West Seneca Town Board Reorganization Meeting Minutes 01/02/2007
Supervisor Paul T. Clark called the meeting to order at 5:30 P.M. with 30 seconds of silent prayer followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL: Present -
Absent - Christopher F. Osmanski, Councilman Supervisor Clark read the Fire Prevention Code instructing the public where to exit in case of a fire or an emergency. The meeting was dedicated to the memory of Catherine Roeder and retired police officer Richard Graff. 1. Motion by Councilman Hicks, seconded by Councilman Graber, that the elected Town Officials be salaried as follows effective January 1, 2007:
and authorize the Supervisor to complete and sign the necessary forms for Erie County Personnel.
2. Motion by Councilman Hicks, seconded by Councilman Graber, that Timothy J. Greenan be continued as Town Attorney for a term set pursuant to Town Law §24 at an annual salary of $54,406.00 effective January 1, 2007 and authorize the Supervisor to complete and sign the necessary forms for Erie County Personnel.
3. Motion by Councilman Hicks, seconded by Councilman Graber, that Paul Notaro be appointed Deputy Town Attorney at an annual salary of $25,786.00 effective January 1, 2007 and authorize the Supervisor to complete and sign the necessary forms for Erie County Personnel.
4. Motion by Councilman Hicks, seconded by Councilman Bove, that Dale J. McCabe be appointed Deputy Town Attorney (Town Prosecutor) at an annual salary of $25,786.00 effective January 1, 2007 and authorize the Supervisor to complete and sign the necessary forms for Erie County Personnel.
5. Motion by Councilman Hicks, seconded by Councilman Graber, that Charles Koller be continued as Town Comptroller for a term set pursuant to Town Law §20 Subd. 3(B) at an annual salary of $39,576.00 effective January 1, 2007 and authorize the Supervisor to complete and sign the necessary forms for Erie County Personnel.
Supervisor Clark stated that although an opinion from the NYS Comptroller indicated that he was not obligated to, he was abstaining from voting on this motion because he and Mr. Koller were partners in a financial accounting firm in the Town of West Seneca. 6. Motion by Councilman Hicks, seconded by Councilman Bove, that Patricia C. DePasquale be appointed Registrar of Vital Statistics at an annual salary of $3906.00 effective January 1, 2007, all fees to go to the Town General Fund, and authorize the Supervisor to complete and sign the necessary forms for Erie County Personnel.
7. Motion by Councilman Hicks, seconded by Councilman Bove, on the recommendation of the Town Clerk, that Jacqueline Felser be appointed Deputy Registrar of Vital Statistics at an annual salary of $1597.00 effective January 1, 2007 and authorize the Supervisor to complete and sign the necessary forms for Erie County Personnel.
8. Motion by Councilman Hicks, seconded by Supervisor Clark, on the recommendation of the Town Clerk, that Jacqueline Felser be appointed First Deputy Clerk, to serve without remuneration effective January 1, 2007.
9. Motion by Councilman Hicks, seconded by Supervisor Clark, on the recommendation of the Town Clerk, that Carol Rebl be appointed Second Deputy Clerk, to serve without remuneration effective January 1, 2007.
10. Motion by Councilman Hicks, seconded by Councilman Graber, on the recommendation of the Highway Superintendent, that Edward Kowalewski be appointed Deputy Highway Supt. at an annual salary of $8133.00 effective January 1, 2007 and that he act in the capacity of the Highway Supt. in the event of his absence for any reason, e.g., vacation, illness, etc., and authorize the Supervisor to complete and sign the necessary forms for Erie County Personnel.
11. Motion by Councilman Hicks, seconded by Supervisor Clark, that the salary of Secretary to the Supervisor and Bookkeeper to the Supervisor be set as follows effective January 1, 2007: Secretary to Supervisor $ 38,006.63 and authorize the Supervisor to complete and sign the necessary forms for Erie County Personnel.
12. Motion by Councilman Hicks, seconded by Councilman Graber, that Maureen Murphy be appointed Clerk to the Town Justices at an annual salary of $33,148.54 effective January 1, 2007 and authorize the Supervisor to complete and sign the necessary forms for Erie County Personnel.
13. Motion by Councilman Hicks, seconded by Councilman Bove, that Kathleen Brenner be appointed Clerk to the Town Justices at an annual salary of $38,006.63 effective January 1, 2007 and authorize the Supervisor to complete and sign the necessary forms for Erie County Personnel.
14. Motion by Councilman Hicks, seconded by Councilman Graber, that Donald Powers; John Bager; and Dennis Osinski, be appointed to the Board of Plumbing Examiners at an annual stipend of $500.00 each effective January 1, 2007 and authorize the Supervisor to complete and sign the necessary forms for Erie County Personnel.
15. Motion by Councilman Hicks, seconded by Councilman Graber, that the annual salaries of the Zoning Board of Appeals and Planning Board members be set at $5420.00 for the Chairman of each Board and $3676.00 each for the other members of each Board effective January 1, 2007 and authorize the Supervisor to complete and sign the necessary forms for Erie County Personnel, noting that the members of each board will be paid one-twelfth of the annual salary for each meeting attended and the secretary should report any missed meetings to the Comptroller’s Office the following day.
16. Motion by Councilman Hicks, seconded by Councilman Graber, that Patricia C. DePasquale be continued as Secretary to the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals at an annual salary of $2994.00 each effective January 1, 2007 and authorize the Supervisor to complete and sign the necessary forms for Erie County Personnel.
17. Motion by Councilman Hicks, seconded by Councilman Bove, that Robin Heiss; Michael Sheat; and Timothy Elling be appointed Civil Officers of the Town of West Seneca effective January 1, 2007 for the purpose of service of process, etc. without remuneration from the town.
18. Motion by Councilman Hicks, seconded by Councilman Graber, that Gladys Ryan be appointed Deputy Receiver of Taxes at an annual salary of $860.00 effective January 1, 2007 and authorize the Supervisor to complete and sign the necessary forms for Erie County Personnel.
19. Motion by Councilman Hicks, seconded by Councilman Graber, that the members of the Assessment Board of Review be subject to the call of the Assessor with fees set as follows effective January 1, 2007: $1075.00 per session for the Chairman; $765.00 per session for each of the four members.
20. Motion by Councilman Hicks, seconded by Councilman Graber, that the following officials and employees not represented by the Collective Bargaining Agent recognized by the Town of West Seneca are hereby appointed to the following positions with salaries effective January 1, 2007:
and authorize the Supervisor to complete and sign the necessary forms for Erie County Personnel.
21. Motion by Councilman Hicks, seconded by Councilman Graber, that Kenneth VanRemmen and Albert Nigro be appointed to a one (1) year term as Bingo Inspectors for the Town of West Seneca at an annual salary of $3342.00 each effective January 1, 2007 through December 31, 2007 and authorize the Supervisor to complete and sign the necessary forms for Erie County Personnel.
22. Motion by Councilman Hicks, seconded by Councilman Bove, that Paul Notaro be appointed Americans With Disabilities Officer and Harassment Compliance Officer for the Town of West Seneca to serve without remuneration.
23. Motion by Councilman Hicks, seconded by Councilman Bove, that Ferol Webb be appointed Town Historian at an annual salary of $1814.00 effective January 1, 2007 and authorize the Supervisor to complete and sign the necessary forms for Erie County Personnel.
24. Motion by Councilman Hicks, seconded by Councilman Graber, that Michael Kerl be appointed Natural Disaster Services Coordinator, Part-Time at an annual salary of $3799.00 effective January 1, 2007 and authorize the Supervisor to complete and sign the necessary forms for Erie County Personnel.
25. Motion by Councilman Hicks, seconded by Councilman Graber, that John Gullo be appointed Assistant Disaster Coordinator at a stipend of $50 per incident effective January 1, 2007 and authorize the Supervisor to complete and sign the necessary forms for Erie County Personnel.
26. Motion by Councilman Hicks, seconded by Councilman Graber, that Patrick Finnegan be granted an extension of his existing leave of absence as Laborer in the Highway Department through and including January 1, 2008 and authorize the Supervisor to complete and sign the necessary forms for Erie County Personnel.
27. Motion by Councilman Hicks, seconded by Councilman Graber, that town funds be deposited in the West Seneca Offices of the following banks effective January 1, 2007:
28. Motion by Councilman Hicks, seconded by Supervisor Clark, that the Town Board does hereby authorize all funds of the Construction and Improvement Account to be maintained in a consolidated bank account, but that the Town Comptroller continue to maintain a separate account in the bookkeeping system to indicate the exact balance of each Construction and Improvement Account at all times as recommended by the state auditors.
29. Motion by Councilman Hicks, seconded by Councilman Graber, that the Town Board of the Town of West Seneca, pursuant to §25 of Town Law and §11 (2) of the Public Officers Law, hereby approves the execution of a Public Employee’s Blanket Bond issued by the Fidelity Deposit Company covering all officers and employees including the Supervisor, Town Clerk, Comptroller, Deputy Comptroller, Superintendent of Highways, Receiver of Taxes, and two (2) Town Justices for the sum of $200,000.00 per occurrence, and be it further resolved that the undertaking shall be effective January 1, 2007, noting that a $2500.00 deductible will apply to the bond.
30. Motion by Councilman Hicks, seconded by Councilman Graber, that the West Seneca Bee be designated as the Official Newspaper of the Town of West Seneca and that the Buffalo News and Front Page be used at the discretion of the Town Board.
31. Motion by Councilman Hicks, seconded by Supervisor Clark, that the following titles of town department heads, elected or appointed officials, and certain other full-time employees not covered by contract provisions between the town and the Blue and White Collar CSEA or the West Seneca PBA be granted extended benefits including Blue Shield or equivalent plan costs as well as all other health and welfare fund related benefits in accordance with the CSEA White Collar Contract or equivalent, with the exception of the Chief of Police and Assistant Chief of Police who are granted benefits pursuant to the contract with the West Seneca PBA. These will include the following: Supervisor, (4) Councilmen; Town Clerk, Highway Superintendent; (2) Town Justices; Receiver of Taxes; Town Attorney; (2) Deputy Town Attorneys; Town Comptroller; Sole Assessor; Secretary to Supervisor; (2) Clerks to Town Justices; Secretary to Highway Superintendent; Town Engineer; Code Enforcement Officer; Director of Recreation; Director of Youth Bureau; (2) Coordinators of Peer Counseling; (1) Service Learning Coordinator; (1) Supervisor of Youth Corps; (1) Coordinator of Federal & State Aid; (2) Senior Account Clerk; Principal Clerk.
32. Motion by Councilman Hicks, seconded by Supervisor Clark, that the Town of West Seneca shall continue to pay 85% of Blue Shield or an equivalent plan for eligible appointed or elected retired employees who have retired after January 1, 1992, noting that said payments shall not be made to employees but directly to the insurance carriers.
33. Motion by Councilman Hicks, seconded by Councilman Graber, that pursuant to §119 (2) of the Town Law, the Town Comptroller be authorized to draw warrants to pay any claims for fixed salaries, for principal and interest on bonded or refunded debt or other loans, on the legal or stated compensation of officers or employees of the town, or accounts becoming due upon lawful contracts for periods not exceeding one (1) year.
34. Motion by Councilman Hicks, seconded by Councilman Bove, that all vouchers for claims upon the town shall be acceptable for audit provided they are certified to be true, correct, and initialed by the department head, board or commission.
35. Motion by Councilman Hicks, seconded by Councilman Graber, that the mileage rate allowed to public officials and town employees be tied to Internal Revenue Service regulations.
36. Motion by Councilman Hicks, seconded by Councilman Graber, that: 1. No purchases be made over $1000 without prior approval of the department head; 2. No purchases be made for more than $1000 but less than $1700 without approval of the department head and Town Board liaison or Committee Chairman to the department (Town Board member); 3. Purchases for more than $1700 but under the bidding limits must be aggregated by purchase request and submitted to the Town Board as an agenda item on the purchases requiring Town Board approval form for approval prior to committing for the purchase. There will be no exceptions to this procedure other than as permitted by law and the Comptroller is directed to strictly enforce this ruling.
37. Motion by Councilman Hicks, seconded by Councilman Graber, that the town continue its Procurement Policy as outlined in Chapter 30 of the West Seneca Town Code.
38. Motion by Councilman Hicks, seconded by Supervisor Clark, that petty cash funds be created as follows:
39. Motion by Councilman Hicks, seconded by Councilman Bove, that Town Hall Offices be open 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. five (5) days per week, except July 1 through Labor Day when the hours shall be 9:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. five (5) days per week as outlined in the White Collar Labor Contract.
40. Motion by Councilman Hicks, seconded by Councilman Graber, that the accounting firm of Drescher & Malecki, LLP be employed to prepare the annual audit and also any other services that may be called for by order of the Town Board.
41. Motion by Councilman Hicks, seconded by Councilman Bove, that Supervisor Clark be appointed Budget Officer to serve with remuneration as set out in the 2007 Town Budget.
42. Motion by Councilman Hicks, seconded by Councilman Bove, that Supervisor Clark be authorized to sign checks for the West Seneca Library pursuant to §259 of the Education Law.
43. Motion by Councilman Hicks, seconded by Councilman Bove, that the Comptroller be authorized to temporarily invest town monies not needed for immediate expenditure, and further, the Town Board adopt and authorize the Comptroller to comply with the Investment Policy and Guidelines as originally adopted by the Town Board on 12/18/89 and amended on 8/15/94.
44. Motion by Councilman Hicks, seconded by Councilman Graber, to add the following list of banks to the Town Investment Policy, which the town plans to have bid on excess funds for 2007:
45. Motion by Councilman Hicks, seconded by Councilman Graber, that regular meetings of the Town Board, where not otherwise specified, be held on the second and fourth Mondays of each month and any emergency meeting at the call of the Chair. Special meetings shall be held at the call of the Town Clerk of the Town of West Seneca upon direction of the Chairman, or upon written request of at least two (2) members of the Town Board. Notice in writing stating the time, place, and purpose of the special meeting shall be served personally upon each member of the board at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to the date fixed for holding the meeting. Only business specified in the notice thereof may be transacted at a special meeting. In accordance with the Open Meeting Law, the public and news media shall be given reasonable notice of any special meeting and all further executive sessions shall be public except for specific purposes allowed by law.
46. Motion by Councilman Hicks, seconded by Councilman Bove, that no town vehicles be used for unauthorized personal use and all town vehicles including the equipment in the Highway Department be identified by decals, with the exception of the Police Department vehicles used for detective work, the Police Chief’s car, the Highway Superintendent’s car, and the Supervisor’s car and direct the Supervisor to insure that decals are placed on all cars except those mentioned.
47. Motion by Councilman Hicks, seconded by Supervisor Clark, that in the interest of energy conservation, the operation of a log be continued for each town owned truck and vehicle as relating to mileage, destination, and task accomplished. Said log shall be reviewed by the department head and forwarded monthly to the Committee Chairman responsible for that office. No town owned vehicle, except Police Department vehicles, should be left running at any location for any reason; and further, all town vehicles of various department heads, except Police and Highway, shall be left at the Town Hall for general use while individuals are on vacation or any extended time off.
48. Motion by Supervisor Clark, seconded by Councilman Hicks, that the Town Board sets the following rules for 2007 relative to the use of Highway personnel and equipment for emergencies with respect to the pre-existing intermunicipal agreement: 1. The West Seneca Highway Department is authorized to provide for emergency assistance to local school systems, fire districts and other municipalities if personnel or equipment are requested; 2. An emergency must exist and have been declared in the Erie County municipality requesting assistance; 3. The Highway Superintendent will promptly notify the Supervisor of such action and a written resume will immediately be given to the Town Clerk and Town Attorney outlining the details of the emergency service; 4. West Seneca employees will operate Town equipment in the majority of work situations. However, slow moving vehicles (roller), stationary equipment (air compressor or pumps), and light tools may be loaned to another Highway Department to be used and operated by their employees and fees will be assigned to the municipality that receives long term aid; 5. The West Seneca Highway Superintendent is authorized to request aid from other towns in Erie County and non West Seneca personnel and equipment will work under the supervision of the West Seneca Highway Superintendent.
49. Motion by Councilman Hicks, seconded by Councilman Bove, that in the interest of providing the best services to town residents the town may hire independent contractors.
50. Supervisor Clark announced the following personal appointments and committees for the year 2007, noting that he would also be a member of each committee:
50. (continued) Committees:
Liaison Members:
ADJOURNMENT Motion by Supervisor Clark, seconded by Councilman Bove, that the Town Board Proceedings be adjourned at 6:05 P.M.
PATRICIA C. DEPASQUALE, RMC/CMC |