Draft Regular Town Board Meeting Minutes Halcott Grange
August 19, 2024, 6:00 pm

Present: Town Supervisor Samantha Bouton, Council members Alan Reynolds, Judy DiBenedetto, Eric Fronckowiak, Innes Kasanof, Highway Superintendent Russell Bouton, Town Clerk Patricia Warfield. Public: Andrew Cammarata, Annie Bocchetti, Warren Reynolds.

Call to order at 6:00 pm with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Approval of the minutes of the July 15, 2024, meeting: Motion to approve by Councilwoman Innes Kasanof, 2nd by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Councilman Eric Fronckowiak: aye, Supervisor Samantha Bouton: aye.

Highway Superintendent’s Report: (A) Halcott fared well after the recent storm, there were downed trees and plugged culverts but otherwise the roads fared well. (B) The area for the proposed highway garage was walked off, it is the same area that had been recommended previously. Councilman Fronckowiak has been working up a cost for a building that would be 50 feet by 130 feet; steel, clear span building, with a baseline cost of around 168,000.00. Site excavation, concrete and interior work would all be an additional cost. (C) County Route 1 will likely be closed until November; the County is having trouble getting enough large stones here into Halcott for the stream work that needs to be done.

Voucher Vote: General Abstract #G0824 – vouchers 114 – 120 = $2,066.74. Highway Abstract #H0824 – vouchers 121 – 126= $5,500.58. Motion to pay bills by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, 2nd by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Councilwoman Innes Kasanof: aye, Supervisor Samantha Bouton: aye.

Budget Officer Report: (A) Supervisor Samantha Bouton presented the monthly finance report. (B) Work will begin on the budget process to be presented at the September meeting.

Clerk’s Report: Marriage license: 1 @ 40.00, Grange Rental local: 1 @ 50.00, Building Permits: 2 @ 100.00, 1 @ 125.00, 3 @ 200.00, BP Renewal: 1 @ 70.00, 1 @ 200.00, Certificate of Occupancy: 1 @ 25.00. The Town collected and disbursed 1,310.00 for the month of July.

Other Business: (A) The Town received an ARPA grant of 25,000.00 to install a new flagpole complete with a concrete pad, landscaping and shrubs, the work to be put out to bid. (B) Resolution 4- 2024: Intent to be Lead Agency, Identification of a Type 1 Action for the Adoption of Town Comprehensive Plan, Uncoordinated Review for SEQR, setting a Public Hearing and Required Referrals. Motion to adopt Resolution 4-2024 by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, 2nd by Councilwoman Innes Kasanof, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Councilman Eric Fronckowiak: aye, Supervisor Samantha Bouton: aye. (C) Resolution 5-2024: Intent to be Lead Agency, Identification of a Type 1 Action for the Repeal and Replacement of the Town Land Use Code, Uncoordinated Review for SEQR, setting a Public Hearing and Required Referrals. Motion to adopt Resolution 5-2024 by Councilman Alan Reynolds, 2nd by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, Councilwoman Innes Kasanof: aye, Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto: aye, Supervisor Samantha Bouton: aye.

Public Comment: Andrew Cammarata shared with the Board that he thought the Building Permit process in Halcott was extremely difficult, stating that he had built in other towns, and it has never been this complicated. Board members who have had recent building projects in Halcott assured Andrew that everyone (including them) must follow the same building permit process.

Next Meeting: Regular Meeting September 16, 2024, 6:00 pm.

Motion to Adjourn at 7:05 p.m. by Councilman Alan Reynolds, 2nd by Councilwoman Innes Kasanof, Councilman Eric Fronckowiak: aye, Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto: aye, Supervisor Samantha Bouton: aye.