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 Brian Albanese leading in the Flag salute.
Present:
Tim LaTourette – Councilperson
Peggy Backus – Councilperson
Brian Albanese – Councilperson
William Layton – Supervisor
Absent: Howard Buttel – Councilperson
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Others:
Ron VanValkenburg – Highway Superintendent
Linda Bourn – Deputy Town Clerk
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Guests: Bret French, Betsy Drumm, Wendy Layton.
Floor Time:
Bret gave an update on the sewer district, the generator tested. Bret also thought it would be a good idea to send a letter to all on the town sewer and ask them to inspect their sewer caps and respond so we know if we need to replace any. Linda will draft up the letter for Bret to review. Bill will check to see if we must put out to bid for the mowing this year, if not we will ask Phil Hanley if he would like to mow again this year.
Bid Opening:
Freightliner Truck – Only 1 bid received. Discussed below.
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RESOLUTION # 20-2025 APPROVAL OF MINUTES
On motion by Tim LaTourette, seconded by Bill Layton, it was moved to approve the Meeting Minutes for February 2025. Vote: All in favor – Motion carried.
RESOLUTION # 21-2025 ABSTRACT OF CLAIMS
On motion by Brian Albanese, seconded by Peggy Backus, it was moved to approve the Abstract of Claims for February 2025 as follows:
General Fund: $10,653.25
Highway Fund: $24,416.44
Vote: All in favor – Motion carried.
RESOLUTION # 22-2025 TOWN CLERKS MONTHLY REPORT
On motion by Brian Albanese, seconded by Tim LaTourette it was moved to receive, and place on file the Town Clerks, monthly report for February 2025. Vote: All in favor – Motion Carried.
RESOLUTION # 23-2025 SUPERVISOR MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT
On motion by Peggy Backus, seconded by Tim LaTourette, it was moved to approve and place on file the Supervisor’s monthly financial reports as of February 28, 2025, Dated, 2/28/2025.
Vote: All in favor – Motion Carried.
RESOLUTION # 24-2025 SEWER DISTRICT ABSTRACT & MONTHLY REPORT
On motion by Brian Albanese, seconded by Tim LaTourette, it was moved to approve and place on file the Abstract of Claims for February 2025 of the Sewer District in the amount of $3,837.03.
Vote: All in favor – Motion Carried.
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MOTIONS:
Motion by Brian Albanese, seconded by Bill Layton to Re-code the historian personal budget line to historian contractual. All in favor, motion carried.
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NEW BUSINESS:
2026 Peterbilt bid, the bid is only good for 2 months stating that we must pay for the chassis now at $204,915.00 the balance would be due when the Tenco equipment is installed. They will keep it on their lot for the time it takes to get the Tenco truck box, which could take 2 years or more.
The Board would like to table the acceptance of the truck bid until the next meeting to get some questions answered such as what does this do to the warranty? Do we just lose 2 years of the warranty? What happens if we can’t get the box?
The board asked if there are other companies that make boxes that are not in Canada? Ron said yes but they are not as good as Tenco and he doesn’t think you want to spend this kind of money for a truck and not put the best equipment on it. If we buy this, it depletes all the equipment money for the next two years.
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OLD BUSINESS:
Fire Tower –
Walking Trail – The contractor has been working on it as weather permits, still more cleanup to do.
Court Clerk Certification – Completed
Subdivisions –
Snow removal –
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HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT REPORT:
Plowing and Sanding.
Trimming Trees.
Maintenance on Trucks.
Ron would like to start 10-hour days in April.
Ron has 18 miles of road he would like to do this year, starting with Readburn, but is unsure what the money situation is. He has no numbers from CHIPS yet.
Tim Oralls is retiring at the end of April. Brian stated the ad can be run in the paper listing the qualifications of CDL as a requirement and we should let the community know we have an opportunity for employment available. Additionally, Brian stated he would like to see the starting pay for the position have a reduced pay for a small amount of time while they learn the job, the union business agent would need to be contacted to discuss it.
There was an accident with the 2013 International Truck, Brian asked Ron if he could in the future let the board know so he does not have to find out in the community about it.
Brian asked if the accident report was filled and if the driver went to the ER. The report was filled out but, the driver did not go to the ER because the roads were bad. Brian instructed Ron that in the future to protect the workers and the town, they need to go get checked out when there is an accident.
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SUPERVISOR:
Bill received a letter from Ag and Markets, and everything is satisfactory with our Dog Program.
Letter from CDO workforce that they are not going to be mowing cemeteries anymore.
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Meeting adjourned at 8:19 pm.
Next meeting to be held on April 8, 2025, at 7:00 PM.
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Date: March 24, 2025
Linda Bourn
Town of Tompkins Deputy Town Clerk
Town of Tompkins in New York's Delaware County 