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Regular Town Meeting, May 10, 2018 1 Town of Niles TOWN BOARD MEETING May 10, 2018 Niles Town Hall PRESENT: Joan Jayne, Supervisor Steven Cuddeback, Councilman Bernard Juli, Councilman Clarence Edmonds, Councilman Attorney Brody Smith Patty Podolak, Deputy Town Clerk Tiffany Landis, Town Clerk OTHERS PRESENT: Roger Slater, Pat Steger, John Birmingham, Michelle Lyons, Sean Becker, Kelly Anderson and Patrick Doyle A. Meeting called to order at 7:00 pm by Supervisor Jayne B. Pledge of Allegiance C. Open floor to the public No comments. D. Approval of Minutes Regular Town Board meeting on 4/12/18 On a motion by Councilman Cuddeback, seconded, by Councilman Edmonds the following Resolution was ADOPTED Ayes Cuddeback, Edmonds, Jayne, Juli Nays RESOLVED, that the minutes of April 12, 2018 approved. E. Motion to approve Abstracts by Fund: RESOLUTION #2018-54 APPROVE ABSTRACT 4 (APRIL BILLS). a. A General Fund $13,734.36 b. DA Highway Fund $18,528.55 c. SR Garbage Fund $12,015.80 e. H1 Water Fund $19,997.50 f. H2 Sewer Fund $17,622.50 On a motion by Councilman Cuddeback, seconded by Councilman Edmonds the following Resolution was ADOPTED Ayes Cuddeback, Edmonds, Jayne, Juli Nays ---PAGE BREAK--- Regular Town Meeting, May 10, 2018 2 RESOLVED, that the Town of Niles board adopt RESOLUTION #2018-54 F. Audit Presentation: Cuddy & Ward, LLP Certified public Accountant, Mary Beth Leeson provided the Board with the Town of Niles Audited Financial Statements for the year ending December 31, 2017. The complete audit is on file with the Clerk's office. Highlights include: -No new accounting policies were adopted and the application of existing policies was not changed during 2017. We noted no transactions entered into by Town of Niles during the year for which there is a lack of authoritative guidance or consensus. -Ms. Leeson suggested that we implement tracking of the useful life of the Town's assets. ...for example depreciation of our Highway equipment and when it might need to be replaced. Ms. Leeson said NYS is tracking fixed asset policies more and more. Supervisor Jayne and the Board discussed and consensus was to implement that reporting. Ms. Leeson will work with Bookkeeper Anderson and Superintendent Steger on compiling the right information. -Ms. Leeson noted that the Town has almost a whole year of revenue in reserve accounts which is good. The Town is managing revenue and expenses well. Sales tax collected was well over budget. Supervisor Jayne thanks Ms. Leeson for her and her team's work. G. RESOLUTION #2018-55 TO APPROVE THE BELOW BUDGET TRANSFERS a. $1,300 from A1990.4 to A1680.43 Central Data Processing b. $3,900 from A3510.1 to A3510.4 Dog Control c. $80 from A9060.8 to A9055.8 Insurance On a motion by Councilman Cuddeback, seconded by Councilman Edmonds, the following resolution was ADOPTED Ayes Cuddeback, Edmonds, Jayne, Juli Nays RESOLVED, that the Town of Niles board adopt RESOLUTION #2018-55 H. Department Reports a. Supervisor's Report: - no comments or questions from the Board b. Highway Superintendant's Report: Superintendent Steger summarized his daily journal which was provided to the Board members. Superintendant Steger said he hopes that the snow is over now. The sander has been pulled and the wings have been painted - most of the winter equipment is in cold storage. Beavers have been creating some trouble clogging culverts on Church Road. The Highwaymen cleaned out the clogs. Signs that needed it have been replaced or straightened. We have started working on clearing trees. 2012 International is going to auction. Superintendent Steger is attending a 3 part conservation workshop. Mr. Kimball has requested to cut up refuse trees. Superintendent Steger says it helps him and it helps us (the town doesn't have to dispose ---PAGE BREAK--- Regular Town Meeting, May 10, 2018 3 of them). Attorney Smith directed Superintendent Steger to have Mr. Kimball fill out a Hold Harmless agreement. The County asked the Towns about the possibility of the Town's mowing county roads. The County would pay $240 per center lane mile. Superintendent Steger said the Town has 32.2 miles of County Road. Consensus was that the County should continue to mow their own roads. The wear on the Town's equipment and cost of fuel would be more of a cost than what the County is willing to pay. Superintendant Steger expressed interest in becoming a member of the State's executive committee. There is no salary associated with the position and there are 5-6 meetings a year. Consensus was that it would be good for the Town to have a voice at the state level. The Board supports Superintendent Steger seeking position on the State's executive Highway committee. Superintendent Steger briefed the Board on the condition of the Salt Barn. He said he has been here 31 years so the building has to be older than that. Repairs need to be made. Fasteners and Boards are coming off. The Board supported Superintendant Steger asking for bids. RESOLUTION #2018-56 TO APPROVE SUPERINTENDANT STEGER SOLICITING BIDS FOR THE REPAIR OF THE SALT BARN On a motion by Councilman Cuddeback, seconded by Councilman Edmonds, the following resolution was ADOPTED Ayes Cuddeback, Edmonds, Jayne, Juli Nays RESOLVED, that the Town of Niles board adopt RESOLUTION #2018-56 c. Code Enforcement Officer's Report: Mr. Doyle briefed the Board on April's activities. Two building permits were issued and he has received on application that will be referred to the Board of Appeals. Routine inspections were done on ongoing builds and new permits. He attended the NYS Planning Federation annual Education Conference on April 22-24, 2018. The Code Enforcement database has been updated and installed on his laptop. He is working with Superintendent Steger on the Salt Barn project. d. Attorney Report: Attorney Smith is informed the Board that the transfer of the small parcel of land to the New Hope Fire Department is finalized and filed with the County Clerk. It has been over 30 days since the Clerk published the permissive referendum. Mr. Adams will appear on April 26th with the Town Judge. Two neighbors on Fire Lane #15 have ---PAGE BREAK--- Regular Town Meeting, May 10, 2018 4 disputed the location of the road. Attorney Smith stated that this is a civil matter not a matter with the Town. The location of the road is not going to be changed. e. Town Clerk: The Clerk received shares totaled $364.00 and they have been deposited. f. Dog Control Report: There was one complaint and one lost and found match. A rabies clinic was held on April 28th and 56 vaccinations were given. g. Historians Report: The Historian is almost through the filing of Mable Crosby's information. She will finish the filing in June. h. Assessor's Report: Tentative roll was printed and filed with the Town Clerk May 1, 2018. Change of assessment notices are generated and were mailed on April 30th. The most recent sales and splits are entered into the database. Assessor will be sitting with the tentative roll on May 8, 10, 12, and 22. Grievance Day will be Mary 24, 2018 from 4-8 pm. Data mailers will be sent to property owners in May 2018 along with a cover letter, so they may review their property inventory and either agree that it is correct or contact me about any errors prior to 2019 values being placed. Work on sales analysis and land table schedule for 2019 reassessment was done. RESOLUTION #2018-57 APPROVAL OF SUPERVISOR'S REPORT AND DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS On a motion by Councilman Cuddeback, seconded by Councilman Edmonds, the following resolution was ADOPTED Ayes Cuddeback, Edmonds, Jayne, Juli Nays RESOLVED, to approve the Supervisor's and departmental reports. I. Other Business Supervisor Jayne briefed the Board that she will be attending a shared services meeting at BOCES. NYS DEC presentation will be on 6/7/18 from 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm - topic is Carpenter Falls and the improvements being made. Councilman Cuddeback asked about the state of disrepair between Dutch Hollow and Old State Road. Superintendent Steger discussed a conversation he had with Soil and Water. You go through the DEC to get a permit. They have money to do the repair. ---PAGE BREAK--- Regular Town Meeting, May 10, 2018 5 J. Moravia School Budget Brief: Moravia Superintendant John Birmingham, School Board President Michelle Lyons and school board member Sean Becker were present. Superintendant Birmingham addressed the Board about the upcoming budget vote. A copy of the brief is on file at the Clerk's office. All community members were urged to vote on Tuesday, May 15th from 7 am - 9 pm at the Moravia MS/HS BOE Conference room. Supervisor Jayne thanked all for coming to talk to the Board. M. Motion made by Councilman Cuddeback to adjourn, seconded by Councilman Edmonds, motion unanimously carried to adjourn at 8:29 pm. Respectfully Submitted, Tiffany H. Landis