February 2012 Minutes

MINUTES
February 20, 2012

The meeting of the Cherry Valley Village Board opened at 7:00 p.m. with Mayor Jeffrey S. Stiles presiding. In attendance were Trustee Kevin J. Flint, Trustee Edward A. Harvey, Village Attorney Dennis B. Laughlin, Clerk-Treasurer Dorothy E. Johnson, David Hajczewski, Interim Department of Public Works Superintendent, Mr. Brian Larrabee from Casella Waste, and Mrs. Jackie Hull, Cherry Valley Chamber of Commerce.

MINUTES

The first item on the agenda was the approval of the minutes, as sent to all board members in written form.
It was upon motion of Trustee Flint, seconded by Mayor Stiles, and unanimously carried,
RESOLVED, to dispense with the reading of the minutes and approve as written

TREASURER’S REPORT

Checking Account 2/1/12 Balance
General $ 95,205.95
Water 37,130.78
Total Fund $132,336.73
Trust & Agency $ - 204.30

Savings Accounts 2/1/12 Balance
Water System Repair Reserve $ 2,287.50
Cemetery Capital Reserve 11,129.28
Unemployment Insurance Reserve 4,866.28
Equipment Reserve 3,097.11
Water Debt Service Reserve 34,470.39
Parks & Recreation Reserve 7,752.14
Sidewalk Repair & Replacement Reserve 733.01

Unpaid Water

Billed January 1, 2012 $51,889.96
Paid In January 34,430.08
Unpaid February 1st $17,459.88

It was upon motion of Trustee Flint, seconded by Mayor Stiles, unanimously carried,
RESOLVED, to accept the treasurer’s report as read.

REFUSE REMOVAL CONTRACT

Attorney Laughlin reviewed the Refuse Removal Contract as the contract is to go out for bid for the March 19, 2012 meeting. The attorney has made several changes, to better clarify the contract. Also, the wording with regards to MOSA was changed as Otsego County is on their way out of the Montgomery Otsego Schoharie Authority.
Mr. Larrabee suggested the Village may want to go with the bag system for their refuse removal, that they village can make money on selling the bags to residents. He also mentioned that this may encourage residents to recycle better and to not allow outside garbage into the village. The matter was discussed with no decisions to change at this time.

After further discussion, it was upon motion of Trustee Harvey, seconded by Trustee Flint, unanimously carried,
RESOLVED, Sealed bids will be received by the Village of Cherry Valley for removal of garbage, solid waste, and recyclables for a one year, commencing on June 1, 2012 and ending May 31, 2013.

BIDDING
Pursuant to General Municipal Law, sealed bids will be received by the Clerk of said Village for the removal of garbage, solid waste, and recyclables for a one year period commencing on June 1, 2012.

The summary of the specifications for the Village are to provide door-to-door (curbside) pickup at least once a week for regular garbage; at least once a month for recyclables and larger items – on a specified day. Larger items (furniture, appliances, metal, tires, etc.) will require a permit, purchased from the Clerk, money to be paid to the contractor at the end of each month.
For the full Specifications please contact:

Village Clerk
PO Box 392
2 Genesee Street
Cherry Valley, NY 13320
Phone: (607) 264-3791

Between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

All bids must be clearly marked “Refuse Removal Bid” and must be delivered to the Clerk at the above office no later than 7:00 p.m., March 19, 2012, at which time they will publicly opened and read.
The Village Board reserves the right to reject any or all bids.

REWARD PROGRAM

Jackie Hull attended the meeting as she, being a member of the Chamber of Commerce and some members of the Historical Association had been approached by the Village Board to be on a panel. A panel of five individuals will decide on a first and second place winner in both resident and business categories with first prize of $800 in each category and second prize of $200 for runner up, in each category for properties that are well-kept, spruced up, cleaned up, beautified…. Money was donated to the village for this project. The panel will observe properties, no applications, no rules, just a reward for trying to spruce up the village. A decision will be made by July 1, 2012. This is for Village of Cherry Valley properties only.


TOWN/VILLAGE

Trustees Flint and Harvey attended the February 9th meeting of the Town Board. Trustee Flint reported that the town’s funding to the Community Center has been re-instated. He also said he has invited all Town Board members to the March 19th village board meeting, at which time the center’s lease will be reviewed.

RACKMYER RESTITUTION

According to a letter from the town court, restitution should be made to the village soon after February 25, 2012 by Matthew Rackmyer for damages caused by him in a June 2010 motor vehicle accident.

WINTER CARNIVAL

Plans are set for the 2nd Annual Winter Carnival, to be held on March 2nd and 3rd. An alumni basketball game will be held on Friday. Saturday will include a pancake breakfast, a dodge ball tournament, food sales, and many other family activities.

DONATION – Wal*Mart – Behalf of Maureen Clapper

Once again Maureen Clapper has donated her time and energies to obtain a donation in the amount of $250.00 from the WalMart Foundation. Thank you letters have been sent to Mrs. Clapper as well as WalMart.

ANNUAL INVENTORY

Office inventory has been completed and submitted for review.

ANNUAL WATER QUALITY REPORT

The Clerk has completed and advertised the annual Water Quality Report, in compliance with New York State Regulations.

CORRESPONDENCE

Code of Ethics

The Office of the Attorney General has requested a copy of the village’s Code of Ethics, a standard of conduct that is expected of municipal officers and employees. If one does not exist, they have offered to assist in creating one. The Clerk sent a copy of the village’s code, as passed in 1996.

National Grid

Notice was received from National Grid that most of the village’s electric bills will decrease from 4% to 23 %, beginning January 1, 2012. The Clerk noted that she has seen a sizable decrease in the pump house bill. However, street lighting bills will see an average increase of 3.64%.

DEMOLITION OF MAIN ST. BUILDING

The Mayor has received notice from Otsego County that bids will go out this week to take the building down on 29 Main Street.

BI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

Mayor Stiles gave an update on the Bi-Centennial Celebrations. The Clerk will invite local dignitaries.

BUDGET

Budget items were discussed. Mr. Hajczewski and Trustee Flint will get estimates to have the village parking lot repaved, funding from the current budget.
Quonset roof will be painted as well as the Well house. Plans are to look for a good used pickup truck. Other items will be discussed after more figures are in, including refuse removal costs.

SKUNKS IN VILLAGE

A resident on Main Street has been observed feeding skunks. Attorney Laughlin was asked to write a letter asking that this be stopped, due to the hazards and costs of removing skunks from village properties.
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AUDIT OF CLAIMS

After review by the board, it was upon motion of Trustee Flint, seconded Trustee Harvey, unanimously carried,
Resolved, to make payment on bills and transfer of appropriations as follows:

General Fund Ch #’s 9387 - 9436 $16,153.17
Water Fund “ “ 5,380.60
Total Fund $21,533.77
Trust & Agency Fund Ch #’s 1696 -1699 $ 1,940.57
Including deductions – Social Security, Medicare, Federal, Retirement

Transfer of Appropriations
To From
A9040.8 $888.74 A9050.8 $888.74

ADJOURNMENT

It was upon motion of Trustee Flint, seconded by Trustee Harvey, unanimously carried to close the meeting at 8:45 pm.

Respectfully Submitted,


Dorothy E. Johnson
Clerk-Treasurer
February 23, 2012