TOWN OF STAFFORD TOWN BOARD MEETING
NOVEMBER 14, 2022
The Town of Stafford Board Meeting was called to order by Supervisor Clement leading the Pledge of Allegiance at 8:00pm. In attendance were Councilmen Ronald Panek, Councilman James Duyssen, Councilman Robert Pacer, Councilman Edmund Schramm was absent. Also in attendance were Highway Superintendent Steven Boldt and Town Clerk Barbara Radley.
Attending also were Phyllis Darling, Carolyn Casper, James Call, Cathy and Dale Worthington, Joshua Casper, Crystal Casper, Patrick Casper, Don and Barb Mullen, Andrew Darling, Gary Snell, Eric Wiess, Bob Marcseill, Howard Owens, Gerry Wood.
Councilman Panek made a motion to accept the Financial Report, second by Councilman Duyssen and approved on a 4-0 vote with one Councilman absent.
Councilman Panek made a motion to accept the October 10, 2022, Meeting Minutes, second by Councilman Pacer and approved on a 4-0 vote with one Councilman absent.
Councilman Pacer made a motion to accept the Fire Department Report, second by Councilman Panek and approved on a 4-0 vote with one Councilman absent.
Councilman Duyssen made a motion to accept the CEO/ZEO Report, second by Councilman Pacer and approved on a 4-0 vote with one Councilman absent.
Eric Wies spoke on Water District 12; good news was reported; New York State granted us a grant for $1,065,000.00. Municipal Solutions will take the next step to continue the project. A handout was given to the Board to show comparisons on pricing with PVC pipe. The Bids are kept open and so far, the contractors are willing to honor the quotes. The price per household is $944.12 currently. This may mean that it will be a new project and the Town Board may need a public hearing with an increased unit cost and a Permissive Referendum. The hope is to have the Bid awarded in January and the materials at this time look to be 6 months out. A unit definition update on the units and half units was given. Each family will be given a full unit and additional units are at .5. Past districts have .5 units assigned but that does not reflect on the tax rolls and will need to be looked at in the future.
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Councilman Pacer made a motion to accept Resolution 49, Authorizing Supervisor Clement to sign amendment to the USDA proposal, second by Councilman Duyssen and approved on a 4-0 vote with one Councilman absent.
Councilman Panek made a motion to approve Resolution 51, second by Councilman Duyssen and approved on a 4-0 vote with one Councilman absent.
The Emergency Management Service Recommendations were discussed. Councilman Panek met with the Fire Department to discuss what recommendations were of priority to the Fire Department and Town. The concerns were as follows: IV-6 Dispatch could improve customer service, VI-6 Support study for vulnerable classes of citizens, VI-11 Reactivate Genesee County EMS Council, IX-1 Standardized application process for new members, IX-5 Reward, Recognition and incentive program for high responders, IX-6 Partner with local businesses to allow responders not to pay a financial penalty, IX-7 Encouraging dual role municipal employees, IX-8 Municipalities give priority to responders when hiring, IX-9 First responders access to municipal health insurance (discussed retirement contribution as a lower cost option), IX-12 Scholarship program for first responders. Councilman Panek made a motion to adopt improvements for Emergency Services to be studied by Emergency Services Task Force, second by Councilman Duyssen and approved on a Roll Call vote as follows:
Councilman Panek yes
Councilman Schramm absent
Councilman Duyssen yes
Councilman Pacer yes
Supervisor Clement yes
Councilman made Pacer a motion to accept the 2023 Town Budget, second by Councilman Panek and approved on a Roll Call Vote as follows:
Councilman Panek yes
Councilman Schramm absent
Councilman Duyssen yes
Councilman Pacer yes
Supervisor Clement yes
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The applications for the position of CEO/ZEO were discussed along with the MEO and Recreation Committee. There were no applications received for the MEO position and no one expressed interest in joining a Recreation Committee. There were five applications for the Part Time CEO/ZEO position. It was decided to conduct interviews by the Town Board only on Monday, November 21, 2022, starting at 6:30pm. All applicants will be notified and invited to an interview.
Councilman Panek made a motion to accept Resolution 44 to Amend the Local Law No. 3 of 2007, second by Councilman Duyssen and approved on a Roll Call Vote as follows:
Councilman Panek yes
Councilman Schramm absent
Councilman Duyssen yes
Councilman Pacer yes
Supervisor Clement yes
The date for a Public Hearing for adopting the change of Local Law No. 3 of 2007 will be December 12, 2022, at 7:00pm at the Stafford Town Hall 8903 Rt. 237 Stafford.
Councilman Duyssen made a motion to accept Resolution 45 Authorize a Tax Levy for the property on Fotch Rd. second by Councilman Panek and approved on a 4-0 vote with one Councilman absent.
Councilman Panek made a motion to accept Resolution 46 Contractual Assessor Position, second by Councilman Duyssen and approved on a Roll Call Vote as follows:
Councilman Panek yes
Councilman Schramm absent
Councilman Duyssen yes
Councilman Pacer yes
Supervisor Clement yes
Councilman Panek made a motion to accept Resolution 47 Official Undertaking of Municipal Officials, second by Councilman Pacer and approved on a Roll Call Vote as follows:
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Councilman Panek yes
Councilman Schramm absent
Councilman Duyssen yes
Councilman Pacer yes
Supervisor Clement yes
Councilman Pacer made a motion to accept Resolution 48 Peddlers’ Permit with the addition of not to exceed 90 days, second by Councilman Duyssen and approved on a 4-0 vote with one Councilman absent.
Councilman Duyssen made a motion to accept Resolution 50 Financial Agreement with the Town of Batavia for Clerical Services, second by Councilman Panek and approved on a 4-0 vote with one Councilman absent.
Supervisor Clement read a letter of Resignation from Samantha Call as Recreation Director. The Town is in gratitude for the years Samantha has given to Recreation Program and wishes her well in the future. Councilman Pacer made a motion to accept this resignation, second by Councilman Panek and approved on a 4-0 vote with one Councilman absent.
Supervisor Clement read a letter of Resignation from Stephanie Underhill as Assessment Clerk for the Town of Stafford; Councilman Duyssen made a motion to accept the letter with gratitude to Stephanie for her dedication to the Assessors’ Office, second by Councilman Panek and approved on a 4-0 vote with one Councilman absent.
Cathy Worthington spoke to the Board regarding an auditor, asking if we have an auditing firm; the answer was yes, we have an audit every year and 2022 will be done next year. When will tabled items be revisited? It was stated that if the matter can be taken care of outside of the meeting, it will be. The Comprehensive Plan was discussed and never again, it was decided not to redo this. According to Roberts’ Rule of Order a tabled item can stay on the table indefinitely. Are the no parking signs up? Yes, they are, and they are twenty-five foot off the center of the right of way. Cathy found her answers on the Code of Ethics, so she is all set with that.
Crystal Casper spoke to the Town Board regarding her farm building being used for Casper Farms selling Natural Beef. This barn has had no major changes and she was contacted by Mr. Wood to have a Building Permit. Mr. Wood explained that she needs to have a site plan for the parking lot; it is in the Planning Board rules and regulations. There is an application and check that she must complete and submit. Mrs. Casper did not agree with the Building Permit because it does not state the site plan and needed clarification on that issue. There is no problem with her complying, just that she did not understand.
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The next step for this project is to bring this issue to the Planning Board for approval.
Councilman Panek spoke of the Zoning enforcement with towns and village courts. New York State Committee on Government Operations; The Final Evaluation of Code Enforcement of August 5, 2019, should be given to the judges to review as well as all Board Members to understand the process. This is for the Code and Zoning Officer to bring certain violations to court.
Councilman Duyssen made a motion to accept Abstract 11, General Fund in the amount of $56,507.38, second by Councilman Pacer and approved on a 4-0 vote with one Councilman absent
Councilman Duyssen made a motion to accept Abstract 11, Highway Fund in the amount of $43,549.00, second by Councilman Pacer and approved on a 4-0 vote with one Councilman absent
Councilman Duyssen made a motion to accept Abstract 11, Capital Projects in the amount of $6,899.40, second by Councilman Pacer and approved on a 4-0 vote with one Councilman absent
Councilman Duyssen made a motion to go into Executive Session a 9:45pm, second by Councilman Panek and approved on a 4-0 vote.
The meeting resumed at 10:15pm, and Councilman Panek made a motion to adjourn at 10:15pm, second by Councilman Pacer and approved on a 4-0 vote with one Councilman absent.
Respectfully Submitted
Barbara Radley
Town Clerk