VILLAGE OF CANASTOTA

MINUTES

March 7, 2022

Mayor Warner called the meeting to order at 6:06 p.m. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

PRESENT:	Mayor Rosanne Warner; Deputy Mayor Jeffrey Carpenter, Trustee Doug Gustin and Trustee Jeffrey Watkins; Bill Haddad, Lori Torrey, Evan Austerman, Mark Taylor, Joe Palmisano, and Bruce Burke of PAC 99.

ABSENT:	Trustee Bill McDade.

The Board reviewed the budget requests for the Sewer Fund Budget.

Administrator.

Administrator Ryan spoke about his conversation with the State DOT regarding the bump outs planned at the intersections of Center and Peterboro and Canal and Peterboro Streets. The Board discussed this proposal. The Mayor talked about studies that were done previously. The Board also discussed their concern with the bump outs and the development of the project at the end of Center Street. Mayor Warner advised that she asked the State to put in audible crosswalks at these intersections. Trustee Watkins asked when the work is going to be done. Administrator Ryan advises that the State will be starting this project soon. The Mayor noted that the DOT is talking about taking the light out and we advised them that we are not in favor of that.

Administrator Ryan advise that we have made great progress in filling the DPW positions. He has also been working on the website and applying Google Analytics to gain some information on how our site is being used.

Administrator Ryan needs a motion to allow destruction of the former police chief's cell phone which does not work.

Motion by Trustee Carpenter, seconded by Trustee Watkins, to destroy and discard the cell phone of the former police chief. Discussion: Trustee Watkins asked if there were anything else that we need to destroy. Administrator Ryan stated that there is not. Passed 4 to 0.

Administrator Ryan advised that last week there was an individual who came to the counter and asked one of our people out to lunch. As a result, the door into the Clerk's Office will be locked from now on. He also advised the Board that he understands that we have not been drug testing employees after motor vehicle accidents and he thinks that we should revise the policy to increase the $500 threshold for testing. Trustee Watkins asked if that was in the Handbook and Administrator Ryan advised that it is in the Drug and Alcohol Policy. The Mayor asked if we wanted to change the amount. Trustee Watkins would like to see the entire policy first. Administrator Ryan will provide that to the Trustees. Mayor Warner noted that we can put this on the agenda for the next meeting. Mayor Warner advised the Board that Administrator Ryan has the web page and Archive Social and talked about the things that he will do. The Board talked about the kinds of things that can be posted on the web page and on social media.

Motion by Trustee Gustin, seconded by Trustee Carpenter, approving the attached Shared Services Agreement between the Village of Canastota and the People of the State of New York, regarding the sharing of materials, services and equipment for a period of four (4) years beginning retroactively on January 1, 2022, and continuing until January 1, 2026, and authorizing the Mayor to execute the same. Passed 4 to 0.

Motion by Trustee Watkins, seconded by Trustee Carpenter, to appoint John Niles to the position of Automotive Mechanic with the DPW effective March 9, 2022, at Step 4, to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of William Briggs. (Note: As a condition of his employment, this appointment is subject to a 52-week probation period during which Mr. Niles must obtain a Class B CDL.) Discussion: Trustee Carpenter asked about taking an inventory of the tools that we have down there with a new mechanic bringing in his own tools. The Mayor noted that Foreman Maxwell stated that we do not have any tools and the mechanic stated that he has SnapOn tools. Passed 4 to 0.

Motion by Trustee Watkins, seconded by Trustee Gustin, to approve a loan from the General Fund to the Capital Project Fund in the amount of $2,006.00 for architectural fees for the LWRP designs. Passed 4 to 0.

The Mayor noted for the Board that this is for Canal Street planning.

Motion by Trustee Carpenter, seconded by Trustee Watkins, to approve the following budget modification: Increase 31202.01 (Police Capital) by $5,000.00; Increase 2705.01 (Gifts and Donations) by $5,000.00 (Note: this is to record the Grant received from CSX for the Police Department.) Discussion: The Mayor gave the background on the grant and what we intended to do with the funds. Passed 4 to 0.

Motion by Trustee Gustin, seconded by Trustee Watkins, to approve the General Fund Abstract in the amount of $43,370.13. Passed 4 to 0.

Motion by Trustee Watkins, seconded by Trustee Carpenter, to approve the Sewer Fund Abstract in the amount of $31,909.57. Passed 4 to 0.

Motion by Trustee Gustin, seconded by Trustee Carpenter, to approve the Capital Fund Abstract in the amount of $2,006.00. Passed 4 to 0.

Public Comments.

Joe Palmisano of the Canastota VFW passed out an invitation to the Board members to participate in the Memorial Day Parade. The Mayor noted that the invitation is in the packet and we have to do the paperwork to close down the road for the parade.

Mark Taylor asked the Mayor how many full-time and part-time police officers we had in the Village. He also asked what percentage of the budget is dedicated to the police department. Mr. Taylor discussed with the Board his concern about our officers using the parking lots of establishments on Route 5 across from his bowling alley. Mayor Warner stated that she had already spoken with Sgt. Barton and conveyed the answers back to Mr. Taylor. Mayor Warner asked Mr. Taylor if his patrons have had problems with our police department waiting in the Time Buyer parking lot. Mr. Taylor is not aware of any problems. Mayor Warner will have Sgt. Barton call Mr. Taylor tomorrow. The Board discussed with Mr. Taylor the possible reasons why the police department may be at Time Buyer.

Bill Haddad asked about the sewer engineering study and Douglas Heights. Mr. Haddad advised that Lenox Highway Superintendent Tornatore told him that part of the problem is runoff that comes from the Town across Route 5 down Will New Boulevard and it is causing damage to the road. He discussed the solution that Superintendent Tornatore had proposed. Mr. Haddad also talked about the southeast corner of Hickory Street at the intersection of Peterboro Street near the funeral home, stating that that area of road is heaving and is not draining properly. Mr. Haddad advised the Board that he is not a big fan of the proposed bumpouts. He also suggested changing in the Drug and Alcohol Policy to state that if someone goes to the hospital in an ambulance, our employee should be tested.

Lori Torrey asked the Board if we will lose parking spots as a result of the bumpouts. The Mayor advised that the DOT told her that there is no parking within 20 feet of an intersection so no spots will be lost. The Board discussed snow removal on a daily basis and damage from the plows to the bumpouts. The Board discussed the design and how this will work. The Mayor noted that we let the DOT know that we did not like the idea and made examples to them of accidents on Canal Street and Center Street. The Board also talked about the impact of these changes on future development plans for the canal. Mr. Haddad suggested that we ask the DOT to move the pole on the corner of Canal and Peterboro Street by the Pinard building. Mayor Warner talked to Supervisor Pinard to work with Green Empire Farms to establish a better route to keep the tractor trailers off of Canal Street.

Motion by Trustee Watkins, seconded by Trustee Carpenter, to approve payments in the amount of $1,640.57 from the General Fund to MBI for health insurance debit card transaction from February 1, 2022 - February 28, 2022. Passed 4 to 0.

Motion by Trustee Watkins, seconded by Trustee Gustin, to approve the attached Training Request from the Police Department for Sgt. Barton and Officers Preuss, Bitz and Forney to attend Case Law Update training on May 16, 2022, to be held at the Oneida Kallet Civic Center in Oneida, New York, at a cost of $700.00 and for them to use the unmarked police car for transportation. Discussion: The Mayor noted that they had quite a bit of money in their training line. Passed 4 to 0.

Motion by Trustee Carpenter, seconded by Trustee Watkins, to adopt the attached Resolution to schedule a Public Hearing on the proposed local law entitled, "A local law authorizing a property tax levy in excess of the limit established in General Municipal Law section 3-c for the 2022-2023 fiscal year." to be held on March 21, 2022, at 7:30 p.m. Passed 4 to 0.

Correspondence.

-	Invitation from the Canastota VFW Post 600 to attend the 2022 Memorial Day Parade;

-	Tree letter from Joe Longo of 208 Stroud Street.

Mayor.

The Mayor gave the Board a coy of the County's engineering cost estimate to build an access road between Peterboro and Main Streets.. Mayor Warner spoke with Trustee Gustin to see if we can get hard fill and clean fill to build this property up and make an access road. This will help us to get water to the Waste Water Treatment Plant from Peterboro Street across to Main Street. Town Supervisor Pinard would like us to go in on a joint grant application with them to put in the water line.

Mayor Warner advised that the school is working on their badge program and had a zoom meeting last week. They are trying to do a clear a pathway for high school students and the Mayor explained what is being proposed. The school is looking for participation from the DPW, EMS, police and fire to work with the kids.

The Mayor advised that the Police Department is looking for quotes on the Livescan.

Mayor Warner had a meeting today on the Center Street project. The developer is proposing 65 units instead of 25 units and what the developer needs to know what the Village's requirements would be for this increase. The Mayor advised that the developer is still looking at engineering issues and looking for investors. The reason for the increase in units is because they need more units in order to make their investment worthwhile. Parking is a concern with the increased units.

The Mayor received a letter from Probation requesting use of our police department for the probation officer to use our building. They will pay the Village $50/month for use of the police department by the probation officer to meet with his clients. The Board discussed what our involvement is and if this is enough money for what we are doing. The Mayor asked Trustee Watkins to see what other communities and their departments are doing. Trustee Watkins believes that we need to talk with Sgt. Barton to see how much this ties us up.

The Mayor advised that the Fire Department wants to hold an Open House on April 23 and 24, 2022, from 9 - 5.

Motion by Trustee Gustin, seconded by Trustee Carpenter, to approve the use of the Fire House for the Open House. Passed 4 to 0.

Mayor Warner talked about the National Abolitionist Hall of Fame Museum in Peterboro that was awarded a grant for $12,000.00. The Mayor was invited to a meeting last week. She talked about the involvement of the Village for placement of a sign in the Village. There will be a ceremony on October 21 of this year to do something to commemorate the walk. The Mayor reached out to Recreation Leader Nichole Boston to see if the Rec Board wanted to participate.

The Mayor advised the Board that we need to go into executive session tonight for contract negotiations.

The Board talked about dates to meet on the budget. The tentative budget is due to Clerk/Treasurer Williams by March 20. The Board will meet on March 16, 2022, at 5:30 p.m. and March 17, 2022, at 5:30 p.m. for budget workshops.

Motion by Trustee Watkins, seconded by Trustee Gustin, to go into executive session at 8:04 p.m. to discuss contracts. Passed 4 to 0.

Motion by Trustee Gustin, seconded by Trustee Watkins, to exit executive session at 10:01 p.m. Passed 4 to 0.

Motion by Trustee Watkins, seconded by Trustee Gustin, to adjourn the meeting at 10:01 p.m. Passed 4 to 0.

Respectfully submitted,

Catherine E. Williams

Clerk/Treasurer