File #WSJULY30.2014 Page 1 of 6 The Town of Fenton Town Board held its regular Work Session on Wednesday, July 30 th, 2014, at 6:00 PM at the Fenton Town Hall, 44 Park Street, Port Crane, New York. PRESENT: Town Board Members David Hamlin, Supervisor Gary Holcomb, Deputy Supervisor Michael Husar, Councilman Highway Superintendent Frank Root Town Engineer Richard Bassler, P.E. Town Clerk Melodie Bowersox Administrative Asst./Bookkeeper Susan Crosier ABSENT: Town Attorney Albert Millus, Jr. Town Board Member Jeff Kraham, Councilman Richard Pray, Councilman Car Situation on Service Road Mr. Hamlin asked who would be responsible for looking into the excess of cars that are at the car dealership on the Service Road near Chenango Valley High School and the car wash. Mr. Husar said that John Broughton, Town Constable, would be. Mr. Hamlin said that there are at least 40 cars parked on Town property and he also believes that the black canopy carport is on Town property. There is a girl with a motorized wheelchair who lives near that area and she was almost hit because of numerous cars that are parked on the sidewalk she uses. Review Abstract After a review of the Abstract, Mr. Husar moved to approve payment of the bills, seconded by Mr. Holcomb. Motion carried. Kitchen Upgrades Sue Crosier submitted estimates for upgrades to the Town Kitchen. Samsung Smooth Surface Freestanding Convection Electric Range from Lowes - $782 Plastic Laminate Countertop by Chris Martinson Cabinetmaker, recommended by Building Inspector Matt Banks - $1300 Replacement of Ceiling Lights by Connors Electric - $975 Painting Brian Randall has been contacted and will be coming in this Friday to give the Town an estimate for painting. He said that he would be donating a lot of his services to the Town. Other improvements are still being looked into. When Rick Armstrong did his analysis of the kitchen, he said that the kitchen floor could be a problem due to the asbestos tiles. Resolution #2014-15 Budget Modification for CHIPS Amount Mr. Holcomb made a motion to adopt the following resolution:
File #WSJULY30.2014 Page 2 of 6 WHEREAS, the state budget has increased the local share of CHIPS funding, NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that a budget modification be approved to increase the CHIPS Improvements line (DA5112.200) and the Revenue line (DA3501) from $86,000 to $110,337.63 plus $12,763.00 (Additional Winter Road Repair Funding), making the total amount $123,100.63 which is the State approved amount. Seconded by Mr. Husar. Motion carried. Plaque for Trooper Skinner Melodie Bowersox contacted an individual online by the name of Rose Borisow, a police officer who creates prints to honor those who have died in the line of duty. Prints ordered will have 25% of the proceeds donated to Concerns of Police Survivors, which provides resources to assist in the rebuilding of the lives of surviving families and affected co-workers of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty as determined by Federal criteria. The prints can be personalized and may include photos from Trooper Skinner s memorial service. After several emails back and forth, Rose sent Melodie a finished product with several 8x10s and 11x14s. The Town Board would like her to check into framing them for the family members and/or mounting one on a wooden plaque for the Town Hall. Crime Lab Air Conditioner and Separate Bathroom The Crime Lab Air Conditioning has been installed and is operating. The ladies bathroom is shared by the Town Hall ladies, Crime Lab ladies, and the public. The use of the bathroom by the Crime Lab ladies has been an ongoing issue in terms of cleanliness and recently one of the ladies was shaving her legs at the sink. Mr. Husar is going to send an email to Steve Fessenden tomorrow inquiring as to the lease, rent, and use of the public bathroom. Playground Equipment Repairs Randy Ritter and Jon Medinosky started the repairs on the playground equipment. As they proceeded to put some new pieces on the younger children s area, they found that the pieces did not fit. Rather than proceed any further, Randy contacted the playground representatives and he is meeting with them the end of this week. Apparently the company does not make the unit we have any more so options will need to be discussed for the repairs. Long Distance Proposal from Frontier Sue Crosier did research for the Town s telephone service and found we could save $3,320.52 per year by switching to Frontier. We would keep
File #WSJULY30.2014 Page 3 of 6 Time Warner Internet as is, utilizing Frontier only as a backup Internet. (Doing this is cheaper than going Local and Long Distance only.) This would be a three year contract. Current Service: Frontier for Local Service: $531.46/month AT&T for Long Distance: $120.15/month Total for Month: $651.71 Total for Year: $7.820.52 Proposed Service: Frontier for Local, Long Distance, & Internet: (approximately) $375.00/month Total for Year: $4,500.00 Mr. Husar made a motion to approve switching to Frontier, seconded by Mr. Holcomb. Motion carried. Updates on Code Violations Mr. Husar said that he would like to table this discussion until the next Town Board Meeting. He has asked John Broughton to attend that meeting and discuss the properties that he has been dealing with over the past several weeks. Mr. Husar did ask Matt Banks for an update on the Unsafe Structures that were addressed at the recent Public Hearing. Findore barn on 5992 NYS Route 79 Matt has not seen any activity there. Mr. Husar would like Matt to speak to the Findores and ask them to get moving on the project. He is concerned that the structure may fall down. Quinones home on 152 Vincent Hill Road Wilfred Quinones has been into the Town Clerk s Office several times and said that the Port Crane Fire Department is still planning to burn down his house as a training session. Matt spoke to an individual who said that the State does not have any regulations on burning down unsafe structures it is up to the local authorities. Mr. Hamlin will contact Port Crane Fire Chief Brett Chellis to find out if the training session is going to take place and if so when. Raminger home on 310 Ballyhack Road Thomas Raminger was supposed to contact Atty. Millus and has not done so. Lanny Fromm Atty. Millus has been trying to contact Lanny Fromm s Attorney, Ronald Benjamin, and he has not returned his phone calls. Mr. Husar proposed that if by the next meeting Atty. Millus does not have something completely in solid form, we file a motion for a summary judgment in court. He will email Atty. Millus tomorrow and let him know this is the status of the Town Board on the matter.
File #WSJULY30.2014 Page 4 of 6 Policy Changes for Personnel Manual (Health Insurance) VIII. e. Flexible Spending Option Mr. Holcomb would like to update the amount under this option. Currently this option states: The maximum annual contribution to the Flexible Spending Account for the purpose of covering uninsured medical expenses shall be One thousand dollars ($1000.00) per Employee. Mr. Holcomb asked Melodie Bowersox to search the Town Board minutes from previous years to see what the most recent amount was allocated for the maximum annual contribution, as he knows it has been changed from time to time and may not have been updated in the Personnel Manual. VII. b. Eligibility Retirees Hired as Employees After January 15, 1999 and their Eligible Family Members Mr. Holcomb would also like to make an addition to this section: Any active full time employee of the Town of Fenton (i) hired after January 15, 1999 and, (ii) who has 20 years or more continuous service to the Town of Fenton and is vested in the New York State Retirement System, or who has 20 years or more vested in the New York State Retirement System with the last 10 years from continuous service with the Town of Fenton, and (iii) who retires from the Town of Fenton at the age entitling them to receive pension benefits (age 62) under the New York State Retirement System or who is receiving full disability benefits from the New York State Retirement System, having become permanently disabled, will be eligible to continue or convert coverage in accordance with the rules of the Town of Fenton Health Insurance Plan. Reminder August Board Meeting Date Change to August 13 th Just a reminder that the Town Board Meeting has been changed from Wednesday, August 6 th, 2014 to Wednesday, August 13 th, 2014, at 7 PM. Budget Submissions The first Budget Meeting will be held on August 27 th, 2014. Sue Crosier would like Budget Submissions in to her office by August 20 th, 2014. Audit by Mike Wolyniak this Year? Mr. Husar suggested that we ask him for a quote and that when we do so, we make him aware that we may not have him do the audit every year for us. Service Road Project Dick Bassler needs to speak with Bothar Construction regarding an issue on the West Service Road near the railroad underpass. There is a dip in the pavement that was not there before the project. During rainstorms, a pond appears. Otherwise, the job done by Bothar Construction looks very good. Tri-City Highway Mine Frank Root was approached by Dave Black of Tri-City Highway and asked if the Town has any interest in purchasing the old mine (30+ acres) on NYS Route 369. Mr. Husar does not feel we should consider it until reclamation is complete.
File #WSJULY30.2014 Page 5 of 6 Landfill on Spencer Road We currently have no No Trespassing signs on the gate to the Landfill on Spencer Road. A resident is complaining about someone riding horses on the landfill property. Because this could create a liability issue, Frank Root will post No Trespassing signs on the gate. Avenue A Frank Root has completed the work on Avenue A, which included the trimming of trees. Monkey Run Road Several years ago there was an issue on Monkey Run Road with the Wicks using the road for hauling and the Town posted an eight ton road limit sign. Now O Hearn is using the road for hauling and the road is in very bad shape. Also, residents are complaining about the trucks using the road. A discussion was held about what can be done and who could weigh the truck(s). The Town does not have equipment to do the weighing and the Sheriff s Department will not do it either. Mr. Husar said there is a possibility that Trooper Daniels could help us out with the situation. Road Rehabilitation Frank Root and Mr. Holcomb plan to meet and discuss the rehabilitation of roads in the Town. Mr. Holcomb said that currently the Town spends approximately $220,000 for the repairs and paving of Town roads. Path of Life Road Mr. Husar would like Frank Root to put the speed limit signs up on Path of Life Road. Uniform Service for Highway and Water Departments The uniform service for the Highway and Water Departments is not always being used consistently. Mr. Holcomb and Mr. Pray would like to propose: discontinuing the current uniform service contract, funding the purchase of jeans and/or work pants @ the 50% level up to $200 per year for full-time employees and pay $100 for boots per year, funding for part-time and seasonal employees to be ½ of the above and $100 for boots every two years, continuing the provision of uniform t-shirts and sweatshirts. Frank Root would like to eventually get away from providing his employees with the shirts; however, the Town Board would like the Highway and Water Departments to have uniform shirts and possibly look into Hanks for the purchase of future shirts. Port Crane Traffic Issue It was brought to Mr. Hamlin s attention by a Town resident that there is a Port Crane traffic issue coming off of NYS Route 7B. The Town Board discussed the traffic may be bypassing recent construction at the intersection in Port Crane and entering the Town via Canal Street or Pine Street. It was suggested that a patrol car be sent out to investigate the issue.
File #WSJULY30.2014 Page 6 of 6 Illegal Aliens Mr. Husar would like the Town to consider passing a resolution to protect our community and to keep groups of illegal aliens out of it. Other communities are experiencing difficulties with such groups including health issues, criminal activities, educational expenses, and more. In doing so, we could set an example for Broome County and neighboring towns. So far 3000 illegal aliens have been relocated in New York State and 7000 more are anticipated by the end of the year. Mr. Husar will bring the topic up at the regular Town Board Meeting. State Unified Solar Building Code Resolution Matt Banks reviewed the Unified Solar Permit that André LaClair drafted and said that it looked fine. André needs to have the State Unified Solar Building Code Resolution passed to proceed with the grant application. Mr. Husar made a motion to adopt Resolution #2014-16, the NYS Unified Solar Permit: WHEREAS, the increased use of renewable solar energy reduces dependence upon foreign energy resources, virtually eliminates the production of unsafe emissions and greenhouse gases from energy consumption, encourages investment in the renewable energy industry creating domestic jobs, and WHEREAS, the NY Solar Smart Program is working to reduce the soft costs of solar installation and enable solar market growth; and WHEREAS, the New York State Unified Solar Permit is a standardized permit for use by all NY municipalities that simplifies and streamlines the permitting of small-scale photovoltaic systems and increases consistency and transparency in permitting, thereby lowering soft costs. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that in furtherance of the above goals, the Fenton Town Board hereby adopts the NYS Unified Solar Permit for use by the Building Inspector as part of the permitting process for small-scale roof-top, grid-tied Photovoltaic Systems. Seconded by Mr. Holcomb. Motion carried. Mr. Hamlin adjourned the meeting at 7:47 PM. Melodie A. Bowersox, Town Clerk