Meeting Overview

TOWN OF ORANGETOWN

SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING

2010 PRELIMINARY BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2009

 

This Town Board Meeting was opened at 8:06 p.m.  Supervisor Kleiner presided and called the Roll.  Present were:

 

Councilman Denis Troy

Councilwoman Marie Manning

Councilwoman Nancy Low-Hogan

Councilman Michael Maturo

 

Also present:   Teresa Accetta-Pugh, Deputy Town Clerk

Eliot Tozer, Deputy Supervisor

John Edwards, Town Attorney

Teresa Kenny, First Deputy Town Attorney

Charles Richardson, Director of Finance

James Dean, Superintendent of Highways

Ron Delo, Director of the Dept. of Envtl Management & Engineering Robert Simon, Receiver of Taxes

Kevin Nulty, Chief of Police

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

Judge Paul Phinney

Mary Cardenas, Town Historian

 

Supervisor Kleiner led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

 

RESOLUTION NO.  673                                         OPEN PH/2010 PRELIMINARY BUDGET

 

Councilwoman Low-Hogan offered the following resolution, which was seconded by Councilwoman Manning and was unanimously adopted:

 

RESOLVED, that the 8:00 p.m. public hearing to consider the adoption 2010 Preliminary Budget is hereby opened.

 

Ayes:               Councilpersons Low-Hogan, Manning, Troy, Maturo

Supervisor Kleiner

Noes:               None

 

Teresa Accetta-Pugh, Deputy Town Clerk, presented the Affidavit of Publication and the Notice of Posting; copies are labeled Exhibit 11-A-09 and made a part of these minutes.

 

Supervisor Kleiner said the Town Board was given budget changes.  These changes would save the Town $466,564 and bring the tax rate down to just under 4%.  After a discussion took place regarding using money from the fund balance, Supervisor Kleiner said most of the entire increase in the budget and the percentage increase in the tax rate is due to personnel increases.  The other issues, except health insurance and utilities, were at zero, just as we requested from the department heads.

 

James Dean, Superintendent of Highways, understands that we are using $500,000 in surplus funds out of the Highway accounts to help reduce the tax rate.  The Highway Department has some substantial issues in the infrastructure of their garage.  The roof needs to be replaced at a cost of over $300,000, drainage issues related to stormwater and salt getting into the storm drain systems at a cost between $250,000 – $300,000, an additional storage garage and an extension on the administration office are needed.  Some of the equipment needs to be kept inside and the administration office is not big enough to fit the whole crew for any training.  The training room is also used as a place for the crews to rest during their off shifts, during snow removal.  In order to do this work, $1.3 million is needed and the fund balance is normally used to make repairs.  He thinks using the $500,000 and additional funds from the fund balance should be looked at, especially if it is used to reduce taxes and make the repairs and improvements at the Highway facility.  A bond can be floated over 15 years and without any tax increase by using some of the remaining surplus to pay down the debt or the fund balance itself can be used.  It’s an ideal time to do these improvements because bids are very competitive and the interest rates are very good.

Judge Paul Phinney spoke about reinstating a secretary/clerk for his office, which was not filled since 2002, although he has asked to fill it.  Traffic tickets are up 97% since 2005 and criminal cases are up 170%, even though the Police said they have been steady.  We service three other jurisdictions.  Originally, if a person pleads guilty, we send out a fine letter.  If a person pleads not guilty, we schedule a trial.  Now, we are required by the State, to send letters to everyone to come in for a conference first and the Town Attorney’s Office has to assign a deputy to handle tickets because the State Police will not handle theirs anymore.  The Town Police can still handle their own.  At that time, we figure 80% of the people will show up and take a plea but then a trial notice, which is a second notice, has to be sent to the people who did not show up.  If they do not show for the trial, we have to send them a certified letter, return receipt requested.  We are going to have 60% more paperwork just on our end to prosecute a single ticket.  The case priorities are set by the state:  first criminal cases, then civil cases, then Town Code violations and then traffic and parking tickets.  If we do not get that staff member, we are not going to be able to handle as many tickets that we can.  We are going to have to dismiss some because they are going to age out and the revenues are going to go down.  I do not envy you but I just want it put into the record, so that if it happens next year, you know why.

 

Summary of the Public portion:

Bill Hahn, Orangeburg Library, spoke about the fund balance, the 3% library increase, the library’s repairs and renovations and the $15,000 worth of light bulbs installed by Siemens.

Steven Cea, Nyack Center, requested the budget be increased to $100,000 for non-for-profits and community groups.

Rose Marie Raccioppi, Environmental Committee, questioned expenditures for toxic pesticides and she requested the Town to eliminate the use of toxic pesticides.

Richard Kavesh, Village of Nyack Trustee, requested the Town allocate at least $30,000 as scholarships for the town’s low-income children to be able to attend summer programs.

Eileen Larkin, Palisades, said it’s the Town Board’s obligation to bring in a bare bones budget.  Town vehicles should not be brought home, elected or appointed officials should not get raises and overtime should be only in emergencies.  She is against bonding for Highway’s capital improvements.

Michael Mandel, Pearl River, said a 0% increase in taxes would be a proper priority.  The golf courses should be managed by a new individual; the automated system should be activated; and the golf advisory committee should be revised.  Union members should contribute to health and retirement benefits and the Highway Department should use existing funds.

Alexis Starke, Environmental Committee, asked not to budget any money for toxic pesticides for our parks and golf courses.  The chemicals the Town has been using has been proven to cause cancer, infertility and ADD.  She asked whether the use of toxic pesticides has been reduced at all and by how much.

Martin Ryan, Environmental Committee, requested we make sure to budget for non-toxic chemicals.  We need to protect our watershed, our heath and the quality of life.  A management plan for the golf courses is needed.

Justin Greenblatt-Grimm, Environmental Committee, said there are opportunities for golf courses not to use pesticides.  He asked if this has been explored.

 

 

RESOLUTION NO. 674                                          CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENTS/2010 PRELIMINARY BUDGET

 

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

 

RESOLVED, the public portion of this public hearing for is hereby closed.

 

Ayes:               Councilpersons Troy, Maturo, Manning, Low-Hogan

Supervisor Kleiner

Noes:               None

* * *

 

RESOLUTION NO. 675                                          RESERVE/2010 PRELIMINARY BUDGET

 

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

 

Resolution No. 675 – Continued

 

RESOLVED, that the Town Board reserves its decision regarding 2010 Preliminary Budget until November 9, 2009 at 8:00 p.m.

 

Ayes:         Councilpersons Troy, Manning, Low-Hogan, Maturo

Supervisor Kleiner

Noes:         None

* * *

RESOLUTION NO. 676                                          ENTER EXECUTIVE SESSION

 

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

 

RESOLVED, that the Town Board entered the Executive Session at 9:40 p.m.

 

Ayes:         Councilpersons Troy, Manning, Low-Hogan, Maturo

Supervisor Kleiner

Noes:         None

 

Resolution Nos. 677 and 678 see Executive Session.

 

RESOLUTION NO. 679                                          ADJOURNMENT

 

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

 

RESOLVED, that the Town Board adjourned at 10:20 p.m.

 

Ayes:         Councilpersons Manning, Troy, Low-Hogan, Maturo

Supervisor Kleiner

Noes:         None

 

 

 

____________________________________

Teresa Accetta-Pugh, Deputy Town Clerk