June 8, 2023 Regular Meeting

The Regular Monthly Meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Brighton, Franklin County, NY, was held Thursday, June 8, 2023, at 7:00pm, at the Brighton Town Hall, 12 County Road 31, Paul Smiths, NY, with the following:

CALL TO ORDER:
Meeting was Called to Order by Supervisor Peter Shrope at 7:00pm
Pledge to the Flag was recited.

ROLL CALL OF OFFICERS
PRESENT: Supervisor Peter Shrope
Council Members: Amber McKernan, Steve Tucker and Lydia Wright
ABSENT: Council Member Matthew Szeliga
OTHERS PRESENT: Elizabeth DeFonce-Tax Collector, Russell DeFonce-Deputy Tax Collector, Elaine Sater-Town Clerk and one resident
GUESTS: None

NOTICE OF MEETING:
Notice of this meeting was posted on the Town Clerkís Sign Board.

REPORTS

Highway – Superintendent of Highways Andy Crary: Read by Supervisor Peter Shrope
Mowed and weed whacked the cemeteries, Town Hall, Garage, and Park; paving completed on Tansy Lane and Bert LaFountain Road; hauled tar for Harrietstown and St. Armand (Essex County); raked dirt roads; put out flags in cemeteries for Memorial Day; patched pot holes; fixed turn-around and started chipping on Clark-Wardner Road; washed trucks; cleaned shop; need to pay Steve Tucker for 6 months as Deputy Superintendent of Highways; appointing Chris Reed as Deputy as of July 1 for the remainder of the year.

Town Clerk – Elaine Sater: Total Revenue to Supervisor as of May 31, 2023, was $ 3,599.87 from 6 copies of Vital Records, 5 Dog Licenses: 1 New (Tag # 275) and 4 renewed, and 9 Building Permits (BP#s 22-20, 23-02, 07, 13, 15 to 17, 19 and 20)
May 11 – Received notice that Paul Pillis, Board of Assessment Review Member completed training on May 10
TOWN HALL REQUESTS: Monday, June 12, 7pm, Brighton Democratic Party Caucus
TOWN PARK REQUEST: Saturday, June 17, 11am -1pm, Rule Family; Saturday, June 24, 11am to 4pm, Corrow Family; and Sunday, June 25, 1-3pm, Fobare Family
RECORDS MANAGEMENT: Indexing Vol 13 of Minutes (1985 through 1987), shredding documents according to the LGS-01 Records Retention and Disposition Schedule and Court Records from 2016.
FOIL REQUEST: None

Historian – Elaine Sater: Nothing to report.

Tax Collector – Elizabeth DeFonce: Still have three outstanding checks from $2.00 refunds. Received some suggestions from Katie Hodgdon, Association of Towns Counsel, about how to handle the situation, will discuss with Supervisor. Preparing to go to Tax Collectorís conference next week (June 12-14)

Town Justice – Nik Santagate: Supervisor received a check in the amount of $1,326 for 20 disposed cases during May.

Code Enforcement Officer – Rodger Tompkins: 6 Building Permits (BP#s 23-015 to 021) were issued in May.
One CO was issue for BP#23-021

Assessor – Roseanne Gallagher:
REVALUATION: Paperwork was accepted and entered into the NYS system.
Final Equalization Rate is 57% for the 2023 Assessment Roll.
The Board of Assessment Review (BAR) met on Thursday, June 1, from 5 to 9pm, no complaints received.
Supervisor ñ Peter Shrope:
Frontier Telephone sent notice that ì711î is available for hearing impaired use on the telephone.
Budget: Copy provided to Town Board members as of May 31, 2023; Revenue received since last meeting $12,558.65 in mortgage tax, $278.87 from Franklin County Assessor Association refund; $1,326 from Justice, and $3,599.87 from Town Clerk
NYCLASS: For May – General Fund interest $472.12, total $114,942.73 ($20,000 for Town Hall). Highway Fund interest $179.91, total $43,804.10

ACCEPT/AMEND MINUTES
May 11, 2023 – Regular Board Minutes
Motion made by Amber McKernan, second by Steve Tucker, to accept the minutes of the May 11, 2023, Regular Board Meeting, with a typographical correction on Page 3 under Website, ìasî to ìanî; Aye 4 (McKernan, Shrope, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0, Absent1 (Szeliga)

CITIZENS’ COMMENTS: None

BUSINESS

Town of Malone Shared Highway Services ñ Supervisor Peter Shrope: Received request from Town of Malone to share Highway Services.

RESOLUTION #26-2023
SHARED HIGHWAY SERVICES WITH THE TOWN OF MALONE
Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, second by Amber McKernan,
RESOLVED that the Town Board authorizes the Supervisor and Superintendent of Highways to sign an agreement with the Town of Malone, Franklin County, NY, to share highway services from June 8, 2023, through December 31, 2028 (a period of 5 years).
ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 4 (McKernan, Shrope, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0, Absent 1 (Szeliga)
Resolution #26 declared duly adopted.

Voter Identification – Supervisor Peter Shrope: Received a request from the Town of Huntington, Councilman Eugene Cook, dated May 10, 2023, concerning a resolution they passed to create a voter identification process to remove people from the voter registration rolls that may have relocated or died. No action taken, not enough information provided.

Water Well at Park – Supervisor Peter Shrope: Received a quote from Wood Well Drilling to drill a water well at the Town Park.

RESOLUTION #27-2023
WATER WELL AT PARK BY WOOD WELL DRILLING
Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, second by Lydia Wright,
WHEREAS the Supervisor is declaring an Emergency as there is no safe or potable water at the Town Park,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Board authorizes the Supervisor to accept a quote from Darren P. Wood of Wood Well Drilling, North Bangor, NY, in an amount Not to Exceed $17,060.00 to correct the water situation at the park as soon as possible, using American Relief Plan Act funds.
ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 4 (McKernan, Shrope, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0, Absent 1 (Szeliga)
Resolution #27 declared duly adopted.

Lifeflight Agreement – Supervisor Peter Shrope: Called Mary Jane Connors to discuss possible closure of organization. There is a Memorandum of Understanding with the NYS Police that needs State approval. If they are no longer in business, she will return the Townís money.

COMMITTEES:
Cemeteries ñ Amber McKernan/Steve Tucker: Met with Bruce Sawyer to discuss what needs to be repaired and cleaned, he provided a quote higher than what is in the budget for Section 1 of Mt. View Cemetery. Need to look at McCollomís Cemetery. Based on some new information received from Bruce Sawyer a new quote from Pine Haven Cemetery Services will be needed; will invite Bruce Sawyer to the next meeting to discuss information.

Park & Recreation ñ Peter Shrope/Amber McKernan: There are several areas at the Park that need addressing, the sump pump needs cleaning out, the tarmac needs leveling for basketball/ pickleball court, playground equipment needs upgrading, and a new heater is needed.

CITIZENS COMMENTS: None

AUDIT OF VOUCHERS
RESOLUTION #28-2023
ADUIT OF VOUCHERS
Motion made by Amber McKernan, second by Lydia Wright,
RESOLVED that the Supervisor be authorized to pay the audited vouchers as listed on the abstracts as follows:
PREPAID FUNDS: Abstract #6 for Voucher #s 6A through 6C for 2023 GENERAL FUND in the amount $563.61 and Voucher #6C for 2023 STREET LIGHTING FUNDS in the amount of $62.76
GENERAL FUND: Abstract #6 for Voucher #108 through #129 for 2023 funds in the amount of $5,465.20
HIGHWAY FUND: Abstract #6 for Voucher 50 through #61 for 2023 funds in the amount of $65,171.68
ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 4 (McKernan, Shrope, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0, Absent 1 (Szeliga)
Resolution #28 declared duly adopted.

ADJOURNMENT
Motion to Adjourn at 7:55pm made by Amber McKernan, second by Lydia Wright
Aye 4 (McKernan, Shrope, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0, Absent 1 (Szeliga)

Respectfully Submitted, Elaine W. Sater, Brighton Town Clerk