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Minutes
of NVC Meeting of August 31, 2003
President
Jo Huntoon convened the meeting of the Northport Village Corporation Board of
Overseers on Minutes
from August 9, the special meeting of August 12, and the first meeting of the
new Board on August 24 were approved. John
Fancy, Superintendent Phase
I: The water line is finished to
Birchcrest, and we have 12 new customers, with three more potential customers
there. The pay meeting with Lynch Construction will be held on Tuesday,
September 9, at Phase
II: Sargent & Sargent is the low
bidder at $822,630. The total cost of the project is estimated at $1,057,500.
Funding is in place. (Full financial statement presented at last meeting.)
Brockway moved, seconded by Crofoot, to award the project to Sargent &
Sargent, and authorize the president to sign the “Intent to Award” paper. Voted.
The pre-construction meeting is scheduled for September 10, at Routine
documents such as monthly pay applications, requests to Rural Development change
orders, etc. need to be signed as Phase II moves into action. Crofoot moved,
seconded by Metcalf, that documents relative to Phase II be co-signed by John
Fancy and the Chairman of the Utilities Committee. Voted. Fancy
then presented the case for hiring a billing clerk for the Village. Thanks go to
Jane Badershall for her excellent job setting up the billing system in the new
office computer. Fancy has interviewed Kimberly Leonard who is interested in the
position. He would like to negotiate with her for the job of Utility Billing,
and to hire her, subject to a six-month probationary period, if negotiations are
successful. Working hours, rate of
pay, and other details to be arranged by Fancy. Metcalf moved, seconded by
Hanrahan, that Fancy be authorized to extend the offer at what he has imagined
to be one that won’t exceed our budgeted items for this, and it is about six
hours a week, to Kim Leonard. Voted. Legal-Metcalf A
parcel of property has been sold contingent upon the release and payments of the
Northport Village Corporation’s past due taxes. A check covering the taxes was
given to the Treasurer. Metcalf moved, seconded by Allen, that the Quit-claim
deed be circulated, signed, and released to the purchaser of the property. Voted. Treasurer’s
Report Complete
reports were distributed, with the final balances as follows:
General Account
$106,399.10
Water Department
$44,573.15
Wastewater Department
$77,888.29 Brockway
moved, seconded by Metcalf, that one signature be made on accounts payable. Voted. Visitor
Concerns Gordon
Fuller (wharfmaster): The biggest
problem on the wharf has been the mess left by fishing. Some signs need to be
resurrected. The usual dinghy problem continues. The outer float needs some
work. Fuller then suggested that it would be wise to choose a wharfmaster who is
a resident, available at all times. Neither he nor Drexell White can be around
full time. He
then suggested that some additional grading be done in the Cradle Yard. Charlie
Carter has estimated $1300 would cover some excavating on the west wall which
has already been opened up behind the historical building. It might involve
cutting a few trees, several of which are already dying. Crofoot requested a
drawing of just what is planned, and suggested that Lynch might do the
excavation while their heavy machinery is in the Village this fall. Fuller also
requested that the Yacht Club’s Todd
Merolla requested that the wharfmaster attend all Northport Harbormaster’s
meetings. Russell
Handler: Requested that the process for signing warrants/paying bills be
readdressed. At present, some bills are paid before the warrants are presented
and signed by the Overseers. Huntoon will refer the issue to the Finance
Committee. Metcalf moved, seconded by Robbins, that the Finance Committee make a
report to the Overseers at the next duly noticed meeting with regard to the
procedures for the Warrants that are circulated here, and the timing for the
issuance of checks. Voted. Dick
Brockway: A design prepared by Alden Badershall and Brockway for upgrading the
office space and meeting area in the basement of the Community Hall was
presented to the Board for consideration. Cost of materials is estimated at
$14,000, which would include lighting, a central hot air furnace and ducting
capable of heating the entire basement area, insulation, and an enclosed meeting
room as well as a door at the base of the stairs to prevent cold air coming from
the hall above. Labor would be donated. Badershall
pointed out that if the area is to be used in the middle of the winter, that the
outside approaches must be re-excavated to avoid the frost heaves which made it
impossible to open the door in the middle of the winter last year. Handler
suggested that we consider monitors for heating, since they are a fraction of
the cost of an oil furnace. It was suggested that he do a study. Metcalf
moved, seconded by Hanrahan, that the proposal submitted by Alden Badershall and
Dick Brockway to do the ceiling, insulation, and lights, heating system, and
meeting room for a material price of $14,000 with donated labor, be accepted,
and the gentlemen be instructed to go to work. Voted. Metcalf
moved, seconded by Robbins, that the grading and potential paving be
investigated and authorized at the same time. Voted. Ken
Wescott: Presented a study he has done concerning the problem of erosion on the
shore banks. The present bamboo has a shallow root system which does not hold
the bank, and the plant causes asthma. He has permission from the EEP to work on
this problem. The Board thanked him for his work, and will consider the project. Bill
Paige: Paige asked when trash will be
picked up after Labor Day. After discussion, it was decided to have him pick up
trash on late Tuesday afternoon and on Thursday as usual. Thursday pickup will
continue until Sept. 15. Todd
Merolla: Asked where the Phase II construction will begin. Jo suggested that
Merolla go to the pre-construction meeting. Bob
Stein: Stein requested the names of
the Utilities Committee members, who are as follows: Overseers: Dave Crofoot,
Peter Spollett, Judy Metcalf; Water users: Dick Brockway and Sue Ellen Fleming. Old
Business Zoning
Board of Appeals: Sid Block has
re-formed the Zoning Board of Appeals, asking for 2 additional members. The
following motion was made by Metcalf, seconded by Hanrahan, that we reappoint
the members of the Zoning Board of Appeals who are willing to serve, that we
name Sid Block the Chairman of that Board, and we instruct him to identify and
report to us the two additional people so we can appoint those, and all of that
be conditioned upon our continuing conversations with the Town of Northport. Voted. Facilities
Committee: Margaret Brockway will
chair this committee. Finance
Committee: Metcalf moved, seconded by Crofoot, that the President, pursuant to
the By-Laws, be directed to appoint Mike Robbins and Mary Hanrahan to the
Finance Committee. (The President will attend as an ex-officio member.) Voted. New
Business VonBergen
Property: The VonBergens wish to
construct a deck on their property. The building permit was rejected because a
non-conforming property cannot exceed its non-conforming, and their buildings
already occupy over 50% of the lot. Metcalf moved, seconded by Allen, that the
Overseers, who are the major abutters to this property, provide a letter to the
Zoning Board of Appeals saying that they have no objection to the construction
of this deck. Voted. Crofoot:
The Parking Ordinance has been
rejected by straw vote at the Annual Meeting. Crofoot wishes to bring back a
re-worked Ordinance in September, hold an October public hearing, and then enact
it in the October Board meeting. As
for Utility
Committee Meeting: Friday is a good
day to meet for most. Allen:
Asked that a spot be included in the
agenda for the Clerk to present her business. Agreed. He
presented a suggested form to be given to new members of committees, which
thanks them for their willingness to serve, and a note of appreciation to those
who are finished with their committee. Allen
volunteered to take on the Safety Committee. Metcalf moved, seconded by Robbins,
to direct the President to appoint Peter Allen chair of the Safety Committee. Voted.
Hanrahan:
Suggested that we have a Postal
mailbox put into the park. Huntoon will talk to the postmaster of the Northport
Post office about this. Robbins:
Suggested that, as the roof is
re-shingled, new gutters and drain pipe be installed to carry the drainage away
from the basement entryway. Crofoot:
Reminded us that only part of Phase I
was done. The remainder of the work originally planned for Phase I has been put
aside due to lack of funds, but if done, that work would reduce the inflow.
Fancy summarized the issue, saying we need a study to decide whether it would be
better to finish the original sewer work as planned and have a smaller sewer
treatment plant, or to build a bigger treatment plant. Lagner:
Asked that a fire-proof filing
cabinet to hold clerk’s records be purchased for the office. Robbins moved,
seconded by Metcalf, that Paige move the filing cabinet already available to the
office. Voted. Huntoon:
New e-mail address, nvcagenda@aol.com.
If anyone wants anything added to the agenda, send it in there. Meetings
Hanrahan
will arrange to pick up the key to the school. Crofoot
moved, seconded by Allen that the meeting be adjourned at Eleanor Lagner, Clerk |
