VILLAGE OF AURORA BOARD OF TRUSTEES
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
JULY 18, 2007
The Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Aurora, New York was called to order in the Firehouse Meeting Room at 8:36 PM on July 18, 2007 with Mayor Gunderson presiding.
PRESENT: Mayor Tom Gunderson, Trustees Jim Chase, Janet Murphy, and Ken Zabriskie.
ABSENT: Trustee George Farenthold.
ALSO PRESENT: David Brooks, Debbie Brooks, Laura Holland, Melinda Kostreva (Treasurer), Shane Liebler (Citizen Reporter), Jay O’Hearn and Nancy Yann (Clerk).
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Trustee Zabriskie asked to not approve the Minutes of the Public Hearing of June 20, 2007 because he was unable to retrieve them from the computer. Trustee Chase seconded, motion carried 4:0. The Minutes of the Public Hearing will be approved at the August meeting.
Trustee Zabriskie moved approval of the June 20, 2007 Regular Meeting Minutes. Seconded by Trustee Murphy, motion carried 4:0.
CHANGES TO THE AGENDA: Mayor Gunderson added the following items: Under Mayor’s Announcements add Letters Received; Under New Business add Part-time Accounts Clerk; Under Old Business add Renew Membership for Watershed Network and PO Needs Assessment.
MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Mayor Gunderson read a letter received from Time Warner putting the Village on Notice of the Franchise Agreement.
Mayor Gunderson read a letter received from Lisa Sigona thanking the Board for taking the time to interview her for the position of Village Treasurer.
Mayor Gunderson reported to the Board that the Village Board had received an invitation to attend the 10th Annual Cayuga Lake Watershed Network’s Lakefest on Saturday, August 18, 2007 from 12 – 4 PM at Cass Park in Ithaca. There will be a picnic lunch, entertainment and displays by local partner organizations. At 2 PM, the Network’s Annual Meeting will celebrate honorees and a year’s accomplishment.
CLERK'S ANNOUNCEMENTS:
The Clerk read a letter received from Deborah M. Brooks, Secretary to the Fire Commissioners requesting that the figures for the 2007-2008 Lease Agreement be given to the Commissioners in early August due to the new Budget process for the Fire District.
The Clerk shared a letter regarding a mandated change made to coverage requirements for the diagnosis and treatment of mental, nervous and emotional disorders under most group health insurance policies in New York State, effective January 1, 2007.
VISITOR RECOGNITION:
Mayor Gunderson welcomed Laura Holland. Ms. Holland asked the Village Board why no “Stop Work Order” had been issued to the property located at 327 Main Street after the Village Attorney had issued a letter offering his opinion addressing Ms. Holland’s concerns. Mayor Gunderson will ask the Code Enforcement Officer why this has not been issued. Ms. Holland asked who was the enforcer. Mayor Gunderson responded that the Building Inspector/Code Enforcement Officer was. Ms. Holland stated that she thought the Mayor was the one person to oversee that things were done accordingly. Mayor Gunderson supplied that the Village Attorney was only advising. Mayor Gunderson will talk to both the Village Attorney and the Code Enforcement Officer tomorrow to take care of this request.
TREASURER'S REPORTS:
A.Monthly Reports:
The Treasurer reported that there were no Monthly Reports for June, as she is working on the Annual Report.
B.Budget Modifications:
There were no Budget Modifications.
C.Approval of Bills:
Trustee Chase moved approval of bills in the General Fund for claims #44 to #79 for $67,485.01. Motion was seconded by Trustee Murphy. Motion carried 4:0.
Trustee Zabriskie moved approval of bills in the Water Fund for claims #44 to #79 for $4,426.61. Seconded by Trustee Chase, motion carried 4:0.
Trustee Zabriskie moved approval of bills in the Sewer Fund for claims #44 to #79 for $10,620.62. Seconded by Trustee Murphy, motion carried 4:0.
Ms. Kostreva recommends that the Mayor send the New York State Retirement Office a letter asking to reduce the amount owed from the Village regarding the billing adjustment for fiscal year April 1, 1976 – March 31, 1977 and April 1, 1975 – March 31, 1976. The total adjustment amounts to $9,688.00.
Ms. Kostreva is currently working on the Annual Report.
Ms. Kostreva reported that she would be on vacation from July 20 through the 31st.
COMMITTEE AND BOARD REPORTS:
A.Building and Grounds
There was nothing to report.
B.Recreation, Parks, and Public Events:
Trustee Murphy reported that the Summer Recreation Program was going very well. The staff is working hard and doing a fine job. Ms. Murphy is pleased with the program this year but would like to reconfigure the program next year. The Recreation Program is averaging two children a day and the Swim Program is averaging 25 children per day. Trustee Murphy would like to extend the lifeguard hours.
Trustee Murphy asked about installing “rubber speed bumps” on Court Street as cars are moving at a speed much to fast when there are children playing near the road and in the street. Trustee Chase agreed that the ball had been dropped and he will talk with Mr. Wilmot.
Trustee Murphy asked the Board if they had read the resume that had been put in their folders. Trustee Murphy stated that this person was smart, qualified and would earn the trust of the community. Trustee Zabriskie suggested to invite said person to come talk to the Board. Trustee Chase thought this was a good idea and said, “Let’s do it!”
C.Streets and Public Safety:
Trustee Chase read a letter from Steve Taylor regarding two pavement squares in front of his house located at 405 Main Street. The squares have lifted owing to the roots of a tree, which has been removed. The gap between the squares is uneven and seems to have increased in height, creating a dangerous condition. Trustee Chase will follow-up with this request.
D.Water and Sewer:
Trustee Zabriskie reported that it has been uneventful this month.
Trustee Zabriskie reported as a point of interest that the water haulers have used 300,000 gallons of water this quarter.
E.Community Preservation:
The Board accepted the Minutes of the CPP meetings for June 6, 2007.
F.Planning Board:
The Board accepted the Minutes of the Planning Board for June 113, 2007.
Zoning Board of Appeals:
There was nothing to report.
H.Zoning Officer:
The Board accepted the Zoning Officer’s Reports for June 2007.
Historian:
There was nothing to report.
OLD BUSINESS:
Mayor Gunderson reported that the Village Board has not voted on the Comprehensive/Master Plan for the Village that was submitted to the Board back on July 12, 2005. Trustee Chase moved to approve and accept the Comprehensive/Master Plan as submitted by the Village of Aurora Planning Board dated July 10, 22005. Seconded by Trustee Murphy, motion carried 4:0.
Mayor Gunderson reported to the Board that Marty had sent a letter to Mr. Smith, Registered with concerns regarding the Village Streets Project. Mr. Smith was given until August 2 to respond to Mr. Wilmot. The Village Board has the option to hold the money being held to hire someone else to finish and/or correct the work.
Mayor Gunderson reported that Dave Miller, Consultant for the Village Zoning Law, had submitted a “Supplemental Report” dated June 2007 for the Board’s review. He has given a “Resolution” that will need to be passed. Mayor Gunderson stated that the Board would do this next month.
NEW BUSINESS:
Mayor Gunderson recommended to the Board of Trustees that he would like to appoint Deborah Brooks to the position of Accounts Clerk part-time because the Village cannot have two Village Treasurers at the same time. Once Ms. Kostreva feels that Ms. Brooks can step into the position of Village Treasurer, Ms. Kostreva will inform the Board of Trustees. Mayor Gunderson added that this position would be for 90-days. Mayor Gunderson stated that Ms. Kostreva would be paid an hourly rate that is negotiable and Ms. Brooks would be paid at the same rate as the position of Deputy Clerk. Once Ms. Brooks took on more responsibility, the pay would be negotiated. Ms. Brooks was agreeable to this. Trustee Zabriskie moved to appoint Deborah Brooks as part-time Accounts Clerk for 90-days. Seconded by Trustee Chase, motion carried 4:0.
Mayor Gunderson reported on the “Building Needs Assessment” for the Post Office Building. MRB’s proposal was for $8,500 to conduct this study. Trustee Chase likes the pitched roof idea and suggested using siding or brick to make the building look nice. It is not consistent. Trustee Murphy stated that it was important to have the Post Office in the center of the Village. Trustee Zabriskie handed out drawings last month where he proposed the downsizing of the Post Office and adding the Village Clerk’s Office. Trustee Murphy said that you can dress up the building but the access to the Village Park was not taken care of. What can we do to obtain appropriate access? Trustee Murphy moved to accept the MRB Needs Assessment Study. Seconded by Trustee Chase, motion carried 4:0. Trustee Zabriskie asked the Board to please take another look and consider his recommendations to the Board last month. Mayor Gunderson stated that the Board would look at everything once the information was received.
Trustee Zabriskie moved to renew the membership for the Cayuga Lake Watershed Network for $50.00. Seconded by Trustee Murphy, motion carried 4:0
With no further business to discuss, Mayor Gunderson asked a motion to adjourn.
ADJOURNMENT:
Trustee Zabriskie moved adjournment at 8:30 PM. Seconded by Trustee Murphy, motion carried 4:0.
Respectfully submitted,
Nancy M. Yann
Village Clerk