TOWN OF WATERTOWN
MUNICIPAL BUILDING
MINUTES REGULAR MEETING
JUNE 12, 2014
TOWN BOARD MEMBERS
JOEL R. BARTLETT, SUPERVISOR – STEPHEN L. RICH, COUNCILMAN – PAUL V. DESORMO, COUNCILMAN – DAVID D. PROSSER, COUNCILMAN
Councilman Desormo offered a prayer and Supervisor Bartlett led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Supervisor Bartlett called the meeting to order and asked for a roll call of members present. All members were present. There is a vacancy on the Board due to the passing of Councilman Edward R. Smith. Legal Counsel Joseph W. Russell was present.
MOTION # 34
Supervisor Bartlett moved to accept the minutes of the May 8, 2014 regular meeting. Councilman Rich seconded.
Ayes All
Supervisor Bartlett opened the floor to the public.
Mr. Richard Keech from Ridge Road explained about a plow accident this winter which did some damage to his property. He notified the town highway superintendent but did not get any response. Supervisor Bartlett stated that he would contact Mr. Maguire, the Highway Superintendent about addressing the situation.
Supervisor Bartlett closed the floor since no one else chose to speak.
Supervisor Bartlett said that he had a letter for the Code Enforcement Officer regarding the Leroy Burnham property on the Sandy Creek Valley Road. The next step is to send him an appearance ticket. The Code Enforcement Officer stated that Mr. Burnham is not cooperative and that he is nervous about going to the property alone. Supervisor said that he could take the Highway Superintendent of a Sheriff’s deputy if he felt it was necessary.
Supervisor Bartlett accepted the town clerk’s report and the Town of Watertown Ambulance report for the Month of May 2014.
MOTION # 35
Supervisor Bartlett offered a motion to call for a public hearing on the Town’s proposed Master Plan, to be held on Thursday at 7:00 PM on July 10.2014 at the Town of Watertown Municipal Building, 22867 County Route 67, Watertown, NY 13601. Councilman Prosser seconded the motion. .
Ayes All
MOTION # 36
WHEREAS, a request has been made to extend water and sewer service to parts of the Boulder Ridge Housing Development wherein 3 new lots have been subdivided from a larger undeveloped lot known as parcel #91.13-1-38, and
WHEREAS, additional lots in the future will be subdivided from this large undeveloped lot requiring these lots be identified as within the water and sewer district boundary, and
WHEREAS, the cost for extending water and sewer infrastructure to accommodate service to these new parcels in entirely the responsibility of the developer, and service infrastructure construction must be inspected and certified by the town engineer and the Town Department of Public Works prior to official acceptance by the district administrators.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the three new parcels within Parcel No. 91.13-1-38 are heretofore to be known as parcels “as part of Parcel 91.13-1-38 for district mapping purposes.
Supervisor Bartlett moved the foregoing resolution and Councilman Rich seconded.
Ayes All
MOTION # 37
WHEREAS, a request has been made by the Jefferson County Fair Board for a grant of $5,000.00 of Community Development Funds to underwrite promotional expenses associated with the 2014 County Fair, the longest running county fair in the nation, and
WHEREAS, the Towns assistance with promotional expenses associated with the County Fair in past years has helped to guarantee a successful run of the annual county fair.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED a grant of $5,000.00 to the Jefferson County Agricultural Society and the Jefferson County Fair is hereby authorized.
Supervisor Bartlett moved the foregoing resolution and Councilman Prosser seconded.
Ayes All
MOTION # 38
WHEREAS, a request has been made by the Ontario Bay Lacrosse Tournament Inc, for a grant of $2,500.00 to assist the organization with underwriting promotional expense associated with the 2014 “1812” Lacrosse Tournament which is held annually and attracts thousands of participants and individual to our area, and
WHEREAS, hundreds of tournament participants and attendants stay in hotels and utilize many restaurants generating tourism revenues for the Watertown area.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, a grant of $2,500.00 to Ontario Bay Lacrosse Inc. is hereby authorized for the purpose of underwriting promotional expenses for the 2014 Lacrosse Tournament.
Supervisor Bartlett moved the foregoing resolution and Councilman Desormo seconded.
Ayes All
MOTION # 39
WHEREAS, the Northern Border Regional Commission has made grant funds available through the U.S.D.A., wherein grants could be awarded to municipalities who need assistance with certain infrastructure improvements, and
WHEREAS, the Town of Watertown Council acting as administrators for Town water and sewer districts has a project known as the proposed Northeast Water District, which will provide much needed municipal water service to over 225 parcels located in the outer N.Y. State Route 126 area, and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to file a grant application for funding in the amount of $400,000.00 that would be used to offset costs associated with the formation and construction of the Northeast Water District, to be known as Town of Watertown Water District No. 2.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Town Supervisor is hereby authorized to execute on behalf of the Town of Watertown Council, administrators for Town Water and Sewer Districts, all necessary documents relating to the Northern Border Regional Commission grant application for grant funding of up to $400,000.00.
Supervisor Bartlett moved the foregoing resolution and Councilman Prosser seconded.
Ayes All
MOTION # 40
Supervisor Bartlett moved to pay the following abstracts as audited.
General Vouchers # 126 to 129 Total $ 61,712.86
Highway Voucher # 103 to 103 Total $ 16,466.98
Spec. Dist. Voucher. # 35 to 35 Total $ 53.90
General Vouchers # 130 to 148 Total $ 15,090.39
Highway Vouchers # 104 to 117 Total $ 12,105.72
Spec. Dist. Vouchers. # 36 to 42 Total $109,511.76
Councilman Prosser seconded.
Ayes All
Supervisor Bartlett discussed the tentative equalization rates and the effect to the town residents.
Old Business:
Councilman Prosser asked about the signatures needed for the Northeast Water District. Supervisor Bartlett stated that we would not know until the grant application is complete and is returned.
New Business:
Supervisor Bartlett discussed the vacancy which occurred upon Mr. Smiths passing. The town council members discussed it and decided that the position would be left open until the results of the general election to be held in November 2014. The term would end at the same time Mr. Smith’s term was up, which is December 31, 2015.
MOTION # 41
Councilman Prosser moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:30 PM. Councilman Desormo seconded.
Ayes All
______________________________
Catherine M. Rich, Town Clerk