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 June 19, 2007

 

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                                    

 

Mayor Lewis stated that Time Warner Cable recently communicated that ESPN Classic will be moving to Digital Channel 122 on July 1, 2007.

 

Mayor Lewis stated that the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the new Harry L. Apartments, a project being done by SEPP, at the old Harry L. Johnson School is Friday, June 22, 2007 at 1:30PM.

 

BOARD MINUTES

 

Motion by Trustee King - seconded by Trustee Balles to accept and place on file the Work Session and Regular Meeting of May 29, 2007 and the Special Meeting of June 11, 2007. 

 

Motion Carried                                                                          Ayes 5  Nayes 0        

 

BID OPENINGS                                                                     

 

Bids were opened and read aloud on June 14, 2007 at 10:00AM for the Harry L. Drive project.

Bidder

Bid

Bothar Construction

$966,938.29

 

Motion by Trustee King – seconded by Trustee Jones to Accept and Award the bid from Bothar Construction for $966,938.29 for the Harry L. Drive (Giant Plaza to Oakdale Road) Project.

 

Board members polled

Motion carried                                                                           Ayes 5  Nayes 0

 

PUBLIC HEARINGS                                                               None

 

PETITIONS RECEIVED                                                          None

 

 

PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR – VISITORS                       

 

George Hinkey – 138 St. Charles Street – Provided details on back-ups that occur on his property during weather events.

 

Trustee King provided details on a conversation he recently had with Director of Public Services Bennett.

 

Michael Matalka – 14 Adams Avenue – Stated that he has lived in Johnson City for 55 years and until recently has never experienced drainage problems.

 

The Mayor received a petition from Thomas Fron of 25 Adams Avenue requesting assistance from the Village to correct drainage problems that the neighborhood is experiencing during weather events.

 

Leo Meaney – 35 Greenridge Street – Stated that the Fire Department has requested to take over Code Enforcement and he feels the Village should transfer the work to the Fire Department.  He also requested that an abandoned car on the Southside be looked into by Code Enforcement.

 

Bob Carr – 1166 Anna Maria Drive – Feels the petition submitted and rejected should be given consideration and the signatures collected, over 3,000, should be heard.  He feels that departments in the Village are too wasteful and cited an example of the First Responders Program within the Fire Department and stated that this service is unnecessary. 

 

Trustee Jones stated that this issue is debatable but he had a personal situation in which he greatly benefited from this service.

 

Thomas Gooch – 58 Hill Avenue – Stated that the Village has re-patched Hill Avenue several times over the years and this is becoming a safety issue as a sink hole has developed.

 

COMMUNICATIONS

 

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

 

JSCD – Reg. Mtg: May 15, 2007

Town of Union – Special Mtg: June 12, 2007

 

Motion carried                                                                           Ayes 5  Nayes 0     

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS                                                         None

 

 

 

 

 

DEPARTMENTS REPORTS              

 

Motion by Trustee Balles – seconded by Trustee Jones to accept and place on file the following Department Reports:

 

Code Enforcement

May 2007

 

Motion carried                                                                           Ayes 5  Nayes 0 

 

PAYROLL AND BILLS PRESENTED

 

Motion by Trustee Balles - seconded by Trustee Jones that Abstract #1 for the Fiscal Year 2007-08, having been audited by the board and approved, be ordered paid as follows:

 

GENERAL

$834,073.79

WATER

$34,760.50

SEWER

$95,424.76

REFUSE

$50,666.47

LIBRARY

$14,716.56

JSTP-PHASE III

$594,030.93

HLD

$15,276.29

 

Board members polled

Motion carried                                                                                    Ayes 5  Nayes 0 

 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS                                       

 

Trustee Balles asked when the next meeting would take place with the NYSDOT on the Veterans

Park Project.

 

Mayor Lewis stated that the next meeting would most likely occur in July sometime and

additional details of the project would be communicated at this next meeting.

 

Trustee Jones spoke on the issue of a Voluntary Study Group rather than a study to Dissolve the

Village.

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

RESOLUTION #132

 

Motion by Trustee Adams - seconded by Trustee King to set a Public Hearing for July 2, 2007 at 5:00PM in order to re-hear an application for a Special Permit at 750 Harry L. Drive.    

 

Board members polled                                                                       

Motion carried                                                                                    Ayes 5  Nayes 0       

 

 

 

 

 

RESOLUTION #133

 

Motion by Trustee Jones – seconded by Trustee Balles to appoint Tonya Manzer to the position

of Part-time Data Input Operator within the Police Department at the salary of $8 per hour,

effective July 5, 2007.

 

Board members polled                                                                       

Motion carried                                                                                    Ayes 5  Nayes 0       

 

RESOLUTION #134

 

Motion by Trustee Adams – seconded by Trustee Jones to authorize the following:

 

RESOLVED that Harry G. Lewis, as Mayor of the Village of Johnson City, is

hereby authorized and directed to file an application for funds from the New York State

Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation in accordance with the provisions

of Title 9 of the Environmental Protection Act of 1993, in an amount not to exceed

$50,000.00, and upon approval of said request to enter into and execute a project

agreement with the State for such financial assistance to this Village of Johnson City for

the Harry L. Johnson Monument, if appropriate, a conservation easement/preservation

covenant to the deed of the assisted property.

 

TRUSTEE DISCUSSION:

 

Trustee Balles provided details on a group that this is trying to raise funds in order to move the

monument to People’s Park on Harry L. Drive.

 

Board members polled                                                                       

Motion carried                                                                                    Ayes 5  Nayes 0       

 

RESOLUTION #135

 

Motion by Trustee Adams – seconded by Trustee King to authorize the following:

 

RESOLVED that Harry G. Lewis, as Mayor of the Village of Johnson City, is

hereby authorized and directed to file an application for funds from the New York State

Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation in accordance with the provisions

of Title 9 of the Environmental Protection Act of 1993, in an amount not to exceed

$350,000.00, and upon approval of said request to enter into and execute a project

agreement with the State for such financial assistance to this Village of Johnson City for

the Interior Improvements to Your Home Public Library, if appropriate, a conservation

easement/preservation covenant to the deed of the assisted property.

 

Board members polled                                                                       

Motion carried                                                                                    Ayes 5  Nayes 0       

 

 

 

 

RESOLUTION #136

 

Motion by Trustee King – seconded by Trustee Adams to authorize the following:

 

RESOLVED that Harry G. Lewis, as Mayor of the Village of Johnson City, is

hereby authorized and directed to file an application for funds from the New York State

Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation in accordance with the provisions

of Title 9 of the Environmental Protection Act of 1993, in an amount not to exceed

$40,000.00, and upon approval of said request to enter into and execute a project

agreement with the State for such financial assistance to this Village of Johnson City for

the Pagoda, if appropriate, a conservation easement/preservation covenant to the deed of

the assisted property.

 

Board members polled                                                                       

Motion carried                                                                                    Ayes 5  Nayes 0       

 

RESOLUTION #137

 

Motion by Trustee Adams – seconded by Trustee King to accept a Grant Award in the amount of

$15,000.00 for the George F. Johnson Signature to be relocated.

 

Board members polled                                                                       

Motion carried                                                                                    Ayes 5  Nayes 0 

 

RESOLUTION #138

 

Motion by Trustee King – seconded by Trustee Adams to accept the deed for the Cul-de-Sac on

San Marco Drive.

 

Board members polled                                                                       

Motion carried                                                                                    Ayes 5  Nayes 0   

 

RESOLUTION #139

 

Motion by Trustee Jones – seconded by Trustee Balles to approve the salary adjustment for

Part-time Code Enforcement Officer James Wallace to $11.50 per hour, effective July 5, 2007

 

Board members polled                                                                       

Motion carried                                                                                    Ayes 5  Nayes 0   

 

RESOLUTION #140

 

Motion by Trustee Jones – seconded by Trustee Balles to approve the salary adjustment for

Part-time Code Enforcement Officer William Kenville to $11.30 per hour, effective July 5, 2007.

 

Board members polled                                                                       

Motion carried                                                                                    Ayes 5  Nayes 0   

 

 

 

RESOLUTION #141

 

Motion by Trustee Adams – seconded by Trustee King to authorize a Block Party Permit for the

Annual Nelson Road Street Party for July 7, 2007.

 

Board members polled

Motion carried                                                                                    Ayes 5  Nayes 0

 

RESOLUTION #142

 

Motion by Trustee King – seconded by Trustee Balles to authorize a Block Party Permit for the

Annual Narwood Street Independence Day Celebration on July 4, 2007.

 

Board members polled

Motion carried                                                                                    Ayes 5  Nayes 0

 

RESOLUTION #143

 

Motion by Trustee Adams – seconded by Trustee Jones to approve RFM 3B-0014

Phase III – Contract 3B – Electrical with Matco Electric to provide and install two 1200 amp

disconnects at an additional cost of $30,099.00.

 

Board members polled                                                                       

Motion carried                                                                                    Ayes 5  Nayes 0   

 

RESOLUTION #144

 

Motion by Trustee Balles – seconded by Trustee King to approve RFM 6A-0004

Phase III – Contract 6A – General with Dudley Construction, Inc. for the addition of 90 degree

Elbows on the Pump Discharge Piping on the four existing Head House Pump Stations with an

additional cost of $13,600.40 and submit reimbursement request to FEMA/SEMO.

 

Board members polled                                                                       

Motion carried                                                                                    Ayes 5  Nayes 0   

 

RESOLUTION #145

 

Motion by Trustee King – seconded by Trustee Jones to approve Change Order No. 1 with 21st

Century Pool and Spas for additional plumbing work on the Floral Avenue Pool rehabilitation

project.

 

Board members polled

Motion carried                                                                                    Ayes 5  Nayes 0

 

RESOLUTION #146

 

Motion by Trustee Adams – seconded by Trustee King to adjust the salary of the Mayor’s

Part-time Administrative Assistant Judy Snedaker to $11.00 per hour, effective July 5, 2007.

 

Board members polled                                                                       

Motion carried                                                                                    Ayes 5  Nayes 0  

RESOLUTION #147

 

Motion by Trustee King – seconded by Trustee Jones to approve the settlement in the Federal Court Matter between Dan Planavsky and the Village of Johnson  City in the amount of $7,500.00 to be paid from Budgetary Code A1930.4 (Judgements and Claims).

 

Board members polled

Motion carried                                                                           Ayes 5  Nayes 0 

 

RESOLUTION #148

 

Motion by Trustee King – seconded by Trustee Adams to authorize Modifications to all Emergency Declarations since the flood of June 2006 to make them effective every five days in accordance with Executive Law, Section 24.

 

Board members polled

Motion carried                                                                           Ayes 5  Nayes 0

 

PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR                                                 

 

John Sullivan – 701 Marian Drive – Advised the group who submitted the petition to have the Village in their drainage problem on the Southside to keep in constant communication with Village Officials so that the issue gets resolved.  He also asked about the Parks Agreement with the Town of Union.

 

Village Attorney Westfall provided details on the Parks Agreement.

 

John Sullivan – 701 Marian Drive – Asked about the make-up of the Committee to study dissolution and also inquired about Village audits.

 

Trustee Jones stated that he would like to see a variety of people on the committee and the Clerk/Treasurer provided details on Village audits.

 

John Sullivan – 701 Marian Drive – Stated that the Village Board should have rejected the petition and then adopted a resolution to put the dissolution question to a vote.

 

Leo Meaney – 35 Greenridge Street – Stated that the petition issue is before a judge and should not be discussed.

 

George Hinkey – 138 St. Charles Street – Asked about capacity at the Sewage Treatment Plant.

 

Mayor Lewis provided details.

 

Carol Laskoski – 37 Edwards Street – Stated that the Hospital recently purchased property on Main Street and wanted to know if that property is now tax-exempt.

 

The Clerk/Treasurer provided details.

 

Bernie Sheredy – 57 Hill Avenue – Stated that he is fully aware of the severe flooding on the Southside of the Village and that he is willing to assist in any way to help ease the problems that have occurred.

Mike Guiles – 49 Hill Avenue – Stated that on June 2, water built-up on his property after the severe thunderstorm.

 

Diane Novak – 57 Fowler Avenue – Stated that the recent heavy rains have caused back-ups and flooding and standing water in that area of the  Village.

 

Mayor Lewis assured everyone that the drainage problems occurring in the Hill Avenue section of the Village will be looked into tomorrow morning and that he will stay in constant communication with those who are experiencing problems.

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

The meeting was adjourned at 9:15P.M.

 

 

_____________________________________

Thomas R. Augostini, Village Clerk/Treasurer