Barrington approves tax levy cap override

    BARRINGTON—Before the Barrington town board even meets to review the 2013 budget, Supervisor Fred Wright said they will override the state’s tax levy cap, Wednesday, Sept. 26.
    Wright explained the town kept the tax levy increase at two percent the last three years. However, he said the state’s retirement costs have been going up around $20,000 per year and the town cannot keep taking money from the reserves to balance the budget.
    “I don’t know how much, but it will be as low as possible,” said Wright about the tax levy increase. He added the town board will be working on an “austerity budget. Nobody’s getting a raise. Not a soul.”
    Board member Bruce Castner said several municipalities in the area have already approved tax cap overrides, which defeats the purpose of the state’s cap.
    A public hearing on the override was set for next meeting, Wednesday, Oct. 24, 7 p.m.
    In other business:
    • The town will take applications for a subcommittee to study hydraulic fracturing. The board agreed to limit the members to Barrington year-round residents or landowners only. No decision was made on the number of people that will be on the committee, but it was agreed that half of the members would be for fracking and half against. Planning board Chairperson Sue Lange said the subgroup “needs to be balanced.”
    • The board approved Wright to send a letter to Chesapeake saying they want to terminate the lease for a well on town property. He explained the agreement is 14 years old at this point and it was originally for just a five year term. Wright added he has been returning the checks mailed annually to the town from Chesapeake. He said no gas has been drawn from that well in years.
    • Finton’s Landing Bed & Breakfast owner Douglas Tepper asked the board to establish a noise ordinance. He added the “county needs something when the deputies get called out” to a complaint.
    • Code Enforcement Officer John Griffin said he was starting to do fire inspections.
    • Highway Superintendent Steve Wheeler presented a draft copy of the new road law for the town and planning boards to review.
    • Our Town RoCKS organizer Lauren Snyder said the group started a program directed at getting middle school students thinking about career options. She explained they are taking a trip to Wegmans in Rochester to learn more about culinary jobs.
    The next town board meeting is Wednesday, Oct. 24.