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2001-10-22 SP SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING 10/22/2001 MTG#46 SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING RES#401-40lB 7:00 P.M. MTG#46 OCTOBER 22, 200 I BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT SUPERVISOR DENNIS BROWER COUNCILMAN JAMES MARTIN COUNCILMAN THEODORE TURNER COUNCILMAN DANIEL STEC COUNCILMAN TIM BREWER TOWN OFFICIALS COMPTOLLER, HENRY HESS WATER SUPERINTENDENT, RALPH VAN DUSEN SUPERVISOR BROWER-Opened meeting. DISCUSSIONS FLEXIBLE HEALTH BENEFIT OPTIONS - JOHN WEBER Mr. Weber made presentation to the Town Board regarding the health benefit options plan. Spoke to the board regarding the Cafeteria Plan noting it's a two-step process. Medical Expense Plan noting it works the same way as the cafeteria plan except each employee sits down with a representative of the group regarding the plan. Mr. Hess noted this would not disturb what we have now thinks this would fold into the new plan, but it wouldn't disturb the benefit of the plan we have now. Those people who elected not to make an additional contribution noting there are two separate contributions they can make one would be for medical expenses the other one would be if you wanted to offer the child care option if you offer both of them it would be in addition to the benefit they have now. Supervisor Brower questioned how often employees may change this option, Mr. Weber noted it's a twelve-month commitment. HUMAN RESOURCE POSITION Supervisor Brower spoke to the board regarding the Human Resource Position. Noted he met with Town Managers on Friday one of their principal concerns is having a Human Resource Manager for the Town. Noted Mr. Lavery and Mr. Hess handle personnel noting they have no formal training in it. This position would probably be combined with other responsibilities potentially public relations and possible other responsibilities. Water Superintendent, Mr. Van Dusen spoke to the board regarding the need for this position noting they don't feel they have the time as Department Heads to become experts in personnel. There is no uniformity between one department and another regarding the handling of personnel issues. Noted he thinks they all feel the need for a resource person to be able to help coordinate them to do their jobs better. Supervisor Brower noted that Mr. Lavery took over for Kim Heunemann who had a graduate degree in human resources. Councilman Martin noted it has been long overdue noting any other private organization of this size with the complexity of a union and non-union staff and the resulting maintenance issues it is needed. This would bring much more professionalism resulting in better service to the community noting he would be a strong advocate of this. Need to know how this position is going to work in the overall structure of the Town what responsibilities does it have specifically? Want to make sure this is well educated to the department heads and staff. Councilman Stec recommended contacting other similar size communities regarding the creation of this position. Questioned how many grievances do they average a year and the type of grievances. Water Superintendent, Mr. Van Dusen noted in his department maybe only one or two a year noting types have been allocation in overtime or the perception of fairness in job promotions. Councilman Martin there are many things this position could accomplish like maintenance of the salary schedule, breakdown of job classification, and the overall organization of the Town. Councilman Brewer noted he has an objection to hiring a Human Resource Manager and making him Fleet Manager ultimately what happens is the reason you hired him he doesn't have time to do that job. Comptroller, Mr. Hess the Town Board would see the biggest benefit of it. The Town Board needs to know that there is a Human Resource professional in-house that's handling HR problems for their best interest noting he doesn't think this exists now. Councilman Brewer noted at another meeting the Department Managers could bring an outline of the things that would be positive and the needs that would be negative or why they need that person. After further discussion it was the decision to keep twenty thousand on a line item to see what happens later. Councilman Martin recommended contacting similar communities get a job description contact Rich Kelley to see what he might have for job description and corresponding salaries. WEST GLENS FALLS FIRE CaMP ANY TRUCK FUND JOHN WELLS, PETE HARRINGTON Discussion held regarding vehicle truck fund noting that 1995 was their last truck fund, which was $58,000. Mr. Wells noted if the truck fund had stayed in existence from when it was taken away at the rate of $50,000 with the resale of the old apparatus we would have been able to cover the purchase price of the new truck just ordered. If they get the truck fund reinstated for their 2004 needs of where they want to replace Brush Ill, Rescue 113, the money will be there won't have to be any debt service in order to accommodate that. They are figuring the next replacement of an engine in 2007 if they go with the $50,000 they will have $200,000 with a resale of maybe $50,000 for the old 311 which would leave them $50,000 short from their projected replacement cost of that vehicle which would help them not incur debt service again. Comptroller, Mr. Hess noted if this were put in they would have to look at a capital replacement plan so they could do life cycle costing noting he hasn't done life cycle costing for this squad because they haven't been on the plan. Councilman Stec reinstating the truck fund here would facilitate a planning tool for future capital spending from West Glens Falls. Comptroller, Mr. Hess the budget they are working with now is up eight point four percent in the five companies if you add forty thousand dollars to their truck fund the fire companies budget would be up a total of ten point seven percent over last year noting he doesn't know how it will affect the tax rate because there still is a fund balance this year. Mr. Wells noted they are looking to go back to, as close to what they had before the $50,000 is what they had talked about previously. Mr. Harrington noted they would like a fixed plan this is what they are trying to provide to the board is to give the fixed rate plan. The $50,000 keeps them where they want to go until at least 2007 without really having to look for any future increases or debt services to cover these projects that we want to fund for our vehicle replacement. Also noted they have to consider that next year they will close the loan on the other truck that will show the increase which is not in the budgetary process for 2002 because they do not have the paper work on it. Comptroller, Mr. Hess that will kick into 2003 with the sale of the old truck and the timing you will not need until 2002. After further discussion it was the decision of the Town Board to reinstate the $40,000 for the vehicle replacement fund for West Glens Falls Fire Department for 2002 budget. GLEN LAKE DREDGING PROJECT - SCOTT CARTIER NO ONE PRESENT FROM GLEN LAKE ASSOCIATION BAY RIDGE RESCUE SQUAD BUDGET - CONNIE TUCKER Discussion held regarding Bay Ridge Rescue Squad Budget noted the major increase was the vehicle replacement fund. Discussion held regarding the mortgage rate for the rescue squad building, Ms. Tucker noted they did refinance and the savings was significant noting this was all done with Mr. Hess. After further discussion it was the decision to have Mr. Hess look at the mortgage contract to see if they could get a better rate. Supervisor Brower questioned what they were contemplating for equipment purchases noting it has doubled. MsTucker noted they need to start replacing their life packs. The State standard is to go to twelve liter KG monitoring the units are twelve thousand dollars apiece right now noting the price will be going up noting she has given Mr. Hess a five year plan. The other big item is the gear budget noted she has some expenses this year that she hasn't had in previous years. Councilman Stec questioned what is the time donated by a rescue worker? Ms. Tucker an average of twelve if not twenty-four hours of their volunteer time noting that's just a regular member noting the officers are putting in full-time hours on top of their full-time job. Supervisor Brower questioned what other ambulance squads have for vehicle replacement fund. Ms. Tucker noted West Glens Falls receives $45,000; North Queensbury receives $19,000 or $20,000 noting they only do fifty calls a year. After further discussion it was the decision of the Town Board to increase the Bay Ridge Rescue Squad 2002 budget by 30 percent to include additional money to maintain the squad's building and to increase its vehicle fund from $18,000 annually to $40,000. SOUTH QUEENSBURY FIRE DEPARTMENT ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION - GLEN RALSTON NO ONE PRESENT BUDGET REVIEW PARKS & RECREATION DIRECTOR OF PARKS & RECREATION, MR. HANSEN PRESENT Discussion held regarding Parks & Recreation budget. Mr. Hansen noted the total budget is down from where they were the previous year noting they didn't have any major capital expenditures in terms of equipment. Noted he does need a snowmobile to replace the one that is fourteen years old. Councilman Martin asked how many kids is the Town serving. Mr. Hansen noted they have seen an increase in the summer numbers playground, swimming pool wise. With the increase programming for swimming have seen an increase noted would like to get more pool time. Councilman Martin questioned the winter programs. Mr. Hansen noted they have had tremendous numbers in soccer, flag football, noting they just started swimming on Saturday. Councilman Martin spoke to the board regarding the dedication of land from the Michaels Group in association with Waverly Place. Noted he would like to formally explore the idea of a community center in the form of a cultural arts facility that could potentially be used to house the Lake George Opera Festival would like to the see the Recreation Commission explore this. Mr. Hansen noted they are open to exploring this. Noted they would like to put in a community recreation facility noting what it will house can't say right now. Councilman Martin recommended looking into Round Pond again noting it is a natural water source centrally located in the Town would look to the Recreation Commission to consider this. Spoke to the board regarding repairs at Hudson Pointe noting they couldn't get any of their equipment in there had to rent a four wheeler ask the board for conceptual approval to buy a used four wheeler for forty five hundred dollars. Councilman Brewer noted it would be a benefit could be used for cutting the trails and keeping them clean. Councilman Stec noted it would be a good idea. Discussion held regarding elected officials salaries. RESOLUTION ENTERING EXECUTIVE SESSION RESOLUTION NO. 401,2001 INTRODUCED BY: Mr. James Martin WHO MOVED FOR ITS ADOPTION SECONDED BY: Mr. Daniel Stec RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Queensbury hereby adjourns from Regular Session and enters into Executive Session to discuss one personnel matter. Duly adopted this 22nd day of October, 2001, by the following vote: Ayes: Mr. Martin, Mr. Turner, Mr. Stec, Mr. Brewer, Mr. Brower Noes: None AbsentNone RESOLUTION ADJOURNING EXECUTIVE SESSION RESOLUTION NO. 401A, 2001 INTRODUCED BY: Mr. Daniel Stec WHO MOVED FOR ITS ADOPTION SECONDED BY: Mr. James Martin RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Queensbury hereby adjourns from Executive Session and moves back into Regular Session. Duly adopted this 22nd day of October, 2001, by the following vote: Ayes: Mr. Turner, Mr. Stec, Mr. Brewer, Mr. Brower, Mr. Martin Noes: None AbsentNone RESOLUTION ADJOURNING SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING RESOLUTION NO. 40lB, 2001 INTRODUCED BY: Mr. James Martin WHO MOVED FOR ITS ADOPTION SECONDED BY: Mr. Daniel Stec RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Queensbury hereby adjourns its Special Town Board Meeting. Duly adopted this 22nd day of October, 2001, by the following vote: Ayes: Mr. Stec, Mr. Brewer, Mr. Brower, Mr. Martin, Mr. Turner Noes: None AbsentNone No further action taken. On motion, the meeting was adjourned. Respectfully Submitted, Darleen M. Dougher Town Clerk Town of Queensbury