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Scipio Town Board Meeting Wednesday August 12, 2015 This regular meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, August 12, 2015 by Supervisor Janet Reohr with the following people present: Supervisor: Janet Reohr Town Clerk: Tom Olenych Council Members: Howard Nelson Highway: Mark Chamberlain Greg Rury Keith Welch Gary Whitten Visitors: Gary Mutchler, Jeanie Gleisner of CNY Regional Planning & Development, Mark Vorreuter, Ken Post, Ann Robson, Mark Ferrari, Andy Simkin, and Randy Lawrence. Supervisor Reohr reviewed the agenda. Issues to come before the board from town residents: Gary Mutchler told the board he had been over to the VanNostrand’s to discuss the damage the VanNostrand’s spreading of manure had caused to Cork Street. Sharon VanOstrand told Gary that Mark Chamberlain had given them permission to haul manure so she saw no reason not to do so. Mark Chamberlain told the board that this was not true and he had never given them permission to haul manure during the time period in question. In fact he had intervened to have them stop spreading which the VanNostrand’s ignored. Dave Thurston the town attorney has spoken to the VanNostrand’s lawyer and was told they had received the town attorney’s letter regarding the damage to Cork Street and they opted to ignore. Mr. Thurston drafted another more forcefully written letter to be sent to the VanNostrands. Review and approval of minutes: Motion: to approve the minutes for the July 8, 2015 board meeting as corrected. (Welch / Howard) All in favor. Review and approval of court books: Motion: to approve the court books for the period of January – July 2015 (Rury / Howard) All in favor. Solar Permitting Process: Resolution: to accept NY-Sun permitting process for small-scale roof mounted residential and commercial solar electric. ---PAGE BREAK--- Keith Welch asked that this resolution be tabled for a month so he could discuss the $100.00 building permit fee with Mick Piechuta, the town’s code enforcement officer, in order to better understand where this dollar amount comes from. Others felt that the resolution should be approved now, and the rate question could be investigated later and changes made if desired. Greg Rury was concerned the description “small-scale roof-mounted” limits other possible installation methods. This phrase was removed from the resolution. Resolution accepted as amended. (Reohr / Rury) Rury - yes, Whitten – yes, Reohr – yes, Nelson – yes. Welch – no. Signs at the corners of Cork Street and Center Road: State Senator Mike Nozollio’s office called to ask about making this intersection a four way stop due to the recent accident involving a car traveling south on Cork Street and a truck traveling east on Center Road. Currently there are stop signs for cars traveling north or south on Cork Street but no signs for cars traveling east or west on Center Road. Janet Reohr will call Mr. Nozollio’s office to tell him there is no opposition to this from the town board. Zoning Commission – presentation of zoning document: Jeanie Gleisner informed the town board that the draft zoning and the draft sub-division was ready to go to the board and for public review. It was decided the public review/ comment and town board vote would be scheduled for the September 9, 2015 town board meeting. She also went over the “executive summary” part of the zoning document explaining this was not part of the law but was intended to summarize and condense the new zoning laws into a more easily understood and readable document. Mark Vorreuter gave the board an overview of the presentation he will give at the 9/9/15 town board meeting. He cited the town’s comprehensive plan as the basis for the new zoning laws and he stressed to the board there will be no wholescale changes with the new zoning. The purpose of the new zoning is not to limit growth but rather to encourage and incentivize “smart growth”. Resolution: to set the date for the public hearing for review of the town’s zoning. Date September 9, 2015 at 6:30 PM at the town offices. (Reohr / Nelson) All in favor. Resolution - intent to designate the Town Board of Scipio as Lead Agency under SEQRA (State Environmental Quality Review Act): Resolution passed, voting as follows: Janet Reohr - Yes Howard Nelson - Yes Keith Welch - Yes Gary Whitten - Yes Greg Rury –Yes ---PAGE BREAK--- Letter to farming community drafted by Howard Nelson: This letter asks the farmers in the town of Scipio who use town roads as well as farmers from neighboring towns who use towns roads to cooperate with the town highway department in keeping these roads in as good condition as possible. Motion: to adopt letter with changes. (Welch / Reohr ) All in favor. Continued discussion of Cork Street road damage and the VanNostrands; Reohr read a second letter, drafted by Dave Thurston, town attorney, to the VanNostrands regarding the damage done to Cork Street and requested them to contact their insurance company. The board discussed and indicated they wish Thurston to send the second letter certified mail. Reports: Supervisor: The town received $127,274.99 for 2nd quarter sales tax and $8,598.34 was deposited into the Highway Fund, DA1120. This brings the highway fund up to its budgeted amount. In addition $117,676.65 was deposited into the General Fund, A1120, which leaves a total of $151,702.18 needed for its budgeted amount. The town received an invoice for $900.00 from the Cayuga Lake Water Shed Organization which was not in the budget because the town had not been billed last year. Greg Rury wanted to know what the town got for the money and should someone from this organization come to the town to discuss this. Janet Reohr will try to find out more about this and if needed invite someone from their organization to come to a town board meeting. Erica Heim and the Lakeview Manor trailer park was brought up and if that issue had been resolved between Erica and Heather Garner the town assessor. Tom Olenych, as chair of the Board of Assessment Review, stated he had e-mailed Heather regarding this but to date had not gotten any response from her. It was discussed the town could adjust Heather’s pay if the town thought she was not doing a good job. Janet Reohr will draft a letter to Heather expressing the town’s displeasure regarding the job she is doing. Heather also submitted a voucher to the town asking that the town pay 1/6th the cost of a new computer. The town board decided not to reimburse her for the new computer feeling she is an independent contractor who should be responsible for purchasing the equipment she needs to conduct her business. Highway Superintendent: The highway crews have been busy helping other towns with their roads projects. All the new chip in the town is done which was a month long project. ---PAGE BREAK--- A vent for the transfer station office has been put on hold but Mark Chamberlain will try to get this installed before colder weather. Town Clerk: A new exterior bulletin board has been ordered and once received it will be mounted on the front wall of the town offices just to the right of the door. Tom also asked the town board to shift some funds around so there would be enough in the town clerk’s budget to pay Dodie Rowlands to cover for him while he is out of town for a few days. Code Enforcement Officer: Mick Piechuta provided the town board with a typed list of all code enforcement activity that occurred during the past month. Assessor: Heather Garner provided the town board a typed letter outlining what she had been doing during the past month as well as the computer and car problems she’s been dealing with the past month. She also stated she needed a town board resolution approving / supporting a 2016 assessment update. The town board is not sure what she means by needing it’s approval / support for a 2016 assessment update. Approval of Supervisor’s Fiscal Report for July 2015. ( Whitten / Nelson ) All in favor. Review and approval of vouchers: General: 120 - 136 total $11,936.88 Highway: 72 – 78 total $23,710.41 ( Welch / Whitten ) Motion to adjourn at 10:28 PM Respectfully submitted, Thomas J. Olenych Town Clerk ---PAGE BREAK---