Minutes of a Regular Meeting of the
Town Council of the Town of Ellicott
held at the
Administration Building,
February 6,
2006 at 7:00 P.M.
Present: Supervisor Tyler, Councilman Geisler, Councilman Pickett, Councilman Miller, Councilman Heintzelman, Town Clerk Erlandson, Highway Superintendent Shellhouse, Code Enforcement Officer Woodbury, Legislator Spicer.
Supervisor Tyler opened the
meeting at 7:00 PM and led the Town Council in the Pledge of Allegiance. Town Clerk Erlandson called the roll.
Motion
by Councilman Miller, seconded by Councilman Geisler to accept the minutes of
the January 16, 2006 meeting as presented by the Town Clerk.
No Public Comments.
Town Clerk Erlandson read the
following items into the record:
1.
Notice
of upcoming Public Hearing in the Town of Kiantone.
2.
Invitation to a Legislative Breakfast sponsored by the Chautauqua
County Chamber of Commerce.
3.
Notice
from the NYS Dept. of Transportation re designation of restricted
highway: a portion of I-86.
4.
Newsletter:
Community Assistance Program.
TOWN OFFICERS’ REPORTS
Town Clerk Erlandson stated that the final day for paying property taxes without penalty is Feb. 8, 2006.
Mr. Erlandson also reported that the general public now has the capability of accessing property tax information on the Town of Ellicott website: www.townofellicott.com.
Highway Superintendent Shellhouse reported that he & two Ellicott Highway Dept. employees are currently looking into HVAC problems at the Ellicott Administration Bldg. He explained they have made a number of minor repairs to the existing boiler system, which should make it run more efficiently. He also stated they intend to make an overall evaluation of the current HVAC system.
Abandoned House on Bentley
Ave. –
The Town Council discussed the status of an abandoned house located at
2808 Bentley Ave. (Minutes 1/2/06 et.
seq.). Code Enforcement Officer
Woodbury commented on the matter. In
his opinion, negotiations with the property owner’s attorney re the demolition
of the house are moving forward. Town Clerk
Erlandson reported that Town Attorney Lasker is working diligently to get the
matter resolved.
Water Pump Station on School
Ave. –
Highway Superintendent Shellhouse asked the Council for permission to hire
Engineer Rex Tolman to design a water-pump station for the School Ave.
area (Minutes 10/3/05 et. seq.). Mr. Shellhouse stated that the cost
of the design would be approximately $10,000.00 – $15,000.00. The Council discussed the matter. Supervisor Tyler noted that a resident in
the area recently expressed an interest in allowing the Town to place the
prospective pump station on his property.
Councilman Geisler asked Town Attorney Lasker look into the possibility
of acquiring the property from the resident. Mr. Geisler also asked Attorney Lasker to research the current
water & sewer agreement between the Town of Ellicott and the
Jamestown Board of Public Utilities to determine whether there are any
legal ramifications with respect to installing the pump. The Council directed Mr. Shellhouse to
obtain a price quote from Mr. Tolman for designing the pump station.
Veterans’ Property Tax
Exemption
– Town Clerk Erlandson reported that he has received inquiries from a number of
veterans asking why the Town of Ellicott has not adopted the “alternative” veterans’
property tax exemption. He
explained that the exemption is already applied to the Chautauqua Co. portion
of property taxes. He reminded the Town
Council that the matter was discussed several years ago. At that time, the Council decided not to authorize
the exemption until sufficient data could be obtained re the impact of the
exemption on the Town’s total assessed value. He and the Town Assessor are currently in the process of
compiling the data. Mr. Erlandson
distributed information re the exemption & explained that in order to
establish the exemption the Council must first adopt a resolution. However, he pointed out that the resolution
must be adopted at least ninety (90) days prior to March 1 to be
effective for the subsequent fiscal year.
Therefore, the earliest that the exemption could take effect for Town
taxes would be 2008. Tabled pending
further review.
Establish Negotiating
Committee
– Supervisor Tyler appointed Councilmen Geisler & Heintzelman to negotiate
a new labor agreement with Town of Ellicott CSEA highway & office
employees. The current agreement
expires on December 31, 2006. The
Councilmen will also meet periodically with employee representatives to discuss
health insurance issues.
NEW BUSINESS
Electrical Supply to Town of Ellicott Residents –
Supervisor Tyler reported that the Town of Busti & the Village of Lakewood
recently requested that the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities become
their electricity supplier
instead of the Niagara Mohawk Power Corp. He explained that the BPU has requested state funding to conduct a study to determine the
feasibility of the request. He
discussed the possibility of shifting areas of the Town of Ellicott currently
being serviced by Ni-Mo onto the BPU power grid. Mr. Tyler noted that although most of the
Town is currently being serviced by the BPU, a number of areas are
not. He stated that he would look into
the possibility of including the Town of Ellicott in the proposed feasibility study. However, he pointed out that the cost of the
sturdy would be approximately $100,000.00.
Should state funding for the study not be authorized, the municipalities
might have to share the cost of the study.
Supervisor Tyler & Town Clerk Erlandson will discuss the matter with
BPU officials.
The Regular Town Council
meeting scheduled for Feb. 20, 2006 was cancelled in observance of President’s
Day.
RESOLUTION #34-06
Equipment Purchase
Motion
by Supervisor Tyler, seconded by Councilman Pickett authorizing Highway
Superintendent Shellhouse to purchase a 2006 Ford F550
Dump Truck (with Dump Box and Diesel Package) at a cost to the Town of Ellicott
of $25,192.00 (including trade-in of 1997 Ford
F350 Dump Truck) and; further, authorizing Highway Superintendent Shellhouse to
purchase a 2006 Ford
F350 Pickup Truck with 9-foot plow at a cost to the Town of Ellicott of
$19,498.00 (including trade-in of 1997 Chevrolet 3500
Pickup Truck).
Adopted.
Ayes - 5
Noes - 0
Absent - 0
RESOLUTION #35-06
Budget Transfers
Motion by Supervisor Tyler,
seconded by Councilman Pickett authorizing Town of Ellicott Supervisor to make
the following 2005 budget transfers & encumbrances:
Transfer the amount of $17,524.42 from Account #DB9060.8 (Highway – Medical Insurance) to Account #DB5110.4 (Highway General Repairs - Contractual); transfer the amount of $3,906.45 from Account #DB5142.1 (Snow Removal – Personal Services) to Account #DB5130.4 (Highway Machinery - Contractual); encumber $1,712.04 into Account #A9060.8 (Medical Insurance); encumber $1,500.00 into Account #A1330.4 (Tax Collection – Contractual); encumber $41,026.02 into Account #A3120.1 (Police – Personal Services); encumber $7,056.06 into Account #A1320.4 (Police – Contractual); encumber $30,892.95 into Account #A1320.9 (Police – DWI Services); encumber $1,200.00 into Account #B9060.8 (Medical Insurance); encumber $904.29 into Account #B8010.4 (Zoning - Contractual); encumber $904.29 into Account #B8020.4 (Planning - Contractual); encumber $1,387.95 into Account #DB9060.8 (Highway - Medical Insurance); encumber $18,216.24 into Account #DB5142.4 (Snow Removal - Contractual).
RESOLUTION #36-06
Payment of Claims
Motion by Supervisor Tyler, seconded by Councilman Miller to pay 2005 current claim #1505 in the amount
of $1,277.74 and charge to the proper fund or account; and, further, to pay 2006
current claims #46-133, inclusive, in the amount of $67,330.63 and charge
to the proper fund or account.
Adopted.
Ayes - 5
Noes - 0
Absent - 0
Motion
by Supervisor Tyler, seconded by Councilman Geisler to adjourn at 7:34 PM.
Carried.
Ayes - 5
Noes - 0
Absent - 0
_________________________________
Michael C. Erlandson, Town Clerk