Town of Russell, NY

Community Events | History | Home Page | Knox Memorial Central School | Library
Organizations | Memorial Hall/Museum | School | Town Board Meeting Minutes | Town Officials | Worship

March 18, 2009 Town Board Meeting Minutes

Town Of Russell
Regular Town Board Meeting
Russell Town Hall
March 18, 2009
7:00 pm

Present:
Richard Knox - Town Supervisor
Carol Coller - Councilwoman - 7:00pm
Evah Foster - Councilwoman
Courtney Jeanette - Councilwoman
David Whiteford - Councilman
Tess Eells - Town Clerk
Larry White - Highway Superintendent

Guests:
Bobby Knox
Fred Morrill
Lorna McCarty
Larry Cook
Linda Matthews
Ike Guyette - CEO
Tom Robinson
Erin Whitmarsh


The Board met at 6:30pm to audit the Justice Dockets for 2008, Tom Robinson Town Justice and Erin Whitmarsh Court Clerk presented their books to the Town Board to review.


The meeting was called to order by Supervisor Knox @ 7:00pm.


Acceptance of the minutes:

A motion was made by Councilwoman Foster and seconded by Supervisor Knox to accept the minutes from 02/18/09 as presented by the Town Clerk.

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

Motion carried.


Resolution #36: 2008 Justice Docket audit

A motion was made by Supervisor Knox and seconded by Councilman Whiteford approving the audit for the 2008 Justice Dockets that were found to be correct.

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

Motion carried.


Lorna McCarty presented documents showing her 2 parcels of land, she wants the board to release her out of the Street Lighting District on her small parcel so she can combine them.


Resolution #37: Lorna McCarty property

A motion was made by Councilman Whiteford and seconded by Councilwoman Coller to present the following resolution:

WHEREAS, Lorna McCarty would like her two parcels tax map # 163.004-1-13.1 and #163.004-1-12 to be combined as one parcel, and

WHEREAS, parcel 3 163.004-1-13.2 is in the Street Lighting District, and

WHEREAS, the Russell town Board agrees to release parcel # 163.004-1-13.2 from the Street Lighting District so it can be combined with parcel # 163.004-1-12 as one parcel of land,

THEREFORE, the assessor has the permission of the Russell Town Board to combine the 2 parcels of land in question into one parcel.

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

Motion carried.


REPORTS


Town Clerk's Report:

We sold 17 dog licenses, 1 building permit, 2 certified copies and $19.00 in DECALS for a total revenue for the month of February of $161.00. I have received a $500 scholarship from the NY State town Clerk’s Association towards my Conference in April. It will be reimbursed after I attend the conference. I would like it put back into my expense account. I have collected $799,038.15 of taxes from 01/01/09 to 03/17/09 which is 69.48%.


Supervisor's Report:

  1. Financial reports have been turned into the Town clerk for February.

  2. The Town received $1,403.28 St. Lawrence County for surcharge.

  3. The Town received $2,714.00 from the Russell Town Justice for court fines. This went into account #A1010 and out of this account we sent $1,681.25 to the NYS for the state and county share of the fines.

  4. The Town has received $650.00 from E.J. Noble hospital for rent on the Health Center.

  5. The Town received $2,591.75 from the NY State for justice court fines for the last three months of 2008.

  6. The Town received $127.27 from St. Lawrence County for their share of surplus dog licenses.

  7. The Town received $2,396.09 from the Development Authority of the North Country for work done on the health clinic.


Highway Superintendent Report:

  1. We have completed the work on the brush cutter and completed ¾ mile on the Pyrites-Russell Rd, and started on the Town Line Rd. The hand chipping on the Pyrites-Russell Rd should be completed by the end of the week.

  2. We will be adding shoulder material to a section of this road to allow us to mow.

  3. We have completed the stripping of the #12 truck that rolled over; the rear end has been installed into the 1997 International. And the rest of the parts will be stored. The motor was of no use to us and was traded to M&M Trucking for gravel and the rest of the truck was sent to the scrap yard and will be traded for guide rail posts.

  4. The belt loader has been delivered and is in the shop to be fully checked out. Everything works as it should.

  5. With the snow nearly over we will be stripping one truck in prep for spring work.

  6. We have replaced the clutch in the grade-all.

  7. We have gone over the project on the Cole Rd with the DEC and should have the paperwork in about 2 weeks.

  8. We continue to bring in fire wood with approximately 60 cords so far. We have several areas lined up for wood for next year including the Cole Rd projects.

  9. We have a reoccurring ice problem in front of Larry Matthews home and I have gone over it with him. We are planning on installing drainage tile to correct it. We will be doing this when the frost is out, this is the only area we had water or ice problems.

  10. We have done some grading and adding gravel to several of the gravel roads. This will help out until the frost is gone.

  11. We cleaned up a fuel leak at the Town Hall and came up with a better system for the tanks.

  12. Our shift work for the winter has worked well, less overtime and better road coverage.

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


Assessor Report: Donna Goodwin


CEO Report:

  1. Two people asked me about trailers; in Pierrepont they have to be a 1976 or newer if wiring has been inspected and have a peaked roof for snow bearing weight.

  2. Supervisor Knox stated that the town should upgrade the year of the trailers to 1990 or newer in a local law. He also feels it should include keeping things out of the Town road right a way. He will notify the town lawyer of these two matters. He will ask Mr. Leader to come to the next meeting in April.

  3. Councilman Whiteford and Councilwoman Jeanette feel that the year should be 1985 or newer trailer is more reasonable.

  4. Ike asked about the old Shell Station; what is being done.

  5. Supervisor Knox stated that the Town and County will work together to clean it up because the County is taking it in June.

  6. Ike was asked to inspect a 1-2 family rental; he needs a Local law stating they can be inspected with a search warrant because it is invading their privacy. He can inspect them if he is asked to by the owner.

  7. Supervisor Knox stated he will ask the lawyer about it.

  8. Supervisor Knox asked the CEO to check out 3609 CR 24 owned by Richard Martin to have him get it cleaned up. Ike is to send a certified letter to Mr. Martin to start with.


DCO Report:

N/A


Legislature Report: Fred Morrill

  1. The jail is not open yet.

  2. There is an issue with on how to handle the 1620 meg of power. If the IDA controls it will be handled better for the rest of the county. There are 4 towns called the Rural Development that want to handle it, they want to sell it for 7 million.

  3. I feel that if a new company wants to come in and use it, it would be better.

  4. I feel I county representative is not enough. Nimo will make the final decision.

  5. Supervisor Knox asked if he heard anything about the Stimulus money yet. Fred stated not much, the county is getting 7.8 million for Medicaid.

  6. The legislatures passed a resolution to do two bridges with the money when they get it. Councilman Whiteford asked if the work will be contracted out, Fred stated that they will be contracted out.

  7. Superintendent White asked if he heard anything about the old shell station. Fred stated that the Dec has liens on them and they will have to lift them so they can be cleaned up and put back on the tax roll. The environmental money will be used for these projects.


AMP Report:

N/A


NEW BUSINESS:


COMMITTEE REPORTS:


Resolution #38: Audit

A motion was made by Councilwoman Foster and seconded by Councilwoman Coller to pay the following bills.
Councilwoman Jeanette asked a question about voucher #99 KUNOCO not all the invoices are there so they don’t know what the amount owed was for.

General vouchers # 86-119: $19,101.41 ($19,645.74 TE)
Highway vouchers # 49-69: $40,919.06
Street Lighting #3:   Russell $466.47
                            DeGrasse 150.22
                                         $616.69

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

Motion carried.


Resolutions:


Resolution #39: Trailers

A motion was made by Councilman Whiteford and seconded by Councilwoman Coller to have any trailers brought into the Town of Russell to be a 1985 or newer and HUD certified for the Northern Zone area.

Coller - yes
Jeanette - yes
Foster - no
Knox - no
Whiteford - yes

Motion carried.


Councilwoman Jeanette stated that the DeGrasse Fire Department has someone from Russell who wants to join their department; is there anything in writing stating they cannot. Supervisor Knox stated no.


Highway Report:

Superintendent White stated he needed authorization to spend town monies. He will do up the project list for the next meeting.


Resolution #40: Authorization to spend town road monies

A motion was made by Supervisor Knox and seconded by Councilman Whiteford to authorize the Highway superintendent to spend up to $30,000 on Capital Improvement portion of the budget.

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

Motion carried.


Superintendent White presented the SPECS he drew up on the 2009 4 wheel drive Front End Loader he wants to take bids on.

LOADER:

ENGINE:

POWER TRAIN:

We have a John Deere 544 E to trade in

We request bids with and without trade; this loader can be seen by appointment only by calling 315-247-2317

We request appointment delivery time from when bid is accepted.

We request value of this machine after 5 years with 4,000 hours.

Bids must be in by April 14, 2009

The Town of Russell reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids.


Resolution #41: Bids for new loader

A motion was made by supervisor Knox and seconded by Councilwoman Foster to put out to bids for a 2009 4 Wheel Drive Front End Loader and if a copy of the SPECS is requested contact the Russell Town Clerk at 315-347-2358 or the Highway superintendent at 315-347-2317. The bids will be due in by April 14, 2009 and will be opened at the April 15th board meeting.

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

Motion carried.


Public Discussion:

Carol Coller thanked the board for the donation sent to Hospice in memory of her mother.

Highway Superintendent stated that between January 1st and now it would have cost $101,000 to do the county roads @ $60.00 an hour.

Supervisor Knox stated that the town will finally receive the $5,000 from parks & recreation for the grant money we used to put the furnace in for the Theater.

Supervisor Knox stated that the cost of a plow for the John Deere Lawn mower will be about $1,795 installed; it will be done in fall.

Supervisor Knox stated that the cost of the wood splitter came in more than was discussed and we should have gotten more price quotes.


Adjournment:

The meeting adjourned at 8:25pm. All were in favor.

Respectfully submitted by
Tess Eells
Russell Town Clerk


Herd Community Network,Inc.
Site designed and maintained by John Thomas
Email the Webmaster: webmaster%russellny.org (substitute @ for the %
symbol when you enter the address in your email program - this helps prevent spam)
Last update: April 19, 2009