Minutes of the workshop and 2007 Budget Public Hearing held on Thursday November 09, 2006 of the Brant Town Board at 7:00 PM, at the Brant Town Hall, at 1294 Brant-North Collins Rd, Brant, New York.
There were present:
Deputy Supervisor John Arrigo
Councilman Jeffrey W. Gier
Councilwoman Roseann Turner
Councilman John J. Chiavetta
Recording Secretary: Town Clerk Thea A. Ells
Attorney William J. Trask Sr.
Absent:
Supervisor Leonard K. Pero
Also present were:
David Hock,
Peter Chiavetta
Dan Kujawinski
Janet Bowman
Ernest Niedermeier
George Cordia
Linda Crouse
Goldie DeSaviro
Clark Borngraber
Charles Arrigo
Joseph Gardyjan
Lee Brunelli
Dave & Christine Gierlinger
Judge Debra Ritz
1) PLEDGE TO THE FLAG
At 7:00 PM a pledge to the flag was led by Deputy Supervisor John Arrigo, and the meeting was called to order.
Town Clerk Thea Ells verifies publication in the Town Crier November 1st, 2006 and posting at the: Brant Town Hall, Farnham Village Hall, Brant Post Office, Farnham Post Office:
TOWN OF BRANT NOTICE OF HEARING ON THE PRELIMINARY BUDGET
FOR THE YEAR 2007
Notice is hereby given that the Preliminary Budget of the Town of Brant for the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2007 will be completed and filed in the office of the Town Clerk at Brant, New York, where it will be available for inspection after November 1st by any interested person during regular business hours.
Further notice is hereby given that the Town Board of the Town of Brant will meet and review the Preliminary Budget and hold a Public Hearing thereon at the Brant Town Hall at 7:00 PM p.m. on Thursday the 9th day of November 2006 and at such hearing any person may be heard in favor or against any items therein contained.
Further notice is given pursuant to Section 108 of the Town Law the proposed salaries of the following Town Offices are hereby specified as follows:
Supervisor $ 14,000.00
Councilman (4)x each $ 4,140.00
Town Clerk/Tax Collector $ 24,000.00
Superintendent of Highways $ 21,200.00
DATED: October 26th, 2006 BY THE ORDER OF THE BRANT TOWN BOARD THEA A. ELLS
BRANT TOWN CLERK
Councilman Arrigo stated that the Board would take comments and questions on the budget. The board would review any changes to the preliminary budget Monday night the 13th and vote on the budget on Thursday the 16th at 7:00 PM.
Councilman Arrigo said he had changes to the A fund which would reduce the figures by $14,600.00 and with the bid received on the refuse it looks like a savings of $10,00.00 from the estimated $30,00.00 increase in the Preliminary.
Arrigo reviewed his proposed cuts to contractual accounts for the Justice Courts -$500., Supervisors ? 500., Town Clerk - 500., with a cut of the assessors assistant of $4,000.(personal services) and $700.00 cut to accountant, contractual cuts for Town Hall ? 2,000., Community Recreation Building ? 500, dog control personal service cut ? 900., recreation ? 2,000. and cut pool by 2,500.
Arrigo continued highlighting the increases on the preliminary naming: Judges personal services, $1500. each, Town Clerk 3%, deputy clerks 1.5%, cleaners to $8.00 per hour, highway men 3% raise, $750.00 for supervisor secretary.
Arrigo mentioned items for which the Board had no control ? refuse increase, and fire protection.
Arrigo reviewed the funds in the budget, mentioned an increase for pool repairs, a new line item for sidewalk repairs, and more police patrol hours, dog control decrease after review of the calls for the year and current officer was very agreeable with cut, and grant writer was cut by 10,000., as it will be paid per grant instead of by contract.
Arrigo stated that the Board and himself have looked at many items, reviewed spending, and are accumulating more information on insurance which may show a decrease, have met with fire departments, and are looking overall for ways to control spending and change government.
Judge Debra Ritz questioned the raise for the Judges of 19% and should be left the same, and the increase could be given to the clerks and asked where the money is that was budgeted for raises from last year.
Kirk Ritz questioned how the Board could justify a 19% increase for two positions naming the Judges and the Supervisors secretary and 1%, 2% and no increase in others. Arrigo answered that the increase amounts may come down. Ritz questioned that the secretary job changed when the town hired out the payroll, and now has a line item for that expense.
Dan Kujawinski questioned where the 1500.00 increase amount for the Judges came from, Chiavetta and Arrigo answered it was their number as they were comparing figures with other towns. Kujawinski asked how you justify the increase. Arrigo answered that the courts bring in a lot of revenue and Ritz and others answered that revenue of a department does not have anything to do with costs of running them, Arrigo agreed. Ritz went on that elected officials know what the pay is going in and should not expect a pay raise.
Lee Brunelli stated that no elected official should ask for an increase.
There was a question as to what is included on the A3120.4 which is for police contractual including expenses for bingo. This line covers contractual expenses of the police department, i.e. fuel, uniforms, phones, etc. Garage contractual was questioned and answered phones, fuel, electric, uniforms, etc.
Christine Gierlinger questioned the expenditures of the court offices and why one is over budget and one is not. Gryska said he will go over vouchers with Judge Ritz and review expenses.
Ritz said that the departments should not be going over budget. Ritz asked why the police officers are only receiving $13.78 per hour and the recreation director $15.00 an hour. Arrigo said this was raised two years ago. There was discussion about the police pay.
Ritz made an estimate of over 130,000. of expenses to run our parks and stated that with the increase debt for new land and upkeep and removing property off the tax rolls when does it stop? Arrigo stated that the Board is maintaining the park buildings and grounds as they should do. Grants were discussed and there were questions on the new land grant and Arrigo said he hadn?t read the grant yet. Ritz questioned the Town Hall building maintenance and asked why the Board is not concerned with windows etc which are certainly needed.
Gierlinger asked what the Boards intention is in regards to use of the new land. Arrigo answered that part of it may be a future site for a new town hall.
Deputy Supervisor Arrigo announced that Monday 13th would be a work shop to review changes to the budget and the Board would vote on the Budget at a meeting on Thursday 16th.
On a motion from Councilman Chiavetta, seconded by Councilman Gier, the following motion was:
Ayes 4 Arrigo, Gier, Turner, Chiavetta
Nays 0
ADOPTED: TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING
ITEMS FOR REVIEW
Disability Insurance:
On a motion from Councilman Gier, seconded by Councilman Chiavetta, the following motion was:
Ayes 4 Arrigo, Gier, Turner, Chiavetta
Nays 0
ADOPTED: TO CANCEL THE TOWN DISABILITY INSURANCE CARRIED FOR EMPLOYEES
Memorial Park
Councilman Arrigo reported that the Memorial park concrete is done and looks good.
On a motion from Councilman Chiavetta, seconded by Councilman Gier, the following motion was:
Ayes 4 Arrigo, Gier, Turner, Chiavetta
Nays 0
ADOPTED: TO APPROVE ARRIGO TO PURCHASE NEW LIGHT TOPS AS EXISTING POSTS ARE IN GOOD SHAPE.
Arrigo and Gier met with the Fire departments to review the contracts and future contracts.
Refuse Contract
Attorney Trask will review the bids received.
Proposed LL#5
Planning Board is asking for verification of wording for unlicensed vehicles. The concern is if a homeowner is allowed an unlicensed vehicle on the property besides one for sale. Discussion followed.
Attorney Trask asked the Board to review the Proposed Local Law concerning Zoning ordinance requirements.
On a motion from Councilman Chiavetta, and seconded by Councilman Gier the following was
Ayes 4 Arrigo, Gier, Turner, Chiavetta
Nays 0
ADOPTED: TO ADJOURN THE NOVEMBER 9th TOWN BOARD MEETING AT 8:10 PM
Respectfully submitted,
Thea A. Ells
Brant Town Clerk
