Date: August 9, 2011 @ 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 Kurkowski, Trustee Pierson and Trustee Patrick present.
Motion made to waive the reading and to approve the July 27th, 2011 minutes made by Trustee O’Connor, 2nd by Trustee Pierson, Trustee’s O’Connor, Pierson, Kurkowski and Mayor Frohne voted yes. Motion carried.
Property Maintenance: Doug Bordinger, Zoning Enforcement Officer- Lake Street property still has rubbish on front porch that may be considered a fire hazard and Doug will contact Otsego County Codes Enforcement to come back and take a look at it as well as Beadle Block apartments.
Special Business:
Mark Yerdon was introduced as our new Dog Control Officer. Mayor Frohne asked that he file a monthly report in the Village Office for recordkeeping purposes and report to the board via bimonthly meetings.
Nick Green from Lamont Engineers reports G. DeVincentis Construction company came last week to inspect certain properties but were unable to connect with him so they will be out again next week. Blue Heron Construction completed now down to 2.5% retainage approximately $43,000 left. Still question of liquidated damages ($24,000) being handled through Attorney David Merzig. Contract #3: Electric complete needs to close out documents. JV Warren plumbing complete but the HVAC still needs replacement motor for the louver, but no schedule yet to replace it. Nick will contact them again. Union Street property complaining of driveway damage but Nick was at a loss to see any real damage. Property owner expressed understanding, per Nick Green. Cold patch put in manhole depression by Jim Malinowski near Ron Crist’s driveway however water flow on Canadarago Street post blacktopping remains a problem. Per Mr. Crist, road now does not have .5 inch crown allowing water to flow properly away from his property where it pools. Pre-construction photo difficult to reveal any crown. It was questioned whether a concrete gutter on lateral sides would alleviate the issue. Property owner’s driveway on Canadarago Street was repaved post water main break and they built that driveway up so much that it launches rainwater right off the driveway downhill to Mr. Crist’s property. G. DeVincentis will not be paid until this situation is resolved.
Three bids were received and opened at board meeting for west side of Lake Street sidewalk/curb project. M & G Masonry $49,000.00, Branck Construction $67,914.00, & Central Paving $47,380.00. Motion to award project the lowest bidder if Jim Malinowski determines it meets all specifications made by Trustee O’Connor, 2nd by Trustee Pierson, all yes.
Privilege of the Floor: Barbara Wahl Shypski of the Rotary Club requests permission from the Board to pursue possible grants to repair the WTP fountain and lights. Trustee Kurkowski states rewiring through the conduit would illuminate a plaque as well as the fountain. Mayor Frohne and all trustees approved and added their gratefulness for their initiative and willingness to take on such endeavors.
Clerk – Diane Blackwell
Abstract #05 – General fund -$53,594.14 Water fund - $611.31, Sewer fund - $3,697.74, Cemetery fund $243.80, Trust & Agency $22.08, Capital Projects $114,622.51 Total: $172,791.58.
Motion to approve Abstract #05 made by Trustee O’Connor, 2nd by Trustee Pierson, Trustee’s Kurkowski, Pierson and Mayor Frohne voted yes. Motion carried.
Clerk’s report for July, 2011- clerk fees deposited and check submitted to treasurer for $27.25.
Tax report to date August 8, 2011 $523,883.31.
Motion to approve Jack Clark’s request for permission to use the Spring Park bandstand during his Car Show on August 28th made by Trustee O’Connor, 2nd by Trustee Pierson all yes. Motion carried.
Village office received signed Herkimer County Humane Society Dog Control contract.
Two estimates were received to reseal WTP parking lot received by Gifford Paving by hand at $2680 and Keith McCarty using spray technique for $1700.
Resolution made to approve McCarty for sealing the parking lot for Water Treatment Plant made by Trustee O’Connor 2nd Trustee Pierson, all yes.
Letter received August 4 from Mr. Claude Wilson thankful for driveway repair post restoration project.
Treasurer – Donna Wells
July Profit & Loss and Balance Sheet given to all members.
Treasurer transferred funds from CM201.4 to CM201 in order to pay Cemetery bills.
Resolution made to increase Fire contracts A2262.3 for surrounding townships according to what was budgeted made by Trustee Pierson, 2nd Trustee O’Connor, all yes.
2003 Fire Grant paperwork done by Lamont given to Fire Department with all monies going into FD checking account needs to be closed out, although will not impede future grants while open per literature received from FEMA. Any future grants in the village name will need to be completely processed through village office controls to avoid any misconceptions.
Motion made to allow Treasurer to attend NYCOM fall training sessions made by Trustee O’Connor, 2nd by Trustee Pierson, all yes.
Resolution to approve Hach Company estimate to repair WTP spectrophotometer for $702.20 made by Trustee O’Connor, 2nd by Trustee Pierson, all yes.
Mayor Frohne: Motion to appoint Health Officer Willa Wright made by Trustee O’Connor, 2nd by Trustee Pierson, all yes.
Spring Park bandstand has been repaired and the board discussed options for using it. The Village would like to promote its use while safeguarding our liability. Insurance needs will be discussed with Mr. Jouben. Discussed possible user fees as well as who would open and close bandstand and what compensation for Village employee would be warranted.
Resolution made by to charge $75 initial hour and $25 every additional hour plus insurance for use of Spring Park bandstand made by Trustee Pierson, 2nd Trustee O’Connor, all yes. The Spring Park application form needs to be revised in light of resolution.
Motion to go to executive session made by Trustee O’Connor, 2nd by Trustee Pierson, all voted yes.
Motion to come out of executive session made by Trustee O’Connor, 2nd by Trustee Pierson, Trustee’s Patrick, Kurkowski and Mayor Frohne voted yes. Motion to approve written response to Comptroller’s audit made by Trustee O’Connor, 2nd Trustee Pierson, all voted yes.
Resolution to approve part-time Library Manager Alice Mahardy to receive sick, vacation and insurance benefits due to pre-existing longstanding agreement made by Trustee O’Connor, 2nd Trustee Pierson, all voted yes.
Mr. Chapman has been working on trees in Spring Park and has come across a few more trees needing to be cabled/removed that are not part of the original estimate. Approval from two board members to allow to proceed under the Procurement Policy to cable additional tree and stump, after which he is to proceed to do the work in the cemetery. At a future date it will be decided to possibly replant a tree or two if needed.
Trustee Patrick: Complaint was lodged about a considerable amount of cats near Park Street. If it were deemed a health issue the Village would get involved and at this point it was not deemed a health issue so there is no recourse on the Village’s behalf. There are no specific Village Code’s addressing this issue unless they’re being a nuisance, which they are not. The Village does not have an animal control officer.
Trustee O’Connor: Water treatment plant runs on central computer that is over 20 years that is not working very well and parts are very expensive, if not obsolete. Costly to replace central computer but at the end of the fiscal year board will reassess situation.
Trustee Kurkowski:
Chamber of Commerce sponsored two great concerts that are drawing in the crowds in Spring Park.
There were several complaints regarding the brush burning and discussion followed.
Volunteer Firemen fall under the jurisdiction of the Fire Chief and any matters need to be addressed in-house.
Motion to adjourn meeting at 8:10pm was made by Trustee O’Connor, 2nd by Trustee Kurkowski, Trustee’s Patrick, Pierson, and Mayor Frohne voted yes. Motion carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Diane Blackwell
Village Clerk
