Loading...
2009-10-26 SP MTG.#38 SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING 10-26-2009 MTG. #38 294 SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING MTG. #38 OCTOBER 26, 2009 RES. 335-337 7:00 P.M. TOWN BOARD MEMBERS SUPERVISOR DANIEL STEC COUNCILMAN ANTHONY METIVIER COUNCILMAN RONALD MONTESI COUNCILMAN JOHN STROUGH COUNCILMAN TIM BREWER TOWN OFFICIALS BUDGET OFFICER BARBARA TIERNEY THE POST STAR 1.0RESOLUTIONS RESOLUTION SETTING PUBLIC HEARING ON BAY RIDGE VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY, INC.’S PROPOSAL TO PURCHASE A TRUCK AND TO USE TAX-EXEMPT FINANCING FOR SUCH PURCHASE RESOLUTION NO.: 335, 2009 INTRODUCED BY: Mr. Anthony Metivier WHO MOVED ITS ADOPTION SECONDED BY: Mr. Ronald Montesi WHEREAS, the Town of Queensbury and the Bay Ridge Volunteer Fire Company, Inc. (Fire Company) have entered into an Agreement for fire protection services, which Agreement sets forth a number of terms and conditions including a condition that the Fire Company will not purchase or enter into any binding contract to purchase any piece of apparatus, equipment, vehicles, real property, or make any improvements that would require the Fire Company to acquire a loan or mortgage or use money placed in a “vehicles fund” without prior approval of the Queensbury Town Board, and WHEREAS, the Fire Company has advised the Town Board that it wishes to purchase a new 2010 Pierce Pumper Tanker (Truck) to replace two (2) pieces of apparatus (1987 Hahn and 1991 Beck) thereby resulting in a permanent reduction of the Fire Company’s fleet size, as recommended by the 2009 Fire Study Report issued for the Town by MMA Consulting Group, Inc., for the approximate purchase price not to exceed $653,348, such purchase already included in the Fire Company’s five (5) year capital plan that forecasts future capital needs and expenditures, including anticipated vehicles, equipment, tools, other apparatus, facilities or improvements to facilities to be used for firematic purposes, and SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING 10-26-2009 MTG. #38 295 WHEREAS, the Fire Company hopes to take advantage of pre-pay discounts which would lower the amount due and amount borrowed, and WHEREAS, proceeds from the sales of the Fire Company’s replaced apparatus (Hahn and Beck) would be placed either: 1) against the principal of the new, proposed Truck; and/or 2) toward other Fire Company debt; and WHEREAS, once the new Truck is placed into service, the Fire Company will remove the Hahn from service and sell it, and will later sell the Beck after all potential warranty/service issues are resolved with the new Truck, or by one year after delivery date of the new Truck, and WHEREAS, the Fire Company plans on paying for the proposed, new Truck as follows: 1.$63,000 down payment from the Fire Company’s 2009 Restricted Vehicle Fund; 2.$30,000 from the Fire Company’s proposed 2010 Budget/Agreement with the Town; 3.Approximately $560,348 maximum amount of tax-exempt financing (having a 10 year term) with a financial institution; and WHEREAS, the Town Board wishes to set a public hearing concerning the Fire Company’s proposed purchase, as such proposed purchase is required by the Fire Company’s Agreement with the Town, and such proposed tax-exempt financing also requires a public hearing under the Internal Revenue Code, and WHEREAS, the Truck will be owned and used by the Fire Company to provide fire protection to the Town and maintained at its firehouse located at 1080 Bay Road in the Town of Queensbury, New York, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Queensbury Town Board shall conduct a public hearing concerning Bay Ridge Volunteer Fire Co., Inc.’s proposed Truck purchase delineated in the preambles of this Resolution and the partial financing of such proposed purchase using tax- th exempt financing on Monday, November 16, 2009 at 7:00 p.m., and BE IT FURTHER, SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING 10-26-2009 MTG. #38 296 RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby authorizes and directs the Queensbury Town Clerk to publish a Notice of Public Hearing in the Post-Star Newspaper once at least fourteen (14) days prior to the Public Hearing. th Duly adopted this 26day of October, 2009, by the following vote: AYES : Mr. Metivier, Mr. Montesi, Mr. Brewer, Mr. Stec NOES : Mr. Strough ABSENT: None Discussion held before vote: Councilman Montesi-We all understand that this is two for one. Supervisor Stec-It is two for one the resolutions will be written that way. Clarified that even though the two trucks were priced at the same time they are not contingent on each other. Councilman Montesi-Noted that one of the Bay Ridge Trucks would be immediately for sale, the second would have to be gotten rid of within the year. Supervisor Stec-The dollars from the sales would go towards either the credit principal or to other debt. Councilman Brewer-To the debt is my preference. Councilman Strough-I am going to vote no, because I think we should do a comprehensive vehicle replacement study first. It is clear, North Queensbury has been working on theirs for years I do not have a problem with that and there was a consensus, there clearly was not a consensus on Bay Ridge no one consulted me about it. Supervisor Stec-All we are doing tonight is setting the public hearing. RESOLUTION SETTING PUBLIC HEARING ON NORTH QUEENSBURY VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY, INC.’S PROPOSAL TO PURCHASE A TRUCK AND TO USE TAX-EXEMPT FINANCING FOR SUCH PURCHASE RESOLUTION NO.: 336, 2009 INTRODUCED BY: Mr. Ronald Montesi WHO MOVED ITS ADOPTION SECONDED BY: Mr. Anthony Metivier WHEREAS, the Town of Queensbury and the North Queensbury Volunteer Fire Company, Inc. (Fire Company) have entered into an Agreement for fire protection services, which Agreement sets forth a number of terms and conditions including a condition that the Fire Company will not purchase or enter into any binding contract to purchase any piece of apparatus, equipment, vehicles, real property, or make any improvements that would require the Fire Company to acquire a loan or mortgage or use money placed in a “vehicles fund” without prior approval of the Queensbury Town Board, and WHEREAS, the Fire Company has advised the Town Board that it wishes to purchase a new 2010 Pierce Arrow XT Tanker/Pumper (Truck) to replace two (2) pieces SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING 10-26-2009 MTG. #38 297 of apparatus (1988 Ford Engine 326 and 1985 Ford Tanker 425) thereby resulting in a permanent reduction of the Fire Company’s fleet size, as recommended by the 2009 Fire Study Report issued for the Town by MMA Consulting Group, Inc., for the approximate purchase price not to exceed $657,348, such purchase already included in the Fire Company’s five (5) year capital plan that forecasts future capital needs and expenditures, including anticipated vehicles, equipment, tools, other apparatus, facilities or improvements to facilities to be used for firematic purposes, and WHEREAS, the Fire Company hopes to take advantage of pre-pay discounts which would lower the amount due and amount borrowed, and WHEREAS, once the new Truck is placed into service, the Fire Company will remove the 1988 Ford Engine 326 and 1985 Ford Tanker 425 from service and sell them, with proceeds from the sales of the Fire Company’s replaced apparatus to be placed either: 1) against the principal of the new, proposed Truck; 2) toward other Fire Company debt; and/or 3) into a Restricted Vehicle Fund, and WHEREAS, the Fire Company plans on paying for the proposed, new Truck as follows: 4.$200,000 down payment from the Fire Company’s 2009 Restricted Vehicle Fund; 5.$457,348 maximum amount of tax-exempt financing (having a six year term) with a financial institution; and WHEREAS, the Town Board wishes to set a public hearing concerning the Fire Company’s proposed purchase, as such proposed purchase is required by the Fire Company’s Agreement with the Town, and such proposed tax-exempt financing also requires a public hearing under the Internal Revenue Code, and WHEREAS, the Truck will be owned and used by the Fire Company to provide fire protection to the Town and maintained at its firehouse located on Route 9L in the Town of Queensbury, New York, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Queensbury Town Board shall conduct a public hearing concerning North Queensbury Volunteer Fire Co., Inc.’s proposed Truck purchase SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING 10-26-2009 MTG. #38 298 delineated in the preambles of this Resolution and the partial financing of such proposed th purchase using tax-exempt financing on Monday, November 16, 2009 at 7:00 p.m., and BE IT FURTHER, RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby authorizes and directs the Queensbury Town Clerk to publish a Notice of Public Hearing in the Post-Star Newspaper once at least fourteen (14) days prior to the Public Hearing. th Duly adopted this 26day of October, 2009, by the following vote: AYES : Mr. Montesi, Mr. Strough, Mr. Brewer, Mr. Stec, Mr. Metivier NOES : None ABSENT: None Discussion held before vote: Noted that North Queensbury Vol. Fire Co. is essentially debt free and their proposed financing is that they would put two hundred thousand dollar down payment on the vehicle and finance the balance over six years. They will sell two vehicles and apply it either to the debt or into a restricted fund. They will be able to purchase this without changing their contract amount. Councilman Brewer-I disagree with that if they don’t have any debt you reduce the other budget. DISCUSSION: 2010 TENTATIVE BUDGET nd Supervisor Stec-The goal is to set the public hearing next Monday on the 2. to be held th on the 16 of November. The budget is set for no Town Board Member raises, also pointed out that the total increase for all funds was 1.98 percent sense then we have gotten more information regarding health insurance numbers which are better than budgeted… Budget Officer Barbara Tierney-Changes to the Tentative Budget ? Highway truck purchase reduced by $53,000 due to sale of apparatus ? Health and Dental Insurance renewals are in, tentative budget 7% increase, we got renewals at 5% savings of $49,000 town wide $22,000 for general fund ? NYS eliminated the aid for administration of the Star Program, we are looking at a $9,000 loss in the general fund. ? General Fund used to be 4.39% now down to 3.7% overall budget down from 1.98% to 1.85% this includes 50% increase in retirement and 5% increase in Health insurance Supervisor Stec-The judges have been begging for years for more help, there is a half a person more in the Court added. The rest of the budget we maintained what we have got for now and maintain status quo. The only vehicle purchase is for the Highway Dept. plow truck. Councilman Strough-Code 1110. court up 7% is that for the half person? Supervisor Stec-Yes, for the most part. Budget Officer Tierney-That does not include anything for the building…that would be under Building and Grounds. SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING 10-26-2009 MTG. #38 299 Councilman Metivier-IT Dept. 117,000 Budget Officer Tierney-There is Ryan in IT and George Hilton the GIS Planner…there is dollars in there to hire a part time IT person… Councilman Strough-What does subsidy from general fund mean? Budget Officer Tierney-Money from the general fund to the Cemetery and Highway Fund. Councilman Strough-Appropriated Fund Balance? Budget Officer Tierney-Fund balance used to balance the budget. Councilman Strough-What do we have in the fund balance? Supervisor Stec-The end of 08 was 2.1 … Councilman Strough-What are we looking at for a rebate? Supervisor Stec-It depends on the appropriated fund balance if that goes up it is less that we have available…and sales tax revenue figures we are off 8% on eight million $650,000…we have lowered the amount expected…noted that the town has left money at the County to offset taxes, this year we may have to write a check to off set County taxes…some towns do both, leave some sale tax money at the County and also write a check. Councilman Strough-We will need some sort of a surplus to take care of the unseen and so forth… Supervisor Stec-We will know after the Budget Officer crunches the numbers…we will know more in a few weeks. Discussion on Non Profit groups Councilman Montesi-Questioned how the money is divided…how do they impact the community? Supervisor Stec-Reviewed the history of the non profits and their requests, noting that the occupancy tax is used for some of the non profits, if they are tourism related that funding is used. Listed some non profits using occupancy tax, Balloon Festival, Chapman, Soap Box Derby etc. Councilman Brewer-The Youth Center has requested 12,000 for a number of years we approved 11,000 I would like to bring it to 12,000, 20% of the kids that go there are from Queensbury or 10% of their budget, they provide meals, aid, a place for them to go, if kids get in trouble they are not allowed to go there… Councilman Montesi-Agreed, look at the other end of the spectrum, the Queensbury Senior Citizens asked for 14,000 we have them at 8,000. is that enough? Councilman Strough-They want to sit down and talk to us. Supervisor Stec-If there is any of the non profits that you want to tweak tell us the number. Councilman Brewer-Requested 12,000 for the Youth Center. Councilman Brewer-My other two issues were Soap Box Derby, they came in 5,000 originally when we went in with the City and donated with them I would like to take a look at this next year, keep an eye on it because they kind of made a home at the college. They are going to have a rally once a month and to me they had the second biggest rally SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING 10-26-2009 MTG. #38 300 in the Country here in Queensbury. The only other one I wanted to look at was Little League why did we go from fifteen to fourteen when we always had a contract for fifteen? Supervisor Stec-I was suggesting that the Board think about reining in some of the non profits, this year with the economy. Councilman Metivier-Questioned why Little League was so expensive Councilman Strough-This was to keep the price stable… Supervisor Stec-They have been getting fifteen thousand for ten years. Councilman Brewer-That is for maintenance of the fields, etc. Budget Officer Tierney-G.F. Youth Center 12,000. Councilman Montesi-Queensbury Land Conservancy – was 28,000 they have asked for 26,000 and we are going to give them 26,000 will we be doing this every year? Supervisor Stec-Leon Steves explained this is covering the part time administrative help and they think this will be a stable number. Councilman Strough-We have a right to audit their books… Councilman Brewer-Spoke to the Board on what the Land Conservancy has done, built bridges, put fencing along property lines, survey work etc. Supervisor Stec-We will be meeting with them before their contract in 2010. Lowered the budgeted amount to $15,000. Budget Officer Tierney-Will put the difference into contingency. Councilman Strough-I want to say within Dan’s and Barb’s budget as much as we can, I think it came out pretty good. Councilman Metivier-Requested that Mountainside Library be raised to $1500. just enough to pay their insurance. Councilman Strough-Up dated the Board on the North Warren Chamber Map Project will go to the printers this week or next week. Councilman Montesi-Questioned why the Feeder Canal Alliance did not request funding? Councilman Brewer-They had a grant this year $25,000 the County the Town and the Feeder Alliance, we had the area reseeded and raked and new pads for picnic tables and benches and this week they are redoing the path. Councilman Montesi-Saratoga Musical Union, please explain that? Supervisor Stec-Those are the concerts that we do 50/50 with Glens Falls. Budget Officer Tierney-The Glens Falls Youth Center will be at 12,000. the Land Conservancy goes to 15,000 with the balance going to contingency and the Mountainside Library gets $1500. Councilman Strough-General Fund Appropriation – 1680. Information Technology estimating going up 14.52%... questioned why. Budget Officer Tierney-A portion of that is GIS salary …. Councilman Strough-1910 what is that? SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING 10-26-2009 MTG. #38 301 Budget Officer Tierney-That is the insurance, property and casualty general funds portion. Councilman Strough-1990 Contingency we just increased the contingency amount? Budget Officer Tierney-$11,000 from the Land Conservancy is going to go to the .4 contingency. Councilman Montesi-What is the insurance going up on the Highway? Budget Officer Tierney-The building is under Building and Grounds.. re: insurance breakdown on the renewal we know the rates from January through June because we are on a July renewal we do not know, we put in a 10% increase and a little contingency built into it. Councilman Strough-1990 Contingency - ? Supervisor Stec-Last year all raises were not in contingency they were in individual payroll lines this year we pulled them out and put them in contingency. Councilman Strough-Noted a decrease in Zoning and Planning in 8010 and 8020 is that because we are putting some of their…because of GIS and salary amounts in contingency? Supervisor Stec-Yes… Councilman Montesi-Town Counsel is that our contractual agreement with Miller and Mannix? We originally contracted for 200,000? Supervisor Stec-There was a cap for 180,000 and that is for everything that is not litigation. 1420. also includes Pam. With the exception of the Main Street condemnation, litigation has been down and even general retainer work has been down the last several months. Councilman Brewer-8540 Drainage – That is all we have left? Budget Officer Tierney-That is what is budgeted for Mike Travis for drainage projects. Councilman Montesi-Spoke on a Dan Ryan study on drainage on Meadowbrook Road, need to increase size of culvert…also spoke on the drainage problem in the Tire Warehouse area… Councilman Strough-Under Revenue-2351 Programs to the aging…6,000 is that the State? Budget Officer Tierney-It is a State thing. Councilman Brewer-Engineering-4720 – in 09 we budgeted 50,000 actual was 29,572. we are back up to 50,000 when we only spent thirty? Budget Officer Tierney-It is through the August billing we still have the rest of the year. Councilman Brewer-Hardware/software IT 40,000 Budget Officer Tierney-6080 - forty three thirty five software subs. and maintenance… He put two lines into one… Councilman Brewer-page 99 09 original budget twenty five, revised budget forty two actual thirty two back down to twenty five … celebrations has to do with the parade? Budget Officer Tierney-Christmas Party…plaques etc. SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING 10-26-2009 MTG. #38 302 Supervisor Stec- In 08 we spent $1700. in 09 we spent $3200. dropped in 10 to 2500. Councilman Strough-Senior Citizens 7620.1010 2009 was 27,873. and now 39,072? Supervisor Stec-Shows only part of a year…08 was 37,385, Councilman Strough-What is meant by Community Services? Budget Officer Tierney-Those are some of the contributions in the non profits. Councilman Brewer-Page 26 Paving 08 actual five forty three, 09 five seventy five actual five forty nine dropped it to three ten. Budget Officer Tierney-Go back to the last line on that page there is two hundred and forty thousand Capital Construction … there is an off setting revenue to this…Chips money. Councilman Brewer-4110 - does that number get reduced with that fifty three thousand? Supervisor Stec-The expense doesn’t change but the transfer amount would go down fifty three thousand. Councilman Brewer-Page 31 A25 from ten to fifty? Budget Officer Tierney-Penflex, the contribution has gone up for the firefighters from four hundred to seven hundred, there used to be a credit sitting with Penflex for service award contributions due to forfeitures and things at Penflex that has been used up since I came over the last two years it is now gone. Councilman Brewer-Is there anybody else that does that other than Penflex? Supervisor Stec-That is not their fee this is the contribution for their points. Councilman Montesi-I was impressed with the revenue that the EMS is bringing in. Councilman Strough-The exemption report, I want to make sure I understand that exempt from fire and ems taxes … Budget Officer Tierney-That is a question for Teri Ross…this report has to be part of the budget…she can run you an exemption report by fire district… Supervisor Stec-Fire- We have not spoken to Central, their mortgage is paid off next month on the building they are talking about wanting to talk to us about an addition. Their budget is inflationary a known quantity the only curve ball that came up last time if we wanted to accelerate paying off South Queensbury’s building so we could clear their debt before they take on more debt for a vehicle. Their building would be paid for in 2012 so they are two years and four months out, if we wanted them to pay it off by the end of next year we are balling parking about $72,000 additional dollars. I think that is beyond reach, if we added $72,000 into fire it would add a 2% additional increase to a 5 ½ % increase not something that I am comfortable with. We may be able to help them pay it off six months early but not sixteen months early… Councilman Strough-If we say this is not a good year, here is the program in X number of years you can do this, I think they would feel better knowing that at least we scheduled them someplace. Supervisor Stec-If we buy two trucks we are not going back to those companies for years, especially South has to replace one eventually and West. Councilman Brewer-We have to start a truck fund but the town holds the money… SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING 10-26-2009 MTG. #38 303 Supervisor Stec-Barbara is going to run the numbers on the budget and print up a new document and get it to you. Councilman Metivier-Spoke to the Board regarding the Sunnyside Protective Association and the cost of the engineer study, wanting to make sure the monies are taken from the $7,500 that was allocated... Spoke also to the Board regarding a septic system failure in Ward I …(Supervisor Stec-will speak to Town Counsel regarding this issue) RESOLUTION ADJOURNING TOWN BOARD MEETING RESOLUTION NO. 337. 2009 INTRODUCED BY: Mr. John Strough WHO MOVED FOR ITS ADOPTION SECONDED BY: Mr. Anthony Metivier RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Queensbury hereby adjourns its Town Board Meeting. th Duly adopted this 26 day of October, 2009 by the following vote: AYES: Mr. Metivier, Mr. Montesi, Mr. Strough, Mr. Brewer, Mr. Stec NOES: None ABSENT: None Respectfully submitted, Miss Darleen M. Dougher Town Clerk-Queensbury