HARTWICK TOWN BOARD
Work Session
January 16, 2012
The Work Session of the Hartwick Town Board called to order at 7:00 p.m. The Pledge to the Flag was led by Supervisor David Butler.
Present: Councilman Dave Butler, Councilwoman Anita Briggs Jones, Councilman Kenneth Hotaling, and Councilwoman Juliann Sharratt
Also present: Administrative Assistant, Tavis Austin; Planning Board Co-Chair, Gregory Horth, Conservation Advisory Committee Chair, Martha Clarvoe, Cooperstown Youth Baseball Representative, David Borgstrom, MD, and members of the community.
Absent: Councilman Delos Field
Unfinished Business
- Dr. Borgstrom and the Town Board discussed Cooperstown Youth Baseball's (CYB) need for a "home". Town Attorney, Lynn Green, Esq., will be asked to devise options in terms of a contract for property use. McManus Engineering has agreed to aide in the preparation of a concept for fields, clubhouse, and restrooms. The necessity to have operational fields by spring of 2012 was discussed. The Town Board and Dr. Borgstrom will meet again at the February Regular Town Board Meeting with plans to move forward with facilitating CYB's necessity for a "home".
- Zoning Commission Letters of Interest. Due to the significant lapse of time since the original request for Letters of Interest, the Board agreed to re-advertise for Zoning Commission Letters of Interest. Letters of Interest will be accepted through February 6, 2012 and the topic revisited at the February Town Board Work Session. A resident requested equal representation from the different factors within the Town of Hartwick on the Zoning Commission.
MOTION: Supervisor Butler moved to re-advertise for Zoning Commission Letters of Interest. Councilman Hotaling seconded, and the motion passed with the following votes: Supervisor Butler "aye", Councilwoman Briggs Jones "aye", Councilman Hotaling "aye", Councilwoman Sharratt "aye".
- Administrative Assistant, Tavis Austin, presented the Board with an estimate for the rekeying of all Town building locks. The estimate is $1,741.50. The Board agreed with the expenditure.
- Supervisor Butler appointed Carol Goodrich as Town Historian.
MOTION: Supervisor Butler moved to appoint Carol Goodrich as Town Historian for the term January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2013. Councilman Hotaling seconded, and the motion passed with the following votes: Supervisor Butler "aye", Councilwoman Briggs Jones "aye", Councilman Hotaling "aye", Councilwoman Sharratt "aye".
New Business:
- The Board discussed the Planning Board Attendance Policy and all Board members agreed, the policy needs to be enforced based on Local Law 1-1994.
- The Board discussed the Employee Handbook in relation to the Kinney Memorial Library which has its own charter and operates semi-independently of the Town.
Town of Hartwick
Resolution 1-W-2012
Librarian Holidays
WHEREAS, the Library of the Town of Hartwick has its own charter and oerates semi-independent of the Town, and
WHEREAS, the Town of Hartwick Library Board has adopted a policy manual, and
WHEREAS, the Library Board has its own budget through the Town, and
WHEREAS, an issue has arisen as to holidays for the Librarian, and
WHEREAS, the Town Employee Handbook is in conflict with the Library Board Policy Manual, and
WHEREAS, the Town does not directly oversee the Librarian
NOW BE IT RESOLVED, that in areas covered by the Library Policy Manual, that manual shall cover the Librarian, and
NOW BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Employee Handbook of the Town shall cover the Librarian only where the Library Policy Manual is silent, and
NOW BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, this resolution is made pursuant to §106 of the Town of Hartwick Employee Handbook.
MOTION: Councilwoman Sharratt moved to accept Resolution 1-W-2012 Librarian Holidays. Councilwoman Briggs Jones seconded. The Board agreed to abandon the MOTION due to confusion of the Board on the wording of the Resolution. Further Board discussion ensued.
MOTION: Councilwoman Briggs Jones moved to accept Resolution 1-W-2012 Librarian Holidays. Councilwoman Sharratt seconded, and the motion passed with the following votes: Supervisor Butler "aye", Councilwoman Briggs Jones "aye", Councilman Hotaling "nay", Councilwoman Sharratt "aye".
- The Board discussed the necessity to cancel the current credit cards held by the Town with Citizen's Bank and obtain new credit cards using NBT Bank.
Town of Hartwick
Resolution 1-X-2012
Town Credit Card
WHEREAS, the Town Supervisor, Town Clerk, and Town Highway Superintendent have the need to have a credit card available for purchases, and
WHEREAS, the Town Board has established through Resolution 1-T-2009 the use of a Town credit card, and
WHEREAS, the Town is changing its Town banking accounts to NBT Bank
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board authorize the Town Supervisor to acquire a credit card account from NBT Bank with a $3,000.00 (three thousand dollar) limit, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that each cardholder named above will have a $1000.00 (one thousand dollar) limit.
MOTION: Councilman Hotaling moved to accept Resolution 1-X-2012 Town Credit Card. Councilwoman Sharratt seconded, and the motion passed with the following votes: Supervisor Butler "aye", Councilwoman Briggs Jones "aye", Councilman Hotaling "nay", Councilwoman Sharratt "aye".
Public Comment:
- A resident asked for explanation in the Town's 15% increase in property taxes. The Board explained the increase is due in part to the new Highway Collective Bargaining Agreement, increase in insurance related costs, and the lack of available fund balance to off-set the amount needed to be raised by taxes. The resident expressed the Town's need to be careful with moving forward with its plans for Zoning, because Zoning is a costly initiative.
MOTION: Councilman Hotaling moved to adjourn the Town Board Work Session at 9:00 p.m. and enter into Executive Session to discuss a Legal Matter. Councilwoman Sharratt seconded, and the motion passed with the following votes: Supervisor Butler "aye", Councilwoman Briggs Jones "aye", Councilman Hotaling "aye", and Councilwoman Sharratt "aye".
MOTION: Councilwoman Briggs Jones moved to adjourn Executive Session at 9:50 p.m. Councilwoman Sharratt seconded, and the motion passed with the following votes: Supervisor Butler "aye", Councilwoman Briggs Jones "aye", Councilman Hotaling "aye", and Councilwoman Sharratt "aye".
Respectfully submitted,
Sarah McGuire, Town Clerk
