Town of Williamson – February 12, 2013

The Town Board workshop opened at 7:00 to discuss the Solar Panel Project at the site of the former landfill. Ram Shivastra of Larsen Engineers was present to explain to the board the financing of the project. He said the Town could see a savings of $4 million over a period of 30 years. DEC has to approve the proposal but since the landfill is an ideal site for the solar panels, approval should be no problem. The next bid cycle is due in March, and the next will be in August. The engineering firm is trying to go for the first bid cycle.
The business meeting was called to order at 7:30 with all board members present. Supervisor Jim Hoffman opened the Public Hearing regarding the proposed Local Law #2, 2013 – to amend Chapter 35, to add Section 35-16 Best Value Standards. This allows the Town to award purchase contracts or accept offers on the basis of best value, even if the bid is not the lowest submission. This would be determined through a cost analysis; e.g. – warranties, response time of vendor, etc. Hearing no comments from the public, the hearing was closed. Next on the agenda was a proclamation presented to George Harland, Clerk of the Works for the Williamson Town Park. George was hired on 4/27/99 as “Park Overseer & Coordinator” to oversee the development of the Town Park, and the Town Board on behalf of the Town residents wish to commend George for his dedication to making the Town Park what it is today. He was thanked for his many years of service to the Town of Williamson. Upon accepting the award, George thanked various ndividuals for their assistance, including Dave Madison, Orlo Plyter, Mike Bixby, and others who provided services necessary to the construction of the park. Councilman Bixby shared an email from Ed Marriott who stated that working with George has been a pleasure, and in addition, Mr. Bixby stated that without George, the Town would probably not have a park.
– Correspondence & Information – Letters were received from: Finger Lakes Works Career Center – seeking locations at which to assign individuals for a work placement, such as Town Highway Departments. These assignments will be of no cost to the Towns. Wayne County 911 – explanation of the Unsafe Structure Program, which recognizes that there are unsafe properties and will ensure that emergency responders are aware of pre-existing hazards at these locations. Sun & Record Publications – thanks extended to the Williamson Town Board for their continued support of the publication by designating it as one of the official newspapers for the Town. The NY Press Association, of which the paper is a member, will now be posting public notices from their publications on a recently-completed website.
– Consent Agenda – The Board approved the minutes of the 1/22/13 meeting, accepted the departmental monthly reports, paid the library bills in the amount of $4261.49, approved the accruals in all Town funds, made budgetary transfers, and authorized the Town Clerk to advertise in the Town’s legal papers the week of 3/10/13 for bids for the 2013 Williamson Spring Clean-up. Bids are due by 4/1/13 at 2:00 p.m., at which time they will be opened and read.
– Economic Development – Councilman Orbaker presented a resolution regarding vacant structures that are not maintained for months at a time and degrade and depreciate the value of the structure as well as the value of the surrounding properties. Lending institutions that hold mortgages on these properties do not always provide the contact information of a responsible party, and 2 pending Assembly bills will make it mandatory that they do so – the banks would then be held accountable. Councilman Watson questioned as to whether this would create further hardship for those who are doing business in NYS or wish to do so in the future.
– Facilities – Councilman Bixby moved to amend the motion from 4/24/12 which approved 60 hours to develop a new Town website at a rate of $8.00/hr. The actual hours required were 62.5, or an additional 2.5 hours. It was also discussed as to whether the Town should purchase a TV to be used for presentations. The Board would need to determine how often it would be used, and there should be a knowledgeable person available to operate it. No decision was made on this proposal.
– Finance – Supervisor Hoffman moved to spend monies that were levied and collected for the repair and improvement of highways shall be expended as follows: $99,099 for general repairs on Town roads totaling approximately 47.59 miles, and $397,526 for improvements of various roads. A resolution was passed authorizing the Town Supervisor to sign the annual software support agreement with Williamson Law Book Co. for technical and software support for the payroll program; the cost will be $726.00/year (the last time this was paid for was in 2011 at a fee of $660.00). The next approval was for the Senior Account Clerk and the Clerk to the Supervisor to attend the NY Syracuse Grant Management Training Seminar on 4/11 and 4/12 at SUNY Oswego Metro Center, The Atrium in Syracuse. The cost of $595.00 per person will be a Town charge. This seminar will provide training on the administration of grants once they are received.
– Planning – Councilman Watson moved to reappoint Roland Stevens to the Planning Board as an alternate for a term from 1/13/13 – 1/12/18. Mr. Watson also led a discussion regarding proposed Local Law #1, 2013, to amend Chapter 178, Zoning. He has not received any comments from the public since the Public Hearing on this issue. He shared information from the County Planning Board that this should be compatible with the Comprehensive Plan, which it is, and perhaps public properties designations should be considered. It was decided that this is not necessary as it does not concern zoning. Councilman Orbaker commented that the agricultural portion of the code concerning farm labor camps which increases the front setback requirements from 50’ to 200’ needs to be taken into consideration.
– Public Safety – Supervisor Hoffman presented a discussion regarding a request that the Town plow the sidewalk that goes between 2 private properties – Orchard Estates and McDonald’s. It was felt that doing so could open up some liability issues. Highway Superintendent Kurt Allman suggested that the sidewalk should be a seasonal use only and closed during the winter months. The new owner of Orchard Estates has never had it plowed. No decision was made at this time.
– Public Services – A discussion was held regarding the sale of the Williamson gravel pit. Councilman Bixby recommended that its true value should be determined; for a cost of $2000, core samples could be taken to find out how much gravel is left and would thus provide an estimate for its value. The Board also authorized Larsen Engineers to rebid at 100% the Solar Panel Project and to request that the project shows a production of power equal to the Town’s annual energy use. Finally, the bids for the WasteWater Treatment Plant building upgrades and the Screw Press Project were awarded to the lowest bidders – Contract A to Wind-Sun Construction, Inc. at $532,438.00, and Contract B to Connor Haas Electrical Contractors, Inc. at $19,390.00.
The meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m. The next Town Board meeting will be on 2/26/13 at 7:30 p.m., preceded by a workshop at 7:00 p.m.
Submitted by Monica Deyo

Comments

comments