Town Board Meeting - January 6, 2014

A special 2014 organizational meeting of the Richfield Town Board was held on Monday, January 6, 2014, at the Richfield Town Hall. The meeting was called to order at 6:00 PM by Supervisor Enjem. Board members in attendance were Bond, Eckler, Palumbo, and Snyder.

1. Reimbursement rate for 2014 will be .56 per mile. The Town will also adopt the unreceipted per diem meal and travel rates as used by the state. To receive the full per diem allowance travel must be for overnight.

2. The Daily Star will be the official newspaper; additional publications may be used in addition to the legal paper when deemed necessary.

5. The regular meeting of the Town Board will be on the third Monday of the month at the Town Hall t at 6:30 PM.

6. The Superintendent of Highways may spend up to $1000.00 per purchase without Board approval. New materials and equipment must be purchased following procurement policy guidelines.

9. That Board member Eckler be appointed Health Officer for the Town of Richfield. (No salary associated with this position) Expenses for courses and mileage will be reimbursed.

10. The Town will continue its membership in the Association of Towns. The Supervisor represents the Town of Richfield at the annual Association of Towns Training School & Annual Meeting in NYC each year as a voting member. In the absence of the Supervisor, Paul Palumbo appointed as the voting delegate at the meeting. Representative attending will be reimbursed for incurred expenses to meetings with receipts accompanying bills, except as indicated in the New York State unreceipted travel guidelines. To receive the full per diem allowance travel must be for overnight.

11. Supervisor, Board members, Town Clerk, Highway Superintendent, Assessors, Town Justices, Court Clerks, and any other appointee of the Town wishing to attend training schools and meetings related to their associated positions are allowed to attend and be reimbursed for

receipted bills or unreceipted per diem meal and travel rates as used by the New York State. To receive the full per diem allowance travel must be for overnight. Prior approval of the Town Board is required if possible.

12. That heavy equipment operators paid at the rate of $17.00per hour, light equipment operators at the rate of $15.00 per hour.

15. That Monica Harris be Registrar of Vital Statistics with an annual salary $200.00, Veronica McCoy, Deputy Registrar at $100.00 both payable annually, and Michael Kress be appointed sub-registrar, no salary is attached to this position.

16. That Councilwoman Bond be in charge of the Town Hall and along with Supervisor Enjem will oversee arrangements for the proposed improvements/maintenance for the Town Hall/Garage.

17. That Douglas Brooks be appointed Deputy Superintendent of Highways at an annual salary of $600, payable semi-annually.

18. That Veronica McCoy and Richard Harris appointed deputy clerks with annual salaries of: Deputy Clerk McCoy $800.00 and Deputy Clerk Harris $2,600.00, payable semi-annually.

19. That Paul Palumbo be appointed deputy supervisor and authorized as signatory on town accounts (one signature required) in the event that the Supervisor is absent, out of town, or ill, at an annual salary of $600.00, paid semi-annually.

20. That David Weiss appointed Dog Control Officer for the Town at an annual salary of $2000.00, paid quarterly.

21. That Margaret Woodrow appointed Land Use Officer and FEMA Administrator for the Town at an annual salary of $3,500.00. Salary to be paid bi-weekly.

22. That Court Clerk will be paid $15.25 per hour; the Deputy Court Clerk will be paid $14.50 per hour.

23. That the Town follows the leave policy in the Personnel Policy adopted 12/29/04.

24. The following salaries to be in effect for 1012: Supervisor - $10,000.00; Clerk/Collector - $12,700.00; Board members - $2,100.00; Highway Superintendent - $45,000.00; 1^st Justice - $8,000.00; 2^nd Justice - $11,500.00; Assessor Margaret Woodrow(appointed) $15,500.00.

25. This item was tabled until the board looks into possibly changing those fees. (That Land Use Permit applications be obtained from the Town Clerk or Land Use Officer. The completed application must be returned to the Clerk or Land Use Officer along with the $15.00 application fee before a permit may be issued. All applications will be numbered for audit and control purpose. The $35.00 fee for a Variance includes the $15.00 fee charged for a building permit. Special Permits are $25.00 and do not require a building permit.)

26. That Councilwoman Bond is appointed as communications liaison to the school district, village, and fire department for emergency planning for the Town, and that Councilwoman Bond and Supervisor Enjem will represent the Town on the School/Village/ Town shared services committee.

27. That David Merzig be appointed as Town Attorney, with $2,500.00 annual unlimited contact, hourly rate of $150.00 per hour for court representation, plus portal to portal mileage at the IRS rate.

29. Ag and Markets requires that the Town appoint a veterinarian who will be available 24/7. We appoint Herkimer Veterinary Associates.

30. Planning Board members plus the one alternate member of the Planning Board will be paid $30.00 per meeting in 2013. Members must be present when the meeting is called to order to get paid. If the secretary is a member of the Board, the secretary will receive an additional $25.00 per month; if the secretary is not a member of the board, the secretary will receive $600.00 per year. Land Use Board of Appeals members will be paid $25.00 per meeting. If the secretary for the Board is also a Board member, the secretary will receive an additional $35.00 per month. If the secretary is not a Board member, the Secretary will be paid $600.00 per year. The chairman of each board will be paid an additional $150.00 per year.

31. That Supervisor Enjem and Councilwoman Snyder will oversee the maintenance of Bakers Beach structures/facilities.

32... That the Supervisor appoints Cindy Hall as confidential secretary with an annual salary of $8,400.00 payable bi-weekly.

33. Ames Insurance be appointed as a consultant and handle all insurance related items and liaison with the Towns insurance carrier, NYMIR.

34. Elected officials and employees will not be paid mileage for picking up supplies if the vendor provides free delivery.

35. The Supervisor is authorized to pay utility bills without prior Board approval to avoid late fees; department heads may buy postage without prior board approval. Vouchers for these expenses must be submitted for board audit and approval at the next regular board meeting.

36. The following appointments were made to the Land Use Board of Appeals, all terms to begin on January1st and end on December 31^st. For the Land Use Board of Appeals: Richard Laurenzo (01/01/2011 to 12/31/2015); William Berberick (01/01/2010 to 12/31/2011); Marjorie Walters (01/01/2010 to 12/31/2012); Tim Cantwell (01/01/2010 to 12/31/2013); Thomas Richvalsky (01/01/2010 to 12/31/2014). For the Planning Board: Cyndy Andela (01/01/2011 to 12/31/2015); Janet Sylvester (01/01/2012 to 12/31/2016); Paul Szeflinski (01/01/2013 to 12/31/2017); Donald Urtz (01/01/2010 to 12/31/2013); R. Joseph Woodrow (07/18/2011 to 12/31/14); alternate Richard Harris (01/01/2010 to 12/31/2014. The expired terms for Land Use Board of Appeals members will be addressed at a later meeting. Supervisor Enjem will contact the board members with expires terms and check to see if they still want to serve.

.37. The Village of Richfield Springs is authorized to use the Town Hall for Village elections in March. The date for 2014 is March 18th.

Before the board voted board member Snyder asked that the board receive financial statements and the agenda at least a few days in advance of the meeting so that board members have time to properly review the information; that public comment time be set at three (3) minutes. The supervisor wants five (5) and is going to move public comment time to the beginning of the meeting. He wants residents to be able to address the board. Board member Bond is still concerned about town bank accounts being reconciled. The supervisor is trying to get statements on line. The supervisor will try to get out a tentative agenda in advance of the meeting. If board members want something on the agenda they should give it to him the week before the meeting. The clerk will send a draft of the minutes to board members by e-mail.

38. The supervisor will provide the board with the agenda and financial reports before the meetings so that board members will have time to review them. The clerk will e-mail copies of the minutes in advance of the meeting.

Board member Eckler asked why the town needs citizen advisory committees. Supervisor Enjem said they have to do with other issues; board member Palumbo feels the committees can

Bring more perspective. Assessor Woodrow asked how these committee people will be paid; town board - there is no compensation.

Motion by Snyder, second by Palumbo to approve organizational items # 1 - 38 as listed with the exception of # 25. Bond - yes, Eckler - yes, Palumbo - yes, Snyder – yes, Enjem – yes.

Motion by Bond, second by Snyder to approve TBR # 1–2014, the posting of the “Standard Work Day and Reporting Resolution.” The resolution needs to be posted for sixty days. Bond – yes, Eckler – yes, Palumbo – yes, Snyder – yes, Enjem – yes.

The clerk has a packet of information from the Association of Towns with information for the February meeting in New York City.

Retired Justice Brykailo gave his final report to the board. In 2013 the court had 1788 cases. $208,741.00 was sent to the state, $69,824.50 was paid back to the town. Board members signed off on Justice Brykailo’s books.

At the end of the board meeting Nicholas Palevsky asked to address the board and was denied.

Motion to adjourn at 7:18 PM by Enjem, second by Bond. Bond – yes, Eckler – yes, Palumbo – yes, Snyder – yes, Enjem – yes.

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Monica Harris, Clerk