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Scipio Town Board Meeting The regular public meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM on Wednesday August 8, 2018 by Supervisor Mutchler with the following people present. Supervisor: Gary Mutchler Town Clerk: Tom Olenych Town Board Members: Leslie Baxter Highway: Mark Chamberlain Gary Whitten Code Enforcement: Howard Tanner Vivian Cunningham Mark Ferrari – excused absence Guests: Maryl Mendillo and Anita Dungy Motion to approve agenda for the August 8, 2018 town board meeting. (Mutchler / Whitten) All in favor. Motion to approve the minutes of the 2018 town board meeting. Minutes to be approved, after corrections, at the September 12, 2018 town board meeting. Issues to come before the board from town residents and guests. Maryl Mendillo wanted to talk about the solar panel project on Center Road because she felt some of the language in the lease was vague. Since the lease agreement has already been signed she was concerned there is no specific plan as to what happens with the land should the project not be approved. She also wondered if the solar farm will interfere with electronic devices? She also pointed out the lease did not specify how much the land owner would be paid which is normally in leases of this nature. Anita Dungy wanted to know who will maintain the facility and was told the town would not have that responsibility rather it would be the responsibility of Duke Energy. Town Board Members reports: Leslie Baxter: 1) Leslie reported to date there have been no reports of HAB, Harmful Algae Blooms, in Owasco Lake although HAB’s have been reported in Skaneateles Lake as well as Cayuga Lake. 2) Data is now being gathered from the aerators and sonar buoys that were placed in Owasco Lake. This information will be used to determine the effectiveness of this equipment in fighting these blooms. The lake is naturally changing colors, but this will have no effect on drinking water or swimming in the lake. 3) there will be a public meeting regarding the “Nine Element Plan” on August 13, 2018 at 6:00 PM at Cayuga – Onondage BOCES in Auburn. 4) beginning sometime in August a study of Zebra Muscles and Asian Clams and their effect on Owasco Lake. ---PAGE BREAK--- 5) Leslie reported there has been one instance of a privy leaking into the Lake and Cayuga County Health Department has been working with the homeowner to rectify the situation. 6) Lastly Leslie told the town board the final draft of the Rules and Regulations Committee should be available to the public in the near future. Vivian Cunningham: 1) Vivian spoke to the board about the Newfield, NY Community Solar project due to go on line in September of this year. She spoke to a representative of the project who had a booth at the Auburn Blues and Jazz Fest. She wanted to know if the town board would be interested in having a representative from the Newfield project give the town board a presentation of what they’re doing and to discuss the possibility of the town buying electricity from the Newfield project. After some discussion the town board declined this invitation preferring to look to the Village of Union Springs to offset or lower the town’s electrical costs. That solar project, according to Howard Tanner, the town Code Enforcement Officer who also works for the Town of Springport, is rapidly moving toward implementation. The board felt it was important to support Cayuga County initiatives where ever and when ever possible. Town Supervisor’s report: 1) Supervisor Mutchler asked the board to approve the following transfer of funds: Debit A 1990.4 Contingent Account $200.00 Credit A 1110.4 Justices – Contractual Motion to approve this transfer of funds. (Mutchler / Cunningham) All in favor. 2) Gary told the board the next fire commissioners meeting will be held at the Scipio Fire Department on Monday August 27, 2018 at 7:00 PM. Brad Pinsky, attorney for the Scipio Fire Department, will speak and he has asked that all the town board members attend. 3) Gary discussed “shared services” with the board noting he signed up for MEGA, Municipal Electrical and Gas Alliance, a non-profit energy consolidator used by a number of towns in Cayuga County, which will help the town reduce its energy costs. Gary has sent a letter to Justin Wood’s secretary stating our desire to join MEGA. In addition, Gary has contacted both Venice and Moravia to see if either town would be interested in “sharing” court duties. Venice was not interested but Moravia might be willing to do so. 4) To date the town has 6 (six) possible candidates to fill the position of town bookkeeper / payroll clerk which will become vacant at the end of September. 5) Gary informed the board he has been communication with the labor board regarding a part- time, as needed employee who no longer works for the town who filed an unemployment insurance claim with the labor board. This in turn prompted the labor board to contact the town looking to collect unemployment insurance from the town. 6) Lastly Gary said he would be talking to Brian Dugan regarding his court clerk having her deputy court clerk work for her when the court clerk was fully capable of working herself. ---PAGE BREAK--- Town Officers reports: Assessor: Heather Garner submitted a written report for the month Town Clerk: 1) Tom Olenych reminded the board members if they want to add anything to the Fall Newsletter it’s needs to be done soon as the deadline to do so is just a few days away. 2) Tom passed around a copy of a letter Jeffrey Eaton, an attorney working in Dave Thurston’s law office, received from NYS Department of State acknowledging Local Laws 1 & 2 of 2018 for the Town of Scipio have been filed with the state. Highway Superintendent: 1) Mark Chamberlain told the board his crews have been busy working with the towns of Venice and Springport oiling and chipping roads. After finishing this they will be working with the Town of Venice, in the coming weeks, also doing oil and chip work. 2) He also said the highway department has been busy putting in culverts and driveways. 3) Truck #2 needed to have its steering box replaced and hopefully will need no more repairs as it is scheduled to be replaced in 2019. 4) Mark also attended a “hog weed” seminar in Moravia and he noted the “hog weed” population is down due to DEC efforts. 5) Mark noted the cost of putting down oil and chips is significantly higher this year compared to last as the cost per gallon has gone up more than 33%, $1.87 up to $2.49. As a result, Mark cut 2 ½ miles out of the 13 miles that had been planned for 2018. He told the board the last 2 ½ miles would cost $28,000.00 to complete. Code Enforcement: 1) Howard gave the board a report detailing permits issued, some insight into a ZBA review of a new home being built on Fire Lane 6 as well as his comments, questions and concerns. Other Business: Anita Dungy wanted to know what the town could do to attract more small business to the town which would provide more revenue to the town. Approval of vouchers: General Fund 130 – 145 totaling $5,762.98 (Baxter / Cunningham) All in favor. Highway Fund (DA): 76 – 77 totaling $82.50 (Mutchler / Whitten) All in favor. Motion to adjourn: 9:13 PM (Baxter) All in favor. Respectfully submitted, Thomas J. Olenych Scipio Town Clerk ---PAGE BREAK---