
Seconded by Councilman Reisweber
VOTES: AYE – Williams, Donlick, Guido, Leach, Reisweber NAY - 0
ADOPTED
WHEREAS, per Town Board Resolution, the Town Board created eight (8) part-time seasonal
Laborer positions for the Town of Cortlandville Highway Department, and
WHEREAS, at the request of Highway Superintendent, Larry Drach, an additional five (5) part -
time seasonal Laborer positions are necessary, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, the Town Board does hereby authorize and direct the Supervisor to create an
additional five (5) part-time seasonal Laborer positions for the Town of Cortlandville Highway
Department, for use also at the Gutchess Lumber Sports Complex, bringing the total number of
positions to thirteen (13), at a salary to be determined, and it is further
RESOLVED, the Town Board does hereby authorize and direct the Supervisor to sign the “New
Positions Duty Statement” for the five (5) new part-time seasonal Laborer positions pursuant to
Civil Service Law, Section 22.
RESOLUTION #108 AUTHORIZE SUPERVISOR TO CREATE AN ADDITIONAL
TEN (10) PART-TIME SEASONAL RECREATION
ATTENDANT POSITIONS FOR THE TOWN OF
CORTLANDVILLE
Motion by Councilman Guido
Seconded by Councilman Reisweber
VOTES: AYE – Williams, Donlick, Guido, Leach, Reisweber NAY - 0
ADOPTED
WHEREAS, per Town Board Resolution #74 of 2019 the Town Board created three (3) part-time
Recreation Attendant positions for the Town of Cortlandville for the Gutchess Lumber Sports
Complex, and
WHEREAS, at the request of Recreation Director, John McNerney, an additional ten (10) part -
time seasonal Recreation Attendant positions are necessary, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, the Town Board does hereby authorize and direct the Supervisor to create an
additional ten (10) part-time seasonal Recreation Attendant positions for the Town of
Cortlandville, bringing the total number of positions to thirteen (13), at a salary to be determined,
and it is further
RESOLVED, the Town Board does hereby authorize and direct the Supervisor to sign the “New
Positions Duty Statement” for the ten (10) new part-time seasonal Recreation Attendant positions
pursuant to Civil Service Law, Section 22.
There was discussion regarding the concession building and the third agenda item to
discuss “authorizing the Supervisor to engage the services of Resource Associates to prepare
engineered drawings for the interior build-out of the Concession Building at the Gutchess Lumber
Sports Complex to include the plumbing and electrical as well as discussion and authorization to
go out to bid for the electrical (materials and installation thereof); discussion regarding the
plumbing work.”
Supervisor Williams provided background information regarding the plans for the
concession building, explaining that per the plans submitted by CHA, the estimated cost of the
concession building was $1.6 million and would have cost several hundred thousand dollars for
engineering services. The Board decided against that instead and proceeded in a different direction
by engaging the services of a local engineer, Resource Associates, to assist with the project. The
Town went to bid for the shell of the building, with plans for part of the work to be completed by
the Town Highway Department and Water/Sewer Department. Supervisor Williams explained
MARCH 11, 2024 SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING PAGE 3
that the Town Board previously authorized the expenditure of up to $12,000 to Resource
Associates for the engineering of the concession building.
Attorney DelVecchio added that his understanding of the resolution that was previously
adopted for Resource Associates was for $12,000; $8,400 of which was for interior design work.
In addition, the Board authorized a contract with Resource Associates for $200/hour. Depending
on what the Town decides to do with respect to the plumbing and electrical, it is possible that
whatever additional work is done by Resource Associates could already be included in the $12,000
that has already been approved. In theory, if the Board wanted to adopt a resolution for the
expenditure of funds beyond $12,000, they could do so; however, it may not be necessary. Board
members voiced their desire to table action until they receive more information.
RESOLUTION #109 TABLE ACTION REGARDING ENGAGING THE SERVICES
OF RESOURCE ASSOCIATES TO PREPARE ENGINEERED
DRAWINGS FOR THE INTERIOR BUILD-OUT OF THE
CONCESSION BUILDING AT GUTCHESS LUMBER SPORTS
COMPLEX
Motion by Councilman Donlick
Seconded by Councilman Leach
VOTES: AYE – Williams, Donlick, Guido, Leach NAY - 0
ABSTAIN – Reisweber
ADOPTED
BE IT RESOLVED, the Town Board hereby tables action regarding engaging the services of
Resource Associates to prepare engineered drawings for the interior build-out of the concession
building at Gutchess Lumber Sports Complex to allow time for the Board to receive more
information.
With no further comments or discussion to be heard, Supervisor Williams adjourned the
Special Meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:17 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Kristin E. Rocco-Petrella, RMC
Town Clerk
Town of Cortlandville
*Note:
The draft version of this meeting was submitted to the Town Board for their review on March 29, 2024.
The final version of this meeting was approved as written at the Town Board meeting of April 3, 2024.