West Seneca Special Town Board Meeting Minutes 07/23/2007
Supervisor Paul T. Clark called the meeting to order at 5:00 P.M. with 30 seconds of silent prayer followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL: Present -
Absent - None 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 Joseph Ciancio. 1. Supervisor Clark re School Resource Officer agreement Motion by Supervisor Clark, unanimous second, to authorize the Supervisor to execute an agreement between the West Seneca School System and the Town of West Seneca to provide a police presence in the West Seneca School System. On the question, Supervisor Clark stated that this agreement will add an additional police officer to the West Seneca school buildings. The officers work at the schools five days a week while school is in session for the traditional school year. The agreement is for a three year period and there will be some significant cost reimbursement from the school system. The town will be able to utilize these officers during emergencies and when school is not in session. Supervisor Clark thanked Councilman Hicks, Chief Gehen, and West Seneca School Superintendent James Brotz for their work on this matter.
2. Chief Gehen re Appointment of Matthew Kriegbaum & Bryan French as Police Officers, temporary Motion by Supervisor Clark, unanimous second, to appoint Matthew D. Kriegbaum and Bryan C. French as Police Officers, Temporary, effective August 6, 2007 at an annual salary of $43,813.38 and authorize the Supervisor to complete and sign the necessary forms for Erie County Personnel, noting that both temporary appointments are contingent until medical and psychological examinations are satisfactorily completed and there is a one year probationary period commencing with the effective date of appointment. On the question, Supervisor Clark stated that a police officer’s job was a great responsibility and the Town Board took the hiring and training of police officers very seriously. Councilman Bove stated that the West Seneca Town Board was very proud of its police officers and she welcomed the new officers to the service of the town. Councilman Bove further noted that someone had informed her that Matthew Kriegbaum assisted with a house fire situation, and she asked him to tell everyone the details of what had happened. Mr. Kriegbaum responded that he was visiting a friend when he noticed a large bonfire in the back yard of a nearby house. He went to the house and found that the back of the building was on fire. It was larger than he could control, so he called 9-1-1 and quickly went through the house to make sure there was no one in it.
3. Supervisor Clark re Approval of Blue Collar Collective Bargaining Agreement Motion by Supervisor Clark, seconded by Councilman Osmanski, to approve the tentative agreement with the Town of West Seneca Blue Collar unit of the CSEA and authorize the Supervisor to execute a new collective bargaining agreement after review and approval by the town’s counsel. On the question, Supervisor Clark considered this a historic agreement that locked in a strategy that will be very favorable to the taxpayers and still beneficial to the workforce. The town will now be able to have a single health insurance carrier and better control the cost of retiree health insurance coverage. The change to a single carrier will be without costly litigation and will be implemented on August 1, 2007. Final calculations on the savings had not been done, but it will be hundreds of thousands of dollars. The town will also be able to proceed with a less expensive Senior Blue product when retirees become eligible for Medicare. Supervisor Clark was proud of this agreement and commended the board members and bargaining units for working together to accomplish this.
4. Supervisor Clark re “Right-to-Farm” resolution Motion by Supervisor Clark, seconded by Councilman Osmanski, to adopt the attached resolution authorizing the Town of West Seneca to be known as a “Right-to-Farm Community.” On the question, Supervisor Clark stated that one of the most important industries in the local economy was farming and there were still some working farms in West Seneca. Part of the mission of the Erie County Farm Bureau was to minimize conflicts between farmers and non-farmers by educating the public and promoting right-to-farm laws. Designating West Seneca as a “Right-to-Farm Community” will ensure that agricultural operations within the town may lawfully engage in generally accepted agricultural practices at all such times and in all such locations as reasonably necessary to conduct farm business without being considered a nuisance. Councilman Bove questioned if the Town Code would be changed by adoption of this resolution and if there were any issues pending concerning this. Town Attorney Timothy Greenan responded that Town Code would not be changed by adoption of this resolution and he was unaware of any issues pending. Mr. Greenan understood that Supervisor Clark’s office was contacted by the Erie County Farm Bureau in their attempt to promote right-to-farm laws and educate the public.
*APPENDICES* ADJOURNMENT Motion by Supervisor Clark, seconded by Councilman Graber, to adjourn the meeting at 5:30 P.M.
_______________________________________ PATRICIA C. DEPASQUALE, RMC/CMC |