TOWN BOARD
REGULAR MEETING
MUNICIPAL BUILDING
JULY 10, 2014
TOWN BOARD MEMBERS
JOEL R. BARTLETT, SUPERVISOR – STEPHEN L. RICH, COUNCILMEMBER – PAUL V. DESORMO, COUNCIL MEMBER – DAVID D. PROSSER, COUNCIL MEMBER
Council Paul V. Desormo offered a prayer and Supervisor Bartlett led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Supervisor Bartlett called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM and asked for a roll of members present. All members were present. Legal Counsel Joseph W. Russell was present.
MOTION # 42
Supervisor Bartlett moved to accept the minutes of the June 12, 2014 regular meeting. Council member Rich seconded.
Councilman Prosser commented that there was a typo in the minutes. It should be stated that the Code Enforcement could take the Highway superintendant or a Sheriffs Deputy with him. It was typed of instead of or.
Councilman Prosser moved to correct the minutes. Councilman Desormo seconded.
Ayes All
Supervisor Bartlett moved to adopt the minutes as amended.
Ayes All
Supervisor Bartlett opened the Public Hearing concerning the Town Comprehensive Plan at 7:05 PM
Seeing that no one chose to speak on the Comprehensive Plan, Supervisor Bartlett closed the floor for the Public Hearing at 7:06 PM.
Supervisor Bartlett opened the floor for public comment.
Mrs. Shirley Davis, 17487 County Route 155 asked about getting the water line extended on Dry Hill Road. Supervisor Bartlett explained to her the procedure for extending the water line and explained the problems of getting water there previously. He has a meeting with the Department of Corrections, and will talk to them about getting water from them.
Mrs. Davis also spoke about getting speed limit signs on the Dry Hill Road. Supervisor Bartlett stated that they had tried getting a speed limit sign there to no avail. He said that perhaps the Highway superintendent could put up a warning sign to slow down the speeders. In the meantime, a law is on the Governor’s desk giving the local government the authority to govern the speed limits on local highways.
No one else chose to address the board. Supervisor Bartlett closed the floor to the public.
Supervisor Bartlett accepted the Town Clerk’s report and the Town of Watertown Ambulance report for the Month of June 2014.
Resolutions:
MOTION # 43
WHEREAS, the City of Watertown owns and operates a water supply system which is operated for the purpose of supplying the City and its inhabitants with water, and
WHEREAS, the City has excess capacity to produce and transport water in excess of its own needs, and
WHEREAS, the Town of Watertown has requested the right to draw water form the City system for use in Town of Watertown Districts 1,3,4,5 and 6, and
WHEREAS, the Town of Watertown and the City of Watertown have previously entered into an agreement for the Town to purchase and sell the right to make connections to the City system and the City may fix the prices as duly adopted by the City Council as long as such action will not render the supply of water for the inhabitants insufficient, and
WHEREAS, an agreement that has been in place has expired on December 31. 2013, and
WHEREAS, the City and the Town of Watertown as administrators of Town Districts 1,3,4,5 and 6 have negotiated a succession Agreement for the sale of water, a copy of which is attached hereto and made part of this resolution.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town of Watertown Town Council, acting as administrators of Town Water Districts 1,3,4,5 and 6 hereby approves the Agreement between the City of Watertown and the Town of Watertown as administrators of Water Districts 1,3,4,5 and 6, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Town Supervisor is hereby authorized and directed to execute the Agreement on behalf of the Town of Watertown.
Supervisor Bartlett moved the foregoing resolution and Councilman Rich seconded.
The motion was approved be a roll call vote as follows:
Supervisor Bartlett Aye
Councilman Rich Aye
Councilman Desormo Aye
Councilman Prosser Aye
MOTION # 44
WHEREAS, the Jefferson County Storm Water Coalition, of which the Town of Watertown is a member, has proposed an Intermunicipal Agreement, and By-Laws for the administration and governance of the County Storm Water Coalition, and
WHEREAS, it is necessary that the Intermunicipal Storm water Agreement and By-Laws (attached) be adopted by the Town of Watertown Council as a member of the Coalition.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the Town of Watertown Town Council has reviewed said agreement and By-Laws and hereby authorizes the Town Supervisor on behalf of the Town of Watertown to execute the Agreement and established By-Laws for the administration of the Jefferson County Storm Water Coalition.
Supervisor Bartlett moved the foregoing resolution and Councilman Prosser seconded.
Upon a roll call vote as follows the motion was adopted.
Supervisor Bartlett Aye
Councilman Rich Aye
Councilman Desormo Aye
Councilman Prosser Aye
Supervisor Bartlett noted that the board members had a copy of the Full Environmental Form as it pertains to the adoption of the Town of Watertown Comprehensive Plan. Supervisor Bartlett read through the questions in Part I of the environmental form to show the Town Board had discussion on the subject.
MOTION # 45
Supervisor Bartlett moved that the negative declaration concerning the Comprehensive Plan for the Town of Watertown was approved.
The motion was seconded by Councilman Desormo.
Ayes All
MOTION # 46
WHEREAS, the Town of Watertown Planning Board with the assistance of the Tug Hill Commission has prepared and presented to this Board and Amended and restated Comprehensive Plan for the Town of Watertown prepared pursuant to the provisions of Section 272-a of the Town Law, and
WHEREAS, the amended and Restated Comprehensive Plan for the Town of Watertown has been referred to the Jefferson County Planning Board as required by Section 272-a of the Town Law, and
WHEREAS, this Board has received the recommendations of the Jefferson County Planning Board with respect to the Amended and Restated Comprehensive Plan, and
WHEREAS, at a regular meeting of this Board held on June 12, 2014, a public hearing was scheduled for July 10, 2014 to hear all persons interested in the subject matter of the Amended and Restated Comprehensive Plan, and
WHEREAS, notice of the public hearing was duly published and posted as required by law and on July 10, 2014 at 7:00 PM the public hearing was duly opened and all persons interested were provided with an opportunity to comment on the Amended and Restated Comprehensive Plan.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the Town Board of the Town of Watertown as follows:
- The foregoing recitations are incorporated herein and made a part hereof as if fully set forth hereafter.
- The statutory requirements of Section 272-a of the Town Law in connection with the Amended and Restated Comprehensive Plan has been satisfied.
- The Town Board has reviewed parts 1 and 2 of a long form EAF prepared in connection with the Amended and Restated Comprehensive Plan, and has determined that the Amended and Restated Comprehensive Plan will not have a significant impact on the environment and this Board has therefore issued a negative declaration under the State Environmental Quality Review Act, utilizing Part 3 of the EAF therefore.
- The Town Board has considered the subject matter of the Amended and Restated Comprehensive Plan the comments received for the Jefferson County Planning Board, and the public, and hereby determines that the Amended and restated Comprehensive Plan is in the best interest of the Town of Watertown.
- Based upon the foregoing, the Amended and Restated Comprehensive Plan of the Town of Watertown as prepared and presented by the Town of Watertown Planning Board is hereby adopted and shall hereafter be the Comprehensive Plan of the Town of Watertown.
Supervisor Bartlett moved the former resolution and Councilman Rich seconded.
Ayes All
Supervisor Bartlett thanked the Tug Hill Commission, the Town of Watertown Comprehensive Committee, the Town of Watertown Planning Board and all others involved, for a job well done.
MOTION # 47
WHEREAS, pursuant to the provisions of Town Law (competitive bidding requirements) is necessary to solicit bids for the Town purchase of 6,000 tons of screened sand for highway purposes.
Sealed bids are authorized by this board under the following terms and conditions:
- All sealed bids will be accompanied by a non-collusion statement and submitted to the Town Clerk’s Office 22867 Co. Rt. 67, Watertown NY 13601 up until 3:00 PM Thursday August 14, 2014.
- All bids submitted will include the cost of loading said material for Town transport of said material.
- The Board will open and review all bids submitted for compliance to standards at 7:00PM August 14, 2014 at the Town of Watertown Municipal Building, 22867 Co. Rt. 67, Watertown, Y.
- The Town Council retains the right to refuse any or all bids submitted.
Supervisor Bartlett moved the foregoing resolution and Councilman Desormo seconded.
Ayes All
Supervisor Bartlett acknowledged the presence of the Town Assessor, Roger Tibbetts.
Mr. Tibbetts gave an overview of the discussion with Target and their attorneys about the reduction of the assessment to Target properties.
MOTION # 48 WHEREAS, Target has filed a tax certiorari complaint requesting a reduction in assessed value of their Arsenal Street property, and
WHEREAS, the Town Assessor has negotiated a settlement agreement with Target and Targets attorneys wherein a reduction in assessed value will be reduced to $5,650,000, and
WHEREAS, the Town assessor and attorney are in agreement with the proposed settlement on assess value for the Target property and recommend to this Board that the settlement value of 5,650,000. is a fair reduction in assessed value for the property.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, in consideration of the settlement negotiations conducted by the Town Assessor, the Town of Watertown Council hereby concurs with and accepts the negotiated tax certiorari settlement with Target establishing a new assessed value for the Target property at 5,650,000.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that as part of the agreement stipulation, the assessed value of the Target property shall remain at $5,650,000. for a three year period for the years 2014 through 2016.
Supervisor Bartlett moved the foregoing resolution and Councilman Rich seconded.
Upon a roll call vote of the town board as follows, it was approved.
Supervisor Bartlett Aye
Councilman Rich Aye
Councilman Desormo Aye
Councilman Prosser Aye
MOTION # 49
Supervisor Bartlett offered a motion to pay the following vouchers as audited.
General Vouchers # 149 to 167 Total $ 18,465.65
Highway Vouchers # 118 to 137 Total $ 24,787.95
Special District Vchrs # 43 to 49 Total $112,972.06
The motion was seconded by Councilman Desormo.
Ayes All
MOTION # 50
Supervisor Bartlett moved to adjourn to executive session at 7:37 PM to discuss some ongoing litigation. Councilman Prosser seconded.
Ayes All
Supervisor reconvened the regular portion of the meeting at 7:46 PM.
No old business:
No new business:
MOTIO # 51
Councilman Prosser moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:47 PM. Councilman Desormo seconded.
Ayes All
__________________________
Catherine M. Rich, Town Clerk