Regular Meeting – February 6, 2013

The regular meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Homer held in the board room of the Town Hall Building on Wednesday, February 6, 2013, was called to order by Supervisor Frederick J. Forbes at 6:30 p.m.

PRESENT

             Frederick J. Forbes, Supervisor

             Barry E. Warren, Councilman

             Dan A. Weddle, Councilman

             Kevin M. Williams, Councilman

            Brian D. Young, Councilman

             Patrick M. Snyder, Attorney for the Town

            John R. Phelps, Highway Superintendent

            Anita W. Jebbett, Town Clerk

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

MINUTES

            The minutes of the January 2^nd organizational meeting and the January 9^th special meeting were approved as presented, on motion by Councilman Warren, seconded by Councilman Young and carried unanimously.

MONTHLY REPORTS

            Presented for audit by the Board:

1. The Town Clerk’s report of all cash receipts & disbursements for January.
2. The Code Enforcement Officer’s report of building permits issued in January.
3. The Dog Control Officer’s reports of all activities for December and January.
4. The Supervisor’s report of all cash receipts & disbursements for December.

BILLS TO BE PAID

            General bills were approved as audited on motion by Councilman Williams, seconded by Councilman Warren and carried unanimously:  RESOLVED: that General Fund vouchers #5 through #29 totaling $13,679.97 be approved for payment.

            Highway bills were approved as audited on motion by Councilman Young, seconded by Councilman Weddle and carried unanimously:  RESOLVED: that Highway Fund vouchers #2 through #21 totaling $22,424.90 be approved for payment.

OLD BUSINESS

            Farmland Protection Plan – On motion by Councilman Warren, seconded by Councilman Young and carried unanimously:  RESOLVED:  that the Homer Town

Board hereby approves of the “Towns of Homer, Preble & Scott Agriculture and

Farmland Protection Plan”, as developed by the Towns of Homer, Preble & Scott Agriculture and Farmland Protection Plan Steering Committee, with assistance from American Farmland Trust, and that it be submitted to the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets for review and final approval.

            Proposed wind farm project – There was much discussion about the current status of the wind farm proposed by TCI Renewables and decisions that the Towns involved will need to make.

            Winterfest fireworks permit – On motion by Councilman Young, seconded by Councilman Weddle and carried unanimously:  RESOLVED:  that the Town of Homer hereby waives the $50 fee for the Fireworks Permit issued by the Town’s Acting Code Enforcement Officer for the Homer Winterfest fireworks display.

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NEW BUSINESS

            Handicapped parking permits – Town Clerk Jebbett noted the increase in the number of handicapped parking permits issued since the Town first started issuing them in 2008, from 10 the first year to 64 in 2012.

            Zoning Advisory Committee – Supervisor Forbes responded to Gary Smith’s request on behalf of MICAH at the January meeting for him to re-join the Advisory Committee.  He said that after considering the request, he had decided not to do so.  Forbes said that the current committee is working well and on a good track.  Forbes thanked MICAH for their request.

            Budget transfers – On motion by Councilman Williams, seconded by Councilman Young and carried unanimously:  RESOLVED:  that the Town Board hereby approves of the proposed budget transfers for the 2012 Town budget as per attached.

HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT

            Highway Superintendent Phelps reported on his crew’s activities over the past month.  He also reported on the status of the trucks sold at auction.

            Phelps said that the used truck to be purchased by the Town from the Town of Cazenovia should be available in March.

ATTORNEY FOR THE TOWN

             Supervisor Forbes was asked to sign an agreement between the  Homer Central School District, the County and the Town of Homer that had been authorized at the January 2^nd  Town Board meeting to split the cost of proceeding with an assessment lawsuit over the Donald Barber Funeral Home.

            Snyder reported on the status of the Zoning Advisory Committee on hydrofracking which he believes will be completing their work in a month or two.  They will be proposing changes to the Town’s Zoning Law.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m.

                                                                                                Anita W. Jebbett

                                                                                                Town Clerk

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