TOWN OF HUME
MAY 15, 2007
A regular meeting of the Hume Town Board, Allegany County, New York was held on
May 15, 2007 at the Town Museum, 10842 Claybed Road, hamlet of Hume. Supervisor Craig Smith called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
Officials in attendance were: Supervisor Craig Smith; Council members Bryce Bower, Robert Beil and Dennis Ricketts; Highway Superintendent Ron Paulsen; Attorney David Pullen; and Clerk Sondra MacEwan.
Councilman Beil moved that the minutes of the April 11, 2007 Board meeting, and the minutes of the May 2, 2007 Board meeting, be accepted as presented. Councilman Ricketts seconded. 4 ayes, 0 noes.
EMPLOYEE ISSUES
Andrew Peet read from a prepared document concerning his hiring by the Town as an HMEO, the payroll deductions for medical insurance, and his pay rate. Mr. Peet felt he had been misled about the benefits of the position, and that the Board should reconsider his compromise proposal that he be charged the 10% only after another employee is hired. (A motion to that effect had been defeated at the April 11, 2007 meeting). He further stated that should the Board not comply with his insurance proposal, he did not want the 20-cent per hour pay stipend as an out-of-grade rate.
The Board heard his statements, and Supervisor Smith allowed comment by those persons attending. Some intense remarks were made both in support of Mr. Peet and in the maintaining of the Board’s stance.
Superintendent Paulsen reported that paving work on Schuknecht Road and Daley Road had been completed, and that the costs were within the budget limits.
A citizen’s petition requesting the closing Liberty Street to through traffic onto State Route 19 resulted in Board deliberations and interviews with the County DPW and property owners including the Hume Church.
After a brief discussion, Councilman Beil moved that Liberty Street be designated a dead-end street, closed to through traffic, and the appropriate barriers and signs be erected. Councilman Ricketts seconded. 4 ayes, 0 noes.
Superintendent Paulsen was directed to contact the New York State DPW about this change.
The Board approved the hiring of two part-time laborers for the summer season, duration of employment to start after the close of the school year and end before school resumes in the autumn.
Rondus Miller showed the Board examples of archival boxes that have been purchased to store newspapers.
She also showed an old advertisement about the grand opening of McCarty’s Restaurant. The current operators of the restaurant, now known as The River’s Edge, hope to use that ad and other old photographs as part of their décor.
Rondus Miller and Nancy Gillette have started a Crochet Group that will meet at the Museum. The group will stitch together a community service project.
Helen Allshouse donated several items to the Museum, and the Board was urged to see them.
Tours of the Museum and a history-based bus tour of the Town will again be conducted for the 4th grade classes from Fillmore Central School.
At 7:30 PM, Supervisor Smith opened the two purchase bids for the surplus 1995 Ford L9000 truck:
Hare Construction $8100.00
Caledonia Diesel $6929.00
Councilman Beil moved that the Town accept the bid of Hare Construction at $8100.00, and Councilman Ricketts seconded the motion. 4 ayes, 0 noes.
In March 2007, the Town received the Final Engineers’ Report for the extension and consolidation of the water district. Acting on that report, the Town adopted the formal language, drafted by Bond Counsel, for the consolidation, did the required postings, and held a Public Hearing on April 11, 2007.
One of the requirements for completing the proposed extension was filing a copy of the order for the hearing with the New York State Comptroller’s Office. Attorneys for the Comptroller’s Office objected to the way the extension and consolidation was to be accomplished, and suggested that changes in the format be made. To comply, the engineers had to redraft their report into two distinct sections: the first to extend the present district lines, and the second to consolidate all areas into one district. If the revised report is adopted, then a new order will need to be prepared, republished, and posted, and another Public Hearing held.
Councilman Ricketts moved adoption of Resolution 5-A-07 accepting the revised Final Engineers’ Report and calling for a Public Hearing on June 13, 2007 at 7:30 PM to hear any party on the matter of the Town of Hume Water District Extension #3 and Consolidation Into the Town of Hume Consolidated Water District. Councilman Bower seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote:
Councilman Dennis Ricketts yes
Councilman Robert Beil yes
Councilman Bryce Bower yes
Supervisor Craig Smith yes.
The motion carried and the resolution was adopted.
Attorney David Pullen presented a draft of a local weight limit law that allows the Town to require, as a condition of getting a permit, a bond from overweight vehicles traveling Town roads.
The Town Clerk was reminded that an annual publication of Weight Limit Laws must be done for all Town roads.
Superintendent Paulsen asked for additional time to study the law before any action by the Board. The matter was tabled until the June meeting of the Board.
Supervisor Smith asked Mr. Pullen if he had any information on holding Town Court either outside of the jurisdiction or at a different location within the Town bounds. The attorney felt that special state legislation might be required to allow out-of-jurisdiction court facilities, but he will do further research by contacting the 8th Judicial District office in Buffalo.
Supervisor Smith told the Board that the Hazard Mitigation grant application for Cold Creek would be ready for filing within the time limit. He also said that Sondra MacEwan had made an application for playground equipment to the Hometown Helper program.
TOWN CLERK’S SUBJECTS
Town Clerk Sondra MacEwan presented the official report for the Justice Court audit results, and told the Board that they had until August 15, 2007 to write a response to the findings.
BILLS AND REPORTS
Councilman Ricketts moved that the reports of the Supervisor and Town Clerk be accepted as presented, and that the bills be accepted for payment. Councilman Beil seconded. 4 ayes, 0 noes.
(General -- $15621.51; Highway -- $170098.77; Lighting -- $1268.48; Sewer -- $28302.13; Water -- $1900.33)
WELLSVILLE MUNICIPAL STATUS
In his role as Allegany County District I Legislator, David Pullen explained some of the reasons for Wellsville’s attempt to be designated a City. He also listed some of the consequences of Wellsville gaining that designation. He sought a position statement from the Board so that he would have a platform that reflects his constituency’s desires when the County Legislature votes on the issue. Although the Board discussed the situation, they adopted no formal platform, preferring to have more information before reaching any decision.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Councilman Ricketts moved that the Board enter Executive Session to discuss personnel, and Councilman Beil seconded. 4 ayes, 0 noes. The Board entered Executive Session at 8:55 PM and returned to open meeting at 9:15 PM.
Councilman Bower moved that the meeting be adjourned, and Councilman Ricketts seconded. 4 ayes, 0 noes. Meeting adjourned at 9:20 PM.
The next regular meeting of the Hume Town Board will be June 13, 2007 at 7:00 PM at the Town Museum in Hume.
Respectfully submitted,
Sondra MacEwan,
Town Clerk