Town of Cortland Board of Trustees met July 27.
Here is the minutes provided by the board:
Call to Order I Pledge of Allegiance / Roll Call
Mayor Stokes called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Those in attendance recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Deputy Clerk Liz Peerboom called the roll call and the following Trustees were present: Doug Corson, Charmaine Fioretto, Rick Robins, and Mike Siewierski. Trustees Brad Stone and Jim Walker were absent. Quorum was present. Also present were Town Attorney Kevin Buick, Police Chief Lin Dargis, Director of Public Works John Kocher, Water/Waste Water Director Joel Summerhill, Wes Levy, of Lauterbach and Amen, and Zoning Administrator Anna Kurtzman.
Approval of Agenda
Trustee Robins made a motion to approve the agenda, seconded by Trustee Corson.
Motion carried by unanimous voice vote.
Public Wishing to Speak
James Baird, 72 E. North Avenue, had questions for the Board. He asked how many people are employed by the Town of Cortland. A figure was given, but an actual figure will be gotten from the Finance Department and given to the Bairds, if necessary. Mr. Baird also asked if the website complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Deputy Clerk Liz Peerboom advised that she will check with the T awn's IT contractor and get back to him. Mr. Baird then asked if the proposed noise ordinance was aimed at them.
Mayor Stokes said that it was not. Mrs. Baird expressed her disagreement, adding that a train registers louder than what is being proposed. Mr. Baird then asked the Mayor if he fully supports the decisions of his officers. Mayor Stokes advised that the police department makes decisions on a day to day basis, and that he does support the officers.
Mayor Stokes advised that time was up for the public wishing to speak.
Consent Agenda
Deputy Clerk Liz Peerboom read the consent agenda into the record. Trustee Robins made a motion to approve the Town Board Minutes for June 22, 2020, the Expenditure Reports for April and May 2020, and to accept the Treasurer Reports for April and May 2020, seconded by Trustee Siewierski. Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote, with Trustees Stone and Walker being absent.
New Business for Discussion and Possible Action
Resolution to Appoint Town Clerk as Authorized Agent for IMRF
Trustee Corson made a motion to appoint Town Clerk Cheryl Aldis as the Authorized Agent for IMRF, seconded by Trustee Robins. Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote, with Trustees Stone and Walker being absent. Res 2020-05
Request from Town Treasurer for authorization to proceed with arranging the refinancing of Resource Bank Promissory Note, Series 2011, Original Amount $655,200.00 (2011 Purchase of 250 Halwood Street property)
Wes Levy, of Lauterbach and Amen advised that this is basically a refinance of the loan that was taken in 2011. There was a short discussion regarding the adjustable interest rate as opposed to the fixed interest rate. Mr. Levy said that he will discuss that with the bank. This request is just to allow him to proceed with arranging the financing. He added that most banks do not offer fixed rate financing to municipalities. Trustee Fiorello said that she was afraid of an adjustable rate, while Trustee Robins said that he was in favor of the adjustable rate.
Trustee Robins made a motion to approve the request from the Town Treasurer for the authorization to proceed with arranging the refinancing of Resource Bank Promissory Note, Series 2011, Original Amount $655,200.00 (2011 Purchase of 250 Halwood Street property), seconded by Trustee Corson. Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote, with Trustees Stone and Walker being absent.
An Ordinance Amending Title 5 "Police Regulations," Chapter 4 "Noise," Section 5-4-2 "hours of the Cortland Town Code
Trustee Robins made a motion to approve an Ordinance Amending Title 5 "Police Regulations," Chapter 4 "Noise," Section 5-4-2 "hours of the Cortland Town Code, seconded by Trustee Siewierski.
Mrs. Baird started to speak, but Mayor Stokes advised her that she had had her time to speak. Chief Dargis advised that this change would put the Town in line with other municipalities in the area. After some commotion in the audience, Mayor Stokes asked the Police Chief to escort Mr. Bard out of the Town Hall. Mrs. Baird continued to say that Chief Dargis was giving false information. Trustee Robins also asked for a definition of the designation dB. Chief Dargis advised that it means decibels. Trustee Fioretto said that she has researched this quite extensively and wanted a frame of reference for something that might be 75 decibels. Chief Dargis advised that a gun shot is about 85 decibels.
Roll call vote. Yeas: Trustees Fiorello, Robins, Siewierski, and Mayor Stokes. Nay: Trustee Corson. Absent Trustees Stone and Walker. 4-Yea, 1-Nay, 2-Absent. Motion carried. Ord 2020-14
Approve the expenditure of $30,000 for a Risk and Resilience Assessment and Emergency Response Plan
Mayor Stokes advised that the explanation item was in the backup. Trustee Corson made a motion to approve the expenditure of $30,000 for a Risk and Resilience Assessment and Emergency Response Plan, seconded by Trustee Robins. Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote, with Trustees Stone and Walker being absent.
Department Head Reports
The Department Head reports were distributed in the agenda packet.
Comments/Concerns:
Trustee Robins advised that he followed a bus from Elburn to Cortland and was happy to see this; he would like to see another bus come to Cortland. He also advised that he took offense to a comment about Cortland being a retirement community.
President Report
Mayor Stokes did not have a report.
Adjournment
Trustee Robins made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Trustee Corson.
Motion carried by unanimous voice vote, with Trustees Stone and Walker being absent.
Meeting adjourned 7:26 at p.m.
https://www.cortlandil.org/vertical/sites/%7B869DC155-25BA-43FB-B05D-BD63FEA0657C%7D/uploads/July_27_2020_TB_MINS.pdf
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