VILLAGE OF RICHFIELD SPRINGS
BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING
MINUTES AND ORDER OF BUSINESS
July 31, 2013 in the Public Library Memorial Room.
Board Meeting called to order at 6:00pm by Mayor Frohne followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
Present:
Elected Officers - Mayor Ronald A. Frohne II, Trustee Raymond Patrick, Trustee Duane Pierson. Trustee Robin Moshier, and Trustee Frances Hazelton.
Appointed Officers - Clerk – Dayle A. Barra Treasurer – Donna Wells
Motion to waive the reading and to approve the July 9th, 2013 Board Meeting Minutes made by Trustee Pierson, 2nd by Trustee Hazelton. Trustees Pierson, Moshier, Hazelton, Patrick and Mayor Frohne all voted yes. Motion carried.
Zoning Enforcement Officer – Submitted to the Board an extensive list of properties in violation of Village Code §207-1 that were sent notices and ordered to remedy. Property owner of 39 Sylvan Street asked the Board for clarification and, once given, the Board extended the grace period to resolve overgrowth and debris-ridden property to Sunday, August 5, at which time ZEO will inspect for compliance.
Motion for ZEO to ticket property owner at 73 Walnut Street for 3 unlicensed motor vehicles and order property to be mowed at 55 Main Street for overgrowth pursuant to Property Maintenance Code § 207-9 of Village Code made by Trustee Moshier, 2nd by Trustee Hazelton – all voted yes.
Mrs. Grace Talma addressed the Board regarding 14 Lakeview Avenue and the subdivision plans she wishes to commence. The Mayor stated that she may proceed directly to the County for guidance as subdivision regulations are not part of Village Code.
Mr. Warren Leonard requested the Board to pre-approve the demolition permit for 12 William Street upon submission of the Performance Bond and Worker’s Compensation affidavit as required under Village Code.
Motion to allow the Mayor to pre-approve the demolition permit upon submission of outstanding required documentation made by Trustee Pierson, 2nd by Trustee Moshier. Trustee Pierson voted yes, Trustees Hazelton, Moshier, and Patrick all voted no. Motion not carried.
Mr. Frank Novak with McManus Engineering Group, LLC conferred with the Board over the Sidewalk Project for East Lake Street.
Motion to advertise for bids for the East Lake Street Sidewalk Project made by Trustee Pierson, 2nd by Trustee Patrick – all voted yes.
Mr. Larry Jouben with Fred R. Ames Insurance offered insight on Travelers’ Insurance premiums and coverage that the Village currently holds.
Motion to renew Traveler’s Insurance policies made by Trustee Pierson, 2nd by Trustee Hazelton – all voted yes.
Mr. Jouben then went on to say that Donna Wells has done a great job as Treasurer of the Village of Richfield Springs. The Board agreed.
Fire Chief - Tom Hallock requested repairs to the 1997 Freightliner as estimated by Chuck’s Towing & Collision Service.
Motion to approve vehicle repairs not to exceed $4000 made by Trustee Hazelton, 2nd by Trustee Pierson – all voted yes.
Motion to cover the $500 insurance deductible on the 1988 Mack Fire Truck that was struck by another vehicle in order to initiate repairs while insurance companies subrogate made by Trustee Pierson, 2nd by Trustee Moshier – all voted yes.
Chief Hallock also informed the Board of recent arson attempts in the village.
Clerk – Dayle Barra
► Abstract #04 Funds: General $11,945.48, Water $1651.44, Sewer $8123.48, Cemetery $2355.05, Trust and Agency $165.28; Total: $24,240.73.
► Motion to approve Abstract #04 made by Trustee Hazelton, 2nd by Trustee Pierson. Trustees Patrick, Pierson, Hazelton, Moshier and Mayor Frohne all voted yes. Motion carried.
► Pertaining to the elector-initiated Petition for Dissolution of the Village of Richfield Springs received July 19th at 3:45pm.
WHEREAS, a petition filed pursuant to New York General Municipal Law Section 779 calling
for the dissolution of the Village of Richfield Springs, New York, was received by the Village Clerk of the Village of Richfield Springs on July 19th; and
WHEREAS, the petition was verified by the Village Clerk on July 30, 2013 and found to
substantially comply with New York State General Municipal Law Article 17-A in terms of form
and content; and
WHEREAS, the Village Clerk verified that the petition contained 100 valid signatures of electors residing within the Village; and
WHEREAS, based on the 657 electors residing in the Village as per the list of registered voters received from the Otsego County Board of Elections for the 2013 Village General Election 66 signatures were required to commence a dissolution proceeding pursuant to New York General Municipal Law Section 779;
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that, pursuant to New York General Municipal Law
Section 779(7), the Village of Richfield Springs Board of Trustees hereby calls for a referendum on the issue of Village Dissolution, to be conducted in accordance with New York General Municipal Law Section 780, and sets the date of said referendum for Tuesday, October 15; and
FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED, that said referendum shall be conducted from the hours of
12:00pm to 9:00pm at the ________________________; and
FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED, that the Village of Richfield Springs Board of Trustees hereby authorizes and directs the Village Clerk to take such other steps as are necessary to conduct such referendum in compliance with New York General Municipal Law Section 780 and the New York Election Law.
Motion by Trustee Moshier, 2nd by Trustee Patrick. Trustees Pierson, Patrick, Moshier, Hazelton, and Mayor Frohne all voted yes.
► Motion to approve Keith Sterling, ZEO, to attend NYCOM’s ZBA training class in Syracuse August 2nd made by Trustee Pierson, 2nd by Trustee Hazelton – all voted yes.
► Motion to accept estimate as submitted by Brandon Dawley for website maintenance made by Trustee Moshier, 2nd by Trustee Patrick – all voted yes.
Treasurer – Donna Wells
► Profit & Loss and Balance sheet distributed.
► Reported on nonworking meters and the revenue lost as a result.
► Motion to accept Garbage Contracts for DPW and WWTP made by Trustee Pierson, 2nd by Trustee Moshier – all voted yes.
Mayor Frohne – Shared with the Board the specifications of the bicycle rack to be placed by aspiring Eagle Scout Michael Twomey for which approval was given.
Motion to approve Skid Steer purchase as discussed at previous meeting made by Trustee Pierson, 2nd by Trustee Hazelton – all voted yes.
The Mayor and Board discussed the proposed Family Dollar project status. The agencies involved in the correlated review such as DOT, DEC, NYSOPRHP, USACE, and Otsego County, have not furnished details, to date.
Asked that the Board consider employee health care coverage probationary period for future discussion.
The Mayor also discussed a few key measures to be taken to get residents to understand the ramifications of dissolving the Village of Richfield Springs. Village officials need to attend meetings (Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, etc) to urge residents to become knowledgeable about village dissolutions and to get the facts and figures prior to making any decision when casting their vote to dissolve the village.
Trustee Patrick – Led discussion on feral cat control.
Trustee Pierson – DPW will get a quote for chipping the debris pile at the transfer site rather than burning it as it is extremely large and wet this year.
Motion to adjourn meeting at 9:16pm made by Trustee Pierson, 2nd by Trustee Moshier – all voted yes.
Respectfully submitted,
Dayle A. Barra, Village Clerk
