December 9, 2019 Regular Meeting

Mayor James R. Rensel
Trustee Timothy Dunn
Trustee James Jaroszynski
Trustee J. Michael Steele
Trustee Carmella Catanese

Anna L. Fales, Village Clerk
Lawrence Trask, Treasurer
Charles Piazza, Fire Chief
Alan Gustafson, Code Enforcement Officer
Peter C. Fuller, DPW Superintendent

The regular meeting of the Village of Falconer Mayor and Board of Trustees was held on Monday, December 9, 2019 at 7:01 P.M. in the Falconer Public Library with Mayor James Rensel presiding.

Visitor

Mary Plumb, Falconer Central School, requested board approval for the 4th Annual Bunny Hop Walk & Run scheduled for April 4th at 8:30 am and put on by the Key Club to help fund their many service projects. Trustee Steele made a motion, seconded by Trustee Jaroszynski, to approve the April 4, 2020 Bunny Hop Walk & Run as presented. Ayes: Dunn, Steele, Jaroszynski, Catanese, and Rensel. Nays: none. Carried.

Also representing the STEM Camp committee from FCS, Mrs. Plumb requested the board’s support and collaboration by the village in unifying efforts to seek grants and sponsorships. Mrs. Plumb noted that for 20 students, the cost of running a successful camp is about $3000. Trustee Catanese made a motion, seconded by Trustee Steele to approve the village’s collaboration with Falconer Central School to support the 2020 FCS STEM camp. Ayes: Dunn, Steele, Jaroszynski, Catanese, and Rensel. Nays: none. Carried.

Joseph Taylor, 25 E. Falconer Street, requested the board relieve Chief Piazza of his duties in light of pending legal matters.

Tammy Yager, 16 Waldemeere Avenue, requested the village’s support in cataloging old Falconer Fire Department photos, VHS tapes, etc. She stated she will be working with village Historian, Brenda Cavallaro on this important project. Mrs. Yager referenced a current display in the Bellview Restaurant which was the catalyst for this project.

DeEtte Dispenza, 221 W. Everett St., Falconer, NY, Lisa Piazza, Lela Perdue, Dan Nelson, and, Michael Roman, all of the Falconer Fire Department, Alan Gustafson Jr., 105 W. James Street, and Eric Tichy of the Post-Journal, and EmmaLeigh Pratt, Falconer Central School student, were all in attendance to observe the proceedings.

Minutes

Trustee Dunn made a motion, seconded by Trustee Catanese, to approve the Work Session minutes of November 12, 2019 as written. Ayes: Dunn, Steele, Jaroszynski, Catanese, and Rensel. Nays: none. Carried.

Trustee Dunn made a motion, seconded by Trustee Jaroszynski, to approve the minutes of November 12, 2019 Board of Trustee meeting as written. Ayes: Dunn, Steele, Jaroszynski, Catanese, and Rensel. Nays: none. Carried.

Fire Chief

The chief’s November report was reviewed and noted that the department responded to 60 EMS, 6 Carbon Monoxide, 1 Standby, 1 Public Assist, and 0 Fire, totaling 68 calls. 264.04 personnel hours in November. 785YTD calls as of 11/30/19.

Mutual Aid Breakdown:

• Received: Jamestown 1, CCEMS 13
• Given: Fluvanna 1, Frewsburg 2, Gerry 2, Jamestown 13, Kennedy 2

Chief Piazza submitted the list of 2020 Line Officers elected by Fire Company members on December 2, 2019 for approval by the village board.

Trustee Jaroszynski made a motion, seconded by Trustee Catanese, to table the Line Officer approval until the next meeting. A brief discussion including public comment & Attorney Peterson’s reference to the approval process according to Village Law 10-1006, all preceded the vote. Ayes: Dunn, Steele, Jaroszynski, Catanese, and Rensel. Nays: none. Carried.

Code Enforcement Office

Mr. Gustafson was in attendance to provide the Board with a verbal code report for November stating:

• Combined Planning and Zoning meetings were held on Wednesday, November 20th at 6 pm. Preliminary approval was granted for the Falconer Square Site Plan. A subsequent meeting will be held in January to finalize the process. County approval will also be needed.
• The Powell Site Demo has been completed satisfactorily other than seeding of the property.
• Several miscellaneous issues and complaints were addressed.
• The window on the Gronquist Building along W. Main Street will be repaired this week. Further action on the rest of the building’s violations will be pursued.

Trustee Jaroszynski will be taking the lead on the interview process for a code officer with the assistance of Town of Ellicott Code Officer, Dave Rowe.

Department of Public Works

The DPW report was reviewed for the period November 10-December 8, 2019.

Superintendent Fuller also reported that Glen Dickerson retired from cleaning the Exempt Building and has been replaced by Larry Trask.

Rob Kost retired for health reasons, from his position as part-time morning custodian after 28 years with the village. Jeff Ernst, the current evening custodian agreed to help out in the evenings.

Library

The November library report was reviewed. This month the library received $40.00 for fines, $55.00 for copies and faxes, $9.00 basket sale, $171.00 holiday sale, $755.00 for gifts & donations and $864.17 other income.

Mrs. Becker reported that at their November 21st meeting, the Library Board accepted with regret longtime board member, Carol Peterson’s letter of resignation which is to be effective January 1, 2020. The board is actively working to fill her position.

The line-up for the 2020 Summer Band Concerts in Davis Park has also been finalized as follows:

• July 9- Razz Dixie Band
• July 16- Pat Cook’s Tribute to the Women of Country
• July 23- Rockin Robin
• July 30- Pearl City Jazz

Committees:

Legal

Mr. Peterson reported that the Goodwill case has been adjourned until 1/7/2020. Upon Code Officer Gustafson’s report the Powell case should be resolved. Whitehill’s federal case was dismissed. Whitehill’s attorney inquired whether or not the village would participate in the cleanup.

Animal Control:

The November animal control reports were reviewed along with the NYS Ag & Market’s Animal Control Inspection Report, on which Falconer received satisfactory acknowledgement.

Downtown Development:

Trustee Steele made a motion, seconded by Trustee Catanese, resolving to approve the updated Purchase/Sale Agreement, to include the utility easement, between Home Leasing LLC and the Village of Falconer for the sale of the Davis Street parking lot for the purchase price of $50,000.00 to Home Leasing LLC. The Board further resolves that the current mayor has complete authority to execute the Agreement and any associated documents, including the Deed, necessary to the sale and transfer of the Davis Street parking lot to Home Leasing LLC. Ayes: Dunn, Steele, Jaroszynski, Catanese and Rensel. Nays: none. Carried.

Pine Hill Cemetery:

Superintendent Fuller reported that lot markers are gradually being placed in the PH section of the cemetery which will allow cemetery personnel more quickly and accurately identify each lot.

Planning & Zoning:

Taylor Property Management has 30 days to appeal the Zoning Board’s Notice of Decision which denied their original appeal for a large storage building on E. Elmwood Avenue.

Trustee Catanese made a motion, seconded by Trustee Dunn, to approve the Resolution #10-2019 Regarding the Petition for Annexation of Property and the associated Public Notice. Ayes: Dunn, Steele, Jaroszynski, Catanese and Rensel. Nays: none. Carried.

Trustee Dunn made a motion, seconded by Trustee Steele, to approve Resolution #11-2019 to adopt the 2019 Comprehensive Plan as written. Ayes: Dunn, Steele, Jaroszynski, Catanese and Rensel. Nays: none. Carried.

Correspondence:

A copy of the notification of the new NYS Adoptee’s right to original birth record was read and reviewed. Further details will be coming from the state.

Abstracts

Trustee Dunn made a motion, seconded by Trustee Steele that Abstract #7, General Fund in the amount of $58,859.62 be approved for payment. Ayes: Dunn, Steele, Jaroszynski, Catanese and Rensel. Nays: none. Carried.

Trustee Jaroszynski made a motion, seconded by Trustee Catanese, that Abstract #7, Cemetery Fund in the amount of $165.81 be approved for payment. Ayes: Dunn, Steele, Jaroszynski, Catanese and Rensel. Nays: none. Carried.

Trustee Catanese made a motion, seconded by Trustee Dunn, that Abstract #7, Library Fund in the amount of $1,536.99 be approved for payment. Ayes: Dunn, Steele, Jaroszynski, Catanese and Rensel. Nays: none. Carried.

Trustee Steele made a motion, seconded by Trustee Jaroszynski, that Abstract #7, General Fund Hand Items in the amount of $40,975.66 be approved for payment. Ayes: Dunn, Steele, Jaroszynski, Catanese and Rensel. Nays: none. Carried.

Special Recognition for Mayor James Rensel & Trustee Carmella Catanese

Mayor Rensel presented Carmella Catanese with a Certificate of Recognition for Outstanding Service to the Village of Falconer as a Village Trustee from April 2019-December 2019 and for her enthusiasm and dedication shown to the West main Street Redevelopment Committee.
Retired Trustee DeEtte Dispenza presented Mayor James Rensel with a Certificate of Recognition for Outstanding Service to the Village of Falconer & read a letter received from retired Library Director Sue Seamans which outlined not only Mayor Rensel’s accomplishments and “series of unexpected events,” but also eloquently expressed the compassion he has regularly show to our community throughout his tenure with the village. Mayor Rensel was also presented a brick from one of the burned-out W. Main Street buildings which was engraved with many of his accomplishments. A surprise visit from the mayor’s family members was an emotional moment for all.

Motion to Adjourn

Trustee Steele made a motion, seconded by Trustee Dunn, to adjourn the meeting at 8:37 PM. Ayes: Dunn, Steele, Jaroszynski, Catanese and Rensel. Nays: none. Carried.

Respectfully submitted,
Anna Fales, Village Clerk