January 11, 2021

TOWN OF LAKE LUZERNE

REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING

JANUARY 11, 2021

SUPERVISOR MERLINO CALLED MEETING TO ORDER WITH THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS PRESENT; COUNCILMAN O’NEAL, COUNCILMAN LEWANDOWSKI, COUNCILMAN FAZIO, COUNCILMAN WATERHOUSE. ALSO PRESENT WAS ATTORNEY FOR THE TOWN DAVID MITCHELL AND HIGHWAY SUPT RON DEUEL.

MOTION BY COUNCILMAN O’NEAL, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN LEWANDOWSKI TO APPROVE MINUTES OF JANUARY 4 2021 MEETING.  ALL IN FAVOR, AYE. NONE OPPOSED, CARRIED 5-0.

NO PUBLIC COMMENT:

RESOLUTION 12 OF 2021 –  INTRODUCED BY SUPERVISOR MERLINO RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING PAYMENT OF MONTHLY VOUCHERS OF THE 1ST ABSTRACT  NUMBERED AND TOTALED AS FOLLOWS. WHEREAS, the Town Board of Lake Luzerne is obliged to review various vouchers submitted for payment and shall review same on a monthly and/or periodic basis for legitimacy, and authorize payment of same, pursuant to and in compliance with the Laws of the State of New York, Warren County and the Town of Lake Luzerne, and WHEREAS, the payment vouchers received, reviewed and approved for payment are identified as follows :

GENERAL FUND                 #26608- 26628 & 26648-26656                                   $88,556.68

HIGHWAY FUND                  26629-26642  & 26659                                                  8,909.58

STREETLIGHT 1                    26658                                                                              3,543.05

LK LUZ WATER                    26643-26646 & 26657                                                   6,644.46

HUDSON GROVE WATER   26647                                                                                  25.00

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED  UPON MOTION BY COUNCILMAN WATERHOUSE, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN FAZIO TO PAY ALL VOUCHERS APPROVED AND IDENTIFIED FROM ABSTRACT 1 OF 2021. ALL IN FAVOR, AYE, NONE OPPOSED, CARRIED 5-0.

RESOLUTION 13 OF 2021 – RESOLUTION INTRODUCED BY SUPERVISOR MERLINO

RESOLUTION APPOINTING CYNTHIA SHERWOOD AS THE F.O.I.L OFFICER FOR THE TOWN OF LAKE LUZERNE AT $0.00 SALARY .

WHEREAS, the Town Board of Lake Luzerne is required to appoint a F.O.I.L officer for the Town of Lake Luzerne and to set the annual compensation of same, and

WHEREAS, Cynthia Sherwood maintains oversight of all records of the Town in daily course of business as Town Clerk and receives all F.O.I.L requests in her office, and

WHEREAS, the Town Board of Lake Luzerne maintains a compensation rate at $0.00 for this position.

NOW THERFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, UPON A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN  the Town Board of Lake Luzerne hereby appoints Cynthia Sherwood as the Town F.O.I.L officer with a $0.00 compensation.  MOTION SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN LEWANDOWSKI, ALL IN FAVOR AYE, NONE OPPOSED, CARRIED, 5-0.

RESOLUTION 14 of 2021 – RESOLUTION INTRODUCED BY SUPERVISOR MERLINO  APPOINTING TERESA RIVERS AS WATER PURIFICATION OPERATOR (MONDAY – FRIDAY) FOR THE TOWN OF LAKE LUZERNE AT THE ANNUAL RATE OF $16,000.00

WHEREAS, the Town of Lake Luzerne, pursuant to and in compliance with the regulations promulgated by the New York State Department of Health (DOH), is required to employ a Water Purification Operator seven days per week, to preform various functions within the water system of the Town of Lake Luzerne, and

WHEREAS, current Town of Lake Luzerne employee Teresa Rivers possesses the requisite credentials to be appointed as Water Purification Operator and has been serving in this capacity for several months, and 

WHEREAS, the required daily time commitment is three (3) hours per day, seven days per week, and 

WHEREAS, the appointment made under this resolution is for Water Purification Operator (Monday – Friday) for 52 weeks for 2021, with a three hour per day commitment.  The three (3) hour daily work commitment shall be performed concurrent with the daily work commitments of Town Employee Teresa Rivers, and

WHEREAS, the Town Board hereby sets the annual compensation rate for Water Purification Operator (Monday – Friday) at Sixteen-Thousand Dollars ($16,000.00) for 52 weeks for 2021.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, The Town Board hereby appoints Teresa Rivers to the Position of Water Purification Operator to perform the DOH required functions Monday – Friday at a Annual Compensation Rate of $16,000.00 to be paid consistent with the current employee salary payment schedule.

MOTION SECONDED BYCOUNCILAN O’NEAL. ALL IN FAVOR, AYE. OPPOSED NONE. CARRIED 5-0. 

RESOLUTION 15 of 2021 – RESOLUTION INTRODUCED BY SUPERVISOR MERLINO

ESTABLISHING THE PART-TIME POSITION OF WEEKEND (SATUDAY & SUNDAY) WATER PURIFICATION OPERATOR FOR THE TOWN OF LAKE LUZERNE AT THE RATE OF $34.00/HOUR.

WHEREAS, the Town of Lake Luzerne, pursuant to and in compliance with the regulations promulgated by the New York State Department of Health (DOH), is required to employ a credentialed Water Purification Operator seven days per week to perform various functions within the water system of the Town of Lake Luzerne, and

WHEREAS, the Town of Lake Luzerne hereby establishes a part-time weekend Water Purification Operator (Saturday and Sunday), who shall have the credentials, as required by DOH, to perform those required functions every weekend, and

WHEREAS, the Town Board anticipates, the need to call upon the services of different qualified Water Purification Operators to work over each weekend, and this resolution shall authorize the Town to the flexibility to call upon different credentialed operators to cover each weekend to ensure compliance, and

WHEREAS, the required daily time commitment for the weekend operator shall be limited to a maximum of three (3) hours per day for Saturday and Sunday, and the Town Board sets the compensation rate at $34.00/hour.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, The Town Board hereby establishes a Weekend Water Purification Operator (Saturday and Sunday), to perform the DOH required functions, with the compensation rate set at $34.00/hour with a limit of three hours per day, and payment consistent with the current employee salary payment schedule.

MOTION SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN LEWANDOWSKI. ALL IN FAVOR, AYE, OPPOSED NONE. CARRIED 5-0.

RESOLUTION 16 of 2021  INTRODUCED BY SUPERVISOR MERLINO

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING SUPERVISOR MERLINO TO ENTER INTO AND EXECUTE THE INTERMUNICIPAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN WARREN COUNTY AND THE TOWN OF LAKE LUZERNE FOR COMBATING AQUATIC SPECIES IN PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE WATER BODIES IN WARREN COUNTY OTHER THAN LAKE GEORGE FOR THE YEAR 2021

WHEREAS, the Warren County Board of Supervisors passed Resolution 442 of 2020 allocating a total of Two-Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000) for the purpose of combating aquatic invasive species in 2021, with One-Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars of this total earmarked for distribution to Towns having lakes located within Warren County, other than Lake George, and

WHEREAS, Warren County Resolution 442 of 2020 RESOLVED to allocated Forty-One Thousand Six Hundred Sixty-Six Dollars and 66/100 ($41,666.66) to the Town of Lake Luzerne pursuant to an Inter-municipal agreement between Warren County and the Town of Lake Luzerne, and

WHEREAS, a copy of Warren County Resolution 442 of 2020 and the proposes inter-municipal agreement is attached hereto and made a part hereof.

NOW THERFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Town Board of Lake Luzerne hereby authorizes Supervisor Merlino to execute and enter into the attached inter-municipal agreement and  authorizes acceptance of the Forty-One Thousand Six Hundred Sixty-Six Dollars and 66/100 ($41,666.66) for the purpose of combatting aquatic invasive species in publicly accessible water bodies in the Town of Lake Luzerne.

MOTION SECONDED BY  COUNCILMAN WATERHOUSE. ALL IN FAVOR, AYE, NONE OPPOSED. CARRIED 5-0.

COUNCILMAN WATERHOUSE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE BOARD ENACT A MORATORIUM ON THE PLACING OF RECREATIONAL VEHICLES IN THE TOWN UNTIL LEGISLATION CAN BE PASSED.  A WORKSHOP WILL BE SCHEDULED TO DISCUSS.

THERE WILL BE A WORKSHOP AGENDA MEETING ON THE MONDAY PRIOR TO THE MONTHLY REGULAR BOARD MEETINGS, THE FIRST OF WHICH WILL BE FEB 1ST AT 7 PM.  THE PURPOSE OF THE MEETING IS TO FORMULATE ITEMS FOR THE REGULAR MEETING.

MOTION BY COUNCILMAN WATERHOUSE, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN LEWANDOWSKI TO SET THE AGENDA MEETING ON THE FIRST MONDAY PRIOR TO THE REGULAR BOARD MEETINGS AT 7 PM.  ALL IN FAVOR, AYE. NONE OPPOSED, CARRIED 5-0.

REPORTS:

HIGHWAY SUPT. – RON DEUEL        –

REPORTED ON THE STORM OF 12-17- 2020. IT WAS THOUGHT TO BE 6 INCHES, BUT WAS 30 INCHES.  NO BREAKDOWNS.

DISCUSSED HOW WELL THE PILOT PROGRAM SALT REDUCTION PROGRAM IS WORKING. OTHER TOWNS ALSO REPORT IMPROVEMENT. CHANGES ARE MADE TO HOW ROADS ARE PLOWED.  CONSULTING WITH TOWN OF HAGUE.   TRUCKS NEED ELECTRONIC SPREADER CONTROLS.  4 TRUCKS  HAVE IT NOW AND OTHERS STILL HAVE HYDROLIC LEVERS.  USE OF BRINE IS WORKING WELL. CLEAN UPS ARE FASTER BECAUSE EVERYTHING STAYS LOOSE UNDERNEATH.  LESS DIRT AND CLEANUP FOR THE SPRING.  TRUCKS NEED TO BE CALIBRATED AND ALL WILL NEED TO RE LEARN PLOWING AS THEY WILL BE PUTTING DOWN LESS.   SUPERINTENDENT WANTS APPROVAL FOR ELECTONIC CONTROLS AND MORE STORAGE TANKS FOR BRINE.

RESOLUTION 17 OF 2021 – RESOLVED UPON A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN O’NEAL, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN FAZIO TO PURCHASE (3) ELECTRONIC CONTROLLERS FOR HIGHWAY PLOWING  AT A COST OF $1,700 EACH AND (2),  3,000 GALLON STORAGE TANK AT $2,000 EACH PURCHASED THROUGH COUNTY CONTRACT. ALL IN FAVOR, AYE, NONE OPPOSED, CARRIED 5-0.

DISCUSSION REGARDING LED LIGHTS FOR THE HIGHWAY GARAGE.  THERE ARE INCENTIVES OFFERED BY NATIONAL GRID TO CHANGE OVER.  HILL ELECTRIC GAVE A PRICE OF $5,600 TO CHANGE OVER ALL THE LIGHTS. JUST BUYING THE PRODUCT FROM THEM, NO LABOR, WOULD BE $1250.  APPROX $1350 FOR AN ELECTRICIAN TO HOOK THEM UP.  3 PKGS OF LED LIGHTBULBS COSTS $700.  HE FEELS THAT WITH ALL THE INCENTIVES IT WOULD BE COST EFFECTIVE. ANNUAL SAVINGS COULD BE $1468.00.

DISCUSSION AS TO WHETHER THE  BID THRESHHOLD WOULD APPLY. NOT KNOWING WHAT THE INCENTIVES ARE .

DISCUSSION ON LIMITS OF THE PROCUREMENT POLICY AND GETTING INCENTIVE INFORMATION AND QUOTES.

BOARD DISCUSSED POSSIBLY RAISING THE $500  PURCHASING THRESH HOLD ENACTED IN 2014.

THE  2019 550 TRUCK PURCHASED HAS AN ALTERNATOR THAT DOESN’T DELIVER ENOUGH POWER. EVERY TIME THE PLOW IS RAISED, THE ELECTRONICS GO OUT.

FORD SAID THE FIX FOR THAT IS TO RETROFIT ANOTHER BATTERY SO THAT IS WHAT HE IS DOING TO THE 550.

TOWN CLERK – CYNTHIA SHERWOOD

RECEIVED A RESIGNATION LETTER FROM PAMELA PETTEYS RESIGNING FROM THE PLANNING BOARD AND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

TONI SPRINGER IS THE ALTERNATE ON THE PLANNING BOARD THAT WOULD MOVE INTO FILL THAT VACANCY.  TONI HAS AGREED TO DO THAT.

RESOLUTION  18  OF 2021 – RESOLVED UPON A MOTIONBY COUNCILMAN FAZIO, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN O’NEAL TO ACCEPT WITH REGRETS THE RESIGNATION OF PAMELA PETTEYS FROM THE PLANNING BOARD.  ALL IN FAVOR, AYE. OPPOSED NONE. CARRIED 5-0.

RESOLUTION  19  OF 2021 – RESOLVED UPON A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN WATERHOUSE, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN FAZIO, TO APPOINT TONI SPRINGER TO FILL THE VACANCY ON THE PLANNING BOARD LEFT BY THE RESIGNATION OF PAMELA PETTERYS. ALL IN FAVOR, AYE, NONE OPPOSED, CARRED 5-0.

GAVE THE BOARD MONTHLY REPORT TO THE SUPERVISOR FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER 2020 AS WELL AS COMPARISON REPORTS FOR ALL OF 2019 AND 2020. THERE WAS A SLIGHT  INCREASE IN MONIES FROM THE LANDFILL WHICH WE HAVE BEEN SEEING AS PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HOME MORE DURING COVID.

DROP BOX FOR TAXES IS WORKING WELL.

ASSOCIATION OF TOWNS ANNUAL MEETING IS BEING HELD VIRTUALLY.

SUPERVISOR – EUGENE MERLINO

DISCUSSION REGARDING ENGINEERING FIRMS OF LABARGE GROUP, CHAZEN AND CEDARWOOD.

ATTORNEY WAS ASKED TO PREPARE AGREEMENTS FOR TRACY CLOTHIER, CHAZEN AND BUDDY’S TREE SERVICE.    WE DO NOT HAVE THOSE AT THIS TIME.

COUNCILMAN O’NEAL WANTS TO LOOK AT OTHER FIRMS.

HIGHWAY SUPT ADVISED THAT ARCADIA IS A HUGE FIRM THAT COULD DO A WATER STUDY AND THEN LOOK FOR GRANTS.

SUPERVISOR ADVISED THAT DESIGNATING PETITIONS CAN BE CIRCULATED FROM  2-28 AND FILED BY MARCH 31ST.

RAYL ZUBAL COMMENTED THAT THE LIGHT SWITCHES SHOULD BE CHECKED TO SEE IF THEY ARE LED COMPATIBLE.

SUPERVISOR ADVISED THE COVID EMERGENCY PLAN REQUIRED BY THE STATE  HAS TO BE DONE BY APRIL 1.   WE WILL ASK THE COUNTY FOR A TEMPLATE IF THEY HAVE IT.

JIM NILES NYS DEPT OF STATE DIV OF  LOCAL ASSISTANCE BUREAU MIGHT HELP WITH THE EMERGENCY PLAN.

ALSO SUGGESTED  CT MALE AS A POSSIBLE ENGINEERING FIRM.

MEETING ADJOURNED  UPON  A MOTION BY

COUNCILMAN O’NEAL, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN FAZIO AT 8:10 PM. ALL IN FAVOR. AYE.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,

________________________________________

CYNTHIA SHERWOOD, TOWN CLERK, RMC