Aurora Village Board
Aurora, New York 13026

Minutes
Public Hearing on the proposed 2010 – 2011 Village Budget
Regular Monthly Meeting 
March 17, 2010

Present – Mayor Tom Gunderson, Trustees Janet Murphy, George Farenthold, Jim Chase and Lili MacCormick.
Also Present – Village Clerk Dee Nance, Treasurer Deborah Brooks, Code Enforcement Officer Mick Piechuta, and Superintendent of Public Works Kurt Wilmot.
Members of the Public – David Brooks, and Citizen Reporter Kathleen Barran. 

Public Hearing on the proposed 2010-2011 Village Budget
Mayor Gunderson called the Public Hearing to order at 7:00 PM.  Mayor Gunderson recommended that an audit be taken when he leaves office, noting that this is always a good practice when there is a change in administration.  The State used to conduct municipal audits every three years, but they no longer have the funds to do so.  Trustee Murphy asked if an auditor would critique our accounting “systems”.  Mayor Gunderson replied affirmatively.  Treasurer Brooks commented that an Auburn firm, Cuddy and Ward, had conducted the village’s last audit.

Notes on changes to the General Fund
Budget category A1320 – Audit – was increased $500.00 to cover an audit.
A1420 – Law – was decreased to $10,000 from $12,000.
A1450 – Election – was not needed as 2011 is not an election year.
A1620 – Buildings – Village maintenance worker Adam Van Horn was reduced to 12.5% and increased to 50% under A5110 – Street Maintenance to reduce the burden on the Sewer Fund and to more accurately reflect where Adam puts his time.  A category was created for the Post Office to finance some needed repairs to the side door, ramps and roof.
A1910.4 – Unallocated Insurance – decreased as per letter to mayor.
A5110 – Street Maintenance – A new category was created for sidewalk snow removal and village maintenance help.  Under .21 – Sidewalks – repair work will be undertaken to correct the water drainage problem at the Haenlin’s house.  Superintendent Wilmot says there is money in the CHIPS fund that can be used for this repair.
A7140.4 and A7310 – funds have been allocated for playground improvements and youth recreation salaries.  $1500 – Summer Recreation Director; $480 – Boxing Instructor; $480 – Tennis Instructor; $7400 – Lifeguards if these programs are approved.
A8010 – Zoning – A new budget line was created for the Code Enforcement Officer based on $5,400 per year, and Code Officer was removed from Contractual Expenses. 
A8510 – Community Beautification – Money allocated for Aurora community signs and flowers.
A9050.8 – Unemployment Insurance – we continue to pay coverage for a former employee who did cleaning.  The claim is unjustified, but we are forced to pay it.
A9962.2 – Budgetary Provisions for Other Uses - $25,000 transfer to Building Fund Reserve; $15,000 transfer to Streets Repair Reserve.

Notes on the Water Fund Budget
F9950.9 – Transfer to Public Works Apparatus Reserve Fund - $2,000.
F9962.2 – Budgetary Provision for Other Funds - $5,000 transfer to Water Reserve Repair.

Notes on the Sewer Fund Budget
G8130 – Sewage Treatment - .1 – Personal Services – reduced Adam Van Horn to 12.5%; .41 – Utilities – reduced cost to General Fund for DPW and Records Buildings.
G9962.2 – Budgetary Provision for Other Funds - $5,000 transfer to Sewer Reserve Repair.

Mayor Gunderson noted that we will have to keep an eye on Water and Sewer rates as the year progresses.  Superintendent Wilmot reports that usage is down and we will have to sell more water or decrease our costs.  He says that it costs the same to run the plant whether he processes 30,000 or 100,000 gallons per day.  The plant runs the best when usage is higher.  If we drop below 20,000 gallons per day, Superintendent Wilmot will have to alter the way the plant operates.

Due to assessments being up, the village tax rate will come down.  This year’s rate is $1.71, compared to last year’s rate of $2.70.  The total tax collected will be $11 more than last year.

A motion to close the public hearing was made by Trustee Farenthold; seconded by Trustee Chase.  Motion carried 5:0. 

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Regular Monthly Meeting
Mayor Gunderson opened the regular monthly meeting and led the room in the Pledge of Allegiance.  Trustee Farenthold reminded those present that he is married to Lisa Marsh Ryerson, President of Wells College.

Mayor Gunderson asked for approval of the February 17, 2010 regular meeting minutes.  A motion of acceptance was made by Trustee Farenthold; seconded by Trustee MacCormick.  Motion carried 5:0.

Announcements – Mayor Gunderson welcomed and Mayor-elect, Bonnie Bennett and returning Trustee Janet Murphy.

Clerk Nance gave the election results.    The village election was held on March 16, 2010.  From 279 registered voters, 174 ballots were cast.  Bonnie Bennett was elected Mayor, receiving 80 votes.  George Farenthold received 61 votes, Alan Connors received 27, and write-in candidates Sarah Malena and John McCartney each received one vote.

In the Trustee race, Janet Murphy was re-elected with 130 votes.  Marie Taylor was newly elected to the board with 88 votes.  Write-in candidates received the following votes:
	John McCartney – 39 votes
	Attilio Rezzonico – 1 vote
	Alan Clugston – 1 vote
	Alan Connors – 5 votes
	Ken Zabriskie – 2 votes
	Todd Zwigard – 2 votes
	Jim Chase – 1 vote
	Charles Echelbarger – 1 vote
	Marie Dentes – 2 votes

Clerk Nance praised her election inspectors, Marie Fenner, Ann Tobey, Pat Bianconi and Deborah Carlisle for a job well done.

Clerk Nance explained that a handful of voters found they were not registered when they came in to vote.  Apparently, some voters did not receive their yellow voter confirmation cards from the Board of Elections, because the Board of Elections does not have their PO Boxes.  The Post Office was not allowed to deliver these cards to their recipients because the cards came with “do not forward” endorsements.  The cards were returned to the Board of Elections and those registrations were listed as “inactive”.  In order to vote, these individuals needed a court order from a county judge.  Clerk Nance made arrangements with Judge Leone to be on call for Aurora voters that evening.  Several made use of Judge Leone’s offer to return to the court house in Auburn and issue court orders allowing them to vote.

Clerk Nance will ask the postmaster to speak to this issue in the next Village newsletter.

Trustee Farenthold remarked that the good news about this election was that we had a 62% voter turnout.

Visitor Recognition – David Brooks alerted the board to the fact that many college students are walking in the street and not on the sidewalk after dark.  There was some discussion.  Mayor Gunderson said he would alert Campus Safety, but there is little the board can do.  He reminded those present that a student was killed in the road in 1967.

Trustee Farenthold welcomed Jacci Farlow who had been invited to the meeting to give a report about the Village’s website.  Ms. Farlow reported that we have a stat counter on our website and auroranewyork.us is up to 13,000.  She has studied the ways people search for Aurora when using search engines.  Fifty percent search for, “Village of Aurora,” and 24% search for “Aurora, NY or town of Aurora, NY”.  She asked the board if they would like her to “lock in” any particular search terms.  Trustee Farenthold replied that based on Ms. Farlow’s research, he thought we should try to correct some of the most common missed searches.

Mayor-elect Bennett told Ms. Farlow that she would like to see a “mayor’s forum”—a place to ask the mayor questions and get answers.  Trustee Murphy suggested linking it to a Facebook page.  Ms. Bennett asked Ms. Farlow to look into feedback forum possibilities.

Ms Farlow announced that the Aurora Arts and Design Center, is open for business.  Their official grand opening will be May 1st.  Ms. Farlow said that many workshops and Friday events are planned throughout the year.  She wants to make it a happening place in the village and a place to promote art for youth.

Treasurer’s Report – Ms. Brooks reported that things are going smoothly and the budget is holding out well.  We have finished our street improvement project and she would like to close that account and put the remaining funds toward the principal on our bond.

Mayor Gunderson presented the budget modifications to the board.

General Fund 
$125.02          FROM          A1450.4 – Election – Contractual
                       TO                A1450.1 – Election – Personal Services

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

RESOLUTION #10-2
TRANSFER – STREET IMPROVEMENT PROJECT FUND

$6,770.52 plus March Interest Earned	FROM		HS 200S MM Savings
						TO		A9720.6 – Bond – Principal

This will close down the account and reduce the Bond Principal payment owed.

Trustee Farenthold moved approval of Resolution #10-2 to transfer the street improvement project fund; seconded by Trustee Chase.  Motion carried 5:0.

Mayor Gunderson presented the bills for payment on Abstract #10.

General Fund – voucher #’s 309, 312-315, 317-318, 321-324, 326, 329-330, 332-342, 344-347 in the amount of $9,080.42.  Trustee Murphy moved payment of the General Fund bills; seconded by Trustee MacCormick.  Motion carried 5:0.

Water Fund – voucher #’s 310, 312, 317, 319-320, 323 in the amount of $1,205.36.  Trustee Farenthold moved payment of the Water Fund bills; seconded by Trustee Chase.  Motion carried 5:0.

Sewer Fund – voucher #’s 311, 313, 316-317, 319, 322-323, 325,327-328, 331, 342-343 in the amount of $5, 858.74.  Trustee Chase moved payment of the Sewer Fund bills; seconded by Trustee Farenthold.  Motion carried 5:0.

Committee Reports
Buildings and Grounds – Trustee Farenthold reported that the Upstate Safety Task Force will meet at the Fargo at noon on April 15th. 

Mayor-elect Bennett commented that she had read in The Citizen that the law may end up in the courts.  Trustee Farenthold agreed that the Trucking Association and the Farm Bureau might sue.  Mayor-elect Bennett said she felt that the law was flawed because it targeted certain roads and did not encompass the whole state.  Since you can’t “spot” laws in zoning, she reasoned that you might not be able to “spot” roads.  Trustee Farenthold replied that he believes the law will hold up to challenges.  The DOT is confident that it is enforceable and penalties for infractions have already been set.

Parks and Recreation – Trustee MacCormick hoped to have an update on summer recreation.  She met with Wells College Dean Lundquist on the 19th of February.  The meeting was positive, but answers to some programming questions will depend on what they decide to do with the Schwartz Center.  Dean Lundquist has not yet gotten back to her with answers.

Streets and Public Safety – Superintendent of Public Works, Kurt Wilmot reported that the bridge project at the south end of the village will begin soon, and that there will be traffic lights.  This project will certainly go all summer, if not longer.

Water and Sewer – Trustee Murphy had nothing new to report.  Mr. Wilmot reported that the water line extension will likely occur near the end of the bridge project.

Mr. Wilmot reported that water usage is down.  This past quarter was the lowest he’s seen since he’s been on the job.

Mr. Wilmot had a DEC inspection recently.  It seemed to go well, but he has not received the written report yet.

Community Preservation Panel – no minutes.
Planning Board – minutes from 10/14/09.
Zoning Board of Appeals – no minutes.
Code Enforcement Officer – monthly report for 2/18/10 through 3/17/10.

Old Business – Trustee Murphy reported on her cablevision contract meeting.  Only Dean Tanner of Union Springs attended, but they are going to meet again in April.  There is little we can negotiate, but she is looking at the negotiable items, one of these being line extensions.  Once the committee has done its work they will invite Time Warner to make a presentation to us at a Village Board Meeting.  Due to the fact that the Public Service Commission is helping us with contract negotiations, we have an automatic six-month extension.  This gives us until October 2010 to negotiate a new contract.

New Business – Clerk Nance read aloud a resolution of appreciation prepared by Trustee Farenthold to recognize Mayor Gunderson’s years of service to the village.

RESOLUTION #10-3
VILLAGE RESOLUTION OF APPRECIATION AND SERVICE TO AURORA
THOMAS H. GUNDERSON

BE IT RESOLVED that the Aurora Village Board of Trustees recognizes and appreciates the many years of devoted and diligent service of our Mayor Thomas H. Gunderson.  We acknowledge the end of a great era – The Gunderson Years.

We do so with a profound sense of respect for your public service and in recognition of your dedication to the public good and public benefit of the Citizens of Aurora.

We, your colleague Village Trustees, are grateful.  We know better than any the selfless service that you have given to all in this community.  Your accomplishments are many and your legacy will endure.

On March 17, 2010 we honor you and offer heartfelt gratitude for your commitment to Aurora, New York.

Moved by:  Trustee Farenthold.
Seconded by:	Trustee MacCormick
Approved:  5:0

Mayor Gunderson replied that he had two brothers who served in the military, and he never got called, so he felt like community service was what he should do.  “It’s a great little village,” he said, “a great place to grow up and raise a family.”  “I’m one of the lucky ones who could stay on here in Aurora.”

A motion of adjournment was made by Trustee Farenthold; seconded by Trustee Murphy.  Motion carried 5:0.  The meeting adjourned at 8:35 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Dee Nance
Village Clerk