Present were Supervisor Grant, Councilmen Gadd, George, Frounick and
Fontaine, also Superintendent Jensen. Board members audited the Highway,
General Fund and Special District claims. Discussed letter from Erie Co. Public
Works Dept. looking into getting other towns to join the Erie County Utility
Aggregate to try and lower utility costs (natural gas and electric). Discussed the attorney’s voucher.
Supervisor Grant declared the meeting open and
asked Councilman Frounick to lead the pledge to the
flag. Present were Councilmen Frounick, Gadd and George. Councilman Fontaine excused to attend the ZBA meeting.
Supervisor Grant declared the Public Hearings
open for the 2008 Preliminary Budget and Local Laws #4 & #5 to consider
amending the Town Zoning Law and Extending the Moratorium.
Minutes of the October 10th meeting - Supervisor Grant asked if any
corrections or amendments. Motion made by George, seconded by Gadd to approve the minutes, voting all ayes, carried.
General Fund Claims # 366 - 397 totaling $21,476.72 presented. Motion made by Gadd
to approve all but the $1128 for the town attorney (have questions), seconded
by George, all ayes, carried.
Highway Claims # 254 -
277 totaling $45,234.81 presented. Motion made by Frounick,
seconded by Gadd to approve the highway claims, all
ayes, carried.
Special
District Claims:
Cowlesville Street Lighting claim #11 ($189) and Cowlesville Water District
claims # 52 - 56 totaling $605,769.73. Supervisor Grant reported that the $605
thousand is the first payment on the bond for the Cowlesville Water District. Motion made by George, seconded by Frounick to approve the Special District claims, voting all
ayes, carried.
Correspondence:
Notice read from Billie Jo Frost (Billie Jo
Enterprises) of their intent to change their current Restaurant Wine License to
an On Premise Liquor License.
Notice from the Town of
Certificates of Insurance naming the tn. of
Notice from the NYS Office of Real Property Tax
Services that the Town of
Town clerk’s monthly
report.
Supervisor Grant received a notice from FEMA of
a work session scheduled for Dec. 5th at
the training center.
Notice from National Fuel Gas regarding pipeline
replacement.
Notice from NYS DOT regarding rules/policy on
driveway culvert installment on state roads.
Smoke free now
information coalition for
Notice from the Erie Co. Public Works Dept.
asking if Bennington is interested in joining the Erie Co. Utility
Aggregate to see if money can be saved
on Utility bills (gas & electric), doesn’t cost anything and they would
have a response back in January. Board
members have no problem with Ellen proceeding.
Supervisor Grant stated that Billie Jo Frost has
requested a letter of support which will be submitted with her application
updating their wine liquor license to an On Premise Liquor License. Board members had no objection with the
supervisor submitting a letter of support.
Departments:
Water
District -
Supervisor Grant reported that bills went out the 1st
of November with the new rates, there were a few complaints. The fire hydrants
were placed back in service, will be color coded as to how much pressure to
expect, talked to the fire department,
they would like something in writing on the max. pressures
etc. The fire company can now have a drill but they must notify in advance of
their intent to do so. All hydrants meet the minimum pressure, still
negotiating with Marilla about installing a pressure
valve. Short discussion held. Councilman George asked if Ellen had found out
anything about the hydrant matter last fall at the residence. Supervisor Grant reported no, she
hasn’t.
Highway
Department:
Superintendent Jensen reported he received a call from R. Myers Contracting
stating they have a key for the water vault and would be sending it to him.
Today he received a package with nothing in it.
Will call them tomorrow and when key received will turn it over to
whom-ever should have it, probably the people reading the meter. He stated that
with Winter coming, the vault should be opened and checked, there is heat in
there, last year, no heat and it didn’t freeze, also, there is a sump pump in
there, it has been dry, when they opened it up in the Spring, there was a foot
of water in it, should be checked. Ellen asked him to see if he couldn’t get a
couple of keys. Discussion held.
Superintendent Jensen reported he put in a
request for payment from the grant money. He met with Ken Bittner, the NYS
Regional Chips Co-ordinator, had him help fill out
the a request form for the monies for the 1st
phase of the Schoellkopf Road culvert re-construction
project which were paid to Clark-Patterson last month. As for the legislative
grant, the next phase is for the outlay of the engineering and bid documents to
get ready to go to bid along with the actual project procedure,
that will cost $19,000. He reported that money was suppose to be spent
by Dec. 31, 2007, however, after Ken reviewed the information, he stated that
there would be no problem with changing/extending the date from 12/07 to 12/08
so that the town won’t lose the legislative money. They also want it stressed
to Clark Patterson that although we don’t know what the cost will be, we want
to proceed with the project with in kind services,
they don’t want a contractor buying pipe, gravel, etc. at much higher prices,
over and above at what the town can get off of state or county pricing. Just
need the engineering and expertise to get this thing rolling with pre-cast head
wall. Town can provide a lot of the service and material less that they can,
can also use the CHIPS money for this project.
Mr. Jensen also reported they replaced a heater
at the town barns with a new 250, 000 btu
gas unit from Grainger, town installed it. Turned the heat on a couple of weeks
ago and flames shot out, heat exchanger went.
Park: Short discussion held
on the restroom facility.
Transfer
Station:
Haven’t found a replacement unit yet. Mr. Jensen will check on line for
compactors. Short discussion.
Assessment:
Supervisor
Grant reported that the Assessor wanted her to let everyone know that the STAR
rebate deadline has been extended to December 31st.
At this
time Councilman Fontaine joined the meeting.
Recreation
Dept.:
Kari Kelly reported Halloween party was a success. It was held at Bennington
Lanes, both inside and out. December 1st is the Book & Bake Sale at the
Cowlesville Fire Hall. Christmas Party the middle of December, watch the pennysaver. A Hog Club
has donated $100 toward playground equipment.
Zoning: Special Use Renewal
applications received from Arrow Portable Signs (David Ludwig),
applied for a 3 year renewal and Birch Grove Landscaping has applied for a one
(1) year renewal. Birchgrove hopes to be off of that
site by the end of the year, but renewed for one year in case something should
prevent that from happening. Other than Zoning Officer Kelly receiving a couple
of minor complaints on Ludwig, there were no major complaints. Motion made by Frounick
to approve the Special Use Permits for the terms stated, seconded by Gadd, all ayes, carried.
New Special Use Application submitted by Shawn LaBruan for an automotive repair shop. Mr. LaBraun lives at
Public
concerns:
None
Old
Business:
2008 Preliminary budget
General Fund appropriations are $324,170 with
estimated revenue of $169,400 with an unexpended balance of $29,200 leaves
$125,570 to be raised by taxes.
Highway Fund appropriations are $962,200 with
estimated revenue of $342,522 with an unexpended balance of $20,000 leaves a
tax levy of $599,678.
Special Districts:
Cowlesville Fire Company $79,942
Varysburg
Fire Company
$ 5,075
Harris Corners Fire
Company $20,900
Cowlesville Water
District $45,913
Salaries of the Elected Officials
:
Supervisor $ 5,000
Clerk/Collector $15,250
Councilman 4 @ $ 1,875 each
Justices 2 @ $ 4,200 each
Highway
Superintendent $39,685
Supervisor Grant asked if anyone had any
questions on the Preliminary Budget. None. Motion then
made by George, seconded by Fontaine to close the public hearing, voting all
ayes, carried. Public hearing closed at
Supervisor Grant asked board members if they had
any questions/discussion on the 2008 budget.
Motion made by Gadd to adopt the 2008
Preliminary Budget as the 2008 Budget. Motion seconded by Fontaine, voting all
ayes, carried.
Public hearing - Local Law #4 - to consider
Amendments to the Town Zoning Law - Map #2, Narrative & Flag Lots. Six (6)
residents present. Supervisor Grant stated that most of these parcels listed in
the amendment are already listed in the zoning book, she feels they should be
further clarified by adding parcel ID numbers, so that in the future when
someone questions one of them, it’s easily identified, it also brings the
zoning book up to date. She then read
the proposed amendment. Also at this same time, it has been suggested by the
zoning officer to add in Article II, Section 2.1.4 Yards - minimum requirement,
add subsection “D” Flag Lot front yard - Seventy-five (75) feet. The Town
Planning Board at their Sept. 19th meeting, suggested 50' minimum front yard
width, also Bill Foley, member of the Zoning Update Committee suggested 50' , stated
they did a lot of research and work on this particular item. The County
Planning Board reviewed this matter and found no county-wide impacts. Colin
Kelly stated that he had a flag lot and is in the process of having it
surveyed, not sure what the footage is but may be close. Told he would have to
get a variance if it turns out he doesn’t have the required footage. Short
discussion held. Motion made by George, seconded by Gadd
to close the public hearing. Public
hearing closed at
Local Law #5 extending the Moratorium - There
were no questions or comments, so a motion was made by Fontaine, seconded by Gadd to close the public hearing, voting all ayes, carried.
Motion made by Frounick to approve Local Law #5
extending the moratorium on special land uses for one year, seconded by George,
voting all ayes, carried.
Kari Kelly asked what they have to do to get
Area Redi-mix listed with the others in the zoning
book, it was re-zoned in 1977. Ellen stated that the minutes were not clear,
would have to hold another public hearing. Motion made by George to hold a
public hearing at the next town board meeting.
Kari stated she has all of the paperwork and would like to sit down with
Ellen to review it. Mr. George rescinded his motion. It was noted that if they
sat down and found all paperwork in order could hold a public hearing at the
next Town Board meeting so Councilman George made a motion that if the
paperwork was in order to schedule a public hearing on Area Redi-Mix
at the next Town Board meeting. Motion seconded by Fontaine, all ayes, carried.
New
Business: Designate
Seasonal Use Roads - Motion made by Frounick,
seconded by Gadd to declare Geise
Road from Stedman to Clinton and Hodge Road as Seasonal Use from November 1st
to April 1st. Voting all ayes, carried.
Supervisor Grant reminded board members that
they must take the Basic NIMS Training, can do it on line. Councilman George
thinks that Bill Streicher is going to be giving one.
Supervisor Grant reported that there will be a
meeting on November 30th at the
Eric Dadd’s
voucher for $1128. Zoning Officer Kelly explained what happened,
she requested and was refused a written response on the matter in question from
Mr. Dadd, and feels the bill should not be paid.
After a short discussion, a motion was made by Gadd,
seconded by George NOT to pay the claim from Dadd
& Nelson in the amount of $1128. Voting all ayes,
carried.
There being no further questions, a motion was
made by Fontaine, seconded by Gadd to adjourn the
meeting at
Respectfully
submitted:
Judith
Brown,
Town
Clerk