Speculator updates local laws

 Speculator VB Dec 14 2020

Speculator updates local laws

By PETE KLEIN

SPECULATOR—When the Speculator Village Board of Trustees met on December 14, Trustee Mark Donecker made a motion to open the public hearing to Update the Billing Frequency of Local Laws #2 and #3 of 2019.

Trustee Rebecca Smith seconded, and the motion passed with the following vote: aye – Mayor Jeannette Barrett, Trusties Mark Crary, Mark Rebecca Donecker, Rebecca Smith.

Local Laws #2 and #3 of 2019 have been modified to reflect the quarterly billing cycle the Village has been using for the past several years. In addition, the sewer uses and operations, Law #2 of 2019, has been reformatted by Mrs. O’Brien for ease of use. Mayor Barrett thanked Mrs. O’Brien for the time she has put into reformatting this law. The updated laws will be filed with the state as Local Law #1 and #2 of 2020.

There were no comments from the public.

Trustee Crary made a motion to close the public hearing to Update the Billing Frequency of Local Laws #2 and #3 of 2019. Trustee Donecker seconded, and the motion passed with the following vote: aye – Barrett, Crary, Donecker, Smith; none, Rumsey – absent.

Trustee Donecker made a motion to approve the final amendment to Local Law #2 of 2019 regulating sewer use and operations and Local Law #3 of 2019 regulating the water district and metering of the same of the Village of Speculator.  Trustee Smith seconded, and the motion passed with the following vote: aye – Barrett, Crary, Donecker, Smith; none, Rumsey – absent.

WATER & WASTEWATER REPORT

Edward Scharpou, WWTP Superintendent, submitted a written Department of Water & Wastewater report Additional commentary is as follows:

The monthly report has been sent out. Lead and Copper samples have been certified. The water main break on Marion Avenue has been repaired. The new chlorine system has been installed and is working exceptionally well. The new system is an upgrade, more reliable and can function on a set schedule. Mr. Scharpou reported he and Mr. Page are continuing to monitor one of Camp of the Woods meters which has had several high readings as no issues have been identified to account for the current readings. The new valve for pump #1 has been received and is scheduled to be installed this Thursday. Mr. Scharpou and Mr. Page will begin taking on-line courses tomorrow to renew their water licenses.

SPDES and DMR have been completed for November. The wastewater department has received the new hauler’s permit. The land application bio solids have been applied. Meeting set with Lamont engineer on Wednesday for a review of the plans. Mr. Jim Geiger from EFC will be here this week to review contract #1 completed work. Mr. Geiger would like to see firsthand what has been accomplished so far.

CLERK’S REPORT

Clerk Crystal O’Brien gave a verbal Clerk-Treasurer Report as follows:

Mrs. O’Brien spoke with Mr. Ted Jones from Williamson Law Books regarding the Office of the State Comptroller (OSC) required changes needed for payroll. He informed her these changes would be account code changes and will be easy to complete when it is time to report.

All full-time employees attended the Employee Benefit Meeting on December 3rd. This meeting went well, and everything is set for the start of the new year.

Financial Report #6 is ready, and board members are welcome to stop by the Village Hall anytime in the next two weeks to review and sign the report.

O’Brien introduced Resolution #22, Resolution for 2020-2021 Budget Adjustments for Trustee Salaries given back to Village. These salaries will be applied to the extra employees needed for COVID requirements, for the General Elections and to help offset the cost of the Williamson Law Books Building Code Software.

Trustee Donecker made a motion to accept Resolution #22 for Budget Adjustments for Trustee Salaries given back to Village. Trustee Smith seconded, and the motion passed with the following vote: aye – Barrett, Crary, Donecker, Smith; none, Rumsey – absent.

O’Brien introduced Resolution #23, Resolution for 2020-2021 Budget Adjustments to Correct Unpaid Lamont Invoices from Disbursement #2. The Village received this Disbursement #2 on May 14, 2020 but the breakdown, stating the invoices to be paid, was not received which left several invoices unpaid and a portion of the disbursement was rolled into fund balance at the end of the 2019-20. The resolution decreases G915 – Unappropriated fund balance by $14,939.90 and increases G599 – Appropriated Fund Balance by $14,939.90; HA3990 – Sewer Project State Aid by $9,236.65; and G8130.4 – Sewage Treatment & Disposal by $5,703.25.

Trustee Crary made a motion to accept Resolution #23, Resolution for 2020-2021 Budget Adjustments to Correct Unpaid Lamont Invoices from Disbursement #2. Trustee Donecker seconded, and the motion passed with the following vote: aye – Barrett, Crary, Donecker, Smith.

OLD BUSINESS:

COVID-19 update: Hamilton County has 4 new positive cases. These cases were reported today, which brings the county’s total to 68. Public Health issued a press release in partial response to the request for information regarding where the positive cases are located within the county. Public Health started posting regular updates to the Hamilton County Public Health Facebook page, including positive cases, recovered cases and upcoming COVID testing clinics. Mayor Barrett reminded everyone to stay home if you are sick and if you are symptomatic please get a test and self-quarantine.

FEMA/Emergency Halloween Storm Update: There is progress being made regarding the water crossing.

FEMA/COVID Pandemic: A report is being generated on all COVID expenses for the Village of Speculator. This will be ready in the next few days.

LED Street Lights: After six weeks, the Village is still waiting to receive an invoice from National Grid.

Verizon Small Cell Tower: No updates.

NEW BUSINESS:

Speculator Volunteer Fire Department received an application for Jr. Fire Fighter from Lillian Hughes. The fire department is pleased with her application and she has already attended two meetings.

Trustee Smith made a motion to approve Lillian Hughes as a Jr. Member for the Speculator Volunteer Fire Department. Trustee Crary seconded, and the motion passed with the following vote: aye – Barrett, Crary, Donecker, Smith; none, Rumsey – absent.

Trustee Donecker presented Resolution #24 for the Adoption of Hamilton County Local Law No. 1 of 1976. With much sediment and algae coming into the lake, as well as Pond Weed, we want to work to ensure septic systems near the water meet specific standards to protect our lake. This Resolution to adopt this County Local Law as Village Law, is to ensure the Village is doing all they can to help safeguard all the waters of the Village of Speculator from pollution and will provide penalties for violation. An addendum will be presented in the coming months with specific requirements for septic systems near the water. There are several grants being researched for those who will have the expense of replacing their system.

Trustee Crary made a motion to accept Resolution #24 for Adoption of Hamilton County Local Law No. 1 of 1976. Trustee Smith seconded, and the motion passed with the following vote: aye – Barrett, Crary, Donecker, Smith; none, Rumsey – absent.

The OSC announced that the allowable levy growth factor (tax cap) for those local governments with fiscal years beginning on June 1, 2021, will be 1.31%. Pursuant to the tax cap law, the allowable levy growth factor is 2% or the CPI, whichever is less. The CPI is currently 1.31% Preparing the budget will begin in early next year.

Rural Digital Opportunity Awards in NYS. Last week Representative Stefanik announced that the FCC is awarding over $99 million for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. For the New York State Broadband Projects, one of the areas noted that will be most impacted by the announcement is Speculator with over 300 locations identified to the east and west of the Village of Speculator. Frontier won the bid for our region.

BOARD ROUND TABLE

Trustee Rumsey has been working with Mayor Barrett on developing a COVID plan for the Village of Speculator to be filed with the state. Mayor Barrett will be meeting with Village Supervisors to answer all the “what if” questions and to confirm what supplies we have on hand. This will be discussed at the Village board meeting on December 28 and approved and submitted to the state.

Roger Blanchard reported the garbage truck broke this morning and will be giving an update to the office.

Zoning officer, Rick Rumsey and Planning Board Supervisor, Matt O’Brien, will be attending the December 28 meeting to update the board regarding issues and requests that have been brought to the planning board recently. Building inspector, Bob Benkovich, will be giving a report in January.

This article is based upon the minutes of Tracy J. Marshall, Village Deputy Clerk – Treasurer