TOWN OF VIENNA TOWN MEETING MINUTES

May 3, 2023

PRESENT: Supervisor Michael M. Davis Sr., Councilman Jason Spellicy, Councilwoman Gail Whitham,  Councilman Darrin Smith, Councilman Jason Lamb

CALL TO ORDER:

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

NOCCOG: Joe Rowlands

The 2023 Local Leaders Survey has been mailed to each municipality. This can be completed online or by paper copy. This is required every 5 years.

The Local Government Conference’s Presentation is available if you were not able to attend. Presentations are available online or by emailing or calling Jennifer Harvill.

The 2023 Highway School is June 5th – 7th at Ithaca College. Registration is now open. The Association of Towns along with the local Cornell Rose program sponsor it. Early Registration Fee on May 19th is $125. After May 19th people must register on site with a fee of

$165.

The Highway Department and Town Budget Workshop is May 31st at 6:30 -8:30. The Village of Adams municipal building is the location of the workshop.

The Abandoned Cemeteries and municipal responsibilities. When State Regulated non-profit cemeteries fail or are abandoned NY State Laws mandate Towns to care for those cemeteries. On Friday May 19th from 10:00 AM – 11:30 Tughill Commission is sponsoring a pre-webinar that will explore options available to Towns to prevent cemetery abandonment. This does not include private cemeteries.

County Legislature: Norm Leach

A contract was signed with Oneida County Tourism for $750,000 per year for them to operate the tourism bureau.

A grant was received for $172,000 to fight domestic terrorism.

Some of the County Executives incentives are to strengthen theb semi-conductor industry in our area. Fire Hawks is a good program to support the volunteer fire fighters. Another goal was to add security cameras on all county owned buildings and high crime areas. The last goal was to put GPS on the plow trucks.

On May 8th nine school districts signed up for putting cameras on school buses’ stop signs.

A contract was awarded for new voting machines. 2.1 million dollars will be spent on 100 new machines.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

A motion was entertained by Councilwoman Whitham and seconded by Councilman Spellicy to approve the minutes of the April 5th meeting. Motion carried.

Voting Record:

Supervisor Davis                 Aye

Councilman Spellicy              Aye

Councilwoman Whitham             Aye

Councilman Lamb                  Aye

Councilman Smith                 Aye

AUDITED VOUCHERS:

A motion was entertained by Councilman Spellicy and seconded by Councilman Lamb to approve the audited vouchers beginning with voucher #172 thru voucher #220 in the amount of $83,238.78.                                          Motion carried.

Voting Record:

Supervisor Davis                 Aye

Councilman Spellicy              Aye

Councilwoman Whitham             Aye

Councilman Lamb                  Aye

Councilman Smith                 Aye

SUPERVISOR’S REPORT:

The supervisors report for the month of April 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 April.

HIGHWAY:

Clayton reached out to four local contractors that live in Town for the outside lights to sell to the Highway Garage and they should be getting back to him in a couple weeks.

He is looking to replace the 6 ft. burhs hog that is used for roadside mowing. The current one is beyond repair. He received four quotes. Clinton Tractor had one that was heavy duty for $4,075 and White’s Farm Supply had one that was heavy duty for $5,500. The lighter one from Clinton Tractor was $3,075 and the lighter one from White’s Farm Supply was $3,200. Clayton would like to go with the heavy duty one from Clinton Tractor for $4,075.

A motion was entertained by Supervisor Davis and seconded by Councilman Spellicy to spend $4,075 to get a heavy duty, six-foot brush hog from Clinton Tractor. Motion carried.

Voting Record:

Supervisor Davis                 Aye

Councilman Spellicy              Aye

Councilwoman Whitham             Aye

Councilman Lamb                  Aye

Councilman Smith                 Aye

The paving for Dixon and Elpis Road has been completed. Mill road, Tynan Road, and a section on Lake Shore Drive still need to be paved as well as there being some sealing to do.

The speed signs have been put back out for the summer and there will be speed humps at every radar location.

Council Reports:

 

Councilwoman Whitham– Nothing

Councilman Spellicy– Nothing

Supervisor Davis– New York State has updated the sexual harassment training and the Employee handbook will be updated as well. Everyone at the highway took the CPR training and two people from the Town Hall took it as well. Supervisor Davis received a letter from the ZBA that they had an applicant, Michael Taylor and recommended for him to fill the vacant position. The ZBA interviewed him before recommending him to the position.

A motion was entertained by Councilman Smith and seconded by Councilman Spellicy to appoint Michael Taylor to the vacant chair on the Zoning Board of Appeals. Motion carried.

Voting Record:

Supervisor Davis                 Aye

Councilman Spellicy              Aye

Councilwoman Whitham             Aye

Councilman Lamb                  Aye

Councilman Smith                 Aye

Councilman Lamb– Nothing

Councilman Smith– Memorial Day parade is coming along.

Old Business:

 

Water Extension– The survey process has begun. They need a certain percentage to make this a large enough sample size. If this is not received, they go door to door to try to get the surveys filled out. The hope is to get better financing options.

Broad Band– The County has interviewed three companies who have offered to do a broad band installation. Once a company is selected Supervisor Davis will be present for meetings to see how we progress from there. It is anticipated that in one month the contract award will happen. That does not necessarily mean it will happen this year. They sent out six zone areas of our town and they received bids for three of the six.

OCWA / Buell Campground– Discontinue the 4-inch main that goes from West Lake up the hill to East Lake Street. This was sent to the attorney and the attorney stated that their will be no issue. This is

the same setup as if it was a residence. There will need to be official action from the board. There is no difference on whether he owns the line or they do.

A motion was entertained by Councilman Spellicy and seconded by Councilwoman Whitham to approve the abandonment of the 4-inch line coming off of West Lake Street down to the campground owned by Mr.

Buell. Motion carried.

Voting Record:

Supervisor Davis                 Aye

Councilman Spellicy              Aye

Councilwoman Whitham             Aye

Councilman Lamb                  Aye

Councilman Smith                 Aye

Website / I.T.– Supervisor Davis spoke with the old I.T. Professional Russ Johnson and he put together a list that is a request for proposal both website and future I.T. services. This was advertised in the paper. There has already been a couple inquires. The deadline is the 12th. Interviews will be done instead of a bid.

New Business:

 

Property Maintenance– Questions and concerns need to be brought up to the Code’s Officer with a formal complaint because the Town Council is not a police force and can not do what the Code’s Officer does.

Councilman Spellicy said to try working with your neighbors first and then file a formal complaint with the code’s officer. There is two people interested in helping out the code’s officer as well.

Cell Tower– A company called Techtronic engineering contacted Supervisor Davis. This company emailed that they represent Verizon and they were wondering if the Town would be interested in providing a area to place a cell tower. Supervisor Davis responded that they should send us information and we would go from there.

Cannabis Regulations– The Planning Board has been working on the cannabis regulations. Zoning regulations on where you can or can not have it as well as other regulations are unknown. A possibility is to create a local law to regulate it until something more definitive comes up. Towns have opted to go to a one-year moratorium to regulate it until it is definitive. Supervisor Davis would like to schedule a public hearing for June 7th at 7:10 pm.

A motion was entertained by Supervisor Davis and seconded by Councilman Lamb to hold a public hearing on the one-year moratorium on cannabis permitting of retail sales at 7:10 on June 7th. Motion carried.

Voting Record:

Supervisor Davis                 Aye

Councilman Spellicy              Aye

Councilwoman Whitham             Aye

Councilman Lamb                  Aye

Councilman Smith                 Aye

Public Comments:

 

Richard Mansfield– Based on funding availability by the County for broadband funding. Will the Town prioritize areas inside the Town of Vienna? Will the Town have to contribute to this? The Town does not prioritize the area. They put out sections on a map and let everybody who is bidding bid on them. The Town is going to have to contribute but that has not been discussed yet. It is not anticipated to be a large percentage. Verizon and Charter are two companies bidding. There is not much more information until Supervisor Davis goes to the meeting.

Dean Marrachoin– Wants to know the status of the gazebo. The hope is that we can get it done by Veterans Day. The Supervisor’s report, Code’s report, and Town Clerk’s was not updated. The Town Clerk will update everything on the website.

Mike Piper– Every cell tower in the town has made provisions for other companies to put up more towers. Has anything been submitted to the planning board? The Town Board will need information before bringing it up to the planning board. There is a blue fire hydrant to signify the end of the North Bay water district. He would like to have it removed for the home owner because it is not being used. There is a working fire hydrant on the other side of the driveway. It is a functional fire hydrant. There is pressurized water flow to it but OCWA does not own it. Would like a blowout hydrant installed instead. Supervisor Davis will call OCWA.

EXECUTIVE SESSION:

A motion was entertained by Councilman Smith and seconded by Councilman Lamb to enter executive session for the topic of litigation at 8:18 p.m. Motion carried.

Voting Record:

Supervisor Davis                 Aye

Councilman Spellicy              Aye

Councilwoman Whitham             Aye

Councilman Lamb                  Aye

Councilman Smith                 Aye

A motion was entertained by Supervisor Davis and seconded by Councilman Lamb to return to regular session at 8:33 p.m. Motion carried.

Voting Record:

Supervisor Davis                 Aye

Councilman Spellicy              Aye

Councilwoman Whitham             Aye

Councilman Lamb                  Aye

Councilman Smith                 Aye Action was taken.

A motion was entertained by Supervisor Davis and seconded by Councilman Spellicy for the Town to, upon receipt of invoice, to pay up to the $2,500 deductible to the insurance company to settle litigation brought against the Town by Mr. Mansfield. Motion carried.

Voting Record:

Supervisor Davis                 Aye

Councilman Spellicy              Aye

Councilwoman Whitham             Aye

Councilman Lamb                  Aye

Councilman Smith                 Abstained

ADJOURN:

A motion was entertained by Councilman Spellicy and seconded by Councilman Lamb to adjourn at 8:35 p.m. Motion carried.

Voting Record:

Supervisor Davis                 Aye

Councilman Spellicy              Aye

Councilwoman Whitham             Aye

Councilman Lamb                  Aye

Councilman Smith                 Aye

Respectfully Submitted,

Beth A. Bunce