Aurora Village Board
Aurora, New York 13026

Approved Minutes 
Public Hearing and Regular Monthly Meeting
June 17, 2009

Present – Mayor Tom Gunderson, Trustees Jim Chase, Janet Murphy, Lili MacCormick and George Farenthold
Also Present – Village Clerk Dee Nance, Treasurer Deborah Brooks
Members of the Public – David Brooks, Marie Clements, Lydie Haenlin

Public Hearing
Mayor Gunderson opened the Public Hearing at 7 PM for a SEQR review of the NYS Route 90 South Water Main Extension.  Gunderson reminded the board that a vote was taken at the May meeting declaring the Village Board as lead agency.

Mayor Gunderson read through the SEQR prepared by MRB Group/Engineering, Architecture, Surveying, P.C., and asked the board if there were any questions pertaining to Part II.  After brief discussion Gunderson asked the board to consider a negative declaration on the SEQR.

Resolution #09-14
Per the SEQR documentation prepared for the project, per the review and evaluations of the Environmental Assessment Form by the Village Board of Trustees of Aurora and their knowledge of the proposed scope of work, and per their determination that there will not be any significant adverse environmental impacts due to the proposed Unlisted Action, the Village of Aurora hereby issues a Negative Declaration determination for the environmental review of the NYS Route 90 Water Main Extension.

Trustee Farenthold moved acceptance of Resolution #09-14; seconded by Trustee MacCormick.  Motion carried 5:0.

A motion to leave the public hearing open during the regular meeting was made by Trustee Farenthold; seconded by Trustee Murphy.  Motion carried 5:0

Regular Monthly Meeting
Gunderson called the regular monthly meeting to order at 7:15 PM, and led the room in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Farenthold reminded those present that he is married to Lisa Marsh Ryerson, President of Wells College.

Mayor Gunderson asked for approval of the May 20, 2009 regular meeting minutes and the June 11, 2009 special meeting minutes.  A motion of acceptance was made by Trustee Farenthold; seconded by Trustee Murphy.  Motion carried 5:0.

Changes to the agenda – Mayor Gunderson announced the following changes: Letters from Tee-Ann Hunter and Ken Kabelac.  Old business – an update on records storage.  New business – contracts from Williamson Law Book Co.

Announcements – Mayor Gunderson read a letter from Paul Reuss, dated 5/27/09, expressing his concerns with the proposed changes to the Village Playground.  In the letter Mr. Reuss requested a written reply.  Gunderson said that he would receive one.

Trustee Murphy read a letter from Tee-Ann Hunter, dated 6/16/09, expressing her concerns over changes to the Village Playground.  Gunderson said he had spoken with Ms. Hunter about a possible meeting with concerned neighbors of the playground.

Trustee MacCormick read a letter from Laura Holland, dated 6/15/09, apologizing for her assumptions and misunderstandings regarding public speaking at village board meetings.  Mayor Gunderson commented that the board might want to establish a speaking policy.

Trustee Chase began reading a letter from Laura Holland dated 6/8/09, but was stopped by Trustee Farenthold who felt to read this letter now would be inflammatory, as the issue had already been addressed by the Holland letter of 6/15/09.  

Trustee Farenthold read a letter from Attorney Andrew Fusco, dated 5/19/09, regarding front yard parking in the village of Aurora.  A typo was noticed in the last sentence of the letter and Gunderson asked the clerk to seek clarification from Attorney Fusco before the next meeting.

Trustee Farenthold read a second letter from Attorney Fusco, dated 6/15/09 to address misstatements in the Village Board minutes from 5/20/09 and to comment on liabilities that can arise from unregulated “Visitor Recognition” discourse. 

Mayor Gunderson read a letter from Judy Jordan, dated 6/16/09, requesting sponsorship and financial support of the 2009 Aurorafest.

Mayor Gunderson read a letter from Ken Kabelac, dated 5/14/09, informing the board of his resignation from the Planning Board.

Ms. Nance informed the board of a letter she received, dated 5/26/09, from the Cayuga County Planning Department regarding site proposals for the Fingerlakes Cultural and Natural History Museum.  Mayor Gunderson added that two proposals have already been submitted from Aurora.  One is an 80-acre parcel from Wells College along Poplar Ridge Road, and the other is the 230-acre Bush farm on Sherwood Road, owned by Pleasant Rowland.  Mayor Gunderson also informed the board of a fundraising event for the museum to be held June 25th at the New York State Wine and Culinary Center.  He felt it would be good for several members of the board to attend in support of the Aurora site proposals.

Ms. Nance gave the board a copy of new proposed hours for the Village Office.  Proposed clerk’s hours were Mondays from 4 to 6 PM and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 to 4 PM.  Treasurer’s hours would be Thursdays from 9 AM to 1 PM.

After brief discussion a motion was made by Trustee Farenthold to accept the proposed hours; seconded by Trustee MacCormick.  Motion carried 5:0.

Ms. Nance also reported that she would be attending the NYCOM conference in Saratoga Springs on Monday, June 29, 2009.

Visitor Recognition – Lydie Haenlin spoke to the board regarding the sidewalk in front of her home at 261 Main Street.  She believes that the pitch of the sidewalk is causing rain water to flow into her garage and wonders if anything can be done to correct it.
Mayor Gunderson responded that he would take a look at it with Trustee Chase and Superintendent of Public Works, Kurt Wilmot.  Mayor Gunderson explained that all of the Main Street houses have this problem due to the elevation of the State Highway.

Treasurer’s Reports – Ms. Brooks reported that she is working on closing out the books for this year, and that she had to break the CD down again to pay the water and sewer bills.

Mayor Gunderson presented the budget modifications to the board and Trustee Farenthold asked for an explanation of the corrected dollar amount under General Funds.  Ms. Brooks explained that she had made an error when processing the final paycheck for Planning Board Chair, Ken Kabelac upon his resignation.  In her haste to issue the final paycheck before the fiscal year ended on May 31, 2009 she miscalculated his pay using the calendar year instead of the fiscal year.

General Fund 
$57.93		FROM		A1620.4 – Buildings – Contractual
		TO		A1620.43 – Buildings – Janitorial Services
$83.34		FROM		A8020.4 – Planning Board – Contractual
		TO		A8020.1 – Planning Board – Personal Services

Trustee Farenthold moved approval of the General Fund Budget Modifications; seconded by Trustee Chase.  Motion carried 5:0.

Water Fund
$30.84		FROM		F8340.2 – Transmission & Distribution – Equipment
		TO		F8340.41 – Transmission & Distribution – Utilities

Trustee Farenthold moved approval of the Water Fund Budget Modifications; seconded by Trustee Murphy.  Motion carried 5:0.

Sewer Fund
$362.88		FROM		G8130.2 – Sewage Treatment – Equipment
$349.91		TO		G8130.1 – Sewage Treatment – Personal Services
$  12.97		TO		G9030.8 – Social Security 

Trustee Farenthold moved approval of the Sewer Fund Budget Modifications; seconded by Trustee MacCormick.  Motion carried 5:0.

Trustee Gunderson presented the bills for payment on Abstract #1.

General Fund – voucher #s 001, 003-005, 008, 010-012, 014-017, 019-020, 022-029, 032, 034-035 in the amount of $11,502.63.  Farenthold moved payment of General fund bills; seconded by MacCormick.  Motion carried 5:0.

Water Fund – voucher #s 002, 009, 013-014, 030 in the amount of $6,095.58.  Trustee Farenthold moved payment of Water fund; seconded by Trustee MacCormick.  Motion carried 5:0.

Sewer Fund – voucher #s 006-007, 009, 012, 014, 018, 021, 023, 031, 033-034 in the amount of $4,582.57.  Trustee MacCormick moved payment of the sewer fund; seconded by Trustee Farenthold.  Motion carried 5:0.

Trustee MacCormick commented that the picnic table she is having built at the Ithaca BOCES is ready.  It was suggested that she ask Kurt Wilmot to pick it up for her.

Committee Reports
Buildings and Grounds – Trustee Farenthold inquired on the status of the stairs at Patrick Tavern and learned that the work has been completed.

Trustee Farenthold reported that the Aurorafest is scheduled for July 10th and 11th, with Judy Jordan coordinating the Aurorafest committee.  

Trustee Farenthold reported that Bill Mullarney and Mark Bailey have requested that the planter in front of the firehouse be moved to a new location.  Trustee Farenthold reported that the planter has been weeded and replanted.  He has yet to find a new location for it, but said that it will be moved.

There was discussion concerning the apron (firehouse front parking lot) repavement project.  Trustee Farenthold asked if it would need to go out for bid.  Mayor Gunderson said that it would.  Trustee Farenthold had a business card from Bill McDermott of Cayuga Paving.

Trustee Farenthold reported that one of the good ideas that came out of the Village Center Task Force was to have a coordinating committee comprised of village and college representatives.  Trustee Farenthold requested two or three volunteers from each village board.  Names suggested were Trustee Farenthold, Trustee MacCormick and Ms. Nance (as an alternate) from the Village Board, John Dentes from the Zoning Board of Appeals, Bill Maloney and Pat Bianconi from the Planning Board and Claire Morehouse from the Community Preservation Panel.  Mayor Gunderson said he would consider forming a committee and report back to the board in July.

Trustee Farenthold informed the board of the next meeting of the Fingerlakes Cultural and Natural History Museum.  It is being held for the first time in Aurora, at the Aurora Inn on June 23rd at 9:30 AM.

Parks and Recreation – Trustee MacCormick reported that Dave Reynolds has graded the playground.  The new swing set is in place and Village Maintenance Person, Adam Van Horn, is going to drag the area, lay landscape cloths under the swing set and cover it with wood chips.  He will apply grass seed to the rest and anchor the swing set in cement.  Her next task will be to get money in place for the half basketball court, which will be 20’ x 30’ of asphalt located at a 10’ setback from the property line.  The tricycle path will be a 4’ wide cement loop through the playground.  Trustee MacCormick reported that she has removed plants and cut down dead bushes and a tree.  The picnic table is coming soon and lots of children are looking forward to the changes in the park.

Mayor Gunderson reviewed the history of the Memorial Playground beginning with Village and Planning Board minutes from June 2006 through March 2007.  He noted that a SEQR review had been done and the neighbors at that time had approved of the playground.

Marie Clements presented a letter to the board signed by playground neighbors Paul and Lynn Reuss, Robert and Eileen Fitzgerald, Eugene and Marie Clements and Richard and Jane Balzac.  The letter asked who would be responsible for security at the playground once the new equipment was installed and what measures the village would take to protect adjacent property owners from noise and trespassing.

Mrs. Clements thanked Trustee MacCormick for her work and dedication.  She expressed concerns that the swing was too large and asked if it could be cut down.  Trustee Farenthold commented that the swing set legs could be set at a greater depth.  Trustee MacCormick questioned the need for this.  Trustee Murphy pointed out that the swing set was not intended for teenagers but was aimed at 10-12 year-olds.  Mrs. Clements felt that the park was lovely the way it is now and she feared it would become congested with too much equipment.  She also felt that the playground was originally intended for young children and should remain that way.  There was considerable discussion and the board agreed to meet with the adjacent neighbors before going forward with any more work in the playground, and to consider a fence/buffer proposal.  Mayor Gunderson took names and phone numbers with the intention of calling a meeting Saturday morning, June 20th for the board and neighbors to meet together at the playground.

Trustee MacCormick reported that the Summer Swim Program would run from June 29 through August 16 under the direction of Carolyn Connors.  Eight lifeguards have been hired – Cody Burns, Marissa Burns, Sam Ayers, Joshua Wilbur, Michael Miller, Allen Wikstrom, Morgan Mattoon and Allyson Murphy.

Streets and Public Safety – Trustee Chase reported that he would like to readjust the height of some of the signs on the one-way street.  He would also like to remove the stop sign at the bottom of Cherry Avenue, as it is no longer needed with traffic prohibited from driving west on Cherry Avenue.  The board discussed problems with people ignoring the one-way street signs.

Water and Sewer – Trustee Murphy reported that the board needed to consider raising Water and Sewer rates.  Superintendent of Public Works, Kurt Wilmot, suggested that Trustee Murphy consult with Treasurer Brooks.  Ms. Brooks reported that the last rate hike occurred in 1998.  After discussion it was determined that a rate hike was not unreasonable and would correct the deficit in the Sewer fund.

A motion was made by Trustee Farenthold to increase the Water rate by 50 cents per thousand gallons and to create a new $10 quarterly access fee for Sewer, to take effect in the fall billing period of 2009; seconded by Trustee MacCormick.  Motion carried 5:0.

Community Preservation Panel – May 6, 2009 minutes.
Planning Board – May 13, 2009 minutes.
Zoning Board of Appeals – no report.
Zoning Officer – May 2009 report.
Village Historian – Mayor Gunderson reported that he is still trying to get a price quote on a storage container for historical records.

Old Business – Mayor Gunderson recommended that we continue with NYMIR as the Village’s insurance carrier.  Trustee Farenthold voiced agreement citing his concern that we might not be covered if we made a switch because the new carrier would view ongoing problems in the village as “pre-existing conditions.” 

Trustee MacCormick moved that the village continue its insurance coverage with NYMIR; seconded by Trustee Murphy.  Motion carried 5:0.

New Business – The board discussed Attorney Fusco’s letter regarding the allowance of public comments during board meetings.  Trustee Farenthold felt that speakers could be limited to 2 or 3 minutes and that it was within the mayor’s purview to cut them off.

Mayor Gunderson directed the clerk to research NYCOM’s protocol for meetings and report back at the July meeting.

Mayor Gunderson presented three contracts from Williamson Law Book for accounting software - $605.00 for Payroll software, $770.00 for Accounting software, and $770.00 for Water/Sewer software.

A motion was made by Trustee Farenthold to renew the three software contracts with Williamson Law Book; seconded by Trustee Chase.  Motion carried 5:0.

Trustee Farenthold moved for adjournment at 9:07 PM; seconded by Trustee MacCormick.  Motion carried 5:0.

Respectfully submitted,

Dee Nance
Village Clerk