REGULAR MEETING OF THE TOWN BOARD
TOWN OF GLENVILLE
MARCH 19, 2008
AT THE GLENVILLE MUNICIPAL CENTER
18 GLENRIDGE ROAD, GLENVILLE, NEW YORK
Present: Supervisor Frank X. Quinn, Councilmen, Mark A. Quinn, Edward F. Rosenberg, Christopher A. Koetzle and Councilwoman Valerie M. DiGiandomenico
Absent: None
Supervisor Quinn called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM; gave the Invocation and led us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Supervisor Quinn asked the Town Clerk, Linda C. Neals, to call the roll. Everyone was present and accounted for.
Supervisor Quinn – “Item #13, proposed resolution on our meeting schedule, I am the sponsor of that and I am going to withdraw that from the agenda tonight. We will discuss it at another time.
We will go into executive session to discuss a personnel matter.
The first item on the agenda is a presentation by Judy Rightmyer, Program Director for the Capital District Tobacco-Free Coalition.”
Judy Rightmyer – “I head up the Capital District Tobacco-Free Coalition and we have been in existence since 1993. I cover Albany, Schenectady and Rensselaer counties and we are funded through the NYS Department of Health.
One of our initiatives right now is to try to get tobacco advertising out of our communities, decreasing it and letting it be voluntary. We are trying to encourage people that sell tobacco to voluntarily take down some of the signs.
We are going around to different municipalities trying to get them to sign a resolution in support of voluntarily having the tobacco retailers in their community take down the tobacco signs.”
Councilman Koetzle – “Back in the mid-90’s Target stopped selling tobacco, recently we just saw a major grocery chain out in western New York stop selling tobacco, have you seen that as a trend in the retail industry and if so is that impacting profits much?”
Ms. Rightmyer – “Wegemans had always chosen not to get a kick-back for their ads. Most stores get money for having displays up and a store will get money for having that particular sign displayed. Wegemans chose never to take those and they would sell the project but they chose not to take those kick-backs for that that type of advertising so they did the right thing of stopping to sell for health reasons.”
Councilman Quinn – “Is your first priority at this point to move the sign placement away from the line of site of 8 year olds or do you spend more of your money and time trying to get them to all out stop marketing it all together?”
Ms. Rightmyer – “We are just taking baby steps, when Wegemans made that decision to stop selling we kind of changed our tactics with some of the grocery chains to see if they would follow suit but with tobacco retailers they are certainly making money and it’s a legal product to sell so right now we are just trying to increase awareness and that’s why I am asking for your support.”
Discussion…
Councilman Rosenberg – “I am really sort of torn on this whole thing because although I have kids and I don’t want them smoking I don’t want to tell the store owner whether or not he can put an ad up. That is how he makes a living. I don’t think cigarettes are any different than the candy they shouldn’t be eating, chips that they are buying, the soft drinks – where does this stop. I think if you school your children properly…although I would love to support kids not smoking I can’t support this resolution.”
Councilman Quinn – “I had a similar concern when we first approached this and in looking at some of the legislation that has been passed in other towns and municipalities I wanted to make sure that this one indicated that we encourage retailers to reduce the level not necessarily prohibit them from putting up this advertising. I think that is very important that we are encouraging and not forcing them to do anything.”
Councilman Koetzle – “Although there is a concern that it seems as though we might be trying to prevent a freedom of speech with advertising, we do as a society place limits on what can be advertised and where it can be advertised all over the place, be it an adult business, which is an illegal product. Also being sold that has limitations on it, you can’t advertise beer in certain areas anymore, at games; you certainly can’t advertise cigarettes on TV anymore so I think we’re there already this is no different than what’s already in our society and working fine.”
Supervisor Quinn – “Clearly this is, whether we smoke or don’t smoke is obviously a choice. Does it have health implications, yes but I am very concerned when government agencies and organizations pass resolutions, even one like this that’s supporting rather than mandating anything. I think it is the parent’s choice, role model or behavior they want of their children and I think that is the way children of any age learn to cope with life. You have to deal with ads, you have to deal with temptations and you have to deal with all of the things that lead to mature adult behavior. For those kinds of reasons I would not support this resolution.”
Councilwoman DiGiandomenico – “It is not a mandate, so I have no problem supporting it. I am not for government control.”
Councilman Rosenberg – “My concern in regard to that comment is that this is just sort of a step in that direction that we are half way there. Once we encourage and then the next step is to mandate. That is the road I don’t want to go down.”
Councilman Koetzle – “My question is don’t we protect our children from a lot of things. They have to learn to deal with a lot of things; like how to defend themselves, but we don’t put a gun in their hand because they are children. What we are trying to do is protect children who haven’t yet been given the ability to make decisions for them because they are not fully mature. I think this resolution is just trying to protect it isn’t saying anything to adults who are able to make those decisions to smoke if they like but it is saying that we are going to help protect our children from being influenced by marketing messages that they are not ready to cope with yet. I think it is a good
resolution and I would urge support of it.”
RESOLUTION NO. 65-2008
Moved by: Councilman Koetzle
Seconded by: Councilman Quinn
WHEREAS, retail stores have long been an important component of tobacco company marketing strategies. Tobacco retailers serve as the tobacco company’s major communication channel to reach present and future customers. The store environment exerts a unique influence to promote tobacco use as a desirable social norm because tobacco is both advertised and sold in these stores; and
WHEREAS, smoking is the number one cause of preventable death in the United States; and
WHEREAS, the Surgeon General has concluded that tobacco advertising contributes to youth smoking rates; and
WHEREAS, in New York State alone, the tobacco industry spends $516 million annually to market its products; and
WHEREAS, tobacco advertising in retail stores has a powerful influence on teens, who are significantly more likely to smoke due to advertising than they are due to peer pressure; and
WHEREAS, the “Capital District Tobacco-Free Coalition 2007 Community Tobacco Issues Survey” showed that 68% of Schenectady County residents surveyed noticed cigarette or tobacco products being advertised or promoted on shop windows or inside shops where tobacco is sold; and
WHEREAS, the “Capital District Tobacco-Free Coalition 2007 Community Tobacco Issues Survey” showed that a 71% of Schenectady County residents surveyed do not want tobacco advertising allowed on the exterior of stores and further do not want tobacco advertising allowed on the exterior of stores within 1,000 feet of schools, playgrounds or daycare facilities; and
WHEREAS, every day, another 4,000 American children start to smoke, and another 2,000 become regular, daily smokers;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Glenville Town Board hereby supports the efforts of the Capital District Tobacco-Free Coalition and encourages Town of Glenville retailers to reduce tobacco advertising in their place of business as well as tobacco advertising from areas likely to be seen by children, including wall space below five feet, near candy displays, and on counter tops.
Ayes: Councilmen Koetzle, Quinn and Councilwoman DiGiandomenico
Noes: Councilman Rosenberg and Supervisor Quinn
Absent: None
Abstentions: None
Motion Carried
Town Council Reports:
Councilman Rosenberg – “As you all know we are getting into that process with the reval for next year. Nothing has really occurred but just to report on it that that is the plan so far unless something changes that next year we will be going into the re-evaluation process again next year.
From our Receiver of Taxes it looks like for the month of February we received a little over $10,000 in penalties, those are the late fees that are collected from people paying their taxes late and it goes into the town’s general fund.”
Councilwoman DiGiandomenico – “I would like to personally thank Steve Janik, President of the PBA, Councilman Chris Koetzle and our Administrator, Tony Germano for all their efforts in the recent negotiations of the PBA Contract. After 2+ years it is a welcomed negotiated contract.”
Councilman Quinn – “Last week I met with the Park Planning Committee and we had occasion to meet with the site planner for the recently required Anderson property at the corner of Van Buren and Swaggertown Roads. The consensus at least for the first phase of the land use plan is to maintain a passive park with a trail system that ultimately connects to Indian Meadows Park trails. The only minor hurdle is a small piece of land currently owned by Burnt Hills School District at the Glenhaven facility. Jamie and the committee will be meeting with them at some point to discuss acquisition or easement of the property. The goal is that one day people will actually be able to hike from Swaggertown Road all the way
to Park Side YMCA.
Phase two of the plan will obviously involve a detailed assessment of the house on the property to gage its feasibility as a recreation or history center.
I met with the Public Safety Committee a few weeks ago and I just want to give you a quick synopsis of the time table for the acquisition of the new communication’s console. Tentatively we’re planning, assuming we are going with the same meeting schedule, for April 9th work session the Chief and Rick Conley will be in to meet with us to discuss the plan going forward and then the RFP’s will be released to state contract vendors on April 17th. After an inquiry period the final date for bid submissions is June 2nd and we should have a tentative award to a vendor by June 18th of this year.”
Councilman Koetzle – “I just want to mention that the DARE Golf Tournament, which is a great opportunity to raise money for the DARE Program, is on June 7th this year. I don’t have all of the details, I am not sure which golf course it is at but it costs $75.00 per golfer. I believe you can go to the Village of Scotia web site and find out all of the information.
I also want to report on the fact that the Small Business Economic Development Committee had their first meeting today. Most of the members showed up, we have a really good, strong group. Councilwoman DiGiandomenico was there and she can vouch for this, there was a lot of energy in the room and a lot of good ideas discussed. It was more of an organizational meeting, we did set forth that we will meet on the third Thursday of every month, and of course the public is welcome to come. They want to come and watch the committee do its work. The next three meetings will be Thursday mornings; April 17th May 15th and June 19th at 7:30 am. I will keep you apprised of our progress
going forward from there.”
Privilege of the Floor:
Patrick Johnson, Glenville – “Being a resident for 31 years I have experienced a lot of things especially economics and this subject plagues all of us, not only federal, state, local governments but at the tax payer.
Without further ado I am up here to comment in regards to the logic in reducing services to the residents, especially the leaf pick up program irks me a little bit. For years and historically I have seen the leaf pick up carrying a driver and an assistant driver, one man operating the vacuum tube and four others raking, taking their time and alternating the duties. My comment is why can’t we use two rakers instead of four or maybe do we need an assistant driver. Along with that have you contacted our normal garbage pick up that we hire and pay for out of our own pocket on top of my tax raise that I just recently got and asked them would you pick them up all through the fall? Also provide maybe, because they do in
some areas, free bio-degradable bags. I am willing to go out there and bag my own leaves if it comes to a point that we have to get rid of someone in the highway department.
The other thing is the bulk pick up reduction, wow that really stinks. I just recently paid my $15 because I know I am going to have to bring some furniture and some other junk that all of us have collected over the last few years. The Schenectady County bulk item collection program charges $15.00 plus if you want to get rid of a refrigerator or freezer it’s $20.00, air conditioners are $10.00 etc, etc all of this stuff. Even on top of that you need a truck, I don’t know how you people feel but my air conditioner, especially an older one, it gets heavier every year I take it out and put it in. That I wish we could do something about.
Finally just as a closing comment last but not least the Van Buren plot is in dire need of a drainage system. I have been operating a sump pump, right now mine is going every six to seven minutes and I put it out on the lawn and it’s not unsightly but I try and keep it out of the way but with the construction that started last fall up above Hadel and now has stopped. They cleared out bushes; they cleared out beautiful looking trees that would suck up all of the water that I wouldn’t have to throw out on my lawn. We need a drainage system and I don’t know if that has been addressed but hopefully it will.
Thank you for your time and I hope you will take these things into consideration.”
Councilman Koetzle – “I would like to make one comment on the comments that Mr. Johnson just made regarding the crew for the leave pick up. One of the reasons why we see a four man crew is partly for speed. As I was talking to the Commissioner of Public Works about this very issue to try and find ways of bringing more efficiency to the program, speed is a very important part because you are fighting against Mother Nature. Unfortunately the very trucks we use to collect the leaves are the same trucks we use to plow the snow. In retrofitting those trucks you need a certain amount of leeway from when the leaves decide to fall, which in this year was very, very late and you need to be back to a snowplow unit
before the snow begins to fall. They have to get the leaves up by mid November and in some years that may mean from late October to mid November is all they really have to pick up the leaves. A crew of that size helps them move through the neighborhoods in a quicker fashion and try and get everything before they have to retrofit back to the plow. Once it is a plow it can’t be used to pick up leaves again until after that winter season ends which could be late April.”
No one else wished to speak; Supervisor Quinn closed the privilege of the floor.
Supervisor’s Comments:
Supervisor Quinn shared the following thoughts and ideas.
On the 6th of March attended the Capital District Transportation Authority representing the Towns and Villages and while there I double check on things that are important to the Town of Glenville. The thing that they work off for major construction projects is called a TIP (Transportation Improvement Project). For us the famous underpass on Glenridge Road is still a go for June of ’09.
There is a meeting here prior to our next Town Board Meeting at 6:30 pm on Wednesday, April 2nd; the Department of Transportation will be here to share where they are at with the project. They have made some changes to the proposal and they want the public input on the changes they have proposed to what is going on with the underpass and the turn-about that is scheduled to go in around Maple Avenue and Glenridge Road intersection.
On the 7th of March we had a meeting here at the Municipal Center with me, Tony Germano and Rick LeClair with the Director of the BOCES Maritime Center. Clarence Mosher our former Supervisor is also on the board. It had to do with the sighting of grinder pumps or pump stations and how they impact or help or hinder the Maritime Center itself. Their concern was on costs and we all reached an agreement that the grinder pumps that are going in meet their satisfaction and cost concerns.
On the 9th of March we had a St. Patrick’s Day party down at the Sr. Citizens Center where they had food and entertainment.
On the 14th of March I was at a meeting with the other four town supervisors where we once a month get together to discuss common issues, common concerns and so forth. The two main items that came up that we are all interested in is the upcoming sales tax contract that is due and so we are all working on getting information about how other counties and other towns participate in sales tax distributions. As we get that I will be happy to share that with you.
As you know some towns are either into, just finished or are about to start revals as Councilman Rosenberg was talking about a little while ago so we discussed some of the pros and cons and the companies they hire for revals.
On the 25th the Local Government Council will meet to talk about infrastructure issues and where we are at with AMD and how is that going as a project.
You have seen that the NYS Senate has passed the Inter Municipal Watershed Rules update so that the fines are much more significant, much more serious and I have been on the phone. I spoke with the Assemblyman from Manhattan and his staff and told them that we really want to get this thing scheduled, get it on the agenda and get it moved in the Assembly. Their staff agrees because it is all watersheds it is not just the Schenectady Municipal Watershed. They assured us since they aren’t from Manhattan and you know all of the watersheds that NYC has that they are vitally interested in getting it, it’s already been sent over to the health committee for action and they are looking for more assembly members to sponsor
the legislation itself and get it on the calendar.
I followed up with a phone call to our Assemblyman Jim Tedisco and he assures us that he will do what he can also to move that thing.
A comment about finances in the town; some of you may, I hope all of you but maybe not, the mortgage tax. For the last quarter of ’07 the mortgage tax that we have collected in the town is down just about $48,000. We know sales of housing haven’t been illuminist although price values may be high. What that translated to us is we are down 40 some thousand dollars there. The first two months of this year we are down about $70,000 and so our track record on this mortgage tax and therefore what does it mean for our budget for ’08 we obviously are going to pay real close attention to sales tax, mortgage tax and it all.
We have got two properties that are controlled by the GSA down in the Industrial Park on Rte. 5. The first is the 55+ acre-site which is all of the storage facilities down there. This is an eight year struggle, we are in the eighth year trying to get those turned over and then there is a seven-acre site which is the former headquarters for the US Navy.
Both properties are for disposal and it is controlled by GSA, their property disposal grants over in Boston.
Our interest and concern has always been to get these properties on the tax rolls so we reduced the tax bill obviously for, by the way not only the Town of Glenville but the school district as well and the County. The process goes like this – GSA declares them excess; they offer them first, by law, to the people who are homeless, if the homeless don’t want 55 acres of storage building or the seven acres then they offer them to the government organizations that will best serve the needs of the community. Then GSA must determine what the values of these properties are so they do assessments and they figure out costs per square foot. Therefore they offer them for sale, they don’t give them away.
Right now we are dealing with environmental studies on both of these properties. Once that is done they will fix the price, they will offer them and see if any government agencies are interested. Now we have put in, along with Metroplex, the Scotia school district does not have an interest in the properties so we are working together with Metroplex.
If we don’t agree on prices then they go to public auction and any and everybody can bid on them at that time.
We have limitations as a town, both NYS Municipal Law and by the State Comptroller’s rulings towns can not buy properties for speculation on future development. The towns can buy the property if we’re going to use it for town purposes, open offices and use some of the buildings.
We do not have an IDA (Industrial Development Agency) while Rotterdam does we don’t and of course the County does. This is why Metroplex of course and the IDA’s were created for future development.
We have all been lobbying U.S. Senators, House of Representatives, GSA in Washington DC and Long Island. You all know we have a master plan for the area, we have been making progress but it still isn’t done.
Currently the 55 acre site has to have a field study done to determine the environmental; what is it going to cost to remediate what the environmental problems there.
The bids for the field study have gone out, they are reviewing the bids right now to determine the extent of which of the firms will take the job and do the field study on the clean up, what is the scope of the clean up and what is the cost going to be?
(The Supervisor continued with the procedures that will follow this study.)
Councilwoman DiGiandomenico – “I have a question on the DOT Glenridge Road property. Is the round-a-bout still in the plan?
Supervisor Quinn – “Yes, it is still in the plans.”
Councilwoman DiGiandomenico – “On the GSA property, I just started looking into the process of establishing a Glenville IDA as an alternative method of maybe obtaining some of the plan on our own. I have just started the process so I really don’t have anything to report on, but I would really like to see Glenville have the IDA and maybe take control of some of this land.
On the leaf pick up it is my understanding that you will be charged a fee for each bag that is put out there and I am not sure that’s a fact because I haven’t verified it yet.”
Anthony Germano – “What we heard as recent as two days ago is that originally County Waste who picked up leaves from April until November ’07 as part of the service that they charge to all their customers. What we heard recently is they won’t pick up leaves, this hasn’t been finalized yet, from April to July at no cost only for their customers after July there would be a price per bag. The price they were looking at charging is 40 cents a bag.
That’s different than what they told us about a month an a half ago so we are trying to confirm where that came from and if it is true. I can’t say it is or it isn’t at this point.”
Councilman Rosenberg – “Tony, I know that County Waste is not, they may be the major hauler in the town but there are other places so if somebody uses BFI for instance are they going to participate at all? Has anybody contacted the other haulers?”
Mr. Germano – “We are contacting them, I think right now I think there are two waste haulers, County Waste and BFI. We are going to call BFI.”
Councilman Koetzle – “Tony, in your discussions with County Waste how much of that decision, or rumor now I guess at this point, but how much of that was driven by the fact that the town has decided not to do this anymore. I am very disappointed to hear this, this is the first that I heard this and I was not in favor of doing away with the leave program to begin with, this is even worse. I would be very disappointed, I hate to see our residents now being charge 40 cents a bag not only the extra labor in bagging them. Is County Waste taking advantage of a situation now that I think is somewhat unfair?”
Mr. Germano – “Perhaps I too am disappointed; I have not spoken to County Waste, this information is second hand. My last conversation with County Waste was over the bulk pick up program, the fact that yes we did eliminate that service and coordinated with them prior to issuing anything public. They assured us that they would continue to pick up the bagged leaves of the customer that they service from April to November, which was good news for us. We were pleased that they would maintain this.”
Councilman Koetzle – “Just for clarification there are more than just County Waste and BFI, you can really contract with any of the waste haulers.”
Mr. Germano – “There are two waste haulers licensed to pick up garbage but to pick up other materials we have the flexibility of all the others “
Councilman Rosenberg – “I just have one other thing to add, we never officially killed the leaf program but we did take funding away but the last I heard was the highway supervisor still intended on picking up leaves this year unless something has changed. I am getting mixed messages. I had understood he was going to be able to do it within his budget that was the last thing I heard.”
Councilman Koetzle – “I would say right now that’s probably in question.”
Mr. Germano explained the discussion that took place regarding the leaf pick up and the bulk item program that was took place during the ’08 budget work shops and what the options would be at this point.
Supervisor Quinn moved ahead with the agenda.
RESOLUTION NO. 66-2008
Moved by: Councilman Rosenberg
Seconded by: Councilwoman DiGiandomenico
WHEREAS, this Local Law No. 1 of 2008 has been introduced; and
WHEREAS, a public hearing has been duly held thereon,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Glenville adopt Local Law No. 1 of 2008, a Local Law to amend the Code of the Town of Glenville, Chapter 151, “Flood Damage Prevention” by deleting and repealing the present Chapter 151 and replacing it with a new Chapter 151 “Flood Damage Prevention” annexed hereto.
Ayes: Councilmen Koetzle, Quinn, Rosenberg, Councilwoman DiGiandomenico and Supervisor Quinn
Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstentions: None
Motion Carried
RESOLUTION NO. 67-2008
Moved by: Councilwoman DiGiandomenico
Seconded by: Councilman Quinn
WHEREAS, the Town of Glenville Open Space Committee has prepared a Draft Open Space Plan for consideration by the Glenville Town Board; and
WHEREAS, the Town Board desires to hold a public hearing on the Draft Open Space Plan prior to making a decision on adopting the Plan;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Glenville Town Board hereby schedules a public hearing for Wednesday, April 2, 2008 at 7:30 p.m., or as shortly thereafter as possible, at the Town of Glenville Municipal Center, to consider comments on the Town of Glenville Draft Open Space Plan.
Ayes: Councilmen Koetzle, Quinn, Rosenberg, Councilwoman DiGiandomenico and Supervisor Quinn
Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstentions: None
Motion Carried
Discussion…
Councilman Quinn – “Both sides of this bargaining process have shown a great deal of latitude. I thank the other side of this bargaining agreement for being patient and in my opinion becoming a good financial partner. I urge that we authorize this.”
Councilman Koetzle – “I want to thank Tony Germano who I think his hard work and involvement in this process can’t be overstated. He stayed patient with it, he stayed committed to it and he worked hard to get this as much as anyone. I also want to thank PBA President Steve Janik who I think also showed a great deal of leadership in his membership and patience throughout the process. I want to thank my colleagues on the board who have dealt with this a lot longer than I have. In my short three months on the board it was an issue that I was looking forward to getting resolved so I can’t imagine 2½ years of it.
I also want to thank the members of the PBA for their patience and their professionalism, working without a contract for almost three years is not an easy thing. I think we can all agree that our police force has always performed professionally and has always gone out and done their job. I think that can’t be lost in this either. I urge passage of this.”
Councilman Rosenberg – “I do appreciate and to the members both sides gave a little and both sides lost a little and we do appreciate that. I am glad that we are at the end of this road. I certainly have had enough of it.”
Supervisor Quinn – “I second the previous comments, look it is our town, we did this as professionally as best we could. Each side fought for what they could get out of this, both sides were smart enough to come to an agreement and we look at our police force as one great professional police force. So, we had a few little differences over contract, so it took 2½ years but we respect them and I am sure they respect us.”
RESOLUTION NO. 68-2008
Moved by: Councilman Quinn
Seconded by: Councilman Koetzle
WHEREAS, the Town of Glenville and the Glenville Police Benevolent Association (PBA) have been engaged in negotiation of a new bargaining agreement, and
WHEREAS, the parties have signed a Memorandum of Agreement dated March 6th, 2008, that details the terms and conditions to be changed in the new agreement, and
WHEREAS, the Glenville PBA has voted in favor of accepting the terms and conditions of the new agreement,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Glenville does hereby approve the amendments to the Town of Glenville/Glenville Police Benevolent Association bargaining agreement represented in the Memorandum of Agreement between the parties dated March 6, 2008, and authorizes the Town Supervisor to sign the final agreement in a form acceptable to town labor counsel, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Town Board is grateful toof the Town of Glenville congratulates all parties involved forin the negotiations on reaching a fair agreement that represents the interests of the Town and the PBA members and the Town of Glenville.
Ayes: Councilmen Koetzle, Quinn, Rosenberg, Councilwoman DiGiandomenico and Supervisor Quinn
Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstentions: None
Motion Carried
RESOLUTION NO. 69-2008
Moved by: Councilman Koetzle
Seconded by: Councilman Quinn
WHEREAS, the Town has obtained permission for a pipeline crossing from the Delaware & Hudson Railroad Company in connection with the construction of the improvements in the Alplaus Sewer District.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that this Town Board acting as Commissioners of the Alplaus Sewer District, does hereby authorize the Town Supervisor to enter into an agreement, a copy of which is annexed hereto, with the Delaware & Hudson Railroad Company.
Ayes: Councilmen Koetzle, Quinn, Rosenberg, Councilwoman DiGiandomenico and Supervisor Quinn
Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstention: None
Motion Carried
RESOLUTION NO. 70-2008
Moved by: Councilwoman DiGiandomenico
Seconded by: Councilman Rosenberg
BE IT RESOLVED that the Monthly Departmental Reports for February 2008 as received from the following:
Assessor Department
Building Department
Dog Control
Human Services
Highway Department
Justice Department
Planning Department
Receiver of Taxes
Section 8 Housing Payments
Town Clerk's Office
Water Department
be, and they hereby are accepted, approved for payment and ordered placed on file.
Ayes: Councilmen Koetzle, Quinn, Rosenberg, Councilwoman DiGiandomenico and Supervisor Quinn
Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstentions: None
Motion Carried
RESOLUTION NO. 71-2008
Moved by: Councilwoman DiGiandomencio
Seconded by: Councilman Rosenberg
BE IT RESOLVED, that the minutes of the regular meeting held on March 5, 2008 be and they hereby are approved and accepted as entered.
Ayes: Councilmen Koetzle, Quinn, Rosenberg, DiGiandomenico and Supervisor Quinn
Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstentions: None
Motion Carried
Town Administrator’s Report:
PERSONNEL:
--Attended the March meeting of the Town of Glenville Health Committee. Agenda items included: updating our mailing list for retirees for the purpose of contacting them to advise of other medical insurance coverage that are more affordable; discussion of self-insured medical insurance criteria; and, review and updates to the Town’s Employee Assistance Program which is a resource to town employees in time of need. This committee continues to make significant progress with regard to employee health insurance matters.
--Met with Town of Glenville PBA President and respective Attorney’s to conclude negotiations of a proposed settlement agreement for a four year PBA contract (2006-2009) for consideration by the Town Board at its March 19th Board Meeting. The PBA ratified the proposed settlement agreement.
OPERATIONS:
--The Town Supervisor, Mike Burns (Planning Department) and I attended a meeting with representatives from the Schenectady County Chamber of Commerce to review planned development opportunities within the Town and Chamber assistance.
--Met with DPW and Planning Staff and the Chairman of the Town Planning and Zoning Commission (PZC) to review internal procedures to assist the PZC with project reviews, when needed, for road improvements, utilities, etc. by DPW.
--Met with Lee Palmer, NYSTEC Consultant, who is working on the Town’s proposal to upgrade police communications. Discussed various upgrade options and associated costs as well as our need to coordinate such activities with the planned communications upgrade that may occur at the County.
--Continued to coordinate with representatives from Lowe’s Home Centers and the NYS Department of Transportation regarding requirements necessary for the upgrade of the Freemans Bridge Road corridor in conjunction with the siting of the new Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse. The Town is working with the final property owner to obtain the required easement to allow work to be done. The remaining property is expected to sign their easement shortly.
--Continued to coordinate with Consortium Chairman David Hennessy on the status of the Public Safety Training Center (PSTC) project. At the request of the Town Board, a graduated lease payment option was developed for inclusion in the lease agreement which has now been approved by both the Consortium and the Town Board. The Town Attorney provided the revised draft lease agreement to the Consortium Attorney for final review. The PTSC will also submit plans for another proposed expansion of the EVOC area outside of the aquifer for consideration by the Planning Department. As soon as the above steps are completed, the Town Board could consider resolutions for acceptance of the lease, the re-designed EVOC, SEQR determination and authorizing the PSTC operation at that location.
FISCAL:
--Coordinated with all Town Departments to develop recommendations to the Town Board for necessary adjustments to authorized Fees charges for services under Section 139 of Town Code. Such fee adjustments could result in an increase of $36,000 in projected revenue for the Town over the coming year. The Town Board approved these fees adjustments at their February meeting and all on-line and paper documents have now been updated to reflect the amended fees.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
--The Alplaus and Woodcrest Annual Resident Association meetings have been scheduled for March 27 and April 15, respectively. Town Officials have been invited to attend.
New Business:
Councilman Rosenberg – “It’s a new old business, so everybody knows I will try to get the word out again. During the budget process there were a lot of organizations that the funding that the town contributed to them was cut. It was pretty much across the board, everyone took some loss and at the time when we were doing that we were trying to decide if we were going to have to lay people off. Whether we would have to loose people from our police department or highway department and this was a way of saving money so we wouldn’t have to do that.
We keep getting the individuals that are coming up, I had a lengthy discussion with an organization the other day and I understand where they are coming from. We have heard from the Village they are looking for funding again for Collins Park and from Freedom Park. I heard from the parade person. With what the Supervisor is reporting with $48,000 less in mortgage tax than we planned for last quarter of ’07 and now $48,000 for just the last two months we have to be very cautious with how we spend our money. It’s difficult to tell any of these organizations which are all very worth while organizations and they have a great plan but there is only so much money to go around.”
RESOLUTION NO. 72-2008
Moved by: Councilman Koetzle
Seconded by: Councilwoman DiGiandomenico
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Glenville hereby adjourns into Executive Session to discuss a personnel matter.
Ayes: Councilmen Koetzle, Quinn, Rosenberg, Councilwoman DiGiandomenico and Supervisor Quinn
Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstention: None
Motion Carried
Supervisor Quinn adjourned this portion of the meeting at 8:55 p.m. and entered into Executive Session.
Time being 9.10 pm Supervisor Quinn reconvened the meeting.
Motion to adjourn was moved by Councilman Quinn Seconded by Councilman Rosenberg.
The Town of Glenville Town Board Meeting was adjourned at 9:11 PM.
ATTEST:
______________________________
Linda C. Neals
Town Clerk
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