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Thursday July 13, 2017 The regular meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Locke, Cayuga County and State of New York was held in said town at the Locke Town Hall, Main Street, Locke, NY on July 13, 2017 at 6:30 P.M. There were present: Craig Todd, Supervisor Patricia Dillon, Sally Compton, Mary Alice Stetz, and Thane Benson, Members of Council Absent: Jerry VeVone, CEO Others present: Peter Compton, Highway Superintendent Melanie Funk, Town Clerk Norman Chirco, Attorney Approximately 3 Citizens The meeting was called to order by Supervisor Todd at 6:35 P.M. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag A motion was made by Supervisor Todd to go into executive session at 6:36 P.M. to discuss personnel, seconded by Councilwoman Stetz and upon roll call vote was unanimously carried. So resolved Ayes 5. A motion was made by Councilwoman Dillon to come out of executive session at 7:13 P.M., seconded by Councilwoman Compton and upon roll call vote was unanimously carried. So resolved Ayes 5. The minutes of the June 8, 2017 meeting – a motion was made by Councilman Benson and seconded by Councilwoman Stetz to accept the minutes as read and upon roll call vote was unanimously carried. So resolved Ayes 5. Reports: Supervisor—Craig Todd informed Attorney Chirco that the town received a notification of overdue account for Zito Media. Mr. Chirco sent Zito a letter stating that the town is supposed to have one free internet hook-up per the franchise agreement, but he will contact them again to get this cleared up. Supervisor Todd also received confirmation from Attorney Chirco that the Ethics Law was filed with the New York Department of State. Supervisor Todd had a meeting with two representatives from the Cayuga County Economic Development Agency who provided him with information on how to assist local people that are trying to sell their property in Locke. One example of a way this agency can help is to reduce the mortgage tax that is owed when a potential buyer closes on a mortgage during a property transfer. Supervisor Todd felt that this could be valuable information to bring to property owners within the town that may be having difficulties selling their property. ---PAGE BREAK--- There was a rabies clinic held on June 10, 2017 at the Locke Town Hall which resulted in approximately 45 animals being immunized and 15 dog licenses or renewals. Supervisor Todd thanked Councilwoman Dillon for her help that day. Supervisor Todd thanked the town board members for their participation in the parade during the Locke Volunteer Fireman’s Field Days. Councilman Benson donated the use of his car and Highway Superintendent Compton entered one of the town’s trucks in the parade. Lastly, Supervisor Todd received a complaint from a resident about their neighbor’s livestock coming on to their property and asked Attorney Chirco for clarification on a matter like this. Mr. Chirco stated that due to this being a property owner dispute, Mr. Todd, as he did, should advise the resident to contact the Cayuga County Sheriff’s Department. C.E.O.—Jerry VeVone was not present at the meeting but left a folder with copies of Building Permits that have been issued for the town board to review. Highway Department—Superintendent Compton reported about the recent damage to the roadside on a portion of Main Road during a thunder and rain storm on July 1, 2017. A culvert was plugged up but it has all been taken care of since then. The town received a yellow flag for the bridge on Old Genoa Road. Basically, this means that an engineer will need to be hired to design a new bridge to be built. Mr. Compton has contacted the Cayuga County Highway Department for their recommendation and he has since been working with Arthur Petrozzi who will assist him with this. There is no a specific timeline in which this needs to be done; being that it is a yellow flag, and not a red flag. Lastly, Mr. Compton was contacted by a property owner on Hoag Ave. that is contemplating building a house. He advised her that building a road access to a new house would be her responsibility due to the fact that Hoag Ave. is a partially seasonal road. Water Department—Councilwoman Dillon reported that water bills have gone out with a notice of the rate increase included. Also, Edward and Melanie Sharpsteen, who own property on Water Street, have requested that their water account for a vacant lot be eliminated. In selling two adjacent properties, the Sharpsteens have removed a former subdivision and it is now just one parcel. Supervisor Todd made a motion to eliminate this water account, seconded by Councilman Benson and upon roll call vote was unanimously carried. So resolved Ayes 5. Town Clerk—Melanie Funk reported that revenue for June was $751.00. Also, she reported that she would be out of town for the August town board meeting, as well as Attorney Chirco. Supervisor Todd made a motion to change next month’s meeting to August 3, 2017, seconded by Councilwoman Compton and upon roll call vote was unanimously carried. So resolved Ayes 5. Town Attorney—Norman Chirco reported that he spoke with Chris Culvert, who is the resident engineer for Cayuga and Seneca Counties, including our area about the issues with State Routes 38 and 90 that were brought up at the June board meeting. Mr. Culvert told him that State Route 38 from Moravia to south of the bridge past the intersection of State Route 90 this year. The remainder of State Route 38 to the Tompkins County line will be paved next year. There are also certain parts that are being patched until it can all be paved. Mr. Culvert wasn’t ---PAGE BREAK--- aware of any issued on State Route 90 but informed Mr. Chirco that he would drive out and check it himself. Mr. Chirco had spoken with Attorney Donald who is representing Hewitt Brothers in the transaction of the land being deeded to the town. The survey map has been filed. Normally, it is the seller who prepares the deed, but Mr. asked if the town would be able to do it. Supervisor Todd commented that he feels that since the land is being donated to the town, then the town can be responsible for preparing the deed to be signed and filed, which Mr. Chirco will be able to do. At this time, Supervisor Todd inquired with Attorney Chirco about the formation of an ethics committee. Mr. Chirco advised that in his experience in other towns, ethics committees were formed and rarely, if ever called upon to act. As part of the Ethics Law, a committee can be formed which needs to contain at least one elected town official. Therefore, Mr. Chirco advised that the town board put some thought into who else they feel would possess the characteristics to be chosen for this committee. Old Business—The Setback and Lot Area Law was discussed at this time per Supervisor Todd’s request at last month’s meeting that all town board members be prepared to suggest possible changes. There is certain verbiage that the town board members asked to be changed so it is better understood, when Attorney Chirco rewrites the proposed law. The section of the proposed law about only one principle building allowed on a parcel will be removed, as long as it stands that there needs to be at least one acre of land per principle building. Also, the proposed fine in the law for anyone in violation will be changed from $50.00 to $500.00. Mr. Chirco will make the requested changes to the proposed law that he initially prepared and have it ready for the town board to review once again at the August meeting. Mr. Compton mentioned his displeasure with the Locke Community Church’s attorney marking up the survey spikes on the newly sealed driveway and parking lot that the town paid $850.00 for. It is presumed that the attorney made these marks due to the ongoing attempt of the church to gain a right-of-way from the town. New Business—Councilwoman Compton reported that she learned that the Moravia Summer Recreation program is going well and doesn’t believe that the $20.00 initial fee deterred anyone from enrolling their child. Audit of Claims—A motion was made by Councilwoman Compton to audit the claims, seconded by Councilwoman Stetz and upon roll call vote was unanimously carried. So resolved Ayes 5. General Fund Voucher #113-133 $13802.91 Highway Fund Voucher #63-73 $72358.15 Water District Voucher #39-47 $40218.50 Street Lighting Voucher #7 $494.96 Public to be Heard—Resident Dan Signor was present and addressed the town board about his feelings on the dangers of the curves on West Hill Road. Since there have recently been two serious accidents on the road, one being fatal, Mr. ---PAGE BREAK--- Signor inquired about the town looking into having double yellow lines painted on the curves or at least better signage. He also feels that there should be more law enforcement in the area to control the speed and weight limits of vehicles traveling the road. There is a great amount of traffic using West Hill Road as a cutover from State Route 38 to State Route 90. Mr. Signor’s main objective of attending the meeting and speaking however, is to ask the town board to consider putting effort into banning a proposed four-way stop at the intersection of West Hill Road, Goodrich Hill Road, Pine Hollow Road, and Genoa-Locke Townline Road. A motion was made by Councilman Benson to contact the Cayuga County Highway Department about having them investigate the curves and use of excessive speed on West Hill Road, seconded by Councilwoman Stetz and upon roll call vote was unanimously carried. So resolved Ayes 5. A motion was made by Supervisor Todd to adjourn, seconded by Councilman Benson and upon roll call vote was unanimously carried. Meeting adjourned at 8:42 P.M. So resolved Ayes 5. Respectfully Submitted, Melanie Funk Town Clerk/Tax Collector