Minutes of a Special Meeting of the
Town Council of the Town of Ellicott
held at the
Administration Building,
January 9,
2004 at 5:00 P.M.
Present: Supervisor Tyler, Councilman Geisler, Councilman Miller, Councilman Pickett, Councilman Taylor, Town Clerk Erlandson.
Supervisor Tyler opened the
meeting at 5:00 PM. Town Clerk
Erlandson called the roll.
RESOLUTION
#31-04
Ratify
Labor Agreement w/ Ellicott Police Employees
Motion by Supervisor Tyler, seconded by Councilman Geisler to ratify a labor agreement between the Town of Ellicott and the CSEA Local 100 AFSCME, AFL-CIO, the certified union for the Town of Ellicott Police Unit of Local 807; effective dates of the agreement are January 1, 2004 through December 31, 2004. (See ‘CSEA Labor Agreement’ file for detail)
Adopted. Ayes - 5 Noes - 0 Absent - 0
Assessing Position – The Town Council discussed the vacant Town of
Ellicott Assessor position (Minutes 1/5/04).
Councilman Miller reminded the Council that Town Clerk Erlandson is
interested in becoming the Town Assessor.
However, he noted that Mr. Erlandson would need a minimum of six months of on-site assessing experience before he could take over the
position. Mr. Miller reported that Mr.
Erlandson recently contacted the Town of Carroll Assessor re the possibility of
providing assessing training to Mr. Erlandson.
Councilman Miller explained that the Carroll Assessor has tentatively
agreed to provide temporary assessing services to the Town of Ellicott for 2004 at
cost to the Town of Ellicott not
to exceed $20,000.00. Mr. Miller noted that the contract would be
for one-year only and would expire on Dec. 31, 2004. Mr. Erlandson added that the contract would
be with the Assessor and not the Town of Carroll. He also assured the Council that for the duration of the
agreement the Carroll Assessor would provide all the necessary assessing duties
to the Town of Ellicott - including appraising, fieldwork and training. Furthermore, the Carroll Assessor would
maintain certain office
hours at the Ellicott
Administration Bldg. Supervisor Tyler
expressed his concerns that the Town of Ellicott might not receive its annual
maintenance aid monies from New York State in 2004. He reminded the Council that the Town receives the maintenance aid in return for maintaining its properties at 100%
of market value. He stated that he
contacted former Town of Ellicott Assessor Randy Holcomb to determine how many
properties in the Town need to be examined in 2004 in order to receive the
state aid. Mr. Tyler explained that the
Celoron area would need to be updated in 2004. The Council discussed the matter. Councilman Geisler reviewed the Council’s options
re the assessor position. He noted that
he and Supervisor Tyler recently interviewed a candidate for the assessor
position. However, Mr. Tyler noted that
the candidate did not accept the Town’s salary offer. Mr. Geisler asked Mr. Erlandson a number of questions re his
desire to become the Town Assessor. He
expressed his concerns with Mr. Erlandson becoming the Assessor. Mr. Geisler expressed his concern that
should the Town of Ellicott retain the Carroll Assessor, the Town of Ellicott
would not have a full
time assessor until
2005. In his opinion, the Town cannot
afford to wait until next year to appoint a full time assessor. He also commented on a possible sexual
harassment & discrimination claim against the Town of Ellicott by a former
assessor. He noted that Town Clerk
Erlandson is named in the potential claim.
Councilman Taylor expressed his support for Town Clerk Erlandson
becoming the Town of Ellicott Assessor.
Councilman Miller pointed out that the Town of Ellicott would save
approximately $20,000.00 in 2004 by retaining the Town of Carroll Assessor
to train Mr. Erlandson since the Town would not need to hire a full time
Assessor this year. Councilman Pickett
feels that any contract w/ the Carroll Assessor stipulate that he maintain certain
office hours at the Ellicott Administration Bldg. The Council agreed with Mr. Pickett.
RESOLUTION
#32-04
Agreement
with Assessor (Ron Pigman)
Motion by Councilman Taylor, seconded by Councilman Miller to retain the services of Ronald Pigman, Frewsburg, New York to provide assessing services to the Town of Ellicott in 2004 at a cost to the Town not to exceed $20,000.00.
Adopted. Ayes - 4 Noes - 1 Absent - 0
(Councilman Geisler Voted
No.)
The Council directed Mr. Erlandson to contact Town
Attorney Lasker to draft
a contract with Mr. Pigman. Supervisor Tyler also asked Mr. Erlandson to
schedule a meeting with Mr. Pigman for Monday, January 12, 2004 at
noon.
RESOLUTION
#33-04
Allocate
$20,000.00 to Purchase of New Police Car
Motion by Councilman Taylor, seconded by Supervisor Tyler authorizing that the approximate $20,000.00 saved in the Assessing department by retaining be allocated to the purchase of a new patrol car for the Town of Ellicott Police Department.
Adopted. Ayes - 5 Noes - 0 Absent - 0
Motion
by Supervisor Tyler, seconded by Councilman Taylor to adjourn at 5:35 PM.
Carried. Ayes - 5 Noes - 0 Absent - 0
_________________________________
Michael C. Erlandson, Town
Clerk