THE R.A.P. SHEET
SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF PRATTSBURGH, AVOCA AND PULTENEY

Editor's note: The Minutes of the Village and Town Board meetings appearing below have not

been approved at the time this goes to press.

Town of Avoca

Minutes of the Avoca Town Board regular meeting June 18, 2008 called to order by SupervisorWellington at 7:11 PM. Held at the Avoca Central School Cafeteria.

Present:

Supervisor-Chris Wellington

Counc i lman-Doug Heinemann

Councilwoman-Wendi Hammond

Councilman-Ken Parsels

Counc i lman-Todd Oliver

Attorney-Karl Anderson Jr.

Town Clerk-Kim Jackson

Highway Super Dan Hamilton

Others Present: John Walsh, Evelyn Goodine, Ron Harmon, Frank Lysyczyn, Sherry Hogan, Gary Weldy, Bill Snyder, Yolande Loucks, Harvey & Elizabeth Tremper, George & Dawn Hoffman, Dan Reppert, Richard & Dawna Slack, Patrick & Judy McMahon, Cathy Rouse-Nicholson, Barb & Nelson Eaton, Shawn Wellington, Gretchen Hubbard, Chuck Cagle, Stanley & Joyce Apenowich, Sharon Gerrity, Al Belanger, Leann & Dana Wightman, Bud Longwell, Penny Ruest, Betty Mattison, Crystal Laverty, Bob Clarke (tribune), Jared & Bill Abbott, Sandy Seager, Bud & Gail Burlew, Shirley Edwards, David Lannoye, Ivan & Connie Smith, Robert Dodds, David Cole (under sheriff) and Greg Dipsaquale. The Avoca Town Board said the Pledge of Allegiance for the meeting.

Motion by Councilman Heinemann, seconded by Councilwoman Hammond approving the minutes of the May 21, 2008 meeting. All in favor. Carried.

Motion by Councilman Heinemann, seconded by Councilman Parsels approving the following departmental reports for the month of May 2008 All in favor. Carried. Town Clerk Zoning Animal Control Officer Building Code

Motion by Councilwoman Hammond, seconded by Councilman Oliver auditing the vouchers from the General Fund and Highway Fund. All in favor. Carried.

Report from John Walsh: John reported about the new voting machines that are handicapped accessible they are $11,000.00 each and the county purchased 60. The towns will still be using the old machines but will have one handicapped machine at each polling site. John said that if the county were to use the technicians that are recommended it will cost $12,000.00 each machine and if they do it themselves it will be $1200.00. There is a grant for $47,000.00 HAVA from the government for training on the new machines. Real Property tax sale will be at the Haverling high School July 16, 2008 at 10:00 am. The residents got moved into the new health care facility on June 2, 2008 everything went smoothly and only took 1:10 and the facility is in compliance. September 20, 2008 at Lent Hill Farms will be the Cohocton Farm Days this year. The semi annualMortgage tax this year for the Town of Avoca will be $9,407.07.

Highway Super: Dan reported to the board they have been mowing and grading roads today we have been cleaning ditches. The department of Labor came last week and there are a few infractions and we have 30 days to comply.

Update on the Purchase of the Masonic Lodge: Mr. Wellington said because of grant money available that the board has moved the date of purchasing the building from the Masons from January to November or December. Mr. Snyder stated that everything is ready to go when the Town is ready to move on it. Mr. Wellington said that the insurance needs to be updated by the next meeting and we will get figures. Visitors:

Mr. Slack asked Dan do you keep log books for maintenance on the trucks. And asked the Supervisor where are we with the current budget are you where you should be and are you happy with where the money is going. Dan said yes they do. Mr. Wellington stated that I looked the other day some of the accounts are above and some are below.

Ron's replacement: Mr. Wellington said that he has 2 applications and he doesn't believe Ron has met with either of them. The board will discuss it more. Neither person has had training and there is 4-5 weeks training and the person needs to be there every day and not miss one. Mr. Lysyczyn asked about the purchase of the Masons building is the town purchasing the building or town and village together.

Mr. Wellington said that he spoke with the village and they would be joint owners.

Mr. Snyder said to the board to consider a board member with 2-3 people that are tax payers to work together in each department and maybe they can come up with some ideas that might work better in each department.

Mr. Dave Cole spoke with the public and board about his position that he is running for the Sheriff position. I have worked for the Steuben County Sheriff 's department for 9 years. I have my own web site, check it out there are many things about me on that site. I brought in the defibulator into the Steuben County Sheriffs department in 1999 and all the deputies are equipped with the defibulator. Look at my site and check it out. Mr. Cole stated about all the others accomplishments he has done over the years.

Jared Abbot spoke with the board about the project of putting up fencing at the Vale of Rest Cemetery for his Eagle Scout project. He took pictures and came up with something to do with the cemetery and asked the board what they would like done with the cemetery, what kind of fence would you like.

Mr. Wellington said they thought a split rail fence would be better to maintain.

Mr. Lannoye said that the scout is to be the project manager he is the point person to over see the project. The scout goes to the people wanting the project done and finds out what they want and then makes sure it gets carried out. The scout council needs to approve the project being done and he does not do the project himself he has to put together what the cost would be. The scout has to show leadership in the project. They have to be there to help plan they have to find out what the cost would be and how it is going to be done but it does not have to be done by him it has to be done by a group he just has to be in on the planning.

Motion by Councilman Parsels seconded by Supervisor Wellington that Chris works with Jared on this to figure out what you want to do. Carried. Mrs. Slack asked now that you have gone 6 months into the budget how comfortable are you with a cost of living increase and not a 30-40 percent increase.

Motion by Councilman Parsels, seconded by Supervisor Wellington that the ad for Code Enforcement Officer be placed into all the papers. The Leader, Courier, Tribune, Shopper and the Genesee Express. Carried.

Mr. Hoffman asked if the Code Officer can't do his job then how are you going to get through summer if he can't. Mr. Wellington said that by next months meeting we should have more applicants. Mr. Lysyczyn asked do you have capitol reserve funds set aside or money set aside for training for this position.

Mr. Hoffman asked do you have a back up plan that if there is another increase in taxes do you have a plan in place to reduce money cuts in any department so the taxpayers don't see another increase in their taxes.

Mr. Slack said we have people ready to get on a committee to work with each department he said himself is ready to help work with the Highway department and we are waiting to here from the board when they are ready to start. There are people that won't be bias and can look at both sides of the fence; we are going to have to all work together.

Mr. Wellington got into a heated discussion about someone saying that the Town Loader was seen going up Loucks Pond Road to his house. Mr. Wellington said that they are slandering his name and that is very unfair. He said to Mr. Slack that he has paid taxes for twenty years here and this is the first year you ever paid taxes.

Mr. Slack said that someone called and he called Councilman Oliver and asked if he would check it out make a phone call and find out. He didn't want to make a big public deal of it so that is why I called a board member and did it the right way.

Mrs. Slack said that we are investigating into where you can save money to see if we can help we are not here hurting people we are not saying to close the justice department or close the historical society we are saying we need to work together to keep this wherever we can. We don't want to lose our homes not knowing where we are going to get money for food, to pay heating bills or any other bills if the taxes keep going up like they did last year. At least we are trying to do something to try and help this community.

The question was asked again when will the shelving get put up for the Town Clerk.

Mr. Wellington said that she has had plenty of opportunity to get the shelving up I am not spending one more dollar of the taxpayers money on a stupid project back there that has done nothing but waste money. There is close to five thousand dollars in boxes and shelving that has never been touched and the project you could go to Sams club and for three hundred dollars and buy shelving for the project. We spent fifteen thousand dollars of the taxpayer's money on this.

The Town Clerk proceeded to tell Mr. Wellington that it did not cost the taxpayers money it was a grant and that also if he had bothered to find out in the first place that it was recommended from the grant committee that I purchase five hundred boxes from a specific vendor and that I had to purchase a certain gauge steel shelving from specific vendors and that was specifications of the grant. I did not steel any money or mismanage any part of the grant as you keep telling people. It is all written out in the grant that is in my office as a permanent record of the town. If you had gotten the facts and listened in the beginning you would have had the information correct that I had to purchase those items and from specific vendors and spend that specific amount of money on those items. Mr. Hamilton said it is the first day he ever heard of the highway crew having to put up shelving and second I have never seen it written in the grant.

Mr. Wellington said he and Dan both looked and never seen it written in the original grant that the highway crew had to put up the shelving. Mr. Lannoye said that he was there when it was said that the highway crew would put up the shelving.

Mr. Smith said we need leadership from the front and need to see where we can cut places I have some comparison wages and we are way out of line and this is one place where you can cut so as not to raise taxes to the residents of Avoca in another large increase. Mrs. Wightman spoke to the board and public that she doesn't see where anyone has over spent any money as of yet and what is being spent is needed to run the offices. The Supervisor and the public went back and forth about the money issues as far as taxes going up a great amount and the budget and how it is going. Motion by Councilman Parsels that the board appoints a committee for next months meeting Mr. Wellington said give me some names so we can place them before the next meeting on these committees. Judge McMahon spoke about what happened at last months meeting about the letter that Stan Apenowich and Mr. Strawway wrote. He said the there will be no sensitivity class for the court clerks he went on to tell the public what a good job they do and that is his appointment.

Mr. Longwell said that the town is a laughing stock and he feels that the minutes should not be in the rap sheet anymore and they should not say so much. Mr. Wellington said that they should be condensed and not so elaborate.

Supervisor Wellington said we are going into executive session at 9:07 Pm.

At 10:07 the board returned to regular session.

Motion by Councilman Heinemann, seconded by Councilwoman Hammond adjourn at 10:08

All in favor. Carried.

Town of Pulteney

The regular meeting of the Pulteney Town Board was called to order by Supervisor William Weber at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, July 9, 2008, at the Pulteney Town Hall with roll call followed by Pledge of Allegiance. Present were: Supervisor William Weber; Councilman Janet Stone; Councilman Robert Kemp; Highway Supt. George McIntyre; Town Attorney John F. Leyden and Town Clerk Donna Conley. Absent were Councilmen Richard French and Councilman James Fox. Also present were Historian Sharon Daggett and Code, Zoning and Watershed Officer Lauren Welch.

Councilman Kemp made motion seconded by Councilman Stone to accept the minutes of June 11, 2008. All in favor. Carried.

Supervisor Weber gave financial reports. He further noted the $70,000 grant for the excavator has been received.

Councilman Stone made motion seconded by Councilman Kemp to pay General Bills in the amount of $1,169.57 being vouchers No. 135 to No. 136 on Abstract No. 7A and the amount of $1,835.99 being vouchers No. 137 to No. 150 on Abstract No. 7. Roll call vote: Councilman Stone, yes; Councilman Kemp, yes; Supervisor Weber, yes. Carried.

Supervisor Weber made motion seconded by Councilman Kemp to pay Highway Bills in the amount of $41.58 being vouchers No. 115 to No. 117 on Abstract No. 7A and the amount of $89,416.68 being vouchers No. 118 to No. 129 on Abstract No. 7. Roll call vote: Councilman Stone, yes; Councilman Kemp, yes; Supervisor Weber, yes. Carried.

Supervisor Weber made motion seconded by Councilman Stone to pay Water District No. 1 Operating Bills in the amount of $1,497.20 being voucher No. 64 on Abstract No. 6B, the amount of $206.30 being voucher No. 65 on Abstract No. 7A and the amount of $1,354.53 being vouchers No. 66 to No. 73 on Abstract No. 7. Roll call vote: Councilman Stone, yes; Councilman Kemp, yes; Supervisor Weber, yes. Carried.

Councilman Stone made motion seconded by Councilman Kemp to pay Water District No. 1 Capital Project Bills in the amount of $5,895.10 being voucher No. 72 on Abstract No. 7. Roll call vote: Councilman Stone, yes; Councilman Kemp, yes; Supervisor Weber, yes. Carried.

Chuck Franzese, Hunt Engineers, discussed the water project and explained why the conference call has not been done yet. Hopefully everything will be taken care of by the Augustmeeting. He further noted John Murphy would be cleaning up with the water project within the next couple of weeks, as he is moving on to another job site. It was noted in Water Plant Operator Ken Forenz's written report about the contractors/vineyard growers/ farmers getting bulk water from the hydrant at the Town Barn. He noted they are authorized to get the water and are billed in accordance with the amount of water they take. A meter will be put on the hydrant and the customers will log on the sheet their usage and be billed accordingly monthly. It was noted that if anyone has any concerns of water usage or want to buy bulk water should contact the water department.

Councilman Stone made motion seconded by Councilman Kemp to receive and place on file Code Enforcement Officer's (CEO) & Watershed Officer's & Zoning Officer's; Water Plant Operator's; DCO's and Historian's reports. All in favor. Carried. Highway Supt. McIntyre stated they have been mowing roadsides, ditched and shouldered Gloades Corners to Brown Rd., grader patched and helped Prattsburgh and Wayne. Board discussed the road dust problem around town.

Councilman Stone stated the playground is coming along nicely. We need some manpower to finish putting it together. She further noted the Keuka Lake Watershed Land Committee, of which she is chairman, will hold a meeting here July 30th at 6:30 PM. They are working on a Comprehensive Plan for agriculture land and steep slopes that would only be used as guidelines for Towns to use. Supervisor Weber also noted the Keuka Lake Association will be meeting on Saturday, July 12th at 9:00 AM at the Keuka College Lightner Library and will discuss the State drinking water issue. Atty. Leyden stated there are amendments being made to the Federal Flood Insurance Program of which the Town's will need to adopt through local legislation by the end of this year.

Councilman Kemp made motion seconded by Councilman Stone to suspend the regular meeting to hold a public hearing on Local Law Tentatively Numbered No. 3 of 2008 entitled "A Local Law Enacting a Real Property Tax Exemption for Cold War Veterans". All in favor. Carried.

Town Clerk read the legal ad. Supervisor Weber read the proposed local law.

After no one wished to be heard Supervisor Weber made motion seconded by Councilman Stone to close the hearing and reopen the regular order of business. All in favor. Carried. Councilman Stone made motion seconded by Councilman Kemp to adopt Local Law No. 3 of 2008 entitled "A Local Law Enacting a Real Property Tax Exemption for Cold War Veterans". Roll call vote: Councilman Stone, yes; Councilman Kemp, yes; Supervisor Weber, yes. Carried.

Fire District No. 1 and Fire District No. 2 were discussed. Supervisor Weber made motion seconded by Councilman Stone authorizing Atty. John Leyden to acquire services, with the cost not to exceed $500.00, from Empire Abstract to do a deed/information search in the Yates County Clerk's Office and the Steuben County Clerk's Office on the formation of both the Branchport/Keuka Park Fire District and Pulteney Fire Districts. Roll call vote: Councilman Stone, yes; Councilman Kemp, yes; SupervisorWeber, yes. Carried.

Dog shelter situation was discussed. The "Agreement" with Betty Walden discussed last month was redone, with the Attorney's approval, as a "Lease Agreement". This was taken care after last meeting by Supervisor Weber calling all the Board members on June 19, 2008, with all voting in favor of accepting the "Lease Agreement" with Betty Walden and the Town of Pulteney. DCO Ballam can use either Betty Walden's shelter or the SPCA.

NYMIR, our insurance company, is offering a free seminar for "Playground Equipment Inspection and Maintenance" for Towns. Board discussed someone going to it. It will be held from 8 am to 11 am in Brighton, NY on July 17th. Supervisor Weber made motion seconded by Councilman Stone authorizing up to two people to attend the seminar for "Playground Equipment Inspection and Maintenance" with the Town covering all expenses. Roll call vote: Councilman Stone, yes; Councilman Kemp, yes; Supervisor Weber, yes. Carried.

A draft Fire Department Hydrant Usage Agreement had been distributed for Board and Attorney review.

Councilman Kemp made motion seconded by Councilman Stone to accept the Fire Department Hydrant Usage Agreement as presented. All in favor. Carried.

Councilman Stone made motion seconded by Councilman Kemp to adjourn the meeting. All in favor. Carried.

Meeting adjourned at 8:10 pm.