Date: January 11, 2011
Time: 6:00 pm
Elected Officers:
Mayor Frohne, Trustees O’Connor, Kurkowski, Patrick, and Pierson
Appointed Officers:
Clerk – Diane Blackwell
Treasurer – Donna Wells
Roll Call: Mayor Frohne, Trustee O’Connor, Trustee Pierson, and Trustee Patrick present, Trustee Kurkowski absent.
Mayor Frohne asked if there were any objections to waiving the reading of the minutes of the Dec.29, 2010 minutes. No objections.
Motion to approve the Dec.29, 2010 minutes made by Trustee O’Connor, 2nd. by Trustee Pierson, Trustee’s O’Connor, Pierson and Mayor Frohne voted yes. Trustee Patrick abstained. Motion carried.
Special Business:
Lamont Engineers:
Glen: Contract #2 – Blue Heron – grinding the floor- SWB- preparing for paint. When the concrete dividers were being brought in for the reed beds, 2 fell into the aeration pond, are now going to pull them out with a fork lift.
Contract 4 & 5 – J.V.Warren – pads and louvers for two buildings, heaters, can be put in. Will issue a change order when he receives the receipts.
Still working on substantial completion documents, for contracts 1 & 2.
The DeVincentis claim that started at $107,000.00 has been worked down to $52,000.00 and is now down to $41,715.00, with the elimination of the grouting of the manhole lift holders. Chris and Jim both said this could be eliminated. He would also like to eliminate the testing of the sewer line from manhole 106 down to 103 on Bronner St, this has been done and does not feel it needs to be done again. He will have a change order for next meeting.
Glen received an e-mail from Randy Ott from Blue Heron, stating he wanted to pull the work trailer out of the WWTP lot. He told the board he was going to tell him the trailer is not to be removed until just prior to the final completion.
Donna asked Glen to set up a meeting between Nick, Glen, J.V.Warren’s project manager and herself.
Tom Hallock- Fire Chief
Passed out papers from Risk Management inspection on Nov. 26th, 2010. Their recommendations were to replace the main fire alarm panel box; the yellow light indicates a trouble condition within the system, and they also need to remove all combustible storage from the boiler/furnace room. Tom got 2 estimates to replace the fire panel,
1) Fargo Alarm Systems, 1-2 Zone Fire Control Panel w/battery back-up, cost of $675.00 which includes installation, assuming all existing wires are good. Also an estimate of $250.00 was given to replace all heat detectors (total 9) and $125.00 to replace smoke detectors (total 2).
2) Sentinel – (1) Five-Zone Honeywell Fire Panel, all wire and labor needed for a complete and working system, total price $700.00 plus sales tax, and monthly monitoring charge of $21.95/mo. plus sales tax. OR (2) Five-Zone Honeywell Fire Panel, all wire and labor needed for a complete and working system, total cost of $875.00 plus tax. After discussion, a motion was made to select the Fargo Alarm Systems to replace the Fire Control Panel for $675.00, and pass on the extra options to replace the heat detectors and smoke detectors at this time. Motion made by Trustee Patrick, 2nd. by Trustee Pierson, Trustee’s O’Connor, Pierson, Patrick and Mayor Frohne voted yes.
Fire reports were given to each member.
Co. communication and portable radios are getting old. After speaking to the Vet’s Club, they gave the Fire Dept. $4900.00 to upgrade the radio system and buy 3 mobile low ban radios so eventually they should not have to worry about the portable low bans.
The Fire Dept. voted Friday night, 1/7/2011, to buy a new ambulance.
Public Comment:
Carmella Chioda:
Spoke to the board about the Chamber of Commerce. They would like to do a time capsule for the 150th anniversary for the Village of Richfield Springs in the Spring Park. Trustee Pierson told her the Vet’s Club had discussed the same idea, so maybe they could work together on it. A decision would have to be made as to where to place it.
She also asked the board about getting a volunteer group together in the spring and cleaning the headstones in the Lakeview Cemetery. Being that the stones are not owned by the village, it is not certain if this would be allowed for private citizens to do this. Mayor Frohne said the village will check into this and see if this is ok to do.
Clerk – Diane Blackwell
Abstract #15- General Fund- $15,045.30, Water Fund - $4,795.55, Sewer Fund - $14,335.17, Trust and Agency - $81.20, Capitol Projects - $181,123.26. Total: $215,380.48.
Motion to approve abstract #15 made by Trustee Pierson, 2nd. by Trustee’s O’Connor, Trustee’s O’Connor, Pierson, Patrick and Mayor Frohne voted yes. Motion carried.
Correction on Abstract #14 – FX fund s/b $1,029.73, was reported as $1,308.68.
Clerk fees for December 2010 - $56.00. Check given to treasurer for $56.00.
Resolution made to approve Clerk to apply for a grant through LGRIMIF for funds to have the cemetery records put in order, motion made by Trustee Pierson, 2nd. by Trustee Patrick, Trustee’s O’Connor, Pierson, Patrick and Mayor Frohne voted yes.
Resolution stating the village elections that will be held on March 15, 2011 will be held at the Town Building and the polls will be open from 12:00 pm. to 9:00pm. Motion made by Trustee Pierson, 2nd. by Trustee O’Connor, Trustee’s O’Connor, Pierson, Patrick and Mayor Frohne voted yes.
Resolution stating there will not be a village registration day before the March 15, 2011 elections, made by Trustee O’Connor, 2nd. by Trustee Patrick, Trustee’s O’Connor, Pierson, Patrick and Mayor Frohne voted yes.
Resolution to appoint Caroline Sarafin and Richard Harris to be the election inspectors for the March 15th, 2011 village elections, made by Trustee O’Connor, 2nd. by Trustee Pierson, Trustee’s O’Connor, Pierson, Patrick and Mayor Frohne voted yes.
Clerk asked permission to put an ad in the Pennysaver stating two Trustee positions are open for the upcoming village elections. Board approved.
Treasurer – Donna Wells:
Motion to waive shut off fee of $20.00 for Ove Varik made by Trustee O’Connor, 2nd. by Trustee Pierson, Trustee’s O’Connor, Pierson, Patrick and Mayor Frohne voted yes. Motion carried.
Donna spoke to Theresa Oaks about the increase in her water bill. This was increased because for many years she has been charged as an inside user when she should have been charged as an outside user. After Donna explained this to her, she understood.
Transfer needed for A1990.4 Contingency account to A8010.42 Codes Update, $100.00.
Motion to approve transfer made by Trustee Patrick, 2nd. by Trustee Pierson, Trustee’s O’Connor, Pierson, Patrick, and Mayor Frohne voted yes.
A proposal was passed out to each member regarding the cemetery program which will be very helpful in getting the cemetery records in order. She has checked other programs and feels this is the best one. Donna asked them to read it over and we will discuss this further at another meeting.
An employee asked about putting his domestic partner on his health ins. policy. There are certain requirements that must be met. CDPHP requires that a resolution be done to establish a residency time frame, no longer than 12 mo. Kelly Pinney informed Donna that the usual time is 6 months of residency. Resolution was made to establish a residency requirement of 6 months along with all other requirements met for the employee to add a domestic partner to his health insurance which is offered to him through the village health insurance plan, made by Trustee O’Connor, 2nd by Trustee Pierson, Trustee’s O’Connor, Pierson, Patrick and Mayor Frohne voted yes.
There have been questions on the health insurance concerning amount of hours per work week. After discussion, Resolution was made to establish a set policy that health insurance would be offered to regular employees that work a 40 hour work week. Effective this date, 1/11/2011, any new hires of 40 hr. employees will receive their individual health ins. paid for, if they desire family coverage, they will pay the difference between single and family coverage. Motion made by Trustee Patrick, 2nd. by Trustee Pierson, Trustee’s O’Connor, Pierson, Patrick and Mayor Frohne voted yes.
Bereavement leave: Resolution to establish bereavement leave for full time employees with pay, not to exceed three (3) consecutive regularly scheduled workdays, motion made by Trustee Patrick, 2nd. by Trustee O’Connor, Trustee’s O’Connor, Pierson, Patrick and Mayor Frohne voted yes.
Donna wanted the board members to be made aware that Blue Heron will be getting $9,600.00 less in their check per the village attorney, David Merzig.
Mayor Frohne:
Mayor Frohne explained that a part of the 150th anniversary celebration will be taking place on March 30th, which is a scheduled board meeting night. Mayor Frohne asked if anyone would mind changing the meeting to March 31st. 2011. Motion was made to change the March 30th, board meeting to March 31st. made by Trustee O’Connor, 2nd by Trustee Pierson, Trustee’s O’Connor, Pierson, Patrick and Mayor Frohne voted yes. Motion carried.
The clock repair man from Hyde Park, Mr. Kenneth Ahrenholz met with Mayor Frohne to check the status on the repairs of the village clock. He will do an estimate and send it to the village office.
Mayor Frohne asked the three board members to take the codes book home that we received from General Codes and review it through page 22 and label where they find changes need to be made. Then we will start with a code revision session at the next meeting.
Trustee Kurkowski: absent
Trustee O’Connor:
Explained to the board why the water dept. needs to purchase a high speed pump which will cost approximately $2000.00. Without this pump, the water plant can not operate.
Motion made to approve the purchase of a high speed pump for the water dept. made by Trustee O’Connor, 2nd. by Trustee Pierson, Trustee’s O’Connor, Pierson, Patrick and Mayor Frohne voted yes. Motion carried.
Trustee O’Connor then announced he will not seek re-election for a village trustee position in the March 2011 elections.
Trustee Pierson:
Reported that at the last Vet’s Club meeting they had discussed a time capsule to be buried for the 150 year anniversary for the village. Trustee Pierson said he will speak to the Vet’s Club about working together with the Chamber of Commerce in the planning of said time capsule.
He also asked Donna about what the village attorney said about the village’s responsibility to have a crossing guard at the lunch hour time of day? She explained that he stated if the village got in writing from the school board that it was not necessary, it would be ok to discontinue the crossing guard at lunchtime. Trustee Pierson will speak to the school principal about this matter.
Trustee Patrick:
Feels very strongly that the codes job could be done more efficiently.
Also would like to see cross training done with certain employees. He feels that the employee’s time could be utilized more efficiently. After a lengthy discussion, it was decided that Trustee Pierson would speak to the school principal about lunchtime crossing and Mayor Frohne and Trustee Pierson would talk with Jim Malinowski about cross training the employees. It was also stated that a full time employee should work 40 hrs. per week and a part time employee’s hours would be ½ of that which would be 20 hrs. per week.
Also, mentioned about the water dept. not being self sustaining. Donna explained that when the rate schedule is done this year, the water needs to be increased.
Mayor Frohne asked about the deed for Bonds Field. So far, we have not been able to locate the deed. We will keep searching for it. If we can not find it we can get it from the County.
Motion to adjourn made by Trustee O’Connor, 2nd.by Trustee Pierson, Trustees O’Connor, Pierson, Patrick and Mayor Frohne voted yes. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 8:10 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Diane Blackwell
Village Clerk
