Call for action

Following a short public hearing on the 2010-11 tentative budget, the Manlius Village Board on April 13 addressed various last-minute items. Each issue required an immediate motion, which, in turn, raised concern among trustees over the board’s current process of handling business.

Trustee Natalie Miner spoke out.

“This is the third item that we got in this meeting [where] basically someone has been demanding this board have to make a decision right now,” she said. “…You get to a point where it’s irresponsible.”

Mayor Mark-Paul Serafin justified the board’s agenda that evening as being responsive — not irresponsible — to the requests being presented.

“We don’t rush things through, as a rule,” he said. “In the last year, we have not done [it] that often.”

Trustee Eric Krouse suggested, and the board agreed, that utilizing a planning calendar about six months out would benefit them in addressing upcoming and timely issues, thus tackling them long before any deadlines arise.

Motions made

The board unanimously voted to publicize a proposed event by Parks & Recreation Director Jim Raulli. The Syracuse Soap Box Derby is a youth amateur racing event that would be held for three weekends in August, September and October. It would be held on Pride Lane behind Fayetteville-Manlius High School.

Raulli said there are funds from next year’s budget to cover the franchise fee of $1,100 per weekend, which would total $3,300 if the village chooses to hold all six races. The fee includes liability insurance.

Derby representatives plan to discuss the event in detail at the April 27 meeting, Raulli said, and on May 3, children ages 8 to 17 are welcome to attend an informational seminar where they can learn more about the event. The seminar is from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday May 3 in the Manlius Village Auditorium.

The American Legion Post 141 in Manlius recently requested the village take over responsibility of the annual Memorial Day Parade, which has historically been coordinated by the veteran’s service organization. The board voted in favor, and Raulli said he’d begin work immediately. There will be no additional cost to the village this year as the Post would still fund the musical band it has always employed. Members of the American Legion still plan to participate in the march.

Bicentennial Committee member Lori Vendetti assembled a grant proposal to benefit the Manlius Farmer’s Market.

The $100,000 grant, which does not require matching funds, would aid in the expansion of the existing market. If approved, she said there would be no time limit to use the funds. The catch? The application needed to be postmarked by April 15, so the board had to deliver a vote promptly.

After some discussion, the board motioned to accept the submission of the grant application, contingent on Village Attorney Jeff Brown reading the application thoroughly for no hidden obligations or commitments to the village to accept the grant. Additionally, the board would further discuss Vendetti’s plea for a 10 percent fee — only if the proposal should be granted — at a later date.

The board will enter into a contract with DeBrucque Greenhouses, located in Canastota, in order to move forward with its village beautification process. For a total of $9,400, the village purchased 20 flowerpots, which came to $3,600, as well as $5,800 in maintenance services. All but Miner voted in favor of the contract. Other bids the village collected claimed it was getting too late in the season to begin the project. Serafin said the village had a small window; the board was driven to vote to ensure a greenhouse order be made that weekend.

Summer recreational program fees have been raised for the first time in at least five years. Fees for nonresidents have increased $50, from $75 to $125; resident fees have been raised by $15, from $35 to $50. Raulli said the change was necessary to accommodate loss in funds. Trustee Harold Hopkinson said he would have liked to have seen only nonresidents impacted by the hike. Raulli explained that the incremental increases that he and Seraphin support would continue to bring in a healthy number of participants, which typically maxes at 275.

The board will next meet for its regular meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday April 27 at the Manlius Village Centre. It will hold a special budget meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday April 22. The public is encouraged to attend.