The Regular Monthly Meeting for the Town Board of the Town of Brighton, Franklin County, NY, was held Thursday, May 9 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

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

ROLL CALL OF OFFICERS

PRESENT: Supervisor Peter Shrope

Council Members: Amber McKernan, C. Tracy Santagate, Steve Tucker, and Lydia Wright

ABSENT: None

OTHERS PRESENT: Andy Crary-Superintendent of Highways, Elizabeth DeFonce-Town Clerk, Russell DeFonce-Town Justice, 1 resident

GUESTS: Dan Kelting, President, Paul Smiths College (PSC), Zoe Smith, Paul Smiths College, Jacob Jacques, Development Authority of the North Country (DANC), Carrie Tuttle, DANC,

NOTICE OF MEETING:

Notice of the meeting was posted on the Town Clerk’s Sign Board.

 

PRESENTATION BY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF THE NORTH COUNTRY AND PAUL SMITH’S COLLEGE

Discussion centered around a joint proposal from DANC and PSC for the town to create water and sewer districts for PSC. This would allow them access to greater grant opportunities so they can upgrade their facilities. A Special Board Meeting to discuss this topic is scheduled for Wednesday, June 5^th, at 7PM.

REPORTS

Highway – Superintendent of Highways Andy Crary: Fixed washout at Slush Pond Road; getting sweeper ready for use, changing the sweeper bristles, sweeping the roads;  changing the rake teeth; raking the dirt roads; chipping brush; disassembled the plows and sanders; mowing the cemeteries and the Town Hall; filled in the park driveway; performed road checks; started summer schedule of 4 10-hour days; loader needs service; attended a Highway meeting in Malone; received CHIPS money.

Town Clerk- Elizabeth DeFonce: Total Revenue to Supervisor as of April 30 was $50.00 for 4 dog licenses and 1 Certified copy of a Marriage License

Notice of hiring for Sole Assessor was posted on the Town Clerk’s signboard on April 15^th and sent to Adirondack Daily Enterprise to run from April 22^nd to April 27^th.

Attended the NYSTCA Conference in Albany.

Deputy Town Clerk Elaine Sater took the Oath of Office from Kyle Murray, new Board of Assessment Review member.

TOWN HALL REQUESTS: None

TOWN PARK REQUEST: Rohe Family reserved the park for a graduation party on the afternoon of Sunday, July 28^th.

Tax Collector – Elizabeth DeFonce: A check for $1.97 for bank interest was given to Supervisor Peter Shrope on May 7^th. This will zero out the account.

Asked the Board to approve the Tax Collector attending the NYSATRC Conference in Lake George on June 9^th – 12^th and use the town credit card for hotel reservations and meals.

Motion made to allow the Tax Collector to use the Town credit card for hotel reservations and meals made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, seconded by Amber McKernan. Aye 5 (McKernan, Santagate, Shrope, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0

Historian – Elaine Sater: no report. Supervisor Peter Shrope noted that the historian does have an email now: historian@townofbrighton.net

Town Justice – Russ DeFonce: 16 cases were disposed. The Supervisor was given a check for $1,653.

Code Enforcement Officer – Rodger Tompkins: Issued 4 Building Permits

Assessor – Roseanne Gallagher: Will be sitting with the roll at the Town Hall 4 times in May: Wednesday the 15^th from 10am to 8pm, Thursday the 16^th from 10am to 2pm, Saturday the 18^th from 10am to 2pm, and Thursday the 30^th at 7pm for BAR review. Bob from KLW will be present on Wednesday and Thursday.

Supervisor – Peter Shrope:

An ARPA report showed that there is over $60,000 left. It must be committed to by the end of the year or returned.

BridgeNY: Supervisor Peter Shrope will talk to Carol Murtaugh who has submitted the paperwork for reimbursement. Engineering work is still taking place with a tentative start date of next summer.

Deposits: Received $1,653.00 from the Town Justice, $50.00 from the Town Clerk, $1.97 from the Tax Collector, and $43.13 from Franklin County for stumpage.

NYCLASS: For April – General Fund interest $514.54, total $120,543.60 ($20,000 for Town Hall). Highway Fund interest $196.11, total $45,938.59.

Budget: in good shape.

 

Accept/Amend Minutes

April 11, 2024 – Regular Board

Motion made by Amber McKernan, second by Lydia Wright, to accept the minutes of the April 11,  2024, Regular Meeting as written. Aye 4 (McKernan, Santagate, Shrope, Tucker) Nay 0, Abstain 1 (Wright)

 

CITIZENS’ COMMENTS: None

 

BUSINESS

Discussion about the Assessor’s continued use of a computer jointly owned by the Towns of Bellmont, Brighton, and Westville. The Town of Westville has requested that she be allowed to keep and use the computer as she is training their new Assessor. Motion made to allow the Assessor to continue to use the jointly owned computer made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, seconded by Lydia Wright. Aye 5 (McKernan, Santagate, Shrope, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0

OLD BUSINESS

Town Park: Discussion was held about the playground equipment at the Town Park. A motion to create a committee consisting of Amber McKernan, Tracy Santagate, and Supervisor Peter Shrope, to meet and bring suggestions to the June 8^th Board meeting was made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, seconded by Lydia Wright. Aye 5 (McKernan, Santagate, Shrope, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0

 

CITIZENS’ COMMENTS: None

A motion to move into Executive Session at 9:17 to discuss the appointment of a particular person was made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, seconded by Amber McKernan. Aye 5 (McKernan, Santagate, Shrope, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0, Absent 0

Motion made to move out of Executive Session at 9:29 was made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, seconded by Tracy Santagate. Aye 5 (McKernan, Santagate, Shrope, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0

 

Motion was made to appoint John Stack of Saranac Lake as the Town of Brighton Sole Assessor on July 2, 2024, to fill the remaining Assessor’s term ending September 30, 2024, by Supervisor Peter Shrope, seconded by Amber McKernan. Aye 4 (McKernan, Santagate, Shrope, Tucker) Nay 0, Abstain 1 (Wright)

Notifications will be sent to the candidates.

 

AUDIT OF VOUCHERS

 

RESOLUTION #30-2024

ADUIT 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 #5 for Voucher #s 5A through 5C for 2024 GENERAL FUND in the amount $653.05 and Voucher #5C for 2024 STREET LIGHTING FUNDS in the amount of $72.39

GENERAL FUND: Abstract #5 for Voucher #74 through #90, for 2024 funds in the amount of $6,108.09

HIGHWAY FUND: Abstract #5 for Voucher #42 through #49 for 2024 funds in the amount of $11,322.61

 

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

Resolution #30 declared duly adopted.

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

Motion to Adjourn at 9:43pm made by Amber McKernan, second by Supervisor Peter Shrope

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

Respectfully Submitted,

Elizabeth DeFonce, Brighton Town Clerk