Village of Baxter Estates trustees presented a $853,054 tentative budget for 2016-17 on Thursday that calls for a $54,737.70 decrease in spending from 2015-16.
The budget includes $10,000 less in both building and contractual services, $8,500 less in the refund of real property taxes, and $15,000 less in hospital and medical insurance.
“On January 19 2016 the positions of part-time treasurer and part-time clerk were consolidated into a full-time clerk-treasurer position for cost effectiveness and efficiency, as well as to extend village office hours from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. And as such, I am on my husband’s health insurance policy so there are no employees that require a health plan therefore no line item was require,” Village Treasurer and Clerk Chrissy Kiernan said in an email explaining the decrease in hospital and medical insurance.
The trustees also held a public hearing at the meeting to pass a law that authorizes the village to pierce the state-mandated tax cap.
Village officials said the reason was to ensure that the village had enough funds available in the event that more money was needed.
“We are not planning to surpass it,” Baxter Estates Mayor Nora Haagenson said. “We do include it and then we may resubmit in June.”
“Once we approve the local law what we’ll then do is consider the budget. Once we consider the budget and it’s clear that the budget is within the cap they’ll be no need to consider the cap, “ Trustee Douglas Baldwin said. “We have it just something we’re considering as a matter of prudent but without the expectation of in fact passing it.”
Village resident Charlene Berkman objected to the idea of piercing the tax cap.
“It seems to me in light of what was just said and in reading this it would look best and be most prudent if you defeated this,” Berkman said. “Knowing that you don’t need it. It looks best and is most prudent in management to say no to this because you come out looking good and the budget looks good..
After hearing the objections, the trustees decided to make a resolution to not pierce the tax cap.
“If the board at this point knows for certain that it will not need to use this then when the hearing is closed you can simply take no action and subject can move to not pass the law,” Baxter Estates village attorney Chris Prior said.
“I am certain that if we vote it down there will be no fiscal strain on the budget,” Kiernan said.
Also at the meeting, Keirnan said she has sent a letter to the Dejana Company to express the village’s concern about the company’s snow removal services following a meeting in which residents complained about delays in work during a recent snowstorm.
“I made a call but didn’t hear back but that’s not unusual,” Keirnan said. “Not to blame them. I’m hoping to hear back from them before the next meeting.”
During a board meeting on March 3 Haagenson said, “We had complaints with the major storm, which is unusual for us with Dejana. Dejana has always done an excellent job with the village, but we’ve had numerous complaints this time.”
Dejana Industries representative A.J Banarsee, who attended the March 3 meeting, said at the time the firm did everything in their power to perform an effective job, but faced several obstacles in removing the snow.
Keirnan said she’s called the company several times and hasn’t heard a response back.
“Their representative was here and heard all the comments and for there to be no follow up after they had somebody present doesn’t look good,” Trustee Chris Ficalora said. “They were here they heard our comments.”
Deputy Mayor Charles Comer said he understood Dejana Industries owner Peter Dejana was in an auto accident and that could be the reason why no one has reached out to the village.
“It was brought up that Peter’s not working but he was able to sign the bid,” Ficalora said in reference to a street sweeping contract offered by the village. “He’s been out ill or in a car accident and hasn’t been able to get back to us but he submitted the bid.”
Keirnan said the village had two bidders for the 2016 street sweeping contract — Dejana Industries and John McGowan and Sons Inc., located in Sea Cliff.
The trustees approved a resolution to hire John McGowan and Sons Inc. even though the firm had bid a slightly higher price, citing their dissatisfaction with Dejana Campany’s snow removal service.
“Dejana’s company is cheaper by a few hundred dollars,” Trustee Charles Comer said.
Village attorney Chris Prior said village trustees had the right to go with a higher bidder if they were unhappy with a second bidder’s work.
“Price is still a primary consideration but if the board is dissatisfied with the service that you’ve gotten from this vendor on one particular service then you can take that into account,” he said.
