Village Board Minutes

March 20, 2007 (70)

A special meeting (budget workshop) of the Village Board was held March 20, 2007, 6:00 PM in the Village Hall.

Mayor Winslow called the meeting to order.

Roll Call: Trustees Denno, Densmore, Enekes, & Lescault were present.
Also Present: Atty Avigdor, Treas Fuller, Supt Lozier, Chief Denton & Clerk Colson.

SPECIFIC REQUESTS

Betty Wendell addressed the Board on behalf of the Senior Citizens.  Ms. Wendell would like the Board to add a Senior’s Recreational Fund of $1,000 to the budget.  The seniors need funding for their annual bus trip to subsidize the cost of tickets for the dinner and a show.  Currently tickets are $42 each; Ms. Wendell would like to be able to offer them at $25.  The Board will consider her request.

Betty Bovee, Image Committee, addressed the Board to increase the Image Committee budget by $1,500.  Ms. Bovee stated that the committee does not raise enough money to fund all of the celebrations held in the Village.  The committee has already decided not to hold the August Carnival in order to enhance the Independence Day celebration.   The Board will consider her request.  The Board also discussed location of the Independence Day festival due to pending demolition of the buildings at Jessup’s Landing Park and sidewalk work to be done on Main Street.  No final determinations were made.

BUDGET DISCUSSION

The Board discussed the proposed budget extensively.

Fire Dept. – A new fire truck will need to be purchased in the next 3 – 4 years which would cost $350,000 – $400,000.  The department currently has $110,000 in capital reserves and asked the Board to consider adding $30,000 from the 2007/2008 budget.

Police Dept. –The Board agreed that it may not be possible to work the purchase of a new police car into the budget; Trustee Lescault discussed other possible sources of funding.

DPW – The Board discussed the cost of various projects including paving, snow removal, and equipment purchases.  The current budget has $37,000 allotted for equipment: landscaping trailer ($2,280), 1 ton pick-up truck ($31,700) and a landscaping lawn mower.  The Board also discussed hiring an additional employee to work at the DPW and WWTP.

Water/Sewer – The Board discussed placing $50,000 in capital reserves.  The Board also discussed raising water rents by $4 per year inside the Village and $8 per year outside the Village, first and second additional charges would also be raised $1.  Proposed increases to the sewer rents were $10 for inside the Village, $12 for outside the village, and $1 for first and second additional charges.  These increases would need to be refigured if an additional employee was hired for the WWTP.

The Board discussed other aspects of the budget including an increase in the cost of garbage collection and a $3,000 increase in the cost of health insurance.  Employees will be paying 3% of their health insurance premiums.  Atty Avigdor spoke about the increase in his workload as municipal attorney and requested that the Board consider either including him in the retiree health insurance package or paying an hourly rate for all court work instead of just the present hourly rate for upper court work.  The Board will consider his request.

ADJOURNMENT

Motion by Trustee Lescault, seconded by Trustee Denno that Board adjourn to executive session to discuss pending litigation, 8:17 PM.
Carried – 4 – 0

At 8:56 PM the Board reconvened.

During executive session allegations were discussed which some may allege could result in the removal of a Board member due to lack of residency in the Village.  Atty Avigdor discussed the legal and factual basis for determining residency in the Village.  Based upon those discussions no Board member asked Atty Avigdor to take any action.

Motion by Trustee Lescault, seconded by Trustee Denno that Board adjourn, 9:00 PM.
Carried – 4 – 0

Nicole M. Colson
Village Clerk