Minutes of the Special Meeting of the Board of Trustees and Consolidation Committee of the Village of Lake George, NY, held at the Village Administration Building on Tuesday, June 10, 2008, at 7:00 p.m. BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Robert M. Blais, Mayor Marisa Muratori, Trustee Ray Perry, Trustee John Root, Trustee John Earl, Trustee
BOARD MEMBER ABSENT:
CONSOLIDATION COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT: Fred Austin Patricia Dow Joe Stanek Bert Weber OTHERS PRESENT: Louis Tessier, Supervisor
Also Present: Deb McKinney (Deputy Clerk-Treasurer) AT 5:30 p.m. Mayor Blais opened the Special Meeting of the Village Board and began with a review of Village Board items. The Lake George Association requested approval of a resolution in support of a grant application for the West Brook Environmental Park Project which is located within the Village’s territorial jurisdiction. This grant will help to pay for the work intended on the Gaslight Village property. Trustee Root, seconded by Trustee Muratori, offered the following resolution: RESOLUTION NO. 53, 2008 WHEREAS, the Village of Lake George is applying to the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) for a grant under the Environmental Protection fund for a park project to be located on West Brook Road, a site located within the territorial jurisdiction of this Board of Trustees; and WHEREAS, as a requirement under the rules of these programs, said not-forprofit corporation must obtain the “approval/endorsement of the governing body of the municipality in which the project will be located”; NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by this august body of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Lake George hereby does approve and endorse the application of the Lake George Association for a grant under the Environmental Protection Fund for a park project known as “West Brook Environmental Park Project” and located within this community. AND FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED, that should the Lake George Association be unable to do so, said property shall be forever maintained by the Village of
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Lake George, Town of Lake George, and County of Warren as a municipal park in this community consistent with the rules promulgated by OPRHP. VOTING Ayes: 4 Nays: 0 Absent: 1 Blais, Muratori, Perry, Root Earl June 10, 2008
RESOLUTION NO. 53, 2008 ADOPTED.
Mayor Blais reported that the central air conditioning at the Village Hall is not working; according to the service technician the compressor is “fried”. Purchasing Agent Deb McKinney obtained price quotes from three vendors. The lowest bidder Northern Mechanical quoted a new unit including installation at a cost of $2,502.00 with a five-year warranty. The cost to replace the compressor only with a one-year warranty is $1,768. In light of the difference in cost, Ms. McKinney recommends the purchase of a new unit as opposed to replacing the condenser for the following reasons: The current unit is ten years old. A new one will be more energy efficient. The warranty on a new unit is five years as opposed to one year on just the compressor. Two of the vendors suggested a new unit because sometimes when the compressor gets fried, there is contamination of the whole unit. Trustee Root, seconded by Trustee Perry, offered the following resolution: RESOLUTION NO. 54, 2008 BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees of the Village of Lake George hereby authorizes the purchase of a new air conditioner for the Village Administration Building for a sum not to exceed $2,502. From Northern Mechanical. VOTING Ayes: 4 Nays: 0 Absent: 1 Blais, Muratori, Perry, Root Earl June 10, 2008
RESOLUTION NO. 54, 2008 ADOPTED.
Fire Chief Jim Barber submitted a request for approval of the Firefighter II class for Chad DeZalia being held in North Creek on Monday nights beginning in June at no cost. A motion by Trustee Perry, seconded by Trustee Root, carried unanimously to approve the training for firefighter Chad DeZalia. VOTING Ayes: 4 Blais, Muratori, Perry, Root Nays: 0 ABSENT: 1 Earl MOTION PASSED.
Mayor Blais began the meeting of the Consolidation Committee by appointing Trustee Root as Chairman and Trustee Muratori as Secretary. He received a report, “21st Century Local Government” prepared by the State. There is a lot of good information in the booklet and he will request more copies for the Commission. Mayor Blais pointed out that the State is mandating any Village with a population of
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less than 500 to bring a vote for consolidation. John Clarkson, Chairman of the State’s Committee has mentioned that we may be used as an example and the commissioner would like to attend some of our Consolidation Committee meetings. Non-matching grant funding in an amount not to exceed $50,000. has been guaranteed. Three consultants, Avalon Associates, Inc, Fairweather Consulting, and the LA Group have submitted proposals to prepare a study for government consolidation. They have been scheduled for interviews tonight. Mayor Blais announced that the Consolidation Committee is charged to act as the steering committee to put together a proposal for review by the Board. The best case scenario is that a report will be ready to be submitted for a vote at the next regular village election to be held in March, 2009. The report will include exact details as to how the consolidation will actually work. If voted on and approved in March, 2009, the actual consolidation would take place on January 1, 2011. Mayor Blais noted that many services between the Village and Town are already shared. The State is advocating for less layers of government specifically for consolidation of small Villages. Mayor Blais hopes to give the community a chance to vote to predict their future. At 5:50 p.m. Mayor Blais turned the meeting over to Chairman Root, with Trustee Muratori acting as Secretary. The interviews began at 6:00 p.m. Ms. McKinney left the meeting at this time also. Trustee Muratori’s minutes as submitted. The Committee Meeting began at approximately 6:00 pm after a short Village Board meeting. The committee interviewed three firms with the intention of hiring one to produce a dissolution plan for the Village of Lake George. The first firm interviewed was Avalon Associates of Glens Falls represented by Philip Smith, President and Jim Thatcher. The firm discussed trends of Village formations and dissolutions, their approach for Lake George, and a schedule. They then fielded questions from committee members. Ray Perry left the meeting at 6:30 p.m. The second group interviewed was Fairweather Consulting from New Paltz, NY. Peter Fairweather the principal presented, accompanied by a representative from Elan Planning and Design from Saratoga. Fairweather conducted the recent Village and Town consolidation of services study for Lake George. Fairweather outlined their scope of work, approach and experience with community dissolutions. A question and answer period ended their presentation. The last firm interviewed was the LA Group represented at the meeting by Tracy Clothier and James Martin. Mr. Martin emphasized the importance of enlisting an attorney to handle the legalities of dissolution. After a summary of services
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underscoring local projects the group has been hired for, the committee asked questions about their approach. At the conclusion of the meeting, after all the firms and other attendants had left, the committee discussed a selection and agreed that Fairweather would be the best firm for the study because they were the only firm with experience in community dissolutions, their familiarity with the communities of Lake George, and the cost of the work was consistent with the amount allocated. Meeting adjourned at 8:45. Respectfully Submitted,
Marisa Muratori The Special Village Board meeting was adjourned at that time also. Respectfully submitted,
Debra J. McKinney, CPPB Purchasing Agent Deputy Clerk-Treasurer
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