TOWN OF WATERTOWN
Regular Meeting
Municipal Building
November 4, 2021
Members Present: Joel R. Bartlett, Supervisor
Paul V. Desormo, Councilman
David D. Prosser, Councilman
Members Absent: Timothy McAtee, Councilman
Joanne McClusky, Councilwoman
Supervisor Bartlett opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance followed by a roll call of the members present at 7:00 pm. Attorney Russell was also present.
MOTION #113-2021
Supervisor Bartlett moved to adopt the minutes from the October 7, 2021 Regular Meeting, Councilman Prosser seconded.
Ayes All
MOTION #114-2021
Supervisor Bartlett moved to adopt the minutes from the October 21, 2021 Special Meeting, Councilman Prosser seconded.
Ayes All
Supervisor Bartlett opened the floor to the public.
Joe Eberly, 15770 US Rte 11 spoke. Mr. Eberly asked to Board to consider a water district to his area of the town. He has very bad quantity and quality of water. He has also discovered he has methane in his well. He wonders with the passing of Proposition 2 at the past election (providing for clean air and water as right of citizens of NY) if funds would be available to assist in the formation of new water districts. He asked if the town would do a study to evaluate the water needs in the town. He inquired if revenue from the many solar panel projects could be used to assist in these projects.
Supervisor Bartlett will check with the town engineers and Town of Adams Supervisor to check into the possibility of bringing water in from that direction. He will get some preliminary figures on the cost.
Councilman Prosser asked about getting a petition together to find out how many residents in the area would be interested in receiving municipal water.
Supervisor Bartlett suggested waiting for the cost estimates before doing the petition. This would save having to preform it twice.
Showcat Khan, Ridgeview Road, addressed the Board. He is asking to have charges waived from his water/sewer bill. Mr. Khan does not feel he is responsible for this usage because he does not feel he used this amount of water. This bill was based on the actual read taken from the meter when the new unit was installed. He was billed for the read shown on the meter which was higher than the utility package estimated over the past year.
The Board discussed the issue. They agreed Mr. Khan is responsible for the usage. They did offer a possible payment plan. But informed him he will be responsible of the current bill as well as the outstanding amount due on his account.
Dave Roof , CEO of the Town of Watertown Ambulance updated the Board on the finance and actions of the ambulance business. He presented the reports to September 2021. He thanked the Board for the continued financial support.
No one else wished to speak; the floor was closed.
Supervisor Bartlett opened the public hearing regarding the proposed Town Tentative 2022 Budget at 7:55 pm. The accountant needs to update some of the figures in the Tentative Budget. The Board took no action, the public hearing was adjourned at 7:56 pm. The public hearing will be reconvened at a special meeting to be scheduled.
MOTION #115-2021
Supervisor Bartlett moved to schedule a special meeting November 10th, 2021 at 3:00 pm to review the Town Tentative 2022 Budget and other town business, seconded by Councilman Prosser.
Ayes All
Supervisor Bartlett accepted the Town Clerk and Town of Watertown Ambulance Reports through September 2021.
MOTION #116-2021
WHEREAS, it is necessary to amend the fee for service contract with Bernier Carr & Associates. This will include fees for basic services beyond the fee’s charges for the firm’s study and reports submitted to the Council for Sewer District #1 upgrades and improvements.
WHEREAS, the amendment will add basic services in the amount of $204,000.00 for design and construction phase, $114,000.00 for project representative and additional services in the amount of $160,000.00 and;
WHEREAS these increases are noted as amendment and total an increase of $478,400.00 in the original service contract.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Supervisor is hereby authorized to execute said agreement for additional services relative to Sewer District 1 improvements.
A motion to adopt the foregoing resolution was offered by Supervisor Bartlett, seconded by Councilman Prosser.
Ayes All
Supervisor Bartlett informed the Board he would be meeting the Town of Watertown City Mayor to negotiate the new water and sewer rate being charged to the town. He would also inquire the possibility of diverting Sewer #1 District to the City as an alternative to investing in rebuilding the current system.
MOTION #117-2021
Supervisor Bartlett moved to pay the following abstracts as audited.
Utilities paid prior to the meeting
General Vouchers # 212 to 215 Total $ 18,888.30
Highway Vouchers # 166 to 167 Total $ 35,333.60
Spec. Dist. Vchrs. # 99 to 99 Total $ 4,268.12
Vouchers approved for monthly meeting
General Vouchers # 216 to 231 Total $ 11,283.45
Highway Vouchers # 168 to 186 Total $ 22,432.66
Spec. Dist. Vchrs. # 100 to 103 Total $ 125,802.32
Councilmember Desormo seconded the motion.
Ayes All
Included in the members packet was the Dog Control Officer Inspection Report for the first three quarters of 2021.
Councilman Prosser inquired the possibly of a moratorium on solar panels in the town.
Attorney Russell will draft up something for the next board meeting.
MOTION #118-2021
Councilman Prosser moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:11 PM, seconded by Councilman Desormo.
Ayes All
_____________________________
Pamela D. Desormo, Town Clerk