Town of Tompkins in New York's Delaware County

The regular monthly meeting of the Town of Tompkins Town Board
was called to order at 7:15 pm in the Town meeting room, Trout Creek, NY.

Present:

1. William Layton – Supervisor
2. Howard Buttel – Councilperson
3. Tim LaTourette – Councilperson
4. Peggy Backus – Councilperson
5. Carl Stuendel – Councilperson

Others:

1. Ronald VanValkenburg – Hwy Superintendent
2. Michelle Phoenix ‑ Deputy Town Clerk
3. Nancy Roberts – Bookkeeper to the Supervisor
4. Luther Higley – Town of Tompkins Fire District
5. Judy Pangman – Lamont Engineers
6. Robert      A. Panasci  – Young & Sommer – Attorney      representing Lamont Engineers

Minutes Approval:

On motion by LaTourette, seconded by Stuendel, it was moved to approve the minutes of the Board meeting held on October 10, 2011.

Vote: All AYEs – Motion Carried.

Monthly Financial Reports:

Town Clerk’s Report:

On motion by Stuendel, seconded by Buttel, it was moved to receive, approve and place on file the Town Clerk’s monthly report for September.

Vote: All AYEs – Motion carried.

Supervisor’s Report:

The Town’s monthly financial report was reviewed with Nancy Roberts, bookkeeper to the Supervisor. A discussion took place on withdrawing $60,000 from the Equipment Reserve fund DA231 and depositing it into the highway fund Checking account #825 to cover highway bills for the rest of 2011 upon receiving the chips funds in late December it will be deposited into the equipment fund to replace money borrowed (see Resolution_19-2011).

On motion by Stuendel, seconded by Buttel, it was moved to receive, approve and place on file the Supervisor’s Financial Report.

Vote: All AYEs – Motion carried.

Guest Speakers:

Judy Pangman – Lamont Engineers

Judy addressed the board with the process of the Stromwater Retrofit Program. The work will include two stormwater treatment units at the highway garage site to treat roof and parking lot runoff, and a bioretention basin next to the salt shed to treat roof runoff.   This application replaces entirely the previous one that Bill signed as the scope entirely changed.  This scope is based on site visits and discussions with CWC and DEP staff and will improve stormwater treatment on Town-owned properties.  The stormwater work will be bid and constructed with the wastewater work. There will be a CWC Board Meeting in the beginning of December for final approval.

Judy also stated that the Sewer system design is 100% complete

Robert A Panasci of Young & Sommer addressed the board regarding Easements for the sewer district, Robert stated there are 5 residents of the sewer district that have not signed and the next steps that will need to be taken with them. (See Resolution_ 17-2011 Use of Eminent Domain).

Robert also provided a resolution for the Town to purchase the Higley property and giving the Town Supervisor William Layton authorization to execute on behalf of the town an agreement to purchase the property and to execute any and all documents necessary to complete the transaction. (See Resolution_20-2011)

Robert also explained there were findings of an underground fuel tank on the Higley property, after much discussion and on motion by Backus, seconded by LaTourette it was moved to hold off on the closing of the property until issues with the underground tank have been resolved. The Town will have pressure testing and Soil boring done.

Vote: All AYE’s – Motion carried.

Luther Higley addressed the board regarding issues with Fire District file storage. Luther Explained the District has files located at many locations due to the fact they have no place to store them, Luther asked the board if the Town had any location these files could be stored. The board advised Luther to have the Fire District figure out the amount of space that would be needed and to bring it back to the board and the board would discuss options for the needed storage and a location.

Other Reports:

Report – Planning Board

Michelle read to Board the August 11, 2011 report.  (See August 2011 Planning Board minutes)

Report – Assessor

None

Report – Highway Superintendent

1. Ron explained that prior resolution (07-2010) making      Windfall Run Road a seasonal Road for 2009 – 2010 needed to be a seasonally      maintained road for all future years. On Motion by Backus, seconded by      Layton it was moved to make Windfall Run Road in the Town of Tompkins a      seasonally maintained road from December 1^st to April 1^st      starting past the driveway of residence tax map #2283-6-2. (See Resolution_18-2011 Windfall Lake Road_Seasonal Maintenance). Vote All AYE’s – Motion Carried
2. Ron questioned a invoice paid to Morgan White      Admistrators found on September’s Abstract and wondered what it was for –      Nancy explained it was for Life insurance on employees.
3. Worked on drawing grit
4. Working Roads and cleaning mess from storms
5. Working in shop
6. Helped Franklin.
7. Boom mower up and using, found some minor adjustments      that needed to be done on it.
8. Cold patching being done.
9. Roads are caught up.
10. Starting to notice problems from high water from storms      and are fixing as they are being found.
11. FEMA money should be coming in
12. Inquired about storing equipment in creamery over      winter once the closing goes through.
13. Received money for scrap that was taken in.

Report – Dog Control Officer

1. No issues to report this month.

Report- Supervisor:

1. Teamsters audit will be Monday at 9:30am
2. NYMIR – Bill will be asking them to come and present their insurance policies for insurance on equipment, building, etc.
3. Town has received a reimbursement check from the County Treasurer for a Forestry Violation from a property owner in Tompkins.
4. Judge Backus will be retiring at the end of the year Bill found that anyone can be appointed would have to run for election in November and if they were not a Lawyer they can take office and get into school. There is also a school being held in December, discussed asking current judge Backus to resign as of November 30, 2011 so that a new judge can be appointed and take the classes in December.
5. The county has paid for both boys we had for summer help this year.

Correspondence

None

 
Other

None

On motion by Buttel, seconded by Backus, it was moved to approve the Abstract of Claims for November, 2011 as follows:
General Fund: $ 13,653.44 Highway Fund: $ 29,106.99
Vote: All AYEs – Motion carried.

Reading back of the minutes:

On motion by Stuendel and seconded by Buttel, it was moved to accept the minutes as read back

Vote: All AYEs – Motion carried.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:25 PM

Next meeting will be at 7pm on December 12, 2011 at the Town Meeting Room, Trout Creek, NY.

Respectfully submitted:
Michelle Phoenix
Town Clerk