Date: March 8, 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 Patrick, Trustee Kurkowski present.
Trustee Pierson absent.
Mayor Frohne asked if there were any objections to waiving the reading of the minutes of the Feb. 23rd. 2011 minutes. No objections.
Motion to approve the Feb. 23rd, 2011 minutes made by Trustee O’Connor, 2nd. by Trustee Patrick, Trustee’s O’Connor, Patrick, Kurkowski and Mayor Frohne voted yes. Motion carried.
The Village Attorney David Merzig was present at the board meeting. He wanted to meet all the board members and the Mayor and was available to answer any questions they had.
Bid for Ambulance- one bid was received from Lance Frelberger, 33 River Crest Rd, Gansevoort, NY 12831.
$163,625.00 – Bid
$172,625.00 – Total cost for ambulance
$ 9,000.00 – Trade in
$110,000.00 – taken out of Reserve Fun.
$ 53,000.00 – Fire Dept.
Resolution to approve the motion to accept the bid from Lance Frelberger for $163,625.00 for a Type III Ambulance upon the approval of Chief Tom Hallock was made by Trustee O’Connor, 2nd. by Trustee Kurkowski, Trustee O’Connor-yes, Trustee Patrick – yes, Trustee Kurkowski – yes and Mayor Frohne – yes.
Special Business:
Tom Hallock – Fire Chief
Passed out a proposal for new radio for the new ambulance at a cost of $1321.03. Low ban portable radios are obsolete. Have 14 new ones at a cost of $500.00 per unit. They have decided to use a repeater system which will enable them to use their own radio system and tie into the repeater and will cover the low ban, which will save a lot of money. The present ambulance has two radios in front and in back. One is obsolete now and another will be in 1 ½ yr. The radio system from old ambulance has to be put in the new ambulance. Tom is asking for the board to approve a new system to be put in the new ambulance at the cost of $1321.03 before it is obsolete. After discussion was decided Tom would ask the fire dept. to include this amount with the money they are putting in for the ambulance. Tom said he would take it back to the firemen for an answer.
The water heater at the fire house has not been working for 2 weeks. Chief Hallock asked Ed Bello’s for an estimate for a wall hung tankless water heater and all labor and materials included. The estimate is $1940.00.
Resolution was made to approve the motion to hire Ed Bello’s to install a CNG Noritz wall hung tankless water heater and to remove the old water heater and do all plumbing and electrical work needed to install for a cost of $1940.00. Motion was made by Trustee Kurkowski, 2nd. by Trustee Patrick, Trustee O’Connor –yes, Trustee Patrick – yes, Trustee Kurkowski – yes, and Mayor Frohne – yes.
Tom also asked about a part time person working for the village that is receiving benefits. It was explained to him that this took place many years ago and since then any part time personnel hired do not receive benefits.
Doug Bordinger – Property maintenance
Reported the dumpster behind the laundry mat on Lake St. has not been emptied yet. A certified letter was sent to owner Claudia McNair on Feb. 23rd. No response has been received from her.
Motion was made by Trustee Patrick, and 2nd. by Trustee Kurkowski for the Clerk to call the garbage company to have the dumpster emptied and then the owner will be billed from the village, Trustee O’Connor – yes, Trustee Patrick –yes, Trustee Kurkowski – yes and Mayor Frohne –yes. Motion carried.
Also, Doug reported that Bob Mahoney from Otsego Co. called him, but he was not available so he will return the call.
Public Comment:
Judy Stone was representing the Chamber of Commerce. She informed the board that the Chamber has reached the half way point of raising funds for the restoration of the bandstand in Spring Park.
She asked the board if the Chamber could sponsor concerts in Spring Park again this year and if so, could the deposit for use of the park be waived? Everyone was in agreement that no deposit would be charged.
The Chamber would like to sponsor a Business Fair, including all local businesses to promote their businesses, on the same day that the Farmers Market starts which is June 18th, and would like the deposit waived? She also asked if the food booths needed permits and was told they must get permits through Otsego Co. She also asked if this could be advertised on the village board.
She also reported the 1st. celebration for the Village’s 150th anniversary will be held at the RSCS on March 30th, at 7:00 pm and invitations were passed out to all board members. Invitations were sent out to all local businesses and a notice will be in the Pennysaver as well. Judy then asked the board if they had any intentions of contributing any monetary support for the celebrations coming up throughout the year. They have checked in the cost of a cake from Price Chopper and it would be $42.00. She explained the Vet’s Club is supplying coffee and drinks, and the Rotary Club will be supply the paper products.
Motion was made by Trustee O’Connor, and 2nd by Trustee Patrick for the village to spend up to $100.00 for cake to be purchased for the upcoming 150th. anniversary events throughout the year. Trustee O’Connor – yes, Trustee Patrick – yes, Trustee Kurkowski – yes and Mayor Frohne – yes. Motion carried.
The next meeting for the Chamber of Commerce being held to work out more details for the celebration will be held at the Pennysaver office on March 23rd. at 5:30. One thing the Chamber has started is a Community Calendar.
Clerk – Diane Blackwell
Abstract #019, General Fund $11,703.45, Water Fund $1,192.76, Sewer Fund $45,375.33, Trust & Agency $48.72, Capitol Products $95,251.24. Total $153,571.50
Motion to approve abstract #019 made by Trustee O’Connor, 2nd. by Trustee Kurkowski, Trustee O’Connor, Trustee Patrick, Trustee Kurkowski and Mayor Frohne voted yes. Motion carried.
Clerk passed out clerks report for the month of Feb. 2011 to each member. A correction was made to the clerks account and a check was given to the treasurer for $10.00.
Clerk received a request from Marta St. John-Anders asking permission for their class to have a picture taken on August 6th, for their reunion on the bandstand in Spring Park. After discussion, was agreed by all that if the bandstand is restored by then there would be no problem, but if not, it would be best to not allow anyone on it.
An invitation was passed out to all members from the Chamber of Commerce inviting them to the 1st. celebration for the Village’s 150th. anniversary which will be held at the RSCS on March 30th, at 7:00.
A letter was received by the clerk by e-mail that was signed by 35 clergy and religious leaders that was sent to Governor Cuomo regarding hydrofracking, and was asked to be passed out to all board members.
Treasurer – Donna Wells:
The new uniform co. for the village employees is R & S. out of Johnstown. The cost is approximately $32.00 per wk for the 3 employees who want them. Donna suggested that if the board is going to require the employees to wear uniforms for identifying purposes, the village should pay for them. Some employees only want shirts, some want shirts and pants.
Motion made by Trustee Kurkowski, 2nd. by Trustee O’Connor, for the village to enforce the village employees to wear uniforms for means of identification and all uniforms will be paid for by the village. Trustee O’Connor – Yes, Trustee Patrick – No, Trustee Kurkowski – Yes, and Mayor Frohne – Yes. Motion carried.
The Profit and Loss Budget vs. Actual report for June 2010 through Feb. 2011 was passed out to all members.
Treasurer asked if the members wanted a copy of the employee’s earnings report. It was agreed that it will be kept in the treasurer’s office and any board member can review it if they choose to. If a copy is requested it will be given.
The St. Police Sergeant stopped in the office and introduced himself. He invited Donna to come to the St. Police Barracks so he could show her where the staples are coming through one tile. The contract was good for only one year, so Bob Graepel will fix this. The barracks are very clean. He will give a report monthly or bi-monthly of what needs to be fixed. The interior needs to be painted and was due last year, so it will need to be done this year. Bob Graepel will do this also. A work order will be done for this.
Change order for Stilsing Electric. This work has already been done.
Resolution to approve a motion to accept Change Order #5 for Contract #3, Stilsing Electric which was for conduit and wire to power vents work that was done was made by Trustee O’Connor, 2nd. by
Trustee Patrick, Trustee O’Connor – yes, Trustee Patrick – yes, Trustee Kurkowski – yes, and Mayor Frohne – yes.
A letter was received from Vic Ronovech, the Director of the Otsego Co. Youth Bureau explaining that the state has cut funding for the youth program.
Cemetery rates from Toth Enterprise has gone up this year. His rates are as follows
Toth: Village Treasurer’s suggested increases:
April 15th thru Nov. 30th. - $425.00 April thru Nov - $525.00
Dec. 1st. thru April 14th. - $525.00 Dec. thru April - $750.00
Holidays and Sundays $625.00 Holidays and Sundays - $750.00
Cremations – M-F $200.00
“ Sat. & Sun $250.00
Disinterments - $600.00
Motion was made to accept the rate increases for burials made by Trustee Patrick, 2nd. by Trustee O’Connor,
Trustee’s O’Connor, Patrick and Mayor Frohne voted yes. Trustee Kurkowski abstained.
Price of water meters that have been broken or frozen are now $25.00. Tom S. and Donna discussed this and both agreed the price needs to be increased. The suggestion was made to raise the cost to $50.00.
Motion was made by Trustee O’Connor, 2nd by Trustee Patrick to raise the cost of the meters to $50.00, Trustee’s O’Connor, Patrick, Kurkowski and Mayor Frohne voted yes. Motion carried.
Tom Shypski did get one meter put in this week.
Donna then asked Attorney Merzig if a non profit company can own more the one property and still be tax exempt. He stated that yes; it can own as many pieces of property as long as it is for the non profit use for it to be tax exempt. If it is tax exempt, the Village can ask the company for a payment is lieu of taxes.
Jim Malinowski – DPW – asked Attorney Merzig about calling a snow emergency for the village. The village needs to put into their village law the criteria about calling a snow emergency.
Jim addressed the complaint that was brought to the village clerk about the snow on the sidewalk on Main St. and that the woman who complained said her child had to walk in Rt. 20 to get to school. Jim stated that the crew worked 10 hrs. straight during the snow storm and Tom Hallock did the sidewalks. The public needs to be made aware that the plowing of the sidewalks is a courtesy; it is the owner and business owners’ responsibility to keep the sidewalks clean.
Mayor Frohne:
Personnel policies and re-organization – Mayor Frohne read what they had worked up so far, starting with the chain of command, decision making, information flow, job assignments, crossing guard, overtime, work orders, maintenance of buildings and uniforms. This will be filed with the minutes.
It was discussed that Doug Bordinger and Bob Graepel will report to Jim at the DPW for him to delegate where they should be working that day. Bob will also be clocking in and out at the DPW.
Jim asked about the woman crossing the pre-school children at noon to the school. Now that the crossing guard does not cross at noon time, could they borrow an extra paddle to cross the children? It was explained that they can borrow a paddle but the village can not buy one for them.
Donna asked Jim to have all the guys to bring their drivers licenses to the office for a copy to be put into their personnel files.
Trustee O’Connor: Nothing at this time.
Trustee Patrick:
Asked if there is anything the village can do about all the stray cats on Park St. It was suggested that the SPCA be called to see if they would take them.
He was approached about someone parking in the village library parking lot from the church during pre-school hours. This concerns one vehicle only possibly 12 times a year. It was stated that the signs clearly say for village employees and library customers only. If there are 15 min. parking signs on Elm St. Mayor Frohne will ask Jim Malinowski to take them down.
Trustee Kurkowski:
Brought to the boards attention there is a sink hole and two big cracks on the North side of the pavilion underneath the asphalt. A work order will be done for Jim Malinowski to check into this in the spring. He also stated that the roof of the pavilion is getting bad on the east side and asked if money could be put in the budget this year to replace the bad part of the roof. He also made a suggestion as a board to take a tour of all the buildings and all the land and let people know what the village owns and the condition of the buildings.
Motion to adjourn made by Trustee O’Connor, 2nd.by Trustee Kurkowski, Trustees O’Connor, Patrick, Kurkowski and Mayor Frohne voted yes. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 8:40 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Diane Blackwell
Village Clerk
