Dayton remembers former
councilman, adopts budget
by Karen Blake
Dayton Town Board members opened their meeting Monday with a moment of silence, honoring the memory of long-time resident and former town official Charles Volk, who passed away recently. Volk, who lived in the hamlet of Cottage, served the Town of Dayton for 38 years in the highway department and as a town councilman. Volk was 102. He was the father of former town supervisor Ken Volk.
After a public hearing, the board unanimously adopted the town budget for 2005. Supervisor Tom Chupa said the total budget is up $20,289, about 6.5 percent. Chupa said residents “should hardly see any difference” in their taxes. The budget figures include the Dayton and South Dayton fire districts and the lighting district. Chupa noted some highway appropriations increased with costs rising for fuel, snow removal and new equipment, but were balanced out by increased revenues. Costs for insurance, Social Security, and retirement were up substantially, Chupa added.
The budget includes raises in salaries for some town officials and employees:
• Town supervisor - $300 increase to $5,000
• Bookkeeper to supervisor - $250 increase to $2,950
• Highway superintendent - $200 increase to $26,200
• Councilmen (four) - $200 increase each to $1,400
• Town attorney - $300 increase to $3,800
• Town clerk - $300 increase to $6,400
• Assessor - $500 increase to $5,000
• Town justices (two) - $200 increase each to $3,800
• Dog control officer - $200 increase to $2,500
• Highway employees will receive an increase of 35 cents per hour.
In other business, the board heard a report from acting Building Inspector/Code Enforcement Officer Bob Hintz who received six applications and issued five building permits, receiving $310 in fees and fines.
Issued were permits for an agricultural storage building on Peck Hill, a porch extension on 353 in Dayton, an application for a variance on setbacks to add front and side porches on Cottage-Markhams Road, permits for a barn on Mosher Hollow Road and a storage barn on Jolls Road. Hintz noted that a resident on Town Line Road was charged $100 for starting work on a carport and a roof over a building without applying for a building permit. The resident also paid $25 for a building permit to prevent work being stopped on the project (as provided for in town law).
Town Assessor Bob Busekist reported that the 100-plus photos of town properties are finished and are being put on the county computers’ Version 4. He attended a course in comparing property values with another coming up.
Busekist informed the board the Norse Pipeline assessment court case has been combined with Chautauqua County and the courts have ordered a resolution to be reached by early spring. He noted the town will receive $750 in payment for administering the STAR program. A public hearing is being held on the Cattaraugus County IDA’s proposal for a revision of the tax-exempt policy.
Clerk Ruth Bennett read the town court reports for September: Justice Jeffery Beightol heard nine vehicle and traffic, and four penal cases for $907 in fines, fees and surcharges; Justice Josephine Beightol handled 11 vehicle and traffic, and one penal case for $690 in fines, etc., for a combined total of $1,597.
Bennett announced the town has been awarded a Justice Court Assistance Grant of $450 to be used for a storage cabinet with lock and a United States flag on a stand.
In other business, Supervisor Chupa said the new generator has been put in, is working and “looks good.” The board approved a request from a highway employee to carry 12 days of vacation time over to next year so as to not have to use it during the winter when he would be needed. Also approved was a request for support to the Snowbounders to apply for a grant to maintain and groom snowmobiling trails. The board gave approval that the highway department would plow the Dayton Fire Hall and Dayton Historical Society.
A new phone contract with Verizon was approved, going from 7-1/2 cents per call for the first minute and 1.3 cents for additional minutes to a new rate of .0119 cents per minute under state bid.
In response to a question regarding the status of the construction work on Route 62, it is thought that the bridge near South Dayton might be open by the end of December. It was also stated the curbs in the hamlet of Dayton may have to be redone as the roadway was made too narrow, only 20 feet, especially to accommodate large trucks turning.
In another matter, the board received a letter from Deborah Cafferty Russell on Bridge Street regarding a complaint of a neighbor parking on the road right-of-way, blocking access to their driveway. The board recalled this issue had come up five or six years ago and will check town and county records and maps.
The next Town of Dayton Board meeting is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 22 at 7:30. p.m. in the town hall.