Lebanon town board members unanimously approved a new 10 year Time Warner Cable Franchise agreement, appointed a new Code Enforcement Officer, established a public hearing for its road repair plan proposal for 2016 and scheduled the annual town-wide cleanup day for Saturday, April 23 at the March 14 town board meeting.
The next meeting of the town board will be April 11 in Randallsville.
Lebanon town officials approved the cable franchise agreement after an extensive delay that will set the town share of franchise fees at 5 percent for all Time Warner Cable services to residents and ensured that the town’s build out of cable service in the Lebanon Reservoir area and other parts of the township deemed eligible were completed or established. The Lebanon Town Board adopted the agreement after holding a public hearing at which no public comment was offered. Lebanon had its agreement reviewed by local cable consultant Michael Caton and town attorney Steven Jones prior to its approval to ensure all town concerns were addressed.
Lebanon town boards members appointed Mark Primer of Eaton, who is certified, to be the new Code Enforcement Officer and residents needing to reach him can call the Town Office at (315) 837-4220 or go on the Town’s website, which contains a wealth of information as well as local laws and forms, at TownofLebanon.org to obtain more contact information on the Code Enforcement Officer or any town official. Binder will be posting his hours and will also be available by cell phone and appointment.
Binder will be posting his hours and will also be available by cell phone and appointment.
Town officials established a period of public comment on the proposed 2016 Road Repair agreement for Town Highways that will be held on Monday, April 11, 2016 at 8 p.m. at the Smith Valley Community Center in Randallsville when the Town Board gathers for its next monthly meeting. The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m.
The road repair plan includes the following proposed local repairs which can be amended or changed at any time by the Town Board in consultation with the public and the highway superintendent:
Oil and Stone Maintenance/General Repair
Briggs Road – oil and stone – $25,000
Stowell Road – gravel – $12,000
Road Patch – 300 tons – $25,000
Total proposed budget for 2016 = $62,000
Road Reconstruction and Repair –contingenton receipt of 2016 state CHIPs funds
*These repairs are contingent on receipt of all state Consolidated Highway Improvement Program (CHIPs) funds condition on approval by the NYS Legislature.
Billings Hill and Musician Road – $60,000, contingent on receipt of DOT state aid letter being received.
New York Rising – Madison County – hazard mitigation projects
*These projects are contingent on state funding and Madison County approval for hazard mitigation to reduce future flooding damage.
Carncross Road Bridge Replacement – $93,294
Thompson Hill Road stabilization – $65,800
Total NY Rising Hazard Mitigation funding = $159,094.
Town officials also set Saturday, April 23, 2016 as the designated Lebanon Clean-up Day from 9 am to 12 noon at the Town Office/Highway Garage. The Madison County landfill will provide several dumpsters and town residents are encouraged to use this opportunity to clean up roadsides and bring the bagged garbage to the town office that day for disposal and/or recycling. Each resident can drop off up to two clear garbage bags filled with roadside trash and can also dispose of up to two pieces of used furniture, and farmers may drop off ag plastics in the appropriate designated dumpster in cooperation with the county’s Ag Plastic Recycling initiative and Plastics 2 Oil proposal that is now accepting bids. Prices will be established for all eligible recyclables that landfill normally accepts and there is no charge for recyclables or scrap metal items.
Residents and local organizations including churches are encouraged to schedule events for this day to increase participation and aid in town-wide road cleanup and spring cleaning efforts.
In other town business, the following actions were taken or discussed:
n Approved final fund transfers for the 2015 town budget to aid in the annual AUD report to the state.
n Re-appointed Gary Will to a full term as chair of the Board of Appeals.
n Approved final fire and ambulance contracts and payments.
n Discussed the proposed SOMAC contract which will be finalized at the April town board meeting.
n Discussed the impact of the Emkey bankruptcy on town tax assessments for 2017 and what it portends for future natural gas extraction or exploration activity in the township.
n Discussed progress of the Land Management Local Law committee which has been meeting regularly to make recommendations to update the local law.
n Discussed pending Bond Anticipation Notes for two current heavy duty highway trucks and the amount of financing vs. pay down the town wants to consider. Lebanon officials will also be exploring replacing the town backhoe in coming months as part of its equipment replacement schedule.
The Lebanon Town Board will next meet on Monday, April 11 at 7:30 p.m. at the Smith Valley Community Center in Randallsville at the intersection of River and Randallsville roads in the hamlet. The public is invited and encouraged to attend.