Massena Town Council

Town Board Minutes December 16, 2020 MINUTES Regular Town Council Meeting, Town of Massena Date/Time: Wednesday December 16, 2020 at 5:30 PM Location: Massena Town Hall ATTENDANCE: MEMBER PRESENT ABSENT Supervisor Steve O’Shaughnessy X Councilman Albert Nicola X Councilman Robert Elsner X Councilman Samuel Carbone, Jr. X Councilwoman Susan Bellor X ALSO PRESENT: Jeannine Brouse, Town Clerk; Brenda Mossow Secretary/Bookkeeper, Frank Diagostino Highway and Airport Supervisor, Austyn Allen Town Hall Custodian The Supervisor opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance. Called to order at 5:30 PM The meeting was streamed Zoom and on The Town of Massena Facebook Page. Announcements / Notifications Presentations / Discussions The Town Board of the Town of Massena will hold a Public Hearing on Wednesday January 20, 2021 at 5:30 PM to amend the Town of Massena Local Law to Regulate Solar Energy Facilities in the Town of Massena . Resolution 173 - 2020 Setting a Public Hearing for Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at 5:30 PM at the Massena Town Hall to Amend the Town of Massena Local Law 2 of 2020 to Regular Solar Energy Facilities in the Town of Massena Motion by: Councilwoman Bellor Vote: Second by: Councilman Elsner Aye Nay Abstain Absent Steve O’Shaughnessy X Albert Nicola X Susan Bellor X Samuel Carbone, Jr. X Robert Elsner X Motion is Carried. Resolution 174 - 2020 Approval of Minutes for November 18, 2020, November 23, 2020 December 1, 2020 Motion by: Councilwoman Bellor Vote: Second by: Councilman Nicola Aye Nay Abstain Absent Steve O’Shaughnessy X Albert Nicola X Susan Bellor X Samuel Carbone, Jr. X Robert Elsner X Motion is Carried. Page 1|6 Town Board Minutes December 16, 2020 Resolution 175 - 2020 Renewing Lease Agreement with the Massena Humane Society for the years 2021-2032. Motion by: Councilman Carbone Vote: Second by: Councilman Elsner Aye Nay Abstain Absent Steve O’Shaughnessy X Albert Nicola X Susan Bellor X Samuel Carbone, Jr. X Robert Elsner X Motion is Carried. Resolution # 176 - 2020 Setting the date of Town of Massena’s Organizational Meeting: January 4, 2021 at 5:30 PM Motion by: Councilman Nicola Vote: Second by: Councilwoman Elsner Aye Nay Abstain Absent Steve O’Shaughnessy X Albert Nicola X Susan Bellor X Samuel Carbone, Jr. X Robert Elsner X Motion is Carried. Resolution # 177 - 2020 Adopting 2021 Salary Schedule Motion by: Councilman Elsner Vote: Second by: Councilwoman Carbone Aye Nay Abstain Absent Steve O’Shaughnessy X Albert Nicola X Susan Bellor X Samuel Carbone, Jr. X Robert Elsner X Motion is Carried. Page 2|6 Town Board Minutes December 16, 2020 Resolution# 178 - 2020 Budget & Cash Transfers and Amendments CASH TRANSFERS: TRANSFER $10,378.44 from NBT Bank A/C#****9438 Town of Massena - MMH Retirees Health Insurance Account to NBT Bank A/C#****8489 – Town of Massena General Fund (This transfer will cover the employer and employee share of the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce – Health Plan for the hospital retirees for January 2021.) TRANSFER $10,890.60 from Town of Massena – Brasher Branch Library A/C#****1460 to Town of Massena General A/C#****8489 at NBT Bank. (This transfer will reimburse the Town of Massena for 3rd Qtr. 2020 expenses for the Massena Public Library – Brasher Branch.) BUDGET TRANSFERS: TRANSFER $30,355.86 from Contingent Account A/C# A.1990.000 to the following: Justices.Contractual A/C# A.1110.400 $179.60 Supervisor Contractual A/C# A.1220.400 $1,953.31 Attorney Contractual A/C# A.1420.400 $24,848.55 Town Hall.Building. Personal Service A/C# A.1620.110 $3,374.40 (This transfer will cover the over-runs in this general ledger accounts.) TRANSFER $16,361.73 from Airport Contractual A/C# A.5610.400 to the following: Airport Contractual. Communications & Utilities A/C# A.5610.400.0401$3,761.63 Airport Contractual. Supplies & Materials A/C# A.5610.400.0402$1,560.15 Airport. Contractual. Contractual Services A/C# A.5610.400.0403 $595.23 Airport. Contractual. ARFF A/C# A.5610.400.0406 $192.63 Airport Contractual. Repairs & Maintenance A/C# A.5610.400.0407$10,252.09 (These transfers will cover the over-runs in these general ledger’s accounts) TRANSFER $18,482.75 from NYS Chips. Contractual A/C# DB.5112.400 to the following: General Repairs. Personal Service A/C# DB.5110.100 $1,000.00 Social Security A/C# DB.9030.800 $1,928.85 Medicare A/C# DB.9035.800 $14.50 Hospital and Medical Insurance A/C#DB.9060.800 $15,539.40 (These transfers will cover the over-runs in these general ledger’s accounts.) TRANSFER $1,432.83 from Library Personal. Service A/C# L.7410.100 to Brasher Library Personal Service A/C#L.7410.100.7411 (This transfer will cover the over-run in this general ledger account.) TRANSFER $1,722.18 from Library Books and Periodicals A/C# L.7410.410 to Library Books and Periodicals Massena Library A/C# L.7410.410.7410 (This transfer will cover the over-run in this general ledger account.) TRANSFER $2,751.24 from Library Maintenance A/C# L.7410.420 to Library Maintenance Massena Library A/C# L.7410.420.7410 (This transfer will cover the over-run in this general ledger account.) TRANSFER $1,230.61 from Library Supplies A/C# L.7410.440 to Library Supplies Massena Library A/C# L.7410.440.7410 (This transfer will cover the over-run in this general ledger account.) TRANSFER $649.18 from Library Brasher Branch Expenditures A/C# L.7410.460 to Brasher Library Expenditures A/C# L.7410.460.7411 (This transfer will cover the over-run in this general ledger account.) TRANSFER $83.40 from Library. Personal Service A/C# L.7410.100 to Unemployment Insurance A/C# L.9050.800 (This transfer will cover the over-run in this general ledger account.) CREATE A DUE TO/DUE FROM REQUEST PERMISSION to create Due to/Due from entries as follows: From the General A Fund $8,750.00 to HAV Fund ARFF Vehicle From the General A Fund $184,117.37 to HPL Fund Parking Lot Improvements – Airport (To cover the cost of an invoice due to be paid back when State Funds are received.) BUDGET AMENDMENTS: INCREASE A/C A.9040.800 Workers’ Compensation $491,410.36 DECREASE A/C A.0909.000 Unreserved Fund Balance $491,410.36 (This budget amendment represents unexpected costs associated with Workers’ Compensation for October 2020 & Page 3|6 Town Board Minutes December 16, 2020 December 2020 payment.) Motion by: Councilwoman Bellor Vote: Second by: Councilwoman Carbone Aye Nay Abstain Absent Steve O’Shaughnessy X Albert Nicola X Susan Bellor X Samuel Carbone, Jr. X Robert Elsner X Motion is Carried. Resolution# 179 - 2020 Warrant #12 FUND DESCRIPTION AMOUNT A GENERAL $877,813.08 B GENERAL OUTSIDE 1,641.32 DA HIGHWAY 19,818.29 DB HIGHWAY OUTSIDE 24,893.92 HAV ARFF VEHICLE 350,000.00 HAD RUNWAY 5-23 REHABILITATION 10,000.00 HFC FENCE IMPROVEMENTS & STAB (CONST) 5,443.64 HPL PARKING LOT IMPROVEMENTS – AIRPORT 215,585.73 HTA TERMINAL APRON REHABILITATION 20,000.00 L LIBRARY 17,140.10 SSM SOUTH MAIN STREET SEWER 73.98 SWA E MASSENA CONSOLIDATED WATER DISTRICT 886.78 TOTAL $1,543,296.84 WARRANT #12 CHECK #S 47845-47909 $597,248.99 MANUAL CHECKS 946,047.85 TOTAL $1,543,296.84 Motion by: Councilman Nicola Vote: Second by: Councilwoman Bellor Aye Nay Abstain Absent Steve O’Shaughnessy X Albert Nicola X Susan Bellor X Samuel Carbone, Jr. X Robert Elsner X Motion is Carried. Committee Reports Report Submitted by Frank Diagostino: Highway Department  On shift work.  Unit #45 repaired power steering leak, replaced brakes, springs, slack adjuster on left front rear duels and replaced power switch for power mirror for left side.  Hauled fill sand with village for waterline repairs.  Milled asphalt on Old River Road extension. Snow plow catching edge of asphalt.  Brought airport plow truck #52 to 5Th wheel for coolant sensor issue,  found sensor bad replaced.  Unit #50 replaced brake pads, springs, slack adjuster on right rear front duels.  Working on repairs to unit #48 tailgate material doors.  Unit #51 replaced failed main electrical disconnect. Page 4|6 Town Board Minutes December 16, 2020  December 2020 Snow Plowing out 2 times, worked 107 hrs. of overtime. December 2019 out 7 times, worked 155 hrs. of overtime. Massena Airport  Boutique Air numbers for November 2020  Enplaned 139, Deplaned 131, Total 270. (October 2020 352) - 92  Cancelled for weather 3, Cancelled other 0, Total cancelled flights 3.  November 2020 landings for Boutique Air at the Massena Airport 88. Massena Library and Massena Museum: Both Closed Massena Town Hall: Massena Town Hall open no issues. Massena Rescue Squad: Open no issues. Report Submitted by Councilwoman Bellor: Rescue Squad: The board met via zoom on Wednesday December 9th . Bills have been submitted to town with November bills totaling $ 34,702. 52 . Members accumulated 2217.6 hours of service. Calls were reported for advanced life and basic life support with or without transport totaling 175 , and 1514 for the year, with transported calls are up by 22 compared to 2019. Calls to other hospitals are up by 2 from same period in 2019 with 4.7% going to Canton- Potsdam Hospital. Bob Elsner would like to see a breakdown of the transported calls and related recovery payments in billing. Lacking from their November minutes was the explanation of the internal controls by Sue Bellor as clarified by the Office of the State Comptroller. Additionally, Sue reminded them again to make their 501 c-3 available for the public to view on their website per guidelines of Office of State Comptroller. Sue also told them that the Rescue Squad has not been updated since 2018. Discussion ensued relative to the use of the credit card and the related non receipt or late receipts of invoices. The credit card policy needs to be reviewed. Board member Nancy Fregoe recommended that the squad have an office assistant paid by the MVEU to help their chair Mike Abrunzo; it would be paid back through resource recovery. Discussion was brought up again about the agreement between the town and the MVEU and related responsibilities. Mike Abrunzo will draft a letter to Supervisor Steve. The next meeting is Wednesday January 13th, 6pm. Library: The library board met on December 8th by ZOOM. Monthly business agenda items were completed as usual. The library will remain in their current phase of curbside delivery due to Covid. The library received a check from a NYS Grant to replace the lighting, showing a commitment of $122, 867 by the state and matching grant balance of $40,955 making it a total of $163,822; Watson Electric will do the project. Director Elaine is working on a grant for the Youth Garden along with a grant through Stewart’s to help support summer reading. The board is working on their long- range plan which includes meeting the 14 Standards of all libraries; in the plans will be a questionnaire that the public will be asked to respond. Salaries were approved with a 2% increase. Trustee terms were discussed; one is up for renewal or replacement this year. The board is concerned about increasing efficiency of accounting procedures and communications with the town. Be sure to check out the outside lighting of trees, provided by Friends of the Library. The next scheduled meeting is January 12th Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors continues to be active. The Chamber did another ribbon cutting ceremony, this time with Kramer Wealth Strategies. The board is considering a couple fundraisers for January including a drive through spaghetti dinner and a Zoom Bingo. A letter will be going out to members announcing their 62nd Summer Concert Series line up and asking for sponsors. The Chamber will meet Thursday December 17th noon via zoom. Business Development Council Exec. Director Jim Murphy met with me (Sue Bellor) and Bob Elsner on December 7th for ongoing work on the strategic plan specifically on the preparation of a survey to businesses and community members. Page 5|6 Town Board Minutes December 16, 2020 Resolution# 180 - 2020 Solar Energy Facilities and/or Systems: Payment In Lieu of Taxes WHEREAS, Section 487 of the Real Property Tax Law allows municipalities to require payment in lieu of tax agreements for the installation of Solar Energy Facilities and/or Systems; and WHEREAS, the Town of Massena believes payment in lieu of tax agreements are in the best interest of the residents of the Town; now therefore be it hereby RESOLVED, that the owners and/or developers of all Solar Energy Facilities and/or Systems shall be required to enter into a contract with the Town for payments in lieu of taxes pursuant to Real Property Tax Law §487. Upon the owner or developer providing written notification to the Town of its intent to construct a Solar Energy System, the Town or an employee, officer, or agent thereof shall notify such owner or developer in writing within sixty (60) days of its intent to require a contract for payments in lieu of taxes which shall include but not be limited to the following: (1) In no event shall such payment in lieu of tax agreement operate for a period of more than fifteen (15) years, commencing in each instance from the date on which the benefits of such exemption first become available and effective under Real Property Tax Law §487. (2) In no event shall such payment in lieu of tax agreement require annual payments in an amount that would exceed the amount that would otherwise be payable but for the exemption under Real Property Tax Law §487. Motion by: Councilman Nicola Vote: Second by: Councilwoman Bellor Aye Nay Abstain Absent Steve O’Shaughnessy X Albert Nicola X Susan Bellor X Samuel Carbone, Jr. X Robert Elsner X Motion is Carried. Old Business New Business Next Scheduled Meeting and Public Hearing on January 20, 2021 at 5:30 PM) Closing 15-Minute Comment Period Closing Remarks Executive Session Motion by Councilman Nicola, Second by Councilman Elsner to conduct an Executive Session to discuss Personnel. Motion carried unanimously. The Board went into Executive Session at 6:05 PM. Open Session: The Board returned to Open Session at 6:30 PM. Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 6:31 PM by Unanimous Consent. Respectfully Submitted, Jeannine L. Brouse Page 6|6