1990-11-08 252 roc, 3
TOWN BOARD MEETING
NOVEMBER 8th, 1990
7:34 P.M.
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT
STEPHEN BOR GOS-SUPER VISOR
GEORGE KUROSAKA-COUNCILMAN
MARILYN POTENZA-COUNCILMAN
RONALD MONTESI-COUNCILMAN
BETTY MONAHAN-COUNCILMAN
TOWN ATTORNEY
PAUL D USEK
TOWN OFFICIALS _!
Paul Noylor, Dave Hotin, Kathleen Kothe
PRESS: Channel 8, G.F. Post Star,
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE LED BY COUNCILMAN MONAHAN
RESOL UTION OF APPRECIATION
RESOLUTION NO. 634, 1990, INTRODUCED BY THE ENTIRE TOWN BOARD
WHEREAS, in the year 1907, Imperial Color Chemical and Paper Corporation began the
manufacture of pigment colors of wallpaper decoration in a facility located on 70 acres on
Warren Street, in the Town of Queensbury, and
WHEREAS, in 1045, local employees or the Imperial Pigment Color and Chemical Division
were commended for their high achievement in the production of war materials and received
medals for the production of pigment colors used in bottle application, and
WHEREAS, the name of the Queensbury facility was changed in 1959 to Imperial Color
Chemical & Paper Corporation, and was purchased by Hercules, Inc.., in 1960, and sold to
Ciba-Geigy Corporation, a multi-notional corporation, on September 14th 1979, and
WHEREAS, Ciba-Geigy not only provided jobs and benefits fah its employees, but also become
involved in the cultural, educational and athletic activities of the community and
i
WHEREAS, in 1987, when Ciba-Geigy announced its decision to close its Warren Street Plant,
the firm donated much of its surplus furnishings and fixtures to local government and other
not-for profit organizations, and
WHEREAS, Ciba-Geigy Corporation has offered 15 + acres of land, a 30,000 squore-foot
building, digital truck scales, and a railroad siding at the Queensbury site to Warren County
for use as the Warren County Recycling plant, and
WHEREAS, the property is located in on area zoned for heavy industry, and
WHEREAS, Ciba-Geigy Corporation has offered the land to the county for $1 (One dollar)
in recognition of the positive community and environmental benefit to be derived from its
former industrial site, and
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Queensbury Town Board hereby acknowledges its deep appreciation
to the Ciba-Geigy Corporation and its local officials for their generosity on behalf of the
residents of the town of Queensbury and Warren County.
Duly adopted this 8th day of November, 1990 by the following vote:
Ayes: Mr. Kurosoka, Mrs. Potenza, Mr. Montesi, Mrs. Monahan, Mr. Borgos
Noes: None --
Absent: None 1
RESOLUTION OF APPRECIATION
RESOLUTION NO. 635, 1990, INTRODUCED BY THE COUNCILMEN
WHEREAS, Ciba-Geigy Corporation announced its decision to close its Queensbury plant
in 1987, and
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WHEREAS, Queensbury Town Supervisor Stephen Borgos, a member of the Warren County
Board of Supervisors, has served as liaison between Cibo Geigy officials, the New York State
Department of Environmental Conservation, State Senator Ronald B. Stafford, Congressman
Gerald B. Solomon, Assemblyman Robert D'Andrea, and Warren County Supervisors in an
effort to negotiate the acquisition of 15+ acres of land to the County for use as o Recycling
Center, and
WHEREAS, negotiations culminated October 31, 1990 when the Warren County Solid Waste
Committee approved recommendation of the purchase of 15+ acres for use as the Warren
County Recycling Plant, which has been offered by Cibo Geigy Corporation for o total price
of $1 one dollar, and
WHEREAS, this land, which is well-sited for vehicle and roil access, was offered for a nominal
fee thereby soving the residents of the Town of Queensbury and Warren County untold thousands
of dollars, an at the some time utilizing on area already zoned industrial, and
WHEREAS, the Councilmen of the Town of Queensbury hove supported the Town Supervisor
Stephen Borgos through these long arduous negotiations,
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED, THAT WE, the Councilmen of the Town of Queensbury, on behalf of the Citizens
of the Town, do hereby commend Town Supervisor Stephen Borgos for his foresight, diplomacy,
tenacity and patience in successfully negotiating the transfer of this historic property from
Cibo Geigy to Warren County.
Duly adopted this 8th day of November, 1990 by the following vote:
Ayes: Mr. Kurosoko, Mrs. Potenzo, Mr. Montesi, Mrs. Monahan
Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstain: Mr. Borgos
PUBLIC HEARING - QUEENSBURY PRELIMINARY TOWN BUDGET FOR 1991
NOTICE SHOWN
7:40 p.m
SUPERVISOR BORGOS-Let me read a list of rules and regulations that I would ask that we
follow which are the some as we follow at all public hearings. That is, that, every person
.will be permitted to speak. One turn for each person, before a person is allowed a second
opportunity to speak this gives everyone a chance to speak while it is still some reasonable
hour. I would ask that you raise your hand to be recognized before speaking when you do
speak, please come forward to the microphone, state your name, address and please be as
concise as possible just in the interest of everyone's time. The Board is prepared to remain
as long as necessary to hear all persons, that's important. If everyone here wants to speak
once and everyone wants to speak twice we will stay here as long as it takes. I would like
to make a few comments first, I just jotted down some notes this afternoon. This may help
us to get started. A lot of people do not understand the budget process, I do see former
Supervisor Fran Walter, here in the front, she understands the budget process and also I am
pleased to see her here at the meeting. The budget process begins each year with a requested
budget and the requested budget is submitted by Deportment Heads to the Budget Officer.
In this case, this year those requested budgets were asked, were requested to be in by July
1st. a few Departments were a bit late but they were done early. The tentative budget is
then prepared by the Budget Officer after negotiations and discussions with each Department
Head that was completed by September 30th which is the dead line set by the State Low.
The Preliminary Budget then followed intensive and extensive Town Board Meetings some
of which lasted six hours reviewing each and every item of each and every budget page that
resulted in a Preliminary Budget which was completed in time to set the public hearing for
this meeting such that the hearing itself could be held not later the Thursday, following the
Tuesday of Election Day, as stated by law. The next step would be for this Board to adopt
a budget on or before November 20th and 1 believe we will hit that dote as we always have.
In preparing the budget particularly beginning, official beginning July 1st and realistically
beginning as soon as last years budget was 'adopted, we had to consider some of the, all the
following items and some others. We hod to look at world economic conditions, which change
as you know fairly dramatically and sometimes fairly rapidly. We had to look at local economic
conditions, Union Contracts, Regulated Fees, that is power authority type fees and State
fees costs of goods and services we had to look at experience rated fees such as insurance.
We had to project our Sales tax, our revenue and at the time we were required to do this
when the first port of the budget, the tentative budget had to be set by the Budget Officer
only two quarters of soles tax were known leaving two very much unknown quarters. We
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had to be concerned this year with state adjustments for the sales tax which were a surprise
to all of us. We also have to look at a very big number called mortgage tax, hopefully it is
very big. We considered on the issues of salaries and wages, we looked at the Union Salaries
and Wages those are set by contract, the non union and elected officials salaries are set by
the Board each year. The
Board has adjusted salaries over a period of the last four years in steps. With this budget
we believe the last major step should be accomplished. Future increase at all levels should
be consistent with general conditions and union contract levels. The Board has been extremely
sensitive to public concerns although some of you may not agree. The Board is aware of what
is happening, the Board struggles to contain costs and take appropriate actions. All of us
are aware, as you are I believe of the so called bashing of public officials throughout all the
news media. It has become a very popular thing to do, public officials are easy targets,
generally cannot hide in any way, generally cannot get involved in much rebuttal of the
criticisms that are leveled. Very often all public officials are painted with the some brush
regardless of where they are or what is being done. There ore tremendous pressures on —
ourselves and on our families during the budget crises as well as all other times of the year,
and that is something we have to grapple with also, particularly in setting our meeting
schedules and many times recently we have met three days a week or three nights a week.
We are also concerned at all levels particularly looking at salaries and wages at all levels
with setting dollar amounts that ore fair and reasonable and that will permit us to find capable
persons willing to serve at all levels of the entire Town operation. This Board has worked
to present a fair and reasonable budget with no increase in the general town tax rate, in spite
of raising costs there has been no general tax rate increases in the past three years. Some
special districts will have slight increases the exact amount of which are not yet finalized.
The largest increase is expected in the Quaker Road Central Queensbury Sewer Dist., but
even that will be held to the lowest possible level. A final introductory note, I do anticipate
a lot of comments related to the funding for Crandall Library. You should know that the
Town Board has increased support of the Library by 255% in the last seven years. Moving
from $60,560 per year in 1984 to a proposed $215,000 for 1991. That reflects an increase
of 139 112% since 1986 and 53.02`16 above 1988. We believe we are doing a good job and would
ask that other communities not currently funding the library join in this effort. Glens Falls,
the Town of Moreau, the Town of Queensbury are the major public supports of the Library
while thousands of people from other communities use the services provided. We will try
to respond to other questions as they ore presented but we do not usually take any formal
action on the budget at this meeting. Any time you ore ready we ore ready to start. Unless
Mr. Montesi has a comment?
Councilman Montesi-Steve, just a general comment. It is not very often that we have this
many people here to at least let you know how your elected officials feel. I for one think
that our present Supervisor is doing a quality job in terms of time and effort that he puts
into it. I do not have a problem with on increase in his salary I hove a problem with the dollar
increase the size of it and that's is what the budget is all about. I do not agree with the
increase but this is a five person board and it takes three votes to pass the budget. During
the workshop meetings you may disagree and un less you hove three votes with you its
meaningless. I will say that I hove a problem with a raise of the magnitude that is going on,
I would have been more comfortable with $5,000 dollar raise, I would have been more
comfortable with a $500.00 increase in the budget office salary. I also am not comfortable
with a thousand dollar raise in my own personal salary, I would have been comfortable with
comparable to what the Union is getting or $500.00 which would have put the Councilmen
at $9,000.00 per year. To the end of the Highway Supt. and the Town Clerk I think this is
the lost year that I felt that I needed to adjust those salaries to make them comparable with
industry and comparable to the job that is being done in our community, also, likewise with
the Town Justices. So 1 for one have some very hard feelings about the size of the increase
not on increase but the size of the increase and to that end I would be voting no on the salary
proposed in this budget. That is not a grandstand its just my feelings. I would like you to
know that I really dislike people that are against the trosh plant or against landfills and do
not have on alternative and I struggle with this and I would just like the Board to consider
one of the alternatives. If you would set the fee, the salaries for elected officials inbetween
election years such as this year and hold that for two years someone who wants to run for
Supervisor or Councilperson in June when the petitions come out would know what the salaries
is going to be for a year. If they were elected to that position they would run one whole year
or they would hold office for one whole year at that present salary. The following year they
would have the opportunity to then address should I make more, should I make less is it fair
is it, boy the work is overwhelming so I think, that, that maybe something that we could look
to and lock those salaries in for two years. I think also that if that is troublesome or that
is bothersome maybe we should have a blue ribbon committee every two years that meets
and helps decide what those salaries should/ be, so it is taken out of the hands of the elected
officials. I do not mind taking the responsibility and I am here to tell you it is not easy to
soy no to the rest of your peers on the Board that you have to live with at every board meeting
but, that is my feeling.
Councilman Monahan-Steve, if I may say something to, since Ron has thrown this on the table
I think the people that hove talked to me and my fellow Board members are already aware
of the fact that I have not supported this type of raise for the Supervisor. I do think it needs
5:5
a raise but I do not think that magnitude when you compare it with the raises that have been
given other years that's in with the proper scenario at this time. 1, like Ron, would like to
see some different mechanism arrived at, we do not quite agree on the mechanism, we do
agree I think on the philosophy that now that, as long as all the elected officials ore being
elected at the some time, not on a staggered scheduled like we used to do with the old four
years terms for councilpeople that, that salary should be set every two years for elected
officials. I will have a little bit more about to soy about that in the future but, like Ron I
will be up front and tell you where I stand.
Supervisor Borgos-I hadn't expected we would start off exactly like this, I suppose the gracious
thing to do is let everyone else speak for awhile. I am debating whether to tell you what
I wont to tell you or not tell you what I want to tell you. I tell you this, maybe I will tell
you, maybe we will start off. 1 will tell you it is very interesting, Mrs. Monahan, I always
respect because she says the some thing to my face and at meetings that she would say, that
she did soy here tonight. On the other hand, you should know that lost year when we were
considering a major salary increase and adjustments so we con attract some qualified people,
I did ask each member of the Town Board what they thought on appropriate salary would
have been to propose last year for the Supervisor's Office, because it is an extremely difficult
thing to try to make a recommendation of what your own salary should be, that is not good.
It is better to make a recommendation of what the salary for the position should be and that
is my job. The person who recommended the highest salary lost year was Mr. IlMontesi in my
office without knowing what anyone else had requested or recommended he recommended
$75,000. 1 told him that was outrageous, unreasonable, and certainly as for beyond belief.
But, that was one of the bases upon which we proceeded lost year. As you know he changed
his tune when the press arrived and the public arrived last year. I note that has happened
again this evening, because just a few days ago when we conducted a discussion about salaries
he certainly supported this number. I do not know how much more 1 want to soy but I think
that had to be said. I will be up front with you as I have always been up front with Mr. Montesi,
and Mrs. Monahan and everyone else. I do respect the fact that Mrs. Monahan at least says
in public and private the some thing. Now,...
UNKNOWN-Do the other two hove anything to soy?
Supervisor Borgos-1 haven't...
Councilman Potenza-Well, I was going to hold my remarks to the end but as long as everybody
chimed in 1 will chime in to. I think I compare positions and salaries, a salary should be paid
comparable to the responsibility of the job. I did some back ground studies and I looked and
I saw that the business administrator for the Town for the Queensbury Schools gets paid
approximately $66,000. and 1 see that the business director for the Glens Falls Schools gets
paid $61,000. and the DPW Supv. for Warren County gets paid $57,000. and Purchasing Agent
for Warren Co. gets paid $52,000. so I was trying to give a comparable amount of money to
a comparable 'or more requiring job. It is difficult because you hove to put the Supervisor's
position and or course when you think Supervisor you think Mr. Borgos or whoever may proceed
him or post. In any event I did some homework I hod after the letter to the editor was written
in yesterday's Post Star 1 hod six phone calls, three of them concerning Mr. Borgos's raise
and three of them concerning the library. I have about four thousand constituents in my Word
and I hate to think that we hove that much voter apathy. So, the indication to me is that
my constituents support this raise and support the budget.
Councilman Kurosoko-1 leave my option open, 1 have done the some thing Mrs. Potenzo has
done, I have done some studies on it but I am here to listen. 1 will listen, I have not got my
mind made up one way or the other. I am leaning one way you make me lean the other way....
Mrs. Fran Walter-11 Sherwood Dr.-in Queensbury, Actually I thought three years ago I would
look at my lost budget and that would just be it and I would never do it again. But, three
years has post and I looked at the budget and I never should have looked at the budget. I
would like to comment on ,the spending policies of the Town Board. In doing that I would
like to make some comparisons, because I think it is more than just the Supervisor's Salary
increase. In 1988, which was the lost budget I produced, we had in the Supervisor's office
a Supervisor, a Secretary and a part time person who worked on on hourly basis. In 1991,
we hove the Supervisor, a full time assistant and o secretary. The Supervisor is also a part
of the fiscal responsibilities in the Town. In 1988, we hod a bookkeeper and we hod a senior
account clerk, in 1991, we have a director of finance, a principal account clerk a senior account
clerk and an account clerk. In the legal support in 1988 we had two port time attorneys who
used the clerical staff of their down town office. In 1991, we have two full time attorneys,
three secretaries and a line item .4 of close to $50,000. for outside legal services. In 1988
the budget for all of the Supervisor's Office and the support staff which I hove just described
was $150,000. in 1991 with those additions we ore looking at $504,100. dollars a half o million
dollars, which is well over 200% increase. In just taking that from 1990 to 1991 it is a 42%
increase in the services for running the administrative port of this government. Now.. I will
not say to you that we had enough people in 1988 we needed one or two additional staff people,
to make this government run. But, what we have had with this present sitting Board is the
building of a bureaucracy it is very expensive to the taxpayers. In 7987 which was my lost
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year in office the salary for the Supervisor's job was $29,000. that was not enough money
for the Supervisor. I have supported the two raises that our present Supervisor has gotten
because the job really deserved more money. I however cannot support the present request.
I say that because, we have added such a support system and I just cannot understand why
we need to pay that much more, 1 heard that there has to be o whole lot more work because
the Town has gotten bigger, well the Town has not just gotten bigger in three years, the Town
grew and you will never see the likes this sitting Board of growth in the Town since the early
and middle port of 1980. Perhaps you think as a Town Board that it is ok because the tax
rote is stable, and yet I hove looked at the applied fund balance for this particular budget
and we ore looking at 1.342 million dollars that is out of the coffers of the Town to offset
tax increases that the likes of this half million dollar administrative bureaucracy is taking.
So, I think to close my statements, because a lot of people want to talk about a lot of subjects
I would ask the Board to take a good hard look at what you people are spending, because next
you ore not going to hove, I hove looked at the audit for 1989 you are not going to hove those
kinds of dollars to offset the appropriations and the revenues so that we con hove stable tax
rate. We ore going to get hit, the taxpayers right between the eyes with one hell of a tax
increase. So, I would ask you before you adopt the final budget to take a good look at salaries
at positions and at expenditures in the Town so that the taxpayers con continue to live here
and I know you con do it. Thank you.
Supervisor Borgos-Thank you. I think you should run again, we have been looking for someone.
Councilman Monohon-Moy I just soy Steve, that it is nice to see Fran participating again
and being her old fiesty self.
Supervisor Borgos-Again, normally if we hod relatively small group we would try to go through
the whole group and make some notes and come bock and comment later, I think its in
everyones best interest to comment a little bit as we go and guess I will start off because
I hove the microphone, and let each person if they want to chime in or just wait again to
the end. Mrs. Wolter is correct there has been a very large increase in that segment of the
budget that had been traditionally known as the administrative segment. The only increase
in the Supervisor's portion of that, I will explain that in o minute, has been the move from
o half time administrative assistant to a full time administrative assistant. While the
accounting and legal functions have always appeared traditionally in the Supervisor's budget
they are not actually port of the Supervisor's Office as such. In otherwords they do not do
work that I would otherwise be doing. You should know that while we do have two full time
attorneys, a town attorney and a deputy attorney they hove the necessity of three full time
secretaries to process their work. We did before hove outside council and in the lost year
the outside council worked for us our expenditures to the best of my recollection were in
excess of $100,000 for the outside council. Our two attorneys are dealing with and correct
me if I am wrong, Paul, somewhere over 600 files, 600 active files. That is a pretty heavy
load the attorneys in the audience might be able to relate to that. We are cleaning up problems.
that have existed for as long as sixty years or even one hundred years. Things are happening
Pt Lake George that ore being brought to our attention to go back to the beginning of recorded
time in the history of the Town of Queensbury they are crying out for answers, we have to
respond to those. We are faced with major lawsuits that have some of them have been sitting
out there for twelve or thirteen years, we have had to respond to those. The outside councils
have been brought on to take core of environmental lawsuits and other lawsuits that have
come up in the lost two years. The accounting staff has been increased from two to four
people so that we con finally see what some numbers really ore, we had numbers before but
as we checked the numbers we were all surprised that the numbers quite often did not agree.
In fact one year at the end of the year we fully anticipated a surplus in somewhere in the
range of two or four hundred thousand as I recall, we found that there was an error of a full
million dollars, we do not want that to happen anymore. As of a few days ago off of our books
balanced within eight dollars and sixty some cents so we have a seventeen million dollar total
budget for all the funds that we manage. We are very pleased and proud that we are fully
computerized now and we con call up statements about anything at any time we can check
the current status of projects we just almost within the next week we will complete the 9.4
million Quaker Rood Sewer Project which had eight separate contracts. We are trying to
administer those contracts. We now hove a handle on our finances. Mrs. Wolter has talked
about the fund balance we have been criticize in the post severely by the State for having
such a large fund balance. We have intentionally reduced that each year, we had expected
and I had recommended to the Board that we level off at the range of seven hundred to nine
hundred thousand dollars as a fund balance that would be comfortable rather than having
a million and o half or two million dollars in fund balance. My philosophy in that regard was
that the taxpayers know best how to use their money, keep the money in the hands of the
taxpayers if we ever need it we will soy tbxpayer we need money and we will just have to
find it. But, in the meantime, when we do not need it, it .should be in the hands of the
taxpayers. This year we fully anticipated a substantial soles tax and we were well on our
way to a banner year, the economy had a couple of problems one of them in Saudi Arabia,
probably the largest problem we have faced in recent years hopefully a problem that would
be resolved quickly. We also had another problem and that is the State notified the County
and the County notified us that they found a mistake they believe in the years 861, 87' and
their record keeping they ore not always right up to the minute. That mistake cost the town
two hundred and fifty thousand dollars in so/es tax. The State simply told the county the
mistakes are there we are withholding X number of dollars and the town had witheld X number
of dollars. Without that withholding of soles tax that was unexpected, the Town at this moment
even with the economy the way it is would have been sixty thousand dollars ahead of where
it was last year. So, at this point we ore about One hundred and eighty thousand dollars behind
where we were at this time last year, we are still going to reach our budget figure, we ore
going to be all right. One way that we ore able to come up with the some tax rate and apply
the fund balance is through relatively good spending this year. We will hove more money
left over from this year projected spending then we normally would. So, that amount is added
to the fund balance the unappropriote fund balance we started this year with, that then gives
us a new fund balance and we are going to draw on that, the balk of that money will be coming
from money that will not be spent this year. So, we are just taking approximately $100,000
dollars from the other surplus of the prior years to help offset for next year. Again, if the
soles tax hod not gone the way it did with the State problems we would actually be one
hundred and fifty thousand dollars to the good in our surplus. So, surplus would have grown
instead of shrinking by one hundred thousand dollars. We hove been told by the County that
the State believes that this is the full amount of the adjustment and we should be bock to
normal very quickly. So, unless anyone think that we ore draining, completely draining our
fund balance unless you are in everyday contact currently you do not know what the projections
ore for year end fund ba lances and so forth. The low office is active it is busy our Attorney
I often see here Saturdays and Sundays and many nights our Deputy Attorney is here very
long hours they ore working very diligently to solve not only some of the problems from way
way back and long before Mrs. Wolter come into office some things have just been out there
but we are also taking core of all the current problems. All the issues related to recycling,
to landfill closures all these things are right on us and we hove to take good and proper action
to protect the Town. Just so you hove on explanation of that as we go through. Would anyone
else, lets put it another way, lets, would you come to the microphone please, name and address
please. ..
Mr. Fronk DeCress-I live on Hawthorne Road, Town of Queensbury, does that mean that at
some future time this department will decrease? Since the legal problems are cleaned up?
Supervisor Borgos-That is a good question, we actually dropped down to two full time legal
secretaries for awhile, we could not the work out and they ore working very hard, so we had
to go up to three. 1 do not foresee a time when we will drop below two attorneys, now you
should know that we are not the only Town in the area. to hove full time attorneys and some
have as many as five.
Mr. DeCress-There is another thing, since
Supervisor Borgos-Town of Colonie, Colonie is just a little bit larger than we are.
....1 would appreciate it if you would just follow the rules if you will not follow the rules we
will just close the meeting, one at a time and everyone will be heard if we have to stay here
all night.
Mr. DeCress-Do I still have the floor?
Supervisor Borgos-You certainly do.
Mr. DeCress-Since the Town Board seemed undecided, about what direction they should go
we have o forum here tonight, how many are in favor of increase in the salaries?
Supervisor Borgos-Mr. DeCress, you hove on opportunity to speak your opinion, everyone
else will I presume you ore done, yes Sir, would you come forward name and address please,
this is just for the record, we ore not going to raise your taxes?
Mr. Schroeder-1 live at 54 Old Forge Rood, Glens Falls, 1 am not going to be here to argue
about raises and so forth to me it is a no win situation and 1 do not want to get involved.
What 1 am interested in primarily this, last year or the year before you raised the allowance
for us retirees and senior citizens and you brought this thing up to l think about twelve thousand
dollars that we are allowed credit for if we made this kind of money. Now, if you people
want this kind of raise that you are asking for I think you ought to reciprocate to us senior
citizens and raise that allowance at least to twenty five thousand dollars, that is not that
bad. Because you have Senior Citizens in this town 1 have four children that went to school
here in Queensbury. I came to Queensbury in 1952 and built my house here 1 have been sorry
ever since, but, lets make the best of a situation here. I know you want what you wont 1 am
not going to fight you on it because it is alno win situation. Do something for me this time
will you please? Raise the allowance higher than what it was.
Supervisor Borgos-I think I can help you with that, the response to that again we ore hitting
them as we go so we do not forget later, the response to that is we operate in a permissive
environment, that is the Town Board may do only what is permitted by low. That is also to
soy that we may not just arbitrarily pick a number, this Town Board in the last two years
each year has increased the allowance to Senior Citizens to the maximum allowed by low,
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it is my understanding within the last two days I have seen the note but have not yet responded
to it, that, that maximum has once again been increase and I fully intend to bring that to
the Town Board within the next two weeks requesting that, that be increased. A further
change that you should know about and that is in my quick reading of the new legislation
whereas in the post Senior Citizens could only claim the special exemption of they had obtained
the age of 65 by the taxable status date the new legislation permits filing for that if the Seniors
obtain the age anytime during that tax year. So, that should be o substantial savings and
benefit to the Senior Citizens.
Mr. Schroeder-Are both over sixty-five so I agree with that. Thank you. Who made this
law up there, that you con only go so high?
Supervisor Borgos-Thot is the State of New York. In that case Assemblyman Bobby D'Andreo,
or Senator Ronald Stafford would be good people to contact.
Mr. Schroeder-George, why the Hell don't you do something about it? Thank you.
Supervisor Borgos-It has just been brought to my attention that the School and County both
hove to pass on that some legislation so it would apply to School and County taxes, we con
do it for the Town but the School and County as they hove traditionally done would also hove
to do the some thing. I would guess that they will be doing it as soon as they see the legislation
also.
Councilman Monahan-Steve, I am glod you brought this up because when I saw that piece
in the paper I was going to ask our Attorney to make sure he followed that and that we get
the resolution in front of us in proper time to effect the tax year.
Supervisor Borgos-I think we con do that. Mr. Burrell?
Mrs. Margaret Burrell-26 Lynnfield Dr. Queensbury We hove lived at that address and paid
taxes from there for twenty five years. This year your salary as Town Supervisor was increased
by what many of your constituents viewed as on outrageous thirty six percent to forty nine
thousand dollars to that was added the three thousand dollars you received as budget officer
plus the ten thousand dollars for serving on the County Board of Supervisors for a total of
sixty one thousand dollars.
Supervisor Borgos-Make that sixty two.
Mrs. Burrell-Excuse me my arithmetic is bad isn't it. For next year during what is
acknowledged to be a recession you propose a more modest increase of 18% for your position _
as Supervisor to fiftyeight thousand dollars this however adds up to o two year increase of
54% in that income alone. To that you would add on 25% increase for your services as budget
officer from three thousand now to four thousand dollars next year. The figure as a member
.of the County Board of Supervisors remains unchanged, still we are looking at a grand total
of $72,000. for next year, I repeat that is a 54 % increase in two years. Just incidentally,
for the sake of perspective your x colleagues at ACC received an across the board salary
increase for this year of 7%, for next year 6.5 %, for a total two year increase of 13.5%.
It is common knowledge that Senior Citizens received 4.5% this year and anticipate 5.4 for
next totalling 9.9 % in the some time frame. Think of the difference the discrepancy, 54%,
13.5%, 9%. Finally as one American Citizen to another let me recall the last three words
of the Pledge to the Flog which we repeated at the beginning of the ceremony, Justice for
All, would it not be for more equitable to make a more modest proposal in terms of percentage
for the position of Supervisor and see to it that all Town Employees receive an equivalent
increase.
Supervisor Borgos-Thonk you very much. Again, let me have a moment to respond and if the
Board wishes to odd anything they con at any time. As I stated at the very opening, the Board
during the lost four years has taken action to try an bring everyone into balance with what
comparable jobs ore paying with what seems to be reasonable and fair pay. In fact foreinstance
we took our lowest paid clerks and typist from whatever low number they were and raised
them to $7.50 per hour this year, we did that a couple years ago. Trying to bring everyone
up to a particular level. I understand your concern, this Board has demonstrated its concern,
this Board recognized in one year when we found ourselves with some extra money that, that
would be the time to make on increase across the Board with our employees, they all got
• percent and a half or two percent beyond what the contract called for as we negotiated
• new contact. We recognize that there was increased ability to pay, and of course increased
responsibility. 1 hear your comments abou6 my colleagues at the college, as you know I was
there for 21 112 years I am quite aware of the salaries but having been on both sides now,
in both positions as a professor at ACC and as Town Supervisor I con tell you without any
question the time involved, the detail of the work involved everything involved is extremely
waited in favor of more time for the Town position. With the College work as much as it
was arguous, no question about it, there were still vacation times, there were some free
moments, there are no free moments in this position, I think Mrs. Walter would agree. There
are no free moments. There are nights and weekends and 1 think most people here have any
}
25�
idea what the Supervisor does. 1 do not know that you realize that the Supervisor is anything
but a figure head who gets elected on a particular day and runs here and there and does grand
openings. The Supervisor, in this Town is the Chief Executive Officer, and is responsible
for the doily administration. The Supervisor is the Chief Fiscal Officer, and the Treasurer
of the Town, the Supervisor is also the Personnel Officer, maybe the Budget Officer I would
very much like to find someone else to do the budget office work and that's according to
the State Low that is under my authority the Supervisor's authority to appoint anyone. I doubt
that I could find anyone to do that job for three thousand dollars a year. That job takes on
overage of ten hours a week, a little bit every day and then during budget time a lot of hours.
The Budget Officer is a big job. The personnel job for a firm the size of ours and we have
approximately one hundred and fifty regular full time people that position would normally
pay twenty five or thirty five thousand dollars. That is all done in the Supervisor's Office.
Most towns this size, not smaller towns but towns this size also have a comptroller at forty
to fifty thousand dollars, this town does not. In this town that job is done by the Supervisor.
So there are many things that are done here that most people never see or hear about or have
any idea about. I understand your concern for thinking that the Supervisor, again is just on
elected official who does things. 1 understand your concern for thinking the Highway Supt.
just goes to parties, the Highway Supt. takes care of our roods. He makes sure that we all
get home safely, and in this town we have a very colorful Highway Supt. who is with us tonight.
I appreciate your concern and understand it, believe me all of us on this Town Board have
gone through all of these thought processes as we proposed this budget. This is a public hearing,
this is the time we hear from the public and maybe somebody is going to say something new
and different and give us some new approach. We are all willing to listen to that. Again
I apologize for responding each time someone says something but otherwise if we do not respond
it will get lost and people will drift off and not hear a response. Mr. Hagan, would you state
your name and address Walt.
Mr. Walt Hagan-19 Old Aviation Rood in Queensbury. The Town of Queensbury Board Members,
it is inconceivable to us my wife and I for the Town of Queensbury has to be begged by the
Crandall Library Officials for funds to raise the Town contribution to 213 s if the State wide
overage. Man lives by many things and one of them is culture, under funding one of the major
cultural programs in the area indicates the potential employers and employees just where
our priorities lie. We strongly recommend that Crandall Library financial request be granted.
Madeline and Walt.
Supervisor Borgos-Thonk you very much and again I have received approximately 20 of these
letters and I will respond to each and every one of them. As I stated in the beginning the
Town has done a great deal, we would like to do some more, we hove other people who may
or may not be in the audience yet tonight who soy too much for the library, don't spend so
much. We try to point out initially that three communities ore really funding this library,
the City of Glens Falls the Town of Moreau and Town of Queensbury. I believe the Library
representatives have told us that those communities account for about 72% of the usage
of the library. That is the lost number that I had. Which means about 28% is being used by
some people other than those who are funding it directly. I said to them and I will say to
the public again lets try to find out where the 28% is and maybe ask them for a contribution
for their community. There are many small towns there are other counties here perhaps
they could chip in with a little bit. We all like the Library, we have already shown we like
the library and we supported it a great deal. You should know that this Town Board has at
least unofficially ask the Library if we might help them with in kind services. Foreinstance,
custodial help a couple times a week, that has been turned down, we asked the Library if
they will entertain negotiations for a three year contract so we do not have to do this every
single year, they have said no. Mayor Frank O'Keefe when he was at a meeting with me with
the Library Directors at the Library, said to the Library Board lets hold a big party in City
Park and we will raise thirty or forty thousand dollars and l will do all the work and get it
done and the Library Board said no. People here are shaking their heads now, but 1 was at
that meeting I know what was said, Fronk O'Keefe knows what was said and we have discussed
this many times we want to help the Library, we want to have funds raisers we want to do
everything but there has to be a limit somewhere sometime. Somebody said to me today,
lets give them whatever they want, one of these letters says, I do not know about that, if
we start comparing with other communities you have to be sure you are comparing apples
to apples. Some communities have to fund the highway dept. and some don't believe it or
not there are large towns with little or no expenditure for highways. Some have large
recreation programs some do not have anything. Its not something easy to say. I do not want
to do into much more I am sure the Library people, but I want you to know that we have been
holding meetings, we have been trying to find alternative mechanizes for funding, we hove
been saying it is time, maybe others, other than those three municipalities get involved.
Councilman Montesi-Warren County.
Supervisor Borgos-Warren County this year cut back, it is my understanding $5,000. from
what they gave lost year. The proposal that I saw the other day showed a $5,000. cut, maybe
it is a cut in what your recent request to was, but I was told as a member of the Budget
Committee that you were cut $5,000. Next. Mr. Brosse/ hod his hand up before then Mr.
Adamson next.
200
Mr. Mike Brossel-I am a resident of the City of Glens Falls and I do thank you for the
opportunity appear tonight and make some comments about Crandall Library and also to
certainly reiterate what Supervisor Borgos said about the increased funding over the years,
it has been very significant and very, and we ore very grateful for it. Our request this year
is for $256,203.00 it is a $13.50 per copito increase toward a total budget of a million one
hundred and one thousand dollars. Our budget our proposed budget is up 15% over lost year,
highlights of our budget include salaries for approximately one full time equivalent in
circulation involved in circulation, Childrens Library and Reference Room. Also some salary
adjustments a comment on that we have a clerk typist starting salary of $11,500. that is an
increase and that's substantially under starting salaries for that position in the local
municipalities. Also, hours of operation, we would like to go Sunday hours twelve to five,
Thursday evenings and Saturday hours five to six p.m. We also have plans to put a handicapped
entrance in the library this year we hove o service for the home bound and the elderly where
materials are delivered to their door we hove a book increase of some $36,000. The reason
for the increased funding over the years is to meet the increased demand, we have been able
to upgrade our materials and I would just like to point out some of the results of what has
been done with these dollars. Storting in 1985 we had a circulation of about 252,000 items,
in 1990 we project 429,000. We hove a 35% increase from the period of January 1, 89' through
October 31, 901. Of the three municipalities the Town of Queensbury citizens some 8200
of them comprise 42 112 of the cord holder base and they borrow 188,477 items. When I started
making requests on behalf of Crandall Library with the fellow trustees, the Town of Queensbury
in about 1986 was at $4.75 per capital against the State average of some $16.87, it was about
28% we ore up to about, our current request is up to about 57% of the per capital state average.
We have some specific of municipalities we could refer to, but 1 would like now to turn it
over to another Trustee Mork Behan, he will be followed by Charlie Godfrey who would like
to make some comments. We would then be glad to answer your questions.
Supervisor Borgos-Mork, for the record would you please state your name and address.
Unknown-...the people of Queensbury and I understand he is pitching for the Library in Glens
Falls and represent Glens Falls but I think the people in Queensbury are here to talk about
the budget....I think it is very unfair that we ore all sitting here ... I think the majority of
us are here to talk about what you ore going to do about the budget.
Supervisor Borgos-Yes, Sir, I understand about your concern, and if you check the budget
book, Crandall Library is a very substantial part of our budget it is one of our very largest
expenses it is proposed to be at $215,000. for next year. I think what we ore hearing from
I presume from mostly residents of Queensbury although that is not terribly important is
a request for on increase in that large number $215 to something higher. So, we will be sure
that everyone gets heard.
Mr. Mork Behan-I am Mork Behan, and I am from Queensbury and l am a Library Trustee
and I am here I guess to buttress what like Brossel had to soy. I think to clear up some
confusion, l do not wont and i know that the Board of Trustees of Crandall doesn't want you
to think that we feel that the Town of Queensbury has not done its job. The Town of
Queensbury has clearly done its job with regard to Crandall. Your increases in support over
the last several years hove been tremendous, Queensbury has been a real advocate for excellent
library service you hove done the right thing. The increases hove been what we sought in
many cases, not all we wonted but what we figured what the Town of Queensbury could afford
to provide. But, Crandall Library increasingly has o problem and that is the demand for the
services at Crandall Library is increasing dramatically. You have 20% circulation increases
in a year, reference question increases 25 in a day lost summer one day. The increases are
tremendous, and those increases take place because Crandall Library continues to provide
the kind of quality books, reference facilities, research facilities the things that people want.
More children come to Crandall Library now than every before, more people check out books
from Crandall than ever has token place. Eight thousand Queensbury residents use Crandall
Library every year that is every household in Queensbury. We know that and you know that,
and we know the increases you provide have been very generous. The problem that we have
now is what to do with our services do we cut back at the time of this tremendous increase?
How do we tell the public that we no longer con provide the services they have come to expect
from us and come to demand from you. What we ore looking at now the difference in the
preliminary budget between what Crandall asked for and what the preliminary budget proposes
is four cents per thousand dollars of assessed value. I am willing to pay an additional four
cents per thousand dollars of assessed value so that Crandall can maintain its services. We
are not talking about increases in services we are talking about maintaining the level of services
that exist. 1 think most Queensbury residences are willing to pay four cents to protect and
safe guard the kind of services that, that library provides. I wont to restate, we applaud
you for the kind of increases you hove given and we are in this with you, we are hoping that
you con do it again. Thanks.
Supervisor Borgos-Thank you Mork.
Mr. Brossel-Mork had a comment on the children, we had ...items circulated in 86' for children
261
we were able to hire a children's librorion a very capable man and increase the materials
... 12,418 a 40% increase ...
Supervisor Borgos-Would you identify yourself for the record, Sir? I still call him Sir, ...
Mr. Charlie Dodge, 2 Heinrick Circle-Queensbury, I am also a member of the Board of Trustees
of Crandall Library. I am here speaking really as an educator as well as a member of the
Crandall Board. What really concerns me that to sit on the Board as a volunteer and to realize
what ore the cut backs that we are going to have to make, if we do not receive substantially
more funds than has already been approved by the Board. Obvious, we are going to have
to cut bock on hours, most logical hours that we could cut back on are weekend hours or evening
hours. The hours that (ftr students that our three town area really need the focil reed
to have access to the library are the hours that we have to cut back. The other thing that
we will have to cut back is purchasing books, anybody who has ever looked at the library
statistics understand that the books that are taken out are the most recently purchased books.
The books that the students can hove access to. The books that are necessary for them to
remain competitive and if this society is going to remain competitive and this Town is going
to remain competitive our students need to have high quality library services, high quality
education. Those are the students at the kindergarten level all the way up through College.
Your child, my child returns from a four year institution and needs to have access to a library
when they are home, on vacation breaks. Those are the other times that we might hove to
close down. I think it is a very serious situation that the library is facing with the demands
that are placed upon us with the increased circulation, 20% a year in two years in a row,
we need more books, we need to be open more hours and these things have to be funded through
the tax base. We have also appealed in the post and we hove been involved in these discussions
over the lost few years for taxing district. It may very well be the only alternative, that
we hove, we do not necessarily go into that enthusiastically but we feel that maybe its the
only thing that is going to be necessary in order to provide Crandall with the kind of money
that it needs to function. You know as we know that one of the problems that Crandall has
is that a large percentage of this budget is wrapped up in funds that do not increase. It is
the reason why the percentage increases will always look disproportionate to the Towns, there
is nothing we can do about that and you know that, you know that we have been in those
discussions year in and year out. We feel strongly that the library needs revenues it needs
more funds in order to provide the needs of the needs of the community. I as an educator
am particularly in making sure that we provide those services to children. Thank you.
Supervisor Borgos-Thank you. Next hand, right back here, Sir. I do not know your name,
sorry.
Mr. Rich Stonford-Live at 428 Corinth Road in Queensbury. I am just a person, I do not run
anything, I am a parent of a child who uses Crandall Library quite consistently. Sitting here
tonight I hove gotten a bit confused I hear a lot of talk about budget surpluses and I hear
a lot about raises in salaries and I am hearing a lot about money hanging out there and
wondering why I am paying taxes and my children won't have access to using that money in
the library. Something seems a little screwball to me. I am wondering where are our priorities,
as a cultural group here. Many of you know I have worked for a number of years with the
Opera Festival so culture is very important to me. Where are our priorities, are we trying
to create a society where are children can indeed go to the library and learn something, I
counted today when I was at the library with my daughter, four students that I worked with
in directing the Glens Falls High School show this year. Two of them were working there,
these people are getting more than just book learning, they are learning what communication
is about in a library. They are learning how to transmit learning from Aristotle down to Karl
Segan to people that are coming in off the streets. That seems to be a vital and important
thing that we need to consider. I think we also hove to figure out you know, what do we want
out of our tax monies, do we wont to increase salaries do we wont a nice hefty savings account
or do we wont to use that money in something that is going to be useful. Or do we want to
force Frank O'Keefe to put on a funny little pointed hat and dance around in the City Park
to hold a party so that he can earn money for the library. Lets spend the money folks, we
have got it. Thank you.
Supervisor Borgos-Thank you very much, I am pleased a lot of eloquent speakers tonight and
this is good and hopefully you will for just a minute as you are listening to this put on our
shoes and our jackets for a minute and realize that everybody that comes into us oll these
pages of over two thousand line items people come in with the some kind of presentation
during the year and it is real hard to try to make a decision, so we are listening to you. Back
of the room, yes, Sir, would you come forward? I know Mr. Murphy's two sons they are both
larger than I am.
Mr. Vincent Murphy-1 live at 18 Willow Road and I will be very brief, because I have to run.
By the way I was one of the six people that called Mrs. Potenza, and it was not about the
library. if I can remember correctly, Mr. Kurosako you are kind of the swing vote here aren't
you?
Councilman Kurosaka-Could be, I do not know.
262 "
Mr. Murphy-So, I will direct my comment to you, l do not know what I can say to you because,
after listening to how much work ,you do many times tonight, I know you deserve a raise,
but l think what you are asking for is outrageous. That is really all I have to soy.
Supervisor Borgos-Thank you very much. I see a hand in the middle I do not, yes, Sir.
Mr. Dick Leonord-I live on Twicwood Lone, first of all I think I could speak for Ron Montesi
maybe what he expressed earlier was not his concerns but the concerns of his constituents,
he might have a personal preference on how much money you might make but he might have
expressed the concerns of us people living in his district. But, l am outraged to, at an increase
in a salary of this proportion for 1991. That is all 1 have to say.
Supervisor Borgos-Thank you. Mr. Adamson, you hove been very patience.
Mr. Charlie Adamson-Assembly Point I do not necessarily want any of this taken personally
but, I hope it is not.
Supervisor Borgos-We are long past that point.
Mr. Adamson-Ok. 1 think, I had not really intended to begin but I think the appeal from the
Library is probably the priority thing that happens here. I think in a year where you people
say that in your judgement you are trying to straighten out what the proper level is for the
Supervisor and perhaps other positions in the Town this is not the year to fight the library.
But, lets go, my main point is simply, you remember lost year I stood roughly here, Steve
and we talked about the budget and I objected to the tremendous raise you had lost year and
I said why not hove a panel of good citizens of the Town and you said well you had thought
of that, matter of fact you had given the names to your secretary and then but, somehow
with the press of election and that sort of thing you did not have time. That left me with
the definite impression that, that I could expect you to go that way and get outside help with
where you were establishing your proper salary levels and what the salary raise should be
this year. Therefore if you go ahead if the Board goes ahead with the requested salary raises
particularly yours, I feel as though it is a dishonorable step by you and since the Board was
here to, it is the some Board I think you needed to get outside help on this and 1 think you
made it reasonably clear lost year that you intended to do so.
Supervisor Borgos-You ore correct and the list was drawn and I did fully intend to use it this
year, I considered a number of names and said regardless who I put on or who l recommended
to the Board or who they put on I am sure there is going to be criticism but after the meeting
last year, something very interesting happened and I call you attention to the Post Star and
we did some research. I remember the article was written but 1 did some research today,
after your attendance of the meeting last year the Post Star did what you had suggested really
and they have published December 5th 1989 headline says raise puts Borgos Salary on par
with other executives. Very quickly two paragraph, 'despite a 36% jump in his annual salary,
Queensbury Supervisor Steve Borgos new pay check does not appear to be out of line with
what other chief executives earn in similarly size communities. For o similar position in
private industry, Borgos would likely be well underpaid business industry executives said.'
Obviously that is something I have any control over is the local newspaper this is their own
information there own research, it went on several pages, that is a synopsis of it I have copies
for those of you who missed it lost year. Please understand again, as Charlie said nothing
to me personal, l am in this position for a period of time I have been elected twice and I may
or may not run again the point is, whom ever is serving here has to be paid an appropriate
salary so that you get a qualified person.
Mr. Adamson-Once you establish what its going to be and the Post Star was talking not with
the problems of the Town in mind or with the commitments that the Town had made and
they were not talking in a specific case.
Supervisor Borgos-I disagree with you if you read the whole article, I think you will find that
they did everything possible to try to find a reason to object to that salary increase.
Mr. Adomson-The point is that you did not use that this year. ...you should have gotten other
people, on that basis is that how you established your, l think you originally asked for 62 or
63?
Supervisor Borgos-This year the proposal, he request was for 62 which was to reaffirm that
last years number at 58 was a good number and l recommended on increase of 5 112 or 6%
whatever it come out the Board in its wisdom cut the 62 to 58 which is back where I think
it should have been a year ago, not for just me but for anyone. That is where it sits for the
moment, the Board most probably is going to vote to cut that again, that is entirely possibly.
All I am saying is that all the research that I did last year before the recommendation which
is for more extensive than this research..
Mr. Adamson-Well, Mrs. Potenza has done some research. The point is why wasn't that done
publicly and issued publicly?
Supervisor Borgos-This you may not understand, I got a whole bunch of remind me tools in
my office, list of things to do and priorities, and if you would spend just a day with me and
I have invited a number of newsmedia people to spend a day, any day, just show up at nine
o'clock and spend a day you will understand why somethings just don't get done. The Chronicle
did spend a day with me the Chronicle wrote two or three page article in the newspaper
expressing what was done during the day, the only problem is they left out six and a half hours
worth of meetings and other things we did all documented all in the file, you cannot understand
that you start a day in this particular office with a list of things to do you try to hit the
meetings and then before you know it the day is long since gone and everybody is closed at
6 or 7 or 8 at night and it just goes on and you just do not get to some things. Now, a dead
horse in a barn that is creating on odor for neighbors is more important than forming this
committee. A water leok problem a major highway concern, they are for more important
than, that.
'— Mr. Adomson-...it is more important than your salary is what it boils down to.
Supervisor Borgos-Thot is entirely possible. Yes, Sir.
Mr. Ed Barber, 2 Sugar Pine Rood, Queensbury-Mr. Borgos, Town Board, my name is Ed Barber
from 2 Sugar Pine Rood. I've heard on several different occasions I think in the post year
where you've always tried to justify your salary based on what people in private industry make.
I've heard you on the radio station.
Supervisor Borgos-Thot's obvious a point of comparison. That's not the only point.
Mr. Barber-But it has been a point that I've heard you use and that's kind of disturbing to
me because even people in private industry are in business for themselves don't generate
the kind of increases that you're asking for. I guess my other thought would be that if you
feel with your background and all of your experience, maybe you should try private industry.
Supervisor Borgos-Why don't I go somewhere else?
Mr. Barber-Yes. I would like on explanation why you wouldn't.
Supervisor Borgos-Sure I would be happy to. I'm obviously fully aware of private industry
having been in private business for many, many years. My wife and children now conduct
our little private business. Having taught about business for many years and having a lot
of my students who are successfully in business, I'm very familiar with business. I think that's
one of the reasons, perhaps accepted this job and I didn't go looking for it, I got o couple of
phone calls and was arm twisted. Maybe it was a big mistake, I don't know. I enjoy the job,
I like it. In addition to looking at private industry salaries, I did a great deal of research
lost year of publicly supported tax supported salaries from the area Albany north. Everything
from the Grounds Keeper at Colonie Municipal Golf Course to Supervisor. (Councilman Potenza
presented list) Here is what was done last year to give you some idea of the comparable salaries
we looked at and it was not until last year, until the third page and these were done in
numerically descending order, until the third page that we come to the Supervisor of the
Town of Queensbury of 36,000 dollars. Just so you know these are public, these are all public
salaries. 1 do not choose to share this particular document with anyone because it was for
no purpose other than the Board's internal use in trying to reach a decision. I'm in no way
trying to say that others are paid too much. But in trying to determine what a fair number
is, we did this much research.
Mr. Barber-Aside from that, I think I've also heard you mention where you physically put
in sixty to seventy hours a week.
Supervisor Borgos-Thot is correct.
Mr. Borber-Well I think that's too much for anybody to work.
Supervisor Borgos-I agree with you.
Mr. Barber-If you're really working that hard, maybe two people should be doing the job more
efficiently than one because you can't possibly do an effective job and work seventy hours
a week, I don't care what kind of business you're in.
Supervisor Borgos_I agree with you but the p?Qblem is you can't afford ...
Mr. Barber-You can become ineffective, I believe and maybe the people would rather see
two people paid half the salary that you're paid and we might get more efficient, a more
efficient form of government.
Supervisor Borgos-Well again, I understand your concern and I would be more than happy when
and if the Town could afford extra people such as Personnel Director and so forth.
264 IJ
Mr. Barber-It might not even cost more, it might cost less.
Supervisor Borgos-Well, it may or it may not. If you don't know the way I do business, for
many years, I'm just kind of a workaholic.
Mr. Borber-Yes but 70 hours a week isn't healthy for anybody.
Supervisor Borgos-It's not good and quite often it's ninety hours, to be blunt about it.
Mr. Barber-Then you can't possibly be effective and serving the Town, I feel properly. If
you're working that hard, something has to give.
t
Supervisor Borgos-1 hove been happy that our Town Board and our Offices hove been able
to save verifiable savings for the Town residents, soving created or found this year alone
in the millions of dollars, 1 think that is a pretty good return on the investment of $49,000.
Mr. Borber-But it is possible that it could be better.
Supervisor Borgos-It could be better and we will work very hard next year to make it better.
Over here first pleose, and then we will come over to the left side, 1 do not mean to be not
looking over there but 1 got a whole bunch of customers over here.
Mr. Gilbert Bowen-1 live on Dunhoms Bay There is a line item in here that says the director
of finance, I believe that is a new line item, is that true?
Supervisor Borgos-That should not be, that should not be a title the title should be Director
of Accounting Services and that title used to be Bookkeeper. Except that the State Low
has changed unfortunately to this respect the Supervisor by and of himself, herself used to
be able to choose in a first class town both a Confidential Secretary and a Bookkeeper. Civil
Service has taken the position contrary to what is written in State Law and Civil Service
says you may choose one or the other, either a Bookkeeper or a Confidential Secretary. We
already had retained the person we call Bookkeeper at the time that they made this
interpretation. That person then had to take a test, which is fine, and that test was under
the heading Bookkeeper/Director of Accounting Services or some such thing. We were trying
to update some terminology anyway. The person we had selected took the test and finished
first I think 94 was the average. The point 1 am trying to make is that, that is the position
that used to be called Bookkeeper as ...1 have not seen it written as Director of Financial
Services, it should be Director of Accounting Services.
Councilman Monahan-I think Steve, that when they did the small white ones they changed
that title for some reason in the small white ones.
Supervisor Borgos-1 do not think it is that way in the big book.
Councilman Monahan-It is not, because I hod checked that previously.
Mr. Bowen-1 was expecting that, that might unload you of the Budget Office but obviously
it does not now.
Supervisor Borgos-This person is doing the some function that the Bookkeeper did before
except that this person is doing all also, all of our work with computers and interrelating
them throughout the Town. ...getting the water dept. on line getting our sewer billing together
and so forth.
Mr. Bowen-There is a line item that spreads its way through every category in here it is called
other expenses. That line item totals out to 1991 as one point seven million dollars. It totals
out to 1990 as one point six.
Supervisor Borgos-What were the last three numbers, 440 or 4 something?
Mr. Bowen-I do not know 1 just added them up.
Supervisor Borgos-You should hove a code number of some sort there, or other numbers. _
Councilman Monahan-Steve, I think what h4V is saying is that he has gone through the budget
and taken anyplace where it said others so the code number would be different and added..
Mr. Bowen-That is true.
Supervisor Borgos-We don't, for obvious reasons we do not distribute the entire 5,000 lines
so everyone we condense it as we always hove done.
Mr. Bowen-1 know but that category it is my experience is that, that category usually hides
265 �r
a lot of slush.
Supervisor Borgos-Well, that maybe in private industry I have known that to happen and that
usually is suspect if you call it misc. and misc. is larger than anything else.
We do, if you would like to see, we do have here the itemized detailed breakdown of all of
that, you are welcome to look at that.
Mr. Bowen-Yea, it is also my experience, the more you detail it the more you can raise it.
Because it is details that snow the hell out of you. It is usually also o very easy category
in which to slash it by 10 or 15% and in the end it makes no effect on what ..other than to
save you money.
Supervisor Borgos-Last year on the final night when we finally adopted the budget after the
public hearing we got to the point where Mrs. Monahan, in particular recommended that we
adopt the budget and the budget officer should cut everything by 1% that was on exceedingly
difficult job. Because at that time we had already boiled it down, what we have done this
year is on attempt to try and stop that lost minute work we have sloshed at the beginning
so if you will go through and look and see we have gone through every line item and tried
to put it down to bear bones as best we could without jeopardizing the financial stability
of the Town. So, I do not think you ore going to find any hidden money there because if you
do please let me know because I come up with many pages of budget cutting ideas trying
to get it down to where it is. If you are to find any money that should be cut my
recommendation would be that we leave the tax rate the some and simply take less money
from the unappropriated fund balance which is otherwise known as surplus to let that sit there
as cushion. But I do not think that you are going to find much if any more than five or ten
dollars perhaps I do not think on a particular line. I do not think you are going to find major
chunks of five thousand, two thousand three thousand dollars anywhere in this budget.
Mr. Bowen-Usuolly they are rounded to some figure. Like fourteen thousand etc.
Supervisor Borgos=When we try to predict more than a year in advance what is going to happen
next year in terms of revenue and expenditures it is not easy to come within a few dollars
so we generally try to round.
Mr. Bowen-I realize that. Now, another question, what did you soy is the expected year end
surplus for this year?
Supervisor Borgos-This year with this particular configuration of the budget we have been
through several configurations...
Mr. Bowen-Disregording what you have as a carry over from prior years.
Supervisor Borgos-You cannot disregard it, you start at the beginning of the year with a budget
surplus unappropriated fund balance and you odd to it at the end of the year and we do not
know what that number is until February of next year when the books ore closed. We should
hove on amount after deducting the recommended amount for appropriated fund balance
we should have left six or seven hundred thousand dollars, should be left. This year we thought
we would start with about six hundred and fifty thousand dollars in that some account we
ended up having more left then expected so we had nine hundred and some thousand. So,
I expect that next year would be a little bit below where we were this year when all the
numbers are finally in but not much below.
Mr. Bowen-How is that focted into this budget.
Supervisor Borgos-That is where we took a look at what we started with and what we anticipate
the year end figures are going to be in all our different funds paying particular attention
now to the general fund which is the general fund, the highway, landfill and cemetery looking
at those numbers in particular estimating what we think will go unspent adding that to what
had been unspent the beginning of lost year saying that is the number and it come out to be
1.9 million dollars approximately and I recommended I believe appropriating 1.34 million,
so we should have about roughly six hundred thousand dollars left in the kitty this year.
Mr. Bowen-Is that what is meant by applied fund balance?
Supervisor Borgos-That is the applied fund balance, yes, Sir. That is our best guess and that
number is the so called plug in number after we go through the appropriations which are the
expenditures and we go through the revenu6s the money we really expect to get and we want
to know what the total is that we have to raise in taxes to keep the tax rate the some we
then plug in these other numbers, that is why they are odd dollars.
Mr. Bowen-Ok, Thank you.
Supervisor Borgos-You ore welcome.
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Ms. Bonnie Jordon-I live in Cleverdole and I am the acting Director at the Chapman Museum.
Supervisor Borgos-Welcome.
Ms. Jordan-Thank you. And also the Glens Falls Queensbury Historical Association. I would
like to thank the Town for its past support which has been very generous and I would just
like to let you know what your dollars have done for the betterment of the residents of
Queensbury. Now, I know you have a formal case for support that you all hove receive but
I would just like to reiterate a couple of the major points. Our mission states that we are
on educational organization that promotes the appreciation the study and the preservation
of the history of the region and of the Town of Queensbury and to that aim, I would like
to let you know that we hove done recently, we hove competed a $50,000. plus restoration
of our Delong House. Now, that has mode us a premier destination for bus tours that hove
been coming from Vermont, Connecticut, New Jersey and the State of New York. Now, this
returns revenue to the Town of Queensbury. Our annual attendance and visitation has been
topping 12,000 has been increasing at a rote of 9% we also provide educational programs
for adults and children. Our recent history lunch series just in the month of October was
attended by 300 local residents. Our educational tours for children we serve over 4,000
children, 12% of those come from Queensbury. Now, we also have our Stoddard collection,
Stoddard is a photographer he also did mops, manuscripts, books and documented the history
of Queensbury and the area. We also ore going to be having his collection on tour, it is going
to be getting attention from the entire New England area when it goes on tour. I would just
like to soy that I hope you come down and visit the Chapman there has been a lot of
accomplishments, I like you to see them all. I also would hope that you would consider
increasing our support for the upcoming year. That is all I hove to soy.
Supervisor Borgos-1 think without going bock, that you noticed that we did increase that by
$1,000., is that correct.
Councilman Monohon-Yes.
Supervisor Borgos-It had been $15,000. and the Board has voted to move it to $16,000.
Ms. Jordon- We thank you very much.
Supervisor Borgos-You ore welcome, Thank you. There was Mr. Tucker first then you Sir,...ok
thank you for giving up your space....name and address
Mr. Leonard Honden-Live on Bullard, I am a member of Crandall Friends or Friends of Crandall
Library. I just wonted to make sure that you know that there ore people here and who might
not be here who really feel strongly about Crandall and maybe they ore not all here to soy
something but I just wont to odd my voice I am one more person who feels that you should
do what you do and more if you con and I think perhaps you can from things that I hove heard
today and really that is all I hove to soy.
Supervisor Borgos-Thank you very much. Mr. Tucker I am going to write down a prediction
of what you are going to ask about and I will turn it over.
Mr. Pliney Tucker-Word 4 All I am looking for is information. I have been here before. On
the front page of your budget water fund. Comparing this years to lost years what happened
to the Bay Rood Water extension?
Supervisor Borgos-The Bay Road Water Extension which is right out in front was consolidated
with Queensbury Consolidated Water Dist. under new procedure adopted by the Town Board
just during the lost one year, I have lost track of time, one year, two years. Now, when any
new subdivisions come in any new areas to be served by water they ore consolidated
immediately into the new district based on a formula, that has been arrived at. So, that
proposed Boy Rood Water Dist. really never, ever got to fruition it was never finalized. It
appeared that it would be lost year at budget time so we were required to put it in. It never
got there, nobody was ever served with water. When it was created this year, it was then
consolidated immediately. While you are looking at that line, I con tell you in advance that
the total to be raised by taxes will be substantially lower than the total of all water dist.
because we did find a couple of errors in the proposal for bond anticipation notes particularly
in the Consolidated Water Dist. So, we know that there is a mistake there that will be
corrected before the end and its o couple of hundred thousand dollars.
1
Mr. Tucker-Maybe you have answered my question but I am going to ask it anyway. Queensbury
water, lost year to be raised by taxes one million six hundred thousand dollars, this year one
million eight hundred and sixtyeight. Approximately two hundred and sixty eight, eight sixty
two, what is the reason for the increase.
Supervisor Borgos-That was one of those things to get to, the initial for this being so high,
the accounting office budgeted for next year, one fifty payment of the outstanding Bond
27`
Anticipation Note for the major Quaker Rood new pipe, new transmission line that went in.
Under the Iqw we do not hove to pay off that particular type of improvement in five years
rather it is recommended that we pay it off in twenty years, so with the nine hundred and
ninety nine thousand dollars roughly bond anticipation note that is out for that instead of
paying off two hundred thousand dollars next year we only hove to and we are proposing only
to pay one twenth of that so that will drop it by one hundred and fifty or two hundred thousand
that one item alone. Plus we did find and extra eighty five thousand dollar payment in the
list that has been caught and that will drop it further.
Mr. Tucker-Question, the Quaker Rood Water line wasn't that port of the original water
treatment from Rush Pond?
Supervisor Borgos-I understand that it was but that pipe hod deteriorated dramatically over
the years because of corrosive soils in that area and the thought was that, that hod to be
replaced anyway the thought was it should be replaced concurrent with the new work being
done on Quaker Road it was done it come in approximately three hundred to four hundred
thousand dollars under budget because we were able to do it the some time the rood was torn
up anyway we use the some engineering firm they were there and coordinated activities so
we saved a substantial amount of money.
Councilman Montesi-All the Encon permits.
Supervisor Borgos-All the Encon permits were piggy backed we saved a great deal of time
and money on that particular project.
Mr. Tucker-I knew that. My question is to pay for the placement of that line everyone in
Queensbury Water is going to have to pay for that?
Supervisor Borgos-Everyone in the Consolidated Water Dist. that was discussed in a public
meeting we did hold a public hearing on that, that was widely advertised and publicized an
engineer did a map plan and report all that was done, it does become a charge toward the
whole district but that helped to build up and to solidify the integrity of that transmission.
Mr. Tucker-My next question, Salary personnel like my friend Mr. Dusek over here and in
the budget all that appears is personnel service and I have had people ask me what he makes
what his assistant makes what Paul's assistant makes couldn't that be put into the budget
that way the salaries, the people that draw salaries?
Supervisor Borgos-It is a// in here in the detail and we would certainly be glad to tell you
it is all public information tell you anytime what those numbers are. The way it has been
traditionally been done and the way required by low is to condense it in that version you are
certainly welcome to know any of the numbers that are here.
Mr. Tucker-1 was just wondering, because I got Jerry Solomon's 1969 budget right here.
Supervisor Borgos-I do not have that, I have never seen it.
Mr. Tucker-And, he listed everybodys salary in it.
Supervisor Borgos-At the beginning, I believe at the beginning of the year on January 1st
of every year, we adopt resolutions that do set forth all those numbers, but if you wonted
to see them now they are in the book in this itemized one.
Mr. Tucker-I am going to take a little bit of time but, I have been reading this thing for two
days...
Councilman Kurosoko-If you want to read it come over to my office in the morning.
Mr. Tucker-Page 15 in the budget...
Supervisor Borgos-That is 15 in your condensed version, you have to tell me what particular
deportment.
Mr. Tucker-It has to do with police.
Supervisor Borgos-I won my bet, Mr. Tucker. We will now open the envelope and it says
Sheriff's Dept.
Councilman Montesi-Our page 27.
Supervisor Borgos-Our page 27 ...ok your question.
Mr. Tucker-The two hundred and seventy five thousand dollars extra that we pay the Sheriff's
Dept. that we hod conferences about and talked about in public meetings it is port of the
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budget, what happened?
Supervisor Borgos-If my memory serves me correct this would be your fourth appearance
before the Board for that particular issue. As promised we did a great deal of research, we
conducted meetings, 1 think we can either ask our Attorney for a full explanation or l can
give you the bottom line, the bottom line is that after meeting with all the people involved
including the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors of Warren County, Mr. Bolton, Mr.
Robillard, Mrs. Little, Dan Hogan, Chairman of the Sheriff's committee, Tom Lawson, County
Attorney, Fred Lamy and I and Paul all had a big meeting and all the concerns that you
expressed were discussed a few days later Mr. Lamy come to meet with the Board in executive
session to discuss the terms and conditions of the employment of the Sheriff's Dept. and the
history of their performance and so forth and following that meeting it was agreed and the
Attorney I believe takes this position he has done hours of research on this that the contract
is appropriate it is valid and it should be paid. The Board then went along with that particular
opinion. As for as the legality is concerned and I am sure you are concerned about the legality. _
Mr. Tucker-But my question is what ore we buying for two hundred and seventy five thousand
dollars?
Supervisor Borgos-The Sheriff and the other member so the committee listed a wide variety
of services particularly and very specifically going bock to when this contract started I believe
82' because we have been through these dates so often. Two extra patrol cars on both of
the day time shifts with one person each, one extra, one on the night shift with two extra
people. The Sheriff did tell us, very definitely in the last meeting that rather than go with
two people in one car in the night shift he has typically gone with two cars one person each
on the night shift. The Sheriff then itemized the other extra services such as a boat on Glen
Lake such as the police dog extra investigators in the Town and he was able to demonstrate
that whereas the Sheriff's dept. had either one or two people way back they boosted it up
by those numbers and they are now for in excess of those original numbers.
Mr. Tucker-Do we not pay 40% of the tozol budget of the Sheriff's Dept.?
Supervisor Borgos-We I hove been using the number 40% 1 have been corrected, we, the number
of 40% comes from a rounding off of a 39. some percent that we share in the sales tax revenue
of the County outside the City of Glens Falls. Our actual contribution to the budget of Warren
County is 34. some percent and I brought that with me it is in one of these piles. Thirty four
point some percent of every expenditure does come from the Town of Queensbury.
Mr. Tucker-I believe that you told me in one of our discussions that if the Town saw fit to
cancel the contract that there would be no reduction in service whatsoever. What we were
getting was what we needed.
Supervisor Borgos-1 had asked the Sheriff if he thought that we were staffed at a level higher
than what he normally would staff us. The Sheriff answer was no, the Sheriff stated that
he believed that the current staffing is where it is and where it should be. Which led us to
the next step because it appeared that there was nothing quote extra unquote. We then went,
we went further with the discussion with the people involved and the County Officials told
us very clearly that if it were not for Queensbury's two hundred and seventy five thousand
dollars per year, nine people would be laid off immediately in the Sheriff's Dept. and our
service would be cut back by the extent of the dollar value of those people to the Town.
Mr. Tucker-Who told you this, the Sheriff?
Supervisor Borgos-All of the County people present at that particular meeting.
Mr. Tucker-That includes the five supervisors from Queensbury?
Supervisor Borgos-They were not all there.
Mr. Tucker-1 have had people talk to me about what we paid to get the State Police in here
and they were of the opinion the extra police protection from the State Police that we would
be able to eliminate this contract of the County.
Supervisor Borgos-Ok, just a quick re-hosh of the State Police situation, they had been located
in the Town of Moreau for many, many years they hove always served the Town of Queensbury
and have been available to the Town of Queensbury. There came a time about two and a
half years ago when the State Police were) deciding to move to Wilton and wanted them to
locate a satellite office somewhere in this area. The Town of Queensbury was approached
with the thought that there might be a spot here, we did find a spot and we did use Town
funds to build a new State Police Office on Aviotion Road . At that time the State Police
assigned fourteen full time people and I believe the level is still fourteen although it may
go to fifteen momentarily. Those are the some policemen who would routinely be seen in
Queensbury but the thought was that since they would be based here they obviously be on
our roads much more often. No one ever believed that, they would replace the Sheriff's Dept.
269
We just kept them here rather than see them go to southern Washington County, northern
Washington County, South Glens Falls perhaps or somewhere else we sow on opportunity to
bring them 'here and we hove been quite pleased and they ore working very well with the
Sheriff's Dept.
Mr. Tucker-Going back and using some of your information I just cannot understand the rationol
for this but maybe you will convince me. The Town of Luzerne requested on additional Deputy
and Car and everything and they got it for five thousand dollars.
Supervisor Borgos-I do not believe that there was any payment by the Town of Lake Luzerne,
I am on that committee and I know I recommended that since it is a County Police force
anyplace in the County where Police ore required they should get those particular Police
at the level that Sheriff feels appropriate.
Mr. Tucker-Just one more thing. This is a legal question, this contract runs out this year?
Supervisor Borgos-That is correct.
Mr. Tucker-If can it be brought to a referendum? Whether we renew this contract or not?
Attorney Dusek-1 do not know of any provision of the low that would require that, the law
has a provisions which allows the Town Board to contract for additional Police services or
more intense Police Services and it makes no reference to a referendum. Because I see no
referendum outlined at that point I would say that there is not one. However, there ore a
couple of exceptions to the low that 1 would like to check but my just giving you an answer
right now I do not think one could even be forced on that issue.
Mr. Tucker-So, if the Board just decided that they wanted to do this thing go ahead and do
it.
Attorney Dusek-Thot is my opinion.
Mr. Tucker-Dog Control Page 17 ...
Councilman Montesi-I think in all honesty though the contract is due this year, Steve Borgos
is a County Supt. sits on the Sheriff's Committee and I think one other Queensbury Supervisor
sits on this committee, I think this is the time we start talking to the Sheriff and that
committee about not funding, about not signing another contract so that they of least put
those dollars into the County Budget. We are going to withdraw somehow, someway that
two hundred and seventy five thousand dollars then has to be funded by the County. We ore
going to pay 34% of it anyway.
Mr. Tucker-I realize that.
Councilman Montesi-I think in a// honesty when Fron Walter was Supv. and mode the
committment to go with the County Police force they were there to help us and it cost us
I think two hundred and fifty thousand dollars a year it has gone to two hundred and seventy
five. If we would like to withdraw from that contract 1 think the best way to do it business
wise and everything else in fairness soy, fellows we are letting you know that we ore thinking
of getting out of this thing and we think we can and we would like to and you better start
anticipating that in your budget next year.
Mr. Tucker-1 think I made the statement when I brought this up. When this was originally
done, our Police Dept. was it just could not be funded by the Town.
Councilman Montesi-I think it was six hundred and sixty thousand dollars ...and fourteen man
force and in any given night there was one car on the rood.
Mr. Tucker-And this situation gives Mrs. Walter a chance that fourteen men would not loose
their jobs they were absorbed into the Sheriff's Dept. and I think at the time it was a good
idea.
Councilman Montesi-It was a very courageous.
Mr. Tucker-You just cannot convince me that we are getting a fair shake.
Councilman Montesi-But, I think this is th� year we told them that we had some real serious
concerns about it we had some constituents that ore raising the issue and I think that next
year we are out of the contract and we, they are aware of it. I think actually you have done
a great job in making them even more aware of it.
Mr. Tucker-Well, I was not out to do a job 1 just did not think it was fair. Dog Catcher
Supervisor Borgos-Page 30 in our copies.
270
Mr. Tucker-Question 30,550. Preliminary Budget $36,075
Supervisor Borgos-1 will be very happy to answer that question for you. 1 hod recommended
that the 30,000. actual, the Dog Control Officer hod recommended 30,550 l requested dropping
that to 30,275. by peoring off those 50's and 10's where ever we could. The Board has
reconsidered and spoken with the Dog Control Officer and has raised it back to 36,075.
specifically to hire a port time person next summer to do on enumeration of the dogs in the
Town. Now, earlier when the State criticize us in writing in our State Audit for not counting
enough of the dogs we ore talking about priorities ok, for not counting enough of the dogs,
we determine that we would barely break even in terms of the fees and revenues returned
from the State however we continued to be criticized. We continue to be criticized by the
Citizens who do pay the license for their dogs by those because there are some people their
neighbors who do not pay their license for the dogs this would permit us to hire somebody
to go out and count the dogs. Now, if the public sentiment is that we should not do that —
obviously we would reconsider. But that is the specific purpose of that there and it was a
major item in the State Audit criticism of us this post year.
Councilman Monahan-Steve, I think you might also mention because of the enumeration that
was going to boost up the postage line a great deal too.
Supervisor Borgos-That is right because we have to send special notices out to those people
we believe hove dogs to give them an opportunity to license them. I am looking at Mrs.
Bennett, Mrs. Bennett, suffered through most of our evenings of budget negotiations so she
has heard all of this before I hope you are not bored by hearing this all again. At least you
can testify to the fact that we have talked about a// of it many times.
Mr. Tucker-1 did not attend it because I probably would not have survived until tonight.
Supervisor Borgos-Mrs. Bennett left us only during the World Series.
Mr. Tucker-That is why I did not attend, I thought it was better that I stayed home. Page
35 Highway Fund.
Supervisor Borgos-Now, you ore in Mr. Naylor's area. Which portion are we in, summer budget
or winter budget or general...
Mr. Tucker-Highway Machinery.
i.
Supervisor Borgos-And heavy equipment? —
Mr. Tucker-Highway Machinery, 5130... 165130 is the number
.Supervisor Borgos-Vehicles, Heavy Equipment and so forth...
Mr. Tucker-My question is, requested budget three hundred and eight thousand five hundred
for equipment,right.
Supervisor Borgos-That is correct.
Mr. Tucker-Tentative Budget, three hundred and eighty-five hundred.
Supervisor Borgos-Correct.
Mr. Tucker-Preliminary Budget 13,500.00
Supervisor Borgos-Correct. The decrease there is one way that we are able to hold the tax
rate. We will still plan to buy Mr. Naylor his equipment and he assures us that with this last
round of heavy equipment he will be up to force where he would like to be. We would hope
that the sales tax revenue situation will look good for the Holiday Season and will turn around
next year and then we can buy the equipment he requested next year in cash. However, if
we cannot the proposal is to finance that in the form of a Bond Anticipation Note for two
or three years. Now, lost year we hod the opportunity to join in with a certificate of
participation opportunity arranged through the New York State Association of Towns and
also the New York State Association of Counties. During which time most committees across —
the State were financing their Heavy Equipment purchases together as a lump sum and getting
an interest rate that was below the going m rket rate. Also, because we are in a non arbritage
position at that time had we done that we would have been able actually make money on
the money we borrowed. We probably would not have enough equipment purchases next year
to look at that opportunity but we are right now able to borrow money on bond anticipation
notes for anywhere from 6.37 to 6.48% which is a good number. Substantially below the interest
rote on a new car fore instance. The proposal then is to still give him his equipment but to
finance it, buy it next year there will be no payment due until the following year. I am well
aware of the problems that you can get into by a protracted, doing business like that, New
s Z�
27
York State did that and a few other places did, 1 think however for this specific purpose with
the announced intention and the full intention of not doing that for more than this item and
one item in the cemetery we can catch up with that and pay it off within two years and be
right back on schedule. But that accounts for the decrease of approximately 295 as I recall.
Mr. Tucker-What are we buying for three hundred and eight....
Supervisor Borgos-Mr. Naylor would tell us, I believe there are two tandem trucks with snow
plows at approximately one hundred thousand dollars each that is the County contract price
and there was also three one ton pickups for the foreman in the Highway Dept.
Councilman Montesi-Which are plow trucks also.
Supervisor Borgos-Those also hove plows on them.
UNKNOWN-Point of order, could Mr. Tucker possible yield to those people who have to go
home?
Supervisor Borgos-Well, I understand your point, I do not believe Roberts Rules would cover
that as a point of order however because we said initially everyone could speak as long as
they wanted to. It is unfortunate as we go through we ore giving everyone as much time
as they would like we hove asked to be concise Mr. Tucker apparently has done research
and has more questions. We will not turn off anybody, if he wishes to yield to the next speaker
and come bock later that will be his option....I understand I sympathize but at the moment
under Robert Rules I cannot entertain your request.
UNKNOWN-1 disagree, I think you said earlier one person one question...
Supervisor Borgos-No, Sir, one person may speak at a time and then may not speak again
as a rebuttal of any sort until the second time through. Mr. Tucker may continue 1 am trying
to be fair to everybody we just do the best that we con do.
Mr. Tucker-Surprise, surprise I would hove been done. How much soles tax did they?
Supervisor Borgos-I have that number right here. Soles Tax to dote this year, I can tell you
what the individual payments were and year to date were $797,500 below lost year because
the State took 250. we have received let me odd it up, $2,895,235.00 and o couple of pennies.
Mr. Tucker-Thot is 314
Supervisor Borgos-That is 314 but don't forget our quarters are not all equal our third and
fourth quarters the summer and the holiday shopping season are by for the largest.
Mr. Tucker-The voters the other night just passed the firemens funding for volunteer firemen.
Supervisor Borgos-Correct.
Mr. Tucker-is there any money in the budget for that?
Supervisor Borgos-There is money included in the fire fund the F line for one hundred and
twenty four thousand and some dollars.
Mr. Tucker-When do we have a regular Town Board Meeting?
Supervisor Borgos-The next regular Town Board Meeting will be on the 79th. This one was
a special meeting taking the place of regular meeting we actually moved the date from election
eve to now.
Mr. Tucker-Thank you.
Supervisor Borgos-Name and address please, we all know you but for the record.
Mr. Robert Muller-Garrison Rood which is in the Town of Queensbury. I would like to say
that if it ever occurred to me to run for Supervisor that I hope that i remember the long look
on your face and 1 would decide against that. I am a Trustee of Crandall Library and I have
come in the capacity as a Trustee and someone who lives in the Town of Queensbury to thank
you for the support that has come over the years, but also to emphasis the comments made
earlier because you stood behind us and because you have helped us you also increased the
use of the Library and taxed us at all the different sceens that ore possible to tax. I am not
one that enjoys paying my taxes and I am not one that enjoys seeing what takes place in the
budget processes any longer now that I have seen it. 1 like us to invest as much as we possibly
can in the best possible thing we can and that is our, the resources of this community are
that library there con be nothing more significant than just knowledge and just the access
to knowledge. Mr. Montesi is somebody who walks my neighborhood looking for my support
2'7 N
I am walking his neighborhood tonight looking for his support I did not get a chance to make
a phone call I am here to do it in person.
Supervisor Borgos-Some thing that perhaps has not been said earlier as we look at taxes in
great increases percentage wise or decreases we ore looking at a Town tax rate which includes
all administrative service and all those other good things, highway, landfill and cemetery
at 44¢ per thousand which for the typical home in Queensbury assessed at $100,000. is $44.00
per year that includes the library payment, that includes our highway trucks and o!l those
things. Even if it were to increase by 50% it would be $22.00 per year or 40¢ per week not
a lot of money. We fought hard not to let it increase, we are still talking about relatively
small dollars. This is on inexpensive place to live as for as your town taxes ore concerned.
-Actually the increase in the County tax for Queensbury residents the increase alone will be
71.00 for a hundred thousand dollar house next year so the increase in County Tax will be
more than your entire Town Tax for next year. Hands in the bock. Gentlemen who wished
to speak before. Mr. Rohill name and address please.
Mr. Bernard Rohill-Good evening, I waited a long time to speak to you specifically because
I hove a lot of things that ore on my mind as a result of the process that is going on at the
present time. But, before you soy anything I would like to soy that when we ore speaking
to you I hope that everybody is thinking in terms of ...Aristotle's belief that if we are in the
political oreno we ore not going to denigrate a persons personality or family but rather talk
about the issues. I do not think that we ore doing that in this meeting and I am very happy
about that.. However, I feel that we should address Mrs. Wolter and thank her very much
because before she left office she said and I quote 'I wish some of you people around here
would come to the meetings find out what is going on so that you would know why we ore
using the taxes the way we ore.' Thank you Mrs. Walter. Considering the fact that I a liberal
democrats I think that is quite o complement, however, that is the lost complement I am
going to give you.
Supervisor Borgos-1 am not really surprised.
Mr. Rohill-I am not here to surprise you. I am here to tell you Steve, that I suggest that you
ore not getting enough money. You ore really doing such a fantastic job of hoodwinking all
all the people of Queensbury that you should get 100,000 dollars a year and the Board should
get $20,000.
Supervisor Borgos-Just a minute, I thought just a moment ago you said you were happy that
we ore not getting into personal character assassinations?
Mr. Rohill-No, this is on issue. The issue is development. Development is going to quickly —I
when the people themselves in the 1980's said that they did not wont rapid development.
The issue is profit...vs frugality, you ore a profit...you ore wasting money, left, right and
center you ore not be frugal. Yet, no one has mentioned here once anything about the
Republican Party or the Democratic Party should there be a group in Queensbury that is
guarding the hen house which is totally one party like the PRI in Mexico? I am just trying
to open the issue.
Supervisor Borgos-1 will do the so called point of order as the role of the Chairman and soy
speak to the budget please if you hove other concerns they con be addressed in the open forum,
this is the budget hearing, you must hold your comments to the budget please.
Mr. Rohill-I am talking about the philosophy of the budget.
Supervisor Borgos-We will see how for you will stray.
Mr. Rohill-If you ore pushing dirt around in Hovey Pond for three years and you hove on
expense for pushing dirt around in Hovey Pond for three years that certainly has a great deal
to do with the budget.
Supervisor Borgos-No it does not, lets talk about that because the money for the Hovey Pond
budget is coming out of special capital reserve fund, funded entirely by Recreation Fees from
subdividers it is not showing up in this budget, in the proposed budget for the Town of
Queensbury. That is a special capital project from o capital reserve account. There is no
impact on this budget. Next question.
Mr. Rohill-My next question is with regard to Recreation, the people of Queensbury hove
asked for o decent pork for their children there is nothing in your budget for a decent pork
for their children. 1 hove lived on Long Island, I hove seen the development of Long Island
and 1 know what people con do with money in order to provide for the community. At the
present time we still hove a pork which is at a 45 degree angle into o minute swimming pool
which is a postage stomp for thirty thousand people and we hove a parking lot down below
which is of o 45 degree angle also. Why because there is nobody who is dissenting with the
Town Board, nobody disagrees with the Town Board and the members of the Town Board do
not disagree among themselves about numbers or ...
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Supervisor Borgos-I call to your attention that, that is also not a budget item.
Mr. Rohill-It is being denied to the people specifically because there is manipulation of the
budget.
Supervisor Borgos-There is no manipulation of the budget, Sir, and the Gurney Lone Project
is also one funded most recently in the continuously by the developers fund.
Mr. Rohill-Once again we have development we hove excessive development in this community
in addition to this we have a building right here which you have said just within the post year
has to be moved to another location. That is going to cost us o lot of money, I think that
is o budget item isn't it?
Supervisor Borgos-Well, it is and it isn't, payment for the present building is included in the
budget any possible move to a future site at sometime in the future is simply, simply in the
early, early, discussion stage, I never said it had to be moved 1 said it was my opinion my
recommendation that it should be moved because we are out of space here but that is not
included anywhere in this budget.
Mr. Rohill-Once again the people in Glens Falls hove o building that's three stories high they
did not have to move anyplace they hove an office building in downtown Glens Falls and the
office building is ample enough for them. Do you think 'you con build upward, would that
save money for the taxpayers of Queensbury, ore we looking at profitogizing or frugality?
Supervisor Borgos-Next question.
Mr. Rohill-You hove already gotten all of the answers. I disagree with your total budget all
the numbers, 1 know that numbers con be played with. Thank you.
Supervisor Borgos-You are welcome.
Mr. Rohill-I would like to mention, which is very important to me, we are going to money
to Crandall Library, and I love books and I love the Library and I think it is a great Library
however 1 do not think the Board should give any money to a Library that has two nude drawings
one of a man and one of a woman outside of the children's section. Please take notice of
that. Thank you.
Supervisor Borgos-Thank you 1 have not had v chance to get to the Library in some time.
Next comment from the back, yes, Sir.
Mr. Bruce Levin-14 Sweet Briar Lane. First of all I am a little dismayed I moved here four
and o half years ago and I must tell you that it is not o good place to live it is a great place
to li ve.
Supervisor Borgos-Thank you, I agree with you.
Mr. Levin-I hove three children that have taken advantage of the parks which are excellent
by the way and all the recreational facilities in the Town again which are excellent which
keep the children busy and keep them doing things and keep them out of trouble. I think we
are fortunate frankly to have o Town Board that is concerned about those things. I also was
not a caller of Mrs. Potenzo but would like to say that I found it very interesting that you
did your homework and as a tax payer and a resident of Word 3 1 am please to know that you
do that and do represent us. I think frankly that the budget seems to be a well prepared
document seems to be o well presented document and 1 think the problem that I see is that
I am a little dismayed that there is so negativism here when the tax rate is as low as it is
and there so much, the services that are provided 1 find to be incredible and I hove lived several
places in the state. I know that I am not in the majority here I am a little troubled by that,
I wished that I was although I do certainly believe that I am in the majority of residents of
the Town and I hope that you as o Board realize that. There ore others of us out there that
feel that you ore doing a good job and ore not dismayed by the tax rate and feel bad the
community has a lot to offer and hopefully will continue to hove a lot to offer. The reason
that I actually I come down and 1 have not been to a Town Board Meeting although maybe
I will in the future. The reason that I did come down was to support the library and probably
nobody from the library knows me and the only reason they would know me is maybe they
sent me an overdue book notice. ...1 certainly do feel strongly about that. I also hove to
comment about the fact that Mr. Borgos, 1 know you spend a lot of time, although you probably
do not recall me, spent o lot of time dealing with the people in the community and with the
office and 1 think you take a lot of time and a lot of compassion in doing that. I was a cub
scout leader and you may recall that I brought eight of my boys to your office and you took
the time and sit them in the chairs and explain town government.
Supervisor Borgos-I do not remember I apologize.
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Mr. Levin-And explained what went on and frankly they walked away with a lot of information
and good feeling about the democratic process. I think that is important for eight and nine
year old boys to do that and its not very often that you see that occur in a community where
everyone is busy and that is certainly a tribute to the job that you have done. Again, I hod
not intended to do this I really do hope that you do support the Library again I think the budget
is fine and I think you did a great job.
Supervisor Borgos-Thank you very much, it is refreshing, we normally get only negative
comments it is refreshing to hove a couple of positives tonight. I have a file in my office
you might wont to look at some time its the anti-letters actually it is o drawer and a half
and the pro-letters in three years are now up to 14, those are even squeezing even a thank
you for something that is a pro-letter. Mrs. Adamson, would you come forward.
i
Mrs. Lillian Adamson-1 live on Assembly Point and I hove appeared at this forum several times
and I also gone over, i hove not come for a long time. I have also gone over to the Lake George
School Board Meeting too, so I hove seen Bruce Levin over there. Bruce is a very nice fellow
and very friendly and he does a very good job over there. At one time when I come here and
complained, maybe it was lost year about the salary raises, one of the things that was pointed
out to me that you know we all have problems up on the Lake with our assessment and our
taxes with the average assessment at $100,000 in the rest of O_ueensbury and ours up there
at three and four hundred thousand we pay three and four and sometimes five times what
everybody else in the Town pays, and so life is very difficult for us. But, when I pointed out
the high pay raises I think it was lost year one of the comments that come bock, did you ever
look at your school taxes up there and the high salaries that are paid to the administrators
in the Lake George School. I kind of feel that we ore in a vicious circle here because when
everybody compares salaries when you go to the Lake George School they say well we hove
to pay the Supervisor this because the Supervisor in Bolton or the Supervisor in Hogue is paid
that much and of course when the Supervisor in Bolton wants a raise he can simply say that
the Supervisor in Lake George gets it. I see the some vicious circle going on here when Mr.
Borgos wants a raise he can point out, well down in Colonie they pay that and when the Colonie
Supervisor wants a raise he can soy Mr. Borgos gets it. So, l think the poor taxpayer where
ever he lives is kind of stuck in this vicious circle. But, the other point that I wonted to make
tonight was that I see I love the word ...but I cannot soy it very well but 1 think it is great
one and I think that the Town squanders money in some ways and I think that there can be
savings. I think it con be done in many ways. But, one of the things I have come in and talked
about many times have been the assessments since 1987 and 1 said that they were uneven
and unequal and we hove had people who hove come down to Grievance Day and appealed
and hod a very very tough time with the Grievance Board because we do not get equal
treatment from your Grievance Board. As a result people have had to go thru Lawyers thru
appraisers and spend a great deal of money. And the Town in turn has spent a great deal
of money by bring in a firm from Buffalo by sending their attorneys to court to small claims
court along with that Buffalo appraiser and along with the Assessor. This year, I helped a
few of my neighbors out and so 1 went to small claims court for them, I had to go to small
claims court because the Grievance Board did not give us any satisfaction. This in turn the
Town Attorney then was sent to the small claims court, now on small claims court on properties
the State has set it up so that an Attorney is not necessary. I think that the Town wastes
a great deal of money by having the Town Attorney have to sit there. If you say that you
need so many attorneys and you hove to spend so much money it seems kind of strange to
send them to these small petty things to sit there for three and four and five hours and the
funny thing is that you do have a very capable assessor now and we hope that she will make
some adjustments the next time around that are going to be a little bit more fair to us so
that we do not hove to keep going through this. But, what I am pointing out is that even with
your Town Attorney there and I am just a lowly housewife, I won all eight of my cases and
the Town hod to pay back the twenty five dollar filing fee to each of my people. This has
nothing to do with Paul Dusek, he is a very capable. man what it has to do with is the uneven
and unequal assessments and the properties it was very clear that they were mistaken. But,
what I am trying to say is the Town is wasting money unnecessarily I tried to find out when
the Buffalo firm was hired a few years ago I tried to keep track of how much the Town was
spending on that. 1 found that every time I wanted to know anything I had to send in a freedom
of information act form and even then it was difficult to get because I would be told that
we do not know how much the Town Attorney is being paid because those just come in on
individual receipt and no one has the time to find out, so I never, ever was able to find out
exactly the Town spent at that time. I would not doubt what it was a hundred thousand in
1987, 88' and that's seemed to me very wasteful.
Supervisor Borgos-We will have to check �n that I do not believe it is anywhere near that.
What you should know is the town indeed is soving a substantial amount of money by using
our Town Attorney this way rather than paying 80-90 dollars an hour whatever attorneys
are getting for that kind of service, maybe 100 dollars on hour now.
Mrs. Adamson-My point is why even send one?...
Attorney Dusek-For the Board's information, during the ones Mrs. Adamson was involved
275..2-i
in, those were the first few hearings that Helen Thompson hod this year and a point of fact
I was present,. As the hearing went on however, and we reviewed how the procedures went
and the type of questions that I was asking when I was there, Helen and I after discussing
it very carefully mode a decision that Helen could in fact attend the remainder of the hearings
on her own. That is in fact what has happened.
Mrs. Adomson-Yes, that happened in the rest of them, yes.
Attorney Dusek-!n fact I think some of the later ones that you might hove been involved with
I was not there and the point, the purpose there was, the careful evaluation, understanding
what the process was and in fact probably agreeing with what you are saying that it was not
necessary to hove on Attorney there. I sought and tried it, do my port if you will, because
knowing what the Town Board would want to try to save that type of work and go onto some
other matter that was more pressing. So, that was in fact accomplished this year I suspect
that it would stay in effect next year.
Mrs. Adamson-I wonder if there ore other cases where they are so minor that it is not necessary
to use an Attorney to handle all these things. Because it seems to me that we are getting
into big attorney fees on on awful lot of cases.
Supervisor Borgos-We have our Attorney make that decision for us since he is on an annual
salary does not get paid for overtime and his salary comes out to for less than 30 dollars an
hour compared to hiring outside council. We find that the Attorney represents us whenever
his opinion we are open to a liability that would exceed the value of the service that he would
provide, so many times what may seem to be a small matter such as a dog case or two that
we recently had needed the services of our attorney to get resolved. Hopefully that is
protected the Town and insulated the Town from a liability charge that could be of o great
magnitude. That in turn keeps our insurance premiums down and it just goes down through
the system. We try to the best of our ability to use the resources we have and he is definitely
a positive resource. I appreciate your comments. Mr. Montesi has asked for a moment to
speak about Hovey Pond.
Councilman Montesi-While we still have on audience I just wont to comment to Mr. Rohill's
comment about Hovey Pond taking three or four or five years. Yes, it is, Hovey Pond was
dead four or five years ago it was 8 to 10" deep. We hod some engineering studies done
realizing that we were developing a recreational fee through the subdividers that we could
use to develop this pond and bring it bock to life we worked with Trouts Unlimited our
engineering firm told us that we had a project that could cost six to seven hundred thousand
dollars. Utilizing the talents that we had off time of Paul Naylor's Highway Crew which
was on interoffice or inter fund transfer but he was paid for his services in helping us and
the Recreation Commission. Utilizing 11,000 cubic yards of fill from the sewer project that
has been on going for the last three years we have been able to get some reasonable semblance
in there. Do not forget that every year we are dealing with DEC and a permit so when we
dig some of the sludge out and utilize the top soil in various places in town that has to be
done with the auspices of DEC. It is a long drown out process but we are saving a great deal
of money and hopefully the end result will be about a 314 of a mile walk around Hovey Pond,
refurbishing of the sleuth way, establishing that pond to be 8 to 10' deep so it will once again
support marine wild life and working with Trouts Unlimited to keep the pond cool enough
so that the water entering Halfway Brook as it flows through our community will continue
to flow in o cold enough manner, temperature so that trout will survive. It is a long process,
many of the people that live in an about Hovey pond are concerned that we are not doing
it quick enough but we are certainly being frugal about it and every step of the way we hove
to deal with the Department of Environmental Conservation. Not in a detrimental way, but
we have to dot all the i 's and cross all the Vs.
Supervisor Borgos-Just odd to that, we are not second time around yet. But just to add to
that you mentioned using the sludge and so forth that comes out of Hovey Pond, Mr. Naylor
is taking that to a spot at the landfill where it can drain properly and we have saved thousand
and thousands of dollars using that top soil along the roads that have been repaved and
modernized the drainage work that has been done this summer. So, we are taking resources
that might otherwise look like it is not worth anything and saving tremendous sums of money
and we are very pleased about that. Jack, we ore still first time around we are about ready
to go second 1 think.
i
Mr. Jack Cushing-I reside in Queensbury. I would just like to make one quick comment I am
not going to comment on the size of Steve's1 o/ory or the size of any of the other Supervisor's
salaries or Paul's but coming from industry I would like to make one comment. Realistic
comment, that is very simply I would hope that the Board would do their homework and would
compare with industry, private industry, there was a comment earlier this evening that we
perhaps should not be looking at private industry. I feel that we should as another example
or another or another sector of the community. I was an industrial relations manager or o
director of personnel for Scott Paper Co. for a good many years, and believe me you would
be surprised at the number of people that 1 hove hired for Scott Paper Co. who have come
from government. Why have they come from government? Because they have been underpaid
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because they got a lot of harassment because they ore working fantastic hours and not getting
the recognition of the pats on the bock for that. If we ore going to hove good competent
government, and the individuals in the government we have got to be able to pay them
comparable salaries. Again, as I say I am not saying whether Mr. Borgos's salary is the right
level or not but we got to keep in mind that private industry is our competition. I can fair
say that Mr. Dusek could leave this job tomorrow and make a hell of a lot more money in
private industry than he is making right now and we have got to keep people like that in the
government. So, please do look at other areas so that we con continue to have competent
government. Thank you.
Supervisor Borgos-Thank you, Sir. Yes, Sir, sorry to keep all of you waiting so long you can
see that we have not token any breaks, we will keep going.
Mr. John Cordes-I live at 36 Clark Street. Steve, 1 think you do a great job, what 1 am
concerned with is we hove a political system here in Queensbury where a political gets elected
to your job. I do not think that the next politician is going to hove the experience you have
hod with teaching business, knowing personnel, knowing all these things. Are we in a position
where we con get professional manager for this job or is this out of the question legally?
In otherwords 1 come from a Town in Long Island, Gorden City, Long Island, about the some
size population as here, no politicians at all no politics, everybody is hired, as a professional
manager, the people who serve on the Board, supervise these people that is all they do is
make sure they ore doing a good job. I cannot see how you con be a politician and do the
job that you do without spending the time you do. So, I am just asking the question, could
we ...
Supervisor Borgos-Thot is what Fron Walter mentioned before she left office, priority wise
she never hod time to finally write the official letter that was going to come, but Fran's
recommendation was and it is something worth thinking about, that the Town should have
a full time business administrator town manager kind of person and then also perhaps the
Supervisor would be a person who talked about policy issues who did some lobbying in Albany
who did those kinds of things that people would expect of a quote politician. In order to do
that it would require a substantial increase in the budget, because you would have to pay
someone probably based again on going salaries in the area, sixty, seventy maybe eighty
thousand dollars a year to be a Town manager in this Town. That would be on top of a
Supervisor's salary. The question is, is this town ready for it? Certainly there are a lot of
times in reviewing contracts to be sure that we hove paid the right amount to people and
looking at cubic yards of fill and so forth that I think we ore about there. It is a good point
it is quite well token, ...
Mr. Cordes-Why would we hove to pay 70,000. dollars for a Supervisor then?
Supervisor Borgos-Well, you wouldn't, then the Supervisor could become essentially a part
time person...
Mr. Cordes-He could revert bock to the way he was before. In otherwords the Supervisor
could be a lower paying job, much lower, it could be a port time job again.
Supervisor Borgos-It could well be and ...
Mr. Cordes-1 would not propose paying...seventy two thousand that would be instead of and
paying the Supervisor port time.
Supervisor Borgos-This is the battle I face constantly, people soy how many democrats hove
you got on the Town payroll, how many republicans, I say, I hove not the faintest idea. I
personally am too busy looking after all these other things to worry about that. Now, there
ore o lot of republicans who do not like to hear me say that, I do not hove time to check
somebodys party enrollment before they are hired for a position, as much as it only takes
five minutes, we do not do that. So, that is the political side, maybe that is good and maybe
that is bad or maybe that is not anywhere but, we do need professional business administration
professional town management, hopefully I am providing some of that at the present time.
In order to switch to having both it would require to hove on extra expenditure. Maybe the
Town Board would consider that.
Mr. Cordes-I am afraid what we will have in the future, because I do not think many people
who run for that, regardless of what the salary is have the abilities that you have, or will —
have, and we the voters have no way of knowing it. He is just somebody selected by the
Republican Committee here in Queensbur)A and it really, we have to depend on them but if
we hire people then you people can sit in judgement and determine. Unfortunately you have
no to report to except the voters and we really hove difficulty judging, but if we hod a paid
person he would be responsible to someone and that is one of the ...
Supervisor Borgos-I appreciate your comments, because even under the present set up even
Department heads really truly only report to the Town Board, the Supervisor does not hove
the authority to hire or fire or do any of those good things that you think you would in
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management in a normal business. You cannot do any of that. A Town Manager could be
given some of that authority perhaps. There ore a lot of pros and cons and one thing we are
going to take o close look at when we get a minute is the possibility of becoming a suburban
town. Some ports of that do not necessarily relate to the Top Administration but relate to
other methods by which the Town could function, it puts us under another whole set of Town
Law. It is worth looking at, Paul Dusek and I have token. a short look at it and it looks like
it might be the way to go..l hove not had a chance to look at it yet. But, we are looking.
Mr. Cordes-One other thing I would like to say, I think Paul Naylor has done a great job on
the highways 1 think it is too great, in the winter sometimes. I just noticed recently in my
garoge, I cleaned it out finally after five years and I got o lot or crousion on the concrete
blocks on the walls, I am going to have to do something about it because of the tremendous
amount of solt that have been put on the roods in the lost I would say four or five years.
Previously in our developments in our neighborhoods we really got salt. You could take the
kids out and pull them on the sled on a Sunday afternoon or Saturday you cannot do that
anymore because there is sand and solt on the road. I like to see the Town Winter Budget
for highway cut back a little bit and less solt particularly in the neighborhoods so we could
use the facility, do a little recreation on the roods.
Supervisor Borgos-We are trying to use, to keep it a little short, we ore tying to use less salt
more calcium more liquid calcium, the big reason and you all hove to know this and hopefully
understand this the big reason that we do so much on our highways and keep them so clean
is lawsuits. Every time there is on accident out there the Town of Queensbury is named and
unless we con demonstrate that we have properly and adequately plowed recently and have
records of that we pay. You pay the taxpayer, that is the big reason for doing as much as
we do and Mr. Naylor will admit that in a minute.
Mr Cordes-Doesn't calcium form on ocid, more acid than salt?
Supervisor Borgos-It is our understanding that it is better for the roods.
Mr. Cordes-Not better for my garage though.
Supervisor Borgos-We are still first time around. ...Mr. McDonough in the bock.
If any of you ore getting uncomfortable sitting so long please feel free to stand up and stretch,
it will not bother us I know it can be uncomfortable after a few hours.
Mr. Tom McDonough live at Twicwood in Queensbury. I would like to join in the comments
Mr. Montesi and Fran Wolter with respect to the salary issue. In particular long hours ore
needed for the type of work that is performed however most of the people here are concerned
about the fact that in addition to the basic salary there is on additional salary of monies on
top of it which brings this remuneration up to on area where even the Board is saying when
we ore talking about comparing salaries to levels in the commercial sphere. That may well
be correct, however in the commercial sphere you have share holders and directors who control
hiring, status and things of this nature and I think what most of you people ore talking about
and the lost speaker talked about that there is somebody to whom the persons who hod that
salary is responsible with respect to what the salary is and things of this nature. In this
particular case we do not have that. When the Supervisor come into the job to start with
he was faced with the income that the job provided at that time, al/ be it, it may hove been
needed to increase it but none the less the person who is receiving that salary is also
participating in the event which increases his salary so no matter what you do you are going
to be suspect. Of course you are also the swing vote as the Board stands right now. So, there
is a no win situation. But, if we are talking about comparable salaries on the market then
I think we ought to go out and get a commercial type of person to do this type of work rather
than have it in the political arena where it is today and which has brought out the numbers
of people to this meeting. I think Mr. Kurosoko, now being the swing vote would be the person
taking that into consideration and saying is this the time to do it? Both with respect to salary
or the change in the type of employment because if you are going to establish the salary at
this level you only starting at a base, it has only got to go higher and higher and I think that
has to be reviewed and to that extent I think I would join with Mr. Montesi and those people
including Fron Walter's, especially Fron Walter's who has looked at it in that perspective
I think. I would also like to soy, I do not know what has happened to Paul Naylor but he does
do a good job and he does enjoy himself.
Supervisor Borgos-Thank you. I would just like to respond by saying that, you say that the
Supervisor who ever it is doesn't isn't respo, Bible to anyone, number one, you have four board
members who ore tenacious and personalities by themselves but beyond that there ore thirty
thousand approximately residents of the Town of Queensbury and that is what we are showing
here tonight. Residents have come here to express their opinion and we ore responsible and
if the voters ore not happy there is on opportunity every two years to make that decision.
Mr. McDonough. But that is an after the fact situation. I would think that if you put it out
to the voters in the first instance with respect to the salary you might have resolved on that
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basis, but I do not know if you wont to do that in any event.
Supervisor Borgos-I do not know again to answer your question, I do not know that the law
provides for that. l would be more than happy and actually try to encourage the Board to
do this, sometime in the spring, early in the spring time look at the salary for next year if
it is legally possible to bind ourselves and I do not know if it is so we could encourage other
people to run for office and then we would be able to compete with one another and discuss
and debate issues I think that would be great. In terms of looking at the total salary for the
Supervisor, I have said many times publicly and I will soy it again for a Town this size the
Supervisor does not have time to also serve on the County Board of Supervisors, I would gladly
give up that position it is additional time, a certain amount of work has to be done here and
its total extra job. I personally would be more than happy to see that be a separate job.
Mr. McDonough-Unfortunately that's the way it is, but in taking the job people would take
employment they would understand what the terms and conditions of their employment are
when they take it and that is one of the benefit or burdens however you look at it.
Supervisor Borgos-Thot is right and lost year when we set the salaries and even discussed
the salaries it was well before the election. So, that people did know. The final setting did
not take place until otter.
Mr. McDonough-It was not in the Post Star.
Councilman Potenzo-A little bit more homework that I did, I was concerned because of the
amount of comments that l assumed that would be mode tonight concerning the Supervisor's
salary. So, I checked my past records and I realized that, this time last year Mr. Borgos's
proposed salary or the Supervisor's proposed salary was at $58,000. and there was much
discussion. It was the consensus of the Board that it was just impossible to raise it that amount
of money but it was not impossible to do it in two steps. So, with in fact the proposed budget
went with a salary of $50,000. and it was changed the night of the final budget hearing.
Knowing that this happened prior to election and the information was out, in the Post Star
and all the media I checked with Robert Allen who was Board of Election Commissioner for
the Republican Party today and I found out that the Supervisor's position got well over 3500
votes. If there was such negativism, my assumption would have been that there would hove
been less votes for that position. So, I mean, there was a golden opportunity to stand up and
be heard at election time last year.
Mr. McDonough did not know anything about the fact that salary was an issue at that particular
time.
Councilman Monahon-1 would like to ...
Mr. McDonough-As you could appreciate it was a controversy lost year as was pointed out
by yourself even at the figure it was ...$58,000. and it is the some controversy this year as
it was last year.
Councilman Monahan-Mr. McDonough, may I introject something please. Steve, is correct
in that his salary was announced before the election, but I did point out to Steve at that time
and I will point this out now at the time the salary is announced it is much too late for anybody
to have petition signed and to get their name on the ballot. That is why I have unofficially
taken the position that the Board should make a moral commitment in May as to what the
salaries for the following two years should be. Because, then people know what the salaries
there won't be any monkeying with them and they will know whether or not. they want to
run for the jobs at those salaries.
Supervisor Borgos-1 think that is a wonderful idea by the way if we can do it legally.
Mr. McDonough-You do it anyway, what difference does it make?
Supervisor Borgos-That is one of those jobs that you cannot come back against. Anyone else
for the first time, first time speakers. We are now ready a second time, Mr. Rohill had his
hand up first, Sir, you will hove to wait, right after Mr. Rohill you can speak. Please state
your name and address please just for the record. By the way the only record is when the —
woman typing tomorrow or the next day who was not here tonight, hears it she will no who
to put in and ... 1
Mr. Bernard Rohill-I do want to address one issue with regards to a suggestion about the
situation in Long Island, in the Town of Hemsteod, point of fact there was a party Chairman,
whose name was Joseph Morjodo who went to jail because he was taking kick backs and he
was the Chairman of the Republican Party he was also the person was instrumental in the
appointment of Alphonse D'Amoto as the presiding Supervisor ...
h/7 V j1
Supervisor Borgos-Sir, is this related to the Budget somehow?
Mr. Rohill-Yes, Mr. Cordes brought it up 65 a suggestion...
Supervisor Borgos-He talked about the budget.
Mr. Rohill-...the true situation on Long Island, being that I am a Political Scientist. Ok. number
2 with regards to Round Pond I would like to make you aware of the fact that if you spent
six hundred thousand dollars moving earth in Hovey Pond for this long period of time and
yet deny people of the community the right to a park at Round Pond and yet feel that you
should get budget in which you are going to have a raise I think you are denying the people
their rights and I disagree with it. Thank you.
Supervisor Borgos-Thonk you for your opinion.
Mr. Rohill-We do need a two party system.
Supervisor Borgos-.. Yes, Sir, you feel like it is cool outside?
Mr. Gilbert Boehm-1 live on Dunhoms Boy I am sure that you knew that there would be a
lot of flock tonight.
Supervisor Borgos-I am not a bit surprised.
Mr. Boehm-on the salaries, it makes me feel that there is perhaps or this is the sole issue
is perhaps a red herring, knowing that there was going to be a lot of flack perhaps there is
something else that is hidden in here which is being masked now by the fact that the people
ore spending all the time on the salary.
Supervisor Borgos-Sir, your welcome to take the budget books and go through them ...
Mr. Boehm-That leads me to the next point, 1 received this yesterday, one day is not very
much time to go through this and do a through analysis. Before you had offered some
information additionally that presumably is available to us how can we get that next time?
Supervisor Borgos-I believe this has been available since Monday, is that correct, Tuesday...
Councilman Monohon-That was a very short time, I have to agree with them. 1 would soy,
I do not want to make a commitment for you Steve, since this budget does not have to be
passed for many days yet 1 would hope that you would tell people they are free to do more
investigation and we would accept written comments and consider them when we act on the
budget.
Supervisor Borgos-My guess, obviously, we must by low act not later than the 20th hopefully
we will do it not at the 12th hour this year, but we do have a meeting on the 19th we have
a meeting on the 13th.
Mr. Boehm-Now, what other information is available?
Supervisor Borgos-Mrs. Bennett has been here for every meeting I believe.
Mr. Boehm-Whot other information is available that backs this up that we can actually get?
Supervisor Borgos-Now that is the part that we do so we can hand out, if you would like to
we can make available for you to look at here at the office building this detailed break down
of everyone one of those items.
Mr. Boehm-What I was leading up to 1 would like to put it on a computer and do some analysis,
but that makes it kind of tough, with that kind of a thing.
Supervisor Borgos-I do not know how you would go about that 1 do not know that we would
wont you to tap into our computer there is no way that we can take the time...
Mr. Boehm-You are not on a net work so I can't.
Supervisor Borgos-In house net work only,
Mr. Boehm-In any case you have answered the questions..
Supervisor Borgos-But, certainly these are available to you if you wish to sit for hours and
go through them you are welcome to do that.
Mr. Boehm-When are they available?
2801
Supervisor Borgos-Any business hour we can hove another copy run off.
Mr. Boehm-Like a week or so, in advance of receiving this copy?
Supervisor. Borgos-Even when you hove that, this has been available in my office the Town
Board members have it, we have had no requests for the detailed break down.
Mr. Boehm-I did not realize that it was available.
Councilman Monahan-But, 1 will say though Steve, it might be hard for somebody to hove
taken this detail because it was being changed all the while so your work might have been
for nought.
Supervisor Borgos-...there could not have been any changes since we accepted, not adopted, .
the preliminary budget. ...I have proposed changes to make. _
Councilman Monahan-The 31st. it really does not give you the time you should hove, I will
agree with you.
Supervisor Borgos-We were meeting three times a week at that point for six hours a night.
Mr. Boehm-Ok, Thank you. Fran
Mrs. Fran Walter-First off I think there is a legal time when the budget are supposed to be
made available, I think it is five days before it should be published and in that notice it is
published it says that they will be available. I do not know Dorleen whether you had a copy
in your office?
Town Clerk Darleen Dougher-Yes it was.
Mrs. Walter-The printed copies were just available on Tuesday.
Ms. Dougher-Yes.
Supervisor Borgos-That is correct.
Mrs. Walter-I heard a lot of comments this evening about the salary and about professionals
and also the fact that it has always been my contention that the Town of Queensbury should
have a professional manager. Particularly now, when we are talking big salaries and this
is a big salary for this area. We cannot compare Queensbury with Colonie, we are not a
Colonie. We may get there, but so for we are not. I think that what happens with in paying
this salary and in getting a professional manager you should be looking for someone who has
been educated in public administration who knows about government and who certainly has
had years of experience in managing the public sector to come to a job that in fact is
practically equal to a CEO in a company. I have also heard people talk about, well we hav
to pay what industry pay e
s and I think I want to ask the Board and would you consider it in
your thinking when industry pays the salaries they do not pay the salary to someone coming
in off the street. That person has put time in other departments he has worked his way up
the /odder and he has had experience in whatever that business or industry is. In the case
of Steve, you are coming as a College Professor not having had any experience
Supervisor Borgos-Not true, but
Mrs. Wolter-As a government administrator,
Supervisor Borgos-As a government administrator, that is correct, but 25 years of business...
Mrs. Walter-Ok, but you hove to understand and I think that the public should be aware, that
you con use some of that, experience in industry but that government itself operates under
its own set of laws and you need to be very familiar with those to know what is happening
on a daily basis. So, I do think, that we need, because we are a big town when we ought to
be paying a salary to someone who would administrate but 1, if you walk out the door tomorrow
Mr. Cordes and a few other people hove commented we would be looking for a new Supervisor.
Anyone because of the election low, who is a registered voter con come in and be on the ballot
after receiving the right number of signatures and win this job. He may have great, or she,
may have great charisma or something that appeals to the public but may not do or know
a thing about government and I think we heed to protect ourselves as taxpayers in the Town.
That we 'do not attract this job to people who have to plenteous on ego but we do need
competent people. I think that one of your statements that bothers me about your being
a Supervisor is that you would gladly give up the County. It is important that the Town of
Queensbury be represented by its Supervisor on the County. We have our interests to protect
up there. So, you cannot give that job up and you have got to give your time to that job,
that is why with what you do at the County and the legislative and policy things that need
to be done in the Town it seems more and more like that professional manager or administrator
281
is what we ore going to need to continue the operation of the Town.
Supervisor Borgos-Maybe that is the way and then, the Town Supervisor would also be a County
Supervisor as has happened in the smaller towns and that would be the continuity that you
need, but at the present time it is just a tremendous extra burden ...
Mrs. Walter-Steve, I know. But I also know the importance of being represented there I do
not think that that job can be stuffed off because so much has to be done in the Town of
Queensbury.
Supervisor Borgos-!t isn't because I do put in the full time there.
Mrs. Walter-It is my contention and the reason why I did not chose to run first off that you
were not compensated, as I said before I went along with the raises I think you are at a level
however where it is ok, because of the additional monies that you get from other areas. Not,
you because we have always talked about the position.
Supervisor Borgos-Agreed.
Mrs. Walter-So, I do not want to be repeating myself, I do think it is important to consider
that the Town Supervisor has a lot of things to do as you said, but somethings ore just as
important as others and you cannot loose them. But, you could hove somebody administrating
grievances or whatever on a daily basis in the Town and that doesn't hove to be the elected
official. So that is food for thought, for your next budget.
Supervisor Borgos-Thank you, we agree on almost everything....Mrs. Burrell, name and address.
Mrs. Margaret Burrell-26 Lynnfield Dr. Queensbury I would like to say just a very few words
in behalf of the library, it seems to me that if we could strike in the budget a kind of
compromise between what you would like to have and what the library would like to have
it would be lovely if the library could get the difference.
Supervisor Borgos-Thank you. 1 would like to see the library get all they ore asking for and
more...
Mrs. Burrell-It is after all the life blood of any community, and under Christine McDonald
who did not know that I was going to say anything this has become a most vital part of this
library which has been a good library since we come here twenty five years ago but the services
now are superb and I would like to see them able to be of longer duration.
— Supervisor Borgos-Thonk you. Anyone else a second time around. Any Board members have
comments?
Councilman Monahan-1 think our comments are going to be during work sessions.
Supervisor Borgos-They got started early rather than tonight. Mr. Burrell, Mr. Burrell who
was teaching at Clarkson College now Clarkson University when I first went there as o Student
and we were colleagues at ACC after that, an interesting person.
Mr. Harold Burrell-Lynnfield Drive again, Just a comment, when I got out of College it was
after the depression or during the depression we are talking of salaries I started at $100.
per month 1 banked $40.00 Things have gone up a little bit 1 do not know what I would get
now maybe $20,000 but the thing is that the value of money has been shrinking over and
over and over again every organization apparently has managed to put more bills out and
dilute the value. We have to face it, it is trick they have all done it you are not guilty of
it you are in the trap.
Supervisor Borgos-Maybe the victim of.
Mr. Burrell-So, be aware of what is happening it always has done.
Supervisor Borgos-The nice. thing about this evening at least local government level we could
talk about it, Federal and State Level we really do not have that opportunity.
_ Councilman Monohon-Steve, I did have some calls and 1 said that I would transmit their concerns
to this Board, some people that were shut in with colds and so on and so forth. Paul and Marie
Lawson, Assembly Point, called in opposition to the Supervisor's raise, Martha and Gardner
Harris, Assembly Point, called in opposition to the Supervisor's raise and the Supt. of Highways
they both said they were opposed to the extent to which they were raised.
Councilman Montesi-Steve, the only other comment I had was from David Thompson, Dr.
Thompson last night who called in support of the library budget he felt that whatever they
had originally asked for we should as a town be giving them.
282
Councilman Monahan-I have just one comment, on the library budget and it neither here nor
there, but as I have totaled up and maybe I am wrong, I have tried to do my math homework
here. Three municipalities have been asked to give. $621,000. on a budget of $1, 100,000. I
only want to soy if municipalities are going to bear that kind of a burden load, responsibility
whatever on a budget I think the time has come when municipalities are going to demand
an input into that budget that we ore not going to give blank checks onto how money is spent
and it is something the library board wants to think of very seriously I think.
Supervisor Borgos-That is something, I do not want to speak for the Board but I can reassure
you that the Board is thinking about that, that is why they ore proposing a taxing district
which is still very much on their minds our only concern with a taxing district bluntly, number
one if the vote foils and the library may not get any funding Number two the proposed
mythodology for funding that tax, under the taxing district would greatly increase the impact
on the Town of Queensbury residents so we had disagreed somewhat over the numbers but
I think we would agree that it would increase by from 250 to 3 or 4 hundred thousand dollars,
360, 380 it would be a substantial increase for the residents of the Town of Queensbury, that
they would have a right to vote for the ballot box.. Our concern is if they voted no, it would
be too late in the budget year process to try to dump that money bock in. I encourage the
library this year to try to have a referendum that is required that would coincide with this
November's election that would not be effective for another year. The library did not wish
to take that approach, it was the advice of your attorney not to do that. I would hope that
that would be done that would show the voters that they hod on opportunity to do that the
library would be funded for 1991 but if the voters wonted a district they could hove it for
1992. The Attorney for the library recommended against that.
Councilman Monahan-Steve, I would also like to soy this I hove expressed this to the library
Board itself when I hove attended meetings so it is not going to be anything new to them.
I feel that the burden would also be to on extent unfairly placed on the Town of Queensbury
for this reason. The Town of Queensbury is the only one as for as I know of the three
municipalities who's reassessment program is fairly current and we will be reassessing again
very shortly and because of the equalization rote it is not a good system when you get into
the equalization rote and really understand it. It always been behind times, two years behind
the time so for that reason also Queensbury would be shoring a burden greater than they should
be. So, it does hove an awful lot of problems that need to be worked out. Steve, I think
we also need to maybe speak to the people of the mistake that was in the budget that they
ore looking at.
Supervisor Borgos-The newspaper ad was correct but there is a mistake in the printed budget
the proposed salary for the Town Clerk should be $37,000. instead of $36,000. it was properly
correctly advertised. Yes, Sir, one more time, name and address.
Mr. Rich Stanford Queensbury-One of the things that I perhaps neglected not so much,
neglected, no I simply did not know where anybody stood in terms of the library and now that
is beginning to come out. I think we need to consider the library not as a burden not as
something that we take on unfair shore of responsibility but as on investment. The people
that ore going to be sitting up at this table in another five, ten, twenty years a// the way
down the line are the people who use that library. The quality of people that we get is going
to be determined by the quality of the investment that we make in them, whether it be through
our schools or through the library. If thumb our noses at them now then I suspect we pretty
much get what we deserve later on down the line. Thank you.
Councilman Monahon-Mr. Stanford, I would like to reply to that a little bit, I personally have
always been a great supporter of the Library, I also as Christine will tell you put my money
personally where my mouth is. I also hove to think of the people of this Town who ore living
on fixed incomes the widow in So. Queensbury who never hod very much in the first place
the people that come to Betty Eggleston, with their tax money in pennies and nickels and
dimes and quarters that they hove accumulated over the year in order to stay in their homes.
So, you cannot always on this Board do what you wish because you must consider all facets
and all incomes that ore in this Town.
i
Mr. Stanford-Think in essence I am, because what I am talking about is on investment in the
people who are going to be doing what your doing right now.
Councilman Monahon-I completely agree with you but I also think it is the responsibility of
every person in this area who can afford to, to make an additional contribution over and above
their tax dollars directly to the library.
Mr. Stanford-I agree Thank you.
Supervisor Borgos-Thonk you very much. Board Members no more comments? 1 call this
hearing to a c lose.. 10:30 That concludes the Budget Hearing 2 min. break...
HEARING-Unsafe Structure-Vincent Crocitto
283
Supervisor Borgos-Noted that the Mr. Crocitto was present earlier in the meeting but does
not seem to be present now...
Attorney Dusek-It is my recommendation to the Board to leave the hearing open and just
continue it to the 19th at which time we will have a final resolution to this matter...
in light of the fact that he was here and left it would be appropriate...
Supervisor Borgos-Opened the Hearing of on unsafe structure, Vincent Crocitto property...
the party involved was here and is no longer here I will ask our Town Attorney if he has any
questions of our Director of Building and Codes Enforcement..
Attorney Dusek-At this time I would like to recommend to the Board that any testimony
by Mr. Hatin be post phoned until the 19th and that the hearing be left opened until the 19th
at which time further testimony be taken.
Supervisor Borgos-It is the consensus of the Town Board to adjourn the hearing until the 19th.
at which time we will hear testimony from all persons involved.
OPEN FOR UM
10:40 P.M.
Mr. Pliney Tucker-Word 4 What happened to the 14 to 16 million dollars surplus that we hod
in County government that required to hove our County taxes raised approximately 8%?
Supervisor Borgos-If you checked the records and it is in the proposed County Budget this
year on itemized detail, I went through that the other night I found approximately, just under
5 million dollars I did not know the exact number lost year because I missed the meeting where
this transaction took place but right at the very end of lost year the Board of Supervisor's
put away into Capitol Project Funds nearly five million dollars, out of the surplus, so that
decreased it. There was still substantial surplus this year, a good port of the surplus is proposed
to be used in the County budget. However and I have had some discussions with Mrs. Little
about this, my concern with the County Budget is that once again the County is intentionally
dramatically underestimating soles tax revenue. One way or the other it is eventually going
to be paid or used, I would prefer to see the surplus that is there remain not too much touched
a little bit perhaps but rather be more realistic about the anticipated Sales Tax Revenue.
If you hove to touch the surplus a little bit each year for a while you do that.
I will ask for that change at the Public Hearing...November 16th..
Mr. Tucker-Regarding the Recycling Center, this center is going to be for the whole county..
Supervisor Borgos-The Center is large enough to be used by Warren County, Washington Co.
and Northern Saratoga Co....I have proposed to the Warren County Board of Supv. that, that
be done...Mr. Austin assured me he is in touch with Washington Co. and Saratoga Co.
Mr. Tucker-What is in it for Queensbury?
Supervisor Borgos-In it for us is a tremendous soving for tax dollars...we will hove job here,
we will have a piece of property that is alive instead of one that is dead ... we will have the
historic fountain restored...we will have a thriving recycling industry in close proximity to
the Community which will save us o lot of money over the years in transportation charges...
Mr. Tucker-Will this be run by the County?
Supervisor Borgos-This will be County owned a proposal is being debated to be County operated
or leased out to another operation...Association of Retarded Citizens has a proposal in to
operate this with one or two or three county people there, but generally with ARC running
it...I personally would support that proposal...
Councilman Monahan-I would hope that the Recycling Center would serve multi counties...
spoke to Mr. Tucker regarding recycling that is occurring now at the landfill..
spoke on the testing of the wells at the landfill...
Supervisor Borgos-The County Board is expected to accept that property next Friday.
Asked for further comments...Closed Open Forum
RESOLUTIONS
RESOLUTION TO APPROVE MINUTES
RESOLUTION NO. 636, 1990, Introduced by Mrs. Marilyn Potenzo who moved for its adoption,
seconded by Mr. George Kurosoka:
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Queensbury hereby approves the minutes
of October, 1st. 15th and 24th of 1990.
284
Duly adopted this 8th day of November, 1990 by the following,vote:
Ayes: Mr. Kurosoka, Mrs. Potenzo, Mr. Montesi, Mrs. Monahan, Mr. Borgos
Noes: None
Absent: None
Supervisor Borgos-I have been asked by the Town Board Members to removed items B and
C from the agenda and put them on at a later dote...
RESOLUTION APPROVING AGREEMENT ON BEHALF OF CENTRAL QUEENSBUR Y QUAKER --
ROAD SEWER DISTRICT WITH BAY MEADOWS GOLF CLUB, INC.
RESOLUTION NO. 637, 1990, Introduced by Mr. Stephen Borgos who moved its adoption,
seconded by Mrs. Marilyn Potenzo:
WHEREAS, the Town Board of the Town of Queensbury has heretofore established the Central
Queensbury Quker Rood Sewer District, and
WHEREAS, there is certain property owned by Bay Meadows Golf Club, Inc., situated on Cronin
Rood, in the Town of Queensbury, and further identified as that parcel appearing in Section
60, Block 2, Parcel 10, on the Warren County Tax Map, which is adjacent to, but outside the
boundary of the Central Queensbury Quaker Rood Sewer District, and
WHEREAS, the Town Board of the Town of Queensbury is desirous of formally permitting
o sewer lateral connection that has been made from its property to service pipes of the Central
Queensbury Quaker Road Sewer District, and
WHEREAS, there is sufficient capacity within the sewer system to allow continued sewer
service for Bay Meadows Golf Club Inc., and
WHEREAS, the Town Board of the Town of Queensbury, on behalf of the Central Queensbury
Quaker Road Sewer District, has considered the request and has determined that it would
be appropriate to enter into a contractual agreement for continued sewer service with Boy
Meadows Golf Club, Inc., and
WHEREAS, a proposed Agreement has been presented at this meeting, and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Law, the Town Board of the Town of Queensbury, on behalf of the
.Central Queensbury Quaker Rood Sewer District, may enter into contracts to provide sewage
service,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Queensbury hereby approves and authorizes
the Agreement presented at this meeting and hereby authorizes and directs the Town Supervisor
of the Town of Queensbury to sign the Agreement on behalf of the Town of Queensbury and
to to place the corporate seal thereon and do such other acts as may be necessary to finalize
the Agreement and provide sewage service to the parcel owned by Boy Meadows Golf Club
and identified as being Tax Map #60-2-10.
Duly adopted this 8th day of November, 1990, by the following vote:
Ayes: Mr. Kurosoko, Mrs. Potenzo, Mr. Montesi, Mrs. Monahan, Mr. Borgos
Noes: None
Absent: None
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CERTIFICATES OF SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION _
RESOLUTION NO. 638, 1990, Introduced by Mrs. Marilyn Potenzo who moved for its adoption,
seconded by Mr. George Kurosako:
WHEREAS, the Town of Queensbury previously contracted with Hour Electric Co., Inc. for
the construction and installation of Basketball and Tennis Court Lights on the Queensbury
School property on Aviation Rood, in the Town of Queensbury, and
WHEREAS, the aforementioned contractor has indicated that the said contract is substantially
complete and has requested that the Town and the engineer presently reviewing the project
for the Town , Rist-Frost Associates, P.C., issue a Certificate of Substantial Completion
in con connection with said contract, and 285
WHEREAS, Rist-Frost Associates, P.C. has advised that the construction of the Queensbury
High School Basketball and Tennis Court Lighting has reached a point where such Certificate
of Substantial Completion may be executed by the Town,
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Queensbury hereby authorizes the issuance
of a Certificate of Substantial Completion to Hour Electric Co., Inc., and
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, that the Town Supervisor of the Town of Queensbury is hereby authorized to
execute the Certificate of Substantial Completion in the form presented at this meeting.
Duly adopted this 8th day of November, 1990, by the following vote:
A YES: Mr. Kurosoka, Mrs. Potenza, Mr. Montesi, Mrs. Monahan, Mr. Borgos
NOES: None
ABSENT:None
RESOLUTION TO TRANSFER FUNDS
RESOLUTION NO. 639, 1990 Introduced by Mr. George Kurosoko who moved for its adoption,
seconded by Mrs. Marilyn Potenza:
WHEREAS, certain departments have requested transfers of funds, and
WHEREAS, said requests have been approved by the Town of Queensbury Accounting Office
and the Chief Fiscal Officer,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOL VED, that the funds be transferred as listed below:
TOWN ATTORNEY OFFICE
FROM TO AMOUNT
A1151420203 A1151420401 $ 400.00
(Computer Software) (Office Supplies)
WATER DEPARTMENT
FROM TO AMOUNT
W12758340190 W12759060800 $22,200.00
(Engineering Tech.) (Emp. Ben. Hosp.)
W12758340481 W12759060800 $17,000.00
(Equipment Rental) (Emp. Ben. Hosp.)
W12758340480 W12759060800 $ 4,000.00
(Repair Services) (Emp. Ben. Hosp.)
PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT
FROM TO AMOUNT
A 2057310.136 A 20573/0.440 $ 3,000.00
(Rec. Program Specialist) (Misc. Contractual)
A 2057310. 136 A 2057310.409 $ 1,755.00
(Rec. Program Specialist) (Conference Exp.)
A 2057310.136 A 20573/0.l00 $ 650.76
(Rec. Program Specialist) (Youth Program, P/R)
A 2057310.136 A 20573/0.408 $ .44
(Rec. Program Specialist) (Advertising)
286
ASSESSMENT DEPARTMENT
FROM TO AMOUNT
A0951355.300 A0951355.203 $20,000.00
(Reval Project) (Computer Hardware
and Software)
A0951355.440 A0951355.203 $ 5,000.00
(Misc. Contractual)
Duly adopted this 8th day of November, 1990, by the following vote:
AYES: Mr. Kurosako, Mrs. Potenza, Mr. Montesi, Mrs. Monahan, Mr. Borgos
NOES: None
ABSENT:None
DISCUSSION
Discussion on Resolution No. 640 Entitled RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING TOWN CLERK TO
SUBMIT PETITION FOR CHANGE OF ZONE TO TOWN OF QUEENSBURY PLANNING BOARD
Supervisor Borgos-Resolution Authorizing Town Clerk to submit a petition for a change of
zone, the Rollo Property, Star Route, Wildwood Place, Town of Queensbury. This is a request
for rezoning with the request that it go to the Planning Dept. and then to the Planning Board
for recommendations.
Introduced by Mrs. Marilyn Potenza, Seconded by Mr. Stephen Borgos
Supervisor Borgos-So, that you do not think we are actually rezoning anything standard practice
is, anyone has an opportunity to request a rezoning, it then goes traditionally to the Planning
Dept., Planning Board then comes back to the Town Board at which time we decide if it is
worthy of public hearing.
Councilman Monohon-I just wont to comment on one thing, that, that piece of property is
one of the lost entrances left to the Town of Queensbury where we have a chance to see that
people come into an entrance that projects the image that we are trying to in the Town of
Queensbury, we hove lost it on Warren Street, we hove lost it in West Glens Falls, we have
lost it in many areas and I would kind of like people to think of that. If we do rezone it we
may want to create some kind of a special type of a zone there that we try to keep the
aesthetics you know, what we would like when people enter our Town.
Supervisor Borgos-Is this right at the border, I think it is a couple of properties in, is it not?
Councilman Monohon-It is very close, but we hove often talked about taking that whole area
there and doing something in keeping with the rural characteristics that is already there and
yet still permitting commercial but being very careful of the kind of commercial that we
allowed there.
Supervisor Borgos-1 know there was a potential proposal for a motel in that area lost year
which is substantially to the east of this property. So, I think the Town line must be east.
Councilman Monohon-But, what I am saying is its, when I say entrance, I am not trying to
say the first piece of property, you know, I do not mean it that way. I am talking about a
corridor that you traverse when you come in and go out of this town.
Supervisor Borgos-Lets send it to the Planning Dept., Planning Board, and see what they
suggest.
Councilman Monahan- With those comments, please...
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING TOWN CLERK TO SUBMIT PETITION FOR CHANGE OF ZONE
TO TOWN OF QUEENSBUR Y PLANNING BOARD
RESOLUTION NO. 640, 1990 Introduced by Mrs. Marilyn Potenza who moved for its adoption,
seconded by Mr. Stephen Borgos: 1
WHEREAS, the Town Board of the Town of Queensbury has previously approved a form entitled
"Petition for a Change of Zone" for rezoning matters, and has directed that the some be used
for rezoning requests, and
WHEREAS, the Town Attorney for the Town of Queensbury has recommended that any and
all applications for rezoning must first go to the Planning Department and Planning Board
287
for recommendations regarding the some, and
WHEREAS, following such recommendations, the Town Board of the Town of Queensbury
will then review the Zoning Applications and take such other action as it shall deem necessary
and proper,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Queensbury hereby authorizes and directs
that the following application be submitted to the Planning Board for the Town of Queensbury
for report and recommendation: Fronk and Teresa Rollo - Star Route, Wild Wood Place, Town
of Queensbury, New York.
i
Duly adopted this 8th day of November, 1990, by the following vote:
A YES: Mr. Kurosoko, Mrs. Potenza, Mr. Montesi, Mrs. Monahan, Mr. Borgos
NOES: None
ABSENT:None
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING REDUCTION IN RETAINAGE FOR QUAKER ROAD
TRANSMISSION MAIN PROJECT
RESOLUTION NO. 641, 1990 Introduced by Mr. Ronald Montesi who moved for its odoption,
seconded by Mrs. Betty Monahan:
WHEREAS, the Contractor on the Quaker Rood Transmission Main project, Schultz
Construction, Inc. has requested a reduction in the retoinage that is currently being held
by the Town of Queensbury relative to the..Contract, and
WHEREAS, the engineer for the project, The Sear-Brown Group, and the Town of Queensbury
Water Deportment Superintendent, Thomas K. Flaherty, have both recommended a reduction
in retainage to 1-1/2°10,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
1 RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Queensbury hereby approves a reduction
in the retainoge held from 5% to 1-112% and authorizes submission of o voucher for the amount
of retainage due in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Resolution.
Duly adopted this 8th day of November, 1990, by the following vote:
-A YES: Mr. Kurosoko, Mrs. Potenza, Mr. Montesi, Mrs. Monahan, Mr. Borgos
NOES: None
ABSENT:None
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF CHECKS AND OTHER COMMERCIAL PAPER
RESOLUTION NO. 642, 1990 Introduced by Mr. Ronald Montesi who moved for its adoption,
seconded by Mrs. Betty Monahan:
WHEREAS, the Town Board of the Town of Queensbury, at the request of the Town Supervisor
of the Town of Queensbury, is desirous of authorizing the use of facsimile signatures on certain
negotiable and nonnegotiable instruments issued by the Town of Queensbury, and of authorizing
Miss Dorleen M. Dougher, Town Clerk, to execute certain negotiable and nonnegotiable
instruments on behalf of the Town of Queensbury, when the Town Supervisor and the Deputy
Town Supervisor is unable to do so,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
i
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Queensbury hereby authorizes the use of
the Supervisor's facsimile signature on the following negotiable or nonnegotiable instruments:
I. Any items opproved by Town Board Audit
2. Any transfer of funds resulting from on opproved Audit,
3. Any items on on approved payroll register,
4. Any transfer of funds resulting from an approved payroll,
5. Any Audit or payroll replacement checks,
6. Any items approved by the Town Supervisor or Deputy Town Supervisor,
and
288
BE IT FURTHER,
RESOLVED, that Miss Dorleen M. Dougher is hereby authorized to sign any and all Accounting
Department items or negotiable and nonnegotiable instruments that the Town Supervisor
and Deputy Supervisor ore authorized to sign, when the Town Supervisor and/or Deputy
Supervisor are absent or unable to sign the some, and
BE IT FURTHER,
RESOLVED, that the terms and provisions of this resolution shall be effective only when
the Town Supervisor of the Town of Queensbury shall, in a writing duly verified by a Notary
Public of the State of New York, authorize the use of his facsimile signature or authorize
the Town Clerk, Miss Dorleen M. Dougher, to execute negotiable or nonnegotiable instruments
on his behalf, and the said authorization of the Town Supervisor shall indicate the dates during _
which such authorization shall remain in effect.
Duly adopted this 8th day of November, 1990, by the following vote:
A YES: Mr. Kurosoko, Mrs. Potenzo, Mr. Montesi, Mrs. Monahan, Mr. Borgos
NOES: None
ABSENT:None
RESOLUTION TO INSTALL STREET LIGHTS
RESOLUTION NO. 643, 1990 Introduced by Mr. Ronald Montesi who moved for its adoption,
seconded by Mr. Stephen Borgos:
WHEREAS, the Town Board of the Town of Queensbury may, from time to time, provide for
the lighting of certain intersections of streets and highways in the Town of Queensbury, and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Town Low Section 64 (19) and Highway Low Section 327, the Town
Board of the Town of Queensbury may contract for the lighting of said intersections when
the Town Board deems it necessary for the safety or convenience of the public,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
i
RESOLVED, that the following street lights be installed:
l) One (l) Sodium 150 Street Light - Corner of BIG BOOM ROAD AND ARBERGER DRIVE
- N.M. l/ 583 N. Y.T. 1,
2) One (I) Sodium 150 Street Light - ARBERGER DRIVE BOTT. HILL - N.M. 21 583 N. Y.T.
2;
3) One (I) Sodium 150 Street Light - S. END ARBERGER DRIVE - N.M. Pole 31 583 N. Y.T.
3;
and
BE IT FURTHER,
RESOLVED, that the following existing street lights be moved from the east side of Route
9 in front of Adirondack and Lake Geroge Factory Outlet Centers, to the west side:
0 N.M. l5// N. Y.T. 93, to N.M. l5// N. Y.T. 93-1;
2) N.M. 150-11 N. Y.T. 88-1, to N.M. 149/ 372 N. Y.T. 87, and
BE IT FURTHER,
RESOLVED, that the Town Supervisor is hereby authorized and directed to make all necessary
arrangements for the purchase and installation, and moving of said lights, including the
arranging for the competitive bidding for the purchase of said lights and installation thereof,
and moving thereof, if necessary, and enter into any contract upon such terms and at such
time or period not to exceed ten (10) years, and
BE IT FURTHER,
RESOLVED, that if competitive bidding is not necessary, the Town Supervisor of the Town
of Queensbury shall make all arrangements through Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation,
and
289
BE IT FURTHER,
RESOLVED, that payment for said lights shall be paid from the Street Lighting & Utilities
Account, No.: A 3455182430.
Duly adopted this 8th day of November, 1990, by the following vote:
A YES: Mr. Kurosoka, Mrs. Potenza, Mr. Montesi, Mrs. Monahan, Mr. Borgos
NOES: None
ABSENT:None
Councilman Monahon-Requested that the Lighting Committee check when a light will be
placed of on Boulderwood Dr.
RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE COMPLAINT ON EQUALIZATION RATE
RESOLUTION NO. 644, 1990 Introduced by Mrs. Marilyn Potenza who moved for its adoption,
seconded by Mr. Ronald Montesi:
WHEREAS, the Town Board of the Town of Queensbury has been notified that the State Board
of Equalization and Assessment has established a tentative equalization rote for the Town
of Queensbury, and
WHEREAS, the Town Board of the Town of Queensbury desires to file a complaint concerning
the equalization rate established for the Town of Queensbury by the State Board of Equalization
and Assessment,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Town Supervisor of the Town of Queensbury is hereby authorized and
directed to execute the complaint and to take all actions necessary to file said complaint
and seek a re-adjustment of the said equalization rate.
Duly adopted this 8th day of November, 1990, by the following vote:
A YES: Mr. Kurosoka, Mrs. Potenza, Mr. Montesi, Mrs. Monahan, Mr. Borgos
NOES: None
ABSENT:None
RESOLUTION ACKNOWLEDGING LEAD AGENCY STATUS
RESOLUTION NO. 645, 1990 Introduced by Mrs. Marilyn Potenzo who moved for its adoption,
seconded by Mr. Ronald Montesi:
WHEREAS, the Pyramid Company of Glens Falls previously indicated a desire to expand the
Aviation /hall, located off of Aviation Road in the Town of Queensbury, and as part of that
expansion program, requested that the Town Board of the Town of Queensbury and the Planning
Board of the Town of Queensbury, respectively, approve the creation of a new land use zone,
rezone the Aviation Mall property to said new zone and approve a site plan for the said Aviation
Mall Expansion, and
WHEREAS, before the said Town Board and Planning Board may undertake any action to or
issue any approvals, it is necessary to complete a review in accordance with the New York
State Environmental Quality Review ACT (SEQRA) in accordance with the Laws of the State
of New York and the rules and regulations of the New York State Deportment of Environmental
Conservation, and
WHEREAS, by previous resolution of the Town Board of the Town of Queensbury, the Town
~— Board directed that all involved agencies be notified of the proposed creation of a new zone,
rezoning, and site plan proposal, and be advised that an agreement must be reached on the
designation of a lead agent for purposes of�proceeding with and complying with the necessary
SEQRA review, and
WHEREAS, the following potentially involved agencies have been notified of the necessity
of a SEQRA review, and the fact that a lead agent must of agreed to for purposes of SEQRA,
and that the Town Board of the Town of Queensbury desires to be lead agent:
290
1. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation,
2. Adirondack Park Agency,
3. Warren County Planning Board, and
4. Town of Queensbury Planning Board, and
WHEREAS, each of the oforedescribed agencies with the exception of the Adirondack Park
Agency have indicated that they hove no objection to the Town Board of the Town of
Queensbury assuming lead agency status,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Queensbury hereby accepts designation
of lead agent for purposes of a SEQRA review of the obove-referenced project, and
BE IT FURTHER,
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Queensbury hereby preliminarily determines
that the proposed project and necessary Town Board and Planning Board actions constitute
a Type 1 action under SEQRA, and
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Queensbury hereby acknowledges that certain
SEQRA regulations require that a determination of significance be mode relative to the project
and Town Board actions within 20 days from the date hereof and further acknowledges that
additional information concerning the project will be forthcoming from the Planning Board.
Duly adopted this 8th day of November, 1990, by the following vote:
Ayes: Mr. Kurosoka, Mrs. Potenza, Mr. Montesi, Mrs. Monahan, Mr. Borgos
Noes: None
Absent: None
Discussion held in regard to a Commercial PUD Classification...ond SEQRA Reviews...
Councilman Montesi-The Planning Board is meeting at 6:45 P.M. on November 20th 1990 _
regarding environmental issues regarding this rezoning...
Councilman Potenzo-We have a workshop scheduled Tuesday at 7:00p.m. with Bldg. and Codes
and Zoning Admn. and Senior Planner and the Legal Dept.
Supervisor Borgos-Worren Co. has requested that our newspapers go through County Contract
to Astro Valcour for use as padding in their envelopes...noted our contract for newspapers
has expired—the County will haul and supply the trailers...asked the Town to prepared the
proper resolutions...
Discussion re: Sanitary Sewer Disposal Ord. Appendix F. regarding ground water being
checked...by a person approved by the Local Board of Health...Jeffrey Martin is requesting
to be qualified by the Town for this type of testing...it was turned over to Councilman
Kurosako to check Mr. Martin's qualifications before he is officially approved...
Supervisor Borgos-Noted that the new Town Maps ore in...
Discussion regarding Hovey Pond-new proposal regarding access-discuss fill rights...
Councilman Monahan-discussed service roads behind these businesses on Quaker Road...
RESOLUTION TO APPROVE AUDIT OF BILLS
RESOLUTION NO. 646, 1990, Introduced by Mr. Ronald Montesi who moved for its adoption,
seconded by Mrs. Marilyn Potenza:
RESOLVED, that Audit of Bills as appears ion Abstract dated November 6, 1990 and numbered
90-514- through 90-5522 except for 90-5137,5139,5138,5183,5367,5470,5467,5460,5489 and
totaling $286,752.44 be and hereby is approved.
Duly adopted this 8th day of November, 1990, by the following vote:
Ayes: Mr. Kurosoka, Mrs. Potenza, Mr. Montesi, Mrs. Monahan, Mr. Borgos
Noes: None
291
Absent: None
RESOLUTION CALLING FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION
RESOLUTION NO. 647, 1990, Introduced by Mr. Ronald Montesi who moved for its adoption,
seconded by Mrs. Marilyn Potenzo:
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Queensbury hereby adjourns from Regular
Session and enter into Executive Session to discuss Litigation.
Duly adopted this 8th day of November, 1990 by the following vote:
Ayes: Mr. Kurosaka, Mrs. Potenzo, Mr. Montesi, Mrs. Monahan, Mr. Borgos
Noes: None
Absent: None
RESOLUTION CALLING FOR REGULAR SESSION
RESOLUTION NO. 648, 1990, Introduced by Mrs. Marilyn Potenzo who moved for its adoption,
seconded by Mr. Stephen Borgos:
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Queensbury hereby adjourns from Executive
Session and enter into Regular Session of the Town Board.
Duly adopted this 8th day of November, 1990, by the following vote:
Ayes: Mr. Kurosaka, Mrs. Potenzo, Mr. Montesi, Mrs. Monahan, Mr. Borgos
Noes: None
Absent: None
RESOLUTION REGARDING APPEAL/WUNDERLICH
RESOLUTIN NO. 649, 1990, Introduced by Mrs. Marilyn Potenzo who moved for its adoption,
seconded by Mr. Stephen Borgos:
WHEREAS, the Town of Queensbury is currently maintaining an action titled, 'Application
of the Town of Queensbury, Warren County, New York, Petitioner for an order pursuant to
Article 75 of the Civil Practice Low and Rules', stating arbitration of a certain controversy
against Joseph R. Wunderlich, Inc., and
WHEREAS, the matter come before a motion term of the Supreme Court for the County
of Warren and a decision adverse to the Town's application was rendered, and
WHEREAS, the Town Board of the Town of Queensbury is desirous of directing that on appeal
be token from that decision,
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Queensbury hereby authorizes the Town
Attorney with the assistance of special counsel to take an appeal from the oforedescribed
decision.
Duly adopted this 8th day of November, 1990 by the following vote:
Ayes: Mr. Kurosaka, Mrs. Potenza, Mr. Montesi, Mrs. Monahan, Mr. Borgos
Noes: None
Absent: None
On motion the meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted, 1
Miss Dorleen M. Dougher
Town Clerk-Queensbury