Scipio Town Board Meeting

Transcription

1 Scipio Town Board Meeting This public meeting was called to order at 6:59 PM on Wednesday July 13, 2016 by Supervisor Gary Mutchler with the following people present: Supervisor: Gary Mutchler Town Clerk: Tom Olenych Council Members: Howard Nelson Highway: Mark Chamberlain Leslie Baxter Mark Ferrari Gary Whitten Visitors: Wayne Pettit, Bob Baxter, Ed Kozlowski and Pete Rejman of the Scipio Volunteer Fire Department and Roland Dodge. Motion: to approve supervisor Mutchler s agenda. (Baxter / Ferrari) All in favor. Issues to come before the board from town residents: There were no issues from the town residents present. Funding for the Scipio Rural Cemetery: Wayne Pettit spoke to the board about the town budgeting $2, yearly for the upkeep and maintenance of the Scipio Rural Cemetery. Wayne explained that the cemetery fund must keep a balance of $17, on hand or the operation and over sight of the cemetery is turned over to the town. There is currently $28, in the fund but the fund has been losing money at a faster rate than it is generating money so the $2, yearly will help keep the fund balance above $17, The town board agreed to consider this proposal and will discuss it further at the town board s August meeting. The Scipio Venice Ledyard Fire District: Bob Baxter spoke to the board regarding Scipio s desire to separate from the fire district and to go back to being an independent fire department. He informed the board that this had been approved by a 4 to 1 vote of the fire district commissioners and the next step to make this happen would be the approval of the town board. If approved by the town board a public hearing would need to be scheduled before finalization of the separation. When questioned why Scipio felt such a move was necessary Mr. Baxter cited a lack of training on the part of Venice and Ledyard different SOP s, standard operation procedures, and SOG s, standard operating guidelines as well as a lack of compliance with New York State regulations. Mr. Baxter went on to say that these differences were such that Scipio has been reluctant to call on Venice or Ledyard for mutual aid assistance preferring to enlist the aid of Fleming and or Moravia. Mr. Baxter also stressed that the level of mutual aid Scipio will provide Venice and Ledyard will not be affected. The town board will consider this and vote on it at the August town board meeting.

2 Approval of the June 8, 2016 minutes: It was decided these minutes would be approved at the August 10, 2016 town board meeting after changes to some sections. Board Members Reports: Leslie Baxter discussed the issue of college interns taking water samples in the town for the Owasco Lake Water Quality Management Committee (OWLQMC) and that in one case a young woman was shooed off a property while going about taking samples. Leslie feels this could be avoided if ID badges had been issued. Mark Ferrari: told the board that a transmission tower would be going up on Center Road in the town sometime in the next two or three weeks. He also told the board that he and Howard Nelson have been visiting local dairy farms to better understand farm issues, water quality issues and the economic impact farms have on the region. Howard Nelson: Solarize New York will be hosting an information and training webinar in late July or early August and he urged all the town board members to sign up for this. Howard also said Cayuga County Planning is hosting a meeting on July 20 th. which will cover storm water management and solar farms. Supervisor s Report: A) Resolution: to allocate money to CCWSA for public water and sewer infrastructure. It was felt that this could create density issues along the main roads going through the town so the town resolved not offer any financial assistance in this matter. Gary Mutchler Aye, Gary Whitten Aye, Leslie Baxter Aye, Howard Nelson Nay & Mark Ferrari abstain. B) Supervisor Mutchler informed the board that due to a change in the way Cayuga County figured the percentages on mortgage taxes the town would be receiving approximately $1, less from the county in C) Supervisor Mutchler passed out a financial report for the first six (6) months of In the report Gary basically shows the town board members that nothing is out of order and there is nothing going on with the town s finances that cannot be explained. D) The employee health insurance was discussed and whether the town should join the Municipal Health Insurance Consortium of Greater Thompkins County. The benefits of this plan were discussed with the town highway employees at a meeting between the town employees and representatives of the consortium on Wednesday July 13 th. at the town office and the highway employees felt this would be a better plan for them. Resolution: to join the Municipal Health Insurance Consortium. (Whitten / Nelson) All in favor. E) Resolution: Adopt, by written vote, the determinations and findings of the town board with respect to the Snyder Cemetery A/K/A Gould-Akin Cemetery project. (Mutchler / Baxter) Mutchler Aye, Baxter Aye, Whitten Aye, Ferrari Aye and Nelson Aye. F) It was decided a meeting with Clarity Connect should be scheduled so the town board can discuss issues arising from switching from Verizon to Clarity Connect. G) Supervisor Mutchler received a notice from NYS Ag & Markets that was critical of Finger Lakes Dog. He noted that in a subsequent inspection in June FLD passed.

3 I) Supervisor Mutchler passed around a letter, order and confirmation, from the NYS Public Service Commission acknowledging the town s authorization for Time Warner Cable Northeast LLC to provide cable service to the town. J) A request from Steve Talcott, a local farmer who does not reside in the town of Scipio, to draw water from the town s quarry was discussed. Mark Chamberlain who as a member of the town s fire department was concerned this might create a water shortage should the fire department need water to fight a fire. It was decided to deny Mr. Talcott access to this water. Reports: A) Assessor: Heather Garner submitted a written report which is attached. B) Code Enforcement: Mick Piechuta submitted a written report which is attached. C) Highway: the town crews have been working with other towns as well as the state on Route 38. Mark told the board he was taking the grindings from the Route 38 job and trading them in to Seneca Stone for crushed stone which will save the town money otherwise spent on crushed stone. Mark notified the board the town will actually be receiving $113, in CHIPS money which is $3, more than the $110, that was in the budget. Other business: Mick Piechuta asked the board to consider putting up shelves near his desk when the office re-model takes place. (Baxter / Mutchler) All in favor. The subject of the fire department s separation from the S-V-L fire district was brought up again with concerns over the affect this would have on the coverage Scipio provides through mutual aid to Venice and Ledyard. Leslie Baxter who is also a member of the Scipio Fire Department reassured the town board that the level of aid an assistance between the town would not be affected or any less affective as a result of the separation. Vouchers: General (A): Totaling $20, (Baxter / Ferrari) All in favor. (DA): Totaling $1, (Whitten / Baxter) All in favor. Motion to adjourn: 10:25 PM (Nelson) All in favor Respectfully submitted, Thomas J. Olenych Town Clerk

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