Town of Pinckney Minutes
Regular Meeting
August 11, 2015
Roll
Officials
Present: Sherry Harmych,
Supervisor
Don Cook, Superintendent
Don Vincent, Councilman
Bob Amidon, Councilman
Dan Pearson, Councilman
Sandi Dunn, Councilwoman
Megan Vincent-Olmstead,
Town Clerk/Tax Collector
Absent: None
Others in Attendance
Mike Clemons
Kay Chapman, Tug Hill
Commission
Janice Hodkinson
The meeting was called to order at
7:06 pm and all rose to say the Pledge of Allegiance. Firsts on the agenda was
the Planning Board Report; Janice Hodkinson gave the report which included
information about the town obtaining some of the Sue Townsend’s old land, which
now belongs to Emily Puffer. First Janice spoke about changing the property
lines, the planning board was willing to do a “procedural waiver” so the lot
doesn’t have to be 200x200. It will simply be a “lot line change” which Mrs.
Puffer is not asking any money for from the town, only a tree line planted
separating the properties. Don Cook offered the idea that perhaps the highway
department and it’s workers could assist with the building clean up. This
discussion was tabled until the town can get the land re-surveyed.
The clerks report was next on the
agenda, and while copies of the report were not readily available for the board
members to view, Town Clerk Vincent-Olmstead read through the report and Bob
Amidon made a motion to accept the report; Sandi Dunn seconded the motion. As
far as the financial report, Supervisor Harmych relayed to the board that there
was a discrepancy in the highway section of the finances, so she would review
it over the course of the next month and she would have a revised report at the
September meeting. There was not a Justice report for this month. Town Clerk
Vincent-Olmstead reviewed the minutes of the prior meeting with the board and
Bob Amidon made a motion to accept the minutes; Don Vincent seconded his
motion.
The Tug Hill Commission report was
given by Kay Chapman; the NYS Comptroller recently released the 2016 tax cap
figure; known as the 2% tax cap: 2016=0.73%, 2015=1.56%, 2013&2014=2.0%.
The Village of Prospect will become the second Tug Hill village to dissolve
following the referendum on July 21st. This was due to a Worker’s
Comp. claim that involved the fire fighters causing the fire department to be
abolished and this left the town with a huge debt of over $500,000. After the
village dissolves it will become a hamlet of Trenton. The NYS Woodsmen field
days are scheduled for August 21, 22, and 23 in Boonville. Finally, Microsoft
has announced it’s newest upgrade: Windows 10 and the Tug Hill report suggests
waiting. Clerk Vincent-Olmstead relayed that she has already upgraded
unfortunately and the upgrade is not ideal.
Next on the agenda was the Highway
report, reviewed by Superintendent Cook. He reported that the Bomag machine
that was purchased in prior months is now completely serviced and ready for
use. The Copenhagen end of the Grant Road has been rebuilt, the Austin Road was
completed using stone and top sand, one half of the Corey Road was graded and
then stone and top sand was added, the River Road was graded and some stone was
added, the McGowan Road was also graded and stone was put on where last year’s
fill project occurred, finally, the McDonald Road was graded. Work on the Cronk
Road is scheduled to begin this week. A part-time employee Lewis Nickerson
started this past month. Furthermore, Don Cook explained to the board that
there is a machine that Lewis County owns that is very old, but a necessary
addition to the area’s highway departments that Lewis County is looking to get
rid of. The Town Board agreed after discussion that the town should bond the
machine from Lewis County.
The new business of the meeting
included a few resolutions:
Resolution
72-2015 – TO SET FEES ON DRIVEWAY INSTALLATION LOCAL LAW
Whereas, Section 7 of Driveway
installation local law #2-2015 states the application shall be accompanied by
such fee or fees as the town board shall prescribe from time to time by
resolution not exceeding the approximate reasonable cost of processing and reviewing
the application and making any necessary inspections.
Therefore, be it resolved, to set the
fee at $25.00 (twenty-five dollars).
And be it further resolved this
resolution take effect immediately.
Moved by Sandi Dunn, seconded by
Bob Amidon; the board was polled by Clerk Megan Vincent-Olmstead and all
councilmen responded “yea”. Therefore, the resolution passed.
Resolution 73-2015 – TO SET FINES
OF DRIVEWAY INSTALLATION LOCAL LAW
Whereas,
Driveway installation local law #2-2015 states Section 8. Violations and
Penalties: Any person, firm, or corporation who or which shall violate any
provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a
fine or not more than $200.00 (two hundred dollars). Therefore, be it resolved,
to set the fine at two hundred dollars.
And
be it further resolved this resolution take effect immediately.
Moved by Don Vincent, seconded by Bob
Amidon; the board was polled by Clerk Megan Vincent-Olmstead and all councilmen
responded “yea”. Therefore, the resolution passed.
A
discussion among the board broke out about the knowledge of the new local laws
among town citizens. It was asked if we should potentially send the local laws
by mail to any citizen who might be affected by such laws, ie. every property
owner. However, it was decided quickly that that would cost too much money in
stamps. Perhaps, a better suggestion was to simply put a tidbit of information
at the bottom of the tax bills when they are sent out including the names and
brief subject of the new local laws. Also, it was wondered if the Town Clerk
could do the same with adding information at the bottom of the notices sent to
dog owners when asking them to renew their dogs’ licenses’.
Additionally
in new business, be it known that the Town Clerk has a new phone and phone
number: (315) 408-5032.
In
regards to old business; there has been a lot of work done on the Pinckney
Cemetery, Betty ________ has put together a timeline fo cemetery progress. The
unveiling of the sign for the Pinckney Cemetery is October 10th,
2015 at 11am. Also in old business, Town Clerk Vincent-Olmstead has update
information and pricing for the Business Automation Services, Inc (BAS) program
she is interested in and is asking the Town Board for approval for purchase.
The Board approved the purchase of the BAS program; however, the purchase price
was not confirmed, that information will come at next month’s regular meeting.
Resolution 74-2015
Whereas,
the Town Clerk of the Town of Pinckney is in need of computer program to assist
with the duties of Clerk and Tax Collector,
And whereas Business
Automation Services, Inc. offers a program for both Town Clerk duties and
Tax Collection responsibilities,
Therefore, be it resolved, the Board approves of
the purchase of the BAS programs.
Motioned by Sandi Dunn, Seconded by Bob Amidon, and passed by the board.
Finally, the
vouchers were accepted by the board after a motion by Sandi Dunn and a second
by Don Vincent. Sandi Dunn motioned to adjourn the meeting at 8:44pm and Bob
Amidon seconded the motion.
