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 July 18, 2006

 

PRESENT:    Harry G. Lewis                                     Mayor

 

                     Donald Adams

                     Ron Jones

                     Bruce King                                           Trustees

                    

                     Jeff Jacobs                                           Village Attorney           

 

ABSENT:      Richard Balles                                       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                             

 

The Mayor announced that the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) will hold a Public Information Meeting on July 19, 2006 in the Board Room of Village Hall from 4:00PM to 7:00PM to provide details and to accept comments from the public on the Traffic Signal and Lighting Upgrades being proposed on Main Street in the Village.

 

BOARD MINUTES

 

Motion by Trustee King - seconded by Trustee Jones to accept and place on file the Work Session and Regular Meeting of June 20, 2006. 

 

Motion Carried                                                              Ayes 4  Nayes 0  Absent 1 (Balles)        

 

BID OPENINGS                                                          None

 

PUBLIC HEARINGS                                                   None

 

PETITIONS RECEIVED                                              None

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR – VISITORS                

 

John Sullivan – 701 Marian Drive – Stated that members of the Police and Fire Departments are in attendance and he would like to hear any opinion that they have to offer.

 

Mayor Lewis stated that the Board listens to comments from the public during this portion of the meeting and that soliciting comments is not appropriate.

 

John Hussar – 178 Oakdale Road – Feels that he is being harassed by the Johnson City Fire Department by how the Department conducts inspections.  He stated that he asked for a copy of the Department’s procedures for inspections at the last Board Meeting and has not yet received the information.

 

Mayor Lewis explained that he would need to complete a Freedom of Information Request (FOIL) in order to obtain the information and that the forms are available in the Village Clerk’s Office.

 

Robert Dempsey – Fire Marshall – Stated that he would meet with Mr. Hussar during working hours at his office on Floral Avenue and show Mr. Hussar the procedures for inspections.

 

Liz Johnson – 230 Myrtle Avenue – Asked if Trustee King’s vending machines located in Village buildings are a conflict of interest.

 

Trustee King stated that he provides food and beverage vending services to the Department of Public Works at 124 Brown Street but lost his machines in the recent flooding.  He added that he has vending machines at the Police Department as well.  These services were provided before he ran for and was elected to the Office of Village Trustee.  Once the contract expires and the Village decides to re-bid these services then he will not bid on these services if he is still a Trustee.

 

Village Attorney Jacobs stated that he issued a legal opinion stating that no conflict exists and Trustee King can continue to provide these services.

 

COMMUNICATIONS

 

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

 

JSCD – Reg. Mtg: May 16, June 13, 20 and 27, 2006; Special Mtg: May 24 and 30, 2006

Town of Union – Reg. Mtg: June 21 and July 12, 2006

Binghamton/JC JSB – Reg. Mtg: June 13, 2006

Village of Endicott – Reg. Mtg: May 22 and June 12, 2006; Special Mtg: May 30, 2006

 

Motion carried                                                               Ayes 4  Nayes 0  Absent 1 (Balles)     

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS                                             None

 

 

 

 

 

DEPARTMENTS REPORTS              

 

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

 

Police Department

January, February, March 2006; 2005 Annual Report

 

Motion carried                                                               Ayes 4  Nayes 0  Absent 1 (Balles) 

 

PAYROLL AND BILLS PRESENTED

 

Motion by Trustee Adams - seconded by Trustee King that Abstract #2 for the Fiscal Year 2006-07, having been audited by the board and approved, be ordered paid as follows:

 

GENERAL

$677,456.01

WATER

$67,864.00

SEWER

$12,235.22

REFUSE

$63,436.53

LIBRARY

$21,929.48

JSTP-PHASE III

$209,400.52

OVERBROOK

$75.00

 

Board members polled

Motion carried                                                                        Ayes 4  Nayes 0  Absent 1 (Balles) 

 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS                                        None

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

RESOLUTION #101

 

Motion by Trustee Adams - seconded by Trustee Jones to Declare an Emergency due to the recent flooding which started June 27, 2006 and utilize the section of the Village Procurement Policy under Emergency situations and award a contract for clean-up services to Central New York Fire Emergency Services in an amount not to exceed $16,400 and award a building repair contract to Central New York Fire Emergency Services in an amount not to exceed $40,604.05.  

 

Board members polled                                                                       

Motion carried                                                                        Ayes 4  Nayes 0  Absent 1 (Balles)    

 

RESOLUTION #102

 

Motion by Trustee Adams – seconded by Trustee King to authorize the closing of Avenue B on

July 28, 2006 from 4:00PM to 11:00PM for “Fabulous Friday” which is sponsored by the

Johnson City Partnership contingent upon meeting the Village insurance requirement and adding

the Village as additional insured for this event.

 

Board members polled                                                                       

Motion carried                                                                        Ayes 4  Nayes 0  Absent 1 (Balles)       

 

RESOLUTION #103

 

Motion by Trustee Adams – seconded by Trustee King to amend Resolution No. 91 of 2006 by

adding the dates of July 23, 2006 and August 6, 2006 to the authorization for closing Willbrow

Alley contingent upon Giblin’s meeting the Village insurance requirements and adding the

Village as additional insured for these events.

 

Board members polled                                                                       

Motion carried                                                                        Ayes 4  Nayes 0  Absent 1 (Balles)       

 

RESOLUTION #104

 

Motion by Trustee Adams – seconded by Trustee Jones to approve a Bond Anticipation Note

(BAN) of $428,000 for various Village capital projects, Street Reconstruction for $130,000, New

Fire Engine for $275,000 and New Police Vehicle for $23,000.

 

Board members polled                                                                       

Motion carried                                                                        Ayes 4  Nayes 0  Absent 1 (Balles)       

 

RESOLUTION #105

 

Motion by Trustee Adams – seconded by Trustee King to waive a Penalty on a water bill for 26

Plymouth Street in the amount of $58.68.

 

Board members polled                                                                       

Motion carried                                                                        Ayes 4  Nayes 0  Absent 1 (Balles)       

 

RESOLUTION #106

 

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

Part-time Code Enforcement Officer, Jim Wallace, to $11.20 per hour effective July 20, 2006.

 

Board members polled                                                                       

Motion carried                                                                        Ayes 4  Nayes 0  Absent 1 (Balles) 

 

RESOLUTION #107

 

Motion by Trustee Adams – seconded by Trustee Jones to declare that any Village equipment that

was damaged as a result of the flooding event that started June 27, 2006 that has a value of $500

or less can be disposed of and exempt from the Surplus Equipment Policy of the Village.

 

Board members polled                                                                       

Motion carried                                                                        Ayes 4  Nayes 0  Absent 1 (Balles)   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RESOLUTION #108

 

Motion by Trustee King – seconded by Trustee Adams to Declare an Emergency due to the

recent flooding which started on June 27, 2006 and utilize the section of the Village Procurement

Policy under Emergency situations and purchase 305 feet of Storm line at $178 per foot for a sum

not to exceed $54,290 in order to replace Village owned storm line that was damaged near the

Oakdale Mall on Reynolds Road.

 

Board members polled                                                                       

Motion carried                                                                        Ayes 4  Nayes 0  Absent 1 (Balles)   

 

RESOLUTION #109

 

Motion by Trustee King – seconded by Trustee Adams to authorize the advertising of replacing

305 fee of Village purchased storm line that was damage near the Oakdale Mall on Reynolds

Road.  

 

Board members polled                                                                       

Motion carried                                                                        Ayes 4  Nayes 0  Absent 1 (Balles)    

 

RESOLUTION #110

 

Motion by Trustee Jones – seconded by Trustee King to approve a Professional Services

Agreement with C&S Engineers for a study to assess damage related to the Village’s Combined

Sewer Overflow (CSO) System for an amount not to exceed $7,500.00.

 

Board members polled                                                                       

Motion carried                                                                        Ayes 4  Nayes 0  Absent 1 (Balles)   

 

RESOLUTION #111

 

Motion by Trustee King – seconded by Trustee Adams to authorize advertisement for a One-Ton

Stake Body Truck for the Water Department as approved in the 2006-2007 Village Budget.

 

Board members polled                                                                       

Motion carried                                                                        Ayes 4  Nayes 0  Absent 1 (Balles) 

 

PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR                                                 

 

Leo Meaney – 35 Greenridge Street – Thanked the Village for their efforts during the recent flood event.  He also thanked the Village Fire Department for their efforts in assisting the residents of Fairmont Park.

 

Ann Davis – 63 St. Charles Street – Stated that the Felchar building is in terrible condition and very dangerous.  Thanked the Village for all their efforts during the recent flooding.  She stated that Village personnel worked on July 4th to clear debris from various neighborhoods. 

 

Art Fernan – 110 New York Avenue – Addressed several areas as they relate to Village operations.

 

 

Kelly O’Connor – 6 Deborah Drive – Asked if the Village has taken any action on a non-binding vote related to dissolving the Village.

 

Village Attorney Jacobs stated that he would not recommend that the Village Board take a non-binding vote or straw poll on dissolving the Village.

 

Trustee Jones stated that he is not in favor of dissolving the Village because other options could be explored.

 

Trustee Adams stated that he has no where near the information he needs to make an informed decision.

 

Trustee King stated that he could not make a decision because he has not seen a plan as to what happens in terms of services that the Village provides if the Village were to dissolve.

 

Trustee Jones stated all options need to be explored in order to reduce costs and provide essential services.

 

Leo Meaney – 35 Greenridge Street – Stated that the Village Attorney, Beth Westfall, explained the dissolution process at the Special Work Session of July 13th, 2006.  He also stated that a plan needs to be devised to show the residents how services are provided after a Village dissolves and that has not been done.

 

Ann Davis – 63 St. Charles Street – Stated that she does not want the Village to dissolve because she wants the services and protection that she depend on.

 

Christina Haven – 497 Grand Avenue – She feels that safety is a priority and dissolving the Village is not the answer.  She also stated that she would like to know what the plan is for services if the Village dissolves.

 

Edwards Okoniewski – 16 N. Harrison Street – Stated that over a year ago he asked if an engineering study was done to make recommendations on rectifying flooding potential near Northside Park.

 

Director of Public Services Bennett stated that he and the Village Planner met with a representative from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on steps that can possibly be implemented as relief to flooding issues near Northside Park.

 

Mayor Lewis provided details on flood levels from a historical perspective and compared the flood levels of June 2006 to previous flood events of previous years and stated that this area has never experienced water levels of which occurred recently.

 

Kelly O’Connor – 6 Deborah Drive – Stated that this group of citizens that is proposing to dissolve the Village welcomes all ideas with the main goal of making Johnson City an affordable place to live.

 

Art Fernan – 110 New York Avenue – Feels that there are ways to control expenses and alternative ways to make services more affordable.

 

Liz Johnson – 230 Myrtle Avenue – Does not have an opinion on dissolving the Village but strongly feels that consolidation is the answer.

Trustee Jones stated that he agrees with Ms. Johnson on consolidation and that it should be done on a County-wide level.  He also stated that growing the economy is the key to improving the economic conditions of the area.

 

Carolyn Laskoski – 37 Edwards Street – Asked about damage to the Sewer Plant.

 

Mayor Lewis provided details on damage to the Sewer Plant.

 

Rob Salamida – 71 Pratt Avenue – Thanked the Village Fire Department and Sanitation Department for their hard work during the recent flood event.  He asked about creating a special committee to study dissolving so that everyone receives the same facts and that the correct information gets disseminated.

 

Bob Carr – 1166 Anna Maria Drive – Feels that taxes are out of line and that the end of the Village existing are coming to an end.  He feels public benefit packages are out of control.  He knows this is unpopular but taxpayers can not continue to pay these costs.

 

Kathy Carr – 1166 Anna Maria Drive – Feels Mr. Salamida has a great idea and that all the young people in Johnson City need to participate because the young people are the future of the Village.  She also stated that the reasons to dissolve the Village are not personal or against any particular group but rather for the good of the community.

 

Janice Severson – 160 N. Broad Street – Thanked all the Firefighters and Police Officers for their assistance during the recent flooding.

 

Carol Hall – 503 Main Street – Stated that Mayor Lewis and Trustee King were in work clothes providing meals to those who were displaced by the recent flooding.  She thanked Mayor Lewis and Trustee King for all their hard work.

 

Leo Meaney – 35 Greenridge Street – Stated that he appreciates all of the Village services.

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

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

 

 

_____________________________________

Thomas R. Augostini, Village Clerk/Treasurer