Supervisor Grant along with Council Members Frounick, Mohun, Gadd and George audited the Highway, General Fund and Special District claims. Highway Superintendent Jensen reported that he had a discussion with Regional Recycling and was told that starting January, 2012, DEC is changing the regulations, the way electronics are handled and accepted for disposal. Board also discussed the Weber Special Use permit and the Zoning/Planning Board minutes.
Supervisor Grant called the meeting to order and asked Councilman Gadd to lead the pledge to the flag. Present were Council Members Mohun, George, Frounick and Gadd. Also present was Highway Superintendent Jensen.
Supervisor Grant opened the
public hearing to consider a Special Use Application submitted by Frank Weber
III for a micro
distillery (Weber Power Systems) on
Minutes of the September 14th and Oct. 4th meetings: Supervisor Grant asked if any corrections or amendments. Motion made by Mohun/Gadd to accept the minutes as presented. Voting all ayes, carried.
General Fund claims #281-305 totaling $7727.19 presented. Motion made by George/Frounick to approve the General fund claims, voting all ayes, carried.
Highway claims #285-299 totaling $161,150.60 presented. Superintendent Jensen reported that $178,000 of that total is CHIPS money that the town will be getting back around December 15th. Motion made by Mohun/Frounick to approve the Highway claims, voting all ayes, carried.
Special District claims:
Supervisor’s Monthly Report: Supervisor Grant asked that the report be tabled, the new bookkeeper has been working with Williamson Law Book to get the software issue (format corrected so that all of the correct information is on it without whiting items out and hand writing the correct ones in) and as of ½ hour ago that should be corrected. She didn’t have time to run the September reports off, so with board approval will have the September and October reports next month. Motion made by Mohun/Frounick that the Supervisor’s reports be tabled until the November meeting,
Correspondence:
The Eagle Scout Ceremony has again
been re-scheduled, now set for Friday Jan. 6th at
Tozier Enterprises did submit a proposal for the repairs on the Town Hall, it was received on September 17th
The Harris Corners public hearing
on their contract with Sheldon and
Flyer from TVGA Consultants on
their 4th Annual Workshop – Municipal Dollars and Sense Training
Workshop scheduled for October 21st in
Flyer from Genesee/Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council of their Fall 2011 Regional Local
Government Workshop scheduled for November 17th in
Certificate of Insurance naming the
town of
August minutes received from the Planning Board and the Zoning Board of Appeals.
Packet from Chatfield Engineers
reporting that the work on the
Monthly reports from Assessor Wittmeyer and the Town Clerk.
Supervisor Grant received the Annual Report from the Wyoming County Youth Bureau.
Read letter from the Wyoming County
Board of Supervisors re: the elimination of funding provided to towns for grant
writing services starting with the 2012 budget. In the past towns would be re-imbursed
50% of the costs back from the county for the grant writing service.
News release from
Parks and Recreation on their Autumn Program as
Departments
Water – Supervisor Grant reported that this morning they did
the hydrant flushing in Cowlesville. The new trainees from Alden were involved
with Diane and Jerry Savakinas in performing this task. She thinks everything went well, has not heard
any complaints. Ms. Grant noted that all of the work has been completed on the
Highway – Highway Superintendent Jensen reported that the new
format for filing for the CHIPS money is that you fill out the application on
line, print it off and mail it to
Seasonal Use Roads – Superintendent Jensen asked to declare Geise Road (from Clinton to Stedman), Hodge Road and Graff Road (from Poland Hill to Hodge) as seasonal use from November 1st to April 1st. Motion so made by George/Frounick, voting all ayes, carried.
Zoning: SEQR (short form) for the Weber Special Permit application - Need to declare the Town Board as the Lead Agency for SEQR purposes. Motion made by Councilman Frounick, seconded by Councilman Gadd to declare the Town Board as the Lead agency for SEQR purposes. Voting all ayes, carried.
Assessment: All Board Members have a copy of Assessor Wittmeyer’s report.
Transfer Station: In the Work Session, Highway Superintendent
Jensen discussed the electronics with Board Members. Had a discussion with
Regional Recycling, informed him that effective
Public Comments on the Weber Special Permit Application: Clerk read application. Supervisor Grant asked if anyone had any comments or questions for Mr. Weber or Mr. Wegrzyn. Clair Kroh, neighbor, asked how much they would be producing. Told 50-100 gallons. How will be fermented – told in 50 gallon kegs. Mr. Kroh, asked what capacity will be this operation be – told 50-100 gallons. How many fermenters and how large will they be. Told 3 -5, 50 gallons tanks which will be delivered, noting that this will be a small scale, small batch operation. There will be a hot water tank and using propane for heat. They are looking at installing a hot water system. Looking at using local grains and apples. Mr. Kroh questioned water supply – will bring spring water in via 300 gallon tank on back of pick-up truck. Solid waste – will it be stored outside- look for farmers to use as fertilizer on their fields, liquid waste will go through the septic system. Who will be the responsible person for the operation– Mr. Weber said he would be the one. Mr. Kroh asked if deliveries will be made to the site – Told they will be bringing everything, juices, bottles, kegs in on pick-up trucks. Mr. Kroh asked if any know environmental hazards – told none
Mr. Kroh has no objection to it, just wants the questions answered for the record.
Robin Kroh, neighbor, asked how often the deliveries were going to be made to the site. Told maybe 1-2 times a week, there will be no dump trucks, tandems or anything like that. Robin asked about site inspections. Told that they have to abide by the State, Federal regulations, the state would be regulating them, also the health department, and the FDA. They said that at anytime, the neighbors wanted to come over and look at the operation, they are welcome.
Mr. Kroh asked if the boiler would be operating all night. Told no, it won’t run unattended. He asked how large/size the boiler will be, larger than a regular furnace in a home. Told, they don’t think any larger than a household boiler.
He asked about outside odor. Told no odor outside, may notice a little smell inside the barn. He asked about grinding the corn, will grinders be running all day. They intend to buy all of their products already ground. Some of the products will be prepped on site, like the apples.
Bill Shanahan, neighbor on the West side and also the down hill side, concerned about the water, stated that it is already wet back on the Weber property, this will create more water to run off somewhere and he is on the low side of that property already getting the drainage, will be more liquid waste water with this project, how are they going to handle this, doesn’t want his pond contaminated, has a stocked fish pond. He would like to be assured that if he started having problems, matter will get taken care of. Mr. Weber knows that it’s wet there, is considering drainage of some sort, even tiling if necessary. Mr. Shanahan asked if there will be a new septic system. Told no. Mr. Weber is also considering digging out, re-doing his pond. Mr. Wegrzyn stated they are willing to work with the neighbors, if anyone has a problem should come and talk to them about it. Water/drainage discussed in that area. Supervisor Grant recommended they take pictures to show before the project begins, to establish what the property looks like, so down the road can see the difference, if any, also informed them that if the board approves this project now, it will only be approved for one year, initially all special permits are approved for one year and after the one year period, applicant can apply for 3 year renewals. If at any point they find a problem going on, don’t wait until next October to tell someone, let Mr. Weber know or the Town Board when the problem exist, so have time to remedy/address the problem before the renewal date.
Mrs. Shanahan asked what if they
outgrown this place and need to expand, will the town be notified, concerned
about the road, just repaired last year and finally had a Winter in which they
had no problems with the road and if get more traffic, what then. Mr. Weber
stated they will be selling to distributors, there
will be no local traffic. Asked if they would be bottling on
site. Told yes, if they out grown the site, would have to move to a
bigger location. Asked
if there would be any fire hazards. Told the only items are the water
tank and the boiler. Asked where they will be storing the products. Told upstairs in the barn.
The waste barrels would be in the barn, everything contained in the barn, nothing
outside, they do not want any eye sores outside, or something that would bring
in rodents. Health Department will be
monitoring them, they have been doing their homework, closest distillery right
now is in the
Supervisor Grant questioned the
traffic pattern, wants it clear in her mind. Told that the water, juices would
be coming in on a pick-up truck, They want to get a
300 gallon tank for a pick-up truck, plan on it being one pick-up truck/month. Barrels bottles etc. same way, can figure
4 pick-ups/month, like going back and forth to work, won’t create any more
traffic, no retail outlets off of the property, only delivering to wholesale
distributors. There being no further questions, a motion was made by
George/Frounick to close the public hearing. Voting all ayes,
carried. Public Hearing closed at
Supervisor Grant stated that the applicant has filled out Part 1 of the SEQR and she addressed/reviewed Part II with Board Members. After completing Part II, it was determined that that would be no potential adverse environmental impacts with the project. Supervisor Grant reported that the Town’s Planning Board has reviewed the application and unnamiously approved it with no conditions attached. Supervisor Grant informed Mr. Weber and Mr. Wegrzyn that they will get a copy of the SEQR with all of the information, Town Board and neighbor concerns addressed and that the town’s policy is to only approve a permit for one year in the beginning to see how things go, see if any complaints and she also advised the neighbors that if this gets approved and they have any complaints to also notify the town. Motion made by Gadd/Frounick to approve Mr. Weber’s Special Use Permit for a Micro Distillery at 611 Woodley Road for one year, voting all ayes, carried.
Public Concerns: Ron Janish asked if the town could raise the wing when plowing and keep it off of the road so as not to plow all of the stone in the ditches. Right now, in places, all of the stone in the ditch, waste of money to grade and put stone down and then plow it into the ditch. Highway Superintendent Elect Czworka explained how that happens, stated it hard for wing man to control/raise the wing when the truck hits the bumps or soft spots and starts rocking back and forth, hard to compensate. Short discussion held. Supervisor Grant informed him that the information will be passed along to Highway Superintendent Jensen.
Old business: 2012 Town Budget – Supervisor Grant stated that Board
Members met at a Budget Work Session, reviewed her Tentative Budget for 2012,
asked if any questions on anything else that needs to be addressed at this
time, if not, need a motion to make the Tentative Budget the Preliminary Budget
for 2012 and schedule a public hearing for the November 8th Town
Board Meeting. The Preliminary Budget
calls for General Fund appropriations of $398,369 less estimated revenues of
$177,450, less an unexpended balance of $82,964 leaving $137,955 to be raised
by taxes. Highway appropriations of $860,550 less estimated revenues of
$216,300, less an unexpended balance of $10,120.81 leaves a tax levy of
$634,129,19. Total town appropriations of 1,258,919 with an
estimated revenue of $393,750, an unexpended balance of $93,084.81
leaves a tax levy of $772,084.19. Motion made by Frounick/Mohun to declare the
Tentative 2012 Budget as the 2012 Preliminary Town Budget and schedule a Public
Hearing on Nov. 8th,
Scrap Metal day – Supervisor Grant reported that it’s this Saturday
from
New Business: Supervisor Grant reported that the Eagle Scout
ceremony is now set for Friday, January 6th at
Harris Corners Public Hearing on their fire contract with Sheldon
and
Supervisor Grant reported that
there will be an All Mitigation Meeting here at the Town Hall, tomorrow at
Councilman Gadd reported that the chemical washing is included with the proposal of Advanced Facilities Services. They felt it was minor, they didn’t need to specify it.
Letter of resignation from
Highway Superintendent Jensen – Supervisor Grant read Mr. Jensen’s letter of
resignation effective
Supervisor Grant asked for a
motion to go into Executive Session to discuss a personnel matter. Motion so
made by George/Mohun, voting all ayes, carried.
Town Board entered into Executive session at
Town Board came out of Executive
Session at
Motion made by Frounick/Gadd to appoint Highway Superintendent Elect Ken Czworka as acting Highway Superintendent for November and December 2012, to pay Mr. Czworka for outstanding sick and vacation time at his current hourly rate and to pay the current Highway Superintendent’s salary for the November and December 2011. Voting all ayes, carried.
There being no further business,
a motion was made by Mohun to adjourn. Meeting
adjourned at
Respectfully submitted:
Judith Brown, Town Clerk