November 9, 2023 Regular and Public Hearing Minutes (Draft)

The Regular Monthly Meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Brighton, Franklin County, NY, including Public Hearings on the 2024 Budget and the Bond Anticipation Note for the Culvert, was held Thursday, November 9, 2023, at 6:30pm 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 6:32pm
Pledge to the Flag was recited.

ROLL CALL OF OFFICERS
PRESENT: Supervisor Peter Shrope
Council Members: Amber McKernan, Matthew Szeliga (entered meeting at 7pm), and Steve Tucker,
ABSENT: Council Member Lydia Wright
OTHERS PRESENT: Andy Crary-Superintendent of Highways, Russell DeFonce-Deputy Tax Collector, Richard Meagher – Bookkeeper/Budget Officer, Tracy Santagate – Court Clerk, Elaine Sater-Town Clerk and one resident
GUESTS: None

NOTICE OF MEETING:
Notice of this meeting and the public hearings for the Preliminary Budget for 2024 and the Bond Anticipation Note for the culvert replacement funds was posted on the Town Clerk’s Sign Board and distributed to the Town Board Members on October 31, 2023. The Notice for the Public Hearing for the Preliminary Budget for 2024 was published in the Adirondack Daily Enterprise on November 2, 2023, and the Notice for the Public Hearing on the Bond Anticipation Note for culvert replacement funds was published in the Adirondack Daily Enterprise on November 3, 2023.

PUBLIC HEARING PRELIMINARY BUDGET 2024
Supervisor Peter Shrope opened the floor for public comment on the Preliminary Budget for 2024 at 6:33pm
Richard Meagher said the Town’s Budget met the Tax Cap limit of 2.8%, with an implied tax rate of $3.48 per $1,000 of assessed value. The Town has no fiscal stress.
There were no further comments from the public.
Supervisor Peter Shrope closed the Public Hearing on the Preliminary Budget for 2024 at 6:35pm

RESOLUTION #43B-2023
ADOPTED BUDGET FOR 2024
Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, second by Amber McKernan,
RESOLVED that the Town Board adopts the Preliminary Budget with no changes as the Annual Budget for 2024 after holding a Public Hearing for public comment on Thursday, November 9, 2023, at 6:30pm, as follows:
General Fund Appropriations $525,579.
General Fund Revenue: $49,569.
Less General Fund Balance: $141,671
General Fund Amount to be Raised by Taxes: $334,249
Highway Fund Appropriations: $465,997.
Highway Fund Revenue $132,900
Less Highway Fund Balance: $40,000
Highway Fund Amount to be Raised by Taxes: $293,097
Special District Fire Fund: $109,620.
Special District Street Lighting Fund: $900
Tax Cap is $737,866 for the Total Budget
Change from 2023 is 2.8%
ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 3 (McKernan, Shrope, Tucker), Nay 0, Absent 2 (Szeliga, Wright)
Resolution #43B declared duly adopted.

PUBLIC HEARING FOR BOND ANTICIPATION NOTE FOR CULVERT REPLACEMENT
Supervisor Peter Shrope opened the floor for public comment on the Bond Anticipation Note for the Culvert on the Keese Mills Road in the amount of $250,000 at 6:38pm
The Bond Anticipation Note (BAN) is to cover the cost of hiring an engineer to replace the bridge on Keese Mills Road with a culvert using BRIDGENY grant funds which are fully reimbursable. Described the project being coordinated with the New York Department of Transportation and Barton & Loguidice, DPC.
Amber McKernan – Thanked Supervisor Peter Shrope for doing all the paperwork on this project. Asked about the material used for the culvert. Commented on the McBride provision that says Northern Ireland employers cannot be used. Said Barton and Loguidice, D.P.C., states that correspondence by email is binding upon receipt.
The culvert is preformed and made of concrete.
There were no more further comments from the public.
Supervisor Peter Shrope closed the public hearing at 6:50pm

RESOLUTION #44-2023
BOND ANTICPATION NOTE FOR CULVERT REPLACEMENT ON KEESE MILLS ROAD
Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, second by Steve Tucker,
RESOLVED that the town board authorizes Supervisor Peter Shrope to sign a Bond Anticipation Note with Community Bank, N. A., in the amount of $250,000, for 1 year at an interest rate of 5.5% to replace the culvert on Keese Mills Road using BRIDGENY grant funds.
ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 3 (McKernan, Shrope, Tucker), Nay 0, Absent 2 (Szeliga, Wright)
Resolution #44 declared duly adopted.

Council Member Matthew Szeliga entered the meeting at 7pm.

BRIDGENY GRANT CULVERT REPLACEMENT PROJECT
Supervisor Peter Shrope and Superintendent of Highways Andy Crary have met with Barton and Loguidice D.P.C. to discuss the replacement of the Keese Mills culvert using BRIDGENY grant funds. Project will start in 2024 with Architectural and Engineering consulting. Construction and construction inspection will take place in 2025. There are two contracts that need to be approved to get the project started now that the funds are available with a Bond Anticipatiion Note of $250,000. Barton and Loguidice, DPC, are State and County approved Engineers for this project.

RESOLUTION #45-2023
IMPLEMENTING AND FUNDING 100% TRANSPORTATION PROJECT #775427 ìBRIDGENY CULVERT LOCAL PROJECT AGREEMENTî MAIN AGREEMENT, RIGHT OF WAY (ROW) INCIDENTALS/ACQUISITIONS
Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, second by Amber McKernan,
RESOLVED that the Town Board authorizes Supervisor Peter Shrope to implement and fund 100% of the costs of a transportation project #775427 ìBRIDGENY Culvert Local Projectî, of which qualified costs may be reimbursed from the Bridge NY funds to replace the culvert on Keese Mills Road over the inlet to Lower Saint Regis Lake in the following phases: Preliminary Engineering (PE) and Right-Of-Way (ROW) Incidentals work, ROW Acquisitions; and Construction, Construction Supervision and/or Construction Inspection, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Supervisor Peter Shrope be authorized to sign Contract Number DO41200 ìBRIDGENY Culvert Local Project Agreementî with New York State Department of Transportation for Right-of-Way (ROW) Incidentals and Acquisitions.
ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 3 (McKernan, Shrope, Tucker), Nay 0, Abstain 1 (Szeliga), Absent 1 (Wright)
Resolution #45 declared duly adopted.

RESOLUTION #46-2023
PROJECT #775427 ìBRIDGENY CULVERT LOCAL PROJECT AGREEMENTî PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING (PE)
Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, second by Amber McKernan,
WHEREAS the Town Board authorized Supervisor Peter Shrope to implement and fund 100% of the costs of a transportation project #775427 ìBRIDGENY Culvert Local Projectî, of which qualified costs may be reimbursed from the Bridge NY funds to replace the culvert on Keese Mills Road over the inlet to Lower Saint Regis Lake in the following phases: Preliminary Engineering (PE) and Right-Of-Way (ROW) Incidentals work, ROW Acquisitions, and Construction, Construction Supervision and/or Construction Inspection (Resolution #45-2023) and
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that Supervisor Peter Shrope be authorized to sign Contract Number DO40968 ìBRIDGENY Culvert Local Project Agreementî with New York State Department of Transportation for Preliminary Engineering (PE) and Construction, Construction Supervision and/or Construction Inspections to replace the culvert on Keese Mills Road over the inlet to Lower Saint Regis Lake, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Supervisor Peter Shrope be authorized to sign an Architectural/Engineering Consultant Agreement with Barton & Loguidice, DPC, of Syracuse, NY, for the replacement of the culvert on Keese Mills Road over the inlet to Lower Saint Regis Lake.
ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 3 (McKernan, Shrope, Tucker), Nay 0, Abstain 1 (Szeliga), Absent 1 (Wright)
Resolution #46 declared duly adopted.

REPORTS

Highway – Superintendent of Highways Andy Crary: Painted plows and wings, changed wing steel on 2 wings; took out wall in wash bay to make room for trucks; Trudeau Sand & Gravel screened sand; pulled beaver dams from culverts; installed wings, plows and sanders on trucks; replaced hydraulic lines on 2015 truck; sanded roads due to an early snow; 2015 truck towed to Plattsburgh by R&L Towing; purchased a generator for the Town Hall; fixed emergency lights at Garage; employees are back on winter hours, Monday thru Friday 5am to 1pm; received Snow and Ice Agreement from Franklin County Highway Department to cover four years (2024 to 2027) .

RESOLUTION #47 -2023
REMOVAL OF SNOW AND ICE ON COUNTY ROADS AGREEMENT
Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, second by Amber McKernan,
RESOLVED that the Town Board authorizes Superintendent of Highways Andy Crary to sign an Agreement with the Franklin County Highway Department to remove the snow and ice from 7.96 miles of County Highways 31, 55, and 60 in the Town of Brighton for the next four (4) winter seasons, 2024 to 2027 and Franklin County will pay the Town of Brighton as follows: 2024: $51,047.48; 2025: $52,578.90; 2026: $54,156.27, and 2027: $55,780.96 in two yearly payments in February and July.
ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 4 (McKernan, Shrope Szeliga, Tucker), Nay 0, Absent 1 (Wright)
Resolution #47 declared duly adopted.

Town Clerk – Elaine Sater: Total Revenue to Supervisor as of October 31, 2023, was $474.20; from 2 Dog Licenses, 14 renewed and 1 new (Tag# 279); 7 Building Permits (#23-044 to 050) and 135 copies on the copier.
October 10 attended the Local Government Day in Potsdam. Met with the St. Lawrence County Town Clerks afterwards.
October 19, received notice from Adirondack Park Agency, APA General Permit/Order 2023G-1, Certain Modifications of Existing Towers or Base Stations (Eligible Facilities Requests)
October 26 posted notice of Special Meeting on Saturday, October 28, 2023, and distributed to Town Board members.
October 31, took Oath of Office from 2nd Deputy Town Clerk Elizabeth DeFonce
Posted Notice of Public Hearing for Preliminary Budget for 2024 on November 9 at 6:30pm, and Public Notice for Bond Anticipation Note, distributed notices to Town Officials. Sent notice with Budget to website.
November 2 published notice in the Adirondack Daily Enterprise of the Public Hearing for Preliminary Budget for 2024 and change of Board meeting time on November 9, 2023.
November 3 published notice in Adirondack Daily Enterprise of Public Hearing for Bond Anticipation Note on November 9.
TOWN HALL REQUESTS: None
TOWN PARK REQUEST: None
RECORDS MANAGEMENT: Indexing Vol 14 (1988 to 1989)
FOIL REQUESTS: None

Historian – Elaine Sater: No Report

Tax Collector – Elizabeth DeFonce: Envelopes ordered and received, the words ìTax Collectorî were left off the address, will purchase a stamp to add words. Hotel reservations for the conference in New York (February) have been made. Signed up for the Elected Officials training to be held in Plattsburgh on November 20.

Town Justice – Nik Santagate: Disposed of 37 cases during October and the Supervisor received a check in the amount of $4,748. The newly elected Justice Russell D. DeFonce will sign up for the ìTaking the Benchî training as soon as he has the dates. Court night will change to Mondays at 7pm. Supervisor will change the sign outside the building to reflect the change.

Code Enforcement Officer – Rodger Tompkins: Issued 4 Building Permits (BP#s 23-051 through 054) during October.

Assessor – Roseanne Gallagher:
REVALUATION: KLW was in the Town Hall on November 1 and 2 and took pictures of all the property record cards and the photos that were attached to them. They spent some time driving around looking at property. Discussed some of the differences in values in different parts of the Town.
Heard back from everyone she contacted for property access. Was able to drive to property at 266 County Rt. 60, measure, take pictures, and update the data. Received phone calls from representatives of the two private hunting club camps in McColloms. Reviewed the information over the phone. Will not drive in there during hunting season but will at a later date to take new pictures. Was given permission to visit at any time. Ed Konwinski from Lyme sent her information on all the camps.

Supervisor – Peter Shrope:
BRIDGENY: Will get all the paperwork completed and sent to the Agencies who need it. Will send paperwork to Attorney for the Town for original signatures.
Budget: Copy provided to Town Board members as of October 31, 2023, revenue received since last Regular Monthly meeting: $2,865.60 from Franklin County for Mowing Agreement, $4,748.50 from Justice, and $474.20 from Town Clerk
NYCLASS: For October – General Fund interest $524.58, total $117,430.54 ($20,000 for Town Hall). Highway Fund interest $199.92, total $44,752.23.
Will be out of the area for three weeks, Deputy Supervisor Steve Tucker will sign checks as needed.

ACCEPT/AMEND MINUTES

October 12, 2023 – Regular Board Meeting
Motion made by Amber McKernan, second by Supervisor Peter Shrope, to accept the minutes of the October 12, 2023, Regular Board Meeting, as written. Aye 4 (McKernan, Shrope, Szeliga, Tucker), Nay 0, Absent 1 (Wright)

October 12, 2023 – Special Board Meeting (Tentative 2024 Budget)
Motion made by Amber McKernan, second by Supervisor Peter Shrope, to accept the minutes of the October 12, 2023, Special Board Meeting on the Tentative 2024 Budget, as written. Aye 4 (McKernan, Shrope, Szeliga, Tucker), Nay 0, Absent 1 (Wright)

October 28, 2023 – Special Board Meeting (Preliminary 2024 Budget)
Motion made by Amber McKernan, second by Supervisor Peter Shrope, to accept the minutes of the October 28, 2023, Special Board Meeting on the Preliminary 2024 Budget, as written. Aye 3 (McKernan, Shrope, Szeliga), Nay 0, Abstain 1 (Tucker), Absent 1 (Wright)

CITIZENS’ COMMENTS:
Tracy Santagate – Visited about 40 homes before the Election and people commented on the good job the Town Board has done.

The Town Board congratulated all the people who were elected on November 7 Election Day.

BUSINESS

Port-a-Potty at Park – Amber McKernan: Would like the Town to keep the port-a-potty at the Park for the winter. Many people use it during the day, especially deliver truck drivers; it is also a staging area for snowmobilers.

Motion made by Amber McKernan, second by Matther Szeliga, to let the port-a-potty remain at the Park for the winter. Aye 4 (McKernan, Shrope, Szeliga, Tucker), Nay 0, Absent 1 (Wright)

Paul Smiths-Gabriels Volunteer Fire House Water Filtration – Supervisor Peter Shrope: No further information available yet

COMMITTEES:

Salaries/Benefit Admin – Amber McKernan/Peter Shrope: Reviewed a proposal from the CSEA Union representative, agreed to the 3.5% pay raise but not to two other proposals for more time off with pay. There are enough funds in the 2024 Budget for a pay raise.

CITIZENS COMMENTS: None

AUDIT OF VOUCHERS

RESOLUTION #48-2023
ADUIT OF VOUCHERS
Motion made by Amber McKernan, 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 #11 for Voucher #s 11A and 11B for 2023 GENERAL FUND in the amount $478.86
GENERAL FUND: Abstract #12 for Voucher #198 through #213 for 2023 funds in the amount of $9,739.38 and Voucher #210 for 2023 STREET LIGHTING FUNDS in the amount of $75.19
HIGHWAY FUND: Abstract #11 for Voucher #103 through #112 for 2023 funds in the amount of $21,469.55
ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 4 (McKernan, Shrope Szeliga, Tucker), Nay 0, Absent 1 (Wright)
Resolution #48 declared duly adopted.

ADJOURNMENT
Motion to Adjourn at 7:55pm made by Amber McKernan, Second by Supervisor Peter Shrope,

Aye 4 (McKernan, Shrope, Szeliga, Tucker), Nay 0, Absent 1 (Wright)

Respectfully Submitted, Elaine W. Sater, Brighton Town Clerk