Date: March 31, 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 March 9, 2010 meeting. No objection.
Motion to approve minutes made by Trustee Patrick, 2nd. by Trustee Kurkowski, Trustee O’Connor-yes, Trustee Patrick-yes, Trustee Kurkowski-yes and Mayor Frohne-yes. Trustee Dawley-abstained. Motion carried.
Guests:
1) Jamie Solomon came to speak to the board about the dog control problem in the village. Very unhappy about not being able to reach the dog warden and not getting a call back within a reasonable amount of time from him.
This has been an ongoing problem for quite a long period of time. After discussion, Mayor Frohne told her he would get back to her within two weeks to let her know what is being done about this problem.
2) Wayne King came to speak to the board about a concert that is being planned for May 6th, 7th, and 8th 2010 in the Town of Richfield near Butternut road. It is being advertised as a benefit for a woman who has cancer and referred to as the “Heady Fest”. It will consist of 3 days of camping and possibly 30 plus bands. Tickets have been on sale since February 14th, 2010. Town has an ordinance for piece and good order. A copy has been given to the organizer and they are supposed to submit in writing what their plans are. BOH claims that for a gathering of less than 5000 people there is not much they can do. If camping, they must meet the State BOH campground requirements. Which includes a SEQR application. A meeting will be held on Thursday, April 1st. 2010 at 12:00pm. at the Town Building. Trustee Dawley, Trustee Patrick and Donna Wells said they would all go to the meeting. One violation already in place is that the Town Clerk was supposed to be notified 20 days prior to advertising. This was not made known to the Town Clerk until the week of March 26th. 2010. Law enforcement would come from the Otsego Co. Sheriff Dept.
Wayne also asked about the inter-municipal agreement between the village and town. Would like it finalized with one change, to #3, “Site used by village and town residents only”. This was intended for the brush pile only which is covered in #2. #3 covers the recycling and the trash pickup. After discussion, was agreed #3 would be changed and Wayne will bring it back to the next board meeting for approval. Also, the town should give a certificate of insurance to the village to cover in case of an accident at the site.
Wayne also asked the village to think about shared services to consider building a court house without added expense to the taxpayers. The location for this would be on the town property behind the town barn.
3) Gerry Zavitch was present to inquire about an update on the Rudenko property. Was informed that Mr. Rudenko had been in the village office that same day and had received a appearance ticket for village court on April 5th. 2010.
The Tentative Budget was presented to the Clerk on March 17th. 2010 from the Budget officer, Mayor Frohne and the Treasurer Donna Wells.
The overall tax levy is the same as 2009. A budget comparison sheet from 2009/2010 – 2010/2011 was passed out. Slight decrease in the revenues for sales tax. Difference in expenditures of about $10,000.00, but by doing that it will lower the tax rate to $10.81, assessed value increased by $156,000.00.
Motion was made for the April 13th. 2010 meeting to be the Public Hearing meeting for the budget at 7:00 pm. and the regular board meeting to be held immediately following. Motion made by Trustee O’Connor, 2nd. by Trustee Patrick, Trustee’s O’Connor, Dawley, Patrick, Kurkowski and Mayor Frohne voted yes. Motion carried.
Clerk: Diane Blackwell
1) Abstract #20- General Fund, $75,873.61, Water Fund,$8,013.73, Sewer Fund, $10,009.99, Trust & Agency,$669.39, Capitol Projects, $166.446.60.
Motion to approve abstract #20 made by Trustee O’Connor, 2nd. by Trustee Patrick, Trustee’s O’Connor, Dawley, Patrick, Kurkowski and Mayor Frohne voted yes. Motion carried.
2) Clerk received the liquor license renewal from Park Inn.
3) 3 applications for use of the Spring Park: 1) Lions club for 4/3/2010 for Easter egg hunt, 2) Church of Christ United for 4/4/2010 for Easter sunrise service, 3) Otsego Co. Superintendent Assoc. for 5/19/2010.
Motion to approve made by Trustee Patrick, 2nd. by Trustee O’Connor, Trustee’s O’Connor, Dawley, Patrick, Kurkowski and Mayor Frohne voted yes. Motion carried.
4) Clerk received letter of resignation from Duane Pierson for the ZBA. Motion to accept made by Trustee Kurkowski, 2nd. by Trustee O’Connor, Trustee’s O’Connor, Dawley, Patrick, Kurkowski and Mayor Frohne voted yes. Motion carried.
5) Miracle of Madness, a band from Sauquoit would like to do an evening or afternoon concert in Spring Park. After discussion, was decided a Friday night concert on July 16th. 2010 would be good.
6) Clerk informed the board and Mayor that a reminder notice had been put in the Penny saver by Bruce Watson for the yard debris pickup schedule. Was in the March 27th, 2010 issue.
7) Would like to post No-Smoking signs on the back side of the library building. Many high school kids are hanging out there and smoking and leaving a mess. Ok’d by board to put one at the back door.
8) The Organizational Meeting will be held on April 5th, 2010 in the Memorial Room of the Public Library.
Treasurer: Donna Wells
1) Ask the board to consider changing phone companies from AT&T to Cornerstone for long distance because the state contract price is better. Cornerstone is $03.9 per minute, and AT&T average to $.05 per minute. After discussion, was decided to ok the change.
Motion made by Trustee O’Connor, 2nd. by Trustee Dawley, Trustee’s O’Connor, Dawley, Patrick, Kurkowski and Mayor Frohne voted yes. Motion carried.
2) 2 estimates on replacing the furnace in the Library building: 1) Mirabito - $11,893.55, without chimney liner, Ed Bello’s gave a quote of $2859.71 for the chimney liner. 2) Krenichyns - $15,600.00. We will be getting an estimate on 4/5/2010 from John LeFever of Black Cloud Chimney Sweep Co. for the chimney liner. This will be brought to the 4/13/2010 meeting.
3) Water/Sewer – Trustee O’Connor and Donna met with Chris Butler and Tom Shypski on 3/25/2010 to discuss the w/s rates. After discussion, was recommended to keep the increase for the inside users at 5% and outside users at 8%. This is the 4th year with this charge.
4) Donna asked what the difference is between commercial users and residential users. 2 units and the landlord does not live in either unit, should be charged a commercial rate. Trailer parks, individual meters, land lord collects from tenants, should be residential. Trailer park that landlord pays the bills, should be commercial.
5) Schultz, 51 Canadarago St., from the major leak, from current bill dated 2/24/2010 and 3/1-3/2/2010 when the water was finally shut off, 58,065 gals of water went through the water meter, at a cost of $707.36. After discussion, was agreed to take the $707.36 off the bill. Motion made by Trustee O’Connor, 2nd. by Trustee Kurkowski to waive the $707.36 from the water bill. Trustee’s O’Connor, Dawley, Patrick, Kurkowski and Mayor Frohne voted yes. Motion carried.
6) Bruce Hall – Donna received a call from the plant manager asking why they were over charged during the winter months when only 2 employees were there for deliveries and working in the shop only. Were overcharged $1884.53 during the winter months. Motion was made to issue a credit $1434.51 by Trustee O’Connor, 2nd.by Trustee Kurkowski, Trustee’s O’Connor, Dawley, Patrick, Kurkowski and Mayor Frohne voted yes. Motion carried.
Mayor Frohne
1) Thanked Brandon Dawley for serving on the Board of Trustees for the past 9 months.
Trustee O’Connor
1) Made a motion to approve the water/sewer rates of 5% for inside users and 8% for outside users effective June 1, 2010, 2nd. by Trustee Patrick, Trustee’s O’Connor, Dawley, Patrick, Kurkowski and Mayor Frohne voted yes. Motion carried.
2) Tom Shypski gave Trustee O’Connor a packet to pass out to all trustee’s and Mayor regarding NYWARN. NY Water and Waste Water Agency Response Network. Clerk will make copies and pass out to all trustees and Mayor.
3) 150th Anniversary of the Village of Richfield Springs. Trustee O’Connor thinks we should inquire to various agencies to see if anyone would be interested in working together to set up a celebration. Mayor Frohne will put an ad in the Penny saver.
Trustee Kurkowski
1) Wanted to know when the new truck for the sewer treatment plant will get the village name on it? This will be done soon.
Trustee Patrick
1) Asked if the Mayor and Board members would write up expectations for Brandon for the website.
Trustee Dawley
1) Thanked the Mayor for the opportunity to serve on the board.
2) Will continue to work on the website and asked everyone to help him with information to put on the website.
Motion made to go into executive session to discuss personnel matters: made by Trustee Patrick, 2nd. by Trustee Dawley, Trustee’s O’Connor, Patrick, Dawley, Kurkowski and Mayor Frohne voted yes. Motion carried.
Motion made to come out of executive session by Trustee Patrick, 2nd. by Trustee Kurkowski, Trustee’s O’Connor, Dawley, Patrick, Kurkowski and Mayor Frohne voted yes. Motion carried.
Motion to adjourn made by Trustee Kurkowski, 2nd. by Trustee O’Connor, Trustee O’Connor, Dawley, Patrick, Kurkowski and Mayor Frohne voted yes. Meeting adjourned at 9:30 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Diane Blackwell
Village Clerk
