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1984-10-29 PHl A Public Hearing was held by the Town Board of the Town of Wappinger on October 29th, 1984 at the Town Hall, Mill Street, Wappingers Falls, New York, on the Preliminary Budget and Federal Revenue Sharing Budget for 1985. Supervisor Versace opened the Hearing at 7:32 P.M. Present: Frank Versace, Supervisor Renata Ballard, Councilwoman Joseph Incoronato, Councilman Gerard McCluskey, Councilman Irene Paino, Councilwoman Elaine H. Snowden, Town Clerk The Town Clerk offered for the record the Affidavits of Posting and Publication duly signed and notarized. (These Affidavits are attached hereto and made part thereof of the Minutes of this Hearing). The Hearing was opened to the public for their comments and questions on the Preliminary Budget and the following people spoke. Hank Cuatt, Old Hopewell Road, asked if the unexpended balance listed was the total amount at this time; what happened to the $400,000 balance from 1983. He also questioned why some accounts showed negative balances and commented that Audit and Control does not permit this practice of budgeting negative fund balances; he suggested that the Bookkeeper check with A & C. Bernice Mills questioned the absence of the Comptroller and felt she should have been present to answer questions. Her next question related to increases in the water and sewer rates, specifically was there an increase in the Wildwood Sewer District. James Mills asked if all of the water meters were installed in Central Wappinger Water Improvement Area. Alberta Roe, Regency Drive, asked why there was a deficit in Rockingham Farms Sewer District. Ken Wilkinson asked if the Vandalism Patrol was being eliminated since there was no amount budgeted under that line item. This item was under Federal Revenue Funds. Mr. Cuatt asked how much was transferred into.the•Attorney's, and Engineer's account this year. Mr. Mills questioned,the increase of nearly $10,000 under Comptroller Personal Services (other salaries were included in this amount). Mrs. Mills questioned the amount of $9,500 for independent auditing, what did it include, was he paid on an hourly rate or a flat amount. Mrs. Priscilla Shapiro questioned the large increase in the Tax Collection account. Mr. Mills questioned if the whole increase was for the Tax Collector and commented that it was nearly a 20% increase in salary from $13,000 to $16,000. Mrs. Mills asked if'.the $4,300 under Contractual Expenses for Tax Collection was for part time help and after it was explained that it was for postage and would be reimbursed by the school, she added that she objected to the large increase for the Tax Collector. Mrs. Roe questioned the Attorney and Engineer Fees as listed on the "A" side of the budget which was $5,000. each. Where else would these fees be listed, they had to be paid more than $5,000. It was explained that the "B" fund itemized(L-more money for these firms since they did more work for the Town outside the Village than for the Village.;._ David Reis commented that the fees for the Attorney and the Engineer represented a 50% increase, however it was explained that some of the monies in the "A" fund were moved over to the "B" fund and therefore represented a smaller percentage of increase. Hans Gunderud asked if the Engineer was paid the same amount for additional-reviews of plot-plans if they were rejected or did he charge- extra tfox =these, reviews .. Mr. Reis questioned the unexpended balance of $245,000 since he had not been present earlier and the bookkeeper explained how they had arrived at that figure when working on the budget. It was explained to Mr. Mills when he questioned the raise from $47,800 to $63,000 under Buildings, that this was provided in the event that two buildings had to be maintained before the end of the year. The rental amounts for the two buildings that the Town leases were listed under the particular departments --- Justice Court and Assessors. Mr. Mills objected to the 15% raise on this item. Thomas Logan, Assessor for the Town, noted that in the 1983 budget, the rentals for the two buildings were included in the Buildings account, but in 1984 it was changed and charged to the individual departments that were leasing. He then asked the Board what was deleted from his original request ---it went from $62,500, to $58,900. He asked the amount of raise he would receive and also what was put into the budget for an assistant. Mr. Logan referred to Federal Revenue Funds, Contribution to Vehicle Fund and questioned where these funds were going, what vehicles were being replaced. Ken Wilkinson did not understand the unexpended balance; was this money left over which would be applied to the 1985 budget. Did the Board attribute this to good management or was there too much money in the budget for 1984. Mrs. Mills asked why the reduction in the Town Clerk's office, this was unusual since everything else was going up. Was anyone receiving a raise in that office? She asked if the hourly rate of $4.00 would remain for the following year. Mr. Milts asked why the Contingency fund went up from $25,000 to $75,000. Mrs. Mills questioned the increase under Traffic Control and was told that the Highway Traffic Control signs wereincluded in that line item and deleted from the Highway Budget. The Supervisor called for a five minute recess at 8:35 P.M. to enable the residents to review the budget The Public Hearing resumed at present. Mrs. Mills questioned why the Zoning Board of the Planning Board had identical numbers (Pg. asked where monies were provided for members and were they getting the same amount. further. 8:50 P.M. with all Board Members Appeals and 21) and then of these Boards, 4 She noted under Federal Revenue Funds there was an allowance for Association of Towns, did this mean the Board would allow attendance at seminars next year. Mr. Mills asked if the Town would have computor services from the Association of Towns. He asked why the ambulance funds were moved from General Fund into FRS and why was it dropptd $10,000. Mrs. Roe questioned the increase under Rockingham Sewer Admin- istration from $1,564 in 1983 to $4,000. Are there any major repairs or improvements planned in the sewer districts this year. Mr. Gunderud felt the Building Dept. should receive more funds. Based on the work load in that department he felt more manpower was needed. The estimated revenues justified hiring a part time Building Inspector as Deputy. Hank Cuatt--why was street lighting transferred out of B fund. Mr. Mills questioned the purpose of the Contingent Acct. in the amount of $33,500, B account, Pg. 20. He then referred to the $16,000 under FRS for Highway Garage Doors, did they have to be replaced; why the extra $16,000 under Highway Revenues on Pg. 28, from $14,000 to $30,000. Mrs. Mills asked how much was left in the show removal account and would there be sufficient funds for the remainder of the year. She continued with a discussion on the use of small type equipment for the removal of snow in the cul-de-sacs and urged the Highway Superintendent to change his methods of removing the snow in these smaller areas; it should be used on all the circles since all taxpayers helped to pay for this equipment. Mr. Gunderud referred to Pg. 14 and asked what "Environmental Control" meant and why the increase from $188 in 1983 to $1,200 for 1985. Mr. Mills, on Highway, asked how many miles they planned to blacktop and upgrade; where were monies for road striping. He asked that someone paint the back of the Highway garage, it's a disgrace to the Town with all the graffiti on the building which to his knowledge has been there for over a year. Mr. Croshier stated that he planned to redo approximately 5 miles of road a year and there were about 90 miles of roads. Mr. Gunderud commented that they should have a ten year plan not twenty years, a first class town should have more money to work with on the Highway Department even if it meant a raise in taxes as Mr. Versace pointed out. Mr. Cuatt referred to estimated revenues on Pg. 19 under mortgage tax and thought $160,000 was too much of a decrease as compared with $250,000 in 1984. Mr. Mills asked what the assessment of the Town was and how much of an increase over last year. The response to this was 78 million for 1984 and it would be checked into for 1983. Mr. Gunderud repeated his question on the Engineer's fees and if gets paid on an hourly rate, if so he's being paid to review some plot plans six or eight times. Mrs. Milts asked the final amount for the recreation budget --- $136,040 excluding amounts given to the sports programs . She then asked what the approximate rate of the taxes would be for 1985 if this budget was adopted. Did the Board feel they could eliminate some items to lower this budget. Village rate, $2.40, Town rate $18.01. Mr. Cuatt asked for an increase in the recreation budget and asked the Board to deliberate more before they passed the budget. Mrs. Ballard commented that this was a good budget and the rate was a fair one according to the statistics she had come up with upon checking the budget rate since 1976, and she hoped it was acceptable to the residents. Mr. McCluskey asked if the mortgage tax from Pizzagalli in the amount of $75,000 was included in the budget. Mrs. Mills did not feel the rate on this budget could be compared to one years ago since in the meantime we have more revenue coming in and the tax rate should be down; services have not been increased. Highway has not improved their services or repaired more roads, at one time they were redoing 7 miles of road each year. The Board should look into more improvements on the roads. Mrs. Roe commented that she had the impression from a newscast on the radio that the budget could be reduced more and hoped they would consider doing this. There were no other comments made by the public. Mr. Incoronato moved to close the Public Hearing, seconded by Mrs. Paino and unanimously carried . The Public Hearing closed at 9:50 P.M. 7?1LO_JiL P.H. Budget 1985 10/29/84 Elaine H. Snowden Town Clerk TOWN BOARD: TOWN OF WAPPINGER DUTCHESS COUNTY: NEW YORK IN THE MATTER AFFIDAVIT OF OF NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON THE FEDERAL REVENUE SHARING BUDGET AND PRELIMINARY BUDGET OF THE TOWN OF WAPPINGER FOR 1985 STATE OF NEW YORK ) COUNTY OF DUTCHESS j ss: POSTING ELAINE H. SNOWDEN, being duly sworn, deposes and says: That she is the duly elected, qualified and acting Town Clerk of the Town of Wappinger, County of Dutchess and State of New York. That on October 16th, 1984, your deponent posted a copy of the attached notice of Public Hearing on the Federal Revenue Sharing Budget and Preliminary Budget of the Town of Wappinger for 1985, on the signboard maintained by your deponent in her office in the Town Hall of the Town of Wappinger, Mill Street, •in the Village of Wappingers Falls, Town of Wappinger, D,itc1s County, New York. Sworn to before me this day of (3 Nota1y Public • 1984. Elaine H. Snowden Town Clerk Town of Wappinger DISPLAY ADVERTISING and 3. D. NEWS CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING 914 297-3723 84 EAST MAIN STREET—WAPPINCERS FALLS, NY 12590 NOTICE 18 HEREBY GIVEN that the Federal Revenue Sharing Budget of t11s Town of Wapping'', concurrently with the Preliminary Budget of the Town of WeppInger, for the fiscal year begin, ning January 1st, 1965, has been completed and filed In the office of the Town Clerk, at MITI Street, Wappingers Falls, New York, where It Is available for Inspection by any interested person during normal office hours. • FURTHER NOTICE 18 HEREBY GIVEN that the Town Board of the Town of Wappinger will meet and ' review said Preliminary Budget and i Federal Rswnusnngp Mdgst and blk H nod a Pusarl�tiweon at the Town Hall, MITI Street, Wamlnpre Falls, New York at 710 P.M. on the Mtn day of October, 1964, and that at such hearing any person may be heard In favor of or against the Preliminary ' Budget as complied, or for or against any Item or Rena therein contalnsd. Recommendations may be orally or In writing. The intended use of the Federal Revenge Sharing Funds are Noted . below. Association of Tow -• & Seminars ns $ 16,000. II Town Cleanup 20,000. Street lighting 72,000. Joint 9,300. Diel•AIde tion 4rol�t 11,200. AmbulanceI�40,000. Library 000 Senior f Doors 1 Town Hail Contribution Vehicle Funds Contribution D.W.I. Pursuant to Section 11111 of the Town Law the proposed salaries of the following Town V•fllosrs we hereby specified as follows: Tow ls Justices b �t7,� 1ed6A (0maoAh) Twno1� (4) IMdN • 22100.00 N $upsrintsndent 27,1100.00 BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD Wive H. Snowden Town Clerk Doted: October 1C,1SM AFFIDAVIT OF PUBLICATION State of New Yolk, County of Dutchess, Town of Wappinger. Gisela ,Schmitz of the Town of Wappinger, Dutchess County, New fork, being duly sworn, says that he is, and at the several times hereinafter was, the .. Bookkeeper of the W. & S.D. NEWS, a newspaper printed and published every Wednesday in the year in the Town of Wappingcr, Dutchess County, New York, and that the annexed NOTICE was duly published in the said newspaper for .. one .... weeks successively .once' . in each week, commencing on the ..17th day of •Get4 . 1984.. and on the following dates thereafter, namely on and ending on the ...17th day of• •Getober• • • 1984.. both days inclusive. r Subscribed and sworn to before me this ...17th.... day of..©at©ber. • 19-84 My commission expires Notary Pubic ALBERT M. CSTen1 NOTARY PUBLIC, „',C CF QUALIFIED 19 GIIILIIESS COUNTY #14-8240760 COMMISSION EXPIRES MAUCH 30, 1811:3