Minutes of a Regular Meeting of the
Town Council of the Town of Ellicott
held at the
Administration Building,
March 6, 2006
at 7:00 P.M.
Present: Supervisor Tyler, Councilman Geisler, Councilman Pickett, Councilman Miller, Councilman Heintzelman, Town Clerk Erlandson, Highway Superintendent Shellhouse, Attorney Lasker, 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 Pickett to accept the minutes of
the February 27, 2006 meeting as presented by the Town Clerk.
Legislator Spicer discussed the current status
of a “utility tax”. He reported that
Chautauqua County Executive Gregory Edwards recently vetoed a resolution by the
Chaut. Co. Legislature to eliminate the utility tax. Mr. Spicer intends to sustain the veto. He explained that removing the tax would create a budget
shortfall for the County of approximately $1.8 million, resulting in a loss of
revenue for the Town of Ellicott of approximately $80,000.00. In addition, Mr. Spicer pointed out that the
Legislature did not propose a matching cut in expenditures to make up for the
anticipated budget shortfall. In his
opinion, the tax should not be abolished without input from local municipalities. He asked the Council for direction re the
matter. The Council asked Mr. Spicer a
number of questions concerning the elimination of the tax. Supervisor Tyler asked him to provide
documentation outlining the effect that eliminating the utility tax would have
on local governments throughout Chautauqua Co.
Town Clerk Erlandson read the
following items into the record:
1.
Notice
of Public Hearing to be held by the Village of Falconer on a proposal to
amend the Zoning Law re adult use within the Village.
2.
Notice
of Public Hearing to be held by the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities
re the proposed clean coal project.
3.
Copy
of letter from Chaut. Co. Legislator Wally Huckno concerning the disposition of
a portion of Wilcox Ave. (tax parcel #25-8-18) located in the Town of Ellicott.
4.
Invitation
to upcoming Legislative Breakfast to be held in Lakewood, NY on March 25, 2006.
5.
Falconer Fire Dept. Incident Report: December 2005.
6.
Notice
of an upcoming seminar re “The Immutable Rules of Successful Tourism”.
7.
Newsletter:
Chaut. Co. Chamber of Commerce.
8.
Newsletter:
Greater Jamestown Empire Zone.
TOWN OFFICERS’ REPORTS
Councilman Geisler reminded the Town Council
that he and Councilman Heintzelman recently attended a meeting w/ Town of
Ellicott employees as well as the Town’s health insurance brokers to discuss
employee health insurance issues. He
explained that further meetings would be conducted throughout the year.
Town Attorney Lasker reported that he recently
prosecuted an alleged code enforcement violation in the Town of Ellicott
court. He expects a decision from the
Town Justice re the matter in April 2006.
Abandoned House on Bentley
Ave. –
Town Attorney Lasker reported that he is attempting to expedite negotiations re
the demolition of an abandoned house located at 2808 Bentley Ave. (Minutes 1/2/06 et. seq.) He expects to resolve the matter soon.
Water Pump Station on School
Ave. –
Highway Superintendent Shellhouse discussed the status of constructing a water-pump
station in West Ellicott in the Howard Ave. - School Ave. area. (Minutes 10/3/05 et. seq.) He distributed a tax map showing the
proposed location of the pump near Glenwood Ave. He explained that the pump would be constructed on a Town of
Ellicott “right-of-way”.
Attorney Lasker recommended that a title search be conducted of
the property. Mr. Shellhouse
recommended that the Town Council retain Tolman Engineering, PLLC to
design the pump, conduct public bidding & oversee construction at a cost
not to exceed $14,880.00. However, he
noted that the amount could be considerably less depending on how much
assistance the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities can provide.
Retain Engineer Rex Tolman
(Howard Ave. Water Pump Station)
Motion by Councilman Geisler,
seconded by Councilman Heintzelman to retain Tolman Engineering, PLLC for
the purpose of providing engineering services to complete design, public
bidding and construction oversight for the proposed Howard Avenue Pump Station
project, at a cost to the Town not to exceed $14,880.00.
NEW BUSINESS
No New Business
RESOLUTION #42-06
Payment of Claims
Motion by Supervisor Tyler, seconded by Councilman Miller to pay 2006
current claims #219-278, inclusive, in the amount of $88,333.09 and charge
to the proper fund or account.
Adopted.
Ayes - 5
Noes - 0 Absent - 0
Motion
by Supervisor Tyler, seconded by Councilman Pickett to adjourn at 7:37 PM.
Carried.
Ayes - 5
Noes - 0
Absent - 0
_________________________________
Michael C. Erlandson, Town Clerk