DECEMBER 14, 2005                                                                                                                                      

The monthly meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Trenton was held at the Trenton Municipal Center, Barneveld, NY.  Supervisor Mark Scheidelman called the meeting to order at 7:34 p.m.  Present:  Councilmen Shirley Poland, Betsy Mack, Joseph E. Smith; Highway Superintendent Art Hughes; Town Attorney Tom Hughes.  Absent:  Councilman Bruce Kellogg.

MINUTES:  The minutes of November 9, 21 and December 5 were approved as written.

TRAIL GROOMING:  Smith reported that the Trenton Fish & Game Club is upset that trail grooming is going on while it is still hunting season.  Scheidelman will call Kathy Davis, Holland Patent School Superintendent to discuss the fact that it is the school that has an agreement with the Game Club.  The town only has an agreement with the school to groom the trails.

ZONING:  ZEO Steve Hunter reviewed the November zoning report and violations that have been cited.  He reported that he called NYS DOT and they do not seem to have any rules on billboards.  The board may have to set up a meeting with them to discuss billboards after the holidays.

05-149  GENERAL ABSTRACT:  Motion by Smith, second by Mack to pay audited General Abstract 05-12 (933 – 1030) in the amount of $534,879.32.  Roll call:  Poland, aye; Mack, aye; Smith, aye; Scheidelman, aye.  Motion carried.

05-150  HIGHWAY ABSTRACT:  Motion by Poland, second by Mack to pay audited Highway Abstract 05-12 (278 – 330) in the amount of $53,755.35.  Roll call:  Poland, aye; Mack, aye; Smith, aye; Scheidelman, aye.  Motion carried.

HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT:  Smith has been working with Art Hughes on the heating system at the Paint Shop.  The system was down due to running out of waste oil.  The plan was to keep the heat down in the building and to provide just enough heat to keep pipes from freezing.  Art has agreed to keep the building at 50°.  Art also suggested keeping the waste oil separate from the regular fuel oil.  The regular fuel oil will be used only when the waste oil runs out.  Some piping will be needed for this and Art and Smith will keep working on it.

                Art and six other highway department employees attended a “one person plow operation” workshop put on by the county.  Scheidelman questioned whether this is mandatory training since it would be very expensive to have all the highway employees certified (the cost would be eight hours at $110.00 per hour per employee).  Scheidelman will research this and find out what the regulations are.

                The board discussed the union contract and rotation versus seniority to call highway employees in to work overtime.  The discussion on compensation for holiday pay may have to be brought up at a later date in executive session as it may involve litigation.

                Scheidelman complimented Art on the good work the highway department has done recently with the bad weather.  Art reported that the new employees are working out well.

CODES:  CEO Ken Cutler reviewed the November codes report.  He told the board about a condemned property on Coombs Road and that he feels County Social Services are dumping on him.  Scheidelman will discuss this with County Legislator Brian Miga.

It was reported that the state cannot intercede with the Sampo case.  Attorney Hughes will send the owner a letter that if he does not allow the CEO to do a fire inspection of the building by December 31, he will be in violation.  A cease occupancy order will be issued if the owner does not comply.

Ken has more information on home occupations; this will have to be discussed at a future work session.

Princia Benson – told the board she has concerns about the proposed business planned by Scott Sanborn.  She has talked with him and he will be heating up plastic molds to produce bottles.  Organic chemists feel that emissions from this burning could effect air quality in a 20 kilometer radius.  Scheidelman explained that Mr. Sanborn’s business is only in the planning stage and the board does not have enough information to make a decision on whether zoning should be changed in the proposed area.

05-151 HIRING POLICY:  Motion by Smith, second by Poland to approve revisions to the Hiring Policy which was originally adopted by the board on June 11, 2003.  Roll call:  Poland, aye; Mack, aye; Smith, aye; Scheidelman, aye.  Motion carried.

COOMBS ROAD WATER DISTRICT:  Smith reported that the mains are all in; the taps are being installed now.  Residents cannot hook into the system until approval has been received from the Mohawk Valley Water Board.  Agreed to let Mr. Santa Maria hook into the system if he signs an agreement with the town that he will commence construction within a year.  The board needs to review this agreement first.  Scheidelman reported that First Niagara Commercial has won the bid for temporary bonds.  The town will be borrowing $395,100.00 with an interest rate of 3.47%.

GLASS FACTORY ROAD WATER DISTRICT:  LaBerge Engineering has been talking to funding agencies.  There is a possibility of a housing development going in on Glass Factory Road.  The developer may be interested in working with the town on a water project.

HINCKLEY SEWERS:  The hardship application has been submitted to the Clean Water Act, which, if received, would move the project along faster.  Maria Fibiger suggested someone who could write a grant application for Small Cities for  $750.00 - $950.00.

MUNICIPAL CENTER ADDITION:  Several responses have been received for the request for proposals for a consultant for the addition and will be reviewed at the December 19 workshop.

HIGHWAY GARAGE CONTAMINATION:  A November 23 report was read from Environmental Technical Group that recommends three more monitoring wells.  It is important to determine where the contamination is and who caused it.

05-152  Motion by Poland, second by Mack to authorize the Supervisor to sign a contract with Environmental Technical Group for well monitoring installation at a cost of $7,995.25.  Roll call:  Poland, aye; Mack, aye; Smith, aye; Scheidelman, aye.  Motion carried.

05-153  WINTER RECREATION:  Motion by Smith, second by Poland to appoint Claudette Johnson as Winter Recreation Director and to set up the program as per budget.  Roll call:  Poland, aye; Mack, aye; Smith, aye; Scheidelman, aye.  Motion carried.

SUMMER RECREATION:  Scheidelman reported that the swim beach will be open from June 24 – August 20, 2006.  The board needs to decide whether to hire a separate Swim Director and Recreation Director.  It was suggested that Community Education could handle some of the summer recreation activities.  Poland agreed to call a meeting of the Community Education Advisory Board in January to discuss this.

EZ STOP:  NYS DEC will not start clean up until the town owns or has temporary incidence of ownership.  Attorney Hughes reported on the paperwork he has completed to help the town obtain ownership of the property.  As soon as ownership is received the town can contact DEC to start.

ADOPT A PLATOON:  The clerk reported an anonymous donation of $10.00.  There has not been a response yet as to an address to send packages.

GREENBELT LOGGING:  The town will harvest firewood this winter using only small tractors.  In the summer a few cherry trees will be harvested that are encroaching on the trails.  Fallen wood needs to be cleared near the Nine Mile Pavilion.

TOWN PROPERTY:  Scheidelman read a letter from Dan Hudon that water on his property is being caused by run off from town property, and has asked the town to remedy the situation.  Scheidelman will call NYS DEC to pursue this.

GRANTS:  Scheidelman reported that Digital Towpath is submitting a grant application to get the real property indexing records on websites.  Agreed to ask Maria Fibiger what the town needs to do.  There are also municipal cooperation grants for next year.

OLD POLAND ROAD:  A letter from Carol Beckwith was read stating that she has hired someone to divert water in her pond to help alleviate the water problem at the Carney residence.  The highway department has also put in two culverts to help with the problem.

CONSTRUCTION & DEBRIS HAULING:  Hawkins & Hurlbut will start hauling to Humpf and see if there are more miles or time involved in hauling there than the usual haul to Rome.

FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS:  Scheidelman has requested the county offender program provide help in painting the Trenton Community Hall.  Pat Ferguson said the town can use the parking lot by the Trenton Community Hall this winter if the town wants to plow it.  Art Hughes has advised against this as it is not paved and he is afraid it will turn into a mud hole in the spring.  Agreed not to use the parking lot at this time.  Installation of the guide rail at the park has been completed.  Scheidelman reminded the board that a generator is needed for the municipal center.  Mack has been contacting companies for estimates.  Smith will get estimates from electricians.  Scheidelman will look into possible grant money for purchasing a generator.

ATTORNEY:  Hughes reported on recent open cases.  He also stated he needs more discussion with Assessor Dean Burth on the Brascan assessment.

COMMUNITY EDUCATION:  There does not seem to be much activity lately and no mailer was sent out this fall.  Scheidelman would like to see a Director hired who will run the program.

FINANCE OFFICER’S REPORT:  Approval of the Finance Officer’s report for November was tabled until the December 28 meeting due to the absence of Councilman Kellogg.

TOWN CLERK’S REPORT:  The November report was reviewed by the board.  Total revenues - $630.00; amount to Supervisor - $245.50.  The clerk told the board that she is trying to clear up as many of the delinquent dog licenses as possible before the end of the year but many cases remain open in the court.  Scheidelman asked for a list of all delinquent licenses before the end of the year.

REPORTS:  Reports were read from ZBA, CAC and Tug Hill Tomorrow.

PLANNING BOARD:  Scheidelman would like the Planning Board to make recommendations before Zoning Board of Appeals hearings.  He stated that the original purpose of the Planning Board was to advise as experts on the Master Plan and to be just an advisory board to the Zoning Board of Appeals.  He feels too much work is being put onto the Planning Board.  Smith agreed to talk to the Planning Board Chairman concerning this.

VACANCIES:  There is currently a vacancy on the Independent Board of Review, two on the CAC and Planning Board Chairman.

CORRESPONDENCE:

Jeanne Prevost – thank you for the clock from the Town Board.

Beverly Seeley – also thank you for the clock.

Wanda Goodrow – thank you for the Veteran’s Dinner.

VEHICLE FUEL PURCHASES:  Mack reported that the county has switched over to Champlain Oil from FleetCor.  The town has been having problems with FleetCor’s billing.  Scheidelman asked Mack to find out if the county is satisfied with the new company before switching over.  The advantage of the new company is that the highway department can use the cards at any gas station and is not limited to just Haver’s.

With no further business the meeting was adjourned at 11:26 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Anita Adam, Town Clerk