January 12, 2023 Regular Meeting (Draft)

The Regular Monthly Meeting for the Town Board of the Town of Brighton, Franklin County, NY, was held Thursday, January 12, 2023, at 7:21pm, directly following the 2023 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 7:21pm

ROLL CALL OF OFFICERS

PRESENT: Supervisor Peter Shrope
Council Members: Matthew Szeliga, Steve Tucker and Lydia Wright
ABSENT: Council Member Amber McKernan
OTHERS PRESENT: Andy Crary-Superintendent of Highways, Elizabeth DeFonce-Tax Collector, Russell DeFonce-Deputy Tax Collector, Elaine Sater-Town Clerk, and 3 members of the Paul Smiths-Gabriels Volunteer Fire Department (PSGVFD).
GUESTS: Pat Maguire, Sid G Spear Insurance Agent

NOTICE OF MEETING:
Notice of this meeting was posted on the Town Clerk’s Sign Board on January 5, 2023, and a notice was published in the Adirondack Daily Enterprise. Notices were distributed to Town Officials.

INSURANCE AGENT – Pat Maguire, Sid G Spear Insurance:
Reviewed the Liability Insurance with the Town Board; premium increase is 5%, property values increased by 6%; will change address for Tax Collector residence and add address for Assessor residence.

RESOLUTION #6-2023
LIABILITY INSURANCE NYMIR POLICY
Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, second by Matthew Szeliga,
RESOLVED that the Town Board accepts the Liability Insurance Policy for 2023 from New York Municipal Insurance Reciprocal (NYMIR), and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Town Board authorizes the Supervisor to pay Sid G Spear Insurance, the agent for NYMIR, the amount of $16,765.34 for the policy.
ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 4 (Shrope, Szeliga, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0, Absent 1 (McKernan)
Resolution #6 declared duly adopted.

REPORTS

Highway – Superintendent of Highways Andy Crary:
Put new lights on the 2013 plow truck; greased the trucks; washed the trucks; plowed and sanded roads; mixed up sand and salt; cleaned up some downed trees on roads; changed the steel on the 2020 plow truck; cleaned the shop; replaced the hydraulic hose on the 2015 plow truck.

Town Clerk– Elaine Sater:
Total Revenue to Supervisor as of December 31, 2022, was $ 105.00 from 8 Certified Copies Vital Records and 2 Dog Licenses renewed.
Provided Annual Town Clerk Financial Report to Town Board: Revenue received from Code Enforcement Officer $2,671.20, Certified copies, genealogical searches, and birth and death records $512.00, Copier Use, Notary Fees, and FOIL requests $52.07, Dog Licenses $502.00, Donation for Park and Town Hall Use $580.00, Marriage Licenses and Certified Copies $90.00, for Total revenue of $4,407.27. Disbursements are as follows: NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets for Spay/Neuter Program $90.00, NYS Department of Health for Marriage Licenses $45.00, Refunds for Overpayments $12.00, and Supervisor Town of Brighton $4,260.27. Total Disbursed $4,407.27.
December 8 – Posted and published public notice for Public Hearing for proposed Local Law#1-2022 ìPrevention of Nuisance Alarms’ to be held on December 15 at 7pm. Distributed notice to Town Board members.
December 15 – Attended Public Hearing for proposed Local Law #1-2022 at 7pm, waited with Supervisor Peter Shrope 15 minutes, no board members or public attended.
Closed Town Clerk’s Office Tuesday, December 27 and Thursday, December 29.
January 3 – Received letter of resignation from Holly Huber, Deputy Tax Collector, as of December 27, 2022, Received letter of appointment for Russell DeFonce as Deputy Tax Collector, as of December 27, 2022. Took Oath of Office for Russel DeFonce as Deputy Tax Collector to complete the unfinished term until December 31, 2023. Sent letter to notify the Franklin County Clerk.
January 5 – Posted and published notice in the Adirondack Daily Enterprise for Organizational Meeting on January 12, 2023, at 700pm with Regular meeting to start directly at the close of the Organizational Meeting. Notice was distributed to Board members.
Sent letter to Franklin County Board of Elections, Re: List of 7 elected positions to be on ballot in November 2023; two council members 4-year terms, supervisor 2-year term, superintendent of highways 2-year term; tax collector 4-year term, town clerk 4-year term, and town justice 4-year term
TOWN HALL REQUESTS: None
TOWN PARK REQUEST: None
RECORDS MANAGEMENT: Indexing Vol 13 of Minutes (1985 thru 1986)
FOIL REQUESTS: Dec 13 – received request by email dated Dec 12, for Disposition for Court Case from 1990; no record found.
Received request by fax dated Dec 13, for Disposition for Court Case from 1972; no record found.

Historian – Elaine Sater: Nothing to Report

Tax Collector – Elizabeth DeFonce:
Russ DeFonce was sworn in as deputy Tax Collector on January 3rd. As of Monday, January 9, $197,787.27 has come in. Issues with accessing the NBT online banking have been resolved but not with the remote deposit machine, that should happen soon. One issue to deal with – need help with filling out a W9 for a taxpayer who had a mix-up with his school taxes.

Town Justice – Nik Santagate: Supervisor received a check in the amount of $1,572.00 for 21 disposed cases during December 2022.

Assessor – Roseanne Gallagher: Attending on-line training to get Continuing Education Credits; used to be reimbursed by State, now has to pay $200 and get reimbursed by Town. Equalization Rate will drop again this year. Working on updating paperwork from data collection.
Supervisor Peter Shrope emailed KLW Municipal, Inc., to let them know they were awarded the contract, they will start in the spring.

Supervisor – Peter Shrope:
Bridge NY: Notified Barton LG Engineering Co. concerning the grant for the Keese Mills Road culvert, they will resubmit request for grant. The cost to replace the culvert has increased from $900,000 in 2018 to $1,400,000.
Budget: Distributed Final for 2022 to Board members. Revenue received since last meeting $600 for Cemetery plots, $1,572 from Justice, $105 from Town Clerk, and $255,079.21 from Tax Collector.
NYCLASS: For December – General Fund interest $365.49, total $112,820.40. Highway Fund interest $139.28, total $42995.37.

Accept/Amend Minutes: December 8, 2022 – Regular Board
Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, second by Matthew Szeliga, to accept the minutes of the December 8, 2022, Regular Board Meeting, as written. Aye 4 (Shrope, Szeliga, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0, Absent 1 (McKernan)

CITIZENS’ COMMENTS: NONE

BUSINESS

Budget Amendments – Supervisor Peter Shrope: End of year transfer of funds to cover expenses in different accounts.

GENERAL FUND 2022 BUDGET AMENDMENT #1
Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, second by Steve Tucker,
RESOLVED that the following amount be and the same hereby are transferred:
$18,922 from Account No. A1990 Contingent
As follows:
$ 558.00 to Account No. A1220.4 Supervisor Contractual Expense (CE)
$ 4241.00 to Account No. A1330.4 Tax Collection CE
$ 236.00 to Account No. A1410.4 Town Clerk CE
$ 380.00 to Account No. A1910.4 Insurance CE
$ 384.00 to Account No. A5010.4 Superintendent of Highways CE
$ 3,013.00 to Account No. A5132.4 Town Garage CE
$ 4,953.00 to Account No. A7140.4 Special Recreational CE
$ 1,629.00 to Account No. A8810.4 Cemeteries CE
$ 3,528.00 to Account No. A9060.8 Hospital and Medical Insurance Employee Benefits
ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 4 (Shrope, Szeliga, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0, Absent 1 (McKernan)
GENERAL FUND BUDGET 2022 AMENDMENT #1 declared duly amended.

HIGHWAY FUND BUDGET 2022 AMENDMENT #1
Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, second by Steve Tucker,
RESOLVED that the following amounts be and the same hereby are transferred:
$62,233.00 from Account No. DA5130.2 Capital Outlay Machinery Heavy Equipment
$ 5,467.00 from Account No. DA5110.1 General Repairs Personal Services (PS)
as follows:
$52,904.00 to Account No. DA5112.2 Improvements Capital Outlay
$ 5,467.00 to Account No. DA5142.1 Snow Removal PS
$ 9329.00 to Account No. DA5110.4 General Repairs Contractual Expense (CE)
ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 4 (Shrope, Szeliga, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0, Absent 1 (McKernan)
HIGHWAY FUND BUDGET 2022 AMENDMENT #1 declared duly amended.

Annual Agreements- Supervisor Peter Shrope: Received two annual contracts for approval.

Election Polling Site Agreement
RESOLUTION #7-2023
2023 POLLIG SITE AGREEMENT
Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, second by Matthew Szeliga,
RESOLVED that the Town Board authorizes the Supervisor to sign an agreement with the Franklin County Board of Elections for the 2023 Polling Site for the Town to be in the Town Hall. Dates of Elections are June 27 for State and Local Primaries and November 7 for the General Election. Special Elections, if necessary, will be announced.
ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 4 (Shrope, Szeliga, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0, Absent 1 (McKernan)
Resolution #7 declared duly adopted.

Adirondack Regional Airport Agreement:
RESOLUTION #8-2023
ADIRODACK REGIONAL AIRPORT AGREEMENT FOR 2023
Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, second by Steve Tucker,
RESOLVED that the Town Board authorizes the Supervisor to sign an agreement with the Town of Harrietstown to support the Adirondack Regional Airport for 2023 in the amount of $1,500, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Supervisor be authorized to pay the Town of Harrietstown the sum of $1,500 for 2023.
ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 4 (Shrope, Szeliga, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0, Absent 1 (McKernan)
Resolution #8 declared duly adopted.

Public Hearing Proposed Local Law #1 for the Year 2022 ìPrevention of Nuisance Alarmsî-Supervisor Peter Shrope: Since no one showed up for the previously scheduled Public Hearing on December 15th, the Board needs to agree on another Public Hearing date.
Public Hearing for proposed Local Law #1 for the Year 2022 ìPrevention of Nuisance Alarmsî is scheduled for February 9, during the next Town Board meeting at 7:00 pm.

American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funds – Supervisor Peter Shrope: Submitted a claim for the $1,000 spent by the Town for the creation of the Emergency Plan for 2020. Need to spend the rest of the funds or return them. Requested a quote for drilling a well for the Town Hall and Garage. Discussion was held on drilling for 1 or 2 wells. Will investigate the cost difference.

COMMITTEES: No Reports

CITIZENS COMMENTS: None

AUDIT OF VOUCHERS
RESOLUTION #9-2023
ADUIT OF VOUCHERS
Motion made by Lydia Wright, second by Steve Tucker,
RESOLVED that the Supervisor be authorized to pay the audited vouchers as listed on the abstracts as follows:
PREPAID FUNDS: Abstract #1 for Voucher #s 1A through 1C for 2022 GENERAL FUND in the amount of $588.87 and Voucher #1C for 2022 STREET LIGHTING FUNDS in the amount of $86.11
GENERAL FUND: Abstract #1 for Voucher #1 through #32, for 2023 funds in the amount of $84,206.95
HIGHWAY FUND: Abstract #1 for Voucher #1 through #12 for 2023 funds in the amount of $58,408.89
SPECIAL FUND-Fire District: Abstract #1 for 2023 funds in the amount of $53,213.15
ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 4 (Shrope, Szeliga, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0, Absent 1 (McKernan)
Resolution #9 declared duly adopted.

ADJOURNMENT
Motion to Adjourn at 8:30pm made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, second by Lydia Wright,
Aye 4 (Shrope, Szeliga, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0, Absent 1 (McKernan)

Respectfully Submitted, ELaine W. Sater, Brighton Town Clerk