The regular monthly meeting of the Town of Tompkins Town Board was called to order at 7:04 pm in the Town meeting room, Trout Creek, NY. With Bill Layton leading in the Flag salute.
Present:
- Brian Albanese – Councilperson
- Howard Buttel – Councilperson
- Peggy Backus – Councilperson
- William Layton – Supervisor
Absent: Tim LaTourette – Councilperson
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Others:
- Nancy Roberts – Bookkeeper to Supervisor
- Linda Bourn – Deputy Town Clerk
- Ron VanValkenburg – Highway Superintendent
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Floor Time/Guests: Roger Barnhart, Lynne VanValkenburg, Jim Crawford, Tammy Wagner, Brenda Martin, Pam Gardepe, Meranda Reynolds & Michelle Phoenix.
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RESOLUTION # 51-2024 APPROVAL OF MINUTES
On motion by Brian Albanese, seconded by Howie Buttel, it was moved to approve the Meeting Minutes for June 2024.
Vote: All in favor – Motion carried.
RESOLUTION # 52-2024 ABSTRACT OF CLAIMS
On motion by Brian Albanese, seconded by Howie Buttel, it was moved to approve the Abstract of Claims for June 2024 as follows: General Fund: $10,229.67 Highway Fund: $70,298.08.
Vote: All in favor – Motion carried.
RESOLUTION # 53-2024 TOWN CLERKS MONTHLY REPORT
On motion by Brian Albanese, seconded by Peggy Backus, it was moved to receive, and place on file the Town Clerks, monthly report for June 2024.
Vote: All in favor – Motion Carried
RESOLUTION # 54-2024 SUPERVISOR MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT
On motion by Peggy Backus, seconded by Bill Layton, it was moved to approve and place on file the Supervisor’s monthly financial reports as of June 30, 2024, dated 7/9/2024.
Vote: All in favor – Motion Carried.
RESOLUTION # 55-2024 SEWER DISTRICT ABSTRACT
On motion by Brian Albanese, seconded by Bill Layton, it was moved to approve the June Sewer District Abstract of charges. Vote: All in favor – Motion Carried.
RESOLUTION # 56- 2024 SEWER DISTRICT MONTHLY REPORT
On motion by Brian Albanese, seconded by Peggy Backus, it was moved to approve Sewer District June Monthly Report.
Vote: All in favor – Motion Carried.
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MOTIONS:
Motion by Brian Albanese, seconded by Howie Buttel, to give $50,000.00 toward the new ambulance.
Vote: All in favor – Motion Carried.
Motion by Bill Layton, seconded by Howie Buttel, to raise the hourly rate of the part time help to be $18.00 per hour effective 8/1/24.
Vote: All in favor – Motion Carried.
Motion by Brian Buttel, seconded by Peggy Backus, to accept the bid from B & B Excavating providing they provide the required insurance certificate.
Vote: All in favor – Motion Carried.
Motion by Brian Albanese, seconded by Howie Buttel, to have Ron put out for bid the Trailer and the Head for the mower.
Vote: All in favor- Motion Carried.
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NEW BUSINESS:
Linda brought 3 Forms from Fire Department members wanting to be Peace Officers – Linda asked members of the fire department what these forms are all about. Bill is going to inquire with the county, but the board would like more information in regard to the responsibilities of what is required by a peace officer. Is the town held responsible for the actions of a peace officer?
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OLD BUSINESS:
Ambulance – Roger Barnhart from the fire department is asking if we can come up with a definite dollar amount of money that we will contribute to the new ambulance, it is hard for them to shop for one without knowing a budget. They looked at the one that Brenda spoke about last month and it was not worth the money they were asking for it.
Fire Tower – Bill made the trip to the fire tower with the DEP representatives on the city land where the new road will be put, they want a gate to be installed. Bill then received a call from Mr. Pape asking what was going on up there, Bill explained that they were putting a road in to the fire tower, he told Bill he could not do that and said it was not part of their easement. He stated if the town tried to do it, he would block them. Bill called Brian to call him, Brian told him that he had spoken to him before. Brian told him he was more than willing to walk up there with him and show him exactly what they planned to do, and he insisted that they were not going to do that, and he was going to call his lawyer and then he hung up on Brian.
Bill has a draft letter from Engleman who does a lot of work for the fire tower. Bill asked the board if they would like him to have this letter sent to Pape. The board said to go ahead and send the letter.
UTV – Nothing new
Walking Trail – Bids
The bids were opened for the walking trail.
The winning bidder is B & B Excavating. The cost is $16.59 per foot, pending proof of insurance.
2nd place bidder is A & M Excavating which is around $20,000 more total.
| Sub – Contractor’s Name | Submitted Bid Price | |
| 1 | Ben Reynolds Construction | $31.50 Phase 1 & 2 |
| 2 | A & M Excavating | $25.00 Phase 1 & 2 |
| 3 | B & B Excavating and Landscaping | $16.59 Phase 1 $16.47 Phase 2 |
| 4 | The Hubbel l Companies | $59.00 Phase 1 & 2 |
| 5 | Delaware Bulldozing Corporation | $26.70 Phase 1 & $29.85 Phase 2 |
| 6 | Tweedie Construction | $30.05 Phase 1 & 2 |
| 7 | M & K Earthworks LLC | $31.00 Phase 1 & 2 |
We are going to do phase 1 and see how that goes before we agree to have the bidder do phase 2. Bill will get hold of him and see if he has the insurance and when he would like to start.
We would like Sean Leddy to oversee the project to make sure things are going as planned. Bill will get a hold of him.
Bill asked Ron to have Suite Kote to pick up that stone pile that is sitting in the way of the walking trail project path.
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HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT REPORT:
Ron has a couple of quotes for some equipment to use the leftover money on
- Trailer – $53,000
- Head for the Mower – 23,200
The board asks Ron to put these two items out for bid.
Roads: Cleaned ditches, Trimmed trees, Mowing, Cold Patch, Chase Brook 2 ½ inches on top [with] 23 Trucks helping from other towns.
Tomorrow the crew is going to Dryden to help them with a project.
Ron is asking if we could raise the part-time help.
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SUPERVISOR REPORT:
Bill has not heard anything back from Dan Szczesny that wanted to speak with him about the history of the fire tower.
Bill will call Nate and ask him to attend the next meeting and provide reports that have not been turned in for the last few months.
Peggy asked to go into executive session to discuss a personnel matter at 8:45 pm.
The executive session ended at 8:51 pm.
Meeting adjourned at 8:52 pm
Next meeting to be held on August 20, 2024, at 7pm.
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Date: July 18, 2024
Linda Bourn
Town of Tompkins Deputy Town Clerk
Town of Tompkins in New York's Delaware County 