Meeting Minutes October 16, 2018
REGULAR MEETING – VILLAGE OF NORTHVILLE
Tuesday, October 16, 2018
The Village Board met Tuesday, October 16, 2018 at 7:00 PM at the village offices.
Present: John Spaeth, Mayor
Steve Collins, Trustee
Sue Eckert, Trustee
John Markiewicz, Trustee
Sue Sedon, Trustee
Wendy Reu, Village Clerk
Nathanial Matthews, Treasurer
Excused:
Mayor Spaeth called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Motion to approve the minutes of the September 18, 2018 Regular Meeting was made by Trustee Markiewicz, seconded by Trustee Collins, and passed by voice vote as follows:
Aye: Trustee Collins, Trustee Eckert, Trustee Markiewicz, Trustee Sedon
Nay: 0
Abstain: 0
PUBLIC COMMENTS – There were no members of the public that wished to address the Board.
REPORT OF COMMITTEES:
Police– It was reported that Officer Chad Simonson is back on duty for NPD.
Streets – Mayor Spaeth reported that he had met with Highway Superintendent Dan Reidell and a representative from DOT regarding the proposed sign on Route 30. It was reported that the idea of moving the sign that is out on Route 30 to the area near the info booth was conceptually approved by the DOT representative. Mayor Spaeth stated he would like to see all the accessory signs moved from the sign at the Bridge and put out on the sign that will be on Route 30. He indicated a new “Welcome to Northville” sign would be made for the Bridge sign and the other sign could be placed up at the Gould Hill sign.
Mayor Spaeth reported that the 1997 dump/plow truck needs to be replaced as it is starting to have issues that require costly repairs. He indicated that a new truck was approximately $ 191,000.00. Mayor Spaeth stated he has been working with Treasurer Matthews to determine how to pay for a new dump/plow truck. It was reported they looked at the capital plan and would be increasing the amount put into it annually. Treasurer Matthews stated we would have to wait until spring to have the money for the dump/plow truck.
Mayor Spaeth reported that the “new” garbage truck is in very bad shape. It was reported that the vehicle is shared between the Town and the Village and the cost is approximately $ 192,000.00. Mayor Spaeth stated that the issue is we need our cash reserve to purchase the dump/plow truck and the Town has no cash reserve. Mayor Spaeth reported that we will have to finance the garbage truck. He stated that the Village is in better position to bond it. Mayor Spaeth stated he has been working with Highway Superintendent Dan Reidell and we will be reviewing garbage routes and how we haul garbage in an attempt to streamline it so both municipalities can share just one vehicle. Mayor Spaeth reported we could do direct haul to Mud Road which would save money as we currently pay hauling and tipping fees, although the Town pays the tipping fee. Mayor Spaeth stated that the Village would enter into a formal agreement with the Town for their half of the garbage truck. Trustee Eckert asked if the costs of maintenance of the truck are shared and it was indicated that they are. Trustee Sedon asked how long the loan period for the truck would be. Treasurer Matthews stated the loan would be for 10 years. He continued by stating that street reserves are funded regularly but we have accelerated the replacement schedule to 15 years versus 30 years. Treasurer Matthews stated that all data shows that vehicles are in the sweet spot for best value and resale opportunity around the 15 year mark. Larry Johnston, a Town employee at the Transfer Station thanked the Board for all the work they are putting into getting a new garbage truck and exploring direct hauling. Mayor Spaeth stated the problem with hauling to the transfer station is that is causes a lot of dust with having to go though the dump/pack/dump cycle and that direct hauling to Mud Road will make it safer for the workers at the Transfer Station. Mayor Spaeth stated the goal is to make one trip on Monday and one trip on Tuesday, at least during the winter, with increased frequency in the summer. Trustee Eckert asked if the Transfer Station would remain open and Mayor Spaeth reported that there would be no change with the hours of the station. After continued discussion, Trustee Markiewicz made a motion to move forward with the plan to purchase a shared garbage truck and explore finance options. The motion was seconded by Trustee Eckert and carried by voice vote as follows:
Aye: Trustee Collins, Trustee Eckert, Trustee Markiewicz, Trustee Sedon
Nay: 0
Abstain: 0
Water – It was reported that usage increased from 2,743,000 gallons in September 2017 to 3,477,000 this year. Water testing and operations were normal.
Fire – Fire Department Report for September 2018
| Village of Northville (3) | MVA 1
Propane Smell 1 EMS Assist /LZ 1 |
| Town of Northampton (3) | Brush Fire 1
MVA 1 Alarm Activation 1 |
| Town of Edinburg (1) | MVA 1 |
| Town of Hope (2) | Stand By 1
Vehicle Fire 1 |
| Town of Benson (1 ) | MVA 1 |
| Mutual Aid Given (3)
Mutual Aid Received (2) |
Total Man-hours reported were 63.25
Mayor Spaeth presented the 2019 Fire Contracts for the Board’s review. Trustee Markiewicz made a motion to approve the Town of Northampton Fire Contract in the amount of $ 92,144.00. The motion was seconded by Trustee Collins and carried by voice vote as follows:
Aye: Trustee Collins, Trustee Eckert, Trustee Markiewicz, Trustee Sedon
Nay: 0
Abstain: 0
Trustee Markiewicz made a motion to approve the Benson Fire Contract in the amount of $ 42,972.00. The motion was seconded by Trustee Collins and carried by voice vote as follows:
Aye: Trustee Collins, Trustee Eckert, Trustee Markiewicz, Trustee Sedon
Nay: 0
Abstain: 0
Trustee Markiewicz made a motion to approve the Hope Fire Contract in the amount of $ 1.00. The motion was seconded by Trustee Sedon and carried by voice vote as follows:
Aye: Trustee Collins, Trustee Eckert, Trustee Markiewicz, Trustee Sedon
Nay: 0
Abstain: 0
Code Enforcement – The CEO’s monthly report indicated that six permits were issued in September. Code Officer Ginter reported that the project at the Northville 5 & 10 store would be starting soon, in addition to the Senior Housing project. He asked the Board about fees for the projects and whether they should be waived. After discussion, it was determined that the fees for each project should be collected according to the fee schedule. Code Officer Ginter reported that Dennis Miller had been out doing inspections and said the process was working well. He recommended that Dennis be afforded all opportunity to attend training sessions and the Board agreed.
Joint Youth – Trustee Sedon reported that there would be a Halloween Carnival on October 31st at the school that would be sponsored by Joint Youth.
Marketing – A marketing report for September was received by the Board. Mayor Spaeth reported that he had a conversation with Carla after last month’s meeting and the Board can expect to see reports more consistently. Trustee Eckert stated she hoped that advertisement would be done prior to events rather than after.
Tree Commission – The September minutes of the Tree Commission were provided to the Board. Mayor Spaeth reported that trees had been ordered.
PAYMENT OF BILLS
Bills to be paid from the General Fund in the amount of $ 53,553.99, from the Water Fund in the amount of $ 4,858.08, and from the Joint Youth fund in the amount of $ 1,126.92 were presented for payment. Motion to approve payment was made by Trustee Collins, seconded by Trustee Eckert, discussed, and carried by voice vote as follows:
Aye: Trustee Collins, Trustee Eckert, Trustee Markiewicz, Trustee Sedon
Nay: 0
Abstain: 0
OLD BUSINESS:
Mayor Spaeth gave an update on National Grid. He indicated that they had done an inventory and sent a notice to the Village that we owed them money for lights they had not been billing us for. Highway Superintendent Dan Reidell went out and did a pole by pole inventory, comparing it to what National Grid submitted. As it turns out, there were errors on the National Grid inventory and National Grid actually owes the Village $ 9,000.00.
Mayor Spaeth reported that the grant for the lighting project was submitted last month.
Mayor Spaeth presented a letter from NCS regarding the Community Preparedness Association. The letter indicated that the group was formalizing themselves as an organization and would be submitting bylaws for review in the near future.
Mayor Spaeth provided copies of a sample Landlord Registry for the Board to review. He stated it was drafted several years ago but never completed. Mayor Spaeth stated that since we are now actively inspecting apartments, he felt the Board needed to move forward with adopting some type of registry as it would be a valuable tool for the municipality. Trustee Collins also said that Air B&Bs should be addressed and the Board agreed that they should be worked into the registry. Mayor Spaeth asked the Board to review the document and bring their ideas to the next meeting.
NEW BUSINESS:
The Civic Association sent a request for a Christmas Parade on December 1st at 4:00 p.m. Trustee Sedon made a motion to approve the Christmas Parade on December 1st. The motion was seconded by Trustee Eckert and carried by voice vote as follows:
Aye: Trustee Collins, Trustee Eckert, Trustee Markiewicz, Trustee Sedon
Nay: 0
Abstain: 0
The NCS SADD Chapter sent a request for a Domestic Violence Walk on October 18th, same route as last year. Trustee Eckert made a motion to approve the SADD request. The motion was seconded by Trustee Collins and carried by voice vote as follows:
Aye: Trustee Collins, Trustee Eckert, Trustee Markiewicz, Trustee Sedon
Nay: 0
Abstain: 0
Mayor Spaeth presented the new Sexual Harassment policy adopted by NYS. He indicated they made the policy stricter and included both the public and public officials. After review, Trustee Markiewicz made a motion to approve the Sexual Harassment policy. The motion was seconded by Trustee Eckert and carried by voice vote as follows:
Aye: Trustee Collins, Trustee Eckert, Trustee Markiewicz, Trustee Sedon
Nay: 0
Abstain: 0
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business before the Board, motion was made to adjourn by Trustee Markiewicz, seconded by Trustee Sedon, and passed by voice vote with no one dissenting. The meeting was adjourned at 8:23 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Wendy L. Reu
Clerk
