Minutes of a Regular Meeting of the
Town Council of the Town of Ellicott
held at the
Administration Building,
July 7, 2003
at 7:00 P.M.
Present: Supervisor Tyler, Councilman Geisler, Councilman Lodestro, Councilman Miller, Councilman Taylor, Town Clerk Erlandson, Highway Superintendent Shellhouse, Attorney Lasker, Police Chief Ohnmeiss, Town Justice Gerace.
Supervisor Tyler opened the
meeting at 7:00 PM and led the Town Council in the Pledge of Allegiance. Town Clerk Erlandson called the roll.
Motion
by Councilman Miller, seconded by Councilman Geisler to accept the minutes of
the June 16, 2003 meeting as presented by the Town Clerk.
Village of Celoron Mayor, Richard
Slagle, commented on a records management grant recently received by the
Town of Ellicott. Mr. Slagle noted
that, in preparation for the grant project, the Town Council is considering
retaining a company to shred existing documents. He explained that the New York State Archives regulations
do not mandate that records be shredded.
Therefore, in his opinion, retaining a company to shred documents would
be an unnecessary expense. Mr. Slagle
recommended that the Town explore alternative methods of record disposal in
order to save the expense of retaining a shredding company.
Town of Ellicott Justice Marilyn
Gerace informed the Town Council that Part Time Court Clerk Rosalie Zanghi
recently resigned. Mrs. Gerace stated
that she intends to hire a new part time clerk. She explained that she would like to fill the position by the end
of August 2003. She & the Council
discussed several options for filling the position. Justice Gerace, Town Clerk Erlandson & Supervisor Tyler will
interview potential candidates.
Town Clerk Erlandson read the
following items into the record:
1.
Notice
from the New York Dept. of State that Town of Ellicott Local Law #1-2003
has been received & filed.
2.
Letter
from the Chautauqua Lake Partnership re a herbicide application permit.
3.
Tax
Foreclosure Auction List from the Chautauqua County Tax Office.
Councilman Miller commented on the recent
election redistricting conducted in the Town of Ellicott (Minutes 6/16/03). He expressed his concern that the Chautauqua
Co. Board of Elections will not be issuing a press release regarding the
new elections districts. He noted that
as a result of the redistricting many Town residents would be voting at a new
polling place. Mr. Miller feels that
these residents should be notified re where they will be voting. He suggested that the Town Council might
want to consider notifying the residents.
The Council discussed the matter.
Town Clerk Erlandson was directed to draft a letter to the Board of
Elections asking for its recommendations re notification of residents.
Councilman Taylor reported that he recently
spoke with NY State Dept. of Environmental Conservation officials re the
expiration of its lease agreement with the Town of Ellicott. Mr. Taylor reminded the Town Council that
the DEC leases the entire third floor of the Ellicott Administration Bldg. He pointed out that the current agreement
expired on June 30, 2003. He explained
that the DEC does not intend to renew the lease at the present time. However, he stated that for the time being
the DEC would continue to lease the third floor on a month-to-month
basis. Mr. Taylor added that the DEC
might consider leasing a smaller area of the third floor in the future. He will keep the Council apprised of the
situation.
Town Clerk Erlandson reported that the Town of
Ellicott recently received an inactive records grant from the NY State
Archives. He stated that the grant
monies would be used to upgrade a basement storage vault in the Ellicott
Administration Bldg. He thanked Village
of Celoron Mayor Richard Slagle for pointing out that existing records do
not have to be shredded. (see
‘Privilege of the Floor’)
Mr. Erlandson also reported that he
received a petition from Town of Ellicott residents opposed to the
possible construction of a bypass connecting Rte. 60 & Rte. 62.
Town Attorney Lasker commented on a proposed
easement agreement with Jamestown Pediatrics Associates. He asked the Council to review the
proposed agreement.
Police Chief Ohnmeiss discussed personnel hiring
issues pertaining to the Town of Ellicott Police Dept. He explained that two full time positions in
the Police Dept. remain unfilled. He
recommended that the Council appoint two Town of Ellicott part time police
officers to fill the vacancies. Mr.
Ohnmeiss stated that the salaries for the two positions are already allocated
in the 2003 Town of Ellicott budget.
Councilman Taylor commented on the matter. He recommended that the Council appoint the two part-time
officers.
Permit for Herbicide
Application (Chautauqua Lake) –
Supervisor Tyler reported that he will meet with Town of Busti & Town of
Ellery officials on July 10, 2003 re the recent decision by the NYS DEC denying
a herbicide application permit to the Town of Ellicott. Mr. Tyler noted that representatives of the Chautauqua Lake Partnership would also be attending the meeting.
Driveway Approach on Fairmount Ave.
(Ferraro) – Highway Superintendent Shellhouse reported on a design problem
involving a driveway approach at a residence
located at 837 Fairmount Ave. owned by Anthony Ferrara. Mr. Shellhouse explained that the approach should be
upgraded. The Ellicott Highway
committee will review the matter.
Lyndon
Blvd. Reconstruction Project - Councilman Lodestro reported on the status of repairs re several
breaks in the sewer line along Lyndon Blvd. (Minutes 4/7/03 et. seq.) He stated that Project Coordinator Rose
Wightman is working on resolving the matter.
Mr. Lodestro also reported that the Town of Ellicott should soon be
receiving an additional $112,000.00 from N.Y. State for the project as part of
a Multi-modal Program grant. (Minutes 3/18/02 et.
seq.)
Traffic Study: Hunt Rd.
& Allegheny Ave. – Supervisor Tyler reported that he will be requesting that a
comprehensive traffic study of the roadways surrounding Southwestern
Central School be conducted in September 2003. Town Clerk Erlandson was directed to notify school officials re
the Town’s intentions. Mr. Geisler
pointed out that a number of traffic flow and parking problems currently exist
on school property. In his opinion, the
SWCS Board should be asked to conduct its own traffic study of school
premises in conjunction with the comprehensive study.
Water Service on Orchard Rd. – Supervisor Tyler will meet with Town of Busti & Village of Lakewood officials to determine a water rate for users of a proposed municipal water service on Orchard Rd. & Southwestern Dr. The Town Council determined that the highest possible rate estimate be utilized for the time being in order to expedite the project.
Motion by Supervisor Tyler, seconded by Councilman Lodestro to schedule a Public Hearing for July 21, 2003 at 7:00 PM re a Public Interest Order to expand municipal water service to Orchard Rd. and a section of Southwestern Dr. (see ‘Orchard Rd. Water’ file for detail)
Adopted. Ayes - 5 Noes - 0 Absent - 0
NEW BUSINESS
Designation of Polling Places –
Tabled until the July 21, 2003 meeting.
Supervisor Tyler read a Proclamation declaring July 18, 2003 to be Laurel
Run Day in the Town of Ellicott.
RSEOLUTION #94-03
Appointment of Full Time Police Officer (Curtis)
Motion
by Councilman Taylor, seconded by Supervisor Tyler appointing Part Time Town of
Ellicott Police Officer James V. Curtis, Falconer, New York as a full time Town of Ellicott Police
Officer, effective July 7, 2003 at a starting rate of pay of $17.85 per hour,
subject to a one-year probation and
completion of New York State Civil Service requirements.
RSEOLUTION #95-03
Appointment of Full Time Police Officer (Cunningham)
Motion
by Councilman Taylor, seconded by Supervisor Tyler appointing Part Time Town of
Ellicott Police Officer Tera Cunningham, Jamestown, New York as a full time Town of Ellicott Police
Officer, effective July 8, 2003 at a starting rate of pay of $17.85 per hour,
subject to a one-year probation and
completion of New York State Civil Service requirements.
RESOLUTION #96-03
Budget Allocations
Motion by Supervisor Tyler, seconded by Councilman Taylor authorizing Town of
Ellicott Supervisor to make the following budget allocation:
Allocate anticipated revenues from the Camp St. Ext.
water project in the amount $39,000.00 to Account #DB5112.2 (Capital Outlays).
Adopted. Ayes - 5 Noes - 0 Absent - 0
RESOLUTION #97-03
Payment of Claims
Motion by Supervisor Tyler, seconded by Councilman Taylor to pay 2003 current claims #719-814,
inclusive, in the amount of $45,366.59 and charge to the proper fund or
account.
Adopted. Ayes - 5 Noes - 0 Absent - 0
Motion
by Supervisor Tyler, seconded by Councilman Taylor to adjourn at 8:10 PM.
Carried. Ayes - 5 Noes - 0 Absent - 0
_________________________________
Michael C. Erlandson, Town Clerk