Minutes of a Regular Meeting of the
Town Council of the Town of Ellicott
held at the
Administration Building,
November 15,
2004 at 7:00 P.M.
Present: Supervisor Tyler, Councilman Pickett, Councilman Miller, Councilman Heintzelman, Town Clerk Erlandson, Highway Superintendent Shellhouse, Attorney Lasker, Legislator Spicer. Absent: Councilman Geisler.
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 Pickett to accept the minutes of
the November 1, 2004 meeting as presented by the Town Clerk.
PUBLIC
HEARING (2005 Preliminary Budget)
Supervisor Tyler opened a Public Hearing on the Town of Ellicott Preliminary Budget for fiscal year
2005. The following public comments were heard:
Mr. Allen Hendrickson, 21 Winsor Pl. WE,
commented on the proposed budget. He
expressed his concerns re the increase in the proposed tax rates for 2005. He pointed out three specific areas of the
budget that he feels could be reduced: the police department, town attorney and
town clerk.
Mr. Lucian Lodestro, 11 Anderson Ave. asked
Supervisor Tyler what the proposed tax rate would be in 2005. He also asked what the anticipated fund
balance would be in 2005. Mr. Tyler
addressed his questions.
Supervisor Tyler closed the
Public Hearing at 7:13 PM.
Mr. Lucian Lodestro, 11 Anderson Ave. asked
about the status of funding for the Lyndon Blvd. Reconstruction
Project. He pointed out that the
project has been completed for nearly two years & the Town has yet to
receive all the monies from the various funding sources that were committed to
the project (Minutes 2/4/02 et. seq.).
Supervisor Tyler stated that the Town of Ellicott Bookkeeper is working
with Highway Superintendent Shellhouse and Chautauqua County officials to
finalize the matter.
Town Clerk Erlandson read the following items into
the record:
1.
Invitation
to the annual Falconer Volunteer Firemen’s Association Christmas Party.
2.
Letter
from Bruce D. Battler, Abbey Rd. WE requesting that the Town of Ellicott take
over two streetlights on his street.
3.
Notice
of an upcoming Zoning & Planning Conference to be conducted by Southern
Tier West Regional Planning & Development Board.
4.
Notice
of an upcoming dinner to be sponsored by the Chautauqua Co. Conference of
Mayors & the Chautauqua County Town Supervisors’ Association.
5.
Newsletter:
Community Assistance Program.
6.
Newsletter: Chautauqua Co. Fire Service.
7. Newsletter: Chautauqua Co. Chamber of Commerce.
TOWN OFFICERS’ REPORTS
Town Clerk Erlandson reported that he recently
attended a meeting with representatives from the Chautauqua Lake Partnership
and URS Corp. Mr. Erlandson
stated that the meeting was essentially a strategy session to discuss the
status of an Environmental Impact Statement being prepared by URS. He reminded the Council that the New York
State Dept. of Environmental Conservation mandated that the EIS be
completed before a permit to apply herbicides to a section of Chautauqua
Lake is granted (Minutes 1/19/04 et. seq.). Also at the meeting, URS representatives discussed written
comments re the herbicide application received in conjunction with the
“scoping” process for the EIS.
Expansion of Water Service
(Howard Ave./Baker St. Ext.) – Tabled until the Dec. 6, 2004 meeting.
BAN (Camp St. Ext. Water
Service) –
Tabled pending determination of final cost.
Water Service on Orchard Rd.
– Highway
Superintendent Shellhouse reported that he is compiling the final cost
for the Orchard Rd. Water Service project. Tabled until the Dec. 6, 2004 meeting.
Preliminary Budget (2005) - Supervisor Tyler asked the
Council if the had any final questions re the proposed budget for fiscal year
2005. He stated that the proposed tax
rates for 2005 are: $3.77 per thousand (Town outside village) and $3.58
per thousand (Village).
RESOLUTION #126-04
Adopt Final Budget (2005)
Motion by Supervisor Tyler, seconded by Councilman Miller to adopt the Town of Ellicott Preliminary Budget for fiscal year 2005 as the final budget for fiscal year 2005.
(Councilman Heintzelman
Voted No)
Status of Employee Health
Insurance
– Councilman Pickett reported that the Ellicott Insurance Committee is
evaluating various health care plans for Town of Ellicott employees to replace
the current plan that is dissolving on Dec. 31, 2004 (Minutes 9/13/04). Tabled pending further review.
NEW BUSINESS
RESOLUTION #127-04
Waive
Permit Fee (Chautauqua Co. Humane Society)
Motion by Councilman
Miller, seconded by Councilman Heintzelman to waive the permit fee for
the Chautauqua County Humane Society in conjunction with the placement
of a new outdoor sign on Humane Society property.
RESOLUTION #128-04
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 $312.63 from Account #A1990.4 (Contingency) to Account #A1670.4 (Central Printing – Contractual); transfer the amount of $9,766.01 from Account #A9010.8 (Retirement) to Account #A1910.1 (Unallocated Insurance).
RESOLUTION #129-04
Payment of Claims
Motion by Supervisor Tyler, seconded by Councilman Pickett to pay 2004 current claims #1252-1355
inclusive, in the amount of $40,676.62 and charge to the proper fund or
account.
RESOLUTION #130-04
Convene Executive Session (Labor Negotiations & Pending Litigation)
Motion
by Councilman Miller, seconded by Councilman Heintzelman to Convene Executive Session for the
purpose of discussing the status of labor negotiations with the Town of
Ellicott CSEA employees and; further, to discuss the status of pending
litigation involving the Town of Ellicott Police Department. 7:25 PM – 7:39 PM
Adopted. Ayes - 4 Noes - 0 Absent - 1
Motion by Supervisor Tyler, seconded by Councilman Heintzelman to adjourn at
7:40 PM.
_________________________________
Michael C. Erlandson, Town
Clerk