The regular monthly meeting of the Town of Tompkins Town Board was called to order at 7:00 pm in the Town meeting room, Trout Creek, NY. With Peggy Backus leading in the Flag salute.
Present:
William Layton – Supervisor
Brian Albanese – Councilperson
Howard Buttel – Councilperson
Peggy Backus – Councilperson
Tim LaTourette – Councilperson
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Others:
Nancy Roberts – Bookkeeper to Supervisor
Linda Bourn – Deputy Town Clerk
Ron VanValkenburg – Highway Superintendent
Josh LaTourette
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Floor Time/Guests:
Tammy Wagner, Kathy Preston, Pam Gardepe, Lynne VanValkenburg, Michael Preston, Nancy Hornbeck, and Brenda Martin.
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RESOLUTION # 30-2024 ABSTRACT OF CLAIMS
On motion by Peggy Backus, seconded by Howie Buttel, it was moved to approve the Abstract of Claims for March 2024 as follows:
General Fund: $8,374.50
Highway Fund: $23,733.24.
Vote: All in favor – Motion carried.
RESOLUTION # 31- 2024 SUPERVISOR MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT
On motion by Brian Albanese, seconded by Howie Buttel, it was moved to approve and place on file the Supervisor’s monthly financial reports as of March 31, 2024, dated 04/09/2024.
Vote: All in favor – Motion Carried.
RESOLUTION # 32- 2024 DEPUTY CLERK/DEPUTY REGISTRAR/SEWER DISTRICT ADMINISTRATOR
On motion by Peggy Backus, seconded by Howie Buttel, it was moved to approve and place on file to appoint Linda Bourn as the Deputy Town Clerk/Registrar/Sewer District Administrator and to be paid the same rate as the current Town Clerk.
Vote: All in favor – Motion Carried.
RESOLUTION # 33- 2024 COURT CLERK/DEPUTY BOOKKEEPER
On motion by Peggy Backus, seconded by Tim LaTourette, it was moved to approve and place on file to appoint Dystinee Rubera as the Court Clerk/Deputy Bookkeeper and to be paid rate of the current Court Clerk.
Vote: All in favor – Motion Carried.
RESOLUTION # 34- 2024 BANK ACCOUNTS TOWN CLERK/SEWER DISTRICT
On motion by Peggy Backus, seconded by Bill Layton, it was moved to approve and place on file to add Linda Bourn and Bill Layton and to remove Pam Scofield from those bank accounts at the Community Bank these include Town Clerk Checking, Tax Collector Checking, Trout Creek Sewer District Checking & Trout Creek Sewer District Savings.
Vote: All in favor – Motion Carried.
RESOLUTION # 35- 2024 BANK ACCOUNT COURT
On motion by Peggy Backus, seconded by Howie Buttel, it was moved to approve and place on file to add Dystinee Rubera to the Court Bank Account.
Vote: All in favor – Motion Carried.
RESOLUTION # 36- 2024 MOVE $1,500.00 FROM A5132.4 GEN FUND GARAGE CONTRACTUAL
TO DA5010.4 HWY STREET ADMINISTRATION CONTRACTUAL
On motion by Brian Albanese, seconded by Tim LaTourette, it was moved to approve and place on file to move these funds.
Vote: All in favor – Motion Carried.
RESOLUTION # 37- 2024 TO ACCEPT TO HIRE PHIL HANLEY AS MOWING 2024 FOR THE SAME PRICE AS 2023
On motion by Peggy Backus, seconded by Howie Buttel, it was moved to approve and place on file to accept.
Vote: All in favor – Motion Carried.
RESOLUTION # 38- 2024 HIGHWAY WORKERS TO WORK 4 – 10 HOUR DAYS
On motion by Bill Layton, seconded by Howie Buttel, it was moved to approve and place on file to accept.
Vote: All in favor – Motion Carried.
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OLD BUSINESS
Fire Tower – City cut all the trees. Patrick called last week and said they were looking at a date next week to see what material they are going to put down.
UTV’s on Highway Roads – Nothing New
Walking Trail – The walking trail was discussed, and it was asked of the town board to pass a resolution allowing the Community Committee to seek out other funding options, such as grants. There were many discussions on who would maintain the grounds and the size of the trail as well as any additional buildings. The Community Committee is asking that the town would add to the budget to plan to maintain this space and Brian wanted to make them aware that this would in fact increase taxes, over time there would be repairs that would need to be done at the expense of the town. The Community Committee stated that the water shed is willing to put in the bridges.
Bill Layton said that he spoke with John Decker and he and his wife Paula might be willing to donate the parcel of property they own to the town, providing that a plaque be installed and a bench in memory of his parents. The stipulation would be that there would never be a town building installed on that part of the property at any time in the future.
Brian wants to make sure that the town people understand that we are not using ARPA funds to create this walking trail. We are buying a piece of equipment with the ARPA funds.
The board is suggesting that they pass the resolution for them to seek other funds and see where that leads and to possibly start smaller scale and see if this is something that is going to be used before making it as big as they plan. This can be done in stages if it looks like it is being utilized.
Credit Card – Bill said that he went to NBT and signed all the paperwork for the credit card, and they told him that they would be coming in the mail in a couple of weeks. Bill will follow up with NBT.
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NEW BUSINESS
Brian said that if we are going to do piggy backing that we need to do it correctly. NYS auditor says we can piggyback although it is not the preferred method and would prefer, we do competitive bidding. Brian asked Ron to get the paperwork on the truck that we piggybacked on almost 3 months ago and bring it to the next meeting or he will make a motion to cancel the truck order.
Bill will check with Josh Cutting on an estimate on the roof of the jail and the shed.
Peggy asked if the Dog Control Officer is doing an enumeration this year. Bill said he was waiting for a past due list from Michelle. Linda will provide him with a list.
Bill will call Bret to see if he can come and sit with Linda and show her what needs to be done with the Sewer district paperwork.
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REPORTS:
Highway Superintendent –
[The crew has been working on] Potholes, Brush, Sweeping, Cleaning-up trees from windstorm, Working on equipment.
Boom Mower broke down.
2005 John Deere Loader sent to 5 Star because it is not shifting. A call was made to sales today and they said that there is something else wrong with it, there are 20 codes stored and 10 of them are transmission.
There was an accident with Tim plowing and a car caught the corner of the plow, they are claiming $7,500
damage, the insurance company (NYMIR) is handling the claim. Bill received a call from the insurance
company that it was our fault, and they would take care of the claim.
Ron is looking at what roads to do this year, these are some estimates:
1. Readburn Road – 4.3 Miles and would cost $500,000 with no base gravel.
2. Chase Brook Road – 1.86 Miles and would cost $137,000. Ron said when they started using millings, they didn’t realize they should have mixed something else with them to make it stronger.
3. Dryden Road -1.61 Miles $179,000. Ron says we must do something with this one this year, not due until (2026).
4. Chamberlain Brook Road – $63,000. Ron says we must do something with this one this year.
5. Faulkner Road – $41,000. Ron says we must do something with this one this year, not due until (2026).
Can’t use CHIPS money for any road except Readburn.
Can the town come up with the money to do Dryden, Chamberlain, and Faulkner Roads $232,000 we have budgeted $140,000 for regular road repairs and $50,000 for non-CHIPS roads.
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Supervisor –
NYSEG Lights – Bill received an email from them and the cost to replace the lights with LED will be $320.00.
Meeting adjourned at 8:57 pm
Next meeting to be held on May 14, 2024, at 7PM
Date: April 10, 2024
Linda Bourn – Town of Tompkins Deputy Town Clerk
Brian Albanese – Councilman
Town of Tompkins in New York's Delaware County 