July 15, 2009 Town Board Meeting Minutes

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

Guests:
Skip & Shelley Grimshaw
Bobby Knox
Fred Morrill
Erin Whitmarsh

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

Acceptance of the minutes:

A motion was made by Supervisor Knox and seconded by Councilwoman Jeanette to accept the minutes from 06/17 and 07/08 with the amendment of the 06/17 minutes pertaining to Councilman Whiteford could not have seconded the motion, as he was absent it should have been Supervisor Knox as presented by the Town Clerk.

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

Motion carried.

Audit of the Town Justice dockets as presented by Erin Whitmarsh Court Clerk.

Resolution #67: Justice Docket Audit

A motion was made by Supervisor Knox and seconded by Councilman Whiteford approving the audit of the 2009 Town Justice Court Dockets on July 15th 2009 due to the resignation of Lawrence T. Robinson Jr. as the Town Justice of Russell effective June 30th 2009. The dockets were found to be correct with a zero balance in one account and $250.00 in the Bond account.

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

Motion carried.

REPORTS

Town Clerk's Report:

We sold 15 dog licenses, 17 building permits, 1 town hall donation, 3 marriage license, boarding fees, 1 certified birth certificate and $534.00 in DECALS for a total revenue for the month of June of $923.00.

Supervisor's Report:

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

2. Gouverneur Health Clinic has exceeded the grant amount, and any grant money exceeded is the responsibility of E.J. Noble Hospital; E.J. is hoping to get approval from the State to open.

3. The Town received $3,690.00 from the Town Justice for June for fines.

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

5. $375.00 has been turned in for donations on the flowers; it is put into account A2770.

6. The Highway Superintendent was asked to look at the ramp on the clinic; the hospital would like it repaired.

7. Handed in a check for $74.10 for fuel from the DCSR Fire Department for fuel.

Highway Superintendent White stated he looked over the ramp and he feels the black top should be taken out and replaced with 4 inches of cement and a hand rail should be put on it. He also stated he talked to the Fire Chief and he said that the town needed to get the okay from them before anything is done to the ramp. Supervisor Knox will talk to the Fire Chief Harvey Thomas.

Highway Superintendent Report:

1. We have completed the seal on Blanchard Hill and Boyd Pond roads as well as one mile on the west end of the Dana Hill road.

2. We removed approximately 70 feet of road half way up Dana Hill; we dug out 3 feet of clay and replaced it with gravel and added drainage tile and replaced the binder. The lower section has been resurfaced with #6 hot mix and the upper with a grader patch. We had mixed at the Pit for a distance of approximately 4/10. We also ditched the hill on the north side and filled it in with stone to help prevent wash outs.

3. We replaced 2 pipe crossings, one on the Donnerville and one on the Blanchard Hill roads.

4. We have completed the prep work on the Town Line road except blasting.

5. All the men attended the mine safety class.

6. Two men helped the Town of Dekalb truck gravel.

7. We used the rest of the grader mix on the Belleville road. We picked out the worst sections and covered them; these sections will have to be sealed when the hill on Dana Hill road is done in August or September.

8. All the men have worked well and I thank them.

9. Handed in a check from Timm’s Salvage for $162.40

10. The amended agreement to spend town highway funds was sent back because there was no $ amount in the last project. We need to do another one.

Assessor Report

N/A

AMP Report:

N/A

DCO Report:

N/A

CEO Report:

N/A

Legislature Report: Fred Morrill

1. The legislatures passed the new Ethics Law; I feel it is a good law now.

2. There is a big meeting on the 27th with J.&L. to discuss using the property for making wood chips for bio mass. The county wants to take it over and get it cleaned up so it can be used.

3. There has been an issue with the County attorneys. Out of 22 about 12 have been lost. It is the Counties responsibility to supply defense to people. It will cost about $50,000 to get a raise for them; we will need 8 votes to get it done.

4. We have not had good luck with our Unions with negotiations.

5. We will be offering County insurance to the towns and villages.

Councilwoman Coller asked Fred who fills out the questions on the new Ethics Law. Fred stated the department heads, elected officials, DA, Sheriff, County Clerk, Legislatures, etc. not the workers.

Skip & Shelley Grimshaw:

They had a question about the new Local Law on mobile homes coming into Russell. They had a trailer given to their daughter; which is already set up in Russell and being lived in. It has all the wiring brought up to code, new windows etc. They want to relocate it down to their property about 2 miles. Their question is does the law mean moving trailers into Russell and does this one means it is already here in the township; can it be used because it is a 1974.

The town lawyer will be asked if it can be done because of it already located in the Township. Also the CEO will take a look at it to see if it is up to code.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Resolution #68: Audit

A motion was made by Supervisor Knox and seconded by Councilwoman Jeanette to pay the following bills with this transfer:

The supervisor will transfer $80,000 from general into highway to cover the cost of the new loader and at the end of the month it will be transferred back.

General vouchers # 239 - 269: $15,417.91
Highway vouchers # 124 - 137: 111,359.46
Capital Improvement #11 - 15: 38,274.49
Street Lighting #7:   Russell $369.72
                            DeGrasse 118.06
                                         $487.78

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

Motion carried.

Ball Field:

N/A

Highway Report:

N/A

NEW BUSINESS:

• Supervisor Knox stated that the ex- justice took the new robe with him; he feels that if the town purchased it, it should be left here. He will call and get it returned.

• Supervisor Knox stated that Tisdell Associates has not done anything regarding the stimulus package that the town wanted done which included: the town hall steps, under the steps, spackling the wall and shingling the roof. He feels they are dragging their feet so maybe the town needs to get someone else to handle it.

• Supervisor Knox asked the board about getting siding put on the new museum. They said it should be done, the materials will be ordered and the highway men will be putting the siding on.

• TDS Telecom wants the town to sign a 60 month agreement; the accounts have been gone over and cleaned up it should save about $80.00 a month.

Resolution #69: TDS Telecom Agreement

A motion was made by Councilwoman Foster and seconded by Councilman Whiteford to sign a 60 month Master Telecommunications service Agreement with Edwards Telephone Company Inc., dba “TDS Telecom” with its principal office at 159 Main Street Edwards, NY 13635-0036

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

Motion carried.

Resolutions:

Resolution #70: Amended 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.

• Improvements: on the road commencing at CR 17 (Dana Hill Road) and leading to 4/10 west, a distance of 4/10 miles there shall be expended not over the sum of $9,391.42; width 18 feet; type resurfacing.

• On the road commencing at Pyrites-Russell road (Town Line) and leading to Cassidy road a distance of 1 mile there shall be expended not over the sum of $5,000 (labor) for prep for 2010 resurfacing.

• On the road commencing at town Line (Cassidy Road) and leading to the Hill road a distance of 1.4 miles there shall be expended not over the sum $5,500 (labor) for prep for 2010 resurfacing.

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

Motion carried.

Public Discussion

Supervisor Knox asked the highway superintendent to switch back wood splitters before something happens.

There are 5 youths working for the town this summer.

Adjournment:

A motion was made by Supervisor Knox and seconded by Councilman Whiteford to adjourn the meeting at 8:15pm. All were in favor. Motion carried.