Regular Meeting – September 3, 2014
The regular meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Homer held on Wednesday, September 3, 2014, in the Senior Center of the Town Hall building was called to order by Supervisor Frederick J. Forbes at 7:50 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
Anita W. Jebbett, Town Clerk
OTHERS PRESENT
William Foley, Town Justice
Martin Sweeney, Town Historian
Dan Quinlan, resident
Gordon Wheelock, County Legislator
Linda Jones, resident & candidate for County Legislator
Larry Jones, resident
Other interested citizens
MINUTES
The minutes of the August 6th, 2014, regular meeting were approved as presented, on motion by Councilman Weddle, seconded by Councilman Young and carried unanimously.
MONTHLY REPORTS
Presented for audit by the Board were:
- The Town Clerk’s report of all cash receipts & disbursements for August.
- The Code Enforcement Officer’s report of all building permits issued for August.
- The Dog Control Officer’s report of all activities for the month of July.
BILLS TO BE PAID
General bills were approved as audited on motion by Councilman Warren, seconded by Councilman Weddle and carried unanimously: RESOLVED: that General Fund vouchers #186 through #205 totaling $37,230.59 be approved for payment.
Highway bills were approved as audited on motion by Councilman Young, seconded by Councilman Williams and carried unanimously: RESOLVED: that Highway Fund vouchers #124 through #141 totaling $50,944.47 be approved for payment.
PROPOSED MORATORIUM ON GAS DRILLING
Supervisor Forbes reported that the Town Planning Board has unanimously recommended that the Town Board hold off on passing new zoning regulations regarding gas drilling. However, members Chad Butts and Eugene Wright, also members of the Zoning Advisory Committee, were not present at that meeting.
Forbes also reported that the Cortland County Planning Board has reviewed the proposed moratorium and has voted 9, 0, 1 to recommend its adoption.
He stated that unless there are changes to the wording of the proposed moratorium, the Town Board will be voting on it at the October meeting.
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OLD BUSINESS
Change in liability insurance coverage – Supervisor Forbes read a letter from the Bailey Place Agency thanking the Town for placing their insurance coverage with them.
Changing speed limit on Route 281 – Forbes reported that he has received a response from the NYS DOT stating that they will review the speed limit request and get back to the Town.
Sunset-Young Farm special permit – A site plan review by the Planning Board of the SunsetYoung Farm’s plan to remove a knoll and to return the land to farmland has settled a controversy regarding this matter and resulted in the granting of a special use permit.
On motion by Supervisor Forbes, seconded by Councilman Young and carried unanimously: RESOLVED: that the fee for a site plan review by the Planning Board will be $100, including a fee of $50 for the application and $50 for the public hearing.
Homer statuary proposal – There was much discussion about the presentation by Town Historian Martin Sweeney at the last meeting to incorporate his proposal for statuary honoring Homer residents Francis B. Carpenter, William O. Stoddard, and Eli DeVoe into the façade of the Homer Town
Hall.
Councilman Warren asked Attorney Snyder to prepare a resolution for the October meeting whereby a committee of three – Sweeney, David Quinlan & Stephanie Spina – would be appointed to apply for grants and other funding for the project as well as determine what form it would take.
NEW BUSINESS
Tentative budget for 2015 – Supervisor Forbes said that the tentative budget would be presented at the October 8th regular Town Board meeting. A budget workshop may be scheduled after that meeting.
Justice Court grant application – Town Justice William Foley was present to ask the Town Board for a resolution approving his application for $2,031.44 in assistance from the Office of Court Administration. He explained the items needed that he hoped could be covered by the grant: $1,600 to add an additional user to the Court software program so that more than one person could be working on the program at the same time; $125 for two bar code scanners to expedite the processing of tickets; $99 for a software fee for a program called “DMV Call” in order to obtain driver abstracts; and $82.44 for an updated phone system.
On motion by Councilman Warren, seconded by Councilman Young and carried unanimously:
RESOLVED: that the Homer Town Board hereby approves the 2014 grant application prepared by
Town Justice William Foley for assistance from the State of New York Justice Court Assistance Program (JCAP), with the understanding that the funding is being sought to enhance the Homer Justice Court’s ability to provide suitable and sufficient service to our community through proper court facilities, automated equipment and necessary supplies for operation.
Housing rehabilitation grant – Supervisor Forbes said that he will ask Thoma Development Consultants to make a presentation on housing rehabilitation grants at either the November or December Town Board meeting in response to interest of the Town Board in trying again for a grant.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
Anita W. Jebbett
Town Clerk
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