[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Deerpark 12-18-2006
by L.L. No. 7-2006. Amendments noted where applicable.]
A.
The Town Board enacts this chapter to put in place a system for the reimbursement of fees and expenses which would otherwise be raised by assessments of the taxpayers of the Town to defray the costs of the Town consultants, including but not limited to engineering, planning, legal and stenographic expenses with respect to the review of projects as defined in § 25-3 of this chapter. It is the intention of this chapter that the cost of such consultants ultimately be paid by those who seek approvals from the Town, rather than from general Town funds.
B.
The Town also wishes to establish a procedure to be followed requiring the deposit of those funds in the Town's Special Trust and Agency Account or similar account established by the Town Board and requiring that payments from that account be made only upon receipt and approval by the Town Board of itemized vouchers from its consultants following the determination by the Town Board as set forth in § 25-5 of this chapter.
This chapter is enacted under the authority of Subparagraphs a(l), (2)
and (3) of Municipal Home Rule Law § 10(1)(ii), and Municipal Home
Rule Law § 22. To the extent Town Law §§ 274-a, 276
and 277 do not authorize the Town to require the reimbursement to the Town
for its consultants' expenses incurred by the Town in connection with
the review and consideration of projects as hereinafter defined in this chapter,
it is the expressed intent of the Town Board to change and supersede such
statutes. More particularly, such statutes do not authorize the deferral or
withholding of such approvals in the event such expenses are not paid to the
Town. It is the expressed intent of the Town Board to change and supersede
Town Law §§ 274-a, 276 and 277 to empower to the Town to require
such payments as a condition of such approvals.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
- APPLICANT
- Any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation or entity of any type, kind or nature, who requests the Town, the Town Board, the Planning Board, the Zoning Board of Appeals or any other board, agency, employee or official of the Town for approval of a project.
- CONSULTANT
- Any person or entity of any type who is retained by the Town to provide consulting or professional services for any project, including but not necessarily limited to engineering, planning, legal and stenographic expenses.
- PROJECT
- Means and includes a subdivision, site plan, special use permit, variance, interpretation, improvement district formation or extension of such other similar action where the Town Board, Planning Board and/or Zoning Board of Appeals determines to refer the action to a consultant.
All applicants for approval of any project in the Town shall reimburse
the Town for all reasonable, necessary and appropriate consulting expenses
incurred by the Town in connection with the review and consideration of such
project.
A.
Simultaneously with the filing of an application for approval of a project with the appropriate official or board of the Town, the applicant shall deposit with the Town a sum of money as determined in accordance with the provisions of this chapter which sum shall be used to pay the costs described in § 25-4 of this chapter.
B.
In the event that the deposit amount does not appear on the schedule of deposits referred to in § 25-6 of this chapter, upon the applicable board of the Town computing the deposit amount pursuant to the provisions of this chapter and advising the applicant in writing of the appropriate amount, the applicant shall deposit that sum with the Town in accordance with the above provision.
C.
Upon receipt of such monies, the Town shall cause such
monies to be placed in the Town's Special Trust and Agency Account or similar
account established by the Town Board, without interest accruing to the applicant,
and shall keep a separate record of all such monies so deposited and the name
of the applicant and project for which sums were deposited.
D.
Upon receipt and approval by the Town Board of an itemized
voucher from a consultant for services rendered on behalf of the Town pertaining
to the project, the Town Supervisor shall cause such voucher to be paid out
of the monies so deposited and shall debit the separate record of the account
accordingly.
E.
The consultant shall furnish copies of such voucher to
the applicant at the same time such voucher is submitted to the Town.
F.
The Town Board shall review and audit all such vouchers
and shall approve payment of only such consulting fees and disbursements as
are consistent with the schedule established by the Town Board.
G.
If at any time during or after the review of any project
there shall be insufficient monies on hand to the credit of such applicant
to pay the approved vouchers in full, or if it shall reasonably appear to
the Town that such monies will be insufficient to meet vouchers yet to be
submitted, the Town shall advise the applicant who shall deposit additional
sums as the Town deems necessary or advisable in order to meet such expenses
or anticipated expenses.
H.
In the event that the applicant fails to deposit such
monies, the Town shall notify, as applicable, the board, agency, employee
or officer of the Town of such failure, and any review, approval, building
permit or certificates of occupancy may be withheld by the appropriate board,
agency, employee or officer of the Town until such monies are deposited.
I.
After conclusion of the review of the project and after
payment of all approved vouchers submitted, any sums remaining on account
to the credit of such applicant shall be returned to such applicant.
A.
The amount of the initial deposit for various projects
covered by this chapter shall be set forth in a schedule of deposits as adopted
from time to time by resolution of the Town Board. Said schedule shall remain
in effect and shall apply to all applicants until amended or revised by subsequent
resolution. In the event the Town receives an application for a project for
which the amount of the initial deposit has not been established on the schedule
of deposits, the Town shall forthwith establish an amount of the initial deposit
for such project and the Town shall notify the applicant.
B.
No monies deposited pursuant to this chapter shall be
used by the Town to offset the Town's general expenses of consultants' services
nor for its general administration expenses, except that any interest accrued
shall be paid to the Town's general fund.
The deposits required by this chapter shall be in addition to any application
fees that may be required by any other rule, regulation or enactment of the
Town.
