TOWN OF WATERTOWN
ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING
MUNICIPAL BUILDING
JANUARY 14, 2015
TOWN BOARD MEMBERS
JOEL R. BARTLETT, SUPERVISOR – STEPHEN L. RICH, COUNCILMAN – PAUL V. DESORMO, COUNCILMAN – DAVID D. PROSSER, COUNCILMAN – TIMOTHY MCATEE, COUNCILMAN
Supervisor Bartlett led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Supervisor Bartlett called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM and called for a roll call of
members present. All members were present. Legal Counsel Joseph W. Russell was not at the meeting.
MOTION # 1
Supervisor Bartlett offered a motion to accept the minutes of the December 11, 2014 meeting as presented. Councilman Prosser seconded.
Ayes All
MOTION #2
Supervisor Bartlett offered a motion to accept the minutes of the December 23, 2014 special meeting as presented. Councilman Prosser seconded.
Ayes All
Supervisor Bartlett opened the floor for public comments.
Mrs.Howard Davis, 17497 County Route 155, asked about the status of getting water on Dry Hill Rd., Supervisor Bartlett explained to her the negative responses to the expansion of water district in the past. He also stated that he had contacted the prison and as yet have not heard from them.
Supervisor Bartlett asked if anyone else chose to speak to the board. Since no one else chose to speak, he closed the floor to the public.
Town Clerk’s
correspondence. – none
Supervisor Bartlett accepted the Town Clerk’s report and the Town of Watertown Ambulance report for the month of December 2014.
Supervisor’s correspondence: He stated that he would contact the town attorney to prepare for next month’s meeting, a proposed local law to change the reinstatement for all water districts. He stated that the current charge for reinstatement is either $25.00 or $50.00 to have the system reactivated for nonpayment.. He said he would recommend that the reinstatement would be $150.00.
Supervisor Bartlett stated that he had received a note from the town code officer that he was leaving for vacation for three months. He asked the board if it would be in the town’s best interest to hire a part time code enforcement officer. In the past the Town Clerk’s office has had those responsibilities. The Town Clerk’s office has plenty of work as it is, and they do not need the extra work. We could look at the part time code officers in the surrounding towns, to see if anyone would be interested in being hired while he is away.
Supervisor Bartlett said he wanted to discuss the transfer station attendant position. The attendant usually takes his time off on Saturdays. This in turn causes another highway employee to cover for him on overtime. Supervisor Bartlett suggested that the town hire a part time attendant for 4 days per week, the pay scale to be decided . The town would have to amend the contract proposal with the Union, removing this highway position and creating a general fund employee. The supervisor said he would check with the Town’s attorney to see how to handle it, considering it is a union member who is presently doing the job.
The next item to discuss is the used clothing drop off shed. The board members discussed this, and it was decided that the person who owns it should remove it from town property.
Supervisor Bartlett accepted the Town Clerk’s report and the Town of Watertown Ambulance report for December 2013.
RESOLUTIONS:
MOTION # 3
WHEREAS, it is necessary to designate an official newspaper for the purpose of publishing legal notices to the public and other notifications for the fiscal year 2015.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Watertown Daily Times is hereby designated as the official newspaper for the Town of Watertown for all legal and public notices for the Fiscal Year 2015
Supervisor Bartlett moved the foregoing resolution and Councilman Prosser seconded.
Ayes All
MOTION #4
WHEREAS, it is necessary to designate and schedule Regular Town Council Meetings for the Fiscal Year 2015 at the organizational meeting held each January.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, all Regular Town Council meetings will be held at 7:00 PM on the second Thursday of each month at the Town Municipal Offices 22867 Co. Rt. 67 Watertown, NY 13601, with the exception of the October and November meetings which will be held on the first Thursday of October and the November meeting is to be held on the first Thursday following the General Election.
Supervisor Bartlett moved the foregoing resolution and Councilman Desormo seconded.
Ayes All
MOTION # 5
It is necessary to designate legal Bond Counsel for the Town of Watertown for the Fiscal Year 2015.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Law Firm of Hrabchak, Gebo and Langione of Watertown, NY is hereby designated a Bond Counsel for the Town of Watertown for the Year 2015.
Supervisor Bartlett moved the foregoing resolution and Councilman McAtee seconded.
Ayes All
MOTION # 6
WHEREAS, it is necessary to designate official banking institutions for the safeguarding and investment of Town of Watertown Funds for the Fiscal Year 2015.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, Key Bank N.A., Community Bank, J.P. Morgan and M&T Banks are hereby designated as depositories for the safeguarding and investment of town funds for the Fiscal Year 2015.
Supervisor Bartlett moved the foregoing resolution and Councilman Rich seconded.
Councilman McAtee abstained, all others voted Aye.
MOTION # 7
WHEREAS, it is necessary to designate legal counsel for the Town of Watertown for the Fiscal Year 2015.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the law firm of Mentor Rubin and Trivelpiece, Watertown NY and Syracuse NY if hereby designated as Legal Counsel for the Town of Watertown for the Fiscal Year 2015.
.
Supervisor Bartlett moved the foregoing resolution and Councilman Desormo seconded.
Ayes All
MOTION # 8
WHEREAS, Northern Employee Assistance Services, a subsidiary of the Jefferson County Alcohol and Substance Abuse Council of Jefferson County, provides services wherein any employee of the Town of Watertown covered by contract with the provider shall be assisted with identifying alcohol or substance abuse by employees and determining appropriate service providers for referrals and arranged for such referrals while maintaining confidential records of the employee. And
WHEREAS, a contract for providing said services (attached as exhibit A) is necessary for the provision of these services.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Supervisor is hereby authorized to execute said agreement for service with the Northern Employee Assistance Organization.
Supervisor Bartlett moved the foregoing resolution and Councilman McAtee seconded.
Ayes All
MOTION # 9
WHERES, town water districts 3, 4 and 6 are connected and serviced by one master meter at the boundary of the Town and City of Watertown; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to transfer funds between the operating budgets of these districts to reconcile the master meter recordings on a monthly basis;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, in order to maintain accurate recordings of water sales water uses within each district, the Supervisor is hereby authorized to transfer funds and credit water district No. 3 with the total metered sales and consumptions of district 4 and 6.
Supervisor Bartlett moved the foregoing resolution and Councilman Prosser seconded.
Ayes All
MOTION #10
WHEREAS, Assessor Roger Tibbetts has applied for the following splits & corrections to the 2015tax rolls for real property identified as. (attached as exhibit A)
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the corrections and splits to the 2015 tax roll as enumerated in the attached (exhibit A) is hereby authorized.
Splits
91.09-1-28.2 Peter & Janicca Virga 37.24 acres
91.09-1-28.21 Peter & Janicca Virga 18.99 acres
91.09-1-28.22 John & Polly Morgan 8.25 acres
83.18—1-16.8 Aaron Netto & Anthony Neddo 24.29 acres
83.18-1-16.81 Aaron Netto 12.15 acres
83.18- 1-16.2 Anthony Neddo 12.15 acres
90.00-6-26.3 Bernard & Dorothy Tufo 10.13 acres
90.00-6-26.31 Bernard & Dorothy Tufo 7.87 acres
90.00-6 26,32 Donald & Joyce Wilder 2.26 acres
Corrections:
91.00-1-32.3 Shirley Kennedy, 17397 Sandy Creek Valley Road, owner deceased so the senior citizen exemption is removed. New tax $1,524.47
83.15-1-73 June Corey, 24951 NYS Rte 126, no longer primary residents, remove veterans exemption. New tax $ 567.69.
83.15-3-27 Audrey Oakes, 25128 NYS Rte 126, new owner not entitiled to former owners Veterans exemption. New tax $ 574.07.
BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Board hereby approves the correction of this tax bill and authorizes the Town Clerk to issue a corrected tax bill to the owner of said Parcel.
Supervisor Bartlett moved the foregoing resolution and Councilman Prosser seconded.
Ayes All
MOTION # 11
WHEREAS, the Jefferson County Industrial Corp. has commissioned a map, plan and report prepared by National Grid for a proposed street lighting district to be constructed at no cost to the Town within the Jefferson County Industrial Park on outer Coffeen Street, NYS Rte.12F.
WHEREAS, it is necessary to conduct a public hearing on said proposed lighting district wherein all property owners within the County Industrial Park will be afforded an opportunity to be heard on the matter.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, a public hearing on the establishment of a street lighting district for the Jefferson County Industrial Park NYS Rt. 12F is to be held on Thursday February 12 at 7:00PM at the Town of Watertown Municipal Offices, 22867 Co. Rt 67, Watertown, NY.
Supervisor Bartlett moved the foregoing resolution and Councilman Rich seconded.
Ayes All
MOTION # 12
WHEREAS, New York State Highway Law Section 205(1) authorizes the Town Highway superintendent with the written consent of the town clerk’s office a description assigned by him of each road abandoned through non use, and
WHEREAS, the town highway superintendant has prepared a map, which depicts all town roads in the current town highway system and has transmitted said map to the town board and has attested that all other roads in the town, other than those roads that are 10 part of the state or county highway system. 2) have been approved by the planning board as private roads in subdivision plots, or 3) have been qualified abandoned, have been abandoned through nonuse, and
WHEREAS, New York State Town Law Section 270 authorizes the town board to establish an official map which shall be “final and conclusive with respect to the location and width of streets and highways.
BE IT RESOLVED, that the town board accepts the above referenced map as a true and accurate depiction of the current town highway system, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the above referenced map shall constitute a certificate of abandonment pursuant to New York State Highway Law Section 205 (1) of any roads which are not depicted on said map, other than those roads that are part of the state and county highway system, have been approved by the planning board as private roads in subdivision plats, or have been qualified abandoned, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the above referenced map shall constitute an official map pursuant to New York State Town Law Section 270, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the above referenced map be filed in the office of the town clerk as required by New York State Highway Law Section 205 (1), and that the town clerk shall immediately file a certificate of the fact that an official map has been established with the county clerk as required by New York State Town Law Section 270.
Supervisor Bartlett moved the foregoing resolution and Councilman Prosser seconded.
Ayes All
MOTION # 13
Supervisor Bartlett moved to pay the following abstracts as audited.
A pay the following abstracts as audited
General Vouchers # 1 to 17 Total $15,387.21
Highway Vouchers # 1 to 14 Total $32,713.23
Spec. Dist. Vchrs. # 1 to 5 Total $119,036.99
Councilman Rich seconded the motion.
Ayes All
Supervisor Bartlett stated that he was given a notice that tipping fees at the Jefferson County transfer station were increasing by $ 3.00 per ton effective January 1, 2015. The tipping fees are increasing from $62.00 per ton to $65.00 per ton.
Additionally Mr. Russell was provided a draft copy of the water tower lease agreement between Saint Lawrence Seaway RSA Cellular Partership. This is the Arsenal Street water tower.
Old Business:
Councilman Desormo stated that he would be absent the Month of March 2015
Mr. Prosser asked if anything was new on the demolition of the water tower on Coffeen Street.
MOTION # 14
Councilman Prosser moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:54 PM. Councilman McAtee seconded.
Ayes All
__________________________
Catherine M. Rich, Town Clerk