TOWN OF VIENNA
TOWN MEETING MINUTES
December 7, 2022

PRESENT:   Supervisor Michael M. Davis Sr., Councilwoman Gail Whitham, Councilwoman Wendy Herbst, Councilman Jason Lamb, Councilman Jason Spellicy arrived at 8:00PM

CALL TO ORDER:

Supervisor Davis called the meeting to order at 7:00PM.  Pledge of Allegiance.

NOCCOG: Joe Rowlands

The Oneida County Youth Bureau is seeking 2023 grant applications. This is for non-profit organizations, municipalities, and youth organization programs that offer delinquency prevention and positive youth development opportunities.

Cornell Local Roads Program is still conducting preconditional webinars on important principles and local highway operations. The webinar is on Tuesday’s at 9:00AM – 10:00AM.

2023 Local Government conference is Thursday, April 6, 2023 at the Turning Stone Casino Event Center. There will be an optional afternoon session. The topic will be on drones and how they can be utilized within the town.

A new executive board member is being looked for.

County Legislature: Norm Leach

The County approved their 2023 budget and this is the tenth year with no property tax increase.

The Nexus Center has been opened. This is an addition onto the Adirondack Bank Center.

The Oneida County Soil and Water Conservation District is facing the potential to change the make of the body that creates this.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

A motion was entertained by Councilman Lamb and seconded by Councilwoman Whitham to approve the minutes of the October 17th meeting.  Motion carried.      

    Voting Record:

Supervisor Davis                 Aye

Councilwoman Whitham             Aye

Councilwoman Wendy Herbst        Aye

Councilman Jason Lamb            Aye

 

 

 

 

A motion was entertained by Councilwoman Whitham and seconded by Councilman Lamb to approve the minutes of the November 2nd meeting.  Motion carried.      

    Voting Record:

Supervisor Davis                 Aye

Councilwoman Whitham             Aye

Councilwoman Wendy Herbst        Aye

Councilman Jason Lamb            Aye

 

A motion was entertained by Councilwoman Herbst and seconded by Councilwoman Whitham to approve the minutes of the November 10th meeting.  Motion carried.      

    Voting Record:

Supervisor Davis                 Aye

Councilwoman Whitham             Aye

Councilwoman Wendy Herbst        Aye

Councilman Jason Lamb            Aye

 

A motion was entertained by Supervisor Davis and seconded by Councilwoman Whitham to approve the minutes of the November 28th meeting.  Motion carried.      

    Voting Record:

Supervisor Davis                 Aye

Councilwoman Whitham             Aye

Councilwoman Wendy Herbst        Aye

Councilman Jason Lamb            Aye

 

AUDITED VOUCHERS:

A motion was entertained by Councilman Lamb and seconded by Councilwoman Herbst to approve the audited vouchers beginning with voucher #442 thru voucher #485 in the amount of $153,993.08.  Motion carried.

   Voting Record:

Supervisor Davis                 Aye

Councilwoman Whitham             Aye

Councilwoman Wendy Herbst        Aye

Councilman Jason Lamb            Aye

    

SUPERVISOR’S REPORT:

The supervisors report for the month of November is done and in the clerk’s office.

 

All OTHER OFFICES MONTHLY REPORT:

All other office reports are in the Town Clerk’s office and will be on line.

 

TOWN CLERK’S REPORT:

The Clerk read her report for the month of November.

 

 

 

 

 

A motion was entertained by Councilwoman Whitham and seconded by Councilman Lamb to approve the November Town Clerk’s report.

    Voting Record:

Supervisor Davis                 Aye

Councilwoman Whitham             Aye

Councilwoman Wendy Herbst        Aye

Councilman Jason Lamb            Aye

 

HIGHWAY:

The Highway Superintendent has applied for funding that the Bridge of New York/ Culvert program is offering. The Governor set aside 200 million per year and it is a 5-year program.

The Highway Garage has been doing some maintenance on the summer equipment.

 

Council Reports:

 

Councilwoman Whitham- The gazebo Councilwoman Whitham wants to get could be purchased and built by Memorial Day, if the Town wanted it to be. Supervisor Davis has stated that it would be nice to have the gazebo ready by Memorial Day. Councilman Lamb and Councilwoman Herbst had no comment.

 

Councilman Spellicy- Absent.

 

Councilwoman Herbst- Nothing.

 

Councilman Lamb- Nothing.

 

Supervisor Davis- There was an issue at the post office. The fuel tank has a leak. They are using the fuel in the tank until it runs out. Salsman Heating recommended to switch over to propane furnace and propane system because the system is over 15 years old. A decision has to be made to continue on with a new tank or to change to propane. A new tank including labor is about $3,000 whereas a propane/ heat pump is approximately $4,000. A bid would be put out but a decision needs to be made on the direction. Councilman Lamb is leaning towards continuing with a 15-year-old furnace. Councilwoman Whitham and Councilwoman Herbst has no comment. A decision will be made at the end of year meeting.

 

Old Business:

Water Extension Feasibility Study-

The numbers from the study will be received in January but it was not promised to be received by the January Town Board meeting. With those number the committee that was formed will have to go back and do the petitions for the actual numbers to make it legal. If enough petitions are received, we will hold meetings on it and complete the last steps.

 

 

 

Broad Band-

Not much movement other then the Independent Industrial Corp that will handle funds. We receive a franchise fee from Spectrum and if we can use the yearly fee to pay for getting areas of broad band that do not exist now. However, a special district would have to be created and that will be a hurdle to get the State Comptrollers to approve a special district.

 

New Business:

Insurance-

Time to renew the Town’s insurance policy. Gates Cole proposed premium is $3157.56 higher than last year. This is caused by replacing an old grade-all with a new 475,000 grade-all, getting a new pick-up truck, and the blanket property limit changing from $3,818,299 to $4,047,396. If the contractor’s equipment deductible is raised from $250 to $500 the Town would save $520 a year, whereas, if the property deductible is increased from $1,000 to $2,500 the Town would save $578. Councilman Lamb and Supervisor Davis believe it would be best to increase the contractor’s equipment deductible instead of the property deductible. Councilwoman Whitham and Councilwoman Herbst had no comment.

A motion was entertained by Supervisor Davis and seconded by Councilman Lamb to approve the renewal of insurance with Gates Cole and to increase the contractor’s deductible from $250 to $500. For a total amount of $48,083.20.

    Voting Record:

Supervisor Davis                 Aye

Councilwoman Whitham             Aye

Councilwoman Wendy Herbst        Aye

Councilman Jason Lamb            Aye

 

Public Comments:

Richard Mansfield- Would it be possible to set up a grant program with some of the franchise fees money to help low-income families? Councilman Lamb stated that we have to find out if we can even use the funds for something of that nature. Supervisor Davis stated that we will have to seek a definitive answer.

 

Dean Marrachion- It was discussed to re-word the Comprehensive Plan in order to make it sound better as well as to remove the negative connotation it has on subdivisions. He would like to know why it was not removed in the final Comprehensive Plan. Councilman Lamb stated we had a general discussion to remove it but that it can be edited out in the future. There will most likely be another plan done in the next couple election cycles. Supervisor Davis stated we retooled the process not the plan. There was not an issue with it being removed there was just a discussion and no definitive removal.

 

Darrin Smith- Uniform Code and Energy Code needs to be adjusted in Local Law due to changes that are being made. Supervisor Davis stated he will look it over and get back to him.

 

Richard Roberts- Is there anything that is going to be done about the speed coming out of 13. Supervisor Davis stated he has passed it onto the state and that it can take 2 to 2 ½ years to fix the speed. Due to conflicts at the last election the Vienna Fire Department will not be inviting politicians in to speaking anymore.

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION: 7:58PM Personnel Hiring

A motion was entertained by Supervisor Davis and seconded by Councilman Lamb to enter into executive session for personnel hiring at 7:58pm.  Motion carried.

Voting Record:

Supervisor Davis                 Aye

Councilwoman Whitham             Aye

Councilwoman Wendy Herbst        Aye

Councilman Jason Lamb            Aye

 

A motion was entertained by Supervisor Davis and seconded by Councilman Lamb to return to regular session at 8:20pm.  Motion carried.

Voting Record:

Supervisor Davis                 Aye

Councilman Spellicy              Aye

Councilwoman Whitham             Aye

Councilwoman Wendy Herbst        Aye

Councilman Jason Lamb            Aye

 

Action was taken. The end of year Town Board meeting will be held December 27, 2022 at 9:00AM.

 

A motion was entertained by Supervisor Davis and seconded by Councilman Spellicy to hire Robert Pellegrino for constable under the current set ways.  Motion carried.

Voting Record:

Supervisor Davis                 Aye

Councilman Spellicy              Aye

Councilwoman Whitham             Aye

Councilwoman Wendy Herbst        Aye

Councilman Jason Lamb            Aye

 

ADJOURN: 8:23PM

A motion was entertained by Supervisor Davis and seconded by Councilman Lamb to adjourn the meeting at 8:23PM.  Motion carried.

    Voting Record:

Supervisor Davis                 Aye

Councilman Spellicy              Aye

Councilwoman Whitham             Aye

Councilwoman Wendy Herbst        Aye

Councilman Jason Lamb            Aye

 

Respectfully Submitted,

Beth A. Bunce