April 13, 2023 Regular Meeting (Draft)

The Regular Monthly Meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Brighton, Franklin County, NY, was held Thursday, April 13, 2023, 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
Pledge to the Flag was recited.

ROLL CALL OF OFFICERS
PRESENT: Supervisor Peter Shrope
Council Members: Amber McKernan, Matthew Szeliga, Steve Tucker and Lydia Wright
ABSENT: None
OTHERS PRESENT: Andy Crary-Superintendent of Highways, Elizabeth DeFonce-Tax Collector, Elaine Sater-Town Clerk and two residents
GUESTS: None

NOTICE OF MEETING:
Notice of this meeting was posted on the Town Clerkís Sign Board.

REPORTS

Highway – Superintendent of Highways Andy Crary: Plowing and sanding, cut banks back around Town; cleaned shop; cleaned trucks; redid the cemetery signs, sanded, painted, fixed and varnished; attended a Highway meeting in Duane to discuss the snow and ice contract; started dismantling the trucks; purchased a sanding chain for the 2020 truck; would like to purchase a second smaller used pick-up truck for general use around town, have been using personal truck for quick trips; water wells at Town Hall and Garage were drilled; started cleaning up the Town Hall yard.

RESOLUTION #19-2023
PURCHASE OF USED F150 PICK-UP TRUCK FROM HIGH PEAKS FORD
Motion made by Matthew Szeliga, second by Lydia Wright,
WHEREAS, the Superintendent of Highways has been using his personal truck for quick trips to deliver and pick up supplies while the Highway employees are using the F350 pickup Truck at work sites, and
WHEREAS the Highway Employees need the larger truck for hauling sand and plowing during the winter season.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Board authorizes the Superintendent of Highways to purchase a F150 used pick-up truck from High Peaks Ford in the amount of $30,000, using $15,000 from the Highway Fund A5130.2 and transferring any remaining unexpended balances in the Highway Fund at the end of the year.
ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 5 (McKernan, Shrope, Szeliga, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0
Resolution #19 declared duly adopted.

Town Clerk – Elaine Sater: Total Revenue to Supervisor as of March 31, 2023, was $ 86.00 from 1 Certificate of Marriage, 6 Certified copies Vital Records, 1 donation from coffee fund, and 1Dog License renewed.
March 14 – Posted public notice and published in Adirondack Daily Enterprise, RE: Posting of Roads to heavy axel vehicles until April 30.
Received notice from the Department of State that Local Law #1 of the Year 2023. ìPrevention of Nuisance Alarms in the Townî was filed on February 22, 2023.
March 21 – Received letter from the Tri-Lakes Humane Society, dated 3/18/2023, RE: 2022 Dog Control Seizures and Disposition Reports: a dog was found on Mountain Pond Road and adopted by an individual who does not live in this Town.
March 23 – Mailed Updated Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) to Franklin County Emergency Operations Center and all the organizations listed on the EOP, as well as distributed to Town Officials
March 28 – Received Agreements for Shared Highway Services from Towns of Westville and Duane.
TOWN HALL REQUESTS: None
TOWN PARK REQUEST: None
RECORDS MANAGEMENT: Indexing Vol 13 of Minutes (1985 thru 1987)
FOIL REQUEST: None

Historian – Elaine Sater: Nothing to Report

Tax Collector – Elizabeth DeFonce: Reminder letters were sent out on March 16. Due to a software error at Systems East, an extra $2.00 was attached to every bill after that date, including the amount shown on the letters. Payments based on those amounts were refunded the corresponding overpayment. A total of $38 in overpayments was collected; to date $22 has been received leaving uncashed check in the amount of $16. Systems East corrected the error on March 20th. Including overpayments, total payments received for the tax period were $1,698,837.68. Of this amount $1,696,261.13 was taxes and $2,538.55 was penalties. The reconciliation was completed, and all documents were turned over to the Franklin County Treasurer on Thursday, April 13th. Petty cash was returned to the Town Supervisor. Would like to attend Tax Collector training with Deputy Russell DeFonce in Ithaca, NY, June 11 to 13; need to use the Credit Card for the hotel reservations.

RESOLUTION #20-2023
USE OF CREDIT CARD FOR HOTEL RESERVATIONS
Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, second by Lydia Wright,
WHEREAS the Town Clerk Elaine Sater has requested the use of the card for Marriott Syracuse from April 23 to 25 to attend Town Clerks training and
WHEREAS the Tax Collector Elizabeth DeFonce has requested the use of the credit card for Hotel Ithaca from June 11 to 13 to attend Tax Collectors Training including for her Deputy Russell DeFonce,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Board authorizes the use of the credit card for hotel reservations for the Town Clerk at Marriott Syracuse from April 23 to 25 and the Tax Collector and Deputy Tax Collector at Hotel Ithaca from June 11 to 13, for the purpose of attending training.
ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 5 (McKernan, Shrope, Szeliga, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0
Resolution #20 declared duly adopted.

Town Justice – Nik Santagate: Supervisor received a check in the amount of $2,431.00 for 30 disposed cases during March.

Code Enforcement Officer – Rodger Tompkins: Supervisor received a report showing 1 Building Permit was issued in February and 6 were issued in March.

Assessor – Roseanne Gallagher: Finished data collecting the new and ongoing construction and am working on the paperwork to finish the tentative roll. Scheduling a time to go to Topridge with Sue Jackman. There are two properties in Town with gates so have not been able to data collect them. Sent letters to both property owners a few weeks ago, have gotten no response. If they donít get in contact, will have to go by the old records. Posted and published notice concerning the examination of assessment inventory and valuation data on April 1 and 8.
REVALUATION: Submitted the request for Utility Appraisal to the State. This is a form that has to be submitted so that they will value the utilities for the revaluation. Spoke with Robert Koszarek from KLW. They should send out letters to all property owners, put a notice in the paper, and have a public information meeting in July. The meeting date would be decided before the letter goes out.

Supervisor – Peter Shrope:
Budget: Copy provided to Town Board members; Revenue received since last meeting $200 for a cemetery plot, $2,431 from Justice, and $86 from Town Clerk
NYCLASS: For March – General Fund interest $435.93, total $114.030.15 ($20,000 for Town Hall). Highway Fund interest $166.09, total $43,456.33.

ACCEPT/AMEND MINUTES
March 9, 2023 – Regular Board
Motion made by Amber McKernan, second by Lydia Wright, to accept the minutes of the March 9, 2023, Regular Board Meeting, as written. Aye 3 (Shrope, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0, Abstain 2 (McKernan, Szeliga)

CITIZENS’ COMMENTS:
Tom McKernan reminded the Board to get the Port-a-potty for the park.

BUSINESS

Paul Smith’s College (PSC) Adirondack Watershed Institute (AWI) Agreement – Supervisor Peter Shrope: Received agreement from PSC AWI for the 2023 season for watercraft inspection services at Osgood Pond NYS DEC boat launch and Buck Pond Campground NYS DEC boat launch. They are asking for an amount of $9,600 to compete in hiring people.

RESOLUTION #21-2023
PAUL SMITH’S COLLEGE ADIRONDACK WATERSHED INSTITUTE AGREEMENT
Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, second by Steve Tucker,
RESOLVED that the Town Board authorizes the Supervisor to sign an agreement with Paul Smithís College Adirondack Watershed Institute for providing watercraft inspections services for the period 5/28 through 9/4/2023 at Osgood Pond NYS DEC boat launch and Buck Pond Campground NYS DEC boat launch (Rainbow Lake) in the amount of $9,600.00.
ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 4 (McKernan, Shrope, Szeliga, Tucker), Nay 1 (Wright)
Resolution #21 declared duly adopted.

NYS Housing Compact Proposal – Supervisor Peter Shrope: Received a request for a resolution to object to Governor Hochul’s “New York Housing Compact” proposal. Discussion was held, no information to make an informed decision. No action taken.

Malone Chamber of Commerce – Supervisor Peter Shrope: Received request for membership in the Malone Chamber of Commerce to post events in Town on their website. Discussion was held, no interest.

Water Wells – Supervisor Peter Shrope: Wells have been completed at Town Hall (540í) and at Town Garage (320í), vouchers are submitted for payment. Discussion was held on what to do with the excess pump and tank from Town Hall. Also discussed putting a well at the park using American Rescue Plan Act recovery funds. Supervisor Peter Shrope will get an estimate from Wood Well Drilling.

Tax Collector Elected Position – Supervisor Peter Shrope: Discussion was held on abolishing the Tax Collectorís elected position effective January 1, 2024. Since this is an election year for Tax Collector and Town Clerk the Board has the authority to abolish the elected position of Tax Collector and combine the duties with the Town Clerkís duties according to Town Law Article 3, Section 36 (1).

RESOLUTION #22-2023
ABOLISH ELECTED POSITION OF TAX COLLECTOR
Motion made by Matthew Szeliga, second by Lydia Wright,
WHEREAS the Town Board can abolish the elected position of Tax Collector one hundred and fifty days before a biennial election in accordance with Town Law, Article 3, Section 36(1), and
WHEREAS the elected Town Clerk assumes the duties of the Tax Collector on January 1, after the election.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Board abolishes the elected position of Tax Collector in the Town of Brighton, Franklin County, New York, in accordance with Town Law Article 3, Section 36(1), effective January 1, 2024, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVE that the elected Town Clerk will assume the duties of the Tax Collector as of January 1, 2024.
ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 5 (McKernan, Shrope, Szeliga, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0
Resolution #22 declared duly adopted.

COMMITTEES:
Cemeteries – Amber McKernan/Steve Tucker: Steve Tucker received a call from Bruce Sawyer asking if the Town was going to get any more work done on the stones. The stones at McCollumís Cemetery need cleaning. Estimates are needed to make a decision.
Park & Recreation – Peter Shrope/Amber McKernan: The port-a-potty will be requested in May.

CITIZENS COMMENTS: None

AUDIT OF VOUCHERS
RESOLUTION #23-2023
ADUIT OF VOUCHERS
Motion made by Amber McKernan, second by Lydia Wright,
RESOLVED that the Supervisor be authorized to pay the audited vouchers as listed on the abstracts as follows:
PREPAID FUNDS: Abstract #4 for Voucher #s 4A through 4C for 2023 GENERAL FUND in the amount $644.09 and Voucher #4C for 2023 STREET LIGHTING FUNDS in the amount of $75.74
GENERAL FUND: Abstract #4 for Voucher #70 through #93, for 2023 funds in the amount of $6,860.13
HIGHWAY FUND: Abstract #4 for Voucher #33 through #41 for 2023 funds in the amount of $9,398.93
SPECIAL FUND – FIRE: Abstract #2 for Voucher #2 in the amount of $53,213.16
ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 5 (McKernan, Shrope, Szeliga, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0
Resolution #23 declared duly adopted.

ADJOURNMENT
Motion to Adjourn at 8:36pm made by Lydia Wright, second by Amber McKernan
Aye 5 (McKernan, Shrope, Szeliga, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0

Respectfully Submitted, Elaine W. Sater, Brighton Town Clerk