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 May 1, 2006

 

PRESENT:    Harry G. Lewis                                     Mayor

 

                     Donald Adams

                     Richard Balles

                     Ron Jones

                     Bruce King                                           Trustees

                                            

Jeff Jacobs                                           Village Attorney

 

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                              None

 

BOARD MINUTES

 

Motion by Trustee Balles - seconded by Trustee Jones to accept and place on file the Village Board Minutes for the Work Session and Regular meeting of April 18, 2006 and the Special Work Sessions of April 21 and 27, 2006.

 

Motion Carried                                                                          Ayes 5  Nayes 0        

 

BID OPENINGS                                                                      None

 

PUBLIC HEARINGS                                                               None

 

PETITIONS RECEIVED                                                          None

 

PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR – VISITORS                

 

Leo Meaney – 35 Greenridge Avenue – Asked about the status of the Goodwill Theatre, Inc. project.

 

Mayor Lewis provided details on the project.

 

Leo Meaney – 35 Greenridge Avenue – Feels that the warehouse property on the corner of Corliss Avenue and Willow Street needs repairs and code enforcement should attempt to get the owner to remedy the situation on that property.  He also stated that the area between Floral Avenue and Grand Avenue needs additional law enforcement attention.

 

James Coughlin – 808 Cyndy Street – Asked about any type of relief in the near future regarding property taxes.  He asked that the Village, the County and New York State work together to provide property tax relief.

 

Mayor Lewis stated that the Board of Trustees tries very hard to hold the tax rate as low as possible.  Mayor Lewis added that he could not predict the future in terms of property tax rates.

 

Tom Senigla – 6 Pamela Drive – Asked what is driving the escalation of expenses.

 

The Clerk/Treasurer provided details on various expenses and how much those expenses have escalated since the last budget.  A few examples included health insurance, pension contribution and utility and fuel costs.

 

Frank Frear – 112 Virginia Avenue – Stated that his parents’ property on Pleasant Avenue was recently burglarized and asked about a police department procedure.

 

Mayor Lewis stated he would look into the situation and get back to Mr. Frear.

 

Dorothy Pobocek – 84 Virginia Avenue – Feels that the Village should concentrate on enforcing code matters on the entire Village.

 

Mayor Lewis would look into the situation and provide an explanation to Ms. Pobocek.

 

COMMUNICATIONS

 

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

 

JCSD – Reg. Mtg: March 28 and April 11, 2006

Town of Union – Reg. Mtg: April 19, 2006; Special Mtg: April 19, 2006

BC Legislature – Reg. Mtg: January 19, February 16 and 27, March 23, 2006

 

Motion carried                                                                           Ayes 5  Nayes 0    

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS                                                         None               

 

Trustee Balles stated that Park Beautification Committee which is working on the Gazebo Project for Veterans Park has a Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser on May 13, 2006 at Johnson City Legion Post  758 from 5:00PM to 7:30PM with Bill Flynn broadcasting live from 4:00PM to 6:00PM.  Dinners are $6 for adults and $3 for children.

 

DEPARTMENTS REPORTS                          

 

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

 

Code Enforcement

March 2006

 

Board members polled

Motion carried                                                                           Ayes 5  Nayes 0   

 

PAYROLL AND BILLS PRESENTED

 

Motion by Trustee Balles - seconded by Trustee Jones that Abstract #20 for the Fiscal Year 2005-06, having been audited by the board and approved, be ordered paid as follows:

 

GENERAL

$640,482.31

WATER

$37,937.90

SEWER

$568,713.14

REFUSE

$34,323.31

LIBRARY

$6,361.69

JSTP-PHASE III

$2.974,138.70

HLD

$46,198.75

 

Board members polled

Motion carried                                                                                    Ayes 5  Nayes 0     

 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS                                                    None

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

RESOLUTION #76

 

Motion by Trustee King - seconded by Trustee Adams to adopt the Village of Johnson City’s Budget for Fiscal Year 2006-2007 with a tax rate of 267.8427

 

TRUSTEE DISCUSSION:

 

Trustee Balles explained the budget process and provided details on Village expenses for the 2006-2007 Village Budget.  Trustee Balles also provided options that he would like the Village to explore and emphasized the need for Village residents to voice their opinion on what services and to what levels they want the Village to provide.    

 

Board members polled                                                                       

Motion carried                                                                        Ayes 4  Nayes 1 (Balles)      

 

RESOLUTION #77

 

Motion by Trustee Adams - seconded by Trustee Balles to approve Request-for-Modification (RFM), Phase III – Contract 3D – Plumbing with Louis N. Picciano & Sons, Inc. for the replacement of sump pumps with an additional cost of $3,689.75 at the Binghamton/Johnson City Joint Sewage Treatment Plant.  

 

Board members polled                                                                       

Motion carried                                                                        Ayes 5  Nayes 0     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RESOLUTION #78

 

Motion by Trustee Balles - seconded by Trustee Adams to approve Request for Modification (RFM) – Phase III - Contract 4B-0005 Electrical with Nelcorp Electric for the replacement of the proposed 400 amp centrifuge disconnects with 200 amp and 30 amp disconnects with an additional cost of $3,430.40 at the Binghamton/Johnson City Joint Sewage Treatment Plant.  

 

Board members polled                                                                       

Motion carried                                                                                    Ayes 5  Nayes 0      

 

RESOLUTION #79

 

Motion by Trustee Jones - seconded by Trustee Adams to approve Request for Modification (RFM) – Phase III, Contract 4B-0006 Electrical with Nelcorp for refeeding the electrical service to the Plant office trailer with an additional cost of $4,165.88.  

 

Board members polled                                                                       

Motion carried                                                                                    Ayes 5  Nayes 0      

 

RESOLUTION #80

 

Motion by Trustee Balles - seconded by Trustee Jones to set a Public Hearing for May 23, 2006 to amend Chapter 270-46 of the Village Code through Local Law No. 3 of 2006.  

 

Board members polled                                                                       

Motion carried                                                                                    Ayes 5  Nayes 0      

 

RESOLUTION #81

 

Motion by Trustee Jones - seconded by Trustee King to authorize the the Mayor to attend the Public Employer Risk Management Association (PERMA) Annual Member Conference in Bolton Landing, N.Y. from May 17-19, 2006 with all customary and reasonable expenses being reimbursed.  

 

Board members polled                                                                       

Motion carried                                                                                    Ayes 5  Nayes 0      

 

   PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR                                                          

 

Dick Paden – 312 Riverside Drive -  Asked several questions which included the possibility of any retirements from within the Village workforce, the Cortese donation to the spaghetti dinner on May 13, 2006, surplus funds from one fiscal year to another, the geographical make-up of the Village, the idea of requesting money from not-for-profits for the public services they receive and the budget cuts and/or revenue enhancements that were made in order to reduce the tax rate.

 

Mayor Lewis, Trustee Balles and the Clerk/Treasurer provided answers to Mr. Paden’s questions.

 

Leo Meaney – 35 Greenridge Street – Asked if Village Hall could be sold and then move Village Hall operations to the Police/Court facility.

 

Mayor Lewis stated that Mr. Meaney’s idea has been discussed and continues to be an idea to explore.

 

Jim Coughlin – 808 Cyndy Street – Asked that the Village Board have a 10-year plan so that Village residents can plan accordingly.

 

Tom Senigla – 6 Pamela Drive – Asked about the Forest Villas development.

 

Mayor Lewis provided details on the status of Forest Villas development.

 

Nancy Kanazawich – 55 Virginia Avenue – Asked about salary compensation for refuse workers.

 

Mayor Lewis provided details.

 

Tom Senigla – 6 Pamela Drive – Asked if possible if Public Works employees could turn vehicles off while working on projects.

 

Mayor Lewis stated his point is well taken and he will pass along to Director of Public Services.

 

Marty Meaney – 41 Weymouth Lane – Asked the Board to forward a letter to NYS Legislators requesting Home Rule Legislation requesting not-for-profits pay for the public services they receive.  Mr. Meaney also asked about the possibility of expanding the Village to where the new development by “Traditions at the Glen” is being proposed.

 

Mayor Lewis stated that discussions are taking place and on-going but that annexations are very rare.

 

Carol Laskoski – 37 Edwards Street – Talked about the safety hazards associated with the new traffic circle.

 

Dorothy Pobocek – 84 Virginia Avenue – Asked why the majority of the Village Board voted in favor of the 2006-2007 budget.

 

Trustee King – Explained why he voted in favor of the budget.  He also added  that he does not favor certain parts of the budget but will start working tomorrow on next year’s budget to try and correct those issues either through different policies or through collective bargaining negotiations.

 

Leo Meaney – 35 Greenridge Street – Stated that a comparison can not be made between Johnson City and Endicott.  IBM provided the Village of Endicott with everything they needed for decades for their operations and now that source of funding has ceased, Endicott is paying for it.

 

   ADJOURNMENT

 

   The meeting was adjourned at 9:33P.M.

 

 

   _____________________________________

   Thomas R. Augostini, Village Clerk/Treasurer