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2010-05-03 MTG #17 REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING 05-03-2010 MTG #17 810 REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING MTG #17 May 3, 2010 RES. 183-194 7:00 P.M. BOH: 11-13 BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT SUPERVISOR DANIEL STEC COUNCILMAN ANTHONY METIVIER COUNCILMAN RONALD MONTESI COUNCILMAN JOHN STROUGH COUNCILMAN TIM BREWER TOWN OFFICIALS WASTEWATER DIRECTOR, MIKE SHAW PRESS TV 8 POST STAR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE LED BY COUNCILMAN TIM BREWER 1.0 RESOLUTION CALLING FOR QUEENSBURY BOARD OF HEALTH RESOLUTION NO. 183, 2010 INTRODUCED BY: Mr. Tim Brewer WHO MOVED FOR ITS ADOPTION SECONDED BY: Mr. John Strough RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of Queensbury hereby moves into the Queensbury Board of Health. rd Duly adopted this 3 day of May, 2010 by the following vote: AYES: Mr. Metivier, Mr. Montesi, Mr. Strough, Mr. Brewer, Mr. Stec NOES: None ABSENT: None QUEENSBURY BOARD OF HEALTH NOTICE SHOWN PUBLICATION DATE: APRIL 23, 2010 SANITARY SEWAGE DISPOSAL VARIANCE APPLICATION OF THOMAS VANNESS SUPERVISOR STEC- We had set this originally to be held two weeks ago and an error was made and it wasn’t properly noticed, given public notice. So last week instead of conducting this hearing and actually this is true about this public hearing and the one that immediately follows it, we rescheduled those hearings for this evening. The first one is regarding property located on 5 Ohio Avenue in Queensbury installing a leech system one and a half feet from a property line in lieu of a ten foot setback. That’s the jist of the application for Mr. VanNess. I think Mr. VanNess is here. Do you need to add anything? THOMAS VANNESS- No, I think we’re all set REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING 05-03-2010 MTG #17 811 SUPERVISOR STEC- Alright, again it’s a leeching system one and a half feet from the property line in lieu of ten foot and that’s property located at 5 Ohio Avenue in Queensbury. I’ll open the public hearing, is there any member of the public that would like to comment? Alright, any Board Members have any comments before I close COUNCILMAN BREWER- Just one Dan. Tom, I guess I’ll say it just for the public’s knowledge, what you’re doing here is taking a trailer out and replacing it with a double wide and therefore you have to move the system to accommodate the new home MR. VANNESS- Yep COUNCILMAN BREWER- That’s the reason for the variance SUPERVISOR STEC- Any other comment from the Board or any public comment? I’ll close this public hearing and entertain a motion RESOLUTION APPROVING THOMAS VANNESS’ APPLICATION FOR SANITARY SEWAGE DISPOSAL VARIANCE RESOLUTION NO.: BOH 11, 2010 INTRODUCED BY: Mr. Anthony Metivier WHO MOVED ITS ADOPTION SECONDED BY: Mr. Tim Brewer WHEREAS, Thomas VanNess filed an application for a variance from a provision of the Town of Queensbury On-Site Sewage Disposal Ordinance, Chapter 136 to install a leaching system 1’6” from the property line in lieu of the required 10’ setback on property located at 5 Ohio Avenue in the Town of Queensbury, and WHEREAS, the Town Clerk’s Office published the Notice of Public Hearing in the Town’s official newspaper and the Local Board of Health conducted a public hearing rd concerning the variance request on Monday, May 3, 2010, and WHEREAS, the Town Clerk’s Office has advised that it duly notified all property owners within 500 feet of the subject property, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that 1.due to the nature of the variance, the Local Board of Health determines that the variance would not be materially detrimental to the purposes and objectives of this Ordinance or other adjoining properties nor otherwise conflict with the purpose and objectives of any Town plan or policy; and REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING 05-03-2010 MTG #17 812 2.the Local Board of Health finds that the granting of the variance is necessary for the reasonable use of the land and is the minimum variance which would alleviate the specific unnecessary hardship found by the Local Board of Health to affect the applicant; and BE IT FURTHER, RESOLVED, that the Local Board of Health hereby approves Thomas VanNess’ application for a variance from the Sewage Disposal Ordinance to install a leaching system 1’6” from the property line in lieu of the required 10’ setback on property located at 5 Ohio Avenue in the Town of Queensbury and bearing Tax Map No.: 309.13-1-62. rd Duly adopted this 3 day of May, 2010, by the following vote: AYES: Mr. Montesi, Mr. Strough, Mr. Brewer, Mr. Stec, Mr. Metivier NOES: None ABSENT: None SANITARY SEWAGE DISPOSAL VARIANCE APPLICATION OF ARTHUR RIVERS NOTICE SHOWN PUBLICATION DATE: APRIL 23, 2010 SUPERVISOR STEC- Likewise, we rescheduled this two weeks ago for this evening. It’s for again property that’s located in this case on the corner of Ohio Avenue and Central Avenue in Queensbury. So it’s right down the street. It’s for a placement of leech field four foot from a property line in lieu of ten foot, two feet from a water line in lieu of ten foot, and a septic tank eight feet from a water line in lieu of ten feet. With that said I’ll open the public hearing and if there’s any members of the public that would like to comment on this public hearing I just ask that you raise your hands. Any comments or discussions from Board Members? COUNCILMAN BREWER- This is I guess a similar application Dan SUPERVISOR STEC- Yes, pretty similar. Alright, anything from the public? I’ll close the public hearing and entertain a motion RESOLUTION APPROVING ARTHUR RIVERS’ APPLICATION FOR SANITARY SEWAGE DISPOSAL VARIANCES RESOLUTION NO.: BOH 12, 2010 INTRODUCED BY: Mr. Tim Brewer WHO MOVED ITS ADOPTION SECONDED BY: Mr. John Strough REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING 05-03-2010 MTG #17 813 WHEREAS, Arthur Rivers an application for variances from provisions of the Town of Queensbury On-Site Sewage Disposal Ordinance, Chapter 136 to allow placement of the: 1.leach field 4’ from the property line in lieu of the required 10’ setback; and 2.leach field 2’ from the water line in lieu of the required 10’ setback; and 3.septic tank 8’ from the water line in lieu of the required 10’ setback; on property located at the corner of Ohio and Central Avenues in the Town of Queensbury, WHEREAS, the Town Clerk’s Office published the Notice of Public Hearing in the Town’s official newspaper and the Local Board of Health conducted a public hearing rd concerning the variance requests on Monday, May 3, 2010, and WHEREAS, the Town Clerk’s Office has advised that it duly notified all property owners within 500 feet of the subject property, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that 3.due to the nature of the variances, the Local Board of Health determines that the variances would not be materially detrimental to the purposes and objectives of this Ordinance or other adjoining properties nor otherwise conflict with the purpose and objectives of any Town plan or policy; and 4.the Local Board of Health finds that the granting of the variances is necessary for the reasonable use of the land and is the minimum variances which would alleviate the specific unnecessary hardship found by the Local Board of Health to affect the applicant; and BE IT FURTHER, RESOLVED, that the Local Board of Health hereby approves Arthur Rivers’ application for a variance from the Sewage Disposal Ordinance to allow placement of the: 1.leach field 4’ from the property line in lieu of the required 10’ setback; and 2.leach field 2’ from the water line in lieu of the required 10’ setback; and 3.septic tank 8’ from the water line in lieu of the required 10’ setback; on property located at the corner of Ohio and Central Avenues in the Town of Queensbury, and bearing Tax Map No.: 309.9-1-87. REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING 05-03-2010 MTG #17 814 rd Duly adopted this 3 day of May, 2010, by the following vote: AYES: Mr. Strough, Mr. Brewer, Mr. Stec, Mr. Metivier, Mr. Montesi NOES: None ABSENT: None RESOLUTION ADJOURNING QUEENSBURY BOARD OF HEALTH RESOLUTION NO. BOH 13, 2010 INTRODUCED BY: Mr. Tim Brewer WHO MOVED FOR ITS ADOPTION SECONDED BY: Mr. John Strough RESOLVED, that the Queensbury Board of Health hereby adjourns its meeting and moves back in regular session. Duly adopted this 3rd day of May, 2010 by the following vote: AYES: Mr. Brewer, Mr. Stec, Mr. Metivier, Mr. Montesi, Mr. Strough NOES: None ABSENT: None 2.0PUBLIC HEARINGS FIRE PROTECTION SERVICE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TOWN OF QUEENSBURY AND QUEENSBURY CENTRAL VOLUNTEER FIRE CO., INC FOR 2010-2012 NOTICE SHOWN PUBLICATION DATE: APRIL 23, 2010 SUPERVISOR STEC- Okay we set this two weeks ago and as I often do I will give the folks the background of where we are and explain what we can and can’t do this evening. This would be the fifth, there’s five fire companies in the Town, one of them was already in a multi-year agreement. Of the four remaining the other three have recently agreed to with the Town Board three year agreements so Queensbury Central is the last fire company that we haven’t renewed a fire company contract for. The Town Board has been working on this off and on for the last four or five months with Queensbury Central discussing things of note. In this particular, the public hearing this evening would be to consider potentially a three year contract between the Town and Queensbury Central, representing on total, and I’ll explain further, but on total a three percent annual increase from each of those three years. So three percent over the total from 2009 to 2010 and then again to eleven and 2012, the total amounts being seven hundred thousand for 2010, seven twenty one for 2011 and seven hundred forty three thousand dollars in 2012. The wrinkle here would be that there is approximately a hundred and forty, hundred and forty five thousand dollar mortgage payment on the original building, Station One on Lafayette Street that was recently paid off. I think it was last November that they finished paying off that building. So that was the good news, this has happened to us before. We have dealt with a similar situation in recent years with another fire company that had a mortgage go away. Frankly, we do try to time as much as possible any major improvements whether there’s a building expansion would be a new one for the Board REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING 05-03-2010 MTG #17 815 here. But apparatus purchase and what not that we do try to schedule those so that there’s some stability in the contract amounts and in the tax rate obviously for the fire tax. But the fire company has asked the Town and we have been working with them off and on looking at various scenarios to consider an expansion to the building in addition to some needed roof work and heating and cooling system replacements associated with the original building. The discussion and what’s worked into this particular contract, again, I told you that it was a three percent increase but that isn’t the whole story. Again, so you have a hundred forty some odd thousand dollars that has essentially gone off the books is being proposed and what is under consideration for the Town Board this evening would be to carry forward a hundred and fifty thousand dollars or so moving forward for future debt for this building expansion and potentially in three years or so, three or four years, a replacement to one of their major pieces of apparatus. Again, we’ve done this before but in the interest of full disclosure, because I know that the Board has wrestled with this off and on for several months, I imagine we are about to wrestle with it for a few more minutes here tonight, at least. We don’t want to deceive anyone that it’s just a three percent increase. There is in fact an opportunity to decide whether or not we want to fund potentially going forward the building and or the future piece of apparatus. In fairness, we’ve done this in the past; it doesn’t mean we have to do it again. I also want to emphasize that although, certainly we’ll take comments on it tonight because it’s a relevant portion of the discussion, none of this would authorize the building expansion or purchase of apparatus. All those would be required to get separate Town Board approval in the future. I don’t want anyone to think that this contract authorizes the building expansion but certainly whether or not we’re doing the building expansion is going to contribute to the decision of whether or not we want to fund a building expansion. Certainly, while I think there’s going to be comments and discussion on that and whether or not that should be planned for and appropriated for I wanted to let the public know that those would require separate action in the future from the Town Board. So with that as an introduction, I will open the public hearing. I’ll ask that people raise their hand, I will call on folks one at a time. When you come to the microphone please state your name and address for the record. These microphones not only amplify but they record for the purpose of the record. Again, we just ask that you focus your comments on the Queensbury Centrals proposed contract. I’ll add one last item, the Board knows this, and I mentioned this at previous meetings, but it’s true that from this public hearing the Town Board could act on it, it could take no action on it and in fact the Town Board can lawfully change what we’re agreeing to tonight on our end. Obviously, it would require ratification from a fire company on their end, but we can move the numbers in a downward direction, whether it’s the length of the contract or the amount of the contract. We cannot increase either. This is the high water mark and we may or may not adopt it as is or we may reduce either the number of years or the dollar amount. That’s business for the Board, likely going to involve, if we did that, discussion with the fire company. We may or may not do that tonight or we may do that on a future night. So this public hearing is on what I just described to you all and if there is anyone that would like to comment just again raise your hands one at a time. Mr. Drellos GEORGE DRELLOS- Good evening, George Drellos, 27 Fox Hollow Lane. Dan, do you have the cash available in their accounts, did you ever get that? SUPERVISOR STEC- Handy, off hand tonight, I don’t have the dollar, you mean what they might have in their accounts already? MR. DRELLOS- Yes, and their unrestricted or restricted SUPERVISOR STEC- I don’t, I didn’t bring that with me George MR. DRELLOS- Alright just was wondering, alright. In the budgets I’ve been looking it over. A few things that I’ve been looking at, down in the small equipment aisle, we’ve got snow blower seven hundred, which is fine, seven hundred dollars, six wheeler supplies seventeen hundred, do you have this paper, this one here? SUPERVISOR STEC- Yes, I think we hopefully got it before you did REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING 05-03-2010 MTG #17 816 MR. DRELLOS- I’m looking at these items, these are usually onetime items that you don’t have to buy again. Scuba gear that kind of surprises me that Central’s into the scuba business over there. I thought we had teams in other departments that handled that. I see eighteen thousand dollars last year spent on that. If you took that out of that year’s budget you’d actually be down to thirty three thousand. This year they’re looking for sixty three seven. So they’re actually, those one time items, if they weren’t there it should have been thirty three, we’re up to sixty three so they’re jumping up another thirty thousand just there alone. You go down to firefighting equipment; we’ve got a six wheeler with the trailer for eighteen thousand five hundred, for a six wheeler and a trailer. I don’t know what it’s used for. I’ve never seen it out. I’m not saying it’s not needed, I guess my point is, is the money well spent? Is that needed if it’s used once or twice a year, I don’t know. It’s in a bay taking up space, if you need the room why would you buy this and take up a whole bay, half a bay, whatever it is. That’s kind of confusing to me right there alone. If you took that out you’re down to seventeen thousand in that budget and that one jumps up to fifty five. You go to the vehicle maintenance, the next one … that’s for fighting equipment that looks pretty standard, but the vehicle maintenance, this seat replacement. I don’t know that kind of sticks out. Aren’t they usually fairly new vehicles? I don’t know did something happen to it? I don’t know, three thousand dollars for a seat. I kind of would like to know what that’s about. I’ve heard rumors what it’s about but I don’t know unless someone tells me. COUNCILMAN MONTESI- What’s the rumor? MR. DRELLOS- I heard it was someone smoking and couldn’t get the smoke out. I don’t know if it’s right or not, I don’t know? I guess I’d like an answer to that. There’s a lot of room to be cut in this budget, definitely, a lot of room to be cut. I look at the proposed one and I see more scuba equipment for seven thousand dollars for this year. I guess we’re going to get into the business of being a scuba team here, I don’t know. If you’re lacking for space why are we buying all this equipment? Isn’t there a point you say you know what why don’t we let the other companies handle that. I see they bought a new brush truck. That deal is already set; it’s in the budget, a hundred and twelve SUPERVISOR STEC- That was approved last year or very early this year, separately. MR. DRELLOS- Alright that was approved. Well it was in the vehicle fund, eighty four thousand donated funds … operating funds, they took operating funds to help pay for it. Obviously there’s over budget of almost eighteen right? They took it from the operating funds. There’s an extra eighteen thousand. When I went to the Town and I asked the prices of the vehicles they only told me eighty four so I’m not really getting the true picture of a hundred and twelve, I’m only getting eighty four. That’s not the whole truth for that part. I don’t think the addition is needed. I think they could make same, I think they could cut some things out. If my roof leaked and I needed a heating system the last thing I would be doing is buying a six wheeler and new vehicles to fill it up, so then I could say well we need a new addition. I’m all in favor of the new roof; I’m all in favor of a new heating system for what we’ve got. I don’t have a problem with that; they need it you’ve got to have it. If there’s repairs to be done it should be in the budget, building repairs. I think it is, probably maintenance. Certain amounts should be set aside to fix the roof every year. They know a roof is gone in ten years. Ten thousand a year for a roof, twenty years it’s paid for. A roof, what is it, two hundred thousand maybe, a hundred and fifty, I don’t know what a roof is, it may even be less. But, I’m looking at the proposed budget and if I was sitting where you guys were, I could say you could cut seventy to eighty thousand to a hundred thousand maybe even off the proposed budget, the four hundred and forty eight thousand. You could cut that easily and I bet they could survive on that easily. You could take that money, say seventy thousand, get rid of the one fifty three a year, one sixty five, one seventy, put that seventy in that line or reduce that line to seventy. That money could be used for the new roof and the new heating system and whatever else that needs to be fixed in the building. That’s my idea if I was sitting there. I’m not picking on them, all the fire companies should have been looked at, all of them and they are going to have to be looked at. There’s a starting point and an ending point. This is the starting point. They all have to be looked at. I feel the Queensbury citizens have been very generous in giving all our fire departments what they’ve wanted, new buildings, all the best trucks, the best equipment everything. But, there comes a time REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING 05-03-2010 MTG #17 817 when you have to say okay let’s take it easy for a while, let’s give the taxpayers a break. Tony two weeks ago you were very passionate about bringing jobs to Queensbury, let’s see if that passion is to save money back here again today to save the taxpayers’ money. It’s the same thing but a different instance. Let’s see if it’s there, that’s what I’m interested in. Just on another note, all the fire companies are great but I’m hearing another rumors that, I know it’s not pertaining to the budget but its fire company stuff is what district that you’re in, if they generate sales tax we deserve more. If your tax base is higher we think we deserve more. Aren’t we one Town? But they don’t seem to think it that way. They think because we’re a district that’s us up there. Does one area get any less because maybe their tax base isn’t as high, do they deserve less. Is that pretty much prejudice? They deserve less of a fire station and less of a truck, instead of taking the money from one area and giving it to the whole Town. It’s one Town, we should be one district, one. SUPERVISOR STEC- We are MR. DRELLOS- I know we are SUPERVISOR STEC- We are MR. DRELLOS- But it doesn’t seem to go that way SUPERVISOR STEC- I know what you mean MR. DRELLOS- You know what I’m saying SUPERVISOR STEC- I know what you’re saying MR. DRELLOS- It doesn’t seem to go that way and that’s wrong. We should be all for one, we are one Town of Queensbury not five fire districts. Thank you for your time and hopefully that will help you guys out. SUPERVISOR STEC- Thanks George MR. DRELLOS- Thanks SUPERVISOR STEC- Is there anyone else that would like to comment on this public hearing? Mr. Duprey JOE DUPREY- Good evening gentleman, Joe Duprey 7 Sweet Road, also a member of Queensbury Central Fire, Past Chief. I think this is a perfect opportunity to educate. I certainly won’t touch on the figures so we’ll leave that to our treasurer. That’s his job. What I will do is answer some of the questions that were just brought up. Questions, rumors whatever they may be considered. First one, because somebody burned a hole in a seat, totally not true. Those were replacement seats in one of the Tahoe’s 2006 I believe it was. One of the mistakes I make, because that was bought under my command, was we ordered those with cloth seats and we found out very quickly getting in and out of those cloth seats with bunker pants that are wet, smoky, with the harnesses on them that we now wear on our bunker pants the seats got ripped. That was the reason for the replacing of the seats. The only smoke that was in that was what came off someone’s gear when they got in the truck to drive it. That was the only smoke that was in the truck. The scuba issue, Mr. Drellos is exactly correct. We did have a team in the County of Warren which received no funding from the Town of Queensbury though a large waterfront properties, recreational properties, recreational lakes, ponds and streams fall well within Queensbury’s District. Believe it or not, making reference back to a MMA study, not the last one that was done, but the one that was done prior to that, hard to believe, but guess who has the second most water frontage in the Town of Queensbury? Queensbury Central Fire District, not a rumor, fact; with that said Lake George was the County’s primary dive team. They came to the departments’ county wide and said we have an issue, we have a manpower issue, we’re not getting the turnout that we need to successfully put a dive team together, is there anyone out there willing to help. Thought long and hard about it, brought it back to the Department, the Department agreed on it. REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING 05-03-2010 MTG #17 818 We had four members at that time who sacrificed their time to get the level of training we needed. The Company also made a financial commitment, we did that, we still to this day have a dive team, an active dive team. In fact, I was asked to take another class, but unfortunately, it’s Mothers Day and that’s not going to acceptable, to me it would be but others it wouldn’t. So we do have dive team and there’s a lot more, I guess what really bothers me is our Department, like any other one in the Town of Queensbury has been very open to the public and the Town Board. If there’s a question ask. If we all set here and said I heard this rumor, I heard this rumor, good lord it would be ridiculous. I’ve always been a straight shooter, if I have the answer I’ll give it to you, if I don’t have the answer I’ll find somebody that can get it to you. We can’t work on rumors and he said she said. That’s just not good business. We’re all professionals on what we do. We’d like to operate on that plateau. So that what my purpose was coming up here just to make those clarifications on those issues that were brought up that I could clarify that were done under my command while I was operating as Chief of the Department. COUNCILMAN METIVIER- Joe, you made mention that you only have four members that are on the dive team and yet last year spent eighteen thousand dollars on scuba equipment, I’m a diver and that just doesn’t add up. MR. DUPREY- Well, we had to start from everything, we had nothing Tony. We also took our guy, that includes training as well. We went from, I’ll use myself for an example, I had no dive experience what so ever. I took Basic, Open Water then went to Advanced and then Rescue, all in a very short period of time. That dollar amount that you’re looking at there not only includes the gear but the training for those four individuals as well. COUNCILMAN METIVIER- And then this year the additional scuba equipment seven thousand MR. DUPREY- We’ve got currently two individuals that are taking class right now with the assumption and hope that we’ll have three more that will take it as the year progresses COUNCILMAN METIVIER- I guess to clarify, it’s not just scuba equipment it’s scuba equipment and training MR. DUPREY- Correct COUNCILMAN METIVIER- Now, shouldn’t the training be in another category or can it be just listed MR. DUPREY- That I’m not sure, I will leave that for our treasurer to answer Tony. As you know you’re a diver, we started from scratch. We had to do the whole regime, the tanks the snorkels you name it we had to do it. We had absolutely nothing COUNCILMAN METIVIER- Are the prices generally different for rescue verses sport? MR. DUPREY- I don’t believe so. Some of the modifications that we made to our gear are certainly unique to what we need to perform as far as task with modifications on how we get the equipment mounted on there, retractors, etc, etc… With the computers that we purchased for the dive … they’re a little bit different, little more than you would usually purchase for the recreational dive; for the obvious reasons navigational purposes so on and so forth. COUNCILMAN MONTESI- So, when do we buy the boat? MR. DUPREY- Excuse me? COUNCILMAN MONTESI- How are you going to get to the water if you don’t have a boat? MR. DUPREY- Well, they have no problem, there’s plenty of boats on the water REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING 05-03-2010 MTG #17 819 COUNCILMAN MONTESI- What I’m saying is, down the line are we going to be looking at, now we’ve got eight guys or seven guys and now we need a boat MR. DUPREY- I can’t answer that question, I can give you my opinion COUNCILMAN MONTESI- What happened to Lake George, are they still doing it? MR. DUPREY- Lake George is still doing it and their divers that they have has dwindled. With that they went and opened it up county wide. There’s ourselves, some other departments in the Town of Queensbury who also are going forward with this. COUNCILMAN STROUGH- How much do these guys get paid while we’re training them? MR. DUPREY- How much did I get paid when I was training? COUNCILMAN STROUGH- Yes, how much did they get paid? MR. DUPREY- The same thing I do when I show up for a Tuesday meeting, Thursday night drill and a Wednesday meeting zero COUNCILMAN STROUGH- That’s right, absolutely zero. Through all the training, it’s volunteer, you’re not getting paid per hour, you’re doing it because you might be able to provide a service to this community or the region. MR. DUPREY- Like I said, when we were approached I took a long hard look at it Mr. Strough and with the water frontage we have in the Town of Queensbury and generated dollars that come from the recreational waterways I thought it was a good deal. I thought it was something, in my opinion that we owed our people. If something had happened and we weren’t going to be able to get somebody there, from the way it used to operate. I thought it was our obligation as the fire service does because we’re giving people, we stepped up to the plate and said if I’ve got somebody that’s recreating in Glen Lake or even Lake George or somebody up on the reservoirs who happens to slip and fall in, I thought we were obligated to provide some type of service. COUNCILMAN STROUGH- Not only that but you’re mutual aid MR. DUPREY- Correct COUNCILMAN STROUGH- So it could be anywhere in Queensbury. It could be Lake George; it could be the Hudson River MR. DUPREY- Anywhere in the County of Warren COUNCILMAN STROUGH- When you go and save a life how much do we pay ya? MR. DUPREY- The same you pay me on those Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays COUNCILMAN STROUGH- That’s right, nothing and thank you for doing it and volunteering your time MR. DUPREY- That’s personally again that’s rewarding enough for me. I don’t need any dollars. Thank you SUPERVISOR STEC- Thank you COUNCILMAN METIVIER- Brush truck price discrepancy MR. DUPREY- I believe the price that was discussed was the original price of just the truck itself. The other stuff is radios, lights, miscellaneous equipment to go on the truck as well. REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING 05-03-2010 MTG #17 820 COUNCILMAN METIVIER- And the six wheeler, what’s the deal with the six wheeler, what is that for? MR. DUPREY- Six wheeler is it’s a multi-functional unit. We purchased two skid units for the back of that. One is strictly for firefighting, which has a tank and a portable pump on that unit itself, the other one is for EMS. If you get a subject that’s in the woods, I know there was talk of opening up some trails in the woods, so being progressive that was one of our considerations when we purchased that unit we also purchased an EMS skid for that unit COUNCILMAN MONTESI- That’s a pretty unique unit because you can slide the tank off and put the stretchers, if you will, on. MR. DUPREY- That is good and bad Ron. Yes it is, it’s a multi-tasking unit, but with that said also we had to make sure we had the accommodations to number one carry both those units, the fire brush fighting unit and the EMS skid unit. That is the reason why we had to go to a custom trailer. That trailer, that custom design will allow us to back that six wheeler up to the trailer with the slide units that are built into that trailer, we can slide either unit that we may need, whatever the emergency may be at that time we can slide that unit on and get to where we’ve got to go in a relatively short period of time. Thank you SUPERVISOR STEC- Thanks Joe. Is there anyone else that would like to comment on this public hearing? Mr. Brothers PETER BROTHERS- I certainly understand as I’m sure most everyone I’m sure in this room, there are expenses that occur from time to time and certainly things like roof repair, furnace replacement, roof replacement whatever, that is certainly much a safety issue and also other equipment that needs to be purchased for the sake of doing the job. Certainly firemen I know of in my area do phenomenal job and I’m sure the gentlemen behind here do equally as good of a job and we are lucky to have volunteers. The concern with this proposal, expansion, I believe the debt amount would be over three million if I’m not mistaken. That does concern me. I believe the Board has already approved the budget for West Glens Falls with four percent annual increases. I think the debt is over two million, if I’m not mistaken. The other concern is with approval of professional office zone going to apartments. That’s obviously going to require much more manpower which means greater costs for all of us unfortunately. How much Mr. Stec of the fire fund reserve has been used to offset fire budgets? SUPERVISOR STEC- The fire fund generally goes year to year MR. BROTHERS- Okay. I believe if I’m not mistaken the amount for the fund balance I think in 2004 was something like six hundred and eighty seven thousand give or take SUPERVISOR STEC- The fire, yes that might be true MR. BROTHERS- I believe year end of 2008 five hundred and seven thousand. I just wonder for year end for 2009 what that might be SUPERVISOR STEC- Somewhere in 2008 and 2009 we did split out the fire and EMS. They had been combined before then; they’re separate now, so it’s an apple to oranges comparison. Typically, we don’t use a lot of fund balance in fire or EMS MR. BROTHERS- You don’t, okay. SUPERVISOR STEC- It’s more or less year to year which is frankly how I think governments ought to budget. The people that benefit from the service should be the ones to pay for it. You shouldn’t build a huge surplus and you shouldn’t borrow on your children’s children’s future as Washington and Albany have done. MR. BROTHERS- As I said before, and to reiterate, I do feel the fire budget and the expenses have been increasing. We definitely need to contain the spending because we’re REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING 05-03-2010 MTG #17 821 all feeling a pinch, especially in this economy. Tony, certainly with these requests coming before us I’m curious to know with regard to North Queensbury and the fire district, would you still support that going forward? COUNCILMAN METIVIER- I think if we had every fire company on board with districts, not just one but with districts, I would probably support it. The first thing we have to do before we do any districts is to readjust the line, the boundaries because right now that’s number one priority. We’ve talked to all five departments about the fact that we need to sit down, these are the same lines that go back to the sixties and seventies, so if we could sit down and come to some kind of conclusion on the lines then I think everybody would be in more favor of district and I think they would be fair for everybody. If you look at how things are now Queensbury Central has the burden of the retail, the business, they do the most runs, eighteen hundred, nineteen hundred a year whereas everybody else is running about, on average, three hundred a year. We need to look at that. We need to look at the fact that West Glens Falls, their lines don’t come out far enough, they could actually take out a little more of Queensbury Central’s lines and release some of the burden from Queensbury Central from running over to the West end. At the same time now I’m working on Quaker Road, and I see fire trucks passing all the time. They are going to calls but they’re passing each other. It doesn’t make any sense to me, so we need to do that. Once we can figure out the lines and have everybody agree that this is what we’re going to do then perhaps we can re-look at the districts. We can’t do one without the other, they have to work together. So to answer your questions yes, I would be in favor if we could come to an agreement with all five companies that districts would work with the money associated with it. It’s not going to work if we leave South Queensbury on its own. We can’t shut that building down and turn those people down but how it works right now we wouldn’t have an option if we went to districts. We have to look at the big picture. MR. BROTHERS- One concern, obviously, with our taxes I think it’s over six hundred and fifty eight thousand dollars now that we’re paying but our budget per say COUNCILMAN METIVIER- Is about four hundred MR. BROTHERS- Three twenty nine COUNCILMAN METIVIER- Right, and I understand that and I hear that I can’t go up there anymore and not mow the lawn without listening to it. I understand it’s an issue but we’ve got to figure out as a town wide picture. It just can’t be for one and we know that. MR. BROTHERS- Sure, and certainly I understand when campaigns and in the position need to address all concerns because certainly the time has come to advocate for this as your mentioning it and being in agreement or at least support this initiative because COUNCILMAN METIVIER- Well the time has definitely come and I think we can’t go another year without at least addressing the boundary lines. I think the sooner we do it the better; and from there we’ll go to step two MR. BROTHERS- Everybody that I talk with up in our area especially their asking when, certainly, when the fire district will be brought up so I appreciate the information. Thanks SUPERVISOR STEC- Is there anyone else that would like to address the Board on the Queensbury Central budget public hearing? Mr. Salvador JOHN SALVADOR- Good evening, there should be no need for Queensbury to be financing dive teams, particularly on Lake George. Lake George is a navigable water of the State and the State Police maintain a diving school, divers, equipment, their equipped with helicopters for rapid response. Not only that the waters of Lake George are foreign to the Town of Queensbury except for that small portion bordering our property on Dunham Bay. The waters of Lake George close to the shore of Queensbury are in the Town of Bolton and if anybody has to finance this it should be the Town of Bolton not the Town of Queensbury. This is an activity we should not be involved in; the State has it REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING 05-03-2010 MTG #17 822 under control. They respond, they have the training, they have the equipment and they have the money. COUNCILMAN METIVIER- I wouldn’t go that far John SUPERVISOR STEC- I don’t think the State has the money MR. SALVADOR- Whether or not they have the money may be a question but they sure have the equipment and they have the manpower. COUNCILMAN METIVIER- But they might have the equipment but they can’t, I mean at this point we don’t know if they have any money to fly helicopters. There was an instance a few years ago where they couldn’t get the helicopter off the ground. If you have a situation where you are relying on a helicopter from Albany and you can’t get that helicopter off the ground what are you going to do let the person lie? MR. SALVADOR- They have a responsibility and they will fulfill it okay. They’ll find the money someplace COUNCILMAN METIVIER- They’ll take it from the schools MR. SALVADOR- Thank you SUPERVISOR STEC- Thanks Mr. Salvador. Is there anyone else that would, Mr. Granger BRIAN GRANGER- My concern is the long term debt. Twenty years ago was the first time in the history of Queensbury that we borrowed money to build a firehouse and that’s my concern. I don’t mind an addition on a building if it’s necessary. I don’t mind new fire trucks. My concern is the long term debt. What this budget did is rolled in an anticipated long term debt payment. This is where the budget grows quickly and gets out of control. When people want to know how government spending gets out of control its right here right now tonight because it’s a long term debt issue. I don’t see the need to keep borrowing money on firehouses, they get them paid for, reserve some money for the next year, give them what they need each year to pay for it as we go. That was the history of the Town of Queensbury until twenty years ago. Every supervisor twenty years ago and back paid for every building as they went in this Town and the long term debt is what concerns me. I’m in the business where debt concerns a lot of people and that’s my concern here. This budget is growing rapidly and most of its based on the long term debt and the steady increase. And one other note about the category expenses there is over thirty six thousand dollars in the category of “other”. We need a little more line items to see what the “other” part is. Thank you gentlemen SUPERVISOR STEC- Thank you. Is there anyone else that would like to address the Board on this public hearing? Ron, go ahead COUNCILMAN METIVIER- Chris Hickey wants to come up too SUPERVISOR STEC- Chris you want to come up COUNCILMAN MONTESI- Somebody else CHRIS HICKEY- I’ll wait Ron if you want to go ahead COUNCILMAN MONTESI- Yes and maybe you can answer some of the questions. My concern is just Mr. Granger raised the issue. This is a seven hundred thousand dollar budget proposed for 2010. Nobody on the Town Board has really said or tried to micro- manage Queensbury Central. We haven’t said you’ve got to many gloves, to many six wheelers, to many boots. That’s not our job. Our job is to look at what you tell us the needs are. So, I’ve accepted what you told me except for the fact that it really bothers me to see five thousand dollars for other on small equipment, vehicle maintenance eighteen thousand dollars for other. I’m giving you everything you want and I got eighteen REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING 05-03-2010 MTG #17 823 thousand additional and it just says “other”. That’s not a good business decision for me to make. I’d never make that decision, none of you guys would in business if somebody said here’s the budget and it’s by the way “other”. Firefighting equipment “other” thirty four ninety eight and RM fire other eight thousand six hundred and eighty four dollars. That’s a lot of other and that’s not fair to us. We didn’t micro-manage you, we gave you what you wanted and then you throw that at us. That isn’t good business practice I don’t think. You may have an answer for me but I’d like to see those items out of the budget. SUPERVISOR STEC- Chris did you want to address the Board? COUNCILMAN MONTESI- There’s another “other” too on the front here six thousand CHRIS HICKEY- I just happen to be the Treasurer of Queensbury Central. I’d like to talk a lot about the process here and try to help continue to inform the public as Joe did so well a little while ago. It’s interesting to see people who have absolutely no experience, knowledge or any influence in the fire service come and challenge a budget like this. I sure wouldn’t want to try to do that with their personal budgets SUPERVISOR STEC- It is their money CHRIS HICKEY- I understand it’s their money. I’d like to start by saying we’re presenting a fair, well thought out fiscal plan that provides little impact to the current residents. Queensbury has changed a lot over the years, over the twenty years that was mentioned a little while ago. The need for renovation and expansion at our existing facilities is clear. If anybody wants to go and look at it, we’re glad that most of the Town Board Members have come and they’ve seen our situation. Our truck room is insufficient given change in equipment, and yes it is change in equipment, we don’t build a firehouse and say okay that’s the only equipment we can get because it’s all that fits in the firehouse. We get fire equipment because it’s needed to protect the residents of the Town and the residents of the Town’s needs have changed over the years. We have safety issues; we have gear that sits less than a couple of feet away from a truck that could be moving at any point in time. We have insufficient storage given the equipment needs. Firefighting has changed a lot since that building was built, substantially. If Brian LaFlure was here he could tell you the great pains that they went to designing that building. Firefighting is completely different. I’ve been a volunteer fireman for thirty three years not so I can tell that the service has changed dramatically. Wellness is a very important component of firefighting now. If anybody wants to come and look at the firehouse, our wellness equipment currently sits in our mechanical room. We climb over our wellness equipment to get to our mechanical room. We have used treadmills that have been donated by former members, used equipment for wellness that’s been donated by former members. I’ve learned over the years there’s one thing that I want to know, that the guy behind me whose following me into a fire that may have to drag me out is fit enough to be able to do that. We have the inability to drive equipment through drive through bays, bays that were designed years ago to be driven through not backed into and now we back into three out of the four bays, not safe. It was designed to be a drive through fire house. Our roof needs to be replaced. We’ve been patching it for years. We’ve spent about ten thousand dollars last year just to hold it over for this expansion. We thought it was the right thing to do. Our heating and ventilation systems are inefficient and they need to be replaced and I’m glad that somebody mentioned earlier that they’re in favor of that being done because that clearly needs to be done. I think it’s a great time to build. Tony, you, somebody made the comment earlier that you’re in favor of jobs in Queensbury, my perspective there’s no better way to generate jobs than to build. The economy’s been built on building to generate jobs and this will do that. I think it’s a great time because interest rates are low and bidding wars are out there in relationship to construction projects. I think you’re going to find a project here that’s going to be substantially less than what it would be two or three years from now. When the Town continues to grow and continues to need expanded emergency services. The buildings that were built years ago no matter how big people might think they are or how expansive might think they are will need to grow as the Town continues to grow. Unless you guys decide the Town shouldn’t grow anymore. We’re going to have a need to replace our Engine/Rescue 316. It’s one of the most important pieces of our fleet. It’s a combination Engine/Rescue. It probably should be replaced now, we continue to REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING 05-03-2010 MTG #17 824 maintain that because we think it’s more important to expand and be able to provide the service and we will replace it and this plan allows us to replace it in 2013. Our plan allows us to address these issues with little increase in funding. This building expansion should have happened years ago. We didn’t come to have it happen years ago because we couldn’t afford it. We didn’t have the funds available to do that and we didn’t want an increase. I’m a resident too and I pay taxes and I didn’t want to increase my own taxes. We’ve come in a very planned out fashion to be able to do this with only a three percent increase per year over a three year time period. I think it’s very well thought out and I think it’s fiscally responsible. Here’s some key considerations I think you guys should think about in the budget process. Whether you like it or not, continued need to expand Queensbury and what we have in Queensbury will increase a growing demand for community’s need for services and correspondingly increases in call. Somebody mentioned before the number of calls we run. We run a substantial amount of calls. I will caution you in relationship to changing minds because me as a resident I only ask for one thing, don’t change the lines because of money, change the lines because it increases service to the people who are going to have their lines changed. I wouldn’t want you to say have West Glens Falls come to my firehouse just because you want my tax dollar to be transferred over to West Glens Falls, have them come there because they will be the first ones there and they can provide the services that are needed to rescue my family. That’s the most important thing about district lines. I was a little concerned Tony, because I never heard you mention that. Everything you talked about was about money, was about taxes, was about tax dollars. I know you understand the process more than that, I just wanted to clarify that piece is really important. I know tonight’s discussion is not about that. My kids continue to try to get me to see Avitar, we’re not in Kansas anymore, we’re not. You drive down Quaker Road, you drive up Glen Street, up Route 9, you see what’s in this district, our district in particular, but the rest of the Town as well; big box stores everywhere corner you turn, a mall that continues to talk about expanding or not expanding, a growing school district that continues to add buildings, a college to add services, a growing retirement community that takes up a lot of our time and responsibility. This isn’t the district that it was twenty years ago. It can’t have the services we have twenty years ago. We do need to continue to expand our services. There was a comment made about the six wheeler, most people don’t understand that we cover a significant component of this side of West Mountain, up to Butler Pond, across those woods. I run up in those woods. I’d like somebody to be able to come get me. I carried somebody out of those woods when they had a snowmobile accident, which we wouldn’t have to do if we had our six wheeler and it wasn’t easy. That person ended up passing away. I don’t think most of the general public sees that understands that part of the job. I know it would be nice to have a six wheeler to save one person verses me having to carry them out or my colleagues having to carry them out. The equipment for firefighting has changed dramatically over the years. I’ve got more things hanging off my gear than I’ve ever had. Thank god it’s all towards the point of making me safer and making the job safer for me and the rest of my colleagues. I think it’s important that you compare our fire company to like fire companies. I don’t think you can continue to look at fire companies in Warren and Washington County and say that Queensbury Central happens to be the most expensive fire company. Dan sent me an email a couple of weeks ago and said seven hundred thousand dollars is a huge and I quote fire budget. I challenged Dan to go and make a comparison. I don’t know if he’s done it or not but I did because I expected that question. It’s a huge fire budget, it’s a lot of money, seven hundred thousand dollars is a lot of money and I don’t argue that fact. I know I’ve done this over the years because I’ve been treasurer I don’t know thirteen year I think at this point in time. I know the Town Board in the past has said don’t dare compare us to Colonie, don’t dare compare us to East Greenbush, don’t dare compare us to Brunswick. But the reality is we’ve become those areas. The way this Town has grown, we’ve become those areas. Here’s some numbers for you guys to think about: Shaker Road one point two million dollars, Latham one point one COUNCILMAN BREWER- Wait a minute, wait a minute, I can’t write that fast Chris MR. HICKEY- It’s on recording, you can hear it later. Latham one point one million dollars, Midway eight hundred and sixty two thousand dollars, Verdoy eight hundred and nineteen thousand dollars, Fuller Road eight hundred thousand dollars, Boght, anybody been to Boght, anybody driven through Boght? It’s pretty small compared to Queensbury REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING 05-03-2010 MTG #17 825 seven hundred and seventy three thousand dollars, Stanford Heights seven hundred and nineteen thousand dollars, East Greenbush eight hundred and thirty seven thousand dollars, which I happen to be a life member, Eagle Mills the Town of Brunswick eight hundred and fifty thousand dollars, Queensbury Central seven hundred thousand dollars. I think you guys should look at those, I think you should ask for copies of those and the other lines in their budgets, I think you should do that. I think it will make you informed in relationship to what we do, and I don’t want to be that either. I’m not here saying I want to be that. I’m here to defend what I think is a very fair budget that protects the resident of the company in a very efficient way and safe way for our fireman. I don’t know if people understand the scrutiny that fire companies are beginning to be put under from a safety point of view. We have increasing NFPA Standards that dictate what our gear has to look like how often it has to be replaced, the fact that we have to wash it after fire calls. I hadn’t washed my gear in twenty years until all of the sudden the NFPA came and said we have to wash gear. We had to buy a special washer just to wash fire gear. Somebody in the audience might say why do you need to do that, NFPA requires that. Some of the other fire companies aren’t doing this but we make sure we meet all the standards of NFPA. NFPA nineteen eleven I asked folks in the audience to call it up, go Google it when you go home, see what NFPA nineteen eleven is all about. It puts out significant maintenance requirements for the maintenance of our vehicles. We have to use a certified mechanic to be able to service our trucks, we can’t go to Joe’s Garage down the road, it’s not a certified mechanic. It requires a certain level of pump testing and ladder testing and equipment testing, it’s substantial. There’s a substantial amount of OSHA mandates and requirements that we have to abide by and then the typical health and safety standards that we would otherwise have to abide by. Before I get into closing, I’d just like to talk about a couple of the things, Joe did a good job of talking about our waterways. Unfortunately, one of the previous residents who came up and talked didn’t mention anything that Joe mentioned, only mentioned Lake George. Our Scuba Team is for the waterways for the Town of Queensbury, not Lake George. Joe mentioned the seat replacement, I was going to address that and I’ll stay away from that. I am concerned about a comment of taking less from one, taking some from one and moving it to the other. I don’t think that’s safe. I’ve challenged these guys many times and Dan will attest that you have to look at these fire companies independently and separately. Each one of them has their own set of issues and risks that they have to protect, ours being totally different from some of the other fire companies in the district. I’ll get to answer some of the questions now. One time purchases, I think someone interestingly enough had a lot of detail about our budget, which I’m glad because I appreciate the fact that someone can look at that. I was asked by Dan to put together a quick summary of the major issues, I think the way that it was portrayed to me in four budget line items. So I took the things that were pretty much over a thousand dollars with the exception of the snow blower, that was mentioned before, and summarized them in each one of the categories. Anything that was under a thousand dollars I put in a category called “other”. Obviously, that’s created a significant amount of not only misunderstanding in the fact that we can just take it out of the budget. Mr. Montesi actually challenged a little bit of our integrity in relationship to that piece and I take exception to that. That’s what the other line is and I can give you the detail of every single purchase within that line. But I’ll give you some of the specifics so you guys can understand that. In the small equipment line, we had LED lights, we had extrication gloves, we had addition singular boot purchases where we had boot issues with men, we had helmet fronts that we had to do for new members, gear for new members that wasn’t part of the original replacement firefighting gear. That would easily take up the five thousand dollars in “other” that was classified in that category; firefighting equipment “other” thirty five hundred dollars. I can just go on and on in terms of spanner wrenches and pike poles and axes that had to be replaced. This is not, and I’ve said this to the group at two workshops it’s not about what was purchased in one year; it’s a process by which you are continually replacing equipment. Just because you buy a six wheeler or scuba gear in one particular year doesn’t mean that there isn’t something right behind that needs to be replaced in the following year. Repairs and maintenance firefighting equipment has an “other” line of eighty six hundred dollars. I’ll go down this long list and you guys can note it, chain saw repair, battery packs for the firefighting equipment, gear repair and modifications, fire extinguisher recharging and testing, gas detecting recalibration, cutters edge service, if anybody knows what a cutters edge is, we’d be glad to tell you after the meeting, new face pieces that were required for our masks, drill replacement, Kussmal charger that was installed in the vehicles, foam REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING 05-03-2010 MTG #17 826 that we use for firefighting, new oxygen censors, new carburetor, repair flat tires, repair oh geez I can’t even read it, I can’t even read my own writing here, saw blades, pump repair, trash pump repair, those are just a couple examples of the things that fall under repair and maintenance firefighting equipment. We’re not trying to hide anything; we are not trying to put anything in an “other” category. Vehicle maintenance, driver’s door repair on one of our vehicles, brake service, muffler service, tire service, air horn repair. Again all these things that are under a thousand dollars and a lot of these are seven hundred, six hundred dollar issues. It’s not like putting a muffler on a car or fixing a tire on a car. Tower one monitor repair, grill guard, engine retarder, transmission service, speaker repair, Utility 115 repair; again examples of some of the things that fall into the other category. The last thing I want to talk about is in relationship to 2010 equipment needs. I provided a list and I assume the people that had the other list have this list as well. Of those things that we’ll have to consider purchasing this year, we can’t purchase all this this year it’s too big of a list but what we’ll do is prioritize and get those things that are in the most need. People tend to ignore the other side of the ledger. I didn’t hear anybody say that vehicle maintenance was sixty two thousand dollars last year and we asked for fifty one, because people don’t want to look at that, people don’t want to look at the fact that went down by eleven thousand. The reason why we were under some of the other categories is because we had some unexpected vehicle repairs that we had to find the money for, now rather than coming back to the Town and asking for more we bought less equipment to be able to fund those repairs. So I think you have to look at both side of the ledger when you look at comparing how much you are going to spend from one year to the next. I won’t get into this list; you guys see what they are. The most important thing for us to do is get on a cycle of repairing things on a regular basis and that’s what we do, we replace our gear on a regular basis, we try to replace our air packs on a regular basis. These are not insignificant purchases. The list here will hopefully give you plenty of equipment that’s, this isn’t what we want, this is what we need to continue to provide service. I’ll just close in saying I want to thank the Town. We had two workshops with you guys. I think you’ve provided open dialog for us. I think you’ve heard what our plans are, hopefully you’ll provide us the flexibility to be able to go ahead and implement the plans. That all I had to say unless somebody has some questions they’d like me to answer. COUNCILMAN STROUGH- Now the figures that you gave us Chris, and thank you for educating us and the public, I thought what you did was very good. The figures you gave us now that’s all volunteer departments, none of those were paid departments? MR. HICKEY- Every one of them is a volunteer department. A couple of the departments may have but it’s not in that budget COUNCILMAN STROUGH- But paid departments would be significantly higher MR. HICKEY- I didn’t even touch paid departments. Paid departments would be substantially higher COUNCILMAN STROUGH- I for one and I think everybody here does appreciate all the volunteer work that everybody does do to protect us MR. HICKEY- I appreciate that John COUNCILMAN BREWER- Chris I would say the same thing and I don’t think anybody that I’ve talked to or anybody that’s questioned anything that you guys have done in the past or will do in the future, no body, I don’t for me anyways, challenge your integrity. We talked over the years, haven’t always agreed, probably more so than not but my own thought was and Dan and I’ve battled this back and forth and I’ve told other members of your company, and you know how I feel, when I look at a budget in this economy and when I talk about people getting laid off and unemployment at ten percent, you probably would get a good price for the bid on your building. My personal opinion, if you don’t have to spend the two point three, or whatever it is, I would prefer not to. I’ve said it before and I’ll tell you why, when I see a hundred and fifty three thousand dollars come out of your budget of debt you don’t have to pay anymore, and please believe me I’m not trying to pick on Queensbury Central REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING 05-03-2010 MTG #17 827 MR. HICKEY- It’s a hundred and forty two just to let you know COUNCILMAN BREWER- Whatever the number is, let’s say a hundred and forty then MR. HICKEY- Yep COUNCILMAN BREWER- To me you don’t have that debt anymore but you’re still charging, and maybe I’m not going to say this correctly, in a sense we are charging the taxpayers that hundred and forty thousand, at a time in my mind when people are struggling to get by. You know what if times were good people wouldn’t care if they had to pay an extra ten cents a thousand, in my own mind. So let’s let not take the hundred and forty thousand, or have to pay the hundred and forty thousand I think what some people are trying to say. Let the tax rate go down if it’s two cents or three cents then if it has to go up ten or fifteen cents when you need to buy a piece of equipment I don’t think anybody in the world have a problem with that. I respect very much what you do, appreciate it, trust me I do. I can’t say it enough, and I think you know that but I think in my position I think it’s our job to try to cut where we can. The Town’s not broke by any means but we don’t have money coming out of our pockets either. We’re looking at financial strains in the Town, maybe this is one way we can reduce them for everybody, just my own thoughts. Please don’t take that wrong, I don’t mean anything by that MR. HICKEY- I don’t believe me Tim, you’re right. You and I over the years we’ve agreed on many issues and we’ve disagreed on many issues. All I ask is that, unfortunately that’s what concerns me more than anything that the decision may be made off of a dollar MR. BREWER- No it’s not only off a dollar MR. HICKEY- Let me finish, let me finish, because everything that you just mentioned again, you didn’t mention safety, you didn’t mention all the issues that I brought up associated with the need. You guys are looking at it from a dollar and cents perspective and that’s why we elect you to be here and you should do that, but at the same time you also should be looking at it from a safety perspective. I personally think it’s a safety issue. I think it’s an issue that we should be doing not because we have the money or don’t have the money we should be doing it because it’s a safety issue and it provides a greater level of safety as John has stressed a couple times tonight for people who are volunteering. That’s all I said MR. BREWER- I appreciate that and I want you to be safe, trust me, but it’s hard not to save dollars and cents when you’re in this kind of economy when we’re sitting here looking at a budget of seven hundred thousand dollars. MR. HICKEY- You know what I do for a living so you know I understand that MR. BREWER- Okay, I just want to make sure you do SUPERVISOR STEC- If I could and I think Tim couched it pretty fairly, in addition to what I said when we opened the public hearing. You and I’ve shot back and forth emails off and on over the years not just in recent weeks. As you pointed out a couple times, I think correctly so, myself or maybe even the rest of the Board has been back and forth ourselves on both sides of the issue as to whether or not talking specifically now about the hundred and fifty thousand dollar future debt for the expansion and or the truck. I think that Tim points out why I may not agree with everything that Tim said I certainly understand his point and his points a valid one that the question in front of us really is in this economy do we want to put it off and if we do put it off will it cost us more down the road than it would if we bit the bullet now. I think the Board and a few commenter’s definitely pointed out and I think the Board has expressed this and has been steady on this all along that we don’t have a problem with the roof and the heating units, basically most of the components of that phase one and we appreciate you and your architect looking at the different phasing options for us and we also understand that typically on a construction project you usually are better off if you get in and get out in one shot as REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING 05-03-2010 MTG #17 828 opposed to breaking it down in phases. We appreciate the analysis of the different phases; I think that phase one I think the lion share of that I don’t think you have any argument with the Board or the public. That’s why some of the things I pointed out in the most recent emails, back to Tim’s point, and I appreciate the analysis that you did and I’m glad that you gave us the explanation of where that other came from, because you’re right you didn’t get a lot of guidance how exactly how we wanted it presented to us, so the other explaining well that was whatever under a thousand dollars that’s fine. I guess where I’m going back to is and Tim and I will part more on this than on the other stuff that he said, about the planning for the future and keeping it steady and maybe hitting the timing better. If a building and or the apparatus is needed in the next few years and I think for the most part we agree that some if not all of what you’re planning is going to need to happen, but what else in this budget can you cut and I kind of mentioned that to you and maybe mentioned to Joel a couple weeks ago in passing as far as tightening the belt and feeling the pain. As Ron pointed out he’s prepared hey I don’t have a problem with a hundred and fifty thousand dollars for the capital improvement and the capital purchase that you’ve got going on but what of this other four hundred thousand dollars could you do without? Now it’s been years since I did the analysis but I came in and I did the analysis the first term I was supervisor and well I didn’t compare us to all the companies that you compared us to I didn’t limit my comparison to Warren County fire companies I did look at the Saratoga’s the Halfmoons, the Clifton Parks and we were on the high side of those. I wouldn’t say we were off the chart but we were higher than we happened to look at and I just picked the ones whose names were in communities that were similar MR. HICKEY- Have you done that recently SUPERVISOR STEC- That’s what I’m saying I have not so I appreciate that you’ve done that. I do know this that a few years ago, and I don’t know how accurate this is but I’m thinking four or five years ago the total fire budget for Queensbury, the fire contracts, compared to the City of Glens Falls fire budget was almost identical. When you added them up, if one was two million, the other was two point one, they were within five percent of each other. I also knew that ninety percent of the Glens Falls budget, there abouts, it’s been a few years, but it was more than seventy five percent of the Glens Falls budget was payroll benefits, overtime, all the things and we’re appreciative that we’re not paying you all for. We are appreciative of that, we recognize that but moving past that and now trying to say okay well than let’s do an apple to apple comparison of all things in these two companies, the City of Glens Falls and the Town of Queensbury that are not personnel costs, the Town of Queensbury was out spending the City of Glens Falls, and I’ve heard stories about the City of Glens Falls’ equipment, we’ve read stories about the City of Glens Falls’ equipment and facilities in the newspapers over the years. I doubt that in the last four or five years that things have gotten remarkably better as far as the quality of their equipment, the age of their apparatus, the age of their buildings, their buildings I’m sure are paid for. I’m not saying that we have to necessarily say we feel the same pain as the City of Glens Falls and I’m not trying to make this another Queensbury Glens Falls issue but those are two I remember doing the analysis for and I know that everyone that’s going to hear this broadcast has an idea, not everyone knows where Boght but everyone knows where Queensbury and Glens Falls are in Warren County. Again, my question to you at the time a couple of weeks ago is if you want to make all this happen, and it’s ambitious and its controversial, it’s not quite as controversial as maybe some of us thought it might be but the timing you put it in the context of what’s going on, revenues are down; I suppose if there’s a silver lining to what’s happening in the Gulf of Mexico these days, sales tax revenues are likely to go up in Warren County because gas prices are going to go through the roof. It’s kind of one of those be careful what you wish for scenarios, but if you put it in context, it’s a tough time to take on an unnecessary or non critical and I know that you all feel it is critical, but I wouldn’t compare any building expansion to apparatus replacement. That’s me, I could be wrong, but that’s how I look at it. In any event, because at the end of the day, what you guys are looking for is you are looking to convince three out of five of us to say yes to a number. What can or hasn’t been done or could be done to the number? MR. HICKEY- Well, it unfortunate that you’re asking me that question here since we’ve had two workshops to ask that same question REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING 05-03-2010 MTG #17 829 SUPERVISOR STEC- It’s been asked MR. HICKEY- Both of which we walked away from with I thought an understanding that you understood the numbers and that you guys appreciated the numbers and you understood that we had come in with what we thought was a fair and equitable budget. Again, I’m the treasurer; I’m already pulling back the reins on a line officer team who continues to want to expand the requirements that continue to put on us from the perspective NFPA and the like. They do want to have the best equipment for the men. I couldn’t tell ya, I think the budget is a fair budget, I think we’ve scrubbed the budget. It’s like any other budget, could we do that, could we take money out of the budget, sure that’s easy, that’s the easy piece. What risk does that provide to volunteers in the budget, I’ll let you be the judge of that SUPERVISOR STEC- And don’t get me wrong MR. HICKEY- And that’s the tough part I have from a treasurer’s perspective because it’s about the numbers to me, although it’s more than just the numbers because I happen to be a member. What piece of equipment, what piece of gear, what glove, what boot, whatever you look at is right or wrong to pull out, in what we think is a fair budget. I think that’s the challenge SUPERVISOR STEC- So when the Governor comes in and he says across the board every department that works for the Governor X percent, whatever it was, he’s done it two or three times with modest success at best. But, he’s done that. I would hope that every department in the State of New York could make the case to defend every penny of their budget. I doubt that any of us citizens of New York would agree that they could make that case convincingly. Warren County just got done laying off a bunch of people, not replacing a bunch more positions. It was a blood bath and everyone that can read reads it in the paper all of 2009. Despite the propaganda coming out of certain media channels in Washington, I don’t think anyone around here thinks that the economy has suddenly turned around and is a lot better. I think most of us think that we’re not even to the half way point, we’re still walking, but we’re still walking into the woods, we haven’t started coming out of the woods yet and it rolls down hill and no one is bullet proof, there is no shining silver and gold sitting on the hill with endless buckets of money. People have that perceptions, people have the perception that right or wrong our fire companies are extremely well funded. I for one appreciate you and if I need you in the future I know I can call on you. To emphasize to the public how frugal I’ve been with fire companies spending according to the pitch you made with the comparison, I say it a little tongue and cheek, it is eye opening those numbers, make me feel a little better about your number. Although, again I go back to a comparison for your budget verses the City of Glens Falls’ budget, now I don’t know who does more calls or how close it is or whatever. I’m going to say that Central has got to be comparable to the City of Glens Falls MR. HICKEY- We do more calls SUPERVISOR STEC- Okay, you do more calls MR. HICKEY- I’m not sure what the geography is SUPERVISOR STEC- But you cover a lot more square miles no question MR. HICKEY- I have to be careful with saying this, one of the things we always say, we never make comments in relationship to other fire companies in the area SUPERVISOR STEC- No, blame me, everyone else does. Just say Dan asked MR. HICKEY- From a geographic perspective I think the City could fit inside our district I think three times over SUPERVISOR STEC- At least twice, probably three times, I’d agree with that. Their three and a half square miles? REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING 05-03-2010 MTG #17 830 COUNCILMAN STROUGH- Three point two MR. HICKEY- How big is ours? SUPERVISOR STEC- Well the Town is seventy two and I’ve got to say you’re all of a fifth of that. I know I put you on the spot, you’re the Treasurer COUNCILMAN BREWER- Dan, it’s not fair, if we’re going to ask them that I don’t think it’s fair to them to have anybody make decision on what they could cut tonight SUPERVISOR STEC- That’s what I just said, I just apologized for asking MR. HICKEY- Again, we’ve had this opportunity to sit across the table twice already and do this SUPERVISOR STEC- I thought it was asked, it wasn’t asked of you but COUNCILMAN STROUGH- Not only that but we’ve ended up with a lower budget than I think you guys would have originally desired. You heard our interests and I think that you MR. HICKEY- Absolutely COUNCILMAN STROUGH- You certainly streamlined and tailored, trimmed down the budget because you knew we were concerned about that at the workshops MR. HICKEY- Yes COUNCILMAN STROUGH- What we’re looking at is a cut version MR. HICKEY- It is SUPERVISOR STEC- And I’ll add to that, well I’ll speak for myself, I think the Board; we wouldn’t have had a public hearing on a budget that we didn’t think was something that we could approve MR. HICKEY- Yes, I would hope so SUPERVISOR STEC- I mean that would be a waste of everyone’s time. For anyone that is arguing this is an irresponsible budget, we shouldn’t even be talking about it, I disagree with that. But, that being said, certainly worthwhile exercise to me to look at the numbers as we have over the last few days again and say are you at seven hundred, can it be six eighty or six thirty or whatever, because the climate and the context of what we’re in. We’re in the worst recession in three generations. With the exception of maybe my old man, it’s the worst recession we’ve had than anyone in the room seen. MR. HICKEY- Chet’s back there. SUPERVISOR STEC- I saw MR. HICKEY- Sorry about that Chet. I agree with you. I think if I looked at my personal home budget, and I know that you guys have done this so I’m not saying anything, I know where the last place I would save money is. The last place that I would look to save money is those things that protect me. I’m not saying that to be Pollyannaish or anything else because I’m sure there’s some snickers from the back of the room SUPERVISOR STEC- If you need a roof, you need a roof regardless of what the economy is MR. HICKEY- Yea, but I’m talking about safety, I’m talking about safety related issues and to me I agree with ya, I think everybody should be looking at every opportunity to cut expenses. I think we have put together a budget was higher when we brought it to REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING 05-03-2010 MTG #17 831 you. We recognized the concerns that you guys have; we modified it to those concerns. I think it’s focused on the safety of the public and it’s focused on the safety of our members and I think it’s fair. COUNCILMAN METIVIER- I wish that we could still know what the future holds for the expansion and the price before we went into a three year budget with you though. I think we are making a grave mistake by going into three years not knowing if we’re going to give you money for an expansion or just the necessary. We just don’t know that yet, we’ve been waiting and hoping that Dick came bring us something MR. HICKEY- Tony, my only comment to that, and I appreciate where you’re coming from on that, my only comment to that is remember we are putting a hundred and fifty dollars into a capital reserve account. It’s not like we could take this money and use it someplace else. It was mentioned before that the roof and the HVAC needs to be replaced. You could approve this budget, and that money not like it’s going to sit there, it’s not like it’s going to go unused. There are things that need to be done; we think it’s a building expansion. I think there isn’t anybody in the room that disagrees that we don’t need a new roof and we don’t need a HVAC system, maybe there are. So I don’t think approving a three year budget with that money dedicated, I think it addresses the needs and it gives us the flexibility to be able to have it be more if indeed those bids come back substantially less than we otherwise would have anticipated. I think someone mentioned before the number three million, it’s not three million SUPERVISOR STEC- It depends on how you do the math and how you’re trying to spin something, but I understand what you’re saying MR. HICKEY- No, there’s no math about that. It’s two million two hundred sixty three thousand dollars SUPERVISOR STEC- Well, the cumulative, the sum total of all principal and interest payments. If you’re buying a house for two hundred thousand by the time MR. HICKEY- Well, it’s a lot more than three million dollars then SUPERVISOR STEC- Now let me build on what Tony just mentioned and your clarification, whether it was a one year contract for seven hundred thousand dollars including a hundred and fifty thousand or the three year contract that we’ve got proposed, the roof or the portion of the phase one that I think we’re all comfortable, I think the number was floating around, that might be six hundred anyways, so I agree with what you’re saying MR. HICKEY- Eight hundred, I thought it was eight hundred and sixty SUPERVISOR STEC- Well the phase one was nine hundred but there was certain portions of phase one that weren’t roof or heating apparatus. If we did that, let’s say then you go through, you complete the architectural work, you go to bid, you get the numbers, we’re not happy with the numbers or at that point for whatever reason the economy gets worse, the Town Board says we only want to do the roof and the expansion now you MR. HICKEY- If you remember we presented a one year budget, you guys asked us to make it a three year budget SUPERVISOR STEC- Absolutely, the question is let’s say that alright well you’ve got six hundred thousand dollars worth of roof, heating and parking lot repair work that we’re comfortable with, for argument sake. Now obviously, you wouldn’t need to spread six hundred thousand out over a nineteen or twenty two year period, if we were in a three year contract at that point we could say borrow that money but pay it off in a shorter amount to address I think what I understood Tony’s concerns to be. Do you agree that that could be done if we we’re borrowing a smaller number you could certainly paid it off much quicker MR. HICKEY- Oh, certainly you could pay it off in a shorter period of time. The need for everything else isn’t going to go away. REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING 05-03-2010 MTG #17 832 SUPERVISOR STEC- And now what Tim is going to say is that if we have the anticipation that that’s how it’s going to play out, that we’re only going to do six hundred thousand then he’s going to say that you don’t need, instead of one point eight you only need a third of that six hundred thousand, then instead of a hundred and fifty thousand you only need a third of that, you would only need fifty thousand to pay for it over the same MR. HICKEY- I know where you’re coming from SUPERVISOR STEC- That’s where Tim’s coming from, and you being the Treasurer, I mean this all is just how to pay for it, how quickly you want to pay for it, how much pain MR. HICKEY- Right SUPERVISOR STEC- All that could be done, would you agree, in principle. I know MR. HICKEY- Principle anything can be done, whether it makes sense in the situation or whether it addresses the needs of the fire company that’s in my mind the more important issue SUPERVISOR STEC- I’m just thinking some Board Members are going to be more comfortable saying you know what maybe a one year deal just to get to that point where we know by the end of the year are we doing the building or aren’t we doing the building MR. HICKEY- I guess the issue from a three year perspective, I guess the issue is you still maintain control over those funds anyways SUPERVISOR STEC- Well this is the argument that I’ve been having with Tim for four years and I agree with you MR. HICKEY- You maintain control over those funds SUPERVISOR STEC- Although, in fairness to Tim, I can’t say that it’s never happened that a fire or EMS company has hit a restricted account MR. HICKEY- Don’t look at us SUPERVISOR STEC- I’m just saying but in principle, in practice it can happen. It would be a violation of the contract MR. HICKEY- Well a lot of things can happen SUPERVISOR STEC- No, but I mean Tim would say don’t say never COUNCILMAN BREWER- My intention was never, ever to say that about SUPERVISOR STEC- It has happened, but you’re right our experience isn’t with you COUNCILMAN BREWER- My contention is Dan if you put the money away somewhere sure as God made little green apples you’re going to spend it SUPERVISOR STEC- That’s the age old argument about vehicle funds, if we put it away, because this is an extension of that argument, if you put the money away MR. HICKEY- But you’ve got replacement cycles now for equipment SUPERVISOR STEC- Yes, we’ve done a good job I think with apparatus MR. HICKEY- I think you’ve done a good job at doing that. I think you, it’s different Tim, because I think you’re right, you put it away you’ll spend the money. I think you REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING 05-03-2010 MTG #17 833 guys have done a real good job in relationship to beginning to get on a better cycle in relationship to replacing fire apparatus COUNCILMAN BREWER- I’d feel a lot better if it was being put away for a truck MR. HICKEY- But you don’t have any plans or any specific policy associated with dealing with the needs that come outside of fire apparatus. I think you’re going to have to deal with that COUNCILMAN BREWER- I think you’re right a hundred percent but just my personal opinion and you know it, I just don’t think this is the time to spend that kind of money on a building expansion MR.HICKEY- I understand COUNCILMAN BREWER- I’m certainly sure there’s some things you could do, we could do and I’m only one guy COUNCILMAN MONTESI- I mean from a safety point a view, you asked for a hundred and sixty five, we’re giving it to you. There’s supposedly or whatever the number was covered all of your concerns for safety MR. HICKEY- No, it did not, absolutely not, absolutely not COUNCILMAN MONTESI- Well I guess what everybody up front here is saying we’re trying to look at the big picture of a hundred and forty thousand dollars, what to do with it, should we build a building, shouldn’t we build a building, should we put it in for apparatus and letting the details of you know what you need MR. HICKEY- Yep, I agree COUNCILMAN MONTESI- You answered the question for me. You had to ask the question, what’s “other”? MR. HICKEY- Ron, I appreciate it COUNCILMAN MONTESI- And I wasn’t questioning your integrity, I’m saying wow tell me what you’re doing MR. HICKEY- And I did and I think that’s COUNCILMAN MONTESI- But besides that you know, you’re telling me that a hundred and sixty five or a hundred and eighty eight and you still need more just to be safe MR. HICKEY- Yea, if somebody is putting their gear on, see I think you guys are missing, safety’s a big issue COUNCILMAN MONTESI- I understand that but MR. HICKEY- Safety is when somebody, if we’ve got a guy that is sitting next to a piece of apparatus gearing up to go on a call that is a foot away from a piece of apparatus that is about to pull out there is no equipment in that one sixty five that I can do to do that. We can train and educate our guys, we can tell them they’re not suppose to do that, we can tell them to take the gear around the corner where they’re away from the truck, but they’re still standing there. If they happen to be standing there when someone starts the truck not only are they sitting there with the potential of getting run over, the fumes from the truck are going to sit there and it’s going to be right there. Ron, I’m just reacting to the fact that safety cannot be fixed with a hundred and sixty five thousand dollars worth of equipment REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING 05-03-2010 MTG #17 834 COUNCILMAN MONTESI- What you’re talking about standing there, you showed me how close the equipment was but that was you’re argument for building a new building MR. HICKEY- That’s one argument COUNCILMAN MONTESI- I understand that but everything reverts back to MR. HICKEY- Absolutely COUNCILMAN MONTESI- I mean for instance can’t cut anything MR. HICKEY- I didn’t say I couldn’t cut anything COUNCILMAN MONTESI- I don’t want to get into there’s too much of the detail. Truck detailing eighteen hundred bucks; I know that means we’re going to letter something for eighteen hundred bucks MR. HICKEY- We’re not lettering anything COUNCILMAN MONTESI- What are you doing? MR. HICKEY- We’re waxing all the trucks to maintain the warranty on the paint on the trucks, and I’ll tell ya I used to do that. COUNCILMAN MONTESI- Yea, me too MR. HICKEY- I’ll tell ya, we don’t do that anymore. We’re not going to have guys to respond to sixteen hundred call and tell them to call on a Saturday to wax the trucks so we contract that out in order to maintain the warranty on the paint on the trucks; and yes it might seem frivolous to people in the room but this fire company’s far past calling a work party to have guys come in and wax a truck, it’s not going to happen COUNCILMAN MONTESI- I agree with you a hundred percent, you answered my question SUPERVISOR STEC- Anything else for Chris? Chris did you get the short straw tonight MR. HICKEY- You know I always get the short straw SUPERVISOR STEC- Alright MR. HICKEY- Thank you very much, I appreciate it COUNCILMAN BREWER- Thank you COUNCILMAN STROUGH- Thank you SUPERVISOR STEC- Thank you Chris. Is there anyone else that would like to address the Board on this public hearing this evening? Alright, anything from Board Members before I close the public hearing? Alright, I’ll close the public hearing and entertain Board discussion as to what we want to do now. Let me remind the Board and the public we could act on this as is, we can make downward adjustment in the numbers and then act on it if we want, although a third option, if we wanted to do that might best be we have another conversation with the fire company and then come back at a future date and entertain a resolution. So those are as I see our three options and I’m open to whatever you guys want to do tonight. COUNCILMAN STROUGH- Well, we’ve had two workshops and we’ve been over, I mean we thoroughly went through the needs of the building, we went through the operation, we learned a lot about firefighting that we didn’t know, at least I did. A lot of work has went into this already REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING 05-03-2010 MTG #17 835 COUNCILMAN MONTESI- Dan, I was under the impression that, I mean my thought was that the hundred and forty thousand dollars that’s in reserve, we were actually, I was actually going to tell the fire company to have Mr. Jones continue on the process so we can get some better numbers in utilizing that fund of money this year to do that. Obviously SUPERVISOR STEC- Well that’s in their contract, that first hundred and fifty thousand and I don’t know, did I, I hope I did, I sent you all a draft of the language, no I’m sorry, it’s in there, like the commercial goes, that there’s a caveat that’s been added, in fact while somebody else’s talking I’ll try to find it in a second, that does allow for exactly what you just described that that first year’s chunk of reserved money can be used for continuing work with the architect COUNCILMAN MONTESI- And there’s no question that as you pointed out enough number of times the need for fixing the parking lot, fixing the furnace and replacing the furnace heating and also the roof, could be option one for us but again we still needs the work by Jones to get to that point. I’m comfortable with that part of it. I don’t want to take that one forty and do anything but give me more information SUPERVISOR STEC- Well, then I think that, what about our concern or questions we had about those specific line items. I think Chris did a good job answering them all, does that satisfy us or do we want to say you know what for what you’re asking for we want you guys to go back again and see what else you can trim from this? There’s absolutely no, as much as I like to take care of business and not let it linger, there’s absolutely no urgent need for us to take action on it tonight. Let me read that portion, while you’re thinking, to the fire company, “any expenditure from this fund is subject to prior approval by the Town Board after reasonable justification by the Fire Company, use of such 2010 funds in this line may be used for continued professional services required to prepare bids for the Fire Company’s proposed building expansion project” COUNCILMAN MONTESI- Right SUPERVISOR STEC- So that’s that language that we talked about, it is in there COUNCILMAN BREWER- What page are you on Dan? SUPERVISOR STEC- That was page five COUNCILMAN BREWER- Page five COUNCILMAN MONTESI- Page five SUPERVISOR STEC- That was in order to continue to go to bid, to get the phase and if we do move forward I want to reiterate again, although I think we made it clear in the workshops that we want you to get the phase one, phase two total, I mean that’s what we want bids on so that we can ala carte if the conditions warrant ala carting that COUNCILMAN STROUGH- And that’s what we agreed on but you’re telling the public SUPERVISOR STEC- Yea, I’m telling mostly for the public but as a reminder for the Fire Company that was our intent that line item, that reserve, the future debt reserve Chris that you could use that with your architect to get ready to go to bid, which I think exactly what Ron said. Now Ron, are you still comfortable with the three year. Chris makes the point and that’s the argument that I’ve been having with Tim, anyway you slice it in the very near future those other two one hundred and fifties are going to go real fast for a roof or vehicle or whatever and this is precisely what we did for North Queensbury a few years ago. I understand exactly what Tim’s saying. That’s why for my own focus and maybe other Board Members focus, the conversations I’ve had in the last day or so with some of the Board has been if we were going to squeeze on the operations side as opposed to the debt reserve side because one way or the other you’re going to do some level of capital work on the building and eventually you’re going to be doing a future apparatus, that’s how the North Queensbury Fire got in a position where they could buy a REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING 05-03-2010 MTG #17 836 fire truck and only have a six year debt, because they had that reserve. As Chris pointed out and as the contract says you can’t touch it without Town Board approval. I have a level of comfort with that money being harder for you to get to. I think probably I’m more comfortable with that than maybe Tim is. I think that’s what Tim and I had that argument over the years, we’re still buds but we don’t see eye to eye on how comfortable we are with that, because it’s still money collected whether it’s in your account or spent or in our account, it’s funds that are collected from the taxpayer in a tough year. That’s why I said to a couple of people; if you don’t ever think you’re going to do the building expansion well then by all means don’t collect the money; but if you think you’re ever going to do this building expansion in the next few years this is probably the best climate from a bidding standpoint to do it in. But to go back to exactly what Tim’s saying but if you could put it off because people don’t want to pay for it because this is a god awful time in a god awful year and a god awful State economically, that maybe now’s the time to put it off COUNCILMAN MONTESI- On the other hand though, we know that in 2013 the one major piece of apparatus three sixteen, which goes out an awful lot is going to have to be replaced SUPERVISOR STEC- Right COUNCILMAN MONTESI- So, you know, as you’re looking down the line personally I want to get my ducks in order and see if what part of phase one or phase two we’re going to do in the next year or two, get that into a payment cycle so I can anticipate what we’re going to do with three sixteen in 2013. Personally, I don’t have a problem holding the money aside. Tell me, three sixteen could be an eight hundred thousand dollar vehicle MR. HICKEY- Easily COUNCILMAN MONTESI- So I mean you can’t SUPERVISOR STEC- You hold it aside in their restricted account where they have to COUNCILMAN MONTESI- Whether we use it for a building or three sixteen I think it’s important that it’s there SUPERVISOR STEC- Again that’s why I thought, for my own personal focus, the four categories. Regardless of what we do, and I don’t mean it as a criticism, I apologize for, it will be interpreted by some in public as being critical, and we certainly don’t want to micro-manage the fire companies. In spite of how frugal Chris Hickey has said that we’ve been over the years compared to what other fire companies cost, but something like perhaps county fire coordinator and the county sheriff and the county powers that be in the mutual aid association of chiefs and whatever decides that, we need a new approach to dive teams in Warren County. That’s a significant change in your business and a significant chunk of money that maybe the Town Board would have appreciated advance notice, hey we’re thinking about getting into this business and oh by the way we’re going to spend twenty thousand dollars one year and seven thousand dollars the next year. Like I said, relatively minor on a seven hundred dollar budget but it is a new line a work that you’re in that you weren’t in before. Maybe, even a heads up of an email to the Town Board saying, we want to let you know we’re not asking for any more money at this point but we’re talking about jumbling around our own funds to get into the scuba business. Am I off base by suggesting that would have been, I mean would be have said no, we want to stop you, probably not, but again at least we would have been in the loop. It’s a minor thing but there’s a few things in there. Does anyone got anything else? Do we want to act on this tonight? COUCILMAN METIVIER- Yes, why don’t we act on it COUNCILMAN MONTESI- Yes, I’ll move it SUPERVISOR STEC- So it’s introduced as written by Ron Montesi, seconded by Metivier any other discussion from the Board? Again, I’ll take the opportunity at this REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING 05-03-2010 MTG #17 837 moment because this has been a lengthy public hearing and the good news I don’t think we’ve got a lot more business this evening but we’ve got several firefighters here and the Town Board greatly appreciates what all of our emergency responders in the Town do, fire, EMS and police. Certainly we had a god awful incident last week, fortunately it didn’t involve any fire or EMS from Queensbury but it did involve our police service, the State Police and the Warren County Sheriff’s Office. We do appreciate what all of you do for us, paid and unpaid, in the fire world, the paid members of the City of Glens Falls, the volunteer members of all the Queensbury departments. We appreciate it a great deal and certainly we don’t want anyone to ever interpret us taking care of business on our end with our fiduciary responsibility to the taxpayer as a slight or a lack of appreciation for what you do. We are very thankful that we’re not paying salaries for you guys, not that you’re not worth it but frankly the Town couldn’t afford it, you’re not alone in that, there are nine hundred and change towns in the State and I know I’ve heard from some of you that are not in the room tonight that Queensbury is unique as far as we’re organized as far as five fire companies in one fire protection district as opposed to separate fire protection districts or separate fire districts and that old issue. But we do appreciate what you do, we appreciate the time that you take outside of actually responding to train and on top of that to meet with us and fight for money and I don’t fault you one instant for spending eighteen hundred dollars to wax a vehicle, that wouldn’t be right either. You are running eighteen hundred calls a year or there abouts, you don’t need to give up a Saturday to wax the vehicles, pay a company to do that. With that said, we do want to remind you all; we want you to be frugal. We are a reflection on you all as much as you are a reflection on us and I’ve had that conversation with a lot of chiefs over my tenure as Town Supervisor, and I think that all the chiefs have respected where I’m coming from and have done their best and I think that Central has been above average in that responsiveness. With that said, be cautious with the money, treated like it was your own, treat every expenditure that you make that it might be one day on the front page of the newspaper and you might have to answer for it. I know that you’re aware of that but we need to take harder looks. The economy is not good and the unemployment is high and there’s people that are struggling harder than normal and we might have a couple more years of this before things get better. We want you to be sensitive to that and I know that you’re all tax payers as well and home owners and you use the services as well. I know that I’m not telling you any different but just as a reminder and not to pick on Central it really goes for all of our fire and EMS companies. We’ve been trying to work with you over the years; I do think that we’re well equipped; I’d like to think that Chris Hickey is right in his analysis that we’ve been especially stingy. We could trot you out at election time to remind people that. With that said we have a motion and a second is there any other discussion? RESOLUTION APPROVING FIRE PROTECTION SERVICE AGREEMENT BETWEEN TOWN OF QUEENSBURY AND QUEENSBURY CENTRAL VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY, INC. FOR 2010 – 2012 RESOLUTION NO.: 184, 2010 INTRODUCED BY: Mr. Ronald Montesi WHO MOVED ITS ADOPTION SECONDED BY: Mr. Anthony Metivier WHEREAS, fire protection services are provided to the Town of Queensbury by the Bay Ridge Volunteer Fire Co., Inc., North Queensbury Volunteer Fire Co., Inc., Queensbury Central Volunteer Fire Co., Inc., South Queensbury Volunteer Fire Co., Inc., and West REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING 05-03-2010 MTG #17 838 Glens Falls Volunteer Fire Co., Inc., in accordance with agreements between each Fire Company and the Town, and WHEREAS, the Town and the Queensbury Central Volunteer Fire Co., Inc., have negotiated terms for a new three (3) year Agreement for fire protection services, and WHEREAS, in accordance with Town Law §184 and General Municipal Law rd §209(b), the Town Board conducted a public hearing on Monday, May 3, 2010 and heard all interested persons concerning the proposed Agreement, and WHEREAS, a copy of the proposed Agreement has been presented at this meeting, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Queensbury Town Board, on behalf of the Fire Protection District, hereby approves the Fire Protection Service Agreement between the Town and the Queensbury Central Volunteer Fire Co., Inc., substantially in the form presented at this meeting, and BE IT FURTHER, RESOLVED, that the Town Board authorizes and directs the Town Supervisor to execute such Agreement and the Town Supervisor and/or Budget Officer to take such other and further action necessary to effectuate the terms of this Resolution. rd Duly adopted this 3 day of May, 2010, by the following vote: AYES: Mr. Stec, Mr. Metivier, Mr. Montesi, Mr. Strough NOES: Mr. Brewer ABSENT: None 3.0HEARINGS JOHN GARDNER/TURNPIKE ENTERPRISES, INC’S APPLICATION FOR SECOND VARIANCE/WAIVER REQUEST FROM SANITARY SEWER CONNECTION REQUIREMENT CONCERNING GLEN DRIVE- IN PROPERTY LOCATED AT 983 STATE ROUTE 9 SUPERVISOR STEC- The property is located at 983 State Route 9 and it’s the seasonal Drive In. You are asking for a waiver for connection, this will be the second time. I’m sure you asked for more than a one year but we may or may not do more than one year. With that said is there anything, we’ve done lots of these and historically without a lot of angst but is there anything that you feel I didn’t put in there REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING 05-03-2010 MTG #17 839 ATTORNEY JEFF MEYERS- No there’s no angst. I was actually the one that was here the last time when we asked for the variance. Actually, based on the use and the nature of the use we are asking that it be a permanent waiver pending any change in use to the property. It’s a seasonal business, every year the septic system is maintained, pumped and shut down and reopened and it is a long run so we’re requesting that it be made permanent, condition on a change in use. If somebody were to, the Gardner’s or anybody else were to come in and say we want to do something differently, they're back here, they're going to have to do the pump station and the force main. COUNCILMAN METIVIER- Could we condition this that we are able to inspect it if we wanted to SUPERVISOR STEC- We can add any conditions that we reasonably would like COUNCILMAN METIVIER- I understand the argument and I actually agree with this one for the use of the property, but that we should be able to if we wanted to at least come in and inspect ATTORNEY MEYERS- Okay COUNCILMAN METIVIER- I mean do we even do that SUPERVISOR STEC- They are going to demonstrate annually that they’re going to give us an invoice ATTORNEY MEYERS- Yes SUPERVISOR STEC- Once a year COUNCILMAN METIVIER- That’s fine, that’s acceptable to me ATTORNEY MEYERS- IBS does all the work and we’re happy to COUNCILMAN BREWER- But that does not encourage anybody to hook up to the system Tony COUNCILMAN METIVIER- Well it’s not going to happen and we know that with this but if the property does change hands, which it ultimately may do someday then this is null and void COUNCILMAN BREWER- The only thing I’m saying to you is there’s going to be a precedent; once this starts it’s never going to end. Does it make a difference Mike? I mean there must be a reason for a one year or two year clause in there I would think WASTEWATER DIRECTOR- Certainly, there’s different parcels within a sewer district that have different circumstances. Certainly this is up to the Board to decide what it wants to do with this. If you do grant a variance, multi-year variance or variance as long as that business is there. I think you have to be careful of the wording, I think you’ve got make sure that it’s worded such that if there is any change in the business or failed septic system or change in ownership that you require the connection. COUNCILMAN MONTESI- That’s just your point Mike, now we need to get a variance that tries to cover every conceivable thing that could happen, change of ownership, change of job, or well, it’s not a drive in but it’s something close to a drive in. It’s an inconvenience for these guys to come in every year; I don’t have a problem with it. I understand this is a seasonal operation but it’s still setting some kind of a precedent in my eyes WASTEWATER DIRECTOR SHAW- It certainly is SUPERVISOR STEC- The more we deviate from what we’ve normally done then it becomes a harder thing to track REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING 05-03-2010 MTG #17 840 COUNCILMAN BREWER- Just think of it as an annual paycheck COUNCILMAN METIVIER- I was thinking that too COUNCILMAN BREWER- No and I don’t mean that SUPERVISOR STEC- We’ve done two year extensions though haven’t we? WASTEWATER DIRECTOR SHAW- You have done two year extensions before SUPERVISOR STEC- So maybe that’s a reasonable thing, I mean every two years it guarantees us a look in case any of those things have happened, as opposed to us trying at 8:45 to think of all the things that might happen on that property COUNCILMAN BREWER- I would prefer to do two years SUPERVISOR STEC- Me too COUNCILMAN STROUGH- Yea, let’s do two SUPERVISOR STEC- Okay, do you agree Mike? WASTEWATER DIRECTOR SHAW- That’s fine SUPERVISOR STEC- As long as you’re happy WASTEWATER DIRECTOR SHAW- No, I’m happy. Like you say, if you start picking and choosing what parcels and what kind of restrictions you’re going to put, it gets difficult and it certainly gets difficult to keep track of that. I think so far you’ve stayed away from that and it makes it a whole lot easier to enforce SUPERVISOR STEC- Any other questions for Mr. Meyer? Alright, I’ll entertain a motion RESOLUTION APPROVING JOHN GARDNER/TURNPIKE ENTERPRISES, INC.’S APPLICATION FOR SECOND VARIANCE/WAIVER REQUEST FROM SANITARY SEWER CONNECTION REQUIREMENT CONCERNING GLEN DRIVE-IN PROPERTY LOCATED AT 983 STATE ROUTE 9 RESOLUTION NO.: 185, 2010 INTRODUCED BY: Mr. Tim Brewer WHO MOVED ITS ADOPTION SECONDED BY: Mr. Ronald Montesi WHEREAS, the Queensbury Town Board is authorized by Town Code Chapter 136 § to issue variances from 136-44 “Connection to sewers required” which requires Town property owners situated within a sewer district and located within 250’ of a public sanitary sewer of the sewer district to connect to the public sewer facilities within two (2) years from the date of notice, and REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING 05-03-2010 MTG #17 841 WHEREAS, John Gardner/Turnpike Enterprises, Inc., (Applicant) applied to the § Town Board for a second variance/waiver from 136-44 for an extension of (or exemption from) the Town’s connection requirements to connect its Glen Drive-In property located at 983 State Route 9 to the Town of Queensbury’s Route 9 Sewer District, as the Applicant states that the property is used as a seasonal drive-in movie theatre serviced by a properly functioning and maintained septic system and in order to connect to the Sewer District, the sewage would need to be pumped uphill from the building thus requiring a force line and therefore would be extremely cost prohibitive, as more fully set forth in the Applicant’s th December 12, 2009 letter and application, and WHEREAS, the Town Clerk’s Office mailed a Notice of Hearing to the Applicant and the Town Board conducted a hearing concerning the variance/waiver request on rd Monday, May 3, 2010, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that a) due to the nature of the variance/waiver request, the Queensbury Town Board determines that the temporary granting of the variance/waiver would not be materially detrimental to the purposes and objectives of Queensbury Town Code Chapter 136 and/or adjoining properties or otherwise conflict with the purpose and objectives of any plan or policy of the Town of Queensbury; and b) the Town Board finds that the granting of the variance/waiver is reasonable and would alleviate unnecessary hardship on the Applicant; and BE IT FURTHER, RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves John Gardner/Turnpike Enterprises, Inc.’s application for a variance/waiver from Queensbury Town Code Chapter § 136, 136-44 “Connection to sewers required” and grants a two (2) year extension of time rd or until May 3, 2012 in which to connect the Applicants’ Glen Drive-In property located at 983 State Route 9, Queensbury (Tax Map No.: 296.13-1-20) to the Town of Queensbury’s Route 9 Sewer District, provided that: 1.the Applicant demonstrates that the property’s septic system is being maintained by providing the Town’s Wastewater Director with an annual invoice demonstrating that the septic tanks and grease traps have been pumped and cleaned within the year, and also that the grease traps are REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING 05-03-2010 MTG #17 842 pumped and cleaned at a minimum, once a year; and 2.if there is any increase in septic use or additional bathroom facilities added, then such variance shall immediately terminate unless the Queensbury Town Board review and approves a new application for a variance/waiver, and BE IT FURTHER, RESOLVED, that the Applicant shall pay all charges due as if its property was connected to the Route 9 Sewer District, and BE IT FURTHER, RESOLVED, that the Town Board authorizes the Town Supervisor, Wastewater Director and/or Town Budget Officer to take any actions necessary to effectuate the terms of this Resolution. rd Duly adopted this 3 day of May, 2010 by the following vote: AYES: Mr. Stec, Mr. Metivier, Mr. Montesi, Mr. Strough, Mr. Brewer NOES: None ABSENT: None 4.0PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR (LIMIT- 4 MINUTES) TAMMY SULLIVAN- Questioned the Board on the status on the Homer Avenue drainage issues COUNCILMAN MONTESI- Explained that Mr. McCall wanted to know what it would cost or if the Town were to do the work on a Saturday or Sunday. We had our engineer do a cost analysis of that particular job and that would cost an additional twenty thousand dollars. This information was presented in a letter form to the three owners. The letter stated that they have ten days to respond and if they don’t get a response, they are looking to form the district and therefore the Town will not be obligated to pay the twenty five percent that they were anticipating paying. MS. SULLIVAN- Questioned if the map, plan and report have been completed SUPERVISOR STEC- Explained that the engineering portion of it done so they have gotten a running start on what is needed for the map, plan and report JOHN SALVADOR- Spoke to the Board regarding forming a district for the Homer Avenue drainage project. SUPERVISOR STEC- Clarified that we are only looking at forming a district if the owners won’t agree with the most recent number presented to them. MR. SALVADOR- Spoke regarding the proposed project on Rockhurst possibly polluting Lake George. REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING 05-03-2010 MTG #17 843 PLINEY TUCKER- Questioned Supervisor Stec if he was double dipping between the full time job as Town Supervisor verses Warren County Supervisor. SUPERVISOR STEC- This is how the position of Town Supervisor is organized between the Town and County. GEORGE DRELLOS- Spoke regarding the public hearing earlier this evening concerning the Queensbury Central Volunteer Fire Company contract. He asked the Board to hold a public hearing on the building expansion project. SUPERVISOR STEC- Explained that if the public is interested in holding a separate public hearing for the expansion project he does not have a problem with that. He clarified that this contract does not approve this building. LAKE GEORGE WATER KEEPER, CHRIS NAVITSKY- His office has been contacted on several occasions over the last couple of years inquiring about the proper disposal of hazardous waste. He has in turned contacted the Department of Environmental Conservation to see if they had any programs or assistance and found out they do not have anything in place to help the community with the disposal household hazardous waste. He asked if that is something the Town would be able to do. SUPERVISOR STEC- Explained that in the past Towns have done hazardous waste days with matching grants from DEC. Unsure what DEC has available as far as funding for this but will look into it further. Explained that it would make more sense to do this at a County level as opposed to asking eleven different towns to do their own things separately. TANYA BRUNO- Spoke to the Board regarding Gurney Lane Park and how well it has been maintained and how it has improved remarkably over the past few years. Explained that every park employee she has met has been personable and professional. She is concerned, however, regarding its accessibility, with the exception of swim season it is not open regularly. She asked that the citizens and visitors be allowed to use the park during more and regular hours. SUPERVISOR STEC- Explained that he will contact Steve Lovering, Director of Park and Recreation regarding the information she presented. 5.0RESOLUTIONS RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING ADVERTISEMENT OF BIDS FOR SALE OF OBSOLETE AND/OR SURPLUS ITEMS RESOLUTION NO.: 186, 2010 INTRODUCED BY: Mr. Tim Brewer WHO MOVED ITS ADOPTION SECONDED BY: Mr. John Strough WHEREAS, in accordance with New York State Town Law §64(2), the Queensbury Town Board may authorize the sale of items which are no longer needed by the Town or obsolete, and REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING 05-03-2010 MTG #17 844 WHEREAS, the Town’s Budget Officer requested that Town Departments advise of any surplus items in their respective Departments and the Town Budget Officer did receive lists of items from various Departments which are considered to be surplus, and WHEREAS, the Budget Officer advised the various Town Departments of the surplus items and did not receive any requests from the Departments for such surplus items and therefore has requested Town Board authorization to sell the surplus items by using auction companies 1) Auctions International and 2) GovDeals, to dispose of such surplus property, and WHEREAS, a list of the surplus items has been presented at this meeting, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Queensbury Town Board hereby approves of the sale of the surplus items that are no longer needed by the Town or obsolete as presented at this meeting, and BE IT FURTHER, RESOLVED, that the Queensbury Town Board hereby authorizes and engagement of the services of auction companies Auctions International and GovDeals to sell/dispose of the surplus items and authorizes and directs the Town Supervisor to execute any needed Agreements with such companies in form acceptable to the Town Supervisor, Town Budget Officer, Purchasing Agent and/or Town Counsel, and BE IT FURTHER, RESOLVED, that all Town proceeds from the sales shall be deposited into the appropriate revenue accounts in accordance with the Queensbury Town Code and Laws of the State of New York, and BE IT FURTHER, RESOLVED, that the Town Board further authorizes and directs the Town Budget Officer and/or Purchasing Agent to accept or reject any bids received online for any online auction bids, and BE IT FURTHER, REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING 05-03-2010 MTG #17 845 RESOLVED, that the Town Board further authorizes and directs the Town Supervisor, Town Budget Officer, Purchasing Agent and/or Town Counsel to take such further action as may be necessary to effectuate the terms of this Resolution. rd Duly adopted this 3 day of May, 2010, by the following vote: AYES: Mr. Metivier, Mr. Montesi, Mr. Strough, Mr. Brewer, Mr. Stec NOES: None ABSENT: None RESOLUTION APPROVING TRANSIENT MERCHANT/TRANSIENT MERCHANT MARKET LICENSE FOR NORTHEAST REALTY DEVELOPMENT/KEVIN QUINN/NAOMI POLITO RESOLUTION NO.: 187, 2010 INTRODUCED BY: Mr. John Strough WHO MOVED ITS ADOPTION SECONDED BY: Mr. Anthony Metivier WHEREAS, Northeast Realty Development/Kevin Quinn/Naomi Polito (Northeast Realty) has submitted an application to the Queensbury Town Board for a Transient Merchant/Transient Merchant Market License to conduct a transient merchant market from thth June 8 through June 12, 2010 in the parking lot at 1650 State Route 9, Queensbury to sell motorcycle-oriented products and services in accordance with the provisions of Town Code Chapter 160, and WHEREAS, the application is identical to applications submitted by the applicant in previous years and since the Queensbury Planning Board conducted site plan review of the prior applications, it is not necessary to again refer the application to the Planning Board for site plan review, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that in accordance with the requirements set forth in Queensbury Town Code §160-8, the Town Board hereby grants a Transient Merchant/Transient Merchant Market License to Northeast Realty Development/Kevin Quinn/Naomi Polito to conduct a transient merchant market in the parking lot located at 1650 State Route 9, Queensbury, subject to the following: 1. Northeast Realty must pay all fees as required by Town Code Chapter 160; REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING 05-03-2010 MTG #17 846 2. Northeast Realty must submit a bond in the amount of $10,000 as required by Chapter 160; 3. Northeast Realty must submit proof of authorization to do business in New York and authorization of agent to receive service of summons or other legal process in New York; thth 4. The License shall be valid only from June 8 through June 12, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and the license shall expire immediately thereafter; 5. The Transient Merchant License shall not be assignable; and 6. Northeast Realty must comply with all regulations specified in Town Code §160-8; and BE IT FURTHER, RESOLVED, that the Town Board further authorizes and directs Town Code Enforcement Personnel to rigorously enforce the terms of the Site Plan, and BE IT FURTHER, RESOLVED, that the Town Board further authorizes and directs the Zoning Administrator/Code Compliance Officer to send a certified copy of this resolution to the Warren County Sheriff and also contact the Warren County Sheriff to request that the Warren County Sheriff’s Office enforce off-road parking issues on Route 9 and throughout the community. rd Duly adopted this 3 day of May, 2010, by the following vote: AYES: Mr. Montesi, Mr. Strough, Mr. Brewer, Mr. Stec, Mr. Metivier NOES: None ABSENT: None RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING HIRING OF THOMAS KORB AS A SEASONAL LABORER TO WORK AT TOWN CEMETERIES RESOLUTION NO.: 188, 2010 INTRODUCED BY: Mr. Ronald Montesi WHO MOVED FOR ITS ADOPTION REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING 05-03-2010 MTG #17 847 SECONDED BY: Mr. Anthony Metivier WHEREAS, the Cemetery Commission has requested Town Board authorization to hire Thomas Korb as a Seasonal Laborer under the direct supervision of the Town’s th Cemetery Superintendent, such employment proposed to commence on or about May 5, 2010 and to continue for approximately 25 weeks or until sometime during October, 2010, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Queensbury Town Board hereby authorizes and directs the hiring of Thomas Korb as a Seasonal Laborer under the direct supervision of the Town Cemetery Superintendent, for paid hours totaling no more than approximately 25 weeks, subject upon the Town successfully completing background checks as reasonably necessary to judge fitness for the duties for which hired, and BE IT FURTHER, RESOLVED, that such Seasonal Laborer shall be paid $10.00 per hour as set forth in Town Board Resolution No.: 56, 2010 and payment shall be paid from the Laborer, Part- Time Account No.: 002-8810-1410, and BE IT FURTHER, RESOLVED, that the Town Board further authorizes and directs the Town Supervisor, Cemetery Superintendent and/or Town Budget Officer to complete any forms and take any action necessary to effectuate the terms of this Resolution. rd Duly adopted this 3 day of May, 2010, by the following vote: AYES: Mr. Strough, Mr. Brewer, Mr. Stec, Mr. Metivier, Mr. Montesi NOES: None ABSENT: None RESOLUTION APPOINTING WILLIAM BRADLEY MAGOWAN AS ALTERNATE MEMBER ON QUEENSBURY PLANNING BOARD RESOLUTION NO.: 189, 2010 INTRODUCED BY: Mr. John Strough WHO MOVED FOR ITS ADOPTION SECONDED BY: Mr. Ronald Montesi REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING 05-03-2010 MTG #17 848 WHEREAS, the Town of Queensbury previously established the Town’s Planning Board in accordance with applicable New York State law, and WHEREAS, a vacancy for an alternate position exists on the Planning Board, and WHEREAS, the Town Board interviewed candidates and wishes to appoint William Bradley Magowan as such member, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Queensbury Town Board hereby appoints William Magowan to serve as an alternate member of the Queensbury Planning Board until such term expires st on December 31, 2017. rd Duly adopted this 3 day of May, 2010, by the following vote: AYES: Mr. Brewer, Mr. Stec, Mr. Metivier, Mr. Montesi, Mr. Strough NOES: None ABSENT: None RESOLUTION APPOINTING JOHN KOSKINAS AS ALTERNATE MEMBER OF QUEENSBURY ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS RESOLUTION NO.: 190, 2010 INTRODUCED BY: Mr. Ronald Montesi WHO MOVED FOR ITS ADOPTION SECONDED BY: Mr. John Strough WHEREAS, the Town of Queensbury previously established the Town of Queensbury Zoning Board of Appeals in accordance with applicable New York State law, and WHEREAS, a vacancy for an alternate member position exists on the Zoning Board, and WHEREAS, the Town Board interviewed candidates and wishes to appoint John Koskinas as an alternate member of the Zoning Board, REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING 05-03-2010 MTG #17 849 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Queensbury Town Board hereby appoints John Koskinas to serve as an alternate member of the Queensbury Zoning Board of Appeals, such term to st expire on December 31, 2017. rd Duly adopted this 3 day of May, 2010, by the following vote: AYES: Mr. Stec, Mr. Metivier, Mr. Montesi, Mr. Strough, Mr. Brewer NOES: None ABSENT: None RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CYSTIC FIBROSIS FOUNDATION “GREAT STRIDES” WALK-A-THON RESOLUTION NO.: 191, 2010 INTRODUCED BY: Mr. John Strough WHO MOVED ITS ADOPTION SECONDED BY: Mr. Tim Brewer WHEREAS, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation has requested permission to conduct its “Great Strides” walk as follows: SPONSOR : Cystic Fibrosis Foundation EVENT : GREAT STRIDES WALK th DATE : Saturday, May 8, 2010 TIME : Approximately 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon PLACE : Beginning and ending at West Mountain (Letter regarding location of walk attached); NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Queensbury Town Board hereby approves and authorizes the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to conduct its Great Strides walk within the Town of Queensbury as delineated in the preambles of this Resolution, subject to: 1) approval by the Town Highway Superintendent, which approval may be revoked due to concern for road conditions at any time up to the date and time of the event; and 2) the Town’s receipt of REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING 05-03-2010 MTG #17 850 proper proof of insurance from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation; and 3) approval by the Warren County Superintendent of Public Works. rd Duly adopted this 3 day of May, 2010, by the following vote: AYES: Mr. Metivier, Mr. Montesi, Mr. Strough, Mr. Brewer, Mr. Stec NOES: None ABSENT: None RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING PARTICIPATION IN WARREN COUNTY EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM RESOLUTION NO.: 192, 2010 INTRODUCED BY: Mr. Anthony Metivier WHO MOVED ITS ADOPTION SECONDED BY: Mr. John Strough WHEREAS, the Warren County Employment & Training Administration (Warren County) has submitted information to the Queensbury Town Clerk requesting the Town’s participation in Warren County’s 2010 Youth Employment Program, which Program provides for eligible youth ages 14 – 24 to work with non-profit and public agencies that can provide a quality work experience, and WHEREAS, by participating in such Program, eligible youth is trained to be good employees so that they are better prepared for their future while the Program also helps to promote a better understanding of local government services and fosters a spirit of cooperation between local students and the Town, and WHEREAS, participating in such Program allows the Town to provide additional services to its citizens at no expense to the Town, and WHEREAS, the Program provides insurance coverage for participating students while working at the Town, and WHEREAS, participation in the Program will not impair any existing contract for services or collective bargaining agreement, REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING 05-03-2010 MTG #17 851 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Queensbury Town Board hereby authorizes the Town Clerk to participate in the Warren County Employment & Training Administration’s 2010 Youth Employment Program as delineated in the preambles of this Resolution and to execute a Worksite Agreement for each student participant, provided that the Town of Queensbury’s Unit of the Civil Service Employees Association, Inc. concurs with such arrangement, and BE IT FURTHER, RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby authorizes and directs the Town Supervisor and/or Town Clerk to take any action necessary to effectuate the terms of this Resolution. rd Duly adopted this 3 day of May, 2010, by the following vote: AYES: Mr. Montesi, Mr. Strough, Mr. Brewer, Mr. Stec, Mr. Metivier NOES: None ABSENT: None RESOLUTION APPROVING AUDIT OF BILLS – RD WARRANT OF MAY 3, 2010 RESOLUTION NO.: 193, 2010 INTRODUCED BY: Mr. Ronald Montesi WHO MOVED ITS ADOPTION SECONDED BY: Mr. Tim Brewer WHEREAS, the Queensbury Town Board wishes to approve an audit of bills thth presented as a Warrant with a run date of April 29, 2010 and payment date of May 4, 2010, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Queensbury Town Board hereby approves the Warrant with thth the run date of April 29, 2010 and payment date of May 4, 2010 totaling $777,306.05, and BE IT FURTHER, REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING 05-03-2010 MTG #17 852 RESOLVED, that the Town Board further authorizes and directs the Town Supervisor and/or Town Budget Officer to take such other and further action as may be necessary to effectuate the terms of this Resolution. rd Duly adopted this 3 day of May, 2010, by the following vote: AYES: Mr. Strough, Mr. Brewer, Mr. Stec, Mr. Metivier, Mr. Montesi NOES: None ABSENT: None 6.0CORRESPONDENCE NONE 7.0TOWN BOARD DISCUSSIONS COUNCILMAN METIVIER- I was deeply saddened upon the passing of Betty Monahan last week. Betty was truly an amazing woman who obviously loved her town very much, but more importantly was involved in her town whether it was her tenure on the numerous boards she sat on or whether it was working in the gardens with her friends of Hovey Pond. At eighty six years old Betty gave more of herself to help serve this Town than most of us can possibly do in a lifetime. For me, Betty was somewhat of a mentor. She helped me along during my first term as councilman and would steer me in the right direction if I was off course with issues that presented themselves to me as a member of this Town Board. I respected Betty for her time and dedication to the Town, her incredible wealth of knowledge of the Town but most importantly I respected Betty for the fact that she never found fault with us, but instead nearly suggested how we could go about making things better. I was most upset to hear that Betty had become ill in recent months because I noticed that she had stopped coming to meetings and I thought that perhaps she was pleased with the progression of the Town. I just hope she was at piece knowing we were all doing everything we can to keep Queensbury a town of natural beauty and a good place to live. With her passing, we will have to fill a huge void but I am certain her hard work and dedication will not be forgotten by many for many years to come. If you wish to remember Betty please help out the Friends of Hovey Pond by making a small contribution in her name. Contributions can be sent to Hovey Pond Beautification Committee, 28 Glenwood Avenue Queensbury. SUPERVISOR STEC- I’m sure that each Board Member probably wants to recognize Betty Monahan’s passing in their own way. I agree with Tony just said. Betty was a very giving person giving her time and talent to the Town. She felt very deeply about the Town and certainly in her wonderfully long life she had an opportunity to see the Town through a lot of changes, most significantly the sixteen years that she served as a councilperson on the Town Board. Even after she left elected office she stayed very involved in the Town. In addition to that, physically she gave of her time to Hovey Pond and just cared deeply for the Town. She left behind a very large and very giving children and grandchildren in the area. They are all givers to the community. She leaves a wonderful legacy and certainly she will be missed. Her memory and impact on the Town of Queensbury is significant. COUNCILMAN MONTESI- ? I did serve with Betty for six years on the Town Board and she will be missed. It’s kind of interesting there were two things I learned from Betty. I learned what Karner Blue Butterflies were and what they were about and also that they like the Lupine flower. I never had an understanding of that; I was kind of a city boy with that. When we decided to build the State Police barracks across from the high school we found out that there was quite a clump of Lupine and we literally had to REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING 05-03-2010 MTG #17 853 move the building to accommodate the Karner Blue Butterfly. Betty, we will miss you. ? Sweeping of the roads is almost complete in the Town and the brush pickup is in various stages. COUNCILMAN STROUGH- I too put together something for Betty because I worked for her for about the past fifteen years on a lot of Town issues. I wrote up a tribute to Betty Monahan. Although Betty yielded to a higher plain, her contributions to our Town, our quality of life, our historic preservation, our humanity will endure, will continue. Her legacy will remain the ethos of our community. Her sense of community design will continue to embolden our lives. Betty was a person who wore many hats and wore them with attitude. As Councilwoman and Community Planner Monahan she was firm in her reproach that we do it right the first time. Betty did her homework; she researched every task, every challenge. Few understood zoning and community planning like Betty because she would memorize McKinney’s General Municipal Law and New York zoning expert Patricia Salkin’s opinions. She understood that land had a caring capacity to it and that shouldn’t be exceeded. Betty was able to recognize harmful community planning and offer better plans. She understood the importance of zoning and comprehensive planning and assuring a good quality of life in a sustainable economy. She spoke up when rezoning a parcel from residential to commercial would harm the adjacent neighborhood. She spoke up when a proposed development was way too large for the properties caring capacity. She spoke up while others coward, she confronted while others ignored. As Historian Monahan she protected, promoted and preserved our local heritage, she was active in protecting and preserving our local grange, our local barns, even our stone walls and more. As Humanitarian Monahan she took the initiative to reform the League of Women Voters and played an active role in getting others involved and educating them as to why they should be concerned. As Community Beautification Monahan whether it was Quaker Road, Bay Road, Route 9 or Hovey Pond Betty always insisted on the best for our community. She knew that communities with high standards were more successful and nicer places to live in. Thank you Betty Monahan COUNCILMAN BREWER- Expressed his condolences to the family of Betty Monahan and thanked them for her sharing her time and her efforts in the Town of Queensbury SUPERVISOR STEC- ? Reminded everyone of the Town’s website www.queensbury.net There is a lot of information available and it’s very easy to get to. ? Thanked TV8 and their sponsors for televising these meetings RESOLUTION ADJOURNING REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING RESOLUTION NO.: 194, 2010 INTRODUCED BY: Mr. Tim Brewer WHO MOVED FOR ITS ADOPTION SECONDED BY: Mr. John Strough RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Queensbury hereby adjourns its Regular Town Board Meeting. rd Duly adopted this 3 day of May, 2010, by the following vote: AYES: Mr. Brewer, Mr. Stec, Mr. Metivier, Mr. Montesi, Mr. Strough NOES: None REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING 05-03-2010 MTG #17 854 ABSENT: None Respectfully Submitted, Darleen M. Dougher Town Clerk Town of Queensbury