SPECIAL
MEETING OF THE TOWN BOARD OF
THE
TOWN OF NEW HARTFORD, NEW YORK, HELD
AT
BUTLER MEMORIAL HALL, IN SAID TOWN ON
THURSDAY,
JANUARY 11, 2007 AT 6:00 P.M.
The Town Supervisor called the meeting to order at 6:00 P.M. and led those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag. The roll was then taken with the following Town Officials and Department Heads being present during the progress of the meeting:
TOWN BOARD MEMBERS: Councilman Robert A. Payne III (Arrived @ 6:10 P.M.)
Councilman John C. Waszkiewicz III
Councilman David M. Reynolds
Councilman Richard B. Woodland, Jr.
Supervisor Earle C. Reed
OTHER TOWN OFFICIALS: Town Clerk Gail Wolanin Young, CMC/RMC and
Deputy Town Clerk I Margaret M. Jones
Attorney for the Town Gerald J. Green
Thereafter, a quorum was declared present for the transaction of business.
The Town Supervisor stated that the reason for this meeting is to repeal the October 4, 2006 Bond Resolutions with the intent of rescheduling the January 16, 2007 Special Town Election in order to offer voter registration, absentee ballots and to answer questions that residents might have on the eight (8) Bond Resolutions. At the request of the Town Supervisor, the Town Clerk explained the voter registration and absentee ballot processes.
An unidentified gentleman asked why the Town Board decided to repeal the January 16, 2007 special election on the Bond Resolutions. Councilman Reynolds and Attorney Green explained that after discussing this Special Election vote with Bond Counsel and the New York State Association of Towns with regards to Town residents wanting absentee ballots and to be fair to the Town residents, a decision was made to consider repealing the vote for January 16, 2007 and to re-schedule the vote. This gentleman feels that the Town is in violation of the Open Meetings Law; Supervisor Reed explained that a Press Release had been given to the Observer-Dispatch on Tuesday, January 9, 2007. Chinki Sinha, a reporter from the Observer-Dispatch, verified that the newspaper did receive the Press Release. Attorney Gerald Green explained that by rescinding previous Board action on these eight (8) bond proposals and re-adopting the bond proposals at a future meeting and directing a special election would allow for absentee voting.
To someone’s question of whether state law allows for e-mail absentee ballot applications, the Town Clerk will have to check with the State and/or County Board of Election regarding this question.
January 11, 2007
Page 2
The following Resolution was offered by Councilman Waszkiewicz, who moved its adoption, seconded by Councilman Reynolds, to-wit:
(RESOLUTION NO. 1
OF 2007)
A RESOLUTION REPEALING CERTAIN BOND RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY THE TOWN OF NEW HARTFORD, ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK ON OCTOBER 4, 2006.
WHEREAS, on October 4, 2006 the Town Board of the Town of New Hartford, Oneida County, New York (the “Town”) adopted various bond resolutions subject to permissive referendum; and
WHEREAS, after adopting such resolutions the Town Board received petitions requesting a referendum thereon; and
WHEREAS, in order to provide additional time to disseminate information to voters and to allow for the use of absentee ballots, it is desirous to repeal the aforesaid resolutions and cancel the proposed Special Election scheduled for January 16, 2007; it being the intent of this Town Board to re-adopt said bond resolutions on January 17, 2007 and to submit on its own motion, pursuant to Section 94.00 of the Town Law, said resolutions to a Special Election on March 29, 2007; NOW, THEREFORE
BE IT RESOLVED, by the Town Board of the Town of New Hartford, Oneida County, New York, as follows:
Section 1. The following bond resolutions dated and adopted by the Town Board of the Town of New Hartford, Oneida County, New York, on October 4, 2006 are hereby rescinded and repealed pursuant to Section 41.00 of the Local Finance Law:
i) The acquisition of highway plows, including expenses incidental thereto,
which authorized the extension of time to pay $243,174 bonds;
ii) The acquisition of trucks, including expenses incidental thereto, which
authorized the extension of time to pay $173,205 bonds;
iii) The construction of highway garage improvements, including original furnishings, equipment, machinery, apparatus, appurtenances, and other improvements and expenses incidental thereto, authorizing $45,000 bonds;
SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING
Page 3
iv) Town-wide storm sewer management improvements, including mains, pumping stations, buildings, land or rights-in-land, and original furnishings, equipment, machinery, apparatus, appurtenances, and other improvements and expenses incidental thereto, authorizing $2,000,000
bonds;
v) The acquisition of building located at 1 Oxford Crossing and renovation thereof for use as a new police station, including site improvement, original furnishings, equipment, machinery, apparatus, appurtenances, and other improvements and expenses incidental thereto, authorizing $1,500,000 bonds;
vi) The purchase of heavy machinery, equipment and apparatus, authorizing $415,800 bonds;
vii) The purchase and installation of lighting improvements, authorizing $92,000 bonds; and
viii) The construction and reconstruction of sidewalks throughout and in and for said Town, authorizing $150,000 bonds.
Section 2. THIS
RESOLUTION SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY AND NEITHER PUBLICATION NOR POSTING
SHALL BE REQUIRED.
The question of the adoption of the foregoing resolution was duly put to a vote on roll call, which resulted as follows:
Councilman Waszkiewicz - Aye
Councilman Reynolds - Aye
Councilman Woodland - Aye
Councilman Payne - Aye
Supervisor Reed - Aye.
The Resolution was thereupon declared duly ADOPTED.
The Board distributed draft copies of the bond proposal literature. One gentleman, who stated that he was the former fire commissioner in German Flatts stated that whenever German Flatts purchased any fire equipment they were required to have a referendum. The Town Clerk explained that the Town’s October 4, 2006 Resolutions were subject to permissive referendum and that the German Flatts’ fire district might have been a mandatory referendum.
January 11, 2007
Page 4
James Lawrence inquired if any further informational meetings regarding these bonds were going to be held since it was difficult to come up with any questions when the information had just been distributed.
Members of the general public had various questions regarding the proposed bonds, such as:
i) The difference in the cost the Town would be paying
for the building and the assessed value
ii) Questions regarding what happens to the tenants that
are presently leasing offices at the property
iii) A questions was asked about the driveway entrance to this building
After the question and answer, the Town Supervisor thanked the residents for attending and offering their comments.
There being no further business to come before the Town Board, upon motion duly made by Councilman Waszkiewicz and seconded by Councilman Payne, the meeting was adjourned at 7:18 P.M.
Gail Wolanin Young, CMC/RMC Margaret M. Jones
Town Clerk Deputy Clerk I