The 2024 Organizational Meeting for the Town Board of the Town of Brighton, Franklin County, NY, was held Thursday, January 11, 2024, 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
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.

OATHS OF OFFICE:
Judge Russ DeFonce took oaths of office from Andy Crary, Superintendent of Highways; Tracy Santagate, Councilperson; and Lydia Wright, Councilperson.
Town Clerk Elizabeth DeFonce took oaths office from Elaine Sater, Deputy Town Clerk; and Russ DeFonce, Deputy Tax Collector.

PAUL SMITHS-GABRIELS VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT ANNUAL REPORT
Tom Tucker–Chief presented the annual report and budget to the Town Board. He presented a list of elected Officers. There were almost 200 Fire calls during 2023. The department is applying for a FEMA grant for turnout gear. Currently they have 44 members, 27 of which are college students.

2024 Officers of the Paul Smiths-Gabriels Volunteer Fire Department as follows:
Tom Tucker – Chief
Ben Tucker – 1st Assistant Chief
Steve Tucker – 2nd Assistant Chief
Connor McCuin – Captain
Jon Hewitt – 1st Lieutenant
Wesley Scriven – 2nd Lieutenant
Matt Gonsalves – Co-Training/Safety Officer
Kaleb Mitchell – Co-Training/Safety Officer
Sandy Paben – Treasurer
Abby Alex – Secretary

APPOINTMENTS BY SUPERVISOR FOR 2024
Deputy Supervisor – Steve Tucker
Bookkeeper/Budget Officer (Contract) – Richard Meagher of Lake Clear

APPOINTMENTS/DESIGNATIONS BY BOARD for 2024

RESOLUTION #1-2024
APPOINTMENTS BY TOWN BOARD FOR 2024
Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, second by Lydia Wright,

RESOLVED that the following appointments by the Town Board are hereby approved for 2024/2025
Code Enforcement Officer – Rodger Tompkins
Town Historian – Elaine Sater
Registrar of Vital Statistics – Elizabeth DeFonce
Records Access Officer – Elizabeth DeFonce
Records Management Officer – Elizabeth DeFonce
Town Hall Custodian – Shelly Smith
Attorney for the Town – Scott Goldie, Esq. Ducharme Goldie & Adams, P.C., Canton

ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 5 (McKernan, Santagate, Shrope, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0
Resolution #1 declared duly adopted.

RESOLUTION# 2-2024
DESIGNATION OF DEPOSITORIES
Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, second by Lydia Wright,

RESOLVED that the following depositories are authorized to be used by the Town Officials in 2024/2025
Town Accounts – NBT Bank and Community Bank, NA
Tax Collector – NBT Bank
Town Clerk – Community Bank, NA
Town Court – Community Bank, NA
Investments – NYCLASS

ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 5 (McKernan, Santagate, Shrope, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0
Resolution #2 declared duly adopted.

RESOLUTION# 3-2024
DESIGNATION OF COUNTER SIGNER FOR CHECKS OVER $5,000
Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, second by Lydia Wright,

RESOLVED that the Town Clerk Elizabeth DeFonce be designated as the counter signer on all checks over $5,000 written by the Town of Brighton in 2024/2025 with the exception of the Trust and Agency payroll account checks.

ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 5 (McKernan, Santagate, Shrope, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0
Resolution #3 declared duly adopted.

RESOLUTION# 4-2024
DESIGNATION OF OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER
Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, second by Steve Tucker,

RESOLVED that the Official Newspaper of the Town of Brighton for publishing public notices during 2024/2025 will be the Adirondack Daily Enterprise in Saranac Lake.

ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 5 (McKernan, Santagate, Shrope, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0
Resolution #4 declared duly adopted.

COMMITTEES: Committees will be designated as needed.

RESOLUTION #5-2024
OPERATING PROCEDURES FOR TOWN BUSINESS AND MEETING
Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, second by Lydia Wright,

RESOLVED that the following procedures shall apply to Town Board operations during 2024/2025:
Town mail address is PO Box 260, Paul Smiths, NY 12970
Town Clerk will collect the mail.
Regular Town Board Meetings will be held on the second Thursday of each month starting at 7:00 p.m., unless otherwise posted.

Council members who are unable to attend a meeting or who will not be able to arrive by the designated meeting time should notify the Supervisor in advance, as a matter of courtesy.
Council members or other elected officials wishing to have business items included on the meeting agenda should inform the supervisor one week in advance of the board meeting, as a matter of courtesy.
Public requests to be included on the agenda should be made to the supervisor. Meeting participation by the public will be only by invitation of the meeting chair and speakers will identify themselves. All remarks will be directed to the Board.

The following departments are requested to provide written monthly reports on activity, expenses, concerns, suggestions, etc., prior to the monthly meeting. These should be provided either directly to board members’ mailboxes or to the supervisor within 3 days of the board meeting to allow for distribution to the council members. If there is to be no report, please inform the supervisor.

Highway Superintendent – Andy Crary
Town Clerk- Elizabeth DeFonce
Town Historian – Elaine Sater
Tax Collector – Elizabeth DeFonce
Town Justice – Russell DeFonce
Assessor – Roseanne Gallagher
Code Enforcement Officer – Rodger Tompkins
Supervisor – Peter Shrope

ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 5 (McKernan, Santagate, Shrope, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0
Resolution #5 declared duly adopted.

Resolution #6-2024
AUTHORIZATION TO PRE-PAY CERTAIN CLAIMS
Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, second by Steve Tucker,

RESOLVED that the supervisor be authorized to pre-pay certain claims incurred during 2024/2025 prior to audit of the vouchers for payment, as follows: public utility services, postage, and freight and express charges.  All such claims are to be presented for audit at the next regular board meeting.

ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 5 (McKernan, Santagate, Shrope, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0
Resolution #6 declared duly adopted.

Resolution #7-2024
AUDIT OF 2023 FINANCIAL RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK, JUSTICE, AND SUPERVISOR
Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, Second by Tracy Santagate,

RESOLVED that an Annual Audit of the Town Clerk, Town Justice and Town Supervisor’s financial records be conducted in accordance with Town Law Section 123 on Tuesday, January 16, 2023, at 10:00am at the Town Hall.

ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 5 (McKernan, Santagate, Shrope, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0
Resolution #7 declared duly adopted.

RESOLUTION #8-2023
REIMBURSEMENT FOR MILEAGE FOR TOWN BUSINESS FOR 2024
Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, second by Amber McKernan,

RESOLVED that Town Officials be reimbursed at the rate allowed by the United States Internal Revenue Service per mile from the Town Hall for the use of their personal vehicles while on town business during 2024, except for the Tax Collector Elizabeth DeFonce and Assessor Roseanne Gallagher who will log mileage from their residences. Beginning on Jan. 1, 2024, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be $00.67 cents per mile for business miles driven.

ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 5 (McKernan, Santagate, Shrope, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0
Resolution #8 declared duly adopted.

RESOLUTION #9-2023
FILING OF SUPERVISOR’S ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT 2023
Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, second by Amber McKernan,

RESOLVED that a copy of the supervisor’s annual financial report for 2023 to the State Comptroller be filed with the town clerk within the first 60 days of 2024, unless the Comptroller extends the filing date by 60 days, in which case the same extension shall apply to the filing with the town clerk.

ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 5 (McKernan, Santagate, Shrope, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0
Resolution #9 declared duly adopted.

Resolution #10-2024
AUTHORIZATION TO BOND TOWN OFFICIALS
Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, second by Amber McKernan,

RESOLVED, that the Town Board authorizes a blanket surety bond permitted by Section 11 of the Public Officers Law in lieu of individual undertakings as required by Section 25 of the Town Law, which indemnifies the Town for losses caused by failure to faithfully perform duties or by fraudulent or dishonest acts on the part of the Tax Collector, the Supervisor, and all other elected officials and employees for the years 2024/2025, and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the amount of the blanket surety bond through Municipal Crime Insurance Coverage will be $500,000.00 for all Town officials and employees individually.

ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 5 (McKernan, Santagate, Shrope, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0
Resolution #10 declared duly adopted.

RESOLUTION #11-2023
AUTHORIZATION FOR SALARIES AND WAGES FOR 2024 ONLY
Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, second by Amber McKernan,

RESOLVED, that the following salaries and wages be approved and are to be paid biweekly during 2024:
Council Member (A1010.1)                                    $   5,761.00 /Year
Justice (A1110.1)                                                   $   17,850.00 /Year
Court Clerk (A1130.1)                                           $   18.33 /Hour
Supervisor (A1220.1)                                             $   18,572.00 /Year
Deputy Supervisor (A1220.1A                                $     650.00 /Year
Tax Collector (A1330.1)                                        $   8,793.00 /Year
Assessor (A1355.1)                                                $   14,074.00 /Year
Town Clerk (A1410.1)                                           $   13,463.00 /Year
Deputy Town Clerk (A1415.1)                               $   5,000,00/ Year
Town Hall Custodian (A1620.1)                             $  18.33 /Hour
Code Enforcement Officer (A3010.1)                     $   16,810.00 /Year
Registrar of Vital Statistics (A4020.1)                     $      340.00 /Year
Superintendent of Highways (A5010.1)                   $    63,616.00 /Year
Deputy Superintendent of Highways (A5010.1)       $     988.00 /Year
Town Park Manager/Laborer (A7140.1)                  $     18.33 /Hour

Highway Hourly Wage – General (DA5110.1)         $24.84 / $37.26 / $49.68 Hour/Over Time/Holiday
Highway Hourly Wage–Snow Removal (DA5142.1) $24.84 / $37.26 / $49.68 Hour/Over Time/Holiday

ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 5 (McKernan, Santagate, Shrope, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0
Resolution #11 declared duly adopted.

ADJOURNMENT

Motion to Adjourn at 7:57pm made by Amber McKernan, second by Lydia Wright,
Aye 5 (McKernan, Santagate, Shrope, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0

Respectfully Submitted,
Elizabeth DeFonce
Brighton Town Clerk