Town Hall Briefs: ·       The Town Board voted to participate in a ten year Coordinated Assessment Program with the Town of Lysander.  This is a more formal agreement for sharing the assessor, which has been done during 2008.  The towns will each receive a one-time $7.00 per parcel payment. ·       Work has been completed on the first and second phases of the Seneca Knolls Raod and Drainage Improvement Project.  Included with this project ws a stormwater outfall which required crossing Route 48.  Senator John A. DeFrancisco secured $100,000 on behalf of the Town to fund this portion of the project.  The Town's contract amount was $424,613.70.  Follow-up paving of the roads impacted this year will occur in 2009, as well as the next phase of drainage improvements. ·       The Town Board passed a PILOT Increment Financing (PIF) resolution on August 19th that will allow PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) payments, which will help Action Developers to continue the development of land on Walters Road.  This resolution will help fund $5 million of a $ 30 million project to construct a 114 room hotel and an indoor water park.  The Baldwinsville Central School district approved the PILOT and the Onondaga County Industrial Development Agency can begin the bonding process. ·       The Town Board has authorized the introduction of an electronic payment system for customer convenience when performing business transactions with the Town.  The system will be phased in by March of 20009 and will allow credit card and e-check payment. ·       The Town Board is seeking a Local Government Efficiency Grant to conduct a study of town-wide Five Protection Services.  The grant has a maximum award of $25,000. ·       The Town Board has adopted operating Rules and Regulations for the Warners Cemetary, which ws abandoned to the Town in 2006.  The rules and regulations were needed to control burials at the cemetary and to keep accurate records. ·       A public hearing was held on May 6, 2008 to hear comments on a zoning reclassification to allow a hot mix asphalt plant on tax parcel 055-08-18 near Van Buren and Herman Roads.  The site is already zoned Industrial.  The zone reclassification would form a Planned Industrial District.  The site consists of 42 acres of which 20 acres will be used allowing large buffer areas.  The Town Board called for a coordinated review of the project after declaring it a Type 1 action for the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), which means the project will receive the greatest amount of environmental scrutiny, by the Town Planning Board, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Onondaga County Department of Transportation, County Planning and other pertinent agencies.  Concerns raised by those speaking were traffic, noise, odors, potential toxins, runoff waters and impacts of agricultural and residential properties, all of which have been addressed in the SEQRA process.  The Town has received a positive recommendation from County Planning on this matter, which only brought out the need to control runoff waters and their impact on the County Road drainage system.  On October 6, 2008 the Town Planning Board deemed the project to have a negative declaration, since all impacts were adequately addressed and mitigated. ·       The Town Board passed a local law on May 6, 2008 that allows the town to recoup attorney fees where the town has to go to court to enforce our zoning laws and codes.  This will, in most cases, only apply to those matters where violators blatantly ignore citations and/or court orders. ·       The Town Board on May 6, 2008 passed a resolution designating two (2) commercial areas: Downer Street Commercial Area and the Seneca Knolls Commercial Area for eligibility for the Onondaga County Community Development Commercial Rehabilitation Matching Grant Program for exterior building improvements.  Designated business owners can apply for and receive up to $10,000.00 matching grants for exterior facade improvements to their properties. ·       The Syracuse Metropolitan Transportation Council (SMTC) held a public informational and input meeting on April 2, 2008.  The meeting was very well attended by the public, who offered some very good input to SMTC and their consultant for consideration.  Work on the project continues by the Study Advisory Committee.  Another public meeting is planned for October 2008. ·       The Town Board has adopted a local law which will abolish the position of Tax Receiver and merge those duties with the position of Town Clerk, subject to approval by a public referendum on the November ballot.  Our current Tax Receiver, Barbara Johnson, plans to retire sometime in 2009.  This move will allow the taxes to still be received locally, rather than through a County collection program.  The Board plans to have Mrs. Johnson continue as a Deputy under the Town Clerk for a training and transitional period.  Mrs. Johnson believes this is the best alternative for the Town and will still offer the same level of service locally which she has strived to provide. ·       The Town Board has adopted a local law which prohibits single family residences from being characterized as condominiums for assessment purposes.  This local law insures that even and fair taxation will occur at market value for condominiums falling in this class. ·       The Town Board passed a resolution to purchase a new snowplow/dump truck to replace a 1981 unit.  The cost of the new equipment is $175,000, which includes the cab and chassis, plow equipment and sander body.  This unit is expected to service the Town for 20 years.  A Bond Anticipation Note (BAN) was secured to fund the truck at 3.80%. ·       Economic Development Committee appointed to attract new businesses such as department stores, grocery stores, restaurants and low impact-environmentally friendly industry to Van Buren was made.  Several contacts with businesses.  We are working in concert with the County Economic Development Office to market our Town. ·       Two (2) meetings have been held relative to merging the Town of Lysander, Village of Baldwinsville and Town of Van Buren parks departments.  A subcommittee report has been issued outlining legal, funding, administration, operations, programming, facilities, human resources and logistics of such a merger.  Further study and refinement of the proposal is ongoing.  A follow-up meeting will occur in early 2009. ·       Town Board has self-imposed a goal of a 10 day response time to problems, questions and concerns. ·       FYI – Passport photos can now be done by the Town Parks Department at a fee of $10.00.  Get your passport paperwork done at the Town Clerk’s office and the photos at the Parks Department. ·       Loretto Supportive Housing Project on O’Brien Road has broken ground.  The project includes a 40 unit housing project for very low-income elderly persons, and is currently underway. ·       The Town Board has made three speed limit reduction requests to the County and State this summer as follows: Jones Road - 40 mph to 30 mph;  West Dead Creek Road and Kingdom Road - 55 mph to 40 mph and Pottery Road - 55 mph to 35 mph. ·       The Town Board passed a local law on July 15, 2008 which will regulate small wind energy systems (windmills). ·       The Town Board has applied for a State Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) Grant in the amount of $100,000.  If received the Town would have to match the State Funds.  Work includes 550’ water and electrical services, septic system, new restroom facility and parking and drainage improvements, at the Town’s central park on the east side of the pond.