DRAFT

Agenda Meeting Minutes

November 28, 2005

 

 

Those present:  Dot, Fred, Bob and Sandy

 

Alan was excused.

 

The meeting began at 7:30 P.M.

 

We will pass a resolution tonight to have a public hearing prior to the December 12 Town Board Meeting regarding the use of outdoor wood burning furnaces.  We have a local law draft prepared.

 

At the Town Board Meeting we will be opening the sealed bids on the Dodge Cargo Van.

 

Supervisor’s Report will include:

Approval of the Public Hearing Minutes and Town Board Minutes of November 14, Special Meeting Minutes of November 28 recessed until December 7 at 5:00 P.M. and tonight’s Agenda Minutes.

 

The bills for the December abstract were audited this morning.  One bill was pulled for a lack of a signature and we are hoping to get it on the abstract.  One was pulled for lack of funds.  We will make a transfer tonight.

 

Motion made by Councilman Verola, seconded by Councilman Lippiello that Resolution #133, A RESOLUTION TO TRANSFER FUNDS, be approved:

 

                                    Approved:            Councilman Grattidge               Absent

                                                            Councilman Lippiello                Yes

                                                                       Councilman Mitchell                 Yes

                                                            Councilman Verola                   Yes

                                                             Supervisor Acunto                   Yes

               

The Town Clerk was authorized to prepare the December Abstract.

The Supervisor will give the Financial Report.

The Town Hall will be closed December 23-26 for the Christmas holidays and December 30-31 for the New Years holiday.

 

 

 

The Town Board has been working on a Local Law regulating the use of outdoor wood burning furnaces.  We are concerned with the potential for offensive odors and health effects.  We have received recommendations from the ECC.  Bob VanVranken has prepared a “draft”. 

 

Motion made by Councilman Verola, seconded by Councilman Lippiello that Resolution #134, A RESOLUTION SCHEDULING A PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED LOCAL LAW #2 OF 2005 REGARDING REGULATING THE USE OF RESIDENTIAL OUTDOOR WOOD BURNING FURNACES ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 12 AT 7:00 P.M., be approved:

 

                                    Approved:            Councilman Grattidge               Absent

                                                            Councilman Lippiello                Yes

                                                            Councilman Mitchell                 Yes

                                                            Councilman Verola                   Yes

                                                            Supervisor Acunto                   Yes

 

Sandy said that she has heard that the manufactures of these furnaces are aware of the problems with the emission controls and they are working to resolve them.

 

Motion made by Councilman Mitchell, seconded by Councilman Verola that Resolution #135, A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE FILING OF 2006-2007 GRANT APPLICATIONS FOR NEW YORK STATE ARCHIVES GOVERNMENT RECORDS MANAGEMENT IMPROVEMENT FUNDS, be approved:

 

Heather stated that Susan Lombardi has prepared two grants at a cost of $750.00 each.

 

                                    Approved:            Councilman Grattidge               Absent

                                                            Councilman Lippiello                Yes

                                                            Councilman Mitchell                 Yes

                                                            Councilman Verola                   Yes

                                                            Supervisor Acunto                   Yes

 

 

Fred said the Town has received notification by the Appellate Court regarding Capital Real Estate vs. the Town of Charlton.  We were not upheld in our appeal.  There was a Special Meeting with the Town Attorney this afternoon in executive session.  This meeting has been recessed until December 7 at 5:00 P.M. for further discussion and deliberation to determine what options we have.

 

There will be a workshop for incoming Town Board members on November 30 at 7:30 P.M.

 

We received a letter of resignation from Torben Aabo from the Technology Board.  He is finding it impossible to make the meetings.

 

Dot and Vicki spoke regarding information we received from Saratoga County indicating approval of an increase in the veteran’s exemption.  We will need to pass a local law to approve the county’s figures at the town level.  This will need to be done by March 1.  Vicki said this would be an increase in the exemption on the county taxes.  It would not go into effect until the January 2007 tax roll.  It was decided to wait and hold a public hearing early next year.        

 

Vicki stated that the Burnt Hills School District is considering raising the exemption for low income seniors.  The Ballston Spa School District has passed a resolution that will allow a grandparent that has a grandchild living with them to receive the low income senior exemption. 

 

 

Voting Machine Custodian:

Bob Killen, Jr. requested reimbursement for mileage from the Town Board.  He took the day off of the Primary Election and General Election and made trips to the polling sites to make sure everything was running ok.  He was also required to return all the materials to the Board of Elections.  The Board agreed to his request.   

 

Assessors:

Vicki said that we have received our Equalization Rate from New York State.  For the 2005 roll we were at 100%.  Our Equalization Rate right now is at 80%.  We have lost 20% this year.  For all of Saratoga County, the highest Equalization Rate was 84%.  These numbers are based on what sales are doing in the county.  The Board of Assessors has decided to opt out of the town’s annual update program this year.  We will still have to maintain equity.  For the most part, we will leave people’s assessments alone.  She is hoping we will be able to come in around 85% for 2006.  By opting out of the annual update, our tax rate will go up. 

 

Vicki stated - Many people think that when the Assessors raise the assessment they get hit and when they get their tax bill they get hit again because of the tax rate.  They think they are getting the double whammy but they are not.  They don’t understand the whole process.  The reality of life is that your taxes will go up whether the Assessors raise your assessment or whether the Assessors don’t do anything to your assessment.  The school will raise their levy which will affect the tax rate.  It isn’t my assessing that is raising taxes, it is the levies.  It is mostly the school taxes.  The County tax is not significant.  Our tax rate will go up.  I don’t know how much it will go up.  It will all depend.  We have taken into account several factors.  Glenville, who is also in the Burnt Hills School District is going to 100% this year.  Ballston is also doing a reval. .  They will also be at 100%.  We were at 100% last year and they both weren’t.  The equalization rate is supposed to equal it all out.  We may take a little bit heavier hit than they would because we are not going to 100% but the whole idea of having an equalization rate is that as long as you are assessing your town equitably, your equalization rate equals you out with your other pieces of the pie in the school district.  We have discussed this.  With the raises we have had the last 2 or 3 years and with the hope that the market will level off………..

 

Fred asked if Vicki had any idea of how heavy a hit it would be with school taxes.  With the three towns, if we are on the low end of it equalization wise at 80% or 85% and they are at 100%, do you have any way of knowing what the impact would be in dollars?

 

Vicki – No, because I don’t know what their levy will be.  The school districts don’t play exactly fair.  I have a letter from them asking if we could please tell them how our town is going to move in the next few years.  I feel that is not appropriate.  They need to set their budget.  I guess everybody has to do the job that they have to do and they try to do it the best way that they can.  I can’t make predictions.  The other down side to us in not doing the annual update is there was some funding we received by staying at 100%.  We would loose that.  The other ramification that is totally wrong is that as soon as I go out in March and raise assessments, the way it is looking is that Charlton Road and south will probably take a 25-30% hike hit -- not all the houses but most.  Charlton Road and north would probably be looking at a 12-15% hike, maybe.  I will release those figures in March.  I know, even though it is totally wrong, the ramifications will be that the people are going to say, “This is how Charlton is going to pay for that new town hall”.  It has nothing to do with it because we don’t have a town tax.  We just feel that we will have a low equalization rate.  Maybe percentage wise we may take a little harder hit from the schools.    Wilton did a reval two years ago and is now at 72%.  Malta is at 80%.  Saratoga Springs is at 84%.  Fred said that sales are driving the bus.  He also stated that the Board of Assessors works independent of the Town Board and their decision is their decision.  We can suggest.  That is where it begins and ends.  There is a division there.  Vicki said it is her job to inform the Board so they don’t get blindsided.  There will be newsletter articles, etc. and opportunities to ask questions.

 

Bob asked if Vicki stated that she thought a year from now we might be at 85%.  Vicki said that she was hoping this year to make 85%.  She said if the market slows down then she is hoping that we will only drop to 80% again which will mean the 2-year stretch was 20%.  She said that probably next year they would do the full reval.   Vicki feels a full reval. would be something we could do in-house ourselves. 

 

Laura presented the Town Board with a copy of the letter they had asked the Historic District Commission to write.  It still needs to be run by Bob VanVranken.  After we hear from Bob, it will be mailed.             

  

 

Resolutions for Town Board Meeting:

A resolution to accept the Local Law on Wood Burning Furnaces

A resolution to accept the bid for the sale of the water van

 

Councilman Reports:

Bob – Will have an update on the water crossing project

Sandy – Nothing more

Dot – Nothing more

 

The December Agenda Meeting will be Tuesday, December 27 because of the Christmas holiday.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 8:20 P.M.

 

                                                                                    Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

                                                                                    Gail Hanchar

                                                                                    Town Clerk