Minutes of a Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Johnson City, New York, held at 7:30PM in the Municipal Building on March 21, 2005

 

PRESENT:    Harry G. Lewis                                     Mayor

 

                     Donald Adams

                     Richard Balles

                     Ron Jones

Bruce King                                           Trustees

                                            

Beth Westfall                                        Village Attorney

 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

 

The meeting was opened with the pledge of allegiance led by Mayor Lewis.

 

FIRE EXITS

 

The Mayor noted directions to the fire exits.

 

MISCELLANEOUS ANNOUNCEMENTS     

 

No Miscellaneous Announcements were made.

 

BOARD MINUTES

 

Motion by Trustee Jones - seconded by Trustee King to accept and place on file the Village Board Minutes for the Work Session and Regular meeting of March 7, 2006 and the Special Work Sessions of March 13, 14 and 20, 2006.

 

Motion Carried                                                                          Ayes 5  Nayes 0     

 

BID OPENINGS                                                                      None   

 

PUBLIC HEARINGS                                                               None   

 

PETITIONS RECEIVED                                                          None

 

PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR – VISITORS                

 

Howard Newman – Owner of Several Properties on Harry L. Drive – Has noticed water department vehicles being driven outside of the village.   Asked why the Mayor drives a Village vehicle.  Asked why the Fire Department has so many personnel.  Mr. Newman feels that the Fire Department staff can be reduced and that the entire department could reorganized.  Mr. Newman commended the Village Board for not being able to utilize the Village’s health plan.  

 

 

 

Leo Meaney – 35 Greenridge Street – Feels that the Harry L. Johnson monument should remain in its current location.  He disagrees with Mr. Newman on his recommendations for the Fire Department.  He asked why the water rates need to be raised.

 

Mayor Lewis stated that water rates will not be voted on tonight.  The Village is still working on the budget and does not knowwhat the rates need to be until it decides on what the expenses will be for that department.

 

Kelly Oconner – 6 Deborah Drive – Feels that people can not afford a water rate increase after the sewer rate increase of last year.

 

James Coughlin – 808 Cyndy Street – Asked why the Village pays Town of Union taxes.  Mr. Coughlin then stated he talked to the Town of Union Comptroller who explained to him that New York State Law states that all Villages must be part of a town and then the Comptroller explained which expenses are charged to both Villages.  Mr. Coughlin feels that the law dealing with Village residents paying town property taxes should be changed.

 

Debra Callahan – Owns 37 Cook Street – Lives in Castle Creek – Urges the Village Board to cut expenses.

 

Trustee Balles – Provided a list of fiscal reasons as to why there is an expected deficit in the Water Department. 

 

Steve Belo – 232 N. Hudson Street – Asked that wages be frozen for Village employees.

 

Shelly Rake – 341 Arthur Avenue – Asked what percentage of premium do employees pay for health insurance.

 

Mayor Lewis provided the details based on the different collective agreements.

 

Shelly Rake – 341 Arthur Avenue – Feels that employees need to start paying more for this very expensive benefit as her business is feeling the same type of health insurance increases.

 

Jeff Rake – 341 Arthur Avenue – Asked about water consumption and minimum rates.

 

Mayor Lewis explained how revenues from water consumptions are staying relatively flat and that expenses are outpacing revenues.  

 

James Coughlin – 808 Cyndy Street – Asked about development in Johnson City.  He stated that hopefully with development brings along more property taxes and the costs are spread over a larger base.

 

Tom Senigla – 6 Pamela Drive – Asked if there is a three to five year plan for the Village.

 

Mayor Lewis stated that the Town of Union is developing this plan.

 

Bill Scanlon – 1023 Case Road – Stated that all living Johnson family members will be making contributions to help restore the statue. 

 

Mayor Lewis asked if the Johnson family would be in favor of turning the statue toward Main Street if it gets restored.

Mr. Scanlon stated he would pose this question to the family.

 

Trustee Jones stated that he talked to Mr. Scanlon’s mother last week and that he worked for Endicott-Johnson for a number of years, and that he feels that the monument should be turned toward Main Street.  He also knows that feelings are split on this issue.

 

Trustee Balles provided historical details on moving the Harry L. Johnson monument to People’s Park.

 

Mr. Scanlon provided details on the Johnson monument in Endicott that was restored and moved and this was all accomplished through private donations.

 

Richard H. Miller, II – 24 Weymouth Lane – Feels that the Board should support a volunteer group’s efforts to move the Harry L. Johnson monument to People’s Park. 

 

Trustee Jones stated that we can not re-write history but only move forward and that there is a ground swell of support to restore and turn the monument toward Main Street.  Trustee Jones feels the most important issue is making sure the statue is restored.

 

Leo Meaney – 35 Greenridge Street – Provided a historical perspective on the monument and that the monument once faced Main Street and was turned so that those entering the EJ bowling alley could be looking straight at the monument.

 

Trustee Jones provided details on new synergy taking place regarding Main Street merchants.

 

Richard Wallikas – 329 Deyo Hill Road – Asked about details regarding District Courts.

 

The Clerk/Treasurer provided information on District Courts to Mr. Wallikas.

 

Tom Senigla – 6 Pamela Drive – Asked about an alternative if the creation of a District Court is not successful.

 

Mayor Lewis explained that the Courts could still be consolidated with the Town of Union.

 

Scott Gallagher – 122 N. Arch Street – Asked about all the wooden boxes on Main Street.

 

Mayor Lewis stated that those wooden boxes are being addressed as New York State Department of Transportation is working on replacing all lights and sidewalks.

 

Scott Gallagher – 122 N. Arch Street – Feels that moving the Harry L. Johnson monument to People’s Park is an easy decision because of all the bigger issues that the Village is facing.  He also stated that the Village donated the old Police Station to the Goodwill Theatre, Inc. as a way to encourage their project and feels that the Board should support Mr. Aswad’s efforts to restore and move the monument to People’s Park.

 

Steve Belo – 232 N. Hudson Street – Witnessed a Village fire vehicle dropping off a person at Wal-Mart and then parking.  He feels this is private use of a village vehicle and should stop.

 

Phyllis Smith – 9 Concord Street – Takes her grandchildren to CFJ Park and feels that this park needs a drastic improvement to its equipment.

 

Mayor Lewis provided details on playground equipment.

 

James Coughlin – 808 Cyndy Street – Feels that the current population of the Village can not sustain the number of parks it has to maintain and maybe the Village should look at closing parks as a way of reducing expenses.

 

COMMUNICATIONS

 

Motion by Trustee Balles - seconded by Trustee King that the following communications be accepted and placed on file:

 

Town of Union – Reg. Mtg: March 15, 2006

Village of Endicott – Reg. Mtg: February 13 and 27, 2006

B/JC JSTB – Reg. Mtg: February 14, 2006

 

Motion carried                                                                           Ayes 5  Nayes 0 

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS                                            

 

Trustee Balles provided an update on the Gazebo Beautification Project which includes two upcoming fundraisers.            

 

DEPARTMENTS REPORTS                          

 

Motion by Trustee Balles – seconded by Trustee King that the following Department Reports be accepted and placed on file:

 

Code Enforcement

February 2006

Water Department

February 2006

 

PAYROLL AND BILLS PRESENTED

 

Motion by Trustee Balles - seconded by Trustee Jones that Abstract #17 for the Fiscal Year 2005-06, having been audited by the board and approved, be ordered paid as follows:

 

GENERAL

$87,570.58

WATER

$13,434.26

SEWER

$21,174.81

REFUSE

$16,358.02

LIBRARY

$8,929.62

JSTP-PHASE III

$109,682.75

 

Board members polled

Motion carried                                                                                    Ayes 5  Nayes 0   

 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS                                       

 

Trustee Balles asked the Clerk/Treasurer to distribute the Village’s Procurement Policy to the

Department Heads so that the Board can update the policy at the next Board Meeting.

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

RESOLUTION #48

 

Motion by Trustee Adams - seconded by Trustee King to set a Public Hearing for April 4, 2006 to consider input on the Town of Union’s proposal to create a District Court.  

 

Board members polled                                                                       

Motion carried                                                                                    Ayes 5  Nayes 0    

 

RESOLUTION #49

 

Motion by Trustee Jones – seconded by Trustee Balles to authorize the Mayor to sign an

agreement with Broome County for the administration of the Susquehanna Heritage Area.

 

Board members polled

Motion carried                                                                                    Ayes 5  Nayes 0

 

RESOLUTION #50

 

Motion by Trustee Adams – seconded by Trustee Balles to Adopt a Cyber Security Citizens

Notification Policy as mandated by New York State Law (Detail on file).

 

Board members polled

Motion carried                                                                                    Ayes 5  Nayes 0

 

RESOLUTION #51

 

Motion by Trustee Adams – seconded by Trustee King to set a Public Hearing for

April 4, 2006 to consider Local Law No. 1 of 2006 to consider banning Outdoor Woodburning

Furnaces in the Village.

 

Board members polled

Motion carried                                                                                    Ayes 5  Nayes 0

 

RESOLUTION #52

 

Motion by Trustee King – seconded by Trustee Jones to set a Public Hearing for

April 4, 2006 to consider Local Law No. 2 of 2006 to consider changes to the Plumbing Code.

 

Board members polled

Motion carried                                                                                    Ayes 5  Nayes 0

 

RESOLUTION #53

 

Motion by Trustee Jones – seconded by Trustee Balles to authorize the Mayor to sign a lease

agreement with Tatonka Capital related to a refuse packer as approved in the 2005-2006 Budget.

 

Board members polled

Motion carried                                                                                    Ayes 5  Nayes 0

 

RESOLUTION #54

 

Motion by Trustee Balles – seconded by Trustee Jones to authorize Cruisin’ Buddies Car Club to

utilize Northside Park on August 25, 2006 from 5:00PM until 9:30PM for their annual fund

raising event contingent upon meeting the Village of Johnson City’s insurance requirements.

 

Board members polled

Motion carried                                                                                    Ayes 5  Nayes 0

 

RESOLUTION #55

 

Motion by Trustee Adams – seconded by Trustee King to approve Request-for-Modification

Contract 4A-0009 Phase III with Pinnacle Construction for new Stainless steel supports for rag

box platform with an additional cost of $508.36.

 

Board members polled

Motion carried                                                                                    Ayes 5  Nayes 0

 

RESOLUTION #56

 

Motion by Trustee Jones – seconded by Trustee Balles to approve Request-for-Modification

Contract 1A-0005 Phase III with IDI, Inc. for compensation to IDI, Inc. for the difference in

currency exchange rate with an additional cost of $451,019.00.

 

Board members polled

Motion carried                                                                                    Ayes 5  Nayes 0

 

RESOLUTION #57

 

Motion by Trustee Jones – seconded by Trustee Adams to approve the Binghamton/Johnson City

Joint Treatment Plant Board to encumber $952,682.61 from unspent 2005 budgeted funds in

order to pay for future capital costs.

 

Board members polled

Motion carried                                                                                    Ayes 5  Nayes 0

 

Motion by Trustee Balles – seconded by Trustee King to approve the following:

 

         WHEREAS, the Johnson City Board of Trustees recognizes and applauds County

Executive Fiala’s sincere desire to build and fund a Broome County Economic Development

Department; and

 

         WHEREAS, taxpayers of Johnson City would likely benefit from a progressive and

viable endeavor; and

 

         WHEREAS, the Johnson City Board of Trustees recognizes that property taxes can be a

burden for people throughout Broome County; and

 

         WHEREAS, the Johnson City Board of Trustees desires keeping the sales tax at its

current level or lower so as not to create additional hardships for consumers and visitors;

 

         NOW, therefore, the Johnson City Board of Trustees does hereby

 

         RESOLVE that the Johnson City Board of Trustees by this Resolution , urges the County

Legislature to not increase the Sales Tax or the Hotel and Motel Occupancy tax by any amount;

and be it

 

         FURTHER RESOLVED that the Johnson City Board of Trustees  encourages the County

Executive to investigate more progressive means to fund this proposal to benefit the entire

community; and be it

 

         FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be supplied to the Clerk of the

County Legislature, Chairman of the County Legislature and President of the Broome County

Chamber of Commerce.

 

Board members polled

Motion carried                                                                                    Ayes 5  Nayes 0

 

   PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR                                                          

 

   Richard Wallikas – 329 Deyo Hill Road – Asked about getting copies of resolution before the meeting.

 

   Mayor Lewis stated he can contact the Clerk for that information.

 

   Carolyn Laskoski – 37 Edwards Street – Asked who owns the Harry L. Johnson monument.

 

   Mayor Lewis stated that the Village owns the monument because it is on Village property.

 

   Mike Tugwell – 127 Greenridge Street – Stated that his wife has received several phone calls related to the Harry L. Johnson monument and all of the callers have said to leave the monument where it currently is.

 

    Carolyn Laskoski – 37 Edward Street – Stated that she was personally displaced by the traffic

    circle construction project.  She feels that very few motorists drive the traffic circle correctly.

 

   ADJOURNMENT

 

   The meeting was adjourned at 9:05P.M.

 

 

   _____________________________________

   Thomas R. Augostini, Village Clerk/Treasurer