Minutes of the Special Town Board Meeting held Tuesday, November 15, 2011, immediately following the Public Hearing at 6:00 PM, at the Keene Town Hall. The following Town Board Members were present: William B. Ferebee, Supervisor, Paul R. Martin, Robert M. Biesemeyer, Marcy A. Neville and Lawrence Jaques, Members of Council. Also present was: 1 member of the press, 2 part time Officials, 1 Councilman Elect, Susan Whitney, Bookkeeper and Ellen Estes, Town Clerk.
The Chairman, Mr. Ferebee, called this Special Town Board Meeting to order at 6:13 PM.
The Board all signed a voucher in the amount of $908.00 to be prepaid to Kim’s Karpets for the new carpet at the Library, this voucher will be abstracted with the vouchers for the November 29th meeting.
Mr. Ferebee said this price was the lowest quote received.
Mr. Ferebee shared with the Board, a Workplace Violence Prevention Policy & Incident Reporting required by the NYS Department of Labor, saying it was necessary to adopt this policy by resolution to meet NYS DOL requirements.
Resolution No. 212 – 11
Mr. Biesemeyer offered a resolution and moved its adoption. Be it resolved, that the Town Board adopt the Town of Keene Workplace Violence Prevention Policy & Incident Reporting Policy. This policy, in its entirety, has been attached to and made a part of these minutes. This resolution was seconded by Mr. Martin.
Roll Call Vote:
Mr. Ferebee: Yes
Mr. Martin: Yes
Mr. Biesemeyer: Yes
Ms. Neville: Yes
Mr. Jaques: Yes
The next discussion was in regards to two letters that Mr. Biesemeyer drafted from the Board.
Mr. Ferebee said he had no problem signing the letter to the Merle-Smiths thanking them for use of their field and Mulligan’s Pass.
Mr. Ferebee said that DEC wants a sketch to go along with the letter addressed to them in regards to the bank stabilization along Gulf Brook.
Mr. Biesemeyer said he had walked the brook with Mr. Gucker who felt the stabilization can be done with a block wall much cheaper than replacing the t-wall.
Mr. Ferebee said the plan on the water line is to replace it by placing the new line in a sleeve from the shut off to the end of the Town road.
The next discussion was in regards to the budget.
Mr. Ferebee said in trying to stay under the 2% tax he would like to change the $50,000 (12% FEMA match) to $35,000, to reflect the in-kind service being paid by the Town.
He said the Board has also agreed to reinstate the January 2011 salary to Donna Bramer, the Assessor, raising her salary $1,630.00
Mr. Martin said that in the future he would like to see a Board Member work with the fire districts to keep their budgets pared down. He said he would like to see the two districts share equipment.
Mr. Jaques said there is a formula the districts need to stay under when submitting their budgets.
Mr. Ferebee compared the 2011 and 2012 amounts to be raised by taxes saying the increase has a lot to do with the lack of unexpended fund balances.
Mr. Ferebee said that hours had been cut down for a clerk at the Town Hall and that no overtime would be paid to the attendant at the skating rink. He also reminded everyone that last year no increases were given.
He said that with the reduction in the 12% FEMA match from $50,000 to $35,000, the budget would be up 1.68% over 2011, saying that even with Ms. Bramer’s salary reinstated by $1,630, the budget increase would still be below the 2% tax cap.
Resolution No. 213 – 11
Mr. Biesemeyer offered a resolution and moved its adoption. Be it resolved, that the Town Board adopt the 2012 Preliminary Budget with the following changes, as the 2012 Final Budget:
· Reduce the 12% FEMA match from $50,000 to $35,000
· Increase the Assessor salary to the amount budgeted for January 2011
This resolution was seconded by Mr. Jaques.
Roll Call Vote:
Mr. Ferebee: Yes
Mr. Martin: Yes
Mr. Biesemeyer: Yes
Ms. Neville: Yes
Mr. Jaques: Yes
Mr. Ferebee thanked the Board for their hard work.
Mr. Jaques said he had nothing to do with the budget and said it looks very good.
Mr. Ferebee gave a brief library update.
He said work on the outside wall was going to be started on Monday by a local contractor.
He said he would like to see everything finished and the library open by the end of December.
Donna Bramer said there has been issues in getting her office relocated, she said she is in the process of getting her phone line moved to her new location at the community center.
Resolution No. 214 – 11
Mr. Jaques offered a resolution and moved its adoption. Be it resolved, that with all business having been transacted, this meeting be adjourned. This resolution was seconded by Mr. Biesemeyer.
Roll Call Vote:
Mr. Ferebee: Yes
Mr. Martin: Yes
Mr. Biesemeyer: Yes
Ms. Neville: Yes
Mr. Jaques: Yes
Ellen S. Estes, Town Clerk
November 18, 2011
William B. Ferebee, Supervisor
Paul R. Martin, Councilperson
Robert M. Biesemeyer, Councilperson
Marcy A. Neville, Councilperson
Lawrence Jaques, Councilperson