VILLAGE BOARD MEETING MINUTES - APRIL 24, 2006

Mayor Skeet opened Committee meeting at the Wastewater Treatment Plant at 6:00 pm.

• Board of Trustees were shown through the Wastewater Treatment Plant and given a demonstration of a potential new product for treating sludge.
• Board meeting reconvened at the Village Office at 6:50 pm, opening with the Pledge to the flag.
• Trustee Sobczak informed the Board of his progress with DOT regarding the sunken manhole on West Main St. and the problem at the corner of Allegheny and Genesee. It has been two weeks since first contact. The Board agreed that Trustee Sobczak should make a follow up call to the DOT.
• Mayor Skeet opened the Public Hearing for the Budget and Benefit Assessment at 6:55 pm.
• Several residents questioned the reduction on Library and Youth Recreation decreases, versus the increased salaries for Mayor and Trustees. Library Board members cited some statistics including the approximately 40% increase in Library usage. Board members mentioned how the residents of the Village pay for the Library not only in Village taxes, but Town and school as well.
• Elimination of the Fulltime position for the Maintenance department was discussed. Mr. Mazur expressed his concern over the situation in the Maintenance department. The Board explained that with full time position, it was originally set up as 10 hr/wk for water dept, 10 hr/wk for sewer dept and 20 hr/wk for maintenance. With the Water gone and Sewer subcontracted out, the Board feels a full time position is no longer required.
• Resident Linda Tucker expressed her support for the Library and Youth Fund, concern over the Mayoral salary increase and commented that she felt putting high-school related items in the newsletter was unnecessary.
• Brief discussion was held regarding the Sewer plant potential and efforts being made by VRI to continue to cut costs in the Sewer department.
• Shade tree replanting was briefly discussed with relation to the Shade tree line item.
• Members of the Library Board of Trustees requested the Board reconsider the cut to Library and Youth fund programs as they are both free programs for children and their families. They stated that
  37 1/2% of users are Village of Corfu, 24% Town of Pembroke and 22% Town of Darien. The Village Board did mention that statistically Town residents pay approximately $4/capita and Village residents approximately $8/capita not including Town or school tax contributions towards the Library, but the Board would consider their request.
• Public meeting was closed at 8:20 pm.
• Committee meeting continued with Board discussion about revising the budget to accommodate the previous requests.
• Motion was made by Trustee Patterson and seconded by Trustee Russ to reinstate the $325 proposed cut to Library Appropriations #7410.4 making it $6825, to reinstate the $400 proposed cut to Youth Recreation Appropriation #7310.4 making it $3,900, and to cut the Mayoral Personal Service Appropriation from proposed $5000 to $3500.
  Ayes: Mayor Skeet, Trustees Russ, Patterson, and Sobczak
  Nay:  Trustee Peterson                     
  Motion carried.
• Discussion was held about the difference of $725 from the Mayor salary cut and re-addition of funds to Library and Youth being added to 5112.2 Permanent Improvement Appropriation.
• Board requested Clerk to investigate if Shade Tree Contractual #8560.4 could be renamed Landscaping.
• Albert Graham of Valley River Inc. gave Sewer report.
• All is running well at the Plant. The flow is averaging 64,000 per day. They had 16000 gallons of sludge hauled out in March, and are now pumping sludge to the drying beds. They have ordered a dumpster for the drying beds sludge, but will have to have the sludge tested for landfill.
• Mr. Graham also reported that North Lift station upgrades are complete. The box is now up off the ground, circuits all straightened out and the floats changed.
• Mr. Graham met with Chatfield Engineers about the drainage problem on Maple Avenue, as well as for upcoming Grants.
• Mr. Graham reported that the Village Jetter is now back from the Town. He also reported that the Village of Akron came and flushed the lines at the Plant from the aeration tank to the clarifier building. He also mentioned that the DEC is aware of the upgrades but he will put it in a formal letter. Also VRI is looking at NYSERDA grants for energy efficiency, as power is one of the largest expenses at the Sewer Plant.
• Al Graham left at 9:00 pm.
• Motion was made by Trustee Russ and seconded by Trustee Peterson to accept the minutes of April 10, 2006.         Motion carried.
• Discussion was held about upcoming Corfu Family Day. Board was shown information on entertainers Ron & Nancy Onesong obtained by Andrea Vogler for GoArt grant. The Board felt they were too costly, as they would use up the entire Grant at $500 for their performance. The possibility of getting Crossroads of Harmony singing group was discussed. Clerk to contact the group about their willingness to perform and cost of performance.
• Board decided to have a Family days organizational meeting on Monday, May 1, 2006 at 7:00 pm. Clerk to post and advertise meeting in the Daily News.
• Temporary Maintenance person Greg Lang arrived at 9:15 pm. The Board requested he contact Drew Klotzbach for 1 yard of topsoil for landscaping where trees had been removed, as previous contact did not work out. He was also requested to contact Graff in Bennington to have the tractor tire repaired. Mr. Land did report that the mower deck has been installed.
• Greg Lang left the meeting at 9:20 pm.
• Brief discussion was held regarding setting up interviews for part-time Maintenance position. Trustee Patterson agreed to check background information and get back to the clerk about calling applicants for interviews.
• As of the meeting date, Mr. Feitshans still has not turned in his uniforms. Clerk requested by Board to send a bill to Mr. Feitshans.
• Mayor Skeet requested Clerk to contact Atty Jim Schmidt regarding whether he has heard anything from Union and if he feels there would be any ramifications in establishing the Part-time Maintenance position. Clerk was also requested to contact Atty Melinda Disare regarding status of the Police Contract.
• Letter of resignation was presented to Board from Constable Jack Schollard.
• Trustee Peterson gave an updated report on Police/Public Safety. One item discussed was determining an evaluation schedule with regard to daily log sheets, as well as the data entry process. Trustee Patterson volunteered to enter data from log sheets until “kinks are worked out”.
• Motion was made by Trustee Patterson and seconded by Trustee Russ to go into executive session at 10:45 pm. Motion carried
• Clerk Thomas left meeting at 10:45 pm.
• Motion was made by Trustee Sobczak and seconded by Trustee Peterson to go out of executive session at 11:06 pm. Motion carried
• Motion was made by Trustee Sobczak and seconded by Trustee Patterson to adjourn meeting. Motion carried   
• Meeting was adjourned at 11:07 pm.

Sandra Thomas
Clerk Treasurer