VILLAGE OF AURORA BOARD OF TRUSTEE’S MEETING

February 18, 2009

Held at the Aurora Firehouse Meeting Room

Present:   Deputy Mayor James Chase

   Trustees -  Elisabeth MacCormick, Janet Murphy & George Farenthold (7:40 PM)

Also Present:  

David Brooks

            Deborah Brooks, Deputy Village Clerk/Treasurer

Kathleen Barran, Staff Writer for The Citizen

Absent:  Mayor Thomas Gunderson

  Village Clerk Nancy Yann 

Deputy Mayor Chase called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM, then led the room in the Pledge of Allegiance. 

Deputy Mayor Chase asked for approval of the January 28, 2009 Minutes.  Trustee MacCormick asked that on page 5 there was the need of correction of spelling for Mr. Radcliff’s name and on page 3 too many “2” regarding the vouchers paid in paragraph 3 of paying for bills.  Trustee MacCormick moved approval with corrections and Trustee Murphy seconded.   Unanimously approved with corrections.  Motion Carried 3:0.

Changes to the Agenda -  Deputy Mayor Chase announced that he had received a phone call from Trustee Farenthold before the meeting letting him know that Trustee Farenthold would arrive late.

Announcements - Deputy Mayor Chase asked for a moment of silence for the lost of Village resident, Suzanne “Tudy” Kenyon.  He noted that Ms. Kenyon  was an active member of the community and will be missed.

Deputy Clerk Brooks informed the Board that the Cayuga County Association of Village’s Dinner would be held at The Sunset Restaurant in Auburn on Tuesday, February 24, 2009.   The Village of Weedsport will be hosting and the program would be a presentation by the Finger Lakes Institute on an overview of programs that effect the lakes.  Trustees MacCormick and Murphy requested reservations be made for them.

Deputy Clerk Brooks informed the Board that Janet Murphy had petitioned for the vacant one year term Trustee seat and her name would be on the ballot for the Special Election to be held on Wednesday, March 18, 2009 from noon to 9:00 PM in the meeting room.

Visitor Recognition - Deputy Mayor Chase welcomed Ms. Barran from The Citizen to the meeting.  Ms. Barran introduced herself to the Board.  Ms. Barren asked why she was unable to print off the Village Board Minutes from the Village’s Web Page.  Trustee Murphy said that she has had difficulty as well.  Deputy Mayor Chase asked Trustee Murphy to check out the situation with Jacci Farlow.

Treasurer’s Reports -   Ms. Brooks reported that the Village was doing quite well even with the economic difficulties for the country.

Deputy Mayor Chase presented the Budget Modification to the Board.  Ms Brooks explained that there was a bill from Van Bortel Ford to purchase the new Dump Truck.  She noted that Public Works Apparatus Reserve Funds needed to be moved to the General Fund to cover the bill‘s payment. 

General Fund:

$22,265.62   FROM     Public Works Apparatus Money Market Savings # 70256

+  9,207.89FROM     General Fund Checkbook

(exchange of PWA Funds in CD#1090119)

$31,473.51TO           A5110.2    Streets Maintenance -  Equipment

 

Trustee MacCormick moved approval of the Budget Modification; seconded by Trustee Murphy.  Motion Carried 3:0.

The Deputy Mayor presented the bills for payment on Abstract # 9:

 

General Fund voucher #s 294, 295, 297-302, 304-310, 313-317, & 320 in the amount of $37,269.26.   Trustee Murphy moved payment of General Fund bills, seconded by Trustee MacCormick.  The Board unanimously approved payment of the General Fund bills.  Motion Carried 3:0.

Water Fund voucher #s 304, 311, 318 & 320 in the amount of $2,062.87.  Trustee Murphy moved payment of Water Fund bills seconded by Trustee MacCormick. The Board unanimously approved payment of the Water Fund bills.  Motion Carried 3:0.

Sewer Fund voucher #s 296, 301, 303, 304, 308, 312, 319, & 320 in the amount of $7,427.00.  Trustee Murphy moved payment of Sewer Fund bills with a second by Trustee MacCormick. The Board unanimously approved payment of the Sewer Fund bills.   Motion Carried 3:0

Committee Reports:

Recreation, Parks & Public Safety - Trustee MacCormick reported that she had received notification from Diane Hutchinson, Vice President & Treasurer of Wells College for permission to use the Wells College Dock area for the Summer Recreation Program this year.  Trustee MacCormick noted the program will run from June 29 to August 16, 2009 and that she has asked Ms. Brooks to advertise for Lifeguard positions.  Brief discussion ensued on whether funds were available to purchase some supplies now to get the program started.  (Trustee Farenthold arrived at 7:40 PM)

Trustee MacCormick reported that the Village Task Force Subcommittee would be meeting with Wells College President, Lisa Marsh Ryerson, at 11: 00 AM on Thursday, February 19, 2009 for one half hour to discuss the Aurora Place location future use.

Deputy Mayor Chase welcomed Trustee Farenthold to the meeting.  Trustee Farenthold informed those present that he is married to Lisa Marsh Ryerson, President of Wells College. 

Streets & Public Safety - Trustee Chase reported that he and Mayor Gunderson had met with MRB representative Ryan Colvin to discuss the easement agreements needed for the Sunset Beach project.  Trustee Chase informed the Board that the process has been simplified so only one blanket easement will be used instead for one for each property owner.

  Water & Sewer - Trustee Murphy said that everything was running smoothly.

Buildings and Grounds - Trustee Farenthold reported that he was very pleased as to how well the painting of the Meeting Room, Hallway and Kitchen had gone.  He thanked Trustee Chase for his help in acquiring the needed supplies to redo the floor areas and Adam Van Horn, Village Maintenance Person, for taking time to get all the supplies.  He noted that  the final stage for the electrical work had also been completed during this time and that new splashboards would be installed later.  He thanked Sheriff Gould, Deputies Bruce Watkins and Larry Westover for their handling of the project and the work crew.

Trustee Farenthold reported that members of the Truck Traffic Task Force would be in Albany on Thursday 2/19/09, bright and early, to attend the Governor’s Office Regulatory Review “GORR” meeting and to push forward the new Truck Traffic regulations.

Trustee Farenthold reminded the Board that Earth Day was Wednesday, April 22, 2009 and that volunteers were needed to revitalize the Village Park areas. He has asked for help from Wells College Collegiate Office to do plantings. He also noted that Village Resident, Patricia Rittenhouse has offered use of her garden to propagate plants.   Deputy Mayor Chase cautioned Trustee Farenthold what was planted and to avoid costly maintenance.  Trustees MacCormick and Murphy suggested that a general cleanup from the Fall and Winter debris, especially where the Wells College students and Staff are leaving their cigarette butts would be more prudent at this time.

Community Preservation Panel -  no report

Planning Board - no report

Zoning Board of Appeals - no report

Zoning Officer - December 2008 and January 2009 Reports.   

Village Historian -  Deputy Mayor Chase noted that there had been no further news on acquiring storage for Shelia’s records.

Old Business -  Trustee Farenthold reported that he will meet with Paul Griswold regarding the installation of High Speed Broad Band Internet Access along Rte 34 and hoped to encouraged extension of the line into rural areas without cable.

Ms. Brooks reminded the Board that 2009-2010 Budget Process has begun and meetings with Mayor Gunderson would be forthcoming.

Deputy Mayor Chase questioned as to whether the Solar Panel for the Speed Detector would be installed soon.  He explained how the unit worked to Ms. Barran.  Trustee Murphy felt that Mr. Radcliff was waiting until Winter had ended so the unit wouldn’t be damaged by the snow cover or the snowplow.

New Business - Ms. Brooks reminded the Board that their meetings for March and April had date changes.  The March meeting will be held on Wednesday the 25th at 6:30 for the Tentative Budget Hearing.  The April meeting will be held on Wednesday the 22nd at 6:30 PM for the Annual Organizational Meeting.  Both their Regular Monthly Meetings would immediately follow.

Deputy Mayor Chase reminded the Board that they had discussed earlier about changing the time of their meetings to 7:00 PM and asked that they come prepared to discuss this for the April meeting.

Trustee Farenthold motioned for adjournment at 8:00 PM.  Seconded by Trustee Murphy.  Motion Carried 4:0.  The Board unanimously remarked that was the shortest meeting in recent history of the Village Board and that they should have more like that.

Respectfully Submitted,

Deborah M. Brooks

Deputy Village Clerk