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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998_12_02 Town Board Regular Minutes TOWN OF MAMARONECK TOWN BOARD AGENDA REGULAR MEETING -Wednesday, December 2, 1998 - Town Center Court Room - 8:15 PM THE TOWN BOARD WILL CONVENE at 7:30 PM into a Work Session to review the budget. CONVENE REGULAR MEETING CONVENE WORK SESSION RECESS WORK SESSION RECONVENE REGULAR MEETING CALL TO ATTENTION - Location of Exits PUBLIC HEARING - 1999 PRELIMINARY BUDGET BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS 1. Fire Claims 2. Other Business AFFAIRS OF THE TOWN 1. Appointment- Housing Authority Board 2. Salary Authorizations - Recreation 3. Set Public Hearing -Amendment to Section 122 to Section 123-3 and 122-4 of Chapter 122 - Helicopters and Other Aircraft. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS SUPERVISOR REPORTS REPORTS OF THE COUNCIL Next regularly scheduled meetings - December 16, 1998 - January 6, 1999 Any physically handicapped person needing special assistance in order to attend the meeting should call the Town Administrator's office at 381-7810. MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF MAMARONECK AND THE BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS HELD ON DECEMBER 2, 1998 AT 8:15 PM IN THE COURT ROOM OF THE TOWN CENTER, 740 W. BOSTON POST ROAD, MAMARONECK, NEW YORK CONVENE WORK SESSION The Board convened into a Work Session at 7:30 PM in Conference Room A of the Town Center to discuss the Budget. On motion duly made and seconded the Board adjourned at 8:25 PM to the Court Room. Supervisor Elaine Price Councilman Paul A. Ryan Councilwoman Valerie M. O'Keeffe Councilman Barry Weprin Councilwoman Phyllis Wittner ALSO PRESENT: Patricia DiCioccio, Town Clerk Stephen V. Altieri, Town Administrator Charlene Indelicato, Town Attorney CONVENE REGULAR MEETING The regular meeting of the Town Board was called to order by Supervisor Price at 8:25 PM, who then pointed out the location of exits. PUBLIC HEARING - PRELIMINARY BUDGET FOR 1999 The Town Clerk entered the following notice of Public Hearing into the record: NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that a Public Hearing will be held by the Town Board of the Town of Mamaroneck, New York on Wednesday, December 2, 1998 at 8:15 PM in the Court Room of the Town Center, 740 W. Boston Post Road, Mamaroneck, New York to consider the preliminary budget for the calendar year commencing January 1, 1999 and ending December 31,1999. All citizens are invited to attend and provide the Board with written and oral comments and ask questions concerning the Town's entire preliminary budget. The entire preliminary budget can be inspected by the public from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday in the Town Clerk's Office, Town Center, 740 W. Boston Post Road, Mamaroneck, New York. PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE, that the proposed salaries of the members of the Town Board are as follows: Supervisor, $21,000; Town Council (4) $5,000 each and the proposed salary for the Town Clerk is $53,875 and the Town Justices (2) $19,250. The Town Administrator, who is also the Budget Officer, presented the following on the 1999 Preliminary Town Budget: Preparation of the budget commences each year in July with the distribution of budget worksheets to the heads of each department. Over the next five months both the staff December 2, 1998 and the Town Board reviewed the budget document. The intent of the Town budget is to establish the financial workplan for the coming year. Each year we prepare the budget with the intention of maintaining the high level of municipal services that the community has come to expect from the Town government. The external forces of the national and regional economy impact the Town's finances and the cost to the resident for the services they receive. The ability to control Town expenses and obtain the greatest value for goods and services also impact the cost of municipal services. The strong economy and our ability to control costs have resulted in no tax increase for residents of the Town in 1999. In addition to our ability to levy a budget without a tax increase, the 1999 budget includes a larger appropriation for capital projects. A preferred method to finance routine capital projects is a pay as you go approach. Rather than borrow money in the bond market, funds are appropriated within the budget for certain capital projects. The Town budget comprises a proposal for expenditures of$19,413,230. When compared with 1998, the 1999 budget represents an increase of$616,690 or 3.2%. Non-tax revenue estimates for 1999 total $7,019,325, an increase of$563,560 over 1998. Increases in revenue are in large part a function of the strong economy and will be detailed later. What all of this means to the residents is the following. A resident of the Unincorporated Area with an average assessment of$20,000 will pay $3,272 in property taxes for Town services. A resident of the Villages of Larchmont and Mamaroneck will also see no increase in the taxes paid to the Town and for the Ambulance District services. He said that expenditures on the whole will remain level in 1999 for our day to day operations. In July, when the budget preparation began, department heads were told to prepare the first draft of their budgets with no increase in contractual expenses. Generally, the staff was able to live within this mandate. Personnel expenses account for roughly 58% of the Town's budget. In 1999 the Town will enter into the final year of collective bargaining agreements with highway and clerical employees, and paid firefighters. These bargaining units will receive salary adjustments of 3.5% in 1999. Salary data shown in the budget represents actual salaries for these employees. Negotiations are ongoing with our police officers for 1998. Costs for employee benefit plans will rise slightly with the exception of our pension costs that will decrease in 1999. Increases for salary and benefits in 1999 are expected to rise by $271,843. We are proposing no additional full time personnel in the coming year. There will be increases in the number of part time staff hired during the summer for our recreation programs. This past summer the Town served 747 children in our various camps and summer programs. a Our goal has always been to have a 5 to 1 camper-to-counselor ratio to insure quality programming. In order to meet this goal, additional staff will be necessary. Most of our camp programs operate on a six-week schedule and our costs to provide summer programs averages $355 per child, and when compared with other summer camp programs, the cost is extremely competitive. The only other personnel item worth mentioning is an appropriation in the Fire Department of$40,000. Recently, one of the Town's paid fire staff was granted a disability retirement from the New York State Retirement System and pursuant to state law the Town must continue to make partial salary payments to the employee in retirement. We have appropriated the Town's share of the retirement payment to the employee. Other than personnel, the next largest category of expenditures is contractual expenses. These are the routine day to day operating costs for the government. After deductions for capital project appropriations, contractual expenses will rise by $202,000 in 1999, an increase of 2%. We will see some deductions in expenses next year. Our excellent loss ratios and the soft insurance market will result in decreases in the cost of general liability and worker's compensation insurance. One of the more exciting expenditures for 1999 is for improvements to our voice and data communications systems. The plan includes the replacement of our telephone system and installation of related equipment for our website and for general Internet access. We are in the midst of constructing our own Internet to network Town departments. The overall installation of new equipment, wiring, and maintenance costs will be $50,000. Over time our hope is that residents will be able to access information and may even be able to conduct some Town business through our website. The Administrator continued that services at the Hommocks Ice Rink would be improved under the proposed budget. The construction of new rinks in the area has created a need for us to maintain a competitive edge to continue to attract customers. In the 1999 budget$47,500 has been included for the purchase of a skate sharpening machine, renovations to the ticket booth, and additional bleachers. All of these expenditures will serve to improve our marketability as a premier ice rink in the county. The capital budget plan for 1999 proposes expenditures of$1.1 million and of this total 2 December 2, 1998 $673,000 is appropriated in the budget. We spoke earlier of a change of strategy to appropriate a greater share of capital project cost and reduce our need to borrow money for capital projects. Specifically, the intention is to appropriate funds for capital projects that come up each year like equipment replacements and highway improvements. The appropriation for capital projects for next year represents an increase of$378,000 over 1998. The following is a listing of the highlights of the upcoming capital plan for the Town: Equipment $403,000 Highway Improvements $250,000 Buildings $200,000 Drainage $196,000 Water System Improvements $130,000 $1,179,000 Equipment Under this category of expenditures we anticipate the replacement of various pieces of equipment for our operating departments. Specifically we will replace eight automobiles for the Police department, Administration, and the Fire department. In the Recreation Department a pickup truck will be replaced. A backhoe and payloader will be replaced in the Highway Department along with the purchase of stump gobbler. This piece of equipment is used for the removal of stumps after tree removal. Highway Improvements In this budget we propose to replace sidewalks, curbs and road surface on Stoneyside Road, Greystone Road, Ellsworth Road, and Mulberry Road. Depending upon the final bids received for this work in 1999, we may add smaller sections of improvements to this list. Buildings All operators of underground fuel storage tanks are under a mandate from the State and Federal governments to either replace or upgrade the tanks to meet new regulations. Currently, we operate two underground tanks at the Town yard. In view of the age of the tanks and future plans for the Town yard, we are proposing to replace the underground tanks with above ground tanks. Above ground tanks will give us more flexibility in the future if we want to relocate the tanks within the yard. Also, the regulations governing above ground tanks are less costly. In 1999, we will conduct further improvements to office interiors in the Town Center. The improvements are to improve the efficiency of the office space available to each of the departments. Finally, the Board will consider improvements to the VAC building on Weaver St. Storm Water Drainage Three projects are proposed for 1999 to reduce flooding and to reduce siltation in the Gardens Lake. To reduce the potential for flooding, we will install a new drainpipe at the confluence of the stream behind Bonnie Way and the Sheldrake River at Weaver Street. The intent of the project is to improve the flow of water and prevent the backup that can occur during times of very heavy rain. On Orchard Road there are two bubble drains that fail to drain storm water efficiently during heavy rains. A new storm drainpipe will be installed from Orchard Road to Clover Road to resolve this problem. Finally, we will install a trash trap at the entrance to the Gardens Lake at Lakeside Drive. The trap is intended to catch leaves and other debris that clog the lake. By trapping a large percentage of the leaves that enter the lake each year, the frequency for costly dredging is reduced. Water System Improvements The Westchester joint Water Works has proposed two projects within the Town on Bruce Road and Weaver St. Also, the Town will be asked to participate in several joint projects that benefit all the participating communities in the water works. The projects are detailed in the WJWW report to the Town. Debt is used to finance most large capital 3 December 2, 1998 projects. In 1999 our total expense for principle and interest on outstanding debt will be $10 million. Compared to 1998 this is an increase of$15,000. Our most recent bond sale was in October of this year when we issued $2.2 million in long term bonds. The average interest rate on the bonds was 3.7%, which is an excellent rate. The rate is reflective of the current market and our AA1 bond rating. One of the reasons for our ability to release a no tax increase budget is the excellent performance of our non-tax revenues. Fees, charges for select services, and other revenues will total $7,019,325 in 1999, an increase of$563,000. Revenue performance from the end of 1997 through the middle of 1998 was very strong and actual revenues exceeded our estimates in the categories of interest earnings, mortgage tax, and sales tax. The recent fluctuations in the stock market point to an increased difficulty in predicting 1999 revenues. We have proposed increases in mortgage and sales tax revenue but not in the category of interest-earning estimates. Interest earnings will be more volatile for two reasons. First and foremost is the market fluctuation that is occurring at this time. Second, we expect a reduction in the total amount of funds available for investment purposes. Due to the STAR Program we estimate a reduction in school tax collections of$1.5 million. This money will be given directly to the school district from New York State. In the Recreation program category, we anticipate an increase of$136,000 in revenues. The increase is primarily attributable to the popularity of the Hommocks Pool facility. Increases for summer programs are also expected due to the increased number of children served by our camps. Another form of non-tax revenue is surplus funds that are applied to the budget. For this coming year, we propose the application of$1,091,000 of surplus funds to the budget. Generally surplus funds are generated from unexpended budget lines and excess revenues. Surplus funds serve an important role in the funding of the Town government. Although our fiscal year begins in January, the Town does not collect property taxes for the Town government until April. We therefore have a weak cash flow during the first quarter of the year. Surplus funds are also used to fund uncollected Town, School, and County taxes. Surplus funds help us meet our statutory requirement to guarantee the full amount of the School and County tax levies without creating wide fluctuations in our own tax levy. Also, by having surplus funds, we are prepared for unexpected expenses that may arise. By having a surplus, we are not forced to borrow money for unexpected expenses. Strong revenue performance in 1998 has created an opportunity for the Town to apply more surplus funds to the budget to help eliminate the need for a tax increase. One revenue issue that still plagues the Town is our taxable assessed value which will decrease in 1999 for the tenth consecutive year. While this decrease of$1.4 million is 6ne of the smallest decreases, it still points to the problem of inequitable assessments that are difficult to defend when challenged. When revenues are strong, taxable assessments become less important. We must not forget however that property taxes subsidize 64% of the Town budget and remains our primary source of financing. Current responsibility is to make certain that the property taxes are apportioned in a fair and equitable manner for all residents. The Town through its property revaluation committee is studying property reassessment and the issues related to it. It will be an important matter for the Town in 1999. He concluded that this summarizes the 1999 Preliminary Budget for the Town of Mamaroneck showing the financial plan for the coming year, adding that we will continue to provide a high level of service to the community. In 1999 we will provide those services without increasing property taxes. Preparation of the budget is a team project and thanks go to the department heads and staff that work to provide,services at the least possible cost. On motion of Councilman Ryan, seconded by Councilwoman O'Keeffe, the public hearing was closed. Supervisor Price thanked Mr. Altieri for putting together a fine budget, she noted that many hours had also gone into forming the budget by the Town Board, citizens and department heads, culminating in what is being presented tonight. Ernie Odierna said that he and the Larchmont Gardens Civic Association were extremely pleased with this budget and thanked the Supervisor and Administrator for attending a meeting to answer questions. He said that he respected the diligence and efforts that were put into this document and was especially pleased by there being no increase in taxes for the coming year. There then ensued a rather lengthy discussion regarding computer year 2000 problems prompted by Mr. Odierna's remarks, and it was explained that the Town's computers 4 December 2, 1998 were all compliant, but that there was no assurance that the computers that they interact with on the State and County levels would be in compliance. BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS The meeting was called to order by Commissioner Price at 8:40 PM in the Court Room. Present were the following members of the Commission: Commissioner: Elaine Price Commissioner: Paul A. Ryan Commissioner: Valerie M. O'Keeffe Commissioner: Barry Weprin Commissioner: Phyllis Wittner 1. FIRE CLAIMS Commissioner Wittner presented fire claims for authorization of payment, thereafter on Commissioner Wittner's motion, seconded by Commissioner Weprin, it was unanimously: RESOLVED, that this Commission hereby authorizes payment of the following Fire Department claims as approved by the Fire Chief and audited by the Comptroller's Office: AAA Emergency Supply Co., Inc. $ 90.00 Gall's, Inc. 233.89 Mercury Marine 1084.00 MetroCom 1775.00 MetroCom 337.00 MetroCom 1736.00 Thomas Landau M.D. 430.00 Town of Mamaroneck Fire Dept. 375.00 Town of Mamaroneck Fire Dept. 375.00 $ 6,435.89 There being no further business to come before the Commission, on motion of Commissioner Weprin, seconded by Commissioner O'Keeffe, the Commission unanimously adjourned at 8:45 PM. AFFAIRS OF THE TOWN 1. Appointment- Housing Authority Board Supervisor Price recommended Sal Iacono to be appointed to the Housing Authority. Sal brings construction engineering, business and accounting credentials to this position. He would be replacing Jeff Marston who resigned because he moved to Rye. Sal is looking forward to serving the Town. On motion of Councilwoman Wittner, seconded by Councilman Weprin, it was unanimously, RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby appoint Sal 5 December 2, 1998 Iacono to the Housing Authority effective immediately, term expiring September 2003. 2. Salary Authorizations- Recreation On motion of Councilman Ryan, seconded by Councilman Weprin, it was unanimously, RESOLVED, that as provided for in the 1998 Town Budget that the Town Board does hereby authorize the payment of salary to the following: Peter Devoogd, Youth Hockey Instructor, $8/hour, effective retroactive to 11/7/98. Richard Leahy, Youth Hockey Assistant Instructor, $6/hour, effective retroactive to 11/7/98. Brian Kaplan, Alternate Skate Guard, Hommocks Park lee Rink$6/hour, effective 11/27/98. This following item was added to the agenda 4. Set Public Hearing -Amendment to Section 122 to Section 122 - 3 and 122 -4 of Chapter 122 Helicopters and other Aircrafts. On motion of Councilwoman Wittner, seconded by Councilman Weprin, it was unanimously, RESOLVED, that the Town Board does hereby set the date for Public Hearing on the proposed Amendment to Section 122 to Section 122 - 3 and 122 -4 of Chapter 122 Helicopters and other Aircrafts; and - BE IT FURTHER, RESOLVED, that the Town Clerk be and hereby is authorized to publish the legal notice of Public Hearings in an official newspaper of the Town. ADJOURNMENT On motion of Councilman Ryan, seconded by Councilman Weprin the meeting was adjourned. Respectfully submitted Patricia A. DiCioccio, Town Clerk C:\MSOFFICE\WINWORD\MINUTES\98MUIW\12-02-98x.doc 6