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 April 3, 2007.

 

PRESENT:    Harry G. Lewis                                     Mayor

 

                     Donald Adams

                     Richard Balles

                     Ron Jones                                             Trustees

                                            

Beth Westfall                                        Village Attorney

 

ABSENT:         Bruce King                                           Trustee

 

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

 

Mayor Lewis introduced three new appointments to the Johnson City Police Department.  He stated that the Board recently hired Onino Viengkham, Akoko Viengkham and Mark Palumbo and welcomed each one to the Village.  He added that each one will be starting the Police Academy on April 16, 2007.

 

BOARD MINUTES

 

Motion by Trustee Balles - seconded by Trustee Jones to accept and place on file the Village Board Minutes for the Work Session and Regular meeting of March 20, 2007 and Special Work Sessions of March 26 and 29, 2007.

 

Motion Carried                                                              Ayes 4  Nayes 0  Absent 1 (King) 

 

BID OPENINGS                                                          None

 

PUBLIC HEARINGS                                                   None   

 

PETITIONS RECEIVED                                              None

 

PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR – VISITORS                 None   

 

COMMUNICATIONS

 

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

 

JCSD – Reg. Mtg: March 13, 2007

Town of Union – Reg. Mtg: March 21, 2007

Village of Endicott – Reg. Mtg: February 12 and 26, March 12, 2007

BCAOTV – Reg. Mtg: March 2007

 

Motion Carried                                                              Ayes 4  Nayes 0  Absent 1 (King)

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS                                            

 

Trustee Jones provided details on how people can donate items to active military members.  He stated that a list of preferred items can be donated to the local VFW on Grand Avenue in Johnson City during the month of May 2007.

 

DEPARTMENTS REPORTS

 

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

 

Police Department

October, November & December 2006

 

Motion Carried                                                                       Ayes 4  Nayes 0  Absent 1 (King)

 

PAYROLL AND BILLS PRESENTED

 

Motion by Trustee Jones - seconded by Trustee Balles that Abstract #17 for the Fiscal Year 2006-07, having been audited by the board and approved, be ordered paid as follows:

 

GENERAL

$330,966.57

WATER

$32,052.27

SEWER

$8,478.44

REFUSE

$18,957.50

LIBRARY

$9,960.50

JSTP-PHASE III

$8,198,770.40

 

Board members polled                                                                       

Motion carried                                                                        Ayes 4  Nayes 0  Absent 1 (King) 

 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS                                       

 

Trustee Balles indicated that he has received calls regarding the construction on Harry L. Drive. 

He stated that the Director of Public Services, Bob Bennett, communicated to him that the

contractor for the project is reimbursing the Village for use of the Village’s sweeper because the

contractor does not have the equipment.

 

NEW BUSINESS

RESOLUTION #59

 

Motion by Trustee Adams - seconded by Trustee Jones to authorize the Mayor to sign a Hazard Mitigation Grant in the amount of $94,700 for the acquisition, demolition and site restoration of 37 River Terrace in the Village of Johnson City due to the damage caused by the June 2006 massive flood event.

 

Board members polled

Motion carried                                                                        Ayes 4  Nayes 0  Absent 1 (King)

 

RESOLUTION #60

 

Motion by Trustee Jones - seconded by Trustee Balles to Support the Designation of the Upper Susquehanna River Watershed in New York as an American Heritage River.

 

Board members polled

Motion carried                                                                        Ayes 4  Nayes 0  Absent 1 (King)

 

RESOLUTION #61

 

Motion by Trustee Jones - seconded by Trustee Balles to approve the following:

 

            WHEREAS, Article 5 of the Private Housing Finance Law of the State of New York (the “Act”) provides for the creation of Redevelopment Companies; and

 

            WHEREAS, the General Partner of Harry L. Apartments Company I, L.P., a limited partnership organized pursuant to the Partnership Law of the State of New York (the “Company”) have submitted to the Village Board of the Village of Johnson City (the “Board”) a copy of its Certificate of Limited Partnership and Redevelopment Company; and

 

            WHEREAS, the Company has submitted to the Board a plan for the acquisition, development, construction and operation of a project consisting of 60 units of housing for income eligible seniors, on real property located at 235 Harry L. Drive in the Village of Johnson City, assisted by New York Housing Trust Fund, (the “Project”); and

 

            WHEREAS, The Board has reviewed the plans for the Project submitted by the company;

 

            NOW BE IT RESOLVED, the Village Board of the Village of Johnson City approves the creation of Harry L. Apartments Company I, L.P. as a Redevelopment Company and authorizes the Village Clerk of the Village of Johnson City, as Supervising Agency, to file the Certificate of Creation of Harry L. Apartments Company I, L.P.; and it is further

 

            RESOLVED, that the acquisition by the Company of certain real property located at 235 Harry L. Drive in the Village of Johnson City, New York to be developed and operated for low and moderate income elderly housing is necessary and convenient for the public purpose.

 

Board members polled

Motion carried                                                                        Ayes 4  Nayes 0  Absent 1 (King)

 

RESOLUTION #62

 

Motion by Trustee Balles - seconded by Trustee Jones to approve RFM 6A-0001

Phase III – Contract 6A General with John R. Dudley Construction for the Modification of the four existing Head House Pump Station Pump Bases with an additional cost of $9,280.70 with reimbursement being submitted to FEMO/SEMA.

 

Board members polled

Motion carried                                                                        Ayes 4  Nayes 0  Absent 1 (King)

 

RESOLUTION #63

 

Motion by Trustee Jones – seconded by Trustee Balles to approve RFM 6A-0002 Phase III –

Contract 6A General with John R. Dudley Construction for the Addition of Remote Temperature

Detectors on the four existing Head House Pump Station Pumps with an additional cost of

$7,589.40 with reimbursement being submitted to FEMO/SEMA.

 

Board members polled

Motion carried                                                                        Ayes 4  Nayes 0  Absent 1 (King)

 

RESOLUTION #64

 

Motion by Trustee Balles – seconded by Trustee Jones to appoint Lori Darling to the position of

Deputy Registrar through December 31, 2007.

 

Board members polled

Motion carried                                                                        Ayes 4  Nayes 0  Absent 1 (King)

 

RESOLUTION #65

 

Motion by Trustee Jones – seconded by Trustee Balles to appoint Diane Salva to the position of

Clerk to the Planning/Zoning Board through December 31, 2007 with a stipend of $2,000.00.

 

Board members polled

Motion carried                                                                        Ayes 4  Nayes 0  Absent 1 (King)

 

RESOLUTION #66

 

Motion by Trustee Balles – seconded by Trustee Jones to appoint Cindy Kennerup to the position

of Deputy Clerk through December 31, 2007 with a stipend of $2,000.00.

 

Board members polled

Motion carried                                                                        Ayes 4  Nayes 0  Absent 1 (King)

 

RESOLUTION #67

 

Motion by Trustee Jones – seconded by Trustee Balles to support the following:

 

         WHEREAS, every person in New York and in the United States deserves access to

affordable, quality health care; and

 

         WHEREAS, there is a growing crisis in health care in the United States of America ,

manifested in rising health care costs, increased premiums, out-of-pockets spending, decreased

international business competitiveness, and

 

         WHEREAS, those insured now often experience unacceptable medical debt and

sometimes life-threatening delays in obtaining health care; and

 

         WHEREAS, the increasing expense of Medicaid and the rising cost of insuring state and

municipal employees can best be met not by limited benefits, but by expanding them under a

national, publicly funded health insurance program;

 

         WHEREAS, the complex bureaucracy arising from our system of fragmented, for-profit,

multi-payer system of health care financing consumes approximately thirty percent (30%) of

United States health care spending (New England Journal of Medicine); and

 

         WHEREAS, the cost of bureaucracy in the present system alone are enough to provide

comprehensive coverage to everyone in New York; and

 

         WHEREAS, United State Representative John Dingell has introduced H.R. 15, the

United States National Health Insurance Act, in the United States House of Representatives for

 The 110th Congress, and this act would provide a universal comprehensive, single-payer system

of high quality national health insurance;

 

         NOW THEREFORE, Be it resolved by the Johnson City Village Board of Trustees of the

State of New York:

 

         Section 1.   The Board of Trustees of the Village of Johnson City, NY respectfully urges

the United States Congress to enact H.R. 15, the United Health Insurance Act, sponsored by

Representative John Dingell in the United States House of Representatives for the 110th Congress.

 

         Section 2.   The Clerk of the Village of Johnson City is directed to transmit a copy of this

Resolution to the President of the United States and to the members of the New York

Congressional Delegation.

 

Board members polled

Motion carried                                                                        Ayes 4  Nayes 0  Absent 1 (King)

 

 

RESOLUTION #68

 

Motion by Trustee Balles – seconded by Trustee Jones to set a Public Hearing for April 17, 2007

in order to take public comment on the tentative 2007-2008 Village Budget.

 

Board members polled

Motion carried                                                                        Ayes 4  Nayes 0  Absent 1 (King)

 

RESOLUTION #69

 

Motion by Trustee Balles – seconded by Trustee Adams to authorize the Mayor to enter into a

renewal agreement with the Town of Union for the administration of the Community

Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program from January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2010.

 

Board members polled

Motion carried                                                                        Ayes 4  Nayes 0  Absent 1 (King)

 

PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR – VISITORS 

 

Carolyn Laskoski – 37 Edwards Street – Asked about the improvements to the Binghamton/Johnson City Joint Sewage Treatment Plant.

 

Mayor Lewis provided details on the action taken by the Board earlier.

 

Frank Frear – 114 Virginia Avenue – Asked about the current status of the 2007-2008 budget.

 

Mayor Lewis stated that the budget started at a 13.76% increase and is currently at 9.35%.  He added that much more work still needs to be done before it is finalized.

 

Patricia O’Connor – 6 Nadine Way – Asked the Board members if they reviewed the petition to dissolve the Village.

 

Each Board member provided an answer.

 

Patricia O’Connor – 6  Nadine Way – Questioned some of the signature and the reasoning for their rejection and then stated that the intent of the voters was disregarded when the Board rejected the petition.

 

John Sullivan – 701 Marian Drive – Asked if the Village plans on opposing any type of appeal.

 

Village Attorney Westfall stated that the Village would defend its actions.

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

The meeting was adjourned at 8:08P.M.

 

 

_____________________________________

Thomas R. Augostini, Village Clerk/Treasurer