Village Board Minutes

April 4, 2012 (55)

A public hearing and a regular meeting of the Village Board was held April 4, 2012 at 6:00 PM in the firehouse, 16 Saratoga Ave.

Mayor Morreale called the meeting to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Roll Call: Trustee Denno, Trustee Enekes, Trustee Halliday and Trustee Saunders were present.

A public hearing having been duly advertised in the Post Star on March 28, 2012 was held April 4, 2012 re: proposed budget for 2012/2013.  The mayor read the public hearing notice as advertised and the rules for public comment.

Clerk/Treas Colson went over the proposed 2012/2013 budget in detail for the public.  The proposed tax rate is $5.49 per thousand, a one-cent decrease from last year.  The overall increase in spending is 2.5%; the proposed appropriated fund balance is $258,291.  The proposed water rent is a $4 annual increase for village users and an $8 annual increase for outside users.  The proposed sewer rent is a $6 annual increase for all users.  Major purchases in the proposed budget include $30,000 for a used dive-van for the fire department, $160,000 for two one-ton pick-up trucks with side dumps and plows for the DPW, and $100,000 for the replacement of the trickling filter at the wastewater treatment plant.  No contribution to the DPW equipment reserves will be made to help offset the cost of the new trucks.  It is proposed that $61,635 would be appropriated from the sewer fund balance, and no contribution to the sewer equipment reserve will be made to help offset the cost of the trickling filter.  Major decreases from last year are expected in health insurance costs and in worker’s comp insurance premiums.  Increases in wages include a proposed 3% increase for department heads, a 30-cent increase for crossing guards and 25-cent increase for park attendants.  Due to increased duties and the expansion of the job descriptions for the positions, it is proposed the Deputy Clerk-Treasurer and Waste Water Treatment Plant Operator receive raises of $2,752 and $5,200 respectively.  There is no proposed increase to Board member salaries.

PUBLIC COMMENTS, QUESTIONS & CONCERNS

Jim Murray was unable to attend the meeting and submitted a letter stating his belief that all major purchases should be put on hold and the contract with the Sheriff’s Department be discontinued.

Nick Matino, Walnut Street, and Jim Hopkins, Hamilton Ave., asked the new Board members to review the budget carefully and expressed concerns about repaving Walnut Street.

Bob Hudak, Ash St, asked that the budget worksheets include a column forecasting how much is to be spent by the end of the fiscal year.

Joseph Duguay, Third St, expressed his opinion that hiring Village police officers may be less expensive than the Sheriff’s contract.

With no further comment from the public, the mayor closed the public hearing at 6:43 PM.

Nicole M. Colson
Clerk-Treasurer

A regular meeting of the Village Board was held April 4, 2012 at 6:43PM in the firehouse, 16 Saratoga Ave.

Motion by Trustee Enekes, seconded by Trustee Denno, approved minutes of regular meeting March 21, 2012 as typed.
Carried – 4 – 0

SPECIFIC REQUESTS

Don Rhodes, Laberge Group, presented a synopsis of the dam remediation project and its history to the public and Board.  The permits for the remediation are almost ready & Mr. Rhodes asked the Board to approve putting the construction documents out for bid.  Construction on the dams should be completed during periods of low flow (July/August).  The Board discussed several aspects of the project and agreed to send the construction documents out to bid.

Motion by Trustee Enekes, seconded by Trustee Denno, approved publication in the Post Star of notice of bid opening for dam remediation construction proposals on May 18, 2012 at 3:00 p.m. in the Village Hall as per advertisement prepared by Laberge Group upon attorney review.
Carried – 4 – 0

DEPARTMENT REPORTS

CLERK/TREASURER – Clerk/Treas Colson was present, report for 4-4-12 read & filed.

Motion by Trustee Saunders, seconded by Trustee Halliday, approved payment of abstract #20: Payroll $26,155.33; General $71,434.45; Water $6,444.22; Sewer $8,125.45; and Community Development $12,600.
Carried – 4 – 0

FIRE DEPARTMENT – Chief Kelley was present, his report will be available at the next meeting.

Maintenance on the firehouse is being performed including waxing of the floors and restriping of the parking lot.

Trustee Saunders thanked Chief Kelley for his recent orientation and tour of the firehouse.  Chief Kelley invited members of the public to tour the firehouse any time; firefighters are usually in the building Tuesday and Saturday morning.

DPW/WATER/WWTP – Supt Lozier was present, report for March 2012 read & filed.

Pagenstecher Park maintenance is nearly complete; the park will be open this weekend.

CT Male is reviewing the storage tank report and proposal.  CT Male is also still working with the Dept of Health to finalize plans for the filtration plant.

A new secondary pump motor was installed at the WWTP.

Trustee Saunders thanked Supt Lozier for the orientation meeting at the DPW.

BUILDING INSPECTOR – Insp Jacon was present, report for 4-4-12 read & filed.

Insp Jacon addressed the Board about a HOME rehab case that was more extensive than initially thought; the contractor found rotted wood and supports that need to be replaced for structural integrity.  The project was initially approved for $25,000, the State allows up to $30,000 with approval of the Board.  According to Atty Buettner, this project is an exception to the procurement policy because it endangers the health and safety of a resident.

Resolution #84 approved, increase HOME case #10-009 to $30,000 total award.

ATTORNEY – Atty Buettner was present, report for 4-4-12 read & filed.

Atty Buettner informed the Board that the Planning Board has declared Mr. Vaccareilli’s subdivision plan for William St property complete and set a public hearing date of April 26.

The Mann claim against the Village has been settled.

OLD BUSINESS

A meeting between the new members of the GWUDI committee, Supt Lozier, CT Male and DOH representatives will take place in the next few weeks.  The Board will then be briefed on the project’s progress.

NEW BUSINESS - none.

PUBLIC COMMENTS, QUESTIONS & CONCERNS

Nick Matino and Bill Denno asked questions regarding the future uses of the reservoir property after dam remediation.  Trustee Denno, Trustee Saunders and Supt Lozier responded to questions about possible recreation and logging of the property.

Mr. Joseph Duguay thanked and congratulated the new board members.

Jim Hopkins questioned the proposed William St project.  Supt Lozier, Chief Kelley, Insp Jacon and Atty Buettner all addressed the questions.

Kate Halliday stated she was glad to have Supt Lozier back at the DPW.

Bob Hudak asked if the mayor would have an email.  The mayor@villageofcorinthny.com email is in the process of being set up.

BOARD COMMENTS, QUESTIONS & CONCERNS

Trustee Denno congratulated the Fire Department on the election of officers and thanked them for their service.

Trustee Saunders requested discussion at the next Board meeting of the policy manual and the possibility of changing the time of the regular Board meetings.

Mayor Morreale scheduled a budget workshop meeting for Thursday, April 12 at 6:00 PM in the Village Hall.  The mayor also requested an executive session to discuss the collective bargaining agreement negotiations.

Trustee Denno recused herself from the discussion of the bargaining agreement due to her husband’s employment with the DPW and was excused from the meeting at 7:43 PM.

ADJOURNMENT

Motion by Trustee Halliday, seconded by Trustee Saunders that Board adjourn to executive session to discuss negotiation of the collective bargaining agreement as requested by Mayor Morreale, 7:43 PM.
Carried – 3 – 0

At 8:55 PM the Board reconvened with no action taken in executive session.

Motion by Trustee Halliday, seconded by Trustee Enekes that Board adjourn, 8:55 PM.
Carried – 3 – 0

Nicole M. Colson
Clerk-Treasurer