REGULAR MEETING OF THE TOWN BOARD
TOWN OF GLENVILLE
NOVEMBER 5, 2008
AT THE GLENVILLE MUNICIPAL CENTER
18 GLENRIDGE ROAD, GLENVILLE, NEW YORK
Present: Supervisor Frank X. Quinn, Councilmen Edward F. Rosenberg, Mark A. Quinn, 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.
Town Council Reports
Councilman Koetzle – “I have a report on the Glenville Small Business and Economic Development Committee; I am pleased to say that we have been very busy. As you know we meet monthly here in this room and at the last meeting we established the Glenville Business and Professional Association or I should say re-established and we are getting a lot of small businesses involved in that group. I am pleased to say that Alan Boulant of Solid Surface Craftsman was elected President, the Officers were elected and the bi-laws were established. We are currently recruiting for membership so if there are any business owners in the community that want to join that committee please get in touch with myself or Tony Germano here
at the Town Municipal Center.
The first order of business of the association was to accept an application for Barrier Free Systems on Freemans Bridge Road for a façade improvement project. This is one of the number one initiatives that we have in this Committee is to try and find ways, first of all finding more grant money, secondly finding money to help with façade improvements along our commercial corridors, so we will submit an application to the Schenectady County Chamber of Commerce who will be able to provide up to $30,000 in grant money for this project.
The other issue that I wanted to report on quickly was the leave pick-up program. We have had a lot of calls regarding this. The leaf program for 2008 started two weeks ago, the highway department began its loose leaf service for Glenville residents starting in Zone 1 (the zones appear on the town’s web-site). They will make a complete pass through the town before they start a second pass, weather permitting.
Also a reminder that the town received two grants to cover this cost, this is not coming out of any town money. We would like to thank again Senator Farley for his $25,000 state grant and we would like to thank Assemblyman Tedisco for providing $10,000 in state grant money as well for this program.
County Waste will continue to pick up your bagged leaves as usual.
There is money in the Preliminary 2009 budget for this program.”
Councilwoman DiGiandomenico – “I would like to take a few minutes to remember Jack Ewing who passed away November 1, 2008. Jack was a quiet, concerned Glenville resident and tax payer who came to all of the Town Board meetings and Work Sessions.”
Supervisor Quinn – “Item number 5 is the Public Hearing for the 2009 Preliminary Budget.”
Supervisor Quinn opened the public hearing at 7:45 p.m.
Bernard Murphy – “There are two sides to a budget, income and expenses and I think you guys had better start looking at expenses and figure out how to cut them. I will give you one suggestion right now from the leaf program, chop it, if they can rake them, they can bag them.”
John Gaetani – “Some of you people ran a platform about three years ago that said you were going to control spending and you haven’t done anything.
A year ago I was here talking about this matter when you proposed 6.1% increase and you just looked at that. Then I read in the paper, that is where I get my information from because there is no information being disseminated by the town, you had a surplus in ’07, you are expecting a surplus in ’08 and now you are going to raise our taxes 10.4%, ridiculous. The County, last week, just raised ours 8.9%. You have got to start cutting expenses and your revenue projections, which I knew last year were way off, are going to be off again this year because building going on in the town and you are not putting those revenues in there. There has got to be revenue from Lowe’s and the apartment buildings next
door and the ones down on Freemans Bridge Road. There has got to be more tax money coming in then you guys are projecting.
As far as houses that are already here and their values I see you had projected last year 85% assessment of full value, I believe that is low. Last year I asked you to consider consolidating with Scotia our Police Department and not have two departments within the town. As far as cutting the leaf program, I don’t think that costs that much money and what would you do with all of the equipment that you have invested in to pick up the leaves so that would be a waste of time to eliminate the leaf program.
You have a surplus, I am an accountant, surplus when you have it, should be given back to the people, use the surplus don’t save it. You politicians like to say it’s for a rainy day, well guess what it’s pouring outside. Please consider cutting the increase down to a very manageable amount. I would even like to see 4 or 5%.”
Ed Culhane – “I have not seen the Preliminary Budget so I can’t comment on specifics but I would just like to ask the Town Council as you ponder and work on the budget since it is Preliminary, I assume it is probably written in pencil. I know for a fact that a number pf positions were added back into the budget that were initially cut. These are tough times for everybody, out there in the commercial world people are loosing their jobs and those who remain are being asked to do more with less. We, some of us retired, are doing more with less or the same with the same. All I am asking of the Town Council is to think that way, not always give what ever everybody wants. Take a look at how the town
departments work, look at the police department. How much committed time do those officers have as opposed to discretionary time. That comes down to exactly how busy are they? Sometimes I see three or four cruisers at a simple property damage accident that is not the way it should work. Take a look at the highway department and all of the other departments that the town employs for us. We ultimately are their bosses and out there in another world, in the commercial world, the customer is the boss and they tell the companies what they want and the companies comply through the Board of Directors and since I don’t have numbers and I can’t make suggestions I ask you to take a look at this budget with a very critical eye, one of your own and one of ours please.”
Bob Bishop – “The plight of us that are on fixed incomes, we got a 3½% raise and at that time Mr. Banacki’s number it was 15% by his own calculations, I listened to him for about an hour about inflation. I didn’t get a clue about what inflation was but if you go to Economics 101 it says money that you print in excess of what is in circulation equals inflation. No this 15% we have already experienced this year has had 2.1 trillion dollars added to that. That is approximately 20 to 25% more inflation, added onto 15% inflation minus the 3½% raise gives all of us including you about 1/3 less money to use for paying your taxes now if you increase taxes, add that on we are being deluged with
deluded politicians who don’t have a clue what they are doing. Mr. Banacki is from the land of the lost and we can’t depend on him to save anything, they are out of control. We are up to 30% and they aren’t done so they are looking at probably another at least one trillion dollars. So we are looking in the neighborhood of 30 or 40%. Now it will take a while for this to trickle down.
So your expenses for the town, you can anticipate that much more money that you are going to be confronted with in all of the projects that you do.
Just have some consideration for us; we are getting the hell knocked out of us.”
Nancy Edwards – “I don’t have anything to say but I would like to know what new projects you are planning for this coming year? What is going to be taking up more money?”
Supervisor Quinn – “There is a summary of the budget on line. The basis in the budget, the Preliminary, it is basically pay, benefits and no new major projects. Just to continue paving roads, continue doing maintenance and things like that.
There is development and every time we open a housing development we inherit the roads to maintain but I know of no other major project that’s brand new.”
Councilwoman DiGiandomenico – “I have a prepared statement that I would like to read.
I have received quite a few e-mails and phone calls regarding the proposed tax increase so today I sat down and tried to write down some thoughts that I had and I would like to share them with all of you.
I would like to present a brief overview of what has transpired in the past year that has influenced my vote for the 2009 Budget.
Here is an update on a few changes that the town has implemented in the past year:
1. Cut positions
2. Research health care providers and found companies that provide more for less saving $80,000
3. Gone out for competitive bids on engineering
4. Implemented procedures to assist commercial investors and residents making the town a friendly place to do business
5. Brought in Lowe’s to help reduce our tax base which will hopefully open the door to more commercial retailers
6. Added several apartments and condo buildings to our tax base
7. Provided Alplaus with a sewer system and received a grant to help cut costs
8. Approved the Belmonte Project who agreed to extend the sewer system to include approximately 50 residents in the adjoining neighborhood
In the past the Police Department has gone from 26 to the present 22 officers, dispatcher 12 to 11, Highway 24 to 21 and the Water Department 8 to 7 employees. The Board has also cut several part-time positions within the town’s staff. The current budget maintains that present staffing level. The town has learned how to do their job smarter and provide more with less for which I thank them. The Supervisor’s budget will eliminate another 5½ positions, cutting into a barebones staff and generating a substantial amount of additional overtime to compensate for the lack of personnel. Less is not better when it costs 1½ times more in overtime. How much are the savings then? With the
economy tanking it has been a difficult job not raising taxes but I do not want to be put in a position next year or the following year to have to impose a large tax increase like the 49% we have in the past because we have not been diligent in doing preventive maintenance on our roads, leaf pick up and maintaining our high level of protection in emergencies etc. We had to bond 1.5 million dollars for a new police communication this year because it was not addressed in the past. Do we continue not addressing issues until they become overwhelming? The longer we wait the more it will cost. In my opinion the town staff is at a level where if I have to cut essential services I feel that I am acting irresponsibly.
What does 9.6% tax increase mean: It will cost the average house assessed at $173,000 an increase of $49.00 per year that breaks down to less than 13½¢ a day. The Glenville property owner’s 2008 tax dollar without special district included breaks down to school tax 66%, county tax 24%, and town tax 10%. As you can see the town does deliver the most for its 10¢ share of the tax dollar.
Are we able to provide these services at a lower rate, definitely yes? The un-appropriated reserve fund balance is 1.6 million dollars as of 9/30/08, the September ending balances for 2008 have revenues at plus $500,000 and expenses under by $150,000 for a total un-appropriated fund balance of 2.25 million dollars. The Preliminary Budget has appropriated $871,000 from the 2.5 million leaving a balance of roughly 1.4 million. Since a 1% tax rate equates to roughly $50,000 it is my suggestion that we apply part of our current 1.4 million fund balance to reduce the 9.6 tax rate for the Town outside Village tax payer. I have spoken with several constituents who want the board to use more of the reserve fund balance to
further reduce taxes; I am therefore proposing that the board allocate an additional $200,000 from the reserve fund balance to lower the proposed tax rate to 5.6 leaving a reserve fund balance of 1.2 million. At last years budget discussion we were told we had a year-ending fund balance of $900,000 when in fact as of January 1, 2008 the un-appropriated reserve fund balance was 2.2 million dollars. I do not want to be put in a similar situation this year.”
John Rack – “The thing I read in the paper today was if people didn’t need the health care coverage that the town was…
Supervisor Quinn – “That is the Town Board members and any other part-time elected official.”
Mr. Rack – “Now you are serving as a public service that if you can give up something like that health cost you should if you are covered by some other plan. That would be something you are doing for the town.”
Richard Nolan – “I love Glenville. I noticed that there were a lot of senior citizens coming up and talking about how it is tough to live. I just want to point out that it is not just for senior citizens, it’s for everybody. I have been in Glenville for about 5 years. I recently requested a transfer to get out of NYS as a whole because of taxes. I was turned down so we are sticking around for a while. One thing that I am a little confused about I hear the services that you say we cut things, there is nothing new, it is the same thing then why is it going up 10%? Why isn’t it staying fairly steady?
I don’t have the budget and I know there are probably things behind the scenes. I am going to make a commitment to myself to start following this stuff and meeting you guys and watching you to make sure you are doing the right thing.
There are a lot of young families moving into the town and 10% doesn’t sound like much, $49 a year but we are all nickel and dime to death.”
Gary Kingsland – “I moved here about 2 years ago. I moved here in hopes of raising my family here until they are ready to go off to college. Between all of the taxes we pay, local, state and school we pay almost $10,000 a year in taxes. Everybody is hurting, we are all hurting. I think you as leaders of the community need to step up and take the hit. How much more can we give? The question I have for you tonight is I would like you to ponder - are you for the town or are you for the people of the town?”
Vera Besson – “The tax increase is a little bit too high. I don’t know if you have noticed in the paper that people are losing their jobs and filing bankruptcy and losing their homes. A 10.4 or a 9.8, which ever you said is too much. I know where I work if I choose not to take the insurance there I don’t get a kick back. I think you need to make some tough decisions, it’s not fair, I am a working person, my husband is a working person but the people that are seniors that don’t have the means of making more money, and we really need to look after them. They are on a fixed income, so please in considering this budget please keep in mind that there are people that have to make
concessions in their own family.”
Len Berubi – “I have been here since 1973. This is one of the most wonderful places I have ever lived in my life. We pay taxes; we will continue to pay taxes. I served on the Economic Development Committee for seven or eight years. Also on the Small Business Association I was one of the executive officers. I retired and decided that economically it was unfeasible to be retired, went back to work only to be penalized for working. So basically all I made last year on social security I had to give it back because I wanted to work and because I thought that running a small business would allow other people the opportunity of going to work, which I did, I brought three people on to work last year and
deferred my pay for them so that they could have the benefit of it versus my being paid and I got crucified for doing it.
Taxes have been an issue and will continue to be an issue; however this is an absolutely wonderful place to live in. I have traveled all over the world independently as a private consultant and also for General Electric when I worked for them and if you are looking for any place in the world to live this by far has so much stuff to offer and no other place in the world does. Saudi Arabia, Latin America, Japan, Korea, I have been to those countries, I have worked there.
So to pay taxes it is going to continue, however all I ask is that in benefit to this community we have three, four communities; Alplaus, Burnt Hills, Scotia, Glenville, in the effort of consolidating efforts I think that is one of the issues that anyone in leadership needs to consider. How can we consolidate expenses, services so that we defray or lower our costs for doing these things and I challenge you folks to reconsider this, the issue is going forward and doing the proper studies but the physical element that we are in from a government point of view I think with the new president that we are going to have it’s a time for change and we need to consider these elements and I would be more than willing to serve again on the
Economic Development Committee. Tremendous strides were made during that era, there is certainly more potential that can be done with that as far as growth in this area economic development is not an easy thing to deal with because you may want to have a Walmart or you may want a Lowe’s to move in but when population in the town says “we don’t want that” but as soon as you get pinched with taxes things have to change. So the mind set has to be not only what our elected officials who are taking care of this town and are doing an absolutely wonderful job, every time you walk into this facility people are willing to talk to you and work with you so understand that. The other thing is economic development, like I said is very difficult and until people with grass roots, that’s you people out here, realize that sometime what these folks are doing you have got to pull back and say “yes, maybe I need to allow that business to come in
or maybe I need to allow that opportunity to come in” otherwise you are going to continue to pay. So if you want to continue to pay then don’t allow these folks to do their jobs but at the same time we need to empower them to be open, to look at consolidation and use their expertise and some people like yourself in the community to come in as volunteers and help these people do what they do.”
Councilman Koetzle – “I welcome you back to the Economic Development Committee with open arms and don’t leave with out talking to me.”
Kevin Brennan – “To the point that the gentleman before me made, I know it is very difficult to get businesses in here but I want to know what has been the obstacles to this point? Is it because we don’t have businesses interested in being here, is it because we have had businesses that are interested but there has been some local negativity towards having those businesses here?”
Supervisor Quinn – “It is tough economic times, number one. Number two we have tried to free up the Industrial Park for eight years and we are almost through that so we will at least have an Industrial Park to work on. We are not as you know a reality firm that is not the job of town government. While we provide data, our Planning Department provides information that any and all business want in about graphics, about taxes, about any and all things that they bring interest to that’s the puzzle so over 92% of the tax base of the Town of Glenville is on the private homeowners and that is why this hurts so much.”
Mr. Brennan – “I work in Saratoga Springs, which is very close to Wilton and I see all the businesses that are up there and they seem to be doing very well so I don’t think it is much of an issue with the area because I think there is the interest and the population base to support this type of business here in the Town of Glenville. I think that if there were ever a time that you were going to re-approach the citizens of Glenville, Scotia, Burnt Hills and Alplaus about getting that type of business here this would be the time because obviously we are all hurting and you guys are asking for more money and some of it might be warranted and some of it may not be warranted but I think Lowe’s is a great start but what
else is coming to help take that tax burden off of us.”
Councilwoman DiGiandomenico – “We have a Town Administrator, Tony Germano, who has gotten together with the department heads and various employees and when I referred to a procedure to help investors and residents they have developed flow charts on the procedure and they use Tony as the point person that coordinates the different steps that need to be taken in order to go through the process. I think that has helped the town and the perception has changed that it has become a friendly town to do business with. I’d like to commend Tony and the department heads, etc. for putting their best forward to attract businesses.”
Councilman Koetzle – “Just as a quick follow up to that; I want the residents to know we have been very bogus as a Town Board, I think as the staff of the town have all been very focused on trying to find ways of bringing economic development into this community. There are barriers to that unfortunately we hear, in my time on the Economic Development Committee sitting in this room with the small businesses that show up and talk about some of those barriers. They are not internal barriers, they are not structural barriers, they are not barriers that the Town is erecting necessarily but there are market place barriers that we have to deal with. I think you made a good point, Wilton seems to be flourishing well we
have to look at the demographics of each of those communities and then put our selves in the position of the developer, who is making a decision where do I locate my store, where is the best place for my store to be and we may not necessarily compete with some of those other communities. Our demographics, we have maybe a per-capita income that’s lower than other areas. Although Route 50 is very busy to us it does not really rival some of the other communities.
So, my message tonight is we are working on it and it isn’t like flipping a switch, we are open for business type of thing, if it was that easy we would do it. We have very good people coming together and the component that I think is new is the fact that we have the business community engaged and excited and now with their own association back again. We have got people willing to come and volunteer to make it happen. We are doing the things that Councilwoman DiGiandomenico said, we are making it easier, and we are doing things on the web more. There are things that are going to be easier and make people look at Glenville and say that’s the place I want to do business but it is going to take some time.
We definitely have a revenue problem, the burden is on the homeowners and until we change that it is going to be very difficult. What is driving the budget: health insurance, energy costs, fuel costs are driving the budget. These things are not easy things to deal with if you don’t have the revenue to offset it. Salt costs have increased enormous over last year. Do we salt the roads or do we not salt the roads? I say we have to salt the roads, we have to plow the roads those are things we have to look at. There is not a lot of fat in this budget, it is a revenue problem and until we change that equation we are going to have this revenue problem going forward. I assure you we are working on it.”
Mr. Brennan – “There is no doubt that you guys are working on it and I have a lot of faith in the leadership in this room but to your point with the traffic which comes first the chicken or the egg? Is the traffic there because the business is there or is the business there because the traffic is there?
I think Lowe’s is a great start but we need another kind of corner stone that is going to produce the traffic on Route 50 that is going to attract some of these smaller businesses.”
John Gaetani – “The town definitely needs to be audited. The Comptroller’s Office has not audited this town in at least 7-8 years. It really needs an internal done by a professional. I would suggest that you get the Comptroller’s Office here first to see if what you are spending is accurate because there are probably some inefficiencies going on that are causing these expenses to go up higher than they should be.”
No one else wished to speak; Supervisor Quinn closed the public hearing at 8:30 pm.
Supervisor’s Comments:
Supervisor Quinn shared the following information:
October 16th – Information meeting on the oak tree disease presented by DEC; they have an action plan, they started to implement it. The whole idea is to contain the contamination that is there in the oak trees, some are being cut down; some are being dug up around the roots to curtail the contamination.
The Schenectady County Electronic turn in, which was on the 25th had a great turn out.
October 28th – We had a meeting with the Clifton Park Water Authority; they gave us a counter proposal on rates for the future years. We will discuss that at our next work session.
October 30th – We had a meeting with the local GSA Manager for the operation that they have active in the park. We had discussions that brought each of us up to date including what was the status, because the local manager wasn’t even up to date on what is going on with the NYS DEC comments on the GSA property.
November 6th – Schenectady County Intergovernmental meeting; the main agenda item is again the central dispatch and any options for that.
November 11th – Veteran’s Day Memorial Service was held down at the Veteran’s Park on Route 50 and Freemans Bridge Road sponsored by the Glenville Rotary.
November 12th – Town Board work session at 7:30 pm.
November 19th – Schenectady/Glenville Economic Development Authority
Last Friday we had a meeting with the owners located in the Industrial Park on Route 5. It was a good meeting and we shared thoughts and ideas. Our Village Elected Officials were there too and we talked about several things. Two of the major outcomes that I have I will share them with you at our work session. As a heads up we had a long and hard discussion about Fire Protection District #4 and the second piece of the puzzle was they were pushing themselves to get organized as an association and come together.
You know County taxes are up for 8.9%; of the five school districts, Scotia Glenville was up this year 3.4% and they have another 1.9 potentially on the table if the December capital expenditure upgrade to facilities and to fields if every thing goes through. So 3.4% and Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake was up 6.5%, Niskayuna for our Glenville residents was up 6.2% so school wise that is what is going on. The Village did a wonderful job, taxes didn’t go up in fact they went down a fraction of a percent.
As you know we put the tentative budget up at 2.9% and you know where the preliminary budget is. You have a handout which is an unmarked copy of the preliminary budget but on top of that there is a set of numbers. On the first page you see 2010 as we see it right now and you can see the major items are listed on the left so if you get a chance to read it and bring it to the meeting next Wednesday night.
When you go through it what it is going to cost for communications, highway, raises, medical insurance, paving and so forth and so on, if you ask me tonight there is your number that is a minimum 20% tax increase next year if nothing changes. The second page, since 72-73% of our budget is pay and benefits, gives you a breakout of pay and benefits.
I share with you the following: if you take base pay and you take the benefits paid for any of the following departments and you put pay, to include overtimes or anything else, and benefits together what does it cost for the average. Now there are people at the high end of the average in every department and people at the low end, this is the average: police department, pay and benefits per person - $109,000; dispatch - $81,000; highway department - $86,000; the rest of the staff about $91,000; water and sewer about $95,000 per person.
On the preliminary budget, the blank one that you have, here is a proposal for how we structure the work session meeting for this coming Wednesday night because all five of us have different ideas about what do we do with this preliminary budget? If you start with page 2, which is the summary page, and go all the way to page 22 that is the three main departments; the general, the town outside and the highway department. What I am asking you to do to facilitate the meeting is mark any item you want discussed and put in your recommendations. If we all do that and turn them in by Friday we can consolidate all of them into one document with all of the proposed changes in it.
Councilwoman DiGiandomenico – “Your proposed ’09 double digit tax increase doesn’t take into account a number of ongoing projects such as Lowe’s, Hampton Run, the Reserve and Fortitech as well as the approved project called Yates Farms in Alplaus and the Bordeau condominiums approved on Route 50. These should significantly add to the towns’ tax base. We have not included these in our budget. It is not all doom and gloom here there are bright spots in this budget.”
Councilman Rosenberg – “I don’t disagree with Councilwoman DiGiandomenico if we have the money coming in. Part of the problem is people don’t pay taxes they pay taxes based on when the role was set. If a place is going to be built and doesn’t get finished before the roll is finished, which was last May, we won’t get taxes on it; we will get taxes based on the unimproved value of the property. So, Lowe’s is going to go in but it won’t pay anymore taxes than the vacant land it sat on.”
Supervisor Quinn – “I have a couple of comments about the budget. I do not agree with the figures that Councilwoman DiGiandomenico stated earlier in the meeting. She is entitled to her interpretation and I am entitled to mine, therefore beware it’s not just as it was stated as far as I can put the figures on the table.
Another fact, as we keep in mind something, is the Town of Glenville in the 1970’s census had 28,300 people today it has 28,400 people and in that time we all know what has happened to the budget. We have had to take on additional responsibilities, we have had things mandated to us but the size of our staff and our personnel costs we all know is the number one item. Nobody I know is betting on revenue being better in ’09 or ’10. Given that limitation and we also have contracts to honor, we have got the expenses and we have a savings account. The question about the savings account is we pull out $800,000 to put in for ‘09 based on the projections that you got in your data from the September figure
we will end the year with less fund balance so if we put $800,000 in we are not replacing it, it will draw down so keep your eye on the number.”
Councilwoman DiGiandomenico – “With all do respect I would like everyone to know that I checked my figures with our Comptroller so no matter what Supervisor Quinn says that I do not have credibility I disagree with you. I do have credibility because I ran all of those numbers with our Comptroller who agreed with me on what I presented and I do not want to be pictured as a person that does not know what they’re talking about when it comes to numbers. I do know and I did do my homework and I did confirm every single number with George Phillips our Comptroller.”
Supervisor Quinn – “So did I and we have different interpretations of those same numbers, that’s all, just different interpretations.
On a final item we all have heard about the famous leaves in the Town of Glenville for this year and next year. In ’09 it is in the budget. I don’t know a lot of people when you take actual numbers and you break it out for the Town of Glenville to pick up leaves; personnel costs $59,000; benefits associated with that, fuel, tipping fees and so forth it is actually almost an $85,000 cost. Now we all know that they were doing this anyway and we all know we got $30,000 this year but people shouldn’t think of this as just a $30,000 item, it’s not, it’s an $80,000 item.”
Councilman Koetzle – “Mr. Supervisor, I think we have a new definition of inflation tonight and that is the way you do your numbers. I have to agree with Councilwoman DiGiandomenico, I think your interpretation is incorrect and I think you are having problems with many members on this Board with your interpretation with numbers. To scare the public into thinking that this is an $85,000 program is disingenuous in my opinion. These are personnel costs that we would have anyway, the fact that it would cost the homeowners in this Town somewhere between $3.00 and $3.50 a year is really the cost of this program. Unless you are going to get rid of the highway program altogether those personnel costs are fixed and
in the budget. Unless you take that program away and want them to sit inside or get rid of the department altogether that’s not really the true cost of the program, its $30,000. It is a very affordable, very efficient program.
I respect that you don’t want the leaf program, I respect that but I have a problem with cooking the book and making this an inflationary program.”
Supervisor Quinn – “We all know, when we are looking at the numbers we each have an interpretation of the data, to say I’m “cooking the books” is an insult. We all know revenue is flat, expenses are going up, we turned in a tentative budget, we turned in this preliminary budget and if we don’t cut the taxes in light of all the other taxes that are going on, we are trying to get people’s taxes manageable and still respond to all of the possible services. All of us do our homework and we will be ready for the work session.”
Councilman Koetzle – “Let me apologize to you, Mr. Supervisor. If I offended you I did not mean to offend you. That is my interpretation of what is happening and I just have to call it as I see it. I respect your position on this; I just disagree with your process of getting to the numbers.”
Councilman Rosenberg – “I would like to comment on the leaf pick-up program. I think when you are trying to decide whether or not you are going to provide a service it’s important to include the personnel services that are involved in providing that service. We have our Highway Supervisor asking us for more man power because he has a list of things that aren’t getting done and when we decide whether or not we are going to provide a service I think it is important to say it does cost $59,000 for personnel as part of that service.”
Supervisor Quinn moved ahead with the agenda
RESOLUTION NO. 167-2008
Moved by: Councilman Rosenberg
Seconded by: Supervisor Quinn
WHEREAS, the Tentative Budget has been filed with the Town Clerk; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 108 of the Town Law, a public hearing must be held by the board upon said Preliminary Budget, on or before the Thursday immediately following the General Election,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Tentative Budget is hereby amended to establish the elected officials’ salaries at:
Supervisor ...........................................$ 19,152.00
Town Council Members (four)..............…$ 11,639.00 [each]
Town Clerk...........................................$ 59,635.00
Town Highway Superintendent................$ 82,654.00
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Tentative Budget as amended be adopted as the Preliminary Budget for 2009; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Town Board of the Town of Glenville that a public hearing upon said preliminary budget shall be held at the Glenville Municipal Center, 18 Glenridge Road, in said Town on November 5, 2008 at 7:30 P.M., or as soon thereafter as can be reached; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Town Clerk be and she hereby is directed to prepare the proper notice of said public hearing and to publish and post said notice in accordance with said Section 108 of the Town Law; and
BE IT STILL FURTHER RESOLVED that the Town Clerk be and she hereby is directed to have twenty-five (25) copies produced of the Preliminary Budget for public distribution and another (25-50) if and when the need arises.
Ayes: Councilmen Koetzle, Quinn, Rosenberg and Councilwoman DiGiandomenico
Noes: Supervisor Quinn
Absent: None
Abstentions: None
Motion Carried
RESOLUTION NO. 168-2008
Moved by: Councilman Koetzle
Seconded by: Councilman Rosenberg
A RESOLUTION approving a preliminary capital expense budget of Sewer District No. 9 for the year 2009.
BE IT RESOLVED AS FOLLOWS BY THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF GLENVILLE, NEW YORK:
SECTION 1. The Town Board of the Town of Glenville as Commissioners of Sewer District #9 hereby adopts the following preliminary capital expense budget of Sewer District #9 of the Town of Glenville for the calendar fiscal year 2009.
Appropriations:
Redemption of Bonded Debt………………………..…………… $155,000.00
Interest due & administration fee on renewal of Bond Note in the amount
On 04/01/2009 and 10/01/2009…………………..…...………. 99,549.00
Amount to be raised on benefit plan..............……………….…$254,549.00
SECTION 2. A proposed assessment roll shall be prepared for raising funds for the above preliminary capital expense budget of Sewer No. 9 pursuant to the benefit unit basis set forth in the engineering plan for said sewer district.
SECTION 3. Said benefit unit plan provides for the assignment of one (1) benefit units to each individual parcel of land per the engineering plan.
Amount to be raised on benefit plan $254,549.00 = $34.82/Benefit Unit
Number of Benefit Units 7,310.29
Annual Charge Per Benefit Unit $34.82
SECTION 4. The proposed assessment roll for Sewer District #9 shall be prepared and the appropriate extensions made thereon pursuant to this resolution and such proposed assessment roll and the estimate of income and expenditures shall be filed with the Clerk of the Town Board.
SECTION 5. This resolution takes effect immediately.
Ayes: Councilmen Koetzle, Quinn, Rosenberg, Councilwoman DiGiandomenico and Supervisor Quinn
Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstentions: None
Motion Carried
RESOLUTION NO. -169-2008
Moved by: Councilman Koetzle
Seconded by: Councilman Quinn
A RESOLUTION approving a preliminary Capital expense budget of the joint Acorn Drive and Woodhaven Sewer Districts Waste Treatment Plant for the year 2009.
BE IT RESOLVED AS FOLLOWS BY THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF GLENVILLE, NEW YORK:
SECTION 1. The Town Board of the Town of Glenville as Commissioners of the joint Acorn Drive Sewer District and Woodhaven Sewer District hereby adopts the following capital expense budget of the joint Acorn Drive Sewer District and Woodhaven Sewer District Waste Treatment Plant of the Town of Glenville for the calendar fiscal year 2009:
Appropriations:
Redemption of bonded debt 5/15/09 ...................... $20,000.00
(4) $1,488 (6) $18,512
Interest due on 5/15/09 and 11/15/09 ....................... 6,064.00
TOTAL APPROPRIATIONS…………………..$26,064.00
Redemption of bond anticipation note (BAN)
on 04/01/09 of $650,000.00 25,000.00
BAN interest on 4/01/09 on$650,000.00 12,025.00
$37,025.00
Total amount to be raised on benefit plan $63,089.00
Estimated Revenue:
Interest Earned ............................................................ 3,828.00
Appropriated Fund Balance .......................................... 0.00
3,828.00
Amount to be raised on benefit plan ............................ 59,261.00
SECTION 2. A proposed assessment roll shall be prepared for raising funds for the above preliminary capital expense budget of the joint Acorn Drive Sewer District and Woodhaven Sewer District Waste Treatment Plant pursuant to the benefit unit basis set forth in the engineering plan for said sewer districts.
SECTION 3. Said benefit unit plan provides for the assignment of two (2) benefit units to each individual parcel of land and the assignment of three (3) benefit units to a single family house for a total of five (5) benefit units for a single family house and lot.
Amount to be raised by benefit plan $59,261.00 = $48.18/Benefit Unit
Number of Benefit Units 1250
Annual Charge Per Single
Family Residence $ 48.18 x 5 = $240.90
SECTION 4. The proposed assessment roll for the joint Acorn Drive Sewer District and Woodhaven sewer District Waste Treatment Plant shall be prepared and the appropriate extensions made thereon pursuant to this resolution and such proposed assessment roll and estimate of income and expenditures shall be filed with the Clerk of the Town Board.
SECTION 5. This resolution takes effect immediately.
Ayes: Councilmen Koetzle, Quinn, Rosenberg, Councilwoman DiGiandomenico and Supervisor Quinn
Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstentions: None
Motion Carried
RESOLUTION NO. -170-2008
Moved by: Councilman Koetzle
Seconded by: Councilman Rosenberg
A RESOLUTION approving preliminary Capital expense budget of the Alplaus Sewer District No. 1 and Extension No. 1 for the year 2009.
BE IT RESOLVED AS FOLLOWS BY THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF GLENVILLE, NEW YORK:
SECTION 1. The Town Board of the Town of Glenville as Commissioners of the Alplaus Sewer District No. 1 and Extension No. 1 hereby adopts the following capital expense budget of the Alplaus Sewer District No. 1 and Extension No.1 of the Town of Glenville for the calendar fiscal year 2009:
Appropriations:
Redemption of bond anticipation note (BAN)
on 09/04/09 of $2,634,815………………………… .$ 94,101.00
BAN interest on 09/04/09 on $2,634,815…………………… 65,870.00
$159,971.00
Total amount to be raised on benefit plan $159,971.00
Estimated Revenue:
Interest Earned .............................................................. $ 225.00
Appropriated Fund Balance ........................................ ... 0.00
225.00
Amount to be raised on benefit plan ............................. $ 159,746.00
SECTION 2. A proposed assessment roll shall be prepared for raising funds for the above preliminary capital expense budget of the Alplaus Sewer District No. 1 and Extension No.1 pursuant to the benefit unit basis set forth in the engineering plan for said sewer districts.
SECTION 3. Said benefit unit plan provides for the assignment of benefit units to each individual parcel of land based on engineering planning report.
Amount to be raised by benefit plan $159,746.00 = $635.17/Benefit Unit
Number of Benefit Units 251.5
Annual Charge Per Single
Family Residence $635.17 x 1 = $635.17
SECTION 4. The proposed assessment roll for Alplaus Sewer District No.1 and Extension No. 1 shall be prepared and the appropriate extensions made thereon pursuant to this resolution and such proposed assessment roll and estimate of income and expenditures shall be filed with the Clerk of the Town Board.
SECTION 5. This resolution takes effect immediately.
Ayes: Councilmen Koetzle, Quinn, Rosenberg, Councilwoman DiGiandomenico and Supervisor Quinn
Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstentions: None
Motion Carried
Discussion…
Councilman Rosenberg – “I would like to make a motion to amend the following resolution to have Mr. Storti and Mr. Stebbins to be three (3) year terms rather then two year terms on the Open Space Committee.”
Councilwoman DiGiandomenico seconded the motion.
Ayes: Councilmen Koetzle, Quinn, Rosenberg, Councilwoman DiGiandomenico and Supervisor Quinn
Noes: None
RESOLUTION NO. 171-2008
Moved by: Councilwoman DiGiandomenico
Seconded by: Councilman Rosenberg
WHEREAS, the Town of Glenville Town Board adopted an Open Space Plan on May 7, 2008, the purpose of which is to preserve open space, including agricultural lands; and
WHEREAS, the Open Space Plan identifies 12 recommended action strategies designed to accomplish the various goals and objectives outlined in the Plan; and
WHEREAS, in order to effectively pursue the recommended actions of the Plan, it is felt that a core group of the previously-appointed Open Space Committee should remain active;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby appoints a five-member Open Space Advisory Committee, with the following individuals being appointed to serve on the Advisory Committee:
Term Expires
Mark Storti 9 Barry Lane 12/31/2011
Hank Stebbins 2487 Ridge Road 12/31/2011
Wendy Carroll 2824 Touareuna Road 12/31/2010
Dan Grzybowski 932 West Glenville Road 12/31/2010
Jack Osterlitz 409 Church Road 12/31/2010
and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the appointments are effective immediately, with subsequent appointments to the Advisory Committee to consist of two-year terms; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Open Space Advisory Committee is hereby charged with the following responsibilities:
· Actively pursue the protection of open space, including agricultural lands, with the 12 recommended actions of the Open Space Plan providing direction as to the method of open space preservation. It is recognized that the Open Space Advisory Committee does not, by itself, possess the funding or resources to actively acquire open space. Therefore, the Advisory Committee shall work with agencies that possess resources, funding and staffing for open space preservation, including the New York Planning Federation, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, New York State Department of State, New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation,
Capital District Regional Planning Commission,
Schenectady County Planning Department, etc., as well as various land conservancies and foundations. The Advisory Committee shall also seek advice and guidance from municipalities that have been successful in tapping funding to preserve open space and agricultural lands, the Town of Clifton Park being the most notable local example.
· Advise the Town Board on open space preservation opportunities and identify relevant strategies, resources and funding options in order to accomplish open space preservation.
· Assist the Glenville Environmental Conservation Commission (GECC) and Planning & Zoning Commission (PZC) in their review of subdivision, site plan review and zoning amendment applications. Specifically, the Open Space Advisory Committee is charged with examining planning/zoning applications to determine if the site to be developed is located in one of the “Open Space Areas” identified in the Open Space Plan, and if so, to make a recommendation to the GECC and/or PZC on whether the project site is well-suited for clustering, conservation subdivision design, conservation easements, buffers or outright acquisition.
· Cultivate partnerships with the Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy and other local conservation organizations in order to advance common goals relative to open space preservation in the Town of Glenville.
· Produce a written annual report to the Town Board, which shall include a “report card” of open space preservation accomplishments over the previous 12 months. The annual report shall be delivered to the Town Board no later than July 1; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Town of Glenville Planning Department will serve as staff to the Committee, with Councilperson Valerie DiGiandomenico to serve as the Town Board liaison to the Committee.
Ayes: Councilmen Koetzle, Quinn, Rosenberg, Councilwoman DiGiandomenico and Supervisor Quinn
Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstentions: None
Motion Carried
RESOLUTION NO. 172-2008
Moved by: Councilman Koetzle
Seconded by: Councilman Quinn
WHEREAS Section 39 of the General Municipal Law of the State of New York requires municipalities to adopt a comprehensive investment policy,
BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Glenville hereby updates the Town’s “Investment Policy”:
INVESTMENT POLICY
TOWN OF GLENVILLE
I. SCOPE
This investment policy applies to all moneys and other financial resources available for investment on its own behalf or on behalf of any other entity or individual.
II. OBJECTIVES
The primary objectives of the local government’s investment activities are, in priority order,
to conform with all applicable federal, state and other legal requirements (legal);
to adequately safeguard principal (safety);
to provide sufficient liquidity to meet all operating requirements (liquidity); and
to obtain a reasonable rate of return (yield).
III. DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY
The Town Board’s responsibility for administration of the investment program is delegated to the Supervisor who shall establish written procedures for the operation of the investment program consistent with these investment guidelines. Such procedures shall include an adequate internal control structure to provide a satisfactory level of accountability based on a data base or records incorporating description and amounts of investments, transaction dates, and other relevant information and regulate the activities of subordinate employees.
IV. PRUDENCE
All participants in the investment process shall seek to act responsibly as custodians of the public trust and shall avoid any transaction that might impair public confidence in the Town of Glenville to govern effectively. Investments shall be made with judgment and care, under circumstances then prevailing, which persons of prudence, discretion and intelligence exercise in the management of their own affairs, not for speculation, but for investment, considering the safety of the principal as well as the probable income to be derived.
All participants involved in the investment process shall refrain from personal business activity that could conflict with proper execution of the investment program, or which could impair their ability to make impartial investment decisions.
V. DIVERSIFICATION
It is the policy of the Town of Glenville to diversify its deposits and investments by financial institution, by investment instrument, and by maturity scheduling.
VI. INTERNAL CONTROLS
It is the policy of the Town of Glenville for all moneys collected by any officer or employee of the government to transfer those funds to the Supervisor within three (3) days of deposit, or within the time period specified in law, whichever is shorter.
The Supervisor is responsible for establishing and maintaining an internal control structure to provide reasonable, but not absolute, assurance that deposits and investments are safeguarded against loss from unauthorized use or disposition, that transactions are executed in accordance with management’s authorization and recorded properly, and are managed in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
VII. DESIGNATION OF DEPOSITARIES
The banks and trust companies authorized for the deposit of moneys up to the maximum amounts are:
Depositary Name Maximum Amount Officer
First National Bank of Scotia
First Niagara Bank
Bank of America
Chase Bank
J. P. Morgan
Citizens Bank
Key Bank
VIII. COLLATERALIZING OF DEPOSITS
In accordance with the provisions of General Municipal Law § 10, all deposits of the Town of Glenville, including certificates of deposit and special time deposits, in excess of the amount insured under the provisions of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act shall be secured:
1. By a pledge of “eligible securities” with an aggregate “market value” as provided by GML § 10, equal to the aggregate amount of deposits from the categories designated in Appendix A to the policy.
2. By an eligible “irrevocable letter of credit” issued by a qualified bank other than the bank with the deposits in favor of the government for a term not to exceed 90 days with an aggregate value equal to 140% of the aggregate amount of deposits and the agreed upon interest, if any. A qualified bank is one whose commercial paper and other unsecured short-term debt obligations are rated in one of the three highest rating categories by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization or by a bank that is in compliance with applicable federal minimum risk-based capital requirements.
3. By an eligible surety bond payable to the government for an amount at least equal to 100% of the aggregate amount of deposits and the agreed upon interest, if any, executed by an insurance company authorized to do business in New York State, whose claims-paying ability is rated in the highest rating category by at least two nationally recognized statistical rating organizations.
IX. SAFEKEEPING AND COLLATERALIZATION
Eligible securities used for collateralizing deposits shall be held by a third party bank or trust company subject to security and custodial agreements.
The security agreement shall provide that eligible securities are being pledged to secure local government deposits together with agreed upon interest, if any, and any costs or expenses arising out of the collection of such deposits upon default. It shall also provide the conditions under which the securities may be sold, presented for payment, substituted or released and the events which will enable the local government to exercise its rights against the pledged securities. In the event that the securities are not registered or inscribed in the name of the local government, such securities shall be delivered in a form suitable for transfer or with an assignment in blank to the Town of Glenville or its custodial bank.
The custodial agreement shall provide that securities held by the bank or trust company, or agent of and custodian for, the local government, will be kept separate and apart from the general assets of the custodial bank or trust company and will not, in any circumstances, be commingled with or become part of the backing for any other deposit or other liabilities. The agreement should also describe that the custodian shall confirm the receipt, substitution or release of the securities. The agreement shall provide for the frequency of revaluation of eligible securities and for the substitution of securities when a change in the rating of a security may cause ineligibility. Such agreement shall include all provisions necessary to provide the local government a perfected interest in the securities.
X. PERMITTED INVESTMENTS
As authorized by General Municipal Law § 11, the Town of Glenville authorizes the Supervisor to invest moneys not required for immediate expenditure for terms not to exceed its projected cash flow needs in the following types of investments:
Special time deposit accounts.
Certificates of deposit.
Obligations of the United States of America;
Obligations guaranteed by agencies of the United States of America where the payment of principal and interest are guaranteed by the United States of America.
Obligations of the State of New York.
Obligations issued pursuant to LFL § 24.00 or 25.00 (with approval of the State Comptroller) by any municipality, school district or district corporation other than the Town of Glenville.
Obligations of public authorities, public housing authorities, urban renewal agencies and industrial development agencies where the general State statutes governing such entities or whose specific enabling legislation authorizes such investments.
Certificates of Participation (COPs) issued pursuant to GML § 109-b.
Obligations of this local government, but only with any moneys in a reserve fund established pursuant to GML §§ 6-c, 6-d, 6-e, 6-g, 6-h, 6-j, 6-k, 6-l, 6-m, or 6-n.
All investment obligations shall be payable or redeemable at the option of the Town of Glenville within such times as the proceeds will be needed to meet expenditures for purposes for which the moneys were provided and, in the case of obligations purchased with the proceeds of bonds or notes, shall be payable or redeemable at the option of the Town of Glenville within two years of the date of purchase.
XI. AUTHORIZED FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND DEALERS
The Town of Glenville shall maintain a list of financial institutions and dealers approved for investment purposes and establish appropriate limits to the amount of investments which can be made with each financial institution or dealer. All financial institutions with which the local government conducts business must be credit worthy. Banks shall provide their most recent Consolidated Report of Condition (Call Report) at the request of the Town of Glenville. Security dealers not affiliated with a bank shall be required to be classified as reporting dealers affiliated with the New York Federal Reserve Bank, as primary dealers. The Supervisor is responsible for evaluating the financial position and maintaining a listing of proposed depositaries, trading partners and custodians. Such listing
shall be evaluated at least annually.
XII. PURCHASE OF INVESTMENTS
The Supervisor is authorized to contract for the purchase of investments:
l. Directly, including through a repurchase agreement, from an authorized trading partner.
2. By participation in a cooperative investment program with another authorized governmental entity pursuant to Article 5G of the General Municipal Law where such program meets all the requirements set forth in the Office of the State Comptroller Opinion No. 88-46, and the specific program has been authorized by the governing board.
3. By utilizing an ongoing investment program with an authorized trading partner pursuant to a contract authorized by the governing board.
All purchased obligations, unless registered or inscribed in the name of the local government, shall be purchased through, delivered to and held in the custody of a bank or trust company. Such obligations shall be purchased, sold or presented for redemption or payment by such bank or trust company only in accordance with prior written authorization from the officer authorized to make the investment. All such transactions shall be confirmed in writing to the Town of Glenville by the bank or trust company. Any obligation held in the custody of a bank or trust company shall be held pursuant to a written custodial agreement as described in General Municipal Law § 10.
The custodial agreement shall provide that securities held by the bank or trust company, as agent of and custodian for, the local government, will be kept separate and apart from the general assets of the custodial bank or trust company and will not, in any circumstances, be commingled with or become part of the backing for any other deposit or other liabilities. The agreement shall describe how the custodian shall confirm the receipt and release of the securities. Such agreement shall include all provisions necessary to provide the local government a perfected interest in the securities.
XIII. REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS
Repurchase agreements are authorized subject to the following restrictions:
All repurchase agreements must be entered into subject to a Master Repurchase Agreement.
Trading partners are limited to banks or trust companies authorized to do business in New York State and primary reporting dealers.
Obligations shall be limited to obligations of the United States of America and obligations guaranteed by agencies of the United States of America.
No substitution of securities will be allowed.
The custodian shall be a party other than the trading partner.
APPENDIX A
Schedule of Eligible Securities
(i) Obligations issued, or fully insured or guaranteed as to the payment of principal and interest, by the United States of America, an agency thereof or a United States government sponsored corporation.
(ii) Obligations issued or fully guaranteed by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the InterAmerican Development Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and the African Development Bank.
(iii) Obligations partially insured or guaranteed by any agency of the United States of America, at a proportion of the Market Value of the obligation that represents the amount of the insurance or guaranty.
(iv) Obligations issued or fully insured or guaranteed by the State of New York, obligations issued by a municipal corporation, school district or district corporation of such State or obligations of any public benefit corporation which under a specific State statute may be accepted as security for deposit of public moneys.
(v) Obligations issued by states (other than the State of New York) of the United States rated in one of the three highest rating categories by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization.
(vi) Obligations of Puerto Rico rated in one of the three highest rating categories by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization.
(vii) Obligations of counties, cities and other governmental entities of a state other than the State of New York having the power to levy taxes that are backed by the full faith and credit of such governmental entity and rated in one of the three highest rating categories by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization.
(viii) Obligations of domestic corporations rated in one of the two highest rating categories by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization.
(ix) Any mortgage related securities, as defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which may be purchased by banks under the limitations established by bank regulatory agencies.
(x) Commercial paper and bankers’ acceptances issued by a bank, other than the Bank, rated in the highest short term category by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization and having maturities of not longer than 60 days from the date they are pledged.
(xi Zero coupon obligations of the United States government marketed as “Treasury strips.”
Ayes: Councilmen Koetzle, Quinn, Rosenberg, Councilwoman DiGiandomenico and Supervisor Quinn
Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstentions: None
Motion Carried
Discussion…
Councilman Rosenberg – “We had originally applied for a grant through the NYS Archives and it was approved and in the State’s money saving programs we lost 6%, so after it was approved the grant got cut 6% creating a gap.”
RESOLUTION NO. 173-2008
Moved by: Councilman Rosenberg
Seconded by: Councilman Quinn
WHEREAS, the Town of Glenville is experiencing considerable growth in record keeping requirements; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Glenville has no uniform system of document storage and retrieval; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Glenville has received a grant from the NYS Archives program of the State Education Department for $61,905.00; and
WHEREAS, the Building Department has solicited bids from three vendors, for a Laserfiche Electronic Data Management System and Integrated Property Management Software; and
WHEREAS, Business Automation Services responded with the lowest price for both the Integrated Property System Proposal ($60,745.00) and the Laserfiche Electronic Data Management System ($9,975.00); and
WHEREAS, implementation of this system will significantly improve the Town’s records management and retrieval abilities, in addition to putting the Town into position to apply for the next grant for scanning and printing equipment;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Board hereby authorizes the Building Department to purchase a Laserfiche Electronic Data Management System and an Intergraded Property System at a cost not to exceed $70,720.00, with the Town of Glenville’s contribution not to exceed $8,815.00
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the following budgetary transfer will fund this purchase:
Appropriation 02.00.3620.4500 fees for services increased $70,720
Revenue 02.00.3060.0000 SARA Grant increased $61,905
Fund Balance 02 (B Fund) $8,815
Ayes: Councilmen Koetzle, Quinn, Rosenberg, Councilwoman DiGiandomenico and Supervisor Quinn
Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstentions: None
Motion Carried
RESOLUTION NO. 174-2008
Moved by: Councilwoman DiGiandomenico
Seconded by: Councilman Rosenberg
BE IT RESOLVED, that the minutes of the regular meeting held on October 1, 2008 be and they hereby are approved and accepted as entered.
Ayes: Councilmen Koetzle, Quinn, Rosenberg, Councilwoman DiGiandomenico and Supervisor Quinn
Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstentions: None
Motion Carried
Town Administrator’s Report:
Tony Germano – “The County Legislature is meeting tonight to review the mortgage tax disbursements for the remaining six months of the year in terms of what the Town’s and Village’s receive as a result of the mortgage tax. I am please to report information from our Receiver of Taxes; she indicates that in this year’s budget we projected revenue of $700,000 in mortgage tax. We are going to exceed that revenue by a little over $32,000 this year. We will be getting a check for a little over $386,699 for the second half of this year.
I contacted Reliant Energy last week and asked “what are you now selling electricity for? I am pleased to report that the rate we got is 9.9¢ per kilowatt hour, the current rate that they can offer any large buyer is between 10.4¢ and 10.6¢ per kilowatt. We are locked in at this rate for three (3) years.
The last thing that I will give you an update on is the Woodcrest Sewer Extension project. As you know we had some nineteen homes in Woodcrest that petitioned this Board seeking an extension to the sewer district that is in that neighborhood.
The State Comptroller authorized an expenditure of no more then $290,000 to complete that project. We ran into two (2) problems, one was the fuel prices were increasing significantly and number two we discovered that we had some unstable soil. So when the digging had to be done to lay sewer pipe we would need to take out bad soil and bring in good soil. As a result of those two issues when we issued the bids the lowest bid came in almost $100,000 more then the authorized State Comptrollers price to complete the work.
Commissioner LeClair has been working with his staff to look at alternatives to see if we could deliver the extension close to the State Comptrollers authorized price. Next we will have a meeting with the nineteen residents on Wednesday, November 12th at 6:00 pm here at the Municipal Center. We decided that before we go any further we really need to talk to them. It looks like we may have to go back to the State Comptroller; I don’t believe we are going to be able to meet the $290,000 ceiling on the expense to complete this project.
We may have to go through the process all over again, there may have to be a petition to the Board and then filling out the Part 85 for the State Comptroller and then going back out for the bid process.
We will have more information for you after next Wednesday.”
Councilman Koetzle – “Does the County have any projections for ’09 on what we may see as far as what they are expecting the economy to do with sales and the mortgage tax?”
Mr. Germano – “We are going to meet with the County tomorrow and our hope is that after the Intergovernmental Meeting and the consolidated dispatch discussion that we will have an opportunity to talk about, now that their budget has been finalized, what they have in the budget relative to disbursements. I don’t have an answer for you at this time.”
Councilman Koetzle – “The residents should know that that is a huge portion of our revenue and I think looking at the economy we are concerned about what that is going to be next year and that is also a driver in the tax rate.”
Mr. Germano – “As you know we did decrease the revenue in the 2009 Preliminary Budget some $50,000 so we are down to $650,000 in projected revenue. That is $50,000 below this year’s number.”
Councilman Koetzle – “Relating to the energy issue, I know that part two of the plan was to have an energy audit by NYPA. Are we moving forward with that energy audit?”
Mr. Germano – “We are, the Supervisor has signed the contract between us and right now we are waiting for NYPA to assemble their team that is going to come in and actually do the audit. We have been talking to Reliant about that, they obviously have an invested interest in how that proceeds and offer their assistance. I just think it is probably a very busy time of the year for NYPA, I’m sure they are doing other audits. They told us they would be here as soon as they can but I don’t have a date yet.”
New Business:
Councilman Quinn – “We heard a variety of comments tonight with regard to the budget many with which I agreed with and I was kind of hoping the Mr. Gaetani would stick around because I actually did agree with him on a number of items in my five years of service to the town. We always have a tendency of underestimating revenue and we generally have a very healthy fund balance at the end of the year. I am in agreement philosophically and from a financial stand point that that is the people’s money. Do we need a rainy day fund? Yes, but do I think most local governments keep too much of that money as a rainy day fund? Yes, we should give back more of it to the people in terms of tax reduction.”
Councilman Rosenberg – “I think we need to get this tax increase down below 5%. I have had a lot of residents calling me on the telephone and I have had a lot of e-mails from a lot of people that are concerned. My goal would be for us as a board, as a package…I have some suggestions here.
I did do some research on the County sales tax and it looks as if it may actually be flat this year. The spending was down because gas is going up; the County tax on the gas is going up as well. It appears from what I read that we may be flat and I may be willing to put that $50,000 back in that we had in there for this year for next year. I went through the budget line by line today and it appears that utility costs in the budget are similar in ’09 to what they were in ’08 and I think that if we did a 10% decrease in that number we still come up with $10,000 or $11,000 savings that isn’t a ton of money but we are in the five digits. I don’t recall what the percentage of savings we are expecting
as a result of that contract. I think there is some room for savings there.
I think we really need to sit down and look at the overtime numbers as to whether or not we want to schedule the levels that are in there as far as guaranteed we are going to spend it no matter what or if we want to cut that number back and rely on the fund balance in case of emergency. I found about $279,000 in savings which would bring us down to about 5% but one of those is adding back in the $50,000 in sales tax as well.
One other item for what it is worth, Councilman Quinn had brought up a few time about the History Center and selling and reducing our costs for holding that. We have talked about moving the stuff that is in there to the other building that we now own on Swaggertown Road as part of that donation of land. I would be more than happy, at no cost, as a realtor, to do the leg work if somebody wanted to get an idea and I would even market it at no cost.”
Councilwoman DiGiandomenico – “At the present time I don’t think we have a lot of equity in it. It is my recollection that the property was on the market for ages and I think the people that owned it were pretty lucky when the Town came along and bought it because it is not in the most desirable spot on top of a hill.
My suggestion is that we approach developers and get a good price for the property, never mind trying to put it back on the market as a house.”
RESOLUTION NO. 175-2008
Moved by: Councilman Koetzle
Seconded by: Councilman Quinn
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Glenville hereby adjourns into Executive Session to discuss a legal matter pertaining to a tax certiorari, a union contract and 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 9:25 p.m. and entered into Executive Session.
Time being 11:20 pm Supervisor Quinn reconvened the meeting.
The Town of Glenville Town Board Meeting was adjourned at 11:21 PM.
ATTEST:
______________________________
Linda C. Neals
Town Clerk
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