The Regular Meeting for the Town Board of the Town of Brighton, Franklin County, NY, was held Thursday, January 11, 2024, at 7:57pm following the Organizational Meeting 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 7:57pm

The “Pledge of Allegiance” to the flag was recited.

ROLL CALL OF OFFICERS

PRESENT: Supervisor Peter Shrope

Council Members: Amber McKernan, Caroline T. Santagate (Tracy), Steve Tucker and Lydia Wright

OTHERS PRESENT: Andy Crary-Superintendent of Highways, Elizabeth DeFonce-Town Clerk /Tax Collector, Russell DeFonce-Town Justice, Elaine Sater-Deputy Town Clerk, 2 members of the Paul Smiths-Gabriels Volunteer Fire Department (PSGVFD), and 1 member of the public.

GUESTS: None

NOTICE OF MEETING:

Notice of this meeting was posted on the Town Clerk’s Sign Board on January 2, 2023, and a notice was published in the Adirondack Daily Enterprise on January 4, 2024. Notices were distributed to Town Officials.

REPORTS

Highway – Superintendent of Highways Andy Crary: Plowing and sanding on a regular basis; cleaned the shop; cleaned the trucks; mixed up salt and sand. The F350 pickup truck had its transmission replaced while it was still under warranty.

Town Clerk – Elaine Sater: Total Revenue to Supervisor as of December 31, 2023, was $72.00 from 1 Copy of Certified Vital Record, 5 Dog Licenses: 4 renewed and 1 new (Tag#280), and 1 Notary Signature

December 21- Took Oath of Office for Supervisor Peter Shrope

December 26 – Took Oath of Office for Justice Russ DeFonce, mailed a copy to the Franklin County Clerk

TOWN HALL REQUESTS: Brighton Ladies of the Evening are willing to change to Wednesday evening if the Court change to Mondays.

TOWN PARK REQUEST: None

RECORDS MANAGEMENT: Indexing Vol 14 (1988 to 1989)

FOIL REQUESTS: None

Town Clerk’s Annual Report for 2023: Total revenue received was $17,274.62. Disbursements, NYS Dept. of Agriculture & Markets, Spay & Neutered Program – $100, NYS Dept. of Health, Marriage Licenses – $22.50, Refund for overpayment – $10.00, Supervisor, Town of Brighton – $17,142.12.

Historian – Elaine Sater: No Report

Tax Collector – Elizabeth DeFonce: Tax bills were received on December 27 so, due to time constraints, they were taken to Compass Printing for folding; they were mailed December 29th. The software for the remote capture was successfully installed on the Town Clerk/Tax Collector’s computer so the old Tax Collector computer was brought back to be disposed of. Postal rates are rising in January so envelopes for the 2025 tax season should be ordered now.

Town Justice – Nik Santagate: Disposed of 23 cases during December and the Supervisor received a check in the amount of $2,105. Incoming Justice Russ DeFonce would like to order pre-addressed, stamped envelopes in advance of the postal rate increase.

Code Enforcement Officer – Rodger Tompkins: Issued 55 Building Permits during 2023 for a total of $15,728.95.

Assessor – Roseanne Gallagher: Nothing to Report

Supervisor Peter Shrope contacted Kyle Murray to be a Board of Assessment Review member.

RESOLUTION #12-2024

APPOINTMENT OF BOARD OF ASSESSMENT REVIEW MEMBER

Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, Seconded by Amber McKernan

RESOLVED that the Town Board appoints Kyle Murray of Keese Mill Road, Paul Smiths, as Board of Review Member for the term January 11, 2024 to September 30, 2028.

ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 5 (McKernan, Santagate, Shrope, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0

Resolution #12 declared duly adopted.

Supervisor – Peter Shrope:

BRIDGENY: NYDEC, NYDOT, and Barton & Loguidice returned the signed contracts. The Town will pursue the BAN next year when the big construction begins.

Town Park: Amber contacted the Town of Franklin regarding playground equipment. They used some of their ARPA money for their playground upgrades; we could do the same.

Camp Gabriels: Peter Bauer of ProtectADK proposed rolling all 3 defunct prisons be included in one amendment.

VSL shared service agreement: Received from the Village of Saranac Lake.

Budget: Final copy provided to Town Board members as of December 31, 2023, budget amendments below; revenue received since last Regular Monthly meeting: $2,105 from Justice, and $72 from Town Clerk.

NYCLASS: For December – General Fund interest $530.43 ($5,652.62 for the year), total $118,473.02 ($20,000 for Town Hall). Highway Fund interest $202.13 ($2,154.11 for the year), total $45,149.48.

ACCEPT/AMEND MINUTES

December 14, 2023 – Regular Board Meeting Minutes

Motion made by Amber McKernan, second by Steve Tucker, to accept the minutes of the December 14, Regular Board Meeting, as written. Aye 4 (McKernan, Shrope, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0, Abstain 1 (Santagate)

Citizen Comments: None

Business:

BUDGET AMENTMENTS: 

GENERAL FUND 2023 BUDGET AMENDMENT #1

Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, second by Amber McKernan,

RESOLVED that the following amount be and the same hereby are appropriated/transferred:

$12,824 from Account No. A1355.4 Assessor Contractual Expense (CE)

$57,569.00 from unexpended balance (ARPA)

As follows:

$38.00 to Account No. A1220.4 Supervisor CE

$3,333.00 to Account No. A1330.4 Tax Collection CE

$466.00 to Account No. A1410.4 Town Clerk CE

$57,569.00 to Account No. A1620.2 Buildings Equipment

$2.00 to Account No. A4020    Vital Statistics CE

$122.00 to Account No. A5132.4 Town Garage CE

$2446.00 to Account No. A7140.4 Facilities CE

$1,789.00 to Account No. A8810.4 Cemeteries CE

$130.00 to Account No. A9030.8 Social Security

$4,498.00 to Account No. A9060.8 Hospital and Medical Insurance Employee Benefits

ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 5 (McKernan, Santagate, Shrope, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0

GENERAL FUND BUDGET 2023 AMENDMENT #1 declared duly amended.

 

HIGHWAY FUND BUDGET 2023 AMENDMENT #1

Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, second by Steve Tucker,

RESOLVED that the following amounts be and the same hereby are transferred:

$9024.00 from Account No. DA5110.1 General Repairs Personal Services (PS)

$41,000.00 from Account No. DA5130.2 Machinery, Heavy

$22,244.00 from Account No. DA9060.8 Hospital and Medical Insurance Employee Benefits

As follows:

$16,882.00 to Account No. DA5110. General Repairs Contractual Expense (CE)

$38,863.00 to Account No. DA5112.2 Improvements

$7,499.00 to Account No. DA5130.4 Machinery CE

$9,024.00 to Account No. DA5142.1 Snow Removal (PS)

ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 5 (McKernan, Santagate, Shrope, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0

HIGHWAY FUND BUDGET 2022 AMENDMENT #1 declared duly amended.

Annual Agreements– Supervisor Peter Shrope: Received four annual contracts for approval.

Election Polling Site Agreement

RESOLUTION #13-2024

2024 POLLING SITE AGREEMENT

Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, second by Steve Tucker,

RESOLVED that the Town Board authorizes the Supervisor to sign an agreement with the Franklin County Board of Elections for the 2024 Polling Site for the Town to be in the Town Hall. Dates of Elections are April 2 for Presidential Primary, June 25 for State and Local Primaries, and November 5 for the General Election. Special Elections, if necessary, will be announced.

ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 5 (McKernan, Santagate, Shrope, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0

Resolution #13 declared duly adopted.

Tri-Lakes Humane Society:

RESOLUTION #14-2024

AGREEMENT WITH TRI-LAKES HUMANE SOCIETY FOR 2024 SERVICES

Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, second by 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 $3,980.00 for the year 2024.

ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 5 (McKernan, Santagate, Shrope, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0

Resolution #14 declared duly adopted.

RESOLUTION #15-2024

AGREEMENT WITH SARANAC LAKE VOLUNTEER RESCUE SQUAD FOR 2024 SERVICES

Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, second by Steve Tucker,

RESOLVED that the Town Board authorizes the Supervisor to sign an agreement with Saranac Lake Volunteer Rescue Squad, Inc., for emergency medical and transport ambulance services in the amount of $41,970.00 for the year 2024.

ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 5 (McKernan, Santagate, Shrope, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0

Resolution #15 declared duly adopted.

Adirondack Park Local Government Review Board:

RESOLUTION #16-2024

AGREEMENT WITH ADIRONDACK PARK LOCAL GOVERNMENT REVIEW BOARD FOR 2024 SERVICES

Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, second by Amber McKernan,

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 2024.

ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 5 (McKernan, Santagate, Shrope, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0

Resolution #16 declared duly adopted.

Citizen Comments: None

Executive Session:

Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope to GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION at 8:55pm in accordance with Public Officer’s Law, Article 7, Section 105e, to discuss collective negotiations pursuant to Article 14 of the Civil Service Law (the Taylor Law), second by Amber McKernan,

Aye 5 (McKernan, Santagate, Shrope, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0

Motion made to GO OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION at 9:01pm, seconded by Amber McKernan,

Aye 5 (McKernan, Santagate, Shrope, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0

RESOLUTION#17-2024

CSEA UNION COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT FOR 2024-2025

Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, second by Amber McKernan,

RESOLVED that the Town Board authorizes the Supervisor to sign a Collective Bargaining Agreement by and between the Town and the Civil Service Employees Association, Inc., Local 1000, AFSCME, AFL-CIO, Town of Brighton Unit 6870, Franklin County Local 817 for the period January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2025 with the following changes: 6.1.1 Pay Schedule: pay increase of 3.5% for 2024 to be $24.84/hour and pay increase of 3.5% for 2025 to be $25.71/hour. 6.1.3 Compensation: adjust the language to reflect the changes made that combined the clothing/boot allowance of $750 per year. 7.2.1 Vacation Leave: add 80 hours after “two weeks”, 120 hours after “three weeks”, 160 hours after “four weeks.” Employees will be able to roll over one week (40) hours of vacation per year.

ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 5 (McKernan, Santagate, Shrope, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0

Resolution #17 declared duly adopted.

AUDIT OF VOUCHERS

RESOLUTION #18-2024

AUDIT OF VOUCHERS

Motion made by Amber McKernan, seconded by Tracy Santagate

RESOLVED that the Supervisor be authorized to pay the audited vouchers as listed on the abstracts as follows:

PREPAID FUNDS: Abstract #1 for Voucher #1A thru #1C for 2024 in the amount of $644.28 and Voucher 1C STREET LIGHTING FUNDS in the amount of $87.09

GENERAL FUND: Abstract #1 for Voucher #1 through #30 for 2024 funds in the amount of $93,919.30

HIGHWAY FUND: Abstract #1 for Voucher #1 through #12 for 2024 funds in the amount of $57,998.15

SPECIAL FUND-FIRE DISTRICT: Abstract #1 for Voucher #1 for 2024 funds in the amount of $54,809.55

ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 5 (McKernan, Santagate, Shrope, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0

Resolution #18 declared duly adopted.

ADJOURNMENT

Motion to Adjourn at 9:02pm made by Amber McKernan, second by Lydia Wright,

Aye 5 (McKernan, Santagate, Shrope, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0

Respectfully Submitted,
Elizabeth DeFonce

Brighton Town Clerk