Adirondack Town Of Franklin
Adirondack Town Of Franklin

Town of Franklin Board Meetings

Minutes Of The Budget Workshop
And Special Town Board Meeting
October 17, 2011 - 7:00 p.m.

Board members present:

Deputy Supervisor Bradley Merrill
Coun. Allen Berg
Coun. Donald Hamm
Coun. Clifford Smalley

Others Absent:

Supervisor Arthur Willman

Others Present:

Budget Officer Richard Meagher, Highway Superintendent Jacques DeMars, Town Clerk Sandra Oliver


BUDGET WORKSHOP - HIGHWAY & FIRE FUNDS - 2012

1. CALL TO ORDER

Deputy Supv. Bradley Merrill called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited; the Clerk called the roll and declared a quorum was present.

2. 2012 TENTATIVE HIGHWAY FUND BUDGET REVIEW.

Budget Officer Richard Meagher presented the General Fund 2011 Tentative Budget to the Board. He explained the tentative budget was assembled from input gathered from department heads.

A. EXPLANATION OF THE 2% TAX CAP. Mr. Meagher clarified the recent “tax cap” law; it does not mean that peoples’ taxes cannot rise more than 2% - it will mean that the Town may not increase its tax levy more than 2% from the prior year’s tax levy. The tax levy is the amount of money to be raised by real property taxes. It is calculated as: Assessed value X tax rate = TAX LEVY. In addition, the tax cap law adopted by the State Legislature is tied to the New York City rent control law.

B. BUDGET REVIEW. Mr. Meagher reviewed the Highway Fund portion of the 2012 Tentative Budget line by line, and following discussion, adjustments were made. Mr. Meagher then reviewed the Fire Protection Fund portion of the tentative budget, and no adjustments were made. The public hearing on the preliminary budget is scheduled for Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at 6 PM.

Motion to adjourn Budget Workshop (B.Merrill-C.Smalley m/s/p) ALL AYE.


SPECIAL BOARD MEETING

Deputy Supv. Merrill called the special board meeting to order at 8:06 PM.

1. NEW BUSINESS

A. INSURANCE BIDS. Only two bids were received. Coun. Hamm stated he considered them one bid, as they were submitted by the same insurance agency. Dep. Supv. Merrill stated he consulted the Association of Towns, and was informed the two submissions should be considered separate and should be opened. Coun. Hamm declared two bids were insufficient, and Couns. Berg and Smalley concurred. Coun. Hamm recommended re-publishing the request for bids. Motion to republish request for bids for comprehensive municipal insurance (D.Hamm-C.Smalley m/s/p) ALL AYE.

RESOLUTION NO. 63: REPUBLISH REQUEST FOR BIDS FOR COMPREHENSIVE MUNICIPAL INSURANCE WHEREAS, requests for bids for comprehensive municipal insurance were published in August 2011, due October 14, 2011; and WHEREAS, only two responses were received, both from the same insurance agency; and WHEREAS, the Board considers two responses insufficient; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Clerk will republish request for bids for comprehensive municipal insurance in the Adirondack Daily Enterprise, Malone Telegram and Press Republican, bids due 6PM on Wednesday, November 9, 2011, and awarded on Wednesday, November 16, 2011.

Those voting aye:

Councilman Allen Berg
Councilman Donald Hamm
Councilman Bradley Merrill
Councilman Clifford Smalley

Those Voting nay:

None

Those Absent:

Supervisor Arthur P. Willman, Jr.

Those Abstaining:

None

B. DISCUSS SMALL DUMP TRUCK BIDS. Copies of bids received were distributed to the Board. Coun. Hamm stated although a stainless steel box is expensive, it is worth the extra money, and the Board concurred. Upon review of the submissions, Coun. Smalley opined the bid of Vision Ford (Rochester, NY) seemed the least expensive, and the rest of the Board agreed. Highway Supt. DeMars will contact the dealer to discuss details.

C. REPAIR OF PLANK ROAD BRIDGE. Coun. Hamm contacted Sutherland Engineering (RMS), Plattsburgh and requested an alternate estimate for engineering services for repair of the Plank Road. Barton & Loguidice had submitted a revised estimate on October 10. Coun. Hamm commented the Sutherland estimate was less than the B&L estimate, and since they were local, no hotel accommodations were necessary and they could make more site inspections. Highway Supt. DeMars will discuss this alternate estimate with the Franklin County Highway Superintendent. Motion for resolution (C.Smalley-A.Berg m/s/p) ALL AYE.

RESOLUTION NO. 64: AUTHORIZE SUPERVISOR TO ENGAGE ENGINEERING FIRM RE PLANK ROAD REPAIRS WHEREAS, Plank Road suffered damage during Hurricane Irene; and WHEREAS, an estimate for repair from Barton & Loguidice, engineers (Syracuse, NY), was submitted in September and a revised estimate submitted October 10, 2011; and WHEREAS, an alternate estimate was obtained from RMS (Sutherland), Plattsburgh which is lower; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that in the event the Town Board decides to expend monies to repair Plank Road, the Supervisor is authorized to contract with whichever engineering firm is most advantageous to the Town.

Those voting aye:

Councilman Allen Berg
Councilman Donald Hamm
Councilman Bradley Merrill
Councilman Clifford Smalley

Those Voting nay:

None

Those Absent:

Supervisor Arthur P. Willman, Jr.

Those Abstaining:

None

2. ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to discuss or conduct, the meeting adjourned at 9:07 PM. Motion (A.Berg-C.Smalley m/s/p) ALL AYE.

Respectfully submitted, Sandra J. Oliver, Town Clerk

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