APRIL 22, 2019
The eight regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Lakewood, N.Y., was held Monday, April 22, 2019, 6:30 PM, with Deputy Mayor Edward J. McCague presiding. Trustees present were Ellen E. Barnes, Randall G. Holcomb, and Douglas L. Schutte. Also present were Village Clerk Joseph M. Johnson, Village Treasurer Andrea J. Windoft, Police Chief John R. Bentley, Village Attorney John I. LaMancuso, Department of Public Works Supervisor Thomas R. Pilling, and Building Inspector Jeffrey A. Swanson. Absent was Fire Chief Steve Smouse.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion by Trustee Barnes, seconded by Trustee Holcomb, to approve the minutes of the last regular meeting of the Board of Trustees, held April 8, 2019.
Adopted: 4 ayes, no nays (Barnes, Holcomb, McCague, Schutte)
Motion by Trustee Holcomb, seconded by Trustee Barnes, to approve the minutes of the special meeting of the Board of Trustees, held April 16, 2019.
Adopted: 4 ayes, no nays (Barnes, Holcomb, McCague, Schutte)
AUDIT OF CLAIMS
Motion by Trustee Schutte, seconded by Trustee Barnes, that the claims as audited by the Auditing Committee of the abstracts dated April 22, 2019, be approved and that the Clerk shall execute said abstracts (#47 & #48) and direct payment by the Treasurer. Trust & Agency Fund: $ 56,060.90 (Checks #4696 thru #4704), General Fund: $ 31,479.58 (Checks #15741 thru #15775)
Adopted: 4 ayes, no nays (Barnes, Holcomb, McCague, Schutte)
REPORTS
Department of Public Works Supervisor Thomas R. Pilling asked where does the Village of Lakewood stand with respect to the $ 100,000.00 NYSERDA grant.
Trustee Holcomb indicated that one of the four High Energy Impact Actions selected by the Village included clean energy upgrades to this building, the fire station and the DPW garage. Trustee Holcomb said he will check what paperwork needs to be completed and submitted, to allow the Village of Lakewood to move forward with clean energy upgrades to the three buildings.
Mr. Pilling indicated there might be additional money available through a National Grid refund program to replace the existing lighting fixtures in the Anthony C. Caprino Municipal Building with energy efficient fixtures. He will try to gather more information on the refund program.
Changing subjects, Mr. Pilling asked, because the Lakewood Memorial Library will not be receiving funding/assistance from the Village of Lakewood this year, will the DPW continue to mow their lawn.
Deputy Mayor McCague said he and the Board of Trustees will have to give that question some thought.
Deputy Mayor McCague asked DPW Supervisor Pilling about the flower pot that used to be in front of the Jamestown Federal Credit Union, 121 Chautauqua Ave., was it relocated or will it be necessary to purchase a couple more of them?
Trustee Holcomb suggested that a flower pot or two could be purchased with the payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) gift received annually from the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church.
Deputy Mayor McCague said he and the Board of Trustees should revisit the idea of purchasing an additional flower pot for Chautauqua Ave. If it is financially possible to do so, then so be it.
Police Chief John R. Bentley reported that the Lakewood-Busti Police Department has handled two thousand nine hundred thirty-four incidents year-to-date, four hundred four of which occurred during the past two weeks. He added the L-BPD continues to be very busy with day to day operations.
Village Treasurer Andrea J. Windoft reported that she has provided members of the Board of Trustees with a copy of the Tax Cap filing document that will accompany the adopted budget when it is sent to the NYS Comptroller’s Office in Albany. She also reported that the Village of Lakewood received $ 9,500.00 from the NYS Division of Taxation in connection with a grant that was awarded to the Lakewood Fire Department to upgrade its furnace at the fire station. The grant funding received, reimbursed monies expended from the LFD equipment account.
Building Inspector Jeff Swanson indicated the spring season brings on property maintenance issues that may have gone hidden over the winter months. Coincidentally, earlier today he was contacted by Sgt. Spencer of the L-BPD regarding a report of an open door at the single family residence at 11 Linwood Ave. An investigation and subsequent cursory inspection lead to the structure being declared out of compliance with the NYS Building Code and was posted as such. Mr. Swanson also reported that he heard that NYSERDA might soon be introducing Round II of grant funding for municipalities that may choose to qualify as Clean Energy Communities.
Deputy Mayor McCague asked Mr. Swanson if he recalls if the cost of solar panels can be reimbursed through NYSERDA grant money.
Mr. Swanson said yes they can, and that the Town of Busti has recently installed solar panels on the highway garage building and the town hall building.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Mr. Richard Rose, Chairman of the Village of Lakewood Tree Committee, was pleased to report that the Village of Lakewood received a Tree City USA designation from the Arbor Day Foundation for 2018. He noted the process to do so has taken a few years to finally qualify for this honor. Mr. Rose said to celebrate, the Tree Committee is planning a ceremony, 1:00 PM this Saturday, at the Richard O. Hartley Park gazebo, which will include a tree planting and refreshments. Mr. Rose concluded his report inviting everyone to attend Saturday’s ceremony and that the Tree Committee is looking for new members.
Deputy Mayor McCague said having the Village of Lakewood designated as a Tree City USA is certainly a significant honor, however getting there has been a long and arduous process. Mr. McCague then displayed the beautiful Tree City USA plaque the Village of Lakewood received.
Following a photo opportunity holding the plaque with members of the Board of Trustees, Mr. Rose thanked everyone who contributed to this award designating the Village of Lakewood’s as a Tree City USA. He also thanked the Board of Trustees and Treasurer Windoft for creating a line item in the budget for new trees and for appropriating the necessary funding. Doing so has allowed the Village of Lakewood to qualify for grants which always helps.
RESOLUTION #71-2019 – ADOPT THE 2019-2020 TENTATIVE BUDGET AS AMENDED
Motion by Trustee Barnes, seconded by Trustee Schutte, for the Board of Trustees to adopt the 2019-2020 Tentative Budget for the Village of Lakewood as amended. The amendments to the Tentative Budget as presented included a $ 40,000.00 adjustment to Account A9060.80, $1,000.00 adjustments to Accounts A3410.45 & A3410.44. The amended budget also included additional revenue for Account A3001, in the amount of $ 24,255.00, received via New York State’s AIM (Assistance Initiative for Municipalities) Program. The amended tentative budget also included the following expense revisions; $ 4,000.00 increase in the Contingent Account, $ 6,800 decrease in the Snow Equipment Account, $6,200.00 increase in the Parks Contractual Account, $ 20,000.00 increase in the Parks Contractual Account, $ 4,000.00 increase in the Parks Salaries Account, $ 5,000.00 increase in the Planning Account, and a $ 20,000.00 allocation for the Lake Treatment Account. The final revision included a 2.13 % Cost of Living Allowance (COLA), increase in pay for non-organized employees, effective June 1, 2019.
The amended budget totals $ 4,311,026.00 for the fiscal year June 1, 2019 – May 31, 2020, making appropriations for the conduct of Village government, while the rate of compensation for its elected officials which will remain the same: Mayor: $ 7,500.00, Trustees: $ 3,500.00 each.
WHEREAS the Board of Trustees conducted a public hearing on the tentative budget at the time and place specified in the notice of public hearing and heard all persons desiring to be heard;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the amended tentative budget as presented hereby be adopted.
NOTE: The newly adopted budget reflects a tax rate of $ 7.89007/$ 1,000.00 assessed valuation, which is a decrease of $ .10/$ 1,000.00 assessed valuation when compared with last year’s tax rate.
Adopted: 4 ayes, no nays (Barnes, Holcomb, McCague, Schutte)
Ms. Carol Jones, 144 West Summit Street, wished to verify that, unlike last year’s budget process, there were no changes in the tentative budget as originally presented other than those discussed in detail at the public hearing on the annual budget held during the last regular meeting of the Board of Trustees, April 8, 2019.
Deputy Mayor McCague said that is correct, there are no additional changes.
RESOLUTION #72-2019 – AUTHORIZE 2019-2020 VILLAGE TAX BILL PREPARATION
Motion by Trustee Schutte, seconded by Trustee Holcomb, authorizing Village Treasurer Andrea J. Windoft and the Chautauqua County Division of Taxation to produce the Village of Lakewood’s 2019-2020 Village tax bills, per the most recent tax roll on file.
Adopted: 4 ayes, no nays (Barnes, Holcomb, McCague, Schutte)
RESOLUTION #73-2019 – AUTHORIZE THE RELEVYING OF UNPAID WATER BILLS
Motion by Trustee Barnes, seconded by Trustee Holcomb, authorizing Village Treasurer Andrea J. Windoft to accept the list of unpaid water bills from the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities, totaling $ 4,236.44, generated by Village of Lakewood residents, for levying onto the 2019-2020 Village Tax Bill for the corresponding properties.
Adopted: 4 ayes, no nays (Barnes, Holcomb, McCague, Schutte)
RESOLUTION #74-2019 – APPROVE EXTENSION OF THE STOP-DWI SERVICES AGREEMENT
Motion by Trustee Schutte, seconded by Trustee Barnes, for the Board of Trustees to approve the extension of the current STOP-DWI Services Agreement between the Village of Lakewood and the County of Chautauqua for the period of 01/01/2019 thru 12/31/2020, and to authorize Deputy Mayor Edward J. McCague to execute the same.
Adopted: 4 ayes, no nays (Barnes, Holcomb, McCague, Schutte)
RESOLUTION #75-2019 – AUTHORIZE BUDGET TRANSFER
Motion by Trustee Holcomb, seconded by Trustee Barnes, authorizing Village Treasurer Andrea J. Windoft to transfer $ 3,000.00 from Account A3620.12, [Fire Inspector], into Account A1325.10, [Treasurer Salary], to cover the salary for the newly appointed part-time Treasurer.
Adopted: 4 ayes, no nays (Barnes, Holcomb, McCague, Schutte)
RESOLUTION #76-2019 – AUTHORIZE BUDGET TRANSFER
Motion by Trustee Barnes, seconded by Trustee Schutte, authorizing Village Treasurer Andrea J. Windoft to transfer $ 2,475.00 from Account T1093.20, [Police – Federal Government Forfeitures], to Account A3120.20, [Police Equipment], to finance the purchase of the L-BPD’s new enclosed utility trailer.
Adopted: 4 ayes, no nays (Barnes, Holcomb, McCague, Schutte)
RESOLUTION #77-2019 – AUTHORIZE REHIRING OF SEASONAL PARKS DEPT. EMPLOYEE
Motion by Trustee Holcomb, seconded by Trustee Barnes, authorizing the rehiring of Mr. James D. Fye, 2042 Winch Road, as a seasonal Parks Department employee, with an effective date of re-hire of May 1, 2019, per the recommendation of DPW Supervisor Thomas R. Pilling. Mr. Fye will be compensated at a rate of $ 12.36/hr.
Adopted: 4 ayes, no nays (Barnes, Holcomb, McCague, Schutte)
RESOLUTION #78-2019 – AUTHORIZE PARTICIPATION IN BOCES INTERN PROGRAM
Motion by Trustee Holcomb, seconded by Trustee Barnes, authorizing DPW Supervisor Thomas R. Pilling and the DPW crew to participate in the Ashville BOCES Intern Program, wherein BOCES student Luke DePonceau will receive some on the job training and work experience with the Village of Lakewood DPW crews. The intern program is expected to run through the end of the current school year.
Adopted: 4 ayes, no nays (Barnes, Holcomb, McCague, Schutte)
RESOLUTION #79-2019 – REFER SITE PLAN REVIEW PROCESS TO THE PLANNING BOARD
Motion by Trustee Barnes, seconded by Trustee Holcomb, for the Board of Trustees to refer to the Lakewood Planning Board, a Site Plan Review application as submitted by Karpinski Engineering, Cleveland, Ohio, regarding a proposal by Taco Bell to construct a 2,600 sq. ft. restaurant on an out-parcel at the Chautauqua Mall, located between Ruby Tuesday and Olive Garden restaurants. The matter will be reviewed at the next regular meeting of the Planning Board which is scheduled for 7:00 PM, Wednesday, May 15, 2019.
Adopted: 4 ayes, no nays (Barnes, Holcomb, McCague, Schutte)
Motion by Trustee Schutte, seconded by Trustee Barnes and unanimously carried, the Board adjourned at 6:59 PM.
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Joseph M. Johnson
Village Clerk