VILLAGE OF CANASTOTA

MINUTES

May 1, 2023

Mayor Warner called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

PRESENT:	Mayor Rosanne Warner; Deputy Mayor Doug Gustin and Trustees Jeffrey Watkins, Lori Torrey and Bill Haddad; Deputy Clerk/Treasurer Caitlin Farr; Town of Lenox Supervisor John Pinard; Mark Taylor; and Bruce Burke of PAC 99.

ABSENT:	Administrator Jeremy Ryan.

Motion by Trustee Watkins, seconded by Trustee Haddad, to approve the following budget transfer: move $4,482.36 from 90608.01 (Health Ins.) to be distributed as follows: $41.16 to 11304.01 (Court Contractual), $330.00 to 14204.01 (Attorney), $1,668.81 to 16204.01 (Village Hall Contractual, $2,442.39 to 50101.01 (Street Personal Services). Passed 5 to 0.

Motion by Trustee Torrey, seconded by Trustee Gustin, to approve the following budget modification: increase 31202.01 (Police Capital) by $35,174.25; increase 2705.01 (Gifts and Donations) by $299.50; increase 85104.01 (Beautification) by $299.50. Passed 5 to 0.

Motion by Trustee Watkins, seconded by Trustee Haddad, to authorize the transfer of $299.50 from the Patricia Pardy donations held in the Special Revenue Fund to the General Fund. Passed 5 to 0.

Motion by Trustee Gustin, seconded by Trustee Watkins, to approve the attached General Fund Abstract in the amount of $46,981.93. Passed 5 to 0.

Motion by Trustee Haddad, seconded by Trustee Torrey, to approve the attached Sewer Fund Abstract in the amount of $1,476.78. Passed 5 to 0.

Motion by Trustee Watkins, seconded by Trustee Torrey, to approve the attached Capital Fund Abstract in the amount of $4,538.33. Passed 5 to 0.

Public Comments.

None.

Motion by Trustee Haddad, seconded by Trustee Watkins, approving the ACH transfer to USDA Rural Development on April 30, 2023, in the amount of $2,880.00 from the Sewer Fund (97107.02 - Interest on Debt Service) for interest owed on the 1998 USDA Phase I Serial A Bond. Passed 5 to 0.

Motion by Trustee Gustin, seconded by Trustee Torrey, approving the ACH transfer to USDA Rural Development on April 30, 2023, in the amount of $900.00 from the Sewer Fund (97107.02 - Interest on Debt Service) for interest owed on the 1998 USDA Phase I Serial B Bond. Passed 5 to 0.

Motion by Trustee Watkins, seconded by Trustee Haddad, to authorize the following unpaid Code Violations to be relevied against the 2023-2024 Village Taxes: $454.25 against property located at 100 Francis Street bearing tax map number 36.40-1-31; $586.50 against property located at 317 North Main Street bearing tax map number 36.45-2-18; $678.50 against property located at 436 EN Canal Street bearing tax map number 36.56-1-3; $1,322.50 against property located at 211 West Avenue bearing tax map number 35.16-1-3; $2,144.75 against property located at 322 EN Canal Street bearing tax map number 36.55-1-38; $2,698.90 against property located at 125 Rasbach Street bearing tax map number 36.77-1-55.1; $215.63 against property located at 300 EN Canal Street, bearing tax map number 36.54-2-38; $431.25 against property located at 142 EN Canal Street bearing tax map number 36.54-1-81 for a total of $8,532.28 in unpaid code violations. Passed 5 to 0.

Motion by Trustee Gustin, seconded by Trustee Haddad, to authorize the following unpaid sidewalk charges to be relevied against the 2023-2024 Village Taxes: $1,174.25 against property located at 205 N Peterboro Street bearing tax map number 36.54-1-39 for a total of $1,174.25 in unpaid sidewalk charges. Passed 5 to 0.

Motion by Trustee Torrey, seconded by Trustee Watkins, to authorize the following unpaid Water/Sewer Charges to be relevied against the 2023-2024 Village Taxes: $6,230.75 against property located at 508 State Street bearing tax map number 36.53-1-7.1; $1,572.64 against property located at 211 West Avenue bearing tax map number 35.16-1-3; $1,028.28 against property located at 300 EN Canal Street bearing tax map number 36.54-2-38; $743.94 against property located at 105 Getmac Avenue bearing tax map number 35.16-1-16.1; $579.68 against property located at 509 S Main Street bearing tax map number 36.77-1-30; $371.19 against property located at 107 Getmac Avenue bearing tax map number 35.16-1-17.1 for a total of $10,526.48 in unpaid Water/Sewer relevies. Passed 5 to 0.

Motion by Trustee Watkins, seconded by Trustee Haddad, to authorize the Mayor to enter in an agreement with M.A. Polce for email and Microsoft Office 365 support at a rate of $372.65 per month from June 1, 2023 to May 31, 2024. Passed 5 to 0.

Discussion regarding 2023-2024 Budget.

The Mayor talked to the Board about the changes that had to be made to the Sewer Budget. The sewer rate will increase to $6.50/1000 gallons from $6.25/1000 gallons to make up for the shortfall because of the decrease in water usage. The Mayor read the proposed motion to modify the sewer budget and discussed with the Board the effect of the changes made.

Motion by Trustee Haddad, seconded by Trustee Watkins, to modify the Mayor's Tentative Sewer Budget for fiscal year ending 5/31/2024 as follows: Increase the Sewer Rate to $6.50 per 1000 Gallons for Operations and Maintenance; increase 19904.02 (Contingency) by $3,355.00 to $3,355.00; increase 2120.02 (Sewer Rents) by $3,355.00 to $558,642.50. Discussion: Trustee Haddad asked what happens when usage goes down again? The Mayor noted that the rate will need to increase again. The Board talked about the Sewer Debt Unit Charge increase and noted that the rate had not increased ever. Passed 5 to 0.

7:15 p.m. Public Hearing on Local Law No. D of 2023, A Local Law to Amend Chapter 216, Vehicles and Traffic.

The Mayor read the Notice of Public Hearing out loud and opened the public hearing at 7:16 p.m. Mayor Warner asked if there was anyone here to speak for or against the proposed local law. She asked two (2) more times and received no response. Motion by Trustee Watkins, seconded by Trustee Haddad, to close the public hearing at 7:19 p.m.

Motion by Trustee Watkins, seconded by Trustee Haddad, adopting the attached Resolution enacting Local Law 4-2023, A Local Law Amending the Code of the Incorporated Village of Canastota to Amend Chapter 216, Vehicles and Traffic. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Haddad - Yes; Trustee Gustin - Yes; Trustee Watkins - Yes; Trustee Torrey - Yes; Mayor Warner - Yes. Passed 5 to 0.

Motion by Trustee Torrey, seconded by Trustee Haddad, adopting the Mayor's Tentative General Fund Budget for fiscal year ending 5/31/2024 as proposed with a tax rate of $11.4533 per $1,000 of assessed value, $2,008,302.83 in Real Property Taxes and $3,912,909.10 in appropriations; and the Mayor's Tentative Sewer Fund Budget for fiscal year ending 5/31/2024 as last amended with a Sewer unit Charge of $110.00, a Sewer Rate of $6.50 per 1000 gallons for operations and maintenance with appropriations and revenues totaling $2,853,699.47. Discussion: Trustee Watkins asked what last year's tax rate was. The Mayor noted that it was the same as this year - there was no increase in the rate. The Board discussed the Sewer Rate and decrease in the amount of water used. Trustee Haddad asked if we should try to predict the shortage if usage is going to continue to decline. Clerk/Treasurer Williams noted that for 100,000 gallons of water used, the resident will pay an extra $25.00 with the current increase. The Mayor advised that Tim Wisely from OCWA is predicting more decreases next year. Passed 5 to 0.

Correspondence.

-	The Mayor received a letter from Little League inviting the Board to the opening day ceremonies.

Mayor's Comments.

The Mayor advised the Board that PERMA is looking for a letter of support for a bill in the Senate and Assembly. Mayor Warner does not know much about it - she will get a copy of the request to the Board. The Mayor received a letter from Madison County Planning regarding a Boat Float happening on June 17, 2023, from the Chittenango Landing. Mayor Warner gave the Board the list of expenditures from the ARPA funds given to the Village by the Town. The Mayor also has a list of parcels being sent to auction by the County.

Mayor Warner advised that the new fire truck was sent to FDIC and is now going back to Darley because it needs a test on the pump. The Mayor has received the bill and will submit the bill to FEMA once the truck has been received and accepted by the Village. Mayor Warner also advised the Board that there is approximately $8,000 - $9,000 in equipment to be added to the truck to get to the full price. Trustee Gustin asked how long it will take. Mayor Warner advised that the truck is on its way back to Darley and talked about why it is going back to Darley - they are testing it again.

Mayor Warner talked to the Board about the request from DPW Foreman Holdridge to purchase a dry-weather pump for the headworks station - the existing pump is original to the system.

The Mayor had a meeting with OCWA and shared with the Board the information that OCWA gave to her.

Mayor Warner shared information from NYCLASS and noted that Administrator Ryan called Luke Halberg at Community Bank to ask about getting better rates from Community Bank. The Mayor gave the information to the Board to move some money into NYCLASS. Supervisor Pinard noted that the Town does have money with NYCLASS but they are keeping the rest of their money with Community Bank because Community Bank is matching the NYCLASS rate.

Mayor Warner advised the Board that the Canastota Housing Authority received a letter terminating their relationship with Stoneleigh effective June 30, 2023. Trustee Watkins asked the Mayor why we are losing this. The Mayor stated that she will be meeting with Stoneleigh to find out. She did note that it has to do with the amount of money that the Housing Authority gives out in Section 8 vouchers. The Board talked about the reasons for the number of vouchers that were not given out and how the plan works for landlords and tenants. The Mayor does not want to lose the Housing Authority and believes that we need to help them. Trustee Haddad asked if this only concerns the Village. The Mayor advised that it is the Town of Lenox and Village of Canastota. Trustee Watkins asked how many employees they have and the Mayor advised that they have two (2).

Trustee Haddad wants to purchase the pump. The Mayor noted that we can look at OGS to find it - we may need to bid it because of the cost.

Administrator's Comments.

The Board received the Administrator's report. It was noted that we did not receive any concrete bids and will need to piggyback off the County's bid.

Trustees Comments.

None.

Motion by Trustee Gustin, seconded by Trustee Watkins, to adjourn at 7:47 p.m. Passed 5 to 0.

Respectfully submitted,

Catherine E. Williams

Clerk/Treasurer