Town Board Meeting
Town Board Meeting
Town will discuss Resource Office grant funding with Ellicottville Central School
The Ellicottville Town Board mulled hiring a resource officer for Ellicottville Central School, along with other business, during its Feb. 16th phone hookup meeting.
Ellicottville Police Officer-in-Charge Don Auge presented Superintendent Robert R. Miller's request for a 10-month officer at the school. He said the District has obtained a three-year $65,000 grant to pay an officer to aid in school-family communications, but he had no specific grant information.
Auge said the school district can't provide a county Sheriff's deputy with a car so he has turned to the Town to seek a different arrangement. Security is a concern because of "a couple" threats in the past couple of years.
"If we hire a new (officer) the starting pay is $53,000, and the second year is $54,000," noted an unidentified Board member. Full-time officers are also provided with a benefits package. Board members asked what other schools employ SROs and discussed minimizing overtime by placing the SRO on a flexible schedule for sports and other activities.
Auge suggested a School Resource Officer could use one of the Town's patrol cars or use a personal vehicle. He added his part-time staff expressed no interest in the position but added a full-time SRO could fill in when extra help is needed for the remaining two months of the year, noting employees are hard to find.
Supervisor Matt McAndrew asked about participation or support from the Town of Great Valley, where the school is located, but where there is no local police agency. The Board asked for more information, suggesting a meeting with Miller if Auge can arrange it.
Auge also reported that a new police car is now in service and the Department's old license plate-reader, originally costing $23,000, is being installed in the new car at a cost of $1,200. All patrol cars have been equipped with new laptops.
After discussion, the Board agreed to ask Michael Gagliano of KLW Appraisal Group of Buffalo to explain the basis of values he assigned to a portion of the Town Center on Fillmore Drive, now occupied by the Cattaraugus County office of Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE).
In a three-page letter dated February 9th, Gagliano reported an as-is value of $70,000 for CCE's 1,796 square foot wing of the 9,288 square foot Town Center, as of Dec. 28th. The appraiser reported an assumption that the Extension will spend $100,000 on renovations, but added his requested plans and details were not provided. By June 1st, after the Extension remodels its portion, Gagliano assigns a prospective market value of $150,000.
Town Engineer Ben Slotman countered that KLW was provided with all requested information prior to the report's release Feb. 9th.
According to Town Supervisor Matt McAndrew, a 10-year, zero-cost lease with CCE was part of the Town's $1 purchase deal and is ending soon, with a new five-year lease to be finalized, renting to CCE for about $18,000 annually. A discount will be offered in exchange for CCE's renovations to its wing, based on averaged differences between Gagliano's appraisal and a CCE appraisal yet to come. Meanwhile, the Town is opening bids Feb. 25th for more extensive renovations to the remainder of the building and infrastructure and could use the information in reviewing Gagliano's report. Board members approved his $500 fee but will ask Gagliano for an explanation before accepting the figures.
IN OTHER MATTERS
The Board expressed gratitude to the Alley Katz for its beautification efforts, in response to a thank-you letter from the group for the Town's donation.
The Board approved Holiday Valley's request to host the Rail Rider Jamboree music festival from 2:00-10:00pm March 19th at the SnowPine Chair Parking Lot on Route 219 South. The event, co-hosted by Ginger Root Productions, will draw up to 1800 people, with security and shuttles into the village provided.
The Board announced Town Hall will be open to the public during business hours beginning Tuesday, Feb. 22nd.
Slotman reported on a proposal to spend an estimated $5,500 on a CAD compatibility upgrade in his Engineering Department's computers for tasks and projects underway for both the Town and Village. The cost estimate for discounted pricing could revise the estimate, and approval will be contingent on Village Board approval.
The Board accepted resignations from: Town Highway Superintendent Tom Scharf, with regrets, effective April 1st, ending his appointment almost six years ago; Assistant Engineer Zack Carlson, effective Feb. 11th, whose position will be advertised; Jim Thorman, for retirement effective March 15th, sewer plant operator in the Town Concord, who became a village employee when the Town recently took over the plant management.
The search has been extended for a town and village planner to fill a vacancy, but officials said a consultant may have to be hired in the interim.
The Board accepted J.D. Northrup's low bid of $45,316 to replace a culvert on Poverty Hill Road at Dickey Road, which was among five bids received.
Slotman reported no response for Arboretum and cemetery mowing contract bids, and is seeking contractor cost estimates; Arboretum improvements could be made by BOCES, it was suggested.
The Board accepted an updated one-year dog-control contract with the SPCA. The Board also accepted an agreement with Valley Village HOA for two payments that will end in December 2023, reimbursing Town engineering fees during construction of the private access road; private easements still require homeowner signature before recording by the Town.
A Quackenbush culvert easement, allowing maintenance by Town crews, is expected within days.
Town Attorney Seth Pullen reported on potential adjustments to the noise ordinance and the need for negotiations for an amendment placing Village noise law violators under the jurisdiction of the Town.
McAndrew reported that a committee is aiming for consistency with the Village's alarm law in discussion about the Town's Alarm Law enforcement problems, and that records show most violators are nonresident property owners. Notices are going out to inform homeowners of the problems in hopes of a resolution.
The next Town Board session will take place March 16th at 6:00pm in the Town Hall.