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 17, 2007.

 

PRESENT:    Harry G. Lewis                                     Mayor

 

                     Donald Adams

                     Richard Balles

                     Ron Jones                                             Trustees

                                            

Beth Westfall                                        Village Attorney

 

ABSENT:         Bruce King                                           Trustee

 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

 

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

 

The Mayor asked for a moment of silence to remember the victims from the tragic events at

Virginia Tech University recently.

 

FIRE EXITS

 

The Mayor noted directions to the fire exits.

 

MISCELLANEOUS ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

Mayor Lewis stated that the Johnson City Girls Softball Program will have its opening day on Saturday, April 21, 2007 at noon at Virginia Avenue Park.

 

Mayor Lewis stated that the Johnson City Little League Program will have its opening day on Friday, April 17, 2007 at 6:00PM.

 

NYSEG, through its contractor Asplundh Tree Expert Company, will be in the Johnson City area trimming and removing trees and brush near power lines to ensure delivery of electricity.

 

BOARD MINUTES

 

Motion by Trustee Jones - seconded by Trustee Balles to accept and place on file the Village Board Minutes for the Work Session and Regular meeting of April 3, 2007 and Special Work Sessions of April 5 and 9, 2007.

 

Motion Carried                                                              Ayes 4  Nayes 0  Absent 1 (King) 

 

BID OPENINGS                                                         

 

Bids were publicly opened and read aloud on April 16, 2007 at 10:00A.M. for the repair work on the Floral Avenue Pool.

 

Bidder

Bid

21st Century Pool and Spas

$47,950.00

 

Motion by Trustee Balles – seconded by Trustee Jones to accept and award the low bid of $47,950.00 to 21st Century Pool and Spas for the repair work to the Floral Avenue Pool.

 

Board members polled

Motion carried                                                               Ayes 4  Nayes 0  Absent 1 (King)

 

PUBLIC HEARINGS                                                  

 

Mayor Lewis opened the Public Hearing to consider the 2007-2008 Village of Johnson City budget.  Mayor Lewis stated that the budget as presented tonight presents a property tax increase of 9.35% which would increase the tax rate from $267.84 per $1,000 of assessed value to $292.88 per $1,000 of assessed value.           

 

There being no one wishing to speak, Mayor Lewis closed the public portion of the Public Hearing on the 2007-2008 Village Budget.

 

Mayor Lewis also noted that the Village Board is scheduled to meet on April 24, 2007 at 6:30PM to further reduce the budget and the property tax increase as presented tonight.

 

PETITIONS RECEIVED                                              None

 

PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR – VISITORS                 None   

 

COMMUNICATIONS

 

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

 

JCSD – Reg. Mtg: March 27, 2007

Town of Union – Reg. Mtg: April 4, 2007; Special Mtg: April 16, 2007

Liquor License – Manley’s Bar – 66 N. Broad Street (Renewal)

 

Motion Carried                                                              Ayes 4  Nayes 0  Absent 1 (King)

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS                                            

 

Mayor Lewis stated that he is working on setting up a meeting between the New York State Department of Transportation and the Downtown Merchants regarding the Main Street Project.

 

DEPARTMENTS REPORTS

 

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

 

Police Department

Annual Report for 2006

Code Enforcement

March 2007

DPW

March 2007

 

Motion Carried                                                                       Ayes 4  Nayes 0  Absent 1 (King)

 

PAYROLL AND BILLS PRESENTED

 

Motion by Trustee Adams - seconded by Trustee Jones that Abstract #18 for the Fiscal Year 2006-07, having been audited by the board and approved, be ordered paid as follows:

 

GENERAL

$81,064.45

WATER

$18,282.88

SEWER

$697,419.18

REFUSE

$19,907.65

LIBRARY

$17,322.21

JSTP-PHASE III

$1,317.50

 

Board members polled                                                                       

Motion carried                                                                        Ayes 4  Nayes 0  Absent 1 (King) 

 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS                                       

 

Trustee Balles inquired about an agreement between the Village and the contractor doing work on

Harry L. Drive in order for the Village to get reimbursed for providing its sweeper and keeping

Harry L. Drive clean during the construction project.

 

Director of Public Services stated that a stipulation as part of the Site Plan Review was for either

the contractor to keep Harry L. Drive clean through his own means or the Village would

undertake this and charge back the contractor.

 

Attorney Westfall stated that this was sufficient and a separate agreement in not needed as the

Village can take action, pursuant to the stipulations of the Site Plan Review process, against the

contractor if Harry L. Drive is not kept clean.

 

NEW BUSINESS

RESOLUTION #70

 

Motion by Trustee Adams - seconded by Trustee Balles to authorize a free tire drop-off day on May 5, 2007 from 8:00AM to 12:00PM at 124 Brown Street (DPW Facility) for Village residents only with a four tire limit, which cannot be more than 16” and no rims will be accepted.

 

TRUSTEE DISCUSSION:

 

Trustee Jones asked how this information will be communicated to the residents.

 

Mayor Lewis stated that the Village will issue a Press Release with the details.

 

Board members polled

Motion carried                                                                        Ayes 4  Nayes 0  Absent 1 (King)

 

RESOLUTION #71

 

Motion by Trustee Adams - seconded by Trustee Jones to appoint Betty Austin as Temporary Help in order to assist in training of the Senior Account Clerk (Clerk’s Office), Registrar and Deputy Clerks in their new positions, effective March 29, 2007 at an hourly rate of $12.00 per hour.

 

Board members polled

Motion carried                                                                        Ayes 4  Nayes 0  Absent 1 (King)

 

RESOLUTION #72

 

Motion by Trustee Balles – seconded by Trustee Jones to authorize the Village of

Johnson City to participate in the Flood Assessment Relief Act of 2007:

 

         WHEREAS, Broome County experienced catastrophic flooding in June of 2006,

and;

         WHEREAS, Broome County is one of several Counties in the State of New York

that were designated State and Federal Disaster Areas, and;

         WHEREAS, this flooding has negatively impacted the value of taxpayers’ real

property across the County to a value much lower than the tax roll reflects, and;

         WHEREAS, the State of New York has enacted the Flood Assessment Relief Act

of 2007, and;

         WHEREAS, the County of Broome wishes to assist residents of the affected

municipalities by facilitating their inclusion in the provisions of the Flood Assessment

Relief Act of 2007, and;

         WHEREAS, the Broome County Legislature has until May 1, 2007 to pass

legislation resolving to authorize qualifying municipalities to be included in the scope

and coverage of the provisions of the Flood Assessment Relief Act of 2007, and;

         WHEREAS, for the benefits of this act to apply to the Village of Johnson City

must consent in writing to be included in the scope and coverage of the act, and

         WHEREAS, refunds pursuant to this act shall be governed by section 556 of the

Real Property Tax Law, now therefore, be it

         RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees of the Village of Johnson City consents

to be included in the scope and coverage of the Flood Assessment Relief Act of 2007,

and be it

         FURTHER RESOLVED, that should the County of Broome refund the payments

on behalf of the Village of Johnson City the Village of Johnson City will reimburse the

County for the refund pursuant to Section 556 of the Real Property Tax Law, and be it

         FURTHER RESOLVED, that this resolution shall take effect immediately.

 

Board members polled                                                                      

Motion carried                                                              Ayes 4  Nayes 0  Absent 1 (King)    

 

PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR – VISITORS             

 

Trustee Balles inquired about Payment-In-Lieu-Taxes (PILOT) Payments that the Village

currently receives.

 

The Clerk/Treasurer explained the agreements that are currently in place.

 

Mayor Lewis wished Trustee Adams a Happy Birthday.

 

Mayor Lewis stated that Trustee Balles will be inducted into the Johnson City Sports Hall of

Fame on Saturday, April 21, 2007 at 6:00PM at Endwell Greens.

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

The meeting was adjourned at 7:55P.M.

 

 

_____________________________________

Thomas R. Augostini, Village Clerk/Treasurer