Village treasurer Mary Ann Henderson told the mayor and board members during the annual organizational meeting that the total assessed value of all village property increased by $175,000, bringing down the rate hike by one cent to $13.90 for the coming year. The rate increase now stands at 3.88 percent.

The board held a public hearing on the tentative 2006-07 budget during the Monday night meeting, but received no comment from the public.

The board did add $420 in expenses to the budget at the request of Village Justice Enid Hinkes, who was unable to attend, but submitted a letter of request to the board.

The letter, which also requested 15 percent raises for the justice and acting justice, was not discussed in open session.

Hinkes, who receives $7,100 per year, noted in her letter that the justices had not had a raise in over 16 years. The trustees and mayor, she pointed out, received raises in 2002.

The justice expressed her concern over the salary of the court clerk which she said should be approximately $22,000 annually. The clerk position had been split between the police department and the court, but has now been put entirely in the court budget.

According to the tentative budget, the clerk is to be paid $16,146, a raise of approximately 15 percent.

During the meeting, the mayor and board made the annual appointments of administrative personnel and designations for the coming year.

Mayor Carol Waller also released her choices for trustee appointments to village boards and committees.

Those appointments are available on the village website by clicking on the appropriate board or committee on the right side of the home page.

Public Works Superintendent Brian Clancy told the board there are plans for more hot-in-place paving of village streets next month.

Hot-in-place paving entails large machinery which can grind away the top layers of pavement, re-mix the aggregate and lay it back down in one operation.

Clancy said he just received a cost estimate for the paving and is still waiting for an estimate of the cost of the sealer which must be applied.

The village has budgeted $125,000 for the project and Clancy said he is not yet certain how many streets will done.

Currently on the list as potential candidates for rehabilitation are Linden Ave., Eagle St., Atwell Rd., Mill St. to the bridge, Elm St. from Pioneer St. to Susquehanna Ave., Fair St. from Main St. to Lake St., and Main St. from Chicken Farm Rd. to the Cooperstown village line.

How much can be accomplished with what the village has to spend all depends on the price of petroleum, Clancy said.