A Regular Meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Otsego was held on the 9th day of April, 2008 at the Town Building, Fly Creek, and NY at 7:00 PM.
Those present were:
Thomas Breiten Chairman
Anne Geddes-Atwell Councilperson
John Schallert Councilperson
Meg Kiernan Councilperson
Bill Michaels Councilperson
Others Present:
Pamela Deane Town Clerk
Shawn Mulligan Highway Superintendent
Martin Tillapaugh Town Attorney
Chairman Breiten called the meeting to order and asked all those in attendance to please rise for the pledge of allegiance.
MOTION by Councilperson Michaels, seconded by Councilperson Kiernan, to accept the minutes of March 12th as presented.
MOTION CARRIED: Chairman Breiten and all Councilpersons voted aye.
Chairman Breiten reported receiving numerous e-mails all expressing concern with the proposed sewer district. He introduced Project Manager Win McIntyre, who explained the sewer project proposal. The Town Board is negotiating an easement with the owner of the Hickory Grove Inn for placement of the sewer system. McIntyre estimates that the amount of grant money projected for the project to be substantially less than originally hoped for. He supports the Watershed Committees recommendation to reduce the number of properties in the sewer district from 93 to 56. McIntyre estimated that this would reduce the yearly user cost from $1,064.00 to $702.00 per year.
McIntyre answered questions for many of those owning property located in the proposed sewer district.
Chairman Breiten explained that if the Town Board feels it is in the best interest of the people to establish a sewer district and passes a resolution to do so, that resolution would be subject to a permissive referendum. Those in the proposed sewer district who oppose the resolution would have the opportunity to submit a petition signed by no less than 5% of those listed in the district to force a referendum. That would mean in November on Election Day all those in the proposed district will be given an opportunity to vote on whether or not they would like to see Board’s Resolution adopting the Sewer District be overturned.
MOTION by Councilperson Geddes-Atwell, seconded by Councilperson Kiernan, to schedule an informational meeting in May to explain the proposed sewer district further and answer any questions the public may have.
Several in the audience asked that an informational meeting be in June so residents that are only here in the summer could attend.
MOTION was withdrawn. A date for an informational meeting in June will be set at the May monthly meeting.
Chairman Breiten read correspondence received since last meeting.
Chairman Breiten read a letter from The Doubleday Café, Inc. notifying the Board of their intent to renew their retail liquor and wine license. The Board had no objections.
Chairman Breiten opened the floor for comments.
Kathy and Tom Chase stated that they have no need or interest in hooking into the proposed sewer system and do not want to be mandated to pay a yearly fee just because they happen to be in the district. They would like to see the Board schedule public hearings concerning this issue, during the summer months when a majority of the residents in the district are here. Many of the properties are seasonal and unoccupied during the rest of the year. They would also like to see the Board largely publicize the meetings assuring everyone affected is aware of what is being proposed.
Attorney Tillapaugh assured the Chase’s that it was never the Board’s intent to force anyone to hook into the sewer system. The Board looked at the cost of an individual septic system and decided to see if a sewer district would be more economically feasible.
Carl Wenner asked the Board to avoid appointing anyone to serve on an advisory committee assigned to update the Land Use Law, who does not understand the fundamental principals which this country was founded protecting individual’s rights.
Chairman Breiten submitted a financial report. Balances are as follow in the various accounts:
General Savings: $ 83,176.22 Highway Savings: $ 93,003.44
General Checking: $ 47,906.99 Hwy Checking: $ 129,902.15
MBIA Gen: $ 528,871.02 MBIA Hwy: $ 364,903.98
MBIA Equipment Fund: $ 330,440.52
CD Wilber Bank: $1,000,000.00
MOTION by Councilperson Michaels, seconded by Councilperson Kiernan, to accept the financial report as given.
MOTION CARRIED: Chairman Breiten and all Councilpersons voted aye.
MOTION by Councilperson Schallert, seconded by Councilperson Geddes-Atwell, to pay the following invoices and make the necessary transfers.
GENERAL: #72-#92 $44,350.28
After a short discussion it was decided to pull Maxwell Appraiser’s bill of $10,000.00, invoice #74 until the May meeting.
MOTION CARRIED: Chairman Breiten and all Councilpersons voted aye.
Highway Superintendent Shawn Mulligan read the Highway Superintendents report. Fuel expenses are as follow:
FUEL GALLONS TOTAL COST/MONTH YTD GALS YTD EXP.
Gas 160.0 $ 463.60 678 .0 $ 1,855.93
Diesel 1,993.7 $ 7,307.37 7,436.7 $ 24,162.56
Heating 959.6 $ 3,223.06 3,821.1 $ 11,054.76
Svc. $ -0- $ -0-
Mulligan reported that the County was giving the Town the option of the County supplying all the salt needed to salt County roads identified in their Snow and Ice Agreement or, based on the average of salt usage in the last three years, give the Town of Otsego $4,500.00 to buy their own salt from their vender. The County would rather Towns buy their own salt instead of getting it from them.
The Board unanimously agreed to accept $4,500.00 from the County for salt.
Mulligan stated that he will be meeting with D.H. Smith Co. Inc. on April 24th, to discuss the restoration of the Stone House and Allison Road bridges, which are scheduled to begin in May.
Mulligan asked the Boards permission to purchase a Mack single axle dump truck off the County bid. Cost would be $140,000.00 plus an additional $10,000.00 for a one way and wing plow. He suggested that ( truck #21) 1985 FORD 4X4 dump truck and (truck #27) the 1996 International single axle dump truck, be sold.
MOTION by Councilperson Schallert, seconded by Councilperson Geddes-Atwell, to approve $150,000.00 for the purchase of a single axle Mack truck under the County bid and plow and also authorize Highway Superintendent Shawn Mulligan to solicit bids for the sale of the 1985 FORD 4X4 single axle dump truck and 1996 single axle dump truck with a minimum bid being whatever the trade in offer is.
MOTION CARRIED: Chairman Breiten and all Councilpersons voted aye.
Mulligan reported that Springfield has tentatively agreed to plow as far as George Hymas’s house on Vibbard Road so long as the Town of Otsego makes a turn around for their trucks.
The Zoning Enforcement Officer report was given by John Stucin. The following permits were issued since last month:
Site Plan Review: 3 Major Subdivisions: 1 Land Use Permits: 2
Lot Line Adjustment: 1 Special Permit: 3
Chairman Breiten stated that he has had a request from the Town Historian that when a demolition permit is issued for an old historic building he be notified so he can take pictures of the building before it is demolished or burned. The Board thought that to be a great idea and asked Zoning Officer John Stucin to contact Town Historian Tom Heitz after issuing a demolition permit.
Councilperson Schallert reported having the Town Building and Highway Garages evaluated by electrician Kevin Prestonwho recommended a 20kw generator for the Town Building and a 24kw for the highway garage. The Fire Department just installed a 55kw generator and the cost for that was $21,000.
Councilperson Geddes-Atwell reported that while she was updating information on the website she discovered that the owner of Syl-a-bles Curt Akin has retired and GrafiQa has taken over his operation. The monthly cost will be increased from $14.95 to $15.58. She would like to see people being able to not only print off an application form but also able to fill it out and e-mail it to the appropriate department.
Councilperson Michaels suggested that a committee decide what they would like to see offered on the Town’s website then send out a minimum of three RFP’s. Councilperson Geddes-Atwell volunteered to assist Councilperson Michaels in the design of a new web page and mailing out RFP’s.
MOTION by Councilperson Kiernan, seconded by Councilperson Geddes-Atwell, to go into Executive Session to discuss a personnel issue.
MOTION CARRIED: Chairman Breiten and all Councilpersons voted aye.
Town Attorney Martin Tillapaugh and Board of Ethics members Carl Wenner and Orlo Burch were also invited to attend the Executive Session with the Board.
MOTION by Councilperson Kiernan, seconded by Councilperson Geddes-Atwell, to come out of Executive Session.
MOTION by Councilperson Kiernan, seconded by Councilperson Geddes-Atwell, to adopt a policy whereby all applicants before the Planning Board or Zoning Board of Appeals must sign a disclosure statement. Also all Board members, including Town Board, will be asked to verbally disclose any past or present associations with the person requesting action from any of the Boards or firm submitting an RFP, bid, or quote.
MOTION CARRIED: Chairman Breiten and all Councilpersons voted aye.
Chairman Breiten suggested that a complete inventory be done in all departments. The Board agreed. Forms will be given to all departments to fill out and complete and then placed on file and updated periodically.
Councilperson Michaels submitted a phone system comparison spreadsheet between the Cornerstone and Otsego Telephone quotes. The proposals were as follow:
Cornerstone Otsego Tel. Otsego Tel.
Model: Samsung Panasonic NEC
7100 iDCS 28 KX-TDA50 Nec 34 button w/ display
8 Handsets
Installation Yes Yes Yes
Training Yes Yes Yes
Manuf.
Warrantee 5yrs. 2yrs. 2yrs.
Agreement 2yrs. 2yrs. 2yrs___
Price: $3,100 $4,100 $3,540
MOTION by Councilperson Kiernan, seconded by Councilperson Schallert, to purchase the Samsung phone system from Cornerstone, contingent that the proposed system includes surge and lightening protection and if not and added to the quote, still lower in cost then Otsego Telephone’s quote.
MOTION CARRIED: Councilmen Schallert, Geddes-Atwell and Kiernan, voted aye. Chairman Breiten voted no.
Councilperson Kiernan asked the Board’s permission to send a letter to D.O.T. requesting that the blinking light at the Fly Creek intersection be replaced with a 4-way stop. The Board had no objection.
MOTION by Councilperson Michaels to adjourn.
MOTION CARRIED: Chairman Breiten and all Councilpersons voted aye.
Meeting ended at 10:00PM.
The next regular meeting will be May 14, 2008 at 7:00PM at the Town Building in Fly Creek.
Respectfully submitted,
Pamela Deane
Town Clerk