Regular meeting of the Village of Carthage Board of Trustees

Held in the Board Room of the Carthage Municipal Building

June 21, 2010

Present: President, G. Wayne McIlroy, Trustees; Michael Astafan, Rebecca Vary, Kathleen Latremore and Linda Smith-Spencer.

Guest:  Village resident Rodney Guyette

President McIlroy called the meeting to order at 7:00P.M. followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

Motion by Kathleen Latremore and Seconded by Rebecca Vary to approve the minutes of June 7, 2010 meeting as presented by the Clerk. Motion carried unanimously.

PUBLIC FORUM:

Village resident Rodney Guyette asked the Village Board if anything has been decided on changing the current grass mowing policy. President McIlroy explained that this matter would be brought up later in the meeting under Village Attorney Update.

CORRESPONDENCE:

President McIlroy informed the Board that the Sounds of Summer Concert Series will begin July 7, 2010 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Village Green Park, and there will be a concert every Wednesday until August 11, 2010.

Motion by Michael Astafan and Kathleen Latremore to approve the request of the Carthage Chamber of Commerce to hold the Annual Fireworks on July 10, 2010 at Turning Point Park. Further, the Village of Carthage will contribute $300 towards the public event. Motion carried unanimously.

The Village Board received correspondence that the Carthage Brook Haven House will be holding its 2^nd annual golf tournament on July 24, 2010 at the Cedars Golf Course in Lowville.

President McIlroy read aloud the letter received from Jan and Vincent Frank regarding the Shared Police Service Study. In summary, the Franks felt that the Village of Carthage Police Department should have enough police officers employed to provide coverage twenty four hours a day, seven days a week to the residents of Carthage.  Then President McIlroy stated that this letter was also read aloud at the Shared Police Service Study meeting on June 16 at the West Carthage Municipal Building.

OLD BUSINESS:

DPW Superintendent, Danny Trembley submitted an estimate of the cost of materials to extend the drainage pipe and fill to eliminate the standing water  at the Delong residence on South James Street. President McIlroy and Deputy President Astafan asked the clerk to set up a meeting time with Mrs. Delong where this proposal would be submitted and reviewed with her.

Danny Trembley, DPW Superintendent also submitted an estimate of the cost of materials to extend the drainage pipe at the Runkles residence on South James Street. The board reviewed Mr. Trembley report and decided that with the estimated cost of over $5,000 this is not something that can financially be done this year but asked the clerk to place this information in the budget requests for the next fiscal year.

Water Superintendant Ernie Prievo submitted a report to the Board detailing the inspection of the screens in the meter pit that serve the Town of Wilna Water District #1, which showed that all the screens were free of debris. Mr. Prievo’s report also listed the necessary water adjustments to the water bills for South James Street, Boyd Road, Fargo Road, West End Avenue, and Alexandria Street water billing accounts.  President McIlroy informed the clerk to bill Town of Wilna for these water adjustments of $445.22 and the $400 fee for meter testing on the Alexandria Street meter pit.

NEW BUSINESS:

Motion by Michael Astafan and Seconded by Rebecca Vary to hire Christopher McHale as a summer employee at an hourly rate of $7.50 an hour starting July 12, 2010, as recommended by Water Superintendant Ernie Prievo.  Motion carried unanimously.

Police Chief Reevie Rockhill’s request to hire Julius Rockhill as a part time police officer was denied.

Motion by Rebecca Vary and Seconded by Michael Astafan to approve Holly Lyndaker as a summer intern at the Village Police Department.  Motion carried unanimously.

Motion by Rebecca Vary and Seconded by Michael Astafan to approve the recommendation of DPW Superintendent Dan Trembley to hire Ethan Peters starting on June 16, 2010, for summer help at a rate of $7.50 an hour.  Motion carried unanimously. 

Motion by Michael Astafan and Seconded by Kathleen Latremore to approve the recommendation of Recreation Assistant Joanne Lazore to hire Angelia Burke, Beth Cronk, Kristen Gunderson, Sharon Maroney, Amelia Renaud, Rockie Sears, and Alexis Sheets on June 28, 2010 for summer help at a rate of $7.50 an hour, with a combined total hours worked for the summer of 1600 hours. Motion carried unanimously. 

Motion by Kathleen Latremore and Seconded by Rebecca Vary to approve payment to Avalon Associates Inc.  in the amount of $5,400.00 for program delivery services that qualified for the 2009 Community Block Development Grant.  Motion carried unanimously.

Motion by Kathleen Latremore and Seconded by Rebecca Vary to approve payment to Avalon Associates Inc.  in the amount of $2,269.49 for general administrative services that qualified for the 2009 Community Block Development Grant.  Motion carried unanimously.

Motion by Rebecca Vary and Kathleen Latremore to authorize the clerk to transfer $10,000 from the general fund into the Department of Public Works Equipment Reserve account, $10,000 from the general fund into the Police Vehicle Reserve account, and $1,000 from the general fund into the Court Room Reserves as budgeted for this fiscal year. Motion carried unanimously.

Motion by  Kathleen Latremore and Seconded by Rebecca Vary to approve payment of payrolls as follows:  General Fund P/R #A3, 3A,  & 4 $20,799.52; Water Fund, #F A3, 3A,  & 4 $4,431.22; Sewer Fund, #G A3, 3A,  & 4 $2,717.12; Joint Fund, #J2, $7,883.36, and  General Fund Abstracts, $71,037.90; Water Fund Abstracts, $46,094.69; Sewer Fund Abstracts, $50,272.51; Joint Fund Abstracts, $88,440.47. Motion carried unanimously.

PRESIDENT MCILROY=S UPDATE:

President McIlroy informed the board that the next Community Development Block Grant meeting will be Friday June 25^th at 9 a.m. and the Carthage Industrial Development Group will be meeting Wednesday July 14th at 4:00 p.m. Due to the Twin Villages Pool opening in West Carthage, there will not be enough funding in the RACOG budget to pay for the bus transportation, which in the past transported the children from the summer recreation programs to the Carthage Central School’s pool for swimming. After much Board discussion President McIlroy asked Village Attorney Mark Gebo to prepare a local law that would change the current grass mowing law to be submitted and further discussed at the July 19, 2010 meeting.

LIAISON REPORTS AND COMMENTS:

ATTORNEY GEBO UPDATE:

Attorney Gebo reported that Attorney Farley has contacted him regarding Donald Campany’s request to have his property on Norris Avenue annexed into the Village of Carthage, and Mr. Gebo stated that a joint public hearing would need to be held with the Town of Wilna once all the paperwork is completed.  Dependent on the Jefferson County real property tax sale, the Village should receive an agreement on the Brahman’s property within a few weeks. President McIlroy confirmed with Attorney Gebo that a public hearing is not required before the DPW installs a warning sign of an upcoming intersection on Thorpe Street. Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department request to re-address Regency Park was discussed and President McIlroy said he would personally contact the Director of 911 on this issue.  The matter of proposing a local law that would mandate all Village buildings, to display their 911 addresses was tabled until the October 18^th meeting.

MEDIA QUESTIONS:

EXECUTIVE SESSION:

Motion by Rebecca Vary and Seconded by Michael Astafan to enter Executive Session at 8:32P.M. for discussion on contract negotiations.

Regular session resumed at 9:16 P.M.

ADJOURNMENT:                                                          

Motion carried to adjourn at 9:17 P.M.

Sherry L. Sears, Village Clerk