TOWN BOARD WORK SESSION                                                                 

July 6, 2011

A Work Session Meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Royalton was held on Wednesday, July 6, 2011, at the 

Royalton Town Hall, 5316 Royalton Center Road, Middleport, New York.  Supervisor Lang called the meeting to order at 5:30 P.M.

The following were present:

Supervisor                                            Richard J. Lang

Deputy Town Clerk                             Pat Hinds

Council Members                                Jennifer Bieber, James Budde

Deputy Highway Superintendent      Charlene Surace

Water/Sewer Superintendent           Dan Morse

Attorney                                                Thomas Brandt 

Also present were:                              See Attached Sheets

Absent:                                                  Daniel Bragg, Bradley Rehwaldt

GUEST SPEAKERS

There were no guest speakers at this time.

REGULAR AGENDA

Paul Bruning - Ditching Coordinator

•·         Currently working on three property locations

•·         Discussion ensued regarding property on East Avenue ditch

Douglas Bennett - Town Engineer

•·         Waste Water Facility upgrades - Sludge storage building is under construction and the foundation is complete and we are getting ready to start construction.   

•·         East Avenue pump station comminuter installation we are getting ready to send this out for bids.  Bids will be due July 22, 2011.

•·         Ken Strell, Town Engineer is working on the Capital Water Project 

•·         Douglas Bennett, Ken Strell, Terry Nieman, Dick Lang and Dan Bragg meet to discuss the Cornell's standards for slow roads.  Low volume roads are roads that have less than 50 vehicles per day.  There were six roads that we discussed in detail.  Before the Town does anything we need to review.  Once we do the counts if it is less than 250 per day it would be in the second lowest category.  Once we get that information we can see what impacts that there is going to be taken that would meet the recommendations.   

•·         Deer View subdivision - Water & Sewer lines are complete and they are working on the roads next.        

Mike Hartman - Assessor

•·         Discussion on proposed New Law regarding Section 401 of the Town of Royalton Zoning Ordinance to be amended so that the first 300 feet along any road currently located in a residential district shall be zoned Agricultural District (A) rather than One and Two Family Residential District (R).  Section 505 of The Town's Zoning Map shall be amended accordingly.  Also so that the minimum lot frontage is increased from 150 feet to 200 feet and the side setback is increased from 10 feet to 30 feet.  

•·         Discussion ensued 

•·         There are currently 5 new builds in the Town of Royalton.

•·         The continuing education of 24 hours - Mike Hartman looking into what location he will be doing this.

•·         James Budde, Councilman asked who the back up is for Tom Arlington when he is out of the office.  Discussion ensued.

Daniel Morse - Water/Sewer Superintendent

•·         Sludge building excavation is complete.  We have recovered  $360.00 worth of scrap metal.  It helped with the cost of the excavator cost that we rented equipment to break up the old foundation.

•·         There is a new build on top of the Royalton Center hill that will be costly putting the service line in.  We won't be able to do this one ourselves.  It might be a blast and drill.  Foundation is complete on this new build.  

•·         We have 25 hours in mowing jobs.  Discussion on having a law to bill the owner of unoccupied lots/houses.  Discussion ensued.

•·         Scott Wymczyak resident, mentioned that the Lockport sends out a 72 hour notice and the people are charged $275 if the City of Lockport has to have it mowed.

Charlene Surace - Deputy Highway Superintendent/Highway Clerk

•·         We received one bid on the paver from Ken Young Paving, Inc. with a bid price of $50,000.  Terry Niemen, Highway Superintendent would like a resolution for the next meeting to purchase this 2000 Blaw Knox Paver. 

•·         Emerson Avenue and the school.

•·         Tom Brandt to draft a letter to be sent to resident on Moyer Road regarding logs in the ditch.  Highway Department submitted pictures of the logs in the ditch.

•·         James Budde, Deputy Supervisor mentioned that there is Highway equipment being stored at Vets Park.  Discussion ensued.  

Pat Hinds - Deputy Town Clerk

•·          Correction to the June 8, 2011 Town Board Work Session meeting notes - Transfer funds should have been $425 not $435.

•·         Correction to the June 13, 2011 Regular Board Meeting notes - Public Comment Section - should read residents of Lockport not Middleport dropping of their yard waste on Singer Road.

•·         Letter received from Gasport Beautification Committee thanking Dan Morse, Water/Sewer Superintendent for their support each year with our barrels.

•·         Letter received from Wayne Jagow, Niagara County Clerk with some rack cards "Thank A Vet" discount program.  The cards a located in our foyer.

•·         Reminder - There will be a public hearing regarding new local law "Zoning District Changes" at 7:15 before the Board Meeting on July 11, 2011.

Jennifer Bieber - Councilwoman

•·         Bradley Rehwaldt, Councilman sent Jennifer Bieber, Councilwoman an email to bring up a few items

•o        He has met with Tom Fleckinstein regarding the Wind Turbines regarding placement.  They can move the towers to the corner of the properties.

•o        Did the letter get sent to Bedford resident on Dewhirst Road regarding ditch cleaning?  This has already been addressed.

•o        Still waiting on quotes for fixing our computer dirty power problem.  Currently looking into a few options.

•o        Still waiting on quotes for the standing seam metal roof which has no visible fasteners to fail and a shingled roof to compare prices in which we want to send a bid out on.  The standing metal roof is $55,000 and it is recommended by the contractor and by Kenneth Strell, Town Engineer over the standard metal roof with the visible surface fasteners which can fail and cause problems.   Shingled roof is about $38,000 the one with the fasteners would be about $43,000.  Discussion ensued.

•·         In order to get further funds on the $30,000 court grant we would need 4 more walls.  Daphne Berg, Justice Clerk is very good at writing grants but her hands are tied as they want the 4 walls up to look at the grant.

•·         Working with Ann Sisk, Grant Writer, regarding the Grigg Lewis Foundation Grant.  Ann Sisk, Grant Writer,  is also working with Wolcottsville Volunteer Fire Company for an AED machine for their ambulance.  

•·         Received a dog complaint as to a dog on Chestnut Ridge between Graham Road and Griswold Street.  Tim Divita, Dog Warden has been called but I wanted to let you know about the complaints coming in.  There have been two or more complaints regarding this address. 

•·         Jim Budde, Councilman asked if we could look at getting new entrance doors that would be handicap accessible.  Jennifer Bieber, Councilwoman mentioned that we would also have to make the rest of the building handicap accessible (for example:  the bathrooms).

•·         Pond information - Discussion ensued.

•o        Jesse Bieber, Historian, wanted Jennifer Bieber, Councilwoman, to bring up that the two of them went to a 4th Grade local history night at Gasport Elementary.  These students put a book together that is just wonderful.  The teacher is going to autograph a copy of the book for our museum. 

•o        Jesse Bieber, Historian is working with Daphne Berg, Justice Clerk, on the plaque that the Historical Society received recognizing Belva Lockwood that is going in the court room.  The picture will be a copy of the one that is displayed in the Smithsonian.  

•o        Jesse Bieber, Historian, spoke at with Wolcottsville Men's Club two months ago at their monthly meeting.      

James Budde - Councilman

•·         Made a comment that the Royalton Fire Works Committee out did themselves.  The fireworks show was a great show.  

•·         Cemetery tree trimming and removal.  Terry Nieman, Highway Superintendent I believe should be heading this up as to how and when this work is done.  He has the knowledge on how this could be done for the least amount of funds.  Looking to see what funds we have available for this project.  Discussion ensued.  

•·         Niagara County legislature looking into radio upgrades, and has decided to rebid the project.  Discussion ensued.

Thomas Brandt - Attorney

•·         Sex offender residential restriction law is unconstitutional.  At a federal court in Rochester this was decided.  This is a general law.  Discussion ensued.

Richard Lang - Town Supervisor

•·         Recreation - Ryan Harris has installed new dead bolt locks at Vets Park.

•·         The current sales tax received is up to a plus $1,007.44 for the month of May.  We are up for the year $15,179.00 from last year.  

•·         Is the Grant Writer looking into the AED for Town Hall?  Jennifer Bieber, Councilwoman responded that is the Greg Lewis one.  

•·         Asked Charlene Surace, Deputy Highway Superintendent/Highway Clerk and Dan Morse Water/Sewer Superintendent if they hold any safety meetings.  Our insurance company is asking if we hold the safety meetings or updates.  Discussion ensued.

•·          Richard Lang has a few things that Lorrettta wanted brought up.

•o        Would like to ask the Board to approve an amendment to the budget for line item A1010.4 Council Contractual line.  It is overdrawn by $237.00.  I will make note for the 2012 budget to maybe "bump it up a bit because we have so far only used it for one council member to go to New York City for the Association of Towns Annual Meeting and it is already overdrawn.  I would like to ask to transfer $1,225.00 from A1990.4 Contingency Account to A1010.4 Council Contractual to amend the budget.  

•o        Would like to also ask the Board to amend the budget once more for Line SW9712.36 Water Phase 2B Principal & SW9712.7 Water Phase 2B Interest.  This was due to an oversight when the budget was made.  There are 2 bond payments names ‘Phase 2B and when the budget numbers were prepared, only one of the phase 2B payments were allotted for.  The line is over by $3,700.00, so I would like to ask if I may transfer $3,700 from SW599Fund Balance (as per Jack Berry's recommendation) to these 2 lines - $2,500.00 to SW9712.6 Water Phase and $1,200.00 to SW9712.7 unless the board has another way to handle this.

•o        Would like to ask permission from the Board to pay Donna Aiken $2,000.00 for her extensive cemetery work.  She has been paid this amount in the past year, however I do not find in budget notes anything about it for this year.  The money is already in that line, so there would be no extra funds needed.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Scott Wymczak, resident, has volunteered to head up with the roof repair at Vet's Park.  We have also gotten a worker thru the workdetail/work service to help with this project.  Dick Lang, Supervisor has worked with Scott Wymczak on the cost to fix the roof would be $14,000.  

There being no further information or discussion to come before this board, a motion was made by Councilwoman Bieber, seconded by Councilman Budde and carried unanimously that the Town Board Meeting be adjourned at

 6:55 PM.  

Respectfully submitted,

Patricia Hinds

Deputy Town Clerk