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1987-09-29 SP 3 .7.5' SPECIALTOWN BOARD MEETING SEPTEMBER 29, 1987 4:00 P.M. TOWN BOARD MEMBERS Mr. Stephen Borgos - Councilman Mr. Ronald Montesi - Councilman Mrs. Betty Monahan - Councilman ABSENT- Councilman Kurosaka TOWN COUNSEL-Mr. Wilson Mathias PRESS-WWSC - Glens Falls Post Star PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE LED BY TOWN CLERK, DARLEEN DOUGHER SUPERVISOR WALTER-The purpose of the meeting is for the Town Clerk to distribute the 1988 budget to the Town Board. TOWN CLERK-Presented the budget stating that it was placed on file in the clerk's office September 28, 1987. SUPERVISOR WALTER-As Budget Officer I have completed a tentative budget for 1988 regarding appropriations and revenues for the operation of the 1988 town services. Noted that this is the first step in the budget process, the tentative budget is really just a working document for review by the Town Councilman over the next several weeks. The Board will be meeting in workshops with various Department Heads for further discussion on budget. Preliminary budget will be set by the Board in late October, probably at our last meeting of the month and it will set a time for a public hearing, at which time the public can express any comments, opinions on the 1988 town preliminary budget as the Board has agreed upon. I would like to point out a few salient points to the Board and they are some of the differences that they might find in this budget over last years budget. I would tell you all before you open it up that both the expenditures and the appropriations have increased over last year, in the expenditure department, in the general funds its probably increased by a half a million dollars. The Highway Budget continues to swell as our inventory of roads expands, that was probably expected...I noted that we had a budget in 1987 of $l, 694, 559.00 and in 1988 the highway budget would be one point nine million and some change that is the difference of about a little less than a quarter of a million dollars. Our total funds have increased in the town by about nine hundred and fifty eight thousand dollars. You should note that a new department is budgeted for, the Sewer Department has been established to carry on the responsibilities incurred by our first full fledged sewer district. There are also three new water districts appearing in the new budget, Sherman Avenue Extension, Peggy Ann Road, and then you will note that there are some departments that have increased, I think all departments have increased, there are one or two who have decreased, they are smaller departments. The increases that you will note are probably the Assessment Department as the splits in property keep up in Queensbury constantly adding to the work load. The recreation budget has expanded, basically because of the increase of maintenance of expanded Gurney Lane Park and the new Ridge Road and South O,ueensbury sites. As Budget Officer I determine that capital improvements for recreation should continue from the capital funds that has been established for that purpose and the increases in the Recreation Department are operation and maintenance, the capital improvement budgeted therefore are really minimal dollars. The increase in the cemetery expenditures is indicated on your budget and that has to do with the Crematorium however in my original estimates that the first year revenues will make the operation self sufficient. There is a new line for a part time Planner that will expand that office to a Planner and a half. I have also added two new positions and I do hope that the Town Board will agree that these two positions should remain...one is Town Attorney and the other Town Engineer. I will note that each year I have been Supervisor I see the amount of time necessary for legal work increase and I believe that there will be an actual dollar savings over vouchering for outside work of probably three attorneys and that the on spot advise that our department heads need each day, we will probably come out ahead with an attorney on the staff. I also believe that a Town Engineer has become an essential because we have a definite need for professional expertise on a daily basis. The Building Department, The Highway Department, Water Department and the Landfill uses these services, also the Town Board has found the need to have some technical advice in dealing with engineers for much larger projects. Engineering review during the planning process is presently not very consistant and I believe that the prospect of one engineer reviewing anothers work one month and the reversal of the roles the next month is less than satisfactory. Our staff engineer would provide consistent review and have a thorough detailed knowledge of our towns standards in all departments. I believe that with the revenues that we would .3 "7 6 achieve in other departments that are currently paying for our outside services that thin would not be an excessive expense for the town. I have budgeted for an Administrator, I continue to feel that the town needs one, I have said it for several years but I also know that this is an election year and the candidates that are presently running are running on the prospect that this will be a full time job and the salary would compensate for such and I don't believe that we would need two full time people doing the same but I think I won't be here but in subsequent years the Board should continue to look in that direction. We will be meeting, we are setting up the schedule now with Department Heads, any questions that you have preliminary to that, I will be happy to address for you. I would hope we manage to include all of the expenses that we could anticipate, the revenues you may feel you wish to increase or decrease. I have reviewed all the Department Heads budgets, I have reviewed last years expenses and this current debate with them, the plans for their departments for the next year and thus I have based my decisions on whether to increase their budgets or decrease after that much thought. The rest is up to the Town Board and the next time we meet would be to set the preliminary budget so that it could then go to a Public Hearing and with that I will conclude my remarks on the budget. Stated that although the budget is up, the Town Board could include their determinations where to go as far as final expenditures, the fact that we have increased our assessed evaluation, not because of the revaluation but because we would still be having to raise the same amount of money for the budget and you actually see that the tax rates next year do not at all correspond with what has occurred in the past years; based on last years budget our tax rate this year would probably be about thirty-three cents, it was then-a $1.06 so it is going to be very difficult to equate them, but we also have to consider applying to the budget and we do this after our public hearing and final determination of how much excess of revenues, decrease in expenditures that where we come up with an excess in our funding surplus funds that can be applied to next years budget; so it is very early in the game to consider any kind of a tax rate and again stated that there is quite nothing to base any kind of dollar amounts on now. COUNCILMAN BORGOS-Asked what the total proposed anticipated, tentative budget is? SUPERVISOR WALTER-Noted that there were totals on each page, and at the end of the A fund there is a general total of the A fund, you will see a current year appropriated that is not current year budgeted, you will have to be using your last years budget. On the revenues there is also a total A revenues. Stated that the total for A, C, D, and J budget is $6,988,312.00. COUNCILMAN BORGOS-Stated that this was lower that what he anticipated and asked if there were other items not included there? SUPERVISOR WALTER-These funds will be taxes raised on a general town wide bases, all the others, are totals on the budget on each of the water districts, each of the lighting districts, the sewer districts and the fire districts, but I can give you a total budget but that does not relate town wide, but the dollars the Fiscal Officer will be handling next year would be $11,258,857.00 as opposed to $9,139,884.00...its up about two million dollars on the tentative budget. Asked for further questions on the budget, said there would be a schedule of the workshops. Our first budget workshop meeting will be next Tuesday, October 13, 1987, then after that it will be when most people can be here. We have to get through the whole thing by the end of October. We have another resolution and asked the Board to take action. RESOLUTION TO SET PUBLIC HEARING RESOLUTION NO. 311, Introduced by Mr. Stephen Borgos who moved for its adoption, seconded by Mrs. Be' ty Monahan. WHEREAS, the Town Board has instituted a technical (engineering) review of all projects presented to the Queensbury Planning Board, and WHEREAS, the Town Board wishes to insure that the information presented to the Town is carried to completion, and WHEREAS, it is for the benefit of the Town and the protection of its residents to have a procedure stated in writing, and WHEREAS, the Town Board wishes to have language (that necessitates certification of all engineered systems involving Town Projects) inserted in its Ordinances and Subdivision Regulation,,,, NOW, THERFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that amendments be made to: Ordinance Number 52 (Sanitary Sewage Disposal Ordinance): Ordinance Number 30 (providing for enforcement of State Building Cosntruction Code): and an amendment to the Queensbury Zoning Ordinance Subdivision Regulations, to provide for certification of inspection of engineered systems (stated as attached) and be it further 77 RESOLVED, that said public hearing be held a 7:30 p.m. in the Meeting Room of the town of Queensbury Office Building, Bay and Haviland Roads, in the Town of Queensbury, Warren County, New York on Tuesday, October 13, 1987 at which time all persons interested in the subject matter thereof will be heard, and it is further RESOLVED, that the Town Clerk be hereby directed and authorized to publish and provide notice of said public hearing as may be required by law. Duly adopted by following vote: Ayes: Mr. Borgos, Mr. Montesi, Mrs. Monahan, Mrs. Walter Noes: None Absent: Mrs. Kurosaka AMENDMENT Where a provision of the Queensbury Sanitary Sewage Disposal Ordinance, the Queensbury Subdivision Regulations, the Queensbury Ordinance Number 30, or any other federal or state law, rule or regulation requires that plans and specifications be designed by a licensed architect, landscape architect or professional engineer, a certification to the Town of Queensbury shall be furnished in writing by the professional designing such plans or specifications that the construction, installation, and/or work was performed in accordance with the plans or specifications on file with the Town of Queensbury. Where the professional designing such plan does not issue such certification, the owner contractor or permitee shall provide to the Town of Queensbury satisfactory explanation for the change in professionals certifying the work performed to the Town. The Building Inspector may waive the requirements for filing certifications for minor alterations or standard constructon in areas of non-critical environmental sensitivity . Such waiver shall be in writing filed with the Town Clerk. SUPERVISOR WALTER-Asked for discussion, for the benefit of the record the town six or seven years ago instituted a technical review of the projects coming and we had these professionals look over the plans that were submitted to the town and serve as a consultant to the Planning Board and the Zoning Board and that we really want to take it a step further and make sure that everything a developer has so stated will be carried to completion as he has stated it and I find that in working with Planning and Building Departments this last few months this kind of language is necessary for the protection of the town and its residents. Asked the Board if there were any kind of changes...if not this will go to Public Hearing. Referring to Counsel asked when it would become effective. TOWN COUNSEL-These are worded so they become effective on posting and publication. COUNCILMAN MONAHAN-Does the word Building Inspector mean any person prior to the Building Inspector or does it mean the Code Enforcement Officer in the Department who would be the head of the department. TOWN COUNSEL-Stated that he used the same language that our current ordinance and state code uses, I think you could make a change and designate who that person within the department would be. COUNCILMAN MONTESI-Stated that this is an important step we are taking as the developers are becoming specialists and the town still has the responsibility it had initially and that is to maintain the standards so we want certification that it was built the way it was approved and if it wasn't then there was a change. SUPERVISOR WALTER-It would complete the file with an engineer or the licensed professional signing off that it was completed. ON MOTION THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED DARLEEN DOUGHER TOWN CLERK, TOWN OF QUEENSBURY