The Champion Town Board met in regular session on Monday, August 7, 2000 at 7:00PM at the Champion Municipal Building, 10 N Broad Street, West Carthage. Present were Supervisor Buckley, Councilmen Stewart, Miller (7:25PM), Watkins, and Buzzell, and Attorney Farley. Highway Superintendent Martin was absent from the meeting.

Supervisor Buckley called the meeting to order and opened the meeting for public comment. No one from the public spoke.

Monthly Reports

• Engineer-Kris Dimmick, BC&A, report that sewer district #1 has approximately 50% of the mainline complete, 100% of the wet wells installed, and pump station delivery is on schedule. Construction of the water district #3 will begin on 8/8/00. An application for funding water district #4 has been submitted to NYS EFC. An inspection, of all the components of operations in water district #2, continues to identify and correct the excess air that is being introduced into the system.
• DANC-John Condino reported that they are working in conjunction with BC&A to correct problems in water district #2 and continue to receive recommendations from equipment consultants.

Public Hearing

Proof of notice having been furnished, the public hearing on a ballot proposition to change from an elected to an appointed Highway Superintendent was called to order at 7:15PM by Supervisor Buckley.

The following persons spoke in favor of the proposition:

Dennis Quinn

The following persons spoke against the proposition:

John Sawyer Samuel Eddy

Leon Williams George Waite

Nelson Eddy Doug Clark

Stephen Eisel Frank Sech

All persons desiring to be heard, having been heard, the hearing was closed at 7:32PM.

Supervisor Buckley recognized Mr. Walter Becker, Carthage Chamber of Commerce president. Mr. Becker presented a proposal sponsored by the Chamber for a matching grant from the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets for the purpose of constructing a 180’x40’ pole barn to accommodate the Carthage Farmer’s Market. The Chamber requested a commitment from the Town for in-kind services (ie. gravel, equipment, labor) to leverage funding and a letter of support for the project. Motion by Mr. Watkins, seconded by Mr. Buzzell to support, with in-kind service and a letter, the application for matching grant funds for the purpose of constructing an enclosure for the use by the Carthage Farmer’s Market as sponsored by the Carthage Chamber of Commerce. Ayes-5, Nays-0. Motion carried.

• Councilmen-Mr. Watkins asked if the Town zoning law allowed for the construction of sanitary landfills within the Town. Mr. Phelps and Mr. LaBarge stated that landfills are not a permitted use in any of the zoning districts in the Town.
• Assessor-Mr. Phelps stated that the reval is proceeding satisfactorily. Mr. Phelps and Mr. Vargulick both completed one week of training at the Cornell Assessor’s conference.
• Zoning Enforcement-Report was read and accepted.
• Planning Board-Mr. LaBarge reported on the joint planning study meeting.
• Justice-Report read and accepted.
• Parks-Mr. Eddy reported that flowers have been planted in the parks and that a picnic table has been donated by Mary Chiffy to the Village Green Park and has been placed at that location. The Board directed that a letter of thanks be sent to Mrs. Chiffy.

Motion by Mr. Buzzell, seconded by Mr. Watkins to approve the minutes for July 10, 2000 as presented. Ayes-5, Nays-0. Motion carried.

Motion by Mr. Stewart, seconded by Mr. Miller to pay the following bills:

General #224-243……………………………………….$6,272.19

Highway #152-167……………………………………..$15,770.43

Sewer District #1 Capital #35-37…………………….$251,784.02

Water District #1 O&M #15-16………………………….$2,511.86

Water District #2 O&M 45-49……………………………$5,820.16

Ayes-5, Nays-0. Motion carried.

Supervisor Buckley reviewed the Supervisor’s report for the month of July. Motion by Mr. Watkins, seconded by Mr. Buzzell to approve the report as presented. Ayes-5, Nays-0. Motion carried.

New Business

The Board discussed the findings of the public hearing and petitions received for and against a ballot proposition to change from an elected to an appointed Highway Superintendent. Supervisor Buckley and Councilmen Miller and Stewart spoke in favor of the ballot proposition to give all interested voters an opportunity to express their opinion. Councilmen Watkins and Buzzell stated their opposition to the placing the proposition on the ballot.

Motion by Mr. Watkins, seconded by Mr. Buzzell to not place the proposition to change from an elected to an appointed Highway Superintendent on the ballot. Roll call vote: Mr. Buzzell-aye, Mr. Watkins-aye, Mr. Miller-nay, Mr. Stewart-nay, and Supervisor Buckley-nay. Motion defeated.

Motion by Mr. Miller, seconded by Mr. Stewart to place the proposition to change from an elected to an appointed Highway Superintendent on the ballot. Roll call vote: Mr. Buzzell-nay, Mr. Watkins-nay, Mr. Miller-aye, Mr. Stewart-aye, and Supervisor Buckley-aye. Motion carried. The proposition will be placed on the November 2000 ballot.

Motion by Mr. Miller, seconded by Mr. Stewart to approve the purchase and installation of 6" magnetic locator tape on the sewer laterals in Sewer District #1.

Ayes-5, Nays-0. Motion carried.

Supervisor Buckley discussed with the Board the advisability of amending Town Zoning Law to require new construction, including but not limited to single and multi family homes and businesses, to connect to public water and/or sewer where it is available. The Board directed the planning board to review the proposal and make a recommendation.

Motion by Mr. Miller, seconded by Mr. Stewart to authorize a representative of AFLAC to make a presentation to Town employees and Supervisor Buckley to execute the necessary documents for enrollment. Ayes-5, Nays-0. Motion carried.

Motion by Mr. Watkins, seconded by Mr. Stewart to authorize Supervisor Buckley to execute the necessary documents to enroll the Town in the NYS Deferred Compensation Plan. Ayes-5, Nays-0. Motion carried.

It was the consensus of the Board to reschedule the regular September meeting for Tuesday, 9/5/00 at 7:00PM due to the Labor Day holiday.

It was the consensus of the Board to meet on Wednesday, August 16, 2000 at 7:00PM to discuss the standards for private roads within the Town.

Motion by Mr. Stewart, seconded by Mr. Miller to distribute the STAR administrative funds as follows and to purchase a Sharp AR-205 digital copier/printer/fax at a cost not to exceed $3,754:

Assessor administration payment: $1,192.50 equipment

$1,192.50 divided equally between assessors

Tax collector administration payment: $226.37 equipment

$226.38 tax collector

Ayes-5, Nays-0. Motion carried.

Motion by Mr. Watkins, seconded by Mr. Buzzell to re-appoint Stephen Eisel to a five-year term on the Board of Assessment Review effective 10/1/2000. Ayes-5, Nays-0. Motion carried.

Supervisor Buckley reported that there will be a 6-7% increase in the premiums for health insurance Plan C.

The Board reviewed miscellaneous correspondence.

Motion by Mr. Miller, seconded by Mr. Stewart go into executive session for the purpose of discussing ongoing litigation. Ayes-5, Nays-0. Motion carried. Executive session began at 8:58PM.

Motion by Mr. Miller, seconded by Mr. Watkins to return to open session. Ayes-5, Nays-0. Motion carried. Open session resumed at 9:13PM.

Motion by Mr. Miller, seconded by Mr. Stewart to adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 9:13PM.

_____________________________

Christina Vargulick

Town Clerk