HomeMy WebLinkAbout1969_11_12 Town Board Minutes MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF
MAMARONECK, HELD NOVEMBER 12th, 1969, IN THE AUDITORIUM OF THE
WEAVER STREET FIREHOUSE, WEAVER STREET, TOWN OF MAMARONECK.
CALL TO ORDER
The Supervisor called the meeting to order at 8:15 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: Supervisor Helwig
Councilman Chalif
Councilman Faiola
Councilman Nagel
Councilman Vandernoot
Absent: None
Also Present: Mr. Gronberg - Town Clerk
Mr. Johnston - Town Attorney
Mrs. Brewer - Deputy Clerk
All Department Heads
Councilman-Elect Bloom
Presentation of 1970
Departmental Budget Requests
The Supervisor extended a cordial welcome to all present and
expressed her thanks to the Department Heads for their coopera-
tion and assistance in preparing the departmental requests for
the 1970 budget.
She explained that the proposed budget could be either raised
or lowered this evening and stated that it would be reviewed
page by page with questions from the floor welcome at any
time throughout the presentation. She further explained that
this meeting had been called in lieu of the second regular
meeting in November in compliance with law which required
that a Preliminary Budget must be prepared, presented to, and
adopted by the Town Board, as submitted or as amended, between
November 10th and November 15th annually.
She further cited the law which required that subsequent to the
adoption of the Preliminary Budget, a public hearing must be
held thereon (at which the budget could be lowered only) and
adopted on or before December 10th annually, and accordingly
announced that the hearing would be held this year at the
first regular meeting of December on the evening of December 3rd.
The Supervisor then referred to the simplified "Summary of
Requests" presented on the second page of the proposed budget
outlining the planned expenses and anticipated income and show-
ing the monies necessary to be raised by real estate taxes --
calling to attention an error in the 1970 "Share of Net
Operating Expense" which should read 72 rather than 64%.
She also noted that the total personnel costs (including a
6% cost of living increase, increments where due, a reclassifi-
cation increase, additional personnel and fringe benefits)
accounted for 81% of the budget and commented on the many
conferences the Board had held during the preparation of the
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proposed budget with all groups in the Town except the Police,
who had reached an agreement for contract.
For clarification purposes, she then defined the structure of
the Town budget, which, she said, was not a single budget as
was that of a city or village -- but rather the compilation of
nine single budgets, namely - the General Town, Part Town,
Highway, and six Special Districts. In the budget herein
proposed for 1970, she noted that the General Town tax (paid
by all residents) was down 20c per M and the Part Town tax
(paid only by unincorporated area residents) was up $2.25 per M.
The Supervisor then presented the budget page by page with the
following questions and comments raised from the floor:
Re Schedule 1 - General Town - Pages 3 - 19
1. Salaries - Town Board - Pages 3 & 5
Mr. Harold Bozell of the Village of Larchmont confirmed whether
all expenses in Schedule 1 (pages 3 - 19) were not paid by the
entire Town and after being assured that this was so, again
questioned as he had in previous years why the Town Board did
not serve without salary as did the Village Boards, thereupon
filing a written memorandum setting forth .in some detail his
observations and recommendations which was herewith ordered
received and filed as part of the record of this meeting.
2. Duplicate Charges - Pages 3 - 19
Mr. Bozell also again raised the question of duplicate charges
in reply, Councilman Chalif and the Supervisor enumerated serv-
ices performed for the whole Town as mandated by law -- naming
the collection of all except Village taxes by the Town Receiver
of Taxes, the assessment of all properties by the Town Assessor,
the conduct of all elections and issuance of all marriage
licenses by the Town Clerk, the services of the Supervisor as
the Treasurer of the Town, and the development and maintenance
of Town-wide Conservation and Recreation facilities and programs.
Supervisor Helwig additionally stated that this matter had long
been given consideration and that certain changes had been made
over the years as the law permitted, and further that continued
study would be given to this matter.
Councilman Nagel also informed Mr. Bozell of the studies the Town
was conducting presently and of the running daily record being
kept by the Department Heads of the percentage of time devoted
to General Town and Part Town service which would constitute
one of the basic factors of this study.
3. Shade Tree Fund - Page 19
Mr. George Creelman of the Village of Larchmont stated that he
was not familiar with the Town's budget and had come this
evening to familiarize himself with it. He inquired, for
example, why the Shade Tree Fund was a General Town charge if,
as he assumed, it applied only to the unincorporated area.
Mrs. Helwig advised that this was prescribed under law, but that
there certainly might justifiably be some question about it and
that she would like very much to sit down with a group from
the Village to go over such questions in a detailed and leisurely
discussion at any mutually convenient time.
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Re Schedule 2 - Part Town
1. Police Department - Page 20
A question on the increase in the Police budget was explained
by the Supervisor and Councilman Nagel as being mainly account-
able to first, the PBA contract which called for the payment of
holiday and emergency overtime compensation -- and second, the
permanent provision of a 38-man staff.
Re Schedules 3 & 4 - Estimated Revenues
General Fund - and
General Fund - Part Town
1. State Aid - Pages 26 & 27
In answer to a question on the reduction in State Aid, the
Supervisor explained that the State had effected a 5% cut in
1969 and accordingly the lower figure shown for 1970 reflected
the anticipated revenue as calculated on this basis.
Re Special Districts
1. Garbage District - Page 30
A question raised on why more men were needed was answered by
the Supervisor who stated simply that more people require more
services.
Two suggestions for cutting costs were proposed by Mr. Irving
Scharf of 334 Richbell Road -- namely that residents deposit
garbage at the curb for pickup and that plastic bags be fur-
nished for disposal purposes.
The Supervisor thanked Mr. Scharf but remarked that it was
not felt that the residents of the community would agree to
the first suggestion and that the second had been considered
but rejected at this time since it would add considerably to
the overall expenditure.
Also discussed was a question as to why the appropriation in
the Incinerator Operation line item was not lower. The
Supervisor pointed out that it had not seemed advisable to
decrease this item at this time because of the probability of
an increase in the haulage charge to Croton and the necessity
of purchasing a third tractor. Further, she added, it had not
been possible to project the actual expenditures for the coming
year on the basis of only the three-month period since the new
program had been inaugurated.
Re Debt Service - All Funds - Pages 39 - 41
Mr. Scharf questioned what the tax picture would be if all bonded
indebtedness were wiped out?
Councilman Vandernoot, in reply, first pointed out that all bonds
in all funds were non-callable, which made this an impossibility --
and Councilman Chalif stated that even if this were possible, in
his opinion, it would certainly be unfair, undesirable, and im-
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practical inasmuch as major capital improvements serviced a com-
munity for many many generations wherefor the cost burden there-
of should certainly not be imposed on any one generation.
Mr. Scharf then inquired whether the establishment of a long-term
Capital Improvement Budget, to which the Supervisor had referred
when presenting the Comptroller's Department Budget earlier this
evening, would not enable the Town to pay for such capital im-
provements at the time they were done and thus eliminate bonding?
In answering, the Supervisor stated that, as she had pointed out
-- when reviewing the budget for the Comptroller's Department, the
Board was presently contemplating the establishment of such a
budget in 1970 to become effective in 1971, and the consequent
appointment of the Comptroller as Director of Finance January 1st
of 1970, which under law duly authorized him to prepare the afore-
said budget in addition to discharging his regularly prescribed
duties as Comptroller.
Further, she advised Mr. Scharf that in past years the Town had
followed this type of budgeting to some degree in the Fire
Department where the cost of certain equipment such as an aerial
truck had been spread over a two-to-three-year period with annual
appropriations carried in the budgets over the spread period.
THE SUPERVISOR
The Supervisor then inquired whether there were any additional
questions or comments on any specific item or matter, where-
upon the following persons were heard:
Mrs. Irwin H. Ferber - 8 Leatherstocking Lane
Mrs. Ferber inquired whether funds had been provided in the
1970 budget for completion of the work on the swamp (Sheldrake
River Trail area) behind her home?
Mrs. Helwig remarked that she thought this situation had been
pretty well brought under control, calling on Mr. Leddy for
a detailed report of the present conditions.
Mr. Leddy explained that there was no allocation of funds in
the 1970 Sheldrake River Project budget (page 18) for the com-
ing year since the drains had been installed in the Conserva-
tion area at the rear of both the Randall and Ferber properties
with the maintenance of a continuous flow of water largely a
matter of policing to keep the drains clear and open.
Mr. George E. Mills, Jr. - 692 Fenimore Road
Mr. Mills first asked what the status was of the Premium River
Project (page 19 - line item 516) .
It was explained in reply that negotiations for purchase of
two of the parcels were underway but that so far the Town had
been unable to arrive at an acceptable price for the third and
largest parcel -- a 6-acre tract and so the unexpended funds
from the 1969 appropriation were carried over in the 1970 budget.
Mr. Mills then complimented the Board on its careful preparation
of the proposed budget, but stated that, pointing to the $2.25
per M increase in the unincorporated area despite last year's
revaluation program, he felt the tax saturation point had been
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reached and that it was time grave consideration was given to
holding the line and finding ways and means to prevent any further
increases and if possible to realize some decrease even if slight.
The Supervisor and Councilman Chalif both agreed that this was
indeed highly desirable but reminded Mr. Mills of the ever-increas-
ing labor and material costs about which in some instances the
Town could literally do nothing.
Mr. William G. Ball, Jr. - 19 Concord Avenue
Mr. Ball, a former Trustee of the Village of Larchmont, asked
whether there was a law that would prevent villages from negoti-
ating all General Town charges and whether there was any possibil-
ity of the Town drafting legislation to accomplish this on an
equitable basis; also, whether there would be an appropriation
in both the Town and Village budgets for retention of profession-
al study groups to eliminate once and for all the needless dup-
lication of charges?
To this, the Supervisor replied that any General Town service
could be provided on a three-municipality contract, and that all
a Village Board had to do to eliminate certain duplication,
for instance assessing, was to use the Town Assessor rather than
employ their own and that it would therefore seem that perhaps
the Villages should "take the initiatives ,.
Mr. Theodore Tuck - 76 Garden Road West
Mr. Tuck asked whether there was any great difficulty in a Village
giving up its Charter and joining with the Town?
The answer to this is "no", the Supervisor stated and cited the
Dillon Park area incidence where the residents had found it
would be cheaper to remain in the unincorporated area of the
Town than to be annexed to the Village of Larchmont.
And thereupon since there were no further questions or comments
and the Board signified that it was ready for the question,
on a motion offered by Councilman Nagel and seconded by Council-
man Faiola, the following resolution, upon roll call, was adopted
by unanimous vote of the Board, all members being present and
voting "aye":
RESOLVED, that this Town Board does hereby
prepare and approve as the Preliminary Budget
of this Town for the fiscal year beginning on
the first day of January 1970, the itemized
statement of estimated revenues and expen-
ditures hereto attached and made a part of this
resolution:
and be it further
RESOLVED, that such Preliminary Budget shall
be filed in the Office of the Town Clerk, where
it shall be available for inspection by any
interested person at all reasonable hours:
and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Town Clerk give Notice of
such public hearing in the manner provided in
Section 113 of the Town Law, and that such Notice
be published and posted in substantially the
following form:
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Public Notice
Notice is Hereby Given, that the Preliminary
Budget of the Town of Mamaroneck, New York,
consisting of the estimated revenues and expend-
itures for the year 1970, has been completed
and filed in the Office of the Town Clerk of
said Town, where the same may be examined by
any person interested therein, and that a
public hearing thereon will be held by and
before the Town Board of the said Town on
Wednesday, December 3, 1969, at 8:15 p.m. ,
in the Auditorium of the Weaver Street
Firehouse, Weaver Street, Town of Mamaroneck,
New York, at which time and place all those
who appear and are interested will be given
an opportunity to be heard with respect to said
Preliminary Budget, or any part or item thereof.
Please Take Further Notice, that the proposed
salaries of the members of :the Town Board are
as follows: Supervisor - $8,000. ; Town Council-
men (4) - $3,000. each; that the proposed salary
of the Town Clerk is $12,920. ; that the proposed
salary of the Town Superintendent of Highways
is $14,040. ; that the proposed salary of the Town
Attorney is $13,000. ; that the proposed salary
of the Town Engineer is $16,935. ; and that the
Preliminary Budget is as follows:
Summary of Preliminary Budget
Estimated
Appropriation Revenues Tax Levy
-- GENERAL FUND
Town Wide $782,799.00 $571,530.00 $211,269.00`
Part Town 773,623.00 35,900.00 737,723.00'
HIGHWAY FUND
Items 1, 2, 3, 404,446.00 74,234.00 303,212.00
4 and 5
SPECIAL DISTRICTS
Garbage 245,618.00 1,000.00 244,618.00 '
Water 59,150.00 57,150.00 2,000.00
Street Lighting 30,650.00 -- 30,650.00
Sewer 124,895.00 23,000.00 101,895.00
Park 93,244.00 10,000.00 83,244.00
Fire 231,471.00 11,190.00 220,281.00
By Order of the Town Board
Charles J. Gronberg
Town Clerk
and be it further
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RESOLVED, that such Notice shall be published
twice in the following newspaper having general
circulation within the Town: The Mamaroneck
Daily Times, the first publication to be on or
before November 21st, 1969, and the second
publication on any day subsequent thereto and
before the day of such hearing.
The Supervisor thanked all present for attending the meeting
and giving the Board the benefit of their thinking and
views.
Presentation of Annual Report
Glick-Freedman & Meckler
The Clerk presented the Financial Report submitted by
Glick-Freedman & Meckler,.Certified Public Accountants,
for the year ending December 31st, 1968, which was herewith
ordered officially received and filed.
Progress Report - Prince Willows Sewer
The Engineer stated that only one week had elapsed since the
last meeting with both rain and a holiday occurring therein.
He said it was hoped the gravity line would be completed within
the week and the total project within about a month.
Expense Authorization
Judge King - Justice Training School
Upon presentation of a letter addressed to the Hon. Christine
K. Helwig by Judge King under date of November 5th, 1969,
requesting expense authorization for attending a Justice Train-
ing School for newly elected Justices, herewith ordered received
and filed, on motion by Councilman Chalif, seconded by Council-
man Faiola, it was
RESOLVED, that this Board hereby authorizes
the expenditure of not to exceed the sum of
$75.00 to cover the expenses of Judge Martin
E. King's attendance at Justice Training School
at the Albany Law School in Albany, New York,
on November 14th and 15th, 22nd and 23rd, 28th
and 29th, 1969.
The foregoing resolution was adopted by a majority vote of
4 "ayes" to one "no" vote, Councilman Nagel voting "no" and
stating as his reason therefore that he did not believe such
training should be needed by any Judge who had been elected to
this high Office.
P. S. C. Notice of Hearing - Con Edison
The Attorney, to whom the foregoing Notice of Hearing on
November 18th, 19th and 20th, 1969 on Con Edison rates, charges,
rules and regulations had been referred, reported that he had
contacted the County Attorney today and that pending further
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investigation by that office if attendance were deemed necessary,
he would attend the said hearings with the County Attorney.
The Board thanked the Attorney and herewith ordered the Notice
received and filed for the record.
Apportionment
Councilman Vandernoot presented a petition for an apportionment
as submitted by the Assessor and thereupon moved its authoriza-
tion.
The motion was seconded by Councilman Nagel and the following
resolution unanimously adopted:
WHEREAS, the Assessor has presented petitions for
the correction of the assessment roll for certain
years pursuant to the provisions of Section 557,
Article 16 of the Westchester County Tax Law;
and
WHEREAS, after due consideration, this Board finds
it desirable to grant said petitions for the correction
of said assessment roll;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the assessment roll of 1969, taxes of
1970, which shows property now appearing on the roll as
follows :
Block Parcel Name Land Imp Total
802 448 Battista Santoro & W $4,300 $8,000 $12,300
be corrected as follows in accordance with the
provisions of subdivision 5 of Section 557:
Block Parcel Name Land Imp Total
802 448 Battista Santoro & W $3,300 $8,000 $11,300
802 1000 Diane Trifiletti 1,000 1,000
and be it further
RESOLVED, that the assessment roll of 1969, taxes of
1970, which shows property now appearing on the roll
as follows:
Block Parcel Name Land Only
833 500 Battista Santoro & W $3,900
be corrected as follows in accordance with the pro-
visions of subdivision 5 of Section 557:
Block Parcel Name Land Only
833 500 Diane Trifiletti $3,000
833 515 Battista Santoro & W 900
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Authorization for Water Mains
Old White Plains Road, from
Wagon Wheel Road southerly
In accordance with the request of George Straub, Manager of
the Westchester Joint Water Works and as approved by the Town
Engineer, in motion by Councilman Faiola, seconded by Council-
man Nagel, the following resolution was adopted by unanimous
vote of the Board, all members being present and voting "aye":
RESOLVED, that the resolution adopted by this
Board on July 2nd, 1969, authorizing the in-
stallation of Water Main as set forth therein be
amended by addition so as to read as follows:
RESOLVED, that this Board hereby authorizes the
Westchester Joint Water Works No. 1 to install
the following water main extensions and fire
hydrants:
Approximately 1440 feet of 8-inch
main from Fenimore Road to Split
Tree Road plus two (2) fire hydrants,
750 feet of 10-inch main along Old
White Plains Road from Weslyan Aven-
ue to Saxon Glen Development plus
one (1) fire hydrant, and 774 feet of
10-inch main from Wagon Wheel Road
southerly along old White Plains
Road,
said extensions and fire hydrants to be installed
at a total cost not to exceed the sum of $60,308. ,
and be it further
— RESOLVED, that the applicant, the Town of
Mamaroneck, shall pay the entire cost of said
installations and shall deposit with the West-
chester Joint Water Works No. 1 the said sum
of $60,308. to reimburse said Water Works for
the cost of materials and installation,
and be it further
RESOLVED, that this authorization is contingent
upon the applicant providing any necessary ease-
ments satisfactory to the Town Attorney,
and be it further
RESOLVED, that unless this installation is
completed within a period of one (1) year from
the date of this resolution, or not later than
November 12th, 1970, this authorization shall
become null and void.
Authorization - Payment of Claims
for Appraisals
Pursuant to the Attorney's request and upon his presentation
of claims for appraisals made by Houghton Associates, expert
real estate appraisers, on motion by Councilman Faiola,
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seconded by Councilman Chalif, it was unanimously
RESOLVED, that this Board hereby authorizes
The payment of two claims in the amount of
$175.00 each to Houghton Associates, Inc. ,
expert real estate appraisers, for appraisals of
the properties known as Block 401 Parcel 150
and Block 401 Parcel 122 on the Assessment Map
of the Town of Mamaroneck, located at 153
Weaver Street and 1201 Palmer Avenue, Town
respectively.
— In connection with this matter, on a motion by Councilman
Nagel, seconded by Councilman Chalif, it was unanimously
RESOLVED, that the Town Attorney be and he
hereby is authorized and directed to proceed
with negotiations for the acquisition of the
two aforementioned properties by the Town of
Mamaroneck.
Adjournment
There being no further business to come before the meeting, on
motion duly made and seconded, it was declared adjourned at
10:00 P.M.
Board of Fire Commissioners
The meeting of the Board of Fire Commissioners was convened
immediately upon the adjournment of the Town Board meeting.
1. Claims
Upon presentation of the following claims for payment by
Commissioner Faiola and on his motion, seconded by Commis-
sioner Nagel, it was unanimously
RESOLVED, that the following Fire Department Claims
be and they hereby are approved, and the Supervisor
and Comptroller authorized to pay the same out of
the 1969 Fire Department budget:
American Insurance Association $ 123.00
Atlantic Service Center 7.84
R. G. Brewer, Inc. 31.97
Dri-Chem Extinguisher Co. 1,355.40
Hory Chevrolet, Inc. 15.05
New York Telephone 64.35
New York Telephone 41.25
Rheingold Breweries, Inc. 73.35
Sound Tire & Supply Co. , Inc. 24.55
- Westchester Joint Water Works 2,840.00
Total $ 4,576.76
2. Other Business
a. Fire Insurance Ratings
Commissioner Faiola reported that Mr. Lyle
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Brown was about ready to present the ratings
to the Fire Underwriters with the final prep-
aration thereof presently underway.
b. Storage - Larchmont Acres Apts.
The Fire Chief alerted the Commission to the use
of the Larchmont Acres Garages for storage pur-
poses requesting that the Fire Department be
advised of anyone so doing due to the danger in-
herent in such storage of any and all combust-
ible materials.
C. Chatsworth Gardens - Unit B
The Chief reported that he had been advised that
Owen Mandeville was not going to proceed with the
cleaning up of the subject premises.
Commissioner Faiola advised the Chief that there
was as of this afternoon a contract for sale of
the subject building and that it would subsequent-
ly be cleaned up by the new owners.
d. Fire Department Budget
The Chief expressed the Department's thanks
and appreciation for the consideration the Board
had given to the Department during the prepara-
tion of the 1970 Budget.
Adjournment
There being no further business to came before the Board, on
motion duly made and seconded, it was declared adjourned at
10:10 P.M.
Cler
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