October 5, 2009 Town Board Meeting Minutes

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

Guests:
Bob Knox

Tentative Budget Meeting

The meeting was called to order at 7:22 pm by Knox.

Supervisor Knox stated that he received a quote from Witherbee & Whalen to restore the Russell Village Monument. He called the Development Authority and they still had $511.40 left on the Cemetery grant; and we could use the money towards the restoration.

Resolution #86: Town Monument Restoration

A motion was made by Supervisor Knox and seconded by Councilwoman Foster authorizing the supervisor to call Witherbee & Whalen with the go ahead with the restoration of the Town Monument at the cost of $940.00; Grant money will cover $511.40 of it and the remaining $428.60 will be split between the town and the Cemetery Committee.

Foster - yes
Knox - yes
Whiteford - yes

Motion carried.

Resolution #87: Health Center roof

A motion was made by Councilwoman Foster and seconded by Councilman Whiteford to authorize the supervisor to contact Kevin Albern to contract with him for the replacement of a section of the roof on the Health Clinic with Ice & Water shield on entire 700 square feet of the roof; installing new white drip edge; installing 30 year Architectural shingles; installing new side wall end wall flashing where addition meets original building; and haul away all debris at the cost of $2,500 paying 1/2 down $1,250 and $1,250 at the completion of the job.

Foster - yes
Knox - yes
Whiteford - yes

Motion carried.

Resolution #88: Snowblower attachment

A motion was made by Councilman Whiteford and seconded by Councilwoman Foster to authorize the supervisor to order a 44 inch 2 stage snow blower with chains and weights installed for the John Deere lawn tractor at the cost of $1,795. The tractor will have to be dropped off and picked up when it is done.

Foster - yes
Knox - yes
Whiteford - yes

Motion carried.

Supervisor Knox asked Superintendent White if he called NORTRAC about the warranty on the loader. They will inspect it for $200-250 and fix anything while it is still under warranty. Larry will check into it.

Municipalities were contacted about the county salt bid for 09/2010. It was awarded to Morton Salt, Inc at the rate of $65.62/ton delivered at $63.00/ton pickup. All orders must be a minimum of 20 ton.

Resolution #89: Trade a compressor for a pipe

A motion was made by Supervisor Knox and seconded by Councilman Whiteford to authorize the highway superintendent White to offer a trade of an extra old air compressor for a 9-10 foot pipe to keep wood in behind the barn.

Foster - yes
Knox - yes
Whiteford - yes

Motion carried.

Resolution #90: Transfer to highway account

A motion was made by Councilwoman Foster and seconded by Councilman Whiteford to transfer $1,768.94 from A1620.3 into the highway account for the work the highway men did of siding the museum and pulling the shrubs from in front of the health center.

Foster - yes
Knox - yes
Whiteford - yes

Motion carried.

Budget Meeting

Supervisor Knox went through the tentative budget page by page.

BUDGET SUMMARY for general fund - 2009 appropriations- $404,354- unexpended 2008 monies of 50,000
- estimated revenues of $183,822- tax levy $170,532
Highway fund-2009 appropriations- $779,869-unexpended 2008 monies- $44,500-
estimated revenues- $296,876; tax levy- $438,493
2009 appropriations for fire departments and light districts- $92,449
Total levy 2009 appropriations- $1,285,672- estimated revenues- $480,698- unexpended 2008 monies- $94,500-
tax levy - $710,474

Estimated Fund balance 12/31/09- general fund-$143,249- highway and CHIPS fund-
$204,711- Fire protection- 0- Street lights- $4,021

Town tax rate 2010 - General- tax levy-170,532- town taxable- 58,082,781- rate per/1000 2.94- rate
per/1000 decrease ($0.24)- Highway - tax levy 438,493- town taxable 58,082,781- rate per/1000
7.55- rate per/1000 increase $0.13- Fire- tax levy 92,449- town taxable 61,341,126- rate per/1000
1.51- rate per/1000 decrease ($0.03) - Russell lights- tax levy 6,500- town taxable 4,322,375 -
rate per/1000 1.5 - rate per/1000 decrease ($0.03)- DeGrasse lights- tax levy 2,500 - Town taxable 2,641,630 -
rate per/1000 0.95 - rate per/1000 decrease ($0.01) a $50,000 home outside lighting district will pay ($7.00)
less than last year.
Total tax levy is a 0.99% decrease over last year.

General Fund Appropriations for 2010

Legislature - 3% raise
Municipal Court - 3% raise and $600. Increase In contractual
Supervisor - 3% raise
Auditor - decrease of $200
Budget Director - 3% raise
Assessment - 3% raise
Clerk - 3.5% raise
Operation of plant - Library/museum decrease of $5,000
General Gov’t support totals - 08/31/09 $228,020 - 2010 $224,582
Control of dogs - 3% raise
Registrar of vital statistics - 3% raise
Highway administration - 3.5% raise
The garage & pit contractual saved 3200 gallons in fuel last year burning wood.
Historian - 3% raise
Employee benefits: state retirement - decrease 1,000 - unemployment insurance - decrease 4,000 - Hospital & Medical insurance - decrease of 3,000

General Fund Revenues

Local sources - property tax - 2009 - 179,331 2010 - 170,532
Use of money and property - interest & earnings - decrease 3,000 Property rental other gov’t - increase of 8,312 due to the health clinic rent - dog licenses - decrease 100.
Interfund revenues - local source revenue 2009 - 143,730 2010 - 148,922
State aid totals - for 2010 34,900
Total revenues w/ property tax - 2010 354,354

Highway Appropriations

General repairs - 3.5% increase contractual increased 1,740
Capital improvements - 3.5% increase contractual decreased 2,052
Bridges - 3.5% raise contractual increased 500
Machinery - 3.5% increase contractual increased 2,750
Miscellanceous - brush & weeds 3.5% increase
Snow removal - 3.5% increase contractual increased 1,920
Employee benefits - state retirement decreased 3,000 Social security decreased 3,500 Hospital & medical insurance increased 2,000
Total appropriations for 2010 779,869

Highway Revenues

Local source property taxes - 2010 438,493
Non-Property tax - interest & earnings decreased 5,000
CHIPS Maintenance - 149,126
Total revenues w/ out property tax - 296,876
Total revenues w/ property tax 735,369

The board will take the tentative budget and study it for the next meeting for any changes. Highway Superintendent White wants payroll put back to 7 weeks from 9 weeks.

Adjournment:

A motion by Councilwoman Foster to adjourn the meeting @ 8:40pm. All were in favor.