March 14, 2022 Regular Meeting

Deputy Mayor Anthony Cavallaro
Trustee Timothy Dunn
Trustee Alan Gustafson, Jr.
Trustee Annette Miller

Gregory Peterson, Village Attorney
Carl Caprino, DPW Superintendent
Laurie Becker, Library Director
Bryce Webster, Fire Chief
Paul Andalora, Code Enforcement Officer
Anna L. Fales, Village Clerk

The regular meeting of the Village of Falconer Mayor and Board of Trustees was called to order on Monday, March 14, 2022 at 7:07 P.M. at the Firemen’s’ Exempt Hall with Deputy Mayor Anthony Cavallaro presiding.

Pledge of Allegiance & Roll

Trustee Dunn, Trustee Gustafson, Trustee Miller, and Deputy Mayor Cavallaro were present.

Parliamentary Procedure

SOCIAL DISTANCING PRACTICES WILL BE STRICTLY FOLLOWED AND MASKS ARE REQUIRED. VISITORS ARE ALLOWED A MAXIMUM OF THREE (3) MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE CHAIR. THIS IS NOT THE PLACE OR TIME TO CONDUCT A DEBATE WITH ANYONE. IT IS A MEETING TO DELIBERATE AS THE MAYOR AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO TRANSACT THE BUSINESS OF THE VILLAGE. ALL REPORTS, REQUESTS, IF NECESSARY, WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE RESPECTIVE COMMITTEE OR COMMISSION FOR FURTHER STUDY, INFORMATION GATHERING AND RECOMMENDATIONS. ALL CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED HAS BEEN PLACED WITH THE TRUSTEES AND IS ON FILE.

Visitors:

Steve Cybart- Falconer American Legion, Joann Bennett-Valmeere Avenue, Brian Nelson-Falconer Vac Shop, Peter Fuller-N. Work Street, County Legislator Lisa Vanstrom, and Nina Gustafson- Falconer Rotary Club President were present to observe the proceedings.

A motion was made by Trustee Dunn, seconded by Trustee Miller, to approve the use of Falconer Park for the Annual Linda K. Memorial Easter Egg Hunt on April 9, 2022. Roll: Dunn: Aye, Gustafson: Aye, Miller: Aye, and Cavallaro: Aye. Nays: none. Carried.

Mrs. Bennett reported that several feral cats are living in the shed located on the rental property at 17 Valmeere, which is directly adjacent to her home and causing damage to her property. She also noted that on the same property there is a dead pine tree that needs remediation. She noted that these issues had been previously reported with no resolution.

Mr. Nelson voiced three questions/concerns to the board:

Would like to see the Main Street areas leveled by the March 2017 fires graded off and grass planted.
Requested parking spaces repainted along Main Street. This is a state road.
Concerns regarding snow removal at local businesses.

Trustee Dunn made a motion, seconded by Trustee Miller to approve Peter Fuller’s request to hold the 2^nd Annual Christmas in July village-wide event and parade, July 21-23, 2022. Roll: Dunn: Aye, Gustafson: Aye, Miller: Aye, and Cavallaro: Aye. Nays: none. Carried.

Finance:

Treasurer Trask presented the 2022-2023 Proposed Budget for review by the Board of Trustees. Mr. Trask noted that the proposed budget is “balanced” and “very conservative”. The total appropriations for the 22/23 proposed budget are $1,459,844 and revenues are $1,459,844. The proposed budget reflects an “increase in property taxes by the allowable tax cap”. Therefore, an owner of a $100,000 home will pay an additional $17.16 in village taxes in 22/23.

Trustee Gustafson made a motion, seconded by Trustee Dunn to table the FY 22/23 proposed budget for 30 days, as written. Roll: Dunn: Aye, Gustafson: Aye, Miller: Aye, and Cavallaro: Aye. Nays: none. Carried.

A public hearing on the budget will be scheduled for April 11, 2022 at 7pm in the Firemen’s Exempt Hall.

RESOLUTION #3-2022: Trustee Dunn made a motion, seconded by Trustee Miller, to approve the following modifications to the FY 21/22 budget:

Increase budget line item A1620.21 for payment of new digital sign and associated installation costs of approximately $52,500 from increased sales tax revenue A1120.
Increase A9901.9 Transfer to Library by $6,000 to total $85,000, from increased sales tax revenue A1120.

Roll: Dunn: Aye, Gustafson: Aye, Miller: Aye, and Cavallaro: Aye. Nays: none. Carried.

In further discussion, Treasurer Trask noted that the reglazing of the window lintels at the exempt hall, and purchase of a computer for the treasurer, laptop for the clerk and printer for the code officer should be finalized before the end of FY 21/22.

Trustees Dunn and Gustafson recommended that all computers should be set up on a three-year replacement cycle going forward.

County Legislator:

County Legislator Vanstrom gave a brief legislative update.

Minutes

Trustee Dunn made a motion, seconded by Trustee Gustafson, to approve the minutes of the February 14, 2022 work session and regular meetings of the Mayor and Board of Trustees, as written. Roll: Dunn: Aye, Gustafson: Aye, , Miller: Aye, and Cavallaro: Aye. Nays: none. Carried.

Fire Chief

The chief’s February report was reviewed and noted that the department responded to 46-EMS, 3-medical assist, 2-combustibe spills/leaks, 1-structure fire, 1-electrical wiring problem, 3-water problem, 10-dispatched/cancelled, 3-public assistance, 1-system or detector malfunction and 4-unintentional system/de-operation- 74 total calls in February (223 calls-YTD).

Mutual Aid Breakdown- February

Given: Jamestown-6, Frewsburg-5, Kennedy-3, Kiantone-0, Fluvanna-0, Alstar-0, 0-assist to A-71 (driver), Gerry-0. Total-14.

Received: Medic 74-9, Kennedy-7, Frewsburg-0, Fluvanna-0, Gerry-0, Coroner-0, Kiantone-1 Alstar-4, Wet team-1 and Jamestown-0. Total-22.

Code Enforcement

The February code enforcement report was reviewed.

	THIS MONTH	YEAR TO DATE
Building Permits Issued	0	0
Building Permit Fees Collected	$0	$0
Building Inspections Performed	0	2
Certificates of Occupancy	0	0
Certificates of Compliance	0	0
Phone calls/Personal Contacts/Emails	5	7
Complaints Received/Actions Taken	0	0

Code enforcement officer, Paul Andalora reported that he passed his second of 6 CEO classes.
An inquiry was made regarding the Dow Street property adjacent to the sub-station to be used as a staging area for battery storage

Department of Public Works

The DPW report was reviewed for the period February 14, 2022 to March 11, 2022.

Trustee Dunn made a motion, seconded by Trustee Gustafson, to empower Superintendent Caprino to seek sealed public bids for the Removal and Repair of the DPW Garage Roof and for the Repair and Restoration of the DPW Garage Floor Drains. Roll: Dunn: Aye, Gustafson: Aye, Miller: Aye, and Cavallaro: Aye. Nays: none. Carried. The village plans to use the ARPA funds for the DPW Garage Roof project. Final approval on use of the ARPA funds will be given once project costs are confirmed.

Trustee Gustafson made a motion, seconded by Trustee Dunn, to approve the Chautauqua County Department of Health to hold two drive-thru rabies clinics in the DPW garage on April 2 and 23^rd, from 10 am-1 pm. Pre-registration is required . Roll: Dunn: Aye, Gustafson: Aye, Miller: Aye, and Cavallaro: Aye. Nays: none. Carried. The county must provide the village with certificate of insurance with the village listed as an additional insured, prior to the first event.

Library

The February 14-March 14, 2022 library report was reviewed. This month the library received $66.00 (copies/fax), $22.00(fines), $102.00 (Book Sales), $913.00 (gifts & donations), and $3,511.70 (other).

Trustee Miller made a motion, seconded by Trustee Gustafson, to approve the Library Board’s recommendation to appoint Brenda Weiler to the position of Falconer Public Library Board Trustee. Roll: Dunn: Aye, Gustafson: Aye, Miller: Aye, and Cavallaro: Aye. Nays: none. Carried. Mrs. Weiler will be filling the position recently vacated by Brandon Caruso.

Legal

Mr. Peterson invited everyone to a presentation at the Robert H. Jackson Center on March 24 at noon. Author Kathleen Brady, noted biographer of Lucille Ball and Ida Tarbell will be the featured speaker as part of the center’s Turner Winter Series.

On April 1^st, at 10 am, the Winter Series will resume with ,”The Role of the Federal Prosecutor” Trini E. Ross, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of New York. At 11:00 am a play will be read: “The Trial of Al Capone”, followed at noon with a luncheon interview with Hon. Jeremiah J. McCarthy, U.S. Magistrate Judge, United States District Court for the Western District of New York, and lead by Greg Peterson.

Committees:

Public Safety:

DOC Belin issued one appearance ticket for three unlicensed dogs at 340 W. Main Street.

Downtown Development:

A letter of support of the Falconer Square Project was signed by the trustees and is to be sent to Home Leasing in support of their anticipated NYS DHCR funding application.

Parks:

The final draft of the park survey was reviewed and agreed that it will be posted to Slick-text, Facebook and the village website, as well as hard copies available at the clerk’s office and the library.

A proposed mountain bike path project at Falconer Park is being researched.

Planning Board:

A meeting will be scheduled to resume Food Truck guidelines.

New Business:

Trustee Dunn made a motion, seconded by Trustee Gustafson, to set and notice a public hearing for the FY 22/23 Budget and Annual Organizational Meeting on April 11, 2022 at 7 pm in the Firemen’s Exempt Hall. Roll: Dunn: Aye, Gustafson: Aye, Miller: Aye, and Cavallaro: Aye. Nays: none. Carried.

Correspondence:

Clerk Fales submitted to record a letter from the Chautauqua County Offices of Emergency Services requesting the village’s participation in a County-Wide Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update. This project is being funded through a FEMA grant and requires local jurisdictions to participate in order for them to remain eligible FEMA’s pre-disaster and post-disaster mitigation grant programs. Clerk Fales will submit the required information to the County this week.

Trustee Gustafson’s letter, dated March 14, 2022, which acknowledged his review of the February 2022 unpaid vouchers and bank reconciliations, was placed into record.

Abstracts:

Motion: It is moved by Trustee Dunn and seconded by Trustee Gustafson that Abstract #10 General Fund in the amount of $93,175.59 be approved for payment. Roll: Dunn: Aye, Gustafson: Aye, Miller: Aye, and Cavallaro: Aye. Nays: none. Carried.

Motion: It is moved by Trustee Gustafson and seconded by Trustee Dunn that Abstract #10, Cemetery Fund in the amount of $ 369.66 be approved for payment. Roll: Dunn: Aye, Gustafson: Aye, Miller: Aye, and Cavallaro: Aye. Nays: none. Carried.

Motion: It is moved by Trustee Miller and seconded by Trustee Gustafson that Abstract #10, Library Fund in the amount of $ 1,714.39be approved for payment. Roll: Dunn: Aye, Gustafson: Aye, Miller: Aye, and Cavallaro: Aye. Nays: none. Carried.

Motion: It is moved by Trustee Miller and seconded by Trustee Dunn that Abstract #10, General Fund Hand Items in the amount of $ 37,919.03 be approved for payment. Roll: Dunn: Aye, Gustafson: Aye, Miller: Aye, and Cavallaro: Aye. Nays: none. Carried.

Trustee Dunn made a motion, seconded by Trustee Miller to adjourn the meeting 8:55 pm. Vote was approved unanimously. Carried.

Respectfully submitted,
Anna Fales, Village Clerk