Danby Town Board Minutes of Meeting October 11, 2010

Present: 	Supervisor:	Ric Dietrich 	Councilpersons:	Leslie Connors, Kathy Halton, Dan Klein, Dylan Race

Others Present:  	Town Clerk	Pamela Goddard 	Bookkeeper	Laura Shawley

Members of the Public: 	Ronda Roaring, Joel Gagnon, Ted Crane, Mary Ann Barr, Bob Roe.

Conservation Advisory Council Interviews:
	Interviews of CAC candidates commenced at 6:35pm. Ronda Roaring, Joel Gagnon, Ted Crane, and Mary Ann Barr were interviewed. Each interviewee gave a brief description of their background and their interest in the position. A similar set of questions were asked of each person. No date was set for decisions on these posts.

State Forest Strategic Plan:
	Kathy Halton presented Jennifer Tiffany’s draft set of comments and a draft resolution, both responding to the NYS DEC Draft Strategic Plan for State Forest Management. Information was distributed and discussed. Citizens and municipalities have until the end of October to submit comments and concerns to the NYS DEC. The State Forest Management Plan will have a significant impact on the Town of Danby because approximately one-quarter of the land in the town is within the Danby State Forest.
	There was a short discussion of comments that would be appropriate to the Strategic Plan for State Forest Management, which would be appropriate to the Rapid Waters Unit Management Plan, and where such comments would overlap in regard to Danby. There is a need for clarification regarding State and Federal holdings of mineral rights in the State Forest.
	The TB will spend more time reviewing and potentially revising these comments and will vote on the Resolution to submit comments to the NYS DEC during its Oct. 18 budget workshop meeting.

Minutes:
Resolution No. 116 of 2010 – APPROVAL OF AUGUST MINUTES
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Danby approves the minutes of Town Board meetings on August 2, 9, and 31, 2010.
Moved by Halton, Second by Dietrich. The motion passed. In Favor: Connors, Halton, Klein, Race, Dietrich

Resolution No. 117 of 2010 – APPROVAL OF SEPTEMBER MINUTES
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Danby approves the minutes of Town Board meetings on September 13, 20, and 27, 2010.
Moved by Connors, Second by Halton. The motion passed. In Favor: Connors, Halton, Klein, Race, Dietrich

Highway Department Loader:
	Laura Shawley presented a resolution to the TB. She explained the process for determining to purchase a Caterpillar brand Front End Loader. Tracy Equipment is crediting a $29,000 trade-in value for the old loader. The current loader is over 20 years old.
Resolution No. 118 of 2010 – APPROVAL OF EXPENDITURE, HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT LOADER
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Danby authorizes the expenditure of up to $115,000.00 to purchase a new loader from Tracy Equipment through the State Contract. The funding source will be $85,425 from the Equipment Reserve, $20,000 from the Machinery and Equipment Line (DA5130.200), and $9,575 from Fund Balance. This includes the trade-in value of the current loader.
Moved by Klein, Second by Dietrich. The motion passed. In Favor: Connors, Halton, Klein, Race, Dietrich

Association of Towns “Preserve Town Law” Resolution:
	Dietrich and Halton explained the purpose of two draft resolutions proposed for the Association of Towns, with amendments distributed by Don Barber. The first resolution asks  the Association of Towns to urge the Governor and State Legislature to amend the Environmental Conservation Law to expressly preserve local land use authority over testing, exploration, drilling, and extraction of natural gas and oil. The second is similar, but asks for express statutory authority for local government to require the posting of road reconstruction bonds to protect local highways from damage attributable to commercial vehicles and loads.
	These will be put on the Association of Towns February agenda. No action is needed by the Danby Town Board at this time.

Highway Department Biomass Boiler:
	Dietrich reported that negotiations with NYSERDA regarding installing a hay bale boiler furnace vs. a wood chip boiler have not been successful. The Town will therefor install a wood chip biomass boiler as a heating system for the Highway Barns. There in concern that the system be of an appropriate size for this building. Continued discussions are being held about building in such a way that the system can be converted to hay at a future date.

Discussion of Meeting formats:
	There was a continued discussion of how to set agendas and organize Town Board meetings, whether to call one meeting an “agenda meeting” or to have both monthly meetings as “action meetings.” A prime concern is that citizens have access to information about what will happen at Town Board meetings.
	It was agreed that the TB needs to work on planning ahead in order to present information to residents. Goddard suggested that a Councilperson write a short article for the Danby Area News informing residents of the amount of work being done at meetings and that agendas for both monthly TB meetings will be posted on the Town web site several days ahead of time. A draft agenda should be compiled on the Wednesday prior to TB meetings. Last minute agenda additions which are major issues should be held off until the next meeting, whenever possible. Special meetings can be called if additional study time is needed for an item.
	It was agreed to try this new system. This is in preference to adding additional meetings during the month. Dan Klein offered to write an informational article for the DAN.

Youth Services:
	Dietrich initiated a discussion about Youth Services, as related to the 2011 budget. He encouraged the Board to allocate money toward this program with a plan to build funds over the next three years. Other budget needs will impact these programs. Prioritizing projects is a consideration.
	A letter from Don Barber to TCCOG representatives and Youth Commission Leaders was distributed to the Board. This included discussion items for a meeting to be held on Thursday, October 14. Possible partial restoration of funds by the County may be possible. Dietrich will attend and asked for additional representation from Danby. Dylan Race agreed to attend the meeting with Dietrich. Race shared a copy of a Youth Services report for Board information.
Budget Process:
	There was a short discussion of what will be covered during the Oct. 18 budget workshop. Shawley has offered to do an analysis of youth programs, reserves, and other lines so the Board can make choices in different categories.

Health Insurance Consortium:
	Shawley and Dietrich gave report on a committee being formed by the Health Insurance Consortium. Shawley is being appointed as representative as someone who has been involved with the process from the start. New insurance plans will be analyzed as to their impact on the insured. Shawley stated that her goal is to be an active participant in the committee as an advocate for Danby in order to stabilize costs.

Resolution No. 119 of 2010 – HEALTH INSURANCE CONSORTIUM COMMITTEE
WHEREAS, The Greater Tompkins County Health Insurance Consortium is forming a Join Committee on Plan Structure and Design, which committee will take part in recognizing the needs of the insured and implementation of new insurance packages for municipalities, and
WHEREAS it is required that each municipality appoint a representative from their Town to be a part of this committee, Therefor it is
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Danby appoints Laura Shawley to represent the Town of Danby to the Joint Committee on Plan Structure and Design for the Greater Tompkins County Municipal Health Insurance Consortium.
Moved by Connors, Second by Race. The motion passed. In Favor: Connors, Halton, Klein, Race, Dietrich

Town Clerk and Supervisor’s Reports:
	Supervisor reports from January through June 2010 were distributed to the board. They will review these and move on them at the Oct. 18 meeting. The September Town Clerk report was distributed and accepted.

Warrants:
	General Fund #413-443 - $30,689.96
		Klein moved, Race second - all vote AYE
	Highway Fund #125-133 - $25,010.40
		Halton moved, Connors second - all vote AYE
	Water District # 52-57 - $606.59
		Halton moved, Connors second - all vote AYE

Adjournment
A motion to adjourn the Meeting was made at 8:45 pm.

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Pamela S Goddard, Town Clerk