Milo adopts 2013 budget

MILO—The Milo town board adopted the town’s 2013 budget during their meeting Monday, Nov. 19. The 2013 budget contains a $42,000 tax levy increase from last year. Councilman Arden Sorensen did not attend the meeting.
Budget Officer John Socha said during last month’s meeting it is a 2.6 percent levy increase, but the state tax cap would have allowed for a 4 percent increase. The budget includes a 2 percent raise to town employees other than the town board and a $16,000 increase to account for implementing the town’s new comprehensive plan, which Supervisor Leslie Church said is in the process of being finalized. The board approved the budget written as it is, with no additional changes.
In other business:
• The board scheduled public hearings for the annexation of a piece of property on Sherman Street from the village of Penn Yan and for the adult entertainment law to be held during their next meeting Monday, Dec. 17 at 7 p.m. The board also designated the town as the lead agency for the adult entertainment law.
• Church was authorized to sign fire contracts with both the Penn Yan Fire Department and the Himrod Fire Department.
• The town signed an agreement with Larson Design for a water and sewer extension plan and report for a total of $1,250.
•  The board voted to have the interior of the town hall repainted at the cost of $4,200.
• Councilman Gene Spanneut discussed the results of the town’s survey on hydraulic fracturing (fracking), in which he said they received almost 600 of the 2,400 surveys sent out to town property owners. Of those who responded, only nine claimed they did not know what fracking is, with 71.2 percent who believed it could not be done safely in Milo. Church said the board needs to talk more about the issue, and the results of the survey seem to show a clear direction for what town residents think.
The next Milo town board meeting is Monday, Dec. 17 at 7 p.m.