May 12, 2022 Regular Meeting

CALL TO ORDER
Meeting was called to order at 7:00pm by Supervisor Peter Shrope at the Brighton Town Hall, 12 County Road 31 (aka Jones Pond Road), Paul Smiths, New York, on Thursday, May 12, 2022, with the following:

Pledge of Allegiance to Flag was recited

ROLL CALL OF OFFICERS
PRESENT: Supervisor Peter Shrope
Council Members: Amber McKernan, Steve Tucker, and Lydia Wright
ABSENT: Council Member Matthew Szeliga,
OTHERS PRESENT: Paul Blaine-Code Enforcement Officer, Andy CraryñSuperintendent of Highways, Elaine Sater-Town Clerk and 2 residents
GUESTS: None

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

AMENDMENT TO COVID-19 MASK WEARING POLICY:
Motion made by Amber McKernan, second by Supervisor Peter Shrope, to amend the Townís Mask Wearing Policy to say that the wearing of masks in Town Buildings is voluntary as of May 12, 2022.
ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 4 (McKernan, Shrope, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0, Absent 1 (Szeliga)

REPORTS

HIGHWAY – Superintendent of Highways Andy Crary:
Picked up 2021 Freightliner truck in Plattsburgh; swept all Town roads; cleaned up cemeteries and put signs out; cleaned up Park; chipped storm damage all around Town, ordered flags for Memorial Day; plowed snow; helped Harrietstown with salt shed construction; raked dirt roads, fixed sink hole in Keese Mills Bridge; had new tires put on F-350 pickup truck; will be getting about $100,000 in CHIPS funding, would like to get paving contract signed for work to start.

RESOLUTION # 34-2022
PAVING OF VOSBURGH/TEBBUTT ROAD
Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, second by Lydia Wright,
RESOLVED that the Town Board authorizes the Superintendent of Highways to proceed with the 2022 paving plan Not to Exceed $130,000 as follows:
Contract with Noel J Brunell & Sons, Inc. (Brunell Asphalt) of Plattsburgh to pave one (1) mile of the Vosburgh/Tebbutt Road with 2î Top Course (labor and equipment only) in the amount of $14,900, and to purchase black top at $77 per ton and gravel to pave the Vosburgh/Tebbutt Road.
ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 4 (McKernan, Shrope, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0, Absent 1 (Szeliga)
Resolution #34-2022 Declared Duly Adopted

TOWN CLERK – Elaine Sater: Total revenue to Supervisor as of April 30, 2022, was $157.50 from 2 dog licenses renewed and 3 Building permits (BP#21-013, #22-006 and 007).
April 21 ñ Mailed notice of Crime Policy for Town Justice to Franklin County Clerk
April 29 ñ Received request from Seattle, WA, Police Department for disposition on a case from 1989, faxed response to person
May 3 ñ Received copy of the Tentative Assessment Roll for 2022 from the Assessor Roseanne Gallagher. Board of Assessment Review to meet on Thursday, June 2 at 5pm, by appointment only.; received notice of Board of Assessment (BAR) training course competed for BAR member Cliff Wagner.
TOWN HALL REQUESTS: None
TOWN PARK REQUEST: Saturday, May 14, Meehan Family, 2-4pm; Saturday and Sunday, September 24-25, Paul Smithís College Womenís Rugby Tournament, 9am to 6pm
RECORDS MANAGEMENT: Indexing Vol 12 of Minutes (1981 thru 1984), shredding documents as per the LGS-01 Records Retention and Disposition Schedule.

HISTORIAN – Elaine Sater: Heard there was an old plane crash site from 1972 on Johnson Hill involving Howard Hughesís lawyer and the remains of the plane are still there. The Visitorís Interpretive Center has more information.

TAX COLLECTOR – Holly Huber:
Payments postmarked after 2.28.22 but on or before 3.31.22 totaled $52,168.07 in taxes and $1,004.50 in penalties. The total collected for the 2022 tax season was $1,726,089.92 in taxes and $2,350.56.
The corrected tax bills were rerun, and the file provided to Systems East to update Brightonís collection records and calculate refund amounts. Reconciliation with the County Treasurer was completed the next day, Friday, 4/29/22. Property owners will be refunded $195,824.12 in taxes and penalties. Systems East has completed a redesign of their receipt as of today. The refund mailing can now begin to be assembled.
Bank interest for March was $3.72 and for April was $2.76.
Paid out the following: Check #1077 to Peter Shrope in the amount of $2,078.28 for penalty income
Received the following refund for overpayment from the Franklin County Treasurer: $67,609.01

TOWN JUSTICE – Nik Santagate: Supervisor Peter Shrope received a check in the amount of $3,163.00 for 23 cases disposed during April

CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER – Paul Blaine: Issued 2 building permits (BPs) (BP#22-006 and 007), renewed 1 BP #21-013 and issued two (2) Certificate of Compliance (BPs #21-007 and 035). Issue on Tansey Lane property has been resolved, septic was removed because it was too close to the well and the ìlittleî house has been removed.

ASSESSOR/DATA COLLECTOR – Roseanne Gallagher: Nothing to Report

SUPERVISOR – Peter Shrope:
Charter Communications – Received information on upcoming changes to cable television stations dated May 11, 2022
Adirondack Association of Town and Villages (AATV): Annual meeting to be held June 5-6 in Lake Placid. Registration is $125.00
Paul Smithís College Adirondack Watershed Institute (PSCAWI): Received an invitation to a ribbon cutting ceremony on May 19, 2022, to celebrate PSCAWIís recent achievement of receiving NYS Environmental Laboratory Certification
Dole Ceremony: Attended the ceremony for Mr. Dole at St. Johnís in the Wilderness cemetery on Monday, May 2, historical marker will be put up when it is delivered. The Highway Department will help dig the hole.
Budget update as of April 30, 2022, was distributed to Town Board
Revenue received: $2,078.28 from Tax Collector for penalties, $400 for 2 cemetery plots, $3,163.00 from the Town Justice and $157.50 from the Town Clerk, claimed $1,000 from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for Health Emergency Plan cost.
NYCLASS investment interest received for April as follows: $24.00 for General Fund, Balance is $111,236.69; $9.14 for Highway Fund, Balance is $42,391.84

ACCEPT/AMEND MINUTES
Regular Board Meeting April 14, 2022
Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, second by Amber McKernan, to accept the minutes of the Regular Board Meeting of April 14, 2022, as written, ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 4 (McKernan, Shrope, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0, Absent 1 (Szeliga)

Special Board Meeting ñ March 16, 2022
Town Clerk listened to the tape of the Special Board meeting on March 16, 2022, still unable to determine vote (nay or abstain) made by Council Member Lydia Wright because voice is muffled from wearing of face mask. Board did agree on tape that the proposed resolution did not pass with only 2 ìAyesî by Council Members Matthew Szeliga and Steve Tucker. Minutes were changed to reflect the corrected Council Members votes.

CITIZEN COMMENTS:
Amber McKernan ñ Asked about the bottle bins near the intersection of State Route 86 and County Road 60 in Gabriels. What are they for and who takes care of them?
Supervisor Peter Shrope said he spoke to the property owner in the past and the bottles bins are taken care of by the property owner and the money is donated to a charity of their choice. He will ask them to remove the old signs and clean up the area.

BUSINESS

Osgood Pond Association ñ Supervisor Peter Shrope: Received a request from the Osgood Pond Association to reduce the speed limit on the White Pine Road where the Association members own property. He will request the Franklin County Highway Department ask for a road survey to determine if a reduced speed limit is advisable.
RESOLUTION #35-2022
REDUCTION OF SPEED SURVEY ON WHITE PINE ROAD
Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, second by Amber McKernan,
RESOLVED that the Town Board authorizes the Town Supervisor to request the Franklin County Highway Department to investigate the speed limit on White Pine Road as requested by the Osgood Pond Association to determine an acceptable speed limit and if need be, to conduct the investigation with the New York State (NYS) Department of Transportation and NYS Police.
ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 4 (McKernan, Shrope, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0, Absent 1 (Szeliga)
Resolution #35-2022 declared duly adopted.

Paul Smithís College Adirondack Watershed Institute at (PSCAWI) ñ Supervisor Peter Shrope: Received the 2022 agreement from PSCAWI for water steward services at Osgood Pond and Buck Pond Campground (Rainbow Lake).
RESOLUTION #36-2022
PSCAWI WATER STEWARD SERVICES AT OSGOOD POND AND RAINBOW LAKE 2022
Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, second by Steve Tucker,
RESOLVED that the Town Board authorizes the Town Supervisor to sign an agreement with Paul Smithís College Adirondack Watershed Institute (PSCAWI) to provide for water steward services at Osgood Pond NYS Boat Launch and Buck Pond Campground NYS DEC boat launch for Rainbow Lake for the 2022 season in the amount of $7,680.00
ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 4 (McKernan, Shrope, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0, Absent 1 (Szeliga)
Resolution #36-2022 declared duly adopted.

Conservation Subdivision Design Bill S1145/A4074 ñ Supervisor Peter Shrope: Received information from the Adirondack Park Local Government Review Board and Adirondack Association of Towns and Villages asking the Town to support a resolution against the passage of the Conservation Subdivision Design Bill S1145/A4074. Information was provided to the Board for review.

Camp Gabriels Property ñ Supervisor Peter Shrope: The NYS Senate passed a resolution to provide for a constitutional amendment to sell the property. The Assembly has not addressed the issue, Assembly Member Billy Jones wants the property to be used for a ìgreater good community purposeî.

Spectrum Cable Franchise Agreement ñ Supervisor Peter Shrope: Received notice that the cable franchise agreement with Spectrum Northeast, LLC is expiring this year. A public hearing is needed before the agreement can be renewed.

Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, second by Amber McKernan, to hold a Public Hearing on Thursday, June 9, 2022, at 7pm, during the next Regular Monthly meeting of the Town of Brighton Board, for the purpose of hearing public input on the renewal of the cable television agreement between Spectrum Northeast, LLC, /a/k/a Charter Communications and the Town. The Town Clerk is directed to publish the notice.
ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 4 (McKernan, Shrope, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0, Absent 1 (Szeliga)

Inspection by NYMIR ñ Supervisor Peter Shrope: Since the Town has another lease for the park fields, the NYMIR Insurance inspector recommends that the Town cover the top of the chain link fence with edge guards to prevent injury. Swings were also discussed as needing replacement. Supervisor Peter Shrope has found a source for the edge guards and swings.

RESOLTUION #37-2022
PURCHASE OF EDGE GUARDS AND SWINGS FOR THE PARK
Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, second by Amber McKernan,
RESOLVED that the Town Board accept the estimate from Summit Supply Corp of Colorado for 7 boxes of 12-7í sections of edge guard dark green for the chain link fence at the Town Park in the amount of $2,285.57 and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Supervisor purchase two child swings from Summit Supply Corp of Colorado in an amount Not to Exceed $3,000 for the Total Order.
ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 4 (McKernan, Shrope, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0, Absent 1 (Szeliga)
RESOLUTION #37 declared duly adopted.

Town Hall Roof ñ Supervisor Peter Shrope: North Woods Engineering will inspect the roof next week and provide a cost estimate for a Request for Proposal to replace it.

Avoidable Alarm Local Law ñ Supervisor Peter Shrope: The Fire Department has some concerns about a new company taking over the security services at the College. Supervisor Peter Shrope provided the history of the Memorandum of Understanding the Town has with Paul Smithís College concerning false alarms. Jeremy Asmus from Facilities at Paul Smithís College said he is aware of the MOU. The new company is called ìNMSî and will start next week. Jeremy Asmus will be taking over more duties including the fire alarm testing. NMS will be standardizing policies and updating technology. They are willing to meet with the Fire Department.

COMMITTEES:

Parks and Recreation ñ Peter Shrope/Amber McKernan: Port-a-Potty needs to be moved closer to the building, where is was last year.

Cemetery ñ Amber McKernan/Steve Tucker: Steve Tucker saw Bruce Sawyer from Pine Haven Cemetery Services and discussed repairing more stones in the cemetery.

CITIZEN COMMENTS:
Jeremy Asmus -Paul Smithís College: On April 18th Dr. Nicholas Hunt-Bull was named interim President after the resignation of the President.
May 7 Commencement was held, 129 to 140 people graduated. There are three new cameras on campus with live feed overlooking St. Regis Lake.
June 8th the Green Bus Stop will be installed in the parking lot across from the College.

AUDIT OF VOUCHERS

RESOLUTION #38-2022
AUDIT 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 #5 for Voucher #s 5A and 5B for 2022 GENERAL FUND in the amount of $316.13 and Voucher #5B for 2022 STREET LIGHTING FUNDS in the amount of $62.10
GENERAL FUND: Abstract #6 for Voucher #77 through #91 for 2022 funds in the amount of $5,137.55,
HIGHWAY FUND: Abstract #5 for Voucher #39 through #44 for 2022 funds in the amount of $7,237.46
ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 4 (McKernan, Shrope, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0, Absent 1 (Szeliga)
RESOLUTION #38-2022 declared duly adopted.

ADJOURNMENT
Motion to Adjourn at 8:35pm made by Amber McKernan, second by Lydia Wright; Aye 4 (McKernan, Shrope, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0, Absent 1 (Szeliga)

Respectfully Submitted, Elaine W. Sater, Brighton Town Clerk