Board planning to override state tax cap
(Sullivan – July 6) The Sullivan Town Board scheduled a public hearing to take comment on its intent to override the state’s tax levy limit for the coming budget year.
“This limit is an artificial and arbitrary thing that New York state implemented as a gimmick,” said Supervisor John M. Becker, adding that the limit, formerly 2 percent, is now .08 percent. “A couple of trucks or a firetruck would go over that. If you stay under it, you’re burning down your community to benefit the state.”
Increases due to one-time purchases and creation of special districts – lighting, water, sewer – are all included in the levy increase, though they are borne by the property owners who benefit from the services provided by the special district.
In other business
* The town council unanimously voted to advertise its need for a mowing service to maintain the town’s business park. Becker said the MacDougal estate needs to receive a letter regarding maintaining its parcel in the park. Councilman Kerry Ranger said it had been mowed. He will follow up to make certain it is being done and report back; town attorney John Langey said he would send a letter if necessary.
Proposals for mowing will be reviewed at the town’s regular meeting July 20 at 9 a.m.
* The council unanimously approved rules for the town’s cemeteries, plugging in the last piece of the document, a 5-mph speed limit.
* The council tabled action on an agreement with the American Legion.
* Becker reported that the USDA wants to use the town hall building to conduct a workshop for rural homeowners. He said they want to kick off their educational efforts in Sullivan because they have a history of being good project partners.
* The council briefly discussed correspondence received from a resident who is having neighbor conflicts and is asking the town board to institute fines against new residents as a measure to mitigate such problems.
Councilman Jeff Martin said it sounds like a neighborhood dispute. Langey said the town has heard neighbor disputes in the past.
“Ninety 90 percent of the time they are private and emotional matters,” Langey said. “There’s not a lot we can do.”
“As long as none of our laws or codes are being broken,” Martin said.
* Bond, Schoeneck & King attorneys sent the town a letter on behalf of a client who wishes to purchases a piece of town property. Becker said it is an outfall area, and as long as the town would be granted a permanent easement to maintain said, maybe a property swap could be considered, since the property is contiguous to the property-owner’s existing property.
Langey said more research would be needed.
* Elizabeth Martin sent a letter of thanks to the town board for its support of the village trail creation, expansion and recent dedication of the newest segment.
* Becker, acting/interim highway superintendent, asked the board to declare certain unused/unnecessary equipment as surplus. The items will be available through Auctions International.
* Ernest Hotaling of Marsh Mill Road asked if a recent demolition included an environmental impact study, if air monitoring was done in the adjacent areas and whether the heavy equipment operator was wearing a respirator during the work.
Becker responded that nothing had been removed from the property and that the HEO was provided the appropriate personal safety equipment.
* The owner of the Yellow Rose Trailer Park on the south shore of Oneida Lake reported having problems with neighbors’ dogs running at large. She said there had been loud music and fireworks, that the dogs ran the beach, and she felt residents were reluctant to go to the beach because of the dogs.
“I’m afraid to call the sheriff,” she said.
“Call animal control,” Langey said. “She will take a report.”
Becker said Animal Control Officer Kim Muehlenbein would increase patrols in the area and referred the park owner to the Madison County Sheriff’s Office for noise-related problems she relayed or to have her personal attorney send the offenders a letter.
Ranger reported that The Wild will again host a fundraiser for the Make-A-Wish Foundation July 29.
Martha Rush Conway is publisher of www.MadisonCountyCourier.com.