Although raising building permit fees was passed unanimously by the Village Board of Trustees at its Monday, Sept. 21 meeting, getting to that point involved many questions concerning the increase and discussion about how difficult matters such as permits for new roofs would be dealt with.
“I know the trustees in the past have expressed the opinion that the fees should reflect the cost to the village for issuing the permit,” said Mayor Bill Krebs. “We have also talked about increasing the fees as the expense goes up, and doing that quite often, to make sure the fee schedule reflects the actual expense.” Krebs also noted that the idea was to increase revenues to match the actual cost so that taxes are not subsidizing the people that apply for permits.
It was Trustee Charles Cranston that asked if there would be an additional cost say if someone is building a new garage. “No,” said Building Inspector and Code Enforcement Officer Mike Kaleta, “The roofing permit is for someone redoing their existing roof.”
However, the question that caused some confusion related to putting a new metal roof over an existing one, and should that also generate a permit fee. According to Kaleta, New York state building code says that putting a new metal roof over an existing shingle roof is only legal if the existing roof has not deteriorated; but then, as Kaleta asked, why would anyone bother to put on a new roof over an existing one if there is nothing wrong with it, unless they just wanted it to be a different color?
One difficulty Kaleta has faced is that in contacting several metal roof manufacturers to ask if a metal roof can be put over the top of an existing roof, he has not been able to get an answer either way. Presumably this is because if a manufacturer says yes, there could be liability issues and if he says no, then he is less likely to be able to sell his product.
According to Kaleta, the roofing contractors he has spoken to are “all for the new fee” because it means that ‘fly-by-nights’ will have to follow the same rules in obtaining permits, submitting manufacturers specifications and providing proof of insurance as well as following all the other procedures mandated by code.
The new building code fee is $50 and goes into effect immediately.
• Following the rejection of bids to replace a loader backhoe at the last board meeting because they all exceeded the budgeted amount, Highway Superintendent Karl Lux proposed an alternative which the Trustees voted to accept. This new alternative involves entering into a lease agreement with Five Star Equipment Inc. of West Falls. The lease agreement is for a five-year period at a rate of $4,782.
• In addition to declaring the 1969 Chevy Carry-All as surplus, the trustees agreed to sell to Ronald Miller for the sum of $1,055, Miller’s bid being the highest of five received.
• The Trustees gave permission for Lux to attend the 2009 New York Conference of Mayors, Public Works Training School in Canandaigua from Oct. 19 to the 22.
• Police Chief John Fox said that the Village’s K-9 team has been conducting walking patrols of the parks, Springville Youth, Inc., the business district, S-GI football games and anywhere else that groups of youths gather. “In addition, our bike patrol has been riding whenever he is able and is frequenting the same areas that the K-9 team covers,” said Fox.
• Fox noted that he, two of his officers, representatives from the Erie County Sheriff’s Department and several local fire companies and their members were honored as “Hometown Heroes” by S-GI in conjunction with ceremonies commemorating the memory of those who lost their lives in the 9-11 attacks in 2001.
• Officers are scheduled to assist S-GI in its Homecoming Parade on Friday, Oct. 9 at 6 p.m. Officers will also be present during the weekend of Oct. 9, 10 and 11 for extra traffic that is anticipated to be heading for Ellicottville Fall Festival.
• Fox reported that he and Administrator Tim Horner will be conducting interviews in early October to fill the vacancy created by Officer Nicholas Budney’s resignation.
• Dennis Dains of the Springville Volunteer Fire Department said that a mass casualty drill with the West Valley Fire Department in conjunction with West Valley Nuclear Services will take place on Sept. 24 at 7 p.m.
• Dains said that the Home Safety Council is partnering with Lowe’s with its “Safety Saturday” program which will take place at the Springville Lowe’s store on Saturday, Sept. 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Springville Volunteer Fire Department will be participating together with other fire departments to display their equipment.
• Dains reported that there is a new state and federal regulation regarding the wearing of safety vests on federally funded highways.
“We purchased vests for every seat in the apparatus so when the guys get a call on the Expressway, those have to go on over their gear if they are not fighting a fire,” he said. “It’s a federal law now.”
• Kaleta said that he had received permit applications for S-GI’s Homecoming Parade and Concord Country Christmas.
• The Trustees voted to provide demographic data and support the Suburban Intramunicipal Transportation initiative, known as ‘SIT.’ This is a rural transportation proposal for which Mayor Krebs said a transportation manager has been hired by SIT to write a grant for a feasibility study.
• Motion was made and carried to create a resolution to support “Land Banks” which Krebs said create a centralized non-municipal entity to take ownership of vacant properties among other things which in turn reduce blight.
• A public hearing was set to take place at the Oct. 19 Board of Trustees meeting for the 2010 Community Development Block grant proposals. The application is due by Oct. 26 and the Trustees were asked to bring their ideas to the next board meeting on Oct. 5.
• The Board passed a resolution to approve the Time-Warner contract renewal agreement following the public hearing which was held on July 20.
• Motion was made and carried introducing a local law requiring that no driveway, roadway or access connection alter a village-owned paved or concrete storm water gutter, sidewalk or anything within the village right of way, or interfere with village snow plowing or snow removal operations. There will be a public hearing at the Oct. 19 Board of Trustees meeting.
• At Mayor Krebs’ request, the Board approved the renewal of membership in the National Main Street National Trust Organization. “This is one way we can help promote business in our down town business district,” he said. The annual fee is $250.
The next Village of Springville Board of Trustees’ meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 5, at the Franklin Street Municipal Building.