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2001-10-10 SP SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING OCTOBER 10, 2001 MTG. #42 7:00 p.rn. TOWN BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT SUPERVISOR DENNIS BROWER COUNCILMAN JAMES MARTIN COUNCILMAN THEODORE TURNER COUNCILMAN DANIEL STEC COUNCILMAN TIM BREWER Supervisor Brower-Called the meeting to order. BUDGET WORKSHOP Water Dept. Wastewater Dept. Queensbury Highway Dept. Building and Grounds 1.0 WATERDEPT. Water/wastewater Supt. Ralph VanDusen Deputy Water Supt. Bruce Ostrander Water/wastewater Supt. Ralph VanDusen-Summarized the budget, no new employees, budget request down from 2001. Reflects the expenses that we anticipate to produce water, continuing to supply water to the Village of Hudson Falls, in addition to supply water to Moreau. Noted valve was opened between Queensbury and Moreau this week, they are currently using it for flushing purposes. Councilman Martin-Questioned how much water line was added this year? Water/wastewater Supt. VanDusen- approximately three quarters of a mile, and a half of mile of pipe was replaced. Councilman Martin-How many new users have we got? Water/wastewater Supt. VanDusen-Just in the Town of Queensbury add approximately seventy five customers. Noted that Glen at the Hiland is considered one customer ..one meter. Councilman Stec-Questioned how many customers and total miles of pipe? Water/wastewater Supt. VanDusen- Approximately seventy four hundred service connections. noted a number of larger users this year. One hundred and sixty five miles of water mains. Councilman Martin-In terms of gallons flowing? Deputy Water Supt. Bruce Ostrander-So far this year a little over five million gallons a day, last year three point eight. Water/wastewater Supt. VanDusen-RE: Vehicles We had requested replacing three vehicles. One vehicle is going from a motorized vehicle to a non-motorized vehicle, using a trailer rather than a truck.. Noted there has been more replacement of lines this year, and maintenance this year, the 2002 budget has money to continue that project. Councilman Martin-Questioned what the goals are for the coming year? Water/wastewater Supt. VanDusen-Submitted some projects into the Capital Improvement Plan, like to see the Town become more aggressive and take it to the next step. Started a tank maintenance fund where monies are placed into a fund each year, the same concept needs to be done with the water lines that is reflected in this proposed budget. Noted some low impact with new subdivisions, the addition of Moreau is going to have a huge impact in Moreau with growth and will impact our operation. Now attempting to put more money into our infrastructure . Councilman Martin-What is the plant rated at? Water/wastewater Supt. VanDusen-It is rated at fifteen, except for the low lift; the contractor is comIng In to do the upgrade on the lower pumps to bring that up to fifteen million gallons a day. Councilman Martin-We are up to fifteen million a day and we average five this year. Deputy Water Supt. Ostrander-We have had a peak at nine and a half. Councilman Martin-We have contractor users that are using what? Water/wastewater Supt. VanDusen-We have currently two with an option for a third. Councilman Martin-Even at peak demand we would have twelve and a half. Water/wastewater Supt. VanDusen-We projected a twenty year bonding, twenty year projection on population growth we would be using a peak of about eleven million gallons a day within our existing service area. Hudson Falls and the two from Moreau would bring us up to fourteen. Supervisor Brower-If the City of Glens Falls came on board would we have to add onto the plant? Water/wastewater Supt. VanDusen-Definitely. Next expansion 20 15. Spoke on need for vehicles when new districts form. Noted pressure from the State to change the way we treat sludge, when that happens it may require a full time person to be able to do that. Re: Meters we are on target as far a meter replacement.meter man overtime because of the radio read has been cut drastically. Discussed Govern, noting it is not user friendly, working for us, convenience of modifying in house has been invaluable. Supervisor Brower-Noted that Govern is trying to do according to Bob whatever they can to make our installation a good installation because what they are hoping will happen that we will open up a huge market for them. Water/wastewater Supt. VanDusen-Noted his concerns with Govern would be more related to the communication issues .. Supervisor Brower-Noted he cut office supplies from 3000 to 2500. Water/wastewater Supt. VanDusen-Noted he used last years history, spent $2,800. Supervisor Brower-Major item cut - Town Counsel fee 5000 to 3500. Water/wastewater Supt. VanDusen-Difficult to project costs. Comptroller Hess-In the General Fund we pay the bill and put it into an account earmarked for water. Water/wastewater Supt. VanDusen-We currently have a plant mechanic requesting promotion to instrument technician. Civil Service Exam required. Spoke about natural gas prices, noted he had spoken to Niagara Mohawk and he gave me the percentage increase, I think thirty one five will be fine as is now projected by Niagara Mohawk. Under Water Plant Maintance requested twenty six five noted plant is getting older and we have added Hudson Falls and Moreau. (Board agreed) Chemicals and glassware- projected a five percent increase in chemical costs. Supervisor Brower-Spoke about security at the water plant. Water/wastewater Supt. VanDusen-Noted there was five hundred dollars cut in the maintenance supervisor overtime. That is probably ok, it comes down to the number of water main breaks we have.! do not have a problem with the meter men reducing that ..RE: Vehicles..two eleven-year-old trucks will be replaced by a one-ton dump with a trailer. it was suggested that we take out one of the two vehicles I would request that be put back in. One used by Maintenance foreman and used by hydrant maintenance that has a crane on it. Noted our budget as submitted was a decrease from last year, some of the cuts I will support but I think this is one that I would not .the next one and if we want to cut it, that is fine I do not have a problem with that, that would be under Capital Construction underground gas tank.now purchasing from private gas station. Councilman Brewer-At some point look at having a tank at that end of town for Highway and Water. Suggested to leave tank out and put other vehicle in the budget. Water/wastewater Supt. VanDusen-RE: Shore Colony Budget-two cuts to be discussed- Recommend that we leave misc. equipment at 2,000.and recommend leaving misc. contractual at 6,000. 1.1 Wastewater Budget Deputy Wastewater Supt. Mike Shaw-Spoke to the Board on the budget. spoke on maintenance programs, Bay Bridge project extension have estimated expenses and revenues if that goes through. employee upgrade one to next step labor A to maintenance man.Re: Telephone use noted the extra hundred dollars is for phone service to the garage and dialer for Bay BridgeTown Counsel fees-cut from 2000 to 1500 the kind of things we are doing I am not sure 2000 will cover. Supervisor Brower-Questioned the Meadowbrook property taxes? Deputy Wastewater Supt. Shaw-We will research and see if the 325. was actually what we paid. what ever number is right we will put in there. Noted Tech Park is in the budget the current request is showing an increase in the O&M rate and the reason we are doing that is because we assume we are going to have a new contract with the City of Glens Falls and it is going to cost Tech Park more or we are going to have to pay some portion of that tax. Supervisor Brower-Noted decrease of 2.5% - Quaker Road Sewer Councilman Brewer-Questioned what the figure was for sewer reconstruction fund -City of Glens Falls. Deputy Wastewater Supt. Shaw-Fifty two hundred dollars, they do not charge us any reconstruction on any other contracts only one. We have three contracts, one contract has fifteen years left on it the other twenty eight years and the third is up this year. (left upgrade in budget, Taxes will be researched page 215 left 36 and 2000) 1.2 Highway Dept. Discussion held regarding having the Highway Dept. take over traffic light repairs. Highway Supt. requested training funds in the account.discussed the traffic light repair contract with the city. Supervisor Brower-questioned if we dropped the city contract would we have to buy a bucket truck? Highway Supt. Missita-We have one. Would like to have some background on what has taken place. Comptroller Hess noted that it is a year to year contract with the City and can be terminated. Suggested to talk to the City and try to avoid the seventy five hundred dollar payment, pay as needed. Councilman Martin-Requested that Town Counsel look into the agreement and see if it can be modified. Comptroller Hess- Recommended moving the seventy five hundred out of the account and move it to misc. contractual and then when the contract comes down move it to the correct accounts. Board agreed Discussed cooling unit-put back in .page 90 office supplies 150.00 restore it. 175.00 conference attendance cut 150.00 Printing cut left it.Misc. contractual 1100. restored. Page 92 discussion held regarding boots for Highway Supt., noted that personnel manual would have to reflect that change. leave 312. - Discussion Sidewalks- Supervisor Brower, hope to come up with a contractual relationship with highway that would basically include sidewalk. Highway Dept. not my charge, Dennis. Supervisor Brower-But we would like to make it. Highway Supt. Missita-Then create a department. Supervisor Brower-No not create a department you do not have a department now and you did it. Highway Supt. Missita-I have not gotten paid for doing it. Supervisor Brower- You did have some materials that were included in the list but 90% of it seemed to be labor on regular time and rental of equipment, I told you that I thought that we were already paying for that, they are not doing something else that they would be doing so why should we pay twice. Highway Supt. Missita-It does not matter what you think according to the law and the law says if I do not do highway work you have to pay me for doing it. Supervisor Brower-But, why couldn't we contract with you this year and include the sidewalks as part of what we are going to pay you for. Councilman Martin-What is the contract going to get us? What benefit is going to come from a contract, why can't he just submit the voucher and we sign it and pay it, budget it what is the contract going to bring to the situation. Supervisor Brower-It would make it part of Rick's responsibilities. Councilman Brewer- By law it is not. . Supervisor Brower-Rick do you think it makes sense for Highway to be doing sidewalks? Highway Supt. Missita-No. Supervisor Brower-Don't you need trucks, to haul the snow from the bridges? Highway Supt. Missita-No. Supervisor Brower-Aren't you mandated by Highway Law to removed the snow from the bridges? Highway Supt. Missita-Not unless there is a Town Board resolution to say so. I have to not have to remove any snow from any sidewalk unless you as a Town Board request us to do it. You can request anybody to do it. The Highway Law says and the Town Law says that if the Town Board by resolution request us to do it then we go out and do it. But I go out and do it when I am done doing what I am elected to do is maintain those highways, the sidewalks are not mine. Look at the Charge 01, 04 is Highway. Councilman Martin-If he is willing to do it, it is at an efficient rate I do not think we could have gotten a private contractor to go out and do what you guys have to do, because you guys have to play catch up and I remember the condition of some of those sidewalks on Route 9, solid ice, it works and is efficient. Councilman Turner-We bought the equipment to do it. Supervisor Brower-I think they did a good job of doing it to. Councilman Martin-Lets just pay the bills and then have the budget and charge against the line item and that is it. This is just like drainage. Deputy Supt. Travis- Questioned if the Supervisor had talk to the State Comptroller's Office? Supervisor Brower-No. Deputy Supt. Travis-Do it. Noted he had talked to the office, there are two ways to do it one is what you are doing the other to build it into the budget. Supervisor Brower-I guess I am suggesting that we build it right into the budget. Councilman Martin-Questioned what was in the bill. Deputy Supt. Travis-Any material we use the equipment we use and the manpower, use the Warren County rent rate for equipment.. Councilman Brewer-We will leave that in there what about the bills that have not been paid? Councilman Martin-I would ask the Supervisor to sign them and process them thorough, Councilman Brewer, I would also. Supervisor Brower-Cemetery in the wintertime they have got some guys that may not be as busy as they normally are in the summer because they do not have as much to do are there other ways to consolidate some of these? Highway Supt. I do not have control over that department. Councilman Brewer-When Rodney comes in we will ask Rodney, if we think we can do it cheaper with Rodney's men then hire thern. Councilman Brewer-We are going to restore that and you are going to pay the bill, Dennis? Supervisor Brower-We can restore this I most likely going to. I am not prepared to give an answer right at the moment I want to think about it. I am generally inclined to be favorable to it. Highway Supt. Missita-The season is fast approaching so if you want sidewalks to be done we need to know what the answer is going to be. Councilman Martin-I will accept the fact that you have heard new information tonight you have some things to consider, but by the next meeting I will pose the same question are the bills going to be paid. Councilman Stec- Capital Construction-17500. is that for sidewalk repair? Comptroller Hess-Yes. I would like to propose, I do not necessarily disagree with Dennis's concept that you could write a contract there is a number of ways to do this. One of the reasons that we have a problem with this if we know in advance that the Capital Construction or the Sidewalk cleaning and maintenance is going to be a highway responsibility that then becomes part of that revenue budget, that balances off the other general fund subsidy and it nets out. So, it does not become an issue to the general fund at that point as far as a general fund subsidy so that does work, but you have to know in advance. So, if I know you are going to be spending this seventy seven five with highway I will budget that as revenue to them that will decrease the other subsidy they will get from the taxes and it all goes away. Highway Supt. Missita-Spoke to the Board regarding the establishment of a sidewalk district charging a tax and that money could be used to for the maintenance. Board noted it would be a big burden on some people. Councilman Martin- Restore the account to 18,500. for repair of sidewalks. Board agreed. Comptroller Hess-Budget this as 88,500 on the revenue side. Highway Supt. Missita-Questioned that there are materials in that figure.! would go with the one and leave the 18,500 out, I do not know how much it will cost for material. Questioned which sidewalk should be done? Councilman Brewer-Recommended a sidewalk tour similar to highway tour to determine what ones are to be done. Agreed to leave the 18,500 Councilman Turner- Last year we had 75,000 in sidewalk account period, there was nothing for sidewalk clearing and maintenance now we have taken the seventy five and put it under sidewalk clearing and maintenance and now we are going to have a capital construction to repair the sidewalks? Councilman Martin-The new law that we enacted had a Capital element to it. That is why this years budget has a Capital Line itern. Drainage-No changes. Page 168 Deputy Highway Supt. Travis-Laborers-We took one laborer down, we had four and took it to three we had fifteen drivers we took it to sixteen. Property Taxes Highway Supt. Missita-requested a list of the property taxes. Page 173 Safety Highway Supt. Missita-questioned why the safety line was cut five hundred dollars. Supervisor Brower- Looked at what you spent two years ago what you spent last year, the last two years you did not even spend a thousand so I figured twenty five hundred ought to be plenty. Councilman Stec-Asked for update from safety committee. Page 175 Parts Clerk-New Position Supervisor Brower-supported the position, want to make sure that the Qquest Software was included in his budget so inventory control could be implemented in highway. Highway Supt. Missita-requested monies be placed for overtime. Agreed to be put in. Page 176 Supervisor Brower-140,000 difference Rick has a request in for a tandem truck, pickup truck and four wheel drive for a foreman. asked if you had your choice between the four wheel drive pickup with the plow and the other pickup truck which can carry more men which would you keep and he said he would keep the one that would carry more men. the answer I did not like was what was going to happen to the old truck he said he would keep it for part pickup, I suggested that we use currier as opposed to driving our vehicle. Generally speaking when we buy a truck I would like to see one being replaced. Councilman Martin-How many miles of highway do you have now? Highway Supt. Missita-One hundred and eighty eight point five.. Deputy Supt. Travis-One point four, one point five added in the last year. Highway Supt. Missita- Spoke about the new roads that are coming in soon. Councilman Martin-How long is a plow route? Highway Supt. Missita-Average twelve to fourteen miles. Noted that we got rid of a truck to the Queensbury School and the Tandem will replace that vehicle. Councilman Martin- Questioned what the average was for new mileage added per year? Highway Supt. Missita- approximately two miles. Noted that with new development in the Meadowbrook area and streets off from Bay Road probably there will be one truck doing that section. If you are saying if we buy one we have to get rid of one that cannot happen because of the growth in the Town. Noted you cannot operate sixteen routes with sixteen trucks you need backups for breakdowns. Discussed Fleet Policy-Councilman Martin-can there be a fund for added vehicles not just replacement, net gain. Comptroller Hess-You can set up a vehicle reserve for replacement or expansion, either one. Councilman Martin-If we know that within five years there will be a need for a new tandem due to growth in the town we should have a fund set up to take the sting out of that purchase, a net gain vehicle. Put Tandem back in budget. Spoke about an extended cab with plow and four wheel drive-32,500 cut the other vehicle. Insurance-Comptroller Hess-Noted he is still getting insurance rate quotes that are escalating from what we originally said.. you may see a jump in that. Spoke about the unit to clean catch basins, noted estimated 5,000 catch basins in the Town. 1.3 Building and Grounds Page 40 Payroll Overtime request-Supervisor Brower-overtime request up substantially, I cut it down .Building and Grounds Supt. Rice- my overtime has been frozen for three years now, but the payroll has increase 3% every year, and when you go three percent and add time and a half on top of that the over time starts vaporizing. Reviewed the snow overtime expenses and building checks, alarm activations, heat issues, covered shifts. noted by nature a lot of the projects done around the building are done at odd hours, causing overtime. Councilman Brewer-How many men do you have? Building and Grounds Supt. Rice-five laborers, one full time cleaners one part time cleaner, Receptionist and Kathy Kathe, a foreman, and Building Maintenance person on my payroll. Board agreed to 1,000 for overtime .part time cleaner reduced but will work around that.Labor A overtime to 4,000. Working foreman overtime at 6,000. Building Maintenance overtime 3,000. Equipment Building and Grounds Supt. Rice-Budgeted for a new sweeper attachment and new posthole attachment which are in here. cut from budget trimmer I can live with that cut. Misc. Building and Grounds Supt. Rice-might need a small piece of equipment requested 1,500. would be satisfied with $1,000. Bring that to 5,350. Page 44 Radio Head Set for Bobcat. protect ears and have contact while on site.500.00 Radio Repairs from 500 to 250 - noted he could live with that. Type A tools- 500 down from a 1000. replacement of tools as needed. Moved back to a 1,000. Cleaning supplies-5,500. Page 46 Fire alarm upgrade-let that ride for a little while more. 12,500 for carpeting, 4,600 removal of tile from Assessor's office. In highway-do not have a mop room, there are two bathrooms, take one and blow it out and make it larger and make is a unisex handicapped bathroom and take what is left and put in a corner floor sink and make a mop room. 1,100. Board agreed it was a good project. Need new metal roof on court. enlarge Parking lot at Court, 25 spaces change from 8,000 to 4,000. . Misc. to 3000. New Alarm System 4500. wanted to segregate the Qsby. Cntr. from this building, Supervisor Brower-I think it is a waste of money and I cut it out. I don't care if we empty this building for ten minutes. Wireless Microphones for the Center-4,600. agreed to by the Board. Senior's have requested a toilet in the basement-agreed to by the Board 1,500. Building repair and supplies cut in half-agreed to that. Radio Cell phones-eliminated. put in two forty back in for the cell phones. Vehicle repair and maintenance 1000 to 500 money was for oil changes, flat tires got cut to 500 I will agree to that. Page 49 Electricity cuts-just a best guess 5)00. Page 51 Resurface back parking lots-put to 16,000 Misc. restore to 300. each. Expand irrigation - leave Discussed the heating fuel. Maintenance and repairs- new boiler 15000 was cut.for the Highway Dept. was cut.corrected estimate is 27,000 I would now like to present it as a Capital project. Page 54 Replace generator transfer switch-Qsby. Cntr. noted existing one has failed once ..put it in the budget. Telephone repairs-Building and Grounds Supt. Rice-Everything was pulled out except for Town Hall is this going to be an IT thing now? Will be handled by IT.do away with this code. Maintenance contracts-cut that out.we do not have that copier any more. Town Board discussed the sales tax issue in regard to Warren County. Sewer Negotiations with City. Councilman Brewer-requested a resolution calling for an RFP- Supervisor Brower hoped to get a meeting with the City of Glens Falls on Thursday night. RESOLUTION TO ADJOURN MEETING RESOLUTION NO. 386A,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 Session. Duly adopted this 10th day of October by the following vote: AYES: Mr. Martin, Mr. Turner, Mr. Stec, Mr. Brewer, Mr. Brower NOES: None ABSENT: None Meeting adjourned. Respectfully submitted, Miss Darleen M. Dougher Town Clerk