Granby Town Board Regular Monthly Meeting
May 13, 2009 DRAFT
7:00 P.M.
Supervisor Williamson called the meeting to order leading those present in the salute to the flag.
Present for the roll call: Supervisor Ed Williamson and Councilors: Sue Richardson and Matt Callen. Councilor Ellen Nowyj joined the meeting at about 7:12. Councilor Carol Abbott was excused. Also present: Highway Superintendent Lynn Moyer; Deputy Supervisor Joe Cortini; Budget Director Bob Lyman; 12 residents and guests.
A motion was made by Councilor Richardson, seconded by Councilor Callen to dispense with the reading of the minutes of April 8 and 22 and accept them as written. Passed unanimously.
Public Comment
Cheryl Holmes informed the Board that, due to a lengthy trip, many cars from the Senior Citizens Club were parked in the Community Center parking lot on May 3rd, the day of the Republican Committee spaghetti dinner fund raiser. She felt that the Committee should not have to pay the full $150 rental fee since many prime parking places were taken and some people had to walk a distance to get into the building.
A motion was made Supervisor Williamson, seconded by Councilor Callen to approve a refund of $50 to the Republican Committee for the inconvenience caused by extra cars in the Community Center parking lot.
Councilor Richardson aye Councilor Callen aye
Supervisor Williamson aye
William Felicita spoke regarding the excessive noise and dust from the 4 wheeler race track in his neighborhood. The vehicles have had the mufflers removed and are very noisy. He quoted from the Granby Zoning Ordinance that the ordinance was enacted in part to: "assure privacy for residences and freedom from nuisances and things harmful to the senses; to protect the community against ...noisome land uses and operations." Supervisor Williamson assured Mr. Felicita that the DEC had looked into the dust problem. Also, the Granby Codes Department will issue a ticket to the owners based on the above quoted section of the Zoning Ordinance. Mr. Felicita is welcome to come to court the night the Gilmores are to appear and may be able to express his concerns.
Helga Blake also spoke regarding the 4 wheelers and the excessive noise. She lives across the street from the racetrack and is extremely distressed by the noise. She cannot open her windows or enjoy the outdoors when the machines are racing. She holds Granby responsible for resolving the situation. Mrs. Blake was also invited to come to court the night the Gilmores are to appear to express her concerns.
Brenda Frazier-Hartle expressed her frustration regarding the racetrack. She noted that another neighbor has built a racetrack so she has the noise on both sides. She quoted a state law which states that no one can change the stock way a vehicle is built. In other words, they are not to be altered by removing the mufflers. She called a codes officer when the noise level was high but he could not come. She felt that a Codes Officer should be available outside of their regular hours. A State Police Officer stopped but the noise had ended by the time he came.
Communications and Announcements
The Town has still not received the check for $28,000.00 from the NYS Unified Court System for the addition on the building to house court records. A reminder letter has been sent to Judge Gideon requesting the payment.
A letter dated 5/4/09 has been received from NYMIR stating that the Theft & Fraud Prevention fee on each Town vehicle has been increased by State mandate from $5.00 to $10.00.
The NYS Assembly & Senate Judiciary Committees are currently considering bills #A5899 & #S4091 calling for Town Justices to be Lawyer Judges. If the bills come out of committee and are passed by the State Congress, it would mean less revenue for Oswego County Towns since there is presently only one Lawyer Judge in the County. Supervisor Williamson asked that people call their state Representatives and ask them to vote no on these bills.
The EFC in Albany has approved the cost of relocation of one meter pit on Joey K Lane. Two meter pits had been installed on one property.
The Granby salt dome has had the steel framing straightened, re-cabled and the new cover is in place. It has been recommended that the concrete be coated both inside and outside with a special concrete coating due to pock marks in the existing concrete. This will prevent further damage by salt on the inside or weather on the outside.
A tour of the 3 main cemeteries in Granby has been made and it was found that brush, poison ivy and a fallen tree is a problem in each. The Highway Department will work on this. Research will be done to see if there are records existing showing cemetery boundaries for the Granby Center Cemetery. There appears to be no road access to that cemetery.
Approval has been received from the DEC for Sam Puglia's mining permit.
Old Business
At the April 8, 2009 Town Board Meeting the Board agreed to have the Planning Board review the request by James Best to rezone a portion of his property on Harold Drive, tax map #234.00-01-05.07, from CIT to Agricultural. The rezoning would then allow Mr. Best to sell a portion of his land to the Adventist Church to build a new church complex. A church cannot be built in a CIT zone. The Planning Board has now returned the issue to the Town Board for a Public Hearing on the rezoning.
A motion was made by Councilor Richardson, seconded by Councilor Callen to hold a Public Hearing on May 27, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. to hear comments on the rezoning of the property on Harold Dr. tax map #234.00-01-05.07 from CIT to Agricultural.
Councilor Richardson aye Councilor Nowyj aye
Councilor Callen aye Supervisor Williamson aye
Supervisor Williamson and Highway Superintendent Moyer recommend that the Zoning Ordinance should consistently state that frontline setbacks should be 50 feet from the road edge as indicated in the density schedule on page 12. Since road widths and right of ways vary in size, this would be the easiest way of measuring the setback.
New Business
The Town Clerk has requested that a new dog census be taken this spring and summer. This will help remind residents that licensing dogs 4 months of age and older is the law.
A motion was made Councilor Nowyj, seconded by Supervisor Williamson to transfer $3,500.00 from account #A1990.400 to the Town Clerk's contractual account #1410.400 for the purpose of conducting a 2009 Dog Census.
Councilor Richardson aye Councilor Nowyj aye
Councilor Callen aye Supervisor Williamson aye
Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Duncan have hired an attorney to assist them regarding an existing problem of the location of their underground fuel tanks and an above ground kerosene tank on their property at Bowens Corners adjacent to Mr. Ralph Hubbard's property. Their third request for a variance was denied by the Zoning Board of Appeals at the March 24, 2009 meeting.
Mr. Tim Relyea has attained a permit to drill a well for divided property on Russell Rd. However, because the subdivision has not gone before the Planning Board for approval, well drilling cannot proceed at this time.
Reports from Departments & Committees
Dog Control Officer: 32 complaints; 1 dog picked up; 1 on hand.
Historian: a planned event was cancelled due to lack of response. Pictures will be taken of old brick homes in the Town of Granby and displayed at the Oswego County Fair.
Zoning Board of Appeals: has approved the variance request for an addition on the home of Mr.& Mrs. Blair Summerville.
Town Clerk/Tax Collector: announced that some changes will take place when sales for the new hunting license season opens. People will not be considered seniors until age 70. From age 65 to 69 they will have to pay the regular new price of $47 for a sportsman license as well as $10 for a doe permit. At age 70 the senior sportsman will be $10 plus $10 for a doe permit. Mrs. Sheldon recommended that hunters ages 65 to 69 purchase a lifetime sportsman license now for $50./ With the dog census taking place, the cost of an original dog license will be $5.00 more after June 1st as mandated by the State to help offset the cost of the census./ Thunder Island is renewing their liquor license.
Youth Director: the youth will have a bowling/pizza party at Lakeview Lanes on May 16th./ Ms Dumas is finding that she gets a better response to outings by emailing the families./ The summer schedule of events is being worked on.
Highway Superintendent: Lynn Moyer related the April activities of the Highway Department which included cutting brush, hauling stone and sweeping roads./ The Department is now on its 4 day 10 hours/day work schedule./ The new dome on the salt storage building is looking very good./ The 1976 Dodge pickup is now open for bid on auctionsinternational.com until May 27, 2009./ There are a couple of bridges in Granby that need work, one on Honey Hill Rd and one on Old State Rd. The one on Old State Rd may be wide enough for it to become a County bridge.
Codes Enforcement/Zoning: 28 permits were issued and 110 inspections were done in April.
Cemeteries: flags have been ordered for veterans' graves and for the flag poles. Deeds are needed but there seems to be none for Granby Center Cemetery.
Justices: 41 old unanswered vehicle and traffic tickets from Judge Winkworth have been sent to the State for follow-up. There are 13 more to be sent. About 150 very old tickets from former Justice Donald Keeney have been found which may have to be dismissed. The Court is awaiting further direction from the State Resource Center.
Planning Board: will be reviewing the Granby Comprehensive Plan.
Payment of Town Bills
A motion was made by Councilor Richardson, seconded by Councilor Callen to approve payment of Town bills as audited for abstract #9 as follows: $33,836.62 from General Fund; $18,790.6f3 from Highway Fund; $8,643.13 from Water District #3.
Councilor Richardson aye Councilor Nowyj aye
Councilor Callen aye Supervisor Williamson aye
Dates of Next Meetings
May 27, 2009 @ 6:00 p.m. Preparatory Work Session & Public Hearing @ 7:00 p.m.
June 10, 2009 @ 7:00 Regular Monthly Board Meeting
Adjournment
A motion was made by Councilor Callen, seconded by Supervisor Williamson to adjourn the meeting. Passed unanimously. Time: 8:00 p.m.
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Town Clerk
