Legal Issues for Volunteer Fire Departments

Yesterday and the day before I spent twelve hours at a NYS Fire Academy seminar titled "Legal Issues for the Volunteer Fire Service," sponsored by Tompkins County Department of Emergency Response and Tompkins Cortland Community College. The instructor was knowledgeable and entertaining. Participants included Fire Commissioners, Chiefs, Firefighters, and Town Board members.

Lawyers live in such a world of their own. While some of us are thinking, "Just let us collect the taxes and fight the fires," the lawyers are out their somewhere trying to impose some structure on the various ways we organize ourselves and anticipating the infinitely varied ways things can go wrong. Do the lawyers make our lives complicated? Yes. There were thirty-five new laws affecting volunteer firefighters in 2006. Do the lawyers help when things go wrong? Sometimes.

Incidently, the instructor is a volunteer firefighter, as well as a lawyer. I was happy to see several members of departments in Dryden participating including Andy Down, Freeville Fire Chief, who was at the Friday night session of the seminar from 6:30 to 10:30PM, went to work at Cornell Life Safety 11:00PM to 7:00 AM and returned to the seminar on Saturday 8:00AM - 4:30PM. One can only hope, for his sake, that there are no emergencies in the Freeville area this weekend.

A ton of information was shared in the twelve hours of the seminar - fortunately, a lot of it in print. Dave Makar and I, the new Emergency Services Committee, will be sifting through it with the help of the fire departments, the town lawyer and our insurance agent, prioritizing policies we need to create and procedures we need to modify.

Town Board Meetings

It's not that we're not working. We're just working more than writing about it.

Here are some quick notes about the last Town Board meeting.

We agreed to let the Snowmobile club continue using a bit of land recently purchased by the town over which their trail passes.

Tompkins County historian Carol Kammen showed us an attractive "Destination Dryden" brochure produced as a part of a county wide project by the Tompkins County Historical Society.

We agreed to provide a cell phone for Recreation Coordinator, Jen Dube.

We discussed options for the Tuttle property recently purchased by the Town. The property, adjacent to the new town hall site was acquired, primarily, to provide extra room for the parking lot. In addition to the acreage, the property includes an old house and barn and our original intention was to clean it up and put it back on the market. Our application for a state grant to restore the house was unsuccessful. Since we found that the house is in worse condition than we expected, it has been suggested that the house be demolished and the property divided into two lots for sale. I haven't seen the inside of the house yet, but I'm always inclined to try to save old house. Furthermore, we've been told the barn is an English style, historically significant and rare in this area. So, there is now some consideration of restoring the barn and using it for historical displays.

There were the usual reports from Highway Superintendent, Jack Bush; Town Lawyer, Mahlon Perkins; County Representative, Martha Robertson; Zoning Officer, Henry Slater; and Environmental Planner, Dan Kwasnowski. Keep an eye on the Town website. At the moment Town Clerk, Bambi Hollenbeck, is hip deep in tax payments. As soon as she catches up, the minutes will show up on the website.

But I was disappointed that three of the topic listed for discussion (County Resilution for Non-interference of New Emergency Communications System, Recreation Partnership Resolution and the Beautification grant) never came up. The only item in the discussion section of the agenda (other than the Tuttle property) that was raised was the continuation of Fire Department OSHA grant reimbursement. And that was raised only long enough to refer it to the newly formed Emergency Services Committee (that's Dave and me.)

So, join us, if you can for a special meeting January 25 at 7:00 in the Town Hall for discussion of formation of a special commission to coordinate review and updating of the zoning ordinance.

The next regularly scheduled Town Board meeting is February 8 at 7:00 at the Town Hall.

Organizational Meeting: Official Minutes

Here are the official minutes (draft, unapproved) of the January 3rd Organizational Meeting.
www.davidmakar.com/agendas/Jan_03_2007_Minutes.doc
www.davidmakar.com/agendas/Jan_03_2007_Minutes.pdf

Dryden Democrats: Two Meetings

There are two meetings to consider attending this week if you are a democrat and live in the town of Dryden. You might have an Ithaca mailing address or live in the Village of Freeville or Village of Dryden, but if you live in the town of Dryden please consider attending!

Dryden Town Board, January Meeting
Come just to see what happens at a monthly town board meeting. Mary Ann Sumner and I will be your democratic representatives at the meeting. Here is a link to the official agenda:
http://www.davidmakar.com/agendas/Jan_11_2007.doc
http://www.davidmakar.com/agendas/Jan_11_2007.pdf

Contact us with questions, comments or complaints! The meeting is tomorrow, Thursday, January 11th, 2007 at 7pm at 65 East Main Street, Dryden, NY (in the town hall).


Dryden Democrats January Meeting
The Dryden Democrats will be having another gathering on Sunday, January 14th, at the Candlelight Inn (49 West Main Street, Dryden) from 4:00pm to 6:00pm.

It won't be a meeting, but there will be political conversation, much of it focused on the Village of Dryden's upcoming elections. This was a fun event last year, and I'm hoping to repeat its success.

If you'd like to come, please bring something you'd like to eat. Drinks will be provided.
Thanks,
Simon St.Laurent
Chair, Dryden Democrats

The Organizational Meeting - Committees

Truck Check on Thursday night at the Varna Volunteer Fire Company

I'd like to continue with my own reporting on the Wednesday, January 3rd Town of Dryden organizational meeting that I started discussing here. Beyond discussions of the resolutions we also spent some time reviewing and modifying the existing committees.
The assignments:
Appointment and committee assignments for 2007 by the Supervisor as follows:
Bookkeeper to Supervisor-------------------------------Dawn Bogdan
Deputy Supervisor-----------------------------------------Cl Stephen Stelick, Jr.
Town Hall & General Fund Bills Committee--------COMBINED TO NEW FINANCE COM.
Highway & Hwy Fund Bills Committee---------------COMBINED TO NEW FINANCE COM.
FINANCE COMMITTEE: Cl Mary Ann Sumner, Supv Steven Trumbull
Highway & Public Works Committee------------------Adhoc committee, Cl Stelick, Cl Sumner
Assessment Review Committee-----------------------Cl Stelick, Cl Sumner
Insurance Committee------------------------------------Cl Sumner, Cl Marty Christofferson
Representatives to Planning Board--------------------Cl Sumner
Representatives to Zoning Board of Appeals---------Cl Christofferson
Representatives to IAWTF-------------------------------Cl Dave Makar
Representatives to Fire Depts & Emergency Services-----Cl Sumner, Cl Makar
Representative to Recreation & Youth Services Comm---RENAMED to include Community Centers: Cl Stelick, Cl Makar
Community Block Grant Review Comm--------------COMBINED with GRANTS COM.
Rep to MPO Policy Comm---------------------------------Supv Trubull
Human Resources Committee--------------------------Dawn Bogdan, Cl Christofferson, Cl Sumner
Town

Hall

BuildingCommittee--------------------------Cl Stelick & Cl Christofferson
Representative to Conservation Board-----------------Cl Sumner
Representative to
Cayuga LakeWatershed IO-------Dan Kwasnowski
Liason Officer to Bolton Point (SCLIWC)----------------Supv Trumbull & Steve Lipinski
Grants Committee-------------------------------------------Cl Stelick, Cl Makar
Telecommunications, Cable TV & Internet Committee---RENAMED "Technology": Cl Christofferson, CL Makar
If you are keeping score at home:
Cl Christofferson: Technology; Insurance; Town Hall Building; Human Resources; Zoning Board of Appeals
Cl Makar: Recreation/Youth Services/Community Centers; Grants; Technology; Emergency Services; IAWTF
Cl Sumner: Finance; Human Resources; Emergency Services; Conservation Board; Assessment Review; HWY/Public Works, Planning Board
Cl Stelick: Recreation/Youth Services/Community Centers; Grants; Town Hall Building; Assessment Review; HWY/Public Works
Supv Trumbull: Finance; MPO; ITCTC; Liason to Bolton Point
I was fortunate to be accepted to every committee I wanted to get to work on. The platform from the campaign included improving cell phone coverage and broadband internet access - both of which may be covered by the technology committee. I also want to support the community centers which the Recreation/Youth Services/Community Centers will be working with. In addition I was hoping to be involved in economic development which the grants committee will be responsible for. Finally, for my interested in the fire companies as well as the emergency plan discussed with the Varna Community Center the Emergency Services committee looks like a good fit.
I have a lot to learn, a lot of people I'm interested in meeting with and hopefully a lot will get accomplished. I'm excited and hopeful going forward with this process.
Cross posted at DavidMakar.com and Dryden is Home

The Organizational Meeting - Resolutions

Wednesday night the 2007 Dryden Town Board met for the annual Organizational Meeting. The meeting's purpose is to officially approve of the operation of the town of Dryden (TOD) and to assign members of the town board to committees and as representatives to other boards.

In the next hour and forty minutes we passed 27 of 28 resolutions and redefined a few committees.Resolutions passed included:
RESOLUTION #1 - APPROVE BUDGET MODIFICATIONS
RESOLUTION #2 – RULES OF PROCEDURE
RESOLUTION #3 – MILEAGE
RESOLUTION #4 – DESIGNATE OFFICIAL DEPOSITORIES
RESOLUTION #5 - AUTHORIZE SIGNATURES ON ACCOUNTS
RESOLUTION #6 - OFFICIAL ADVERTISING
RESOLUTION #7 - ADVANCE PAYMENT OF UTILITIES
RESOLUTION #8 - PETTY CASH
RESOLUTION #9 - APPOINTMENTS
RESOLVED, that this Town Board appoint the following:
· Town Supervisor as Service Officer and Fire Warden
· Town Supervisor has the power and duties of administration and supervision of the Town of
Dryden
on Special Assessment Fund functions to be performed on behalf of the Town Board.
· Town Supervisor is authorized to pay Fire & Ambulance Contracts
· Town Supervisor has the power and duties of administration and supervision of the Town of
Dryden
on Special Improvement District functions to be performed on behalf of the Town Board.
· Bambi L. Hollenbeck as Receiver of Taxes and Assessments
· Bambi L. Hollenbeck as licensor for Games of Chance and Bingo.
· Henry Slater as Subdivision Control Officer and Multiple Residence Inspector.
· ________________ as Bingo Inspector ($150 annual salary)
· Patricia Millard as Secretary for Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals and Conservation Board
· Barbara Caldwell as Planning Board Chair ($400 annual salary)
· Oers Kelemen as ZBA Chair ($400 annual salary)
· _________________, Historian, ($400 annual salary)
RESOLUTION #10 - APPOINT TOWN ENGINEER
RESOLUTION #11 - ANNUAL SALARIES FOR TOWN OFFICERS
Town Supervisor $16,224
Council (4) $5,682
Town Clerk $24,813
Highway Superintendent $56,809
Town Justice (2) $16,863
RESOLUTION #12 - 2007 ANNUAL SALARIES
RESOLUTION #13 - CONTRACTS
RESOLVED, that this Town Board contract with the following:
Mahlon Perkins as the Attorney for the Town at an annual contract amount of $27,600 (paid monthly) to do regular agreed upon Town business, with other business and reimbursable business at the rate of $180 per hour, when signed contract received.
Randall Marcus – Attorney for Zoning Board of Appeals – paid monthly at a rate of $210-225/hr
S.P.C.A. - $18,751.78, paid monthly.
Gadabout at a rate of $6,500 – when funds are available, when signed contract received
T.C. Seniors - $3,600 – when funds are available, when signed contract received
Dryden Seniors - $500 – when funds are available, when signed contract received
Southworth Library - $11,500 – when funds are available, when signed contract received
Learning Web – $1,100 - when funds are available, when signed contract received
Women’s Opportunity of Tompkins Center - $500 – when funds are available, when signed contract received
Dryden Historical Society - $1,100 – when funds are available, when signed contract received
RESOLUTION #14 - APPOINT BUDGET OFFICERS
RESOLUTION #15 - APPOINT PLANNING BOARD MEMBER
RESOLUTION #16 - APPOINT ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS MEMBER
RESOLUTION #17 - APPOINT RECREATION COMMISSION MEMBER - not passed on 1/3/07
RESOLUTION #18 - APPOINT CONSERVATION BOARD MEMBERS
RESOLUTION #19 - APPOINT RECREATION PARTNERSHIP REPRESENTATIVE
RESOLUTION #20 - APPOINT YOUTH COMMISSION MEMBER
RESOLUTION #21 - VOUCHER/INVOICE SUBMISSION DEADLINES
RESOLUTION #22 - MANDATORY JUSTICE SCHOOLING
RESOLUTION #23 - INVESTMENT POLICIES/GUIDELINES FOR TOWN OF DRYDEN
RESOLUTION #24 - TOWN OF DRYDEN FAIR HOUSING OFFICER
RESOLUTION #25 - TOWN BOARD MEETING SCHEDULE
RESOLUTION #26 - VEHICLE BENEFIT
RESOLUTION #27 - REQUEST EXTENSION TO FILE ANNUAL REPORT
RESOLUTION #28 - APPROVE ABSTRACT #13
What parts of this do you have questions about? I will do my best to explain what is what (as it was explained to me).
Specific Notes on Resolutions:
Resolution #3 - Mileage: The IRS/Federal Government has different rates for cars than motorcycles. Town employees that report mileage on personal vehicles should specify if the miles are for an automobile or motorcylcle so they can be paid the legally correct amount. The cost to the town for this is minimal as discussion came up that there is just one town employee that might use a personal motorcycle for town business travel. To be fair and legal this will need to be distinguished and reviewed.
Resolution #9 - Appointments: The Town Supervisor as the "Service Officer and Fire Warden" -- as of the meeting time noone knew what the service officer did. Steve Trumbull was planning to ask the town attorney. The "Special Assessment Fund" was also unknown. Mary Ann Sumner agreed to look it up. The "Special Improvement District" includes water and sewer (as well as lighting I'm guessing). The Bingo Inspector's position is open and there was some discussion as to filling it. The town's Historian position is available and the tentative thought was to increase the annual salary from $400 to $1000 as the county recommends.
Resolution #13 - Contracts: "Learning Web" has been contacted and there has been no year end report furnished in the recent past. All other contracts have been authorized. Once "Learning Web" makes contact with the town board their contract will be signed and money will be dispersed. Do you know what Learning Web is and are you involved at all? Here is their website: http://www.learning-web.org/ I can't seem to find out what they are doing for the people of Dryden. I am hopeful we will get some details.
Resolution #26 - Vehicle Benefit: There was some discussion over the benefit add on to income tax. If your vehicle benefit in one year is $10,000 then you will need to pay taxes on that vehicle benefit. Obviously we have to follow IRS rules on this and it is primarily up to the employee gaining the benefit to take care of this. Dawn will need to look to see if they need to pay.
Resolution #28 - Approve Abstract #13: The town spends a lot of money each month as does any business. At the beginning of each meeting a stack of reciepts about two phone books high is available for review by the board and then the vote on the abstract is the final resolution of the evening. While the town board members are reviewing the abstract they are unable to listen to everything else that is going on with their undivided attention. A finance committee that reviewed the abstract ahead of the meeting may make more sense, but more of that in the next post.

Cross posted at DavidMakar.com and Dryden is Home