June 04, 2014: Regular Village Board Meeting Minutes

Village of Tully

June 4, 2014 Regular Meeting

There was a regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Tully on Wednesday, June 4, 2014 at 7:00pm in the Municipal Building.

Pledge of Allegiance/Call to Order

Mayor Greenwood led the Pledge of Allegiance and called the meeting to order at 7:05pm.

Motion was made by Trustee Flaherty, 2^nd by Trustee Vernay to approve the minutes for the May 7, 2014.  Ayes carried. 

Upon motion by Trustee Poellot, 2^nd by Trustee Yonko it was unanimous to accept the treasurer’s report, subject to audit.

Public Comment

There was an informational meeting on the Water Improvements Project.  Engineer Ken Teter explained the issues to be addressed.  The issues are:

·         The Source:  Well head #1 has safety issues, the outside structure is faulty

·         The Storage:  there is damage to the cement and the liner of the reservoir

·         The Distribution:  many of the pipes are decades old, and we would replace all 2” and 4” pipes.

The improvements that we hope to accomplish are:

·         The Source:  raise the well, so that it is no longer in a vault, improve outside structure

·         The Storage:  replace the reservoir with a glass lined steel above ground tank, resulting in better pressure and curing any leakage

·         The Distribution:  replace 2” and 4” mains, looping dead ends for better water pressure, and replacing 19 fire hydrants.

The Mayor assured residents that all repairs to sidewalks, lawns, and roads would also be covered within the scope of the project.  The ground would not be broken until the summer of 2015 at the soonest.

The Mayor explained that the Board considered several options and determined that this option was the best at covering our immediate needs and staying within a reasonable amount of monies.

The tax payer would see an increase in the water assessment of just under $200.00 a year.  The bond would be for 38 years at 2.5% interest.  The improvements should enable us to decrease the water usage rates due to increased operational efficiency.

The Mayor urged residents to stop at the Village office during regular business hours to view the Preliminary Engineering Report, the Environmental Report and the map of which water mains will be upgraded.

Trustee Yonko inquired whether a referendum on the water project would be required.  Attorney Hills advised that the Village Board will propose a bond resolution for adoption that authorizes the acquisition, construction and equipping of certain water infrastructure improvements at an estimated maximum cost of $3,135,210.00, appropriating said amount therefore, and authorizing the issuance of up to $3,135,210.00 bond anticipation notes and serial bonds of the Village to pay the cost of the Project.  Once the bond resolution is adopted by the Village Board, the Village Clerk shall publish a legal notice in the Village’s official newspaper stating that the bond resolution was adopted, subject to permissive referendum.  Permissive referendum means qualified electors in the Village of Tully who are opposed to the bond resolution have thirty (30) days to demand a referendum. If a petition is not filed with the Village Clerk within 30 days, the bond resolution is presumably desired by the majority of the residents in the Village of Tully and becomes effective thirty (30) days after its adoption.  Trustee Yonko added that the Village Board may, upon its own motion, cause same to be submitted for the approval of the qualified electors of the Village of Tully, and such referendum would be held in the same manner as if a petition was filed by qualified electors themselves.

An inquiry was made as to whether a referendum would be costly.  The Mayor advised that while unaware of the exact figure it could potentially cost the taxpayers several thousand dollars to hold a public referendum, and would take several months for the process.  She noted that the Village would research this information.

7:45pm the Board broke for a small break and then continued with a presentation from the Tully Agricultural students.

Emma Currie, Kara Clark and Matt Currie presented their hope to create and sustain a student- run small animal livestock farm.  The Tully School is the only school in Onondaga County which still has an Ag program.  Two students would care for the animals daily.  They hope to use two acres of land and a barn on the Greenwood property.  The agricultural program would be responsible for the profits and expenses.  Students participating in the program would be eligible for scholarships.  This would also apply to their supervised agricultural experience.  There was a discussion on whether small farm animals should be allowed on a temporary and controlled basis under the direct supervision of the school.

DPW

Sewage Pump:  Upon motion by Trustee Poellot, 2^nd by Trustee Flaherty it was unanimous to accept the price from Gartner (they are a sole source for the pump) for a sewage pump.  All ayes carried.

Training Report: no new training

Maintenance Report: The electrical panel box over near Nice and Easy was damaged by unknown forces.  The Mayor will check with the insurance company.

Codes:

Codes officer Ralph Lamson attended a class regarding solar panels.  He now has paperwork for a permit for solar panels, which will make the Village eligible to receive a $2,500.00 grant.

Counsel:

Upon the motion by Trustee Poellot, 2^nd by Trustee Flaherty it was unanimous to issue the following:  Relative to the water project, the Board upon further discussion of the project and review of the Short form EAF, Part 1, determined that the project and actions contemplated comprised an Unlisted Action pursuant to the NYS Environmental Quality Review Act; and as an Unlisted Action the Board of Trustees elected to act as Lead Agency, conducted an Uncoordinated Review and based upon its review of Parts 1 and proposed Part 11 of the EAF, determined that same will have no significant environmental impact and thus issued a Negative Declaration pursuant to the NYS Environmental Quality Review Act.

Upon motion by Trustee Vernay, 2^nd by Trustee Yonko it was unanimous to schedule the following.

NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING

Village of TULLY

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a Special Meeting will be held by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Tully on the 18th day of June, 2014, at 7:00 P.M., at the Village of Tully Municipal Building located at 5833 Meetinghouse Road, Tully, New York 13159, to consider the following:

Resolution authorizing the acquisition, construction and equipping of certain water infrastructure improvements at an estimated maximum cost of $3,135,210.00, appropriating said amount therefore, and authorizing the issuance of up to $3,135,210.00 bond anticipation notes and serial bonds of the Village to pay the cost of the project; the form of such proposed resolution as prepared by Bond Counsel is on file and can be reviewed at the Office of the Village Clerk Treasurer of Tully.

Any other business that may properly come before the Village Board of Trustees.

By Order of the Village Board:

__________________________________                           

Ruth Van Buskirk, Village Clerk   

Date: June 4, 2014                

Upon motion by Trustee Flaherty, 2^nd by Trustee Vernay it was unanimous to authorize the Mayor to retain Fiscal Advisors subject to approval of the bond resolution.

Engineer:

No report

New Business:

The tax warrant has been issued and the annual water report is done.  The water report has been mailed and placed on the website.

Public Comment

Audit Bills

Upon motion by Trustee Flaherty, 2^nd by Trustee Vernay, it was unanimous to review and authorize the accountant to pay the bills, subject to audit. 

Upon motion of Trustee Flaherty, 2^nd by Trustee Poellot it was unanimous to adjourn at 8:50pm.

Respectfully Submitted

Ruth C. Van Buskirk

Clerk/Treasurer