3675 Flint Road

Stanley, NY

February 16, 2010

The regular meeting of the Seneca Town Board was called to order at 7:30 pm by Supervisor John Sheppard.  Also present were:

Charles Smith, Councilman                            Ed Hansen, Jr., Councilman

Andrew Wickham, Councilman                     Howard Keeney, Councilman

Terri Quartaro, Town Clerk                            Shana Jo Hilton, Assessor

Rick Allison, Highway Supt.                          Jim Lawson, Water Supt.

Also in attendance were six members of Boy Scout Troop 68 from Hall, who led the pledge of allegiance.  Roll call was then taken.

Approval of the agenda offered on motion of Councilman Smith, seconded by Councilman Keeney.  Supervisor Sheppard added to additional items to the communications and wind energy update to old business.  Agenda was approved unanimously.

Privilege of the floor was offered at this time.  The Boy Scouts are here tonight working on their community badges.  The minutes of the last board meeting were approved on motion of Councilman Smith, seconded by Councilman Wickham and carried unanimously.

Supervisor Sheppard then mentioned the following communications:

-          Thank you note from David Campbell and family

-          Thank you letter from Mercy Flight

-          Minutes from planning board meeting of 1-25-10

-          Approved budget amendment from NYS for grant funding

-          Letter from NYS ORPS stating $6,272 will be paid for our annual assessment update

-          Casella quarterly report stating we’ve received $464,168 for the quarter

-          County quarterly sales tax report stating our revenue is down 2% from last year

-          County Probation Dept offering community service work

-          4-H Camp Bristol Hills Program Information

-          Soil & Water Newsletter

-          Office for the Aging Newsletter

-          Cdga Chamber of Commerce Newsletter

-          Abate of NY Newsletter

-          Association of Towns Newsletter

-          County’s H1N1 clinics have ended

-          White House Fellows Outreach Program Information

Written reports were submitted by the highway superintendent, water superintendent, CEO, assessor and historian and are on file.

WARRANTS

-          Water, claims #17-30, in the amount of $20,899.78 were approved on motion of Councilman Keeney, seconded by Councilman Hansen and;

-          Highway, claims #22-39, in the amount of $22,151.75 were approved on motion of Councilman Wickham, seconded by Councilman Keeney and;

-          General, claims #34-61, in the amount of $31,423.82 were approved on motion of Councilman Hansen, seconded by Councilman Wickham and;

-          Town Clerk’s, Supervisor’s and CEO’s monthly reports were approved on motion of Councilman Smith, seconded by Councilman Hansen and all carried unanimously.

Local Law #1-2010 is presented.  The title reads “A Local Law Repealing the Existing Subdivision Ordinance of the Town of Seneca In Its Entirety And Adopting A New Subdivision Ordinance For The Town of Seneca”.  A public hearing on this local law was set for March 16, 2010 at 7:15 pm on motion of Supervisor Sheppard, seconded by Councilman Smith and carried unanimously.

Bids for a pay loader were opened on February 5, 2010 at 1:00 pm.  Three bids were submitted:              

1.  Five Star Equipment (JD 624K)w/JRB      $164,179.

                      2. Milton Cat (CAT938H) w/JRB                    167,173.

                                    3. Milton Cat (CAT938H) w/CAT coupler      158,443.

Rick stated that the John Deere is the only one that can meet the 72 day delivery.  He prefers to have the JRB coupler system and he is recommending purchasing the John Deere with the extended warranty for $3,685, keeping the purchase under the budgeted amount of $170,000.  This purchase was approved on motion of Councilman Keeney, seconded by Councilman Smith and carried unanimously. 

Supervisor Sheppard feels the comprehensive plan should be reviewed and nominated Howard Keeney to chair the committee for such review.  Motion seconded by Councilman Smith and carried unanimously.

Rick then asked the board’s permission to attend a two day lobbying event in Albany March 8 & 9.  A bus will bring them and they’ll stay one night.  He didn’t know the exact cost of attending, so the supervisor will approve the final amount.  Motion to allow Rick to attend was offered by Councilman Smith, seconded by Councilman Hansen and carried unanimously.

The DeBoover request that was tabled at the last meeting was brought up for discussion on motion of Councilman Smith, seconded by Councilman Keeney and carried unanimously.  Supervisor Sheppard has determined the board has no legal obligation to forgive the hook up fees.  We have no written agreement for pipe storage with Mr. DeBoover.  Mr. DeBoover owns four homes on Turnbull that he would like to have serviced.  The installation of water main on Turnbull Road was moved forward by four years.  All of Mr. DeBoover’s written requests have been met by us.

Councilman Smith feels that one free hook up would be sufficient.  We have installed a mile of pipe to get to his 4 properties.  Mr. Lawson feels moving the Turnbull Road line up on the list is of significant value. Councilman Hansen feels not discussing the hook up fees with Mr. DeBoover beforehand was an honest mistake and he thinks splitting the cost may be fair.  Councilman Wickham stated if this was brought up, negotiations would have taken place and how much would we have paid to Mr. DeBoover for the easement?  Supervisor Sheppard offered a motion to give one free hook up, but it will be the last one that is hooked up.  Motion seconded by Councilman Smith and carried unanimously.

Supervisor Sheppard has spoken with Attorney Roulan and he is working on the Scoon Road survey issue. He also attended the planning board meeting on January 25 and asked them to reconsider the wind turbine height restriction.  They voted to leave the restriction at 330 feet.  He also asked Mr. Pitman for a map as to where they would hypothetically be placing any wind turbines.  His map shows about half of them to be placed outside of our zoning area that allows them.  Supervisor Sheppard stated he intends to speak with residents in the area that would allow them to be built and get their feedback.

Councilman Smith offered a motion to appoint Jason Mosher and Jim Allen to the ZBA.  This motion was seconded by Councilman Keeney; however, there is only one vacancy on the ZBA.  Motion rescinded and reoffered by Councilman Smith to appoint Jason Mosher to fill the vacancy on the ZBA, seconded by Councilman Wickham and carried.  Supervisor Sheppard abstained from voting because he knows Mr. Mosher.

Les Wilson asked when all the water lines would be complete.  He has been asking for water for many years, but his property is not scheduled until last.  Mr. Lawson stated the project is a 5 -7 year commitment.

With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:35 on motion of Councilman Smith, seconded by Councilman Keeney and carried unanimously.

Terri Quartaro, Clerk

Town of Seneca