TOWN OF NORTH HARMONY
TOWN BOARD MEETING AGENDA
MONDAY 3/9/2015 7:00 PM
SALLY P. CARLSON, SUPERVISOR PRESENT
RALPH WHITNEY, COUNCILMAN PRESENT
FRANK STOW, COUNCILMAN PRESENT
DICK SENA, COUNCILMAN PRESENT
DUNCAN MCNEILL, COUNCILMAN PRESENT
OTHERS PRESENT: Pierre Chagnon, Legislator; Dave Stapleton, Attorney; Dan Strickland, Highway Superintendent; Howard Peacock, Justice; Robin Miller, Bookkeeper; Erin Brickley, Clayt & Helen Emick; Brad Lawson, Zoning CEO; Nancy Thomas, Town Clerk
- PLEDGE
- MINUTES: 1/12/15 & 2/9/15:
- MOTION # 31 OF 2015
- MCNEILL MOTIONED TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES OF THE 1/12/2015 AND 2/9/2015 TOWN BOARD MEETINGS AS PRESENTED BY THE TOWN CLERK. MR. WHITNEY SECONDED. YES (5): WHITNEY, STOW, SENA, MCNEILL, CARLSON. NO (0). THE MOTION WAS CARRIED.
- ANNOUNCEMENTS:
VETERAN’S MEMORIAL SPAGHETTI DINNER FUND RAISER – Sunday, May 17, 2015, at Lakewood Legion Post 1286
Mrs. Carlson said if anyone knows of someone who would like to donate food supplies, Chinese Auction item, etc. it would be greatly appreciated.
- PUBLIC COMMENT:
- CORRESPONDENCE:
- CHAUT. CO. BOARD OF ELECTIONS – CANDIDATE OPENINGS FOR NOVEMBER
Town Clerk has completed and returned to B.O.E.
- NATIONAL FUEL – PROJECT PLANS
- TIME WARNER – Franchise Fee – 2014 $4,897.81
- COMMUNITY FOUNDATON (CRCF) – $5,000.00 Donation for Veterans Memorial
- SEN. CATHERINE YOUNG – CHIPS – NYS – Eliminated $40 million included in last years _ budget
Mr. Strickland said that elimination is not solid yet. He said it will probably be reinstated and they are asking for an increase to about $200,000,000.00.
- ACCESS CH 5 – 2014 ANNUAL REPORT
- O’BRIEN & GERE – SOUTH CENTER SEWER (S&CCLSD) DRAFT SCOPE
- NYMIR – $25.00 refund on Public Officials Liability Coverage
- TOWN OF ELLERY – Public Hearing 3/12/15 Zoning District Change
- OLD BUSINESS
- NYS AG. & MARKETS – Received Municipal Shelter and Dog Control Officer Reports dated 2/10/2015 – All were rated as “Satisfactory”
- NEW BUSINESS:
- DEPUTY COURT CLERKS / DEPUTY TOWN CLERK – $12/HR RETROACTIVE
Mrs. Carlson said in creating the Salaries/Appointments list she had made an error and would like to correct it. She said Deputy Court Clerk, Barb Peacock and Deputy Town Clerk, Kristy Vaillancourt should have their hourly rate at $12 the same as Katie Zimmer.
- MOTION # 32 OF 2015
- STOW MOTIONED TO CORRECT THE 2015 SALARIES & APPOINTMENTS LIST TO REFLECT $12/HR. FOR DEPUTY COURT CLERK, BARB PEACOCK AND DEPUTY TOWN CLERK, KRISTY VAILLANCOURT, RETROACTIVE TO 1/1/2015. MR. SENA SECONDED.
YES (5): WHITNEY, STOW, SENA, MCNEILL, CARLSON. NO (0). THE MOTION WAS CARRIED.
- REQUEST FOR SNOWMOBILE ROADS – WILL ORTMAN Letter 2/16/15
Mrs. Carlson said Will Ortman had sent a letter requesting that snowmobile trails be established from Stow to access the Chautauqua Lake Snowmobile trails. She said she had hoped Mr. Ortman would be here to elaborate.
Mr. Stow said you have to seek agreements with land owners for ROW’s on their property. He said usually the clubs help in the establishment of new trails.
Mr. Sena said if Mr. Ortman were here we could ask him to do some research to locate or propose the closest trails so the board would have something to work with (i.e. names of landowners, etc.).
Mr. Strickland said it will be hard to get up the hill with I86 in the way.
Mr. Peacock said years ago they used the power line for trails all the way to Stedman.
There was further general discussion and the board agreed to table the matter for further information from Mr. Ortman.
- HIRE INDEPENDENT AUDITOR?
Mrs. Carlson said the reason she had included this was because a number of towns have experienced loss from employee theft. She said at some point we may have to hire independent auditors to do the books. She said currently she does not see the need because the board is auditing the books.
- ZONING DISTRICT CHANGE IN ASHVILLE (Wroda’s Auction)
Mrs. Carlson said the Planning Board are working on this and will meet tomorrow night. She said she is not sure if they will have information and recommendations for us on that but until we have that we can’t do much of anything. She said if there are recommendations in place a special meeting could be advertised.
Mrs. Emick asked that the Planning Board be encouraged to have an Agenda on the website.
Mrs. Thomas said we are in the middle of transferring things from the old website to a new website and the PB minutes have not been put on the site for 2 months.
Mrs. Carlson said she would ask the Chairman of the PB about posting an agenda.
- ADVERTISE MOWING BIDS 2015 – ?
Mrs. Carlson said our contract for mowing town properties has expired and we need to advertise for bids.
- MOTION # 33 OF 2015
- MCNEILL MOTIONED TO AUTHORIZE THE TOWN CLERK TO ADVERTISE FOR MOWING BIDS FOR TOWN PROPERTIES FOR 2015 AND 2016. MR. SENA SECONDED.
YES (5): WHITNEY, STOW, SENA, MCNEILL, CARLSON. NO (0). THE MOTION WAS CARRIED.
- REPORTS:
PIERRE CHAGNON, LEGISLATOR & ERIN BRICKLEY, CLWMA EXEC. DIRECTOR
Mr. Chagnon introduced the new CLWMA Executive Director, Erin Brickley.
Ms. Brickley said that she understands that North Harmony is very proactive with stormwater management, link for native plants on website, etc. She commended the board on their activities. She said her goal in the next few weeks is to get out and meet people and listen to their issues. She said she will also be pursuing both federal and state grant funds; seeking CLWMA membership and establishment of a board by the fall of 2015. She said they intend to hold another lake rally in the spring at the Casino. She said she looks forward to working with the town.
Mr. Chagnon said the following occurred at the February, 2015 Legislature meeting:
- Authorized agreement with the Town of North Harmony for Court security detail
- We approved the revised user charges of the South & Center Chautauqua Lake Sewer Districts for periods beginning after April 30, 2015. The new uniform unit charge will be $88.50 per quarter. All users in the Towns of North Harmony who are within the sewer district boundaries will see a reduction in unit charge of $18 per quarter. All users in the Towns of North Harmony who are beyond the sewer district boundaries (Sunrise Cove) will see a reduction in unit charge of $39.30 per quarter.
- We accepted the $70,650 NYSDEC Water Quality Improvement Program grant for 1450 feet of stream bank stabilization on Steinhoff Run, a tributary to Goose Creek. The balance of the $113,150 project will be paid for from the 2% Occupancy Tax Lakes and Waterways Program and through project administration provided by the Chautauqua County Watershed Coordinator, Dave McCoy.
- In recognition of Earth Day the user fees at the Chautauqua County Landfill and County Transfer Stations will be waived for refuse collected by community and civic groups as part of organized clean-ups of public parks, roadways, waterways and other public areas for the period from Saturday April 25, 2015 through Saturday May 16, 2015, provided such community and civic groups advise the County Landfill of their organized clean-up activities one week prior to the start of the activity.
RANDY HOLCOMB, ASSESSOR
Mrs. Carlson said Mr. Holcomb’s report indicates that they are in the process of completing the 2015 assessment roll. NYS ORPTS has notified him that North Harmony is at 100%. Grievance Day will be Wednesday, 5/27/2015.
DAN STRICKLAND, HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT
Mr. Strickland said sometime on Saturday the salt shed caved in. He said Randy Graham took pictures today and will begin the insurance claim process. He said they had disassembled the wreckage so they could access the sand pile. He said he plans to put in the concrete apron on the parking lot this spring. He said they also have drainage work to do at Cheney’s Pt. and Quigley Park before they can blacktop the roads. He said he would like to post roads but he cannot put up the posts because of the snow banks.
Mrs. Thomas said she would post the legal for the roads as soon as Mr. Strickland gives the OK.
HOWARD PEACOCK, JUSTICE (Copy of Report in Minute Book)
Mr. Peacock read the court report for the month of February for those present. He said he would like to pursue J Cap grant funding for our court (i.e. bullet proof window glass, security cameras, etc.).
Mrs. Carlson said it can’t hurt to look into it as long as the funds are available.
Mr. Peacock said that he and Barb had visited the Busti Court. He said they have a very nice setup. He said the judge he spoke to said the setup was temporary.
Mrs. Carlson said she was not under that impression from what the supervisor had said.
BRAD LAWSON, ZONING C.E.O. (Copy of Report in Minute Book)
Mr. Lawson provided a new application and sign that will go on new homes and is required by law for the Fire Department. He said the sign indicates the type of construction in case of a fire. He said this information helps firefighters determine the safety issues on entering a fire involved building. Mr. Lawson reviewed his written report for those present. He said he met with the land owner who purchased the old Willsie property on both side of Rt. 394 and he had provided the Site Plan Review and Storm Water Management regulations law to him. He said the owner would like to subdivide the lakeside property (8 acres). Mr. Lawson said he had told him there is a slope problem there and it would need to be addressed by an engineer. Mr. Lawson also provided a Building Permit Review which covers statistics from 2012 to the present and is included with his monthly report in the minute book.
NANCY THOMAS, TOWN CLERK (Copy of Report in Minute Book)
Mrs. Thomas said she had nothing further to add to her written report.
- MOTION # 34 OF 2015
- STOW MOTIONED TO ACCEPT THE TOWN CLERKS REPORT AS PRESENTED. MR. SENA SECONDED. YES (5); WHITNEY, STOW, SENA, MCNEILL, CARLSON; NO:(0),
CARRIED.
SALLY P. CARLSON, SUPERVISOR (Copy of Report in Minute Book)
Mrs. Carlson said she would like to do a spring newsletter and have it out by 4/1/2015, so we could do something on the Veterans Memorial Fundraiser. PLEASE HAVE ALL ARTICLES TO HER BY 4/1/2015.
Mrs. Emick asked if the newsletter could have a reminder to summer residents to pick up after their pets and she also asked if another leash law sign could be placed further down Stow Ferry.
Mr. Strickland said he would look and see if there were any of the signs left.
- MOTION # 35 OF 2015
- STOW MOTIONED TO ACCEPT THE SUPERVISORS REPORT AS PRESENTED. MR. SENA SECONDED. YES (5); WHITNEY, STOW, SENA, MCNEILL, CARLSON; NO:(0),
CARRIED.
- MOTION # 36 OF 2015
- WHITNEY MOTIONED TO APPROVE THE GENERAL FUND VOUCHERS IN THE AMOUNT OF $72,149.82 AS REVIEWED AND AUDITED EARLIER. MR.MCNEILL SECONDED. YES (5): WHITNEY, STOW, SENA, MCNEILL, CARLSON; NO:(0).CARRIED.
- MOTION # 37 OF 2015
- WHITNEY MOTIONED TO APPROVE THE HIGHWAY FUND VOUCHERS IN THE AMOUNT OF $35,177.08 AS REVIEWED AND AUDITED EARLIER. MR. MCNEILL SECONDED. YES (5); WHITNEY, STOW, SENA, MCNEILL, CARLSON; NO(0). CARRIED.
- DISCUSS AT APRIL, 2015 MEETING
- Bids for Pavilion Roof
- Discuss repairs to Lighthouse
- MOTION # 38 OF 2015
ON A MOTION MADE BY MR. MCNEILL AND SECONDED BY MR. SENA, THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 7:50 PM.
Nancy M. Thomas
Town Clerk
