MINUTES

August 15, 2016

          The meeting was opened by Mayor Kevin J. Flint at 7:01 PM.  In attendance were Mayor Kevin J. Flint, Trustee Edward A. Harvey, Trustee Louis A. Guido, Jr., Clerk-Treasurer Amy Herr, Interim DPW Superintendent David Hajczewski and Dennis Laughlin, Village Attorney.

 

MINUTES

The first item on the agenda was approval of the minutes as members received in written form.  It was upon motion of Trustee Guido, seconded by Trustee Harvey, unanimously carried, to accept the minutes as written.

TREASURER’S REPORT 

Checking Account		08/01/16 Balance
General		$208,388.76
Water		$45,318.39
Total Fund		$253,707.15
Trust & Agency		$562.28
Savings Accounts		08/01/16 Balance
Water System Repair Reserve		$ 2,896.70
Cemetery Capital Reserve		10,828.30
Unemployment Insurance Reserve		2,638.73
Water Debt Service Reserve		20,909.88
Parks & Recreation Reserve		3,570.60
Sidewalk Repair & Replacement Res		238.53
James Wait Basketball Court Fund		7,613.22
	Water	Taxes
Taxes Unpaid  7/1/16 Water Billed 7/1/16	$49,034.14	$41,909.11
Adjusted
Paid in July	$32,353.74	$18,967.28
Unpaid 8/1/16	$16,680.40	$22,941.83

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

unanimously carried,

RESOLVED, to accept the report as given.

COMPLAINTS

          A letter was received from Emmline and Richard Frasca regarding their water bill from July 2016.  Dave Hajczewski reported that he tested the usage by drawing off water and the meter reading was correct for this usage. The outside and inside meter readings are close to each other.  The Board discussed the request to have the bill adjusted and agreed that the bill should remain the same.  If the Frasca’s want to have the meter sent out to be tested they can request that to be done at their expense if the meter is working correctly.  A letter is to be sent to the Frasca’s to advise them that the bill is expected to be paid in full within 30 days.  If not paid in 30 days, then interest will begin to accrue. 

          Trustee Harvey and Mayor Flint have been in contact with Dick Guernsey regarding the shed on his neighbor’s property.  Dennis Laughlin will send a letter to the neighbor advising that the shed will have to be moved and enclosing the Village regulations regarding the distance from the property line that buildings have to be placed.

DPW

SIDEWALKS

          The sidewalk on Church Street is almost completed.

ALDEN FIELD BENCHES

          The benches for Alden Field are ready.  There are sidewalk slabs available to place under the benches.

STREETS

          Paving has been done on Elm Street, Kilfoil Street and Railroad Avenue.  Work will be done along the edge of the streets where some of the lawns are higher than the street surface to allow for drainage.

          The end of Church Street near Main Street needs to be repaired with hot mix.  This will be done by the DPW if the State does not pave Main Street as was previously reported that the State had planned to do.  If the State paves Main Street this may be done by the State as it is near their project.

WATER DEPARTMENT

WELL HOUSE

          There are problems with the metering equipment at the Well House.  Dave Hajczewski was in contact with Aqualogics to assist with resolving the issue.  Dave Hajczewski was advised to and will be contacting LaMont Engineering about the possibility of getting a grant for a new control panel.

METER TAMPERING

          Tampering with water meters had been discussed at the July meeting and tabled until Dennis Laughlin was present at the meeting.  Dennis Laughlin will work on a policy to be brought back before the Board.

WATER OUTSIDE VILLAGE LIMITS

          Discussion was held regarding provision of water to properties outside of the Village limits.  Various options were proposed such as a surcharge added to the bill, separate rates for Village residents and Town residents or having the Town resident being responsible for the water lines from the last residence in the Village to their home.

TRUCK

          Discussion was held regarding payment for the dump truck that bids were received for last month.  Dennis Laughlin has written up the Bond Resolution to purchase a dump truck.  Motion was made by Trustee Guido, seconded by Trustee Harvey, unanimously carried,

          RESOLVED that a two (2) year bond will be obtained through NBT Bank to finance the dump truck.

CABLE FRANCHISE

          A letter has been received from the New York State Public Service Commission approving the Cable franchise between Time Warner Cable and the Village of Cherry Valley for 15 years.

PLANNING DEPARTMENT LETTER

          A letter was received from the Otsego County Planning Department regarding blighted properties that are vacant, abandoned or up for tax sale in the Village.  The Planning Department is compiling a list of these properties for the Greater Mohawk Valley Land Bank.  It was decided that there are no properties in the Village of Cherry Valley that would appear to be considered to be blighted properties.

OFFICE AUTOMATION

          Amy Herr provided information that has been received regarding computerizing the accounting systems for the Village Office.  Prices for Municipal Accounting/Budgeting, Payroll and Water Billing software has been received from Williamson in Victor, NY and has been requested from Business Automation Services in Clifton Park, NY.  Updates will be provided as they are obtained.

OVERTIME

          Due to the changes, as of December 1, 2016, in the law regarding the income cap for salaried employees to receive overtime pay after 40 hours in a week, it was upon motion of Trustee Guido, seconded by Trustee Harvey, unanimously carried,

          RESOLVED that the DPW worker that will be working on the weekend to check the water will leave one hour early on the Friday preceding the weekend to be worked.  All other overtime requests will require prior approval by the Mayor or a Trustee.

ART WORKS GRANT

          A letter was received from Senator Seward’s office regarding a state grant that has been allocated to the Village of Cherry Valley for the restoration of the Judd Foundry building and the Star Theater.  A preliminary application was enclosed to be filled out.  This grant is a reimbursement grant, therefore the monies will have to be paid first and then reimbursed by the state.  It was decided that the application will be filled out at this time by the Village as Art Works would be ineligible to receive the grant.

CEMETERY LOTS

          Cemetery lots were sold to the following individuals:

                    Willliam and Elaine Shipway, Two grave lot

                    Section B2 Lot 46 a & f

                    Bernard E and Katherine M Erwin, One grave lot

                    Section B2 Lot 50 c.

HISTORIAN

          Historian Leonard Perry had requested a continuation of his subscription to Ancestry.com.  Trustee Ed Harvey has paid for this subscription for the historian.  Thank you to Trustee Harvey.

AUDIT OF CLAIMS

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

RESOLVED to amend the budget and make payment on bills as follows:

General Fund	Ch #’s 11978 – 12022	$24,516.24
Water Fund	"	4,102.25
Total Fund		$28,618.49
Trust and Agency Fund	Ch #’s 1883 & auto deductions- Social Security, Medicare, Federal, Retirement	$27.00 $3,743.37

Budget Amendments

From                                          To                                    To                         

CHIPS & PAVE-NY                 A5112.2&4 $3399.37    A3501    $3399.97

EXECUTIVE SESSION

          The Board entered Executive Session at 8:40 PM and exited at 9:10 PM.

CEMETERY FOUNDATION

          The state has a cemetery foundation that may assist in paying for repairs of dangerous stones in the cemetery.  Trustee Guido advised to check with Rick Viscosi as he would have information on the availability of this funding.

ADJOURNMENT

          The meeting adjourned at 9:15 PM upon motion of Trustee Guido, seconded by Mayor Flint.

Respectfully Submitted,

Amy S. Herr

Clerk-Treasurer

August 17, 2016