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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1966_11_10 Town Board Minutes MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF MAMARONECK, HELD NOVEMBER 10, 1966, IN THE COUNCIL ROOM 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. , stating that it was an informal meeting called solely for the purpose of providing an opportunity to those interested to discuss the proposed tentative preliminary budget be- fore its presentation on November 15th. ROLL CALL Present: Supervisor Kane Councilwoman Helwig Councilman Quadrine Councilman Chalif Councilman Faiola Absent: None Also Present: Mr. Gronberg - Town Clerk Mr. Johnston - Town Attorney Mrs. Brewer - Deputy Clerk Mr. Altieri - Comptroller Presentation - Tentative Preliminary Budget for 1967 The Supervisor presented the transmittal letter and reviewed the proposed budget department by department. He pointed out that the total proposed budget of $1, 970, 846. provided for an increase in appropriations of $286, 334. , with a $1. 51 increase in the tax rate for the unincorporated area - or $23. 60 per thousand - and 98fi for the village residents - or $1. 65 per thousand. He also explained that changes could be made in the proposed budget at this time as it could be either increased or de- creased - whereas following its approval on November 15th, the budget could be only decreased at the public hearing there- upon in accordance with law. During the discussion, the General Town levy (expenses for which taxes are levied on all property owners including those in the villages) the Revaluation and Hommocks Improvement items, Salary Increases and the duplication or overlapping charges for services from which the villages derive little or no benefit, were discussed at length. With regard to Revaluation, questions as to the selection of firm, whether all assessments would be increased , whether assessment would be at full value according to recent sales, -1- and when it would take effect, were asked by Messrs. C. Ben- jamin Brush, Jr. , John Stahr and Joseph Wiesenthal. Councilwoman Helwig, Liaison to the Assessment Department, replied that four firms had been interviewed and that Valuation Associates, which had done the City of Rye and was now doing Rye Town, had been found to be the lowest bidder. She ex- -- plained further that while the law specified that all property be assessed at 100% of full value, it averaged nearer 50% in the Town according to the State Equalization Rate. The comple- tion dates, she stated„ would be November of '67 for the vil- lages and March of '68 for the Town due to the different village and town dates for completion and filing of the assessment rolls. The Board, she further stated, could, she believed,adopt 40% - 50% - 80% - or whatever it determined upon advice of the con- sultant firm with the important consideration being that each parcel be placed on the rolls at the same percent. Councilman Chalif pointed out that the Board had, in this, a highly complicated problem before it - that it must be deter- mined whether revaluation should be done all at one time or spread over several years in view of the possible social and economic effect on taxable and exempt properties for instance for one thing. Councilman Faiola emphasized the fact that although the appro- priation for revaluation had been placed in the tentative budget, it had been done with intent for further study by the Board as both the details and mechanics yet remained to be worked out. Supervisor Kane stated that it was his feeling morally that re- -- valuation must be undertaken so that the assessment of all properties would be brought more nearly in line and, to a great degree, equalized. Councilman Cluadrine again pointed out that while this appro- priation was included in the tentative budget, it had not yet been authorized - and he also reminded all present that the villages had been consulted in this matter and had requested inclusion of this appropriation. With regard to the appropriation for the Hommocks Improve- ment, Trustee Wanderer of Larchmont Village, asked why the cost could not be spread over several years rather than paid in one year. In reply, Councilwoman Helwig pointed out that the Town was under pressure to complete the basic work for the improve- ment before the Middle School was built - adding that there would be future additional costs for the joint development of the Flint Park and Hommocks lands which it would probably be best to bond. A question of the availability of State or Federal funds for such development was replied to by the Supervisor who said that if such funds were used, it must be realized that the fa- cility must be open to all and could not be restricted to use by Town residents only. -2- With regard to the use of State funds however, Mrs. Helwig inter- jected here that due to the passage of Proposition No. 1 on the No- vember 8th ballot, it might be that State funds would be available with allowance for preference of useage by local residents. The Supervisor said that he had not been aware of this and re- quested that the matter be looked into at once and all information pertinent thereto obtained. With regard to Recreation and a question as to its inclusion under General Town, Councilwoman Helwig reviewed the budget in some detail and in alluding to the services to the entire Town, noted that 9, 448 persons had been served this year against 7, 684 the previous year with almost equal attendance from the three mu- nicipalities of the Summer Recreation Program. Numerous questions on the proposed salary increases and the overlapping charges in the General Town levy were asked by Messrs. Wanderer, Ball and Wiesenthal. In replying, the Supervisor again explained that most of these were mandated by law and thus could be changed only upon ob- taining the necessary State legislation. The salary increases, he said, had been based on the almost 4% increased cost of living projection by the Department of Com- merce - and pointed out that in many instances, Town salaries, which were low, did not yet compete with those of either of the two villages. To illustrate this, Councilwoman Helwig recalled the Town's -- loss of its Engineer to the Village of Larchmont because of the Village's higher salary. Councilman Chalif then stated that in this matter of any over- lapping of charges with which this Board was certainly con- cerned, it was suggested that a part of the Contingency Fund in the proposed budget be "ear-marked" for the engagement of a Consultant Firm to make a thorough study of jobs, work loads, overlapping services, etc. Mr. Wanderer stated that the Village of Larchmont would like to join with the Town in having such a study made - and Mr. Ball stated that he hoped this study would ascertain the amount of time Town personnel spent on Town matters and on Village matters so that there could be an equitable apportionment of the salaries long of question to the villages under the General Town levy. Mr. Ball further suggested that the delegates to the Constitu- tional Convention be contacted in this matter - citing why, for example, since the villages must pay under the law for ser- vices such as the Shade Tree Fund and Street Signs, they were not entitled under the law to either such services or some fi- nancial assistance therewith. In concluding this phase of the discussion, the officials of the three municipalities agreed to meet jointly to discuss such -3 21 34 charges, determining which were mandatory and which permis- sive, and how best to correct any existing inequities in either salary or service charges under the General Town levy. Under the Part-Town levy (expenses for which taxes are levied only on property holders residing in the unincorporated area) the Police, Highway and Special District budgets (Garbage, Water, Street Lighting, Sewer, Park and Fire) were reviewed in detail by the Supervisor, Councilman Quadrine and Council- ---- man Faiola. During discussion thereof, a question as to why the Highway Superintendent's salary had been moved from Item IV under Highway to the General Town was answered by the Supervisor who advised that it had been done in accordance with a this- year decision of the State Comptroller with which this Board did not hold and which was presently being reviewed and ques- tioned by the Town Attorney at the Board's request. Regarding Incineration (under Garbage District), Mr. Ball re- quested that a joint Town and Villages Air Pollution Control Program be established with the training of apartment house janitors and superintendents in incineration of garbage an in- tegral part of such a program. Councilman Quadrine advised Mr. Ball that the Town was now picking up garbage from apartment houses because it had practically raw garbage to deal with following its incineration at the apartment house - which matter was more difficult to burn in the Incinerator than raw garbage. He further stated that it was to be hoped and anticipated that upon completion of — the proposed expansion of the Incinerator plant, all burning would be vastly improved with accompanying reduction or elimination of the present air pollution. In connection with this, the Supervisor requested that the rec- ord of this meeting show what Councilman Quadrine had done for the Town through obtaining a review and report of the plans and specifications prepared by Seelye, Stevenson, Value & Knecht for the proposed expansion by the renouned incin- erator engineering firm of Metcalf and Eddy at no cost to the Town. In discussion of the remaining District budgets, there were two requests for improvement of the street lighting along Myrtle Boulevard from Larchmont Station to Weaver Street and a query as to the status of the Prince Willows sewer which was then re- viewed in detail by Councilman Quadrine. Other persons heard on specific items were as follows: Mr. Gronberg, Town Clerk Mr. Gronberg requested adjustment of Mrs. Colasacco's salary in line with the additional duties assumed upon the re- tirement of Mrs. Comstock. It was stated that the matter would be reviewed and given further consideration. -4 ia.a Mr. Harry Ekizian - Prince Willows Lane Mr. Ekizian addressed the Board urging it to pursue the Prince Willows sewer installation with all possible zeal so that the proposed project would be under way in the coming year. Mrs. Steven Sheinhouse - Dante Street -- Mrs. Sheinhouse addressed the Board to urge that the Myrtle Boulevard property be improved so as to provide additional parking area as promptly as possible. Mr. C. James Brenner - Weaver Street Mr. Brenner addressed the Board stating that he wished to commend the Board for the record on its consideration of its public servants and its interest in their behalf. He further stated that the Town staff served the Town residents well and that the salary increases were all justified and , in his opin- ion, well deserved. The Supervisor thanked Mr. Brenner for the confidence he had expressed in the Board's judgment and on behalf of the Town staff, for his commendation of its service. The Supervisor -- The Supervisor thanked all present for their interest, for giving the Board the benefit of their views, thinking and sug- gestions and for having taken the time and trouble to come out and attend this meeting this evening. And thereupon, since no one else wished to be heard and there was no further business to come before the Board, on motion duly made and seconded, the meeting was declared adjourned at 9:45 p. m. o n Cl