VILLAGE OF AURORA BOARD OF TRUSTEES
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
MAY 16, 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 7:30 PM on May 16, 2007 with Mayor Gunderson presiding.
PRESENT: Mayor Tom Gunderson, Trustees Jim Chase, John Dentes, George Farenthold, Bill Maloney, Janet Murphy, and Ken Zabriskie.
ALSO PRESENT: David Brooks, Debbie Brooks, George Fearon (Cayuga County Legislature Chair), Andrew Fusco (Village Attorney), Melinda Kostreva (Treasurer), Dave Miller (Consultant), and Nancy Yann (Clerk).
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
REMINDER
Trustee Farenthold reminded those in attendance that he is married to Lisa Marsh Ryerson, President of Wells College.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Trustee Farenthold moved approval of the Annual Organizational Meeting Minutes of April 25, 3007 as written. Seconded by Trustee Chase, motion carried 5:0.
Trustee Farenthold moved approval of the April 25, 2007 Regular Meeting Minutes with corrections noted. Seconded by Trustee Murphy, motion carried 5:0.
CHANGES TO THE AGENDA:
Mayor Gunderson announced that Appointment to the various Boards will be added under New Business, the Treasurers Report will be moved to before Visitor’s Recognition as well as the discussion of the two proposed Local Laws.
MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Mayor Gunderson announced that the Village was to host the May Association of Villages Meeting next week. Due to a lack of participation, the dinner/meeting has been cancelled.
CLERK'S ANNOUNCEMENTS:
The Clerk had no announcements.
TREASURER'S REPORTS:
A.Monthly Reports:
The Village Board accepted the April 2007 Monthly Reports.
B.Budget Modifications:
Trustee Zabriskie moved the following Budget Modifications:
GENERAL FUND:
$37.65 FROM A1410.4 – Clerk/Treasurer - Contractual TO A1330.4 – Tax Collection - Contractual
$243.28 FROM A1620.4 – Buildings – Contractual TO A1620.43 - Buildings – Janitorial Services
Seconded by Trustee Farenthold, motion carried 5:0.
Trustee Farenthold moved the following Budget Modification:
WATER FUND:
$3,095.38 FROM F8320.4 – Source of Supply - Contractual TO F8340.4 – Transmission & Distribution – Contractual
SEWER FUND:
$390.08 FROM G8130.47 – Sewage Treatment – Sludge TO G8130.4 – Sewage Treatment – Misc. Contractual
$304.29 FROM G8130.47 – Sewage Treatment – Sludge TO G8130.41 – Sewage Treatment – Utilities
$379.58 FROM G8130.47 – Sewage Treatment – Sludge TO G8130.45 – Sewage Treatment - Chemicals
C.Approval of Bills:
Trustee Chase moved approval of bills in the General Fund for claims #404 to #424 for $4,033.47. Seconded by Trustee Zabriskie, motion carried 5:0.
Trustee Zabriskie moved approval of bills in the Water Fund for claims #404 to #424 for $5,195.99. Seconded by Trustee Farenthold, motion carried 5:0.
Trustee Zabriskie moved approval of bills in the Sewer Fund for claims #404 to #424 for $4,485.80. Seconded by Trustee Farenthold, motion carried 5:0.
VISITOR RECOGNITION:
Mayor Gunderson welcomed Village Attorney, Andrew Fusco and Dave Miller, Consultant for the Village Zoning Law. Mr. Fusco reminded the Village Board that the Flood Plain Law must be adopted by August 2, 2007. By adopting this law, the Village will comply with the Federal Regulations. Every municipality will have to pass this law. The Board has set the date of Wednesday, June 20, 2007 at 7 Pm for the public hearing. In order to obtain bank financing on purchasing land, this law is required.
Mr. Fusco went over the timetable for the local Zoning Law Amendments. There will be a public hearing scheduled for the June 2007 meeting. Mr. Miller stated that the law was a “good law” but needed some tweaking. The Village is listed as a historic district, and as such, requires a Certificate of Appropriateness. Aurora is unique in this regard. (Please see the attached report from Mr. Miller.) Adoption of this law will be in within the next few months.
Local Law No. 1 of 2007, A Local Law Providing For the Administration and Enforcement Of The New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code was discussed. There were a few changes that Trustee Zabriskie asked to make stating that a Village Board Member must sign permits along with the Building Inspector; and that a copy of all records must be kept in the Village Clerk’s Office. Mr. Fusco stated that the Code Enforcement Officer is strictly an administrative position, dealing with the facts and the laws.
Local Law No. 2 of 2007, Unsafe Buildings Local Law was discussed. Mr. Fusco was asked if he had read the suggestions submitted from the Planning Board. Mr. Fusco stated that he had not but was aware of the recommendations. There are still concerns.. The Board asked if they could wait on passing this law until they were more comfortable with the wording. Mr. Fusco said that it would be fine to wait on this particular law.
COMMITTEE AND BOARD REPORTS:
A.Building and Grounds
Trustee Farenthold reported that he was in receipt of a letter from Mr. Senk regarding the Post Office move to the Heary Building. The Postal Service is now requiring only 900 square feet of space instead of the original 1,400 square feet. The project and MOU deadline is June 1, 2007. Mayor Gunderson was sure that the deadline would not be met unless Wells College was able to negotiate with Pleasant Rowland. Wells College has notified the USPS that they have withdrawn their proposal. The Post Office’s new requirement of square footage reduction will mean that this will have to go out to bid again. Mayor Gunderson reported that the Village had received a letter from Mr. Senk requesting the Village to consider renegotiating a contract to use the current building for the Post Office. Mayor Gunderson informed the Board members that it would take somewhere in the neighborhood of $30-$40,000 for a new roof. Mr. Maloney asked the Mayor if he had personally met with the President of Wells College to discuss this new turn of events. Mayor Gunderson stated that the Village has met all the deadlines set by the Aurora Foundation. The Postal Service has strict guidelines, and as such, cannot be rushed into making decisions quickly.
Trustee Farenthold reported that the Upstate Environmental Impact Study for the expansion of the Seneca Meadows was holding a pubic hearing on Monday, May 21 in Seneca Falls. He encouraged everyone to attend this meeting if possible.
Trustee Farenthold reported that there would be an Upstate Citizens Safety Task Force meeting June 1 at the Office of Senator Nozzolio.
B.Recreation, Parks, and Public Events:
Trustee Murphy reported that the Village has gotten permission to use the Boat House for the Summer Recreation Program. Mr. Wilmot will order lines and a new lifeguard chair for the Dock. The dates will be Saturday, June 30 through Sunday, August 19, 12 PM to 5 PM for the Swim Program and the Recreation Program will begin on Monday, July 2 and end Friday, August 17, from 10 AM to 1 PM. There will be an Ad placed in the Citizen for the Directors Position. The Village has not yet received any money from the Town of Ledyard.
Trustee Murphy has asked Kurt to put up the new Village Park Sign.
C.Streets and Public Safety:
Trustee Chase reported that work has begun on fixing problems with the Village streets. The “punch” list has been agreed upon by MRB Group, W.D. Smith and the village.
D.Water and Sewer:
Trustee Zabriskie reported that filler sand had been put in the drying beds.
Mayor Gunderson reported that there was a possible broken waterline between Mattingly’s and Knight’s property.
E.Community Preservation:
The Board accepted the Minutes of the CPP meetings for April 11, 2007.
F.Planning Board:
There was no report.
Zoning Board of Appeals:
There was no report.
H.Zoning Officer:
The Board accepted the Zoning Officer’s Reports for April 2007.
Historian:
There was nothing to report.
OLD BUSINESS:
Trustee Farenthold moved to adopt Local Law No. 1 of 2007 with changes. Seconded by Trustee Chase, motion carried 5:0.
Trustee Zabriskie moved to table Local Law No. 2 of 2007, Unsafe Buildings. Seconded by Trustee Farenthold, motion carried 5:0.
The Master Plan was also tabled until next month.
The Board briefly discussed purchasing a new copier. The Clerk had given information packets to the Board members to make an informed decision for this purchase. Trustee Zabriskie moved to purchase the Ricoh Copier from Usherwood. Motion was seconded by Trustee Murphy. Motion carried 5:0.
NEW BUSINESS:
Trustee Farenthold reminded the Board about the Public Hearing on May 21 in Seneca Falls.
Mayor Gunderson appointed a committee of Trustees Murphy and Zabriskie to research what other municipalities were doing for Code Enforcement Officers. He would like a comparison on duties and policies. The Committee will report back next month.
Mayor Gunderson asked for Board approval to reappoint the following people to the following Boards for a five (5) year term from June 1, 2007 to May 31, 2011:
Community Preservation Panel - Attilio Rezzonico
Planning Board – William Maloney
Zoning Board of Appeals – Bonnie Bennett
Trustee Farenthold moved approval of the appointments. Seconded by Trustee Zabriskie, motion carried 5:0.
Mayor Gunderson asked for Board approval to reappoint the following people as Chairs for a one year term.
Trustee Murphy moved approval of the appointments as follows:
Community Preservation Panel – Avery Ayers
Planning Board – Grace Bates
Zoning Board of Appeals – Bonnie Bennett
Seconded by Trustee Chase, motion carried 5:0.
With no further business to discuss, Mayor Gunderson asked a motion to adjourn.
ADJOURNMENT:
Trustee Zabriskie moved adjournment at 9:23 PM. Seconded by Trustee Farenthold, motion carried 5:0.
Respectfully submitted,
Nancy M. Yann
Village Clerk