Summary of Canaan Town Board meetings: September 2005 through January 2006
By Ginny Nightingale
At its September meeting, the Canaan Town Council decided to gather bids for a new grader for the highway department, received notice that Patrick Pulver had resigned as Building Inspector and selected Bernie Meyer as the Project Manager to work with the contractors installing the water fountain in the town park. The subcommittee for the fountain project includes Connie Medica, Sandra Zimmer and Tammy Flaherty. The fountain and its installation have been funded by donations, but the maintenance of the fountain will be part of the town budget.
The Council reviewed the proposed Ethics Law for the last time prior to a public hearing scheduled for October. A Canaan resident suggested approaching CSX railroad to establish a “Quiet Zone� that would limit the number of times trains sound their horns as they pass through the residential section of Canaan.
October’s Board meeting started early with the public hearing for the new Ethics Law. After receiving input from the public, the board decided to make some changes in the law and revisit it at a budget workshop meeting later in the month. The remainder of the meeting involved the budget. Town Clerk Charlotte Cowan has researched the possibility of codifying the Town’s records, which would greatly improve the organization of the Town’s laws and regulations and make information much more accessible to the public and the Town’s employees. The cost of this process, which would be delegated to a private firm, would need to be included in the 2006 budget. It was also suggested that the Town provide health insurance to all employees working at least 20 hours per week.
November’s Board meeting opened with another public hearing for the newly revised Ethics Law. A public hearing on the 2006 budget followed. Some of the highlights of the budget include increasing the reserve fund for the salt shed by $200,000 and creating pay parity among the highway clerk, deputy town clerk and court clerk by establishing a consistent hourly wage for all three employees. The Board discussed the possibility of a Bond Anticipation Note to cover the remaining construction costs of the salt shed, and decided to ask the Town’s attorney to prepare a serial bond resolution, which will be presented at a later date. Another item in the 2006 budget is a full external audit of the various Town accounts, which hasn’t been performed in several years.
After the budget presentation, the Board discussed regular November business. It approved the Ethics Law (Local Law #1, 2005) as well as a bid for a new John Deere grader that will cost approximately $38,000 per year for five years. The Board also adopted by resolution the 2006 budget, which includes funds for the codification project proposed in October, the external audit and the salary and health insurance changes mentioned previously.
In December, the Board received Building/Zoning Code Officer Stan Koloski’s resignation. It passed a resolution to establish a capital reserve fund to finance the cost of site development and the construction of the salt shed. Don Malin, Chair of the Planning Board, sent a letter to Board members requesting that the town’s Boundary Line Adjustment Law be amended. The town attorney is now reviewing the proposed amendment. At the end of the meeting, the Board held a tribute to Jack Leal, a council member for 11 years who is now retiring from public office.
Note: The Board held a special meeting on December 28 to appoint Patrick Pulver as temporary ZEO until applicants for the permanent position could be interviewed.
The first Board meeting of 2006, held on January 9, began with Jack Leal swearing in newly elected Council Members Carrie Bither and David Patzwahl, Supervisor Gary Flaherty, Town Clerk Charlotte Cowan and Tax Collector Barbara Fischer. The Board passed numerous resolutions to establish the town’s official newspaper, hire a law firm to represent the town, etc. with few changes over previous years. The Board will approach the accounting firm of Pattison and Kosky to perform the external audit of the Town’s accounts, and it approved a renewal of the Town’s contract with the Chatham Rescue Squad for 2006. It did not, however, approve the contract with the Lebanon Valley Protective Association Ambulance. The Board will invite a representative from the Protective Association to attend its February meeting to discuss the contract.
The Board also received a report about the safety issues surrounding the intersection of Flint’s Crossing Road and Route 22 from the New York State Department of Transportation and heard numerous suggestions to improve the safety of the intersection. It approved a motion to have the signs DOT suggests erected immediately and made plans to discuss other improvements at future meetings.
Supervisor Flaherty announced his appointments for Deputy Supervisor and Liaisons for 2006. According to Town law, the supervisor can select someone other than a member of the town board for Deputy Supervisor, and Supervisor Flaherty appointed Dick Klingler. Mr. Klingler would run meetings in Mr. Flaherty’s absence, but would not have a vote. The Liaisons are as follows: Planning Board, Steve August; ZBA, Ginny Nightingale; Recreation Committee, Carrie Bither, and ZEO, David Patzwahl.
The Board will hold a workshop meeting on January 26 to address unfinished business. At that meeting, the Town’s legal counsel will present for the Board’s approval the Bond Anticipation Note for financing the construction of the salt shed. In addition, the Board will hold interviews with candidates for the ZEO position and for the five seats on the Board of Ethics. The Board will also review candidate companies to perform the codification process for the Town and discuss the issue of a job description for the position of Assessor’s Assistant.
