May 11, 2023 Regular Meeting (Draft)

The Regular Monthly Meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Brighton, Franklin County, NY, was held Thursday, May 11, 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 7:01pm
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: Andy Crary-Superintendent of Highways, Elizabeth DeFonce-Tax Collector, Russell DeFonce-Deputy Tax Collector, Elaine Sater-Town Clerk and two residents
GUESTS: Nedd Sparks, Franklin County Legislature District 6

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

Nedd Sparks, Franklin County Legislature District 6: Available to help any time, prefers face-to-face discussion. Will investigate North County LifeFlight not responding to fire department request for airlift request.

REPORTS

Highway ñ Superintendent of Highways Andy Crary: Picked up 2020 Ford 150 pickup truck from High Peaks Ford; swept all roads in the Town, changed bristles on broom; dismantled all trucks (snow plows and sand box); patched pot holes around Town; weed wacked and mowed cemeteries, ordered flags for Memorial Day; road raked dirt roads; did road checks; fixed turn around on Hoffman Road; cleared beaver dams; had radio installed in F150 pick-up truck, received notice of CHIPS funding, $103,495 is available; paving next week on Bert LaFountain Road and Tansy Lane; BRIDGENY grant funds are available for the Keese Mills Road bridge near the horse barn, will reapply for 2024 funds for Split Rock Road bridge; would like to abandon Riley Road, the owner of the property is deceased; McColloms Road is not listed correctly on the inventory of roads, it should be longer.

RESOLUTION #24-2023
PAVING BERT LAFOUNTAIN ROAD AND TANSY LANE
Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, second by Amber McKernan,
WHEREAS, the Franklin County Superintendent of Highways does not provide paving equipment for the Town,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Board authorizes the Superintendent of Highways to hire a paving company to pave the Bert LaFountain Road and Tansy Lane in an amount not to exceed $65,000.
ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 4 (McKernan, Shrope, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0, Absent 1 (Szeliga)
Resolution #24 declared duly adopted.

Town Clerk- Elaine Sater: Total Revenue to Supervisor as of April 30, 2023, was $ 1,185.00 from 1 Genealogical Search, 7 Dog Licenses: 3 New (Tag #s 272 to 274) and 4 renewed, and 7 Building Permits (BP#s 23-003, 006, and 008 to 012)
April 20 – Received a signed contract for Shared Highway Services from Town of Tupper Lake.
Took Oath of Office from Rodger Tompkins, Code Enforcement Officer
April 23 to 26 attended the NYS Town Clerkís Conference in Syracuse.
May 2 ñ Sent letter to Franklin County Board of Elections certifying the abolishment of the elected Tax Collectors position from the ballot for the November 2023 General Election.
May 9 ñ Took Oath of Office from Paul Pillis, Board of Assessment Review Member
TOWN HALL REQUESTS: None
TOWN PARK REQUEST: None
RECORDS MANAGEMENT: Indexing Vol 13 of Minutes (1985 thru 1987)
FOIL REQUEST: None

Historian ñ Elaine Sater: Received two requests for information.
Received a request for information on where the name ìNorth Brookî came from. Original owner was from Canada. No information in History at Town Hall on where the name came from.
Received a request for information on Oscar J. Otis who used to be on the Town Board. He was Justice of the Peace from 1940 to 1947. He was a caretaker at White Pine Camp.

Tax Collector ñ Elizabeth DeFonce: All tax documents were returned to the Treasurer’s Office on April 13th. The few late payments received have been sent to that office as they’ve come in. Met with the Supervisor regarding payment of the last check to the Town. There are still 4 checks totaling $8 outstanding, was advised to wait until they’ve been cashed. If this doesn’t happen in a reasonable time, Will send letters to the recipients urging them to do so. Will find out how old a check can be before the bank wonít cash it. Check numbers issued for the $2 refunds were #s 1998 to 2007.

Town Justice ñ Nik Santagate: Supervisor received a check in the amount of $1,797.00 for 20 disposed cases during April.

Code Enforcement Officer ñ Rodger Tompkins: 5 Building Permits (BP#s 23-010 to 014) were issued in April.

Assessor – Roseanne Gallagher:
REVALUATION: Sent a certified letter to notify the State concerning the Revaluation taking place this year.
The Board of Assessment Review (BAR) meets on Thursday, June 1, from 5 to 9pm, by appointment only.

Supervisor ñ Peter Shrope:
American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA): Submitted report as of April 30, 2023, in the amount of $49,679.00 for the water wells.
Parking Lot at Town Hall: Signed form for NYS Department of Transportationís Use and Occupancy Permit for use of the parking lot in front of Town Hall. A Certificate of Insurance will be provided by the Town.
Tree Maintenance by National Grid: Received notice that National Grid will be conducting routine tree maintenance from April 2023 until March 2024 in the Town.
Alternate Polling Site: Received notice from Franklin County Board of Elections that the Town Garage has been designated as an alternate polling site for Elections in case the Town Hall is not available.
Budget: Copy provided to Town Board members as of April 30, 2023; Revenue received since last meeting $41.87 petty cash returned from Tax Collector, $400.00 for 2 cemetery plots, $1,797 from Justice, and $1,185 from Town Clerk
NYCLASS: For April – General Fund interest $440.46, total $114,470.61 ($20,000 for Town Hall). Highway Fund interest $167.86, total $43,624.19

ACCEPT/AMEND MINUTES
April 13, 2023 – Regular Board
Motion made by Amber McKernan, second by Lydia Wright, to accept the minutes of the April 13, 2023, Regular Board Meeting, as written. Aye 4 (McKernan, Shrope, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0, Absent1 (Szeliga)

CITIZENSí COMMENTS:
Liz DeFonce asked if the Town had a day when residents cleaned up the trash from the roadsides.
The Town doesnít have a specific day, residents have picked up trash on their own over the years.

BUSINESS

Adirondack Association of Towns & Villages ñ Supervisor Peter Shrope: Annual meeting will be held on June 3 and 4 in Lake Placid if anyone is interested in attending.

Park Use ñ Supervisor Peter Shrope: Asked for discussion on opening the park building to public use. Summary of discussion was the park is not used enough to open the building and hire someone to maintain it. The playground equipment should be replaced, the heating system needs to be upgraded, the basketball court needs repair, and a pickle ball court was discussed. The building will not be reopened at this time.

COMMITTEES:

Cemeteries ñ Amber McKernan/Steve Tucker: Will meet with Bruce Sawyer to discuss what needs to be repaired and cleaned this year.

Park & Recreation ñ Peter Shrope/Amber McKernan: The port-a-potty has been delivered.

Website ñ Peter Shrope/Amber McKernan: Received as email from the webmaster stating the website is behind in postings.

CITIZENS COMMENTS: None

AUDIT OF VOUCHERS

RESOLUTION #25-2023
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 #5 for Voucher #s 5A through 5C for 2023 GENERAL FUND in the amount $604.09 and Voucher #5C for 2023 STREET LIGHTING FUNDS in the amount of $69.63
GENERAL FUND: Abstract #5 for Voucher #94 through #105 for 2023 funds in the amount of $4,018.32
HIGHWAY FUND: Abstract #5 for Voucher 42 through #49 for 2023 funds in the amount of $32,453.33
ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 4 (McKernan, Shrope, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0, Absent 1 (Szeliga)
Resolution #25 declared duly adopted.

ADJOURNMENT
Motion to Adjourn at 8:15pm made by Lydia Wright, second by Amber McKernan
Aye 4 (McKernan, Shrope, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0, Absent 1 (Szeliga)

Respectfully Submitted, Elaine W. Sater, Brighton Town Clerk