Town Board Meeting Minutes, March 17, 2025, 6:00 pm

Regular Town Board Meeting Minutes Halcott Grange
March 17, 2025, 6:00 pm

Present: Deputy Town Supervisor Alan Reynolds, Council Members Eric Fronckowiak, Innes
Kasanof, Judy DiBenedetto, Town Clerk, Patricia Warfield, Deputy Clerk Ariel Bogert, Budget
Officer Paul Tamaccio. Absent: Highway Superintendent Russell Bouton, Town Supervisor
Samantha Bouton. Public: David Grossman, Alex Skaftouros, Warren Reynolds, Pattie Kelder.

Call to Order at 6:00 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Public Hearing on The Adoption of the Town of Halcott Comprehensive Plan: The hearing was opened at 6:01 pm by Deputy Town Supervisor Alan Reynolds. With no public input,Motion to close the hearing at 6:02 pm by Councilwoman Innes Kasanof, 2nd by
Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, Councilman Eric Fronckowiak: aye, Deputy
Supervisor Alan Reynolds: aye.

Public Hearing on the Adoption of the Town of Halcott Land Use Code: The hearing wasopened at 6:03 pm by Deputy Town Supervisor Alan Reynolds. (A) David Grossman stronglysuggested that the Board reinstate the wording to allow two-family dwellings in a single
structure (duplex) in 3.1 of the Land Use Code before adopting. He pointed out that it would bebeneficial for the tax base; attracting families who could live in one unit and rent out the other.
He feels that this type of housing is appropriate for Halcott and thinks it would promote the
preservation of the rural character of the Town. He also pointed out that having the right to
have an accessory apartment with a primary dwelling was not the same as a 2-family dwelling.Deputy Supervisor Alan Reynolds responded by saying when the LUC was first drafted, theoriginal thought was a 2-family dwelling was for extended multigeneration families to take care
of ill or aging family members. David also expressed dismay that he missed the discussion thatoccurred with Nan Stolzenburg at the February town board meeting because it was not on the
agenda, and he did not attend. (B) Pattie Kelder asked if there was any wording that would
allow or forbid sheep grazing with solar panels as she was informed that this was a great “green”way to maintain areas with solar panels. Motion to close the public hearing at 6:12 pm byCouncilman Eric Fronckowiak, 2nd by Councilwoman Innes Kasanof, CouncilwomanJudy DiBenedetto: aye, Deputy Supervisor Alan Reynolds: aye.

Approval of the minutes of the February 24, 2025, meeting: Motion to approve by
Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, 2nd by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, Councilwoman Innes Kasanof: aye, Deputy Supervisor Alan Reynolds: aye.

Annual Reports: There were no annual reports presented.

Highway Superintendent’s Report: Councilman Alan Reynolds updated the board for
Highway Superintendent Russell Bouton. (A) Greene County is beginning to cut brush along
the county roads and the Halcott Highway Department started sweeping roads today. (B) The
Oshkosh needed to have a bracket fabricated because the replacement part was no longer
available. Councilman Eric Fronckowiak feels the Highway Department should make the
search for a new plow truck a priority, the insurance company suggested the Town replace the
Oshkosh as well.

Budget Officer’s Report: (A) Budget Officer Paul Tamaccio presented the finance report for
February. (B) Budget Officer Paul Tamaccio was in receipt of two invoices from the Highway
Department and asked if the Board would approve his paying those bills and then vouchering
for the next regular meeting. Motion to pay those two Highway Department invoices before vouchering by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, 2nd by Councilwoman Innes Kasanof, Councilman Eric Fronckowiak: aye, Deputy Supervisor Alan Reynolds: aye.

Voucher vote: General Abstract #G0325 – vouchers – 40 – 52 = $23,016.40. Highway
Abstract #H0325 – vouchers 53 – 55 = $2,103.90. Motion to pay bills by Councilman Eric
Fronckowiak, 2nd by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, Councilwoman Innes Kasanof: aye, Deputy Supervisor Alan Reynolds: aye.

Clerk’s Report: Marriage License: 1 @ 40.00, Grange fee (local): 50.00, Building permits (4):
3 @ 100.00, 1 @ 70.00, C/O Search: 1 @ 25.00, 1 @ 40.00, Transfer Station/Garbage Money
(Dec/Jan): 698.00. There was $1,223.00 collected and disbursed for February.

Other Business: (A) Motion to adopt the Town of Halcott Comprehensive Plan by
Councilwoman Innes Kasanof, 2nd by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, Councilman Eric Fronckowiak: aye, Deputy Supervisor Alan Reynolds: aye. (B) Motion to adopt the Town of Halcott Land Use Code by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, 2nd by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, Councilwoman Innes Kasanof: aye, Deputy Supervisor Alan Reynolds: aye.
(C) The engineering and surveying firm Brinnier and Larios was here to look at the proposed site for the new highway garage building. There is some natural water course flow in that area,the DEP and DEC will need to weigh in as to what it is designated as, before a design layout can happen.

Public Comment: (A) David Grossman again spoke to the Board, stating he felt the public
only had 5 days’ notice as to the final edit to the Land Use Code before coming up for adoption
by the Board; and voiced his disappointment with the Board’s motion to adopt the updated
Land Use Code. (B) Pattie Kelder asked if FEMA housing would be allowed should the need
arise. (C) Alex Skaftouros introduced himself to the Board, he and his wife and children
recently purchased a house on Co. Rt. 3 and looks forward to spending quality time here when
they can.

Next Meeting: Regular Town Board Meeting, Monday April 21, 2025, 6:00 pm

Motion to Adjourn at 6:35 p.m. by Councilwoman Innes Kasanof, 2nd by Councilman
Eric Fronckowiak, Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto: aye, Deputy Supervisor Alan
Reynolds: aye.

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

The Town of Halcott Planning Board will hold a Public Hearing at 6PM on Wednesday, May 7, 2025 at the Town Grange,264 Route 3, Halcott Center, NY to consider the application for
a new home to be built on land owned by Eric Fronckowiak, 251 Silas Lake Road, Halcott Center, NY, Tax ID #142-2-25.11. All persons wishing to speak upon this matter shall be heard at this time. A regular meeting will follow the public hearing.

Ted Johnson, Chairman

Agenda for the Halcott Town Board Meeting – April 21, 2025 – 6:00pm

Pledge of Allegiance

  1. Open Public Hearing to adopt amended Comprehensive Plan
  2. Close Public Hearing to adopt amended Comprehensive Plan
  3. Approval of minutes of March 17, 2025 meeting
  4. Highway Superintendent’s Report
  5. Budget Officer’s Report
  6. Approval to pay vouchers
  7. Clerk’s Report
  8. Highway Garage
  9. Other Business
  10. Public comment
    Adjournment.

Next meeting: Regular Monthly Meeting: Monday May 19, 2025, 6PM

The Finance Report for March 2025 can be found here.

Halcott Community Garden Announcement

Greetings Friends, Members & Patrons,

The time is nearing for the April 15th opening of our 15th Season!!!!
Find our updated weblink below with applications and rules & regs forms.
For a trip down memory lane, check out our blog link below and move to the “older post” button at the bottom of the page to see origins of how our little piece of heaven has evolved and to see what great community collaboration can accomplish. Many hands have been at work in our garden over the years , both in the soil and behind the scenes. All are welcome to join us!

https://sites.google.com/view/hcg-group/home

https://halcottgardeners.blogspot.com/