Regular Meeting
Supervisor Grant declared the meeting open and asked
Councilman Frounick to lead the pledge to the flag. Present were Council Members Gadd, Frounick,
Mohun, George and Superintendent Jensen.
Minutes of the July
meeting: Supervisor
Grant asked if any corrections or amendments. Councilman Mohun said that under
the Highway Department discussion, her remark on the TIP application and
Councilman George’s question were on 2 different subjects. Will amend minutes to
include in Mr. George’s question to add “on designation the minimum maintenance
roads, which ones” at the end of Mr. George’s question. Motion made by
George/Mohun to accept the minutes as amended. Voting all ayes, carried.
General Fund Claims #220-270 totaling $14,186.10
presented. Motion made by Frounick/Mohun
to approve the General Fund claims submitted. Voting all ayes, carried.
Highway Claims #145 – 162 totaling $47,047.19
submitted. Motion made by Mohun/George to approve the Highway claims submitted.
Voting all ayes, carried.
Special District Claims:
Correspondence: Letter read dated August 5th from
Letter read dated
Memo from the
Certificate of
insurance received from Tn. of Bennington naming Wyo. Co. as additional insured
on it’s liability policy.
Town clerk’s monthly report.
Letters of resignation
read from Chris Hickey (Planning Board) and Mike Magrum (Zoning Board).
Supervisor Grant’s Correspondence:
August Newsletter from the
Certificate of Liability Ins. from Wyo. Co. Youth Bureau
naming the Town of
Memo from Wyo. County Real Property Tax Services re: Early taxable
values taken from the 2009 Final Assessment Roll, which are provided by
district. Final taxable values will be
provided in late October or early November.
Letter from the State of
Information from
United States Dept. of Commerce re: US Census Bureau re:
service locations for people experiencing homelessness, included form to
complete if have one or more Targeted Nonsheltered Outdoor Locations
Information from the Office of the NYS comptroller, NYS and
Local Retirement System of the February 2010 Estimate, showing contributions
for state fiscal year 2009-2010. This is for informational purposes only.
E-mail from Todd Gadd, Wyoming County Highway Superintendent,
regarding deer removal and contact person, namely Dick Simonsan (county roads only)- county’s cost is
$38/deer.
E-mail read from Anthony Santoro re: update of deployment of
aid to
2009 County sales tax report from
Letter dated July 20th read from Mark Clapp – re:
his appreciation of Doris Bannister and Mike Mohun’s assistance and reporting
on his recent contact with them in his genealogy search, how helpful, gracious
and professional these two individuals were in assisting him in his search for
family members.
Memo from State of
Supervisor’s Financial Statement for the month of July –
Councilman George questioned the small amounts left in the Fire District
accounts as interest earned. Supervisor
Grant reported that was interest and the bookkeeper had to physically write
checks out of each one of them to clear those amounts, which went into the
General Fund. Motion made by George, seconded by Frounick to accept the
Supervisor’s Financial Statement, voting all ayes, carried.
Departments:
Highway: Shared Services mower grant –
Supervisor Grant stated the letter she read was an indication they are
receiving the grant. Superintendent Jensen stated they won’t see that mower
until next Spring. In the Highway claims tonight was a voucher for the mower
that
Supervisor Grant reported that the town needs to pass a
resolution, Town has Legislative Initiative funding for culvert replacement and
stream bank stabilization on
Local Road re-classification:
Superintendent Jensen reported he has a copy of the letter received last
month from Dadd & Nelson, also the 2005 Local Law. He asked the board to
allow him a few weeks and he should have a better idea of what needs to be
done.
Superintendent Jensen reported he will get information and
pricing on the loader (one year buy-out plan), new pick-up truck and replacing
of the 1991
Mr. Jensen reported the beams have been removed from the
Councilman George
asked if paperwork filed with the property owner. Mr. Jensen reported that everything is
finally signed.
Water Department: Supervisor Grant reported having
conversations in the past couple of weeks with the Marilla Supervisor, their
Engineer and the Alden Engineer, they have received notification, information
from Rural Development, that they have got their funding for Marilla and proceeding. Alden is still trying to get their district
formed. They are going to do the upgrades on the lines. Marilla Supervisor Goetz
informed her that once they get the material list and design work done up, ready to go out to
bid, Bennington would need to upfront the cost of the difference from the 8”
lines to the 12” lines, then they could buy the materials. Once the lines are
installed, Bennington would do their share and Alden their share to upgrade on
Exchange Street, once that is done, then Marilla can apply (she believes) to Economic
Development, the grant that they
received, that will re-imburse us for our part of it. In the engineering report
Transfer Station: Councilman Frounick has talked to
only one party about the cover for the hopper.
Councilman Frounick stated that the town should get rid of
the old compactor. Short discussion held on the old compactor. Will have to
check to see who offers the best deal.
Public Concerns:
Supervisor Grant asked if anyone wished to address the board at this
time: Bob Padak asked if the town has any plans on annihilating all of the
town’s dirt roads. Councilman Mohun informed him that she and Rick worked on an
application to try and get a grant, with her idea of trying to connect all of
the dirt roads like a bike path, filled out the application, she had questions,
ended up calling Jim Stack, that was in charge of it, he basically said that
that money was set aside for state highways. She asked him if any money out
there for local roads and he said no, not that he knows of. Superintendent
Jensen stated that the town is looking at checking with grant writers, picking
their brains. Rick came up with a price for the 32 miles of town roads; to
drain, put down a base, lay fabric, oil & stone would cost approx. 6.6
million, and that’s very conservative.
Discussion held on roads.
Old Business: County addressing policy –
Supervisor Grant reported that last year they discussed the county addressing
policy, thought the board acted on it, but was informed the town hasn’t. It’s
an agreement between the town and the County
of Wyoming, basically a major component
of the Enhanced 911 police, fire and emergency telephone system, has the
capacity to identify the location of a call via computer, accuracy of the
addresses are essential to the maintenance of the database. The county has resources of its Emergency
Services, Highway, Sheriff’s and Economic Development & Planning
Departments to help with logical, consistent address number designation. They
would like the town to adopt this resolution, basically the agreement is that
the county will provide right of way designation and numbering service, also
approve street names, address number of all individuals, corporation and other
entities, will devise research address plans for private roads, identify
missing addresses and right of way names within the town which are incompatible
with the Enhanced 911, provide a solution for modifying the numbering of all
right of way designation address plans which shall be in accordance with the
town’s existing address system, any new or additional signage resulting from
the address services provided by the county will be the responsibility of the
county and a notice that is given out, gives notice to the residents, property
and business owners, designing address and point of contact, assessors, zoning
officers, code enforcement officers, fire districts, school districts and other
county departments as well as the post office. The town shall appoint a single
Point of Contact or employee as its Addressing Point of Contact. (There is a
separate resolution for that designation). Discussion held. Motion made by
George/Mohun authorize the supervisor to execute the Intermunicipal Cooperation
Agreement with the county. Voting all ayes, carried.
Resolution to Designate
a town Point of Contact – Discussion held as to whom should be appointed, zoning officer or
highway superintendent. Motion made by Mohun/Gadd to appoint the Highway
Superintendent as the Town Point of Contact. Voting all ayes, carried.
Cotton Hill Road Signs - Discussed in work session the purchasing
of a couple of signs to be placed on Cotton
Hill Road indicating where the various house numbers are, to help out emergency
services when they respond, estimating the cost to be approx. $200. Motion so
made by Mohun/Frounick to purchase signs
for
Grant Writing Services:
Material received from two of the consultants the county has been using,
Jean O’Connell has been working with the county for a long time, TVGA has been
working with the town of Java on their small cities grant for their water
district and they too have been contracted with the county to be available for
grant writing services. Supervisor Grant reported that the thing she found most
helpful in reviewing the materials was looking at TVGA’s cover letter and their
approach of establishing (1) Needs
Assessment; (2) Approach; and (3) Grant Application, noting that all services
up to step 3 are free of charge. Supervisor Grant reported that at this time
any grant writing for a specific project that the towns and villages are
undertaking, the county will reimburse half of the cost to the town. Town can
be aggressive like the
Jean
O’Connell sent a large packet, her cover letter addresses: Town using their
service under a retainer and annual fee or yearly contract; quarterly contract
or per project basis. Discussion held. Supervisor Grant’s thought was to have
TVGA come in which cost nothing, give the town direction on what the town is
looking for, if at that point not happy with them, can have Jean O’Connell come
in, or just have both come in.
Councilman George feels should have both come in. After further
discussion, Supervisor Grant will contact both of them, see if she can set a
time when they can meet with the board, in the mean time get a list of needs
and projects together.
New Business:
Town Hall Restrooms – Supervisor Grant reported that
back in February, she received a letter from State Senator Diaz regarding having
money available for senior centers, using stimulus money for upgrading senior
centers. She called them last week and was told they believe they will probably
get approval for this money this month, they have 33 community centers apply
for it. Supervisor Grant explained that
Lift – Supervisor Grant received
information from Thyssenkrupp, it has been several years, since town has had
maintenance done on the lift, their office location is on
Bennington Vol. Fire
Co. Fire Contract –
Supervisor Grant read letter dated Aug. 11th from the Bennington
Fire Company requesting $88,150 for 2010. It further asked that $24,000 be paid
by January 15th and the balance of $64,150 be received no later that
April 1st. Motion made by
George/Mohun to schedule a public
hearing for the September Town Board meeting. Voting all ayes, carried.
Board Vacancies – After short discussion a motion
was made by Gadd/George to advertise for letters of intent from interested
residents to serve either as an alternate or as a member on the Town Planning
and Zoning Boards. Voting all ayes, carried.
Use of the Town Hall by
Attica Central School
for their board meetings on
Councilman George asked what the judges put in for in
applying for the grant, did they request a PA system or even informed of
putting in for a PA system, just a suggestion.
Supervisor Grant said she hasn’t heard anything, will check.
Councilman George asked if anything on the union
negotiations. Ellen reported she hasn’t
heard anything.
There being no further business, a motion was made by
Mohun/Gadd to adjourn, voting all ayes. Meeting adjourned at
Respectfully
submitted;
Judy
Brown, Town Clerk