April 2014 Minutes

MINUTES

April 21, 2014



The meeting was opened by Mayor Kevin J. Flint at 7 p.m. In attendance were Trustee Louis A. Guido, Jr., Clerk-Treasurer Dorothy E. Johnson, Attorney Dennis B. Laughlin, Interim DPW Superintendent David R. Hajczewski, Larry Thompson, Part Time Cemetery Maintenance Worker, Jeff Wait, Albert Wait, Debbie Ellis, and Shannon Carley.



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 Guido, seconded by Mayor Flint, and unanimously carried,

RESOLVED, to dispense with the reading of the minutes and approve as written.



TREASURER’S REPORT



Checking Account 4/1/14 Balance

General $69,115.77

Water 1,980.79

Total Fund 71,096.56

Trust & Agency 456.23



Savings Accounts 4/1/14 Balance

Water System Repair Reserve $ 2,890.16

Cemetery Capital Reserve 11,141.08

Unemployment Insurance Reserve 5,171.28

Water Debt Service Reserve 24,498.35

Parks & Recreation Reserve 8,481.34

Sidewalk Repair & Replacement Reserve 233.4144



Unpaid Water Unpaid Taxes

Unpaid 3/1/14 17,127.92

Paid in Mar. 1,415.15



Unpaid 4/1/14 15,883.27





After discussion, it was upon motion of Trustee Guido, seconded by Mayor Flint, unanimously carried,

RESOLVED, to accept the report as given.



BOYSCOUT EAGLE PROJECT



Jeff and Albert Wait gave a progress report on Albert’s Eagle Scout Project – redoing and/or creating handicap parking places within the village. They have verbal approval from the New York State Department of Transportation, though are waiting for a permit from the Binghamton office. The Boy Scouts have given their permission for the project as well. Mr. Wait said he will pay for the signs and posts, but would appreciate help from the village DPW with cutting the sidewalks, etc. Board members agreed to help with the project.



Mr. Wait also reported that James Wait’s project – paving/creating the basketball court on Alden Field has also been approved. He said this year will be for collecting funds for the project, with the actual work expected to be completed next year. Funds will come into the village office, which the Clerk will set up a separate fund for this project. She will then notify Mr. Wait of each donation.



CAT PROBLEMS



Mrs. Ellis and Mrs. Carley had previously requested help with a problem on their property caused by 30+ neighborhood cats. Mayor Flint said he had seen about 45 cats in this area while he was there for about 15 minutes. A lot of the cats looked unhealthy and he feels this is definitely a health hazard especially for the children. He has spoken to the State Health Department and will continue investigating what can be done to make the neighborhood a safe place to live. Trustee Guido said he will also pursue the matter.

Attorney Laughlin will write letters to the parties involved. A discussion regarding the cats being vaccinated was also held and possible laws that may be adopted.



BEAUTIFICATION PROGRAM



Again this year awards will be given by an anonymous donor, through the Village of Cherry Valley for two commercial and two residential properties within the village for general upkeep, sprucing up/beautifying their property. Recipients will be presented with a plaque and a monetary prize.

Prizes will be awarded in July.



DPW



FLUSHING HYDRANTS



Superintendent Hajczewski said that hydrants will be flushed on Wednesday and Thursday of this week. He has placed signs out regarding the above at entrances of the village.



WATER COURSE



Conway Bishop has been registered for the Class C Water Operator Course with Morrisville State College, to attend in August, the first available opening.



STREET SWEEPING



Mr. Hajczewski reported all streets within the village have been swept. However, as noted by Mayor Flint, they may have to be gone over again due to the heavy winter and considerable use of sand on them. It was also noted that the crosswalks will be shoveled.

Mayor Flint said he is pretty certain that the Fire Department will again hose the streets during one of their drills, possibly in May.



SIDEWALKS



Mr. Hajczewski said he would like to have all new sidewalks in place before August.

Board members set a tentative date Tuesday, May 29th for their walk to make further plans on work needed.



REPLACE SIGNS



The Board will also make a list of signs that need to be removed/replaced within the village during their walk.



NATIONAL GRID



Trustee Guido reported that he is still trying to get information from National Grid regarding the increasing electric bills. He Senator’s Chief of Staff, Duncan Davie is looking possible funding/low interest loans through NYSERDA to help lower bills.



NYS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION



In response to Trustee Guido’s letter he received a letter stating that the broken curbs within the village are under maintenance jurisdiction of the village and there are no such projects planned by DOT in the foreseeable future. He was assured, however that the Department of Transportation will re-stripe the cross walks as weather allows. Also, after asphalt plants reopen they will perform more aggressive patching of Route 166 in the village.



ALDEN FIELD



Superintendent Hajczewski said the one soccer field in the park is in very rough condition with deep ditches and hills caused from the winter weather.

The Clerk said people had inquired about donating time at Alden Field during the ball games. Some of the parents/grandparents had asked about selling concessions, which has been approved by the village. However, the mowing and use of machinery will be left to village employees.



CEMETERY MAINTENANCE



It was decided upon motion of Trustee Guido, seconded by Mayor Flint, unanimously carried,

Mr. Larry Thompson, Cemetery Maintenance Worker will work part time, not to exceed 32 hours weekly.

Mr. Thompson asked if he could work 8 – 10 hours a week during the winter months. Board members will discuss this at a later date.



REFUSE REMOVAL CONTRACT



Attorney Laughlin reported that in regards to the awarding of the refuse removal bid, a freedom of information request had been received from the Ayer’s Law Firm, representing Mr. Randy Weaver. Attorney Laughlin said his response had been postponed due to the minutes not being approved yet. The Clerk was authorized to send the information on.





AUDIT OF CLAIMS



After review by the board, it was upon motion of Trustee Harvey, seconded Trustee Guido, unanimously carried,

RESOLVED to make payment on bills as follows:



General Fund Ch #’s10598 - 10634 $33,076.35

Water Fund " 3,891.11

Total Fund $36,967.56



Trust & Agency Fund, Including deductions – Social Security, Medicare, Federal, Retirement Ch # 1802 - 1806 $2,197.50









ADJOURNMENT



The meeting adjourned upon motion of Trustee Guido, seconded by Mayor Flint at 8:30 pm.



Respectfully Submitted,





Dorothy E. Johnson

Clerk-Treasurer

April 25, 2014

March 2014 Minutes

MINUTES

March 17, 2014



The meeting was opened by Mayor Kevin J. Flint at 7 p.m. In attendance were Trustee Louis A. Guido, Jr. Trustee Edward A. Harvey, Clerk-Treasurer Dorothy E. Johnson, Attorney Dennis B. Laughlin, and Interim DPW Superintendent David R. Hajczewski, Mrs. Susan Miller, and garbage contractors Scott Moxham, On Time Waste, Randy & Tammy Weaver, Weaver Sanitation and Carrie from Casella Waste.



Garbage Removal Contract Bid Opening



The bid envelopes from Casella, On Time Waste, and Weaver Sanitation were opened at 07:00 pm.

A summary of the each bid was read:

Casella Waste … $49,900.00…weekly pickup on Fridays, recyclables picked up monthly.

On Time Waste …. $50,304.00… weekly pickup on Thursdays, recyclables picked up weekly.

Weaver Sanitation …. 49,500.00.



The Village Board, on motion of Trustee Harvey and seconded by Trustee Guido tabled the discussion of the bids to be addressed later in the monthly meeting of the Village of Cherry Valley Board.



MINUTES



The next 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 Harvey, seconded by Trustee Guido, and unanimously carried,

RESOLVED, to dispense with the reading of the minutes and approve as written.



TREASURER’S REPORT



Checking Account 3/1/14 Balance

General $102,611.39

Water 36,527.64

Total Fund 139,139.03

Trust & Agency 869.38



Savings Accounts 3/1/14 Balance

Water System Repair Reserve $ 2,890.09

Cemetery Capital Reserve 11,140.80

Unemployment Insurance Reserve 5,171.15

Water Debt Service Reserve 24,497.73

Parks & Recreation Reserve 8,481.12

Sidewalk Repair & Replacement Reserve 233.39



Unpaid Water Unpaid Taxes

Unpaid 2/1/14 21,837.38

Paid in Feb. 4,709.46



Unpaid 3/1/14 17,127.92





After discussion, it was upon motion of Trustee Guido, seconded by Trustee Harvey, unanimously carried,

RESOLVED, to accept the report as given.



GIRL SCOUT CERTIFICATES



Mayor Flint signed certificates for the following area girl scouts:

Gold Award – Sarah Mancuso

Bronze Awards – Cierra Reynolds, Hope Lowry, and Cynthia Viscosi.



ANNUAL WATER WITHDRAWAL REPORT



The annual water withdrawal report as submitted to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation was prepared by Interim DPW Superintendent Dave Hajczewski.



DPW



COMPLAINTS



Two people asked to have their ditches cleaned due to the icy buildup which is causing the water to backup onto their lawns/sidewalk. The DPW will check on these ditches (Laymon, 31 Genesee Street & Ashford, 35 Church Street) to be cleared of debris.



WATER COURSE



A water certification course will be held at Morrisville college in April, which employee Conway Bishop will attend.



STREET REPAIR



A discussion was held regarding the disrepair of our village streets, how drainage is needed to help keep the water from continually damaging them, what are the best options for repair and financing for repair. The matter will be discussed at a better time (after the frost has gone out of the ground) when they can be better inspected.



NATIONAL GRID



A discussion was held regarding the increasing cost of electric through National Grid. Mr. Hajczewski suggested we speak with National Grid regarding their lack of upkeep on the street lights. Trustee Guido may contact someone from the company.



NYS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION



Trustee Guido has written a letter to the New York State Department of Transportation asking for repair by them to the state owned streets and crosswalks in our village. There are potholes that are getting increasingly larger, broken curbs, as well as painting that is needed.



CEMETERY MAINTENANCE



A discussion was held regarding the upkeep of the cemetery, possibly contracting out for the job. No decisions were made at this time.



ANNUAL ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING

BUDGET HEARING



It was upon motion of Trustee Harvey, seconded by Trustee Guido, unanimously carried,

The public hearing on proposed budgets of the Village of Cherry Valley will be held on April 7, 2014, beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the Village Clerk’s Office, 2 Genesee Street, Cherry Valley, New York. Anyone interested in viewing the proposed budget may do so at the above address during the hours of 9 am to 1 pm, Monday through Friday.



Proposed Budgets are as follows:

General Fund Water Fund

Appropriations $259,945.00 Appropriations $114,870.00

Revenues (inc. reserves) 82,456.00 Revenue 114,870.00

To be raised by taxes $177,489.00 -0-



Rate: $5.7099 per thousand Rate: $8.00 per thousand gallons

10 cent increase per thousand 25 cent increase per thousand gallons



Proposed salaries of Board Members:

Mayor $1,750.00 annual

Trustees $1,500.00 each annual

No Changes



And it was FURTHER RESOLVED, as the annual meeting of the board is to be held on the first Monday of April, the annual meeting will be held on Monday, April 7, 2014 following the budget hearing.



REFUSE REMOVAL CONTRACT



Further discussion was held about the Refuse Removal Contract and the three bids that were received. Exercising the right to reject any bid, the Village Board rejected the bid from Weaver Sanitation for being incomplete. The Village Board found that in comparing the two remaining bids, which they were similar except one expressed monthly recyclable pickup and one was weekly recyclable pickup. The Village Board recalled and discussed the complaints received by the Village Clerk the one year that recyclables were picked up once monthly. The Village Board then rejected the bid submitted by Casella.

It was upon motion of Trustee Harvey, seconded by Trustee Guido, unanimously carried,

RESOLVED, to accept the bid of Scott Moxham, On Time Waste, and to grant On Time Waste the contract for Refuse Removal commencing 1 June 2014 for a term of one year.















AUDIT OF CLAIMS



After review by the board, it was upon motion of Trustee Harvey, seconded Trustee Guido, unanimously carried,

RESOLVED to make payment on bills as follows:



General Fund Ch #’s10598 - 10634 $33,076.35

Water Fund " 3,891.11

Total Fund $36,967.56



Trust & Agency Fund, Including deductions – Social Security, Medicare, Federal, Retirement Ch # 1802 - 1806 $2,197.50









ADJOURNMENT



The meeting adjourned upon motion of Trustee Harvey, seconded by Trustee Guido at 8:45 pm.



Respectfully Submitted,





Dorothy E. Johnson

Clerk-Treasurer

March 24, 2014