March 11, 2019 Regular Meeting
Mayor James R. Rensel
Trustee Deette Dispenza
Trustee Timothy Dunn
Trustee James Jaroszynski
Trustee J. Michael Steele
Lawrence Trask, Treasurer
Anna L. Fales, Village Clerk
Charles Piazza, Fire Chief
Alan P. Gustafson, Code Enforcement Officer-excused
Peter C. Fuller, DPW Superintendent
The regular meeting of the Village of Falconer Mayor and Board of Trustees was held on Monday, March, 2019 at 7:00 P.M. in the Community Building Board Room with Mayor James Rensel presiding.
Visitors
Brian D. Nelson of 22 W. Falconer Street; Skip Cavallaro of 201 East Main Street and Alan Gustafson Jr of 105 W. Main Street were in attendance.
Minutes
Trustee Dunn made a motion, seconded by Trustee Steele, to approve the minutes of February 11, 2019 as written. Ayes: Dispenza, Dunn, Steele, Jaroszynski, and Rensel. Carried.
Fire Chief
The chief’s February report was reviewed and noted that the department responded to 45 EMS calls, 2 fire, 3 fire alarms, 2 carbon dioxide alarms, 2 basement pump outs, 4 standby calls and 2 powerlines down, totaling 60 calls, 364.46 personnel hours in February.
Code Enforcement Office
The code enforcement report for February was reviewed noting that 2 building permits were issued ($35 collected/$85 YTD), 4 building inspections were performed/8 YTD, 0 certificates of occupancy/0 YTD, and 4 certificates of compliance/4 YTD. There were 25 phone calls, e-mails, personal contacts made/60 YTD and 2 notices of complaints filed with action taken by the CE office in the month of February/14 YTD.
Department of Public Works
The DPW report was reviewed for the period February 12-March 11, 2019.
Library
The February library report was reviewed. This month the library received $45.44 for fines, $58.24 for copies and faxes, $57.00 basket sale, $787.00 for gifts and donations, and $3,500.00 from the Town of Ellicott. The Library is hosting a photo display compliments of the Jamestown Audubon society.
A motion was made by Trustee Dispenza, seconded by Trustee Jaroszynski, to approve two potential locations as preferred sites for a Hugh C. Bedient Roadside Historical Marker should the village be awarded grant funding from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation. The preferred location is on the terrace of 500 Grace Street, which was the site if the original Hugh Bedient Field where Hugh Bedient played baseball as a child or on the terrace in front of Mr. Bedient’s Phetteplace Street home. Ayes: Dispenza, Dunn, Steele, Jaroszynski, and Rensel. Carried. It was the consensus of the board that the marker should be placed at a site which has a significant historical connection to Hugh Bedient’s life.
Legal
Mr. Peterson treated the board and visitors to a synopsis of Mr. Bedient’s baseball career; from his 1908 world record breaking performance as a semi-pro pitcher, striking out 42 batters in one 23 inning game. Winning the World Series in 1912 as a rookie with the Boston Red Sox, and playing a 1921 exhibition game in Celoron, NY against Babe Ruth.
The board was also informed that the Jamestown Jammer’s will be taking a one year hiatus with plans to return to Russ Detrick Stadium in 2020.
On May 21, the Jackson Center will be hosting seminar on the “History of the Holland Land Co.” followed by “The Fall of the Buffalo Mob”.
As an update to the west Main Street redevelopment, the village has officially began action of commercial zoning violations at the Powell building, located at 21-27 W. Main Street. The next step, if the violations remain unresolved will be legal action.
Committees:
Animal Control:
The Municipal Shelter Inspection Report which was performed on February 5, 2019 by Emily Bailey, NYS Animal Health Inspector, was reviewed. The report indicates, “Dog shelter services were rated Satisfactory.”
Finance:
Treasurer Trask presented the 2019-2020 proposed budget.
Mayor Rensel called for public questions and comments on the proposed 2019-2020 budget noting that this budget reflects a real property tax rate of $9.24/$1000 of assessment which is a proposed tax increase of $0.22/$1000. This proposed increase is within the limits of the NYS Property Tax Cap Law.
Treasurer Trask noted that State AIM funding is not included in the budget.
Proposed Budget 2019-2020 as presented
Appropriations $1,410,400
Revenues $1,410,400
($ 0 ) Balanced Budget
Trustee Dunn made a motion, seconded by Trustee Steele, to table the 2019-2020 budget as presented. Ayes: Dispenza, Dunn, Jaroszynski, Steele, and Rensel. Carried.
A public hearing will be held at the April 8, 2019 board meeting.
Fire Advisory Board:
Treasurer Steele reported that the Advisory Board plans to adjust communication avenues and increase support of the fire department.
Old Business:
Mayor Rensel instructed Mr. Peterson to cancel the village’s negotiations with the Marchinson’s for the purchase of their parcel located on Main & Dow Street’s. Due to the potential legal costs of lengthy negotiations by the sellers, the village is no longer interested in the property.
A motion was made by Trustee Dispenza, seconded by Trustee Jaroszynski to resend the purchase offer of $3000 for the property located at NE corner of Dow and W. Main Streets. Ayes: Dispenza, Dunn, Jaroszynski, Steele, and Rensel. Carried.
New Business:
National Knit in Public Day will once again be held in Davis Park.
Trustee Steele made a motion, seconded by Trustee Dispenza, to approve a handicapped –accessible port-a-john to be funded by the village and placed in Davis Park from July 1, 2019- August 10, 2019 for use by community members attending concerts & events held in the park. Ayes: Dispenza, Dunn, Jaroszynski, Steele, and Rensel. Carried.
On Friday, March 15th, 2019 the American Legion will be celebrating its 100th Birthday.
The community has been invited to a birthday celebration at the Henry Mosher Post 638 on Saturday, March 16th from noon to close.
Deputy Mayor DeEtte Dispenza submitted her Letter of Resignation from the board effective March 12, 2019. Mayor Rensel thanked Trustee Dispenza for her service to the community and stated that Trustee Dispenza is willing to stay on until the April 8th meeting at which time a new board member will be appointed. Although she is resigning from the board, she will continue to manage the Falconer Farmer’s Market.
Abstracts
Trustee Dunn made a motion, seconded by Trustee Steele that Abstract #10, General Fund in the amount of $57,519.66 be approved for payment. Trustee Dispenza questioned the expense for Fire Department Detailing $175.00, dated 1/7/19. In the past, the fire department membership has always detailed vehicles. Ayes: Dispenza, Dunn, Steele, Jaroszynski, and Rensel. Carried
Trustee Jaroszynski made a motion, seconded by Trustee Dispenza, that Abstract #10, Cemetery Fund in the amount of $315.34 be approved for payment. Ayes: Dispenza, Dunn, Steele, Jaroszynski, and Rensel. Carried
Trustee Dispenza made a motion, seconded by Trustee Dunn, that Abstract #10, Library Fund in the amount of $1,531.83 be approved for payment. Ayes: Dispenza, Dunn, Steele, Jaroszynski, and Rensel. Carried
Trustee Steele made a motion, seconded by Trustee Jaroszynski, that Abstract #10, General Fund Hand Items in the amount of $36,403.51 be approved for payment. Ayes: Dispenza, Dunn, Steele, Jaroszynski, and Rensel. Carried
Motion to Adjourn to Executive Session
Trustee Steele made a motion, seconded by Trustee Jaroszynski, to adjourn into executive session for the purpose of litigation at 8:14 PM. Ayes: Dispenza, Dunn, Steele, Jaroszynski, and Rensel. Carried No formal actions was taken during this meeting.
Anna L. Fales
Village Clerk