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1981-10-01 SP SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING OCTOBER 1 , 1981 TOWN BOARD MEMBERS MRS. FRANCES WALTER-SUPERVISOR MR. DANIEL OLSON-COUNCILMAN DR. CHARLES EISENHART-COUNCILMAN MR. DANIEL MORRELL-COUNCILMAN MR. HAMMOND ROBERTSON-COUNCILMAN ABSENT: MR. JOSEPH BRENNAN r PRESS: G. F. POST STAR, WWSC PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE LED BY TOWN CLERK DONALD A. CHASE MEETING OPENED 4 : 31 P. M. SUPERVISOR WALTER- YESTERDAY AFTERNOON WE FILED WITH THE TOWN CLERK THE '1982 BUDGET , MR. CHASE IS NOW PRESENTING THIS TO THE TOWN BOARD. . . THE GENERAL FUND APPROPRIATIONS REFLECTS A DECREASE FROM 1981 , THIS IS A SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT BECAUSE THE UTILITIES , FUEL OIL , TELEPHONE ALL HAVE RISEN. I TRIED TO KEEP, FOR THE SECOND YEAR , EQUIPMENT AT A MINIMUM , THIS BUDGET REFLECTS THE PRESENT SERVICES , AS THEY ARE IN 1981 . THERE HAS BEEN NOTHING ADDED AND THERE HAS BEEN NOTHING CUT. THERE IS A TWO PERCENT INCREASE IN THE CEMETERY ACCOUNT AND ABOUT THREE PERCENT IN THE JOINT ACTIVITY WITH GLENS FALLS FOR THE LANDFILL. I WOULD SAY THAT THE LARGEST INCREASE IN THE BUDGET ARE ATTRIBUTED TO THE HIGHWAY , THE ACCOUNTS HAVE INCREASED APPROXIMATELY TWENTY PERCENT. THE BUDGET THAT WAS SUBMITTED TO ME BY THE SUPT. HAS BEEN CUT CONSIDERABLY. HE DID ASK FOR A SEVENTY NINE PERCENT INCREASE OVER LAST YEAR APPROPRIATION , AFTER REVIEWING THE REQUEST I HOPE I REVIEWED THEM REALISTICALLY, I PUT THE FIGURES DOWN THAT I FEEL THAT WE CAN' LIVE WITH, HOWEVER I WOULD HOPE THAT IN OUR BUDGET WORKSHOPS THAT THE BOARD WOULD MAKE ANY CHANGES THAT THEY WOULD DEEM NECESSARY. THE LIGHTING ACCOUNTS HAVE INCREASED BY FOURTEEN PERCENT AND THAT REFLECTS AN INCREASE THAT HAS BEEN PROJECTED TO US . QUEENSBURY WATER DIST. WHICH IS THE LARGEST DISTRICT REMAINS FAIRLY CONSISTENT IN ITS COST AND WE ARE LOOKING AT OVER TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS NEXT YEAR. ONE OTHER NOTE THAT IS IMPORTANT TO THE 11982 BUDGET IS THE FACT THAT REVENUES ARE DOWN AND THEY ARE DOWN BY A DECREASE OF ABOUT TEN PERCENT. THERE ARE NO TAX RATES IN THIS BUDGET BECAUSE THEY WILL BE SET BY THE COUNTY AND I AM TOLD THAT WILL BE DONE SOMETIME IN EARLY DECEMBER. THE BOARD WILL REVIEW THIS BUDGET IN A SERIES OF WORKSHOPS , AND THE FINAL BUDGET BY LAW WOULD BE ADOPTED BY NOVEMBER 20TH . SECOND ITEM OF BUSINESS SUPERVISOR WALTER- A RESOLUTION UPON A PETITION BY MANY OF THE PEOPLE OF THE TOWN OF QUEENSBURY TO ESTABLISH A WARD SYSTEM FOR THE ELECTION OF COUNCILMEN IN THE TOWN OF QUEENSBURY. REVIEWED SECTION $1 OF TOWN LAW . . . PROPOSED RESOLUTION INTRODUCED BY COUNCILMAN MORRELL , SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN ROBERTSON DISCUSSION SUPERVISOR WALTER- THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE SADM T DAY IN MY TEN ` WITH QUEENSBURY GOVERNMENT , IN THE FACT THAT I AM HOUND BY LAW TO TURN OVER TO THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS A PETITION WHICH I DO NOT BELIEVE IN , IN CONCEPT. THE WARD SYSTEM IS NOT POPULAR, THERE ARE ONLY SIX TOWNS OF THE NINE HUNDRED AND THIRTY ONE TOWNS IN NEW YORK STATE THAT USE IT. WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT QUEENSBURY RESIDENTS LOSE THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE FOR THE SELECTION OF FOUR TOWN REPRESENTATIVES ON THE TOWN BOARD. WITH THE WARD SECTION THEY WOULD - THEN ONLY BE ABLE TO VOTE FOR ONE PERSONjTHEY WOULD NO LONGER HAVE THAT OPTION TO CONTACT FOUR COUNCILMEN WHO RESPOND WITH OUR PRESENT SYSTEM. IF MANY OF THE RESIENTS WHO SIGNED THIS PETITION ARE EXPECTING THEIR NEIGHBORS TO REPRESENT THEM I WOULD SAY THAT THEY WOULD PROBABLY BE MISTAKEN BECAUSE SPLITTING THE TOWN OF QUEENSBURY SEVENTY TWO SQUARE MILES IN FOUR SECTIONS LEAVES A GREAT DEAL OF DISTANCE BETWEEN ONE REPRESENTATIVE 'S HOME AND ANOTHER. SOME-HOW THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT DOES NOT SEEM TO BE RIGHTING A WRONG IN OUR PRESENT SYSTEM , THE WARD SYSTEM IS NOT PROGRESSIVE BUT WOULD PUT QUEENSBURY IN THE CLASS WARD POLITICS . BY THE ACTIONS OF THE BOARD TODAY RESIDENTS WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO VOTE ON THIS ISSUE BUT I� NOW, I CANNOT SUPPORT ANY FORM OF GOVERNMENT WHICH IMPEDES PROGRESS AND CREATES PROVINCIALISM THAT WILL SET BACK QUEENSBURY REALLY TO THE DARK AGES . WHEN THE FINAL VOTES ARE COUNTED I HOPE THAT THE RESULT WILL BE A VOTE OF 10 CONFIDENCE FOR THE TOTAL REPRESENTATIVES SYSTEM, AND THAT TAMMANY DOES NOT COME TO QUEENSBURY. REPRESENTATIVES OF THE TOWN BOARD HAVE INDICATED TO ME THAT THEY WOULD BE GLAD TO SPEAK TO ANY ORGANIZATION OR AGENCY THAT WISHES TO BE INFORMED AS TO EXACTLY WHAT THE ADVANTAGES OR DISADVANTAGES OF THE SYSTEM WOULD BE. WE HAVE A VERY SHORT TIME TO REALLY EDUCATE PEOPLE AS TO WHAT THE WARD SYSTEM IS REALLY ALL ABOUT . IT DOES MAKE IT EASIER FOR A PERSON TO BE ELECTED BUT IT ALSO KEEPS THE QUALITY OF CANDIDATES DOWN BECAUSE IN SOME AREAS THERE WOULD BE PERHAPS TWO OR THREE PEOPLE INTERESTED IN BEING A REPRESENTATIVE OF TOWN GOVERNMENT AND IN SOME AREAS I KNOW FROM SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES THAT .ONE MUST RAP ON DOORS TO FIND SOMEBODY WHO EVEN SHOWS THE SLIGHTEST AMOUNT OF INTEREST. COUNCILMAN EISENHART- I WOULD AGREE WITH STATEMENTS MADE BY THE SUPERVISOR , AS FAR AS THE UNITY OF THE TOWN IS CONCERNED4 IT WOULD BE VERY DESTRUCTIVE I THINK WE ALL KNOW WHAT THE PURPOSE OF IT IS , IT IS AN EFFORT TO DIS- TROY THE PROPOSITION THAT EVERYBODY STANDS ON THE TOWN BOARD MUST MAKE __,1 HIS APPEAL TO THE ENTIRE TOWN AND MUST REPRESENT THE ENTIRE TOWN. WHEN YOU GET INTO PARTISANSHIP , TOTALITIES REPRESENTED ON THE-TOWN BOARD I THINK IT COULD ONLY BE DESTRUCTIVE, IT COULD ONLY LEAD TO INEFFICIENCY J OR INADEQUATE BUSINESS BY THE BOARD. I SINCERELY HOPE THAT THE VOTERS OF THE TOWN OF QUEENSBURY TURN THIS DOWN RESOUNDINGLY I THINK IT IS A BAD MOVE. COUNCILMAN OLSON-I ALSO AGREE WITH MRS . WALTER AND DR. EISENHART I AM STRONGLY IN OPPOSITION TO THIS PROPOSAL BUT I AM BOUND BY LAW , THIS PETITION HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO US AND I RESEARCHED A LITTLE BIT AND HAVE DONE SOME READING INTO THE LAW AND I WILL VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS RESOLUTION THAT WE MOVE THIS QUESTION TO THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS , BUT I WILL ONLY DO THAT BECAUSE IT IS THE LAW AND IT WAS PRESENTED IN PROPER FORM. I AM STRONI-Y OPPOSED TO THE WARD SYSTEM, I DO NOT WANT TO TURN THIS TOWN INTO A THREE RING CIRCUS WHERE WE HAVE FOUR COUNCILMEN AND A SUPERVISOR ARGUING OVER WHAT IS GOING TO BE DONE IN INDIVIDUAL WARDS . I AM PROUD AND I AM VERY HAPPY TO REPRESENT EVERY SEGMENT OF THE TOWN OF QUEENSBURY AND EVERY MAN , WOMEN IN DIFFERENT WALKS OF LIFE I AM VERY PROUD AS A COUNCILMEN BEING ELECTED AT LARGE , I HAVE DONE MY BEST TO MAKE MYSELF KNOWN AND ALSO AWARE OF PROBLEMS IN ANY AREA IN THE TOWN. I WILL ONLY VOTE FOR THE RESOLUTION BECAUSE I AM BOUND BY LAW, BECAUSE THIS PETITION WAAS PRESB TED IN THE PROPER FORM, BUT IS 1. MT IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR MANNER SUPPORT HIS RESOLUTION , I WILL ALSO BE HAPPY TO SPEAK TO ANY GROUP TELLING THEM MY PERSON'ALI VIEWS OF ..WHY I THINK THAT THE WARD SYSTEM IS NOT THE BEST FOR QUEENSBURY . --- COUNCILMAN ROBERTSON- I SUBSCRIBE TO ALL THE STATEMENTS SO FAR EXCEPT ONE SLIGHT THING, I DISAGREE WITH THE STATEMENT THAT IT MAKES IT EASIER FOR A CANDIDATE TO GET REELECTED. THERE IS ONLY ONE THING EASIER, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO POUND ON EVERY DOOR IN TOWN IF YOU DO A DOOR TO DOOR CAMPAIGN, IN TERMS OF COST IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE IF YOU ARE GOING TO PUT ON AN ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN , THE ADVERTISING MEDIA YOU HAVE AVAILABLE TO YOU WILL REACH FROM SOUTH GLENS FALLS TO WARREN COUNTY BORDER FOR THE SAME PRICE IT WILL REACH ANY GIVEN WARD IN THE TOWN OF QUEENSBURY. EVEN IN TERMS OF COSTS IF YOU ARE GOING TO PUT ON ANY KIND OF A MEDIA CAMPAIGN FOR ADVERTISING PURPOSES THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE IN COSTS YOU CAN'T DO IT ANY DIFFERENT , YOU CAN BUY A LITTLE LESS IN CAMPAIGN BUTTONS BUT EVEN THAT COST IS MINIMAL. THE ARGUMENTS DO NOT HOLD WATER THAT HAVE BEEN SPOKEN BY PEOPLE WHO HAVE PROMOTED THIS . COUNCILMAN MORRELL- I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS , WILL THE TERMS BE THE SAME FOR COUNCILMEN AS THEY ARE NOW , WE NOW HAVE STAGGERED FOUR YEAR TERMS? SUPERVISOR WALTER- NO THEY WILL NOT. THEY WILL BE TWO YEAR TERMS AND THEY WILL BE UP FOR ELECTION AT THE SAME TIME. COUNCILMAN MORRELL- ANY SYSTEM IS ONLY AS GOOD AS THE PEOPLE THAT COMPRISE IT, IF YOU HAVE GOOD PEOPLE A WARD SYSTEM SHOULD MAKE NO J' DIFFERENCE THEN AN AT LARGE SYSTEM. t .J COUNCILMAN EISENHART- YOU ARE NARROWING YOUR CHOICE , YOU COULD VERY WELL HAVE THE FOUR BEST COUNCILMEN OUT OF ONE WARD , YOU COULD HAVE ONE WARD !W]ilaPM NOBODY WAS PARTICULARLY INTERESTED AND YOU WOULD HAVE TO SCRAPE UP WHAT YOU COULD. WHEREAS THERE WOULD BE OTHER EXCELLENT PEOPLE IN OTHER WARDS THAT WOULD NOT BE ELEGIBLE TO BE CONSIDERED. COUNCILMAN OL'SON- ANOTHER POINT , IF YOU HAD FOUR COUNCILMEN AND A TOWN SUPERVISOR RUNNING FOR ELECTION EVERY TWO YEARS YOU COULD POSSIBLY HAVE A COMPLETE CHANGE OF PEOPLE IN GOVERNMENT THAT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR RUNNING THE TOWN. UNDER THE PRESENT SYSTEM WITH ELECTIONS EVERY TWO YEARS THE MAJORITY OF THE PRESENT BOARD IS UP FOR ELECTION EVERY TWO YEARS A SUPERVISOR AND TWO COUNCILMEN SO THERE IS A POSSIEOLITY THAT THE MAJORITY OF THREE PEOPLE THAT ARE UP FOR ELECTION CAN BE VOTED OUT OF OFFICE AND HAVE NEW PEOPLE IN BUT YOU WOULD STILL HAVE TWO PEOPLE THATARE PRESENTLY ON THE BOARD TO ASSIST THOSE PEOPLE AND HAVE A LITTLE UNDERSTANDING AND IDEAS OF WHAT IS GOING ON . RUNNING A GOVERNMENT OF THIS SIZE , AS MRS. WALTER'S KNOWSjAND HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB WITH , YOU JUST DO NOT WALK INTO A GOVERNMENT THIS SIZE AND EXPECT TO SET UP THE OPERATION WITHOUT ANY PRIOR TRAINING OR BACKGROUND, I CAN SEE QUEENSBURY GOING BACKWARD FAST IF THIS WAS TO HAPPEN . COUNCILMAN ROBERTSON— THERE IS ANOTHER POINT THAT SHOULD BE COVERED, THE QUESTION ALWAYS IS HOW ARE THE DISTRICTSGOING TO BE DRAWN , ,THEY WOULD HAVE BE APPROXIMATELY EQUAL IN VOTING STRENGTH , WHICH BECOMES A PROBLEM AS THE TOWN GROWS , I AM TOLD THAT IT MUST FOLLOW THE LINES i OF THE EXISTING ELECTION DISTRICTS , THERE ARE EIGHTEEN ELECTION DISTRICTS } IN THIS TOWN THIS MEANS SOMEBODY WOULD HAVE TO DIVIDE THAT FOUR , FOUR , FIVE , FIVE IF ANYBODY THINKS ABOUT THE GEOGRAPHY OF THE ELECTION DIST. OF THE TOWN THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE CONTIGUOUS YOU COVER A LOT OF TERRITORY AND IT DOES NOT GUARANTEE THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE ONE GUY , FROM WHAT WE CALL A NEIGHBORHOOD. COUNCILMAN EISENHART— WHAT IF WE DO NOT ACT ON THE RESOLUTION? SUPERVISOR WALTER— THE TOWN BOARD IS THE VEHICLE TO GET IT TO THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS. . . IF VOTED DOWN , WE WOULD BE DEFAULT OF BEING WITHIN THE LAW. COUNCILMAN MORRELL— DR. EISENHART ELUDED TO THE FACT THAT WE HAD CERTAIN AREAS WHERE WE SEEM TO HAVE A LOT MORE PEOPLE PARTICIPATING IN SERVING THEIR COMMUNITY THEN OTHER AREAS—THAT IS QUITE APPARENT , BUT I AM SURE THAT IN SOME OF THESE AREAS WHERE YOU DO NOT GET THE ACTIVE PARTICIPATION , YOU DO HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE QUALIFIED, THEY MAY NOT BE AS ARTICULATE AS THOSE IN THE SECTION THAT HAS THE MAJORITY OF THE PARTICIPANTS BUT GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY , I AM SURE THAT THEY HAVE A MIND THAT FUNCTIONS AND CAN CONTRIBUTE WELL TO THE BENEFIT OF THE TOWN. COUNCILMAN ROBERTSON— THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT THE TOWN HAS A LOT OF THOSE PEOPLE, THE QUESTION IS ARE THEY MOTIVATED TO DO IT. THE QUESTION IS MOTIVATION . . . COUNCILMAN OLSON— I AM SURE THERE ARE FIVE PEOPLEjMANY TIMES FIVE PEOPLE OUT IN THIS COMMUNITY THAT ARE MUCH BETTER QUALIFIED AND COULD DO AN EQUAL JOB OR BETTER THAN ANYONE OF US , AND THEY HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY IN ANY GENERAL ELECTION , OR PRIMARY ELECTION TO FILE A PETITION, AND RUN FOR OFFICE. COUNCILMAN MORRELL— IT IS HARD TO GO AGAINST A SIXTY PERCENT CONTROL OF THE VOTES BY VIRTUE OF ONE PARTY. COUNCILMAN ROBERTSON— I HAVE YET TO EXPERIENCE THE SIXTY PERCENT CONTROL WITH ANY DEGREE OF UNIFORMITY BASED ON THE VOTING HISTORY OF THIS TOWN. WHEN ONE PARTY DOES NOT PUT UP A SUITABLE CANDIDATE THE PEOPLE ARE VERY QUICK TO TELL US , THEY ARE VERY SELECTIVE. . . PEOPLE IN THIS TOWN DO CROSS PARTY LINES , THEY DO LOOK AT THEIR CANDIDATES VERY CAFEFULLY AND THEY ARE SELECTIVE. RESOLUTION TO SUBMIT PROPOSITION REGARDING THE ESTABLISHING OF A WARD SYSTEM AT THE BIENNIAL TOWN ELECTION RF 0 [ITTf1N non INTRODUCED BY MR. DANIEL MORRELL WHO MOVED FOR ITS ADOPTION , SECONDED BY MR. HAMMOND ROBERTSON : WHEREAS, A PETITION WAS FILED WITH THE TOWN CLERK OF THE TOWN OF QUEENSBURY ON THE 28TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 1981 , SUBSCRIBED AND AUTHENTICATED BY MORE THAN 100 ELECTORS OF THE TOWN QUALIFIED TO VOTE ON A PROPOSITION TO RAISE AND EXPEND MONEY , COMPRISING IN NUMBER AT LEAST FIVE PER CENTUM ( 5% ) OF THE TOTAL VOTES CAST FOR GOVERNOR IN THE TOWN AT THE LAST GENERAL ELECTION HELD FOR THE ELECTION OF STATE OFFICERS , AND WHEREAS , THE PETITION REQUESTED THE SUBMISSION OF THE FOLLOWING PROPOSITION AT THE BIENNIAL TOWN ELECTION TO BE HELD ON THE 3RD DAY OF NOVEMBER , 1981 ; SHALL THERE BE ESTABLISHED IN THE TOWN OF QUEENSBURY , COUNTY OF WARREN , STATE OF NEW YORK , THE WARD SYSTEM FOR THE ELECTION OF THE FOUR ( 4 ) COUNCILMEN OF THE TOWN OF QUEENSBURY? NOW , THEREFORE BE IT 192 RESOLVED , THAT THE PROPOSITION BE SUBMITTED AT THE BIENNIAL TOWN ELECTION TO BE HELD IN THE TOWN OF QUEENSBURY ON THE 3RD DAY OF NOVEMBER, 1981 BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 6 :00 A. M. AND 9 :00 P. M. , AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, THAT THE TOWN CLERK BE HEREBY DIRECTED TO TAKE ANY AND ALL ACTIONS REQUIRED BY LAW TO CAUSE THE AFOREMENTIONED PROPOSITION TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE ELECTORS OF THE TOWN OF QUEENSBURY AT THE BIENNIAL TOWN ELECTION TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 3, 1981 . DULY ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE : AYES : MR. OLSON , DR. EISENHART , MR. MORRELL , MR. ROBERTSON , MRS. WALTER NOES : NONE ABSENT : NONE ON MOTION THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED. RESPECTFULLY , DONALD A. CHASE TOWN CLERK TOWN BOARD MEETING OCTOBER 13 , 1981 TOWN BOARD MEMBERS MRS . FRANCES WALTER-SUPERVISOR MR. DANIEL OLSON-COUNCILMAN DR. CHARLES EISENHART-COUNCILMAN MR. DANIEL MORRELL-COUNCILMAN MR. HAMMOND ROBERTSON-COUNCILMAN MR. JOSEPH BRENNAN-TOWN COUNSEL PRESS: G. F. POST STAR , WWSC, WBZA TOWN OFFICIALS: MR. DANIEL DEALT , MR. NESTLE GUESTS : REPRESENTATIVES OF THE LITTLE LEAGUE , MR. TURNBULL , RESIDENTS OF COLONIAL COURT PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE LED BY COUNCILMAN ROBERTSON MEETING OPENED 7 : 35 P. M. RESOLUTIONS RESOLUTION TO APPROVE MINUTES RESOLUTION NO . 231 , INTRODUCED BY MR. DANIEL MORRELL WHO MOVED FOR ITS ADOPTION, SECONDED BY MR. HAMMOND ROBERTSON : RESOLVED , THAT THE MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 22 , 1981 AND OCTOBER 1 , 1981 BE AND HEREBY ARE APPROVED. DULY ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: J AYES : MR. OLSON , DR. EISENHART , MR., MORRELL , MR. ROBERTSON , MRS . WALTER_ NOES : NONE ABSENT : NONE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING COOPERATION AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN THE COUNTY OF WARREN AND THE TOWN OF QUEENSBURY 2124 INTRODUCED BY MR. HAMMOND ROBERTSONt SECONDED B_l" MR, DANIEL OLSON WHEREAS, THE 1974 HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ACT AS A14ENDED IN 1977 ESTABLISHED THE SMALL CITIES COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM AND PURSUANT TO THAT PROGRAM MADE FUNDS AVAILABLE TO MUNICIPALITIES ON A COM- PETITIVE BASIS TO ADDRESS THEIR HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT NEEDS , AND WHEREAS , THE TOWN APPLIED FOR AND RECEIVED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SMALL CITIES FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $480 ,000 . FOR A NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING PROGRAM , AND