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DRAFT Regular Meeting October 11, 2005 Charlton Town Board Saratoga County New York
At the regular meeting of the Town Board of Charlton, Saratoga County, New York held at 7:30 P.M. at the Charlton Town Hall, called to order by Supervisor Acunto, there were present:
Councilman Alan Grattidge Councilman Robert Lippiello Councilman Dorothy Mitchell Councilman Sandy Verola Supervisor Ferdinand Acunto
Bids were opened for ice control sand:
FOB Delivered
Delaney Crushed Stone Products $6.75/ton $13.65/ton PO Box 1289 Northville, New York 12032
Carver Sand & Gravel $4.50/ton $ 7.50/ton 494 Western Turnpike Altamont, New York 12009
Cranesville Aggregate Co. Inc. $6.75/ton $ 9.50/ton 427 Sacandaga Road Scotia, New York 12302
Tri-Ex Excavating $4.50/ton $ 7.35/ton 1907 Sterling Road Pattersonville, New York 12137
Callanan Industries, Inc. $5.85/ton $ 9.75/ton PO Box 15097 1245 Kings Road Albany, New York 12212
Councilman Grattidge suggested the Highway Superintendent review the bids and the bid be awarded at the October Agenda Meeting.
Motion made by Councilman Grattidge, seconded by Councilman Verola that the minutes of the September 12 Town Board Meeting be accepted as received:
Approved: Councilman Grattidge Yes Councilman Lippiello Yes Councilman Mitchell Yes Councilman Verola Yes Supervisor Acunto Yes
Motion made by Councilman Grattidge, seconded by Councilman Verola that the minutes of the September 26 Informational Meeting and the September 26 Agenda Meeting be accepted as received: Approved: Councilman Grattidge Yes Councilman Lippiello Yes Councilman Mitchell Yes Councilman Verola Yes Supervisor Acunto Abstain
ABSTRACT OF CLAIMS:
The total of the bills approved at the Agenda Meeting was $46,431.62. Vouchers for the month were #1838 - #1935.
TOWN CLERK’S REPORT:
The total of the Town Clerk’s Report was $226.97. Motion made by Councilman Grattidge, seconded by Councilman Verola. PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR (Agenda Items): No comments.
SUPERVISOR’S REPORT AND ANNOUNCEMENTS:
September revenue and expenditures: General Fund – Revenue of $234,845.06. Expenditures of $61,347.07. Highway Fund – Revenue of $34,857.31. Expenditures of $60,485.44. Water District #1 – Revenue of $4,118.90. Expenditures of $11,927.44. Water District #2 – No revenue. Expenditures of $261.99.
Major expenditures: General Fund – Legislative Contractual of $1,555.18 for newsletter, Engineering Contractual of $2,062.50, Buildings-Operation and Maintenance Contractual of $3,075.67, Ambulance Contractual of $3,000.00 and Library Contractual of $1,366.00. Highway Fund – Maintenance of Roads Contractual of $9,176.33, Capital Outlay for Maintenance of Roads of $11,647.57 and Machinery Contractual of $2,105.66. Water District – Repair of alarm system in pump house of $3,756.21 and Transmission Contractual of $3,394.34.
Web site activity for the month of September was 803 hits.
The Zoning Administrator now has a cell phone with voice mail. The number is 857-4109.
We received a notice from the postal service stating that mailboxes in the southern portion of the town were used inappropriately by people hanging unlabeled messages. This is a violation of the postal service regulations. Information has been turned over to the postal investigators who are looking into it.
The Town Board decided to put the Town web address on the signs at the entrance to the town.
Supervisor Acunto stated there has been concern regarding outdoor wood burning furnaces. A local law from the Town of Watertown was sent to the ECC for review at their next meeting. Marv Schorr has done some research. He stated that because of the increase in fuel oil and natural gas, outdoor wood burning furnaces have sprung up across the country. They are larger than the in-home wood burning stoves. Some towns have laws banning them or controlling their use by saying what type of technology is acceptable and unacceptable. The concern is not just the smoke given off but the gasses that are given off. Marv said that the laws from other towns looked quite good. He would like to see what comments the Town Attorney has on the matter. The ECC will be discussing this at their next meeting on October 25. Marv feels that if we are going to do something we should move fairly quickly because the heating season is here. Supervisor Acunto stated that we would also have to schedule a public hearing. Councilman Grattidge suggested the ECC discuss if it would be appropriate to restrict this use in the residential zone since we do have a restriction on outdoor burning. He also would like them to discuss what would be appropriate setbacks for these units if we do allow them in the Residential/Agricultural District and the Agricultural District. We don’t want them on a property line. It was decided that we would wait for a report from the ECC and that Supervisor Acunto would contact Mr. VanVranken for an opinion on the Town of Watertown local law. Supervisor Acunto stated that at the Saratoga County Public Safety Committee Meeting today. The committee received a draft of a local law to regulate the residence of sex offenders and require additional registration with local authorities. It would require the sex offenders to stay registered after their sentence expires. If adopted, it would require the involvement of the Town Clerk in that the clerk would be responsible for maintaining a public sex offender registry, note all changes in registration information, may place information on a web site, maintain a map of schools, playgrounds, parks, pools, etc. and updated map.
COMMUNICATIONS:
We received a notice from the NYS DOT regarding our request for a speed reduction on Featherbed Lane. The letter stated, “We generally do not establish speed limits on dirt roads. The effects that seasonal changes have on a dirt highway could greatly affect a safe operating speed. A regular speed limit is inappropriate in these instances”.
The Town Board members received from John Morgan a list of water district projects for District #1 for 2006.
Supervisor Acunto received an email this afternoon from Nan Stolzenburg, consultant for the Comprehensive Plan. She would like to meet with the Town Board on Monday, October 17 prior to a meeting in Galway. The Board decided they would meet with her at 5:30 P.M.
ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER:
Lee has had an extremely busy month.
ASSESSORS:
This summer they have spent their time recording building permits and construction. If you have a question concerning your property, now is the time to contact the assessors. Values in the town continue to rise. It affects all of our properties. They are discussing how they will proceed next year. In December exemption renewals will start going out.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN:
Most of the last meeting consisted of a presentation by Larry Benton of the Saratoga County Planning Board. He spoke of his observation of the proposed strategies from Nan Stolzenburg. Dave Adams said that he attended a meeting of the Saratoga County Open Space Committee today. They are scheduling regional meetings in the county. They have divided the county into four regions. We are in Region D. The regional meeting for our area will be November 17 at 6:30 P.M. the Malta Community Center.
CONSTABLES:
37 tickets and investigated 1 accident.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION COMMISSION:
They have been reviewing variance requests from the ZBA. At their next meeting they will be discussing the outdoor furnaces.
E-GOVERNMENT:
They will be meeting tomorrow night. The management program is in place. We need to start appointing people to take responsibility for the program.
HIGHWAY:
They have the plows ready. Ron has a man out on sick leave and he wants to come back on light duty. Ron said in his opinion there is no light duty. Supervisor Acunto and Councilman Grattidge said they agreed. Ron said he had also spoken with the compensation people and there is no such thing as light duty. Councilman Grattidge stated that we are working with County Waste and they are doing the brush, leaf and grass clippings pickup. They will pickup until December 1 for all Charlton residents. Brush needs to be cut in 5-foot lengths and tied in bundles. Grass clippings and leaves should be place in biodegradable bags or in a separate trashcan. If you want to haul your brush to the town pit on Route 67, please call Ron Gavin.
HISTORIAN:
This is Archives Week, October 9-16. Dot Mitchell and Laura attended the 10th Annual Capital Region Archives Dinner last Thursday. Saratoga County Cornell Cooperative Extension won the award for their work with the records of Cornell Cooperative Extension. They have earned over $100,000.00 in grants within a 5-year period. They also won a NYS award last week for their work with Local Government Records Management. On October 25, volunteers of the Saratoga County Historian’s Office will be honored by the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors. Regions 5 County Historians will meet October 29 in Cohoes. The Association of Historians of NYS met the last weekend of September. Yesterday there was a rededication and celebration of the restoration of the Saratoga Monument by the National Park Service. Heritage Hunters will hold their annual conference this Saturday from 9 AM – 4 PM at the United Methodist Church in Saratoga Springs. The Charlton Historical Society held a program last week by a major post card collector. The next meeting of the Historical Society will be November 2 at the Maple Avenue Schoolhouse. Someone will be present to appraise antiques. The McWilliam's home on Route 147 has been boarded up for several years. A company has purchased the home. They are fully photographing the house and researching its history. The building is for sale. Laura mentioned three new books for sale. One is by “Doc” Garrison. 10% of the sale of the book will be presented to the Gift of Life Program. She is taking orders. Ballston Spa is holding a First Friday Festival the first Friday of each month. This month Laura researched information on our current Town Hall. It can be found in the Town Newsletter and the new Charlton Directory. This month Laura researched an article on one-room schools. The Schenectady Museum is undergoing the Edison Media Project. On November 6 there will be live recordings on Edison style wax cylinders.
Motion made by Supervisor Acunto, seconded by Councilman Lippiello, A Motion authorizing Laura Linder, Town Historian, to purchase one of Doctor Garrison’s books for our records, be approved:
Approved: Councilman Grattidge Yes Councilman Lippiello Yes Councilman Mitchell Yes Councilman Verola Yes Supervisor Acunto Yes
HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION:
They are meeting next week. Supervisor Acunto said he was reading the minutes of their
last meeting and there was an inquiry asking to demolish a home within the
district and rebuild a new one. Laura
stated that someone is interested in
building a large estate at the southeast corner of Stage Road. One of the homes in that vicinity would have
to come down. She believes it is
Florence Robinson’s home. This is just
an inquiry at this point. Laura stated
that these are the kinds of things that are happening. Just like the house on Route 147, our older
homes are going to go. Supervisor
Acunto asked if there were any regulations on that. Laura said the Historic District Commission would write an advisory
opinion that would be presented to the Town Board.
LIBRARY:
The circulation for August was 21,101. This was a record. It was a 17% increase over last August’s use. The year to date is 127,000 which is 6.5% increase over last year. Anna Jane has offered to come to the public hearing on October 31. Items included in the library’s budget request were minimum wages requirements and increased hours for 2006.
PARK COMMITTEE:
The Highway Department has picked up the drinking fountains, tennis nets and volleyball nets. The climbing structure that was rusted has been sanded and primed.
PLANNING BOARD:
They will be meeting next Monday at 7:00 P.M.
RECORDS ADVISORY BOARD:
This week is Archives Week. Some books that we have had preserved are on display. Susan Lombardi attended the last meeting of the Records Advisory Board and we discussed applying for grants. We would be applying for an Active Records Grant. This would include Files Management, Disaster and Recovery Planning and Indexing and Access. She estimated it would take around 20 hours to write a grant for the Board. It could be less time, depending on how much of the information we could get together for her.
Motion made by Councilman Mitchell, seconded by Councilman Grattidge, A Motion to enter into an agreement with Susan Lombardi to prepare a grant for the Records Advisory Board at a cost not to exceed $1,000.00, be approved:
Approved: Councilman Grattidge Yes Councilman Lippiello Yes Councilman Mitchell Yes Councilman Verola Yes Supervisor Acunto Yes
TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY BOARD:
They have been working with Heather on the software she has been exploring with General Code Publishers. Heather explained that she had gotten two quotes on the software programs from General Code Publishers. A program that would house and search all the Town Board minutes would cost around $2,400.00. Another quote, which would enable us to scan all of our records to laserfiche and included equipment, would cost around $7,000.00. We may be able to get some of this equipment through grant money. Supervisor Acunto asked if this is something the Town Board should be considering for the 2006 budget or 2007 budget. John Tasse feels it should be included in both. Councilman Mitchell stated that any grant money would not be received by the town until June of 2006. The Town Board will discuss further at the budget workshop. The Technology Committee has been working on some of the things they hope to see in the specifications for the new town hall. George has been working on finishing up the inventory of town computer equipment.
TOWN HALL:
Councilman Grattidge thanked everyone who came to the public informational meeting. We will be mailing an Informational Pamphlet to all residents later on this month. There are two propositions on the November ballot regarding the new town hall. One is to release the reserve fund that we have for the purpose of building a town hall. The other one is to authorize the town board to bond for the new town hall. Both propositions need to be voted on positively in order to move the project forward. On Wednesday, November 2 at 7:00 P.M. there will be a workshop meeting with Architect Paul Vosburgh to discuss the items budgeted for the different segments of the job. There have been questions about how we are “specing” the building out. We will develop a list of what we want to bid on an add/alternate basis. Councilman Verola said that a question that came up at the information meeting was could we build the town hall and the firehouse together as one project in one building. After researching this, she has found out that there probably would not be any cost savings. It would probably end up costing us more money because both groups have already purchased land and both groups have engineering and architectural fees involved. There could also be problems because the town would be working with a group that is not part of town government. She said that with two other fire departments she did not know how you could fairly do it with one and not do something to help the others. Our proposed building is a multi-function building. It will function as our constable’s headquarters as well as our court. To add another function to this building that is totally unrelated to what we do and have two totally different missions, just doesn’t seem to work. She has been unable to find any town in New York State that has done it with a fire district. Laura stated that when you have an emergency based organization like the fire department that might have to rush out of the building at any moment, how can you have it safe for people coming and going to the town hall? Councilman Grattidge said it doesn’t appear to be an appropriate way to go.
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