by Alex Brooks
The Grafton Town Board meeting on November 10 went through the usual routine until Town Supervisor Frank Higgins made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman Barbara Messenger, to adopt the preliminary budget as the final budget.
[private]Councilman Mike Crandall abstained on this motion because he feels another budget workshop is needed.
Councilman Rick Ungaro voted no and read a prepared statement about why he opposed it. He said the anticipated revenue from sales tax should be higher and the revenue from the mortgage tax should be lower, and he criticized the idea of using $12,500 from the fund balance to reduce taxes because he believed it would result in a 5% budget increase next year.
He also mentioned that the County’s lease of the Grafton Senior Center is up for renewal in April so the Board could budget anticipated revenue from a new lease agreement. Negotiations with the County about that have just begun so the terms of a new lease are not yet known.
Ungaro concluded by saying there has been no collaboration on the budget, and he had done his own budget revisions and found it possible to keep the tax levy increase just above 0%.
Barbara Messenger responded by saying that the lease on the Post Office is also up in 2015 so that could change the Town’s revenue in the other direction.
They then voted to pay all bills as audited, which passed unanimously, and also voted unanimously to give permission to the Youth Group and the Ladies Auxiliary to decorate the Town Park for the holidays.
Mike Crandall then made a motion to appoint Ingrid Gundrum to the empty Town Board seat from now until the end of the year. Ungaro was in favor of this motion, but Higgins and Messenger voted against it, so it did not pass.
Higgins made a motion to adjourn the meeting. He and Messenger voted in favor, but Ungaro and Crandall voted nay, so the meeting remained in session. Mike Crandall asked what they are going to do about the budget. Higgins said the Preliminary Budget will become the Final Budget if no action is taken. That seemed to be his plan, as he was resistant to calls for another budget meeting.
Higgins said, “Mr. Ungaro’s numbers are not correct.” In particular, he said the fund balance is not as large as Ungaro said, because a portion of it has been earmarked already – $12,500 will be used to lower the tax levy for 2015 and $40,000 has been designated to replace the roof on the Highway Garage. Higgins then got into an exchange with Doug La Rocque about the budget that ended with La Rocque getting exasperated and saying to Higgins, “You’re arrogant and a liar,” and stalking out of the building. Higgins also left the room soon after that and went into the back room.
In his absence, Mike Crandall again tried to get the other Board members to schedule a budget workshop. They had difficulty doing so because for all of the times suggested either Crandall or Messenger had work commitments. They finally settled on Sunday at midday, right after church, but they felt the bookkeeper Maureen Seel should be there and they would have to ask her if she could attend a meeting at that time.
Supervisor Higgins then returned with his Town Law book in hand. When asked about scheduling a meeting, he said if he receives a written request, he will, within two days, schedule a meeting within ten days, as required by the law. After the meeting, he scheduled a budget workshop for Thursday, November 20, at 6:30 pm.
Other Matters
Highway Superintendent Herb Hasbrouck said his Department had received the Ford F550 plow truck that they ordered. This was paid for with FEMA reimbursements received this year. He sent it out to have the sander wired. It will be ready for this year’s plowing season. He also said 80% of his winter sand has been stockpiled, and he has ordered salt.
Councilman Rick Ungaro thanked Hasbrouck and his crew for fixing the roof of the salt shed.
Code Enforcement Officer Tom Withcuskey said he has issued 69 building permits to date this year. He said he is in contact with the new owners of the house at 6 Palitsch Road and they have assured him that they intend to demolish it this month. He also said he has issued more tickets about an ongoing situation on Mill Road, and he is continuing to monitor that situation.
The Rescue Squad reported that it responded to 14 calls in October – one allergic reaction, two seizures, three falls, one back pain, one stomach pain, one sick person, four motor vehicle accidents and one vehicle fire. The Squad logged 57 hours of volunteer time and traveled 321 miles in the ambulance.[/private]