TOWN OF NORTH HARMONY
YEAR END BOARD MEETING
MONDAY, 12/28/2015, 12:00 PM
SALLY P. CARLSON, SUPERVISOR PRESENT
RALPH WHITNEY, COUNCILMAN PRESENT
FRANK STOW, COUNCILMAN PRESENT
RICHARD SENA, COUNCILMAN PRESENT
DUNCAN MCNEILL, COUNCILMAN PRESENT
OTHERS PRESENT: Robin Miller, Bookkeeper; Nancy Thomas, Town Clerk; Dan Strickland, Highway Sup’t.
Mrs. Carlson opened the meeting at 12:30 PM.
• CHIPS FUNDING RECEIVED IN THE AMOUNT OF $71,296.65
• BRUCE STEVENS, M.E.O. – TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT
• MOTION # 148 OF 2015
MR. MCNEILL MOTIONED TO TERMINATE THE EMPLOYMENT OF BRUCE STEVENS, M.E.O. EFFECTIVE 12/31/2015. MR. STOW SECONDED.
Discussion:
Mrs. Carlson said this means that the town will be paying him for the accrued sick, personal, and vacation time he has which amounts to $10,507.60. She stated that when this is done the towns obligation to him will have been met.
YES (5): WHITNEY, STOW, SENA, MCNEILL, CARLSON. NO (0). THE MOTION WAS CARRIED.
Mr. Sena said our employee handbook needs to be reviewed in relation to continuing of vacation benefits, etc. when someone is on extended leave.
• HIRE JEFF HOSIER, TEMPORARY M.E.O. AS FULL TIME M.E.O. EFF. 1/1/16 AT $16/HR
Mrs. Carlson said the reason for starting Mr. Hosier at $16/HR is because he has worked for the town as a substitute for Mr. Stevens and Mr. Strickland has recommended it.
Mr. Sena asked why we did not start out fresh as we usually do.
Mr. Strickland said the precedent had been set with Mr. Hinsdale, M.E.O. who had been hired to substitute for Mr. Stevens initially and had then been hired full time when Mr. Stratton was terminated. He said his temporary time had been counted toward his probationary time when he was hired full time. He said Mr. Hosier is a very hard working and conscientious employee and the town is lucky to have him.
• MOTION # 149 OF 2015
MR. WHITNEY MOTIONED TO HIRE JEFF HOSIER AS A FULL TIME HIGHWAY M.E.O. EFFECTIVE 1/1/2016, AT A RATE OF $16/HR; $24 HR/OT. MR STOW SECONDED. YES (5): WHITNEY, STOW, SENA, MCNEILL, CARLSON. NO (0). THE MOTION WAS CARRIED.
• SWEARING IN CEREMONY
Mrs. Carlson asked the board members if they would like to have a swearing in ceremony this year or if they would just prefer to sign them when convenient. The board decided that everyone could give their oath at their convenience.
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Mrs. Thomas said she would get the oath documents ready
• TOWN BOARD MEETING DATES FOR 2016
Following are the dates of regularly scheduled Town Board Meetings for 2016:
1/11/16; 2/08/16; 3/14/16; 4/11/16; 5/09/16; 6/13/16; 7/11/16; 8/08/16; 9/12/16; *10/03/16 (1st Mon. of month); 11/14/16; 12/12/16, Thurs. 12/29/16 (Year End)
Mrs. Carlson indicated that she would like to make the dates of Christmas vacation Monday & Tuesday, 12/26-27/2016, since Christmas falls on a Sunday. The Year End Board meeting will be held on Thursday, 12/29/16 at 12:00 PM.
• COURT GRANT APPROVED IN THE AMOUNT OF $25,000
Mrs. Carlson said Mr. Peacock had received news that the Court grant applied for had been approved in the amount of $25,000. She said unless we sell part of the Mitchell property, we won’t be building onto the town building.
Mr. Peacock said one of the conditions of the grant is that it must be spent within 180 days. He said it appears the funds can be used for construction. There was discussion about using the funds for site work, parking area, infrastructure, etc. He said the money must be spent before the grant can be used for reimbursement. Mr. Peacock indicated that he would call and investigate exactly what the funds can be used for.
The board decided to hold any action on the grant in abeyance until Mr. Peacock contacts the Court System about the grant parameters. There was discussion of the estimate of $250,000 for an addition to the Community Building for Court facilities and whether or not it could be bonded.
Mrs. Carlson said bonding would solve a number of problems (i.e. handicap accessible restrooms, etc.).
Mr. Stow said he would like to see the town explore bonding but also expressed concern about payment on a BAN exceeding 2% Tax Cap requirements. It was noted that the town has $50,000 in a General Fund Capital Reserve Account.
Mr. Peacock indicated that grants are not limited to a one time application. He said he could apply again next year.
Mrs. Carlson said the town would need to contact M&T Bank to see what could be worked out.
• MOTION # 150 OF 2015
MR. WHITNEY MOTIONED TO APPROVE THE PAYMENT OF THE GENERAL FUND VOUCHERS AS REVIEWED AND AUDITED EARLIER. MR. MCNEILL SECONDED. YES (5): WHITNEY, STOW, SENA, MCNEILL, CARLSON. NO (0). THE MOTION WAS CARRIED.
• MOTION # 151 OF 2015
MR. WHITNEY MOTIONED TO APPROVE THE PAYMENT OF THE HIGHWAY FUND VOUCHERS AS REVIEWED AND AUDITED EARLIER. MR. MCNEILL SECONDED. YES (5): WHITNEY, STOW, SENA, MCNEILL, CARLSON. NO (0). THE MOTION WAS CARRIED.
• USE OF ROUND UP
Mr. Sena said he had researched the use of Round Up and it appears that the article opposing Round Up was written by Sierra, an Environmental group. He said he had received a great deal of information from
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his source at the County Health Dept. that indicates the testing used in the article is not scientifically accepted and is very skewed. Mrs. Carlson thanked him for doing the research.
• DAN STRICKLAND – HIGHWAY TRUCK
Mr. Strickland asked the board is they would have any objection to him looking for a used pre-emission truck (2007 or before) instead of a new 2016 truck to replace equipment. He said he has a small window to do this because if you get the right truck, such as the one he purchased in Texas, they don’t last long. He said there is no reason you can’t get 10 years of good use out of a 2004 model. He said trucks that are going to need replacing are the 2004 ten wheeler, and the 1999 single axle.
The board indicated they have no issue with that.
• RENOVATIONS TO TOWN CLERK OFFICE
Mrs. Thomas said she had discussed with Mrs. Carlson some much needed renovations to the Clerk’s office. She said since she has the funding in her budget she would like to use those funds in 2015 to pay for those costs. She said she had a quote from Empire Development in the amount of $3,252.00.
Mr. Sena said the board had approved the expenditure several years ago but for various reasons it had not been done.
Mrs. Miller asked what account it would come out of.
Mrs. Thomas said A1410.2 and A1410.1.1 as needed. She said Mrs. Miller had indicated that the Clerks accounts had over $8,000 in balances.
Mrs. Thomas said she would like to use some of those funds to purchase another fire safe as the one currently located in the storage room is at capacity. She said she had contacted Geer-Dunn and had been quoted a price of about $1,400.00.
• MOTION # 152 OF 2015
MR. STOW MOTIONED TO EXPEND $3,252.00 IN 2015 TOWN CLERK ACCOUNT BALANCE FUNDS FOR RENOVATIONS TO THE TOWN CLERK OFFICE. FURTHER, TO EXPEND FUNDS FROM THE SAME ACCOUNTS IN 2015 FOR THE PURCHASE OF A FIRE PROOF FILE CABINET FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF IMPORTANT RECORDS OF THE TOWN. MR. SENA SECONDED. YES (5): WHITNEY, STOW, SENA, MCNEILL, CARLSON. NO (0). THE MOTION WAS CARRIED.
• MOTION # 153 OF 2015
ON A MOTION MADE BY MR. WHITNEY, SECONDED BY MR. SENA, AND NONE BEING OPPOSED, THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 1:00 PM.
Nancy Thomas
Town Clerk
