TOWN OF HUME
JULY 9, 2008
A
regular meeting of the Hume Town Board, Allegany County, New York was held at
the Fillmore Park Pavilion, 17 Park Street, Fillmore, New York 14735 on July 9,
2008. Supervisor Craig E. Smith opened the meeting at 7:10 PM by leading the
Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
Officials
in attendance: Craig Smith, Supervisor: Council members Dennis Ricketts, Daniel
Miller, and Robert Beil; Superintendent of Highways Ron Paulsen; Superintendent
of Water and Sewer Dana Potter; Historian Rondus Miller; Attorney David Pullen;
Deputy Clerk Susan Bodnar; and Clerk Sondra MacEwan.
Councilman
Bryce Bower was absent.
Councilman
Ricketts moved that the minutes of the June 11, 2008 meeting of the Board be
accepted as presented, and Councilman Beil seconded. 4 ayes, 0 noes.
A
construction performance bond was obtained from drillers on Rogers Road. This
was arranged in conjunction with the Town of Centerville with advise from
Attorney David Pullen.
There
has been no further word from DEC since the meeting at Cold Creek for a
pre-application conference.
Rondus
Miller reported that the FCS fourth graders had enjoyed the Hume historical
tour.
She
also said that a picture of the Cold Creek bridge circa 1902 had been donated
to the Museum.
Superintendent
Dana Potter told the Board that locking fuel caps were available for passenger
vehicles, but not for tractors.
Installation
of the Park playground equipment is scheduled to begin on July 28, 2008.
Superintendent
Potter handed out a proposal sheet from E. J. Militello Concrete Inc. for
sidewalk installation. Two sections are being considered for repair, and Town
personnel will do the preparation work for installation.
Councilman
Ricketts moved that authorization be given to have E. J. Militello Concrete
install up to 1000 linear feet of sidewalk at the direction of the Hume
Sidewalk Department. Councilman Miller seconded the motion. 4 ayes, 0 noes.
Councilman
Beil moved that $346.50 be transferred from unappropriated funds to SW1440.4 to
cover the engineer’s study of FCS water system plans. Councilman Ricketts
seconded. 4 ayes, 0 noes.
Councilman
Miller moved that $346.50 be billed to Fillmore Central School for the
engineer’s study, and Councilman Ricketts seconded. 4 ayes, 0 noes.
Councilman
Ricketts moved that $224.93 be transferred from the General Account Contingency
Fund to A1355.4 for assessor’s services. Councilman Beil seconded. 4 ayes, 0
noes.
Supervisor
Smith told the Board that Code Enforcement Officer Clair Beeman had been
contacted about the property maintenance petition received at the June meeting
of the Board. Mr. Beeman asked for a standardized written complaint form for
each property to be cited.
Councilman
Miller moved that Supervisor Smith be authorized to sign the complaint forms on
behalf of the petitioners and Town. Councilman Ricketts seconded the motion. 4
ayes, 0 noes.
The
Board discussed the possibility of adopting a local law allowing the Town to
clean up or demolish derelict properties with costs for those operations
relevied to the property owner. Attorney Pullen advised that, though the Town
was authorized by State law to adopt such a law, actually collecting the money was
problematic. After discussion, the Board concurred that footing such bills
would be disadvantageous to the taxpayers as a whole.
Supervisor
Smith asked that recommendations for filling the Variance Board vacancy be prepared for the August meeting of the
Board.
Carl
Schoenthal told Supervisor Smith that the Hume-Caneadea Sewer Connection study
is nearly completed. Mr. Schoenthal would like to arrange a joint meeting of
the Hume and Caneadea Boards to review the study.
Councilman
Miller moved that the reports of the Supervisor and Town Clerk be accepted as
presented, and that the bills be accepted for payment. Councilman Beil
seconded. 4 ayes, 0 noes.
(General
-- $15311.47; Highway -- $77063.24; Lighting -- $1274.35; Sewer -- $8791.81;
Water -- $2290.82)
Councilman
Ricketts advised the Board that he’d received a complaint about the
distribution of the material derived from ditch cleaning. Complaint noted.
The
Board asked Attorney David Pullen to review the forms for contracts for fire
and ambulance services.
The
Board looked at a chart showing cable franchise fees collected in relation to
the tax breaks for the cable company.
The
agricultural property tax exemptions for the greenhouse on State Route 19A will
soon expire. The tax burden for that property based on current assessed values
was discussed. There is interest in negotiating a more equitable assessment, or
negotiating an alternative tax method.
Mr.
Pullen as District I Legislator reported that the Town of Hume saved about
$11500.00 by participating in the Allegany County Mutual Self Insurance Plan
rather than contracting with a private commercial company for workman’s
compensation insurance.
Tickets
for the annual Legislator’s Clam Bake are available.
Estimates
for the new court house and renovations for existing structures are lower than
expected, coming in at about $18 Million.
Those
present talked about the County sales tax rate for fuel, and the possibility
that it could be rescinded.
Councilman
Ricketts moved that the meeting be adjourned, and Councilman Beil seconded. 4
ayes, 0 noes. Meeting adjourned at 8:20
PM.
Please
note a change in meeting details: the next regular meeting of the Hume Town
Board will be on Tuesday, August 12, 2008 at 7:00 PM at the Fillmore Park
Pavilion.
Respectfully
submitted,
Sondra
MacEwan,
Town
Clerk