Council Meeting
November 4, 2020
6:00 p.m
Town Hall
101 W North Street
Present: Council President: Michael Johnson Other:
Council Vice President: Cameron Emond Robert Bellucci
Council Member: Jerry Lietz Robin Foley
Council Member: Mary Green Marilyn Young
Council Member: Darwin Miller George Blissett
Clerk Treasurer: Pamela Bennett Michelle Earney
Deputy Clerk: Breanna Wood Daryl Orns
Town Marshal: James Herre Rick Bennett
Town Attorney: Jacob Ahler Heather Vandemark
Mark Marchand
Council President Michael Johnson opened the Public Hearing with the Pledge to the flag.
Council President Michael Johnson started the meeting by addressing Covid-19 concerns. Michael asked the Council and the audience their opinion on how to handle the December meeting. The Council will come to a decision before December.
Water Superintendent Robert Thomas gave his report to Council President Michael Johnson to read. Two bids were presented to the Council for a new pump out by Dwyer Instruments and one bid was presented to repair the old pump. Greg Schneider bid $8,000.00 for a new pump, not including installation, and also bid $6,000.00 to repair the old pump. Fred Flook bid $5,300.00 for a new pump, including installation. Vice President Cameron Emond made a motion to accept the bid given by Fred Flook. Council Member Darwin Miller second the motion. Motion carried 4-0.
Town Marshal James Herre presented his monthly report, and stated that one of his Deputies will be getting overtime, due to the other deputy being gone. Council Member Darwin Miller made a motion to allow the deputy to get part time work and overtime. Council Vice President Cameron Emond second the motion. Motion carried 4-0.
Town Park Board President Lori Bussell gave her report to Council President Michael Johnson to read. Lori?s report stated that the park will be without electricity on the west side until possibly January. Greg Schneider Electric will be putting up the light poles in the park sometime this week.
Council Member Darwin Miller expressed concern to Town Marshal James Herre about a phone call to Greg Schneider about a generator being left in an alley. James Herre told Darwin that the Police Department had received a complaint about the generator being in the way of vehicles getting through the alley. After much discussion, Council President requested that the matter be discussed privately.
Michelle Earney, President of the Summer Festival Committee, reported that the Tractor Pull in October was a success. Michelle announced to the Council that the committee is planning on having the 2021 Summer Festival take place on July 2nd-July 3rd, due to July 4th being on a Sunday. Michelle also stated that they are looking for someone to run the carnival for the festival.
George Blissett spoke on behalf of the Mainstreet Committee to announce that the October Fest and the Monster Mash were a success. Due to the park not having electricity, the Mainstreet Committee will be decorating Market Street instead. George announced that their sign will be going on the open lot next to the bank. There is a tentative Winter Wonderland Festival scheduled for December 5th.
Town Attorney Jacob Ahler is in contact with an attorney to get the liens removed from properties that are a part of the last Housing Grant.
Clerk Treasurer Pamela Bennett presented a plan to take credit card payments through Keystone for a one-time fee of $2,000.00. Pam also stated that she would like to work with the Bank of Wolcott to offer the Wolcott residents an option to do automatic payments for their water bills. This service would cost the Town an annual fee of $270.00. After little discussion, Council Member Jerry Lietz made a motion to get the credit card program through Keystone and to move forward with the Bank on getting automatic payment options. Council Member Mary Green second the motion. Motion carried 4-0. Pam presented an estimate given to her from Lafayette Glass for new windows in the Clerk Treasurer?s office. The windows that are currently in the office need repairs and are allowing cold air to come into the office. After little discussion, Council Vice President Cameron Emond made a motion to accept the estimate for new windows. Council Member Darwin Miller second the motion. Motion carried 4-0. Lastly, Pam announced that the Bank needs signatures for the Wastewater account and the Payroll account in order to open an account for the Wastewater Project. Vice President Cameron Emond made a motion for the signatures. Council Member Darwin Miller second the motion. Motion carried 4-0.
Council President Michael Johnson presented the October meeting minutes to the Council to be approved. Council Member Jerry Lietz made a motion to approve the October meeting minutes. Council Member Mary Green second the motion. Motion carried 4-0. Michael read Resolution 2020-10. Council Member Mary Green made a motion to accept Resolution 2020-10. Council Vice President second the motion. Motion carried 4-0. Michael read Resolution 2020-11. Council Vice President Cameron Emond made a motion to accept Resolution 2020-11. Council Member Darwin Miller second the motion. Motion carried 4-0. Michael read Resolution 2020-12. Council Member Jerry Lietz made a motion to accept Resolution 2020-12.
Council member Jerry Lietz spoke on behalf of the Area Plan Advisory Board. Jerry presented a new outline for driveways.
Robert Bellucci announced that there will be a construction meeting on Thursday night at 6pm to discuss the bids for the Wastewater treatment plant. There will be two contractors to look at Anderson Street and Second Street.
Robin Foley expressed that she is upset about the fact that there is not water pressure at her home. The Town Council and Commonwealth Engineers are working hard behind the scenes to make sure that this issue gets resolved.
Daryl Orns asked the Council about the Serveline water insurance that was discussed in the October meeting. The Council informed Daryl that they decided not to go through with Serveline.
George Blissett asked the Town Council for permission to use the $5,000.00, that the Town donated to Mainstreet for the old liquor store, on their sign. Clerk Treasurer Pamela Bennett informed George that Mainstreet could not use that money meant for the building, on the sign.
Council Vice President Cameron Emond made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Council Member Darwin Miller second the motion. Motion carried 4-0.