VILLAGE OF AURORA BOARD OF TRUSTEE’S MEETING
January 16, 2008
Held at the Aurora Firehouse Meeting Room
Present: Mayor Thomas Gunderson; Trustees - James Chase, Kenneth Zabriskie,
Janet Murphy & George Farenthold
Also Present: Legislator George Fearon
David Brooks, Village resident
Deborah Brooks, Deputy Village Clerk/Treasurer
J. Stephen Taylor, Planning Board Member
Sara Wells, Village resident
The Mayor called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM. He led the room in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Trustee Farenthold informed those present that he was married to Lisa Marsh Ryerson, President of Wells College.
Mayor Gunderson asked for approval of the November 21, 2007 Minutes. Trustee Farenthold moved approval and Trustee Murphy seconded. Discussion - Trustee Zabriskie asked that the Minutes show on page one that he questioned getting a second estimate as this would prolong the painting of the Apparatus Bay into March and that it needed to be done now; that Mayor Gunderson remarked that the AVFD flushed out the drains in Apparatus Bay and that on page two Trustee Farenthold was to get the electrical estimates on the firehouse. Trustee Farenthold noted that on page four that he noted “environmentally sensitive areas”. The Mayor asked that those corrections to be noted in the Minutes. He then called the vote. Unanimously approved with correction. Motion Carried 5:0.
Changes to the Agenda - The Mayor added 2008-2009 Budget Preparation and appointment of Planning Board Member to New Business.
Announcements - The Mayor informed the Board of the Winter Legislative Meeting put on by NYCOM to be held in Albany on February 24 - 26, 2008. Trustee Farenthold noted interest in attending and will check out the dates with his schedule.
Mayor Gunderson referred to a letter dated December 27, 2007 from Village Resident, Sara Wells, who asked to be considered for the vacant position on the Village Planning Board. Mrs. Wells gave a brief background of herself and mentioned she had attended last week’s Planning Board’s meeting. Mayor Gunderson informed the Board that he had placed an ad for the vacant position in the January News & Notes, but no one else had applied as far as Ms. Brooks could determine with Village Clerk Yann out on sick leave. Mayor Gunderson asked that the Village Board accept Mrs. Wells as the new Planning Board Member to complete the term vacated by Mrs. Bates which will run from now through May 31, 2008. Trustee Farenthold moved accepting Mrs. Wells for the position. Trustee Chase seconded the motion. Motion Carried 5:0.
Mayor Gunderson welcomed Mrs. Wells to the Board and said that he would work on appointing a Chair at the next Board meeting.
Deputy Clerk Brooks reminded the Board that the Cayuga County Association of Villages would be hosted by the Village of Union Springs on Wednesday, January 23, 2008 at Curley’s Restaurant in Auburn and that Cayuga County DA, Jon Budelmann would be the speaker.
Visitor Recognition - Mr. Taylor asked that he be allowed to speak later in the meeting on the Master Plan under Old Business.
Mr. Fearon commented on the County’s involvement with the NYS Worker’s Compensation Plan. He noted recent increase in rates and that the bills to municipalities had increased tremendously. He said that Cayuga County is looking into other ways of coverage without such a high cost. Discussion ensued. Ms. Brooks noted that the rate had increased to $7,972.00 for 2008 from $5,494.00 in 2007. She commented that previous Treasurer, Melinda Kostreva, budgeted for an increase which resulted in only being $512.00 short. Mr. Fearon also noted that he would be stepping down as Chairman of the Cayuga County Legislature on January 22, 2008 and that Legislator Roger Mills will begin his term as Chairman.
Treasurer’s Reports - The Mayor noted the January Budget Modifications as follows:
GENERAL FUND-
$1,683.00 from A9962.2 - budgetary provision for other uses
115.50 to A7310.1 - youth program - personal services
144.33 A1410.4 - clerk/ treasurer- contractual
1,127.64 A5110.2 - street maintenance - equipment
295.53 A5110.4 - street maintenace - contractual
Trustee Zabriskie noted that the Street Maintenance Fund was short due to the extra expenditures for the Cherry Avenue Street Signs and the Speed Bumps.
Trustee Farenthold moved approval of the General Fund January Budget Modifications. Seconded by Trustee Murphy. Motion Carried 5:0.
WATER FUND -
$127.47 from F1990.4 - contingent account
to F8340.4 - transmission & distribution - contractual
Trustee Zabriskie moved approval of the Water Fund January Budget Modifications. Seconded by Trustee Farenthold. Motion Carried 5:0.
Sewer fund-
$801.40 from G1990.4 - contingent account
289.40 to G8130.4 - sewer treatment - misc. contracutual
512.00 g9040.8 - employee benefits - worker’s comp
Trustee Chase moved approval of the Sewer Fund January Budget Modifications. Seconded by Trustee Farenthold . Carried 5:0.
The Mayor presented the bills for payment on Abstract # 8:
General Fund voucher #s 262, 264, 267-269, 271-277, 279-283, 285 & 287-291 in the amount of $10,266.85. Trustee Chase moved payment of General Fund bills, seconded by Trustee Farenthold. The Board unanimously approved payment of the General Fund bills. Motion Carried 5:0.
Water Fund voucher #s 269, 273, 286, 289, 291 & 292 in the amount of $2,821.35. Trustee Zabriskie moved payment of Water Fund bills seconded by Trustee Farenthold. The Board unanimously approved payment of the Water Fund bills. Motion Carried 5:0.
Sewer Fund voucher #s 263, 265, 266, 269, 270-273, 278, 280, 284, 286, 289 & 291 in the amount of $11,478.00. Trustee Zabriskie moved payment of Sewer Fund bills with a second by Trustee Farenthold. The Board unanimously approved payment of the Sewer Fund bills. Motion Carried 5:0
Committee Reports:
Buildings and Grounds - Trustee Farenthold reported that the next Safety Task Force meeting would be held in Mayor Green’s office in Skaneateles on January 24, 2008 at 1:00 PM. He asked the Board members if they would mark their calendars and try to attend.
Trustee Farenthold noted that he found that Lafayette Street was missing its sign on the east side of State Route 90. Mr. Taylor added that the Lafayette Street sign on the west side of the road is also missing. Mayor Gunderson said that Superintendent of Public Works, Kurt Wilmot, needs to be informed of this to correct the situation.
Trustee Farenthold also noted that the Historical Marker denoting the home of the “first white man”, Roswell Franklin, had been broken near the north driveway entrance to George Peter. He asked if he could pursue getting the marker replaced. Mayor Gunderson asked Mr. Fearon if he knew who replaces the Historical Marker. Mr. Fearon remarked that Cayuga County doesn’t do this type of work and felt the Village would have to find out the name of the company in Pennsylvania who does. Trustee Chase moved that the Village should look into replacing the Roswell Franklin Historical Marker. Seconded by Trustee Farenthold. Motion Carried 5:0.
Recreation, Parks & Public Safety - Trustee Murphy had no report.
Streets & Public Safety - Trustee Chase had no report.
Water & Sewer - Trustee Zabriskie had no report.
Community Preservation Panel - no report
Planning Board - no report
Zoning Board of Appeals - December 5, 2007 Minutes for Public Hearing and Regular Meeting.
Zoning Officer - no report
Village Historian. - No report
Old Business - Planning Board Member, Steve Taylor, questioned the Village Board as to when they were going to complete the steps to finalize the Master Plan which was approved by the Planning Board on July 12, 2005. Mayor Gunderson noted that the Village Board had voted to accept the Master Plan at their July 18, 2007 Board meeting. Mr. Taylor referred to page four of the Master Plan noting that he wasn’t aware of when the Planning Board held a joint Public Hearing with the Village Board. He also mentioned, as the Village’s representative to the Cayuga County Planning Board, that this Plan hasn’t come before the County yet. Discussion ensued as to the need to prepare a Long Form SEQR review. Mr. Taylor suggested that the Village Board table any further action until he has spoken with Amy D’Angelo (Cay. Co. Planning Director) about the SEQR. Trustee Zabriskie suggested that a notice be placed in the kiosk alerting the public that they can view the document in the Village Clerk’s Office prior to the hearing to save on making copies. Mr. Taylor inquired as to why the Village Board hadn’t followed through with the process at the time the Planning Board had submitted the Plan to them. Mayor Gunderson felt there was a lack of communication between the Village Board and the Village Clerk. Mr. Taylor remarked that the Village Board is responsible to carry out any needed legislation not the Clerk. Mr. Taylor then left the meeting very upset at 8:16 PM
New Business - Mayor Gunderson reminded the Board that Ms. Brooks would be handing out the Budget Worksheets soon so that the 2008-2009 Budget process could commence in February.
Mrs. Wells reported on volunteer work done last summer by locals to help maintain the Village’s park areas. She asked if the Village Board would consider helping them by allotting $2,000.00 towards hand tools, plantings and a small storage unit. Discussion ensued on the various locations to be worked and what type of improvements would be considered. Trustee Zabriskie asked if any though had been given to low voltage lighting to the “Pocket Parks”. Trustee Farenthold said he hadn’t taken the time to check on this yet. Mayor Gunderson asked that the group come up with a budget that could be worked into the new Village budget. The Board reviewed the current budget for funds. Mayor Gunderson will speak with Mr. Wilmot about using the funds set aside for ‘Shade Trees; before allowing the money to be spent.
Mrs. Wells also asked if the Aurora Arts and Merchants Association (AAMA) could use the Village as a sponsor to apply for grant funding to help cover the costs of producing their brochures and a sign. Mayor Gunderson said that he would check on the sponsorship, but wasn’t sure that was possible. He offered the kiosk for use to display AAMA Tourist Information. The Mayor explained that the south side was for Municipal Notices; the north side for the Village Historian display, but the east side was for Tourism. He asked that any information be presented to the Village Board for review before placing it into the kiosk.
Mayor Gunderson informed the Board that Mr. Paul Senk from the USPS would be attending the February Village Board meeting to go over the needs of the Post Office and future plans for the building. He also hoped that that there would be a Public Hearing on the changes to the Zoning Law. Mayor Gunderson proposed that the Village Board hold the Public Hearing at 6:30 PM and meet with Mr. Senk at 7:00 PM which would be followed by the monthly Board meeting. Trustee Farenthold moved the Mayor’s recommendation for the February 20, 2008 Village Board meeting. Seconded by Trustee Murphy. Motion Carried 5:0.
Trustee Chase motioned for adjournment at 8:45 PM. Seconded by Trustee Farenthold. Motion Carried 5:0.
ADDENDUM: The following Resolutions are hereby added to the January 16, 2008 Minutes.
RESOLUTION #2008-01
POLLING PLACE AND HOURS WILL BE OPEN
JANUARY 16, 2008
Trustee Farenthold moved the following Resolution:
RESOLVED: that the Polling Place for the Village of Aurora March 18, 2008 Village Election will be at the Aurora Firehouse, located at 456 Main Street, Aurora, New York and
BE IT ALSO RESOLVED: that the hours during which the Polls will be open will be 12:00 Noon until 9:00 PM.
Seconded by Trustee Chase, Motion Carried 5:0.
Mayor Gundersonaye
Trustee Chaseaye
Trustee Farentholdaye
Trustee Murphyaye
Trustee Zabriskieaye
RESOLUTION #2008-02
APPOINTMENT OF ELECTION INSPECTORS FOR THE VILLAGE ELECTION
TO BE HELD MARCH 18, 2008
JANUARY 16, 2008
Trustee Farenthold moved the following Resolution:
RESOLVED: That the Village of Aurora Board of Trustees appoint Doris Brooks and Marie Fenner as Election Inspectors for the March 18, 2008 Village Elections at the rate of $8.25 per hour. Trustee Farenthold amended motion to include that Mrs. Brooks will act as Chair, at the February 20, 2008 Village Board meeting.
Inspectors will work on Tuesday, M arch 18, 2008, Election Day from 11:30 AM until after canvassing of votes immediately following the Election and Monday morning preceding the election for a brief training session.
Seconded by Trustee Murphy. Motion Carried 5:0.
Mayor Gundersonaye
Trustee Chaseaye
Trustee Farentholdaye
Trustee Murphyaye
Trustee Zabriskieaye
Respectfully Submitted by Deborah M. Brooks, Deputy Village Clerk