Village of New Berlin
Minutes of January 13, 2015
The regular monthly meeting for the Village of New Berlin was
called to order at 6:30 PM by Mayor, Terry Potter
CALL TO ORDER
Members Present:
ATTENDANCE
Terry Potter, Mayor Carol Riley, Trustee
Michael Conroe, Trustee
Amy Hoxie, Trustee
Joe Miller, Trustee
Members Absent:
Others Present: Ken Wiggins, Barry Jacobs, Pat Gifford, Gary
Bundy and Brian Skidmore.
REGULAR MEETING
PUBLIC CONCERNS
PUBLIC CONCERNS
No public concerns were brought to the meeting this month.
PUBLIC HEARING
PUBLIC HEARING
A Public Hearing was held for Local Law #1 of 2015, which reads as
follows...
Local Law No. 1 of the year 2015
Village of New Berlin, County of Chenango
A local law authorizing a property tax levy in excess of
the limit established in General Municipal Law §3-c
Section 1. Legislative Intent
It is the intent of this local law to allow the Village of New
Berlin to adopt a budget for the fiscal year commencing June
1, 2015 that requires a real property tax levy in excess of the
“tax levy limit” as defined by General Municipal Law § 3-c.
Section 2. Authority
This local law is adopted pursuant to subdivision 5 of General
Municipal Law §3-c, which expressly authorizes a local
LOCAL LAW #1, 2015
government’s governing body to override the property tax cap
for the coming fiscal year by the adoption of a local law
approved by a vote of sixty percent (60%) of said governing
body.
Section 3. Tax Levy Limit Override
The Board of Trustees of the Village of New Berlin, County of
Chenango, is hereby authorized to adopt a budget for the
fiscal year commencing June 1, 2015 that requires a real
property tax levy in excess of the amount otherwise
prescribed in General Municipal Law §3-c.
Section 4. Severability
If a court determines that any clause, sentence, paragraph,
subdivision, or part of this local law or the application thereof
to any person, firm or corporation, or circumstance is invalid
or unconstitutional, the court’s order or judgment shall not
affect, impair, or invalidate the remainder of this local law, but
shall be confined in its operation to the clause, sentence,
paragraph, subdivision, or part of this local law or in its
application to the person, individual, firm or corporation or
circumstance, directly involved in the controversy in which
such judgment or order shall be rendered.
Section 5. Effective date
This local law shall take effect immediately upon filing with
the Secretary of State.
There were no concerns regarding Local Law #1 of 2015 brought
by the public.
Carol Riley made a motion to file Local Law #1 with the Secretary
of State. Mike Conroe seconded the motion. VOTE: Miller - yes,
Riley - yes, Conroe - yes, Hoxie - yes. APPROVED
FIRE DEPARTMENT
Barry Jacobs gave the Fire Department report. There are five new
firefighters certified for air packs. There are 17 air pack personnel
on the Fire Department now, which is the most in the county. The
Fire Department responded to 5 calls for the month. They have
responded to 81 for the year.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
EMS REPORT
EMS REPORT
EMS report was submitted. Call volume for the month of
December was below average with 43 total calls, 27 billable calls.
The ambulance is in need of an exhaust system "clean out", they
are in the process of receiving quotes to perform the work.
MINUTES
Minutes of the December meeting were approved on motion by
Amy Hoxie, seconded by Joe Miller. VOTE: Miller - yes, Riley - yes,
Conroe - yes, Hoxie - yes. APPROVED
PRIOR MINUTES
OLD BUSNESS
OLD BUSINESS
Carol Riley made a motion to approve the changes made to amend
the employee policy manual for changes made during 2014, Mike
Conroe seconded the motion. VOTE: Miller - yes, Riley - yes,
Conroe - yes, Hoxie - yes. APPROVED
POLICY MANUAL
The board reviewed a proposal to update the phone system in the
village office. The current phone is 30 years old and is being
leased. The proposal under review is for the purchase and
installation of a new phone that would eliminate lease fees. The
board tabled the discussion until the next budget year.
PHONE SYSTEM
Brian Skidmore was in attendance to update the Board with
preliminary maps and costs estimates for the sewer study of
several collection system alternatives. They are reviewing
alternative locations for locating a waste water treatment plant as
well as several pumping alternatives and the feasibility of servicing
the entire village versus just the commercial district. He will bring
treatment costs and recommendations to the next board meeting.
He does not anticipate having feedback from the funding agencies
prior to the next board meeting.
SEWER STUDY
NEW BUSINESS
Carol Riley made a motion to adopt the Chenango County
Registration rolls for the Village Elections and providing that there
will not be a Village Registration Day for the March Election. Amy
Hoxie seconded the motion. VOTE: Miller - yes, Riley - yes,
Conroe - yes, Hoxie - yes. APPROVED
ELECTION
Mayor Potter appointed Barbara Avery and Marian Wellner to
election inspectors. This was approved on motion by Carol Riley,
seconded by Mike Conroe. VOTE: Riley - yes, Conroe - yes, Hoxie yes, Miller - yes. APPROVED
The Village DPW purchased a truck from the fire department last
year, the first installment of two payments will be made in May
2015 in the amount of $2,000. The lettering on the truck was
questioned as it has the numbers 811 on it. Gary Bundy explained
that it is not a fire related number but that it is the number used
for Dig Safely.
DPW TRUCK
The Board discussed the cell phones that are paid for by the
Village. Currently there are 6 plans on the line. The board would
like to cut this to 3 plans. Discussion was tabled until further
pricing options can be obtained to determine the most cost
effective plan for the Village.
EMS CELL PHONES
Carol Riley made a motion to sign an Undertaking agreement with
the NYS DOT. Amy Hoxie seconded the motion. VOTE: Riley - yes,
Conroe - yes, Hoxie - yes, Miller - yes. APPROVED
UNDERTAKING AGREEMENT
The printer in the office stopped working. 2 SCAB masks spoiled
while on a mutual aid call in Pittsfield. Pittsfield Fire Department
has replaced the two masks. There is a computer in the Fire
Department that is no longer working properly. Amy Hoxie made a
motion to declare the printer, the SCAB masks and the Computer
junk, computer being scrubbed of data prior to disposal. Carol
Riley seconded the motion. VOTE: Miller - yes, Riley - yes, Conroe yes, Hoxie - yes. APPROVED
DECLARATION OF JUNK
The Village Clerk has been approached on several occasions asking
if she was a Notary. The board discussed sending her to a class and
paying the exam and application fee for her to become a Notary
Public so that the service can be extended to Village residents. The
board was in agreement that Kelly Anderson should take the
Notary Class and exam at the Village's expense, she will be
reimbursed for her time and mileage.
NOTARY CLASS
Several headstones have been pushed over in Fairview Cemetery
in recent months. The police have been notified and are
monitoring the cemetery. Joe Miller and Ken Wiggins have offered
CEMETARY
the use of their trail cameras to assist the police in apprehending
the person or persons who have been doing this.
The CD Loan Committee and Planning Board are in need of
potential candidates. Any interested residents should contact the
Village office.
CANDIDATES NEEDED
The board discussed a letter received from a Village Resident
would like a "Dead End Street" sign placed at the entrance to
Willow Lane trailer park. As this is private property, the resident
can place the sign on the property, however it cannot be funded
by the Village.
STREET SIGN
Amy Hoxie provided the board with an update on the tree grants,
although the tree inventory grant and the arbor day grant have
been approved, we are still awaiting funds from NYS.
COMMISSIONER REPORTS
The Easter egg hunt will be held on April 4th, the honor's society
will stuff the eggs again this year.
The Young Child Festival will be held in the Firehouse on April 11,
2015.
Carol Riley made a motion to approve the abstracts and treasurers
reports. Mike Conroe seconded the motion. VOTE: Miller - yes,
Riley - yes, Conroe - yes, Hoxie - yes. APPROVED
ABSTRACT AND TREAS
REPORTS
Adjourned at 7:57 PM - Kelly Anderson, Village Clerk and Treasurer
ADJORN