Highway/Solid Waste/Airport Committee

June 6, 2006 - 7:30 am

DRAFT MINUTES

 

Present:            Dan Tagliente, Chairman; Steve Dafoe, Vice Chairman; John Daniels, Tom Hartnett and John Steger

                                   

Others present: Marilyn Brown, Chairman of the Legislature; Scott Schrader, County Administrator; Katrina Spicer, Secretary to County Administration; Donald Chambers, Superintendent of Highways; Tom Huttleston, Safety Officer; Eric Mulvihill, WXHC; Corey Preston, Cortland Standard

 

Absent:              Merwin Armstrong and Newell Willcox

 

Mr. Tagliente called the meeting to order at 7:30 a.m.

Mr. Dafoe moved adoption of the minutes of the May 9, 2006 meeting; seconded by Mr. Daniels.  All members voting in favor; none opposed; minutes approved as printed.

 

RESOLUTONS:

 

1.                 Award Highway Bid-Reconstruction of Page Green Road Phase II (C.R. 122)– Mr. Dafoe moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Steger.  Mr. Chambers discussed that the bidders were intentionally left blank on this resolution due to the fact that bids will not be opened until June 12, 2006.  Mr. Chambers further discussed that he would like to move forward with this and that the bids will be listed on the resolution by the time it is brought before the Budget and Finance Committee on June 15, 2006.  Mr. Chambers further discussed that he would like to have work done on this project as soon as possible while the weather is good.  Mr. Tagliente asked Mr. Chambers if he was tied to the lowest bidder.  Mr. Chambers stated that they were.  Mr. Tagliente asked if Chairman Brown had any problems with this and she stated that she did not.  Mr. Schrader indicated that he had no problems with this either.  All members present voting in favor; none opposed; resolution approved.

 

2.                 Authorize Agreements/Road & Bridge Construction Highway Department – Mr. Daniels moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Dafoe.  Mr. Chambers explained that this resolution covers minor agreements for miscellaneous services as listed in the resolution.  He further explained that these can become time consuming and would like the authorization to go forward with an agreement with approval of the County Attorney and Chairman of the Legislature.  Mr. Chambers added that these are time sensitive and can hold-up a project.  Mr. Schrader agreed with Mr. Chambers and added that there is not a large amount of money involved with these.  Mr. Schrader discussed that he would like to begin to handle these types of agreements with purchase orders and additionally, he explained that he had intended on discussing this at the Personnel Committee and Budget & Finance Committee meetings, but the Personnel Committee meeting was cancelled. Mr. Schrader is intending to further discuss this at the Budget & Finance Committee meeting.  Mr. Schrader further explained that these projects would be easier to manage with the use of purchase orders.  All members present voting in favor; none opposed; resolution approved.

 

3.                  Approve Contract for Engineering Jennings Creek Road Over Big Brook (C.R. 136) – Mr. Daniels moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Dafoe.  Mr. Chambers discussed that this in regarding the Jennings Creek Road over Big Brook in the Town of Lapeer.  He further discussed that this is the design phase of the project and explained that the Federal and State aid available.  Mr. Chambers explained that Delta Engineers have been selected from a pre-approved list of engineers.  He added that this bridge is the lowest rated bridge in the county’s inventory.  All members present voting in favor; none opposed; resolution approved.

 

4.                  Authorize Adopt-A-Highway Agreement – Mr. Hartnett moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Daniels.  Mr. Chambers explained that this is an agreement to authorize Blodgett Mills Church to conduct roadside cleanup along Kellogg Road.  He further explained that there has been a long-standing tradition and relationship with the church doing this under the Adopt-A-Highway program.  He added that the agreement would expire in 2008.  Mr. Hartnett inquired about insurance and liability.  Mr. Schrader explained that the church will take the liability.  All members present voting in favor; none opposed; resolution approved.

 

5.                   Approve Contract for Engineering-Reconstruction of Page Green Road Phase II (C.R. 122) – Mr. Daniels moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Steger.  Mr. Chambers explained that this resolution is approval of an engineer selected off the New York State Department of Transportation list.  All members present voting in favor; none opposed; resolution approved.

 

Landfill –

 

6.                  Award Highway Bid –Landfill Closure – Mr. Daniels moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Steger.  Mr. Chambers explained that this resolution is for capping 6.9 acres of the landfill and that it is to done according to DEC regulations.  Mr. Chambers explained that the lowest bidder for this is Marcey Construction.  Mr. Daniels and Mr. Chambers explained the capping process and the material used for capping.  All members present voting in favor; none opposed; resolution approved.

 

Dwyer Park –

 

7.                  Tabled Home Rule Resolution – Mr. Daniels moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Steger.  Mr. Schrader explained that according to current law Cortland County has no ability to enter into a long-term contract with CRT for use of the Dwyer Park Pavilion.  He further explained that the county must ask the State Legislators for legislation to enter into this long-term contract.  He discussed how this would benefit CRT.  Mr. Schrader explained that he is working with Senator Seward regarding this and asked him to address this.  He additionally discussed that State Legislators are no tin the habit of approving this type of request because they have a tendency to want to protect parks and this would limit the control.  Chairman Brown inquired about specific language in the agreement and Mr. Schrader informed the committee that the specific language is in the legislation that Senator Seward is introducing.  All members present voting in favor; none opposed; resolution approved.

DISCUSSIONS/PRESENTATIONS:

 

1.                  May 2006 Amnesty Week – Mr. Chambers reported to the committee the costs involved and related to the May 2006 Amnesty Week and the approximate costs to the county was $10,000.

 

2.                  Landfill Credit Report – Mr. Chambers explained to the committee that the information he has is dated May 8, 2006 and the totals are as of that date.  Almost Anything Trash owes the county $52,891.46; Roof Doctor $74.20; and Doug’s Trash Removal owes $21,208.21.  Mr. Chambers explained that he has referred the situation with Doug’s Trash Removal to the County Attorney’s Office.  Mr. Schrader asked if Doug’s Trash Removal is currently hauling to the landfill.  Mr. Dafoe asked if they were on a cash basis at the landfill.  Mr. Chambers explained that they are on a cash basis and he is not certain if they are still hauling to the landfill.  Mr. Hartnett inquired about the policy of past due accounts and cash basis only.  Mr. Chambers additionally explained to the Committee the standard practice regarding past due accounts at the landfill which is if they are over 30 days late on a particular bill the company has been put on a cash basis acceptance to dump. Mr. Schrader explained that he is working towards having those companies that haul to the landfill with credit there be bonded or have a cash reserve account.  Mr. Tagliente addressed his concerns towards having a handle on this.  Mr. Schrader further discussed that when municipal haulers are involved, the garbage can not just be left on the side of the street; there are public relations issues and public health issues involved.  Chairman Brown addressed her concerns regarding punishing all the haulers because the municipal haulers can’t pay.  She further discussed punishing the small business owners and requiring them to be bonded.  Mr. Schrader explained that he is working towards requiring the large haulers to be bonded and why.  Mr. Hartnett addressed his concerns relating to the municipalities accepting bids for hauling when they know that the hauler cannot haul the garbage for that price.  Mr. Chambers discussed that the county can also require performance bonds and explained what is involved with performance bonds.  Mr. Schrader discussed that he is working with the Village of homer to assist them in not letting this happen again and he further discussed helping to educate the smaller municipalities regarding bids like this.  Additionally, he discussed that he is talking with the municipalities regarding having the municipalities pay the county directly.        

 

3.                  Amnesty Day-Lime Hollow – Mr. Chambers explained that there was a separate Amnesty Day and there was 5.41 tons of garbage taken in on May 22, 2006.

 

4.                  Almost Anything Trash – Mr. Schrader explained that he would like to discuss this during executive session.  Mr. Tagliente moved on to discuss the next item before going into executive session.

 

5.         Cortland County Young Marines Program – Mr. Chambers explained that Richard Holl had contacted him regarding allowing the Cortland County Young Marines Program to have some recycled computers for use in their Haunted House.  Committee members further discussed that when they are done using them they will likely be returned for recycling.  Mr. Chambers explained that there is no revenue involved with these computers; they are simply using materials that would be otherwise shipped out.  The consensus of the committee members was that they had no objections to Mr. Chambers allowing the Cortland County Young Marine Program using recycled computers.   

 

Mr. Tagliente asked for a motion to go into Executive Session to discuss contract negotiations with Almost Anything Trash.  Mr. Dafoe made a motion to go into Executive Session; seconded by Mr. Hartnett.  The committee went into Executive Session at 7:56 a.m.

 

At 8:05 a.m. the committee came out of Executive Session.  Mr. Schrader reported that the Committee discussed a tentative agreement negotiated with Almost Anything Trash and if it is accepted Almost Anything Trash will make payments of $4,000 a month and remain on a cash basis at the Landfill.  Mr. Schrader further explained that this repayment schedule would be in affect for 13 months.  Mr. Daniels made a motion to accept this agreement with Almost Anything Trash; seconded by Mr. Steger.  All members voting in favor; none opposed; motion carried. 

Mr. Daniels made a motion to adjourn; seconded by Mr. Hartnett.  The meeting adjourned at 8:10 a.m.

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