TOWN OF YATES

REGULAR MEETING
FEBRUARY 12,2015

 

 The Meetings was called to Order by the Supervisor at 7:00 P.M. at the Town Hall 8 South Main Street, Lyndonville NY

 

THOSE OFFICERS PRESENT:  John Belson-Supervisor

                                               

                                                      Wes Bradley-Councilman

                                                      Steve Freeman-Councilman

                                                      Brenda Donald-Town Clerk

                                                      Michele Harling-Assessor

                                                      Andrew Meier-Town Attorney

 

OTHERS:                               Larry Wolfe-resident

                                                Donna Bane- Resident

                                                Bonnie Hartway-Property Owner

                                                Jim Banshach-Resident

                                                Chris Crafts-Property Owner

                                                Bob Burke-Property Owner

                                                Paul Lauracella-Resident

                                                Sandra Lauricella-Resident

                                                Donna Riggi-Resident

                                                John Riggi-Resident

                                                Mary Hayes-Property Owner

                                                Jon Frasier-Resident

Howie Bazaban-Reporter

Glen Maid-Property Owner

 

 

Privilege of the floor:

 

Paul Lauricella- Paul asked if the Cemetery could be plowed in the winter.  Many people go to visit their loved ones all year .  Has seen older women trying to get to graves  and vehicles park on edge of road.  Asking if the Board would  consider his request.

 

Glenn Maid-  Mr. Maid presented a presentation on wind energy which he handed the Board information which will be attached to the minutes. He talked about the APEX Plan, Finances and Pilots, Tax rates , Federal subsidies, Current Electricity Production, Land Values,Environmental Impact, Laws Regulations and Town Authority and the Local Law # 1 of 2008, and NYS Article 10.  The complete presentation is attached to the official minutes.

Link to Presentation

 

Summary

This town government has the authority, and obligation, to control what does and does not occur within its jurisdiction; what is built and developed by way of the permitting process. You have the responsibility to preserve the ecological, economic, and esthetic integrity of our town, today and for generations to come.

This Board is tasked with the authority to issue permits and approve development within our Town, provided such requests meet stringent laws, rules, and guidelines. This enormous project, in the view of many of your friends and neighbors, is not is accordance with said laws and rules, or even common sense.  We don’t want this; it’s not who we are.

You, as our Town board, have the power to stop this.  You have the power to not issue permits for this project.  You do not have to amend laws to accommodate APEX. What appears to be a pathway to economic growth, in reality is a temporary financial gain.  The monies derived will not come from suitable economic development, but from the tax coffers funded by the taxpayers. If this project goes forward, all that will be accomplished is us giving millions of tax dollars to a multimillion dollar company to screw up our town; a company who will happily walk the money back to Virginia with no regrets, and being a LLC, no liability.

A project of this scope and magnitude has no place in Yates, or anywhere else for that matter. What we need is sound, systematic commercial and residential growth, not wind farms.  Do you, the members of this Board, want to be forever known as the Board that damaged an “All American” town ?

You have the power to tell APEX no.   Tell them no.

 

John Riggi asked if the Town has acted on anything?  Noticed the APEX link  is on the website but not the link for SOS

 

Supervisor Belson explained that Lobbist group are  not legally included on town websites

 

Supervisor Belson stated they have not received anything to act on.

 

Donna Riggi- asked about the farmer who thought wind farms are no big deal

 

Mary Hayes asked about the terms of the present Board

 

Town Clerk stated the term for clerk, Supervisor, Highway Superintendent, and 2 Councilman ( Freeman and Bradley) are up this year. Councilman Whipple and Bentley are up in 2017

 

Mary Hayes asked about workshop meeting.

 

Work shop meeting are the Monday before the regular meeting at 3:30 P.M. at the Town Hall

 

RESOLUTION NO.34-2/15

 

RESOLUTION TO APPROVE MINUTES

 

RESOLVED , to approve the minutes of the January 8 Organizational meeting and regular meeting as presented to each Board member.

 

Offered by Councilman Bradley who moved its adoption

Seconded by Councilman Freeman

 

Adopted. 4 ayes; 0 nays; 1 absent (Bentley)

 

RESOLUTION NO.35-2/15

 

RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE THE SUPERVISOR TO SIGN A WATER AGREEMENT WITH THE VILLAGE OF LYNDONVILLE

 

RESOLVED, to authorize the supervisor to sign an agreement with the village of Lyndonville concerning the 4th cell, joint plant, joint intake and water tower as follows:

 

 

AGREEMENT

 

 

            AGREEMENT dated as of the 1st day of January, 2014, by and between the Town of Yates (hereinafter “Yates”) and the Village of Lyndonville (hereinafter “Lyndonville”).

 

            WHEREAS, Yates and Lyndonville entered into a Municipal Cooperation Agreement dated June 2, 1994, and

 

            WHEREAS, Yates and Lyndonville subsequently entered into an Agreement dated as of the 1st day of March 2013, a copy of which is annexed hereto as Exhibit “A”, and

 

            WHEREAS, on April 16, 2013 Lyndonville issued $1,905,000 Public Improvement Refunding Serial Bonds 2013 for refunding older USDA Rural Development Bonds for the projects of the water tower, the joint intake, the 4th cell filter and the water plant upgrade, and

 

            WHEREAS, Yates and Lyndonville wish to set forth in writing the details of the annual debt service payments that will be paid by Yates and Lyndonville as a result of the lower interest rates realized as a result of refunding the older USDA Rural Development bonds, and

 

            WHEREAS, Municipal Solutions, Inc., fiscal advisor to Yates and Lyndonville, has prepared schedules which set forth the old USDA Rural Development debt, the new Refunding Bond debt service and a breakout of the Yates and Lyndonville payments based upon the Village’s fiscal year and a separate schedule based upon the Town’s fiscal year, copies of the said schedules are annexed hereto and made a part hereof as Exhibit “B”, and

 

            WHEREAS, the schedules as prepared by Municipal Solutions, Inc. reflect the amounts that each municipality will pay toward these projects going forward effective January 1, 2014,

 

            NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, Yates and Lyndonville agree as follows:

 

            1.         Section 3 of the Agreement dated as of the 1st day of March, 2013, a copy of which is annexed hereto as Exhibit “A”, is hereby rescinded.

 

            2.         The schedules annexed hereto as Exhibit “B” correctly set forth the contributions towards the debt service for each project (water tower, joint water intake, 4th cell filter and water plant upgrade) to be paid by Yates and Lyndonville, effective January 1, 2014 and thereafter, and each municipality shall pay their respective amounts as set forth in Exhibit “B”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

            3.         In order to address subjects of concern to either Yates or Lyndonville, it is hereby agreed that representatives of the respective Boards of Yates and Lyndonville shall meet semiannually, in March and September of each calendar year, to facilitate discussion

 

Offered by Councilman Whipple who moved its adoption

Seconded by Councilman Bradley

 

Adopted 4 ayes; 0 nays 1 absent (Bentley)

 

Assessor Michele Harling-  have about 58 people that have not renewed exemptions as of yet will be telephoning these people and giving the office for the aging a list.

 

Lost about basic star exemptions through the state program but gained some senior STAR

 

Councilman Bradley—Will be working on the E-WASTE situation to see what can be done in order to take the E-WASTE.

 

RESOLUTION NO. 36-2/15

 

RESOLUTION TO PAY BILLS

 

WHEREAS, bills have been reviewed by the Town Board, be it

 

RESOLVED to pay bills as follows:

 

A-Account-General   30,343.81        

B-Account-General        773.08                                 

DA-Account                37,003.38

DB-Account               31,455.98    

Fire                              35,350.00      

Water 4 Account         21,187.97  

            $

 

  TOTAL      126,114.22

 

 

Offered by Councilman Freeman   who moved its adoption

Seconded by Councilman  Bradley

Adopted.  4 ayes’ 0 nays  1 Absent  Bentley

 

 

 

Adjournment

 

Moved by Councilman  Whipple  , Whereas there is no new business to be brought before the Board that the meeting be adjourned at  7:50P.M.

Seconded by Councilman   Freeman

  Adopted.4 ayes: 0 nays; 1 absent Bentley

 

 

 

Town of Yates

 

Brenda B. Donald

Town Clerk