The financial situation of the Village of Dansville is expected to improve soon thanks to a bill that passed both the state Senate and Assembly and is pending a signature from Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The village was made aware in March of bond anticipation notes that had extended beyond the five-year term allowed under state law.
"We had a number that exceeded those five years," Mayor Peter Vogt explained at Tuesday night’s board meeting.
The legislative fix allows to village to roll the BANs — with more than $400,000 older than five years — into a serial bond that can be paid down over a longer period. The board of trustees approved a resolution related to the special legislation earlier this year.
Trustees also revisited several other areas of the village’s finances during the meeting this week.
Utility rates
Water and sewer rates continue to be a topic of discussion. Vogt explained that the sewer fund is improving, but still runs an annual deficit. The water fund, on the other hand, is still in the black, but revenues are slipping.
The board took no action this week to raise rates, but the board is expected to take the matter up before the end of the summer.
"It’s going to need to happen next month," the mayor told board members.
Accounting software
Regarding the village’s recent switch in accounting software, Vogt told the board that the village would need to continue paying for a now defunct accounting system.
"It was not meant for a small village to use," the mayor said about the software no longer in use. "It was also terribly expensive."
The village had purchased the software, called Unifund, on a contract, which the board had attempted to terminate. Vogt explained that legal counsel advised him that the village was not going to be able to get out of the contract.
"We’re stuck with at least $12,000 a year for a couple more years," he said.
Property purchase
The planned upgrade to the village’s wastewater treatment plant will require the village to purchase land adjacent to its existing plant. Vogt presented the board with the latest purchase agreement, which the board is expected to approve.
Questions have been raised about whether the purchase can go forward because it fails to meet the minimum lot size for zoning in that area.
The financial situation of the Village of Dansville is expected to improve soon thanks to a bill that passed both the state Senate and Assembly and is pending a signature from Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The village was made aware in March of bond anticipation notes that had extended beyond the five-year term allowed under state law.
"We had a number that exceeded those five years," Mayor Peter Vogt explained at Tuesday night’s board meeting.
The legislative fix allows to village to roll the BANs — with more than $400,000 older than five years — into a serial bond that can be paid down over a longer period. The board of trustees approved a resolution related to the special legislation earlier this year.
Trustees also revisited several other areas of the village’s finances during the meeting this week.
Utility rates
Water and sewer rates continue to be a topic of discussion. Vogt explained that the sewer fund is improving, but still runs an annual deficit. The water fund, on the other hand, is still in the black, but revenues are slipping.
The board took no action this week to raise rates, but the board is expected to take the matter up before the end of the summer.
"It’s going to need to happen next month," the mayor told board members.
Accounting software
Regarding the village’s recent switch in accounting software, Vogt told the board that the village would need to continue paying for a now defunct accounting system.
"It was not meant for a small village to use," the mayor said about the software no longer in use. "It was also terribly expensive."
The village had purchased the software, called Unifund, on a contract, which the board had attempted to terminate. Vogt explained that legal counsel advised him that the village was not going to be able to get out of the contract.
"We’re stuck with at least $12,000 a year for a couple more years," he said.
Property purchase
The planned upgrade to the village’s wastewater treatment plant will require the village to purchase land adjacent to its existing plant. Vogt presented the board with the latest purchase agreement, which the board is expected to approve.
Questions have been raised about whether the purchase can go forward because it fails to meet the minimum lot size for zoning in that area.
Trustee Jay Griffith contended that the purchase doesn’t create a new lot but simply changes the boundary of an existing lot.
"The parcel is in the town of North Dansville; it is not in the village of Dansville right now," explained Tammy Sylor, code enforcement officer for both the town and village. She explained that the town’s attorney told her the lot was not compliant and would need a variance.
"When it’s annexed, it will be a moot point anyway," Trustee Don Sylor said.
In the meantime, the village board is planning to move forward with the property purchase as well as petitioning the town for a variance.
