November 9, 2020 Regular Meeting
Mayor James M. Jaroszynski
Trustee J. Michael Steele
Trustee Timothy Dunn
Trustee Alan Gustafson, Jr.
Trustee Kipp Reynolds
Gregory Peterson, Attorney
Anna L. Fales, Village Clerk
Lawrence Trask, Treasurer-Absent
Bryce Webster, Fire Chief
W. Robert Morris, Code Enforcement Officer
Carl Caprino, DPW Superintendent
Laurie Becker, Library Director
The regular meeting of the Village of Falconer Mayor and Board of Trustees was held on Monday, November 9, 2020 at 7:00 P.M. in the Falconer Public Library with Mayor James Jaroszynski presiding. All COVID-19 protocols were followed.
Pledge of Allegiance & Roll:
Roll: Trustee Steele, Trustee Dunn, Trustee Gustafson, Trustee Reynolds, and Mayor Jaroszynski were all present.
Visitors
Skip Cavallaro, Joseph Taylor, DeEtte Dispenza, Ro Woodard and William Lawson, FCS government class student were present.
Ro Woodard and DeEtte Dispenza addressed the board, requesting that the village’s senior’s walking group, which was initiated 2 years ago by the county health department, be allowed to walk inside the community building during the winter.
Resolution # 37-2020-Following a lengthy discussion, a motion was made by Trustee Steele, seconded by Trustee Reynolds, to approve the senior walking group to use the upstairs of the Community Building during the inclement winter months with the following conditions: all walkers must be in good health and sign in daily, temperature checks of each must be taken and recorded, no more than 10 walkers per day. The walkers will also be responsible for sanitizing all touched surfaces and following all social distancing protocols. Walking activities will be restricted to the 2nd floor only. Clerk Fales has been instructed to consult with the village’s insurance provider regarding liability. Roll: Steele: Aye, Dunn: Aye, Gustafson: Aye, Reynolds: Aye, and Jaroszynski: Aye. Nays: None. Carried.
Minutes
Trustee Dunn made a motion, seconded by Trustee Steele, to approve the minutes of October 13, 2020 meeting of the Mayor and Board of Trustees. Roll: Steele: Aye, Dunn: Aye, Gustafson: Aye, Reynolds: Aye, and Jaroszynski: Aye. Nays: None. Carried.
Trustee Dunn made a motion, seconded by Trustee Reynolds, to approve the minutes of September 14, 2020 work session of the Mayor and Board of Trustees. Roll: Steele: Aye, Dunn: Aye, Gustafson: Aye, Reynolds: Aye, and Jaroszynski: Aye. Nays: None. Carried.
Fire Chief
The chief’s October report was reviewed and noted that the department responded to 64 EMS, 6 fire, 7 fire alarms, 1 fire standby, 3 MVA, and 1 medical alarm, totaling 82 calls in October.
Mutual Aid Breakdown- September
Given: Jamestown-16, Frewsburg-15, Kennedy-2, Gerry-1: totaling 34
Received: Jamestown-0, Kennedy-8, Kiantone-4, Stat Helicopter-0, Alstar-5: totaling 17.
The board tabled the approval of 3 new Hook and Ladder members; Sierra Fish, Ethan Destro and Dave Saxton, pending the submission of their physical and arson clearances at the December board meeting.
Trustee Steele requested that Exempt Hall be re-opened to its membership. The board agreed as long as all COVID protocols are followed and everyone signs in upon entering. Fire Chief Webster will provide a thermometer.
Trustee Reynold’s inquired as to the type of EMS calls that the department has been responding to. Chief Webster responded with a short list of medical conditions
Resolution # 38-2020-Trustee Steele made a motion, seconded by Trustee Dunn, to approve a down-payment of $1,500 for FEMA grant writing services to be paid using the fire chief’s General Fund budget line A3410.4. The remaining $1,000 balance of the grant writer’s fee will be due once the grant is submitted to FEMA. Roll: Steele: Aye, Dunn: Aye, Gustafson: Aye, Reynolds: Aye, and Jaroszynski: Aye. Nays: None. Carried.
Code Enforcement
The October code officer report was reviewed. Code officer Morris made corrections to his year to date totals as follows: It was noted that 5(74-YTD) -$125.00 ($1,770.20-YTD) building permits were issued, 0 (1-YTD) building inspections were performed, 1 (30-YTD) certificates of occupancy were issued, 3 (10-YTD) certificates of compliance, 20(257-YTD) phone calls/personal contact/emails were addressed, 2 (47-YTD) complaints received/actions taken, 0 (20-YTD) notices of violations mailed, 5 notice of violations resolved, 0 stop work order issued, and 0 stop work order resolved.
Mr. Morris reported that he passed the Code Enforcement training course and is now official a certified code enforcement official.
Department of Public Works
The DPW report was reviewed for the period October 14, 2020-November 8, 2020.
Superintendent Caprino noted that the DPW will be back to 5-day work week starting on Monday, November 16th.
Superintendent Caprino reported that the sulfur smell in the hot water system in the Community Building is back and being worked on, his crew has been busy picking up leaves, readying trucks for winter, snow removal training with Brenton and Eric, and releasing a log jam that occurred at the foot bridge.
Mayor Jaroszynski asked Superintendent Caprino to contact the county if/when log jams occur at the bridge.
Superintendent Caprino told the board that a dead tree located over a neighbor’s home needs to be removed. He noted that it was a removal that his team is unable handle therefore, a tree service would need to be hired. The mayor asked him to keep the board informed.
Library
The October library report was reviewed. This month the library received $45.00 (copies), $5.00 (fines), $42.00 (Book Sales), $280.00 gifts & donations, and $3,102.54 (other, includes Walrod Fund, CCLS Materials Plan, Cash Grant & LLSA).
The family pumpkin decorating was a huge success. Fourteen pumpkins were submitted and displayed in the library throughout the month of October. Pumpkins were also displayed virtually on the library website and Facebook page. One participating family, selected randomly, won a prize pack that included a book, a gift certificate and snacks. This activity was funded through a mini grant provided by the Chautauqua Cattaraugus Library System.
Many children and adults enjoyed the first Storywalk® at the library. Funds for the Storywalk® series were provided by the Falconer Region Community Fund & Donald R. Swanson Memorial Fund at the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation.
Mrs. Becker inquired if it would be acceptable for the library to hold a quilt raffle. She said a patron would like to donate a quilt as a fundraiser for the library. Mr. Peterson said that as long as the fundraiser is not considered gambling, it is acceptable. The library would also be fine with participating in the CRCF Giving Tuesday event.
Committees:
Animal Control:
The NYS Dog Control Inspection Report was completed on 10/6/2020 by Emily Bailey. The village received a rating of “Satisfactory365”.
Planning & Zoning:
Resolution # 39-2020-Trustee Dunn made a motion, seconded by Trustee Steele, to accept the SEQR determination regarding the Adoption of the Village of Falconer 2020 Zoning Code and Map Update (Chapter 134 of the Village Code) of Negative Declaration, as written. Roll: Steele: Aye, Dunn: Aye, Gustafson: Aye, Reynolds: Aye, and Jaroszynski: Aye. Nays: None. Carried.
Old Business:
- Trustee Reynolds and Trustee Gustafson agreed to work with Clerk Fales in developing the Pandemic Operations Plan. The goal of the committee to assist in writing the guidelines and policies required to fulfil the provisions of Governor Cuomo’s “Pandemic Operations Plan law (Chapter 168 of the Laws of 2020).
New Business:
- The humane society will be holding a drive through rabies clinic at the village’s DPW barn, located at 1 Coleson Drive, on Saturday, November 21, 2020. Pre-registration through the humane society will be required.
- The Rotary has cancelled the annual Santa Parade out of abundance of caution. Mayor Jaroszynski and Chief Webster are working on an alternative plan for a “Santa ride around the village aboard the Old Mac Truck” on Saturday, 12/5/2020 at 10 am. Chief Webster said he plans to use a total of three vehicles to escort Santa. This will be the 1st year that Santa will not be greeting children at the Santa House following the parade. However, the Rotary is planning some other fun and safe activities so that children can still enjoy the magic this Christmas season, in spite of the current pandemic.
- Resolution # 40-2020-Trustee Steele made a motion, seconded by Trustee Dunn, authorizing the mayor to execute an updated purchase agreement between Churchville Fire Equipment Corporation and the Village of Falconer, as written in the pre-agreement dated, 9/14/2018. The Agreement is to purchase a new fire apparatus, Pierce Velocity Custom Pumper truck with extraction tools, as outlined in Exhibit A of the Agreement, for the 100% pre-paid purchase price of $706,364.00, and is to be paid using the Capital F Reserve Fund. The bid services for the purchase of the above listed apparatus were performed by Sourcewell Bid Consortium, through whom the purchase will be made. Be it further noted, that the $2,000.00 Sourcewell Fee is not included in the contacted purchase price and will be invoiced separately, and is to be paid using funds from the 20/21 fire chief’s General Fund budget line A3410.4. Roll: Steele: Aye, Dunn: Aye, Gustafson: Nay, Reynolds: Aye, and Jaroszynski: Aye. Carried.
- Attorney Peterson said that he applauds the fire department for their foresight and preplanning in setting up the reserve fund many years ago for the purchase of their apparatus’. This has saved the village from having to seek bonds for these purchases.
Correspondence
- The village received an email notice on November 6, 2020 from Home Leasing, alerting the village that their most recent HCR funding application for the Falconer Square project was not funded. Home Leasing noted that they will be re-applying as soon as the next round of HCR funding is released.
Abstracts
Motion: It is moved by Trustee Dunn and seconded by Trustee Steele that Abstract #6, General Fund in the amount of $ 220,499.38 be approved for payment. Roll: Steele: Aye, Dunn: Aye, Gustafson: Aye, Reynolds: Aye, and Jaroszynski: Aye. Nays: None. Carried
Motion: It is moved by Trustee Gustafson and seconded by Trustee Dunn that Abstract #6, Cemetery Fund in the amount of $ 47.24 be approved for payment. Roll: Steele: Aye, Dunn: Aye, Gustafson: Aye, Reynolds: Aye, and Jaroszynski: Aye. Nays: None. Carried
Motion: It is moved by Trustee Reynolds and seconded by Trustee Gustafson that Abstract #6, Library Fund in the amount of $ 13,954.67 be approved for payment. Roll: Steele: Aye, Dunn: Aye, Gustafson: Aye, Reynolds: Aye, and Jaroszynski: Aye. Nays: None. Carried
Motion: It is moved by Trustee Steele and seconded by Trustee Reynolds that Abstract #6, General Fund Hand Items in the amount of $ 34,100.36 be approved for payment. Roll: Steele: Aye, Dunn: Aye, Gustafson: Aye, Reynolds: Aye, and Jaroszynski: Aye. Nays: None. Carried
Trustee Steele made a motion, seconded by Trustee Dunn, to adjourn the meeting at 8:24 pm. Roll: Steele: Aye, Dunn: Aye, Gustafson: Aye, and Jaroszynski: Aye. Nays: None. Carried
Respectfully submitted,
Anna Fales, Village Clerk