April 15, 2009 Town Board Meeting Minutes

Present:
Richard Knox - Town Supervisor
Carol Coller - Councilwoman - 7:03pm
Evah Foster - Councilwoman
Courtney Jeanette - Councilwoman
David Whiteford - Councilman - 7:20pm
Tess Eells - Town Clerk
Larry White - Highway Superintendent

Guests:
Bobby Knox
Fred Morrill
Dr. Cartwright
Roger Williams
Scott Allen
Tom Pete
Bob Matott
Brenda O'Brien
Dennis Griffin
John Daniels
Barry Jeanette

The meeting was called to order by Supervisor Knox @ 7:01pm.

Acceptance of the minutes:

A motion was made by Supervisor Knox and seconded by Councilwoman Foster to accept the minutes from 03/18/09 and 04/07/09 as presented by the Town Clerk.

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

Motion carried.

Tom Pete - CPA

Supervisor Knox turned the floor over to Tom Pete to present the 2008 audit of the town books.

• Tom stated on page 2 of the audit report is the Report of Independent Auditors.

• Page 3 is the Combined Balance Sheet; general Fund has $161,206 as of the end of 2008. The Liabilities has $15,957 making the total fund balance of $145,249. $50,000 was set aside last year to offset taxes.

• Page 4 is the Special revenue Combining Balance Sheet; the highway has $245,582 in cash assets so it leaves the Highway in good shape. The Library has $21,000 all in cash.

• Page 5 is the Combined Statement of Revenues and Expenditures and Changes in Fund balances. General Fund had $395,927 in total Revenue; total expenditures and other uses were $387,019; leaving $145,249 in the Fund balance at the end of the year. There was $8,791 in extra revenue due to extra sales tax.

• Page 6 is the Special Revenue Combining Statement of Revenue and Expenditures and Changes in Fund balances. The Highway Fund has $800,037 in total revenues; total expenditures were $788,923 leaving excess (Deficit) of revenues and other sources over expenditures of $11,114. All the funds look in good shape.

• Page 7 is the Comparative Operating statement- Budget and Actual General and Special Revenue Funds has $21,767 extra due to extra sales tax.

• Pages 11-15 are Notes to financial statements; the cash is covered by Collateral.

• Pages 19 & 20 are comments from the Auditors to the Town Board.

• Page 23 is the Management Letter.

• The only thing Tom recommends is to take care of Budget Modifications, Revisions a little better.

• This Financial report is in the Town Clerks Office if any one wishes to review it.

• Supervisor Knox thanked Tom for coming.

Dr. Cartwright - Edward-Knox Central School Superintendent

Presented to the board what the school is wanting from the residents when it is time to vote on the budget.

• The school received a grant of $492,000 2 1/2 years ago. It went to the voters to increase energy and security efficiency. The Energy would be Bio-Matter (wood chips etc.)

• The School is looking at better IP Phone system, more Security Cameras, finishing out the lighting.

• 1 1/2 month ago the bids came in and were to high; due to the Architects, need more info on air quality, and enough water from the fire departments in case of emergency.

• Was asking for 1.6 million now asking for 4.1 million.

Roger Williams

• It is a 2.9 million project; 97% will be Building Aide and 3% will be the local share (Excel grant Money). They need the voters to approve the 4.1 million. We have $392,000 left in the Excel Grant Money.

• They are concerned about the Excel Grant Money, if they will keep getting it each year.

• The budget will only be up 2%.

John Daniels

• John explained that the school could save around $125,000 a year with the Bio-Matter heating system, solar panels and a windmill. The wood chips are plentiful in our area, he checked on the Geo-Thermal; they didn’t reject it they figured it was not right for us. Retro fitting the building for it would be costly.

• Trailers would bring in the wood chips and a BobCat would be used to move the pallets. The school will have a storage bin that will hold 40 ton. It will burn at 50% moisture.

• Brenda O’Brien and Bob Matott feel the meetings should have been better advertised to get more voters out. Bob feels getting more figures out on all this would help people understand the need for the Bio-Matter Heat, etc. He feels that the school should put figures and the savings, and the info about using both fuel sources out for the public to read.

• John stated that they would still have the boiler system hooked up and whichever fuel source is cheaper than that is the one they will use.

• There will be a May 12th meeting at school if anyone wants to come to hear more on this matter.

REPORTS

Town Clerk's Report:

We sold 9 dog licenses, 1 building permit, 2 certified copies, fax and copy money, money from selling old furnace from the new library and $83.00 in DECALS for a total revenue for the month of March of $281.00. I have collected $901,694.52 of taxes from 01/01/09 to 04/15/09 which is 77.49%.

Supervisor's Report:

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

2. The Town received 3 checks from the Development Authority of the North Country; $2,396.09, $9,725.00 and $3,200.00 all part of the Clinic Grant.

3. The Town received $5,000.00 from the Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation for the Theater furnace.

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

5. The Town received $2,400.00 from the Justice for March Court Fines.

Highway Superintendent Report:

1. We have completed brush cutting on the Cassidy, Hill and Town Line Roads and will start the clean up and prep work when this year’s projects are done.

2. We cut brush on the lower end of the Lazy River Road approximately 3/4 miles.

3. We will be moving onto the Blanchard Hill and Boyd Pond Roads next week. We have approximately 1 week’s work to grade shoulders and a small amount of ditching then our resurfacing will start.

4. I have written up our CHIPS Projects and you will have a copy to go over with me. This will complete Blanchard Hill and two sections of Boyd Pond Roads. It will complete the pipes for the 2010 projects on Cassidy, Hill and Smith Roads. Any remaining money will go into the Hill and Dana Hill roads.

5. We have added gravel to sections of most of the gravel roads and are now grading them again now that they have dried out.

6. We now have 2 trucks still harnessed for snow and they will be stripped next week.

7. We replaced 1 driveway pipe and cleaned the ditch line on the Fordham Hill Road.

8. We replaced 1 pipe on the Spicer Road and 1 pipe on the Silver Hill Road South.

9. Our sand clean up inside of town is complete as well as DeGrasse.

10. We cleaned the ditch between Howard’s and Clary’s on the Burnell Road.

11. The men have been patching roads; we will need to address the seal on the West road and the end of the Dana Hill Road and the North end of the West Road.

12. We welcome the warm weather and enjoy getting back to more road work; we have a great deal of it lined up.

13. He handed in 2 checks from Russell Rescue for $226.32 and $171.11.

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

Assessor Report: Donna Goodwin

• There are a very few loose ends left to fix for the Tentative Roll. I have posted hours for Informal Complaints and hope that there will be very few. The appointments will be at 15-minute intervals and we need to keep these on time. If there were a complaint, it would be helpful to see pictures or other documentation, indicating your reason for wanting a change in assessment.

• After Grievance day on May 27th, I will be spending many hours in the field getting ready for our Re-Valuation. Several citizens have brought to my attention that there are homes and other structures that are not currently on the Roll. I anticipate a thorough check of the town and will be working on every road in Russell. My goal is to get all inventories on the Tax rolls, so that we have a broader tax base and hopefully a lesser tax burden for everyone.

CEO Report: Ike Guyette

Presented this letter to the board but could not be here.

Russell Town Board, Property is to be rented and is vacant or if rental has moved out and the owner wants to re-rent the property; I will inspect it for the Town of Russell. But as long as someone lives in the property I will not inspect the property.

DCO Report:

N/A

Legislature Report: Fred Morrill

1. The jail is not open yet.

2. I was appointed to the Local government committee.

3. Councilman Whiteford asked Fred what will happen to the man in Ogdensburg who has been in the news; Fred stated it is up to Bill Dashnaw; St. Lawrence County Highway Superintendent. Bill is struggling with it he may remain as an Engineer.

4. Sales tax was down less than 2%.

5. Highway Superintendent White asked Fred if County had their paving projects lined up yet, Fred stated they want 20-30 miles through the Stimulus Package.

6. Supervisor Knox stated that the proposed budget was passed April 4th or 5th and the Town of Russell only lost $214.00.

AMP Report:

N/A

NEW BUSINESS:

BIDS FOR NEW LOADER:

1. NORTRAX: New 2009 John Deere 544K Loader; Purchase price $108,990.00 Less Trade in of 544E Loader $15,000.00 Trade difference $93,990.00. Approximate value of this Loader in 5 years or 4,000 hours would be $65,000 to $75,000.

2. MILTON CAT: New 2009 caterpillar 930H Wheel loader; Purchase price $106,369.00 Less trade in allowance for the 1990 544E John Deere $7,500.00. Total cost $98,869.00. Estimated value (auction pricing) after 5 years or 4,000 hours; $72,000 to $78,000 per machinery trader. ALTERNATE BID: New 2009 caterpillar 928H wheel loader; $98,104.00; less trade in allowance for the 1990 544E John Deere of $7,500.00; total $90,604.00. Estimated value (auction pricing) after 5 years or 4,000 hours $64,000.00 to $68,000.00.

3. TRACEY ROAD EQUIPMENT: New 2009 Hyundai Four Wheel Drive HL740-7A Wheel loader: Bid Price $81,398 Trade in for 1990 544E John Deere is included ($13,000.00); $94,398.00 no trade in consideration. Estimated retail value based on 4,000 hours at $10.00 per hour $56,379.00.

Resolution #44: New 2009 Loader

A motion was made by Supervisor Knox and seconded by Councilwoman Foster to accept the bid from NORTRAX for a 2009 544K John Deere Loader at the bid of $93,990.00 with the trade in offer of $15,000.00.

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

Motion carried.

OLD BUSINESS:

Local Law #1 will now be "Preventing residents from the Town of Russell to putting hay bales, farm machinery or other debris in the road or within the Town's right-a-way or the County's right-a-way".

Local Law #2 will now be "Providing for the regulation of mobile homes in the Town of Russell".

Corrections to these local laws will be done by the lawyer and then a public meeting will be held.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Highway Committee:

Superintendent White presented his Capital Improvement Projects:

1. Boyd pond, Blanchard Hill intersection and leading to North on Blanchard Hill Rd 1.16 miles $37,936.20 for resurfacing.

2. Boyd pond, Blanchard hill Intersection leading to CR 17 on Blanchard Hill Road 6/10 miles $23,820.80 for resurfacing.

3. Boyd Pond, Blanchard Hill Intersection and leading to the Forbes Road on the Blanchard Hill Road 8/10 miles $30,220.80 for resurfacing.

4. From dead end to 8/10 miles West on Boyd Pond Road $30,420.80 for resurfacing.

5. Pyrites-Russell Road on Hill Road and leading to the West Road $3,371 for pipe replacement.

6. CR 25 on the Dutton Road and leading to the Cr 27 $6,788.80 for pipe replacement.

7. CR 25 on the Hewlett Road and leading to CR 27 $8,281.60 for pipe replacement.

8. CR 25 on the Smith Road and leading to the West Road $2,816.20 for pipe replacement.

Resolution #45: Agreement to Spend Town Highway Funds

A motion was made by Supervisor Knox and seconded by Councilman Whiteford to authorize the Highway Superintendent to spend Town Highway Funds on 80.81 miles of road at the cost of $153,472 on projects 1-8 as presented.

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

Motion carried.

Resolution #46: Audit

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

General vouchers # 120-155: $54,973.31 with Fire Departments added in ($19,210.82 TE without Fire Departments added in)
Highway vouchers # 70-87: $ 14,913.20
Street Lighting #4:   Russell $414.77
                            DeGrasse 133.11
                                         $547.88
Fire Districts # 3-6: $35,762.00                

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

Motion carried.

Resolutions:

Resolution #47: Agreement with Worksite Sponsor Agency

A motion was made by Supervisor Knox and seconded by Councilman Whiteford to Sign the AGREEMENT WITH WORKSITE SPONSOR AGENCY for the term of 04/15/2009 to 04/15/2010.

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

Motion carried.

Resolution #48: Budgeting for New Loader

A motion was made by Supervisor Knox and seconded by Councilwoman Jeanette to take $35,000 from the Machinery Account $33,990 out of the Fund Balance account and Finance with a Serial Bond the remaining $25,000; Mr. Leader will draw up the papers.

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

Motion carried.

Resolution #49: Plaque for Joe DeVito Sr.

A motion was made by Councilman Whiteford and seconded by Councilwoman Coller to authorize the spending of up to $60.00 for a Plaque for Joe DeVito Sr. honoring him getting Fireman of the year.

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

Motion carried.

Public Discussion:

Evah Foster brought up that she feels the town should charge a fee for the usage of the Town Hall; she feels people use electricity and toiletries etc. This matter was tabled until the next meeting on 05/20/09.

Adjournment:

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