Minutes of the regular meeting of the Brant Town Board held on Tuesday, February 11, 2003 at 8:00 p.m., held at the Brant Town Hall, Brant-N. Collins Rd, Brant, New York.

There were present:

Supervisor                               Samuel J. Chiavetta

Councilman                             Dennis Rubeck

Councilwoman                        Ellen Bowman

Councilman                             Martin Rosiek

Councilman                             Eugene Czyz

Attorney                                  John Grennell

Also present:

Leonard K. Pero                      Planning Board & Revitalization Chairman

Diane Czyz                             Supervisor’s Secretary

Carl Militello                           Dog Control Officer

Lee Brunelli                            Annette Dispence

Bill Henry                               Linda Crouse                          

Joseph Gardyjan                     Brenda Giacchino

Alice Escott                            Town Crier

            The meeting was opened with a pledge to the flag led by Supervisor Chiavetta.

            Councilwoman Bowman made a motion; seconded by Councilman Rubeck to accept the minutes of the Town Board meeting of January 14, 2003 as submitted by the Town Clerk.  MOTION CARRIED.

            A Motion was made by Councilman Rubeck, seconded by Councilman Czyz to accept the Supervisors Financial report for the month of December as submitted.  MOTION CARRIED.

A motion was made by Councilman Rubeck and seconded by Councilman Rosiek to accept the Code Enforcement Officer’s reports for January as submitted.  MOTION CARRIED.    

A motion was made by Councilman Rosiek, seconded by councilman Rubeck to accept the Dog Control Officers report as submitted for the month of January.  MOTION CARRIED.

A motion was made by Councilwoman Bowman and seconded by Councilman Rosiek to accept the Police Chiefs report for the month of January as submitted.  MOTION CARRIED. 

A motion was made by Councilman Rosiek, seconded by Councilwoman Bowman to accept the minutes of the Planning Board for the month of January.  MOTION CARRIED.

A motion was made by Councilman Rosiek, seconded by Councilwoman Bowman to accept the resignation of Jim Shea as a member of the planning board due to conflicts in work schedules and appoint Joe Gardyjan to fill the term until 2006 as a permanent member with Jim Shea as an alternate.  MOTION CARRIED. 

Supervisor Chiavetta stated that there was no new information given from the Water Committee. 

 Len Pero stated that the revitalization committee has found a tenant for the Store Project and hopes it will be opening by April 1^st.   The other projects for the Brant Center are slowing moving along. 

Supervisor Chiavetta opened the Acknowledgement of Visitors.

As no one cared to speak, the acknowledgement of Visitors was closed. 

A request was received from the Village of Farnham to use the voting machines located at the Village Hall for the Village Elections in March.  Councilwoman Bowman made a motion to allow the use of the machines that was seconded by Councilman Czyz.  MOTION CARRIED.

A request was made by the Town Clerk to have a petty cash start up of $50.00 for the Town Tax Collection, and a request for the Town Board to pass a resolution that Property Tax overpayments of .49 cents or less be turned over to the Town Supervisor due to the cost of postage.  Councilman Rubeck made a motion to pass that resolution and authorize the petty cash start up, that was seconded by Councilman Czyz and a roll call vote taken:

ROLL CALL VOTE:

Councilman Rubeck               Aye

Councilman Czyz                   Aye

Councilman Rosiek                 Aye

Councilwoman Bowman        Aye

Supervisor Chiavetta              Aye

5 Ayes, No Nays.  RESOLUTION ADOPTED.

Information was received from the Town Attorney regarding the Town Justice.  Councilwoman Bowman made a motion to table action until the board can go into executive session at the end of the meeting to discuss this position, which was seconded by Councilman Czyz.  TABELED.

            Councilwoman Bowman stated that there was not much new on the Employee Handbook,

the committee is still working on it with the Town Attorney; Councilman Rosiek stated that he would like to see the recommendations from the Town Accountant, which was adopted in January to be added to the handbook. 

            An update of the master plan was given and it was noted that there was to be a meeting on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. but that it was necessary to declare a lead agency for this project.  Councilman Rosiek presented a sample resolution and a completed SEQRA to review for possible adoption at the next Town Board Meeting on March 11, 2003.

            Supervisor Chiavetta stated that the Chief of Police was to make and issue identification cards for the Town Officials and Employees and summer recreation employees for safety purposes. 

            Received a meeting notice from the Association of Erie County Governments for February 27, 2003 at 5:00 to be held at Michaels Banquet Facility, Hamburg.

            A motion was made by Councilwoman Bowman, seconded by Councilman Rubeck to adopt a resolution to approve the budget modifications for the 2002 and 2003 budgets as recommended by the Town Accountant.

ROLL CALL VOTE:

Councilwoman Bowman        Aye

Councilman Rubeck               Aye

Councilman Czyz                   Aye

Councilman Rosiek                Aye

Supervisor Chiavetta              Aye

5 Ayes, 0 Nays.   ADOPTED.

            Court Clerk Linda Crouse presented a request for a review of the rate of pay based upon prior increases and times of service.  A motion was made by Councilwoman Bowman to table and discuss in executive session, Councilman Rosiek seconded the motion.  TABELED.

            Supervisor Chiavetta stated that he received a listing of active members from both the Brant and Farnham Firemen with approximately 47 properties that would be affected, for the possibility of the Firemen’s exemption for real property.  Comparing these with the $3,000 maximum exemption would only be approximately $20.00 per person eligible.   He suggested that the Town hold a public hearing to pass a law to allow such an exemption.  Councilman Rubeck made a motion to conduct a public hearing on March 11, 2003 at 8:30 p.m., which was seconded by Councilman Czyz.  MOTION CARRIED.

            The Chief of Police made a request to be authorized to order the new police car, which was budgeted for under the State Bid Price.  Councilman Rosiek made a motion to authorize the Chief of Police to order the vehicle, Councilman Czyz seconded the motion.  MOTION CARRIED.

            Gary Brecker, Code Enforcement Officer requested that the Town Board schedule a public hearing for K&L Salvage, Lance Murcato’s Junkyard Permit which was recommended approved by the Planning Board.  Councilman Czyz made a motion to schedule the hearing at 8:45 p.m. on March 11, 2003, which was seconded by Councilwoman Bowman.  MOTION CARRIED.

            Gary Brecker, Code Enforcement Officer also requested that he be allowed a prepayment of ½ the expenses for the New York Association of Towns Conference as the Town of Brant was to split the expenses with North Collins.  Councilman Rosiek made a motion to authorize the prepayment, which was seconded by Councilman Czyz.  MOTION CARRIED.   

A motion was made by Councilwoman Bowman and seconded by Councilman Rubeck to go to executive session at 8:20 p.m. to discuss the prior personnel matters. A roll call vote was taken:

Councilwoman Bowman        Aye

Councilman Rubeck               Aye

Councilman Czyz                   Aye

Councilman Rosiek                 Aye

Councilman Chiavetta            Aye

5 Ayes, No Nays.  MOTION CARRIED.

            The meeting was called back to order at 8:43 p.m.

            A motion to pass a resolution to authorize the Supervisor to enter into a possible compensation agreement with Justice Gugino for his additional activities not to exceed the budgeted amount of compensation.  The motion to pass the resolution was seconded by Councilman Rosiek and a roll call vote was taken:

ROLL CALL VOTE:

Councilwoman Bowman        Aye

Councilman Rosiek                 Aye

Councilman Rubeck               Aye

Councilman Czyz                   Aye

Supervisor Chiavetta              Aye

5 Ayes, No Nays.  RESOLUTION ADOPTED.

The request made by Linda Crouse for the pay increase was again tabled for further review.  TABELED. 

An informational letter was received by Greater Niagara Region regarding trail extension possibilities from Evangola down Old Lake Shore Rd., for the bike/walk trail.  

            A motion was made by Councilman Rubeck and seconded by Councilman Rosiek that General Town Wide Warrant 2002 #14, Vouchers 541-545, totaling $6,788.13, General Part Town Warrant 2002 #14, Vouchers 55-56, totaling $205.44. Highway Fund Payroll 2002, Warrant #14, Vouchers 27, totaling $853.86, Brant Farnham Sewer Dist 2002 Warrant #14, Voucher 4, totaling $13,293.00, and General Town Wide Warrant 2003 #2, Vouchers 21-53, totaling $34,885.05, General Town Wide-Payroll Warrant 2003 #2, Vouchers 1-7, totaling $33,631.06, General Fund Part Town 2003 #2, Vouchers 5-8, totaling $7,101.29, General Fund – Part Town Payroll 2003 #2, Voucher 1, totaling $525.00, Highway Town Wide 2003 #2, Voucher 2-13, totaling $12,868.34, Highway Payroll 2003 #2, Vouchers 1-2, totaling $10,075.85, Lotus Bay Sewer 2003 #2, Voucher 1, totaling $570.73 and Street lighting 2003 #2, Voucher 1, totaling $2,072.19 be presented for payment.  MOTION CARRIED.

            A motion was made by Councilwoman Bowman seconded by Councilman Czyz to adjourn the meeting at 8:48 p.m. MOTION CARRIED.

                                                                                    Respectfully submitted,

                                                                                    Jamie S. Nolan, Town Clerk

APPROVED BY:

SUPERVISOR CHIAVETTA:                                                                     

COUNCILMAN RUBECK:                                                                         

COUNCILWOMAN BOWMAN:                                                                

COUNCILMAN CZYZ:                                                                               

COUNCILMAN ROSIEK:                                                                           

February Town Board Minutes