Macedon Town Board – August 9, 2012

A regular meeting of the board was called to order at 7:30 PM in the Macedon Town Hall. Meeting minutes from the July 12, 2012 meeting were approved as presented. Monthly Report from the Police Department for the month of July was approved, as was the Historian’s Report for June 16, 2012-July 15, 2012. No public comments were offered.
A public hearing was called to order at 7:35 PM for the purpose of considering a Special Use Permit for TJJK Properties LLC. to operate a campground at 997 NYS Route 31, Macedon. Mr. Don Lewis of AEY Engineering spoke on behalf of the proposed campground project owners Kevin “Red” and Barb Heald, and explained that the Healds hope to develop the 337 acre site into an approximately 330 acre site located along the North side of Route 31, along the barge canal, bordering Bullis Park to the East. The property is zoned as an ORM District, and the intention is to develop the property into a seasonal campground with 300 campsites, a pool, a store, and restrooms. The development would also utilize gas, electric, and sewer access. Mr. Lewis also clarified that all wetland areas on the property have been delineated and walked by the DEC, and will be avoided as to see they aren’t disturbed any further. It was further noted the preliminary and final phase of the plans are to be submitted to the Town of Macedon Planning Board by next week, and it is the intention that the Town of Macedon Planning Board is to be named as the Lead Agency for the project. Public comment from a Canandaigua Road resident who is a former campground owner and currently runs a DWI program, who explained that she is “seriously concerned” about the proposed campground, specifically speaking to the number of campsites and increased traffic in the town which would result from that number of sites, as well as property value reduction, and taxing the Macedon Police Department with additional calls and incidents. She further addressed the “recreational pursuits” associated with camping, specifically the over sonsumption of alcohol, and the eventuality that some campers would be irresponsible about then driving while intoxicated, which she explained she had witnessed in her role of campground owner many times over. “It was an adventure I wouldn’t want to repeat, and I am not too thrilled about living down the street from.” A second resident spoke out in favor of the proposed campground, calling himself a “character reference”, as he personally knows Kevin Heald. He described Mr. Heald as a “good businessman and good people”, adding “I don’t have a problem with it.” Barb Heald also addressed the board and the residents in attendance, noting that the couple has spent 4 years meeting with campground owners from across New York State regarding behaviors and regulations within the campsites, and that the couple has modeled their rules after other successful campgrounds. Councilwoman Pagano noted that in reviewing the rules and regulations of the proposed campground she was impressed with the strict nature and thorough list they had detailed. Ultimately the board agreed to keep the public hearing open, until a lead agency or “SEQRA” is declared.
The Macedon Town Board then held a joint meeting with the Gananda Central Schools Board of Education. Highlights of the meeting included discussion of the possibility of sharing services in an effort to lower costs to both the town and the school, and also the development of Macedon. School Board Member Chuck Rothfuss remarked that shared services are “the wave of the future”, and GCSD Superintendent Dr. Shawn VanScoy commented that sharing has proved to be successful in several aspects of the school district such as a Food Service Director and a Transportation Department Manager, while other shared ventures were tried and not as successful. he noted that ultimately service sharing is well worth trying and has proven to afford cost savings. Town Councilman Paul Kenyon who also works for the Pal-Mac School District suggested that savings can be realized through the sharing of services when a school district and a town municipality cooperate together to facilitate projects in an effort to reduce costs. GCSD Board member, Ms. Amy Suchan suggested the sharing of equipment, citing excavation as an example. Town Supervisor, Bill Hammond, addressed the high tax rate for the Gananda CSD, and questioned if, when the high school building is paid-off, the rates will decrease. Dr. VanScoy replied that the district will pay off the high school capital project in 2019 but unfortunately it will not reduce the tax, as state aid is essentially paying for the high school building and is not being funded by tax-payers. He explained that the challenge GCSD faces is that it is a school district that is essentially funded by residents, as there are very few businesses within the school district’s tax base, and that it is difficult to persuade businesses to come out to the area when it is located so far from the NYS Thruway and also due to the current bridge closings which is further limiting the area. However, he noted that the cost of homes within the district are 60% less than homes within the Penfield Central School District as a draw. Paul Kenyon pointed out that there is still opportunity for growth with property values being more affordable than in Monroe County. Overall the boards agreed that some beneficial discussions had taken place during the joint meeting and thanked each other for taking the time to meet.
Under business, approved resolutions were as follows:
• Authorization for Supervisor Hammond to sign the Snow and Ice Agreement for the 2013-2014 Season
• The Excavator Bid Award was given to Vantage Equipment, LLC, a 2012 or newer Track Excavator with a 2-6 year lease option at a cost of $36,694.14 (including the price of the trade-in equipment)
• The Town of Macedon will participate in conjunction with Wayne County and School as per the Wayne County Board of Supervisors for litigation involving challenges to real property assessments on 3 separate properties within the Town of Macedon
• A Traffic Control Modification at the intersection of Wiedrick and Eddy Roads, to be modified to a 4-way Stop, and authorized the Highway Superintendent to modify the intersection with appropriate signage.
• Approval of a quote provided by Brad Jacobs & Sons Masonry, Inc. in the lump sum amount of $2,875.00 for the public Safety Building Entryway Footers
• Provisionary Temporary Appointment of Ms. Lynette Sackett as Assessor Clerk at annual salary of $24,500.00, effective August 20, 2012
• Payment of Claims for Abstracts #277 & #278 for expenditures in the amount of $421,776.63
• Budget Workshop to be held on Saturday, October 6, 2012 at 5:00 PM in the Macedon Town Hall Meeting Room
• Public Hearings set as follows:
-Farmington Fire Association Fire Protection Services for the years of 2013 and 2014 Public Hearing set for Thursday, October 27, 2012 at 7:35 PM
-Macedon Center Fire Association Fire Protection Services for the years of 2013 and 2014 Public Hearing set for Thursday, October 27, 2012 at 7:40 PM
-Village of Macedon Fire Protection Services for the years of 2013 and 2014 Public Hearing set for Thursday, October 27, 2012 at 7:40 PM
-Preliminary 2013 Budget Public Hearing set for Thursday, October 27, 2012 at 7:50 PM
• Lastly the board named the list of approved school tax collectors for the 2012-2013 school year as follows:
-Ms. Cathy Herzog as School Tax Collector for the portion of the Wayne Central School District within the Town of Macedon
-Ms. Lynne Green as School Tax Collector for the portion of the Palmyra-Macedon Central School District within the Town of Macedon
-Ms. Nicole Ritz as School Tax Collector for the portion of the Victor Central School District within the Town of Macedon
-Ms. Renee Lau as School Tax Collector for the portion of the Gananda Central School District within the Town of Macedon
-Ms. Margaret Revelle as School Tax Collector for the portion of the Penfield Cenrtal School District within the Town of Macedon
During the Round Table portion of the meeting Councilwoman Pagano reported that on Thursday, August 16th in the Canal Park the Community Concert Series will be held from 6:00-8:00 PM. Lastly she added that the town’s Macedon Messenger will be distributed at the end of September. Anyone interested in advertising in the publication should contact Norb Miller in the Town of Macedon Recreation Department.
No other business came before the board and the public meeting was adjourned at 9:23 PM, and the board then met in Executive Session for a personnel issue. The next regular meeting of the Macedon Town Board will be held on Thursday, September 13th, at 7:30 PM in the Macedon Town Hall.
By Becky Block

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