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Town of Victory Town Board Meeting May 9, 2016 Council Members Present: Mike Wiggins-Supervisor RobinBartholomew Lester VanDyke Terrance McBride Leonard Hand Others present: Debra Davis- Judge Julia Iozzio-Clerk Lezli Parsons-Assessor Harvey Mills-Town Planning Public Present: Carol Mills Beverly Sayles- Town Historian Steve Yonker- Hwy. Supervisor Dave Shurtluff- Planning Board Meeting called to order at 7:00pm with the Pledge of Allegiance by supervisor. Mike addressed a resolution for the account of the Town Historian account. This will allow the pavement project across from the fire station to be paid for. Dept. The offers had met and agreed upon a new Diamond 75” Flail mower cost: $13,464 from Stephenson Equipment. It will be paid from the Hwy. machinery equipment fund. Resolution 01-2016 approves the purchase of a new Diamond 75’ flail mower from Stephson Equipment for the amount $13,464.00 to be paid from the highway department machinery- equipment fund. Motion made by Lester VanDyke Seconded by Leonard Hand; all ayes. Leonard questioned the minutes from the previous month. He wanted to know why the closing statement didn’t have a conclusion (time or out come)? The clerk informed him that she had been given no results regarding the executive session that had been called at the end of the meeting. Robin then proceeded to explain the “Roberts Rules”. Robin made the board aware of the fact that the clerk shouldn’t have left and when their session was finished needed to record the results as well as the time it ended. The clerk agreed to make herself more familiar with the process. Lester motioned to accept the minutes as amended. Terrance seconded it. All ayes. Supervisor’s report by Mike Wiggins as of: 2/29/2016 General fund: $316,426.86 Cash reserve, CD: $192,136.46 Petty cash: $50.00 Special reserve, Capital Project: $192,357.52 ---PAGE BREAK--- Money market Special reserve: $60,000.00 Total for General fund: $760,970.84 Highway funds: $157,441.42 Victory Street Lighting Dist.: Cash- Checking: $2,763.89 Cash in time Deposits: $3194.19 Total: $5,958.08 Westbury Street Lighting Dist.: Cash-Checking: $2,176.02 Cash in time Deposits: $288.69 Total: $2,464.71 Total for all funds: $926,835.52 Mike stated that the increase in the General Fund from last month was due to the clerk monies collected from sales of garbage permits. This month the monies collected from the taxes was deposited and the totals don’t reflect that. Monies deposited, General Fund: Hwy. $354.890.00 Fire Depts. $51,539.00 Report was finished and the paper will be available for review at the clerk’s desk. Steve was sick but Mike read some notes on his behalf. The rain and melting snow combination overflowed the road on Hotaling Rd. and took out the shoulder of the road, it had to be patched. At the end of February, due to better than normal weather, the crew removed the sander wings from one of the trucks. They are preparing the truck to so summer work. . Julia Iozzio delivered the clerks report: Clerk’s Report: (as of 2/29/2016) 1-Building permits =$25.00 43-Dog licenses =$421.00 18 Garbage Permits =$2,520.00 (at #293 w/2 voided) 2-Records copies =$42.00 0-Marriage lics. =$00.00 0-Subdivision =$00.00 Lester clarified the GP # due to a Waste Mtg. committee meeting which he will be overseeing. 350 was needed for the town to meet its budget. The clerk noted that the count may be off by 2 due to a couple of voided permits. In the recent weeks it was brought to the attention of the clerk that the trash attendants weren’t in fact checking for permits. Vicky Davis stated that the collector had it written in the contract that he was in fact responsible for checking current permits. Leonard stated that if need be he’d stand out there to help check. Lester said that he’d be checking to verify the contract. He confirmed a new date of the WMC (waste management committee) meeting as: 4/22 at 7 pm. ---PAGE BREAK--- The town clerk offered information on an up coming training conference, which would offer useful classes as well as, a much needed notary license. The clerk currently relies on Lucielle Craine and Lezli Parsons for all of the towns notary needs. The clerk was asked to prepare a voucher and the board approved. Code enforcement: Bruce was absent from the meeting due to some health issues. Harvey stated that he had a gentleman wanted to start up a kennel and they referred him to the zoning board. They will be meeting on the 26th to grant the possible permit. The owner of the kennel has been in the business for over 20 years but now wants to establish himself with the AKC. He’d also like to establish “pet dealer status”. On Wednesday the 16th of March there will be training for anybody that is interested in getting info on the “ZBA” as well as it being the county zoning board meeting. Mike offered info on David Nelson agreeing to come out on the 14th of April‘s meeting to present the permit process and answer any questions regarding grants. Harvey won’t be able to attend but stated that David Shurtleff can attend in his stead. Mike said he will make him aware of the visit. Lezli received numbers back from the state regarding the towns’ level of assessment and what the equalization rate will be. It appears the numbers have fallen to 94 for the up coming year, down from 96. This figure is with the two towns separated (Ira & Victory). Ira fell to 93. Ira is planning on doing a re-evaluation in 2017. She and Mike were talking and they found that there weren’t a whole lot of repercussions from the equalization rate falling. It doesn’t change anyone’s assessed value; it just makes the market value look higher. Basically the reason for the rate falling is because a house (mostly vacant land) is selling for over the assessed value. Unfortunately farmers are paying more per acreage than their land is being assessed for. She suggested a re-eval and suggested to do it in 2018. The question was raised by Lester as to the cost. Lezli stated, Ira is paying , $4 per parcel and that originally when Ira & Victory was combined it was $10. She also stated that all assessors’ appointment is up in 2019. So now instead of having a 2yr, at $5 per parcel, they spread it out over the course of her appointment so that every budget year is the same. She asked the board to consider that proposal. Lester asked for something in writing regarding her offer/proposal. Lester also stated that, “not many people question the equalization rates. If it doesn’t have a big impact and it’s going to cost the town money why do it, and leave it the way it is”. Mike wanted to know how low is to low? Lezli stated there is a point where it will effect the exemptions and the STAR usually starts at $30,000.00 but when it drops to a certain point the Sr. STAR program will fall and tax payers won’t get the full $65,300.00. She agreed to look in to it. Leonard asked if we can make this decision each year? Mike stated the reason for the inquiry was because there was uncertainty after the cap was broken with Ira & Victory. The question was mutual with Lezli and Lester regarding the rate. They assumed the rate would be staying at 100 but soon was informed of the “formula” that the state has which is based on a “forecasting” theory. Mike shared a proposal regarding a public announcement on raising electric rates via NYSEG/RG&E. The notice spoke of raising rates over the next 3 yrs. The totals were 8.1% or ---PAGE BREAK--- 2.7% per yr. for the next 3 yrs. The increase is due to the delivery rate. If the proposal is accepted citizens will end up paying 8% more for their electric in 3 yrs. Mike asked if there was anymore business, to that Lester motioned to adjourn. Leonard “happily” seconded it. All ayes. The meeting was closed at 7:50