March 17, 2020 Regular Meeting Minutes
REGULAR MEETING – VILLAGE OF NORTHVILLE
Tuesday, March 17, 2020
The Village Board met Tuesday, March 17, 2020 at 7:00 PM at the Village offices.
Present: John Spaeth, Mayor
Steve Collins, Trustee
Sue Eckert, Trustee
John Markiewicz, Trustee
Sue Sedon, Trustee
Absent:
Wendy Reu, Village Clerk
Mayor Spaeth called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Mayor Spaeth opened the meeting discussing the COVID-19 outbreak that was affecting the United States and the current guidelines issued by Governor Andrew Cuomo. He reported that on Monday, March 16th, the Governor issued an order restricting gatherings of 50 or more people. He stated that the Governor also ordered Municipalities to reduce their workforce by 50% and that non-essential personnel be allowed to work from home. Mayor Spaeth stated that recommendations issued today from the CDC suggested restricting gathers to no larger than 10 individuals and maintaining a 6-foot separation, so that is how we are proceeding with the meeting tonight.
PUBLIC COMMENTS – Heidi Darling, representing the Civic Association, was in attendance to ask for permission for the group to conduct their Annual Block Party fundraiser for the Northville Fire Department on Sunday, August 16, 2020. Trustee Sedon made a motion to approve the Block Party as requested, on the condition that factors allowing events of that size could be conducted at the time with respect to the Covid-19 situation. The motion was seconded by Trustee Collins and carried by voice vote as follows:
Aye: Trustee Collins, Trustee Eckert, Trustee Markiewicz, Trustee Sedon
Nay: 0
Abstain: 0
REPORT OF COMMITTEES:
No Committee Reports were given due as the meeting was held to conduct essential business only.
PAYMENT OF BILLS
The monthly financial report was reviewed and bills to be paid from the General Fund in the amount of $ 41,917.31, from the Water Fund in the amount of $ 1771.38, and from the Joint Youth Fund in the amount of $ 686.82 were presented for payment. Motion to approve payment was made by Trustee Markiewicz, seconded by Trustee Eckert, and carried by voice vote as follows:
Aye: Trustee Collins, Trustee Eckert, Trustee Markiewicz, Trustee Sedon
Nay: 0
Abstain: 0
TRANSFERS
Treasurer Matthews requested the following transfers:
$15,000
From: A1940.4 Purchase of Land – Contractual
To: A8010.1 Code Enforcement – Personal Serv.
Reason- to cover payroll
$1,500
From: A1990.4 Contingent – Contractual
To: A8010.4 Code Enforcement –Contractual
Reason- to cover training and travel
Trustee Collins made a motion to approve the transfers as requested. The motion was seconded by Trustee Markiewicz and carried by voice vote as follows:
Aye: Trustee Collins, Trustee Eckert, Trustee Markiewicz, Trustee Sedon
Nay: 0
Abstain: 0
OLD BUSINESS:
Mayor Spaeth reported that three bids were received for the Water Meter Replacement project. He indicated that Trustee Sedon, Trustee Eckert, and Water Superintendent Darryl Roosa were tasked with reviewing the bids. Trustee Sedon and Trustee Eckert reported that after their meeting with Darryl, they felt the bid should be awarded to Allen & Palmer for $ 90.00 per meter installation. After brief discussion, Trustee Eckert made a motion to accept the bid from Allen & Palmer for $90.00/meter for water meter installation project. The motion was seconded by Trustee Sedon and carried by voice vote as follows:
Aye: Trustee Collins, Trustee Eckert, Trustee Markiewicz, Trustee Sedon
Nay: 0
Abstain: 0
Mayor Spaeth reported that Attorney Greco is working on a memorandum for the Board on the proposed cell tower buyout. He stated that for tonight’s meeting, Attorney Greco does not approve the plan and indicated that further explanation will be provided in the memorandum.
Mayor Spaeth reported he had a call from the father of the family with the extremely high water bill that was sent to the County for inclusion on their current Town/County tax bill. He reported he explained to the gentleman the situation that multiple bills were sent to the couple and they did nothing about the situation until mid January of this year. He told the gentleman that had the couple contacted the Village earlier, they could have worked out an arrangement but once it was sent to the County for inclusion on their tax bill, it was out of the Village’s hands. He told the gentleman he would have to contact the County. Mayor Spaeth reported he received a call from Terry Blodgett, Fulton County Treasurer, and he stated the County was willing to redo the couple’s tax bill and absorb half of the delinquent water if the Village would write a check for the other half. Mayor Spaeth reminded the Board that the County has already made the Village whole for the unpaid tax/water that was sent to them for relevy. Mayor Spaeth stated he was not afraid of a lawsuit if we didn’t agree to the recommendation presented by the County. He stated the couple had multiple opportunities to contact the Village prior to this situation getting to where it did. He stated that Treasurer Blodgett is trying to look at it from a public servant aspect. Trustee Eckert stated she agreed that the couple had multiple instances where they could have approached the Village and they failed to do so. She stated that if we did what the County recommended; it should be made clearly known to the couple that this is a one-time thing. After brief discussion, Trustee Markiewicz made a motion to pay for one half of the amount of relevyed water on the Snell account. The motion was seconded by Trustee Collins and carried by voice vote as follows:
Aye: Trustee Collins, Trustee Eckert, Trustee Markiewicz, Trustee Sedon
Nay: 0
Abstain: 0
NEW BUSINESS:
Mayor Spaeth reported that during the recent Budget Workshop, there were two areas that needed modification. Mayor Spaeth stated that Treasurer Matthews indicated they were on the appropriation side and dealt with the contract with Elan. He indicated it was corrected on the tentative budget that the Board has for the meeting tonight. After discussion, Trustee Eckert made a motion to move the Tentative Budget to Preliminary status and schedule a Public Hearing for April 14th at 6:30 p.m. with the Regular meeting to follow. The motion was seconded by Trustee Collins and carried by voice vote as follows:
Aye: Trustee Collins, Trustee Eckert, Trustee Markiewicz, Trustee Sedon
Nay: 0
Abstain: 0
Mayor Spaeth reported that Wayne Seelow, of Edinburg, requested permission to use some of the compost materials that the Village allows residents to obtain for free for his giant pumpkin plants. Mayor Spaeth stated that Mr. Seelow draws crowds to his pumpkin field every year and attends contests around the area. Mr. Seelow has been considering organizing an event of that type locally in the Waterfront Park which would be an economic draw to the area. After discussion, Trustee Eckert made a motion to allow Wayne Seelow to take some of the free compost the Village has available. The motion was seconded by Trustee Sedon and carried by voice vote as follows:
Aye: Trustee Collins, Trustee Eckert, Trustee Markiewicz, Trustee Sedon
Nay: 0
Abstain: 0
Mayor Spaeth continued discussion of the current Covic-19 situation with the Board. As he stated at the opening of the meeting, governmental agencies were required to reduce their workforce by 50 percent and if at all possible, allow them to work from home. He stated that during this time, the employees would be paid. He acknowledged that they have sick time but that this time away from work is forced by the Governor’s order. After discussion, Trustee Markiewicz made a motion that the time away from work, ordered by the Governor, not impact the employees accrued sick time during this crisis. The motion was seconded by Trustee Sedon and carried by voice vote as follows:
Aye: Trustee Collins, Trustee Eckert, Trustee Markiewicz, Trustee Sedon
Nay: 0
Abstain: 0
Mayor Spaeth stated that the highway crew are the most vulnerable essential employees due to exposure to the public and the collection of garbage. He stated that the crew does not have personal protective equipment. Highway Superintendent Dan Reidell has been in contact with the County and they have a limited supply, but they are being reserved for emergency workers during this crisis. Mayor Spaeth reported the crew was instructed to wear gloves while collecting garbage and to go home and shower/change after collecting garbage and then return to finish their shift.
The Board discussed whether the Village needed to declare a state of emergency locally. Mayor Spaeth reported that all of this information was just coming in and he would discuss it with NYCOM. After discussion, Trustee Sedon made a motion to authorize Mayor Spaeth to declare a state of emergency for the Village, if necessary, based on guidance from NYCOM. The motion was seconded by Trustee Eckert and carried by voice vote as follows:
Aye: Trustee Collins, Trustee Eckert, Trustee Markiewicz, Trustee Sedon
Nay: 0
Abstain: 0
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business before the Board, motion was made to adjourn by Trustee Markiewicz, seconded by Trustee Eckert and passed by voice vote with no one dissenting. The meeting was adjourned at 8:19 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Wendy L. Reu, Clerk
