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 August 15, 2006

 

PRESENT:    Harry G. Lewis                                     Mayor

 

                     Donald Adams

                     Richard Balles

                     Bruce King                                           Trustees

                    

                     Beth Westfall                                        Village Attorney           

 

ABSENT:      Ron Jones                                             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 Johnson City Police Department has openings and is accepting applications for the Fall 2006 Citizens Police Academy.   

 

BOARD MINUTES

 

Motion by Trustee Balles - seconded by Trustee King to accept and place on file the Work Session and Regular Meeting of July 18, 2006. 

 

Motion Carried                                                              Ayes 4  Nayes 0  Absent 1 (Jones)        

 

BID OPENINGS                                                         

 

Bids were opened and read aloud on August 11, 2006 at 10:00AM for a 4x4 One-ton Truck.

Bidder

Bid

Fairport Ford

$23,121.00

Joe Basil Chevrolet

$23,337.00

 

RESOLUTION #112

 

Motion by Trustee Adams – seconded by Trustee Balles to accept and award the bid from Fairport Ford in the amount of $23,121.00 for a 4x4 One-ton Truck as budgeted in the 2006-2007 Water Department Budget.

 

Board members polled

Motion carried                                                               Ayes 4  Nayes 0  Absent 1 (Jones)

Bids were opened and read aloud on August 11, 2006 at 10:30AM for Sewer Pipe Relining and Grouting at Reynolds Road.

Bidder

Bid

R. DeVincentis

$85,000.00

Procon

$88,000.00

G. DeVincentis

$128,000.00

 

RESOLUTION #113

 

Motion by Trustee Balles – seconded by Trustee Adams to accept and award the bid from R. DeVincentis in the amount of $85,000.00 for Sewer Pipe Relining and Grouting at the Oakdale Mall on Reynolds Road with project cost being submitted to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for reimbursement.

 

Board members polled

Motion carried                                                               Ayes 4  Nayes 0  Absent 1 (Jones)

 

PUBLIC HEARINGS                                                   None

 

PETITIONS RECEIVED                                              None

 

PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR – VISITORS                

 

Constance Kozak – 91 Martin Avenue – Feels that consolidation may not be the right answer but cutting costs and reducing expenses are a viable alternative.  Asked the Village Board to reduce each department’s budget by two percent and also look into the Village becoming a City.

 

Joe Rogoff – 777 Aetna Road – Praised the Fire Department for their quick response to aid his wife during a recent accident.  He also praised the Police Department for their assistance during his wife’s accident.  He praised the Refuse Department for all of their hard work during recent flooding.

 

P.J. Corry – 46 Rose Lane – Stated that dissolving the Village is the wrong approach to take in order to save dollars.  He feels that assessments are unfair and that this is the cause of the dissolution movement.  He commended the Department of Public Works, the Police Department and the Fire Department along with the Mayor and Trustees for all their hard work during the recent flood events.  He feels that the committee that is asking for the Village to be dissolved does not have a plan for when Johnson City dissolves.  Mr. Corry read statistics related to responses times and statistics on the difficulty of creating a volunteer Fire Department.

 

Carolyn Powell – 271 Ackley Avenue – Thanked the Fire Department for their efforts during a recent fire at her residence.

 

Julie Deemie – 153 Zoa Avenue – Moved into the Village of Johnson City over a year ago based upon the services that the Village provides.

 

Ted Pratt – 23 St. Charles Street – Feels that a problem exists regarding youth and the quality of life.  He feels that actions from the youth on St. Charles Street is deteriorating the quality of life in his neighborhood.  He stated that dissolving the Village is not the answer to solving problems such as deteriorating neighborhoods.

 

Mayor Lewis stated he has had conversations with  Mr. Pratt regarding a problem on St. Charles Street and that the Village Attorney will forward a letter to the property owner under the Property Nuisance Law of the Village Code.

 

Sharon Elston -130 Albany Avenue – Is disappointed that the Citizens Police Academy is being cancelled.  He stated that the Village of Johnson City should not dissolve.

 

Jack Ewald – 7 Avenue D – He recently purchased property in downtown Johnson City.  He urged the Board of Trustees to keep Village Government close to the people.  He feels that residents have a great deal of investment in the Village and this asset should not be given away to another municipality.

 

Fred Hamdan – 10 Eric Drive – Feels Johnson City is a unique place to live because of the pride that the people possess.  He does not feel it is worth the potential savings compared to what is lost in terms of services and public safety.

 

Wanda Black – 39 Peterson Street – Feels that Johnson City is full or crime.  She stated that crime must be stopped and that a serious drug and gang problem exists.  She also feels that the Village must address the issue of absentee landlords that add to the negative environment of the neighborhoods.  She urged the residents to call in problems to the Police Department as they occur.

 

Mayor Lewis urged residents to call the police when they witness problems or suspicious activities in their neighborhoods so the Police Department can address the situation.

 

Ann Davis – 63 St. Charles Street – Provided details on a dangerous situation with children in her neighborhood.

 

Barbara Hardy – 43 Olive Street – Commended the Mayor for helping her and the residents in her neighborhood with a gang problem.  She also thanked the Mayor for being so responsive to everything that happens in Johnson City.  She commended Judge Miller for helping with debris removal efforts during the recent flooding.  She stated that dissolving the Village is not the answer because all this hard work is lost.

 

Kim Sherba – 99 Pearl Avenue – Thanked all the Departments and employees of the Village for their assistance during the recent flood events.

 

Tom Bucinell – West Corners – Feels that people have the wrong idea of consolidation.  He stated that Villages can still pay for the services they want.  He added that consolidating services can still achieve lower costs without the loss of identity.

 

Gordon Jackson – 11 Avon Street – Feels the Westover portion of the Town of Union should become part of the Village.  He enjoys the services of the Johnson City Fire Department and wishes he could have the services of the Johnson City Police Department.

 

Art Fernan – 110 New York Avenue – Feels that the Village can reduce expenses without causing serious cuts to the delivery of services.  The Village should also examine fees for services for non-for-profits that enjoy exempt status.

 

Ron Heebner – 515 Riverside Drive – He stated that the State of New York needs more profit producing and tax paying jobs and that the government framework in Broome County needs to be restructured rather than consolidating.

 

John Lurenz – 54 Colville Avenue – He stated that dissolving the Village would be a huge loss.  He and other parents created and developed the Johnson City soccer program in Johnson City 18 years ago because the parents could not gain access to the program in the Town of Union.

 

Ed Mihalek – 52 Brown Street – Provided details on several quick responses from the Fire Department over the years.

 

Mariaan Mathis – 21 Colville Avenue – She stated that she passionately loves Johnson City and that her family is starting their fifth generation of living in Johnson City.

 

P.J. Corry – 46 Rose Lane – Thanked the Water Department because Johnson City did not have a boil water advisory during the flooding events.

 

COMMUNICATIONS

 

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

 

JSCD – Reg. Mtg: July 11, 2006

Your Home Library – Reg. Mtg: March 13, April 10, May 15 and June 13, 2006

Binghamton/JC JSB – Reg. Mtg: July 11, 2006

Broome County Legislature – Reg. Mtg: April 20, May 18 and June 21, 2006;

Special Mtg: May 4, 2006

Liquor License – Eagles, 24 Willow Street (Renewal); Deacon’s Bench, 227 Oakdale Road (Renewal)

 

Motion carried                                                               Ayes 4  Nayes 0  Absent 1 (Jones)     

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS                                            

 

Trustee Balles provided an update on the Veterans Park Gazebo Project.  He stated that because of the recent flooding, fundraising has been halted.  He thanked the Firefighters Union for contributing $500 toward the project.

 

DEPARTMENTS REPORTS              

 

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

 

Water Department

June 2006

Code Enforcement

June 2006

 

Motion carried                                                               Ayes 4  Nayes 0  Absent 1 (Jones) 

 

 

 

 

PAYROLL AND BILLS PRESENTED

 

Motion by Trustee Adams - seconded by Trustee King that Abstract #3 for the Fiscal Year 2006-07, having been audited by the board and approved, be ordered paid as follows:

 

GENERAL

$484,325.27

WATER

$74,000.71

SEWER

$20,810.29

REFUSE

$116,715.71

LIBRARY

$14,845.59

SARA

$53.00

SESAME ST.

$1,794.76

OVERBROOKE

$75.00

JSTP-PHASE III

$490,897.88

 

Board members polled

Motion carried                                                                        Ayes 4  Nayes 0  Absent 1 (Jones)

 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS                                       

 

Trustee Adams asked the Mayor to forward a letter of appreciation to the Johnson City School

District for allowing the Village to utilize the school’s facilities for their summer baton patron

which was needed due to the damage at the parks.

 

Trustee Balles thanked each of the Departments and their employees for all their hard work

during and after the flood event of June 2006.

 

Mayor Lewis thanked everyone for taking the time and contributing the resources needed to

clean-up all the flood damage and working together to help those who suffered such a great deal

of devastation during the recent flood events.

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

RESOLUTION #114

 

Motion by Trustee Balles - seconded by Trustee King to authorize the Goodwill Theatre, Inc. to hold an outdoor play on August 19, 2006 at Jennison from 4:00PM to 7:30PM contingent upon proper proof of insurance.  

 

Board members polled                                                                       

Motion carried                                                                        Ayes 4  Nayes 0  Absent 1 (Jones)    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RESOLUTION #115

 

Motion by Trustee Balles – seconded by Trustee King to Authorize the Mayor to sign an

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

 

Board members polled                                                                       

Motion carried                                                                        Ayes 4  Nayes 0  Absent 1 (Jones)       

 

RESOLUTION #116

 

Motion by Trustee Adams – seconded by Trustee King to approve RFM 3A-0039 Phase III –

Contract 3A – General with C.O. Falter in order to relocate Existing Storm Sewer Piping with an

additional cost of $7,922.06

 

Board members polled                                                                       

Motion carried                                                                        Ayes 4  Nayes 0  Absent 1 (Jones)       

 

RESOLUTION #117

 

Motion by Trustee Balles – seconded by Trustee Adams to approve a Block Party Permit on

Brown Street from Burns Street to Taber Street on August 19, 2006 from 11:00AM to 6:00PM.

 

Board members polled                                                                       

Motion carried                                                                        Ayes 4  Nayes 0  Absent 1 (Jones)       

 

RESOLUTION #118

 

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

agreement with Bergman Associates related to design and bid documents of the Traffic Signal

Project at the intersection Harry L. Drive, Wegman’s and the Oakdale Mall with a cost of

$105,000.00 and the Village Share being 5%, NYS Share being 15% and Federal Share being

80%.

 

Board members polled                                                                       

Motion carried                                                                        Ayes 4  Nayes 0  Absent 1 (Jones)       

 

RESOLUTION #119

 

Motion by Trustee Adams – seconded by Trustee Balles to authorize the advertisement to receive

bids on the sale of 2 Endicott Avenue.

 

Board members polled                                                                       

Motion carried                                                                        Ayes 4  Nayes 0  Absent 1 (Jones) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RESOLUTION #120

 

Motion by Trustee Adams – seconded by Trustee Balles to accept the resignation of

Part-time Court Clerk Mary E. Waibel, effective August 11, 2006.

 

Board members polled                                                                       

Motion carried                                                                        Ayes 4  Nayes 0  Absent 1 (Jones)   

 

RESOLUTION #121

 

Motion by Trustee Adams – seconded by Trustee Balles to promote Patrol Officer Brent Dodge

to the position of Sergeant, effective August 31, 2006, with an annual salary of $52,794.00.

 

Board members polled                                                                       

Motion carried                                                                        Ayes 4  Nayes 0  Absent 1 (Balles)   

 

RESOLUTION #122

 

Motion by Trustee Adams – seconded by Trustee King to authorize the appointment of

Daria Golazeski as Building Inspector through December 31, 2006, effective immediately.  

 

Board members polled                                                                       

Motion carried                                                                        Ayes 4  Nayes 0  Absent 1 (Jones)   

 

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