Feb. 20, 2008 Town Board Meeting Minutes

Present:
Knox - Town Supervisor
Coller - Councilwoman - Arrived at 7:10pm
Foster - Councilwoman
Jeanette - Councilwoman
Whiteford - Councilman
Eells - Town Clerk
White - Highway Superintendent

Guests:
Bobby Knox
Jon Hogle
Scott Gollinger
Larry and Linda Cook

The Public Hearing meeting for the Abandonment of the Hosely Road was called to order at 7:07pm by Supervisor Knox.

Knox stated that a request was received by the landowners all around the Hosely Road asking the town to abandon the road. The road was on the town inventory but no maintenance had been done in years. If by chance the property was to be sold the owners would have to work out a right a way for the new owners; the town would not be responsible for anything to do with the road. Supervisor Knox asked does anyone have any questions.

A motion was made by Supervisor Knox and seconded by Councilwoman Foster to adjourn the public hearing at 7:10pm and go into the regular meeting business. All were in favor the motion was carried.

Acceptance of the Minutes

A motion was made by Supervisor Knox and seconded by Councilman Whiteford to accept the minutes from 01/16 and 01/30 with typo corrections as presented by the Town Clerk.

Jeanette - yes
Foster - yes
Knox - yes
Whiteford - yes
Coller - yes

Motion carried.

Town Clerks Report:

We sold 10 dog licenses, 3 certified copies, 1 building permit for a total revenue for the month of January of $101.00. I have taken in 65.37% of taxes $691,232.72 as of 02/19/2008. I will be attending the Town Clerks Conference from April 27th to the 30th; I have applied for a $250.00 and a $500.00 scholarship; the money will be sent to reimburse after I have attended the conference.

Supervisors Report:

1. Financial records for January have been turned into the Town Clerk.

2. We should be receiving a check from NYS for $37,500.00 this is the grant for the theater work done in 2006.

3. I have resubmitted paper work for the $5,000.00 grant for the theater furnace work grant.

4. The highway account has 2- $150,000.00 CD’s.

5. The general account has 2- $100,000.00 CD’s.

6. The Town received $55,798.71 from St. Lawrence County; this is half of the plowing contract.

7. The Town received $7,095.00 from NYS for last years REVAL.

8. The Town received $62,166.27 from St. Lawrence County for sales tax; this went into the general fund.

9. The Town received $2,429.92 from the Development Authority; this is the final payment for the cemetery grant; the total of the grant was $15,000.00.

10. The town received $176.40 from Marie Rocca for a window at the museum.

11. The Town received $1,302.45 from St. Lawrence County for surcharges.

12. The Town received $89.33 from DRSR Fire Department for fuel used until 01/06/08; this went into the highway fund.

13. The Town received $2,631.00 from NYS Court Fines.

14. The Town received $323.30 from Russell Rescue for fuel used; this went into the highway fund.

15. I have submitted a new application to extend our mining permit at the town pit; this expires on 03/01/2008.

Highway Superintendent Report:

1. We have completed the shot rock clean up on Blanchard Hill Rd; and used it to extend the shoulder on Boyd Pond Rd in prep for raising that section 4 foot.

2. We have completed the tree removal and stripping on the hill at the Grant residence on the Cassidy Rd in prep for blasting to open the blind curve and create a ditch line.

3. We have borrowed the bucket truck and compressor from the Town of Edwards and will be using them as weather allows.

4. We have had 2 cylinders on the back hoe reparted and have had them reinstalled; we also rebuilt the bucket on the back hoe.

5. We have completed the work on the cab mounts on truck # 12 and will be stripping truck #9 soon for the motor and usable parts.

6. The constant snow and freezing rain has kept us on the roads for extended hours.

7. I have the bids in for a new P/U and plow and will go over them with you.

8. We replaced the clutch in the 2001 International; I hired Frank & Steve Mackin to do the job at $15.00 per hour each; the total for labor was $390.00.

9. We received a check from Russell Fire Department for $323.30 for fuel used. (this was in Supervisors report also)

10. I will be talking on equipment from the federal surplus program.

11. The men have all worked well and I thank them.

Assessor Report: Donna Goodwin

At this time, I have been unable to complete inspection of properties with building permits due to inclement weather and the need for my presence in the office for STAR exemptions. Some of these permits are over a year old and are either not started or not complete. I would like the board to advise me as to whether a new permit is required after a year. In addition, I have approximately twelve properties that I must go and see for various reasons. There are several Enhanced and Aged STAR Exemption applications and income that have not been sent in yet. It is my understanding that the board will assist with getting in touch with these people. I expect to post the Notice of Completion of Inventory in the paper within the next two weeks as well as the Notice for Hearing of Complaints.

Legislature Report: Fred Morrill

1. Emergency fuel is being distributed from sales tax to 12 agencies to distribute.

2. The new jail is almost on schedule it’s a week or two behind. 20 million of the 30 million has been is spent. The cells could cost $100,000 more because of an electrical mix up.

3. Fred will get a list of the county road schedule for the next meeting.

Supervisor Knox stated that he went to the Fire Hall when Assemblyman Aubertine was there and presented a list of areas the town could use some funding for.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Resolution #33: Audit

A motion was made by Supervisor Knox and seconded by Councilman Whiteford to pay the following bills:

General vouchers # 41-83: $ 14, 415.40
Highway vouchers # 22-57: $79,607.38 ($79,609.38 TE)
St. Lighting voucher #2:   Russell - $551.39
                                   DeGrasse - 178.26
                                                  $729.65

Jeanette - yes
Foster - yes
Knox - yes
Whiteford - yes
Coller - yes

Motion carried.

Highway:

Superintendent White presented these bids to the board for an F-350 P/U Truck:

1. State Bid from Van Botel Ford, Inc. - Victor NY: $20,325.00

2. Parkway Auto - $29,998.53

3. Dealmaker Ford - $27,275.00

Bids on an 8 1/2 ft V Plow:

1. Route 11 Truck & Equipment Sales & Service, Inc. Hiniker Plow $4,450.00.

2. Frenchie’s Chevrolet, Inc. Fisher Plow - $4,580.13 - Meyer Plow-$4,951.50

Resolution #34: F-350 P/U

A motion was made by Supervisor Knox and seconded by Councilman Whiteford to accept the bid for an F-350 Ford Super Duty Pick Up truck from Van Bortel Ford, Inc. (WBE) Federal ID# 16-1609363 - 7325 Route 96 Victor, NY 14534 in the amount of $20,325.00.

Jeanette - yes
Foster - yes
Knox - yes
Whiteford - yes
Coller - yes

Motion carried.

Resolution #35: 8 1/2 foot V Plow

A motion was made by Councilman Whiteford and seconded by Councilwoman Jeanette to accept the bid for an 8 1/2 foot Hiniker V Plow installed with cutting edge, plow shoes, plow markers, hand held controls, bottom trip edge, and deflector for the cost of $4,450.00 from Route 11 Truck & Equipment Sales & Services, Inc. 6085 US Highway 11, Canton, NY 13617.

Jeanette - yes
Foster - yes
Knox - yes
Whiteford - yes
Coller - yes

Motion carried.

Superintendent White stated that at the 2nd Highway meeting they discussed and looked at some Federal Surplus used trucks. There are 3 trucks for $3,000 each, he would like authorization to go look at them and be allowed to spend up to $10,000 if needed.

Resolution #36: Board authorization to purchase Federal Surplus Trucks up to $10,000 for highway superintendent

A motion was made by Supervisor Knox and seconded by Councilman Whiteford to authorize $10,000 to be taken from the Fund Balance to purchase up to 3 federal surplus trucks and possibly a generator.

Jeanette - yes
Foster - yes
Knox - yes
Whiteford - yes
Coller - yes

Motion carried.

Resolution #37: Abandonment of the Hosely Road

A motion was made by Supervisor Knox and seconded by Councilwoman Foster to abandon the Hosely Road in its entirety of this road.

Jeanette - yes
Foster - yes
Knox - yes
Whiteford - yes
Coller - yes

Motion carried.

Public Discussion:

• Supervisor Knox stated that Mr. Leader would be attending the next meeting on March 19th to be introduced to the board; he will be the new town lawyer starting March 1st

• Evah Foster stated that the Sweetheart breakfast held February 17th made $600.00 for the Russell Opera House Theater.

• David Whiteford stated that he received a letter from Instant Verification, Inc. that does child safety and background checks on volunteers and employees. He feels maybe it is something the town should check into. A copy will be made for board members so they can review it for the March 19th meeting.

• David also stated that Assemblyman Aubertine said that Small Cities Grants can be done on line.

• David asked Fred Morrill if he knew anything about a gas reimbursement program; it said if you drive over 100 miles a day you could get .15 per mile reimbursement. Fred will check into it.

CEO:

Resolution #38: Executive Session

A motion was made by Supervisor Knox and seconded by Councilman Whiteford to enter into executive session at 8:15 pm all were in favor. Motion carried.

A motion was made by Supervisor Knox and seconded by Councilwoman Jeanette to exit the executive session at 8:30pm and return to the regular meeting. All were in favor. Motion carried.

Supervisor Knox stated that they discussed the corner building the fire department owns and wants to demolish; the town and CEO have concerns about asbestos being in the building. The town is requesting that the fire department have it tested for contaminates.

Resolution #39: Testing for asbestos

A motion was made by Supervisor Knox and seconded by Councilman Whiteford that the town will go 50% of the cost of the testing and if it proves there is no asbestos the town will waive their 50% cost in testing; but if the building has got asbestos to remove the town will help get a grant for the asbestos removal and the town will get reimbursed the 50% cost for the testing from the grant.

Jeanette - yes
Foster - yes
Knox - yes
Whiteford - yes
Coller - yes

Motion carried.

• Evah Foster stated that some cleaning was being done in the cellar of the town hall; old paint cans etc. She asked what should be done with 2 doors. One can be thrown out the other one could be used on the door in the mail room if it will fit. The plastic shower stalls could be hung from the ceiling to get them off the floor.

• Ike Guyette (CEO) said a containment wall made from cement should be put in around the fuel tanks that are down cellar. Supervisor Knox will have Mike Anson look at it. He also suggested that the whole floor be capped off with new cement.

• Bob Knox brought up the Junk Law that Pierrepont has. The board tabled it until the next meeting so the board can read it.

A motion was made by Supervisor Knox and seconded by Councilman Whiteford to adjourn the meeting at 8:48pm. All were in favor. Motion carried.