Barrington meeting 12/10

Meeting: The Barrington town board met Wednesday, Dec. 10 for one hour.

Attendance:  Fred Wright was the only board member absent.  There were nine members of the public in the audience.

Action:  The board set Dec. 30 as the last day they would accept applications for the ethics nominating committee.  They have received four applications already, but want more so they can do interviews.  Once established, the committee will nominate people for the actual ethics board.

• The board focused on Paychex and retirement reform at a meeting they held Monday.  They also wanted to discuss the personnel handbook, but there was only so much time and the other two topics are time sensitive for Jan 1.  Paychex has also sent the town employees and board member Freeman Freeman a letter of apology saying the problem with the paychecks was in no way their fault.

• The highway department will continue to plow the the Barrington Community Church’s parking lot this winter when they need it.  The town and the church have this agreement because if the town needs a bigger venue for a meeting, they can use the church.  Last year, the parking lot was only plowed a few times.

Discussion without action:  The planning board will be holding a meeting Wednesday, Dec. 17, to get input on a potential subdivision law.  For the first meeting they invited landowners with 50 acres or more, but all are welcome.  The planning board wants to get input and concerns from people now as they start, instead of waiting until the end.

• The board will look into whether or not they need to hold a public hearing before passing the new senior property tax exemption.  The town attorney, Derek Brocklebank gave his approval for the new assessment that would put them at the same level as the county, school district and several other towns and villages.

• Taylor Fitch, Yates County legislator, told Supervisor Eileen Farnan the county is working on the electric cost saving initiative, but it will happen this year.

• Brocklebank has not gotten back to the board on the inter-municipal agreement between Barrington and Jerusalem for the boom mower.

• Lauren Snyder will be attending future town board meetings for input on Barrington issues.

• Copies of handouts and other materials from the Protecting Ag Lands in the Finger Lakes II that several different board members attended will be available at the Barrington town office.

Bids/purchases over $1,000:  None.

Appointments/resignations:  None.

Upcoming meetings:  The end of the year board meeting will be Dec. 30 at 7 p.m.