The Regular Meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Macedon held November 8, 2001 at the Macedon Fire Hall, 1 Canal Park, in the Village of Macedon, was called to order by Supervisor William E. Eddy at 7:30 p.m.

Pledge of Allegiance.

Upon Roll Call, the following members of the Board were present:

                                  Councilperson…………….William Hammond
       Councilperson……………..Paul Kenyon
                                  Councilperson……………..David Maul
                                  Councilperson……………..David Morrison
                                  Supervisor………………....William Eddy

Also present were:
                                  Accountant…………………Kim Leonard
                                  Attorney……………………Katie Villani
                                  Highway Superintendent…..Richard Roets
                                  Town Clerk………………...Judy Gravino

Please note that the minutes of October 22, 2001 should reflect that Kim Leonard was present.

RESOLUTION NO. 329 (01)  APPROVAL OF MINUTES
RESOLVED the minutes of October 25, 2001 be approved as presented.
MOTION BY HAMMOND,  SECONDED BY KENYON
ROLL CALL VOTE:  HAMMOND AYE,  KENYON AYE,  MAUL AYE,
                                    MORRISON AYE,  EDDY AYE  MOTION CARRIED

RESOLUTION NO. 330 (01)  PHILIP STEIGER POST 494 A.L. GAMES OF CHANCE
RESOLVED the Board approves the Games of Chance License for the Philip Steiger Post #494 A.L. to conduct Bell Jar for the period of 1/1/2002 through 12/31/2002 subject to Determination of Games of Chance License being approved by the Macedon Police Department.
MOTION BY HAMMOND,  SECONDED BY MAUL
ROLL CALL VOTE:  HAMMOND AYE,  KENYON AYE,  MAUL AYE,
                                    MORRISON AYE,  EDDY AYE  MOTION CARRIED

Aaron Cook requested the Board approve costs associated with printing fees for the Macedon’s Canal Heritage Brochure.  Mr. Cook has made arrangements with several organizations to handle the distribution.  The project cost will be $1,175 out of the Canal Beautification Account.  The Canal Beautification Committee has not expended the amount budgeted by the Board.

RESOLUTION NO. 331 (01)  CANAL BEAUTIFICATION – MACEDON’S CANAL HERITAGE
RESOLVED the Town Board approves the transfer from B1990.4 to B8510.4 in the amount of $1,175 to cover the cost of printing Macedon’s Canal Heritage Brochure.
MOTION BY KENYON,  SECONDED BY MAUL
ROLL CALL VOTE:  HAMMOND AYE,  KENYON AYE,  MAUL AYE,
                                    MORRISON AYE,  EDDY AYE  MOTION CARRIED

7:35 PUBLIC HEARING – MACEDON CENTER VOLUNTEER FIREMEN’S ASSOCIATION
                                             CONTRACT

RESOLUTION NO. 332 (01)  LEGAL NOTICE WAIVED
RESOLVED that reading of the legal notice published in the October 29, 2001 issue of the Times be waived.
MOTION BY HAMMOND,  SECONDED BY KENYON
ROLL CALL VOTE:  HAMMOND NAY,  KENYON NAY,  MAUL NAY,
                                    MORRISON NAY,  EDDY NAY  MOTION DENIED

Upon request Councilperson Maul read the legal notice.  Councilperson Kenyon requested that in the future these individuals be referred to as Fire Fighters, not Firemen.

The proposed contract for the Macedon Center Volunteer Firemen’s Association authorizes $115,464 for the year 2002.

No persons desiring to be heard, the hearing was closed.

RESOLUTION NO. 333 (01)  PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED
RESOLVED that the Public Hearing be closed at 7:43 p.m.
MOTION BY HAMMOND,  SECONDED BY KENYON
ROLL CALL VOTE:  HAMMOND AYE,  KENYON AYE,  MAUL AYE,
                                    MORRISON AYE,  EDDY AYE  MOTION CARRIED
NO. 29           PAGE 2
NOVEMBER 8, 2001

RESOLUTION NO. 334 (01)  MACEDON CENTER FIRE CONTRACT APPROVED
RESOLVED that the Board does approve the fire protection agreement with Macedon Center Volunteer Firemen’s Association Inc. in the amount of $115,464 for the calendar year 2002.
MOTION BY HAMMOND,  SECONDED BY MAUL
ROLL CALL VOTE:  HAMMOND AYE,  KENYON AYE,  MAUL AYE,
                                    MORRISON AYE,  EDDY AYE  MOTION CARRIED

RESOLUTION NO. 335(01)  AFLAC – PRE-TAX BENEFITS PACKAGE
BE IT RESOLVED AFLAC be authorized to meet with Town Employees to discuss AFLAC benefits available.
MOTION BY MAUL,  SECONDED BY HAMMOND
ROLL CALL VOTE:  HAMMOND AYE,  KENYON AYE,  MAUL AYE,
                                    MORRISON AYE,  EDDY AYE  MOTION CARRIED

7:50 PM PUBLIC HEARING – VILLAGE OF MACEDON FIRE & AMBULANCE CONTRACT

RESOLUTION NO. 336 (01)  READING OF THE LEGAL NOTICE WAIVED
RESOLVED that reading of the legal notice published in the October 29, 2001 issue of the Times be waived.
MOTION BY HAMMOND,  SECONDED BY MAUL
ROLL CALL VOTE:  HAMMOND AYE,  KENYON AYE,  MAUL AYE,
                                    MORRISON AYE,  EDDY AYE  MOTION CARRIED

The proposed contract for the Village of Macedon Fire & Ambulance Contract authorizes $50,851 for fire protection and $49,558 for ambulance service for a total of $100,409 for the year 2002.

Al Schwenk, 3 Jupiter Way – Why is there a negative percentage increase from last year.

Kim Leonard – There is a minus 33.4% for the Fire Department.  This is the amount that was requested.   Last year the Fire Department purchased a truck and has established a reserve fund this year.  The ambulance has also established a reserve fund.

All persons desiring to be heard, having been heard, the hearing was closed.

RESOLUTION NO. 337 (01)   PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED
RESOLVED that the Public Hearing be closed at 7:53 p.m.
MOTION BY MAUL,  SECONDED BY HAMMOND
ROLL CALL VOTE:  HAMMOND AYE,  KENYON AYE,  MAUL AYE,
                                    MORRISON AYE,  EDDY AYE  MOTION CARRIED

RESOLUTION NO. 338 (01)  VILLAGE OF MACEDON FIRE & AMBULANCE CONTRACT
RESOLVED that the Town Board agrees to pay the sum of $50,851 for fire protection and the sum of $49,558 for ambulance to the Village of Macedon, which includes coverage town wide by ambulance and fire protection for the Macedon Fire Protection District for a total of $100,409 for the calendar year 2002.
MOTION BY HAMMOND,  SECONDED BY KENYON
ROLL CALL VOTE:  HAMMOND AYE,  KENYON AYE,  MAUL AYE,
                                    MORRISON AYE,  EDDY AYE  MOTION CARRIED

RESOLUTION NO. 339 (01)  FARMLAND PRESERVATION – HILTON, ROGERS, ROTHFUSS
                                                  & STANTON
RESOLVED the Board hereby authorizes Bill Eddy as Town Supervisor to enter into a contract on behalf or the Town of Macedon with the State of New York regarding the following properties:
Hilton, Rogers, Rothfuss & Stanton
MOTION BY KENYON,  SECONDED BY HAMMOND
ROLL CALL VOTE:  HAMMOND AYE,  KENYON AYE,  MAUL AYE,
                                    MORRISON AYE,  EDDY AYE  MOTION CARRIED

8:05 PM PUBLIC HEARING – 2002 BUDGET

RESOLUTION NO. 340 (01)  READING OF THE LEGAL NOTICE WAIVED
RESOLVED the reading of the legal notice published in the October 29, 2001 issue of the Times be waived.
MOTION BY HAMMOND,  SECONDED BY KENYON
ROLL CALL VOTE:  HAMMOND AYE,  KENYON AYE,  MAUL AYE,
                                    MORRISON AYE,  EDDY AYE  MOTION CARRIED

Handouts were distributed to the residents that included fund balance review, debt service comparison, tax increase explanation, and surrounding town tax rate comparison.
 
 
 

NO. 29           PAGE 3
NOVEMBER 8, 2001

Dan Dandino,  1347 Victor Road – How can we spend money outside the budget set in place?  He asked about the -$437,000 on page 3 of the budget.  Was our insurance enough to cover what we lost in the fires?
Has the Town Board taken other avenues to look at construction on the site that we have for the offices and library?  Have we looked to increase our tax base?  What are we doing to get people to pay their taxes?

Kim Leonard – This is the difference between the 2002 proposed budget and the 2001 adopted budget.
This has nothing to do with money spend over budget.

Bruce Chapman, Chapman Insurance – With regard to the trucks, that is where there was the biggest deficit. Trucks are insured on an actual cash value basis.  You can not insure on a replacement value basis.

Dick Roets, Highway Superintendent – The Town actually purchased $140,000 more than what insurance covered.  The town purchased a combination of new and used vehicles.

Kim Leonard – The Town of Macedon is paid 100% of the tax dollars still outstanding by the County of Wayne.

Scott Hultenschmidt, 14 Bickford Street – Tax rate increase of 66% inside the Village as opposed to 24% outside the Village, with the Village providing most all the services the Village residents use, where are we coming up with the Village residents paying almost three times?

Kim Leonard – The three full time positions were discussed.  It would cost $3 per year on a $100,000 house to change these positions from part-time to full-time with their benefits.  The biggest increase is the appropriated fund balance.  A and DA fund balances have been diminishing over the years because of unexpected expenses and too much being used to stabilize the tax rates.

Councilperson Kenyon – That was the philosophy the Boards decided on.  The idea was not to build a large fund balance.  You have fires occasionally, things that you don’t expect.  Things happen that you do not anticipate.  The idea was to hold the line.  It may have been short sited.
 
Kim Leonard – The proposed fund balance for 2002 is $75,000.  The difference is $100,000 that needs to be made up in the tax dollars that the residents are charged.  That is $.26 of the $1.04/1,000 that you read in the paper.  Debt service for the Highway Barn is $.29.  This does not take into account the Town Hall.  The total increase in A is $.58.  DA is highway equipment at $.10/1000.  This is $10/year per household for an average $100,000 assessed value.   Instead of appropriating  $136,500, the Board has put in a proposal of $50,000.  This leaves $86,500 to be made up from taxes.  Everyone in the Town pays the  $1.04/1000.  The reason an outside Village tax rate is less is because on B the Town is going to be getting a decrease of $.21/1000.  The Town has been reconstructing their fund balance in  D and DB for the last 3 years.  They have not appropriated any fund balance to counter act the budget.    They have raised taxes under D and DB in the past and will appropriate $75,000 this year.  This will save them $.23/1000.  They will still pay the $1.04 that the Village resident is paying plus $.80.  A town tax bill will be $410 and a village tax bill will be $251 excluding special districts.

Scott Hultenschmidt – So it is deceiving the way they are talking about 24% versus 86%.  He asked about the big difference in health costs.

Kim Leonard – There is a 17% increase for health economics but the main reason is going from $23,353 to $34,785 for the three full-time people.  Employees pay 20% of their health cost.

Mike Lioudis, Spruce Run – What creative activities is this Board doing to offset the 66% increase.  He suggested putting a plan in place to beef up the reserves.

Supervisor Eddy – Mr. Eddy mentioned the businesses in the area that are increasing.

Councilperson Hammond – The Town has just completed a master plan.

Kim Leonard – The Wayne County Industrial Agency represents all the Towns in Wayne County.  They actively seek manufacturing and industry with our tax dollars.

Richard Roets – In the last eight years there have been four businesses created in Gananda for industrial development.  There is only so much industry around.

Steve Zimmerman, Erie Street Road – A tax increase of this magnitude creates a panic.  Percentages always sensationalize it.  Asked that the Town Board be creative in offsetting the burden.

Robert McLouth, 815 Palmyra Road – Was concerned about tax rate for next year.

Councilperson Maul – You are competing with every other town in the area to bring in more industry.  Everyone else offers tax abatements so we do.  Some of this increase is a result of problems in the past.  Sooner or later you need to fix the fund balance.  Percentages on small numbers sound a lot worse.  It is still a lot of money.

NO. 29           PAGE 4
NOVEMBER 8, 2001

Wayne Erwin, Burwell Drive – Which tax am I paying for?  Maybe the Town should get rid of some people or put more paperwork on another desk.  What about the Library?

Kim Leonard – You only pay the A sheet.  A town resident pays the second and third page of the hand out.

Councilperson Kenyon – Once the insurance is resolved we will have some money for the Library.  The Library Board is in the process of trying to get grant money from private foundations.  They are in the process of developing a proposal to rebuild the Library.  In the meantime, we are providing space to the Library to operate until that plan is developed.  It is not in the budget this year because those plans have not been completed.

Peter Short, 162 Kemp Drive – We talked about the fire causing the increase.  What is causing the increase other than deductibles and equipment?

Dick Roets – The barn was built 30 years ago and requires upgrades.  The bids on the building came in at $1,309,000.  Gananda is putting in a 60/40 split. Gananda is kicking in a 10-year program of $750,000. The basic extra cost is for the extra items required by the state and federal people.  It is about the same size that we had plus Gananda’s portion.
 

Peter Short – What about the Town Hall and Library?  The Library is not in the budget.  If we are buying property that means we are taking property off the tax roll.  What is going to go on the property that we own?

Councilperson Kenyon – Due to an incident it became evident that the Library needed to be separate from the Court.  There was a referendum to build an additional 5,000 square foot facility to augment the existing Town Hall Complex on the existing site.  Nobody objected to the $350,000 referendum to construct a modular facility for 5,000 additional square feet.  The Library was 7,000 square feet.  We would have ended up with 12,000 square feet consisting of the Library, Court, and Town Office space on that site.  We would have bonded $200,000 and used $170,000 in the building reserve fund.  The properties we are looking at are not the square footage we would have had.  If we purchase we can purchase cheaper than we can build.  The residents did not like the Town Hall being moved to the Highway Barn location.  We plan to relocate the Library at 30 Main Street.  Once we buy we have code to deal with.  There are a lot of requirements that a Town Hall has to meet that a private business does not need.

Peter Short – Suggested considering no raises.  Are all the positions we have working smart?

Councilperson Kenyon – The positions described in the budget are a reaction to the residents.  We have had significant amount of complaints from the taxpayers about full-time positions.  These positions are the result of what the taxpayers have told us they want.

Peter Short – Do we really need a Village in this Town?

Councilperson Maul – It is not in any way, shape or form any of this board’s business whether there is a Village in this Town.

Renee Herrmann, Magog Road – Questioned salary amount shown on the Supervisor’s line.  Do we really need the Village Police?  Suggested a survey to the residents.

Kim Leonard – This amount includes the Supervisor’s salary as well as his proposed full-time clerk.

Councilperson Maul – The Town contracts with the Village.  The Town meets with the Village at the time of the Village’s budget in June.  The Town pays $234,450 to the Village for Police.  This budget does not address taking over the Police Department.  The Village brought it up and it has been deferred for now.   If it does happen the tax base would be evenly spread among the Town as opposed to the 75/25 split.  Then everyone would pay their fair share according to assessed value.  This is a Village issue not a Town.

Michael Fish, 10 Trapbrook Drive – Not happy with the budget.  Only sees the police patrol Main Street.  Doesn’t understand the Village Police.

Councilperson Kenyon – The budget grew but was accounted for by the increase of the assessment.  This year is a unique circumstance.  The fund balances were lowered intentionally to keep the taxes lower.

Councilperson Morrison – It’s a fact, there is nothing you can do about it.  We need the Police Department.

Kim Leonard – A person inside the Village is paying $1.57/1000 and it would go to $2.61/1000.  An individual outside the Village will pay $4.10/1000.

Mike Moyer, Burwell Drive – Asked about expenditures for the Library and Town Barn.  He was concerned that there was no major plan to build the Library.  Why can’t the temporary facility be used for a year or two?

NO. 29           PAGE 5
NOVEMBER 8, 2001

Councilperson Kenyon – There will be an expenditure for the Library.  The Town will contribute to the Library as it does each year.  There is nothing in the budget for the Library building.

Kim Leonard – The Town Highway is $.29 for the barn and $.10 for the equipment.

Councilperson Maul – My recommendation to the Library Board was to put together a package for a Library, Senior Center and possibly a recreation center.  Then to look to a charitable location for funding.
We pay $7,000/month rent, which is completely paid for by insurance until February or March of 2002.  We would be doing you a disservice to stay in that building.

Kim Leonard – On 24% it is $80/year and 66% is $104/year on an average assessed value of $100,000.
Someone looking at the paper would think it was going from $5,000 to $9,000.

Dean Newcomb, Crest Avenue – The percentages stated were deceiving.  He could swallow $100 a year because of a little poor planning or the Town had fires they didn’t count on.  That is no where near 66% of his tax bill.

Gene Jackson, Quaker Road – Asked about the effect of taking the police over.

Councilperson Maul – This budget does not reflect this.

Councilperson Kenyon – We had to build a highway barn.  In anticipation of the cost of the highway barn, not taking into consideration the insurance, we figured what it was going to cost us to build the barn.  We were going to bond that much for the barn.  The insurance is going to offset that bond.  The agreement with the school district will offset that bond.  In order for us to budget legally we can not ignore the scope of the bond.  When the revenue comes in it will offset the size of the bond.  This is a bond anticipation note.

Kim Leonard – You get the money up front because the Town has not settled with the insurance company.  In a year from now we pay the whole ban back and then we only borrow the amount we would be short.  You subtract the Gananda School District portion and the insurance proceeds.  Out of the 1.985 million the Town’s portion would be $680,000, the school’s portion would be $620,000 and the remainder would be insurance proceeds.  You would not be borrowing $1.985 million but $680,000.  You have to have the money up front to pay the builder.

Councilperson Kenyon – When the issue of the police comes before the Town there will be a meeting and survey the people.  There are people who would love to take over the police and those who wouldn’t.

John Short, 184 Kemp Drive – Does not like the budget.  If these events did not happen what would the budget look like.  What rate would it have been?

Councilperson Maul – 70% of the increased spending from last year to this year is all because of debt service for the highway in A.

Councilperson Kenyon – 70% is $.40/1000 or $40 per year on a $100,000 home.  For a Village taxpayer $40 of the $104 is highway fire related directly.  Without the disaster it would have been $12.

John Short – Without the fire nobody would have been here.  He does not mind talking to voice mail as long as the person returns the call.  Asked the Board to think about this longer.

Penny Frederick, Quaker Road – Works five days a week and does not have time to enjoy other facilities in the community. It is tough to absorb these increases.  The children are in school from 7 until 3 and after that there are after school activities.  They are not in the library and the same with the recreation facilities.  Ms. Fredrick is in favor of maintaining the parks but believes the other things belong in the private sector.  Government belongs in health and safety but not in recreation.  She loved the library when she was home and had time for it.

Barb Ikewood, 5 Jupiter Way – Is the Bullis Foundation depleted?

Councilperson Kenyon – The Library has its own governing board.  The Town provides some revenue to the Library.

Kim Leonard - There is a trust expendable fund.  The Bullis Foundation gave $312,000 but you can only spend the interest on certain items that Bullis mentioned such as books and periodicals.

Councilperson Kenyon – The Board discussed once the Town Hall was reestablished, the remainder of the insurance money will be used to develop a plan for the Library and to seek funds.  The insurance company is paying us to rebuild what was there.  Part of the building was a house that is not usable.  The house is going to be torn down.  What we build will be dependent upon what we raise.  The Library needs to justify the space they requested.  Senior Citizens use the Library a lot.  It is important that we provide that service to the Senior Citizens.

Alice Marks – Believes in the Library and feels the community needs to work together.
NO. 29           PAGE 6
NOVEMBER 8, 2001

Paul Hirliman, Railroad Avenue – The public was misinformed with the statements made in the paper about taxes and library/recreation center.  Grant money needs to be included.  People are under the impression that they are going to have to foot the bill for it.  The Town Boards of the past and present have over looked the youth of this community.  The youth is the future of this town.

Colleen Wightman, 188 Kemp Drive – Hopes the Board will be open to the ideas tonight and review the comments.

Councilperson Kenyon – We are already committed to like the highway barn.  On October 22 we went over this budget line by line.  What we face are people that want changes but they do not want to pay for it.  What is best?  We make the decisions to the best of our ability.

Dan Dandino – Will be more active in the Town and appreciates the job the Town Board has done.

Ken Keyes, Wayneport Road – Was concerned about the zoning issues before the Town on Wayneport Road.  Think hard and cut where you can.

All persons desiring to be heard, having been heard, the Public Hearing was closed.

RESOLUTION NO. 341 (01)  PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED
RESOLVED that the Public Hearing be closed at 10:27 p.m.
ROLL CALL VOTE:  HAMMOND AYE,  KENYON AYE,  MAUL AYE,
                                    MORRISON AYE,  EDDY AYE  MOTION CARRIED

CORRESPONDENCE – The Supervisor presented the following:
A thank you note from Joe and Helen Burgio for supporting the Senior Citizens of Macedon.

ABSTRACT NO. 11-01
CLAIM NOS. 4125-4298                               EXPENDITURES IN THE AMOUNT OF
                                                                        $451,410.26
                                                                           (17,613.15)
                                                                        $433,797.11

RESOLUTION NO. 342 (01)  PAYMENT OF CLAIMS
RESOLVED the bills be paid as audited.
MOTION BY MAUL,  SECONDED BY HAMMOND
ROLL CALL VOTE:  HAMMOND AYE,  KENYON AYE,  MAUL AYE,
                                    MORRISON AYE,  EDDY AYE  MOTION CARRIED

Bruce Chapman notified the Board that the Town’s insurance will cover the cost of the temporary location for 9 months and will stretch it to 10 months.  The insurance company established this as a reasonable amount of time.  The adjuster will pay the full amount whether the Town builds or buys as a result of reaching the cap.

RESOLUTION NO. 343 (01)  SPECIAL BOARD MEETING SCHEDULED
RESOLVED the Town Board hold a special board meeting Thursday, November 15, 2001 at 7:00 p.m. to be held at the Macedon Fire Hall.
MOTION BY MAUL,  SECONDED BY HAMMOND
ROLL CALL VOTE:  HAMMOND AYE,  KENYON AYE,  MAUL AYE,
                                    MORRISON AYE,  EDDY AYE  MOTION CARRIED

MOTION BY HAMMOND, SECONDED BY EDDY TO ADJOURN.  THE MEETING ADJOURNED AT 11:07 PM.
 
 

                                                                            _____________________________________________
                                                                            Judy W. Gravino, Town Clerk