CEDARBURG TOWN GOVERNMENT GOING PAPERLESS Meeting documents to be provided electronically By Lisa Curtis - News Graphic Staff CEDARBURG — The town of Cedarburg will become the next community to transition from paper meeting packets to electronic ones after the town board voted March 5 to begin the initiative at its April meeting. Accessing meeting memos and supporting data on tablets has become the norm in communities across Ozaukee County as a way to shave tax dollars spent on preparing and mailing the paper packets. The town board’s March packet, for instance, was 73 pages. Creating it costs staff time for copying, sorting and packaging, and financial resources for postage and paper, according to town Administrator Jim Culotta. Last year the town spent $1,055.16 in staff time and resources to prepare packets for town board meetings, $941.88 for plan commission meetings and $327.72 for park and recreation meetings. “$2,300 is $2,300 as far as I’m concerned,” town Chairman Dave Valentine said of the savings. “That could pay for another truckload of salt.” In response to questions from Valentine about electronic preparation, Culotta said staff already post the full packet on the website, so no extra costs would be incurred for that. He said that, depending on what the supervisors choose as a data-delivery method, there could be costs in collating the materials. Supervisors meet in what could be one of the last municipal buildings in the county without a wireless connection, and that was given consideration when Culotta presented them with their paperless packet options. Those involved either allowing supervisors to print or view it from the town website or providing flash drives or CDs containing the information. None will receive a tablet paid for by the town. Supervisor Dave Salvaggio said his primary concern is that the agendas and supporting information still be visible on the large white board during meetings, as it is now. Culotta assured him that wouldn’t change. It will be up to each town supervisor on how they want to access the material. “Once they’ve had an opportunity to experience paperless, they’ll consider whether committees should also go paperless,” Culotta said. In other business At its March 5 meeting, the board also: ■ Permitted Rick and Kathy Lanser to transfer the conditional use permit for 1814 Washington Ave. Currently called Clearwater Inn, the restaurant has been owned by Judith Lieven. The Lansers, who own The Hub in downtown Cedarburg, are in the process of buying the property, which they will reopen in the spring as The Hub at Cedar Creek. The permit was approved in 2010 and allows bars, restaurants and banquet facilities as a conditional use. The 4.57acre property is zoned as a business 1 neighborhood business district and agriculture 1 agricultural district. The Lansers are not proposing any changes in use from what was there. If they do, they will need to request another conditional use permit. ■ Agreed 3-1 to add two new fees relating to repairs, improvements, additions or alterations to structures that don’t conform to code. One would add a fee for architectural and site plan reviews for 2,000-squarefoot or larger outbuildings in estate districts and outbuildings more than 1,500 square feet in the agricultural 1 and 2 and commercial- residential district. Applicants will be required to pay a $200 fee, plus actual costs if a consultant review is needed. The other would add a $200-fee, plus actual costs if a consultant is needed in the case of repairs or improvements. Salvaggio voted against the fees, saying he questions what fees are actually incurred by such requests. ■ Approved a resolution supporting State Senate Bill 338, which expands the authorities of towns to create a tax incremental financing district. Instead of tax dollars going to the town, school district and other taxing jurisdictions, the money would go back into the development of a site. Town leaders say that they should enjoy the same benefits afforded to cities and villages in Wisconsin. Not approving the bill would put the town at a disadvantage for attracting and retaining new businesses, they said. State Rep. Duey Stroebel, R-Cedarburg, has supported the measure, according to town officials. They are calling on their state Sen. Glenn Grothman, R-West Bend, and Gov. Scott Walker for more support. ■ Approved a resolution calling for expedited reconstruction of Highway 60 and Granville Road. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation has identified 2020 as its target date to begin work, but town leaders have said the severity of crashes demands a quicker response. The state is studying two options for the intersection: a roundabout and a signaled intersection. A decision on the intersection could be made by April.
Posted on: Thu, 13 Mar 2014 11:53:59 +0000
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