June 17, 2009 Town Board Meeting Minutes

Present:
Richard Knox - Town Supervisor
Carol Coller - Councilwoman
Evah Foster - Councilwoman
Courtney Jeanette - Councilwoman - absent
David Whiteford - Councilman - entered @ 7:27pm
Tess Eells - Town Clerk
Larry White - Highway Superintendent

Guests:
Bobby Knox
Bradley Harte
Tom Robinson

The meeting was called to order at 7:03pm by Supervisor Knox.

Acceptance of the minutes:

A motion was made by Councilwoman Foster and seconded by Councilman Whiteford to accept the minutes from 05/20 as presented by the Town Clerk.

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

Motion carried.

• Bradley Harte from NYS Deferred Compensation came to update the board on new things going on with the Plan. He is our local representative now. He stated there is a help line now if anyone has questions; and if we need anything call him and he will stop by.

• Tom Robinson Jr. - Town Justice presented a resignation letter to the board. He has a new job in law enforcement as a Federal Police Officer that does not allow him to hold another law enforcement job. He regrets stepping down because he has enjoyed being the Town Justice. His resignation will take affect September 1, 2009. He will clean up cases that are pending.

• The board will find another Justice to fill in until a special election can be held in November.

REPORTS

Town Clerk's Report:

We sold 15 dog licenses, 7 building permits, 1 pavilion electric usage, 1 marriage license and $825.00 in DECALS for a total revenue for the month of May of $1009.00. I have finished collecting taxes now I collected a total of $1,030,632.34 in taxes as of which is 87.44%. I paid to the Supervisor $3,302.66 in penalties and $185.00 for 2nd notice fees and misc.

Supervisor's Report:

1. The financial records for the month of May have been turned into the Town Clerk.

2. The Town received $50.00 from Karen Blout for the cemetery fund.

3. The Town received 2 checks for $23.64 and $47.28 from the DCSR Fire Department for fuel. Both checks have been put into the highway account.

4. The Town received $2,940.00 from the Town Justice for May for fines.

5. The Town received $650.00 from E.J. Noble Hospital for rent.

6. The Town received 2 checks from the Development Authority of the North Country; in the amounts of $5,253.91 and $3,020.40 for payment for the Health Center.

7. The Town received 2 checks from the Town Clerk/ Tax Collector; $185.00 for 2nd notices and $3,302.66 for penalties.

8. Gary Mott stated that another bathroom needs to be installed in the clinic and some doors replaced with fireproof doors.

9. The highway men painted the Clinic.

Highway Superintendent Report:

1. We are scheduled for sealing tomorrow if it’s not raining.

2. We have mowed one pass on all but the seasonal roads.

3. We have completed drilling on the Pyrites-Russell and Fordham hill roads; and will be blasting as soon as the County is available.

4. The pipe projects on the Hill, Dutton, Hewlett and Smith roads are complete.

5. Capital Improvements has approximately 3.5 weeks of payroll left, some will be used on the Dana Hill road. I have filled out an agreement to spend town funds form to use the rest on the Town Line road.

6. We replaced 1 pipe crossing on the Lazy River road and 2 on the Cook roads seasonal section.

7. We helped the Town of Edwards with ditching and paving.

8. We picked up approximately 110 guide rail posts from Paige’s in Watertown.

9. We used the Town of Edwards bucket truck to remove 3 trees on the Belleville road and 4 on the Fordham Hill road.

10. We repaired a spot on Pestle Street near the cove where the beaver dug under the road. We dug down approximately 8 feet and replaced it with shot rock.

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

12. He handed in two checks $194.95 from Timm’s Salvage and $297.81 from Russell Fire Department.

Resolution #59: Agreement to spend Town Highway Funds

A motion was made by Supervisor Knox and seconded by Councilman Whiteford to accept the amended Agreement to Spend Town Highway funds as presented by the highway Superintendent:

• On the road commencing at Cr 17 Dana Hill road and leading to west, a distance of 4/10 miles there shall be expended not over the sum of 420 hours 1.5 weeks at $6,346.20 and any unused contractual; type of work, prep for resurfacing, Width of traveled surface 18 feet. And,

• On the road commencing at Pyrites-Russell road, Town Line road and leading to the Cassidy road, there shall be expended not over the sum of “all remaining labor money”, type of work, prep for resurfacing.

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

Motion carried.

Resolution #60: Highway transfer

A motion was made by Supervisor Knox and seconded by Councilman Whiteford to Transfer $344.00 from General Repairs D5110.4 into Capital Improvement D5112.4.

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

Motion carried.

Superintendent White stated that they ordered new signs and that they are still being stolen. He wants to know what the board wants him to do. It is expensive to keep replacing them. Making wooden signs was discussed and stamping the backs of the signs with the Town of Russell was suggested.

He also wanted to know how to handle the 4th of July shut down of the highway men. The board stated they shut down Monday 29th through, Wednesday the 2nd is vacation time and Thursday is holiday time.

He also stated that the Christian Retreat wanted the town to give them some loads of sand; they said Hermon was donated some. The board said as long as it is a onetime deal.

He stated that he got a letter for the safety mine classes for July 14th he will need a check wrote to pay prior. It is at the Canton Fire department.

Supervisor Knox asked if they could trim some brush back on the Dana Hill Road.

Assessor Report:

N/A

AMP Report:

N/A

DCO Report:

N/A

CEO Report:

N/A

Legislature Report:

N/A

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Resolution #61: Audit

A motion was made by Supervisor Knox and seconded by Councilwoman Foster to pay the following bills:

General vouchers # 196-238: $38,179.47
Highway vouchers # 105-123: 18,152.71
Capital Improvement #6-10: 6,758.46
Street Lighting #6:   Russell $350.49
                            DeGrasse 112.00
                                         $462.49

Fire Departments #7-8: $18,500.00                

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

Motion carried.

Ball Field:

Supervisor Knox stated that David Dygert and Charles Fox went down and fixed the net at the field; a voucher for $40.00 is in the bills.

Highway:

N/A

NEW BUSINESS:

N/A

OLD BUSINESS:

N/A

Resolutions:

N/A

Public Discussion:

Supervisor Knox stated that Russell Fire Department has a key to the pump at the Town Barn and that DCSR Fire Department has a voucher to fill out and to be signed by a fire department member and Superintendent White showing the gallons and amount of fuel they get. If they need to get it on the weekend they can call Supervisor Knox or Superintendent White.

Councilwoman Coller asked if the town had a law stating whether or not a camper trailer can be pulled in to a place and on how long they can camp in it. The Town just passed the local law on the age of mobile homes but nothing is in the law about that.

Adjournment:

A motion was made by Supervisor Knox and seconded by Councilwoman Foster to adjourn the meeting at 8:01pm. All were in favor. Motion carried.