January 21, 2009                                        VILLAGE BOARD                                                   7:30 p.m.

Meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. with Denman, Pattengale, Tamblyn & Henning present.

Sandi Swan, Deputy Clerk Treasurer and Lee Greivell, Building Inspector was also present.

Pledge of allegiance.

Pattengale moved, 2^nd by Henning to forego the reading of the December 17, 2008 minutes. All were in favor.

Motion carried.

Tamblyn moved, 2^nd by Pattengale to approve the December 17, 2008 as written. All were in favor. Motion carried.

Period for Public Comment.  Pat Gerber questioned whether or not meeting postings will continue at Maas & Sons; they do get several people that come in and check those postings.  Swan indicated that Town Board meetings and Consolidated Board Meetings will still be posted at their location.  Gerber also indicated that she has not been able to view minutes on line and wondered if that will discontinue. Deputy Clerk Swan will check with Clerk Betty Novy about the minutes.

Department reports

Sheriff’s Department:  A written report was submitted showing the following statistics for December: Five accidents; nine speeding citations, three traffic citations, eight parking citations and seventeen warnings were issued. Complaint statistics were as follows:  thirty-three complaints originated through calls directly to the Sheriff’s Department; Deputy Castillo assisted with seven additional complaints, originated forty-one on his own and performed follow up on thirty-nine.  He reported twenty-one work days, 169.75 hours and 1,513 miles driven.  There were twenty-two foot patrols conducted. 

Deputy Castillo reported that they have two suspects for the bank robberies in the area; one has been arrested for the robberies in Burlington and Lyons, and one is being questioned for the Rochester robbery. He also reported that he has had no snow complaints or snowmobile complaints.

Maintenance Department: Brian Krueger was absent for the meeting. Denman reported that the lift station has been repaired. Denman questioned if the lift station call list has been changed. Swan indicated that the call list was changed and Chris Birkett will receive the first phone calls, then the office, then Brian Kreuger and so on.

Engineering: John Tierney submitted the following report:

Building Inspection(Lee Greivell): There were three permits issued for the month of December. One addition, a remodel and a plumbing permit.

Application for Special Animal Permit to keep eight dogs; Roberta Connor; 207 E. Main St.

Roberta Connor addressed the Board. She reported that she received three signatures in support of her dogs and two signatures against.  She stated that one of the neighbors against the special permit had concerns about the outside pen in summer time and the area being kept sanitary. Roberta stated that they clean up after the dogs daily.

She reported that she had nine dogs last year. She has since lost one, two have been re-homed, and she still has the puppies.  One puppy has been sold and three more should be sold this week. This is a hobby for her; she has been breeding and showing Afghan Hounds for 30 years.

She stated her dogs are not left home alone, and they are not big barkers. She stated that her dogs do not run loose, they are kept in a pen in the back yard which will be expanded in the spring.

She also stated that she does rescue for Afghan Hounds. If she has do give that up, she will, however she believes very strongly in helping dogs find homes.

Board member Henning stated that he received a complaint before the meeting about the quantity of dogs and the office has received two more complaints this week in regards to the quantity of dogs.  He has witnessed the dogs barking and a neighbor also complained about the smell of the dog waste in the yard.

Henning stated he does not feel the Village should grant this special permit because he feels it will open up opportunity for other people to request more dogs that the ordinance allows.

Roberta stated that she feels she should be notified when a complaint call comes in. Pattengale disagreed and stated that her neighbors have a right to disagree with her and they have a right to not want that many dogs there.  He also stated the Village ordinance is in their favor.

Pattengale stated that she should have investigated the Village ordinances before she moved to the Village of Rochester; that was her responsibility. It is not the responsibility of the Village to change the ordinance to fit her needs. He cannot support this special request.

Tamblyn stated that ordinances are set to fit the sufficient needs of the Village and Village Officials felt three dogs is a sufficient number of dogs to have per household.  He stated that while he appreciates her rescue efforts and her hobby, he cannot go against a rule without good reason.

Pattengale moved, seconded by Henning to deny the Special Animal Permit to keep eight dogs. All were in favor.

Motion carried. Board instructed Clerk Swan to send Roberta Connor a certified letter.

Correspondence: There was none.

Committee Reports: Street: Culvert issue by the bridge will be readdressed in the Spring. Henning will contact Chuck about removing tree on Winski property. Parks & Beautification:  Nothing to report. Health Board: Nothing to report. Ordinance: Swan and Novy to get a list of ordinances together that need addressing.

Finance: Tamblyn moved, 2^nd by Henning to approve January payables as recommended at the January 5, 2009 Consolidated Finance Committee meeting and the following additional disbursements.   Motion carried.

Village General Disbursements:

Rochester Public Library Disbursements:

Pattengale moved, 2^nd by Tamblyn to adjourn at 8:05 p.m. Motion carried.

Respectfully Submitted,

Sandi Swan

Deputy Clerk Treasurer