The Audit/ Workshop Meeting was held on March 29, 2018 at the Town of Rochester Town Hall.
6:00pm -Audit of the bills
PRESENT:
Supervisor Baden Councilwoman Fornino ( 6:10pm ) Councilwoman Haugen-Depuy Councilman Hewitt
ABSENT:
Councilman Drabkin
Workshop Meeting began at 7:10pm.
PRESENT:
Supervisor Baden Councilwoman Fornino Councilwoman Hagen-Depuy Councilman Hewitt Deputy Town Clerk Ferrara Attorney Christiana
ABSENT:
Councilman Drabkin Town Clerk Gundberg
PLEDGE:
Supervisor Baden opened the meeting and led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
CALENDAR UPDATES-
March 31- 11am Harold Lipton Community Center naming Ceremony
April 2- 6pm Supporting Local Agribusiness, A workshop for farmers, growers and food/beverage Producers-Community Center
April 5 – Regular Town Board Meeting- Town Board Presentation By Assessor-Cyclical
Re-Assessment Plan
APPROVAL OF THE BILLS:
Resolution # 105-2018:
A Motion was made by Councilwoman Haugen-Depuy to approve abstract 15-2017
General Fund: $ 948.45
Total: $ 948.45
Second: Councilman Hewitt
Discussion:
Aye: 4 nay: 0 abstain: 0 motion carried
Drabkin-absent
Resolution # 106-2018:
A Motion was made by Councilwoman Fornino to approve abstract 03-2018
General Fund: $ 84,715.61
Highway Fund: $ 47,110.12
Street lighting: $ 390.24
Total: $ 132,215.97
Second: Councilman Hewitt
Discussion:
Aye: 4 nay: 0 abstain: 0 motion carried
Drabkin-absent
Resolution # 107-2018:
A Motion was made by Councilman Hewitt to amend Resolution # 90-2018: Payment of Abstract 14-2017
General Fund: $ 6, 841.52
Total: $ 6, 841.52
to correct amount:
General Fund $ 6,782.54
Total: $ 6,782.54
Second: Councilwoman Haugen-Depuy
Discussion:
Aye: 4 nay: abstain: 0 motion carried
Drabkin-absent
Resolution # 108-2018:
A Motion was made by Councilwoman Fornino to amend Resolution # 91-2018: Payment of Abstract 02-2018
General Fund: $ 34,968.06
Highway Fund: $ 217,034.95
Street Lighting Fund: $ 410.45
Total: $ 252,413.46
to correct amount:
General Fund: $ 32,846.41
Highway Fund: $ 217,034.95
Street lighting: $ 410.45
Total: $ 250,291.81
Second: Councilman Hewitt
Discussion:
Aye: 4 nay: 0 abstain: 0 motion carried
Drabkin-absent
Resolution # 109-2018:
A Motion was made by Councilman Hewitt to amend resolution # 98-2018: Amendment to adopted 2018 General Fund Budget;
Transferring $ 2704.00 from line item:
• Public Safety AA-6-3097.100 Personal Service New total: $ 23, 497.00
To line item
• Justices AA-6-1110.100 Personal Service New total: $ 114,050.00
To correct amount:
• Public Safety AA-6-3097.100 Personal Service New total: $ 23, 497.00
To line item
• Justices AA-6-1110.100 Personal Service New total: $ 113,950.00
Second: Councilwoman Haugen-Depuy
Discussion:
Aye: 4 nay: 0 abstain: 0 motion carried
Drabkin-absent
BOARD OF ASSESSMENT REVIEW INTERVIEWS:
The Board held an interview with Ryan Basten.
Supervisor Baden stated he also received a request from former BOAR member Ronald Lapp but he was unable to attend the interview because he was out on the west coast for a funeral.
PRESENTATION:
Resolution # 110-2018:
A Motion was made by Councilman Hewitt to hold a presentation Thursday April 5, 2018 with Tim Guinee for the 100% committed campaign helping communities, businesses, and schools shift to 100 % renewable electricity.
Second: Councilwoman Haugen-Depuy
Discussion:
Aye: 4 nay: 0 abstain: 0 motion carried
Drabkin-Absent
DISCUSSION:
RECONCILIATION OF ACCOUNTS:
Supervisor Baden would like the Board to consider bringing in CPA’s Sickler, Torcia, Allen & Churchill to help better the procedures on bill payment and voucher procedures. This would help benefit the Board to implement as how to improve the efficiency, legal, and accounting principles of the current process.
He spoke with the Sue Alverez, the Town appointed accountant who was a little behind on monthly reconciliations but is now caught up to February. Supervisor Baden stated he would like to keep her as well.
Councilwoman Haugen-Depuy stated she would like to keep her as long as she can stay current.
CUSTODIAL VENDOR RATE INCREASE:
Supervisor Baden stated that he received a request from Sheila Brown to review her current salary. The Board agreed to meet somewhere in the middle.
ABRASIVE SAND ( SCREENED):
Supervisor Baden asked the Board to review the bid from Highway Superintendent Spano.
TREE CUTTING OPTIONS FOR TREE REMOVAL BID:
Supervisor Baden asked the Board to review the bid from Highway Superintendent Spano.
NATURAL HERITAGE PLAN:
Supervisor Baden stated March 13, 2018 the Town Board held their joint meeting with the Town of Wawarsing. Some minor changes are being made from the public meeting comments. Those changes will be given to the Board by next week. Part 1 EAF form will be given to the Supervisor and the Board will begin the steps of moving forward with making this part of the comprehensive plan. The original grant stated the goal of doing the plan was to have it part of the comprehensive plan. The next meeting the Board will have a resolution to move forward with making this part of the comprehensive plan.
Councilwoman Haugen-Depuy asked if there is a penalty if it is not adopted?
The answer was no.
Supervisor Baden stated the Town spent $ 5,000.00 and a lot of time was spent on the plan. The DEC gave $ 50,000.00 which in the future can potentially prevent us from getting more money if we do nothing with this plan.
VINCI FARM:
Attorney Christiana stated she’s been in contact with the Attorney handling Vinci Farms requests and he is still waiting on some information to insert into the agreement. Hopefully by the next meeting the Board will have these changes to move forward.
Supervisor Baden stated last meeting it was agreed there is a lot of positives, and don’t see any reason not to move forward with the easement.
UNDEFINED ZONING USE IN AR-3 ZONING DISTRICT ( LUCAS AVE. ):
Supervisor Baden stated this is a parcel on Lucas Turnpike with a 12,000 square foot building looking to start an artisan manufacturing place. Currently it is not allowed in that zoning district. It’s a use that other people and our municipality can use. There are some AR-3 areas where this may not be appropriate. Adaptive re-use also runs potential problems. Rosendale recently created an Economic Enterprise Overlay (EEO) District.
Attorney Christiana stated it’s a way to take buildings or properties that have been abandoned or not used and allowed in the zoning because of the predating or lost their grandfathering and have an adaptive reuse of them to provide jobs, or clean properties up. It’s a two part process.
Supervisor Baden gave the Board a sample of the local law regarding this. This will resolve many future issues and can be a nice addition to the zoning code.
DEJAGER LANE:
Attorney Christiana found some information. The problem was this parcel was given to the Town in the 1960’s, so finding a law from when it was given to the Town was hard to find but finally found an Attorney General’s opinion that at that time the Counties can give the property to the Towns and the Towns can sell it at fair market value to adjoining owners. So we can determine the value, one more thing that needs to be looked into is that the sale of land may be subjected to permissive referendum but because the law back then said we can sell it for fair market value, there might be an exception to the permissive referendum requirement. Attorney Christiana has some more research to do.
OPEN DEVELOPMENT REQUEST (CHERRY LANE R-2 ZONING):
Supervisor Baden stated the Building Department received an application for building permit that would fall under New York State law Section 280-A. If a parcel doesn’t have frontage on Town or private road that isn’t on a zoning map subdivision in order for someone to get a building permit they must go through the open development process. There is a 5 step process.
Supervisor would like to send the referral to the Planning Board now so they have it for the April 9th meeting.
Attorney Christiana asked if there is a road maintenance agreement?
Resolution # 111-2018:
A Motion was made by Councilman Hewitt to refer the open development application to the Town of Rochester Planning Board and Highway Superintendent.
Second: Councilwoman Fornino
Discussion:
Aye: 4 nay: 0 abstain: 0 motion carried
Drabkin-absent
AJOURNMENT:
A Motion was made by Councilwoman Fornino to adjourn the meeting at 8:45pm.
Second: Councilman Hewitt
Discussion:
Aye: 4 nay: 0 abstain: 0 motion carried
Drabkin absent
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
CHRISTINA M. FERRARA
DEPUTY TOWN CLERK