Syracuse Council Approves Storage Building
February 22, 2023 at 9:20 p.m.
Syracuse Council Approves Storage Building
By Denise Fedorow-
Wilkinson explained currently the documents are stored in a public works building that is not temperature controlled and it’s affecting the quality of some of the documents. Wilkinson explained there are documents the clerk has to keep forever and there are police records that need to be kept, too.
They are proposing building a new 40x60 pole building next to the current building and putting in gated areas to secure the sensitive town and police records. He said they obtained a couple of quotes and they can get the building for about $60,000 plus the cost of heating and air-conditioning systems. Town employees can do the ground work. He said the money could come from the cumulative capital improvement fund.
New Councilman Nathan Scherer, who was voted in by caucus to replace Larry Martindale, asked about digitizing the records. Clerk-Treasurer Virginia Cazier said some of the records could be digitized but she wasn’t sure if the permanent ones could. She also said when the auditors come they want to go through hard copies.
Scherer said he thought they should find out before spending the money on a new building. Councilman Bill Musser made the motion to approve the building and Vice President Paul Stoelting seconded the motion. Councilman Larry Siegel said he thought Scherer had a point and they should research what records could be digitized, but said he felt the town could use extra storage space regardless.
The council approved the building not to exceed $85,000 3-1 with Scherer opposing. President Cindy Kaiser was not present at the meeting.
Wilkinson also got thumbs up from the council to have a rate study done by Jim Higgins. Wilkinson said the town utilities have lost money the last two years.
“We’re upside down,” he said, adding the sewer rate increased in 2017 and the water rate hasn’t increased for a long time.
“We need to do a rate study and a debt structure — we’re running in the red,” he said.
Wilkinson also informed the council he plans to hold a public meeting March 15 at 6 p.m. regarding plans for two municipal parking lots. Engineers will have some renderings of potential plans for the lots.
Last month, representatives from the Syracuse Public Library came to ask the town to donate land so they could build a new library. Town attorney Jay Rigdon said he needed to do research.
On Tuesday, he reported to the council that the town can donate land, he just needs a legal description of the property to draw up the agreement.
Rigdon told the council that in the recent cases he has worked on, the deeds were made conditional upon use of the property. He said they can put in the condition that the property be used for library or educational use, saying they didn’t know what would happen in 35 years.
Library representatives were present and were asked what the plans were for the 101-year-old library and they said they didn’t know yet but it would probably be sold. They also said all the soil and environmental studies would be conducted on the property at 701 N. Dolan St.
Gordon Lord spoke to the council about a retaining wall on his property at 700 N. Lake St. He and his wife have owned the property since 2004 and they’re currently renovating the property and plan to live there full time.
The retaining wall extends 11 to 13 feet into the town’s right of way. They need to repair and replace the wall and were asking the council if they needed an encroachment agreement or if they needed to shorten the wall, which could create drainage issues for the town or if it was OK to just replace the wall in the same location.
He pointed out other properties nearby that also had the same right of way issues. Rigdon said this type of situation is not uncommon and said if it is not limiting the town’s ability in any way, there’s no need to remove a long-standing structure.
The council decided to allow the Lords to replace the wall at the same location.
In other business, the council:
• Heard from Jeremy Hardy of Commonwealth that the committee chose a firm - FA Wilhelm - to work with on the loop and force main project.
• Heard that the Parks Department Indoor Garage Sale will be March 4 from a.m. to 2 p.m. at the community building. The booth spaces are sold out.
• Heard April 29 is the tentative date to play the first baseball game at the new athletic field and a parade and ceremony will be held.
• Approved the purchase of a John Deere tractor with spreader and blade for the street department for $81,233.32.
• Approved the purchase of a new Sutphen fire truck for $866,940.53 after a discount for paying half up front. They’ll pay $439,560 up front with the balance of $427,380 due on delivery — probably three years from now.
• Heard the clerk-treasurer wants to have a special council meeting to discuss insurance next month.
• Nominated Scherer to replace Martindale on both the police and fire commissions.
• Heard a committee is being formed to decide on the purchase of new Christmas decorations for the town.
Wilkinson explained currently the documents are stored in a public works building that is not temperature controlled and it’s affecting the quality of some of the documents. Wilkinson explained there are documents the clerk has to keep forever and there are police records that need to be kept, too.
They are proposing building a new 40x60 pole building next to the current building and putting in gated areas to secure the sensitive town and police records. He said they obtained a couple of quotes and they can get the building for about $60,000 plus the cost of heating and air-conditioning systems. Town employees can do the ground work. He said the money could come from the cumulative capital improvement fund.
New Councilman Nathan Scherer, who was voted in by caucus to replace Larry Martindale, asked about digitizing the records. Clerk-Treasurer Virginia Cazier said some of the records could be digitized but she wasn’t sure if the permanent ones could. She also said when the auditors come they want to go through hard copies.
Scherer said he thought they should find out before spending the money on a new building. Councilman Bill Musser made the motion to approve the building and Vice President Paul Stoelting seconded the motion. Councilman Larry Siegel said he thought Scherer had a point and they should research what records could be digitized, but said he felt the town could use extra storage space regardless.
The council approved the building not to exceed $85,000 3-1 with Scherer opposing. President Cindy Kaiser was not present at the meeting.
Wilkinson also got thumbs up from the council to have a rate study done by Jim Higgins. Wilkinson said the town utilities have lost money the last two years.
“We’re upside down,” he said, adding the sewer rate increased in 2017 and the water rate hasn’t increased for a long time.
“We need to do a rate study and a debt structure — we’re running in the red,” he said.
Wilkinson also informed the council he plans to hold a public meeting March 15 at 6 p.m. regarding plans for two municipal parking lots. Engineers will have some renderings of potential plans for the lots.
Last month, representatives from the Syracuse Public Library came to ask the town to donate land so they could build a new library. Town attorney Jay Rigdon said he needed to do research.
On Tuesday, he reported to the council that the town can donate land, he just needs a legal description of the property to draw up the agreement.
Rigdon told the council that in the recent cases he has worked on, the deeds were made conditional upon use of the property. He said they can put in the condition that the property be used for library or educational use, saying they didn’t know what would happen in 35 years.
Library representatives were present and were asked what the plans were for the 101-year-old library and they said they didn’t know yet but it would probably be sold. They also said all the soil and environmental studies would be conducted on the property at 701 N. Dolan St.
Gordon Lord spoke to the council about a retaining wall on his property at 700 N. Lake St. He and his wife have owned the property since 2004 and they’re currently renovating the property and plan to live there full time.
The retaining wall extends 11 to 13 feet into the town’s right of way. They need to repair and replace the wall and were asking the council if they needed an encroachment agreement or if they needed to shorten the wall, which could create drainage issues for the town or if it was OK to just replace the wall in the same location.
He pointed out other properties nearby that also had the same right of way issues. Rigdon said this type of situation is not uncommon and said if it is not limiting the town’s ability in any way, there’s no need to remove a long-standing structure.
The council decided to allow the Lords to replace the wall at the same location.
In other business, the council:
• Heard from Jeremy Hardy of Commonwealth that the committee chose a firm - FA Wilhelm - to work with on the loop and force main project.
• Heard that the Parks Department Indoor Garage Sale will be March 4 from a.m. to 2 p.m. at the community building. The booth spaces are sold out.
• Heard April 29 is the tentative date to play the first baseball game at the new athletic field and a parade and ceremony will be held.
• Approved the purchase of a John Deere tractor with spreader and blade for the street department for $81,233.32.
• Approved the purchase of a new Sutphen fire truck for $866,940.53 after a discount for paying half up front. They’ll pay $439,560 up front with the balance of $427,380 due on delivery — probably three years from now.
• Heard the clerk-treasurer wants to have a special council meeting to discuss insurance next month.
• Nominated Scherer to replace Martindale on both the police and fire commissions.
• Heard a committee is being formed to decide on the purchase of new Christmas decorations for the town.
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