The meeting was called to order at 7:07 p.m. Councilor Darwin Snyder was absent. Mark Jordan arrived at 7:15 p.m.

THOSE PRESENT:

William Dugan III, Supervisor
Lynn Odell, Councilman
Jim Frisch, Councilman
Mark Jordan, Councilman
Jim Bailey, Highway Superintendent
Rose Marie Belforti, Town Clerk

OTHERS PRESENT:

George Fearon, C.C. Legislator

PLEDGE-REMEMBER ARMED FORCES

CONVOCATION

MINUTES: On motion by Jim Frisch, seconded by Lynn Odell, the Minutes for February 9, 2004 were approved as submitted.
VOTE: 3 Ayes, 0 Nays

REPORTS: On motion by Jim Frisch, seconded by Lynn Odell, the Clerk's report for February 2004 was approved as submitted.
VOTE: 3 Ayes, 0 Nays

SOUTHERN CAYUGA SCHOOL DISTRICT BUDGET PRESENTATION: Tabled until next meeting.

FINGERLAKES DOG PROTECTION ON ENUMERATION FOR 2004 & DOG LICENSE INCREASE: Carl Collier of the Fingerlakes Dog Protection Agency reported to the Town Board that he would do a dog enumeration this spring for the Town of Ledyard. He said dog enumerations used to be state mandated prior to 1980 and there were many more dogs licensed at that time. He said that the licensing program encourages dog owners to be more responsible with their dogs, and if the dogs are lost, they can be relocated with the owner easier when licensed. Carl said he has what he calls an "E approach" which includes Enumeration, Education, and Enforcement. He reported that he did a test run in the Town of Ledyard recently and did not find as many dogs as he thought he would. Rose Marie Belforti, Town Clerk said that several new licenses have already been issued because of Carl's activity. Carl would go door to door and have a handout to leave if no one is home, and return at a later time to follow up. He would like to accomplish the enumeration before the summer people return because they have already licensed their dogs at their permanent place of residence. He would charge $1.50 per dog that he finds, whether licensed or not. The town can also charge an additional $5.00 when the dog comes in to license. On motion by Jim Frisch, seconded by Lynn Odell, the Town Board approved the Fingerlakes Dog Protection Agency do a dog enumeration in the spring of 2004 for the Town of Ledyard.
VOTE: 4 Ayes, 0 Nays

Regarding writing up the Dog Law to implement an increase in the dog license fee, Mark Jordan said that if we pay a lawyer to write up the law the license increase would hardly cover the cost of the lawyer fee. The Town Board decided to table this matter until the Town Clerk finds out whether a lawyer is necessary to write the local law.

CORRESPONDENCE REVIEW:
Supervisor Bill Dugan informed the Town Board that the grant proposal for the Ledyard Justice Dept. should be resubmitted to the New York Department of State for reconsideration this year. This is the same grant proposal that was not considered by the State Dept. last year because of negligence on their part. Bill said that he would give the information to Councilman Darwin Snyder.
Bill Dugan informed the Town Board that he received word from the Governor's Office for Small Cities that the technical assistance grant he applied for was not approved for funding.
Bill Dugan received a letter from the Genesee/Finger lakes Regional Planning Council outlining a Project Description regarding their plans to implement what they call "Local Laws to Protect Finger Lakes Water Quality". Bill Dugan suggested a copy be sent to Sylvia Hurlbut, Town delegate to the Cayuga Lake Watershed Organization.
A letter was drafted by Supervisor Bill Dugan and sent to the Cayuga County Treasurers Office regarding participation in the Employees Medical Insurance entity currently operated by the Treasurer of Cayuga County. He asked that the administrator of the project make certain that the policy for the Town of Ledyard be terminated as of March 1, 2004.

HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT ISSUES:
Superintendent Jim Bailey informed the Town Board that insurance premiums had been deducted from Ed Nedrow's payroll from both the previous insurer and also the current insurer. Councilman Lynn Odell suggested a check be issued to Ed Nedrow to cover the overpay amount.
Jim Bailey also reported that employee Bill Nivison's pay stub does not reflect the fact that he has two different positions with the Town of Ledyard that have different pay rates. He questioned whether Bill Nivison should receive two paychecks, or the one with a breakdown of the two rates.
Jim Bailey also reported that $62,572.00 for snow removal was sent to the Town of Ledyard for the 2003-04 snow removal season from Cayuga County. He said there is only $55,553.00 in the budget for snow removal and when the Town made the 2004 Budget they knew that the amount would be $62,572.00. He wants to know why the budget does not reflect this information.
The new plow truck will probably be delivered in April, 2004.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:
HIGHWAY: Mark Jordan - no report

GRANTS: Darwin Snyder - no report

BLDG & GROUNDS: Lynn Odell - Lynn asked to be excused from this committee, and to serve on an Assessment review committee. Lynn said he would meet with Assessor Scott Snyder in the next few weeks.

CODE ENFORCEMENT/PLANNING: Jim Frisch reported to the Town Board that the Ledyard Planning Board is in the process of discussing subdivision laws for the Town of Ledyard.
He had nothing to report on the Moonshine bridge situation. Jim Bailey reported that he called County and State offices that informed him that it does not matter where a 'turn around' is placed at the location of a closed bridge.

OLD BUSINESS: Bill Dugan reported to the Town Board that Bookkeeper Fran Mitchell would inform the Town Board shortly on the prospect of a new Bookkeeper coming on board for the Town of Ledyard to replace Fran.
Bill Dugan said he received letters from Wells College and McKenzie-Childs requesting a feasibility study on expanded use of the Town Transfer Site to accommodate Aurora business's and the college using the Site for their trash hauling.

NEW BUSINESS: Virginia Binns, current Sanitation person for the Town Hall, and Town cemetery and Town Hall mower for the Town of Ledyard will be retiring. Rose Marie Belforti, Town Clerk said she would fill in the sanitation position and call Bruck Mosher to see if he would like to take on the mowing.
Junkyard renewals are coming up in April. There has been a complaint from a town citizen regarding the amount of cars at the Jone's Junkyard. It is being questioned whether Mr. Jones has a permit to repair cars other than the junkyard vehicles.
The Town Board would like Code Enforcement Officer, Brian Hicks to look into the matter.

BUILDING PERMIT FEE SCHEDULE: On motion by Jim Frisch, seconded by Mark Jordan, the fee schedule was changed to include a fee for porches.
VOTE: 4 Ayes, 0 Nays

PAY BILLS: On motion by Jim Frisch, seconded by Mark Jordan, the bills on Abstract #003, #51-94, General Fund A=$8,484.85; B=$0; DA=$8,846.61; DB=$3,063.40 were approved for payment.
VOTE: 4 Ayes, 0 Nays

ADJOURNMENT: On motion by Jim Frisch, seconded by Mark Jordan, the meeting was adjourned at 8:47 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted;

Rose Marie Belforti, Ledyard Town Clerk