BROOKFIELD TOWN BOARD MEETING 11-10-14
Following is a summary
of what I believe are the highlights of the NOV 10, 2014 Regular
Meeting of the Brookfield Town Board.
PRESENT: Supervisor Salka; Councilmen: Clint Abrams, Jeff
Mayne, Dewitt Head, Joe Walker; Highway
Superintendent/Codes: Bob Piersma;
CLERK: Sherri Perretta.
Attendance: 12-15
residents / Brookfield Town Hall
At the NOVEMBER 10, 2014 Regular Meeting we learned:
HERE WE GO….a
whopping 8% TAX INCREASE expected in the MADISON COUNTY Budget….go
figure: $13 million from the Oneida
Deal…. And we get an 8% increase….MADISON COUNTY SUPERVISORS and MANAGEMENT receive FREE HEALTH INSURANCE…. No
contribution. Nice. FULL TIME Benefits for part time jobs as Town Supervisors !!!! …
and the Supervisors & the County complain
about STATE MANDATES!? So far: BCS taxes+12%; County Taxes +8% !!!
FINANCES –
Salka reported the Town’s finances are in good shape going into 2015; including
payments pending from: CHPS, FEMA,
Fenner Truck sale; and fund balances looking at $700,000 after all funds received. So,
should we expect an increase from the Town as well?
BUILD A HOUSE and we TAXPAYERS will BUILD YOU A
ROAD!!! Another wake up call.
Came away with the understanding if you build a house on a dirt or
seasonal road it is the TOWN’s
RESPONSIBILITY – financial and otherwise – to UPGRADE THE ROAD at costs
of $10’s of thousands of TAX PAYER dollars in materials alone. Apparently this is a State requirement. The TOWN BOARD needs to review the policy for
IDENTIFYING & ABANDONING old unused roads and put a policy in place. Otherwise, we TAXPAYERS are going to end up
paying for roads for private developers!!! Right now there is no cap on these costs or
requirements…just move on in!
FINALLY – A TIME
LINE re: “HYDRO-FRACKING” BAN Straw Poll - Following the straw poll (3 to 1 against
“hydrofracking” in the Town of Brookfield, the Board was pushed to bring a “TIME LINE” and resolution to the
NEXT – DECEMBER Board Meeting re: banning the practice of hydrofracking in the
Town of Brookfield. Supervisor SALKA has promised to speak with
DeRuyter’s attorney who is reviewing a similar ban in their Town and will also
report at the next meeting. . (See
letter from DeRuyter resident request to ban in their Township.)
Salka
also promised for the next regular meeting that the Board will set a date for the PUBLIC HEARING regarding a BAN. A public hearing is needed prior to any ban. “HOME RULE” – allowing the TOWN to make the
decision whether or not to allow “hydrofracking” within its borders -- has been
upheld in the highest NYS courts. It is my
understanding that the ban would not allow the practice of hydrofracking; the practice of conventional drilling would
still be allowed on gas leased
properties, but clarification needed.
PLANNING BOARD
– appears to be moving ahead and better organized; obtaining clarifications,
etc. A legal case researched by Clerk Perretta,
determined there is no conflict of interest in Marylou Rhodes serving on the
Town Planning Board and acting as Justice of the Peace.
CODES –
DeWitt Head & Bob Piersma to make the rounds of junk yard inspections this
coming week. Piersma explained that he
was simply filling in for Hamilton Codes and no longer holds that position. He also recommended the Board adopt a policy
for safety check of rental properties and will provide some samples which other
towns use. This is a SAFETY issue. Some sub-standard rentals out there!
SALT SHED – Clint Abrams reported on activities to date;
plans are underway to improve the salt shed, runoff and drainage until a more permanent salt shed can
be constructed. Hoop fabric buildings
which the committee has viewed were in the $300,000 range. Additional work and consideration of
options/cost continue.
HIGHWAY –
Truck rotation policy working well.
Fenner is buying one of our trucks for $100,000.
DOG CONTROL
- Gordon Chafee has agreed to fill in
temporarily, replacing Ed Dineen who resigned last month. So far, only one
person, from Erieville, has applied for the position. Sherri agreed to make follow up calls. It is a heartbreaking and thankless job making
it difficult to fill – people seem to be more of the problem than the
dogs. Let’s also hope the Board will take
the time to “introduce” the new DCO to the community !!!! And use clear
communications with the Community. Would
also help to have the DCO be required to show up at least a couple of town
board meetings .
BUDGET 2015
– Failure to file the legal notice for the public comment hearing on the budget, as required by law, will delay
the budget by approximately 4 days past the deadline. The public hearing on the 2015 Budget is now
scheduled for 11/24….but CHECK the Board first…or the Door.
DELTA – Agreement
& Road Use Law : Finally ???
A copy was provided to the Board for review. The Law will eventually require a
public meeting.
Mytillda Miner
– dedication reviewed by Perk Stalter….and special dedication banner donated to
the Town.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
– they are tallying responses to second survey.
