|
|
|
Agenda Meeting Minutes January 26, 2004
Those present: Dot, Alan, Fred, Bob and Sandy
The meeting began at 7:46 P.M.
There was a bid opening for the installation of a roof on the salt shed at the Highway Garage. One bid was received from Near-Rychcik, Inc., 5200 Amsterdam Road, Scotia, New York for $11,429.99.
Councilman Grattidge suggested that we review the bid before we make a decision.
Dean Durst asked how many square feet. Fred said this bid was for labor. The Town has all the materials. He suggested we go out to bid again. The bid was more than was anticipated.
Supervisor’s Report and Announcements:
Discussion items for the next Town Board Meeting:
Water Attorney Bill Keniry - That would be a two step process in that there is also a SEQR Resolution as well. It is the intention of the Board to consider both of those resolutions at the same time at the meeting on the 9th ? From my perspective that is entirely appropriate and perfectly fine.
Fred - I see no problem.
Fred stated that the next item is the Application that was designed by Tabner, Ryan and Keniry. The Board agreed to adopt this on the 9th.
Also for adoption on the 9th is the Rules and Regulations for Metered Service.
At this time there was a discussion on the Fee Schedule. Bob said we would like to keep this separate from Rules and Regulations so the Fee Schedule can be updated each year as needed. Fred asked for comments on the new water main installation and inspection fee. On the Fee Schedule it shows a rate of $300.00. Bob said that was a recommendation from the Water Study Committee. Fred said he feels that is not adequate. We must stay under a $500.00 ceiling imposed by Audit and Control.
Fred suggested a $1,000.00 fee for hook up to existing mains and the $1,000.00 be amortized over a 4-year period. He also suggested $1,200.00 at $250.00 a year for
Alan - You are talking about a new applicant. It’s not about extending the main?
Fred - No. Basically they are hitting transmission lines.
Alan - This is to cover our inspection fees while they are doing the work.
John - Let’s make it $400.00 over a 4-year period. We can go up to $500.00 per year. Is that right Bill?
Bill Keniry - $500.00 per year is the limit.
Fred - With the justification.
John - It is helping to put money back into the operation of the system that the people originally paid for. New people coming in are getting a free ride. In Saratoga it costs you $3,000.00 to hook up.
Dennis Russell - It’s the time to inspect it, the vehicle you’re driving in to go and inspect it and to pay your wages.
Fred - When I talked with Jack Tabner he said we really would have to justify the figure we picked.
Bill - It needs to be determined on a rational basis. The other thing is, the $500.00 (could not understand) in that it’s not discretionary or flexible. It is a rule that is imposed by the Comptroller and is the charge you cannot exceed unless to go to the Comptroller and get permission to exceed it with justifications.
John - You are loosing the 1 ½ times rate so to serve justice to the people in the water district, I think you ought to keep it at the maximum we can take.
Sandy - I agree.
Dennis - How much has the original guy that hooked up to it when it first went in, how much has he paid for that water line all these years since he’s been on it since day one?
Dennis - More than $500.00 or $1,500.00 after three years. They have been paying all those years and now somebody wants to buy into the system………..
Sandy - And people paid the original bond. I think it’s a bargain.
There was more discussion on what the cost would be.
Sandy - I think if people can buy in for $400.00 for a 3-year period, that’s a real bargain. I don’t know what the district cost when it was originally installed but we could have an accountant figure it out. Sandy suggested $400.00 for 5 years.
Alan - There has to be some justification as to why you are charging this. You can’t just arbitrarily pick numbers. These people still end up paying the ad valorem, the upkeep of the system and any additional money the systems needs as they receive their services. We are really talking about the initial hook up. We are talking about what it would cost to inspect and the installation of a water main.
Sandy - We could just stop extending the water district, too, and make anyone else who wants water set up their own water district. Which way would it be more feasible for the homeowner to do? I certainly think $2,000.00 is a better buy than establishing a whole new water district.
Alan - What is this $2,000.00 covering?
Sandy - It would put back into the kitty what everybody else has been paying into it for the 30 years that the water district has been there.
Alan - That’s not what this charge is.
Sandy - I understand that but there has to be a way to compensate the families that have been paying into this system all these years and some of them paying 1 ½ times the rate for many, many years. It is just doesn’t seem fair to them.
Alan - The new people share the burden of maintaining the system like everyone else.
Bob - As they come in they assume that.
Sandy - But we don’t have to give them water. We could just stop extending the water district.
Bob -Let me propose $450.00 for 3 years. If that goes down, we’ll change it to something else.
Alan - And that gets added to their water bill?
Fred - It will be on their tax bill.
Alan - From the time of the application?
Fred - No.
Alan - That comes in later?
Fred - Right. I sort of agree with Sandy. I would like to see $450.00 for 4 years.
The Board agreed the cost would be $450.00 for 4 years. This will be part of the Fee Schedule to be adopted at the February Town Board Meeting.
Bob - The DEC Application Fee was $250.00.
Fred - That was a recommendation from Jim Mitchell and he felt that was adequate.
Bob - Would that apply to Extension #5 people?
Fred - Not this group that is coming in. It would be anybody that comes in after this group.
John - Once we do this, all the accessories that go to the property owner, there is no longer a charge. We pay for them. Now they pay for them. We are doing away with a $400.00 charge for the meter, pigtails and regulator. If you were an outside user, you would pay for them initially. When we change this over, it will be like a regular
Fred - We took that out of this agreement when it was rewritten?
John - An outside user is the only one that pays for meter, regulator and pigtails. A district property owner does not pay for that.
Fred - What is the total cost of that today?
John - The last one was $456.00.
Fred - So the first year pays for the materials. In the motion, we are putting $450.00 for 4 years. The members of the Board have time to think about it until the vote comes.
Alan - You could incorporate into your Fee Schedule the cost of the meter and pigtails.
Sandy - Why can’t we make that a separate thing?
Fred - Why can’t we make that part of the Fee Schedule?
Bill - John’s point is simply that under that rule you treated outside users differently than you treated inside users in the district and that’s all that’s happening by virtue of bringing these people in. From here on out, they will no longer be treated, under the rules, as outside users.
Alan - But this schedule isn’t going to apply to someone who lives in the water district and just hasn’t hooked up yet.
Bill - That’s right.
Alan - They still will be allowed to hook up because they have been paying for the district.
Bob - I will have an updated copy of the Fee Schedule. DEC will be $250.00. $450.00 for 4 years. Are the other numbers acceptable? John, those prices are still current. Curb Box replacement of $20.00. Curb Box unit is $75.00.
John - Yes. That is what we have.
Fred - The next item is the report from the ECC on the Getty Station. I think this merits a workshop with counsel and the ECC Committee to determine where we go from here. At the meeting on February 9th , I would like to pick a time to meet with the ECC. The Board agreed.
Councilman Reports:
Fred said that he feels there is no harm in sitting down with a contractor and seeing what he has to offer as we worked with an architect and didn’t make a lot of headway. Sandy said she will set it up for Thursday, February 5 at 10:00 A.M. in Fred’s office. Sandy said we need to determine if we want to send Mr. Mesick a letter informing him we are no longer in need of his services. Fred said the contract expires February 12. He suggested we send him a letter thanking him for his services and that we are not going to renew the contract. Alan said that depending on which way we go (changed tape) Bob said that we should check and see if he has anything in his possession that belongs to us. Fred said that after we meet with whoever’s coming, we can determine what we want to do about notifying Mr. Mesick. The Board agreed.
Fred - This morning we had another bus accident in the same spot we had one about a year ago and at about the same time. There was sun glare. The bus was stopped picking up a student. This person was blinded by the sun. They hit the back of the bus and went under the bus. The car ignited. They pulled the car away from the bus. There was no major damage to the bus. It was the same identical stop, the same time of day. It was right by Joe Schaus and Loukes. I did notify the County Highway Superintendent asking him if there was any way of signing the road. There is no signing allowed on that road (could not understand).
John - Could they put up a "Caution School Bus Stop" sign?
Fred will call Joe Ritchey at the County tomorrow.
February 23 will be the Town Board Agenda Meeting. Bob will not be here.
Respectfully submitted,
|