Public Hearing to Adopt Local Law #1 of 2014 To Override the 2% Tax Cap @ 6:00 PM REGULAR BOARD MEETING to follow @Russell Town Hall June 17, 2014 PRESENT: Supervisor Best Councilwoman Burnham Councilman Robinson Deputy Town Clerk Bonnie Howard Councilwoman Finnerty Highway Superintendent White GUESTS: Bobby Knox Michael White Larry Denesha Harvey Thomas Fred Morrill Ike Guyette The Public Hearing to adopt Local Law #1 of 2014 to override the 2% tax cap was called to order at 6:00 pm by Supervisor Best. Discussion. Motion made by Sally Finnerty, seconded by Sandy Burnham to adjourn the Public Hearing Meeting. Meeting was adjourned at 6:30. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Fred Morrill. Regular Monthly Board Meeting -- The Town of Russell Regular Monthly Board Meeting was called to order at 6:30 pm by Supervisor Best. Acceptance of the Minutes -- A correction to the May 20, 2014 Minutes -- Motion made by Sally Finnerty, seconded by Sandy Burnham to amend the May 20, 2014 Board Meeting Minutes Resolution #52 Joint Youth Summer Program to read -- Therefore, the Russell Town Board authorizes the Supervisor to sign a joint letter with the town of Edwards foregoing billing the school for $2,000 each making the funds available for the program to be a 6 hour full day experience instead of a 4 hour day. (Error in 5/20/14 minutes stated... $1,000...)
Motion made by Sally Finnerty, seconded by Sandy Burnham to accept the May 20, 1014 and May 27, 2014 Board Minutes with the correction above. TOWN CLERK REPORT: 06/17/2014 May Report: 22 dog licenses $106.00 Hunting licenses commission 28.21 Marriage License Comm. 7.50 11 Certified copies 110.00 5 Building permits 25.00 1 impoundment fee 10.00 Revenue to supervisor: $ 286.71 Disbursed amounts: Ag & Market (spay, neuter program) 28.00 NYS Department of Health 22.50 Decals $482.79 Total Disbursed $820.00 As of my final day of collecting taxes 06/09 I have collected 90.74% of the taxes $1,348,655.29 Motion made by Sandy Burnham, seconded by Sally Finnerty to accept the Town Clerk Report as presented. Ball Field Committee -- N/A Supervisor Report -- 1. Financial Reports The details of all income and expense transactions have been filed with the Town Clerk. The account balances for all funds have been filed with the Town Clerk and are in board member s packet. The form for Unclaimed funds at the Office of the State Comptroller have been sent in. 2. Budget Modifications; Capital Improvement Fund
RESOLUTION # 64 A motion was made by Sandra Burnham and seconded by Sally Finnerty to authorize to Modify the Capital Improvement Budget to include the additional CHIPs income. Increase CHIPs revenue (H3501) by $22,488.20 & Highway capital improvements (H5112.4) appropriations by $ 22,488.20 Ayes-4 nays-0 motion carried 3. Vandalism. We have had two cases of vandalism this past month. A head stone at the cemetery was tipped over. The highway crew reset the headstone. The other is damage to the chain link fence at the playground, the fence has been repaired. 4. Town Hall Project. The roof work is done. The architect and state agent from NYS Parks and Recreation inspected the work today. The state aid for the project may not arrive until after the BAN is due. In that case we will renew the BAN at a lower amount. The lift/elevator part of the project will be going out to bid towards the end of the year or in early 2015. 5. All of the street lights in Russell & Degrasse are working. We had approximately 12 lights repaired. 6. Equalization rate lowered from 80 to 76.5. Copies are in your packet. 7. Correspondence SLIC on Waterman Hill Letter on POPs Donald Hazzig Letter of support for funding for the Grasse River Waterfront Revitalization Projects Letter from President of the Supervisors Association regarding the St. Lawrence Government Task Force re-negotiating Supervisor, Robert Best Discussion on the equalization rate and future re-val in Russell. A suggestion was made to ask Effa Sullivan come to a future Board Meeting to explain what the re-val will involve. Discussion on SLIC (fiber-optic network) in Russell. Michael White explained where SLIC exists now. Bob Best received a call from residents on Waterman Hill asking the Town of Russell to OK those residences to receive SLIC services. Motion made by Sally Finnerty, seconded by Tom Robinson for the Town of Russell to send a letter to SLIC asking for service coming to Russell. Motion made by Sally Finnerty, seconded by Tom Robinson to accept the Supervisor s Report. Fire Department Report N/A Highway Superintendent Report: 06/17/2014 * Larry White
The new chipper was delivered Monday. The company sent 2 men with it to explain the maintenance, operation and safety. We are now working on our CHIPS projects; Fordham Hill and Marshville are ready for paving when the County gets in our area. We have stripped the shoulder area on the Hewlett rd blast site and waiting for TDS to move 2 phone lines so we can cut the area down approximately 6 foot; also complete brush removal. We have removed the brush and trees on the Lake George rd and started on shoulders and ditches. We have replaced 3 pipe crossings on the Lafaver rd. The box we installed on truck # 5 has been cleaned and painted. We are mowing road sides and have the north side completed and working on the south side. The Town of Clare would like our assistance with screening sand again this year. I have proposals for paving the sidewalks in front of the Town Hall. I thank the men for a productive month. RESOLUTION # 65 Motion made by Sandy Burnham, seconded by Tom Robinson for the Town of Russell to sell the used 290 Eager Beaver Chipper to the Town of Hermon for $3,500.00 Motion made by Sally Finnerty, seconded by Sandy Burnham to accept the Highway Department Report. Sidewalks and Steps Project for Town Hall -- Larry White presented three estimates for the sidewalk project for the south and west sides of the Town Hall. There was much discussion on this project. Work expected to be done before Russell Days in July. RESOLUTION # 66 Motion made by Sandy Burnham, seconded by Sally Finnerty. Therefore, the Russell Town Board authorizes Grasse River Paving to lay asphalt sidewalks on the south and west sides of the Town Hall, and the Russell Highway Department to pour concrete steps in front of the Town Hall. The Board agrees to move $4,400 from the Contingency Account to the Sidewalk Account.
Sand Screening for the Town of Claire Larry White has been approached by the Town of Clare for the Town of Russell to assist with Clare s sand screening with Russell equipment at Clare s pit for the coming season. Charges to be $2.75/yard. Monies collected to be placed in the Russell Highway Department Maintenance account. RESOLUTION # 67 Motion made by Sally Finnerty, seconded by Tom Robinson to assist the Town of Claire with their sand screening at $2.75/yard with Russell equipment at Claire s pit. Monies collected to be placed in Shared Services and/or Russell Highway Maintenance account. Legislature Report Fred Morrill reported on Shared Services involving the Town and Village of Canton and the DOT. The Canton highway building is in bad shape and in a bad location. The budget process is starting soon. Other discussion. Motion by Sandy Burnham, seconded by Sally Finnerty to accept the County Legislator s Report. RESOLUTION # 68 -- Audit Motion made by Sandy Burnham, seconded by Tom Robinson to authorize paying the following bills: Sally Finnerty, Robert Best Fund Vouchers Total General 156 189 $ 37,038.10 Highway 89 104 $ 22,170.72 Capital Improvements 7 9 $ 49,703.43 Fire Protection 4 $ 8,850.00 Street Lights 6 $ 602.00 Total $118,364.25 Code Officers Report -- Ike Guyette thanked the Board for his employment with the Town of Russell. Sally Finnerty thanked Ike for a job well done and if the Board could help him in any way just to let them know. Old Business -- N/A New Business RESOLUTION # 69 Motion made by Sally Finnerty, seconded by Sandy Burnham.
Therefore, the Russell Town Board authorizes the adoption of Local Law #1 of 2014 overriding the tax levy limit for the Town of Russell and authorizing the adoption by the Town of Russell for a budget that requires a tax levy that is greater than the tax levy limit. Fire Department Contracts -- Degrasse Volunteer Fire Department Discussion for the Degrasse Fire Department Contract to be for a one year period, rather than the stated two year. There is a decrease of monies of $4,500 as Degrasse s Rescue Squad is no longer active. At the end of the one year, evaluate how the monies are being utilized and if the contract is working for both parties. RESOLUTION # 70 Motion made by Sandy Burnham, seconded by Sally Finnerty to accept the Degrasse Fire Department Contract for a one year period. Russell Rescue Squad Basically the same contract as last year. Increase monies of $4,500 to Russell as Russell is picking up some of Degrasse s rescue squad calls. Russell Fire Department agrees with the changes in the contract. RESOLUTION # 71 Motion made by Tom Robinson, seconded by Sally Finnerty to accept the Russell Rescue Squad Department Contract for a two year period. Russell Volunteer Fire Department RESOLUTION # 72 Motion made by Tom Robinson, seconded by Sally Finnerty to accept the Russell Volunteer Fire Department Contract for a two year period. Public Discussion -- Localities and governments are finding it increasingly more difficult to maintain budgets and operations. A great job has been completed on the Russell Town Hall Roofing Project. The Town of Russell is always improving even with yearly budget restrictions. Motion made by Robert Best, seconded by Sally Finnerty to adjourn this meeting at 7:40 pm.
Respectfully submitted, Bonnie Howard Deputy Town Clerk