TOWN OF NORTH HARMONY
TOWN BOARD MEETING AGENDA
MONDAY 12/08/2014, 7:00 PM
SALLY P. CARLSON, SUPERVISOR PRESENT
RALPH WHITNEY, COUNCILMAN PRESENT
FRANK STOW, COUNCILMAN PRESENT
DICK SENA, COUNCILMAN PRESENT
DUNCAN MCNEILL, COUNCILMAN ABSENT
OTHERS PRESENT: Dave Stapleton, Attorney; Dan Strickland, Highway Superintendent; Robin Miller, Bookkeeper; Brad Lawson, Zoning CEO; Pierre Chagnon, Legislator; Everett Bensink/Howard Peacock, Justice; Louis Rieg, Planning Board; Nancy Thomas, Town Clerk
PLEDGE
Mrs. Carlson brought the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. She said Mr. McNeill was not at the meeting because he is having cataract surgery.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Mrs. Carlson said because the board has a personnel issue to discuss they will need to go into executive session.
MOTION # 147 OF 2014
MR. WHITNEY MOTIONED THAT THE BOARD ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 7:04 PM TO DISCUSS A PERSONNEL MATTER. MR. STOW SECONDED.
Discussion:
Mrs. Thomas said the motion needed to be worded as “entering into executive session to discuss a certain employee” or a “particular employee”.
Mrs. Carlson said our attorney said it was a personnel matter.
A ROLL CALL VOTE WAS TAKEN. YES (4); WHITNEY, STOW, SENA, CARLSON. NO (0).
THE MOTION WAS CARRIED.
Mrs. Carlson reconvened the Town Board meeting at 7:30 PM.
MINUTES 11/10/2014
MOTION # 148 OF 2014
MR. STOW MOTIONED TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES OF THE 11/10/2014, TOWN BOARD MEETING AS SUBMITTED BY THE TOWN CLERK. MR. SENA SECONDED. YES (4); WHITNEY, STOW, SENA, CARLSON. NO (0). THE MOTION WAS CARRIED.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Mr. Lawson reminded everyone that the Fire District will hold an election Tuesday, 12/9/14, from 6:00-9:00 PM for a one (1) year and a five (5) year Commissioner seat.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
CORRESPONDENCE:
- TIME WARNER CABLE – Franchise Fees $1,745.22
- GOOSE CREEK 2% Bed Tax Reimbursement $39,835.41
- NYS-DEC – No Funding awarded for Salt Shed
- NYS / FEMA – $52,202.26 for Spring flood damages
- PLANNING BOARD MEETING MINUTES 11/11/14
- CHAUTAUQUA CO. FINANCE – MORTAGE TAX $26,221.57 (down $2,578.47 from 2013)
- TIME WARNER – Notice of fee changes
- ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS – Minutes 11/19/2014
OLD BUSINESS:
ROOF AT LIGHTHOUSE PARK BUILDING
Mrs. Carlson asked Mr. Stapleton if he had been able to find any information regarding exceptions to the prevailing wage limit for the roof at the pavilion.
Mr. Stapleton said he does not believe there are any exceptions, but he will check and report to Sally tomorrow.
BOCES ROAD PUSH B.A.N.
Cancelled BAN received and new BAN completed.
CHAUTAUQUA CO. SALES TAX $169,650.02 (+10,694.32 from 2013) – TOTAL +$14,652.90
NEW BUSINESS:
HAZZARD PROPERTY AT WOODLAWN
Mr. Lawson said the property is going into foreclosure. He wrote a letter to the attorney for the 21st Mortgage Co. and they called him today. He said he spoke with the attorney and the property will go up for sale. More than likely no one else will bid on it and the 21st Mortgage will end up owning the property. As owners they will have to do something with the property (i.e. sell it at reduced price or demolish and sell land). He said at the least they are on notification that there are violations and they have received copies of those violations.
YEAR END MEETING – MONDAY, 12/29/2014 AT 12:00 PM
MOTION # 149 OF 2014
MR. STOW MOTIONED TO HOLD A YEAR END TOWN BOARD MEETING ON MONDAY, 12/29/14 AT 12:00 PM. MR. WHITNEY SECONDED. YES (4); WHITNEY, STOW, SENA, CARLSON. NO (0). THE MOTION WAS CARRIED.
REPORTS:
PIERRE CHAGNON, LEGISLATOR
Mr. Chagnon stated that the following occurred in the Legislature at the November, 2014 meeting.
We distributed Mortgage Tax, with North Harmony receiving $26,221.57 (6th out of 27 towns)
We continue to approve agreements with other counties to house inmates at their jail facilities at costs up to $90 per day. As of our November meeting, we had 30 inmates housed in other county facilities.
Mr. Sena asked if there are any renovations going on at the county jail at this time.
Mr. Chagnon said they are working on the heating system.
Four motions did not receive enough support to come to the floor of the Legislature:
Opposing the EPA’s Proposed Rule Clarifying the Definition of “Water of the United State” under the Clean Water Act
Letter to DEC Regarding Phosphorus Monitoring of PCI dischargers
Mandatory Inspection of Septic Systems
Stormwater, Sedimentation, and Erosion Control Ordinances
Chautauqua Lake & Watershed Management Alliance has been officially incorporated and is awaiting its official 501(c)3 designation from the IRS, which could take up to 3-6 months. Meanwhile, the Alliance has a transitional board in place that will manage the fledgling organization until the official board is designated, which we expect to occur soon after an Executive Director is hired (1st quarter of 2015). The transitional board consists of Lyle Hadju, Linda Barber, Tad Wright, Randy Sweeney, Don Emhardt, Cecil Miller, Marty Bova, Mark Geise, and Pierre Chagnon, Chairman.
Job Ad for the Alliance Executive Director was advertised locally, regionally and nationally via newspapers, periodicals, agencies, associations and peer-to-peer during October-November 2014. 25 applications were received, and interviews will commence this month.
Chautauqua County has completed the Integrated Sewage Management Plan for Chautauqua Lake. The plan defines an implementable strategy to mitigate excessive phosphorus from entering the lake through existing sewage treatment facilities and helps eliminate the health risks from ineffective septic systems. The plan also examines the capacity of existing municipal wastewater infrastructure around the lake to effectively remove phosphorus from their discharges, identifies the need to construct municipal sewers in the remaining areas on the lake that still utilize privately owned and operated septic systems, and provides a path forward for implementing the identified projects.
The County Executive will be hosting a meeting on December 17 with the primary stakeholders and representatives of the NYS Environmental Facilities Corporation about the next step of seeking funding to develop engineering reports (preliminary engineering) for both the NCLSD and S&CCLSD projects.
RANDY HOLCOMB, ASSESSOR
Mrs. Carlson said Mr. Holcomb’s report indicates that the assessment roll has been sent to the county so that tax bills can be generated. Enhanced STAR exemptions will be mailed during the first week of January, 2015. Income limit has been changed to $83,300.00 or lower. Filing deadline is 3/2/2015.
DAN STRICKLAND, HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT
Mr. Strickland said when he had submitted his budget for 2015 he had spoken to some of the board members regarding the purchase of a used medium duty single axel truck to replace the F550. He said he has found a 2004 4300 International medium duty single axel truck (no rust, never plowed, Allison automatic transmission, heavy duty suspension) in Garland, Texas with 28,000 miles on it for $29,500.00. Mr. Strickland said he will fly to Texas on Wednesday and drive the truck back. He said there is a Plan B. The dealer also has a 2007 with 53,000 miles on it if the 2004 doesn’t work.
Mr. Stow asked Mr. Strickland why he had changed fuel vendors.
Mr. Strickland said NOCO Energy could not beat the bid from Superior Energy.
HOWARD PEACOCK / EVERETT BENSINK, JUSTICES’ (Copy in Minute Book)
Mr. Bensink read the court report for November, 2014 for those present.
BRAD LAWSON, ZONING C.E.O. (Copy in Minute Book)
Mr. Lawson said it has been a slow year for permits. He said he would be surprised if we made 60 permits this year. He said the violation site in Ashville has been sold to the neighbor and he is cleaning it up.
Mr. Lawson said he would not be at the Planning Board meeting tomorrow night, but he had given Mr. Rieg a list of items to consider for discussion.
NANCY THOMAS, TOWN CLERK (Copy in Minute Book)
Mrs. Thomas said she had nothing further to add to her written report.
MOTION # 150 OF 2014
MR. STOW MOTIONED TO ACCEPT THE TOWN CLERKS REPORT AS PRESENTED. MR. SENA SECONDED. AYE (4); WHITNEY, STOW, SENA, CARLSON; NAY:(0). CARRIED.
JOHN AND BRITTANY STOW, DOG CONTROL
Mr. Sena read the report for those present and stated that it was good to get a monthly report from the DCO.
SALLY P. CARLSON, SUPERVISOR (Copy of Report in Minute Book)
MOTION # 151 OF 2014
MR. STOW MOTIONED TO ACCEPT THE SUPERVISORS REPORT AS PRESENTED. MR.
SENA SECONDED. AYE (4); WHITNEY, STOW, SENA, CARLSON; NAY:(0),
CARRIED.
Mrs. Carlson said the Veteran’s Committee will not meet again until January, 2015.
MOTION # 152 OF 2014
MR. WHITNEY MOTIONED TO APPROVE THE GENERAL FUND VOUCHERS IN THE
AMOUNT OF $80,339.01 AS REVIEWED AND AUDITED EARLIER. MR. SENA
SECONDED. AYE (4): WHITNEY, STOW, SENA, CARLSON; NAY:(0).CARRIED.
MOTION # 153 OF 2014
MR. WHITNEY MOTIONED TO APPROVE THE HIGHWAY FUND VOUCHERS IN THE
AMOUNT OF $14,426.89 AS REVIEWED AND AUDITED EARLIER. MR. SENA
SECONDED. AYE (4); WHITNEY, STOW, SENA, CARLSON; NAY(0). CARRIED.
MOTION # 154 OF 2014
ON A MOTION MADE BY MR. SENA AND SECONDED BY MR. STOW, THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 8:03 PM.
Nancy M. Thomas
Town Clerk
