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Scipio Town Board Meeting This public meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, May 11, 2016 by Supervisor Gary Mutchler with the following people present: Supervisor: Gary Mutchler Town Clerk: Tom Olenych Council Members: Howard Nelson Highway: Mark Chamberlain Leslie Baxter Mark Ferrari Gary Whitten Visitors: Tom Higgins, Bill & Sharon VanNostrand, Dave Thurston, the town attorney, and Dale Bennett. Motion: to approve supervisor Mutchler’s agenda. (Baxter / Nelson) All in favor. Issues to come before the board from town residents: Tom Higgins had a number of issues he was concerned with. He was concerned about the large stone pile in front of the town offices. He questioned whether buying such a large quantity was cost efficient and he also expressed concerns a pile this large might invite theft. Highway superintendent Chamberlain pointed out that buying this large a quantity saves the town tax payers thousands of dollars. He also said there probably is some evidence of small scale theft, which is expected, but it is a very small amount and what it costs the town is a pittance to what the town is saving. Mr. Higgins also asked that the town board minutes be posted more quickly after being approved by the town board and that the format be changed to PDF which he feels is a better format. Mr. Higgins would like to see the Spring & Fall Newsletters mailed out earlier in the future. He said his was postmarked May 3rd. which did not give him enough time to get ready for Spring Clean Up Day on May 7th. The town board agreed to change the mailing date so that town residents receive their newsletters a month before the spring and fall clean up days. Lastly Mr. Higgins told the board that the dates, times and location of town planning board meetings are not being listed on the town’s website. The town clerk will see that these dates are listed in the future. Motions to approve the April 13, 2016 minutes. (Mutchler / Baxter) All in favor. ---PAGE BREAK--- Motion to open The Public Hearing on the Gould / Snyder Cemetery at 7:10 PM. (Nelson / Baxter) David Thurston the town’s attorney gave an overview of the situation regarding this cemetery as well as an account of all the town’s unsuccessful attempts to come to an agreement that is acceptable to all parties. Both Bill and Sharon VanNostrand spoke to the board outlining their ideas on how they would like to see the town proceed regarding this property. None of the suggestions put forth by the VanNostrand’s were found to be acceptable to the board. These unsuccessful attempts to find common ground were backed up by Leslie Baxter who produced a number of documents showing the details of various solutions the town board has offered the VanNostrand’s in the past, all of which have been ignored by the VanNostrand’s. Since no agreement between the town and the VanNostrand’s could be reached it was decided the town would go forward with its pursuit of a solution through the process of eminent domain. Motion to approve the signing of the resolution to determine the environmental significance of the proposed Snyder Cemetery A/K/A Gould-Akin Cemetery Project. (Mutchler / Baxter) Mutchler – Aye, Whitten – Aye, Nelson – Aye, Baxter – Aye & Ferrari – Aye. Motion to approve the signing of the resolution adopting the determination and findings of the town board with respect to the Snyder Cemetery A/K/A Gould-Akin Cemetery. (Mutchler / Baxter) Mutchler – Aye, Whitten – Aye, Nelson – Aye, Baxter – Aye & Ferrari – Aye. Motion to close the Gould / Snyder Cemetery public meeting at 8:25 PM. (Whitten / Nelson) All in favor. The regular town board meeting was called to order at 8:26 PM by supervisor Mutchler. Reports: Mark Ferrari: to date has not received any feedback from other town officials, who also use the town offices, with thoughts or ideas about the upcoming renovations to the town offices. Mark also told the board he had been in touch with Clarity Connect who has agreed to run an additional line from the town offices over to the town highway barn at no additional cost to the town. Howard Nelson: told the board there were 82 people who signed in on Spring Cleanup Day plus a few more who came early, before the 10:00 AM opening of the transfer station. WeCare has raised their prices per container from $30.00 to $35.00. ---PAGE BREAK--- Howard is also going to compare metal prices between Weistman & WeCare to see who offers the town the best deal. Howard told the board of an article in the last edition of Towns & Topics magazine that warns towns of the possible pitfalls in signing a municipal lease agreements with solar energy companies. Howard suggest all town board members read this article before the town’s next meeting with Chris Carrick of CNY Regional Planning & Development. Gary Whitten: The new tractor for mowing should be delivered sometime the week of May 16th. Gary Mutchler: Motion to approve the following transfer of funds. From: A1990.41 Contingent $475.00 To: A1620.48 Computer Repairs From: DA2701 Refund of prior year’s expenditures $1,120.50 To: DA5110.5 Road signs (Mutchler / Whitten) Gary passed out a paper comparing the premiums for employee health insurance through Motion to approve looking into obtaining employee health insurance benefits from ( ) All in favor. Gary informed the board of Ron Curvin’s resignation from town Board of Assessment Review and his replacement in Ken Post. Motion to approve these changes. (Mutchler / Nelson) All in favor. Assessor: Heather Garner had a prepared report outlining what she has been doing in May as well as a schedule of dates and times when she will be meeting informally with property owners who are looking to review their property assessments. Town Clerk: Tom Olenych told the board he had hoped to give to the town supervisor the last check for 2016 from the town tax account but could not because he had received a notice from Chemung Canal Bank that one of the tax checks received had come back as insufficient funds. As soon as this gets resolved he can finish up the 2016 tax season. Highway: Mark’s crews have been busy ditching and getting equipment set up for the summer months. Mark had also been out to Monroe Tractor to inspect the new tractor. Mark told the board he needs an update OSHA compliance manual. Motion to approve the purchase of a new OSHA compliance manual. (Mutchler / Baxter) Lastly Mark talked to the board about the little league ballfield behind the fire department needing some new stone. Delivery of this would involve the use of some to the town’s highway equipment. Motion to approve delivery of stone to the fire department little league field. (Baxter / Mutchler) ---PAGE BREAK--- Code Enforcement Officer: Mick had a prepared report of April’s permits, inspections and visits. He continues to read and familiarize himself with the town’s new zoning laws. Other business: the posting of the Recycle Tires event being held at the Natural Resource Center in Auburn on Saturday June 11, 2016. Vouchers: General 74 to 92 totaling $7,250.44 (Baxter / Whitten) All in favor. Highway (DA): 30 to 34 totaling $29,666.33 (Nelson / Baxter All in favor. Motion to adjourn: 9:21 PM (Baxter) All in favor. Respectfully submitted, Thomas J. Olenych Town Clerk ---PAGE BREAK---