Date: January 27, 2010
Time: 7:00 pm
Elected Officers: Mayor Frohne, Trustees O’Connor, Kurkowski, Patrick, and Dawley
Appointed Officers: Clerk – Diane Blackwell
Treasurer – Donna Wells
Attorney – Paris Cavic
1) Call to order: Mayor Frohne, at 7:00 pm
2) Roll call of members: Mayor Frohne Trustees Kurkowski, O’Connor, Patrick, Dawley present.
3) Mayor Frohne asked for unanimous consent to waive the reading of the minutes of the January 12, 2010 meeting. No objection.
Motion to approve minutes made by Trustee Dawley, 2nd. by Trustee Patrick, Trustee O’Connor-yes, Trustee Dawley-yes, Trustee Patrick-yes, Trustee Kurkowski-yes and Mayor Frohne-yes. Motion carried.
Guest: Loriann Shura and Jamie Barudo from the General Codes gave a presentation of how the General Codes for the Village of Richfield Springs could be updated and what the cost of the project would be. It was explained that the cost of the whole project would be $8000.00 with out the e-code. If the e-code package is chosen, it would add another $995.00 to the price and there would be a $995.00 per year for maintenance fees. The e-code would allow the village codes to be put on the website for anyone to look up at any time. The basic package would be hardcover and would include 3 copies that would be kept in the Village Clerks office. Any additional copies would cost $65.00.
Chris Butler gave a report on the Sewer Treatment Plant. He reported a new fan motor in the blower room had to be installed, 55 gallon drum, big tank been eliminated, received new gator, tractor and truck, put 3 tons of sand in west dyna sand filter, then took east dyna sand off line to clean and maintain and found a problem with the airlift pump, which is what makes the filter work. Need to purchase a new airlift, for $2982.00 and should be here by Feb. 15th, 2010. That does not include shipping and handling. Once the new pump is in, the old one can be taken out and be refurbished through a local machine shop, to be prepared if and when the other pump should breakdown. The new pump must be in to do this. The total cost for the new pump will be approximately $3442.00 which also includes the replacement of the wash rings. The old one is temporarily fixed. With the new SPDES permit there were more tests that needed to be done on the influent water. Chris was not aware of this until he was filling out the Dec. DMR (state report). He called the DEC and made them aware that we wouldn’t have any results for the ammonia and the total phosphorus on the influent for Dec. 2009 and Jan. 2010. They told him to write this at the bottom of the DMR. Also, if high flows occur and the holding pond overflows (bypasses), it will be necessary to test everyday a bypass occurs. The samples from this bypass need to be sent to the lab to be analyzed. The longest the bypass has been needed was 5 days in a row from major flooding. This extra sampling will start in Feb. 2010. Also, the contractors meeting on Jan. 21st. 2010 went very well. Blue Heron would like to start with some preliminary things possibly in February. Also, there is a water leak at the corner of James St. and Elm St. The DPW crew will fix Jan. 28th, 2010.
* Resolution made to approve the purchase of the airlift pump for the Waste Water Treatment Plant and to include the cost of the freight, made by Trustee O’Connor, 2nd. by Trustee Dawley, Trustee O’Connor-yes, Trustee Dawley-yes, Trustee Patrick-yes, Trustee Kurkowski-yes and Mayor Frohne-yes.
Trustee Patrick asked Chris if Bob would be spending any time at the water plant to learn the operation procedures. Chris answered that if any one did it would be Chris or Jim, because they have the license to operate it. Also was asked if Bob Graepel has rescheduled his test yet, answer no.
Public comments:
Gerry Zavitch wanted to know if the Village could do something about the Rudenko property. The garage is falling down and is a hazard. He has taken the appropriate steps contacting the County Codes Officer and has had no response back. The Attorney suggested the Mayor send a formal complaint to the County Codes Officer. The Mayor agreed and said he would do that.
Gerry also asked if Suzanne Christman would be able to stay on the ZBA board now that she is employed as the Deputy Clerk/Treasurer for the Village. He was told that was not a conflict of offices but it would be a personal decision on her part.
Ken Dreis stated that the Cemetery Commission has been getting statements about the way the cemetery money is being invested. He has spoke to numerous people and all has said they can invest anyway they want. A man from the cemetery State Dept. said they could invest anyway they feel will be in the best interest of the cemetery commission. Len Breen, 518-474-6226, is the contact at the Dept. of State. Names and numbers were given to the Mayor as to who Mr. Dreis has called.
Clerk- Diane Blackwell-
1) Abstract #16. Attached to minutes. Motion to approve made by Trustee Kurkowski, 2nd by Trustee Patrick, Trustee O’Connor-yes, Trustee Dawley-yes, Trustee Patrick-yes, Trustee Kurkowski-yes and Mayor Frohne-yes, motion carried.
2) Clerk asked for motion to remove Donna Wells as Deputy Registrar and put Suzanne Christman on. Motion made by Trustee O’Connor, 2nd. by Trustee Dawley, Trustee O’Connor-yes, Trustee Dawley-yes, Trustee Patrick-yes, Trustee Kurkowski-yes and Mayor Frohne-yes. Motion carried.
Treasurer-Donna Wells-
1) Reported on the library building project for the roof and back wall. The specifications are being put together so the advertisement for the bids will be out by early February and the bids should be in to be opened at the March 31st. 2010 meeting.
Motion to advertise for the bids on the building project to repair the roof made by Trustee O’Connor, 2nd. by Trustee Kurkowski, Trustee O’Connor-yes, Trustee Dawley-yes, Trustee Patrick-yes, Trustee Kurkowski-yes and Mayor Frohne-yes. Motion carried.
Mayor Frohne
Mayor Frohne was pleased with the presentation from the General Codes people. After discussion, was decided to think it over and discuss it more at the next meeting.
Trustee O’Connor-
1) Water plant, a pump was pulled last year, now the other pump was not working, so was pulled and is going to be repaired right at the water plant. These pumps are 28 feet long.
Resolution to repair the pump for the amount that is necessary at the water plant made by Trustee Kurkowski, 2nd. by Trustee Patrick, Trustee O’Connor-yes, Trustee Dawley-yes, Trustee Patrick-yes, Trustee Kurkowski-yes, Mayor Frohne-yes
Tom Shypski plans to attend the Feb. 24th, 2010 meeting to update the board members and Mayor Frohne as to what needs to done at the water plant.
Trustee Patrick:
1) Trustee Patrick represented the Village at the last shared services meeting that was held on January 19th, 2010. He also informed the group that Mayor Frohne would be attending these meetings as well when he could. Along with the village, town and school, the shared services have decided to take the measurements for a baseball diamond and a girl’s softball field on Walnut St.
2) Cemetery Commission’s next meeting will be held on February 3rd. 2010. After discussion, a resolution was made: Resolution made to draw up the law to change the number of members on the Cemetery Commission board from 4 to 5 members along with 1 trustee by Trustee O’Connor, 2nd. Trustee Patrick, Trustee O’Connor-yes, Trustee Dawley-yes, Trustee Patrick-yes, Trustee Kurkowski-yes and Mayor Frohne-yes.
3) Explanation of benefits, no discussion.
4) Water /Sewer bills to change from billing monthly to quarterly. Decided to not discuss at this time, will bring the subject up again at another time.
5) Rerob LLC: Trustee Patrick was told a letter from a concerned village resident will be going to Frank Borer, the President of Rerob, LLC regarding Express Mart/McDonald’s Restaurant, with this individuals concern about the BOD levels and the so called odor problem. The Mayor is going to contact the DEC people to see what the range of the levels should be.
Trustee Kurkowski;
1) Would like the lights at the pavilion in Spring Park to be covered by a metal encasing because the lights get broken by the vandals if the light bulbs are left in.
Motion was made to allow Trustee Kurkowski to purchase 13 coverings for the lights in the park pavilion by Trustee O’Connor, 2nd. by Trustee Patrick, Trustee O’Connor-yes, Trustee Dawley-yes, Trustee Patrick-yes, Trustee Kurkowski-yes and Mayor Frohne-yes. Motion carried.
2) Trustee Kurkowski brought to everyone’s attention that next year will be the 150th anniversary of the Village of Richfield Springs. Would like someone to start putting together plans for a celebration.
Trustee Dawley:
1) The website is nearly finished. Hopefully by the end of January 2010. He had pictures to pass around of what will be on the website.
Attorney Cavic:
1) Discussion about the library opening doors to different groups to use the memorial room with the main concern being the lack of insurance coverage. Also, it was discussed as to the scheduling of events to take place in the memorial room. Was strongly stressed that the building belongs to the Village, not the library.
Motion to adjourn; made by Trustee Patrick, 2nd. by Trustee O’Connor. Trustee O’Connor-yes, Trustee Dawley-yes, Trustee Patrick-yes; Trustee Kurkowski-yes; Mayor Frohne-yes. Meeting adjourned at 9:10 pm.
Respectfully submitted:
Diane Blackwell
Village Clerk
