7575 Van Buren Road, Baldwinsville, NY 13027
Town Board Minutes 01/19/2010
Regular Town Board Meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Van Buren, held at the Van Buren Town Hall, 7575 Van Buren Road, Baldwinsville, New York on January 19, 2010 at 7:30 pm.
Pledge of Allegiance and Roll Call.
Citizens Comments:
Mr. Justin Norman, Hosmer Drive, said he has been following the Verizon franchise agreement negotiations and asked if there is a timetable for them. He said he read that the town was considering holding a public hearing, but has heard nothing more about one. He said he has contacted Verizon and has received no answer from them about when a contract may be signed and he is frustrated.
Ms. Sabin said Verizon now has a third new attorney involved in the negotiations and that they are waiting on clarification of legal language and their commitment to PAC-B. She said they thought they were close to an agreement in December, but now that there are new attorneys involved they need to wait until these matters are resolved.
Mr. Norman said the eastern towns in the County have agreements in place and asked why it is taking so long in Van Buren.
Ms. Sabin said the town is negotiating jointly with the Village of Baldwinsville and Town of Lysander and are also unique because we have a PAC channel. Ms. Sabin said this is a ten year agreement and has to be as close to the one we have with Time Warner as we can get so they don’t ask for a re-negotiation.
Mr. Brown said this matter is not handled by local attorneys for Verizon and it has been problematic getting responses from their legal team.
Mr. Sykes said the town wants this done as much as anyone.
Approve minutes of the Organizational Meeting:
022-10-000 MOTION BY Ms. Sabin, seconded by Mr. Dudzinski, to approve the minutes of the Organizational meeting as published.
Ms. Sabin – Yes, Mr. Shepard – Yes, Mr. Tupper – Yes, Mr. Dudzinski – Yes, Mr. Johnson – Yes, Ms. Dickman – Abstain, Mr. Sykes – Yes
Motion Carried & Adopted
Approve minutes of the 1/1/10 Regular Town Board meeting:
023-10-000 MOTION BY Mr. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Dudzinski, to approve the minutes of the 1/1/10 Regular Town Board meeting as published.
Ms. Sabin – Yes, Mr. Shepard – Yes, Mr. Tupper – Yes, Mr. Dudzinski – Yes, Mr. Johnson – Yes, Ms. Dickman – Abstain, Mr. Sykes – Yes
Motion Carried & Adopted
Assessor’s Report:
Ms. Golden said the combined Annual Reassessment Plan has been signed and forwarded to ORPS, to cover the CAP and this replaces the two separate plans for Van Buren and Lysander. She said all exemption renewals for 2010 have been mailed and reminders for enhanced STAR and disability exemptions will be sent in January. She said an Exemption Impact Report has been completed and forwarded to the Village as required by RPTL.
Ms. Golden said levels of assessment by neighborhood are being completed for 2010 and all outstanding permits are being reviewed.
Ms. Golden said the county anticipates a change to scanned deeds early in 2010 and the town will have to print the scanned images for input and files.
Assessment Disclosure Notices are required for the 2010 assessment roll. An outside vendor will develop and print the notices for 40 cents each. The savings will be 20 cents each.
Ms. Golden said she has given the Board training updates concerning the Association of Towns meeting in New York City, there will be no credit or reimbursement for that conference and a tentative schedule for the training school at Cornell in July.
Ms. Golden said she has also given them a Continuing Education Status Report.
Ms. Sabin asked if the mortgage tax report is included with the deed.
Ms. Golden said no, the deeds are entered into the system and kept in the property folder as a courtesy to residents so if they need just a copy they can get it from our local office.
Ms. Sabin asked if old deeds are scanned.
Ms. Golden said no, they purge old deeds but the computer does keep book and page information for old deeds in case someone needs to look them up at the County Clerk’s office.
Reschedule public hearing for 2/2/10 at 7:32 pm to hear comments on proposed changes to Town Code on “Open Burning”:
024-10-039 MOTION BY Mr. Tupper, seconded by Mr. Johnson, to reschedule the public hearing for 2/2/10 at 7:32 pm to hear comments on proposed changes to Town Code on “Open Burning”.
Ms. Sabin – Yes, Mr. Shepard – Yes, Mr. Tupper – Yes, Mr. Dudzinski – Yes, Mr. Johnson – Yes, Ms. Dickman – Yes, Mr. Sykes – Yes
Motion Carried & Adopted
Declare computer #359, monitor #355 and keyboard #7 as surplus and authorize disposal:
025-10-048 MOTION BY Mr. Dudzinski, seconded by Mr. Johnson, to declare computer #359, monitor #355 and keyboard #7 as surplus and authorize disposal.
Ms. Sabin – Yes, Mr. Shepard – Yes, Mr. Tupper – Yes, Mr. Dudzinski – Yes, Mr. Johnson – Yes, Ms. Dickman – Yes, Mr. Sykes – Yes
Motion Carried & Adopted
Resolution in opposition to any proposed legislation that would require companies using Industrial Development Agency assistance to guarantee “Prevailing Wage” for contractors and for subsequent permanent employees:
Mr. Sykes said the proposal to require companies to guarantee prevailing wage would cripple development. He said if Mr. Wright, developing the water park, had to make this guarantee he wouldn’t be able to move forward with the project and it will impact the town’s tax base.
026-10-034 MOTION BY Mr. Tupper, seconded by Ms. Sabin, to oppose any legislation that would require companies using Industrial Development Agency assistance to guarantee “Prevailing Wage” for contractors and for subsequent permanent employees.
Ms. Sabin – Yes, Mr. Shepard – Yes, Mr. Tupper – Yes, Mr. Dudzinski – Yes, Mr. Johnson – Yes, Ms. Dickman – Yes, Mr. Sykes – Yes
Motion Carried & Adopted
Set 2/2/10 at 7:35 pm for public hearing to hear comments on amending Town Code by adding a new chapter 148, “Road Preservation”:
Mr. Sykes said the potential for gas drilling, or hydrofracking, has prompted this proposal. He said many of these companies use heavy equipment and come in to mine the gas and leave, often doing damage to roads that can cause the town expensive repairs.
027-10-039 MOTION BY Mr. Dudzinski, seconded by Ms. Sabin, to set 2/2/10 at 7:35 pm for public hearing to hear comments on amending Town Code by adding a new chapter 148, Road Preservation.
Ms. Sabin – Yes, Mr. Shepard – Yes, Mr. Tupper – Yes, Mr. Dudzinski – Yes, Mr. Johnson – Yes, Ms. Dickman – Yes, Mr. Sykes – Yes
Motion Carried & Adopted
Consider parks committee recommendation to issue change order to contract 2009-VB1 in the amount of $76,100 to complete all repairs and replacements to the park electrical system and authorize the Supervisor to issue a BAN for payment method:
Ms. Sabin said this will correct all the electrical problems that we know about, but what if they find more problems.
Mr. Sykes said this should fix all the problems and there shouldn’t be more unless there are problems with the electrical in the buildings, which as far as we know are fine.
Mr. Dudzinski asked if all the wiring will be placed in conduit.
Mr. Sykes said yes, all new wiring will be in conduit.
Mr. Sykes said it will be about $115,000.00 for all the repairs to the electrical system. He said they looked at different options like coming in off Connors Road. He said the problem with that is that the switch gear is on Canton Street and if they came in of Connors they would need a new transformer and switch gear. He said even with the new system they will have plenty of electrical for expansion to the other side of the park.
028-10-037 MOTION BY Ms. Dickman, seconded by Mr. Dudzinski, to issue a change order to contract 2009-VB1 in the amount of $76,100.00 to complete all repairs and replacements to the park electrical system and authorize the Supervisor to issue a BAN for payment method.
Ms. Sabin – Yes, Mr. Shepard – Yes, Mr. Tupper – Yes, Mr. Dudzinski – Yes, Mr. Johnson – Abstain, Ms. Dickman – Yes, Mr. Sykes – Yes
Motion Carried & Adopted
Councilor Committee Reports and Comments:
Mr. Tupper said he held a Land Use Committee meeting with the Planning Board members and they discussed the Downer Street Corridor Study recommendations and creating a relationship with the Village of Baldwinsville Planning Board. He said we have worked on an ad hoc basis but will need a more formal relationship.
Mr. Brown said they are also working on an overlay district for the Downer Street area. He said the town has used overlay districts before and said it is an appropriate use for this area.
Ms. Dickman said she and Ms. Sabin attended the Memphis Fire Department Installation dinner and said all the officers are the same for this year.
Ms. Dickman said the Onondaga County Fire and Emergency Services Legislative breakfast is next month and she and Mr. Tupper will be attending. She said if anyone has any comments they would like them to pass on to let her know. She said the two main issues are voter registration of volunteers and a review of legislation.
Ms. Dickman said the B’Ville Big Chill is January 30th and there will be a country breakfast between 9:00 am and 11:00 am at the Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Tupper said he attended the Warners Fire Department Dinner and there were many young people there. He said it was nice to see them and urged anyone who can to lend a hand.
Mr. Dudzinski said the Erie Canal Trail is available for cross country skiing and snowshoeing. He said to watch for snowmobiles, which also use the trail.
Mr. Shepard said the Personnel Committee was asked to answer a question concerning sick time policy. He said currently employees can earn up to 100 days or 750 hours and the town has employees who have reached that limit. He said the question was whether they should still accrue sick time.
Mr. Shepard said the committee is recommending allowing an employee to continue to accrue beyond that limit, but to use the 100 days or 750 hours as the payout ceiling. He said an employee could use the rest of the sick time to extend their service credit for retirement.
Mr. Shepard said there will be a memo of understanding issued for this policy change and it will be included with the Employee Handbook.
029-10-038 MOTION BY Ms. Sabin, seconded by Ms. Dickman, to interpret the Employee Handbook sick time policy that employees can accrue sick time past 100 days or 750 hours, but that payouts at retirement or termination will remain at 100 days or 750 hours.
Ms. Sabin – Yes, Mr. Shepard – Yes, Mr. Tupper – Yes, Mr. Dudzinski – Yes, Mr. Johnson – Yes, Ms. Dickman – Yes, Mr. Sykes – Yes
Motion Carried & Adopted
Highway Superintendent Comments: None
Supervisor Comments:
Mr. Sykes said Annual Reports from most departments have been submitted, but there are a couple still outstanding.
Mr. Sykes said the contract with the Memphis Fire Department has been executed.
Mr. Sykes said he watched a recent Village Board meeting on PAC-B and they did not approve the Canton Woods Senior Center agreement. He said they had a question about leftover money from the 2009 budget. He said it was the town’s intention to credit that money towards this fiscal year.
Mr. Sykes said they discussed the new sales tax reapportionment that will be negotiated this year between the County, City of Syracuse, Villages, Towns and School Districts. He said there will be major impacts to any entities that currently take all their sales tax money. He said there will likely be less of it this year and next and it will have a big impact on their budgets.
Mr. Sykes said we are still receiving 2009 vouchers and the year has not been closed out for accounting purposes.
Citizens Comments: None
Engineer Comments: None
Attorney Comments: None
030-10-000 MOTION BY Ms. Dickman, seconded by Ms. Sabin, to adjourn to the next regular meeting on February 2, 2010 at 7:30 pm.
Ms. Sabin – Yes, Mr. Shepard – Yes, Mr. Tupper – Yes, Mr. Dudzinski – Yes, Mr. Johnson – Yes, Ms. Dickman – Yes, Mr. Sykes – Yes
Motion Carried & Adopted
Meeting closed 8:10 pm
Respectfully submitted,
Lynn McCormick-Precourt
Dated: 1/21/10
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