Town of Pinckney Minutes
Regular Meeting
November 16th, 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
Supervisor Harmych, Superintendent
Cook, and the Board discussed passing a local law requiring bonding for logging
in the town in order to protect the town’s roads. Certain roads would cost more
to repair if damaged, thus it was suggested that the amount of the bond be set
in increments or adjustable. How to get the word out among town members and
land owners would be a challenge. The highway department could hand out copies
of the local law, it could be published in the Watertown Daily Times and The
Journal, and a flyer could be placed at Creekside.
At 6:10pm the regular board meeting
was called to order with the pledge. The clerks report was gone over by Clerk
Vincent-Olmstead and Bob Amidon made a motion to accept it, Sandi Dunn seconded
the motion. The board reviewed the financial report and Sandi Dunn motioned to
accept, with a second by Don Vincent. There was no justice report for this
month. Supervisor Harmych gave the Planning Board report: there were four minor
subdivisions in the town.
The minutes from the prior meeting
were made available for the board members to review and Bob Amidon made a
motion to dispense the reading of the minutes and to accept, a second came from
Sandi Dunn.
Kay Chapman from the Tug Hill
Commission reviewed the Tug Hill Report with the board; the NYSDOT will be
rolling out draft maps and revised mileages in the state highway inventory for
Oneida, Jefferson, and Lewis counties this fall. They will be discussing the
draft maps with local governments and making corrections and getting proper
paperwork for abandoned roads on file through the process. Correct road
mileages are important as they are the basis for the local highway arid
formulas under the CHIPS program. Also, submission and approval of an
efficiency plan, along with staying under the property tax cap, qualifies
homeowners to receive “property tax freeze checks”. More information is
available at https://www.budget.ny.gov/govEfficiancyPlans/govEfficiancyPlans.html.
The highway report was given by
Superintendent Cook. He reported that all of the highway department’s trucks
are ready for the snow. The Lewis County plowing contract will have additional
plowing for our town to do as part of the agreement with the county for the
equipment transfer. Don Cook contacted the DEC and is working to open up Parish
Road and Champion Peak Road. Snow Plow NYS training for snow plow drivers is
coming up soon. The new ramp for the Town Hall has been completed.
Resolution
#85-2015 – Expenditure of Highway Monies – Please see attached.
Motioned by Don Vincent, seconded by Bob
Amidon; all councilmen present responded “yea”. Therefore, the resolution
passed.
In regards to new business, the
Board members passed Resolution #86 to accept the 2016 budget.
Resolution 86-2015 – Adopt final 2016
Budget
Whereas the town board of the town of Pinckney held a public hearing on
the 2016 preliminary budget on November 10 2015 and,
Whereas the town board heard comments and took questions from the public
at the said public hearing, and
Whereas there were no opposition from the public.
Therefore be it resolved, the town of Pinckney adopts the 2016
preliminary budget as the final 2016 annual budget.
Motioned by Bob Amidon, seconded by Sandi
Dunn; all councilmen present responded “yea” when the board was polled.
Therefore, the resolution passed.
Planning
board member Becky Sullivan’s resignation was received and accepted by
Supervisor Harmych and the board. It is necessary to advertise for vacant
positions within the town: BAR, Planning Board, Dog Control, and ZBA. A
resolution appointing Brown and Brown as the town’s health insurance broker was
the next line of business.
Resolution
87-2015 – Appointing Brown and Brown as Health Insurance Broker
Whereas the town board of the town
of Pinckney has met with Ed Barone of Brown and Brown, and,
Whereas the town board checked into
options regarding cost of health insurance, and
Whereas, Brown and Brown had the
best plans both in cost and coverages
Therefore be it resolved the town of
Pinckney, Town Board appoints Brown and Brown, 117 West Liberty Street, PO Box
231, Rome, NY 13442 as the Broker of record.
And be it further resolved this
resolution shall take effect on January 1 2016
Motioned by Don Vincent, seconded by Sandi
Dunn; all councilmen present responded “yea”. Therefore, the resolution passed.
In regards to old business, bonding
for loggers was previously discussed. Also, the Townsend/Puffer property transfer
will be filed with the county. Moreover, there was further discussion about the
trash removal. Nothing is being changed at this time, but the possibility of
issuing a permit based on household size is still an option.
The vouchers were reviewed and
signed by the board members; Bob Amidon motioned to accept them and Sandi Dunn
seconded. Sandi Dunn motioned to adjourn the meeting, which was seconded by Bob
Amidon.
