Home » Meeting Minutes » September 12, 2019

September 12, 2019

TOWN OF WATERTOWN
Regular Meeting
Municipal Building
September 12, 2019

Members Present: Joel R. Bartlett, Supervisor
Paul V. Desormo, Councilman
David D. Prosser, Councilman
Timothy McAtee, Councilman

Members Absent: Joanne McClusky, Councilwoman

Supervisor Bartlett opened the meeting with Pledge of Allegiance followed by roll call of members present at 7:00 pm. Attorney Russell was also present.

MOTION #63-2019

Supervisor Bartlett moved to adopt the minutes from the August 8, 2019 meeting, Councilman McAtee seconded.
Ayes All

Mr. Tackley from the Rhode Family Food Pantry addressed the Board. He thanked them for their continued financial support for the food pantry. He informed the Board of the success of the program for so many families in the Southern Jefferson County area. He presented the Board members with information detailing statistics of the program. He asked them to please consider their program again in the 2020 budget.

The floor was opened for public comments: Ed Valentine thanked the Board for their assistance in extending water and sewer to his property, located on the corner of NYS Rte 12F and Co Rte 202. He informed the Board that he has purchased the former 84 Lumber property located on NYS Rte 12F. He inquired if the town could extend the water and sewer service down NYS Rte 12F to the town line. Mr. Valentine would like to coordinate with the town for possible grants to help with funding. Supervisor Bartlett informed of the exorbitant cost to the property owners involved with extending the infrastructure that distance. Grants are usually unavailable to the town because of median income levels are too high. An alternative might be to inquire with the Town of Hounsfield to hook on as an outside user to their services.

Highway Superintendant Rohr approached the Board to inform them of recent breaks in the water line the NYS Rte 12F area. The aging lines are in bad shape and are costing the town a lot of money between the loss of water, repair materials and workers time to make repairs. There were three breaks this week. Superintendant Rohr showed the board pictures of the breaks and the deterioration of the lines. He is worried about future breaks that are inevitable if the infrastructure is not replaced. Supervisor Bartlett advised that in order for the town to upgrade the lines it would require signed easements from the property owners in that area. One of the property owners has been in litigation with Jefferson County for many years preventing the town from getting the necessary signatures.

No one else wished to speak; the floor was closed.

The Clerk informed of upcoming mandatory sexual harassment training for all town employees. Two Classes have been scheduled:
Tuesday September 17th 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Tuesday October 1st 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Supervisor Bartlett accepted the Town Clerk and Town Ambulance reports.

MOTIONS/RESOLUTIONS

MOTION #64-2019

WHEREAS, the Town of Watertown Council is in receipt of a memorandum of understanding by and between Paddy Hill Holdings LLC, the Town of Hounsfield, the Town of Watertown, and the Village of Brownville to establish a general agreement regarding the participation of the Towns of Watertown, Hounsfield and the Village of Brownville to develop an agreement acceptable to all parties for the development of a Community Distributed Generation Agreement (CDGA); and

WHEREAS, this MOU is intended to provide evidence to Paddy Hill LLC that the parties will provide support for Paddy Hill LLC conducting a feasibility assessment to explore and define methods to provide lower cost energy and distribution to town energy users; and

WHEREAS, this feasibility study is being conducted at no cost to the Town of Watertown.

THEREFOR BE IT FUTHER RESOLVED, the Town of Watertown Council hereby authorizes the Town Supervisor to execute said MOU (attached as Exhibit A) on behalf of the Town of Watertown is support of Paddy Hill LLC conducting the study.

A motion to adopt the foregoing resolution was offered by Supervisor Bartlett, seconded by Councilman McAtee.

Ayes All
MOTION #65-2019

WHEREAS, it is necessary to amend the fiscal year 2019 budget to balance appropriation account and correct mistakes in account coding of expenditure;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Supervisor is hereby authorized to transfer the following funds to balance accounts in the fiscal year 2019 budget;

Transfer from account Transfer to account Amount
Unappropriated fund balance A-1220.11 $ 3,745.00
Unappropriated fund balance A-1310.4 $ 700.00
D-5140.1 D-5110.1 $ 11,327.00

Decrease Code Increase Code Amount
Unappropriated fund balance A-1420.4 attorney $ 14,000.00

Interfund Transfers
From Sewer District #2 to Sewer District #3 $138,136.00

Correction to Sewer District #4 debt service principle recording – $10,000.00
Increase interest payment +$10,000.00

Increase Revenue Code Increase Appr. Code
A-3040 State aid real property maint. A-6988.4 Econ Dev $500,000.00

Supervisor Bartlett explained and discussed said transfers:

A motion to adopt the foregoing resolution was offered by Supervisor Bartlett, seconded by Councilman Prosser.

Ayes All
MOTION #66-2019

Supervisor Bartlett moved to pay the following abstracts as audited.

Utilities paid prior to the meeting
General Vouchers # 174 to 176 Total $ 11,342.04
Highway Vouchers # 111 to 111 Total $ 19,939,58
Spec. Dist. Vchrs. # 61 to 61 Total $ 2,858.30

Vouchers approved for monthly meeting
General Vouchers # 177 to 194 Total $ 11,605.41
Highway Vouchers # 112 to 126 Total $ 125,350.34
Spec. Dist. Vchrs. # 62 to 70 Total $ 148,990.60

Councilman McAtee seconded the motion.

Ayes All

Old/New Business

Supervisor Bartlett discussed with the Board the possibility of hiring the Town’s accounting firm at a cost of $500 a month to perform the payroll services for the employees. The supervisor does it now. Discussion took place that all employees would need to agree to direct deposit for the service to work. Superintendent Rohr informed there is an employee in the highway garage that does not want his check direct deposited. Supervisor Bartlett withdrew the request at this time.

Councilman Desormo asked about the status with the cat situation on Co Rte 67. The Town is waiting on a formal written complaint from the neighbor to pursue the violation. The Town will then followed up with an investigation and report from the Town Health Officer. At that time the Town Board as the Town Health Board will call a hearing for the owners of the cats to attend. The situation has created a health hazard to humans and pets, there is a fear of rabies and diseases from the urine and feces.

Supervisor Bartlett discussed the newest happenings with the proposed multi-purpose event center. He has been meeting with local politicians to gain support for grants and funding. He is also meeting with JCC College and Jeff Lewis BOCES representatives to include educational aspects to the facility and adjoining properties. Supervisor Bartlett discussed budget appropriations in the future the aid in the LDC functions.

MOTION #67-2019

Councilman Prosser moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:56 pm, seconded by Councilman McAtee.

Ayes All

_____________________________
Pamela D. Desormo, Town Clerk

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