VILLAGE BOARD MEETING MINUTES - APRIL 26, 2010

      Mayor Skeet opened meeting and Public Hearing for the Budget and Benefit Assessment at 7:05 pm.

     Members Present: Mayor Skeet, Trustees Peterson, Graham and Bielec. Trustee Sobczak arrived at 7:30 pm.  Also present were Deputy Clerk Denise Beal and Village residents as per attached list.

     Copies of Budget were given to interested residents.  Mayor Skeet gave brief recap of Budget process and mentioned that after cutting back on several items that the tax rate would be reduced from previous year.  He opened the floor for questions.

     Resident Linda Tucker questioned the $8000 amount allotted for Audit. Clerk explained that due to the Drainage Grant it had to be included in case expenses on the grant amass to over $500,000 in the coming fiscal year which would require an audit to be done by law. 

     Ms. Tucker also questioned the increase in the Code Enforcement line item.  Mayor Skeet explained that the Village has hired an Electrician to be on call for various projects and for updating the electrical in the Sewer plant for future savings on utility bills.  He is only brought in and paid on an “as needed” basis.

     Clerk responded to her question regarding increase in Retirement that the experience rate has taken a large jump along with the annual increase in salaries.

     Some discussion took place due to questions from several residents regarding the larger salary increase for Village Justice.  Mayor Skeet explained that the increase for employees was pretty much 3.5% cost of living increase across the board except the Justice.  He mentioned due to the large increase in court cases over the past couple of years, the Board agreed to about half the increase that the Judge requested.

     In response to questions regarding Police coverage, the Mayor explained that during the summer months the goal is 16 hours of coverage per day.  Due to the fact that all Village Officers are part-time and hold other full-time positions elsewhere creating scheduling difficulties, it is necessary to have a larger staff working fewer hours each.

     Village resident Doris Matteson questioned the $1000 allotted for Storm Drains. Mayor Skeet explained that routes 33 and 77 are State owned roads and DOT is responsible for those storm drains. The Village is not allowed to touch those.  The $1000 is there in case any of the storm drains on side streets need maintenance.

     Linda Tucker questioned the drop in the Sewer department for office personal service. Clerk explained that due to the new automation of Sewer billing, the time needed for processing sewer bills has decreased. Ms. Tucker then questioned the addition of personal service line item in Sewer Plant and it was explained to her that summer help is hired at minimum wage for painting and cleaning.

      It was mentioned that it would be beneficial on future budget sheets to show unexpended balances and money actually spent in previous and current budget years for comparison to the estimated budgets. Clerk agreed format will be redesigned to accommodate those items.

      Residents were informed that the property tax rate for the coming fiscal year would be 2.970603 per $1000 assessment as compared to last fiscal year of 3.276570 per $1000, a reduction of .30 per $1000.

      Benefit Assessment was briefly discussed. Origin of the Benefit Assessment was explained and clerk announced that final payment date for the Benefit Assessment Bond would be May of 2011 so this would be the last year it will be on the Property taxes.  Residents were informed that the amounts to be assessed for 2010-2011 fiscal year taxes would be .6898386 per thousand gallons billed for sewer usage for the year and .341593 per $1000 based on assessed value.
     Mayor Skeet asked if there were any further questions or concerns. 

     Village resident Sandy Szumigala questioned whether those who were previously hooked into the drainage system would be hooked up on the new system and where the drainage will be going.  Trustee Graham and Mayor Skeet assured her that if they were previously hooked into the system they would be reconnected.  If a resident was not previously hooked into the system, they could hook in at their own expense. They then described the procedure and projected plans for the system.

     Village resident Biggs Johnson said he would like to see more enforcement regarding truck traffic in the Village.  He mentioned several incidents of excessive speed and unsafe cornering he has observed.  Mayor Skeet told him that the Village has attempted to get DOT to allow the Village to reduce the speed limit through that intersection, but they would not allow a change.  He said the Village has been looking into training for truck violations and he will speak to Police Administrator Jim Meier regarding this issue.

      Village resident Mike Tost presented the Board with photos and a letter expressing his concern over the condition of the greenhouses at Petals and Plants. (See attached letter).  He feels it is becoming a safety issue due not only to the broken glass but because wildlife and stray cats have begun to take up residence in the damaged, abandoned greenhouses which could lead to disease or possibly rabid animals.  Mayor Skeet said the Board will contact the Code Enforcement Officer regarding the issue and see what can be done.

      One other question that arose was regarding a drainage tile that was crushed at a residence on Depot Street and whether that was the responsibility of the homeowner. Mayor Skeet said it is the homeowner’s responsibility.

     As there were no further questions, Public Hearing for the Budget and Benefit Assessment was closed at 8:20 pm.  All residents attending left the meeting.  Meeting resumed in the conference room at 8:25 pm.

    
     Motion was made by Trustee Graham and seconded by Trustee Peterson to move the following Resolution;

     BUDGET APPROPRIATION RESOLUTION

 A RESOLUTION ADOPTING A BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING JUNE 1, 2010 AND ENDING MAY 31, 2011, MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE CONDUCT OF THE VILLAGE GOVERNMENT AND ESTABLISHING THE RATES OF COMPENSATION FOR VILLAGE OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES FOR SUCH PERIOD.
            WHEREAS, THIS Board of Trustees has met at the time and place specified in the notice of public hearing on the tentative budget and heard all persons desiring to be heard thereon, now there, be it
            RESOLVED, That the tentative budget as amended and revised and as hereinafter set forth is hereby adopted and that the several amounts stated in the column titled “Adopted” in Schedule 1A and Schedule 1F and 1G together with the amounts set forth in Statement 1 as required for the payment of principal and interest on the purpose specified and the salaries and wages stated in Schedule 5 of such budget shall be and are hereby fixed at the amounts shown therein effective, June 1, 2010.

     Brief discussion took place regarding the Petals and Plants condition and other zoning or code enforcement issues, and what recourse the Village has.  It was mentioned that the Board should require reports from both the Zoning and Code Enforcement Officers on a regular basis.

     Trustee Bielec mentioned the party he contacted regarding Village investments is not interested in advising the Village on financial planning. Trustee Graham mentioned he has someone experienced in municipal investing putting together a package for investments for the Village.

     Clerk questioned how many of the Board intended to attend the Annual Luncheon at Darien Lake on Wednesday April 28th.  All five members of the Board plan on attending. Clerk will inform Darien Lake.

Communications:

• Rec’d ck#78424914 in amt of $1292.00 from NYS for Archive Grant.
• Rec’d ck#134117 in amt of $7637.19 from Genesee Co. for 2009 outstanding Property taxes.
• Rec’d ck#7309 in amt of $27.17 from Accent Energy for qtrly utility tax.
• Rec’d ck#2970579 in amt of $4,088.11 from Time Warner for yrly utility tax.
• Rec’d ck#2970580 in amt of $5,643.05 from Time Warner for yrly utility tax.
• Rec’d ck#134554 in amt of $33,735.88 from Gen. Co. for qtrly Sales Tax.

                                    
     Clerk presented Board with email from Dennis DePeters of Zoladz regarding estimated cost of $3185.00 for removal of a tree at 12 Longs Lane for approval.  After some discussion Board agreed they felt this was a high estimate and would prefer to get a quote from Eastman Tree Service.  Trustee Graham said there will also be an additional $3400 added onto contract to add 4 feet on each side of driveways to increase safety for residents due to the sharp drop offs.  Clerk will contact Eastman Tree Service in morning.

     Trustee Graham mentioned Construction update meeting that took place Thursday April 22nd. 

     Clerk had Mayor sign signature form for Request for funds to add additional signees to avoid future problems if one of Trustees is not available.

     Mayor Skeet said he will contact Jim Meier regarding DOT training for Officers.

     Trustee Graham said Maintenance staff have been working on racks this week., He also mentioned they are not happy with the new Cub Cadet mower recently purchased for $750.00.  It was suggested it be put out for bid as they have already had an offer of $1000.00 for it.  Clerk will place ad and include Bobcat as no bids were received from the previous ad on the Bobcat.

     Trustee Graham gave brief sewer update. He said they had to change out a blower motor.  He said the old one was running at 93% and still not enough air.  The new one is down to 80% and its getting all the air it needs.  He also mentioned that they had to replace a dialer that shorted out.

     Trustee Graham also informed the Board that the Insurance Company would not cover the diesel in the system as it could not be proven that it was an act of vandalism.  They are still waiting for the final bill from Nature’s Way for pumping. He also said that Doug Taylor is doing testing to determine how much oil the plant could handle. He said it will be approximately $1000 to run the sample, but could save thousands in the future once determined.

     Trustee Peterson said he would like to know if any residents still have fuel oil tanks in their basements and if there were any procedure to identify those residences.  Trustee Graham responded that he spoke with Ken Price who said he didn’t believe there was anyone left in the Village that used fuel oil for heating.

     Trustee Graham showed the Board a sample form from the Village of Akron for inspecting Sewer hookups anytime a house changes hands. The option of the Village inspecting is already in the current Sewer Law.  Because often the Village is not informed of a sale until after the fact by the Town or County, the possibility of notifying all realtors in the area as well as the Town and County could assist in enforcing this.  Clerk will check current law to see if a fee for inspection was included in the law.

      Clerk passed on concern of resident at 60 East Main Street regarding sidewalk that appears to be sinking again.  That section of sidewalk was replaced about two years ago.  Trustee Bielec said he will check out the location to see the extent of the problem.

      Deputy Clerk Beal gave a brief update on the accounting class she and Clerk Thomas attended last week, informing them there are a few changes to be made.

      Motion made by Trustee Sobczak and seconded by Trustee Bielec to adjourn meeting.

      Meeting was adjourned at 9:25 pm.

Sandra Thomas
Clerk Treasurer