Minutes of a Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Johnson City, New York, held at 7:30PM in the Municipal Building on April 15, 2008

 

Village of Johnson City Town Board

 

Harry G. Lewis         Mayor

 

Donald Adams         Trustee                        Jeff Jacobs                  Village Attorney

Richard Balles                     Trustee                       

Dennis Hannon        Trustee                        Thomas Augostini       Special Counsel

Bruce King               Trustee

                                            

 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

 

The meeting was opened with the pledge of allegiance led by Mayor Lewis.

 

FIRE EXITS

 

The Mayor noted directions to the fire exits.

 

MISCELLANEOUS ANNOUNCEMENTS

Mayor Lewis mentioned that there is to be a Special Work Session on April 22nd at 6:00PM and a Public Hearing on April 29th at 6:30PM.

.

Mayor Lewis presented Tom Augostini with a plaque thanking him for his many years of dedication and outstanding service to the Village of Johnson City. 

 

 

BOARD MINUTES

 

The Work Session and the Regular Board Meeting minutes of April 1, 2008; and the Special Work Session minutes of April 1, 2, 8, 2008, were held over for review due to technical difficulties.  Board members did not have hard copies of these minutes to review. 

 

BID OPENINGS                                                                     

 

Bids were opened and read on April 11, 2008 at 10:03AM for the North Side Fire Station Floor Slab Rehabilitation

Bidder

Bid

Tre’Gen Concrete Corporation

$79,061.80

Vacri Construction Company   

$82,575.00

Albert Torto

$83,192.20

William H. Lane

$98,263.75

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Motion by Trustee Balles – seconded by Trustee Adams to receive bids for the North Side Fire Station Floor Slab Rehabilitation Concrete Construction and authorize Mayor Lewis to sign all documents related to the project pending an engineering review.

 

Trustee Balles noted that the estimate for the project was $80,000.

 

Board members polled

Motion carried                                                                         Ayes 5  Nayes 0

 

 

PUBLIC HEARINGS                                                               

 

a)                  Time Warner Cable Franchise Renewal

Tom Augostini spoke to the specifics of the agreement.  This agreement was negotiated collectively with the Town of Union. 

 

            The Public Hearing (part a) was held over to the next meeting on May 6, 2008.

 

b)                  2008-2009 Village of Johnson City Budget

 

Mayor Lewis made note that the Budget, to date, is strictly a DRAFT and the current percent of increase is 6.01% at this time.  Additional budget review meetings are scheduled at which time Mayor Lewis will invite public input.

 

·                  Greg Deemie -153 Zoa Avenue – expressed concern with debts and obligations (Village Law 19) if the Village of Johnson City should dissolve.  He inquired if the Village of Johnson City would still be responsible for debts if dissolution occurred. He inquired if the taxes and other debts or obligations from the Village of Johnson City would follow to the Town of Union.

 

Attorney Jeff Jacobs answered that the VJC obligations would not disappear.  The residents of the Village of Johnson City will get a Town of Union tax not a Village tax; a new line item would be created and then cease to exist when all debts or obligations were paid off.

 

·                  Monica Silas -136 N. Broad St - inquired as to the 2008-2009 DRAFT Budget line

item A1325.1. 

 

Mayor Lewis stated this amount was due to an anticipated retirement.

 

·                  Julie Deemie – 153 Zoa  Avenue - inquired as to if there will be another Public

Hearing regarding the 2008-2009 Budget.

 

Mayor Lewis stated there will not be another Public Hearing but the public can share their concerns with the Board prior to the vote.

 

Julie Deemie encouraged the Board and Mayor Lewis to do their best to eliminate expenses and bring the Budget to a bare minimum.  She also encouraged the Mayor and Trustees to look at phone and office expenses, scale back on park expenditures and fix/repair versus purchase.

 

·                     Monica Silas -136 N. Broad St - inquired about rising fuel costs and how the

            Village was handling this expense; noting the large increase in the budget

            (A1640.4).

 

Mayor Lewis explained that the increase on the line item was due to implementing a more cost effective billing procedure.  A bill comes in to DPW and the departments are then back billed.

 

Monica Silas inquired as to the status and costs associated with repairing the CFJ carousel building.

 

Mayor Lewis reminded the public that a matching grant of $147,000 was awarded to refurbish the building.

 

Trustee Balles further explained that a matching portion will be through a BOND and will not affect the tax base.  The carousel building is in need of repair; engineering estimates are $300,000.

 

·                     Misty Incitti- 152 Grand Ave – asked for a copy of the 2008-2009 DRAFT Budget. 

A member of the public provided her with an extra copy.

 

·                     Monica Silas -136 N. Broad St – inquired as to whether the Village was replacing

           or adding two vehicles.

 

Mayor Lewis stated that two vehicles were being replaced.

 

Monica Silas inquired as to the Police Department copier and copier

maintenance expense.

 

Mayor Lewis explained that the Budget is not finalized and this is an item that is being scrutinized.

 

·                     Greg Deemie – 153 Zoa Avenue – referenced the Village Law 19 concerning obligations for debts.  He read Law 19 to remind and educate the public about the VJC tax situation.  Namely, until obligations and debts are paid off the residents will have Town taxes.  He reiterated that residents will have this VJC tax until all debts are paid and emphasized that there will still be the Village of Johnson City taxes but the taxes will be renamed.

 

·                     Liz Johnson – 230 Myrtle Ave – inquired as to the definition and usefulness of a confined space wire communication system.

 

Mayor Lewis explained that the Fire Department was certified and utilized this system.

 

Liz Johnson inquired as to if the Village currently had possession of a confined space wire communication system.

 

Trustee King stated that the current system being utilized by the Fire Department is radio based and not sophisticated enough.  The confined space wire communication system is wireless and needs to be a wired system.

 

Monica Silas – 136 N. Broad Street - inquired as to when the last time there was a need for the confined space wire communication system.

 

Mayor Lewis cited a specific incident at BAE Systems, Westover, where an employee was trapped into a cat walk.  Mayor Lewis further elaborated that confined spaces are dangerous to firemen and employees and standard radio equipment at BAE, United Health Services and Johnson City High School have areas where communications fail.  Mayor Lewis emphasized that the Village is  looking into repeater radios.

 

·                  Ron Jones – 205 Ackley Avenue – inquired into the dispersion and replacement of parking meters being replaced and how they are being proportioned out in the Village.

 

Mayor Lewis explained that the Village is upgrading the parking meters and going to newer technology.

 

Ron Jones inquired as to if parking meters will remain after the downtown renovations.

 

Mayor Lewis stated that the parking meters would be retained.

 

Ron Jones asked that the Village of Johnson City  please consider the Village of Endicott example whereby no meters are on Washington Avenue.  He also  stated that eliminating parking meters would benefit Main Street renovation, he asked that this be considered by Mayor Lewis and the Board of Trustees.

 

·                  Julie Deemie – 152 Zoa Avenue – inquired as where the new catch basins here located.

 

Mayor Lewis stated that all construction would require replacements of existing catch basins.

 

Julie Deemie inquired if this would apply to the WalMart development.

 

Mayor Lewis stated that this policy applies to Village property only.

 

Julie Deemie inquired about the 2008-2009 DRAFT Budget line item A1440.4 regarding planner contractual expenses.  She asked what the category specifically was and was it related to an urban planner.

 

Mayor Lewis explained that by combining resources with the Village of Endicott allowed the Endicott Visitors Center to have a dedication to the Johnson’s.  Mayor Lewis also referenced the Heritage Center on Front Street.

 

Julie Deemie asked if the funds go to the maintenance of those centers.

 

Mayor Lewis stated that indeed they did.

 

Julie Deemie asked if the line item also covered memberships in professional organizations.

 

Mayor Lewis explained that this line covered any State or Federal memberships that the planner belongs to.  Mayor Lewis referenced different associations that the various Department Heads of the Village of Johnson City are affiliated.

 

Julie Deemie further emphasized and inquired that all organizations covered by the line are indeed professional organizations.

 

Mayor Lewis answered in the affirmative.

 

Julie Deemie inquired as to if the Community Block grants were shared with the Town of Union.

 

Mayor Lewis explained that as an individual entity the Village of Johnson City could not get these grants.  Combining with the Village of Endicott enabled the grants to be acquired.  The Community Development Block Grant was used for streets; specifically being utilized and allocated this year, for example, to Main street blocks, lights, and streets.

 

Julie Deemie inquired as to if the Grants were utilized for other purposes.

           

Mayor Lewis stated that Grants are usually used for the above mentioned purposes but can also include costs and fees related to tearing down houses or purchasing and installing fencing around parks

 

Julie Deemie inquired as to if the decision to allocate these Grant monies was the sole decision of the Village of Johnson City.

 

Mayor Lewis replied in the affirmative.

 

Julie Deemie inquired as to if the Grant has been used for lower income housing initiatives.

 

Mayor Lewis stated that the specificity of lower income housing would be found in State programs as well as throughout the Town of Union, but not the Community Development Block Grant. 

 

·                     Ann Davis 63 St. Charles Street – inquired as to if there are available funds to tear down the Ozalid factory.

 

Mayor Lewis explained that the Village of Johnson City has received a grant for this purpose.  A specific process is in place whereby the facility must first be declared unsafe with a continuation through the process of the Restore New York Grant.

 

Ann Davis inquired as to specifically which factory was slated for demolition.

 

Mayor Lewis stated that, at this time an entire building will not be torn down.

Ms. Davis reiterated that the old factories and associated buildings look horrible and would like something done with these eyesores.  Ms. Davis continued with a statement regarding purchasing new park equipment.  Ms. Davis emphasized that once equipment is purchased and replaced the VJC should take careful attention to not let the equipment fall into disrepair; the equipment must be maintained yearly.  It is a waste of money to replace items if they are not going to be regularly maintained Ms. Davis was also concerned with the carousel; maintain the carousel yearly – do minor repairs so as not to be hit with major repairs.

 

Mayor Lewis stated that major repairs are needed on the carousel but since it is a historical structure certain rules must be followed in repairs and these are costly; ie: windows.

 

Ann Davis again stressed that when replacements are done, they should be regularly maintained.

 

Mayor Lewis emphasized that maintenance is an on going process.

 

·                     Monica Silas – 136 N. Broad Street – had an inquiry referring to page 18 on the 2008-2009 DRAFT Budget in regard to code enforcement equipment costing $9500; code enforcement requiring their own server.

 

Trustee King explained the present server  situation in the Village Municipal Hall.

 

            Jennifer Kakusian, Village Clerk/Treasurer stated that the server situation was   under review and she was accepting quotes to be updated to one server.  She

also stated that this could possibly being covered by a grant, which was being

looked into.

 

·                     Liz Johnson – 230 Myrtle Ave – inquired to the specific improvements that are slated to be done at the North Side.

 

Mayor Lewis explained that the plan is to purchase playground equipment, swings, replace a fence on North Hudson Street, and update the tennis and basketball courts and rims.

 

Liz Johnson inquired in to the specifics of the carousel upgrades.

 

Mayor Lewis stated the carousal itself is not in need of repair.  The upgrades refer to the structure housing the carousal.  The CFJ parks improvements are a separate situation as well.

 

Liz Johnson inquired as to if the Old Fair Play building, site of a recent fire, is still on the tax rolls.  She also inquired as to if the adjacent Mosque is on the tax roles.

 

Mayor Lewis stated that there are code concerns about the Old Fair Play building site and that the Mosque is not on the tax rolls, but adjacent apartment buildings are.

 

·                     Ron Jones – 205 Ackley Avenue – inquired to the specifics of the CFJ Park improvements and money devoted to the basketball courts.

Trustee King explained that the basketball courts are to be upgraded.

 

Ron Jones further inquired as to if there was to be an anticipated increase in  activity in the use of the courts by youth leagues or programs.

 

Mayor Lewis explained that there is a summer league run through Chris Hinkey.

 

Trustee Balles elaborated that there are other activities besides basketball that the youth in the Village can partake.  He cited the T-ball league and other numerous activities not specific to CFJ Park but that are Village wide.

 

·                     Trustee Hannon wanted to clarify for Julie Deemie – 152 Zoa Avenue – a previous concern she had regarding membership expenditures.  Trustee Hannon explained that the memberships are contractual and in the collective bargaining agreement.

 

The Public Hearing portion of the Board Meeting was closed at 8:18PM.

 

PETITIONS RECEIVED                                                                                 none

 

 

PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR – VISITORS                                   

 

·                        Julie Deemie – 152 Zoa Avenue – cited a copy of a recent Press & Sun-Bulletin article where the Town of Union expects 1.4 million dollars in Community Block Grants.  She produced a copy for Mayor Lewis to refer to showing a breakdown of funds from 1999 (refer to Town of Union website; www.townofunion.com ).

 

Mayor Lewis stated that what Julie Deemie had was a Town of Union document and if she required clarification on the breakdown between the Village of Johnson City, the Village of Endicott and the Town of Union that she should contact Mr. Paul Nelson from the Town of Union.

 

·                     Bob Hartman – 15 Rogers Street – inquired as to why the Walmart development was not put up to vote for the residents.

 

Mayor Lewis explained that a Public Hearing was set by the Planning Board.

 

Attorney Jeff Jacobs elaborated that under the law only certain items can go to referendum; this not qualifying.

 

 

 

 

Bob Hartman expressed further concern about the prospect of property values

declining due to the WalMart development and cited the area of Watkins Glen, NY.  He also expressed concern for the downtown businesses as he feels that they will be losing business as a result of the WalMart development.

 

·                     Greg Deemie – 152 Zoa Avenue – referenced the March 18, 2008 Board Meeting and a letter that was presented then regarding the water situation on Zoa Avenue.

 

Mayor Lewis stated that Robert Bennett, upon his return from vacation, will assess the situation and a letter will be forthcoming.

 

Greg Deemie also inquired about the sidewalks in the area.

 

Mayor Lewis inquired of Greg Deemie the status of the sidewalks on Zoa Avenue.

 

Greg Deemie stated that he was not aware of anyone from the Village visiting the neighborhood to check into the sidewalk situation.

 

            Greg Deemie then inquired about the ownership of the Goodwill Theatre.

 

            Mayor Lewis stated that Naomi Kradjian is the Executive Director.

 

            Trustee King stated that the Goodwill property is tax exempt, however the

adjacent Medical Building and the Firestation are being taxed.

 

Mayor Lewis stated the transfer of ownership is taking place and the Theatre will go on the tax rolls upon transfer completion.

 

·                     Ron Jones - 205 Ackley Avenue - asked for clarification about the transfer and taxation of the Goodwill Theatre.

 

Trustee King stated that taxation will begin once transfer takes place.

 

Trustee Adams stated that to be considered for tax exemption you must submit a Mission Statement or provide proof as to why an organization is tax exempt.

 

 

COMMUNICATIONS

 

Motion by Trustee Balles - seconded by Trustee King that the following communications be accepted and placed on file:

 

a)      Town of Union – Reg. Mtg: April 2, 2008

b)      Johnson City CSD – BOE Minutes April 8, 2008

 

 

Motion Carried                                                                         Ayes 5  Nayes 0

 

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS                                                                   None

 

 

 

DEPARTMENTS REPORTS

 

Motion by Trustee Balles- seconded by Trustee Hannon that the following Department Reports be accepted and placed on file:

Code Enforcement

Monthly Report March 2008

Department of Public Works

Monthly Report March 2008