November 1, 2010 THESE MINUTES ARE NOT VERBATIM

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Deirdre Bryan
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1 TOWN OF BEEKMANTOWN TOWN BOARD Public Hearing 2011 Fire Protection Contract Preliminary Town Budget Southeast Beekmantown Water District Preliminary Budget RT 9/Spellman Road Water District Preliminary Budget CALL TO ORDER November 1, 2010 THESE MINUTES ARE NOT VERBATIM Supervisor Relation called the November 1, 2010 Public Hearing of the Town Board of Beekmantown to order at 6:30 P.M. sign in sheet FIRE PROTECTION CONTRACT 2011 Budget Officer Bill Van Stockum made the presentations for the Board. Mr. Van Stockum - In the Fire Protection budget is down is down 4%. The fire district levy is down 6%. The tax rate for the district will be $0.60. The fire protection district remains at $0.45. Mr. Van Stockum - Does anyone have any questions on those two? MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE 2011 FIRE PROTECTION CONTRACT ALL IN FAVOR PRELIMINARY SOUTH EAST WATER DISTRICT 2011 Mr. Van Stockum - In the Southeast Beekmantown Water District levy is up.003%, the tax rate will remain the same at $2.49.The budget itself is up 2%. From the figures we have received from the Town of Plattsburgh everything should just about stay the same. Mr. Van Stockum - Does anyone have any questions? MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING MOTION BY: Mr. Deyo SECONDED BY: Ms. Garrant

order at 6:30 P.M. sign in sheet FIRE PROTECTION CONTRACT 2011 Budget Officer Bill Van Stockum made the presentations for the Board. Mr. Van Stockum - In the Fire Protection budget is down is down 4%.

2 PRELIMINARY ROUTE 9/SPELLMAN ROAD WATER DISTRICT 2011 Mr. Van Stockum - Route 9/ Spellman Road the appropriations are up 1%. The tax levy is also up 1%.The tax rate stays the same at $4.25. Mr. Van Stockum - Does anyone have any questions? MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING MOTION BY: Mr. Deyo SECONDED BY: Mrs. Garden PRELIMINARY TOWN BUDGET 2011 Mr. Van Stockum- We will start with the Highway budget. The appropriations are $1,184, which is down 3% from last year. Revenues of $654, and unexpended balance are $37, with a 2% increase in the levy of $493, that was caused mostly from new construction in the town. Mr. Van Stockum - Does anyone have any questions on the Highway Department Budget? GENERAL BUDGET Mr. Van Stockum - On the general budget for 2011 has appropriations of $1,441, which is up $0.002%. Less estimated revenues of $1,263, We have no unexpended balance to put against that this year so we had to come up with a tax rate of $177, which equates to a tax rate of $0.54. We have been hit with a lot of increasing costs this year. Uncontrollable costs. Workman s Compensation is up 17%. Medical insurance is up 12-14% depending on the policies. We have seen a 6-8% increase do to Federal regulations going into effect January 1 st, The insurance company had to come up with a higher figure for us. Retirement is up 16% this year, do to low incomes from retirement investments. When the investments go down the towns have to make up the difference. Next year we are looking at a 40% increase in retirement contributions. Mr. Van Stockum - Does anyone have any questions on the General Budget? Mr. Tom Newman- Asked for clarification and straight answers with Workman s Comp. being so high, you mention medical insurance go high. Those two together only come up to $25, Where is the other big increase in the budget that is a result of the higher tax rate? In addition with the fact that there is no money left over in the budget from This is the first time in over 40yrs that there were no funds carried over. Mr. Van Stockum- The pay increases account to about $ Mr. Newman- Pay increases? I went over that and it is about $ Why the big increase? Mr. Van Stockum- I think I need to turn that over to the Town Board. Mr. Newman- I think that s where we need to start. We have all these numbers on Medical, retirement, workman s comp. and raises when a lot of us know already why the budget has to go sky high. For the first time we have a tax rate in the Town of Beekmantown and for the first time we have no funds to carry over to the next year.

00 which is down 3% from last year. Revenues of $654,140.00 and unexpended balance are $37,636.00 with a 2% increase in the levy of $493,005.

3 Mr. Van Stockum- Last year we offset any tax increase with $189, fund balance. This year we don t have it. Mr. Newman- Where did it go? Why did we not have any funds to carry forward? Mr. Van Stockum- Because sales tax and revenue is down. Property taxes are down. Court revenue is down. Mr. Newman- Bill, sales tax is already been declared to be back on track. Why don t we talk about the attorney fees? Mr. Relation- Tom, I ll speak to that. You are right; there is no money to put towards the budget this year. Which annually we have $180, $250, to carry over to keep a 0 tax rate. Which we have done for many years. Bill is correct on some of the reason for the increase. There is a big line item for attorney fees. I believe that figure is $75, Part of that figure is attributable to Workman s Comp. Our insurance carrier that went default from Mr. Newman- Up to this point we have not spent funds on that project (Workman s Comp.) Mr. Relation- As a result of that we have hired an attorney to defend the Town the Workman s Comp. wants to assess the Town for $225,000.00, as an assement fee. That group is in a deficit. We have calculated our figures and we are in the black. We are on the plus side we have spent about $60, in this group. They want to assess this as if we are in the red. We have retained an attorney to speak in our behalf and we put $20, in the budget to cover those fees. I don t believe that it will be any more than that. I do have a conference call with him this week and I don t believe that we will come to that. Mr. Newman- The lawsuits and attorneys? How much have we spent already? (Over $75,000.00) How long is this going to go on? Ms. Garrant- We have only spent $ this year on attorneys for the Penn Energy matter. Mrs. Garden- I don t care how much money it takes. I m not going to break the law. Ms. Terry Hicks- This is for Mr. Morales, Where you part of the West Beekmantown Neighborhood Association? If yes were you part of the law suits? If you were what role did you take part in the lawsuit? Mr. Morales- I was a member I think for about two years. Then I was elected an officer, a trustee. Yes, I was on one of the lawsuits. But, no longer am a member, and states that he doesn t have an agenda. Mr. Morales- Pointed out that the question with Penn Energy is that of vested rights to the project. There are thirty conditions on the conditional use permit. Mr. Newman- You are in our wallets now. Mr. Morales- I understand how everyone feels. I would like to get the tax rate down too. I can t afford it either. Over the last four years there has been $76, in increases for employee salaries. Mrs. Kelly LaFountain- What percentage of that increase is Highway? They are on contract. Mr. Morales- None. Mrs. LaFountain- I have a question pertaining to the medical insurance increase. If we are not going to hire an employee to replace the highway employee that is retiring in 2011 wouldn t that wash out the increase for the medical insurance increase of 14%? Mr. Relation- It should; yes that s right. Mr. Relation- We can only lower the budget and tax rate now not raise it. I know how this works. Previously the majority voted no and it should have ended years ago. Mr. Morales- You passed these laws. With no savings clause.

You are right; there is no money to put towards the budget this year. Which annually we have $180,000.00- $250,000.00 to carry over to keep a 0 tax rate. Which we have done for many years.

4 Mr. Relation- You know the new law didn t include this project. Ms. Terry Hicks- Why could this have not gone to vote for the public? Mr. Relation- Zoning issues can t go on a ballot. Mr. Glenn Monto- What motion in January did you make? (Attorney General Opinion) Ms. Garrant- The State Attorney said when we passed the law that we don t have vested rights. Mr. Relation- They stated that we need to make the determination of vested rights. Ms. Garden- Legal by the law. Mr. Richard Labossiere- If we are sued can we counter sue? Ms. Garrant- No. There are provisions. Mr. Robert Manor- States that they don t make a lot of money either and that they pay enough taxes assessed at $100, Says that his property value will be negatively affected. Questions the money spent on windmills and attorneys like Mr. CJ Madonna. Questioned the conflicts of interest with Mr. Deyo and his nephew benefits from working for the windmill project. Mr. Deyo was that a gesture? Mr. Deyo- No. Mr. Tom Sears- Mr. Morales brought up 6yrs of increases we are here to talk about this year s budget and how we got to this tax rate for Mrs. Kelly LaFountain- Submitted figures to reflect the pay increases for this year totaling $ not $ for fourteen employees not including highway because they are under State contract. Mr. Greg Brienza- Read a letter that he submitted the letter and photos for the record to the board in opposition to the Windmill project and how it will affect his property value. Mrs. Courtney Manor- Submitted a letter the Board in opposition to the windmill project. Mr. Robert Manor- Submitted a letter the Board in opposition to the windmill project. CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARINGS ON 2011 FIRE PROTECTION CONTRACT, 2011 PRELIMINARY TOWN BUDGET INCLUDING SOUTHEAST BEEKMANTOWN WATER DISTRICT & THE RT 9/SPELLMAN ROAD WATER DISTRICT BUDGETS. MOTION TO ADJOURN: Move to adjourn the Public Hearings 2011 Fire Protection Contract and 2011 Town

Relation- They stated that we need to make the determination of vested rights. Ms. Garden- Legal by the law. Mr. Richard Labossiere- If we are sued can we counter sue? Ms. Garrant- No.

5 Preliminary Town Budget including the Southeast Beekmantown and the RT 9/ Spellman Road Water District Preliminary Budgets at 7:46 p.m. ADJOURNMENT 7:46 PM Accepted: Town Clerk: Kelly M. LaFountain

TOWN OF ULYSSES SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING MARCH 15TH, 2010

TOWN OF ULYSSES SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING MARCH 15TH, 2010 Present: Supervisor Roxanne Marino; Town Board Members David Kerness, Kevin Romer, Elizabeth Thomas and Lucia Tyler; Town Clerk Marsha L. Georgia;