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1992-01-13 SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING JANUARY 13,1992 7:00 p.m. MTG.#5 RES. 45-47 TOWN BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT Supervisor Michel Brandt Councilman Betty Monahan Councilman Susan Goetz Councilman Nick Caimano Councilman Pliney Tucker Attorney Paul Dusek GUESTS: Mr. George Stark, Members of the QEDC Supervisor Brandt -Called the meeting to order RESOLUTION CALLING FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION RESOLUTION NO. 45, 1992 INTRODUCED BY: Mr. Nick Caimano WHO MOVED ITS ADOPTION SECONDED BY: Mrs. Susan Goetz RESOLVED that the Town Board hereby moves into Executive Session to discuss litigation. Duly adopted this 13th day of January, 1992 by the following vote: All those in favor AYES All those opposed None ABSENT: Councilman Monahan Motion carried (Executive Session held) RESOLUTION ADJOURNING EXECUTIVE SESSION RESOLUTION NO. 46, 1992 INTRODUCED BY: Mr. Nick Caimano WHO MOVED ITS ADOPTION SECONDED BY: Mrs. Susan Goetz RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby adjourns its executive session and moves back into Regular Session. Duly adopted this 13th day of January, 1992 by the following vote: All those in favor AYES All those opposed None ABSENT: Councilman Monahan Motion carried WORKSHOP 1. Discussion held with Mr. George Stark Mr. George Stark-Owner of the Mohican Motel, Lake George Road-Queensbury-We are planning a three building expansion...want to add an 8 x16' storage building (used to store sheets, blankets, laundry detergents etc. items needed for the motel) in a HC Zone, not a permitted use...! will have to go for a variance, the only criteria for granting a variance is hardship and I can think of none... this is a loop hole in the Highway Commercial the fact that you cannot have a storage building... requested that the Board look into this for the future so that a storage building is permitted in Highway Commercial Zones. Mrs. York-Suggested that Mr. Stark write to the Zoning Board and request an interpretation ... noted that a place for storage oflaundry detergent is a normal function of having a motel...if he feels that maybe Pat, will re-think it and decide that in fact it is an expansion of an existing use.. . noted other businesses have requested storage buildings in Highway Commercial...noted that she would help Mr. Stark draft a letter to the Zoning Board... (Councilman Monahan entered the meeting) Mr. Stark-Re: Site Plan Review...! would like to see the Planning Dept. or Zoning Administrator have a little more flexibility ....noted that to place a building 24x30 on his property to put in video games, would have to have engineering study.. no objection to the site plan review, let them look at it and make recommendations but there has got to be somebody that can say put it through, bring it up to the Planning Board and say it is ok to make this change, stream line the process... Councilman Caimano-Asked if this falls in the expedited review? Mrs. York-It could... Councilman Caimano- The answer to your question is that I remember a year ago putting through just such a plan for things just like yours, so that the Planning Dept. could look at it they could say hey, this is a great idea ... all it would be is a rubber stamp by the Planning Board...! know we have the process now... Mrs. Y ork- The problem is that in the law you are required that anything that goes to the Planning Board you have to duly advertise and hold a public hearing on, that is where the Planning Board got caught in a situation, you still have to fill out the application you still have to be on an agenda, you still have to come to the Board meetings and go to Warren Co. Planning Board if applicable, the only thing that this does for you is you probably do not have to stay for most of the meeting...the Board reads the item opens the public hearing, closes the public hearing and then basically approves it. Councilman Caimano- The problem is from his stand point he still has to go through an expense..... Mr. Stark-I do not mind the application expense...it is the engineer's expense that is a pain. Councilman Monahan-It is my understanding that the Planning Board has the right to waive some of the requirements.. . Mrs. York-Yes...Usually commercial expansions are reviewed for drainage concerns... Mr. Stark-Noted the fees charged by outside engineering firms... Supervisor Brandt-I get the feeling that someone could walk over there look at the thing and say that makes sense and go on with it. Councilman Monahan-Mike I think you are right, this is something that we have been talking about for quite sometime, to get together with the Planning Board and have the Planning Board give up some of their powers and duties almost to a professional planning dept. and those people on small projects have the ability to walk out there and say I cannot foresee there is going to be any problem. .... Councilman Caimano-We should work towards that...who makes the decision of what is a big mess, little mess, what is big or small...we need to have someone on top who does all that. Councilman Monahan-You need a professional, I do not think that those are subjective when you get into the professional field they are objective calls from a true professional. Supervisor Brandt-Thanked Mr. Stark for coming before the Board... 2. Discussion held regarding Clerk of the Works for the Water Dist. Administration Bldg. it was decided that Mr. Flaherty would be contacted and ask him to get an ad out in the papers for applicants...a request for proposal would be prepared, what he expects the Clerk of the Works to do... 3. Discussion held on Warren Co. Sheriffs Contract-Supervisor Brandt noted that a meeting had been held with Warren County with the Sheriff and the Finance Committee, contract negotiated at 1992-$200,000 1993-$150,000 1994-$100,000 and 1995-$50,000 4. Special Town Board Meeting - Wednesday at 5:00 P.M. January 15th to talk about the proposal for the Warren County Sheriffs Contract and any further business... held at the Supervisor's Conference Room agreed to by the Town Board 5. Discussion held regarding Utility billing...E.J. Christensen asked if the Town Board wishes to talk to a certain individual who checks Utility billing to see if he can save us money.. .he gets paid a percentage of what he saves....Councilman Tucker I am interested on how the Town pays for Street lights, noted that for three months there has been seven out on Quaker and Aviation Road... Supervisor Brandt, requested Mr. Tucker contact Nimo and find out how the billing is done....Councilman Caimano, requested that the individual be brought in and discuss his service...Councilman Caimano, requested the Chairman of the lighting dist. to look into the following...a lighting district in Ward 3 that has no lights and has been paying a fee for a lighting dist. for years... Supervisor Brandt-requested that the lighting districts and highway lighting be reviewed. OPEN TO FLOOR Mr. Bill Duell-Requested a lower speed limit on Queensbury Avenue north ofDix Avenue, noted increase in truck traffic in area...Discussion held and it was suggested that a petition from the residents of the area be presented to the Town Board requesting a lower speed limit...also noted that the speed limit be on Queensbury Avenue for one mile north ofDix Avenue... Councilman Tucker-Noted that he had received a call from Mr. Leon Steves regarding the rezoning request for Harold Square and Queensbury Place ...asked that they be scheduled to be placed on Town Board agenda...will be placed on next weeks agenda to set public hearings... Questioned if the law could be changed on two lot subdivisions...Councilman Monahan-suggested that the Board meet with the Planning Board on January 27th to discuss this... Regarding the Zoning Board of Appeals ...down to 5 people anything denied by the Warren Co. Planning Board takes a majority plus one...Councilman Goetz-if they take any action other than what the Planning Board did, it does not have to be a denial.. Councilman Tucker-seeing that there are only 5 members on the Planning Board what is the majority of that Planning Board? Councilman Goetz-Four plus one, they would need everybody there...Councilman Monahan-Noted that the Board consists of7 members if we have two vacancies that is tough...it was noted that Planning Board has 6 members the Zoning Board has 5 members at present an article has been in the paper requesting applicants for these positions... Councilman Goetz-RE: Coordinating the lights on Quaker Road...understood that it was up to Fred Austin, why doesn't it get done... Supervisor Brandt-noted it was because of money... Councilman Caimano-spoke on his experience with the lights on Quaker Road, noting something is wrong with the light at Quaker and Lafayette, lets take one light at a time... Supervisor Brandt-we need input on design and traffic town wide, that is one of the boards that we ought to put together ... we need to look to three or four people committees who are knowledgeable and who can help us to define solutions to these problems...Councilman Caimano-requested that Mr. Austin talk to the Town Board about the lights... Supervisor Brandt-Noted that we will look into the situation... WORKSHOP QEDC-Members introduced themselves-Mr. Fred Champagne, Mr. Jim Weller, Mr. Dean Beckos, Mr. Peter Firth, Mr. Jack Cushing, Mr. Ed Dienst... .Mr. Dean Beckos briefed the Board on the history of the QEDC...formed in 1985, a vehicle to get into the land development business, property was purchased through a not for profit economic development corporation, certification of incorporation dated 7-1986 ...April of 1991 the QEDC changed the By-Laws from ten to thirteen members and from one year to three year terms... 1985 40 acres ofland was purchased just under $10,000 per acre...there are covenants, that apply restrictions to the development of that land, targeting light industry, manufacturing, assembly and distribution, office building...intent to form relationship toward employment creation, hi tech and clean industry.. .1988 QEDC had a transition from only elected officials to private citizens, the Board of QEDC would recommend nominees and the Town Board would appoint those nominees...presented board with report of funds expended...May of 1989 the QEDC and Town Board became co-applicants of a grant, Federal Grant awarded 9-91, we accepted the grant in October and filed for an extension, 60% of infrastructure costs pickup up by Federal Government, 40% by QEDC...Marketing efforts, 1989 enter into a contracted with the Randall Group annual contract $15,000. one year contract not renewed.. 1990 and 1991 ARCC $10,000 annually that contract expired as of the end oflast year, we have no formal marketing efforts at this point in time. At the last meeting was decided to use a consultant to aid us in the implementation of the goals and work plan that I have described in the handout...We hope in the future to develop and implement a marketing plan...!t is our belief that we are the director and should represent the stock holders of this corporation, the stockholders being you the representatives of the population of the Town of Queensbury... Some of the Questions that come up with that concept are what are your expectations of QEDC and what type of economic development does the town want and what type of industry should we pursue in the development ... also a handout listing members ofQEDC given to Board...Councilman Goetz-how do you tie into the ARCC? Mr. Beckos-one of our missions is to sell the real estate in that property..intent with contracting with ARCC establish a marketing effort to sell the land...Councilman Caimano-Goals...identifying and overcome barriers to economic development within the Town of Queensbury seems to be the ultimate goal of the group .... provide guidance and advice to new and existing businesses, are these not the primary function and was not realistate meant to facilitate just that? Mr. Beckos- Yes... Councilman Caimano-noted that he felt we might be fragmented, listed other organization such as The Chamber, Gang of 15, and other groups such as QBA, if we are going to be bring businesses into Queensbury we need to get together more, I would rather see a planned development as to how we are going to bring business to Queensbury in a solid plan from a group such as yours. Councilman Monahan-Is QBA more retail oriented than this group is? Mr. Beckos- I would think that QBA is a membership organization that just represents the interests of existing businesses within the Town of Queensbury, I do not see where they have the economic development interests...noted that the gang of 15 arose out of a shot gun approach that occurred in the tourism marketing efforts many people are firing shots in many directions and its the gangs interest and feeling that if that was all consolidated under one group then that could be a more efficient way of handling the tourism funds ... Councilman Monahan-noted that in the beginning QEDC was to help the industrial base that was here to retain business, re-education, training ...try to sell this area...as a place where businesses could come for a good quality oflife for their people... Supervisor Brandt-spoke on the economy of the country, even if we found an industry that wants to grow it is pretty unusual for it to find the money to grow, that is our problem...Councilman Monahan- Questioned Mr. Champagne, what is your feeling about the prospects now of getting any business to come here...Mr. Champagne-discussed with the board other local communities that have showed some businesses that have come in...industry and business has not ceased to expand, maybe this is the best time to position yourself when the fires do get hot and the strikes are more appropriate, I do not think we can sit on our laurels...maybe this is the time to move forward and make some real thrust...zero in on a target....we have got to do some hard study of the base that we have here now, a survey of some type that identifies some inhibitors...Councilman Monahan-I think we should be looking regional..with this type of thing you do not stop at a town line.... Supervisor Brandt-QEDC is not regional, we have one plot, we are part of the region, we have something to offer... Councilman Monahan-As far as I am concerned, I would just as soon see these gentlemen bring in these businesses into private areas like Earltown or what, as long as we get the job base in here. Mr. Jack Cushing-...any company that you bring into this area, is going to benefit all of the areas...noted that the gang of 15 is trying to stop fragmentation and zeroing in a very specific area that is tourism or the convention bureau...the chamber has had nothing to do with the convention bureau for at least six years...the gang of 15 so called coming in and doing something about it, I think it is an exceptionally good report and I think if some of those recommendations if not all were taken to heart by Warren County Board of Supv. I think we would be far ahead of the game...noted that the future looks good, noting ten, fifteen inquiries that are solid ones, because of the recession have backed off....spoke on the two medical companies that have come into the area...Councilman Monahan-questioned if other companies will follow them in related fields? Mr. Cushing-Absolutely...Councilman Caimano-spoke to the QEDC regarding their participation in trade shows to promote the area, a place to find the people who are the companies that may want to move, this is the kind of thing I see coming out of QEDC...is that part of your marketing? Mr. Weller-In order to do ajob effectively we need a marketing plan, those are costly efforts..I think we agree as a Board with what you are saying that we need a marketing plan and need to implement the plan and we are searching on how best to do that...a marketing plan will have to be developed by a professional...Mr. Champagne-spoke on the efforts made by the Chamber at trade shows...Mr. Cushing spoke on the efforts through ARCC with Canadian based businesses, looking for those companies to move...Councilman Goetz-How does ARCC get the information to you that they have? Mr. Beckos-Contractually for the last two years, they were reporting on a monthly basis....Councilman Goetz- Were you able to talk to some of the perspective people? Mr. Beckos-There is a problem with confidentiality in some cases...Councilman Goetz-Questioned if they needed to meet each month? Mr. Beckos-I would say a monthly meeting is at least necessary, we have found we spend a lot of time developing this mission statements, goals and work plans that we completed in May of last year and probably had three to four interim monthly meetings within the time frame of our normal monthly meetings to develop this. Recently we have found we need to meet more than once a month... so at least a monthly meeting is probably necessary...it is the consensus of the group that the park exists and will probably sell itself over the course of a year, I do not think it is anybody's intent on this Board to expend marketing efforts and marketing dollars toward solely the marketing of this park, as I understand it we are the only park in the region that has a sewer system and has in infrastructure that this one does already, so, if the economic picture picks up I suspect the land will sell on its own. Spoke on the QEDC financial picture, what are we to do with the money, is the Town of Queensbury suppose to market the entire region? Supervisor Brandt-That is a pretty deep question for all of us, what is our posture in this whole thing? You basically have to sit back and look at the community today and say what can we do and we have to get innovated...Ifyou are willing to keep on I want to encourage you because we need that...there are certain assets in the community how do we want to use them, do we want to use it to subsidize an industry...when I went door to door people did not really want to see us put money into somebodies industry after a few failures we have seen, do we want it in marketing, I do not know, do we want to wait until someone walks in a door and just give them a good handshake and say here is what we got and treat them first class keep our laws simple, get them through the process fairly rapidly, yes I like that personally. Mr. Weller-What would you like to see happen in the Town of Queensbury relative to economic development in the next five years? Councilman Caimano-A dream, one company a year, twenty to thirty people ...Mr. Weller-you want to see growth Councilman Caimano-Reasonable economic growth, something we can absorb as we grow as a town. Councilman Goetz-We want to encourage growth and development in existing sewer districts... Councilman Monahan-We need a job base that is higher than retail that are working for minimum or a little bit above it... Mr. Weller-you want the economic development in the community at large, industry and al the things that go with it...Mr. Beckos-we feel to do that we have got to spend some money..I do not know how much money now but we feel a need to engage a consultant to helping us implement a little more specifically this strategic plan...Councilman Goetz-One thing we are doing is taking a look at our Planning and Zoning set up and it may end up to be just what it is now, but, we are going into it with the idea that we did not have any and to see how it best can work because in some ways that has been part of the economic barrier...we hope to have an outline of what the plan can be by February Ist...Supervisor Brandt-I think it is wise to have an inventory of what our assets are, and that always changes...Councilman Monahan-Noted a great selling point for industry is the road system...speaking about the Northway ...Mr. Weller-speaking about what development has done to Long Island, and New Jersey, do we ever get to a point where we want to put the breaks on so that same thing does not happen here? Supervisor Brandt- ...there is no answer to it in the end you cannot stop it and you cannot start it, what you can do is plan a town so it works when it happens...our challenge is to make a town plan that will accommodate growth as it happens...Councilman Monahan-noted that bringing industry into Queensbury will spin off with housing in other areas...Mr. Weller-Are you as interested in bringing industry into Queensbury as you are into Kingsbury are you really concerned whether industry goes on one side or the other of the County Line Road? Consensus of Board that they were not... Councilman Monahan-We need the base for the whole area. Mr. Beckos-We feel our mission is to bring industry into the region...Mr. Weller-If we are doing economic development and our goal is to build the economic base in the Town of Queensbury is the ultimate measure of our success going to be the increase in the tax rolls? Councilman Monahan-no...houses cost more in services than they bring in as a tax base. Mr. Weller-Bottom line how are we going to measure our success? Councilman Monahan-By bringing this region up to a standard where our kids can stay here and work in goodjobs...Mr. Cushing-Another issue, opportunity for QEDC to make sure the existing businesses that we have, continue to grow and prosper and that they do not leave... Councilman Caimano- The answer to your question is extremely subjective, if the general tenor of the people that live in the Town is that is relatively recession proof because there is a great variety of businesses it's a nice place to live all those things that are not necessarily measurable I think that is the measure of your success... Councilman Goetz-I think you would like to leave this meeting with something specific you mentioned a marketing plan...I think we should know that you are going to do one task and then you would come back to us, it sounds like we should meet a lot more than what has happened, or is that my function, but I am just one person....Mr. Beckos-One of the objectives we have had answered, we came to ask the question do you want economic development or should we hand in our Queensbury pins and go home? We feel this board has historically within the last couple to three years shown an indication not to spend money, however we feel at this point in time that something ought to change in the development of a marketing plan to assist in the development of business, incoming as well as retention of existing businesses, how much money or what direction that will take we intend to develop over the next couple of months. Councilman Caimano- I think it is obvious that there are four new people here because of the money aspect of politics and certainly everybody in this whole Country is concerned about the money aspect of politics but it is not the matter of money it is the matter of money well spent...I think more money needs to be spent, I think our money should be focused through you, that is my feeling...Councilman Monahan-questioned the County's Tourism and Business Promotion Dept. all the money goes to tourism and none to business promotion, there is a problem that needs to be hit on the County level... Supervisor Brandt-I think there is motion there, a lot of people feel the County has not used all its tourism money wisely...this is one thing that has to be talked about, from my view point we need to do a lot more planning of our town and that means an open discussion and you guys ought to be a part of it... Councilman Tucker-Do you want these gentlemen to come up with a plan and come back and talk to us? Supervisor Brandt-Yes...Mr. Champagne-This is a slow process and does not happen over night... we have to market our resources... Councilman Goetz-You need two members on the economic development group? Mr. Beckos-We currently have two vacancies...Councilman Caimano-suggested Mr. Mike Shay, a manager of Mallinckrodt in Argyle, lives in Queensbury...Supervisor Brandt-I am delighted that you are willing to be on this I hope you decide to continue and we will certainly work with you that is our job I think. Councilman Monahan-How much of the 1991 work plan was accomplished? Mr. Beckos-The incubator industry we put that to bed because of we felt it was a big black hole in the universe in which we felt we would end up pouring great deals of money down other than that not much...Councilman Monahan-Questioned phase II of Progress Boulevard..Mr. Beckos-We are not going to build this segment of the road that is depicted in the blue printout, it does not make sense. Supervisor Brandt-We will be glad to meet with you anytime you want to meet... Councilman Monahan-I thank them for all their efforts and all the time they have spent on behalf of the community and the region. Open discussion held in regard to restructuring the Planning and Zoning Dept...a plan to be developed on who will do what, like to get the Planning Dept. more focused on planning rather than administrating a law, restructure so that administration is simpler, faster, cheaper for us as a government and for the person coming through, we would like to emphasis the town plan, developing a plan so that when growth occurs we are all happy with it. Mr. Weller, volunteered his time to speak to the Board about his experiences as a builder in the town and in other parts of the country..I think I could have some positive suggestions... Supervisor Brandt-We want any insight that we can get...Thanked the QEDC for attending the meeting... RESOLUTION CALLING FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION RESOLUTION NO. 47, 1992 INTRODUCED BY: Mr. Nick Caimano WHO MOVED ITS ADOPTION SECONDED BY: Mrs. Susan Goetz RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Queensbury hereby moves into Executive Session to discuss professional services and potential litigation. Duly adopted this 13th day of January, 1992 by the following vote: All those in favor AYES All those opposed NONE Motion carried (Executive session held) On motion the meeting was adjourned. Respectfully submitted, Miss Darleen M. Dougher Town Clerk-Queensbury