Roxbury Town Board Approved Meeting Minutes - November 5, 2015
APPROVED MINUTES
November 5, 2015
A Public Hearing and regular meeting of the Town Board were held November 5, 2015 at 7:00 pm at the Town Hall. Present were: Supervisor Thomas S. Hynes, Councilmen Gene Cronk, Edward Raeder, Allen Hinkley and Carol Murray, Highway Supt. Stephen Schuman, Attorney Kevin Young and 11 residents.
The Public Hearing was called to order at 7:00 pm. The notice was read calling for the hearing on the 2016 Preliminary Town Budget. Budget Officer Carolynn Faraci stated the Preliminary Budget contains approved changes from the Budget Workshop and discussed the changes needed to make to the budget since the budget workshop to include: General Fund Appropriations A1450.4- Elections to account for a third primary, increase line to $11,165; General Fund Revenues 2770 –Election Reimbursement, increase line to $10,635; Roxbury Sewer Appropriations add line SS 9950.0 Transfer to Capital Fund $4,390.69 per the 2016 sewer rate chart.
Evelyn Irwin questioned the proposed raises in salary for the Highway Supt. and Tax Collector who are new to the positions this year, issues with highway employees receiving the same rate of pay for different years of service and questioning why a new truck is needed. It was stated the raises for the Highway Supt. and Tax Collector would be discussed later in the meeting, the highway workers themselves agreed to only a two year reduced salary plan for new hires and the new truck is needed to replace either the 2001 Ford or 2003 Chevy truck in use now.
Councilwoman Carol Murray questioned the added revenue line for the inter-fund transfer from Good Neighbor Fund. The Budget Officer stated the Board had discussed using Good Neighbor funds for purchasing a new Constable vehicle if needed so the line was added to offset the appropriation line for the vehicle.
With no other comments being heard, the hearing closed at 7:20 pm.
The regular meeting was called to order at 7:21 pm.
On motion of Gene Cronk, second by Carol Murray the Minutes of the October meetings were approved.
AYES-5 Cronk, Murray, Raeder, Hinkley, Hynes
NAYS-0
The Town Board welcomed Roxbury Central School Government class students Zachary Caronia, Beau O’Donnell, Tyler Phillips, Taylor Peters, Jennifer Blunt, Kelly Hanrahan, Marisa Ford and Sarah Schuman. Supv. Hynes discussed Town Board responsibilities and other positions within the Town structure.
Zachary Caronia further questioned the highway salary issued raised by Mrs. Irwin. Attorney Kevin Young explained the highway workers are a union and negotiate their contract with the Town Board.
Rob Allison of Catskill Region Surveying Services and Rick Woidt of Woidt Engineering discussed the GEIS Flood Study of the Grand Gorge area that is being funded by Catskill Watershed Corp. (CWC). The study would be conducted to determine flood elevations that could benefit some properties that are being shown as being within the new proposed flood zones. This in turn would take them out of the flood area helping owners avoid the cost of flood insurance for themselves and future buyers. Public meetings would be held to obtain information from owners on water issues, etc. The project cost is estimated at $55,000 and would take 2-3 months to complete.
RESOLUTION #84-CONTRACT FOR GEIS PROJECT GRAND GORGE
On motion of Gene Cronk second by Allen Hinkley the following resolution was offered and adopted:
“WHEREAS, the Town Board of the Town of Roxbury has determined the need for preparation of a Generic Environmental Impact Statement for the hamlet of Grand Gorge for the purpose of conducting a detailed hydraulic study and remapping of the floodplain of the Bear Kill; and
WHEREAS, the Town Board of the Town of Roxbury finds that it is in the best interest of the Town to retain an independent consultant to prepare the technical documents required for the proposed study; and
WHEREAS, the Town Board of the Town of Roxbury and the Town Attorney have reviewed the Proposal entitled “Proposal for Grand Gorge Flood Analysis” prepared by Woidt Engineering; and
WHEREAS, the Town Board has determined the adequacy of the proposal submitted by Woidt Engineering; and
WHEREAS, the Town Board desires, at this time, to enter into the GEIS Consulting Agreement with Woidt Engineering.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED AS FOLLOWS BY THE TOWN BOARD OF ROXBURY, DELAWARE COUNTY, NEW YORK:
The Town Board of the Town of Roxbury hereby authorizes the Town Supervisor to execute the GEIS Consulting Agreement between the Town of Roxbury and Woidt Engineering for the Grand Gorge flood analysis as outlined in the November 5, 2015 Proposal submitted to the Town Board.”
WHEREUPON, the Resolution was put to a vote and recorded as follows:
AYES-5 Cronk, Hinkley, Raeder, Murray, Hynes
NAYS-0
Highway Supt. Stephen Schuman reported crews have been hauling sand, trucks are ready for winter, CHIP monies have been applied for with payment expected in December, requested a resolution for Golf Course Rd. that has just been determined to not be on the NYSDOT road list for CHIP money and the sidewalk at the corner of Becker Ave. and State Hwy. 30 Grand Gorge has been filled in underneath for more support.
RESOLUTION #85- ADD GOLF COURSE RD. TO NYSDOT TOWN ROAD LIST
On motion of Gene Cronk second by Allen Hinkley the following resolution was offered and adopted:
“WHEREAS, the Town of Roxbury’s Town Highway Department holds title to and has been maintaining a .32 mile portion of Golf Course Road from Burrough’s Memorial Road to the cul-de-sac at the end of Golf Course Road for the past 16 years; and
WHEREAS, the Highway Department has requested that the Town Board take the necessary steps to formally add this .32 mile portion of Golf Course Road to the Town’s Inventory of Public Roads in order to continue to legally maintain such portion; and
WHEREAS, the Town Board and the Town Attorney have reviewed and discussed the Highway Department’s request; and
WHEREAS, the Town Board believes that it is in the best interest of the Town to add the subject portion of Golf Course Road to the Town’s Inventory of Public Roads.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED AS FOLLOWS BY THE TOWN BOARD OF ROXBURY, DELAWARE COUNTY, NEW YORK:
The Town Board of the Town of Roxbury hereby amends the Town’s Inventory of Public Roads to include the .32 mile portion of Golf Course Road beginning at Burrough’s Memorial Road to the cul-de-sac at the end of Golf Course Road.”
WHEREUPON, the Resolution was put to a vote and recorded as follows:
AYES-5 Cronk, Hinkley, Raeder, Murray, Hynes
NAYS-0
Evelyn Irwin questioned the need to upgrade the generator at the highway garage. It was stated the upgrade is necessary because the current generator is only large enough to run the radio antennae whereas the larger generator will run the entire highway building in case of an outage.
Highway Supt. Schuman will be retiring on November 15th and was commended on his 28 years of service with the Town.
RESOLUTION #86 – RESOLUTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS PERSONNEL AND POTENTIAL LITIGATION ISSUES
On motion of Allen Hinkley second by Carol Murray the following resolution was offered and adopted:
“RESOLVED, the Town Board agreed to enter into Executive Session at 8:15 pm to discuss personnel issues involving 2016 budget salaries and potential litigation issues. Present were: Supervisor Thomas S. Hynes, Councilmen Allen Hinkley, Edward Raeder, Gene Cronk and Carol Murray, and Attorney Kevin Young.”
AYES-5 Hinkley, Murray, Cronk, Raeder, Hynes
NAYS-0
On motion of Allen Hinkley second by Gene Cronk the Town Board and Attorney returned to the regular meeting at 8:30 pm.
AYES-5 Hinkley, Cronk, Raeder, Murray, Hynes
NAYS-0
One additional resident entered the meeting hall.
It was stated the decisions of the Town Board from Executive Session are as follows: non-highway employees/elected officials will receive a 2% raise for 2016 except that Highway Supt., Tax Collector, Supervisor and Councilmen will remain at the 2015 salaries; and no action was taken on the potential litigation issue.
No action was taken on the Police Policy.
On motion of Carol Murray second by Edward Raeder the Town Board approved the Town Clerk’s monthly report for October 2015 in the amount of $1,928.49 (Town Clerk $903.49 and Building Permits $1,025.00)
AYES-5 Murray, Raeder, Cronk, Hinkley, Hynes
NAYS-0
On motion of Edward Raeder second by Allen Hinkley the Town Board approved the Supervisor’s monthly report for September 2015.
AYES-5 Raeder, Hinkley, Cronk, Murray, Hynes
NAYS-0
On motion of Gene Cronk second by Edward Raeder the Town Board approved the Justice Court monthly report for September 2015 in the amount of $6,108.00.
AYES-5 Cronk, Raeder, Hinkley, Murray, Hynes
NAYS-0
No monthly report was received from the Assessor for October 2015.
On motion of Allen Hinkley second by Carol Murray the Town Board approved the Building Inspector monthly report for October 2015.
AYES-5 Hinkley, Murray, Cronk, Raeder, Hynes
NAYS-0
On motion of Gene Cronk second by Edward Raeder the Town Board approved the monthly report of Water Receipts for October 2015 in the following amounts: Denver $3,466.56; Grand Gorge $3,140.84 and Roxbury $5,040.04.
AYES-5 Cronk, Raeder, Hinkley, Murray, Hynes
NAYS-0
On motion of Edward Raeder second by Allen Hinkley the Town Board approved the final monthly report of the CDBG (HUD) Program for October 2015 reflecting a balance of zero and the project being closed out.
AYES-5 Raeder, Hinkley, Cronk, Murray, Hynes
NAYS-0
RESOLUTION #87 – UNPAID WATER AMOUNTS TO TAXES
On motion of Carol Murray second by Gene Cronk the following resolution was offered and adopted:
“WHEREAS, Notices of Unpaid Water amounts were mailed to customers in their October 1, 2015 water bills; and
WHEREAS, said Notice stated the balance due on the bill must be received by November 1, 2015 or be placed on the January 2016 Town/County tax bill;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Town Board authorizes the following amounts of unpaid water be sent to Delaware County to be placed on the January 2016 Town/County tax bills: Denver Water $1,757.58; Grand Gorge Water $5,993.97 and Roxbury Water $5,103.17.”
AYES-5 Murray, Cronk, Raeder, Hinkley, Hynes
NAYS-0
Discussion took place on the 2016 Preliminary Budget. The Town Board approves the appropriate changes to the preliminary budget to account for the items discussed at the Public Hearing pertaining to General Fund and Roxbury Sewer District and the Town Board’s decision from Executive Session to change salaries for non-highway/elected personnel. Discussion took place on the Constable vehicle that was kept in the preliminary budget. Councilman Cronk stated he did not want a new Constable vehicle included in the 2016 budget but no other Board member agreed to remove it, and no other changes discussed during the Budget Workshop or Public Hearing were opposed.
RESOLUTION #88-ADOPT 2016 TOWN BUDGET
On motion of Edward Raeder second by Carol Murray the following resolution was offered and approved:
“WHEREAS, the Town Board has discussed and reviewed the 2016 Preliminary Budget; and
WHEREAS, the Town Board has approved appropriate changes as per discussed in the Budget Workshop, Public Hearing and as a result of Executive Session; and
WHEREAS, said changes shall be included in the adopted budget; and
WHEREAS, a majority of the Town Board have agreed to keep the price of a new Constable vehicle in the budget;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Town Board, Town of Roxbury adopts the 2016 Town Budget as amended with approved changes.
AYES-5 Raeder, Murray, Cronk, Hinkley, Hynes
NAYS-0
The Town Board discussed a list of needed repairs to the Constable car received from WS Hinkley & Son that included the transmission having shift problems, front and rear brakes will be needed very soon and oil pressure needs to be checked as it’s fluctuating on the gauge. The Town Board will get estimates on costs.
It was stated the 2016 Denver Sewer and Roxbury Sewer budgets have been approved by NYC DEP.
No action was taken on revising the Grand Gorge and Roxbury Water District bylaws.
Kevin Young stated DEP has set aside $15M for land acquisition associated with flood mitigation. Delaware County asserts that the acquisition of improved property should only occur at the request of a local municipality and as part of an overall local flood mitigation plan ; Delaware County opposes a land acquisition program that would allow the City to purchase improved property in the flood plain based upon homeowner request and the town’s consent because the town may not be able to effectively control or limit such acquisitions.
On motion of Gene Cronk second by Allen Hinkley the bills were audited and ordered paid in the following amounts:
General #480-536 – $104,021.07
Denver Water #71-79 – $1,712.86
Highway #222-245 – $140,993.92
Roxbury Sewer #71-78 – $3,445.11
Roxbury Water #80-87 – $2,333.41
Denver Sewer #97-103 – $1,367.63
Grand Gorge Water #88-99 – $5,469.37
Special Lights #15 – $18.33
AYES-5 Cronk, Hinkley, Raeder, Murray, Hynes
NAYS-0
Edward Irwin questioned why there is a boat at the Transfer Station and asked why the Town purchased a new brush cutter/mower this year and why the tires had to be replaced already on the same brush cutter/mower. Supv. Hynes stated the boat will be removed. Hwy. Supt. Schuman stated the old mower was too small for the mower head and the tires that came on the new mower were in the Federal bid specs that the Town purchased the machinery under and were of cheaper quality.
On motion of Carol Murray second by Edward Raeder the meeting adjourned at 8:48 pm.
THIS IS A TRUE COPY
___________________________________________
Diane Pickett, Town Clerk
Thomas S. Hynes, Supervisor
Gene Cronk, Councilman
Edward Raeder, Councilman
Allen Hinkley, Councilman
Carol Murray, Councilwoman