Minutes of a Regular Meeting of the
Town Council of the Town of Ellicott
held at the
Administration Building,
November 7,
2001 at 7:00 P.M.
Present: Supervisor Tyler, Councilman Hendrickson, Councilman Lodestro, Councilman Miller, Councilman Taylor, Town Clerk Erlandson, Highway Superintendent Shellhouse, Attorney Duncanson, Legislator Spicer.
Supervisor Tyler opened the
meeting at 7:00 P.M. and led the Town Council in the Pledge of Allegiance. Town
Clerk Erlandson called the roll.
PUBLIC
HEARING (2002 Preliminary Budget)
Supervisor Tyler opened a Public Hearing on the Town of Ellicott Preliminary Budget for fiscal year
2002. The following public comments were heard:
Village of Celoron Trustee, Warren Gertsch, stated that Village of Celoron residents were
mistakenly charged a tax rate of $3.02 per thousand in 2001 instead of the
intended amount of $2.96. (see ‘2001
Budget’) Supervisor Tyler clarified the
discrepancy & noted that $3.02 was the correct rate. Mr. Gertsch feels that the Village
was overcharged in 2001. In his
opinion, the 2002 tax rate should be decreased to $2.96, not the
proposed $3.01. He asked the Town
Council to review the budget to determine if the proposed village rate could be
reduced.
Motion by Supervisor Tyler,
seconded by Councilman Lodestro to close the Public hearing at 7:08 PM.
Motion
by Councilman Taylor, seconded by Councilman Hendrickson to accept the minutes
of the October 17, 2001 meeting as presented by the Town Clerk.
Town Clerk Erlandson read the
following items into the record:
1.
Letter
announcing that the new Home Depot facility currently under construction
on Fairmount Ave. will open on Dec. 20, 2001.
2.
Letter
from So. Tier West re upcoming workshops & programs.
3.
Notice
from New York Dept. of State that Town of Ellicott Local Law #2-2001 has been
received & filed.
4.
Newsletter:
Chautauqua Co. Soil & Water Conservation.
5.
Newsletter:
Community Assistance Program.
6.
Falconer
Fire Dept. Incident Report: September 2001.
TOWN OFFICERS’ REPORTS
Councilman Lodestro reported
that the Greater Jamestown Empire Zone has begun the process of securing
financing for a proposed Lyndon Blvd. reconstruction project. (‘Minutes
1/17/01’ et. seq.) He reminded the
Council that Chautauqua Co. originally offered to provide the Town of Ellicott
with a no-interest loan to finance its portion of the project. Mr. Lodestro asked Legislator Spicer to find
out if the loan is still available.
Mr. Lodestro also reported
that a meeting with a grant writer has been scheduled for December 6, 2001 at
10:00 AM. at Town Hall. Mr. Lodestro
explained that the grant writer has experience with grants involving water
& sewer distribution systems.
Attorney Duncanson reported
that the Crossley v. Town of Ellicott litigation has been
scheduled for December.
Supervisor Tyler noted that Home Depot officials have offered to make a $1,500.00 donation to a charitable organization in the Town of Ellicott. Mr. Tyler recommended that the monies be donated to the Chautauqua Lake Association. The Council agreed.
Highway Superintendent
Shellhouse reported that the Ellicott Highway Dept. has completed its annual
leaf pickup operations. He added that
the Highway Dept. will be conducting tree removal operations during the next
several weeks.
Agreements w/ Town of Ellicott Employees – The Town Council reviewed drafts of proposed benefit agreements
with three (3) Town of Ellicott, non-union employees.
The agreements pertain to the Deputy Town Clerk, Assessor & Code
Enforcement Officer. Councilman
Lodestro & Attorney Duncanson explained the agreements. The Council discussed the implications of adopting
the agreements. Tabled pending further
review.
Buffalo-Willard Water Project –
Councilman Lodestro reported that Attorney Gregory Yaw is in the process of
finalizing the Town of Ellicott’s legal & financial obligations re the
Buffalo-Willard Water Distribution project.
RESOLUTION #146-01
Memorandum of Understanding
w/ CSEA
Motion by Supervisor Tyler, seconded by Councilman Lodestro authorizing
Supervisor Tyler to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between CSEA Unit
6314, Local 807 and the Town of Ellicott.
(see ‘CSEA Contract’ file for detail)
Renovation of Administration Building –
Councilman Hendrickson reported that the renovation of the Ellicott
Administration Building is proceeding
on schedule.
Water/Sewer Service on Fluvanna Ave. Ext. & Orchard Rd. – Councilman Taylor & Town Clerk Erlandson reported that the Town has received a number of responses to a survey recently mailed to residents of the Fluvanna & Orchard Rd. areas. The purpose of the survey was to determine if the majority of residents in those areas are interested in receiving water and/or sewer service. Mr. Erlandson reported that Orchard Rd. residents are in favor of receiving water service. However, he noted that Fluvanna area residents appear to be opposed to receiving either water or sewer service. He stated that 300 surveys were mailed to Fluvanna area residents & responses are still being received. Mr. Taylor noted that the study is still in the preliminary stages. He added that discussions with the Jamestown BPU are currently underway to look for possible ways of reducing the cost of installing the services. He pointed out that more residents might be in favor of receiving the services if the cost was reduced. He and Mr. Erlandson will continue to review the survey results & possibly conduct a second survey on a smaller section of the Fluvanna area.
NEW BUSINES
RESOLUTION #147-00
Adopt Final Budget (2001)
Motion by Councilman Taylor, seconded by Councilman Lodestro to adopt the Town of Ellicott Preliminary Budget for fiscal year 2002 as the final budget for fiscal year 2002.
(Councilman Miller Voted No)
Code Enforcement Violation on Fairmount Ave.
(Patric) – The Town Council decided not to pursue a code
violation on Fairmount Ave. involving a political sign belonging to Chautauqua
Co. Executive candidate Todd Patric.
RESOLUTION #148-01
Budget Transfers & Appropriations
Motion by Supervisor Tyler, seconded by Councilman Taylor authorizing Town of
Ellicott Supervisor to make the following budget transfers:
Appropriate the amount $20,268.80 from
Account #A9015.8 (Retirement) into Account #A601 (Accrued Liabilities); transfer the amount of $4.53. from
Account #A1450.1 (Elections – Personnel Services) into Account #A1450.4
(Elections - Contractual); transfer the amount of $64.66 from Account
#A1680.1 (Data Processing – Personnel Services) into Account #A1680.4 (Data
Processing - Contractual); transfer the amount of $198.71 from Account #A1990.4
(Contingency) to Account #A1010.4 (Town Board – Contractual); transfer the
amount of $60.00 from Account #A1990.4 (Contingency) to Account #A1410.4 (Town
Clerk – Contractual); transfer the amount of $771.79 from Account #A1990.4
(Contingency) to Account #A1670.4 (Mailing - Contractual); transfer the amount
of $192.50 from Account #A1990.4 (Contingency) to Account #A3510.4 (Dog Control
– Contractual); transfer the amount of $878.65 from Account #A1990.4
(Contingency) to Account #A1910.4 (Unallocated Insurance).
RESOLUTION #149-01
Payment of Claims
Motion by Supervisor Tyler, seconded by Councilman Hendrickson, to pay current claims 1271-1391, inclusive, in
the amount of $74,910.21 and charge to the proper fund or account.
Motion
by Supervisor Tyler, seconded by Councilman Taylor to adjourn at 8:10 PM.
_________________________________
Michael C. Erlandson, Town Clerk