TOWN OF WOODSTOCK
REGULAR MEETING OF THE WOODSTOCK TOWN BOARD
7:00PM, TUESDAY, March 9th, 2021
via ZOOM
Supervisor
Bill McKenna presiding
Council
Members present: Councilman Reggie Earls
Councilman Richard Heppner
(voted on refunding of TH Bond)
Councilwoman Laura Ricci
Councilman Lorin Rose
Deputy
Supervisor Maria Elena Conte
At
7:00pm Supervisor McKenna called the meeting to order. The press was
represented by Bill Kemble and Nick Henderson and Felicia Katchik.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
·
Public
Be Heard: Enter your name into the chat. 2 minutes a piece, first 5 to comment
in chat will have a chance to talk. Public Be Heard will be at the end of the
meeting.
·
Supervisor
McKenna said the Good Neighbor Food Pantry is moving out of the Dutch Reformed
Church due to an increase in rent. He wants to thank Sue Kessler and Patrick
Acker and the maintenance department for their help with food
distribution.
·
Regarding
the charges the Town placed against the Conigliaro’s on Church Rd., the board
will continue to monitor the situation.
PRESENTATIONS:
·
Police
Reform and Reinvention Collaborative – Presented by Tamara Cooper and Reggie
Earls. (see attached) Councilman Earls said the document shows how the Police
Department can do more and do better. He
thanked the Police Chief and the Department in whole for their input. He thanked Ashley Slovensky from the
Supervisor’s office for her help with the zoom meetings and document
assistance. And also thanked Tamara and the rest of the committee, subgroup and
public for their input. Supervisor
McKenna thanked each member of the committee.
Tamara Cooper said it was a work that will need to be continued.
Councilman Heppner asked what in the short term needs to be done with the
document. Supervisor McKenna said the
Board needs to accept and approve the full document and then forward to the
state. Councilwoman Ricci said there was
a lot of good stuff in the report. Chief
Keefe said he just received the document and would be willing to make changes
if necessary and to listen to recommendations.
Rachel Marco-Havens------------- thanked all and to embrace
conversation. Jackie Manganaro also spoke. Supervisor McKenna asked to the Board to look
over the document and be ready to discuss it in two weeks.
·
Susan
Goldman and Kirk Ritchey from the Housing Committee read a letter requesting
the Town to enact a moratorium and to hire a land use attorney to assist with
it. Kirk Ritchey said the intent of the
moratorium request is to allow the Town to understand the rapid
commercialization of our Town.
Councilwoman Ricci said the Zoning Revision Committee voted to accept
and to support a moratorium for 9 months or more. Councilman Heppner said he never thought the
STR’s would get this far. The Town needs
to move forward on a moratorium and to take a stand. Maria Elena agreed with Councilman Heppner. The Zoning Revision Committee will try to work
on the moratorium. Councilman Heppner
said there will be the need of enforcement and try to work on building
communities and neighborhoods.
Supervisor McKenna said need a committee to brainstorm ideas to slow
down the residential sales of properties to create commercial property. Councilman Heppner said he will try to help
create the committee.
TOPICS:
·
STR
Law – Councilman Heppner
RESOLUTIONS:
·
Highway Department Transfer
·
Adopt
Fund Balance Policy
·
Dead
Beets: Liquor License
·
Acting
Highway Superintendent Salary
·
Contract
with Auctions International
·
Appointment:
Board of Assessment Review
·
Resignation:
Water/Sewer
·
Resignation:
Police Department
·
Hire
90-Day Temp: Police Department
·
Hire
HMEO/Mechanic: Highway Department
·
Deputy
Superintendents of Highways: Appointments
RESOLUTION
80-2021
TRANSFER
FROM HIGHWAY CAPITAL RESERVE FUND:
Offered by
Supervisor McKenna, seconded by Councilwoman Ricci:
WHEREAS, Woodstock
Resolution 62-2021 authorized a transfer from
the Highway Equipment Capital Reserve Type Fund pursuant to permissive
referendum, and
WHEREAS, the time to file
and execute such permissive referendum has expired now,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED,
to transfer from the Highway Equipment Capital Reserve Fund, not to exceed
$200,000 for the following:
·
T-770 Bobcat compact Truck Loader
(10,515 lb)- $64,031.15
Attachments
for Bobcat
- Angle Broom $
4,646.64
- SGX 60 Stump Grinder $
7,308.00
- 80” Heavy Duty Bucket w/ Bolt on Edge
$
1,408.72
- 40” Planer, High Flow $ 21,295.96
- High Flow Option Included
- Back Up Camera Included
·
Used Pelican Sweeper – T/O
Warrensburg
Shared Purchase with T/O Ulster and Hurley up to $25,000.00
each
·
Used or New 3500 HD Dual Wheel w/
Mechanics Body $65,000.00
·
New Viking PRR1142HSE Snow Plow $11,309.53
All voted 5-0: Supervisor McKenna - aye
Councilman Rose – aye
Councilman Heppner - aye
Councilwoman Ricci -
aye
Councilman Earls – aye
RESOLUTION 81-2021
ADOPT FUND BALANCE POLICY
Offered by Supervisor McKenna, seconded by Councilwoman
Ricci:
BE IT RESOLVED, to
adopt the attached Fund Balance Policy.
All voted 5-0: Supervisor McKenna - aye
Councilman Rose – aye
Councilman Heppner - aye
Councilwoman Ricci -
aye
Councilman Earls – aye
RESOLUTION 82-2021
WAIVE 30 DAY ABC REQUEST
Offered by Supervisor McKenna, seconded by Councilman
Heppner:
WHEREAS, 15 Rock City Rd.
Inc., AKA – Dead Beets LLC, 15 Rock City Rd., Woodstock, NY 12498, is in
compliance with the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law Section 64 Subdivision 2A,
and has notified this municipality of their intent to file application for a
liquor license with the New York State Liquor Authority, and
WHEREAS, this property is
currently in compliance with all Local Laws and does not have any violations at
this time,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED,
to waive, in this instance, the thirty (30) day period to review said
application and consent to the issuing of a liquor license to the above-named
applicant.
All voted 5-0: Supervisor McKenna - aye
Councilman Rose – aye
Councilman Heppner - aye
Councilwoman Ricci -
aye
Councilman Earls – aye
RESOLUTION 83-2021
SET ANNUAL SALARY FOR APPOINTED HIGHWAY SUPERVISOR
Offered by Supervisor McKenna, seconded by Councilman Rose:
BE IT RESOLVED, to
set the annual salary for Scott Bonestell as acting Highway Superintendent for
2021 at $72,605, pro-rated.
All voted 5-0: Supervisor McKenna - aye
Councilman Rose – aye
Councilman Heppner - aye
Councilwoman Ricci -
aye
Councilman Earls – aye
RESOLUTION 84-2021
SIGN CONTRACT WITH AUCTIONS INTERNATIONAL
Offered by Supervisor McKenna, seconded by Councilwoman
ricci:
WHEREAS, the Town of
Woodstock contract with Auctions International is a 2-year contract that
expired on February 27, 2021 and,
WHEREAS, the Highway
Department would like to continue using their service, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, to
allow the Highway Superintendent to sign the new 2-year contract with Auctions
International with the same terms and conditions as in the previous contract.
All voted 5-0: Supervisor McKenna - aye
Councilman Rose – aye
Councilman Heppner - aye
Councilwoman Ricci -
aye
Councilman Earls – aye
RESOLUTION 85-2021
APPOINT BAR MEMBER
Offered by Supervisor McKenna, seconded by Councilman
Heppner:
BE IT RESOLVED, to
appoint Stephen Pittelman to the Board of Assessment Review (BAR), term to
expire September 30th, 2025.
All voted 5-0: Supervisor McKenna - aye
Councilman Rose – aye
Councilman Heppner - aye
Councilwoman Ricci -
aye
Councilman Earls – aye
RESOLUTION 86-2021
ACCEPT RESIGNATION OF WATER/SEWER DEPARTMENT
Offered by Supervisor McKenna, seconded by Councilwoman
Ricci:
BE IT RESOLVED, to
accept the resignation of Chris Maragoudakis as full-time laborer in the
Water/Sewer Department, effective 3/11/2021.
All voted 5-0: Supervisor McKenna - aye
Councilman Rose – aye
Councilman Heppner - aye
Councilwoman Ricci -
aye
Councilman Earls – aye
RESOLUTION 87-2021
ACCEPT RESIGNATION OF POLICE OFFICER
Offered by Supervisor McKenna, seconded by Councilman Earls:
BE IT RESOLVED, to
accept the resignation of Dylan Joslin-Peter as full-time Police Officer,
effective March 12, 2021.
All voted 5-0: Supervisor McKenna - aye
Councilman Rose – aye
Councilman Heppner - aye
Councilwoman Ricci -
aye
Councilman Earls – aye
RESOLUTION 88-2021
HIRE 90 FULL TIME TEMPORARY POLICE OFFICER
Offered by Supervisor McKenna, seconded by Councilwoman
Ricci:
BE IT RESOLVED, to
hire Phil Sinagra as full-time temporary Police Officer for up to 90 days,
effective March 13, 2021 at a rate of $25.40.
All voted 5-0: Supervisor McKenna - aye
Councilman Rose – aye
Councilman Heppner - aye
Councilwoman Ricci -
aye
Councilman Earls – aye
RESOLUTION 89-2021
HIRE GRADE 5 HMEO/MECHANIC
Offered by Supervisor McKenna, seconded by Councilwoman Ricci:
BE IT RESOLVED, to
hire Michael Reynolds as Grade 5 HMEO/Mechanic, at a rate of $26.33, effective
March 8th, 2021.
All voted 5-0: Supervisor McKenna - aye
Councilman Rose – aye
Councilman Heppner - aye
Councilwoman Ricci -
aye
Councilman Earls – aye
RESOLUTION 90-2021
DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENTS OF HIGHWAY STIPENDS
Offered by Supervisor McKenna, seconded by Councilwoman
Ricci:
BE IT RESOLVED, to
make the following appointments, with a stipend of $1,800 each, pro-rated for
the year 2021, effective March 8th, 2021:
* Deputy Superintendents of Highways, Heather Eighmey and
Brian Chase
All voted 5-0: Supervisor McKenna - aye
Councilman Rose – aye
Councilman Heppner - aye
Councilwoman Ricci -
aye
Councilman Earls – aye
Respectfully
submitted
Town of Woodstock Fund Balance Policy A. Purpose: For increased financial
stability, the Town of Woodstock (Town) desires to manage its financial
resources by revising the fund balance policy for the General Fund and all
Special Revenue Funds that are legally mandated to be kept separately (i.e.:
Highway, Water, Sewer, Lighting etc.). This will ensure the Town maintains a
prudent level of financial resources to protect against reducing service levels
or raising taxes and fees because of temporary revenue shortfalls, unexpected
one-time expenditures, emergencies, or disasters. In addition, this Policy is
to be adopted to promote compliance with GASB Statement 54. B. Background: The
Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) issued GASB Statement Number 54
(Statement 54), Fund Balance Reporting and Government Fund Type Definitions in
February 2009. Statement 54 abandons the reserved and unreserved
classifications of fund balances and replaces them with five new
classifications: non-spendable, restricted, committed, assigned and unassigned.
In addition, Statement 54 updates the definitions of government fund types,
with the most significant changes related to special revenue funds. These
changes were made to bring greater clarity and consistency to fund balance
reporting, resulting in an improved usefulness of fund balance information. The
requirements of Statement 54 are effective for financial statements for periods
ending June 30, 2011. In April 2011, the Office of the State Comptroller (OSC)
issued updated guidance on Fund Balance Reporting and Government Fund Type
Definitions.1 The guidance addressed how the changes in GASB 54 were
implemented in the Annual Update Document and the effects on local government
reporting. Chapter 528 of the Laws of 2000 gives local governments the
authority to carry over a “reasonable amount” of unappropriated unreserved fund
balance from one year to the next.2 This Policy establishes the percentage that
the Town of Woodstock considers the “reasonable amount” for each class of fund
and redefines the terminology set forth in Chapter 528 to follow GASB 54. 1.
http://www.osc.state.ny.us/localgov/pubs/releases/gasb54.pdf 2. See OSC
accounting bulletin, Budgeting and Fund Balance Legislation, from July 2001 at
www.osc.state.ny.us/localgov/pubs/releases/budfund.htm. C. Definitions3 : 1.
Fund Balance – Consists of the measurement of available resources and
represents the difference between total assets and total liabilities. 2.
Non-spendable – Consists of the amounts that cannot be spent because they are
in a nonspendable form or legally or contractually required to be maintained
intact. i.e.: prepaid insurance, prepaid New York State Retirement
contributions 3. Restricted – Consists of amounts that are subject to
externally enforceable legal purpose restrictions imposed by certain creditors,
grantors, contributors, or laws and regulations of other governments; or
through constitutional provisions or enabling legislation. Legal enforceability
means that an external party can compel a government to use resources created
by enabling legislation only for the purpose specified by the legislation.
i.e.: reserves and capital projects 4. Committed (Unrestricted) – Consists of
amounts constrained to specific purposes by a government itself using its
highest-level decision-making authority (Town Board). The amount to be
committed may be determined after the date of the commitment. The Town Board
must take formal action before the end of the fiscal year to add or remove a
constraint. 5. Assigned (Unrestricted) – Consists of amounts that are subject
to a purpose constraint that represents an intended use established by the
government’s highest level decision making authority (Town Board), or by the
Board’s designated body or official. The purpose of the assignment must be
narrower than the purpose of the general fund. In funds, other than the general
fund, assigned fund balance will be the residual amount of fund balance. i.e.:
year-end encumbrances 6. Unassigned (Unrestricted) – This consists of all balances
remaining after considering the other four categories for the general fund and
could result in a surplus or a deficit. Use is least constrained in this
category. In funds, other than the general fund, the unassigned classification
should only be used to report a deficit balance. D. General Policy: 1. Reserves
a. The Town shall strive to maintain a level of reserves to guard its citizens
against a service disruption because reserves are essential to dealing with
unforeseen emergencies or changes in condition b. Funding of reserves can come
from surplus funds (excess of revenues over expenditures or one-time revenues)
or other sources as designated by the Town Board. c. All expenditures from or
uses of reserve will require prior Board approval by adoption of Use of Reserve
Resolution. d. Reserves shall only be used for the purpose in which they are
intended. 3. GASB 54 paragraphs 5-172. Fund Balance Policy and Procedures This
Policy is based upon the rule that the Town has fully funded or reserved for all
operating expenses incurred in prior years in the funds. a. The unassigned
(unrestricted) fund balance range for General Fund shall be not be less than 5%
and not more than 10% of the total adopted budgeted expenditures of the Fund.
b. The assigned (unrestricted) fund balance of any Special Revenue Fund shall
not be less than 7.5% and not more than 12.5% of the total adopted budgeted
expenditures of any Fund. c. The Supervisor shall annually calculate and verify
the Town’s compliance with this policy. In determining compliance, the
following formula will be used: the audited balance available in the unassigned
(unrestricted) / assigned (unrestricted) fund balance of the Town’s Funds for
the most recently audited fiscal year, divided by the adopted expenditure
budget for the ensuing fiscal year for each of the Town’s Funds. d. The
Supervisor shall report annually to the Town Board the results of the
calculation and make recommendations for the use of funds in the event of a
surplus or the replenishment of funds in the event of a deficit. e. Surplus: In
the event the unassigned (unrestricted) / assigned (unrestricted) fund balance
of any of the Town’s funds exceed the maximum requirements, the excess may be
utilized for any lawful purpose approved by the Town Board. To minimize the
long-term effect of such use, the excess shall be appropriated to fund one-time
expenditures or expenses which do not result in recurring operating costs, or
other one-time costs including the establishment or increase in legitimate
restrictions (reserves) of fund balance. f. Deficit: In the event the
unassigned (unrestricted) / assigned (unassigned) fund balance for the Town’s
funds falls below the minimum requirement for any fiscal year, the Supervisor
or Chief Accounting Officer shall prepare and submit to the Town Board a plan
to restore the balance to the minimum target level in the next budget year or
other appropriate period. 3. Application of Funds: In instances where
expenditures are incurred that will require the funding sources to be comprised
of two or more types of fund balance categories, the order of exhaustion of the
fund will be as follows: 1. Restricted 2. Committed 3. Assigned 4. Unassigned
E. Review: The Supervisor will present this Policy annually at the Organizational
Meeting of the Town Board for review and adoption. List of reserve funds:
General Fund: Building Capital Landfill Repair Comeau Building Capital
Recreation Capital Computer Reserve Woodstock Cemetery Watershed Capital Codes
Update Reserve Rick Volz improvement Capital Vehicle Reserve Mountain View
Capital Sidewalk Capital Village Green Capital Employee Benefit Accrued
Liability Reserve GOSR Highway Fund: Equipment Reserve Mink Hollow Bridge
Capital Repair Reserve Employee Benefit Accrued Liability Reserve
Water/Sewer/Onsite: Onsite Repair Reserve Water Repair Reserve Sewer Repair
Reserve Wellhead Improvement Capital Sewer Capital Reserve Reed Bed Capital
Employee Benefit Accrued Liability Reserve for Water/Sewer/ Onsite Trust and
Agency Reserves: Recreation Open Space Reserve Building Security Dep Reserve In
Lieu Parking Reserve Woodstock Artist Memorial Dog Park Reserve Comeau
Stewardship Reserve Woodstock Community Garden Youth Center Improvement
Cemetery Improvement Bell House Memorial Tree Recreational Facilities Summer
Recreation Jeremy Wilber reflecting Pond Community Center Renovation
