Lindley Town Board Meeting-November 15th
TOWN OF LINDLEY REGULAR BOARD MEETING NOVEMBER 15, 2005
Meeting called to order: 7:00pm Harold Semple Town-Supervisor
Town Board Members Present: Harold Semple-Town Supervisor
Paul Stermer-Councilman
Jacob Gross-Councilman
Paul Mortzheim-Councilman
Gerry Simcoe-Councilman
Dick Johnson-Highway Supt.
Diana L. Hill-Town Clerk
Dave Fuller-Code Enforcement
David Edmister-Dog Control
Attached attendance List
Minutes
A motion to accept the minutes with corrections from the October 11, 2005, Town Board Meeting.
MOTIONED BY: JAKE GROSS 2ND BY: PAUL STERMER
Jake-yes, Paul S-yes, Gerry-yes, Paul M-yes CARRIED
A motion to accept the minutes from the Public Hearing for (2006 Town Budget) on November 11, 2005.
MOTIONED BY: PAUL MORTZHEIM 2ND BY: GERRY SIMCOE
Jake-yes, Paul S-yes, Gerry-yes, Paul M-yes CARRIED
A motion to accept the minutes with corrections from the Zoning Board Public Hearing on the 11/01/2005.
MOTIONED BY: PAUL MORTZHEIM 2ND BY: JAKE GROSS
Jake-yes, Paul S-yes, Gerry-yes, Paul M-yes CARRIED
Public Comment
Alvin Schoonover: Asked Dave Fuller (CEO) about the house next to the East Lindley Church, there are junk cars and a pile of car parts. Something must be done about this, before it gets worse (has asked Dave about this before)
Dave: Apologized that he forgot, but will check into this right way.
Reports
It is noted that a monthly report was received from the Town Supervisor, & Town Clerk, & Highway Dept. & Code Enforcement for the month of October 2005; they are on file in the Town Clerk’s office.
Comments from the Town Board
Kitty Pierce-Town Historian: Veteran Plaque – Brian from Hills will come up estimate.
Dave Fuller-Code Enforcement Officer: Called Caton CEO about the cars behind Heffner’s Place,
Gerry: Asked about the junk piles around the house in Lindley?
Dave: Told Heffner to tear the house down /or clean up around the house (Lindley side)
Gerry: Asked about the cellar next to Lindley Woodworks?
Dave: The basement must be filled in; he will talk to Pete from the Woodworks about this.
Dick Pierce: We give the Fire Dept ($30,800. per year) why don’t we ask them to check on the 911 numbers, and who needs to put them up. Should write them a letter asking them for help in this matter.
Paul Mortzheim: Said he will be riding around town with Dick, and he will check the addresses for the 911 postings.
Gerry Gross: The new fees for the Planning Board, the Town Board should make up a check off sheet for the owners to sign off & the CEO to sign off when the work is completed, and have it on file at Town hall.
Dave will come up with a sheet and will present it to the Planning Board and then to the Town Board for approval.
Harold: Read a thank you note from Senator George Winners for our support on I-99 (Route 15).
*Ambulance contract expires 12/31/2005:
We pay monthly payments: and only a 5% increase in 2006
So we need to extend the contract for 3 years.
Paul Mortzheim: We have no choice in this matter; it is in the original contract that we extend for three years.
Jake Gross: We receive no discount – like they claim they give us.
Motion to extend the Ambulance contract (Rural Metro) for three years:
MOTIONED BY: PAUL MORTZHEIM 2ND BY: GERRY SIMCOE
Jake-yes, Paul S-NO, Gerry-yes, Paul M-yes CARRIED
*will write a letter to rural metro about the extension.
HIGHWAY
Dick Johnson-Highway Supt: Howard Mcfall started work for the Town Highway Dept. Monday November 14, 2005.
Jake Gross: The New Storage Building is completed.
Jake: Reviewed the cost of the new building, and he came in under what they budgeted for the building, by $6000.00.
Harold will have Penny look up the bills for account A5132.4, and have them for next month’s meeting to review.
Harold: Asked about tearing down the old building – by the 1st of the year.
Dick: Is concerned with the weather - we can not predict the weather, the roads must come first.
Harold: asked the Town Board – do you want anyone to over see the project? Dick, will do, what he can.
Town Board:
A motion to set a date for the old building to be cleaned out and torn down by January 15th, 2006, if not done by that date, the Town Board will advertise, to have someone come in and tear the building down, & have a scrap man called to haul all the scrap away.
MOTIONED BY: PAUL MORTZHEIM 2ND BY: PAUL STERMER
Jake-yes, Paul S-yes, Gerry-yes, Paul M-yes CARRIED
Jake Gross: Asked about the Fortuna check ($19,528.00)
Harold: The check went into account D5130.4 .
Paul Mortzheim: The Town Budget for 2006 increase went up 0.4%.
Bills: General Abstract #11 334-379 $21,107.38
Highway Abstract #11 161-181 $46,173.36
Motion to pay Bills:
MOTIONED BY: JAKE GROSS 2ND BY: PAUL STERMER
Jake-yes, Paul S-yes, Gerry-yes, Paul M-yes CARRIED
Audited Supervisor’s books
Motion for Adjournment
MOTIONED BY: GERRY SIMCOE 2ND BY: PAUL STERMER
Jake-yes, Paul S-yes, Gerry-yes, Paul M-yes CARRIED
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED
DIANA L. HILL
LINDLEY TOWN CLERK
Meeting called to order: 7:00pm Harold Semple Town-Supervisor
Town Board Members Present: Harold Semple-Town Supervisor
Paul Stermer-Councilman
Jacob Gross-Councilman
Paul Mortzheim-Councilman
Gerry Simcoe-Councilman
Dick Johnson-Highway Supt.
Diana L. Hill-Town Clerk
Dave Fuller-Code Enforcement
David Edmister-Dog Control
Attached attendance List
Minutes
A motion to accept the minutes with corrections from the October 11, 2005, Town Board Meeting.
MOTIONED BY: JAKE GROSS 2ND BY: PAUL STERMER
Jake-yes, Paul S-yes, Gerry-yes, Paul M-yes CARRIED
A motion to accept the minutes from the Public Hearing for (2006 Town Budget) on November 11, 2005.
MOTIONED BY: PAUL MORTZHEIM 2ND BY: GERRY SIMCOE
Jake-yes, Paul S-yes, Gerry-yes, Paul M-yes CARRIED
A motion to accept the minutes with corrections from the Zoning Board Public Hearing on the 11/01/2005.
MOTIONED BY: PAUL MORTZHEIM 2ND BY: JAKE GROSS
Jake-yes, Paul S-yes, Gerry-yes, Paul M-yes CARRIED
Public Comment
Alvin Schoonover: Asked Dave Fuller (CEO) about the house next to the East Lindley Church, there are junk cars and a pile of car parts. Something must be done about this, before it gets worse (has asked Dave about this before)
Dave: Apologized that he forgot, but will check into this right way.
Reports
It is noted that a monthly report was received from the Town Supervisor, & Town Clerk, & Highway Dept. & Code Enforcement for the month of October 2005; they are on file in the Town Clerk’s office.
Comments from the Town Board
Kitty Pierce-Town Historian: Veteran Plaque – Brian from Hills will come up estimate.
Dave Fuller-Code Enforcement Officer: Called Caton CEO about the cars behind Heffner’s Place,
Gerry: Asked about the junk piles around the house in Lindley?
Dave: Told Heffner to tear the house down /or clean up around the house (Lindley side)
Gerry: Asked about the cellar next to Lindley Woodworks?
Dave: The basement must be filled in; he will talk to Pete from the Woodworks about this.
Dick Pierce: We give the Fire Dept ($30,800. per year) why don’t we ask them to check on the 911 numbers, and who needs to put them up. Should write them a letter asking them for help in this matter.
Paul Mortzheim: Said he will be riding around town with Dick, and he will check the addresses for the 911 postings.
Gerry Gross: The new fees for the Planning Board, the Town Board should make up a check off sheet for the owners to sign off & the CEO to sign off when the work is completed, and have it on file at Town hall.
Dave will come up with a sheet and will present it to the Planning Board and then to the Town Board for approval.
Harold: Read a thank you note from Senator George Winners for our support on I-99 (Route 15).
*Ambulance contract expires 12/31/2005:
We pay monthly payments: and only a 5% increase in 2006
So we need to extend the contract for 3 years.
Paul Mortzheim: We have no choice in this matter; it is in the original contract that we extend for three years.
Jake Gross: We receive no discount – like they claim they give us.
Motion to extend the Ambulance contract (Rural Metro) for three years:
MOTIONED BY: PAUL MORTZHEIM 2ND BY: GERRY SIMCOE
Jake-yes, Paul S-NO, Gerry-yes, Paul M-yes CARRIED
*will write a letter to rural metro about the extension.
HIGHWAY
Dick Johnson-Highway Supt: Howard Mcfall started work for the Town Highway Dept. Monday November 14, 2005.
Jake Gross: The New Storage Building is completed.
Jake: Reviewed the cost of the new building, and he came in under what they budgeted for the building, by $6000.00.
Harold will have Penny look up the bills for account A5132.4, and have them for next month’s meeting to review.
Harold: Asked about tearing down the old building – by the 1st of the year.
Dick: Is concerned with the weather - we can not predict the weather, the roads must come first.
Harold: asked the Town Board – do you want anyone to over see the project? Dick, will do, what he can.
Town Board:
A motion to set a date for the old building to be cleaned out and torn down by January 15th, 2006, if not done by that date, the Town Board will advertise, to have someone come in and tear the building down, & have a scrap man called to haul all the scrap away.
MOTIONED BY: PAUL MORTZHEIM 2ND BY: PAUL STERMER
Jake-yes, Paul S-yes, Gerry-yes, Paul M-yes CARRIED
Jake Gross: Asked about the Fortuna check ($19,528.00)
Harold: The check went into account D5130.4 .
Paul Mortzheim: The Town Budget for 2006 increase went up 0.4%.
Bills: General Abstract #11 334-379 $21,107.38
Highway Abstract #11 161-181 $46,173.36
Motion to pay Bills:
MOTIONED BY: JAKE GROSS 2ND BY: PAUL STERMER
Jake-yes, Paul S-yes, Gerry-yes, Paul M-yes CARRIED
Audited Supervisor’s books
Motion for Adjournment
MOTIONED BY: GERRY SIMCOE 2ND BY: PAUL STERMER
Jake-yes, Paul S-yes, Gerry-yes, Paul M-yes CARRIED
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED
DIANA L. HILL
LINDLEY TOWN CLERK
posted by sallyann | 12:27 PM
25 Comments:
Just a thought-
Is it possible for the fire department to use the old Heffner house for a controlled burn, for training purposes? I don't know if the property owner would be amenable or if the fire department has an interest, but it might be a way to resolve at least part of the problem and get some training in for our firemen to boot.
Just a suggestion-
The fees that were adopted were for all inspections that are required by the state for new construction and are not for the Planning Board but for the CEO. Since the fees are raised much more than before I feel it is necessary to have a paper trail to prove all inspections are done. By having the owner and the CEO sign off on each inspection it will insure that the owners are getting what they pay for.
hefner is not the only one hiding cars behind his house. drive down 15 in presho and look behind the old schoolhouse
Sounds like Gerry doesn't think the CEO is doing his job.
New broom making a clean sweep????
I see Paul S. voted against the motion to extend ambulance contract. Does anyone know what other options were available?
Paul S. made a good choice.
Other options available are : don't pay it.
Jake was right that this "contract" does not give us a discount. This "contract" is nothing more than a subsidy.
"sub·si·dy - Monetary assistance granted by a government to a person or group in support of an enterprise regarded as being in the public interest."
So, in the past Rural Metro Ambulance a.k.a Corning Ambulance has asked for this subsidy from every municipality it covers in order to , as they say, "guarantee" that they will send an ambulance when requested.
Sorry but there is never a guarantee. It is first come first served, based on staffing and availability. Some amount of triage is done based upon urgency, but for the most part it is first come first served.
If Rural Metro won't guarantee us a rig without this subsidy then I would like to see us be able to contact an ambulance that will. ie: Erway or L'ville or Addison (not sure about the volunteer ambulances , but I know Erway's doesn't get a subsidy).
But, here is the catch: Politics has entered into the equation and L'ville ambulance is not allowed into Lindley and Erway's is reluctant to cross into Rural Metro's "turf" and risk retribution so we are against the wall.
Do our local politicos suck it up and be the first not pay the subsidy? No municipality wants to be first to say no and risk being accused of neglecting their taxpayers. This has been an issue for many years and will likely not be solved anytime soon.
Subsidizing a private (for proffit) business is just wrong, but in our present "lawsuit crazy" world we are hostages.
I'll bet once the first government tells Rural Metro "no more subsidy" the rest will follow.
I am glad that Paul S. voted no. And I am glad Jake pointed out the false claim. But, is now the time to take a stand against the Rural Metro fiasco?
Well, if you ask the town attorney I'll bet he'll advise the Town to just pay it and move on.
Quite a fine little nitche Mr. Lewis has created for himself...well done.
Regarding "ambulance subsidy":
I intend to push the "ambulance subsidy" to the wall. As long as I'm Supervisor, no one will hold the citizens of Lindley "hostage" over the "right" to immediate medical attention for a money grab. If I fail, it won't be for the "want of trying".
Its to bad Ms. orr wasn't at the Board Meeting, as she could have expressed her thoughts and maybe others would have voted as Paul S.
As it stands now they have a 3 year ex. on there contract.
Maybe its best to see witch way the wind blows before you make a stand.
Just a Tax payer watching the"New Broom".
The 3 year extension was part of the contract with Rural Metro, there was no CHOICE in this matter, we had to go with the extension. We need more people to show up to the board meetings, and get the public's opinions on these matters. That way the Board members can look into what is the best for the Town! It is not just one person calling the shots here!!
I haven’t taken the oath of office and already I have “watchdogs” hounding the “new broom”. But remember, I won the election on a platform to change the “TONE” at the Town Hall and if you’re wondering what I mean by the “TONE” re-read anonymous’ comment:
Anonymous said...
[Its to bad Ms. orr wasn't at the Board Meeting, as she could have expressed her thoughts and maybe others would have voted as Paul S.
As it stands now they have a 3 year ex. on there contract.
Maybe its best to see witch way the wind blows before you make a stand.
Just a Tax payer watching the"New Broom".]
Good citizens of Lindley, is this the kind of sabotaging influence you want in local government? Or do you want to aim higher by expecting your elected officials to act like professionals and engage in a sincere honest debate over issues important to the Town? “Anonymous” is far more interested in making me look bad than they care about the ambulance subsidy issue itself. And that speaks volumes. “Anonymous” is making it personal because they want to me fail. I expect the first months of my term to be riddled with obstructionist opinions such as “anonymous” has made, but I’m counting on the good people of Lindley to separate the “wheat from the shaft” when it comes to the parties engaged in local politics. I am prepared to stand firm through any attempts to intimidate, control or otherwise sabotage the efforts of those in my administration. I have a deep respect for every appointed and elected official that will serve with me during the next two years. They deserve far better than what “anonymous” has just dished out as do I.
As I’ve said before, I intend to “work with people instead of against them”. And if those like “anonymous” continue to make it personal because of some twisted sense that “Gotcha politics” works for the best interest of the Town, they will be metaphorically speaking “swept out the door with my new broom!” Their opinions/attacks rendered null and void because they serve no purpose to the debate. They just are what they are…crap! Designed to intimidate. I’m all for citizens expressing an opinion, but be careful how its delivered. Check the “out-to-get-you motivations” at the door after January 1st. Bring your concerns to the table and points and counterpoints to the debate “respectfully” and the Town Board will listen and learn.
“Anonymous” probably feels pretty “jacked” right now for “poking me in the eye”, a bit of a victory for them, to be sure. But that’s all it was. A tiny victory that was registered for what is was. A petty remark made with “bad intentions”. The people in Lindley deserve a better “watchdog” than this.
Ms. Orr does this mean that if anyone disagrees with you or calls you on something that you said there "mean spirited" or have something against you, I don't think so its just that now you ARE elected and can't get by on promises any more, I thought you were going to work and get along with everyone.
I could take offense to what you said but, I think I'll take the high road.
Just a tax payer
Oh sure....NOW you take the "high road".
And...just because I'm elected it doesn't mean that I'm a "whipping post" for a disgruntled citizen whose candidate didn't win the election. You know there is such a thing as being a "good sport" and accepting your loss with dignity and grace, but you are acting like the "sore loser".
Regarding: "that now you ARE elected and can't get by on promises any more,"
I doubt you're going to allow me to "get by on anything" and that's the definition of an obstructionist. If I say "up" you'll say "down". The fact of the matter is, you do not want to "work with me". You are one of those who prefer to "work against". Go back to your original comment line by line and find the central theme of your argument.
There's a big difference between someone who disagrees based on the facts of the issues and those who disagree for the sake of personal intimidation. Don't hide behind the basic right of every American to disagree on political issues to veil your real intentions.
Quoted from the Board minutes-
Harold: ...Ambulance contract expires 12/31/2005:
We pay monthly payments: and only a 5% increase in 2006
So we need to extend the contract for 3 years."
Just a few questions -
How much do we pay annually for the ambulance contract? Is the cost greater than the liability risk to the Town if someone dies because we cancelled the contract and the ambulance didn't get here?
Since when is it Ms. Orr's fault for the way the sitting Board and Town Supervisor voted on the extension? The contract was renewed at 12/31/05. Ms. Orr does not take office until 1/1/06. Don't the board members have a responsibility to do their own homework and argue their positions, instead of having townspeople doing it for them? Weren't they elected for that very reason?
Seems to me that Anonymous has an ax to grind with Mr. Lewis (and Ms. Orr) and really never considered the impact to the residents of Lindley (and perhaps his/her own family). I agree the matter needs to be reviewed and alternatives need to be considered but cancelling the contract without proper review and consideration first, is not only foolhardy, it is extremely irresponsible.
It is not up to the Lindley/Presho Fire Dept to issue or to help out with the 911 numbers its up to Steuben County Emergency Service or 911 offices. It is up to each household to post their own 911 numbers.
wow!
First off, it looks to me like there are several anonymous posters , not just one since the tone is remarkably different.
As for the ambulance discussion....it was a 3 year contract that was renewed, so how could that be constrewed as a jab at Sally when she had nothing to do with it and it will not be an issue during her term? It looks more like an observation on an existing issue, period. No jabs were given to any Town officials, present or future. Jeez
Sounds like a bunch of anonymous Democrats all pissed off!!! All they ever do is whine and cry if everything don't go as they have it planned. If their candidate doesn't win, it's a faulty election with faulty voting booths, ballots, hanging chads or what ever. Demos need to get a life and let the hard working elected officials do their job and if they have a problem, help get their people elected at the next election to change things that they don't like. Give the newly elected people a chance before you start attacking!!!!! They may suprise you.
Thank you to everyone who responded to my Question. I was sure the 1 against vote had a reason. I was just wondering what other options were available and I got answered. :)
Looking back to the original comment about a new broom-if it is read correctly-Mrs. Orr was not being referenced, but an appointed councilman who was recently elected.
to setting the record straight:
do you think a clean sweep is needed and if so where is it needed?
Don't the 911 numbers help locate a residence in case of a fire?
Looks like there are 3 new Brooms on the Town Board that bear watching. Should be interesting for a while.
To CJ A clean sweep of the attitude of some of the Board members would be refreshing. It would be nice to see them all co-operating and working for the betterment of all the residents-and not spending so much time on complaints about one or two individuals. They should leave their private agendas at home.
I've been on the board for 5 years and have always taken the best interest of the town ,never had a "private agenda".
Paul Stermer
You are not considered a "new broom"councilman, Paul.
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