Village Board Meeting
Waste Water Plant Upgrades & New Village Hall
By Jim Gill

Mayor Charles Coolidge called the regular monthly Village Board meeting to order at 6: PM on Monday March 9, 2009

Attending: Trustees Patra Lowes, Bob Brogcinski, Sherman Wilkens, Bob Kaine
Also: Constable Howard Gifford, Howard Morton DPW, Bob Simon Village Attorney, Jim Brundage& Bob Miller Nussbaumer and Clarke, Mary Klahn Village Clerk.

Department of Public Works Report: Supervisor Morton presented his monthly report to board members.

Plowing and sanding as needed
Installed additional new water meters
Flushed storm drain line on Maple Avenue
Patched roads around Village
All barricades are ready for March 14th Mardi Gras

Village Constable Report: Constable Howard Gifford reported the following activity for the month of February:
Traffic tickets issued – 9
Calls to Town (Patrol unavailable) 7
Alarm calls – 4, Intoxicated Male – trespassing – 1, Larceny – 1
Arrests – under 21 possession of alcohol – 1, disorderly conduct – 1, open container – 6, Public urination – 1.
Parking – Issued – 76, void, warning, dismissed – 12- total 64
Payment received - $2,025.00 (59.3% paid to date)
Payment received
(previous tickets) $1,190.00
Total payments received (YTD) $3,215.00
Parking letters sent – 23

False alarms that first go directly to the county dispatcher in Little Valley and then to local fire and police must be answered. According to Mayor Coolidge this can place our volunteer firemen and police in jeopardy, Constable Gifford has been trying to contact all homeowners with alarms to make them aware of the situation.

Code Enforcement Office: From the office of Building Inspector Tom Abriatis
A total of 4 permits were issued from February 1st thru March 9, 2009
A special meeting has been called to address the application from the Jefferson Inn (located in a historical area) to rebuild the porch area.

During the February Board meeting, members discussed liability concerns pertaining to falling ice and snow from rooftops. Bob Miller submitted a report on what other communities have done in regards to ice and snow (primarily from metal roofing) falling onto sidewalks. Several options were discussed including making building owners responsible for ice removal and failing to do so resulting in the DPW removing it at the owner’s expense. Miller’s report was passed on to attorney Bob Simon for review and recommendations.

Engineer’s Report: Monroe Street project is 99% complete with only final restoration of the lawns and spring touch-up work to be completed. Nine manholes have been grouted and two remain to be done.

The Telemetry Project is nearly complete. Last week Frey Electric installed the panels for the Water System Radio Telemetry system, all locations are communicating and the system is functioning properly.

The Health Department notified the Village to install exterior chlorine alarm devices at both the trailer park and Holiday Valley sites to provide gas leak alarm prior to entering designated buildings.

The Village has been mandated to make improvements on the Waste Water Treatment Plant with the costs estimated in excess of one million dollars. The Village has been listed on the New York State Environmental Facility Corporations (EFC) intended use plan for the last five years. This listing has been tied to the consent order requirements to complete the upgrades. Specifically this work included nitrification (ammonia removal) and suspended solids problems.

Nussbaumer & Clarke for the past three years have been working with State Department of Environment to minimize the impact of the work. They are currently working with the EFC for 50% grant monies for the work that will be available providing the pending upgrades are out for bid by June or July. They have prepared the SEQR/SERP (Seeker) documentation necessary and requested the board adopt a bond resolution for the full amount and have Mary Klahn act as Minority Business Officer.

Mayor Coolidge mentioned that the upgrades will not require raising village taxes, the Village cost of approximately five hundred thousand will come from water sewer funds, should the grant money not become available the project would be cancelled. Nussbaumer spokesperson Jim Brundage mentioned the upgrades position the Village in excellent shape moving forward to handle projected growth, and funding would not have been available under the Stimulus Plan had the Village not been so proactive.

Board Members approved moving forward with the bond resolution as written.

Nussbaumer & Clarke on behalf of the Village are applying for Green Grant monies for the remainder of the water meters, if successful it would cover 90% of the costs.

Special Events: Everything is in order for the Mardi Gras Weekend. The parade will commence at 6:30 PM on Saturday.

New Business: A sketch of the proposed new location for the Village Hall (a new addition added to the DPW building on Mill St.) was presented by Nussbaumer & Clarke. Plans include a meeting room capable of holding 72 people, conference room, Mayor & Village Clerks offices, spare office, storage area and public washrooms all located on the main bottom floor. The move is being considered due to relocating the court rooms at the Town Hall to the second floor, storage problems (records are being kept at the Fire Hall) easier access for the elderly and handicapped and lack of room for any future expansion required. Mayor Coolidge mentioned the proposed meeting room could be used for numerous community functions.

The Village currently leases space in the Town Hall at a cost of $15,000 per year plus maintenance, estimated costs on renovating the DPW building are $300,000. Payments on a 30 year bond needed to cover the costs would provide an annual cost saving to the Village.

A motion was made and carried to move forward with plans for the building, if acceptable then prepare and send out bid packages.

Mayor Coolidge received a call from Congressmen Eric Messa’s office on February 27th asking to meet on the 28th to discuss some of the projects that the Village and the Town have. Mayor Coolidge invited Supervisor John Burrell to attend for this meeting. Mayor Coolidge handed him three projects. 1. An above ground water tank located where the current Village reservoir is at present, estimated cost for the project is $450,000. 2. To reline or replace the current sewer line on Jefferson Street at a cost of $1,000.000. 3. A new northeast water tank cost is $1,500,000. This would benefit both the Village and the Town, to help with the growth and help with water pressure.

Congressmen Messa took the projects and was very interested in helping the Village of Ellicottville.

Minutes From February Meeting – Accepted.
A public hearing will be held in May on adoption of the Village budget.

The next Village Board Meeting will be held on Monday, April 6, 2009 starting at 6: PM.