The Town of Champion Town Board met in regular monthly session on Monday, November 5, 2001 at the municipal building. Present were Supervisor Buckley, Councilmen Stewart, Miller, Watkins, and Buzzell, Highway Superintendent Martin, and Attorney Farley.

Supervisor Buckley called the meeting to order at 6:00PM. Motion by Mr. Stewart, seconded by Mr. Watkins to go into executive session for the purpose of discussing negotiations. Ayes-5, Nays-0. Motion carried.

Motion by Mr. Stewart, seconded by Mr. Miller to resume open session. Ayes-5, Nays-0. Motion carried. Open session resumed at 7:00PM.

Supervisor Buckley opened the meeting for comments from the public. Samuel Eddy, highway safety officer, requested authorization to purchase earplugs and safety goggles for the highway department. The Board referred the request to the highway superintendent.

Reports

• Engineer-Mr. Dimmick reported that the construction of Water District #4 is substantially complete. Carthage School has reported that it will be necessary to install a pressure reduction valve in the high school. The meter heads at the school buildings will be replaced to standardize the reading values.
• Councilmen-Mr. Buzzell questioned the construction of the guide rail on the west end of Cole Road. Mr. Watkins distributed a grant application for funds from the Black River Advisory Board.
• Highway Superintendent- Mr. Martin reported that the highway crew will be removing a tree, at the intersection of Cole and Farney Pit Roads, which is a potential highway hazard. Discussions with the NYSDOT indicate that 24T of salt that was borrowed during the 2000-01 plowing season must be replaced by 12/31/01. The sand pile has been completed although billing is pending on a portion of the delivery. Guide rails have been installed on the Lamb Road. The Walters truck is being outfitted for plowing with a one-way plow and a sand box. Mr. Martin requested authorization to have repairs done on the Town pickup trucks. Motion by Mr. Stewart, seconded by Mr. Buzzell to authorize the repairs as needed. Ayes-5, Nays-0. Motion carried.
• Zoning Officer- Report read and accepted.
• Parks- Mr. Eddy reported that the highway department has delivered top soil, shrubs have been planted, trees removed, and grass planted in Village Green Park.
• Historian-Mrs. Wiley reported that she is preparing a presentation for Leadership Institute members.

Public Hearings

• Proof of Notice having been furnished, the public hearing on the order to extend Water District #4 was called to order at 7:15PM. No one spoke for or against the order of extension. All persons desiring to be heard, having been heard, the hearing was closed at 7:16PM.
• Proof of Notice having been furnished, the public hearing on the consolidation of Water Districts #2 and #3 was called to order at 7:30PM. Louis Waite commented on water quality. No one spoke for or against the consolidation of the districts. All persons desiring to be heard, having been heard, the hearing was closed at 7:42PM.
• Proof of Notice having been furnished, the public hearing on the 2002 Preliminary Budget was called to order at 7:45PM. Bernard Martin commented on the distribution of appropriations and revenues between the water districts, sewer district, and highway funds. No one spoke for or against the budget. All persons desiring to be heard, having been heard, the hearing was closed at 7:54PM.
• Proof of Notice having been furnished, the public hearing on the 2002 fire contracts was called to order at 7:54PM. Louis Waite spoke against the increase in the contract amount for the Villages of West Carthage and Copenhagen. No one spoke for the contracts. All persons desiring to be heard, having been heard, the hearing was closed at 7:56PM.

Motion by Mr. Watkins, seconded by Mr. Buzzell to approve the minutes for October 1, 2001 as presented. Ayes-5, Nays-0. Motion carried.

Motion by Mr. Stewart, seconded by Mr. Buzzell to pay the following bills as presented:

General #327-360.................................................$14,628.64

Highway #181-202................................................$35,334.57

SD#1 Capital #53-59........................................$1,716,343.02

WD#3 Capital #18-24............................................$25,769.98

WD#4 Capital #20-25............................................$54,759.67

WD#1 O&M #31-33.................................................$1,820.95

WD#2 O&M #66-72.................................................$1,594.50

WD#3 O&M #26-29.................................................$1,837.94

WD#4 O&M #1-2.....................................................$1,345.18

SD#1 O&M #16-21.................................................$10,848.55

Ayes-5, Nays-0. Motion carried.

The monthly report of the Supervisor was read and discussed. Motion by Mr. Buzzell, seconded by Mr. Miller to approve the report as presented. Ayes-5, Nays-0. Motion carried.

New Business

The Board discussed and completed the responses to a SEQR as related to the extension of WD#4. Motion by Mr. Miller, seconded by Mr. Buzzell to make a declaration of negative impact. Ayes-5, Nays-0. Motion carried.

Motion by Mr. Watkins, seconded by Mr. Stewart to approve the order to extend the boundaries of Water District #4 as published and presented. Roll call vote: Supervisor Buckley-aye, Mr. Buzzell-aye, Mr. Watkins-aye, Mr. Miller-aye, and Mr. Stewart-aye. Motion carried.

Motion by Mr. Stewart, seconded by Mr. Watkins to accept Water District #4 as substantially complete and authorize final payment on the construction contract. Ayes-5, Nays-0. Motion carried.

Motion by Mr. Miller, seconded by Mr. Stewart to appoint the Village of West Carthage Water Department as the certified operator of Water District #4. Ayes-5, Nays-0. Motion carried.

The Board discussed and completed the responses to a SEQR as related to the consolidation of Water Districts #2 and #3. Motion by Mr. Stewart, seconded by Mr. Buzzell to make a declaration of negative impact. Ayes-5, Nays-0. Motion carried.

Resolution offered on a motion by Mr. Watkins, seconded by Mr. Buzzell that in the best interest of the citizens of the Town of Champion, that Water Districts #2 and #3 in the Town of Champion be consolidated pursuant to Section 206(a) of the Town Law of New York State. Roll call vote: Supervisor Buckley-aye, Mr. Buzzell-aye, Mr. Watkins-aye, Mr. Miller-aye, and Mr. Stewart-aye. Resolution adopted.

Resolution offered on a motion by Mr. Miller, seconded by Mr. Stewart to approve a refunding bond in the amount of $75,000 to refinance the debt incurred by Sewer District #1 with the Rural Utilities Service with the Environmental Facilities Corporation at 0% interest. Roll call vote: Supervisor Buckley-aye, Mr. Buzzell-aye, Mr. Watkins-aye, Mr. Miller-aye, and Mr. Stewart-aye. Resolution adopted.

Motion by Mr. Watkins, seconded by Mr. Stewart to recognize the contractual obligation for the engineering of the Town of Champion Sewer District #1. Ayes-5, Nays-0. Motion carried.

The following resolution was offered by Mr. Buzzell and seconded by Mr. Miller:

WHEREAS, the Town Board has met at the time and place specified in the notice of public hearing on the preliminary budget and heard all persons desiring to be heard thereon;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, That the Town Board does hereby adopt the preliminary budget as amended as the annual budget of the Town of Champion for the fiscal year beginning on the first day of January 2002 and that such budget as so adopted be entered in the minutes of the Town Board;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Town Clerk of the Town shall prepare and certify, in duplicate, copies of the said annual budget as adopted pursuant to Section 202A and B2 of the Town Law and shall present a copy thereof to the Supervisor of the Town to be presented by him to the County Legislature.

Roll call vote: Supervisor Buckley-aye, Mr. Buzzell-aye, Mr. Watkins-aye, Mr. Miller-aye, and Mr. Stewart-aye. Resolution adopted.

The Board reviewed and discussed letters received from the Town Zoning Board of Appeals and James Uhlinger requesting that the Board consider expanding the business district in the Town through rezoning. Supervisor Buckley suggested that the entire length of NYS Route 26 be considered. Motion by Mr. Stewart, seconded by Mr. Miller that the matter be referred to the Planning Board for discussion and that a recommendation from them be requested for consideration at the December Town Board meeting. Ayes-5, Nays-0. Motion carried.

Motion by Mr. Stewart, seconded by Mr. Buzzell to adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 8:43PM.

__________________________

Christina Vargulick

Town Clerk