Montour Falls village board 2/22/11

Meeting:  The Montour Falls village board met Tuesday, Feb. 22, for one hour and 40 minutes, including two executive sessions lasting 15 minutes.
Attendance:  Phil Smith was the only board member absent.  There was one member of the public in the audience.
Action:  The board approved increasing the seasonal rate for a village park and marina campsite to $1,517.  The cost will now include cable television as opposed to that being a separate fee.  During public comment, resident Steven Lawton said the rates should not go up and that the marina should rely on the revenue created from the new campsites.  Discussion also continued from the last meeting on allowing boat trailer storage or not during the offseason, but no decision was reached.
• The board transferred $30,000 to be used for the Montour Falls Gateway Improvement Project and Transportation Enhancement Program (TEP) grant.  The improvements will focus on the Main Street/Route 14 intersection and parking lots behind the stores.  Clerk Suzanne Casselberry explained $20,000 of the funds were reserved for this project in the budget.
• A shared services agreement between the village Department of Public Works and New York State Department of Transportation was approved.  The board put a $1,000 expense limit on equipment purchases.  Anything needed that is over that amount would have to be approved by the village board.
• The board declared five display cables as surplus.
• The deputy clerk was authorized to attend a basic accounting class in Corning April 26 to 28 for $85.
Discussion without action:  The village is starting to draft a local law regulating rental units.  Casselberry said it would apply to rental properties with more than one family unit.
• The board decided not to participate in applying for a grant to put recycling containers in public areas.  The Cornell Cooperative Extension was heading the application.
• The board tabled discussion on plans for a village highway superintendent until the next meeting.
Upcoming meetings:  The next regular village board meeting will be Monday, March 7.  It will start at 6 p.m. with a discussion on the budget.  The board will also hold two budget workshops March 14 and 28, both starting at 5:30 p.m.