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Scipio Town Board Meeting Wednesday May 13, 2015 This regular scheduled meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm on Wed., May 13, 2015 by Supervisor Janet Reohr with the following people present: Supervisor: Janet Reohr Town Clerk: Tom Olenych Council Members: Howard Nelson Highway Superintendent: Mark Chamberlain Greg Rury Keith Welch Gary Whitten Visitors: Sandra Gilliland (town historian), Ron Curvin and George Wilson and David Thurston (town attorney). Supervisor Reohr reviewed the agenda. Issues to come before the board from town residents: Sandra spoke to the board regarding urban legends markers which would be similar to the blue historical makers that are placed along the road way to mark historic sites or events. These urban legend markers would not mark historic events but would be placed at the approximate site of local folk lore and legends . The cost of these markers would be funded through the Pomeroy Foundation. Sandra spends about 6 months a year in Florida and she wanted to know if someone else should be appointed town historian. She gave an update on the early history of Scipio project she is working on and she has indexed the town residents names so anyone can click on a name and it can be brought up. She also said the birth certificate hiccup has been resolved. Ron Curvin of the Scipio Lake Property Owners Association spoke regarding the high water level of Owasco Lake and the problems this causes. He cited ice damage to docks and boathouses as well as eroding shorelines and this impact this has on property owners and lake property values. These levels are controlled by the Army Corp of Engineers as well as the power plant in Auburn. Ron had a prepared statement, which he asked the town board to approve, which stated the town board of Scipio supported ongoing measures by the Town of Owasco, Scipio Lake Property Owners Assoc. and other organizations to investigate this problem. The town board rewrote this statement to read as follows to show its support. Motion::The town of Scipio Board has been informed that the current Owasco Lake levels standards, as determined by the Army Corp of Engineers, are negatively affecting the lives of lake residents. Therefore the Scipio Town Board resolves to support ongoing ---PAGE BREAK--- measures by the Town of Oswaco, Scipio Lake Property Owners Assoc. and other organizations to investigate this problem with the goal of a lower and more acceptable lake level. Motion supported by the Town Board at its regularly scheduled meeting May 13, 2015. (Reohr / Rury) In favor: Reohr, Rury and Welch George Wilson talked about the damage to town roads caused by farm equipment as well as the unsafe driving conditions this also causes. He wanted to know if a 35 mph speed limit could be established on town roads. Review of April 8, 2015 minutes Motion: to approve the minutes for the April 8, 2015 Board meeting with corrections made to the Clerk’s minutes by supervisor Reohr prior to the reading of the minutes at the meeting. (Rury / Nelson) All in favor. Solarize CNY Project: Howard Nelson talked about a program to provide solar power to the towns buildings. The lead agency for this would be Central NY Regional Planning and Development and the consulting agency would be Optony Inc. Motion: to send Optony Inc. the town’s electric bills for the last year to be reviewed. (Welch / Rury) All in favor. Resolution: to appoint Tom Olenych as Registrar; appoint Judith (Dodie) Rowlands as Assistant registrar. (Welch / Whitten) All in favor. Resolution: to approve Tom Olenych as co-signer on Clerk and Tax Accounts with Chemung Canal Bank. (Reohr / Welch) All in favor. 8:23 PM Start Executive Session: present were town board members Reohr, Rury, Whitten, Nelson and Welch. David Thurston the town attorney, Mark Charberlain the town highway superintendent and Tom Olenych the town clerk. 9:44 PM End Executive Session: Motion: to have the town attorney send the VanOstrand’s a letter informing them of the town’s intention to seek compensation for the damage to the town roads caused by their farm equipment and the farm equipment of people working for them. (Welch/Rury) All in favor. ---PAGE BREAK--- Supervisors Report: • Calls to the VanOstrands concerning the town cemetery have not been returned. • Deb Kellog has received her last check as town clerk. • Cayuga Lake Watershed yearly dues are $900.00 regardless of the size of the municipality • 1st quarter tax received ($121, 022.83) and deposited into the highway account. • A letter was sent to the health department regarding David Komarisky’s concern over the garbage and trash piled up on the property next to his house on Center Rd. • The town received a bill from Costello, Cooney and Fearon for $1,800.00 for work done on the town zoning. Jeanie Gleisner of CNY Regional Planning and Development will look into paying this. Superintendent’s Report: • The old truck sold for $32,000.00 at auction with $30,750.00 going to the town. • Town crews have been busy ditching and chasing water. • It will take 500 tons of patch to repair Cork St. • Mark is looking at an 85 horse power Farmall tractor (model 85C) and a mower attachment (model DB2660) at a cost of $50,400.00. This equipment would replace equipment the town is currently using. It might also be used in the future to do county mowing but currently what the county is paying for this service is not sufficient enough to make it for the town. Clerk’s Report: . Tom thanked the board for being flexible with his schedule so that he was able to give the post office sufficient notice prior to retiring from the post office. Code enforcement officer’s report: A handout from the Code Enforcement Office dated May 13, 2015 was given to each board member. A copy will be kept with the minutes. Assessor’s report: A handout from the assessor was given to each town board member. A copy will be kept with the minutes. ---PAGE BREAK--- Resolution for budget transfer: Motion: move $4,373.92 from A9060.8 Medical Insurance to A1410.4 town clerk personal. (Reohr / Nelson) All in favor. Approval of Supervisor’s fiscal report: Motion: to accept. (Whitten/Welch) All in favor. Vouchers: General Fund #69 – 84 & 86 - 91 (#85 not signed and may be a duplicate) Total $12,337.53 Highway Fund #38 – 52 Total $19,304.54 Motion to accept. (Welch/Nelson) All in favor. Other business: Heather Graham had notified the town that she (the town) is being threatened with a law suit regarding property exemptions that have lapsed. Tom Olenych as chair of the Board of Assessment Review said Heather had made him aware of this and she also cited state law that prohibits the BAR from granting any kind of exemption. (Motion: to adjourn at 9:23 pm. (Whitten) Respectfully submitted, Tom Olenych Town Clerk