Hammondsport village board minutes
November 14, 2006

The Village of Hammondsport held a public hearing on Tuesday November 14, 2006 at 6:00 p.m., 41 Lake Street, Hammondsport, NY. The purpose of the public hearing is the Village of Hammondsport Water Budget and Water Rates. The regular monthly board meeting followed the public hearing.

PRESENT: Mayor Emery Cummings

Trustee Rachel Brown Trustee Anne Green Trustee Stella Pulver

Trustee Larry Foster

Officer in Charge Jack Merriam

Clerk Lela Martuscello

ABSENT: DPW Supervisor Randy Hoad

OTHERS PRESENT: Corinna Martin, Ralph Brown

PUBLIC HEARING

Mayor Cummings opened the public hearing at 6:00 p.m. He informed the public that the board is proposing a water rate increase with the 2007/2008 budget. Total appropriations proposed are $219,353.08 with a water rate of $4.70 per 100 cubic feet and a minimum charge of $47.00. The new rate will begin on December 1, 2006 and be reflected in the March 1, 2007 billing.

The Mayor opened the hearing to questions from the public. There were no questions proposed.

On motion of Trustee Pulver and seconded by Trustee Brown and carried, all voting Aye to close the public hearing at 6:08 p.m.

BUSINESS MEETING

Approval of minutes: November 9, 2006 minutes need to be amended to reflect the absence of Trustee Brown.

On motion of Trustee Green and seconded by Trustee Brown and carried, all voting Aye to approve the minutes of the October 10, 2006, October 16, 2006, October 23, 2006, and November 9, 2006 as amended.

Payment of Abstracts: On motion of Trustee Pulver and seconded by Trustee Foster and carried, all voting Aye, RESOLVED that the Clerk/Treasurer be and is hereby authorized to pay General Fund Abstract #8, claim #245-285 totaling $42,834.56 and Water Fund Abstract #8, claim #116-135 totaling $10,058.11.

ROLL CALL VOTE: 5 – Ayes 0 – Nays

DEPARTMENT

REPORTS

Police: Officer in Charge Merriam gave a police report for the month of October. He discussed the reduction in part-time hours. The parttime officer will work Saturdays during the winter months, Christmas in the Park, and sporting events. Also discussed were the Homecoming Parade and the need to revise the location of the viewing stands and the distance between class floats. Officer Merriam told the board that the new radios are in use and working great. He also asked the board to review the parking ticket fines. DPW: No report.

Parks: No report.

KWIC: On motion of Trustee Green and seconded by Trustee Brown and carried all voting Aye, the following Quality Communities Program Grant Application Resolution was adopted: (insert)

ROLL CALL VOTE: Mayor Cummings – Aye; Trustee Brown – Aye; Trustee Pulver – Aye; Trustee Green – Aye; Trustee Foster – Aye;

Finance: C l e r k Martuscello presented the Trustees with the audit report performed by Freed Maxick and Battaglia, CPA’s, PC.

On motion of Trustee Pulver and seconded by Trustee Green and carried, all voting Aye to accept the Department reports.

OLD BUSINESS Village office location: The board discussed possible locations of 49 Shethar, 68 Shethar, and the Depot. Trustee Green presented utility costs for each location. Providing room to accommodate the Village court was discussed.

Village Justice/Court: The board moved to discuss the Village Justice position because it directly relates to a Village Hall location. Three possibilities were discussed.

1. Move Village Court to the Town of Urbana’s new Municipal Hall and keep the Village Justice position.

2. Accommodate Village Court in the new Village Hall location.

3. Abolish the position of Village Justice.

On motion of Mayor Cummings and seconded by Trustee Brown and carried, all voting Aye RESOLVED that the Mayor is hereby authorized to direct the Village Attorney to start the proceedings to abolish the position of Village Justice.

ROLL CALL VOTE: Mayor Cummings – Aye; Trustee Brown – Aye; Trustee Green – Aye; Trustee Pulver – Aye; Trustee Foster – Aye.

The Trustees returned to their discussion of a Village Hall location. The board agreed that 49 Shethar Street needs too much work and that 68 Shethar Street is not large enough and that both locations lack proper parking. The Depot is very much a possibility. A few questions need to be clarified with the Town. The Trustees will discuss the concerns and questions with the Town Board when they meet jointly to appoint a Fire Commissioner.

Chamber Building: The Board discussed the sale of the Chamber building to the Hammondsport Chamber of Commerce. The board agreed to have the Town of Urbana draw up the sale agreement.

The Village of Hammondsport set a budget workshop for Monday December 4, 2006 at 4:30 p.m. in the Village Office to discuss the General Fund 2007/2008 budget.

NEW BUSINESS

Discussion on the New York State Building Code/New rules was tabled until the December 12 meeting.

Relevey taxes: On motion of Trustee Brown and seconded by Trustee Green and carried, all voting Aye RESOLVED that the Clerk/Treasurer is hereby authorized to relevey the amount of $16,071.25 on Town and County Property taxes.

CORRESPONDENCE

A letter from Hammondsport School Superintendent Dr. Brown was discussed. Dr. Brown would like the Village to provide cross walks at Davis Ave. and Main Street and at Main Street and Lake Street. The Mayor will discuss the matter with DPW Superintendent Hoad and write a letter in response to Dr. Brown. The Village will look into the possibility of providing the additional cross walks.

Before making a final decision on the Water Budget, the Trustees closed the meeting for executive session.

On motion of Trustee Brown and seconded by Trustee Green and carried, all voting Aye to enter into executive session to discuss matters leading to the employment of personnel.

ROLL CALL VOTE: 5 – Ayes 0 – Nays

On motion of Trustee Brown and seconded by Trustee Foster and carried, all voting Aye to come out of executive session and return to the regular meeting.

ROLL CALL VOTE: 5 – Ayes 0 – Nays

Water Budget: Amendment to the Water Budget:

F8320.1 change to 48,349.08

ADOPTION OF THE 2007- 2008 PRELIMINARY WATER BUDGET

On motion of Trustee Pulver and seconded by Trustee Foster, BE IT RESOLVED THAT, A resolution adopting a budget for the fiscal year commencing March 1, 2007 and ending February 28, 2008, making appropriations for the conduct of the government of the Village of Hammondsport and establishing rates of compensation for officers and employees for such period, and WHEREAS, this board has met at the time and place specified in the notice of Public Hearing on the preliminary budget and heard all persons desiring to be heard thereon:

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the preliminary Water Budget as amended and revised and as herein after set forth is hereby adopted and that the several amounts stated in the column “adopted” in the Water Fund be and hereby appropriated for the objects and purposes specified and the salaries and wages stated shall be and hereby fixed at the amounts shown therein effective March 1, 2007. (Copy attached following this record.) Furthermore, a water rate of $4.70 per 100 cubic feet and minimum charge of $47.00 is established effective December 1, 2006 and reflected in the February 28, 2007 billing.

ROLL CALL VOTE: Mayor Cummings – Aye;

Trustee Foster – Aye; Trustee Brown – Aye; Trustee Pulver – Aye; Trustee Green – Aye.

Joint Meeting with Town of Urbana: The Village Trustees met jointly with the Town of Urbana to appoint a Fire commissioner.

On motion of Supervisor Gardiner and seconded by Councilperson Webster and carried, all voting Aye to appoint William Yahn to a 5 – year term as Fire Commissioner for the Hammondsport Fire District.

ROLL CALL VOTE: Supervisor Gardiner – Aye; Councilperson Cook – Aye; Councilperson Presley – Aye; Councilperson Webster – Aye; Councilperson Chadwick – Aye

On motion of Mayor Cummings and seconded by Trustee Pulver and carried, all voting Aye to appoint William Yahn to a 5-year term as Fire Commissioner for the Hammondsport Fire District.

ROLL CALL VOTE: Mayor Cummings – Aye; Trustee Pulver – Aye; Trustee Green – Aye; Trustee Brown – Aye; Trustee Foster – Aye

Mayor Cummings and the Trustees addressed the Town Council with questions regarding the lease of the Depot for Village offices. Terms of the lease were discussed as well as utility costs.

The Village Trustees left the joint meeting and returned to the Village Office to resume the Village Board meeting.

The remainder of the minutes will apppear in a later edition of The Courier.