Minutes of a Regular Meeting of the
Town Council of the Town of Ellicott
held at the
Administration Building,
July 16, 2007
at 7:00 P.M.
Present: Supervisor Tyler, Councilman Geisler, Councilman Pickett, Councilman Miller, Councilman Heintzelman, Town Clerk Erlandson, Highway Superintendent Shellhouse, Attorney Wright, Police Chief Ohnmeiss.
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 Heintzelman, seconded by Councilman Miller to accept the minutes
of the July 2, 2007 meeting as presented by the Town Clerk.
Patricia Lefford, 2717 Palm Rd. read a
statement regarding a request to rezone 55 acres of property east of N. Main
St. Ext. (Rte. 60). (If approved by
the Town Council, the property would be rezoned from ‘residential’ to
‘mercantile’.) Mrs. Lefford stated
that she is opposed to the rezoning proposal.
In her opinion, ‘mercantile’ would not fit the character of the present
neighborhood.
Town Clerk Erlandson read the
following items into the record:
1.
Notice
from So. Tier West Regional Planning & Development Board re an
upcoming training program on property tax assessments.
2.
Notification
of Liquor License Renewal: Fountain Bowl, 3316 Fluvanna Ave.
3.
Invitation
to annual Dinner Cruise on the sponsored by the Chautauqua Co. Conference of
Mayors & Supervisors.
4.
Falconer
Fire Chief’s Report: April - June 2007.
5.
Newsletter:
Chautauqua Co. Chamber of Commerce.
6.
Newsletter:
Chaut. Co. Fire Service.
TOWN OFFICERS’ REPORTS
Attorney Wright reported that he has drafted
a contract for the purchase of property in the School Ave. area owned by Kurt
Gustafson, Margaret Gustafson, Greg Paterniti & Diane Paterniti. He reminded the Town Council that the Town
of Ellicott wants to acquire the property in conjunction with the construction
of a water-pump station. (Minutes
6/18/07) Mr. Wright explained that
although the Council agreed to purchase the property for $3,000.00, NY State
Law prohibits municipalities from purchasing property at excess of assessed
value. Mr. Wright noted that the
property is assessed at $2,220.00. He
stated that the property owners have agreed to sell the property to the Town of
Ellicott for that price.
Town Clerk Erlandson reported that the new sign for the Airport Industrial Park is nearly complete. (Minutes 3/5/07) He
stated that the sign should be installed within the next several weeks.
Highway Superintendent
Shellhouse reported
that bids for a pump skid for the new water-pump station on School Ave. would
be opened on July 20, 2007 at 10:00 AM.
(Minutes 6/5/07).
Supervisor Tyler noted that John Piazza
recently retired from the Town of Ellicott Highway Dept. Mr. Tyler thanked John for his 28 years of
service to the Town of Ellicott.
Mr. Tyler also reported that he would
be attending a “ribbon-cutting” ceremony dedicating the new facility at Tanglewood
Manor on Friday July 20, 2007.
Mr. Tyler also reported that he received a letter from the CSEA requesting to commence negotiations with the Town Council re a new Labor Agreement with the Town of Ellicott Police Unit that would be effective January 1, 2008.
Abandonment of Property
(Lakeside Blvd.) – Ray Dorman, 100
Lakeside Blvd. requested that the Town of Ellicott abandon a section of land
adjacent to his property. According to
Mr. Dorman, the land in question was supposed to have been conveyed to the previous owners of his property. The Council discussed the request. Tabled pending further review.
New York State Property
Taxpayer Protection Act – Councilman
Miller presented a proposed resolution drafted by the minority members of the New York State Assembly. He
explained that the proposed Assembly Bill “puts forth new and innovative ideas
for property tax reform”. He asked the
Town Council to support the proposed bill.
RESOLUTION #70-07
New York State Property Taxpayer Protection Act
MOTION
by Councilman Miller, seconded by Councilman Heintzelman supporting the
immediate passage of the New York State Property
Taxpayer Protection Act.
(See ‘NYS Property Taxpayer Protection Act’ for detail)
Adopted.
Ayes - 5 Noes - 0 Absent - 0
Hire Full Time Police Officer – Town of Ellicott Police
Chief Ohnmeiss requested permission to hire a new full-time police
officer. He explained that there is a
vacant position to be filled due to the recent resignation of another
officer. He stated that funding
has already been allocated for the position.
The Council asked the Chief a number of questions concerning the
request. Councilman Miller feels that
the request should have been discussed in the Town’s Police Committee before
being brought to the Town Council. He
stated that he has not had enough time to consider the request. He also suggested that a part-time
officer be utilized to fill the position for the next several months. Councilman Heintzelman pointed out that the
police department is already over budget through the first six months of
2007. Councilman Geisler recommended
that the matter be tabled until it has been discussed in committee.
MOTION by Councilman Geisler,
seconded by Councilman Miller to table the request for one month pending
further review by the Ellicott Police Committee.
Adopted.
Ayes - 5 Noes - 0 Absent - 0
RESOLUTION #71-07
Budget Transfers
MOTION by Supervisor Tyler, seconded by Councilman
Pickett authorizing Town of Ellicott Supervisor to make the following budget
transfers:
Transfer the amount of $566.82 from Account #A1990.4 (Contingency) to Account #A1420.4 (Attorney – Contractual); transfer the amount of $500.00 from Account #A1990.4 (Contingency) to Account #A6989.4 (Economic Development).
Adopted.
Ayes - 5 Noes - 0 Absent - 0
RESOLUTION #72-07
Payment of Claims
MOTION by Supervisor Tyler, seconded by Councilman Geisler to pay 2007
current claims #726-781, inclusive, in the amount of $18,744.11 and charge
to the proper fund or account.
Adopted.
Ayes - 5 Noes - 0 Absent - 0
Motion
by Supervisor Tyler, seconded by Councilman Miller to adjourn at 7:35 PM.
Carried.
Ayes - 5 Noes - 0 Absent - 0
_________________________________
Michael
C. Erlandson, Town Clerk