Meeting Overview

DRAFT

DRAFT

TOWN OF ORANGETOWN

SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2011

 

The Town Board entered this Special Town Board Meeting, from the Workshop, at 8:15 p.m.  Supervisor Whalen presided and the Town Clerk called the Roll.  Present were:

 

Present were:  Councilman Denis Troy

Councilman Michael Maturo

Councilman Thomas Diviny

Councilwoman Nancy Low-Hogan

 

Also present:

Charlotte Madigan, Town Clerk

John Edwards, Town Attorney

AnnMarie Hahr, Executive Assistant to the Supervisor

Charles Richardson, Director of Finance

James Dean, Superintendent of Highways

Joseph Moran, Commissioner of DEME

Robert Simon, Receiver of Taxes

Aric Gorton, Superintendent of Parks-Rec & Building Maint.

 

Charlotte Madigan led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

 

Charlotte Madigan, Town Clerk, presented the Media Letter noticing the Town Board may vote to approve the 2012 budget; copy is labeled Exhibit 11-E-11 and made a part of these minutes.

 

Summary of Public Comments

Carol LaValle, Tappan Historical Society, read a letter explaining the importance of the Historic Areas Board of Review and she requested the Town Board not to cut it from the budget.

 

RESOLUTION NO.  630                                         2012 PRELIMINARY BUDGET PROPOSED AMENDMENTS

 

Councilman Diviny made a motion to make the following proposed amendments to the 2012 Preliminary Budget, which was seconded by Councilman Troy:

 

	Proposed Cut	Approved	Comments
	or Revenue
DEME
Hospitalization		$     10,000	Needed to reduce sewer unit charges
Laborer	$        48,980	$     48,980	Needed to reduce sewer unit charges
Admin OT	$        37,000	$     37,000	Needed to reduce sewer unit charges
Sewer Maint Agreements	$        50,000	$     50,000	Leaves 75 K
Sewer Connections	$      250,000	$   100,000	Leaves $175 K
Capital Outlay		$     25,000	Purchase in 2011
Rec and Parks
Shade Tree	$        20,000	$     20,000	Rank 2
Summer Concerts	$          7,500		Rank 3
Weekend Open Gym	$        10,440		Rank 4, 5, 6
Build Maint Supplies	$        15,000	$     15,000	Rank 8
Backhoe	$        78,000	$     78,000	Rank 9
Family Movie Night	$          8,500		Rank 12
Other	$          8,000
Fee Increases
Option 1 Field Use	$          9,921		See Memo
Option 2 Showmobile	$             700		See Memo
Option 3 PortoJohns			See Memo
Highway
Drop Off Center
Close Saturday	$        64,771		Rank 1
Close Alt Sat	$        32,386	$     32,385	CJR #
Close Week days	$      115,969		Rank 4
Close some weekdays		$     57,985
Fee for drop off	$      150,000		$5 per visit, 30,000 visits
Sweeping OT	$        13,676		Rank 3, Business Dist
Seasonals
Seasonal Staff – Summer	$        39,702		Rank 2
Seasonal Staff Nov-Dec	$        34,574		Rank 5
Leaf Removal
No double time	$      123,929		Rank 6
No Time and an 1/2	$      112,846		Rank 7
Fees
Increase Inspection Fees		$     47,000	See memo
Increase Permit Fees		$     17,600	See memo
Police
Minimum Staff Changes OT	$        50,000
Holiday Pay	$        25,000	$     25,000
Special Events OT (St. Pat)	$        40,000
1 Sgt demotion	$        15,810
2 Lt Demotions	$        37,200
2 Police cars	$        44,000	$     44,000
Ammunition	$          8,000	$      8,000
Uniforms	$          3,000	$      3,000
Travel	$          2,000	$      2,000
*RIF  Position 86	$        81,669
*RIF  Position 85	$        81,669
*RIF Position 84	$        95,945
*RIF Position 83	$        95,945
*Return TaskForce & BOCES
FICA/Pension savings @27.5%	$      143,890
Loss of BOCES Funding
Loss of Task Force Funding	$     (350,000)
CJR Proposals
Sick leave	$        50,000	$     50,000
Vacation buyout	$        25,000	$     25,000
Conferences	$        15,000	$     15,000
Utilities	$          5,000	$      5,000
OBZPAE
Eliminate HABOR	$        14,129		Rank 1
Recuce ACABOR from 7 to 5	$          6,756		Rank 2
Reduce Planning Bd from 7 to 5	$          9,556		Rank 3
Various cuts	$          6,200		Rank 4
Vacant Clerk Typist	$        39,457	$     39,457	Promo to Justice
Fee Increases			TBD
Receiver
Vacant position (Deputy)	$        40,498
Charge School Dist for
Collection based on Costs
Incl Fringes (50% of Budget)	$      114,000		Assumes vacancy cut
			Could be increased for
			Assessor,  IT, etc
Charge 1% on School taxes	$   1,530,920		assumes $153.1 m
			for 4 Districts
Charge .125%		$   200,000
Supervisor
Make Assistant Half-time	$        34,481	$     34,481
Town Attorney
Outside Counsel			Wislon Elser is $5,500
			per month + expenses
Employer FICA Tax Cut	$      100,000		2% of $5 M payroll
			Needs Congressional
			Approval
Bond Tax Cert	$   2,525,000		2012 cost of $50,000
			Causes problems for 2013 & beyond
			Estimate based on $2.1 m Pfizer
			& $425,000 other
Outside Insurance		$     75,000	Reduce fund contributions
Total Property Tax Reduction		$   968,908	Cuts and New Revenues
Sewer Unit Charge Reduction		$     95,980	Cuts
Increase Use of Fund Balance		$1,500,000	General, Police & Sewer 500k each
Change in County Reimbursment		$ (170,000)	180K vs 350K
Change in Tax Certs		$   230,980	$2.525 m v $2.755 m
Estimated Amount Under Tax Cap		$   120,530

 

 

Councilman Troy made the following additional motion, to Councilman Diviny’s motion, which was seconded by Councilman Diviny and on a roll call was adopted:

 

RESOLVED, that the 2012 Preliminary Budget be amended to make Community Funding $zero.

 

Ayes:               Councilpersons Troy, Diviny

Supervisor Whalen

Noes:               Councilperson Maturo

Abstained:       Councilperson Low-Hogan

* * *

 

A lengthy discussion was held by the Town Board.

 

Supervisor Whalen said each year it’s going to be more and more difficult to meet the 2% cap.  Future Town Boards are going to be charged with the idea of making substantial cuts to services.

 

Councilman Diviny said, if we do not vote against the budget the first time out, we are just throwing our hands up and saying we will never be able to get under the cap.  The people in this town can not afford a 7 ½% tax increase.

 

Councilman Troy said, I think we will have big challenges next year because the fund balance is lower.  Somehow we have to bring in some revenue next year.

 

Charles Richardson informed the Town Board that down the road there are going to significant problems staying within the tax cap.

 

 

RESOLUTION NO. 631                                          2012 PRELIMINARY BUDGET PROPOSED AMENDMENTS/ADOPTED

 

Councilman Diviny offered the following resolution, which was seconded by Supervisor Whalen and on a roll call was adopted:

Resolution No. 631 – Continued

 

RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby adopted the 2012 Preliminary Budget, with all amendments, as the 2012 Final Budget.

 

Ayes:               Councilpersons Diviny, Troy, Maturo

Supervisor Whalen

Noes:               Councilperson Low-Hogan

 

* * *

 

RESOLUTION NO. 632                                                      ADJOURNMENT

 

Councilman Troy offered the following resolution, which was seconded by Councilman Maturo and was unanimously adopted:

 

RESOLVED, that the Town Board adjourned at 9:15 p.m.

 

Ayes:               Councilpersons Troy, Maturo. Low-Hogan, Diviny

Supervisor Whalen

Noes:               None

 

 

 

____________________________________

Charlotte Madi