Town Board Special Meeting Approved Minutes - October 22, 2014
APPROVED MINUTES
October 22, 2014
A Special Meeting of the Town Board was held October 22, 2014 at 7:00 pm at the Town Hall. The meeting was called to hold a Budget Workshop and to discuss any other business that may come before the Board. Present were: Supervisor Thomas S. Hynes, Councilmen Gene Cronk, Edward Raeder, Allen Hinkley and Carol Murray, Highway Supt. Stephen Schuman, Assessor Robert Breglio and 2 residents.
Assessor, Robert Breglio distributed to the Town Board and discussed his findings on other Delaware County Towns Aged Exemption values. He still recommends going down to 5% on the sliding scale of incomes as it will help protect seniors with re-val assessments. The Assessor did not look into other Towns specific Veterans Exemption values but stated there are some that do or don’t offer it and the County does not offer it.
RESOLUTION #53 – RESOLUTION OF THE ROXBURY TOWN BOARD ACCEPTING PROPOSED LOCAL LAW TO INCREASE INCOME LIMITS FOR PARTIAL TAX EXEMPTIONS FOR PERSONS 65 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER AND SCHEDULING A PUBLIC HEARING FOR SAME
On motion of Gene Cronk second by Carol Murray the following resolution was offered and adopted:
“WHEREAS, pursuant to the authority granted by Section 467 of the Real Property Tax Law of New York State, real property within the Town of Roxbury owned by one or more persons, each of whom is 65 years of age or over, or real property owned by a husband and wife or by siblings, one of whom is sixty-five years of age or over, shall be exempt from town tax levy according to the following schedule based on income of the owner or combined income of the owners of the property for the tax year immediately preceding the date of application:
“WHEREAS, the Town’s Attorney has prepared a proposed Local Law that modifies the June 9, 2008 resolution originally adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Roxbury to address partial tax exemptions for persons 65 years of age or older by the addition of three additional income brackets; and
WHEREAS, the Town Board has reviewed and modified the proposed Local Law; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that all previous resolutions in regard to “TAX EXEMPTIONS FOR PERSONS 65 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER” are hereby rescinded and the following be adopted for granting tax exemptions for persons 65 and older in the Town of Roxbury; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the proposed law is ready for consideration by the Town Board; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Town Board shall will hold a public hearing for consideration of the Local Law to modify the income limits for partial tax exemption for persons 65 years of age or older on November 6, 2014 at 6:30 pm at the Town Hall; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Town Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to publish notice of said hearing in the Catskill Mountain News, and to post copies of such notice in the manner provided by law.”
WHEREUPON, the Resolution was put to a vote and recorded as follows:
AYES– 5 Cronk, Murray, Raeder, Hinkley, Hynes
NAYS – 0
RESOLUTION #54 – RESOLUTION OF THE ROXBURY TOWN BOARD ACCEPTING PROPOSED LOCAL LAW TO ADOPT THE NEW YORK STATE BASIC MAXIMUM VETERAN’S ALTERNATIVE EXEMPTION ON QUALIFYING RESIDENTIAL REAL PROPERTY AND SCHEDULING A PUBLIC HEARING FOR SAME
On motion of Allen Hinkley second by Gene Cronk the following resolution was offered and adopted:
“WHEREAS, pursuant to Title 2, Section 458-a of the Real Property Tax Law of New York State the Town Board of the Town of Roxbury has the authority to adopt the New York State Basic Maximum Veteran’s Alternative Exemption from taxation on the assessed value of qualifying residential real property; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Title 2, Section 458-a the Town Board previously adopted Local Law No. 3 of the year 2003 which provided for a reduction of the New York State Basic Maximum Veteran’s Alternative Exemption to be employed by the Town of Roxbury; and
WHEREAS, at this time the Town Board has determined that it is necessary to provide additional relief to low income veterans in the community; and
WHEREAS, the Town’s Attorney has prepared a proposed Local Law that repeals Local Law No. 3 of 2003 and adopts New York State’s Basic Maximum Veteran’s Alternative Exemptions on qualifying residential real property; and
WHEREAS, the Town Board has reviewed and modified the proposed Local Law; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that Local Law No. 3 of 2003 be repealed and replaced with the proposed Local Law; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the proposed law is ready for consideration by the Town Board; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Town Board shall hold a public hearing for consideration of the Proposed Local Law to adopt the New York State Maximum Veteran’s Alternative Exemption on qualifying residential real property on November 6, 2014 at 6:15 pm at the Town Hall; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Town Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to publish notice of said hearing in the Catskill Mountain News, and to post copies of such notice in the manner provided by law.”
WHEREUPON, the Resolution was put to a vote and recorded as follows:
AYES – 5 Hinkley, Cronk, Raeder, Murray, Hynes
NAYS – 0
The Assessor will hold two public informational meetings on the status of the 2015 town-wide revaluation effort. Said meetings shall be held Saturday November 1, 2014 at 1:00 pm at the Grand Gorge Civic Center and 3:00 pm at the Roxbury Town Hall. Mr. Breglio recommends the Town Board allow revaluations be completed every 4 years to keep up on current values. Discussion took place on concerns raised with revaluation tax amounts and its effect on senior residents.
Carolynn Faraci, Budget Officer went over 2015 Tentative Budget with the Town Board and discussed the tax rates of each fund. Regarding Tax Cap reporting, Mrs. Faraci stated there was a $5,500 carry over from last year, the Tentative Budget figures reflect being $48,000 under the tax cap amount allowed for 2015 and she has submitted the preliminary tax cap information to the State. The Town Board discussed items in the budget specifically: the Roxbury Sewer budget has been amended and decreased from original figures, a new larger generator for the highway garage, the Highway Supt. distributed the list of roads scheduled for repair in 2015 and discussed line items in the highway budget, Councilman Cronk felt the Constable vehicle can go another year and requested the new vehicle be taken out of the 2015 budget, Councilman Hinkley stated he has learned there are grants available for a computer for the Constable car and requested keeping it in the budget and he again requested looking into electronic speed signs. The Board directed the Budget Officer to make the following changes to the budget: General Fund – add for a new generator for the highway garage and remove the Constable’s new vehicle.
RESOLUTION #55 – RESOLUTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO NEGOTIATE THE TERMS OF THE ROXBURY HIGHWAY ASSOCIATION COLLECTIVE BARGAINING CONTRACT
On motion of Allen Hinkley second by Gene Cronk the following resolution was offered and adopted:
“RESOLVED, the Town Board agrees to enter into Executive Session at 8:05 pm to discuss the terms of the Roxbury Highway Workers Association (RHWA) 2015/2016 collective bargaining contract. Present were: Supervisor Thomas S. Hynes, Councilmen Allen Hinkley, Edward Raeder, Gene Cronk and Carol Murray.
AYES – 5 Hinkley, Raeder, Cronk, Murray, Hynes
NAYS – 0
The Town Board came out of Executive Session at 8:23 pm and on motion of Allen Hinkley second by Gene Cronk returned to the Special Meeting. It was stated as a result of Executive Session, the Supervisor is to look into the arbitration process with the Delaware County Personnel Office and report back to the Town Board.
RESOLUTION #56 – PAYCHECK DIRECT DEPOSIT
On motion of Allen Hinkley second by Edward Raeder the following resolution was offered and adopted:
“RESOLVED, the Town Board will offer employees the option of direct deposit of paychecks effective January 1, 2015.”
AYES – 5 Hinkley, Raeder, Cronk, Murray, Hynes
NAYS – 0
On motion of Gene Cronk second by Allen Hinkley the meeting adjourned at 8:30 pm.
THIS IS A TRUE COPY
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Diane Pickett, Town Clerk
Thomas S. Hynes, Supervisor
Gene Cronk, Councilman
Edward Raeder, Councilman
Allen Hinkley, Councilman
Carol Murray, Councilwoman