Aurora Village Board
Aurora, New York 13026

Minutes
Public Hearing – Local Law #1 for 2010 – “Sewer Use Law”
2nd Public Hearing – Municipal Home Rule Request to State Legislature
Regular Meeting Minutes 
June 16, 2010

Present – Mayor Bonnie Bennett, Trustees Janet Murphy, George Farenthold, Lili MacCormick and Marie Taylor.
Also Present – Village Clerk Dee Nance, Treasurer Deborah Brooks, Village Attorney Andrew Fusco and Code Enforcement Officer Mick Piechuta.
Members of the Public – David Brooks, Andrea Fusco and Robert J. DuBois.

Public Hearings
Mayor Bennett called the public hearings to order at 7:05 PM.  Trustee Taylor asked for an explanation of the “sewer use law.”  Mayor Bennett explained that the new law simply updates the terminology of the existing sewer use law that was passed in 1969.  We are upgrading the law to comply with State regulations. 

There were no public comments regarding either the sewer use law or the home rule request.  Mayor Bennett closed the public hearings at 7:07 PM.

Regular Meeting
Mayor Bennett opened the regular monthly meeting at 7:08 PM and all stood for the Pledge of Allegiance.

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

Old Business – Trustee Taylor moved acceptance of Local Law #1 for 2010, the “Sewer Use Law”; seconded by Trustee Farenthold, and carried as follows:  Bennett – Aye, Farenthold – Aye, MacCormick – Aye, Murphy – Aye, Taylor – Aye.

Trustee MacCormick moved acceptance of the “Municipal Home Rule Request” to the State Legislature which will allow the Village Clerk to reside outside the village, but within Cayuga County.  The motion was seconded by Farenthold, and carried as follows:  Bennett – Aye, Farenthold – Aye, MacCormick – Aye, Murphy – Aye, Taylor – Aye.

Attorney Fusco commented that the Sewer Use Law will go into effect on the date it is filed with the State.

The Municipal Home Rule Request will be faxed to Senator Nozzolio’s office to be introduced on the Senate floor.  The request has already been introduced to the Assembly by Assemblyman Gary Finch.  Attorney Fusco is confident that the request will be signed into law before the legislature’s summer recess begins.

Presentation – Robert J. DuBois, Project Manager/Grants Writer for G.E.M.S. – (Grant and Essential Management Services).  Trustee Farenthold introduced R.J. DuBois whom he met at the Spring NYCOM conference.  Mr. DuBois explained that they are a small grants firm based in Amsterdam, New York, but they do work all across New York State and into Canada.  He stated at the outset that most municipalities are unaware of the plethora of grants available to them.  When asked about the cost of services, he replied that they work on a flat monthly fee of $2000.00 per month.  You can pay them $2000 for a single grant application, or you can hire them to pursue multiple grants in a month for $2000.00.

Mayor Bennett asked questions about tax incentive grants to be used to encourage home buying in the village by year-round (not seasonal) residents, and tax incentive grants encouraging residents to make environmentally “green” choices, such as the purchase of energy efficient hot water heaters.  Mr. DuBois replied that many NYSERDA grants are tax incentive grants.

Clerk Nance shared information about a couple from Skaneateles she has met who are “green” urban planners.  They could consult with the village on ways to make our municipality “greener” and how to qualify the village of Aurora for LEED certification.  Mr. DuBois explained that grants could be acquired that would help cover the costs of working with an urban planner.

A question was raised about many grants requiring “matching funds.”  Mr. DuBois responded that many matching grants can be paid “in kind” rather than cash.  One grant can be used to “match” another.

There was a discussion of Trustee Farenthold’s desire to see our street lights changed to energy-efficient LED lights.  Mr. Brooks stated that we cannot change these lights because they are owned by NYSEG.  Ms. Brooks added that former-mayor Tom Gunderson routinely upgraded the lights to more efficient models whenever they were in need of replacement.

The board thanked Mr. DuBois for his presentation and resumed the regular meeting business at 7:45 PM.

Returning to Old Business, Mayor Bennett noted that at our last meeting we had discussed hiring Tee-Ann Hunter as a records management consultant, but had not voted on the proposal.  Mayor Bennett asked for a motion to approve hiring Tee-Ann Hunter as a records management consultant, at a rate of $15.00 per hour with a cap of $500.  If additional consultations were warranted the arrangement could be revisited.  A motion to approve was made by Trustee Farenthold; seconded by Trustee MacCormick.  Motion carried 5:0.

Mayor Bennett reported that she had sought three quotes from web designers to create a new web page for the village.  William Ganis declined to submit a proposal and explained to Mayor Bennett that he felt Matt Haenlin would do a better job.

Laura Coburn of Coburn Design in Auburn submitted a proposal with a price range of $2500 - $5000.  She also offered consultations in web design – information that you can use with the web developer of your choice – for $120 per hour.

A proposal was submitted by independent wed designer, and former Auroran, Matt Haenlin.  Mr. Haenlin is available in the month of July to create and launch a new website for the village and spend two to three hours training Clerk Nance in site maintenance.  Mr. Haenlin will provide these services for $1800.

The board discussed the merits of each proposal and Trustee Taylor moved to accept the contract with Matt Haenlin; seconded by Trustee Farenthold.  Motion carried 5:0.

Mayor Bennett asked for approval of the May 19, 2010 regular meeting minutes.  A motion of acceptance was made by Trustee Murphy; seconded by Trustee Farenthold.  Motion carried 5:0.

Announcements – Mayor Bennett reported that we have been cited with a violation from the Department of Labor for failing to have a “workplace violence” policy.  A policy has been drafted that we will consider later, under new business.

Mayor Bennett read a letter from Judy Jordon, chair of the Aurorafest committee, requesting a $3000.00 donation in support of this year’s festival.  Ms. Brooks responded that they will be receiving $2,750.00 from the village, which is the amount we budgeted for this year.

Mayor Bennett announced that there will be a joint public hearing with the Community Preservation Panel and the Planning Board on July 7th at 7 PM to hear a request to demolish the old train platform at 281 Main Street.

Mayor Bennett read a thank you note from the Morgan Opera House committee, thanking the board for their financial support.

Mayor Bennett reported that scheduled maintenance to the village water storage tank has been postponed until June 23, 2010.  Ms. Brooks reported that the Aurora Volunteer Fire Department has been notified.

Mayor Bennett reported that the Aurora Post Office has requested that we replace the lobby carpeting.  A crack in the pavement outside the post office was filled with tar, recently, and tar was tracked onto the carpet.  Mayor Bennett commented that our contract with the post office indicates that we take care of the exterior and the post office is responsible for care of the interior of the building.  However, we did replace some tile flooring in the lobby at one point.  Mayor Bennett met with the Aurora Postmaster and they’ve agreed to wait on the project until next year, as they are currently on a one-year lease with the village.  The postmaster informed Mayor Bennett that they will not approve another one-year lease.  They will seek a longer contract with us.

Mayor Bennett displayed two copies of the resolution honoring Tom Gunderson’s years of service, which was printed by the Wells College Book Arts Center.  Clerk Nance was directed to get signatures of board members and have the documents framed.

Clerk Nance reported that she had contacted the D.O.T. about the stop sign at the bottom of Cherry Ave., and that the D.O.T. would like to take a look at it, but first needs a written request.  She was told by Trustee Farenthold, that the sign has already been relocated to Orchard Lane.  Trustee Farenthold received verbal permission to move the sign from D.O.T. Traffic Engineer, Jim Harmon.  Discussion ensued.  Mayor Bennett asked Trustee Farenthold to clear things through the office in the future, so we are all made aware of events as they occur.  Clerk Nance will write a letter to the D.O.T. explaining the sign relocation and how it occurred.

Trustee Farenthold presented blueprints of the bridge project he received from Jim Harmon.  They are available in the office if anyone would like to view them.

Trustee MacCormick inquired about the new handicap parking space in the village parking lot.  Mayor Bennett responded that the post office put that in themselves without notifying the village or the college, who owns the lot.  It is, however, here to stay and Mayor Bennett suggested that we eliminate the handicap parking space on the street in front of the post office.

Clerk Nance reported that she has contacted David Dempsey and he is working on the insurance riders for the Summer Swim Program and the Aurorafest.

Clerk Nance said that tax collection is going smoothly and the new Williamson Law Book software is working well.

Treasurer’s Report – Ms. Brooks presented a report for the month of May and reported that she is working on closing down the books.  She reported that she was unable to make some proposed transfers of money to water and sewer due to inadequate funds.

Mayor Bennett asked the board to be thinking about water and our declining revenues caused by an increased number of seasonal village residents.  Ms. Brooks suggested increasing the access fee.  A suggestion was made to increase the fee for having your water service turned on and off.  Trustee Murphy expressed the opinion that year-round residents are carrying the financial burden of maintaining the water and sewer service for everyone.  Trustee MacCormick commented on the conflict of trying to conserve water for ecological and financial reasons and the problems encountered by the Waste Water Treatment Plant when it is not running at full capacity.

Ms. Brooks presented the final year end budget modifications to the board.

General Fund
$   127.50	FROM		A5110.2 – Street Maintenance/Equipment
		TO		A5110.12 – Village Maintenance Person /Seasonal

$   224.00	FROM		A8010.41 – Zoning – Contractual - ZBA
$     24.00	TO		A8010.42 – Zoning – Contractual – CPP
$   200.00	TO		A8010.4 – Zoning – Contractual 

$     40.00	FROM		A1620.12 – Buildings – Custodian 
		TO		A1620.1 – Buildings – Personal Services

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

Water Fund – None.

Sewer Fund
$   299.14	FROM		G8130.2 – Sewage Treatment – Equipment 
		TO		G8130.1 – Sewage Treatment – Personal Services

$     18.49	FROM		G9040.8 – Worker’s Compensation
		TO		G9030.8 – Social Security
 
Trustee Farenthold moved approval of the Sewer Fund Budget Modifications; seconded by Trustee Taylor.  Motion carried 5:0.

Mayor Bennett presented the bills for payment on Abstract #1.

General Fund – voucher #’s 001-007, 009-016, 019-032 and 034-037 in the amount of $13,148.44.  Trustee Farenthold moved payment of the General Fund Bills; seconded by Trustee Murphy.  Motion carried 5:0.

Water Fund – voucher #’s 005, 008 and 012-013 in the amount of $1,075.16.  Trustee Murphy moved payment of the Water Fund bills; seconded by Trustee Farenthold.  Motion carried 5:0.

Sewer Fund – voucher #’s 001, 005, 008, 011-013, 017-018, 022, 033 and 036 in the amount of $4,686.09.  Trustee Farenthold moved payment of the Sewer Fund bills; seconded by Trustee Taylor.  Motion carried 5:0.

Committee Reports
Buildings and Grounds – Trustee Murphy had nothing to report.  Mayor Bennett asked if anyone would like to tour Patrick Tavern on Saturday afternoon.  Trustees Taylor, MacCormick and Murphy agreed to go.  Mayor Bennett is concerned with damage to the foundation caused by the heavy truck traffic. 

Parks and Recreation – Trustee MacCormick reported that six lifeguards have been hired.  They are Morgan Mattoon, Jimmy Weber, J.D. Balloni, Sam Ayers, Michael Miller and Emmett Diz.  Carolyn Connors has been hired as the Summer Swim Program Director.  Ms. Connors will receive $1500 for the summer and the lifeguards will be paid $11.00 per hour.  The dates for the program are June 29th through August 22nd.  

A motion to approve the appointed lifeguards and program director at the salaries stated was made by Trustee Murphy; seconded by Trustee Farenthold.  Motion carried 5:0.

Trustee MacCormick also reported that the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse is presenting Alice in Wonderland this year as its traveling children’s production.  They will perform during the Aurorafest on July 10th at 1 PM, down by the boathouse.

Streets and Public Safety – Trustee Farenthold reported that he has removed the alternate street parking signs to have the supports sandblasted.  He has begun with the commercial district and will work his way down the street.  Mayor Bennett reported that Superintendent of Public Works, Kurt Wilmot, told her that replacing the stakes might be cheaper than sandblasting and repainting them.  Trustee Farenthold said that if that were the case then we could send them to NUCOR for recycling.  Trustee Farenthold will discuss the matter with Mr. Wilmot before proceeding.

Mr. Wilmot informed Trustee Farenthold that the D.O.T. has a plan to inventory their signs using GPS technology.

Trustee Farenthold raised the possibility of getting a 20 mile per hour school zone in front of Wells College.  This would increase safety for walkers and all so be a “traffic calming measure” to discourage truckers from using the Route 90 shortcut to Seneca Meadows Landfill.  Discussion ensued.  We might possibly be able to extend the 20 mile per hour zone all the way to the Aurora Preschool, but the board was not certain this was desirable.

Trustee Farenthold reported that the D.O.T. would not grant us permission to post our signs onto their sign posts.  There was discussion regarding a historic marker sign for the old mill that has never been erected.  We might want to place it down by the mill.  If placed on the street we need D.O.T. approval to place in their right-of-way.  Power Lines are generally placed on the right-of-way lines giving a good rule of thumb for proper placement.

Trustee Farenthold remarked that L.E.D. lights along the pocket park pathways might be a good idea.

Trustee Farenthold expressed disappointment in the D.O.T.’s shelving of the truck regulations.  The D.O.T. is promoting traffic calming measures instead.  Trustee Farenthold recommends we pursue the D.O.T.’s suggestion to site truck inspection stations near the village.  Trustee Farenthold is recommending the top of Chris’s hill, north of Aurora and the hunting inspection station, south of the village as possible sites for inspection stations and/or electronic weight sensors.

Clerk Nance reported that expected delivery of the village trash cans is Monday, June 21.

Water and Sewer – Trustee Taylor presented a report from Mr. Wilmot.  Trustee Taylor raised the concern that State regulations require two licensed Waste Water Treatment operators at the plant, not one.  We will have two when Adam Van Horn completes his certification, but will drop back to one when Mr. Wilmot retires.  We need to be thinking ahead, as the certification process takes several years.

Community Preservation Panel – Minutes of May 5, 2010.
Planning Board – Minutes of May 12, 2010.
Zoning Board of Appeals – no minutes.
Code Enforcement Officer – monthly report for May 20th through June 16th, 2010.  

New Business – Mayor Bennett reported on her meeting with the fire commissioners.  They would like to continue the dialogue begun with former Mayor Tom Gunderson to purchase the firehouse building from the village.  They recognize that it might be cheaper for them to build a new fire house, but finding a location might be difficult.  Fire Chief Mark Bailey said that even if the Aurora Volunteer Fire Dept. consolidated with another fire department, a station would remain in Aurora.  Mayor Bennett’s response was that the village office had no place to move to, so we have to start there, but selling the firehouse to them is still open for further discussion.

Resolution #10-13
Village of Aurora Workplace Violence Prevention Policy & Incident Reporting
(see attachment)

A motion to accept Resolution #10-13 was made by Trustee Farenthold; seconded by Trustee Taylor.  Motion carried 5:0.

Mayor Bennett presented three contracts up for renewal with Williamson Law Book – Payroll for $605.00, Water/Sewer Billing for $770.00 and Municipal Accounting for $770.00.  A motion to accept the Williamson Law Book contracts was made by Trustee Farenthold; seconded by Trustee MacCormick.  Motion carried 5:0.

Mayor Bennett asked for an executive session to discuss a legal matter.  A motion to enter into executive session was made by Trustee Murphy; seconded by Trustee Taylor.  Motion carried 5:0.

The board closed the public meeting at 9:25 PM and reopened in executive session at 9:28 PM.

A motion to adjourn the executive session and reopen the public meeting was made by Trustee Farenthold; seconded by Trustee MacCormick.  Motion carried 5:0.

A motion to approve going forward with issuing an “Order to Remedy” and subsequent legal action if there is no compliance by June 27th, 2010 at 331 Main Street was made by Trustee Farenthold; seconded by Trustee Taylor.  Motion carried 5:0.

Mayor Bennett raised the issue of skunks in the village.  It is no longer possible to have them removed for free by the Department of Health.  There is a mother and four babies living under Elizabeth Knight’s garage.  An independent contractor who removes nuisance animals was contacted by Clerk Nance.  He will remove the skunks for $150.  The cost is generally borne by the homeowner, but Mayor Bennett wonders if the village should consider budgeting for animal control.

A motion of adjournment was made by Trustee Taylor; seconded by Trustee Farenthold.  Motion carried 5:0.  The meeting adjourned at 10:20 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Dee Nance
Village Clerk