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Scipio Town Board Meeting A special public meeting of the town board was called to order at 6:30 PM on Wednesday June 13, 2018 by Supervisor Mutchler for the purpose of reviewing the checkbooks of the town bookkeeper, the town clerk and the court clerk. All the checkbooks balanced, and the town board found no discrepancies or issues with any of the town’s checkbooks. Motion to approve the town’s checkbooks. (Mutchler / Ferrari) All in favor. The regular public meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM on Wednesday June 13, 2018 by Supervisor Mutchler with the following people present. Supervisor: Gary Mutchler Town Clerk: Tom Olenych Town Board Members: Leslie Baxter Highway: Mark Chamberlain Mark Ferrari Code Enforcement: Howard Tanner Vivian Cunningham Gary Whitten Guests: Maryl Mendillo Motion to approve agenda for the June 13, 2018 town board meeting. (Baxter / Cunningham) All in favor. Issues to come before the board from town residents and guests. Maryl Mendillo told the board she feels the vandalism at Sherwood School had been addressed to some extent it was still going on. She is concerned that if not addressed further the vandals will turn their attention to other abandoned buildings that are nearby. Howard Tanner offered to call Sheriff Gould to see if there was anything the County Sheriff’s Department could do. Motion to approve the minutes of the May 9, 2018 town board meeting. (Mutchler / Whitten) All in favor. Town Board Members reports: Leslie Baxter:1) Leslie reported she attended a meeting of the Owasco Lake Watershed Management Council at Cayuga County Community College where some discussion was given to adapting parts of the Skaneateles Lake Watershed rules and regulations. The committee feels there are parts of the Skaneateles that are well suited for the town, such as prohibiting the spreading of manure on frozen or saturated ground or within 100’ of a property owner’s well. Although these are a good beginning the feeling is there is more to be done regarding the handling of manure from horse or chicken farms as well as such things as the new dog park at ---PAGE BREAK--- the foot of Owasco Lake which the committee feels is too close to the lake. The solid waste is not the problem rather the liquid waste seeping into the soil and finding its way into the lake. 2) Leslie continues to hear complaints from town residents concerned with the “trailer parks” on local farmers property for the purpose of housing their migrant workers. 3) Lastly Leslie told the board she has not heard back from Senator Gillibrand’s office regarding possible grants or funding to help the town defray the increasing costs of maintaining town roads. Vivian Cunningham: 1) Vivian told the board she had been pressed into service to open the transfer station on Wednesday May 16th. as the regular attendant was out due to medical issues. Mark Chamberlain showed her how to operate the compactor and from there she had no problems. This lead to a discussion about finding someone who would be able to fill in at the transfer station in the event something like this happens again. The town will try to find and appoint someone who can become familiar with the transfer station operations and who can fill this position. 2) Next Vivian spoke to the board about a meeting she attended concerning the State’s initiative promoting "shared services" between Cayuga County municipalities. The meeting primarily centered around finding new opportunities for small towns and municipalities to share services such as human resources, not an issue for the town, health insurance, also not an issue as the town recently became a member of the Greater Tompkins County Municipal Health Insurance Consortium as well as the possibility of a county wide “property assessment office”, to provide more efficient town assessments. Highway superintendent Chamberlain pointed out that his department already has shared services agreements with several of the surrounding towns. Vivian will attend the next meeting regarding “shared services” where the topic of joining or creating judicial districts will be discussed. She will give a report on this meeting at the July 11th. town board meeting. Mark Ferrari: 1) Mark spoke to the board regarding a letter he received from Chris Carrick, Energy Program Manager of CNY Solar, in which Chris informed the town the state of New York has changed the rules that determine the value of solar energy that is exported to the utility grid when solar customers produce more energy than they need. Under these new guide lines towns could see a reduction is what they are paid by as much as 50% which may jeopardize the town’s plans to go solar. Mark read a letter, composed by Chris Carrick, where Chris is asking town supervisors to sign and send along to those elected officials representing the town. Leslie Baxter suggested the town sign the letter whether or not it intends to go forward with the town’s solar panel project. Motion to approve. (Cunningham / Baxter) All in favor. ---PAGE BREAK--- Town Supervisor’s report: 1) Supervisor Mutchler asked Vivian Cunningham to read Town of Scipio Local Law 1 of 2018, “The Zoning and Building Code Enforcement Residency Requirement Local Law, to the town board. Motion to approve Town Local Law No. 1 of 2018 as corrected: Whitten – Aye, Baxter – Aye, Cunningham – Aye, Ferrari – Aye and Mutchler – Aye. Next Superintendent Mutchler asked Mark Ferrari to read Town of Scipio Local Law No. 2, “Electioneering Law” to the town board. Motion to approve Town Local Law No. 2 of 2018: Whitten – Aye, Baxter – Aye, Cunningham – Aye, Ferrari – Aye and Mutchler – Aye. 2) Next Supervisor Mutchler went over the financial report telling the board the town’s general fund is approximately $50,000.00 over 2017 and the town’s highway fund is approximately $36,000.00 over 2017. Gary asked the board to approve the following transfer of funds to amend the budget. From DA2680 Insurance Recoveries / Ins. $1,252.22 To DA5130.4 Machinery Contractual From DA3501 Consolidated Highway Aid $17,309.42 To DA5112.2 Improvements Capital Outlay From DA5110.5 Repair of Road Signs $70.00 To DA5140.42 Drug Testing From DA911 Unappropriated Fund Balance $110,000.00 To DA5110.4 Improvements Capital Outlay From DA911 Unappropriated Fund Balance $3,600.00 To DA5130.4 Machinery Contractual Motion to approve the financial report and the transfer of funds. (Mutchler / Whitten) All in favor. 3) Gary informed the board the Empire Games on June 16th. would once again be using town roads for the cyclist route but Poplar Ridge would be providing the fire police for safety. 4) Gary told the board that Tim Weir, assistant fire chief, had submitted the fire departments proposal to the fire commissioners at the June 11th. Scipio Fire Departments meeting. 5) The highway departments lawn tractor died after 20 plus years of service, so it was decided to purchase a new lawn tractor not to exceed $2,000.00. Motion to approve the purchase of a new lawn tractor. (Whitten / Baxter) All in favor. 6) Lastly Gary brought up the State DOT’s request the town allow the DOT to periodically set up inspection stops on State Route 34 using the parking areas in front of the town offices and the town barn. Motion to approve the DOT’s request. (Mutchler / Cunningham) All in favor. ---PAGE BREAK--- Town Officers reports: Assessor: 1) Heather Garner submitted a written report. 2) The BAR went smoothly with the board hearing 5 grievances this year. 3) Lastly Heather notified the town it’s equalization rate will be .98 for the upcoming year. Town Clerk: Tom Olenych talked to the board members about the Fall Newsletter saying to give town residents four of five weeks to get ready for Fall Cleanup Day on October 6th. he would need anything being submitted no later than the middle of August. He will send an e-mail to all town officials the first of August to give everyone time to meet the mid-August deadline. Highway Superintendent: 1) Mark Chamberlain told the board his crews have been busy ditching, putting in driveways as well as covering the sink hole on Ensenore Road with a metal plate and then paving over the repair. 2) Mark said they have also paved 2 ½ miles of road on Mosher and Skillet Road. 3) Lastly Mark said he would be attending a “local roads school” for 3 days at Cornell Cooperative Extension. Code Enforcement: 1) Howard Tanner submitted a report detailing his activities for the month, permits issued as well as his comments, questions and concerns. 2) Howard discussed with the board a proposal he had received, from Environmental Resources Management for a 96 acre solar panel farm to be constructed on farm land on Center Road east of State Route 34. It was decided to invite the project managers to the July 11th. town board meeting to discuss the project prior to handing the plans over to the town planning board. Other Business: There was no other business to be discussed Approval of vouchers: General 97 – 112 totaling $6,090.83 (Mutchler / Ferrari) All in favor. Highway (DA): 56 – 65 totaling $160,978.40 (Whitten / Ferrari) All in favor. Motion to adjourn: 9:45 PM (Baxter) All in favor. Respectfully submitted, Thomas J. Olenych ---PAGE BREAK--- Scipio Town Clerk