Minutes of a Regular Meeting of the

Town Council of the Town of Ellicott

held at the Administration Building,

215 S. Work Street, Falconer, N.Y. on

December 5, 2001 at 7:00 P.M.

 

Present: Supervisor Tyler, Councilman Hendrickson, Councilman Lodestro, Councilman Miller, Councilman Taylor, Town Clerk Erlandson, Highway Superintendent Shellhouse, Attorney Duncanson, Police Chief Vanstrom, Legislator Spicer.

 

Supervisor Tyler opened the meeting at 7:00 P.M. and led the Town Council in the Pledge of Allegiance.  Town Clerk Erlandson called the roll. 

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 

Motion by Councilman Miller, seconded by Councilman Taylor to accept the minutes of the November 21, 2001 meeting as presented by the Town Clerk.

 

Carried.                             Ayes - 5                               Noes - 0                                Absent - 0

 

            PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR

 

Mr. Patrick McLaughlin, Celoron, stated that he recently resigned as a member of the Town of Ellicott Planning Board.  He recommended that the Town Council appoint Paul Shanahan to fill the unexpired term.

 

Legislator Spicer commented on a new item pricing law being proposed by the Chautauqua Co. Legislature.  He asked the Town Council to review the proposed legislation.

 

CORRESPONDENCE

 

            Town Clerk Erlandson read the following items into the record:

1.      Invitation to the annual Falconer Volunteer Firemen’s Association Christmas Party.

2.      Invitation to the annual Village of Falconer Street Department’s Christmas Luncheon.

3.      Notification of an upcoming Powers & Duties seminar for elected officials.

4.      Police Activity Report: November 2001.

 

TOWN OFFICERS’ REPORTS

 

Councilman Lodestro reported that Attorney Gregory Yaw has drafted a set of procedures & forms for the development of water & sewer service within the Town of Ellicott.  He asked the Town Council & Attorney Duncanson to review the documents.

 

Mr. Lodestro also reported that a meeting with a representative from the Rural Housing Improvement, Inc. will be held at Town Hall on Dec. 6, 2001 at noon.  He explained that RHI might be able to assist the Town of Ellicott secure funding for future municipal water projects.  He invited all Town officials to attend the meeting.

 

Highway Superintendent Shellhouse reported that the new street recently constructed off S. Dow Street is nearly complete.  He asked the Town Council to begin considering possible names for the new street.

 

Mr. Shellhouse also commented on the milfoil problem in Burtis Bay.  He presented several pictures to show the extent of the problem.  In his opinion, the situation should be addressed.

 

Supervisor Tyler reported that construction of the new Home Depot facility on Fairmount Ave. is nearing completion.  He reminded the Council that the grand opening of the new facility will be Dec. 20, 2001.

 

OLD BUSINESS

           

Agreements w/ Town of Ellicott Employees Tabled until further notice.

 

Buffalo-Willard Water Project – Councilman Lodestro reported that the Town Clerk’s office recently mailed a letter to every homeowner within the new Buffalo-Willard Water District outlining the payment options.  (See ‘Buffalo-Willard Water’ file for detail)

 

Renovation of Administration Building – Councilman Hendrickson reported that renovations of the Ellicott Administration Bldg. are slightly behind schedule.  He noted that the target date for completion of Phase I of the project is Dec. 31, 2001.

 

Vacancy on Town of Ellicott Planning Board – Councilman Lodestro recommended that a committee be formed to interview four (4) potential candidates to fill the vacancy on the Ellicott Planning Board.  Supervisor Tyler appointed a committee to conduct the interviews.  The committee will consist of Planning Board Chairman Daniel Evans, Planning Board Attorney William Wright & Councilman Miller.

 

Water/Sewer Service on Fluvanna Ave. Ext. & Orchard Rd. – Councilman Taylor is continuing to look into the viability of installing water & sewer service to the Fluvanna area.  In addition, Mr. Taylor feels that the Council should move forward with installing water service along Orchard Rd.  He noted that the majority of Orchard Rd. residents have requested water service.  Highway Superintendent Shellhouse pointed out that the Town of Busti plans to install a water line along a section of Baker St. Ext.  He recommended that the Ellicott officials contact the Town of Busti to discuss the possibility of connecting to the Baker St. water line.  Mr. Shellhouse feels that such a plan would reduce the overall cost of installing the Orchard Rd. water line.  Supervisor Tyler will contact the Town of Busti Supervisor to discuss the matter.

 

 

 

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

Agreement w/ Chautauqua County (Airport Sewer Line) – Attorney Duncanson reported that he reviewed a proposed municipal cooperation agreement between Chautauqua County and the Town of Ellicott re the Airport Hill Sanitary Sewer Line.  He recommended that the Council not adopt the agreement until several matters re the sewer line are resolved.  Tabled pending further review.

 

Code Revisions - Councilman Hendrickson presented a draft of proposed revisions to the Town of Ellicott zoning code.  He distributed copies of the proposed revisions to the Council.  He explained that the Ellicott Zoning Commission has been working on the revisions for the past six months.  Mr. Hendrickson summarized some of the more significant changes.  The Council asked a number of questions re the revisions.  Attorney Duncanson pointed out that an environmental review would need to be conducted before the code changes can be adopted.  The Council will review the proposed revisions during the next several weeks.  The Council commended the Zoning Commission for its hard work on drafting the proposal.

 

Traffic Light on Fairmount Ave. – The Council discussed a petition submitted by a number of Town residents.  The petition requests that a traffic light be installed on Fairmount Ave. (Rte. 394) in front of the Sam’s Club warehouse.  According to Police Chief Vanstrom the traffic volume on Fairmount Ave. has increased significantly since the warehouse was initially opened in 1995.  He suggested that the Town Council send a letter to the New York State Dept. of Transportation asking that a traffic study be conducted to determine whether a light should be installed.  Supervisor Tyler stated that he already sent a letter to the NYSDOT re the matter in July 2001.  The Council suggested a follow-up letter be sent.  Chief Vanstrom stated that he will discuss the issue at the next Chautauqua Co. Safety Board meeting.

 

RESOLUTION #153-01

Budget Transfers

 

Motion by Supervisor Tyler, seconded by Councilman Taylor authorizing Town of Ellicott Supervisor to make the following budget transfers:

 

Transfer the amount of $1,306.25 from Account #A1420.1 (Attorney - Personal) into Account #A1420.4 (Attorney - Contractual); transfer the amount of $225.62 from Account #A1680.1 (Data Processing – Personnel Services) into Account #A1680.4 (Data Processing - Contractual); transfer the amount of $60.00 from Account #A3510.2 (Dog Control – Equipment) to Account #A3510.4 (Dog Control – Contractual); transfer the amount of $2,247.00 from Account #B9010.8 (Retirement) to Account #B1910.4 (Unallocated Insurance – Contractual); transfer the amount of $1,767.00 from Account #B9060.8 (Retirement) to Account #B1910.4 (Unallocated Insurance); transfer the amount of $2,039.20 from Account #DB9010.8 (Retirement) to Account #DB5112.2 (CHIPs); transfer the amount of $560.00 from Account #DB9010.8 (Retirement) to Account #DB5130.2 (Highway Machinery - Equipment); transfer the amount of $96.17 from Account #DB9010.8 (Retirement) to Account #DB8540.4 (Drainage – Contractual).

Adopted.                             Ayes - 5                               Noes - 0                               Absent - 0

 

RESOLUTION #154-01

Payment of Claims

 

Motion by Supervisor Tyler, seconded by Councilman Lodestro, to pay current claims 1432-1504, inclusive, in the amount of $82,035.80 to the proper fund or account.

 

Adopted.                             Ayes - 4             Noes – 0              Absent – 0               Abstain - 1

                (Hendrickson Abstained)

           

Motion by Supervisor Tyler, seconded by Councilman Hendrickson to adjourn at 7:55 PM.

 

Carried.                              Ayes – 5                                       Noes - 0                               Absent - 0

 

 

                                                                                    _________________________________

                                                                                            Michael C. Erlandson, Town Clerk