The Year-End Meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Otsego were held on the 31st day of            December, 2003 at the Town Building, Fly Creek, NY at 9:00 AM.

           

            PRESENT:

            Tom Breiten                             Chairman

            George Tucker             Councilman

            Bill Michaels                             Councilman

            Nancy Iversen                          Councilman

 

            ALSO PRESENT:

            Pam Deane                               Town Clerk

            Louie (Spike) Boyd                  Highway Superintendent

            Ed Olsen                                  Code Officer

                                   

Chairman Breiten called the meeting to order and asked that everyone please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

MOTION by Councilman Michaels, seconded by Councilman Tucker, to accept the minutes of December 10th as presented.

 

MOTION CARRIED: Chairman Breiten and all Councilmen voted aye.

 

Chairman Breiten presented the off-premise sign restrictions for the New York Scenic Byways and primary highways. Off-premise signs licensed with the state are grandfathered, and therefore are not affected by this ruling.  In the Town of Otsego the Route Twenty Byway restrictions apply only to properties located on Route 80.

 

Chairman Breiten reported receiving a follow-up letter from Bob Einreinhofer, stating that The Otsego Lake Association is requesting from municipalities surrounding Otsego Lake a $200 annual maintenance fee for the No-Wake Zone buoy. Otsego County Soil and Water Conservation District has taken ownership of the buoys and will control the maintenance fund.

 

When it was decided to purchase and place the buoys around Otsego Lake, the Watershed Board was adamant that there would be no cost or responsibilities to the Towns or Village of Cooperstown. The Town Board decided that, out of principle, they will refuse to pay any amount of money in helping with the annual maintenance for the No-Wake Zone buoys.

 

Chairman Breiten stated that he has found an economical phone service package to accommodate those conducting the Town’s reval.  This package, called  Freedom All, is offered by Verizon to municipalities and businesses, and covers unlimited local, regional, and long distance calls at a monthly charge of $38 per phone line. This information was sent by Verizon to Village of Cooperstown Mayor Carol Waller for review.

 

MOTION by Councilman Michaels, seconded by Councilman Tucker, to pay the following invoices:

            GENERAL:      #290-#301                                           $  11,917.17

            HWY:              #261 & #351-#365                              $110,249.77

 

MOTION CARRIED: Chairman Breiten and all Councilmen voted aye.

 

MOTION by Councilman Michaels, seconded by Councilman Tucker, authorizing Town Accountant Phil Fairhead to balance all year-end accounts.

 

MOTION CARRIED:  Chairman Breiten and all Councilmen voted aye.

 

MOTION by Councilman Tucker, seconded by Councilman Michaels, authorizing Town Bookkeeper Dora Cooke to establish a Highway Capital Project Account and a General Capital Project Account at Wilber Bank.  Once established, $45,000 is to be deposited in the Highway Capital Project Account and $32,000 in the General Capital Project Account.

 

MOTION CARRIED:  Chairman Breiten and all Councilmen voted aye.

 

 

 

 

Louie (Spike) Boyd gave the Superintendent of Highway year-end report.  Fuel expenses are as follow:

 

FUEL               GALLONS      TOTAL COST/MONTH         YTD GALS              YTD EXP.

 Gas                     -0-                              $       -0-                   1,847.4                   $     2,080.48

Diesel                 2,574.9                         $   2,254.05             20,011.4                   $   20,777.19

Heating   1,088.8                         $   1,286.42               8,630.4                   $     9,662.20

Svc.                     -0-                              $     297.59                                             $        748.19

 

O.T.                    283 HRS                      $  5,871.04          1,028.5 HRS                 $   21,337.58

 

Spike submitted a copy of the Geologic report sent to Thomas Lane, NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation.  The report states that no analytical field evidence of subsurface petroleum contamination was detected in the soil and groundwater obtained from the direct push boring advanced during this investigation.  No BTEX compounds have been detected in the SVE effluent air in four of the last five sampling events.  The water supply well for the highway garage has been sampled three times and no volatile organic compounds have been detected.  In closing, Geologic recommends closure of NYSDEC Spill No. 9909089.

 

MOTION by Councilman Michaels, seconded by Councilman Tucker, to accept the Superintendent of Highway report.

 

MOTION CARRIED: Chairman Breiten and all Councilmen voted aye.

 

Chairman Breiten announced that he has been talking with the Susquehanna SPCA about acting as the Town Dog Control Officer.  They are willing to pick up and house dogs, but will not write violation notices.

 

It was the consensus of the Board to continue advertising for a Dog Control Officer, but in the meantime contract with the Susquehanna SPCA.  It was agreed that the Dog Control Officer’s salary would remain at $1,900 a year, and the Town would pay $2 a dog for anyone interested in conducting a Dog Enumeration.

 

The Susquehanna SPCA contract will be given to Attorney McGown for review.

 

MOTION by Councilman Michaels, seconded by Councilman Iversen, to go into Executive Session to discuss highway contract negotiations.

 

MOTION CARRIED:  Chairman Breiten and all Councilmen voted aye.

 

MOTION by Councilman Iversen, seconded by Councilman Tucker, to come out of Executive Session.

 

MOTION CARRIED: Chairman Breiten and all Councilmen voted aye.

 

Chairman Breiten announced that, during  Executive Session, no decisions were made.

 

After some discussion, it was decided that applicants for the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals member and clerk vacancies would be interviewed January 12th at 7:00 PM.

 

Chairman Breiten submitted a list of proposed appointments:

 

            Accountant - Lynn Bass

            Planning Board Chairman - Jonathan Bass

            Zoning Board of Appeals Chairman - Anthony Scalici

            Codes Enforcement Officer - Ed Olsen

            Town Attorney - Margaret McGown

            Deputy Supervisor - George Tucker

            Bookkeeper/Confidential Secretary - Dora Cooke

            Historian - Tom Heitz

            Town Board Meeting - 2nd Wednesday of each month

            Town Newspaper- CoopersTown Crier and Oneonta  Daily Star

            Banks - Wilber National and Central National

 

MOTION by Councilman Michaels, seconded by Councilman Tucker, to accept Chairman Breiten’s proposal for appointments.

 

MOTION CARRIED:  Chairman Breiten and all Councilmen voted aye.

 

MOTION by Councilman Michaels, seconded by Councilman Iversen, to adjourn.

 

MOTION CARRIED:  Chairman Breiten and all Councilmen voted aye.

 

The next regular meeting will be held on January 14th, 2003 at 7:00 PM at the Town Building in Fly Creek.

                                                                                                           

                                                                                                            Respectfully Submitted

                                                                                                            Pamela Deane, Town Clerk