A regular meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Busti was held on February 2, 2015 at 6:45 p.m., at the Town of Busti Administration Building, 125 Chautauqua Avenue, Lakewood, New York with the following members present:
Supervisor Jesse M. Robbins Councilman Richard B. Thor Councilman Brett A. Mucheck Councilman Todd M. Hanson Councilman Kenneth J. Lawton
Supervisor Robbins called the meeting to order with the salute to the flag and a moment of silence was observed.
Present at the meeting were: Highway Superintendent Melvin J. Peterson, Lakewood Busti Police Chief John Bentley, Deputy Town Clerk Susan Huffman, Legislator P.J. Wendel, Post Journal Reporter Mallory Diefenbach, Busti Fire Department Chief Mike Volpe, Lakewood Fire Department President Jack Knowlton, and Rudy Mueller.
Legislator P.J. Wendel reported the Environmental Sub-Committee will be meeting again; things have been put on hold until there is a clarification regarding septic tanks. A new county committee has been formed known as the Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee. This committee is looking at the issue of the county jail being at full capacity and alternatives of incarceration because of the jail issue. A Charter Review Committee, a bi-partisan committee, is discussing extending terms from two to four years and term of office.
Town Clerk Nygren reported that 2015 County Town collection is in progress; to date $2,268,739.76 has been collected leaving a balance of $4,675,239.10 in outstanding taxes. Tint Press is beginning to work on the town’s new website design.
Chief Bentley reported 877 incidents year to date. The department recently hired two part-time officers. He addressed the issue of the jail, noting that the state would like to change the definition of juvenile to anyone under the age eighteen rather than sixteen. At this time there is only one place in the state that juveniles can be incarcerated and none being built. If the juvenile age is changed it could increase the cost of incarceration by 30%.
Highway Superintendent Melvin Peterson reported that the department is busy dealing with the weather; crews were called out on Sunday to plow. They are also trying to get the snow on the sides of the roads pushed back. The new truck is almost finished, it has to go to Buffalo to be programmed to have a light switch installed.
Busti Fire Department Chief Michael Volpe reported 42 incidents for the month of January. Both Busti and Lakewood departments are experiencing man power deficiencies between the hours of 6 a.m. and 4 p.m. The two chiefs have discussed how to remedy the problem and will have both departments dispatched on emergency medical calls during those hours. When a department responds to a call outside their district they are bringing a support vehicle with man power EMTs.
Lakewood Fire Department President Jack Knowlton reported 67 incidents year to date.
Town Clerk Darlene Nygren will post in the Post Journal that the town is accepting applications for Town Board members, the applications will be given to the appropriate political party for review and also that the town is seeking residents interested in serving on the Planning and Zoning Boards, which both currently have vacancies, anyone interested should contact Supervisor Jesse Robbins.
Supervisor Robbins moved the following resolution which was duly seconded by Councilman Thor:
RESOLVED, to accept the amended Assessor Agreement with the Town of Ellery. The change in
the agreement is reducing the term of the agreement from one year to six months commencing January 1, 2015 and continuing to July 30, 2015 and reducing the total sum from $15,750.00 to $7,875.00. Upon roll call vote, all aye.
Supervisor Robbins moved the following resolution which was duly seconded by Councilman Mucheck:
RESOLVED, Town Clerk Nygren be authorized to apply for the 2015 Local Government
Records Management Improvement Fund grant. Upon roll call vote, all aye.
Supervisor Robbins moved the following motion which was duly seconded by Councilman Lawton:
RESOLVED, that Supervisor Robbins be authorized and directed to pay the presented General Fund, Highway Fund, and the Joint Recreation Fund for Abstract No. 31 from warrant #1027 to and including warrant #1039 in the amount of $21,396.98 and Abstract No. 3 from warrant #25 to and including warrant #68 in the amount of $85,244.25.
Upon roll call vote, all aye.
Supervisor Robbins moved to accept the town board minutes of January 20, 2015. All aye.
Councilman Mucheck reported that the Comprehensive Plan Implementation Committee meeting scheduled for Tuesday, February 3rd was canceled by Don McCord and the next meeting date has not been set.
Councilman Thor reported that he and Councilman Lawton met with NYMIR Risk Management Specialist, Tim Randall to discuss the town’s recreational programs and to minimize the risk and liability that the town is under with the programs that it endorses or provides to the community. There may be a need to develop new policies and procedures that would reduce that risk. The next step will probably be consulting with the town attorney. Councilman Lawton added that there was a need of the classification and clarification of the protocol for those using the town facilities or properties. Councilman Thor noted that he attended online training through NYMIR, receiving certificates of completion and that the various training is available to any town employee that may be interested.
Councilman Hanson reported that the Town Justices, Court Clerk and Town Clerk will be submitting lists regarding enhancements that still need completed at 125 Chautauqua Avenue. He will be assisting Town Clerk Nygren with the grant application and the space needed for Records Management.
Councilman Lawton reported that Bike Trail committee is completing a real estate evaluation and looking at alternative locations for the bike trail route. The committee recently met with the DOT and discussed what could be done to improve next year’s application and they suggested that real estate was an area of improvement. The committee will continue to work with the railroad and see what options are available.
Supervisor Robbins noted that the Tuesday, February 17th Town Board meeting will be held at the Town
Highway Building, 3646 Lawson Road, Jamestown at 6:45 p.m.
Supervisor Robbins moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:10 p.m.
Respectively Submitted by:
Darlene H. Nygren, Town Clerk