By John Addyman
LYONS (Oct 19 10) – Mayor Corrine Kleisle got one of those letters most New York municipal officials are afraid to open these days – a notice from the state retirement system.
And of course, the news wasn’t good. As she explained to the Lyons Village Board tonight, the 2010-11 budget has set aside $74,950 for the retirement fund contributions to village employees. The state is suggesting that the bill for the 2011-12 budget year will be $111,984 – a 49 percent increase. The news for the retirement program for firefighters and police is a little better – the village has $125,000 budgeted for this year, but will need $150,508 next year – 20 percent more.
“Those are significant increases,” said the mayor.
After the bad news on the expense side, Kleisle detailed some troubling news on the revenue side. Water billings for October were $129,635, and $132,502 for July. Those are the two heaviest periods for water usage and the village billed a total of $262,137. And the figures are significantly low.
“This fiscal year we will only realize about 80 percent of our (anticipated) revenue for 2010-11,” she said. The budget called for billings of $619,427, but Kleisle said the revenue total for the year will be close to $400,000 – a shortfall in the neighborhood of $123,585. Part of the problem is the loss of Parker-Hannafin, a major water user.
A special public meeting has been scheduled for Thursday night, Oct. 21 at 6 p.m., to discuss the recent Water-Sewer Study and what the village’s options are. “The longer we put off a decision on coming up with a rate that supports our budget, the more difficult things will be,” she said. “The meeting Thursday should provide some answers.”
Village Clerk-Treasurer Denise Darcangelis reported that $186,000 in outstanding tax payments remain, with just a few days left in the payment cycle. She said the collection rate to this point is 90.44 percent – last year it was 90.83 percent.
The board also discussed:
Light poles -- replacing two light poles in front of the village hall. One was knocked down by a truck, the other one was felled by wind. The poles cost $3,000 to replace; the village had received $5,626 in insurance payments. Replacement will take four to six weeks.
Efficiency Study – applying for efficiency-implementation grants to see what goods, services, and buildings could be shared by the village, town and school district.
Gateway signs – buying four new signs at the entrances to the village on Rts. 14 and 31, for $1,000 each, including installation. Trustee Terry VanStean suggested telling the state what the village’s plans are as soon as possible so as not to run into problems. “We know they can be…slow,” he said.
Flock retirement – okayed the switchover from full-time to part-time for police Sgt. John “Jay” Flock, who retires on Oct. 27, and will start work as a part-timer in the 28th. Police chief Michael Donalty said Flock would continue with a present investigation and when that wraps up, “He will fill in where we need him.”
Asked if Lyons will use the Sheriff’s Department for investigations, Donalty said “We can, will and have.”
Peppermint Committee – the appointment of VanStean to the Peppermint Days Committee. “I was not received well,” he said. After he had thought about it awhile, he decided to stay on the committee. “They were a little concerned with a village board member being at their meetings, but we’re not there to control them, just to stay informed.”
Sewer Jet – discussed plans to acquire a used sewer jet (a flexible, high-pressure hose used to break up clogs in a sewer line) and the vehicle it rides on from the Town of Webster, which is buying a new one. Mayor Kleisle said it wasn’t clear if Lyons would buy directly from Webster or from the company they are going to trade in their sewer jet.
The used sewer jet will cost $25,000, and will need a pump replaced (another $7,000).
“Our present one is 35 years old,” the mayor said. “A new one costs $185,000. If we wanted to purchase a new one outright, there’s no way we could afford it.”
Issues – heard from William Ayotte of Phelps Street who said a ditch on the north side of his house has its culvert plugged because when work was done on it three years ago, it wasn’t properly filled in or seeded.
Jim Ireland of Elm Street said an eroding bank he complained about at the last meeting still hadn’t been attended to. He also asked for a lower speed limit on his street, as a nearby business has trucks running pell-mell down it. Chief Donalty promised to assign some patrols to keep an eye on speeders.
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Anonymous Said,
Eliminate the police department for starts.
Posted on Wed Oct 20, 06:59:00 AM EDT
Anonymous Said,
Eliminating them probably is not possible or pratical but it is funny how Clyde has few if any full time cops but Lyons has had as many as 12. The other thing we should hire a chief of polcie who lives in the village as all other chiefs before him had too. This village board though will do nothing to lower taxes if their past history is any indication. By the way I believe Lyons has the highest village tax rate in the state.
Posted on Wed Oct 20, 03:55:00 PM EDT
Anonymous Said,
Why does every village have to have a water plant when the water all comes from either Lake Ontario or Canandaigua Lake?
Posted on Wed Oct 20, 05:15:00 PM EDT