Work Session Minutes

WORK SESSION MEETING
April 3, 2019

The Work Session Meeting of the Town of Royalton Town Board was held on Wednesday, April 3, 2019, at the Royalton Town Hall, 5316 Royalton Center Road, Middleport, New York. Supervisor Bragg called the meeting to order at 5:30 PM.

The following were present:
Supervisor Daniel R. Bragg
Town Clerk Marie L. Little, MMC/RMC
Town Board Members Lee Criswell, Bradley Rehwaldt, Joshua Walker, Carol Wittcop
Highway Superintendent James Spark
Water/Sewer Superintendent Brian Cummings
Town Attorney Thomas Brandt
Town Engineer Paul McGarvey – GHD

Highway Superintendent Spark updated the board members regarding the paperwork he received for the Bridge NY Project for the Mountain Road/Johnson Creek Culvert Replacement project. We will need to pass a resolution to accept the grant funding.

Highway Superintendent Spark discussed the property located at 5916 Lewiston Road, located south of Route 77. The Old Lewiston Road was abandoned in the late 80’s and there is an old bridge that the homeowner is currently using to access his home built in this area after that time. There is a question as to who owns this bridge and is responsible to maintain it. Councilman Walker stated that if we don’t own the property then we shouldn’t have to pay for the search. The homeowner should review his search and survey to see what it says and go from there.

Highway Superintendent Spark advised the board members that his department is trying to finish putting the steel up on the buildings. They are also looking in to road repair on Grove Road.

Highway Superintendent Spark advised the board members that the new truck is out to have the equipment installed and we should receive it here in July.

Highway Superintendent Spark asked the board members to consider passing a Local Law to change the term length of the Highway Superintendent from two (2) years to four (4) years. Discussion ensued regarding this issue. This will require a Public Hearing to be held and then it will go to Public Referendum on the November ballot. The position of Town Supervisor will be put up for the same consideration.

Water/Sewer Superintendent Cummings advised the board members that Mr. Montroy from Lewiston Road, Town of Shelby, is willing to put $6,000.00 toward extending water to his property from our water lines. The Engineering Fee will be $17,000.00. The Town Board members concurred that the Town of Royalton will not agree to incur any costs for an out-of-district project. Water/Sewer Superintendent Cummings stated that we will need to reimburse him for the tapping fee and the 2” water meter fee.

Water/Sewer Superintendent Cummings stated that he has received two (2) quotes to do work on the storage shed located at the water treatment plant facility. They are MJP for $17, and
Water/Sewer Superintendent Cummings discussed the easements for the Griswold Street Waterline Project. Supervisor Bragg is working to get them completed.

Mr. Paul McGarvey, Town Engineer, advised the board members that the Griswold Street Waterline Project Bid will open on Friday, 4/4/19 @ 10:00 AM.

WORK SESSION MINUTES
April 3, 2019
Page 2

Engineer McGarvey advised the board members that they are working on the Environmental Planning Grant for the Disinfection Project. This will be brought forth for board approval in May.

Dog Control Officer Wymyczak had nothing to report at this time.

Councilman Walker had nothing to report at this time.

Councilwoman Wittcop advised the board members that the committee met for the Court Expansion project. Daphne Nieman, Chief Court Clerk, will tweak the plans and Councilwoman Wittcop will schedule another meeting.

Town Clerk Little advised the board members that we still need to come up with a date for the Electronics Recycling Day for this year. We receive calls daily asking when this has been scheduled. Supervisor Bragg stated that he will look in to this and get back to Town Clerk Little tomorrow.

Town Clerk Little advised the board members that we will need to put forth a resolution to authorize Supervisor Bragg to sign the SEQRA form for the Singer Road Waterline Project.

Town Clerk Little stated that she received the information for the Bridge NY Culvert Project from Highway Superintendent Spark for the Mountain Road/Johnson Creek Culvert Replacement. Attorney Brandt will review this information and complete the formal resolution to be voted on.

Town Clerk Little advised the board members that the Procurement Policy has been updated after the Local Law #1 for 2019 was passed last month, which added the “Best Value” provision.

Town Clerk Little advised the board members that we are going to need to update our computers to the Windows 10 platform prior to January 1, 2020 as Microsoft will no longer support our current platform, which is Windows 7, after that date. We have had several issues with computers recently due to the power outages. Several employees had issues with their email accounts. The Town Clerk computer has been updated to Windows 10 already and had a new hard drive installed. Town Clerk Little advised the board members that the Fuel System at the Highway Garage is not currently compatible with Windows 10 and will probably need to be upgraded as well.

Town Clerk Little advised the board members that she received information from Spectrum that they will be phasing out the “rochester.rr.com” email accounts. We will need to switch over to “vanity email” accounts. Town Clerk Little is working on gathering information on what we need to do to make this happen and we will work with C & H PC when we are ready to make the transition. We will keep the same beginning for all emails and just change the extension. For example: [email protected]

Town Clerk Little advised the board members that she has asked Seaway Insurance to prepare a quote for Document Insurance in light of what happened in the Village of Barker with the fire. Our insurance agent, Mr. Jeff Baker, stated that we currently have $100,000.00 of coverage. Town Clerk Little has requested a quote for $500,000.00 and $1,000.000.00. The Village of Barker had a $250,000.00 policy, which is helping them to put things back together.

Town Clerk Little reminded the board members that there is a “Pop-Up Library” scheduled at the Town Hall on Friday, April 5, 2019, from 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM. This is sponsored by our own librarian, Ms. Gretchen Schweigert, of the Middleport Library.

WORK SESSION MINUTES
April 3, 2019
Page 3

Town Clerk Little advised the board members that we have received a Thank You note from the family of Brian Cummings for the flowers sent on behalf of the town for his mothers’ funeral.

Attorney Thomas Brandt advised the board members that we will need to borrow the money for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Project prior to awarding the bid. This is a stipulation set by Rural Development that the funds are in place prior to awarding the project. Attorney Brandt is looking to set the date for the last week in April. We will take out a one (1) year BAN and then make the permanent bond financing callable.

Councilman Criswell advised the board members that the payment was sent to National Grid for the LED lighting change out of our 153 street lights. We are supposed to be reimbursed these funds with the Energy Efficiency Incentive.

Councilman Criswell advised the board members that he contacted Senator Ortt’s office for assistance with the road closure on Ertman Road. He is waiting to receive a response from the Senator. Discussion ensued regarding this matter. A suggestion was made to put a valve on either side of the break in the road and shut down that section of waterline.

Highway Superintendent Spark discussed the pre-construction meeting for the Mud Creek Bridge on Ditch Road. Hwy. Supt. Spark stated that he may put up “Road Closed – Local Traffic Only” signs on Foote Road while the bridge project is going on.

Councilman Rehwaldt asked if there should be “No Shoulder” signs put up on Ditch Road. Hwy. Supt. Spark stated that the road currently meets the NYS DOT standards for the traffic volume. Discussion ensued regarding this issue.

Councilman Rehwaldt advised the board members that he took stuff back to the architect for the Courtroom Expansion project.

Supervisor Bragg stated that he mailed the easements out to the homeowners out of town for the Griswold Street Waterline project and he needs to go get them rest of them signed.

Supervisor Brag advised the board members that he received a letter from Senator Ortt regarding the town board’s opposition of the infringement of our 2nd Amendment rights.

Supervisor Bragg advised the board members that the Niagara County Planning Board has rejected the plan for the project on Dysinger Road. Discussion ensued regarding this issue. They would need a Public Hearing to change the zoning for this property or it is possible to apply for a Temporary Conditional Use Permit. The Town Board is going to take the recommendation of the Niagara County Planning Board on this project. Mike Hartman, Assessor/Code Enforcement Officer, will be directed to make the landowners aware of this decision.

Discussion ensued regarding the Lagoon Project on the VanBuren farm. The Town of Royalton Planning Board has authorized the concept for this project.

Supervisor Bragg stated that we will need to ask the Wolcottsville Vol. Fire Co. for the use of their hall for a Public Meeting regarding this issue. The Town Board will address all of the questions submitted regarding this matter at that public meeting.

WORK SESSION MINUTES
April 3, 2019
Page 4

The Zoning Board may need to look at the permitted uses in this area to see if it is allowed or not allowed at all in this area. There is a lot of work to be done before this project can move forward. Councilman Rehwaldt wants to know the closest location that the company contracts with so the board can look at it first-hand.
Supervisor Bragg stated that he will get a copy of all of the questions that are being asked and submitted to the Town Board for their review.

Supervisor Bragg stated that he and Highway Superintendent Spark met with NEXTERA Energy on the transmission line project. This project will begin in 2021. They have proposed a “good faith” incentive to the Town of Royalton in the amount of $20,000.00. This will be broken down to $4,000.00 per year for a five (4) year period.

Supervisor Bragg advised the board members that he met with Paul McGarvey, Town Engineer, and Water/Sewer Superintendent Cummings regarding the completion of water lines throughout the town. We will need to bond the money for this project. This will require a Capitol Plan at a cost of $15,000.00 to $20,000.00. The plan will prioritize the areas of installation and the costs associated with it. Discussion ensued on how to proceed. GHD will prepare a capitol plan for us.

Supervisor Brag advised the board members that he and Town Clerk Little met with two gentlemen regarding a proposed Solar Project in the Town of Royalton. Supervisor Bragg stated that the Governor wants 50% - 70% of renewable energy in the future.

Councilwoman Wittcop stated that we should be diligent regarding Solar Farms as we passed a Local Law a few years ago to restrict any Solar Farms in our town.

Supervisor Bragg advised the board members that he is working on the Code Enforcement Committee. New York State has set guide lines for this position. There is also a Civil Service job description for the Code Enforcement position. The committee will come up with what is expected from the Code Enforcement position in the Town of Royalton.

There being no further business to come before this board, a motion was made by Councilman Criswell, seconded by Councilman Walker and carried unanimously that the Work Session be adjourned at 6:54 PM.

Marie L. Little, MMC/RMC
Royalton Town Clerk