VILLAGE OF CANASTOTA

MINUTES

April 15, 2024

Mayor Warner called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

PRESENT:	Mayor Rosanne Warner; Deputy Mayor Doug Gustin; Trustees Jeff Watkins, Bill Haddad (8:06 p.m.) and Lori Torrey; Village Historian David Sadler; DPW Foreman Douglas Holdridge; Fire Chief Lyle Chafee; Code Enforcement Officer Michael Adsit; Recreation Leader Cherie Bealer; Dan Cunningham of CWT; Sarah Murdie and Julie Koelsch of Wanderers' Rest Humane Association; Brian Manning of JKF Architects, PC; Daniel Meyer; Mark Taylor; Lynn Sorbello: Giddeon Sorbello; Peggy LeClair and Bruce Burke of PAC 99.

ABSENT:	Village Administrator Jeremy Ryan.

Motion by Trustee Watkins, seconded by Trustee Torrey, to approve the attached minutes of the April 3, 2024, and April 9, 2024, special meetings. Passed 4 to 0.

Motion by Trustee Torrey, seconded by Trustee Gustin, approving the following budget transfer: move $6,831.70 from 19904.01 (Contingency) to 14204.01 (Attorney); $168.84 from 90308.02 (Social Security) to 81201.02 (San Sewer Personal Services); $777.26 from 19904.02 (Contingency) to 81201.02 (Sanitary Sewers Personal Services). Passed 4 to 0.

Motion by Trustee Watkins, seconded by Trustee Torrey, to approve the attached General Fund Abstract in the amount of $40,915.18. Passed 4 to 0.

Motion by Trustee Gustin, seconded by Trustee Watkins, to approve the attached Sewer Fund Abstract in the amount of $19,908.82. Passed 4 to 0.

Department Heads.

Village Historian David Sadler informed the Board that he is updating his bridge file and looking for more historical markers. There are 55 potential sites in the Village and Town that could qualify for a marker. He also reported that right now we have more markers than any other community in the County - 16 in total in the Town of Lenox including the Village. Dave shared the potential sites with the Board.

Recreation Leader Cherie Bealer reviewed her report and went over the events of the previous month. Cherie reported that we received $2,500 for our Cana-l-stota event - great news - planning will begin soon.

DPW Foreman Holdridge reviewed his report for the Board. The bathrooms at the Rec Park will be opened by the DPW Monday through Friday and the PD will lock them at night and open and close them on the weekends. Doug talked about the 4 dog waste stations that were installed and where they were installed. He talked about the pump stations that were cleaned out at Grago and at the DPW. He is waiting to know what the cost is before we decide how to move forward with other pump stations. The Mayor noted that we will be using ARPA money for this.

Chief Chafee asked permission to use 122 on April 25, 2024, for a class at Dutchers for car fires.

Motion by Trustee Watkins, seconded by Trustee Gustin, to allow 122 to go to Dutchers on April 25, 2024. Passed 4 to 0.

Mayor Warner asked Chief Chafee if the pole barn would be available to be used for play practice in by the Children's Council in July, Monday through Friday from 1 - 4 p.m.

Department Head Comments were paused for the Public Hearing on the Tentative Budget.

7:15 Public Hearing on Tentative Budget

The Mayor read the Notice of Public Hearing out loud and copies of the tentative budget were distributed to those in attendance who wanted copies. The Mayor asked if there was anyone here to speak for or against the budget. Mark Taylor asked about the cost of the health insurance for the board members. The Mayor noted that the provision that allows the board members to have health insurance is in the handbook. Mr. Taylor asked if this board was willing to do something about this. Deputy Mayor Gustin noted that there are still things that will be discussed. Mr. Taylor asked what the cost of insurance is for the board member who receives insurance. The Mayor responded that she does now know the exact cost of the insurance as she does not take the insurance. The Mayor asked two more times if anyone had anything for or against the budget and received no response. Motion by Trustee Watkins, seconded by Trustee Gustin, to close the public hearing at 7:22 p.m. Passed 4 to 0.

Department Head Comments were resumed.

Code Enforcement Officer Adsit referred to his report and noted that he has included more information as the Board requested. He has been going around and citing people for what he has seen and he noted that he is having to bring many people to court. He talked about a recent law that he sent to the Board regarding tobacco sales in the Town of Salina. He feels that this is important. Trustee Watkins asked if this is going to the Codes Committee. CEO Adsit noted that it has been sent to them. Trustee Watkins wants a meeting of the Codes Committee to be scheduled. The Mayor asked what "Protective Treatment" in his report was. CEO Adsit informed the Mayor that it is exterior coverage - this is what the State calls it. He also noted that people are starting to work on their houses again. The Mayor thanked him for the report and noted that the Board can now answer questions when people ask about things that have been cited.

Dan Cunningham, of Clean Water Technology, reviewed his report for the Board. The UV bulbs are being prepared for the new season which begins on May 1. The Mayor asked about the UV bulbs - she wanted to know if they were covered in iron. Dan advised that they were but the cleaner took care of it. Mayor Warner advised that she reached out to Dan last week regarding the Post Construction Compliance Plan. The DEC asked us 19 questions and she asked Tim for a price to help us with the more technical questions that they are asking. Preliminarily, Dan needed some additional information from DPW Foreman Doug Holdridge and Niagara Mohawk but he thought he could help. The Mayor advised that there is another report that is needed that she is working on.

Public Comments.

Sarah Murdie, Executive Director of Wanderer's Rest, introduced Julie Koelsch, a Board member for Wanderer's Rest, thanked the Village Board for allowing them to speak. She spoke about their need for a new center and that this location is ideal for them and they feel that it is the least intrusive to the community. Julie talked about the neighbors' concern about the sound and spoke about the sound barriers of the new building. Julie also advised that their building closes at 6:00 p.m. so noise should not be a problem. Julie then spoke to the concern about dogs getting away when walking outside. She advised that they have a 2-leash protocol and two people will be with the dogs at all times. The property is also surrounded by a fence. They have never had a dog get away from their facility. Brian Mannion, the architect for the project, talked about the dog barking and noise studies, and compared decibel levels inside the building, outside of the building, current readings inside of the room where this meeting is being held, and between the Wanderer's Rest current location and Port Street. Brian further discussed with the Board the decibel levels inside the proposed building compared to what they are projected to be at Port Street near the proposed building and at the end of the street and advised that if you are inside of a building near the proposed location, you should not be able to hear anything from the site as the projected decibel level outside from inside the building is below the decibel level of normal human talking which is over 43. Trustee Watkins asked about the sound directly outside of the building. Brian advised that noise outside of the building from the dog barking inside of the building would be at 80-90 decibels. He stated that from the building to the edge of the property, that decibel level would drop to 50-52. Brian then reviewed the security measures of bringing a new dog into the facility. He explained that there is a 3 level system that the dog would have to get through, including an 8-foot fence, to escape the property. Brian also talked about the fact that the dogs are double leashed. Over-aggressive dogs go to the veterinary clinic before coming to their facility. He noted that in over 40 years that there have been no dogs bites or escapes. Trustee Watkins asked about the detention of dangerous dogs. Sarah Murdie noted that the Article 26 dogs are not dealt with by Wanderer's Rest, they only deal with Article 7 dogs. Sarah asked what the neighbor to neighbor decibel level for dogs would be. Trustee Watkins read the noise ordinance from the Village local law. The Board talked about the application of the noise ordinance with regard to dogs. The Mayor asked how far the fence was from Port Street. Brian Mannion advised that there building is 458 feet to the property line and then additional footage of the property owned by the Village. Sarah noted that there are trees back there as well. The Mayor asked about additional screening that will be installed. She asked if they would be agreeable to additional barriers that may be imposed by the Planning Board. Brian Mannion noted that they have not done a site plan yet because they cannot expend the money before they know that this will continue. The Mayor asked if their Board had conversations about the alternate location that the Mayor proposed. Sarah Murdie noted that they estimate that their costs will be increased $1.5 - $2.5 million because of the previous use of the property. The current side will limit their cost of developing the property. The Mayor will look into this to see if she can determine what might be buried there. The Mayor talked about some additional property that the Village would be interested in selling. The Board discussed with Sarah Murdie the potential for the other side owned by the Village. Mayor Warner noted that the residents from Port Street wanted to be present when the Village votes and she is not ready to vote on this right now. Brian Mannion noted that if this property was developed as an industrial site, the decibel levels could be much higher than what will be heard from the corner and he gave some examples of noise levels from other industrial uses. Mayor Warned advised that we would bring that up at the public hearing on the zone changes. Brian and the Board noted that the noise in the current location was from the neighboring property, Blue Ribbon Kennels, and not Wanderer's Rest. The Mayor advised that it was very quiet within the building when she was there.

Dan Meyer spoke to the Board. He owns the building lot that Wanderer's Rest is looking to purchase. He spoke about how the property was used when he was operating on that property. They were using large drones and never had a noise complaint from the neighbors - he does not believe that anyone even knew they were doing this. He further advised that some of the drones give off up to 90 decibels. He talked about the difference in sound levels in the winter when there are no leaves on the trees. Dan Myer thinks that this is a great piece of property for Wanderer's Rest and noted that they have been looking for property for some time and he thinks that this would be good for them and the community, as well. Sarah Murdie advised that she has support letters from some County Supervisors and residents on Stroud Street that she will provide to the Village.

Motion by Trustee Watkins, seconded by Trustee Torrey, to approve payments totaling $2,342.07 from the General Fund to MBI for health insurance debit card transactions from March 1, 2024 - March 31, 2024. Passed 4 to 0.

Motion by Trustee Gustin, seconded by Trustee Watkins, confirming the April 3, 2024, election of Lyle Chafee as Fire Chief, Mike Barker as Assistant Chief and Marcus LaBarbera as Assistant Chief of the Canastota Volunteer Fire Department based on the attached notice from Richard Stagnitti, Secretary of the Canastota Volunteer Fire Company, Inc. Passed 4 to 0.

Motion by Trustee Watkins, seconded by Trustee Torrey, approving a wire transfer sent to Chase Bank on April 15, 2024, in the amount of $3,659.38 from General Fund Account 97107.01 (Interest on Debt Service) for interest owed on the 2019 Downtown Enhancement Bond. Passed 4 to 0.

Motion by Trustee Gusting, seconded by Trustee Gustin, approving an ACH transfer to be made by USDA Rural Development on April 30, 2024, in the amount of $832.50 from Sewer Fund Account 97107.02 (Interest on Debt Service) for interest owed on the 1998 Phase I Serial B Bond. Passed 4 to 0.

Motion by Trustee Torrey, seconded by Trustee Gustin, approving an ACH transfer to be made by USDA Rural Development on April 30, 2024, in the amount of $2,700.00 from Sewer Fund Account 97107.02 (Interest on Debt Service) for interest owed on the 1998 Phase I Serial A Bond. Passed 4 to 0.

Motion by Trustee Watkins, seconded by Trustee Gustin, approving the attached 2024 Event Grant Agreement from the New York State Canal Corporation and Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor concerning Grant No. GA-2024-032 in the amount of $2,500.00 for Cana-l-stota and authorizing the Mayor to execute the same. Passed 4 to 0.

Correspondence.

-	Invitation from the Fire Department to their Annual Banquet. The Mayor asked the Board to let Clerk/Treasurer Williams know if they will be attending.

Village Administrator.

Absent

Mayor's Comments.

The Mayor received a request from Jeffrey Huss about wanting an ID card for the old-timers in the Fire Department so that they can get discounts as retired fire fighters. Chief Chafee believes that there needs to be some research on the list to make sure that everyone is on there. The Mayor talked about the draft of the local law regarding sump pumps discharging and advised that we have had some problems with sump pumps that discharge into the streets. The Mayor asked the Board to review it and let her know if they want to move forward with it so that it can go to a public hearing. The Mayor further noted that this is causing problems with our streets.

Mayor Warner talked about her meeting last week with StanTech regarding the New York Forward Project. The committee and StanTech are reaching out to the members to set up a meeting. After the Mayor's meeting this week, they walked around the Village, but they will have to come back because of the rain that afternoon. She thinks that StanTech was impressed when looking at the kiosk and then looking down the street they could see that we have not changed the footprint along the Canal over the last 200 years. Mayor Warner advised that although the local committee has a lot of input on what projects would be picked, the State will choose the final projects. The Mayor talked about which people were chosen for the local committee and that the State reached out to who they wanted to be on the committee. The Mayor advised that all of the people that were nominated were excited and honored to me nominated.

Mayor Warner received a request from the Beautification Committee to move the garbage can by the 911 Memorial. They will check it out tomorrow. Mayor Warner has some grant reporting to do - she is hoping to be closing out the LWRP this week. She congratulated Cherie Bealer on the Canal Grant.

Trustees Comments.

None

Motion by Trustee Watkins, seconded by Trustee Gustin, to enter Executive Session regarding personnel matters at 8:13 p.m. Passed 5 to 0.

Motion by Trustee Watkins, seconded by Trustee Torrey, to exit Executive Session at 8:54 p.m. Passed 5 to 0.

Motion by Trustee Haddad, seconded by Trustee Gustin, to adjourn at 8:54 p.m. Passed 5 to 0.

Respectfully submitted,

Catherine E. Williams

Clerk/Treasurer