December 12, 2024 Regular Monthly Meeting
The Regular Monthly Meeting for the Town Board of the Town of Brighton, Franklin County, NY, was held Thursday, December 12, at 7pm, 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 7:01pm
The “Pledge of Allegiance” to the flag was recited.
ROLL CALL OF OFFICERS
PRESENT: Supervisor Peter Shrope
Council Members: Amber McKernan, C. Tracy Santagate, and Steve Tucker
ABSENT: Lydia Wright
OTHERS PRESENT: Andy Crary-Superintendent of Highways, Elizabeth DeFonce-Town Clerk/Tax Collector, Russ DeFonce-Town Justice, 1 resident
NOTICE OF MEETING:
Notice of the meeting was posted on the Town Clerk’s Sign Board
REPORTS
Highway – Superintendent of Highways Andy Crary: cleaned up the downed tree on Wardner Road; cleaned up trees on Clark Wardner Road; cleaned the shop and the trucks; plowed and sanded on a regular basis; Steve Vincent is done with work and new hire Cory Skiff is replacing him; the other truck is still being worked on; put a new chain in the sander
Town Clerk- Elizabeth DeFonce: Total Revenue to Supervisor as of November 30 was $445 for 4 Building Permits.
Took Notary exam in Plattsburgh on November 12. Received notification that I passed on November 23.
Received form from the New York State Comptroller’s Office requesting updated information regarding the Town Justice. Completed and emailed form back on November 13.
Mailed the adopted budget to the Franklin County Legislature on November 18.
Placed ad for temporary/seasonal laborer for Highway Department in Adirondack Daily Enterprise. It ran from November 20 through 25.
TOWN HALL REQUESTS: None
TOWN PARK REQUEST: None
Tax Collector – Elizabeth DeFonce: Received the mortgage lists from Lareta and CoreLogic.
Signed the contract with AllPaid and gave a copy to Supervisor Peter Shrope.
Emailed Hilary regarding adding a link to the AllPaid landing page. Link has been placed under the “Franklin County” tab but should be placed under “Tax Collector” on the “Personnel/Contact info” page. Will reach out and ask her to move it.
Would like to add an insert to the tax bills advertising the new online payment option: “An online payment option is now available. Visit townofbrighton.net and click on (link and perhaps a description of where it is on the page) to use your credit card. A Service Fee of 2.95% will be added to your total.” The insert would be a half-sheet of pink paper.
Motion was made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, seconded by Amber McKernan, to allow the Tax Collector to create an insert for the upcoming tax bills using the wording provided in this report.
Aye 4 (McKernan, Santagate, Shrope, Tucker), Nay 0, Absent 1 (Wright)
Historian – Elaine Sater: Working on indexing Minutes Volume 16 (1992-1997).
Note: Robin Hogan Law was 24 when she was elected to the Town Board. She was on the Insurance Committee and was responsible for the Liability and Medical Insurance Policies.
1994 Minutes: New Town Clerk is Barbara Marshall. She starts taping the meetings to help with writing minutes. Local Law was put on election ballot to change terms of Town Clerk and Tax Collector from 2 years to 4 years, to start in January 1996. Proposition passed by voters.
Court asks for a secretary; Debra Meyer is hired. She becomes the Court Clerk.
James Helms is the Superintendent of Highways again. Several culverts get installed on Keese Hill Road. Garage roof needs repairs. Building a salt shed is discussed. Trucks need repair or replacement, sander gets an overhaul. A lot of road work gets completed; trees trimmed, shoulders filled in, dirt roads are grated and rolled.
Highway employees work at the park and the cemetery.
New playground equipment is installed. Basketball court is paved, shuffleboard is put in, new log garage is built for park equipment by the Highway employees. Septic system is replaced. New heater system installed. Pool table is leased and ping-pong table discussed. Rock garden is put in. A port-a-potty was leased for the summer.
Cemetery Vault needs repair. Complaint is received of someone driving over the graves in a truck.
HUD program accepting applications, more grant funds are requested. HUD Administrator Christopher Leifheit resigns and David MacDowell is hired. Diversified Planners is under contract to do the grant applications.
Foor Pantry needed volunteers and a location. Assumption Church in Gabriels was offered as a space. The town Hall was used instead. The closet built for the Senior Citizens in the Town hall is to be shared by the Food Pantry. Highway garage donates a freezer.
Annual Budget for 1995 was a contentious issue. Preliminary Budget was increased by 27%, people voiced their displeasure at the Public Hearing, final budget was increased by 14%.
The Fire Department asked for a Service Awards Program at $37,000 to be funded by the Town. It was removed from the Budget. Assessor’s contract was reduced by $5,000. Highway reserves for equipment repair/replacement reduced by $15,000.
Halloween and Christmas parties are held by the Town using the ALPO building and the VIC.
Town Justice – Russ DeFonce: 22 cases were disposed. The Supervisor was given two checks for $2,350 and $180 for a total of $2,530. There was an early morning arraignment recently. Safety was not an issue due to the presence of law enforcement. The lack of security during normal court hours was discussed, as was the building addition for the Court that was proposed during the renovation.
Code Enforcement Officer – Rodger Tompkins: no report.
Assessor – John Stack: no report.
Supervisor – Peter Shrope:
New modems have been installed at both the Town Hall and the Town Garage.
BridgeNY: There was a Public Hearing about the project held on December 3. Plans and maps are available at the Town Hall. Expected completion date will be 2026. The latest reimbursement was for $39,398.24; the process is working smoothly. A line of credit for construction has been established at NBT Bank. The interest rate is unknown since the account hasn’t been used yet. Interest can’t be reimbursed.
Deposits: Received $8,665 from Franklin County for the mortgage tax, $445 from the Town Clerk, and $2,350 from the Town Justice. The Justice’s second check for $180 was written and given to the Supervisor before the meeting.
NYCLASS: For November – General Fund interest $465.50, total $124,126.80 ($20,000 for Town Hall). Highway Fund interest $176.62, total $47,304.17
Budget: is in fine shape.
There is no money left from the ARPA (Covid) fund. All improvements were for recreation. The Town’s total contribution was $153.
Accept/Amend Minutes
November 14, 2024 – Regular Board
Motion made by Amber McKernan, seconded by Steve Tucker, to accept the minutes of the November 14, 2024, Regular Meeting with one correction: change “2023” to “2024” on page 3.
Aye 4 (McKernan, Santagate, Shrope, Tucker), Nay 0, Absent 1 (Wright)
CITIZENS’ COMMENTS: none
BUSINESS
The contract with the Tri-Lakes Humane Society is set to be renewed; money is already in the budget. The Adirondack Local Government Review Board contract is also set to be renewed.
Cory Skiff, the seasonal Highway Department hire, doesn’t live in the County of Franklin and would be considered an illegal hire unless the residency requirement is waived.
RESOLUTION #52-2024
AGREEMENT WITH TRI-LAKES HUMANE SOCIETY FOR 2025 SERVICES
Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, seconded Amber McKernan,
RESOLVED that the Town Board authorizes the Supervisor to sign an agreement with Tri-Lakes Humane Society, Inc., for Dog Control Officer and shelter services in the amount of $4,020 for the year 2025.
ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 4 (McKernan, Santagate, Shrope, Tucker) Nay 0, Absent (Wright)
Resolution #52 declared duly adopted.
RESOLUTION #53-2024
AGREEMENT WITH ADIRONDACK PARK LOCAL GOVERNMENT REVIEW BOARD FOR 2025 SERVICES
Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, seconded by Steve Tucker,
RESOLVED that the Town Board authorizes the Supervisor to sign an agreement with the Adirondack Park Local Government Review Board for representing the Town of Brighton in matters relating to the Adirondack Park in the amount of $300.00 for the year 2025.
ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 4 (McKernan, Santagate, Shrope, Tucker) Nay 0, Absent (Wright)
Resolution #53 declared duly adopted.
RESOLUTION #54-2024
WAIVER OF RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT FOR EMPLOYMENT
Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, seconded by Amber McKernan,
RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Brighton hereby waives the county residency requirement for employment with the Town of Brighton, effective December 1, 2024.
ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 4 (McKernan, Santagate, Shrope, Tucker) Nay 0, Absent (Wright)
Resolution #54 declared duly adopted.
Review of Insurance: Sid Spear is now part of OneGroup. There is an increase of 5% in the premium. Excellus’s increase is 4.9%.
CITIZENS’ COMMENTS: None
AUDIT OF VOUCHERS
RESOLUTION #55-2024
ADUIT OF VOUCHERS
Motion made by Amber McKernan, seconded by Steve Tucker,
RESOLVED that the Supervisor be authorized to pay the audited vouchers as listed on the abstracts as follows:
PREPAID FUNDS: Abstract #12 for Voucher #s 12A through 12B for 2024 GENERAL FUND in the amount $548.74 and Voucher #12B for 2024 STREET LIGHTING FUNDS in the amount of $98.76
GENERAL FUND: Abstract #12 for Voucher #191 through #206, for 2024 funds in the amount of $12,421.14
HIGHWAY FUND: Abstract #12 for Voucher #109 through #115 for 2024 funds in the amount of $5,212.97
ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 4 (McKernan, Santagate, Shrope, Tucker) Nay 0, Absent (Wright)
Resolution #55 declared duly adopted.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion to Adjourn at 8:03p, made by Amber McKernan, seconded by Peter Shrope
Aye 4 (McKernan, Santagate, Shrope, Tucker) Nay 0, Absent 1 (Wright)
Respectfully Submitted, Elizabeth DeFonce, Brighton Town Clerk