2005-10-05 SPMSUPERVISOR
JOSEPH RUGGIERO
Call to Order
Roll Call, Salute to Flag
TOWN OF WAPPINGER
SUPERVISOR'S OFFICE
20 MIDDLEBUSH ROAD
WAPPINGERS FALLS, NY 12590
(845) 297-2744
FAX: (845) 297-4558
Wednesday, October 05, 2005
7:00pm
Wappinger Town Hall
AGENDA
Suspension of Rules for Public Comment on Agenda Items
Discussion
Supervisor's Tentative Budget for 2006
Resolutions:
2005-137 Resolution Authorizing Emergency Tree Trimming at Carnwath Farms
2005-138 Resolution Amending Town Board Schedule of Meetings
New Business/Comments
Adjournment
TOWN COUNCIL
VINCENT BETTINA
MAUREEN McCARTHY
JOSEPH P. PAOLONI
ROBERT L. VALDATI
10/05/2005.SPM
A Special Meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Wappinger was held on
October 5, 2005 at the Town Hall, 20 Middlebush Road, Wappingers Falls,
New York. The purpose of the Special Meeting is the presentation of the
2006 Tentative Budget to the Town Board and to pass several Resolutions.
Supervisor Ruggiero called the meeting at 7:32 p.m.
Present:
a
Joseph Ruggiero, Supervisor
Robert Valdati, Councilman
Joseph Paoloni, Councilman -_—_
John C. Masterson, Town Clerk
Absent:
Vincent Bettina, Councilman
Maureen McCarthy, Councilwoman
At this time, Supervisor Ruggiero presented the 2006 Tentative Budget for
the Town of Wappinger to the Board Members. He wished to point out
several items that are different. For the last four years the town has had a
shift from the non -homestead to homestead rate that continued to this year.
However, there was a significant increase in the assessment rolls for the
residential portion of the homestead portion of the budget which then helped
defer any shift that the base rate portion caused in the tax rate, so the tax
rate held. In prior years the shift alone had caused an automatic tax increase
before the town increased even one penny of the tax levy. This year the tax
levy held as a result of the shift and increased assessment rolls. In 2005 the
town wide tax levy was $1.324 million dollars which resulted in a $1.24 per
$1,000 of assessed value for the homestead rate. The department heads filed
their requests by September 20th as required by law As you can see, the
tentative budget is $7.6 million dollars. This represents a 6.7% increase in
spending over last year. When it comes to the town's Fund Balance, it is
proposing to appropriate $658,334.00 of the appropriate Fund Balance to
reduce the tax levy. In 2005 the A Fund had a $450,000.00 appropriated
Fund Balance and is proposed for the B Fund this year to be $208,334.00 In
2005 it leaves a total of $676,372.00 for Fund Balance. These are budgeted
appropriations. This year the town is proposing to use less of a Fund Balance
to reduce taxes. The town ended the fiscal year of 2004 with a $647,373.00
surplus in the A Fund and $550,444.00 surplus in B Fund, which makes the
2004 year end with a $1.2 million dollar surplus. Due to the increase costs in
energy, fuel, pension funds, insurance and medical costs, there will be an
increase in spending of 6.7%. Having said all this, coupled with the strong
sales tax income the town received, the mortgage tax is still healthy The
town is only asking to use $1.2 million dollars of mortgage tax. Last year the
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10/05/2005.SPM
town received $1.6 million dollars in mortgage tax. This year the Tentative
Budget calculates the tax rates to be the following:
In 2006 the village homestead rate will be $1.24 per $1,000. This is a zero
percent increase over 2005. The village residents who have a $100,000.00 of
assessment will pay approximately $124 in town taxes. The 2006 village non -
homestead commercial rate will be $1.98 per $1,000 of assessed value. This
represents no tax increase from the 2005 budget. The 2006 homestead rate
will be $3.07 per $1,000. A town residential property owner with a $100,000
assessment will pay approximately $307 in town taxes. The increase is due
to the Highway budget, which has a sole source of revenue from property
taxes. There are also fuel costs, pension costs and salary increases to
consider. The 2006 non -homestead commercial rate will be $4.79 per $1,000.
A commercial property with a $100,000 assessment will pay approximately
$470 in town taxes. This is a $12 decrease from 2005. Even though this
Tentative Budget proposal is a modest 6.7% increase in overall spending,
there's still an increase in the Highway tax levy upon the homestead rate
payers in the town outside the village. The increases in the tax levy are the
direct result of mandated increase costs from New York State pension fund,
medical insurance, insurance liability and increase costs of fuel and
electricity. The Highway increases are unavoidable due to costs of material
and oil products which outdates the average rate of inflation. Last season
was a very hard winter which impacted the Highway Department's Budget
and left no surplus in the Highway Fund.
Supervisor Ruggiero wished to know if there were any questions in regard to
the proposed budget.
Councilman Paoloni wished to know how many men are employed at the
Highway Department. Supervisor Ruggiero replied, there were 18 and they
are busy all year round with paving, bulk pick-up, snow removal and the
recycle center year round. Councilman Valdati wished to know about the
increase costs in fuel. Supervisor Ruggiero replied that in 2005 the Town
Board adopted a Budget that included $55,000 for the purchase of oil for the
Highway Department. This year it will increase to $95,000. In 2004 the cost
was $57,999 and year to date, with increase costs, have spent $57,000 as of
September 30th The cost of electricity is up 35% and Councilman Paoloni has
been working on a project with hopes of bringing alternative energy within
the town to help offset the costs. There will also be a reflection of the
increase in electric rates in the water and sewer budgets. Councilman
Paoloni wished to know if the Village Highway Department was subject to
the same increases such as pension, insurance, etc as the Town Highway.
Supervisor Ruggiero replied that they were.
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10/05/2005.SPM
At this time Supervisor informed the Town Board that there were two
Resolutions on tonight's agenda, one of them was due to an emergency
situation at Carnwath Farms.
RESOLUTION NO. 2005-137
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EMERGENCY TRIMMING & CULLING OF
TREES AROUND POWER LINES AT CARNWATH FARMS
The following Resolution was introduced by Councilman Paoloni and
seconded by Councilman Valdati.
WHEREAS, the Recreation Committee has requested a purchase order for
trimming and culling trees around power lines at Carnwath Farms, and
WHEREAS, Recreation Commission Member Joseph Ennesser has received
bids from the following companies for trimming and culling around power
lines at Carnwath Farms:
Dietz Tree Service, Inc. $29,400.00
Tamarack Forestry Service, Inc. $13,500.00
Ed Baisely Tree Service No Bid
WHEREAS, the Recreation Committee has requested a purchase order in the
amount of Thirteen Thousand Five Hundred and 00/100 ($13,500.00) to
Tamarack Forestry Service.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, as follows:
1. The recitations above set forth are incorporated in this Resolution as if
fully set forth an adopted herein.
2. Payment is approved in the amount of Thirteen Thousand Five
Hundred dollars ($13,500.00) made payable to Tamarack Forestry
Service from account A-1620.450 in accordance with the letter dated
September 24, 2005 from Joseph Ennesser a member of the Recreation
Commission.
The foregoing was put to a vote which resulted as follows:
Joseph Ruggiero, Supervisor
Voting
Aye
Robert Valdati, Councilman
Voting
Aye
Vincent Bettina, Councilman
Voting
Absent
Maureen McCarthy, Councilwoman
Voting
Absent
Joseph Paoloni, Councilman
Voting
Aye
The Resolution is hereby duly declared adopted
RESOLUTION NO. 2005-138
RESOLUTION AMENDING TOWN BOARD SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS
The following Resolution was introduced by Councilman Valdati and
seconded by Councilman Paoloni.
WHEREAS, the Town Board has heretofore established a Schedule of Town
Board Meetings for Calendar Year 2005, and;
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WHEREAS, the Town Board scheduled meetings for the second and fourth
Monday of every month, and
WHEREAS, due to the Columbus Day Holiday, the Town Board meeting
scheduled to be held on Monday, October 10, 2005 is rescheduled for
Wednesday, October 12, 2005 at 7:30 p.m.
1. The recitations above set forth are incorporated in this Resolution as if
fully set forth and adopted herein.
2. The Town Board Meeting scheduled for October 10, 2005 is hereby
rescheduled for Wednesday, October 12, 2005.
3. The Town Clerk is hereby directed to publish the new date of the
Board meeting.
4. The regularly scheduled Town Board Meetings heretofore established
by the Town Board shall be resumed commencing with the October 24,
2005 Town Board Meeting.
The foregoing was put to a vote which resulted as follows:
Joseph Ruggiero, Supervisor
Voting
Aye
Robert Valdati, Councilman
Voting
Aye
Vincent Bettina, Councilman
Voting
Absent
Maureen McCarthy, Councilwoman
Voting
Absent
Joseph Paoloni, Councilman
Voting
Aye
The Resolution is hereby duly declared adopted
There was no further business to come before the Board.
Councilman Valdati moved to close the Special Meeting, seconded by
Councilman Paoloni and unanimously carried.
The meeting adjourned at 7:49 p.m.
John C. Masterson
Town Clerk
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