TOWN OF WATERTOWN
Regular Meeting
Municipal Building
June 14, 2018
Members Present: Joel R. Bartlett, Supervisor
Paul V. Desormo, Councilman
David D. Prosser, Councilman
Timothy McAtee, Councilman
Joanne McClusky, Councilwoman
Members Absent:
Councilman Desormo offered a prayer followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
Supervisor Bartlett opened the meeting at 7:00 pm and called for the roll of members present. All members were present.
MOTION #49-2018
Supervisor Bartlett moved to accept the minutes from the May 10, 2018 meeting, Councilman McAtee seconded.
Ayes All
Supervisor Bartlett opened the public hearing concerning raising the water and sewer rates $.50 per unit in Water District’s 3 & 6 and Sewer District’s 1 & 3 at 7:03 pm. No one withed to speak the public hearing was closed at 7:04 pm.
Supervisor Bartlett opened the floor to the public. No one wished to speak.
Supervisor Bartlett accepted the Town Clerk’s Report
MOTIONS / RESOLUTIONS
MOTION #50-2018
WHEREAS, the Town of Watertown is in receipt of the a request of Bed Tax revenue from Jefferson County Agricultural Society to underwrite promotional expenses associated with the Jefferson County Fair which is held annually and is the oldest continually operating County Fair in the nation; and
WHEREAS, the fair brings many visitors and tourists to the area; and
WHEREAS, funds were included in the 2018 annual budget for this purpose.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Jefferson County Agricultural Society is hereby granted $2,500.00 in Bed Tax revenue to underwrite the organization promotional expenses for the 2018 annual Jefferson County Fair.
A motion to adopt the foregoing resolution was offered by Supervisor Bartlett, and seconded by Councilman Desormo.
Ayes All
MOTION #51-2018
WHEREAS, Neighbors of Watertown Inc. administers the Owner Occupied Rehabilitation Program for Jefferson County and is applying for a grant of $850,000.00 through the Home and Community Renewal Community Development Block Grant; and
WHEREAS, the County has had great success over the years with this program providing assistance for maintenance and repairs to low and very low income households throughout Jefferson County; and
WHEREAS, the program proposed in the grant application seeks to address these issues and allow homeowners to remain in their homes and prioritizes persons that are elderly, with disabilities and single parent households.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Town of Watertown Town Council supports the application submitted by the Neighbors of Watertown for funding from the Homes and Community Renewal Community Development Block Grant.
A motion to adopt the foregoing resolution was offered by Supervisor Bartlett, and seconded by Councilman Prosser.
Ayes All
MOTION #52-2018
WHEREAS, Water District #5 at the Boulder Ridge Housing Development is serviced from a water main providing municipal water to the Dry Hill Prison; and
WHEREAS, numerous breaks in the aged water main service infrastructure of District No. #5 has caused many disruptions in water service to the residents of the Boulder Ridge Development requiring numerous flushing of the system as well as additional sampling in order to be in compliance with the NYSDOH; and
WHEREAS, the service area of Water District No. #4 is nearby and is approximately 1,000 feet from the affected area and could be utilized by connection for servicing District No. #5; and
WHEREAS, a map plan and report is required from the town engineers to determine the cost of this connection as well as adding additional properties to the District No. #5 boundary.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, Bernier Carr and Associates, the town engineers, are herby contracted under a fee for service agreement between Water District No. #5 property owners and the engineers to determine the scale, scope and costs to the district for connection to the District #4 water service main located on County Route 155, as well as adding additional properties to the District #5 district boundary;
WHEREAS, the cost of said report is not to exceed $10,000.00.
A motion to adopt the foregoing resolution was offered by Supervisor Bartlett, and seconded by Councilman Prosser.
Ayes All
MOTION #53-2018
Supervisor Bartlett offered a motion to amend the rate schedule for water and sewer by $.50 per unit in Water District’s 3 & 6 and Sewer District’s 1 & 3. Seconded by Councilman Prosser.
Ayes All
MOTION #54-2018
Supervisor Bartlett moved to pay the following abstracts as audited.
Utilities paid prior to the meeting
General Vouchers # 109 to 111 Total $ 12,535.35
Highway Vouchers # 71 to 71 Total $ 15,813.52
Spec. Dist. Vchrs. # 34 to 34 Total $ 2,374.60
Vouchers approved for monthly meeting
General Vouchers # 112 to 129 Total $ 25,210.73
Highway Vouchers # 72 to 85 Total $ 8,762.24
Spec. Dist. Vchrs. # 35 to 38 Total $ 134,765.62
Councilmember McAtee seconded the motion.
Ayes All
MOTION #55-2018
Supervisor Bartlett moved to amend the monthly Town Board meeting schedule from 7:00 pm to 6:00 pm for the remainder of the 2018 calendar year due to a scheduling conflict for the town attorney. Councilman McAtee seconded.
Ayes All
New / Old Business
Supervisor Bartlett updated the Board on the status of the grant applications with the Venue Strategies project. The application will need to be submitted by July 27, 2018. Supervisor Bartlett advised the Board that Venue Strategies has an experienced track record of completing and filing grant applications with New York State. They would be willing to complete one for this project at a cost not to exceed $20,000.00. He also informed there would be a need to establish a Local Development Corporation to oversee the organization. This would be done with private funds.
MOTION #56-2018
Supervisor Bartlett moved to authorize the necessary appropriations, not to exceed $20,000.00 to contract with Venue Strategies to complete the CFA grant funding application. Councilman McClusky seconded.
Ayes All
Supervisor Bartlett informed the Board he was planning a public announcement in the upcoming weeks concerning the project. .
MOTION #57-2018
Councilman Prosser moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:28 pm, Supervisor Bartlett seconded.
Ayes All
_____________________________
Pamela D. Desormo, Town Clerk