TOWN OF WATERTOWN
REGULAR MEETING
MUNICIPAL BUILDING
OCTOBER 2, 2014
TOWN BOARD MEMBERS
JOEL R. BARTLETT, SUPERVISOR – STEPHEN L. RICH, COUNCILMAN – PAUL V. DESORMO,COUNCILMAN – DAVID D. PROSSER COUNCILMAN
Councilman Desormo offered a prayer and Supervisor Bartlett led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Supervisor Bartlett called the meeting to order and called for a roll of members present.
All members were present. Legal Counsel Joseph W. Russell was present.
MOTION # 67
Supervisor Bartlett moved to adopt the minutes of the September 11, 2014 meeting. Councilman Prosser seconded.
Ayes All
Supervisor Bartlett opened a Public Hearing on a on Local Law # 1 of 2014.(Tax Cap override), at 7:02 PM.
There being no one wishing to speak at the public hearing, Supervisor Bartlett closed the Public Hearing at 7:03 PM.
Supervisor Bartlett opened the floor for any public comments.
Mr. John Bellanger, 20195 NYS Rt 3, Arsenal St. Rd. approached the Board asking for a possible zone change from Residential 3 to Neighborhood Commercial for his property.. The board discussed options with Mr. Bellanger and asked him to return to the Planning Board to discuss his further options.
There being no further individuals wishing to speak, Supervisor Bartlett closed the floor.
Supervisors Correspondence: letter from Walter Majak stating that he understood that the Town was going to put a culvert parallel to Birch Lane. He disagreed that the Town should do this work. The existing drainage pattern, which has been in place for thirty years should not be changed. Supervisor Bartlett commented that the town, under the circumstances, would not do anything. The Board members agreed.
Supervisor Bartlett accepted the Town Clerks report and the Town of Watertown Ambulance report for the Month of September 2014.
Since the Board has just received the budget, the Board members could review it at the November 6, 2014 meeting and make comments.
MOTION # 68
Supervisor Bartlett scheduled a public hearing on the proposed 2014 budget for the November 6, 2014 meeting. The proposed budget would henceforth be known at the preliminary budget.
Supervisor Bartlett moved the foregoing resolution and Councilman Prosser seconded.
Ayes All
MOTION # 69
WHEREAS, Local Law No. 1 of the year 2014, a Local Law to override the tax levy limit established by Section 3-C of the New York General Municipal Law was introduced by a member of the Town Board at a meeting thereof held on September 11, 2014, and by a majority vote of the Town Board members present at such meeting, a public hearing was duly scheduled to consider Local Law No. 1 of 2014 for October 2, 2014 at 7:00 PM, and
WHEREAS, notice of the public hearing was duly published and posted as required by law, and on October 2, 2014, at 7:00 PM, a public hearing was duly held to hear all persons interested in the subject matter of Local Law No. 1 of 2014.
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved by the Town Board of the Town of Watertown as follows:
- The foregoing recitations are incorporated herein and made a part hereof as if fully set forth hereafter.
- As a result of unfunded mandates and other anticipated municipal expenses beyond the ordinary control of this Board, the tax levy limits imposed by Section 3-C of the General Municipal Law put unrealistic constraints on this Board in establishing a prudent and responsible budget for the 2015 fiscal year.
- Local Law No. 1 of the year 2014 authorizes, but does not require, the Town of Watertown in establishing its budget for the 2015 fiscal year to establish a tax levy in excess of the amount otherwise authorized by Section 3-C of the General Municipal Law.
- Based upon the foregoing, Local Law No. 1 of the year 2014 is in the best interests of the Town of Watertown, is hereby adopted and the Clerk is instructed to file the same with the New York State Department of State.
- The adoption of Local Law No. 1 of the year 2014 is a Type II action under the provisions of the State Environmental Quality Review Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
Supervisor Bartlett moved the foregoing resolution and Councilman Rich seconded. Upon a roll call as follows the motion was duly adopted.
Supervisor Bartlett Aye
Councilman Rich Aye
Councilman Desormo Aye
Councilman Prosser Aye
MOTION # 70
WHEREAS, by Agreement dated July 19, 2001, Pyramid Company of Watertown agreed to resurface and reconstruct a portion of the Salmon Run Mall Road to Town highway specifications and following completion thereof dedicate the same to the Town of Watertown as a Town highway, and
WHEREAS, the subject portion of the Salmon Run Mall Road, as depicted on the map at Schedule “A” hereto, was resurfaced and reconstructed to Town of Watertown highway specifications sometime between 2001 and 2005, and since that time has been maintained by the Town of Watertown Highway Department as a Town highway, and
WHEREAS, it was recently discovered that formal dedication of the subject portion of Salmon Run Mall Road was never completed, and
WHEREAS, Pyramid Company of Watertown, a New York general partnership which owns and operates the Salmon Run Mall and has fee title to the subject portion of the Salmon Run Mall Road has offered to dedicate to the Town of Watertown that portion of the Salmon Run Mall Road to connect the existing Salmon Run Mall Road with the Ring Road surrounding Salmon Run Mall pursuant to the deed and map attached hereto as Exhibit “A”.
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved by the Town Board of the Town of Watertown as follows:
- The foregoing recitations are incorporated herein and made a part hereof as if fully set forth hereafter.
- This Board hereby determines it to be in the best interest of the Town of Watertown to accept the offer of dedication from Pyramid Company of Watertown of the balance of the Salmon Run Mall Road that does not appear as a Town highway on the Town of Watertown tax maps.
- The Offer of Dedication of the aforesaid road by Pyramid Company of Watertown is hereby accepted and the Supervisor is hereby authorized and directed to execute any and all documents necessary to complete the dedication and record the deed attached hereto at Exhibit “A”.
Supervisor Bartlett moved to adopt the foregoing resolution and Councilman Desormo seconded. Upon a roll call vote of the Town Board as follows, the motion was duly adopted.
Supervisor Bartlett Aye
Councilman Rich Aye
Councilman Desormo Aye
Councilman Prosser Aye
MOTION # 71
WHEREAS, N.Y.S.D.O.T. has jurisdiction over regulating speed limits on all town roads, and
WHEREAS, it has been requested that a reduction in the speed limit on County Rt.155 be enacted to reduce the current speed limit from 55 MPH to 45 MPH in furtherance of the overall public safety, and
WHEREAS, as the portion of road in this area (Watertown Center Loop and Swan Road) is on an extreme hill with numerous residential dwellings and driveways and hazardous conditions exist by motorist traveling at high rate of speed within areas of limited sight vision, and
WHEREAS, the current speed limit of 55MPH has led to numerous accidents in the area caused by speeding motorists thereby impacting the public safety.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, in furtherance of the public’s safety and well being, the Town of Watertown hereby requests the Jefferson County Highway Superintendent and the Jefferson County Legislature grant a favorable request to the N.Y.S.D.O.T. to reduce current speed limit of 55 MPH to 45 MPH for the area that extends from the Watertown Center Loop Road to the intersection of Swan Road in the Town of Watertown
Supervisor Bartlett moved the foregoing resolution and Councilman Prosser seconded.
Ayes All
MOTION # 72
WHEREAS, Morgan Watertown Townhomes, LLC, (“Developer”) has heretofore constructed a residential development known as Preserve at Autumn Ridge (the “Development”), and
WHEREAS, sanitary sewer service is provided to the Development by Town of Watertown Sewer District No. 2, with the infrastructure to connect the Development with the sewer mains running along Jefferson County Route 202, and
WHEREAS, as part of the development agreements between the Town of Watertown, the Jefferson County Industrial Development Agency (“JCIDA”), the Developer’s lenders, and the Developer, it was agreed that a certain pump station and sewer main line running from Willow Drive within the Development to County Route 202 was to be constructed and installed by the Developer pursuant to Town of Watertown specifications, and following completion and acceptance thereof by the Town of Watertown engineer, was to be conveyed to the Town of Watertown on behalf of Town of Watertown Sewer District No. 2, and
WHEREAS, the sanitary sewer main line from Willow Drive to County Route 202, together with the pump station has been completed, inspected, and approved by the Town engineer, and by instruments dated August 27, 2014, the developer conveyed to the Town of Watertown the infrastructure including the pump house and sanitary sewer main running from Willow Drive to County Route 202, together with a permanent Easement for operation, maintenance, repair and replacement thereof, and
WHEREAS, the Agreement between the Developer, the JCIDA, the Developer’s lenders, and the Town of Watertown provides that upon completion of the sewer infrastructure and operation thereof for a period of not less than twelve months, the Town of Watertown is obligated to reimburse the developer for the cost of the pump house and the sanitary sewer line in an amount of Three Hundred Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($300,000.00).
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved by the Town Board of the Town of Watertown as follows:
- The foregoing recitations are incorporated herein and made a part hereof as if fully set forth hereafter.
- The Town Board hereby appropriates the sum of Three Hundred Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($300,000.00) to be paid to Morgan Watertown Townhomes, LLC as reimbursement to Morgan Watertown Townhomes, LLC for the cost to install the pump house and sanitary sewer main running from Willow Drive to County Route 202.
- The Town Supervisor is hereby authorized to execute all necessary documentation and remit payment to Morgan Watertown Townhomes, LLC.
Supervisor Bartlett moved the foregoing resolution and Councilman Rich seconded.
Upon a roll call vote as follows, the motion was duly adopted.
Supervisor Bartlett Aye
Councilman Rich Aye
Councilman Desormo Aye
Councilman Prosser Aye
MOTION # 73
Supervisor Bartlett moved to pay the following abstracts as audited.
General Vouchers # 216 to 232 Total $ 20,560.80
Highway Vouchers # 172 to 186 Total $ 28,703.12
Spec. Dist. Vouchers # 66 to 69 Total $106,731.099
Councilman Desormo seconded.
Ayes All
MOTION # 74
Supervisor Bartlett moved to have Municipal Solutions submit certain financial disclosures each year as condition of our overall Bond Rating. This motion authorizes the Supervisor to sign the engagement letter and pay Municipal Solutions $125.00, and accepting the terms of the contract which they will file.
Councilman Prosser seconded.
Ayes All
Supervisor Bartlett noted that there will be a Town Tax of $.38 per thousand which extrapolates to a home worth $100,000.00, The homeowner will pay $38.00.
New Business:
The highway crew started on the drainage problem in the Lettiere Tract.
Old Business:
Councilman Prosser asked the status of the proposed Northeast Water District.
Supervisor Bartlett spoke to the engineers last week and there was a delay in awarding of the grant for this project.
MOTION # 75
Councilman Prosser moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:54 PM. Councilman Desormo seconded.
Ayes All
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Catherine M. Rich, Town Clerk