REGULAR MEETING
May 15, 2017
A regular meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Busti was held on Monday, May 15, 2017 at 6:45 p.m., at the Town of Busti, Town Administration Building, 125 Chautauqua Avenue, Lakewood, New York with the following members present:
Supervisor Jesse M. Robbins
Councilman Jim Andrews
Councilman Kenneth Lawton
Councilman Rudy Mueller
Absent – Councilman Todd Hanson
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 Peterson, Lakewood Busti Police Chief John Bentley, Mary Griffin, and AJ Rao – Post Journal.
Town Clerk Darlene Nygren reported she, Deputy Town Clerk Susan Huffman, Court Clerk Elizabeth Davis, Deputy Court Clerk Nancy Jordan, and Code Enforcement Officer Jeffrey Swanson attended Southern Tier West Local Government Conference last Wednesday, May 10th. Also, the Town Clerk office is preparing to send out Transfer Station renewal notices the first week of June.
Lakewood Busti Police Department Chief John Bentley reported 3,650 incidents year to date, 755 incidents since the April 17th board meeting. The department’s canine unit has assisted the Jamestown Police Department, looking for guns. Chief Bentley attended a Traffic Safety Committee meeting and there was a conversation of allowing 53’ trailers to be permitted to use Busti Stillwater Road to travel from Falconer to Pennsylvania. Chief Bentley will contact the DOT and request the road to be designated as an access road.
Highway Superintendent Melvin Peterson reported the Highway Department worked with the County and Village of Lakewood on the sediment pond located on Shadyside Road. A total of 320 yards of sediment was removed. The pond was installed to prevent the sediment from entering the lake and is cleaned out every few years. The department has begun patching pot holes, roadside mowing, and has finished ditching. The town has recently signed an agreement with National Grid which allows flags to be placed on National Grid poles from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The Town of Busti, Village of Lakewood, and Town of Kiantone have discussed purchasing an older bucket truck at the cost of $5,400 which would be split three ways. The 2003 track hoe sold through Auctions International for $25,100 by Greg Lepley.
The town board discussed the proposals for internet service for the Administration Building. Windstream recommends the town change to a “Dedicated Line” 10Mb x 10Mb to eliminate the internet breaks in service. The cost would be $230 per month, an increase of approximately $130 per month from the current internet service. DFT Communications presented a quote of $74.95 for 60Mb x 10Mb dedicated fiber + $6.95 per month for Asus Router and $179.94 per month for 6 Advantage Phone Lines which includes long distance and caller ID, there would be a one-time Fiber Install Fee of $195.95. DFT verbally stated they would like a three-year commitment due to the fact of the cost of installation above the $195.95. Spectrum verbally quoted for a 25Mb x 25Mb Fiber Network in the amount of $399 per month with a three-year commitment. Discussion followed.
Councilman Mueller moved the following resolution which was duly moved by Councilman Andrews:
RESOLVED, the Town of Busti accept the quote of $230 per month from Windstream for a 10Mb x 10Mb Dedicated Internet Line and evaluate the service after six months. If the dedicated line does not correct the internet issue, the town should request quotes again from DFT and Spectrum.
Upon roll call vote, all aye, carried.
Supervisor Robbins noted that in June 2016 the board voted to participate in Efforts to fund a Village of Lakewood/ Town of Busti Storm Water Management Study. The town committed to providing $5,000 towards the required local match in cash and/or in-kind services. Councilman Andrews noted he and Highway Superintendent Peterson recently met with Randall Perry, Project Manager, Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Management Alliance; Mr. Perry had stated that it would be more beneficial to the project for the town to provide the $5,000 in form of a check rather than in-kind services. The funds should be paid to the Village of Lakewood, the primary grant applicant, after June 5th. Discussion followed. The board asked Town Clerk Nygren to contact Village of Lakewood Treasurer and request to have the Village create an invoice for the $5,000 stating what work expense the funds will be applied to.
Supervisor Robbins noted Swan Painting will begin the painting project at 125 Chautauqua Avenue this week. There are areas where the “boiler room” was removed that need repair or block replacement.
Supervisor Robbins moved the following resolution which was duly moved by Councilman Mueller:
RESOLVED, Supervisor Robbins be authorized to hire Johnson & Johnson Contractors to repair the cement blocks in the rear of 125 Chautauqua Avenue building.
Upon roll call vote, all aye, carried.
Supervisor Robbins shared that Governor Cuomo’s office had contacted him to announce that Southern Tier Brewing Company was one of five breweries selected in a statewide public poll to compete in “Taste NY” Craft Beer Challenge on May 17th in New York City.
Former Highway Superintendent Gene Johnson contacted Supervisor Robbins regarding the where the plaque acknowledging his retirement and years of service is. The plaque had been displayed at 121 Chautauqua Avenue office but has not been placed anywhere at this point since moving to 125 Chautauqua Avenue. Highway Superintendent Peterson will contact Mr. Johnson and ask if he would be happy to see it displayed at the Town Highway Building.
Supervisor Robbins reported he and Town Clerk Nygren attended NYS Department of State and Local Government Leaders “County-Wide Shared Services Initiative” informational meeting on May 4th. Mr. Robbins also attended the first County Shared Service Panel meeting on Tuesday, May 9th. The recently adopted law requires the panel to submit the Shared Services Plan to the County Legislature by August 1, 2017. Supervisor Robbins noted Paul Bishop, CGR representative, will be coming to the area to visit both Town of Busti Administration Building, 125 Chautauqua Avenue, Lakewood and the Anthony Caprino Building, 20 W. Summit Street, Lakewood.
Supervisor Robbins noted he; Councilmen Andrews, Mueller, and Lawton; and Town Clerk Nygren attended the Town Hall meeting held by Congressman Tom Reed on Saturday, May 6th. The board discussed sending a letter to Congressman Reed thanking him for conducting the meeting; apologize for the distraction from the issues; and invite him to return to the Town of Busti. Councilman Lawton volunteered to write the letter and will distribute it to the board for their review.
Supervisor Robbins moved the following resolution which was duly moved by Councilman Andrews:
RESOLVED, that Supervisor Robbins be authorized and directed to pay the presented General Fund, Highway Fund, and the Joint Recreation Fund for Abstract No. 7 from warrant #258 to and including warrant #290 in the amount of $96,138.53.
Upon roll call vote, all aye, carried.
Supervisor Robbins moved to accept the May 1, 2017 Town Board minutes from the regular meeting with the changes discussed which was duly moved by Councilman Mueller.
All in favor, carried.
Councilman Andrews reported he attended the Chautauqua Lake & Watershed Management Alliance meeting May 11, 2017. Engineering proposals are due May 24, 2017 at 4:30 p.m., the Alliance is anticipating receiving five proposals and will begin the reviewing process May 25th and designate the Project Engineer by June 19, 2017.
Supervisor Robbins reported the NYSERDA grant application was submitted electronically on May 8, 2017 and NYSERDA confirmed the application was received. The grant submission is being reviewed by NYSERDA’s scoring committee. The town will be notified by email in the next few weeks whether the project is approved, or if it needs to be revised and resubmitted. If the project needs to be revised, the town will have an opportunity to request a debrief to better understand the reasons why it needs to be revised.
Supervisor Robbins motioned to adjourn the meeting at 7:29 p.m., which was duly moved by Councilman Lawton.
All in favor, carried.
Respectfully Submitted,
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Darlene H. Nygren, Town Clerk