Oct. 2009

The regular meeting of the Groveland Town Board was held on Thursday October 8, 2009 at the Town Hall.

Present: James C. Merrick, Supervisor; Burt Lyon, Bill Carman, Craig Phelps, Kevin Niedermaier Councilman; Mark Caldwell, Deputy Highway Superintendent

Absent: Greg Adamson, Highway Superintendent

Other Attendees: Tim Sullivan

 Supervisor handed out the monthly financial report along with the Livingston County Board of Supervisor minutes.

 Supervisor called the meeting to order @ 7:42 p.m.

Motion by Carman, seconded by Lyon the audited bills be paid. General Fund vouchers numbered 261-292 for $25,524.94; Cemetery Fund vouchers numbered 13-14 for $1,101.41; MVP voucher number 242 for $4,475.73; Highway Fund vouchers numbered 243-2260 for $49,676.45. Motion carried unanimously.

Motion by Niedermaier seconded by Lyon to approve the minutes of the regular meeting held on September 10, 2009 as written. Motion carried unanimously.

Motion by Lyon, seconded by Phelps to accept the monthly financial reports submitted. Motion carried unanimously.

 

Old/New Business:

 

HIGHWAY – Mark Caldwell reported that the highway crew is still working on Barber Hill Road; it should be a few more weeks of work before it is left until next year to finalize. They helped Geneseo for 3 days with gravel for Nations Road. Sullivan commented that the guys who worked on Barber Hill Road have been doing a nice job especially with keeping most of the residents happy.

 

HIGHWAY CONTRACT – Burt, Kevin, and Mark met with the union representative last week. The next meeting is on 10/19/09 to discuss potential alternatives of insurance companies. Phelps suggested we look at the Highway Superintendent’s policy since he receives a raise plus insurance. Paid insurance is a raise in itself. Phelps also suggested that the committee look into the Chambers for Insurance, he pays much less through them with his farm.

 

COURT CLERK RESIGNATION – The Town Clerk is in receipt of a resignation from Cindy Dennison to be effective 12/29/09. Motion by Lyon, seconded by Niedermaier to accept Cindy’s resignation effective 12/29/09.

 

JUDGES LETTER – A letter was issued to all board members regards to Dennison’s resignation at the end of the year. Instead of hiring a third person the other Court Clerk’s are in support of taking over the remaining 6 six hours. The judges feel this is a workable situation since 6 hours is difficult to find someone willing to only work 6 hours or even properly train a person. The board agreed, but stated the 6 hours should be used only as necessary.

 

PRELIMINARY BUDGET –Town Clerk presented each member a copy of the budget. Supervisor stated he had received a more recent letter from the Mayor of Geneseo stating the Youth program (A7310.4) funds needed are $6,000 instead of the previously stated $3,000. Motion by Lyon, seconded by Niedermaier to increase budget line A7310.4 to $6,000. Motion carried unanimously.

 

Supervisor reported that he has gotten a verbal agreement with Mayor Hatheway that the Geneseo Ambulance service contract (SF-3410.4) will be decreased from $6,000 to $5,000. Motion by Phelps, seconded by Niedermaier to decrease the budget line SF-3410.4 by $1,000. Motion carried unanimously.

 

Lyon stated that he Town Clerk requested a 5% raise and the budget reflects a 3% raise, I think that reviewing all of the salaries throughout the county our Town Clerk is one of the lowest paid clerks’ and she works very hard and deserves the 5% raise.

Motion by Lyon, seconded by Phelps to increase the budget line A1410.1 to $15,900. Motion carried unanimously.

 

Phelps raised his concern with the Highway Superintendent receiving a raise plus insurance, it is like getting 2 raises and should be looked into while the highway contract negotiations are open.

 

PUBLIC HEARING- PREMILINARY BUDGET – Supervisor had Town Clerk read the hearing notice and then opened the hearing to the public @ 8:12 p.m. Supervisor stated with changes made the budget is presented with a .10 cent increase in the tax rate.

Motion by Carman, seconded by Niedermaier by resolution to accept the changes stated tonight and adopt the budget as the final 2010 budget. Motion carried unanimously. (See resolution 12-2009) Public hearing closed at 8:29 p.m.

 

EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK – No discussion.

 

CAD DRAWING – 2008-2009 JCAP GRANT – Kevin provided a copy of the requested CAD drawing. Town Clerk reported that it may be too late, she had received an email today stating we did not get information soon enough and the funds were no longer available. Town Clerk stated that she even questioned our timeliness associated with the State Architect not responding to us for 6 months, but they stated they were aware of that. We will still electronically send it in case there is a chance. We are waiting to hear about our 2009-2010 application decision. Clerk asked Niedermaier to electronically email the drawing to her in order to email to State Architect.

 

HILLTOP INDUSTRIES CLEANING CONTRACT – Supervisor stated that those are handled at the Organizational meeting. Town Clerk asked if any reason to bid out before then. All agreed that it didn’t seem necessary, since we are not having problems.

 

DEPUTY TOWN CLERK APPOINTMENT – Town Clerk stated that the 2010 budget was approved to have 2 Deputies overlap three months, that being said she has met and interviewed Kim Burgess and feel that she will bring a great deal to the office as her new deputy, who she can trust and will maintain a confidential professional office.

Supervisor stated appointments are made at the Organizational meeting. Town Clerk understood, and suggested we appoint her to the end of the year and reappoint again at the Organizational meeting, but stated she would like to have her start November 23, 2009 to train at the very beginning process of the Tax Collection; this would help understand the Collection better. We are talking around $100 for this year to train her, plus it would allow me to have Betty shorten her service for only 2 months instead of the budgeted 3 months in 2010. Town Clerk recommended $10.00 per hour for Kim Burgess and reminded the board that Betty is paid $13.00 per hour.

Motion by Lyon, seconded by Niedermaier to appoint Kimberly Burgess as Deputy to the Town Clerk to start November 23, 2009 and end on December 31, 2009 @ $10.00 per hour. Motion carried unanimously.

 

CONESUS LAKE WATER & SEWER RATES – Town Clerk reported that Geneseo is holding a public hearing tonight. They are looking to raise sewer rates from $71 to $83 per unit and water rates increase from $3.40 to $4.20 per thousand gallons.

 

 

 

 

Communications:

 

 

Phelps reported that the Farmland Protection meetings have been going well, surveys have been mailed out and CHA, LLC have been helpful and easy to work with.

 

Town Clerk passed out an Energy Program and stated she constantly is getting phone calls each day for similar programs. Does the board want to look into these again or indicate we are not interested? Phelps stated we looked into these before and they are not huge savings, plus you get a separate bill which is not convenient. Motion by Lyon, seconded by Niedermaier that we are not interested in participating in the programs.

 

Motion by Lyon, to close the meeting with a moment of silence paying respect to Kenneth (Jake) Partridge resident, businessman, respected farmer, councilman, husband and father to Justice Jenean Love, seconded by Niedermaier.

 

Meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m. The next regular meeting is on Thursday November 12, 2009 in the town hall.

 

Dated: October 19, 2009    _______________________________

Town of Groveland     Sandra L. Bean, Town Clerk

 

 

 

 

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