Board Meeting- July 14, 2008
Mr. Howard called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance. Board members in attendance were Mike Scott, Shawn Dunmire, Richard Kozlowski, and Dick Howard. Also in attendance were Curt and Sue Rung, Jean Howard, Theresa Baldwin, Paul Sadler, Gail Miller, Jon Reitz, Bob Dunbar and Lea Dorrett.
The Fiscal Report was not approved this month. The board is questioning why transfers and corrections have not been done that they requested three months ago. There was also a question why the withholdings for the highway workers has not been corrected yet. Once the report is corrected I’ll have it back up for you.
Mr. Howard informed the board that the Town has received 2 petitions for Small Claims Assessment Review.
There will be a District III Legislative Meeting hosted by the Town of Wirt on July 29 at 7:00 p.m.
The Justice report was read. There was $950 taken in for the Town. This money is sent to the State Comptroller then the Town is reimbursed their respective amounts.
The Town Clerks report was accepted with total revenue of $126.68.
Superintendents Report highlights:
- Ditched on Zimmer
- Put up Stop sign at the bottom of Hicks Hill
- Grader (replaced solenoid and starter)
- Ditched on Monahan
- All paved roads are mowed
- D.E.C. inspected tanks- some repairs need to be done
- Is working with Mr. Kozlowski to get prisoners here to help out on the roads
There was discussion on taking bids for a new wood stove for the highway shop. Mike Scott is going to get some information and report back to the board next month.
Assessor’s Report:
- 2 Small claims received
- Alice attended “Deeds and Sales” on June 18 in Batavia
- Final roll is on file in the Town Clerk’s office
- Sales Information:
- Elma Pangburn’s house sold for $61,800- her assessment was $45,200
- 29.7 acres (vacant land) on the Pangburn Road just sold for $58,000
The board received a 180-day notice from Teamsters concerning contract negotiations. The current contract is up this year.
Mr. Dunmire inquired about the State Audit what the Town needed to do next. There was some discussion concerning having another meeting with the state auditor. Jane was checking with the State.
Gail Miller and Bob Dunbar addressed the Board concerning the recent problems they have encountered with the assessors. Mr. Dunbar had a list of information that was necessary in order for him to file a small claims review. However, Alice refused to help him. Mr. Scott stated that the board had informed the assessors that they were not to assess their own or a family member’s property. Mr. Reitz inquired to how far out this reached. He stated that in a small town such as Wirt everyone is related to each other somehow. What are the limitations?
Mr. Scott stated that it was a conflict of interest for Alice to help Ms. Miller and Mr. Dunbar. Mr. Dunbar stated that is fine, but Randy Harmon is never in town and John Day has not helped him. When he has phoned Mr. Day at his home he was asked not to call there because his wife did not want him to. Mr. Day informed Mr. Dunbar that if he wanted to get a hold of him he could go through his mother-in-law, Jane. Mr. Dunbar had asked Alice and Jane to have John give him a call and he never did. There was a unanimous vote from the board that Alice would provide Mr. Dunbar with the information and that Ms. Miller could pick it up from Jane on Friday.
Jane then stated that she was no longer going to send out minutes until after the board meeting of the following month. She stated that she had them done within the two weeks however she was refusing to send them out. Mr. Dunbar (and myself) inquired to why this is. He provides a self-addressed stamp envelope for her to send them. The board informed Jane that she was to send out the minutes to Mr. Dunbar.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Mr. Sadler informed the Board that Ann Hampshire has not done anything to clean up her property. The Board stated to send her a ticket. Bravo!!
I’m wondering when Jane became a legislator, or councilman and earned the right to randomly change how things are completed and executed in a timely manner and generally what her job requirements and regulations are. Her statement that she will no longer send out the minutes until after the next meeting is in direct violation of all statutes concerning town meetings (and not a total surprise). The Town of Wirt is a very small community with limited work required to meet the standards and means described by legislation, however Wirt is the slowest township to post minutes from board meetings, does not abide by requirements to deposit funds received (have you read the audit? Not a big surprise there either) and generally has a haphazard mentality in doing the job as required by the state government and common sense.
I also wonder what training and background the town assessors really have. I do not see the assessments as being correct on quite a few homes in the area. Just in my small neigborhood, there are some large discrepancies in value. I hate to take the little money I have to get my home appraised to compare it to the increase in value my home seems to have found, but it may come down to that very soon. And conflict of interest in this small town is a very big concern that needed to be addressed far before this.
My only question at the moment is…………………………….
WHEN IS THE NEXT ELECTION SO WE CAN REVIVE THE TOWN BOARD AND THE CLERK’S OFFICE???????????????? (This is not directed at all, but only a select few)
I think it is time for everyone to wake up and realize that somebody is not paying attention to their job. I for one know that if I did this level of productivity, I would have been on the unemployment line a long time ago. It’s sad that elected officials do not face the same consequences. Retirement sounds like a very good idea at the moment. I for one will make sure that I am registered to vote in the proper town next time around so I can cast my vote for a change.