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1998-12-29 SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING DECEMBER 29, 1998 11:00 AM. MTG#69 RES#504-506 SUPERVISOR FRED CHAMPAGNE COUNCILMAN RICHARD MERRILL COUNCILMAN THEODORE TURNER COUNCILMAN DOUGLAS IRISH COUNCILMAN PLINEY TUCKER TOWN OFFICIALS CONTROLLER, HENRY HESS PRESS POST STAR SUPERVISOR CHAMPAGNE-Opened meeting. RESOLUTIONS RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CHUCK GARB TO RETURN TO WORK IN TOWN HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT ON LIGHT DUTY RESOLUTION NO. 504.98 INTRODUCED BY: Mr. Pliney Tucker WHO MOVED FOR ITS ADOPTION SECONDED BY: Mr. Richard Merrill WHEREAS, Chuck Garb, a working foreman in the Town Highway Department, has been out of work on disability since December 7th, 1998, and WHEREAS, Mr. Garb's physician, Dr. Douglas Petroski, has given written authorization for Mr. Garb to retum to work in the Town Highway Department on or about January 4th, 1999 as long as Mr. Garb retums to light duty work only, and WHEREAS, the Town Highway Superintendent approves of Mr. Garb returning to work in the Highway Department on light duty, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Queensbury hereby authorizes Chuck Garb to retum to his position in the Town Highway Department on or about January 4th, 1999 on light duty only, until further notice is received from his physician Dr. Douglas Petroski, and BE IT FURTHER, RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby authorizes and directs the Town Supervisor and/or Town Controller's Office to complete any forms necessary to effectuate this Resolution. Duly adopted this 29th day of December, 1998 by the following vote: AYES Mr. Merrill, Mr. Tumer, Mr. Irish, Mr. Tucker, Mr. Champagne NOES None ABSENT: None DISCUSSIONS THE GLEN AT HIGHLAND MEADOWS Discussion held regarding the Glen at Highland Meadows. Councilman Irish noted he has some reservations with regard to the school tax, based only on the fact if the property was used for something other than non profit, the school would benefit greater than either the County or Town. ... .noted fifty thousand would be going to the school noting that figure was arrived at with the school. In the future when pilots come in the school should be included in the discussion up front so they are aware of what is going on. Supervisor Champagne after the first of the year will be meeting with the School Board regarding recreation, future pilots for better communication. Councilman Tucker questioned the break down on the tax deal? Supervisor Champagne the first year when you look at the Town tax it is ten percent the first year, twenty percent the second year, thirty percent, forty percent, fifty percent the fifth year. Mr. Alund noted during the years of development it is taxed at the normal rate of undeveloped property. The first year that it is open which may fall anytime within the year it is prorated based on the number of months of which its opened. On January 1 st, of the following year then it picks up the full ten percent, twenty percent, thirty percent, all the way up to fifty percent. Supervisor Champagne they have to sell seventy percent of their units to break ground. Councilman Irish questioned what happens if they can't reach that mark? Mr. Alund at some point in time they are investing both organizations to get to a point of the pre-sale levels from that they will go through pre-leasing and they have to get up to seventy percent. One of the biggest requirements are the banks because the financing will be in the neighborhood of twenty million dollars they want to make sure there is a project. Councilman Tucker what is the annual payroll of the project? Mr. Alund at eight hundred thousand dollars plus fringe benefits, sixty employees, both full and part -time, their are various jobs from administrative, dietary, housekeeping, security, housekeeping, security, transportation. Supervisor Champagne I have had nothing but the greatest recommendations and references from communities that the Eddy group has been in. They have done their homework have put a plan together, it makes good sense. Councilman Merrill questioned how many people would be full time with benefits? Mr. Alund sixty percent of those. Councilman Merrill questioned as the program develops would they consider internships with Adirondack Community College? Mr. Alund absolutely. Mrs. Boyle talked about more on the senior level of tying in with the college and making programs available to them. Councilman Tucker questioned when this all comes together who will keep them informed on how things are going? Mrs. Boyle noted she would be the one. Councilman Merrill questioned the community service if there is any future surplus what type of programs? Mr. Alund looking at adult day care programs looking at a social model daycare maybe expanding that to a medical model daycare program any surplus funds would be staying, it is going to be to enrich the programs that are there. Mrs. Boyle all those need to be market driven as we see those new needs we will address those needs with whatever income we have available to do it. In order for this to be successful they will have to monitor to make sure they have up to date services and they continue to provide for that market whatever it may be. The intent with the board is to take that excess income and to continue to develop what we have. Their intent is not to compete with the hospital, but to work with the hospital in some other type of joint venture. Councilman Irish questioned the County's impact on the Medicare cost? No Medicare cost. The only impact on this will be with SSI that is State and Federal. Supervisor Champagne recommended a resolution be put together for Monday's meeting that says the Town Board hereby approves and wants to continue to pursue whatever avenues that are necessary to get The Glen going, board in agreement. QUEENSBURY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION Supervisor Champagne recommended reading through the by-laws to see if it needs to be modified. Councilman Irish noted he read through the by-laws they might want to change that a member has to be a director. If you want to open it up maybe we would wantto have a Board of Directors, but we also like to have more membership than the Board of Directors to bring in different points of views. Could have a directors meeting once a month and then a membership meeting where everyone could get together for ideas, you would bring in a lot more ideas that way. Councilman Tucker questioned if someone that is interested in it have to be a member in order to bring ideas forward? Councilman Irish, doesn't think so might have to ask to be invited to a meeting. Supervisor Champagne questioned if there could be a secondary group, sub group? Could have your directors and at the same time have influential people that could foster some good ideas. Controller Hess doesn't think influential has anything to do with it. If you want this to get going you let people come in who have an interest in economic development. Their influence might be influential in that organization, but not necessarily in other political senses. (TAPE TURNED) Board in agreement of having seven people sit on the board rather than thirteen. Councilman Irish recommended Kate Du Bois as Treasurer who is interested in the position. Executive Director, Mr. Round noted appointment of a Treasurer by the Town Board is probably not procedural correct. First you have to invite membership remove the appointment from the political arena you allow the Board of Directors change the by-laws... ... they can chose who they want on their membership and who is going to play what role. You need officers you need that minimum organizational structure in order for the structure to work. Councilman Tucker questioned if it would be feasible for them to come in front of the board for projects? Supervisor Champagne noted they have oversight of funds. Controller, Hess if this really acts as independent it is going to have other funding sources besides the Town. If the Town has got a pocket of money it is willing to spend on projects it sees as beneficial if the QEDC brings their project and you wanted to spend some of your economic development money on it you can do it. I think QEDC if it had other sources of funds either through grants, sale of property, and had other money to fund it with the Town Board wouldn't necessarily have the right to tell them they couldn't do it they would have the right not to fund it with their own money. Executive Director, Mr. Round ideally local development corps whether at the county level or local level do seek to relieve the taxpayers of the burden of funding economic development. Councilman Irish questioned if the corporation is entitled to borrow money? Controller, Mr. Hess it would depend on the lender, doesn't think there is anything in the Charter that prevents them from borrowing money. Controller, Mr. Hess noted he has a strong interest in making sure this organization becomes viable. The components, I see to that are having a membership representation that is independent of the Town Board. The Town Board if it wants to fund it, have representation the By-laws says the Town will keep a record it is not inappropriate for someone here to be the Treasurer. Thinks it needs an independent board. It needs an active board a funding source for operational money. It needs to know it has money in the bank it can spend to do those things. Councilman Irish noted they need to structure a new agreement with the QEDC with those guidelines. If we want to have a professional in there they need to know we're going to fund so much money for that. Maybe we can change the by-laws to say, the Treasurer will be supplied by the Town of Queensbury that way it takes that as being an affiliate position or an elected position away from the Board of Directors so that they know the financial end of this is going to stay in the Town. Supervisor Champagne there are certain statues in the State Law that sets this organization up to do certain things that is the whole initiative in having these types of arms, they would legally have to take a look at the Town Board appointing their own Treasurer. Supervisor Champagne the goal has got to be Warren County. Need to build from Queensbury's position, need to build on that organization assist in the funding, need some leadership in there that's maybe an arm of the Town of Queensbury. Councilman Irish noted the Town is in a much stronger position on their own than with the County. Controller, Mr. Hess noted if they are looking to benefit Queensbury it should be the area that Queensbury is going to benefit from. Executive Director, Mr. Round, you haven't defined what the role of the QEDC is. You talk regional economic development that's a given people support that, but whether their going to satisfy all the goals of economic development within the Town of Queensbury doesn't know. One of them is marketing of the area maybe that is a regional effort. One of the other aspect is business retention are we going to hire a professional have the QEDC do site visitation for business retention that is probably beyond our technical scope maybe this should be voiced to the County. Supervisor Champagne noted every year there has been significant growth in terms of the Town financial investment fiscally Queensbury is in good shape our eligibility for any kind of grants is zero. Executive Director, Mr. Round, the restrictions of grant funding is universal. Councilman Merrill spoke to the board regarding the by laws for QEDC it seems to be directed entirely towards plant sites, rehabilitation, developing manufacturing sites. It doesn't get into marketing, it doesn't get into area marketing. . . . . . (TAPE TURNED) Warren County is talking about regional marketing. Councilman Merrill noted one of the points that comes across strongly is experienced workforce this is what brings people in. Someone needs to establish a union with ACC thinks the new President would be good member to consider for the board. Councilman Irish noted one of things QEDC needs to look at is business that does a lot of business in the New England States. If they do a lot of business in the New England States we are almost centrally located to reach anyone of them. Councilman Irish questioned if the board wants to appoint a Board of Directors or get a group of people to do that? Councilman Tucker noted the board has a group of people they have been talking to that are interested why don't we ask them to put a group together then if the board has to okay it, we okay it. Supervisor Champagne the board would have to okay it. Questioned if they need to go back for operational purposes to the eighty six, eighty seven, era back when the Town Board was QEDC? We would need that only until such time we put together the five or seven people to figure out a new procedural process for economic development. Controller Hess noted as a default measure the Town Board has to fill that role until.. ...Councilman Irish the Town Board in that role cannot go out and do anything as far as purchasing property at this point in time. Controller, Hess we have risks. We own property we have risk for our operations we are insured for those risks the insurance company has to know what they are insuring. Supervisor Champagne we need to do that would like to do that Monday night. Councilman Merrill the by-laws are broad enough doesn't think they need modification at this point in time. Councilman Tucker the Town Board to oversee things until we get this in place. After further discussion it was the decision of the Town Board to have resolution for next meeting appointing the Town Board and the Town Board will elect its own Treasurer for thirty days by January 15th provide board with names of interest people. Discussion held regarding the Corinth Road project in Ward 4 regarding the sewer lines would like to have everything done before the project starts. Questioned if this will be done by this organization or the Town? Supervisor Champagne, with the County and State working together in terms of engineering the construction should all be done at the same time, bids should be all done at the same time. Should go through the County and State when the State comes in and does the project that's when that piece of the project should be done. Councilman Merrill the new QEDC board one of their first charters should be to put together a list of goals in general and this would be part of it. Controller, Mr. Hess noted in the resolution for Monday night need to have a bank resolution regarding who is going to sign. Noted the Auditor is coming January 19th, 20th, and 21 st, while they are here they are going to do a quick audit of QEDC so we know where everything stands that will separate the funds. Councilman Irish recommended setting aside a time to meet with QEDC once a month to stay involved with them. Supervisor Champagne Town Board members should submit names of people who would serve best as a Task Force. Then should sit down as a Town Board and have an agreement amongst Town Board members that these are the people we want to have serve on the Task Force. Controller, Hess, how big is the Task Force? Supervisor Champagne no more than nine, seven. Supervisor Champagne by the fifteenth should have all the names. At the next meeting which in on the twenty fifth should have that evening set aside take a look at those names and agree on who is going to be our first Board Task Force Committee. Councilman Merrill by then Warren County should be in place. 1999 GOALS Discussion held concerning 1999 goals. The following topics were discussed. (1) Open talks with Glens Falls for the purchase of water. (2) Contain Town Taxes. (3) Impacts Fees. (4) Queensbury Forest. (5) Stormwater Management Plan has to be approved to pass it on to the Park Commission then the board has to look at Stormwater Regulations. (6) Improve communications with school boards. RESOLUTION ENTERING EXECUTIVE SESSION RESOLUTION NO. 505. 98 INTRODUCED BY: Mr. Douglas Irish WHO MOVED FOR ITS ADOPTION SECONDED BY: Mr. Richard Merrill RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Queensbury hereby adjourns from Regular Session and enters into Executive Session for interviews. Duly adopted this 29th day of December, 1998, by the following vote: Ayes: Mr. Merrill, Mr. Tumer, Mr. Irish, Mr. Tucker, Mr. Champagne Noes: None Absent:None RESOLUTION ADJOURNING EXECUTIVE SESSION & SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING RESOLUTIOIN NO. 506.98 INTRODUCED BY: Mr. Douglas Irish WHO MOVED FOR ITS ADOPTION SECONDED BY: Mr. Theodore Tumer RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Queensbury hereby adjourns from Executive Session and enters into Regular Session. Duly adopted this 29th day of December, 1998, by the following vote: A YES: Mr. Tumer, Mr. Irish, Mr. Tucker, Mr. Merrill, Mr. Champagne Noes: None Absent:None No further action taken. On motion, the meeting was adjourned. Respectfully Submitted, Darleen M. Dougher Town Clerk Town of Queensbury