August 20, 2008 Town Board Meeting Minutes

Present:
Knox - Town Supervisor
Coller - Councilwoman - came in at 7:09pm
Foster - Councilwoman
Jeanette - Councilwoman
Whiteford - Councilman
Eells - Town Clerk
White - Highway Superintendent

Guests:
Bobby Knox
Larry & Linda Cook
Marie Rocca
Fred Morrill
Ed Franklin

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 Councilman Whiteford to accept the minutes from 07/16/2008 as presented by the Town Clerk.

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

Motion carried.

REPORTS

Town Clerk's Report:

We sold 20 dog licenses, 5 marriage licenses, 9 building permits, 7 certified copies and $30.00 from a donation for use of the town hall and pavilion; also $57.00 in DECALS for a total revenue for the month of July of $543.00.

Supervisor's Report:

1. Financial records have been turned into the town clerk for the month of July.

2. The town received $1,479.23 from the Russell Public Library for construction reimbursement.

3. The town received $250.00 from St. Lawrence County Clerk’s Association for a scholarship for Tess to go to school; the money was put in account t A2705 and Tess would like it put in A1410.4 clerk contractual account.

4. The town received $63,460.45 from St. Lawrence County for sales tax; $42,833.73 was put into the general account (this is 100%) and $20,626.72 was put into the highway account.

5. The town received $467.20 from NYS for the STAR Program.

6. The town received $1,935.00 from the NYS for Justice Court fines.

Highway Superintendent Report:

1. Our resurfacing projects are complete and I have submitted for reimbursement of $136,697.95 and we should receive this money in September.

2. I will send in for final reimbursement when we use the last of our labor money; all the roads scheduled to be done are completed.

3. We purchased 500 yards of fill rock from Harmer’s Construction and used about ½ of it on the fill on the Blanchard Hill Road between Pike’s and Hale’s in prep for 2009 paving.

4. We removed the metal roofing from the old corner store to be used on the pole barn.

5. We have completed the tree and brush removal on the section of Blanchard Hill Road for 2009 paving. We will be working on the ditching and shoulders soon and move onto the Boyd Pond Road.

6. Our Summer Youth Program has ended and I would like to thank them; Anthony Law, Tyler Bristol and Joshua Ouellette.

7. We helped the Towns of Hermon and Dekalb with their paving and they helped us with our sealing.

8. We have completed trimming around the guide and bridge rails.

9. We have had 3 men working at the library/museum doing sheet rock.

10. We have replaced 1 pipe crossing on the seasonal section on the Cook Road.

11. The men have all worked with good progress and I thank them.

12. Handed in 2 checks to the supervisor from Russell Fire Department for fuel in the amounts of $1,948.16 and $910.15.

13. There is a section on Boyd Pond Road that is falling apart. I would like board approval to attend this problem for prep work for 2009; it is about .8 of a mile section. The board gave their approval to do this work.

14. White stated that he will be setting up to have our own patch; it should save the town money.

15. White stated he would be working with Suit-Kote to get areas back together before winter. Oil prices may drop to $40 @ ton instead of $80 @ ton.

Supervisor Knox asked Superintendent White if they got the cemetery work done. White said yes it cost about $1,800.00.

Supervisor Knox also asked if White got a hold of Franklin about the big pipe; White stated no.

Supervisor Knox also told the board that the side walk by the post office was removed and the containment wall down cellar were done by the highway men.

Assessor Report: Donna Goodwin

As of October 1st 2008 I will be changing the office hours to: 10:00am to 4:00pm if there are any problems, an appointment can be made.

Legislature Report:

1. Fred stated he was on the budget committee and it was tough this year they will need to make cuts here and there. The State cut 6% from everywhere.

2. We hope the tax levy will not exceed 5% this year.

3. The jail is coming along.

4. He stated that some of the Ethics Laws bother him. He stated that the Board of Ethics has a lot of power.

5. Fred asked if there were any questions for him.

Historian Report: Marie Rocca

1. Marie stated that the museum board was pleased with the work Ed and the highway men have done on the new museum.

2. She stated that the museum board was using the money donated to the building fund to buy paint and floor tiles.

3. Marie talked with Edwards - Knox school to get some used furniture for the new museum.

4. Marie took 25 people on a tour of the new museum alumni weekend and they were very impressed with it all.

5. Evah Foster stated that the paint and primer was ordered from Kevin Aubern for the museum.

AMP Report:

N/A

DCO Report:

N/A

CEO Report:

N/A

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Resolution #60: Audit

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

General vouchers # 261-299: $16,190.61
Fire Districts #:                 
Highway vouchers # 165-185: $27,331.18
Capital Improvement #18-20: $36,496.87 ($36,496.88 TE)
Street Lighting #8:   Russell $420.37
                            DeGrasse 135.07
                                         $555.44

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

Motion carried.

Highway:

N/A

Ball Field:

Supervisor Knox stated there were no complaints about the Port-A-Pots from Rivers Tank service this year. After the use of the ball field on the 29th and 30th of August the other pot will be sent back.

NEW BUSINESS:

Resolution #61: CellU-Spray, LLC

A motion was made by Councilman Whiteford and seconded by Councilwoman Coller to sign the contract with CellU-Spray, LLC from Malone to provide material, machinery, and labor for the insulation in the attic of the new addition part of the new Library/Museum for the lump sum of $5,000.00.

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

Motion carried.

Supervisor Knox asked the board what they wanted to do about the contract with Time Warner cable. The board wants to sign for 6 years not 10. Knox will send a copy to the town lawyer to review.

Resolutions:

Resolution #62: Supervisor's Association

A motion was made by Councilman Whiteford and seconded by Councilwoman Coller to authorize Supervisor Knox to sign the Resolution in Support of State Legislation Creating a Public Power Authority.

WHEREAS, New York State residents, on an average, pay among the highest utility rates in the Continental United States, and

WHEREAS, National Grid is a foreign owned investment utility providing electrical power to the service area of the Alliance for Municipal Power(AMP), and

WHEREAS, the member municipalities of AMP, in St. Lawrence and Franklin Counties, have resolved to develop a plan for public power to serve their communities, and

WHEREAS, Public Authorities may only be created by the New York, and

WHEREAS, AMP and the municipalities have collectively determined that the only entity which will allow them to accomplish their public power goals requires the creation of a Public Power Authority, and

WHEREAS, it appears that such a Public Power Authority, acting as a Public Power Utility, would be in the best interest of the citizens of the AMP communities, and

WHEREAS, The Supervisors Association of St. Lawrence County is located within the AMP Community, and

WHEREAS, the Supervisors Association of St. Lawrence County considers the creation of a public power utility to be in the long term energy and economic interests of the AMP communities,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED,

1. That the St. Lawrence County Supervisors Association, and this Township supports legislation to be presented before the Senate and Assembly of the State of New York to enact a Public Power Authority for the participating municipalities of the St. Lawrence and Franklin Counties, and

2. That AMP may distribute copies of this resolution to the Senate and Assembly members and the Governor of New York State.

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

Motion carried.

Resolution #63: Transfer of money (General)

A motion was made by Councilman Whiteford and seconded by Councilwoman Coller to transfer $250.00 from account # A2705 to the Clerk Contractual Account # A1410.4

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

Motion carried.

Public Discussion:

David Whiteford explained what Pervious Concrete is. It is used mostly in parking lots and sidewalks; the water goes through it back into the ground. It stays dry after snow and ice melt off.

Supervisor Knox asked the board how they want to do negotiations with the highway men for their contract. Do we set up a committee or meet with the board. The Board decided they will meet with the highway men to negotiate their contract. They will contact Sid Bristol to set the meeting up.

Superintendent White stated he talked to the town lawyer on the counties 3 year winter maintenance agreement and Mr. Leader stated it could be reopened. It will be discussed further at Monday nights highway meeting.

Supervisor Knox is trying to get a hold of Mr. Buttons from Canton to let them know the town of Russell is asking for more money to maintain the North Woods Road due to the increase of fuel, gravel etc.

Adjournment:

A motion by Supervisor Knox and seconded by Councilman Whiteford to adjourn the meeting at 8:25pm. All were in favor. Motion carried.