The Champion Town Board met in regular monthly session on Monday, March 4, 2002 at 7:00PM at the Town Municipal Building. Present were Supervisor Buckley,

Councilman Buzzell, Watkins, Stewart, and Peck, and Highway Superintendent Sech. Attorney Farley was excused from the meeting.

Supervisor Buckley called the meeting to order and welcomed CCHS students from the Participation in Government class. Supervisor Buckley opened the public forum. No one from the public spoke.

Monthly Reports

• DANC-D. Henry reported that the modifications to the interior of the storage building are continuing. The "soft start" installed in WD#2 is functioning within acceptable parameters on utility power but is inoperable on generator power. A joint meeting between the manufacturer, the installer, and the operators is scheduled to determine the source of the malfunction.
• Engineer-E. Johnson reported that the furnace for the storage building in scheduled for installation. Bat-Con is prepared to mobilize to install the new laterals in WD#2 as soon as weather allows. Supervisor Buckley presented a proposal submitted by Bernier, Carr & Associates to repair the Municipal Building roof.
• Zoning Officer-Report was approved as presented.
• Councilmen-The Board expressed its concern for the Village of Carthage in relation to the devasting fire loss it suffered on March 2, 2002. Board members, by consensus, offered any support necessary to the Village at their request.
• Highway Superintendent-The highway report was read and accepted. Mr. Sech made one correction to the equipment inventory list, the JD loader is a 1991. Motion by Mr. Stewart, seconded by Mr. Watkins to purchase a computer monitor for the highway department at a cost not to exceed $150. Ayes-5, Nays-0. Motion carried. On a recommendation by the Highway Superintendent, motion by Mr. Buzzell, seconded by Mr. Peck to sell the small sander to the Village of West Carthage for $1,500. Ayes-5, Nays-0. Motion carried. Mr. Sech discussed the need to lease a compactor again this year to replenish the screened gravel supply. Preliminary estimates have been received for 176 machine hours at a cost of $18,000. Motion by Mr. Watkins, seconded by Mr. Stewart to authorize the Supervisor and Highway Superintendent to negotiate and execute a lease agreement. Ayes-5, Nays-0. Motion carried.
• Assessor- Mr. Phelps reported that a residential assessment ratio of 95.8% has been received from State Equalization.

Motion by Mr. Watkins, seconded by Mr. Stewart to approve the minutes for February 4, 2002 as presented. Ayes-5, Nays-0. Motion carried.

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

General #56-83...................................................$81,702.76

Highway #38-62..................................................$22,918.12

SD#1 O&M #6-10................................................$ 1,494.55

WD#1 O&M #5-6.................................................$ 332.77

WD#2 O&M #9-15...............................................$ 1,230.65

WD#3 O&M #8....................................................$ 325.24

WD#3 Cap #1-3...................................................$24,311.65

WD#4 Cap #4-6..................................................$717,010.75

Ayes-5, Nays-0. Motion carried.

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

New Business

Supervisor Buckley reported to the Board that at current bonding rates that the Town could save approximately $40,000 in interest costs over the term of the note on the Municipal Building if they were to refinance. Supervisor Buckley recommended directing Mr. Yuhas to obtain quotes for a BAN to refinance the building and repair the roof. The Board agreed by consensus.

Supervisor Buckley informed the Board that, despite numerous service calls, the boiler in the Municipal Building was not operating reliably. Supervisor Buckley recommended replacing the unit immediately and had obtained a quote for replacement and installation from Harper's Plumbing and Heating in the amount of $6,350. Mr. Buzzell recommended deferring the decision pending further investigation into the malfunction and to obtain additional quotes. Mr. Stewart supported the decision to replace the unit immediately due to the low temperatures and poor working conditions for both employees of the Town and Time Warner. Motion by Mr. Stewart, seconded by Supervisor Buckley to accept the quote for the replacement and installation of a new boiler unit. Roll call vote: Mr. Buzzell-nay, Mr. Watkins-aye, Supervisor Buckley-aye, Mr. Stewart-aye, and Mr. Peck-aye. Motion carried.

Motion by Mr. Buzzell, seconded by Mr. Watkins to post all roads deemed necessary by the Highway Superintendent and that they remain posted until such time that the signs are removed by the Highway Superintendent. Ayes-5, Nays-0. Motion carried.

The Board discussed the property insurance needs of the Town. Motion by Mr. Watkins, seconded by Mr. Stewart to authorize Mr. Watkins to update the current insurance records of the Town and prepare a report for submission the Town's current carrier. Ayes-5, Nays-0. Motion carried.

Motion by Mr. Watkins, seconded by Mr. Buzzell to authorize the Supervisor to execute, on behalf of the Town, a cooperation agreement with the County of Jefferson to undertake or assist in undertaking housing assistance activities for the HOME Investment Partnerships Program. Ayes-5, Nays-0. Motion carried.

The Board discussed the alternatives for replacing the roof on the Municipal Building. Alternative A: New EPDM roof over front building and new standing seam metal roof over rear building at a cost estimated at between $30 - $45,000; Alternative B: Pitched roof using steel trusses, as required by building code, at a cost estimated at between $80 - $110,000. The Board will consider the alternatives and requested that Supervisor Buckley get a clarification concerning insurance coverage for alternative A if damaged by wind. No action taken at this time.

The Board set Thursday, March 7, 2002 at 3:30pm to inspect the Hall Road gravel pit with the Highway Superintendent.

Motion by Mr. Watkins, seconded by Mr. Stewart to adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 7:42PM.

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Christina Vargulick

Town Clerk