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Members Present
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Supervisor Norman Teed
Councilman Carl Beechler
Councilwoman Doris Day
Councilman John Dole
Councilman James Mattoon
Town Clerk Linda Nieskes
Highway Superintendent Terry Featherly
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Absent
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None
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Public Attendance
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See listing in minutes book.
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Call To Order
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Supervisor Teed called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
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Pledge Of Allegiance
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Supervisor Teed led the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance.
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Public Hearing on 2007 Town Budget
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Supervisor Teed called the Public Hearing to order at 7:00 PM. He asked the Town Clerk
to read the Public Notice that appeared in the Finger Lakes Times. He said the Board had
added the $.28 decrease from the 2006 Budget back into the budget as well as increasing
it another $.12. He said we hated to increase the budget; but with the cost of everything
increasing, we had no choice. Supervisor Teed asked if there were any other comments
regarding the 2007 Budget.
ROBERT OAKS, CARTER RD., GENEVA: Mr. Oaks said he had questioned the $.28
decrease in the 2006 Budget. He said it is never a good idea to decrease the taxes and he
told the Board that last year. He said if the Price Index goes up, you are justified in raising
the taxes.
JOHN DUCHESNEAU, MELVIN HILL RD., PHELPS: Mr. Duchesneau asked Supervisor Teed what the rate per thousand would be. Supervisor Teed told him the rate
would be $2.83 per thousand. Mr. Duchesneau asked how the tax levy for 2007 compared to 2006. Supervisor Teed said he did not have that information with him this evening.
Supervisor Teed asked if there were any other comments or concerns regarding the 2007
Budget. There were no further comments. The Public Hearing was closed at 7:07 PM.
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Public Participation
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MR. JOHN DUCHESNEAU, MELVIN HILL ROAD, PHELPS voiced his continuing concern about the Melvin Hill Water District problems. Supervisor Teed assured him that the Town is working very hard to correct the problems. Mr. Duchesneau stated that the quality of the water is the main concern. Supervisor Teed agreed with Mr. Duchesneau.
He said hopefully in the next 2 weeks we will have some solution. He said MRB is not
afraid to step up to the plate and give an opinion. Mrs. Duchesneau asked Supervisor Teed if he thought there was a leak. Supervisor Teed said he did not think there was a leak on Melvin Hill. Mrs. Duchesneau asked if the flushing would continue. Supervisor Teed
said yes, we have to keep flushing the lines.
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Approve the Regular Town Board Meeting Minutes for October 6th, 2006
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Supervisor Teed asked for a Resolution to approve the October 9, 2006 Regular Town
Board Meeting Minutes. Councilwoman Day offered the following Resolution.
RESOLVED that, the October 9, 2006 Regular Town Board Meeting Minutes be approved
as written. The Resolution was seconded by Councilman Mattoon, who moved its adoption. 5 AYES. Motion carried
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Resolutions
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- Approve 2007 Budget (see attached).
- Schedule Public Hearing on 2007 Fire Contracts (see attached).
- Approve Replacement Insurance for Equipment in Town Barns (see attached).
- Accept Resignation from Zoning Board Member (see attached).
- Appoint Member to Zoning Board (see attached).
- Approve Stedfast Insurance Group (see attached).
- Transfer Monies to Cover Co-payments for new Insurance Program (see attached).
- Approve Community Bank as Official Bank (see attached).
- Approve Dog Control Contract for 2007 (see attached).
- NIMS Implementation (see attached).
- Schedule Public Hearing on Local Law #1 of 2006 (see attached).
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Highway
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Highway Superintendent Featherly gave his report for the month of October 2006.
(see attached).
Superintendent Featherly said he needed to get the roof on the Highway Barns replaced. He requested 3 estimates had received 2 back; one from DE Miller and one from
VanHouten. He had the one from DE Miller with him but not the one from VanHouten.
DE Miller’s estimate was $10,370. Supervisor Teed said we could not make a decision
without both estimates. Town Clerk Nieskes said we would have to schedule a special
meeting if it cannot wait until the December Board Meeting. Supervisor Teed scheduled
a special meeting/workshop for November 13, 2006 at 7:00 PM at the Phelps Town Court/
Meeting Facility.
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Zoning Report
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The Zoning Report for the month of October 2006 is on file in the Town Clerk’s office.
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Monthly Report
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The Town Clerk’s October 2006 report was reviewed by the Board Members for their approval.
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Discussion With the Supervisor
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- Supervisor Teed said there is a need for Voice Mail at the Town Hall. He said that right now the only office that has an answering machine is the Zoning Office. He said
when he comes in the office at 8:00 AM the phones ring constantly. He said this way the
residents would have a chance to leave a message. Town Clerk Nieskes said it is very difficult when she is doing a marriage license or death certificate and the phone keeps ringing and ringing. She said every Town Hall she calls has the automated system and you go directly to the person with which you wish to speak. She said if that person is not available, the caller can leave a message on that person’s voice mail. Councilman Dole
asked why we could not get voice mail through Ontario Telephone Company. Clerk Nieskes told him that was not available to us because we have multiple lines. She said if someone calls the Assessor’s Office and no one answers the phone there, the people immediately call back on the main Town Hall line and ask for the Assessors. She said if they were able to leave a message, it would eliminate many of the calls and message taking. Councilwoman Day asked who would install this system. Supervisor Teed told her it would be 1st Priority because they are the ones that installed the phone system. Clerk Nieskes told the Board that the system would have cost approximately $600-$700 at the time the system was originally installed, but the Board did not wish to include it at that time. The reason it is more now is because the entire system has to pulled out and redone, as well as a slight increase in the cost of the Voice Mail. Supervisor Teed asked for a Resolution.
Councilman Dole offered the following Resolution. RESOLVED that, the Board
approve the installation of voice mail at the Town Hall at a cost not to exceed the
quote of $998.00. The Resolution was seconded by Councilwoman Day, who moved its adoption. 5 AYES. Motion carried.
- Supervisor Teed announced that Water Maintenance Assistant Mike Vienna has
completed all of the training he was required to have per the Board’s request. He said
Mike has a Class B-2, C and D (Distribution).
- Supervisor Teed said the Town had a company come in to check for leaks in the White
Road Water District. He said they found no leaks and feel that it is just ground water.
Supervisor Teed said the Board needs to address the water rates for White Road Water
District. He said they need to be increased to the same amount as the other water districts.
He said those increases were $28.00 to $30.00 for the minimum amount and $4.00 to $6.00 for each 6000 gallons after that. He asked for a Resolution to increase White Road Water District rates.
Councilman Mattoon offered the following Resolution. RESOLVED that,
the White Road Water District rates be raised to be in line with the rest of
the Town of Phelps Water Districts. The Resolution was seconded by Councilman Dole, who moved its adoption. 4 AYES. 1 ABSTAIN. Councilman Beechler abstained because he lives within the district. Motion carried.
Supervisor Teed said we still need to address the maintenance fee charge for the White
Road Water District
- Supervisor Teed said he took Code Enforcement Officer Ed Clark and Assessor
Charlie Morgan over to the old Town Court to look at the space there. He said they were both very enthused about moving their offices there. He said he feels that we
would need to replace the heating system. He said we are getting 3 quotes to replace the
hot air furnace. Supervisor Teed said to replace the heating system, it would probably be
between $5,000 to $6,000. He said the duct work would probably have to be redone also because as it is now, the heat runs come up in the middle of the room and the cold air are on the outside wall, which is backwards to what it should be. He said that is basically all
we would have to do right now. He said there are some small things to do, but Ed Clark
and Steve Studley said they would be glad to work on it on their own time. He said this
would mean the only cost we would have is for materials. Councilman Beechler asked about the roof. Supervisor Teed said the roof is not leaking. He said it is the old steel roof and he knows it has been coated a couple or three times. He said in the future we would have to either side or paint the building. Councilman Dole said we have not accounted for this building at all in the 2007 Budget. He said we have no idea what it is going to cost for that building. He said if you put a high efficiency furnace in there and have it running 4 or 5 days a week, as opposed to a couple of days a week when it was the Court House, half days at that, without accounting for that I do not know how you can do it. Supervisor Teed said we do have a separate line item for utilities. He said he feels we would have enough money. Councilman Dole said he does not see how there could be money there for another whole building. Supervisor Teed said when a budget is done, you do not figure the utilities that closely. Councilman Dole said that you also do not figure in that much “fluff” to cover another building. He said we need to have some kind of an accounting as to how much this is going to cost. Councilwoman Day said you have an old house that is over 100 years old, with no insulation, old windows and nothing energy efficient in it. She said she heard from one of the Court Clerks that they had to wear their boots and mittens to keep warm. She said it is something to consider but you need to take a very close look at it. Councilman Beechler said we need to get estimates on what all the items will cost.
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Open Forum
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Supervisor Teed asked if anyone wished to address the Board:
BOB OAKS, CARTER RD., GENEVA: Mr. Oaks said he feels that when the Town Board
appoints someone to the Planning or Zoning Boards, it should be someone that is truly
interested in the Town. He said you should not just appoint someone to fill the position.
KATHY DUCHESNEAU, MELVIN HILL RD., PHELPS: Mrs. Duchesneau asked if the
Town always covered the co-payments for employees. Supervisor Teed said no. He said we have saved the taxpayers $51,000 on this new insurance. He stated that the employees
are going to pay a much higher co-payment with this new insurance. Mrs. Duchesneau said you have to put everything in perspective. She said her family does not have co-payments. She stated they spend thousands of dollars out-of-pocket before their insurance will pay. She said you cannot pay for everyone all the time. Councilman Mattoon said this only relates to the present employees, not future employees. Supervisor Teed said new employees have to pay a percentage of their insurance for the first 5 years of employment. Councilman Beechler said the co-payment that is going to be reimbursed is the difference of what the employee is paying now and the new co-payment.
CAROL CONKLIN, CHURCH ST., PHELPS: Mrs. Conklin said this only applies to
present employees, but will it end in time? Supervisor Teed said it is part of the employee
package and any employee package can be changed at any time. He said in the future, if this got out of hand, we could change it.
LAURA TIERSON, WHITE RD., PHELPS: Mrs. Tierson asked why the water rates had to be increased for the White Road Water District. Supervisor Teed explained to Mrs. Tierson that the Town is paying more for the White Road Water than we are paying for the other districts. He said we are paying the Village of Phelps for the water and that charge is more than we are paying for the water in any other district. He said the Village did lower the rate drastically, but we are still paying them an additional fee above the water charge. Supervisor Teed said we also have no fund built up in case of a major problem on that line.
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Bills
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Councilman Mattoon made the following Resolution. RESOLVED that
- GENERAL "A" - #317 - #343 in the amount of $33,567.79,
- GENERAL "B" - #68 - #74 in the amount of $994.64,
- HIGHWAY "DB" - #205 - #231 in the amount of $40,764.04,
- SEWER - #24 - #25 in the amount of $17,359.84,
- WHITE ROAD WATER DISTRICT - #17 - #18 in the amount of $40.08,
- RT. 96/488 WATER DISTRICT - #94 - #98 in the amount of $789.68,
- ORLEANS WATER DISTRICT - #103 - #107 in the amount of $689.49,
- SPAFFORD ROAD WATER DISTRICT - #90 - #93 in the amount of $173.95,
- MELVIN HILL WATER DISTRICT - #32 - #34 in the amount of $528.22 be approved.
The Resolution was seconded by Councilman Beechler, who moved its adoption. 5 AYES. Motion carried.
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Next Town Board Meeting
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Supervisor Teed announced the next Town Board Meeting will be Monday, December 4,
2006, at 7:00 PM at the Phelps Town Court/Meeting Facility, 1331 Rt. 88, Phelps.
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Adjournment
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Councilwoman Day offered the following Resolution. RESOLVED that, the meeting be
adjourned. The Resolution was seconded by Councilman Mattoon, who moved its
adoption. 5 AYES. Motion carried.
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Time
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8:14 PM.
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Respectfully submitted,
Linda B. Nieskes
Town Clerk
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