Dresden village board 10/6/10

Meeting:  The Dresden village board met Wednesday, Oct. 6 for one hour and 40 minutes.
Attendance:  All board members were present.  There were five members of the public in the audience.
Action:  The board passed the village fire department’s budget, with an increase of $3,760.35.  Trustee Thomas McGuigan voted against it.  Clerk Terry Dilts said there was a three percent increase due to an error in bond interest charged.  McGuigan said he did not want to see an increase.  Mayor Loujane Johns and trustee David Wernsing said they did not see where any more cuts could be made.  The budget was already cut by $8,000, down to the approved $66,102.16.
• The Department of Public Works wants to have the septic tank cleared out of the property at 1000 Firehouse Ave. and have the land surveyed.  The property is across the street from the village hall and Dresden now owns the land.  The board agreed to cleaning the septic, $250, but not the survey, $400.  The board also discussed turning the parcel into a parking lot, if the neighbors don’t mind.
• The board approved Halloween hours as 6 to 8 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 31.
• McGuigan said he found seven people to serve on the tree committee.  He and Wernsing had also looked at two trees, saying they need to be cut down.  After viewing photos of a third tree, Superintendent John Stryker agreed it must come down as well.  The board accepted a $900 bid from Jim Covell and Sons, which covers cutting down the three trees and trimming two more.
• The board approved the Department of Public Works to switch labs for testing water samples.  In a written report, Stryker said the present lab was not always collecting samples on time.  He added the lab the village previously used has lowered their prices and is now cheaper.
Discussion without action: Board size was discussed.  McGuigan will be out of the state from January to the end of April.  Johns will also be in Florida.  She said she would look into an interim trustee or doing some conferencing.  McGuigan said the board size should be increased to five people.  However, Johns said she didn’t feel enough people would run for the seats.  She pointed out the zoning and planning boards are short members at the moment.
• The village will get information from Sprague Insurance about polices.  When the information is available, a representative will meet with the board to discuss it.  New health rates will not be out until November.
• McGuigan asked about having an audit done every year.  Auditor Paul Wagner said the state requires one every year.  Wernsing said this should be added into the budget.
• A vehicle exhaust system was purchased with an Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and completed.  The system cost $5,000, leaving $3,172 in grant money.  However, the fire department can only use it for items in the same category as it was obtained.  The fire department had wanted to use the extra funds to purchase equipment.  The remaining money will be returned.
• Leaf pickup will run from Oct. 18 to Dec. 10.
Bids/purchases over $1,000:  None.
Appointments/resignations:  Johns and Wernsing both said they would not run for reelection in March.
Upcoming meetings:  The next regular board meeting will be Wednesday, Nov. 3, at 7:30 p.m.