The Syracuse Town Council held a lengthy work session Friday afternoon, Aug. 1, to review and update the town ordinance book. Shown from left are Council members Cindy Kaiser, Nathan Scherer, Paul Stoelting along with Jay Rigdon, town attorney; and Virginia Cazier, clerk-treasurer. Photo by Lauren Zeugner.

By Lauren Zeugner
InkFreeNews

SYRACUSE — The Syracuse Town Council held a marathon work session Friday afternoon, Aug. 1, reviewing the town’s ordinance book and discussing a possible food truck ordinance. As this was a work session, no votes were taken.

The meeting started nearly 10 minutes late as the council waited for Councilmen Bill Musser and Larry Siegel to attend. Musser was about 15 minutes late, while Siegel was a no-show.

Town Manager David Wilkinson took the council through the ordinance book highlighting those sections that needed to be addressed.

The council discussed increasing the fines discussed in section 1-15 general penalties. The council proposed raising the minimum fine form $15 to $50. The maximum fine of $2,500 will remain. Councilman Paul Stoelting pointed out most violations have their own penalties, this is a general catch all.

Sect. 2-23 regarding the police commission. The council questioned whether it has to meet four times a year. Police Chief Jim Layne said there was no statutory requirement, but he would like the ordinance to remain.

Sect. 2-41 regarding building commissioners. Wilkinson noted the town has a code enforcement officer and a building inspector, but not a building commissioner. Town Attorney Jay Rigdon explained a building inspector acts as a prosecutor while a building inspector acts as a judge. He recommended following state law and keeping both jobs separate. Wilkinson can act as a building commissioner should the need arise.

Sect. 2-51 reimbursement for travel. This section was last updated in 1999. It needs to be updated to current IRS standards.

Sect. 2-57 Nepotism/Conflict of Interest. Scherer asked if this needed to be addressed. Rigdon said the town has adopted standards regarding nepotism. Scherer was more concerned about the conflict of interest. Rigdon said this ordinance covers nepotism more than conflict of interest. If the council wants a conflict of interest ordinance, he needs to do some research although he suspects most communities don’t have such policies. Scherer believes the public doesn’t understand where the line is and would like more clarity.

Councilman Paul Stoelting noted in his time on the council, conflict of interest hasn’t been a problem until the last few years.

Sect. 2-65 regarding cumulative funds. Stoelting suggested updating this ordinance with the highest amount the levy will allow. Wilkinson noted 2027 is when the town will see the affects of SB1. Scherer said if the town waits it could find itself in a situation where it can’t keep up. “I don’t want to pay anymore taxes, but I don’t want to be in a situation where we have to cut services,” he said. Wilkinson will get with Jim Higgins, London Witte Group, to start looking at the numbers.

Sect. 2-68 cumulative building fund. Wilkinson asked if this ordinance should be done away with or revamped. It was noted Economic Development Income Taxes will be changing under SB 1. Scherer suggested keeping the fund and utilizing it, depending on what Higgins finds.

Sect. 2-75 Town budget funds. Wilkinson would like to keep the low cost loan program highlighted in this ordinance. Currently the fund has $15,000 in it. Scherer suggested rewriting the ordinance. Councilman Bill Musser suggested having a committee work on it.

Sect. 3-14 needs to reflect the proper time for council meetings.The ordinance states the council meets at 7:30 p.m. on the Third Tuesday of the month. The council meets at 7 p.m.

Sect. 3-25 Ordinance Violations Bureau. Rigdon suggested not addressing this until the council has made decisions regarding all fines and penalties.

Sect. 4-15 Fees for bad checks. Virginia Cazier, clerk-treasurer, asked the wording to read “Current bank charges and administrative fees>”

Sect. 4-26 Permits and fee requirements, Change the cost of a garage sale permit from $2 to $5 while also setting a limit on how many garage sales a resident may have in one year.

Sect. 4-56-60 police department fees. There is a fee for accident reports and for finger prints. The council recommended a $25 fee for VIN checks from out of county residents. All VIN checks will be done during business hours.

Sect. 5-24 Alcohol in town parks. Council suggested raising the fine from $25 to $100.

Sect. 5-38 regarding trees and tree board. Remove all references of a town forester since the town doesn’t have one.

Sect. 5-41 penalties, claims and appeals. Increase range of penalties to $50-$100 minimum to $500 maximum

Sect. 6-35 – Running at large cats and dogs. Council recommended raising the fine to $25 minimum and $100 maximum.

6-172- smoking regulations- update to meet state laws

6-192-193 regarding the removal of snow and ice from sidewalks. Scherer suggested raising the fine to $25.

Sect. 7-6 needs to change street commissioner to public works director and change $3 per square foot to $10 per square foot.

Sect. 7-35 penalties regarding building codes. Council suggested raising the penalty to $300 per day.

Sect. 8-17 general penalty and payment of fines. This ordinance has to do with weight of vehicles. Mark Aurich, public works director, recommended the council ask Commonwealth Engineering  to do a core bore to see how much the road will take.

Sect. 8-59 penalty for snowmobiles off road vehicles on public roads. Council recommended penalties needed to be raised from $1 to $10 to $25 to $50.

Sect. 8-171-172 Registration and fees and regulations for placement of piers. The town charges rent to those without lake access to put a pier in the public right of way. Approximately 13-15 spots are rented out each year for a fee of $100. Scherer recommended raising the rent to $500.