VILLAGE OF AURORA BOARD OF TRUSTEES
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OCTOBER 18, 2006
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 October 18, 2006 with Mayor Gunderson presiding.
PRESENT: Mayor Tom Gunderson, Trustees Jim Chase, George Farenthold, Janet Murphy and Ken Zabriskie.
ALSO PRESENT: David Brooks, Debbie Brooks, Sheila Edmunds (Village Historian), Laura Holland, Melinda Kostreva (Treasurer), John Miller (Fire Commissioner), Jay O’Hearn 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 September 20, 2006 Regular Meeting Minutes with corrections noted. Seconded by Trustee Chase, motion carried 5:0.
CHANGES TO THE AGENDA:
Mayor Gunderson asked to include on the Agenda the following: Under New Business: 1) New Appointment to the Planning Board, and 2) Trustee Zabriskie asked to place Parking Issues.
MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Mayor Gunderson had no announcements.
CLERK'S ANNOUNCEMENTS:
The Clerk reported oon the NYCOM Fall Training Session that she attended during the week of October 2-6,2006. The one important change is that all Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals members will need to complete four hours of training annually beginning January 1, 2007.
VISITOR RECOGNITION:
Mayor Gunderson welcomed Laura Holland. Ms. Holland was hoping for an update on a resolution regarding her zoning issues and the problems her family has had with the zoning officer. Ms. Holland explained that this issue has been going on for almost six months. Mayor Gunderson agreed that this issue needed to be resolved as soon as possible. Mayor Gunderson, Trustee Chase, Village Attorney, Mr. Fusco and Mr. Staley will meet next Thursday afternoon to discuss this issue as well as other issues that need clarification.
Mayor Gunderson welcomed John Miller (Fire Commissioner) of the Aurora-Ledyard Fire District. Mr. Miller requested to have the Board members take a walk around the Firehouse with him to discuss several areas that needed to be addressed, such as lights in the Apparatus Bay, painting the walls of the interior of the building, and possibly replacing the doors. Mayor Gunderson informed Mr. Miller that Trustee Farenthold was in charge of the Buildings & Grounds Committee. Trustee Farenthold will meet with Mr. Miller to discuss these issues and the repairs that need to be made. Mr. Miller stated that the Fire Commissioners and the Fire Department could not and would not do the painting. Time is just too valuable to put that much time into such a project for volunteers. Mayor Gunderson stated that someone would have to be hired to do the painting. Mr. Miller wants the Trustees feelings on the grounds maintenance, with specific concerns on the lawn, bushes and trees. The bushes are not trimmed, and the windows are not washed. Mr. Miller stated that the Departments should not be responsible for these details. The firemen now have to do 1,500 – 2,000 hours of training every year, 800 of these hours are mandated, this is another full time job. Trustee Farenthold reported that the Village just paid $65,000 for a new roof, so there is no lack of willingness on the Village’s part to do the work. Trustee Farenthold and Mr. Miller will do a walkthrough before Thanksgiving. Mr. Miller will email Fire Chief, Mark Bailey’s cell number tomorrow morning.
Mayor Gunderson asked Ms. Edmunds, Village Historian if she would like to give her report now instead of waiting until her regularly designated time. Ms. Edmunds accepted his offer and gave her report. Please see attached Report. Trustee Farenthold asked the Village Board to look into purchasing the “little” church on Levanna Road owned by Mr. Hitchcock. It was originally moved from the Village of Aurora. It will take a great deal of work, but would be a nice solution to the storage problems of the Historian. Trustee Farenthold will look into this matter.
TREASURER'S REPORTS:
A.Monthly Reports:
The Village Board accepted the Monthly Reports.
B.Budget Modifications
There were no Budget Modifications this month.
C.Approval of Bills:
Trustee Chase moved approval of bills in the General Fund for claims #158 to #191 in the amount of $5,332.95. Seconded by Trustee Farenthold, motion carried 5:0.
Trustee Zabriskie moved approval of bills in the Water Fund for claims #158 to #191 for $2,021.74. Seconded by Trustee Chase, motion carried 5:0.
Trustee Zabriskie moved approval of bills in the Sewer Fund for claims #158 to #191 in the amount of $8,551.31. Seconded by Trustee Chase motion carried 5:0.
Trustee Chase moved approval of bills in the Street Improvement Project Fund for claims #158 to #191 in the amount of $153,425.31. Seconded by Trustee Farenthold, motion carried 5:0.
COMMITTEE AND BOARD REPORTS:
A.Buildings and Grounds:
Trustee Farenthold reported on the “Trash Truck” meeting held on September 26th, stating that the Police and Sheriffs Association were now on our side. There will be another meeting tomorrow. There are currently 6,000 loads per month. New Jersey and Massachusetts trucks are staying on the Thruway. The Tipping Fee is only $40.00. Trustee Farenthold is continuing to work with the Upstate Citizens Safety Task Force and will continue working with NYCOM and welcomes input from any interested persons or groups.
Trustee Farenthold reported that Ms. Edmunds home is simply too small and much too difficult to house all the work she does for the village. There is not enough room for the boxes and files she needs to keep. The Village needs to look for other alternatives.
Trustee Farenthold reported that the handicapped parking spaces have all been painted. This included six spaces including the two at the United Ministry.
Trustee Farenthold reported on the WiFi – Wi Max. Trustee Farenthold stated that Sheriff Rob Outhouse is spending $50 per month per Deputy for cell time vs. wireless time. Trustee Murphy asked Trustee Farenthold what his vision was in regards to WiFi – WiMax. He will continue to copy Trustees and staff with news of what other communities are doing with wireless communications issues. Trustee Farenthold replied that the Governor of San Francisco has now hand partnered with Google to provide access to the citizens of San Francisco. We can learn what we can do and then decide. Different Models oth Non-Profit and For Profit are instructive for Aurora and e is open in terms of what we eventually do. Can we provide this service to the Town of Ledyard or just the Village? This will possibly be a major cost. That will depend on how we proceed.
Trustee Farenthold reported that the Aurora Foundation has closed its offices. Mrs. Rowland has been around for the past ten years, most notably during the past five years. Trustee Farenthold would like to pass a resolution on behalf of the Village Board thanking her for the work she has done. Trustee Zabriskie stated that he had been a strong supporter of Mrs. Rowland and all the work she has done for the College and the Village, however, he stated that when the Village sent a letter regarding the Fargo to the Aurora Foundation, LLC, and Wells College, neither Mrs. Rowland or President Ryerson ever acknowledged it. When the initial letter went unanswered, it proved to him that the Foundation was unwilling to work with the Village. By not answering a “governmental official letter”, Trustee Zabriskie felt that this was not a “savy” approach. Trustee Zabriskie is not willing to sign such a resolution. Trustee Murphy also will not sign.
B.Recreation, Parks and Public Events:
Trustee Murphy reported that she had a private party at the Firehouse and that the fire alarms were working but the vents were not.
Trustee Murphy asked about the “bollard thing” at St. Patrick’s Church regarding the Street Project. Mayor Gunderson reported that they were eliminated by using rocks. This kept the cost down.
Trustee Murphy reported that the sign for the Village Park needed to be set in cement. The sign is in a safe place and will be put up in the Spring.
C.Streets and Public Safety:
Trustee Chase had nothing to report.
Mayor Gunderson reported that the Street Project was proceeding. The sidewalk between the Lyon House and the United Ministry was a concern. The Village must inform the Contractor if they want to proceed with the sidewalk by November 1st.
D.Water and Sewer:
Trustee Zabriskie reported that the Lagoon job was finished. Mr. Wilmot is waiting for the new pumps.
E.Community Preservation:
The Board accepted the Minutes from the Regular Community Preservation Panel Meeting held on September 6, 2006.
F.Planning Board:
The Board accepted the Minutes from the Regular Planning Board Meetings of August 9, 2006 and September 9, 2006.
G.Zoning Board of Appeals:
The accepted Minutes from the Public Hearing and Regular Meetings held on August 24, 2006 and the Public Hearing and Regular Meetings held on September 27, 2006.
H.Zoning Officer:
No Report was received.
Historian:
Ms. Edmunds gave her report earlier.
OLD BUSINESS:
The Board went over the Aurora-Ledyard Fire District Agreement. It was decided that the Board would take another look at this next month, as there needs to be clarification.
NEW BUSINESS:
Doug Staley, from Life Safety Consultants has asked the Village Board to review two Local Laws that would need to be passed next month: 1) Local Law #1 of 2006 – A Local Law Providing For The Administration And Enforcement of the New York State Fire Prevention And Building Code and 2) Local Law #2 of 2006 – Unsafe Buildings Local Law. Mayor Gunderson asked to have the Village Attorney review these before any Public Hearing was set up. The Village Attorney is also to review the Local Zoning Law Amendments which were passed on to him back in May. Once Mr. Fusco has approved these Local Laws, the Village Clerk will schedule a Public Hearing.
Mayor Gunderson reported that he would like to recommend appointing Bill Maloney to the Planning Board. This is an interim appointment, to fill the vacancy of Nancy Gil (November 1, 2006 through May 31, 2006). Trustee Zabriskie moved approval to appoint Mr. Maloney to the Planning Board. Seconded by Trustee Chase, motion carried 5:0..
Mayor Gunderson reported that he would like to appoint Grace Bates as Chair of the Planning Board. Ken Kabelac had been approached, but declined the Chair position. He has agreed to stay on as Deputy Chair. Trustee Farenthold moved approval to name Grace Bates as Chair of the Planning Board. Seconded by Trustee Zabriskie, motion carried 5:0.
Trustee Zabriskie asked if something could be done about the parking in front of fire hydrants along Main Street. Trustee Zabriskie is aware that the Village does not have the means to enforce another law or ordinance. However, could the Sheriff or State Police be asked to assist with this issue and give out tickets? Mayor Gunderson asked for a handle on the striping in front of hydrants and/or driveways. Mayor Gunderson stated that he believed that there was a 15-foot area around a fire hydrant that you could not park. Trustee Farenthold will check with Mr. Wilmot to see if signs could be purchased, the Village will not paint signs at this point. Trustee Zabriskie suggested starting with the Sheriff and State Police to see if they will issue tickets for parking in front of fire hydrants.
Trustee Murphy asked if “speed bumps” could be installed on Court Street. The traffic goes too fast with so many children playing and getting on and off the school buses. It was suggested purchasing rubber ones that could be removed during winter months for snow removal and reinstalled in the spring. Trustee Chase will look into this matter.
With no further business to discuss, Mayor Gunderson asked for a motion to adjourn.
ADJOURNMENT:
Trustee Chase moved adjournment at 9:30 PM. Seconded by Trustee Zabriskie, motion carried 5:0.
Respectfully submitted,
Nancy M. Yann
Village Clerk