Town of Williamson – October 9, 2012

The regular business meeting of the Town Board was called to order at 7:30 with all board members present. Hearing no comments from the public, Supervisor Hoffman introduced Kevin Schulte, CEO of SED (Sustainable Energy Developments), whose firm develops and installs wind and solar power projects. This is a company employing 23 people, has been in existence for 14 years, and has completed 54 projects throughout the United States; most of these are wind projects. The presentation to the Town Board was a proposal for a solar unit to be installed in conjunction with Juhl Wind Inc. on the 14-acre decommissioned landfill site at 6742 Pound Road. The total cost, currently estimated to be between $3,100,000 and $6,100,000, would be less than the Town would pay RG&E for its electric consumption during the system’s life of 25 years. The Town would own the system in 6 1/2 years; it would provide all the electrical energy needed by the Town; Williamson would be the first “solar town” in New York State to have a landfill solar cap. The biggest risk to the Town would be if RG&E lowers their cost of electricity, which is not a certainty at this time. The first round of grant funding is due November 8th; an application is most lucrative now, and would diminish as time goes on. It was noted that 50% of the money spent on electricity goes to the Water Plant. Juhl Wind Inc. will pursue the funding for this project under the NY Sun Initiative NYSERDA PON 2598, and the Town will enter into a fixed Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for $0.10 per kilowatt hour for the first ten years based on the town’s current electricity use. If the Town decides to go forward with this project, applied to the proposed transaction will be the utilization of solar modules and inverters manufactured in the U.S. and a 25-year warranty on these solar modules and inverters. The Town Board will have a workshop to discuss this proposal on Wednesday, October 17th, at 4:00 p.m. in the Town Hall. {Note: This workshop will also include a discussion on the Zoning Ordinance.}
The next presentation was conducted by Jamie Sonneville regarding the Town’s website, the purpose of which is to improve the image and marketing of the Town. The committee is looking for ways to do so without spending $20 – $30 thousand dollars on the project. Committee member Gary Manuse wants to make sure that the site is compatible with modern technology, such as smartphones, and member Nan Hance stated that it is important for it to be user-friendly. Ms. Sommerville wants to have a clear and concise site which is easy to update and access. The Google website is: williamson.ny.org. The key feature of the website is the calendar, which can be updated by all Town departments who subscribe to the calendar. The Town previously hired 2 high school students to move the items from the current site to the new one; January 1st is the target date to close the old and open the new one. Councilman Tony Verno commented that he has a concern about the content of the posts if it’s the case where all employees are able to access the site by using a password.

The third presentation concerned the Town’s Comprehensive Plan, and was offered by Tim Wozniak, a one-year member of the Williamson Planning Board. The committee has charted issues they feel are central to providing all residents with a high quality-of-life by ensuring that future planning decisions support the goals of the community, protect irreplaceable natural and environmental resources, and allow for planned economic growth that retains the small-town atmosphere of the Town. The second objective is to establish a recognizable identity for the Town that builds on and enhances its unique assets and resources. Also addressed in this category was recreation programming and facilities for all Town residents, and the provision of adequate roadways for public transportation, bicycles, and walking. In addition, they addressed residential living, incorporating objectives which establish a varied housing mix within the Town that meets the needs of current and future residents, promotes agriculture and open space, and attracts, retains, and expands business and industry. The charting was categorized by the term of the objectives (on-going, short-term, mid-point), the responsible party/parties, and the status of the issue.

- Department reports were received from the Highway, Water Treatment Facility, Water Department, Wastewater Treatment Facility, and the Town Park.

– Facilities – Councilman Mike Bixby moved to hire a Senior Clerk Typist for the Assessing/Building Department; the date of hire will be 10/22/12, at a pay rate of $12.99 per hour. The next motion was to authorize attendance at the RPS V4 Introduction Training Classes to be held on 10/22 and 10/23 in Batavia, with all necessary expenses to be a Town charge. A motion was approved to increase the charge for cemetery lots in the old and new sections at Sunnyside Cemetery. The cost per lot will be $550.00; it was previously set at $400.00. Following the approval of this motion, Councilman Bixby moved to sign an independent contractor’s agreement with Larry Rath for burial services at this cemetery, with the cost to be stated in the agreement.

- Finance – Supervisor Jim Hoffman moved to amend the Library revenues as stated in the 2013 Preliminary Budget. The next motion authorized the Town Clerk to advertise in the Times of Wayne County and the Sun & Record the week of 10/7/12, and in the Times of WC the week of 10/14/12 to hold a Public Hearing on 10/23/12 at 8:00 pm. for proposed Local Law #3 regarding the tax levy cap. This law will protect the Town from having to put monies plus interest into a reserve fund if the state finds that the Town erroneously figured or made a mathematical mistake to determine the tax cap. Williamson probably won’t be audited for four or five years and it would be necessary to go back to the year the error occurred. The Town Supervisor was then authorized to submit a request for RFP’s from Attorneys to act as the Attorney for the Town. Supervisor Hoffman advised the Board that insurance quotes have been received from 3 agents and will be reviewed.

– Parks & Recreation – Councilman Bixby made a motion to adopt the revised Fee Schedule for the use of facilities at the Williamson Town Park, to go into effect on 10/10/12. This schedule addresses all uses of the Town Park’s facilities as well as the fee for the consumption of alcohol in the lodge.

– Public Services — Councilman Tony Verno presented a motion for the Town Supervisor to prepare and enter into an agreement with the Williamson Central School District, allowing them to purchase salt from the Town. They will be billed each spring for the salt purchased for the season. The next motion authorized the Supervisor to sign a snow removal agreement with the Williamson Central School District for snow removal from the sidewalk between the 4 corners of the Town to the High School. The cost per trip will be $70.00; the Town will remove the snow and the district is to pay 1/2 of that cost ($35.00).

The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.. There will be a special workshop on Wednesday, October 17th, at 4:00 p.m. regarding the SED and the Zoning Ordinance. The next business meeting of the Town Board will be on October 23, 2012, at 7:30, preceded by a workshop at 7:00.
Submitted by Monica Deyo

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