DRAFT COPY
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE TOWN BOARD
OF THE TOWN OF
SARATOGA, 30 FERRY ST.,
SCHUYLERVILLE,
NY
August 30,
2004
7:00 P.M.
Supervisor Thomas Wood opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance
at 7:00 p.m.
Roll call: Town Clerk Ruth Drumm
called the roll.� Supervisor Thomas
Wood- present, Councilman Bruce Cornell � absent (arrived at 7:12 p.m.),
Councilman Charles Hanehan- present, Councilman Michael McLoughlin � present,
and Councilman Fred Drumm- present
Also present: Town Attorney William Reynolds, Assessor/Bookkeeper Catherine DeFelice, and Deputy Town Clerk Linda McCabe
Old Business: Resolution #
04-105 was
introduced by Supervisor Thomas Wood and seconded by Councilman Fred Drumm:
WHEREAS, the Town Board of the Town of Saratoga recognizes
the need for local organizations to raise money to help with expenses, and
WHEREAS, a public hearing was held and input received from
the townspeople, now therefore be it,
RESOLVED by the Town Board of the Town of Saratoga to enact
Local Law # 8 of 2004 permitting the conduct of Games of Chance known as Bell
Jar and Raffles in the Town of Saratoga.�
This law is subject to mandatory referendum.�
Supervisor Thomas Wood - aye, Councilman Fred Drumm � aye, Councilman Bruce Cornell � absent (arrived at 7:12 p.m.), Councilman Michael McLoughlin - aye, and Councilman Charles Hanehan - aye� Carried 4� 0. (The full text of� Local Law #8 of 2004 is on file in the Town Clerk�s Office.)
Resolution # 04-106 was introduced by Councilman Charles Hanehan and seconded by Councilman Michael McLoughlin:
WHEREAS, the Saratoga Town Board has duly enacted Local Law
No. 8 of the Year 2004, a local law authorizing the conducting of Games of
Chance in the Town of Saratoga, and
WHEREAS, Article 9-A of the General Municipal Law requires
that the question be put to the electors of the Town of Saratoga, it is
therefore,
RESOLVED, that the following proposition be presented
for consideration by the qualified electors of the Town of Saratoga at the
general election to be held on November 2, 2004:
�Shall a local law known as Local Law No. 8 of the
Year 2004 permitting the conducting of Games of Chance by authorized
organizations within the Town of Saratoga be approved.�
FURTHER RESOLVED, that if the foregoing proposition
be adopted by a majority of the qualified electors of the Town of Saratoga, a
copy of said local law shall be filed with the New York State Secretary of
State, and upon such filing the local law shall become effective.�
Supervisor Thomas Wood - aye, Councilman Fred Drumm � aye, Councilman Bruce Cornell � absent (arrived at 7:12 p.m.), Councilman Michael McLoughlin - aye, and Councilman Charles Hanehan - aye� Carried 4� 0.
Councilman Bruce Cornell arrived at 7:12 p.m.
Supervisor Thomas Wood explained that after previous positive discussions by the board regarding the relocation of Bryant�s Bridge to the Town of Ballston as a pedestrian bridge over the Morningkill Stream on the Zim-Smith Trail he offered Resolution # 04-107 and it was seconded by Councilman Charles Hanehan:
Whereas, Bryant�s Bridge is the
oldest bridge located in the Town of Saratoga, and
Whereas, Bryant�s Bridge was built
in 1896 by the Groton Bridge Company, and
Whereas, Bryant�s Bridge was
originally a Steel Thru Wrought Iron, six panel Pratt Truss bridge with a plank
deck, and
Whereas, Bryant�s Bridge is a
structure that is 96 feet long and 16 feet wide that crosses Fish Creek, and
Whereas, Bryant�s Bridge has a
current load posting of 4 tons, and
Whereas, Saratoga County will
replace Bryant�s Bridge with a new bridge during 2005, therefore be it
Resolved, that the Town of Saratoga
encourages and supports the saving and reuse of Bryant�s Bridge as a pedestrian
bridge in another location in Saratoga County.
Supervisor Thomas Wood - aye, Councilman Fred Drumm � aye, Councilman Bruce Cornell � aye, Councilman Michael McLoughlin - aye, and Councilman Charles Hanehan - aye� Carried 5� 0.
Supervisor Thomas Wood announced that the Stage at the Schuylerville Beach has been completed and the first concert was held August 19th and was enjoyed by many.� The Hudson River Foundation Grant paperwork has been completed and the final report has� been filed.� The total cost was $2,568.38 with all but $160.38 covered by the grant.
Supervisor Thomas Wood explained that the budget process has begun.� The software being used has been changed to EXCEL.� Budget requests have been received from the Town Clerk, Justices, Historian, Assessor, and Highway Superintendent Grant Seymour�s will be ready soon.� Supervisor Thomas Wood added that the tentative budget must be completed and given to the Town Clerk by September 30th.� Supervisor Thomas Wood would like to have another budget workshop before September 30th.� The Public Hearing will be held November 4th, the Thursday after Election Day.� Supervisor Thomas Wood has some data for the budget such as insurance costs, retirement plan costs, and dues to the Association of Towns.� Estimated revenues such as sales tax estimates are yet to be received.� Supervisor Thomas Wood asked the board to identify budget items that need to be addressed in preparation for the next budget workshop.
New Business:
Supervisor Thomas Wood informed the board that Board
of Assessment Review member Corinne Ward�s term is expiring.� He added that she enjoys the position and
does an excellent job.� Resolution #04-108 was introduced by
Councilman Bruce Cornell and seconded by Councilman Michael McLoughlin:
WHEREAS, the term of appointment on the Board of Assessment
Review for Corinne Ward is expiring on September 30, 2004, therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Saratoga
hereby appoints Corinne Ward for another 5-year term from 10/01/2004 �
09/30/2009.���
Supervisor Thomas Wood - aye, Councilman Fred Drumm � aye, Councilman Bruce Cornell � aye, Councilman Michael McLoughlin - aye, and Councilman Charles Hanehan - aye� Carried 5� 0.
A request has been received by the Chamber of Commerce President Corinne Ward to locate the Chamber�s office at the Town Hall.� Corinne Ward has moved her Real Estate Business into a smaller location on Broad Street and no longer has enough room for the office.� Supervisor Thomas Wood added that the Chamber of Commerce does an excellent job of promoting the Town.� After checking the available space in the basement, Supervisor Thomas Wood felt that space is available for a small office in the basement of the Town Hall.� Supervisor Thomas Wood made a motion that office space be provided for the Chamber of Commerce in the basement of the Town Hall.� Councilman Bruce Cornell seconded this. Supervisor Thomas Wood - aye, Councilman Fred Drumm � aye, Councilman Bruce Cornell � aye, Councilman Michael McLoughlin - aye, and Councilman Charles Hanehan - aye� Carried 5� 0.
�Supervisor Thomas Wood explained that there are three zoning issues that need to be discussed.� Supervisor Thomas Wood made a motion to enter into executive session at 7:32 p.m. to discuss pending litigation and this was seconded by Councilman Fred Drumm. Supervisor Thomas Wood - aye, Councilman Fred Drumm � aye, Councilman Bruce Cornell � aye, Councilman Michael McLoughlin - aye, and Councilman Charles Hanehan - aye� Carried 5� 0.
The special meeting resumed at 8:13 p.m.� No board action was taken.
Supervisor Thomas Wood has been contacted by residents of the Town who have village water and are upset because they are being charged 1 � times the regular water rate because they are not village residents. These residents live on Chestnut Street, North Broad, Cemetery Road, and north Burgoyne Road.� Supervisor Thomas Wood stated that after conversations with Alice Smith and Bob Hall he found that the Town of Saratoga was the lead agency and was instrumental in helping the villages obtain the grant that provided funds for the water tower along with a new large water line to Chestnut Street about 1980.� The reasons of justification for the higher rates charged to non-village residents were cited as follows: when repairs are made to the water main the cost of using the village equipment is not born by Town residents only village residents; the time and associated costs by the village boards on water issues is not born by the town residents and that town residents� properties have received higher assessed values due to being supplied with village water.� Supervisor Thomas Wood is trying to find the records of the grant and to determine if any type of agreement exists between the town and the villages and if one is found then the additional charge would be suspended.�
Councilman Charles Hanehan reported that the sign committee met and many ideas were presented.� The cost of each sign will probably be over $1,000 and this cost may need to be included in the 2005 budget.� Supervisor Thomas Wood had contacted Sunflower Graphics and they declined due to a tremendous workload at this time.� The committee will meet again.�
Supervisor Thomas Wood reported that the Zoning amendment committee would meet again in September and that any zoning amendment recommendations should be forwarded to him.� Some items that will be addressed are a noise ordinance, the mining moratorium, and shared driveways.�
Supervisor Thomas Wood noted that he will meet with Town Engineer Kenneth Martin tomorrow to look over the acre to the north of the town hall to determine what type of testing might be needed to determine if it is a viable building site for a new town hall.� Things that will be considered are test borings, elevation, and floodplain.�
Councilman Fred Drumm stated that we have not heard from Time Warner regarding the Cable TV franchise agreement.� Supervisor Thomas Wood said that he called and left George Smead a message this afternoon.��
The next agenda meeting
will be at 7:00 p.m. September 9th and the next regular town board
meeting will be at 7:00 p.m. on
September 13, 2004.
A motion to adjourn at 8:30 p.m. was made by Supervisor
Thomas Wood and seconded by Councilman Fred Drumm. Supervisor Thomas Wood �
aye, Councilman Fred Drumm � aye, Councilman Michael McLoughlin � aye,
Councilman Bruce Cornell � aye, and Councilman Charles Hanehan - aye.� Carried 5� 0.
Respectfully Submitted,
Ruth Drumm, Town Clerk