Regular meeting of the Village of Carthage Board of Trustees

Held in the Board Room of the Carthage Municipal Building

May 17, 2010

Present: President, G. Wayne McIlroy, Trustees; Michael Astafan, Rebecca Vary,

Kathleen Latremore and Linda Smith-Spencer.

Guests:  Camelia Moses, Linda McCullough and Ron Burrows; Carthage Free Library

President McIlroy called the meeting to order at 7:00P.M. followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

Motion by Michael Astafan and Seconded by Rebecca Vary to approve the minutes of May 3, 2010 meeting as presented by the Clerk. Motion carried unanimously.

PUBLIC FORUM:

CORRESPONDENCE:

Motion by Kathy Latremore and Seconded by Linda Smith-Spencer to approve the request of Kerin Markham, teacher at the Carthage Central School to wave the rental fee for use of the recreation building on Monday, June 21^st for the pre-kindergarten graduation program.  Motion carried unanimously.

Motion by Linda Smith-Spencer and Seconded by Michael Astafan to approve the request of Mary Jones, volunteer at the Village Ecumenical Ministries to wave the rental fee for use of the recreation building on Friday, June 25 and Saturday, June 26 for food distribution.  Motion carried unanimously.

Motion by Michael Astafan and Seconded by Rebecca Vary to approve T.F. Wright & Sons recommendation to not have the boulder/monument repaired at Ryder’s Edge Skate Park due to excessive damage and missing pieces. Motion carried unanimously.

Motion by Michael Astafan and Seconded by Kathleen Latremore to hire Rachel Vary as a summer employee at an hourly rate of $7.50 an hour starting June 1^st, 2010, as recommended by the Police Chief, Reevie Rockhill. Trustee Rebecca Vary abstained from the vote. Motion carried unanimously.

Motion by Michael Astafan and Seconded by Rebecca Vary to approve Margaret Woods, bookkeeper for the St. James Church, request to have banners put up on the grassy area by the bridge and by the Ball Diamond entrance to advertise their annual fair in June. Motion carried unanimously.

Motion by Kathleen Latremore and Seconded by Michael Astafan to approve the request from Bruce Hazen, Treasurer for the Carthage Lions Club for a “Walk for Diabetes: on Saturday June 12^th at 10:00AM. Motion carried unanimously.

OLD BUSINESS:

NEW BUSINESS:

Three people spoke on behalf of the Carthage Free Library.  Camellia Moses, Carthage Free Library Board of Trustee explained how the need for library services has greatly increased. Partially due to increased job searches, resume preparation, and the increase need in children’s programming. Over seventy items a day are checked out from the library. Linda McCullough, manager for the Library stated additional reasons for the expansion.  The current library is not handicap accessible and after the expansion it would be.  There is a need for additional program space and additional computer space. The boiler heating system is in need of renovating.  Last, the increase in energy efficiency that will save money in the future. Ron Burrows, project consultant for the Library expansion, stated that the total project cost is estimated at 1.1 million with sixty percent of the cost already funded, with the remaining balance to be raised by donations and fundraisers.

Motion by Kathleen Latremore and Seconded by Rebecca Vary to approve payment of $1,904.38 for general administrative services on the 2009 CDBG home preservation program.  Motion carried unanimously.

Motion by Kathleen Latremore and Seconded by Linda Smith-Spencer to approve payment to Redfield Contracting in the amount of $20,925.00 for rehabilitation services that qualified for the 2008 Community Block Development Grant.  Motion carried unanimously.

Motion by Kathleen Latremore and Seconded by Rebecca Vary to approve payment to Clough Harbor Associates in the amount of $2,130.97 for bidding services on the Long Falls Park/Guyot’s Island Project. Motion carried unanimously.

Motion by Rebecca Vary and Seconded by Kathleen Latremore to approve payment to Hartgen Archeological Associates in the amount of $800.00 for archeological sub-consulting services on the Long Falls Park/Guyot’s Island Project. Motion carried unanimously.

Motion by Michael Astafan and Seconded by Kathleen Latremore to authorize the clerk to transfer funds as needed to balance accounts within the budget of the Village. The list is on file in the official minute folder of the Board of Trustees. Motion carried unanimously.

Motion by Michael Astafan and Seconded by Kathleen Latremore to approve payment of nine days of vacation time, which has been earned, to the Village Clerk/Treasurer, Sherry L. Sears due to excessive hours at work that did not allow her to use the vacation time by the required date of May 31, 2010. Motion carried unanimously.

Motion by Kathleen Latremore and Seconded by Linda Smith-Spencer to approve payment of payrolls as follows:  General Fund P/R #A61, 62, 63  & 64 $44,703.37; Water Fund, #F 61, 62, 63,& 64 $4,637.30; Sewer Fund, #G61, 62, 63, & 64 $5,214.30; Joint Fund, #J24,  & 25 $17,102.12 , and  General Fund Abstracts, $63,414.98; Water Fund Abstracts, $4,058.38; Sewer Fund Abstracts, $2,963.88; Joint Fund Abstracts, $28,610.28 and authorization for the clerk/treasurer to pay any bill received up to the end of this fiscal year, May 31, 2010. Motion carried unanimously.

PRESIDENT MCILROY=S UPDATE:

President McIlroy informed the board that the RACOG meeting will be Tuesday May 18^th and Wednesday May 19^th will be the joint Waste Water Pollution Control Facility meeting at 4:15 in West Carthage. Then, on Thursday June 3rd at 7:00P.M. will be a Planning Board meeting.

ATTORNEY GEBO UPDATE:

Attorney Gebo stated that the Brahman’s property is still owned by the county and next month he would be able to update the Board further.  Attorney Gebo has not received any correspondence from Attorney King regarding the Nash Property or any documents on the Campany annexation and would need an executive session to discuss a personal matter. 

LIAISON REPORTS AND COMMENTS:

Trustee Kathleen Latremore asked the Board why Village residents are not responsible for removing there Rummage/Garage Sale signs from the utility pole after the event is over.  President McIlroy responded that the residents should not be posting signs on utility poles and that it is illegal to do so.

MEDIA QUESTIONS:

EXECUTIVE SESSION:

Motion by Rebecca Vary and Seconded by Kathleen Latremore to enter Executive Session at 8:12P.M. for a personnel matter.

Regular session resumed at 8:52P.M.

ADJOURNMENT:                                                          

Motion carried to adjourn at 8:53P.M.

Sherry L. Sears, Village Clerk