7:00PM - PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER A NEW LOCAL LAW ENTITLES, “A LOCAL LAW AUTHORIZING A PROPERTY TAX LEVY IN EXCESS OF THE LIMIT ESTABLISHED IN GENERAL MUNICIPAL LAW SECTION 3-c FOR 2015 – 2016 FISCAL YEAR. April 6, 2015
MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Kurt Wheeler, Trustee Amy Mann, Trustee Dave Porter, Trustee Fritz Koennecke, Trustee Jim Joseph
ALSO PRESENT: Jim Stokes, Bill Carr, Mike Hayes, Bobby Hart, Jason Emerson, Bob Lucas
Mayor Kurt Wheeler opened the Public Hearing at 7:00 pm. Mayor Wheeler stated the state law says if you are going to exceed the tax cap calculations you have to pass a local law authorizing yourself to do so. Mayor Wheeler added the Board has always tried to keep the spending low and for the last ten years the Board has tried to keep the tax increase to 2% to 3%.
There were no comments from the Board. No comments from the public.
Motion made by Mayor Kurt Wheeler and seconded by Trustee Amy Mann to close the public hearing at 7:02 pm.
Vote taken. All aye. Approved.
Respectfully submitted,
Katherine A. Burns
Village Clerk
2015-16 VILLAGE BUDGET HEARING – APRIL 6, 2015
MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Kurt Wheeler, Trustee Amy Mann, Trustee Dave Porter, Trustee Fritz Koennecke, Trustee Jim Joseph
ALSO PRESENT: Jim Stokes, Bill Carr, Mike Hayes, Bobby Hart, Jason Emerson, Bob Lucas
Mayor Kurt Wheeler opened the Public Hearing at 7:05 pm. There were no comments from the Board or public. Mayor Wheeler reported a revaluation has been done and the assessment has gone from 70 - 80% valuation to 100%. The rate has dropped but most people’s property values have gone up. The total budget which is just under $2.7 million includes a proposed tax levy rate of $5.69 per $1,000 which is down from last year’s $6.49 per $1,000. The total assessed value of taxable property in the Village is $201 million which is up from $160 million last year.
Motion made by Mayor Wheeler and seconded by Trustee Koennecke to close the public hearing at 7:07 p.m.
Vote taken. All aye. Approved.
Respectfully submitted,
Katherine A. Burns
Village Clerk
APRIL 6,2015 VILLAGE BOARD MEETING
MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Kurt Wheeler, Trustee Amy Mann, Trustee Dave Porter, TrusteeFritz Koennecke, Trustee Jim Joseph
ALSO PRESENT: Jim Stokes, Bill Carr, Mike Hayes, Bobby Hart, Jason Emerson, Bob Lucas
The Village Board approved the minutes from theMarch 2, 2015 Village Board meeting and the March 4, 2015 and March 31, 2015 budget work sessions.
Motion made by Mayor Wheeler and seconded by Trustee Amy Mann to pass the following resolution:
RESOLUTION NO. 43
OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
OF THE VILLAGE OF CAZENOVIA
WHEREAS, the attorney for the Village has prepared and presented aproposed local law entitled, “A local law authorizing a property tax levy in excess of the limit established in General Municipal Law section 3-c for the 2015-2016 fiscal year”, and
WHEREAS, the proposed local law is intended to authorize the Village of Cazenovia to exceed the tax levy cap otherwise provided under New York State law for the Village’s 2015-2016 budget and fiscal year, and
WHEREAS, upon notice duly published and posted as required,a public hearing on this local law was held on April 6, 2015, which public hearing was, or is hereby closed, and
WHEREAS, the adoption of this local law is not an action that may have an effect on the environment as defined by the implementing regulations of the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act, and is therefore not an action subject to SEQRA.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED as follows:
After due deliberation, the Board of Trustees finds it in the best interest of the Village of Cazenoviato adopt this local law, and does hereby adopt this local law entitled, “A local law authorizing a property tax levy in excess of the limit established in General Municipal Law section 3-c for the 2015-2016 fiscal year.” The Village Clerk is hereby directed to enter said Local Law in the minutes of this meeting, and to give due notice of the adoption of said Local Law to the Secretary of State.
Dated: April 6, 2015
By vote of the Board – Mayor Kurt Wheeler – aye, Trustee Amy Mann – aye, Trustee Dave Porter – aye, Trustee Jim Joseph – aye, Trustee Fritz Koennecke – aye
Five in favor. Approved.
Motion made by Mayor Wheeler and seconded by Trustee Amy Mann to pass the following resolution:
RESOLUTION #44 – BE IT RESOLVED, that the Village of Cazenovia through its governing body, the Board of Trustees, hereby approves the 2015-2016 Village budget as presented at the budget hearing.
By vote of the Board – Mayor Kurt Wheeler – aye, Trustee Amy Mann – aye, Trustee Dave Porter – aye, Trustee Jim Joseph – aye, Trustee Fritz Koennecke – aye
Five in favor. Approved.
Mayor Wheeler presented a local law which is to create an exception to the water service restrictions and authorize the extension of Village public water service to Patrick and Sara Ruddy in the Town of Cazenovia known as tax map parcel number 95.3-1-22.1 (vacant land).which would be for the farmstead distillery. The intent of this proposed local law is for economic development created by a specific commercial use just outside the village limits.
Motion made by Trustee Fritz Koennecke and seconded by Trustee Jim Joseph to pass the following resolution:
RESOLUTION NO. 45
OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
OF THE VILLAGE OF CAZENOVIA
RESOLUTION OF ADOPTION OF A LOCAL LAW CREATING AN EXCEPTION TO THE WATER SERVICE RESTRICTIONS OF CHAPTER 174 OF THE VILLAGE CODE
WHEREAS, proposed legislation of the Village of Cazenovia, entitled “A Local law to create an exception to the water main service restrictions of section 174-21(C) of the Code of the Village of Cazenovia”, has been introduced before this Board, and
WHEREAS, upon notice duly published and posted as required, a public hearing on the adoption of this proposed Local Law of the Village of Cazenovia was held by this Village Board of Trustees on March 2, 2015, and
WHEREAS, the adoption of this local law is not an action subject to the provisions of the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act in that it will not have any physical impact upon the environment, nor does it constitute an agency decision that will commit the Village of Cazenovia or any of its boards, agencies or officials to any future course of action that may affect the environment, and
WHEREAS, this Board, after due deliberation, finds it in the best interest of the Village of Cazenovia to adopt this local law.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that the local law entitled “A Local law to create an exception to the water main service restrictions of section 174-21(C) of the Code of the Village of Cazenovia”, is hereby adopted, and that the Village Clerk be and hereby is directed to enter said Local Law in the minutes of this meeting and in the Local Law Book of the Village of Cazenovia, and to give due notice of the adoption of said Local Law to the public and to the Secretary of State.
DATED: April 6, 2015
By vote of the Board – Mayor Kurt Wheeler – aye, Trustee Amy Mann – aye, Trustee Peggy Van Arnam – aye, Trustee Dave Porter – aye, Trustee Jim Joseph – aye.
Five in favor. Approved.
Mayor Wheeler reported the Creekside Planning committee didn’t meet in March but will be meeting in April. The new date will be on the website. The focus is primarily on brainstorming, the planning and planning the trail network. There has been discussion with Armory Development who is potentially interested in doing a project. Dudley Johnson owns the parcel opposite 4 Chenango St. and he has offered it to the Village for public park land. The Boy Scouts and other community groups are enthusiastic about helping with the trail network when it can begin.
Motion made by Mayor Wheeler and seconded by Trustee Koennecke to pass the following resolution:
RESOLUTION NO. 46
OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
OF THE VILLAGE OF CAZENOVIA
RESOLUTION OF ADOPTION OF A LOCAL LAW PROVIDING FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF ALTERNATE MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING BOARD, ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE
WHEREAS, upon notice duly published and posted and served as required, a public hearing on the adoption of a proposed Local Law entitled, “A local law to provide for the appointment of alternate members of the Cazenovia Village Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals and Historic Preservation/Architectural Advisory Review Committee” was held by this Board of Trustees on March 2, 2015, and
WHEREAS, the enactment of said Local Law is hereby determined to be an unlisted action which will not have any significant environmental impacts, and
WHEREAS, pursuant to a referral duty made pursuant to the provisions of Section 239-m of the General Municipal Law, the Madison County Planning Agency has reviewed this Local Law and returned its recommendation to this Board for local determination, and
WHEREAS, this Board, after due deliberation, finds it in the best interest of the Village of Cazenovia to adopt this Local.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Cazenovia that the Local entitled, “A local law to provide for the appointment of alternate members of the Cazenovia Village Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals and Historic Preservation/Architectural Advisory Review Committee”, is hereby adopted, and that the Village Clerk be and hereby is directed to enter said Local Law in the minutes of this meeting and in the Local Law Book of the Village of Cazenovia, and to give due notice of the adoption of said Local Law to the public and to the Secretary of State.
DATED: April 6, 2015
By vote of the Board – Mayor Kurt Wheeler – aye, Trustee Amy Mann – aye, Trustee Dave Porter – aye, Trustee Jim Joseph – aye, Trustee Fritz Koennecke – aye
Five in favor. Approved.
These appointments will be made at the July meeting with the other appointments.
Trustee Dave Porter gave his monthly report:
Sewer/Water:
- Water pumped last month was 9.3 mil gal and 299 kgal/day ave. Historic ave. 9.0 mil gal for March.
- Proposed 6% increase in water rates. Water rates have been unchanged since our 3% rate increase in 2012. The rate increase would not change the current semiannual $25 infrastructure fee.
- Water service extension for distillery. The board approved extending water service to the proposed Rt 20 E distillery – no additional updates.
- The Village has been experiencing frozen service pipes (not mains) as a result of the very cold weather. Pumping rates are up, suggesting that there may be some other water line breaks that have not yet been discovered. The slow spring thaw may reduce the number of breaks compared to a quick thaw.
- Seven Pines Water District – being pursued by Town of Caz.
- Town of Nelson Water Service – Bill Carr met with the Town of Nelson supervisor. The Town of Nelson board has a meeting this week and Roger Bradstreet is gathering info to share with the Nelson board regarding a possible extension of water service from the Village of Cazenovia.
Fire Dept:
- Don Arnold will be the new Fire Chief as of 4/7/15. Don relieves outgoing Fire Chief Nick Enders.
- New Fire Dept. member application: N/A
- New mini-pumper (bid was approved in July meeting). Scheduled for delivery this week.
Lake Watershed Council:
- No update.
Misc:
- CAP: Updated links to Climate Action Plan (CAP) documents are on the Village website. Last month the board approved the Climate Action Plan.
- Smart Watt Energy Performance Contract Update: On 4/1/15 Bill Carr met with SmartWatt and National Grid to discuss the proposed street light acquisition from National Grid. National Grid will be sending Bill a proposal to inventory all of the lights, cross arms, and circuits in the Village and come up with a purchase price. If the proposal to purchase these assets comes in very high, Smart Watt may pull out of the energy performance project and there would be no charge to the Village. This is the first time that a municipality has requested to purchase street lights in upstate NY. The general level of support from National Grid did not appear to be overly positive.
- If we proceed with the anticipated street lighting portion of the project, the Village would end up owning the exterior light poles and fixtures. SmartWatt would maintain the street lighting for the duration of the 10 year project. At the end of that period, the Village would be responsible for maintenance of the street lighting poles and light fixtures.
- Solarize NY: The Village could pursue a solar PV project under a similar format as the SmartWatt energy performance contract. Under this program, revenue generated through net-metering would be used to fund the project. Three sites in the Village are being evaluated for possible installation of PV arrays – Municipal Building, DPW Garage, Water Treatment Plant property.
Trustee Porter compared the Village’s water rates with the Village of Hamilton and Aqua and the Village is lower than both. The proposed 6% rate increase is based on an estimated annual 2% increase in the cost to produce water for customers over the three years since the last rate change.
Motion made by Trustee Porter and seconded by Mayor Wheeler to pass the following resolution:
RESOLUTION #47 - BE IT RESOLVED,that the Village of Cazenovia through its governing body, the Board of Trustees, hereby authorizes a 6% water rate increase to each water customer to be effective on April 15, 2015.
By vote of the Board – Mayor Kurt Wheeler – aye, Trustee Amy Mann – aye, Trustee Dave Porter – aye, Trustee Jim Joseph – aye, Trustee Fritz Koennecke – aye
Five in favor. Approved.
Motion made by Trustee Porter and seconded by Mayor Wheeler to pass the following resolution:
RESOLUTION #48 - BE IT RESOLVED,that the Village of Cazenovia through its governing body, the Board of Trustees, hereby accepts Don Arnold as incoming fire chief effective Tuesday, April 7, 2015.
By vote of the Board – Mayor Kurt Wheeler – aye, Trustee Amy Mann – aye, Trustee Dave Porter – aye, Trustee Jim Joseph – aye, Trustee Fritz Koennecke – aye
Five in favor. Approved.
Trustee Amy Mann gave her monthly report:
TREES
The Tree Commission’s educational seminar on March 21 was a success. We had about 50 attendees representing local residents as well as members of neighboring tree commissions. Many thanks to everyone who helped with the event.
Our next event will be our Arbor Day observance on April 18 in Lakeland Park at 9:30 am. Weather permitting, we hope to install four new trees to help replace the ones that were lost this winter. The Burton Street singers will once again be making an appearance, along with this year’s special guests from the Earth Club. Please join us rain or shine.
We will soon be doing our annual drive-around to plan our 2015 tree work. Once again we anticipate a fair amount of takedowns and pruning. We will be doing a special review of Chenango Street this year.
Finally, I am pleased to announce that the Village was once again named a Tree City USA. This is our 4th consecutive year earning this honor. Jim Maloney accepted our award in Albany on March 26. This would not be possible with a supportive board and DPW, along with significant volunteer hours and good relationships with Grid and other utilities. Thanks to all.
CARP BARN/SARATOGA
We have received the contract for LL Bean for 2015 and look forward to continuing our relationship with them this summer. As previously reported, this should be their last summer operating from the beach area. We will be holding an on-site meeting soon to being exploring solutions closer to the creek.
Saratoga continues to work on the master plan, which will be ready at a later date this spring.
DPWBuildings
New floor was installed at Carpenter Barn office.
Plow and Removed Snow
Air sealing and painting has started at the Firehouse.
We pick up an Army surplus generator in Pennsylvania for DPW garage.
Streets
Plow and Removed Snow
Service Fire trucks and other equipment
Help Water Department un-thaw several water services.
Clean up stumps at Lakeland Park
Cold patching and street sweeping has started
Broke up ice around the dock at Lakeside
Cemetery
Removed snow and open up roadways throughout the cemetery
We have started servicing equipment.
We received a new X730 john Deere mower
Office has been repainted.
Trustee Jim Josephreported CACDA has proved themselves as grant writers for the municipalities in the area and also great ambassadors. On March 18thCACDA reached out to the Amish Community by hosting an evening at the library to show community, fellowship and understanding. Hats off to Lauren Lines and Jimmy Golub for their work with this event. CACDA will be installing two hitching posts for the horses in the Village.