Town Board - Regular Meeting

Okay, everyone. Welcome to the uh sister regular town board meeting Wednesday, October 22nd, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. Please note there are two emergency exits in the rear of the room, one to my right. would silence your cell phones and stand for the pledge. To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all.

Please remain standing and remember those who are serving in harm's way. Thank you. Okay. Councelor Ballo. Oh, actually there any uh one who wishes to speak on behalf of the agenda items if unless they are a a public hearing.

Mike Bole, he trail. Uh I just want to make a couple comments. There's two items here. I was just curious about um the first one on the uh adoption of the Verizon agreement. I just wanted to to make this recommendation. I had done this before in the past. I use Coca-Cola and the North Syracuse Central School District as an example. They have pouring rights there even though we have a Pepsi facility here. Um there that covers the town of Clay, Salina, and Cicero. Using that as an example with Verizon, I was curious if anybody ever explored an idea of talking to the town of Clay and Lysander and pulling the resources that they have together to negotiate an agreement across multiple municipalities to see if you get a better rate.

So, this is a pass through rate. Neil, you want to talk about this is a pass through rate that gets uh charged to the resident or or I shouldn't say resident to the subscriber. Correct. And uh the rate is three and a half this year. The same as it was and 5% you can charge. So it's right that's just for the town of Cisero.

It's for any any town across the board. But if we if we combine they won't Okay, that that's great. Um then on the uh the new software that you're going to be talking about this evening, Mike Morizio, you would know this. I don't expect the other board members to know this, but is is that him HMIS software sock 2 compliant ISO 2700? I that would be a Wayne Freeman question. Wayne, yes. and Saku.

I I I I would recommend you get that in place or confirm it before you do anything just from a security standpoint. Thanks. Anyone else? If not, move on to number What do we got? move the adoption of resolution approving abstracts number 41 dated 10:15 2025 and abstract number 42 dated 1022 2025 second discussion all in favor I vote no or abstain passed

move for the adoption of resolution to hire Mitchell Earlheim as a full-time recruit police officer at a starting pay rate of $59,494 per year effective October 27th 2025 budget code 002- 3120- 010 0-0000.

Second discussion. I will say that um over the past year or two, it's been harder and harder to find police officers and we're now sending recruits to the academy, which is great. Um trying to get them all suited up for um the following years to come with our retirees who are retiring. Uh it's a great program. We just had two ret uh recruits um graduate last week and I want to congratulate them on their graduation. I just saw them today. They look great. And uh anybody else have any comments? No. Okay. All in favor? I vote.

No or abstain? Passed. Constitution of the United States of the Constitution of the State of New York State. All laws of the state lawyic estractic will faithfully discharge as a police officer. I'll faithfully discharge the police department. According to the best of my ability to best my ability

Okay, this is the continuation of the public hearing at Circle T Enterprise LLC. At this time, I'll open up the floor for um What time is it, Mike? 6:37. 6:37 for the public hearing. Any wish to come up and speak on behalf or against? Okay. If if no one wants to speak on behalf or against, we'll move on and close the public hearing. 68 638. Yeah. Did you read it? Okay. With the adoption to Is the applicant here? No, not here.

With the option resolution uh adoption to approve the following resolution as presented. Whereas the public hearing is considered an application for the zone change for Circle T Enterprises LLC on property located at 6709 East Taft Road. Tax map number 059-01-25.1 from agriculture to industrial was originally opened and heard on 72325. And whereas the matter was adjourned to September 10th, 2025 and then on October 22nd, 2025 at at the applicant's request. And whereas the application has not respond applicate has not responded to the town's request for additional information date and has not otherwise appear it is resolved. The matter is hereby removed from for further consideration without prejudice.

Second discussion. Yes. Yes. So a yes is a no. Just want to make sure we're clarifying that approving this is rejecting the application. Yeah. Reject false. No, you just it's not Yeah, I was going to say it's not a rejection. Removal. Removal. Yeah. Yeah. They would have to reapply if they wanted to. Was a gas vote. Yep. Gotcha. Just one to clarify. Okay. All in favor?

I Okay. This next one is a public hearing regarding the uh Verizon's cable TV franchise agreement. And at this time, I wave the reading. Wish to wave the reading. notice that was posted and advertised at the proper time. So moved. All in favor? I I Okay. Uh what time, Mike? 6:40. 6:40. We'll open up the public hearing. Anyone else want to speak on behalf or against? Okay. We'll close it at 6:40. 6:40. You got it. Okay. Um move the adoption resolution to set a public hearing that was held on I'm sorry. What do we got here?

Approving. You got it. Approve it. Hang on. with yes resolution approving the renewal of the cable TV franchise agreement between the town of Sister and Verizon. This renewal calls for the continuation of the cable TV service with Verizon at the current rate. This resolution also authorizes the supervisor to execute the agreement. Second. All in favor?

I. And with that being said, I will tell you that I was able to negotiate with um the Verizon folks that the in the in the last agreement, if everyone had a chance to look at the last agreement, there were a few schools uh and a few town uh offices that were included in this agreement. We now have all of the schools in the CNS school district, excluding Brewer because they're not in our district here. Um, no, they may be, don't hold me to that. Uh, all the fire departments that are in the town of Cicero, Cicero and Brewerton and um in South Bay as well and all the town offices will receive uh just general cable. Okay. The same thing will go for uh the renewal of the spectrum agreement which will come next I believe. Okay. So, if you have cable in your in your fire departments, it's basic cable, just to let you know. Okay. We'll follow up on that later. All in favor? Do we vote already?

We we thank you.

Public hearing to consider the 2026 fire protection district contracts. At this time, I wish to wave the reading that was posted and advertised at the proper time. So to move. All in favor? I. Okay. Now, at this time, we'll open the public hearing. 6:42. 6:42 p.m. Anyone like to come up and speak on behalf or against? Close it at 6:42.

Okay. Move for the adoption. I'll move for the adoption of resolution to approve the 2026 fire protection district contracts and have the supervisor of the town execute any and all contracts and documents. The fire protection contracts amount to be considered are as follows. Follows and as presented second. Okay. All in favor? Oh, go ahead. Um, so are we I don't intend to vote on the budget tonight or these are separate. No, I understand that. I just don't know. I I don't intend to I mean I intend to vote on I just didn't know if we should since we're not voting on the overall budget and this is and the fire eviction contracts are part of it if we should put this off for another week. I I'm asking a question. I'm not taking a position. No, no, I get it.

I don't know how the rest of the board feels about that. I'm abstaining. So that's on you guys. I still have an opinion. I I unless you go back to the fire departments and try to renegotiate. Well, I wasn't going I'm just saying we're not approving the over I mean we can vote on it. That's fine. I I mean I wouldn't I don't I intend to vote for it anyway. So yeah, that's fine. I just thought I'd throw it out there. Okay. All right. Go ahead. All in favor? I vote no or abstain. I will abstain. Mike is going to abstain. Thank you, Michael. Welcome. Public hearing to consider the 2026 town of Cisero preliminary budget including the special districts. Well, we already we already did the special districts. So, uh at this time, I wish to wave the reading of the notice that was posted advertised at the proper time.

Please some of the special districts. Yeah. Yeah, not all. I'm sorry. You're right. Okay. I'm sorry. You're right. Okay. 644. At 644. How dare you take that from me? I can't get one of them in because 64. Yep. Anyone like to come up and speak on behalf or against the uh town budget?

Give us your convenient microphone. Does this work? Yeah,

I'll give it a try. I like when something else can hold it, but um I have and these are all just questions about the budget that were forwarded to me. Um they may be tough questions. I am not taking a position on these questions, but I think they should be asked, especially since you're not actually voting on the budget tonight. One final word about the time frame. Right now, this is the last town board meeting before a local election, which has happened in odd years here. So, I really would like to uh suggest that the more information you can get out about this budget, these budget issues and um other items that are of citizen concern would be uh great. Uh five questions. I'll go through them quickly uh to not uh otherwise burn off my three minutes here. Um number one, fund balance and structural risk. According to the New York State Office of the State Controller, town should maintain a reasonable level of unrestricted unassigned fund balance to handle revenue shortfalls and unplanned expenses. Here's the question. You propose drawing down about 1.2 2 million of reserves in 2026 as far as I understand versus about 846,000 in 2025 and be a difference of about $350,000 after that draw down. What percentage of each fund's appropriations remain as unassigned underreserved balances? Will any of this one-time money fund will any of this one-time money fund recurring expenditures, risking a structural imbalance? This matters because many upstate towns have appropriated some

reserves, but relying on reserves year after year without a replenishment plan weakens fiscal resilience and may signal risk. Should I continue on with two? All right. Question number two. Police school resource officer growth and cost benefit comparison for the budget proposed. The Cicero Police Department budget rises by about 6.8%. 8% from 3.18 million to 3.4 million. Question, what portion of the increase is contract pay versus overtime versus equip equipment vehicles versus new staff and specifically how much of the school resource officer special officer costs are reimbursed by the school districts and how does that reimbursement compare to similar arrangements in towns of comparable size. Uh this matters because benchmarking to peer towns, some of which do not operate a town police department or have more limited um school resource officer programs. Uh when benchmarking that taxpayers need to know whether spend is above or in line with regional norms and whether reimbursements are maximized. Number three, if it's okay, highway fund increase in inflation sensitivity. The high wind fund rises by about 6.1% year-over-year in the in the proposed budget. That is seemingly completely in line with inflation question. Are you budgeting primarily for inflation in fuel, asphalt, and salt costs? Are you expanding services, road miles, repair frequency, and equipment? If inflation of assumptions change, eg or for instance, asphalt binder costs jump, what contingency or trigger exists to avoid cost overruns or levy increases?

This matters because material price volatility and dependence on state bids um means that every even moderate increases may mask service level cuts or future tax pressures if not tightly managed. So are the highway costs accurate? That's a short question. And will they be accurate through next year? Number four, tax levy and growth service alignment. The total tax levy grows about 5.3% to 20.28 million. Question. How many of the new dollars in this levy represent recurring cost growths, new positions, increased service level versus one time or temporary costs? Can you show how this increase aligns with measurable service improvements, road safety administration, additional things about dealing with Micron, which Micron should be reimbursing? Or is it simply cost escalation? This matters because levy growth triggers tax burden increases. Linking the levy to service enhancements rather than just cost inflation helps to validate the increase if there is one. That makes sense. Last one. Transparency and regional B benchmarking. It's just a question. Will the board commit to publishing quarterly budget to actual reports and a mid-year review? And will you as a board add an annual benchmarking appendix comparing Cicero's key cost and cost increase metrics please per capita fund balance ratio highway cost per mile with similar neighboring towns like Clay or Manlas. This matters because transparency fosters accountability. Without regional

comparison, it's harder for residents to assess whether Cicero is efficient or out of step. with pure local governments. Those are the questions that I think a lot of people have a lot of people want to seek answers to uh before fully committing to a budget that otherwise seems quite reasonable. Thank you very much. Thank you. Anyone else? Okay, at this time that should close the public hearing. We'll go ahead. Anybody else? You want to close it? Keep it open. Yeah. Keep it open until uh we're not going to vote tonight. We got to keep it open. Yeah.

Okay. Uh November 5th, November 12th. Yep. Okay. November 12th, 6:30 p.m. So, uh we got a vote on that. So moved. All in favor? I I Okay.

Move for the option resolution to approve Morton Building, Inc. to construct a 42 wide by 42 W x 12h by 20 L pole barn at Cisro Police Department located at 6200 street route 31 CSRO New York 1339 is approved by the CSRO planning board on October 15th 2025 site work to be completed by the CRO highway department paid for by a community resiliency economic and technology program grant ID number 27507 second discussion I'm glad to hear this was finally approved Yes. All in favor? I nor abstain. Passed.

Move for the adoption resolution to hire Maya Jones as an assistant volleyball coach at the rate of $18 an hour. Budget code 0027020 01 0500 0. Second discussion.

I stopped out on Monday. I very pleased. I mean, Steve Jones, the head coach, does a great job with basketball. Always does. I was very pleased. The great program, uh, happy to go out there, but Maya is needed dearly. There's 40 40 young men and women for this class, and it's they do a great job with the coaches they have. So excited for this hires. This is good. You got it. All in favor? I

no abstain. Passed. Sorry. Amend purchased of 2024 Dodge Ram 3500. Move the adoption of Move for the adoption to amend a previous resolution that the town board approved on April 9th, 2025 for a purchase of a 2024, 2025 in the amount of $58,797 $53,79 $7943 for the purchase of a 2004 Dodge Ram 3500 4x4 chassis, cab truck from Meuire Motors through New York State bid. Pricing OS contract PC 689735SB. Expense to be coded to 001 7110 022 0 0. Second

discussion. Apparently, this was a 24, not a 25. That's the long and short of that. There's an there was a a little up cost on that. All in favor? There was an up cost for the uh dump box, I believe. Thank you, Trey. All in favor?

I no abstain. Passed. Move the adoption resolution to hire Anthony, I apologize if I make the name very wrong, Birkensshaw as director of recreation at a salary of 75,000 and an expected start date on or about November 17, 2025, budget code 002-720-0100-0000. 0000 second discussion. Tony, you want to stand up? That's Tony back there. Was I close? He is the

the director from uh the village of North Syracuse. He is now coming to the town of Cis again. Favor. I welcome Tony. Welcome. Yeah.

Purchase a 2023 Iron Rhino skid steer. Move the adoption resolution approving the purchase of a 2023 Iron Rhino skid steer and augur power head, a 12-in augur, and uh grapple bucket attachments from JC Smith, Inc. in the amount of $21,642 17,000 from ARPA funds and 4,000 I apologize. Anyone $4,642 budget code 001-7110- 0220-0000

was um second 24 on both of those, not 42. What? It was 24 on both of those. You read 42 for 24 on both those numbers. I amend my resolution. Okay. Second. Second. Okay. All in favor? I nor abstain. Passed.

I'll take the adoption resolution to implement the ACA reporting module within UKG HRIS software to bring compliance to ACA reporting and to allow the supervisor to execute the quote. I assume that means rather than quote, it should say agreement. Um, MM Hayes will provide ongoing software support and a monthly cost of 58 cents per active employee and onetime configuration fee of $1,350. Second, discussion. All in favor? I abstain pass. Move the adoption resolution to approve an OC DOT use and occupancy permit number 208-04-25 for the new sidewalk to be built on South Bay Road from the Circle K to Matilda Gage and to allow the supervisor to sign the permit. Second.

Discussions. All in favor? I vote no abstain. Pass. Adopt resolution authorize JK Doin Construction Company to proceed with the work to stabilize the bank of Wulmer Creek adjacent to 8731 Larchmont Drive in the amount of $1,999 sorry $199,900. Budget code 060-854-4000000-0000 second discussion all in favor I nor abstain passed discussion items none for me buddy no I have one that the project here u that was supposed to that was scheduled for 23rd and the 24th on route 11 in your home depot down that way

it will be rescheduled for Monday October 27th and continue through Tuesday, October 28th. So, expect some uh delays. More delays. As I say, how's that any different from what we've been getting?

Extra delays. Okay. Anybody else? Department heads? Anybody from the community like to come up and speak? I have uh one more thought for you. Um again, this is the last board meeting before uh the election. Then you transition into new year and you prepare for an organizational meeting that starts off the new year. You always do a great job with that, by the way. Uh which is which is very nice. Um, one of the issues that maybe could be improved in the next couple of months as you take on these regular tasks is the uh manner of appointments to certain uh cyro subboards. I'm thinking the planning board, the zoning board of appeals, the ethics board. Um, and I really appreciate that people from the public can come up here and um, and be allowed to speak and provide input on on those aspects. Um, what I would like to provide tonight, um, is just to give you a brief overview of a constructive nonpartisan proposal that I think will make our appointment process clearer here in the town of Cicero and uh, be more um, accessible to Cicero residents who want to serve. The these are not jobs that people apply to to do a job or make money. they apply to them because they want to do well for their town. Um, Micron's obviously got a huge investment coming into our reason into our region. Uh, Cicero is going to face more planning and zoning decisions than ever before.

residents are going to know how to want to get involved and uh the resolution which I'll email to you momentarily and to Tracy um will uh show that and and give some clarity. Uh the main goals of the resolution are transparency, uh especially one public web page for all vacancies and term expirations, uh fairness, a 21-day posting window with standardized criteria for appointments, and written interview summaries to the extent that it's possible. Um accountability aspects include um an annual civic participation report listing applicants, appointees and training completion and um uh capacity as far as uh encouraging four hours a year of required state aligned training and uh community trust by um this being a nonpartisan inclusive uh proposal that describes a process open to all qualified uh residents. The the policy is going to establish the proposed policy would establish a clear timeline and an online portal, use an ongoing scoring system for applicants. Uh require appointment packets to be posted at at least 7 days before meetings, which was an issue last year where a resume might have not gotten from this place to this place, but it should probably have been. um create a quarterly dashboard for attendance, training and recusals and um in encourage hybrid meetings and public visibility of votes or or even um additional efforts like uh uh councelor Balo uh used to do um and and he doesn't do anymore for good reason but um with his open office hours

um there are towns like Bethlehem and Alb County or Dwit even here or Victor near Rochester Chester that already post these vacancies track training and make these reports annually. Uh these towns saw higher participation and stronger public input after putting these reforms into place. The benefits be a predictable process for residents and applicants who want to uh contribute to the town, higher professionalism through training, reduced confusion and improved communication, stronger public trust and civic engagement and no real added cost. The process improve improvements that I'm proposing rely on clarity, not spending. The resolution I'm going to send to you here does not change who you point. It's a nonpartisan thing. It's a non-preferential thing for that matter. It simply makes the process open and fair. I believe Cicero can set the example for transparency and civil participation in Central New York and that this is a good way to do so. Uh you'll be getting it in your email. I hope you'll consider it carefully. Thank you.

Thank you, Jay. Anyone else?

I pushed the button this time. Can you hear me? Uh, I I just I didn't get a chance to come in here a couple meetings ago when the chief of police agreement went through. I mean, he's a great guy and everything. I had a couple questions on it though. When I read the agreement, it didn't say when you re um when the effective date was back in January for the new agreement, it didn't negate any current or sick time or vacation that he may have taken. I didn't see anything that outlined that any used vacation sick time would would be um counted in the new agreement. It basically just said this agreement is now effective January uh 1st. So I guess the question is if it's been reset is a vacation and sick time reset because it didn't call it out in the agreement itself. I just wanted to point that out. Um nothing against chief of police. I just you know if anything he's a great negotiator. I saw the agreement. It's absolutely unbelievable. But the other thing is I don't see uh Councilman Hogan here again today and I looked into it over since January of last year and she's about 14 16 meetings that she hasn't attended. I don't know how you guys feel about it. I don't know if she's ill. I I don't know. But I mean that is 7 to 8 months worth of meetings based on two meetings per month. And I mean we're paying her to be here to do her job and I don't see her here again tonight. I was hoping to see her to confront her directly. Do you guys have any any comments about the absence?

I'm here and I'm not feeling well. I think that's and thank you. And by the way, thank you for not voting on the on the on the fire department stuff. That would have been No, thank you needed. But yeah, we're elected to do a job.

That's correct. I just want to highlight I'm nothing against her personally. It's just we are paying her to be here to vote and she's not here. And I just don't think it's fair to the taxpayers to be collecting a salary and not doing the job. So I I would hope that you guys would look into that. I mean, I don't know if she's ill or not, but I over the last since January of last year, you're talking seven, eight months worth of not participation. I mean, if you're if you can't do it, then vacate the seat. That's all I'm saying. Thank you. Anyone else? Make a motion to close the meeting. So moved. Favor. I