Town of Glenville - Town Board Meeting Minutes 9/1/2010

Town Board Meeting Minutes 9/1/2010

REGULAR MEETING OF THE TOWN BOARD

TOWN OF GLENVILLE

SEPTEMBER 1, 2010

AT THE GLENVILLE MUNICIPAL CENTER

18 GLENRIDGE ROAD, GLENVILLE, NEW YORK

Supervisor Koetzle called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM;

Supervisor Koetzle asked the Town Clerk, Linda C. Neals, to call the roll.

Present: Supervisor Christopher A. Koetzle, Councilman Sid Ramotar and Councilwoman Gina M. Wierzbowski

Absent: Councilmen Alan Boulant and Mark Quinn

Also present were Attorney Michael Cuevas, Director of Operations James MacFarland.

No Town Council Reports

The following people exercised the Privilege of the Floor:

Bill Shader, town resident – “We are here this evening to find out what is happening in regards to property located at 37 Marion Blvd. I see that it is listed on tonight’s agenda and there is something potentially planned for September 15^th and we are happy with that. We will be back at that time.”

Supervisor Koetzle – “There will be a public hearing on that day at which time you can address your concerns regarding this unsafe property as well as this evening if you wish. After the public hearing the Board will vote on moving forward with the suggested actions.”

No one else wished to speak.

Supervisor’s Comments:

Supervisor Koetzle shared the following information:

This past Monday we hosted a neighborhood association meeting from Cedar Lane, Birch Lane, Willow Lane area to talk about the County’s plan to possibly build a nursing home on county land that abuts the Indian Kill Preserve. It was a well attended meeting; we had probably between 75 and 100 people attend. Assemblyman Tedisco, Senator Farley, Legislators Farley and Buhrmaster were here to speak as well and to lend their support and to talk to the residents about what the options were. As you all read the County has decided not to build in that space but also said that more information would be coming four months from now so the residents are still very concerned about what actually might be decided in four months.

It is important to know through the course of the meeting we did find out or confirmed I should say, that the resolution passed by the legislature says quite clearly that the bond being floating for 52 million dollars must be constructed on or near the foot print of the current facility. I called and questioned Chairwoman Savage’s unilateral release of policy or change of policy that said that that would not be the case when the resolution authorized that to be the case so I think there is an issue there going forward.

I will keep you up to date on this.

Tomorrow night will be our first budget presentation to the community. Legislation that was previous past requires the supervisor to hold two budget hearings in the community prior to the release of the tentative budget. The reason behind that resolution was to give the residents a formal opportunity to give input into the tentative budget. Tomorrow night’s presentation will take place at the Senior Center at 7:30 pm and the second meeting will be held on September 9^th here at 18 Glenridge Road at 7:30.

I would like to take a few minutes to recap the retirement incentive that we looked at last week. Some of our employees were upset with the decision that we had made. I want to just reiterate that there was no wrong answer but the cash out, I believe, would have been too expensive. One of the things that people lose site of because I hear; well Niskayuna is doing this; Rotterdam is doing that and the County is doing this; well their benefits may not be the same. In the fact that Glenville has fairly rich benefits on cash out compensation time has something to do with our decision. It has something to do with why our costs would be $324,000 and Rotterdam’s might have been below $200,000. We have to look at the benefits that we afford our employees and wonder if that is sometimes detrimental when these opportunities arise that really tie our hands. I just wanted to make that point that we don’t have the same situation as Rotterdam, Niskayuna or the City. We made the decision on what’s best for the tax payers in Glenville.

September 29^th we will be meeting with Time Warner to really hammer down our agreement that is probably becoming overdue. We have been talking to Time Warner for sometime and we are hoping that we get a good outcome there that would actually be bringing a little more revenue in 2011.

The new website is up except for one issue that if you happen to use Microsoft browser there’s a technical issue with that browser. You can view it on other browsers but not the Microsoft browser but they are working on that right now and it should be fixed soon.

The “Oktoberfest” is all set for Saturday, October 2, from 2:00 pm to 10:00 pm. You can go to www.glenvilleoktoberfest.com for more information. There will be live bands, German food, beer garden, harvest specialties, fire truck pull competition, antique car show, flag football games, community exhibits, kids fund zone. It will be held at the County Airport, near the Richmor Aviation Hanger. It should be a good day for all involved.

I just want to touch on a little preview of what we are going to talk about tomorrow night. Hopefully the Board will be present and we get some questions.

We are facing some significant challenges in the budget this year and one of the biggest is the health insurance line, which is looking to increase at about $270,000 to this years cost. That is significant in itself, but when you look at the retirement fund we are looking at about $190,000 to $200,000 or so in increase in retirement costs as well. Worker’s Compensation is looking to go up about $40,000. All of those put together equals about a 10% tax increase right off the bat.

On top of that if we do a salary increase of any type this year that would be adding another 3% or something so that would be a total of 13%. Worse our revenue line and mortgage tax is down this year. We expect to be off about $25,000 to $30,000 in 2010. It is my personal opinion and I am sure we are going to have different opinions, but I do not believe that 2011 is not going to be any better for the mortgage market. I hear a lot of people talk about refinancing, that’s even if you can get a loan now a day. The issue is more credit flowing and I don’t see where we are going to have an increase in that revenue in 2011.

So looking at our costs this way and our revenues going this way and if we are lucky they might stay level but I don’t even see that happening.

On top of that we have the burden of trying to make up the 1.4 million from last year. Our fund balance, right now, is coming in a little bit higher than we originally anticipated, which is good, but it is still a little early to get a true number on that but whatever number it is it’s clear that making up the 1.4 million is still going to be quite a lift when you consider that the one shots that were used last time like FEMA money, $500,000 in storm money and the $400,000 to budget item line that was conservatively budgeted in the health insurance line; that’s about $900,000 right there that was used and it isn’t there this year.

There are some challenges as we go into this and that is what we want to talk about tomorrow. Understanding that 70% of our budget is employee pay and benefits, I am asking our employees to become part of the solution. I don’t think we can go through this process without engaging our employees in frank discussions about where our cost drivers are. If we don’t address those costs in those employee lines; health insurance, retirement and all of those other lines, salaries, I don’t think we have a clear path out of this. So I am asking our employees to come to these meetings and have input. I am asking them to engage us and have input. As liaisons engage your department heads on where can we start addressing some of these issues? It’s not rocket science, we all know where the costs are, it’s health insurance so until we start getting cost shared on some of that we’re going to have an issue going forward.

I just wanted to spend a few minutes to talk about that, we will talk a lot more about it tomorrow night and next Thursday as we go through this process. That’s where we are at least on the quick look at it.”

Supervisor Koetzle moved ahead with the agenda.

RESOLUTION NO. 149-2010

Moved by: Councilman Quinn

Seconded by: Councilwoman Wierzbowski

WHEREAS, by application dated July 12, 2010 and pursuant to the Code of the Town of Glenville, the Burnt Hills Rowing Association is holding their annual Spartan Sweeps Regatta on the Mohawk River and has applied for a permit to host this event. It will be held on Sunday, October 3, 2010 from 8 AM to 2 PM; and.

WHEREAS, said application did include the necessary insurance coverage; and

WHEREAS, said application has been referred to the Chief of Police, Town of Glenville and the respective Fire Chief of the area in which said entertainment will be conducted, as required by the Code of the Town of Glenville.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Town Board of the Town of Glenville that said application of the Burnt Hills Rowing Association, be and it hereby is approved; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Town Clerk be and she hereby is authorized and directed to issue the required permit subject to all stipulations cited by the Chief of Police and the Alplaus Fire District #2 Chief.

Ayes: Councilman Quinn, Councilwoman Wierzbowski and Supervisor Koetzle

Noes: None

Absent: Councilmen Boulant and Ramotar

Abstention: None

Motion Carried

Discussion…

Councilwoman Wierzbowski – “The Building Department has been attempting through the courts to try and get the property owner to clean the property up. It is quite deteriorated, I have seen it myself and it’s quite bad. This is the first step in trying to either secure or demolish the structure.”

RESOLUTION NO. 150-2010

Moved by: Councilwoman Wierzbowski

Seconded by: Councilman Quinn

WHEREAS, the property and structures located at 145 Haigh Rd. in the Town of Glenville have, due to neglect, deteriorated to the point where they have become a danger to the health, safety, and general welfare of the community; and

WHEREAS, after repeated attempts to remedy the situation through the normal enforcement procedures as required by the Code of the Town of Glenville have been unsuccessful; and

WHEREAS, Town Law, Article 9, section 64, authorizes the town, after a hearing before the board, and if the owner fails or refuses to remedy the situation, to repair or remove the structure and asses all cost and expenses against the land on which said buildings or structures are located;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Glenville Town Board hereby schedules a public hearing for Wednesday, September 15^th, at 7:30 p.m. or as shortly thereafter as possible, to hear all interested parties regarding the unsafe property located at 145 Haigh Rd.

Ayes: Councilman Quinn, Councilwoman Wierzbowski and Supervisor Koetzle

Noes: None

Absent: Councilmen Boulant and Ramotar

Abstentions: None

Motion Carried

Discussion…

Councilwoman Wierzbowski – “This is again another home that has had continuous issues that has been attempted to be resolved through the courts in contacting the owners and I have seen this property as well and it appears to be quite unsafe.”

RESOLUTION NO. 151-2010

Moved by: Councilwoman Wierzbowski

Seconded by: Councilman Quinn

WHEREAS, the property and structures located at 37 Marion Blvd. in the Town of Glenville have, due to neglect, deteriorated to the point where they have become a danger to the health, safety, and general welfare of the community; and

WHEREAS, after repeated attempts to remedy the situation through the normal enforcement procedures as required by the Code of the Town of Glenville have been unsuccessful; and

Ayes: Councilman Quinn, Councilwoman Wierzbowski and Supervisor Koetzle

Noes: None

Absent: Councilmen Boulant and Ramotar

Abstentions: None

Motion Carried

Discussion…

Councilwoman Wierzbowski – “This is a third property that our building department has been diligent with regard to cleaning it up and holding a public hearing to any hear public comment.”

Councilman Quinn – “By way of clarification, this is the property, didn’t they come in with photographs and they had things piled to the ceiling?”

Councilwoman Wierzbowski – “Yes, this is the one that the main structure had a fire and it was knocked down but there are ancillary structures on the property as well as the debris from the structure being demolished.”

RESOLUTION NO. 152-2010

Moved by: Councilwoman Wierzbowski

Seconded by: Councilman Quinn

WHEREAS, the property and structures located at 1983 Amsterdam Rd. in the Town of Glenville have, due to fire and neglect, deteriorated to the point where they have become a danger to the health, safety, and general welfare of the community; and

WHEREAS, after repeated attempts to remedy the situation through the normal enforcement procedures as required by the Code of the Town of Glenville have been unsuccessful; and

WHEREAS, Town Law, Article 9, section 64, authorizes the town, after a hearing before the board, and if the owner fails or refuses to remedy the situation, to repair or remove the structure and asses all cost and expenses against the land on which said buildings or structures are located;

Ayes: Councilman Quinn, Councilwoman Wierzbowski and Supervisor Koetzle

Noes: None

Absent: Councilmen Boulant and Ramotar

Abstentions: None

Motion Carried

RESOLUTION NO. 154-2010

Moved by: Councilman Quinn

Seconded by: Councilwoman Wierzbowski

BE IT RESOLVED, that the minutes of the regular meeting held on August 18, 2010 and the special meeting held on August 25, 2010, are hereby approved and accepted as entered.

Ayes: Councilman Quinn, Councilwoman Wierzbowski and Supervisor Koetzle

Noes: None

Absent: Councilmen Boulant and Ramotar

Abstentions: None

Motion Carried

Discussion…

Supervisor Koetzle – “I want to thank a few people for all of their hard work on this. I want to say that this is really an important step for us; this is part of our strategic plan that we had this year. This has been part of the Small Business and Economic Committee goals since I began my work there two years ago now and I have to thank Councilman Ramotar for all of his hard work and making sure that this actually got done this year. It’s really hats off to him for keeping that going. I also want to thank the Chamber for all of their hard work, Leesa Perazzo, Cheryl Loria, County Legislator Jim Buhrmaster made sure that we received all of the sign off from the County that we needed and County Manager Kathy Rooney for allowing us to use their property. We do appreciate all of that hard work and I am sure there are countless others and we will have an opportunity to thank them all duly after the event.”

RESOLUTION NO. 153-2010

Moved by: Councilwoman Wierzbowski

Seconded by: Councilman Quinn

WHEREAS, the Town of Glenville in its 2010 Strategic Plan identified hosting a community event as a goal, and

WHEREAS, the town’s Small Business and Economic Development Committee recommended an Oktoberfest-themed event, and has formed a committee to help conduct such an event, and

WHEREAS, in order to utilize Schenectady County-owned property, a license agreement between the town and county is required,

Now, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Supervisor of the Town Of Glenville is hereby authorized to enter into a license agreement with the County of Schenectady to conduct an Oktoberfest on the grounds of the Schenectady County Airport and adjacent county-owned property, such authorization subject to final approval from the town’s legal counsel and insurance provider.

Ayes: Councilman Quinn, Councilwoman Wierzbowski and Supervisor Koetzle

Noes: None

Absent: Councilmen Boulant and Ramotar

Abstentions: None

Motion Carried

RESOLUTION NO. 154-2010

Moved by: Councilman Quinn

Seconded by: Councilwoman Wierzbowski

BE IT RESOLVED, that the minutes of the regular meeting held on August 18, 2010 and the special meeting held on August 25, 2010, are hereby approved and accepted as entered.

Ayes: Councilman Quinn, Councilwoman Wierzbowski and Supervisor Koetzle

Noes: None

Absent: Councilmen Boulant and Ramotar

Abstentions: None

Motion Carried

Supervisor Koetzle asked for a motion to adjourn; motion to adjourn was moved by Councilman Quinn; Seconded by Councilman Ramotar, everyone being in favor the meeting was adjourned at 7:52 PM.

ATTEST:

______________________________

Linda C. Neals

Town Clerk