TOWN OF WATERTOWN
Regular Meeting
Municipal Building
March 10, 2022
Members Present: Joel R. Bartlett, Supervisor
Paul V. Desormo, Councilman
David D. Prosser, Councilman
Members Absent: Timothy McAtee, Councilman
Joanne McClusky, Councilwoman
Supervisor Bartlett opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance followed by a roll call of members present at 4:00 pm.
MOTION #29-2022
Supervisor Bartlett moved to adopt the minutes from the February 10, 2022 Regular Meeting, Councilman Prosser seconded.
Ayes All
Supervisor Bartlett opened public hearing to increase sewer rents within Sewer Districts 2, 4 and 5 at 4:05 pm. No one wished to speak the public hearing was closed at 4:06 pm.
The floor was opened for public comment:
Mike Piehl, Holcomb Street Ext, asked if there was any new information concerning the extension of Sewer District #1.
Supervisor Bartlett responded he is still waiting to hear from the City of Watertown about diverting flows to the city treatment plant. Plans cannot be finalized until they determine if they will need to rebuild the existing sewer treatment plant.
No one else wished to speak; the floor was closed.
Supervisor Bartlett accepted the Town Clerk’s Report, he has not received a report from the Town of Watertown Ambulance.
Supervisor Bartlett acknowledge a letter from Ann Donato expressing her objection to the placement of cell towers in the town. She is asking the town to consider setback requirements to residential homes and businesses. She is concerned with the safety to the public; Attachment #1.
Supervisor Bartlett opened the public hearing concerning Local Law #1 of the year 2022 a Local Law at 4:16 pm. A Local Law to establish a moratorium on commercial solar farms/installations or solar energy conversion systems that do not require approval by New York State Board (SECS) on projects within the Town of Watertown. No one wished to speak; the public hearing was closed at 4:17 pm.
MOTION #30-2022
WHEREAS, the Town of Watertown has received a request from the Disabled Persons Action Organization (DPAO) for a grant of town bed tax money to be used to underwrite the cost of promoting the DPAO summer concert series. A series of concerts it draws thousands of people to the area and provides much needed tourism revenue for the area; and
WHEREAS, the Town Council has for years underwritten such expenses for promoting the summer concert series with funds allocated within the fiscal year’s budget; and
WHEREAS, funds were made available in the 2022 town budget for said purposes.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Town of Watertown Council hereby authorizes a grant of Bed Tax Revenue in the amount of $25,000 to be used for the purpose of underwriting promotional and advertising expenses incurred by the DPAO for the 2022 concert series.
A motion to adopt the foregoing resolution was offered by Supervisor Bartlett, seconded by Councilman Desormo.
Ayes All
MOTION #31-2022
WHEREAS, at the Town of Watertown February meeting the Town Council called for a public hearing to be held on Thursday March 10th at 4:00 PM at which all those interested in providing comment upon the proposed sewer rate increase for Sewer Districts 2, 4 and 5 would be heard; and
WHEREAS, as administrators of all town water and sewer districts, the council has the authority to increase rates following a public hearing on the matter; and
WHEREAS, declining fund balances, increased funding needs to satisfy debt service requirements and unexpected repairs costs to the sewer service infrastructure dictate an increase in sewer rates is necessary and appropriate; and
WHEREAS, following a public hearing on the matter of increasing the sewer rates in Sewer Districts 2, 4 and 5, held at 4:00 PM on Thursday March 10th at the Town Municipal Offices, the Town Council acting as administrators for all town districts hereby authorizes an increase of $1.00 per unit for sewage treatment and disposal to all properties within the boundaries of Sewer Districts 2, 4 and 5.
A motion to adopt the foregoing resolution was made by Supervisor Bartlett and seconded by Councilmember Prosser and upon a roll call vote of the Board was duly adopted as follows:
Joel R. Bartlett, Supervisor yes
Paul V. Desormo yes
David W. Prosser yes
Joanne M. McClusky absent
Timothy L. McAtee absent
MOTION #32-2022
WHEREAS, the Town of Watertown has previously a paid from the general fund engineering fees associated with map, plans and reports for the capital improvement projects underway in Water District 1 and Sewer District 2 in the amount of $30,000: and
WHEREAS, with the financing of these projects, funds are available in the district’s capital improvement checking account to repay the general fund for said loans.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, therefore be it resolved that the repayment of $30,000 from the capital improvement project fund is hereby recognized and approved and the 2022 general fund budget is hereby amended to reflect said payment. The repayment amount will be distributed to Water District 1 in the amount of $27,000, and Sewer District 2 in the amount of $3,000.
A motion to adopt the foregoing resolution was offered by Supervisor Bartlett, seconded by Councilman Prosser.
Ayes All
MOTION #33-2022
WHEREAS, Local Law 1 of the year 2022, a Local Law to establish a moratorium on applications and/or construction of Commercial Solar Farm Installations or Solar Energy Conversion Systems that do not require approval by the New York State Board to permit the Town Board of the Town of Watertown sufficient time to review its laws and to revise regulations that need more specificity within the Town of Watertown was introduced by a member of the Town Board at a meeting thereof held on February 10 2022, and by a majority vote of the Town Board members present at such meeting, a public hearing was duly scheduled to consider Local Law 1 of 2022 for March 10, 2022 at 4:00 PM; and
WHEREAS, Local Law 1 of the year 2022 was forwarded to County Planning for review and comment as required by law, and either comments from County Planning have been received or more than thirty (30) days have lapsed since such referral; and
WHEREAS, a notice of the public hearing was duly published and posted as required by law, and on March 10, 2022, at 4:00 PM, a public hearing was duly held to hear all persons interested in the subject matter of Local Law 1 of 2022.
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved by the Town Board of the Town of Watertown as follows:
1. The foregoing recitations are incorporated herein and made a part hereof as if fully set forth hereafter.
2. Local Law 1 of the year 2022 establish a moratorium on Commercial Solar Farm Installations or Solar Energy Conversion Systems that do not require approval by the New York State Board in the Town of Watertown to permit the Town Board of the Town of Watertown sufficient time to review its laws and to revise regulations that need more specificity within the Town of Watertown.
3. Local Law 1 of the year 2022 provides the Town with time to consider the impacts of such developments on surrounding properties and the general health and welfare of the community and to revise regulations as may be needed to lessen such impacts.
4. The adoption of Local Law 1 of 2022 is a Type II Action pursuant to the regulations promulgated under the provisions of the State Environmental Quality Review Act.
5. Based upon the foregoing, Local Law 1 of the year 2022 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.
A motion to adopt the foregoing resolution was made by Supervisor Bartlett and seconded by Councilmember Prosser and upon a roll call vote of the Board was duly adopted as follows:
Joel R. Bartlett, Supervisor yes
Paul V. Desormo yes
David W. Prosser yes
Joanne M. McClusky absent
Timothy L. McAtee absent
MOTION #34-2022
WHEREAS, the South Jefferson Summer Youth Program provides recreational program for youth living in the South Jefferson School District for the period July 6 through August 6, and provides activities such as field trips to beaches and site-based activities that include indoor pool and other activities; and
WHEREAS, transportation from Rodman, Worth, Adams, Adams Center and Mannsville is provided to the South Jefferson Middle School; and
WHEREAS, in the past, the Town of Watertown provided financial assistance to the program but recent budgets have not funded the program; and
WHEREAS, funds are available in the 2022 budget to cover expenses for Town of Watertown youth to participate in the program;
THEREFORE, BE IT RELOLVED, a grant of $2,500.00 is hereby authorized for supporting the South Jefferson Summer Youth Program for the fiscal year 2022.
A motion to adopt the forgoing resolution was offered by Supervisor Bartlett, seconded by Councilman Prosser.
Ayes All
Supervisor Bartlett reviewed the report of students that attended the program from each township.
MOTION #35-2022
Supervisor Bartlett moved to pay the following abstracts as audited.
Utilities paid prior to the meeting
General Vouchers # 49 to 51 Total $ 15,045.64
Highway Vouchers # 45 to 45 Total $ 19,253.76
Spec. Dist. Vchrs. # 21 to 21 Total $ 6,195.91
Vouchers approved for monthly meeting
General Vouchers # 52 to 67 Total $ 10,905.61
Highway Vouchers # 47 to 63 Total $ 26,511.37
Spec. Dist. Vchrs. # 22 to 30 Total $ 137,689.82
Councilmember Prosser seconded the motion.
Ayes All
Supervisor Bartlett informed the Board:
He will be making a request to the NYSDOT to leave one lane of traffic open when they do the renovations to the I-81 overpass on NYS Rte 12F. He is worried about the hardship it will create during the construction phase.
The bond resolution for the purchase of a new 10-wheel tandem axle plow truck will be addressed at next months board meeting due to the lack of board members at todays meeting.
MOTION #36-2022
Councilman Prosser moved to adjourn the meeting at 4:58 pm, seconded by Supervisor Bartlett.
Ayes All
_____________________________
Pamela D. Desormo, Town Clerk