Regular Town Board Meeting Minutes – Halcott Grange
July 20, 2026, 6:00pm

Present: Town Supervisor Samantha Wickham, Council Members Alan Reynolds, Greg DiBenedetto, Innes Kasanof, Highway Superintendent Russell Bouton, Town Clerk Patricia Warfield. Webmaster Lorraine Marsh Absent: Eric Fronckowiak

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

Motion to Open the Public Hearing on Local Law 1-2026 at 6:04 pm by Councilwoman Innes Kasanof, 2nd by Councilman Greg DiBenedetto, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Supervisor Samantha Wickham: aye. With there being no input from the public and no questions from board members, Motion to close the Public Hearing on Local Law 1-2026 at 6:06 pm by Councilman Greg DiBenedetto, 2nd by Councilwoman Innes Kasanof, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Supervisor Samantha Wickham: aye.

Motion to Adopt Local Law 1-2026: Motion to adopt Local Law 1-2026 by Councilman Alan Reynolds, 2nd by Councilman Greg Dibenedetto, Councilwoman Innes Kasanof: aye, Supervisor Samantha Bouton: aye.

Approval of the Minutes of the June 15, 2026, meeting: Motion to approve by Councilwoman Innes Kasanof, 2nd by Councilman Greg DiBenedetto, Councilman Alan Reynold: aye, Supervisor Samantha Wickham: aye.

Highway Superintendent’s Report: (A) The Highway Department worked on Townsend Hollow Rd. after an early July storm caused flood damage from plugged ditches and culverts. Crews also maintained the winter turn-around used by the Town of Middletown plow truck. The Town is on track for early CHIPS reimbursement, stone and oil work is progressing, and the Department is now working on Silas Lake Rd. (B) Highway Superintendent Bouton reported that landowner Eric Salmeron appeared to be preparing to close access to the old Turkey Ridge Road loop. Although the loop is generally used only by hunters during hunting season, Superintendent Bouton asked whether Mr. Salmeron could legally restrict access to it. (C) Highway Superintendent Bouton emphasized that he has no control over when the County comes to Halcott to collect the dumpsters and he is tired of receiving residents’ complaints about the timing.

Budget Officer’s Report: (A) Supervisor Samantha Wickham presented the finance report for June.

Voucher vote: General Abstract #G0726 – vouchers 78–86 = $7,954.07. Highway Abstract #H0626 – vouchers 87–92 = $65,624.70. Motion to pay bills by Councilman Greg DiBenedetto, 2nd by Councilman Alan Reynolds: Councilwoman Innes Kasanof: aye, Supervisor Samantha Wickham: aye.

Clerk’s Report: Building Permits: 1 @ 100.00, BP Renewal: 1 @ 150.00. Transfer Station (June): 340.00. The Town collected and disbursed $590.00 for the month of June.

Other Business: (A) Town Webmaster Lorraine Marsh provided an update on the Town website. She reported that the site has 96 subscribers, with Wednesday as the most active day and 11:00 a.m. as the most active time. She has been cleaning up the website and looks forward to updating its information. (B) Greene County will not be starting bridge work on County Route 3 this year.

Next Meeting: Regular Meeting Monday, August 17, 2026, 6:00 pm.

Motion to Adjourn at 6:29 pm by Councilwoman Innes Kasanof, 2nd by Councilman Greg DiBenedetto, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Supervisor Samantha Wickham: aye.

Regular Town Board Meeting Minutes – Halcott Grange
June 15, 2026, 6:00pm

Present: Town Supervisor Samantha Wickham, Council Members Alan Reynolds, Greg DiBenedetto, Eric Fronckowiak, Innes Kasanof, Highway Superintendent Russell Bouton, Town Clerk Patricia Warfield. Public: Nancy Amy

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

Approval of the minutes of the May 18, 2026, meeting: Motion to approve by Councilman Greg DiBenedetto, 2nd by Councilwoman Innes Kasanof, Councilman Alan Reynold: aye, Councilman Eric Fronckowiak: aye, Supervisor Samantha Wickham: aye.

Highway Superintendent’s Report: (A) Road work on Townsend Hollow should be finished in the next couple of days. CHIPS funding is expected to be about the same as last year, or slightly higher. Highway Superintendent Bouton is hoping to stone and oil roads next week. (B) The Highway Department hopes Greene County will leave the truck Halcott is currently using when it delivers a promised better truck this fall. (C) Paperwork for the new truck purchase has been signed, and the Town will be notified 30–60 days before delivery so funding can be arranged. Halcott may receive $15,000 to help offset the purchase. A representative from Michelle Hinkley’s office contacted the Town after hearing from Greene County Administrator Shaun Grodin about our need for a new truck and said the State Senate Fund may be able to provide assistance. The Town would purchase the truck, submit the required paperwork, and receive the funds as reimbursement.

Budget Officer’s Report: (A) Supervisor Samantha Wickham presented the finance report for May.

Voucher vote: General Abstract #G0626 – vouchers 65–72 = $17,793.50. Highway Abstract #H0626 – vouchers 73–77 = $3,440.40. Motion to pay bills by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, 2nd by Councilwoman Innes Kasanof, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Councilman Greg DiBenedetto: aye, Supervisor Samantha Wickham: aye.

Clerk’s Report: Grange Rental (non-local): 1 @ 100.00, Building Permits (2): 1 @ 290.00, 1 @ 50.00, BP Renewal (2): 1 @ 362.50, 1 @ 50.00, C/O Search (balance due): 1 @ 15.00, Transfer Station (May): 248.00, Dog License (spayed/neutered): 1 @ 5.00. The Town collected and disbursed $1,120.50 for the month of May.

Other Business: (A) Highway Superintendent Russell Bouton would like to retire, but the Town has been unable to find a Halcott resident interested in running for the office in the November election. The Board discussed changing the Highway Superintendent position from being elected position to an appointed position. This would require adopting a local law to abolish the elected office and create an appointed Highway Superintendent position. A public hearing will be held on July 20, 2026, at 6:00 pm, with the regular town board meeting to follow. (B) A new mailbox has been purchased and needs to be mounted. Supervisor Wickham will contact Grange Steward Bob VanValkenburgh. The Board also noted significant rotted wood at the Grange Building that should be repaired. Funds are available in the Town’s General Reserve Fund for possible repairs. The next step is to have a contractor inspect the work needed and prepare an estimate for review.

Public Comment: Nancy Amy asked if the Town issued dog licenses, as she had acquired a new dog and wanted to license him. She also asked whether anyone had spoken with the occupants of the campers parked along Streeter Hill Road and questioned whether they were authorized to camp there. The Board explained they were aware of what property she was speaking about, but the property was not in Halcott.

Executive Session: Motion to enter Executive session at 6:39 pm by Councilwoman Innes Kasanof, 2nd by Councilman Greg DiBenedetto, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Councilman Eric Fronckowiak: aye, Supervisor Samantha Wickham: aye. Motion to exit Executive session at 6:54 pm by Councilwoman Innes Kasanof, 2nd by Councilman Greg DiBenedetto, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Councilman Eric Fronckowiak: aye, Supervisor Samantha Bouton: aye.

Next Meeting: Regular Meeting Monday, July 20, 2026, 6:00 pm.

Motion to Adjourn at 6:56 pm by Councilman Alan Reynolds, 2nd by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, Councilman Greg DiBenedetto: aye, Councilwoman Innes Kasanof: aye, Supervisor Samantha Wickham: aye.

Regular Town Board Meeting Minutes – Halcott Grange
May 18, 2026, 6:00pm

Present: Deputy Town Supervisor Alan Reynolds, Town Board members Greg DiBenedetto, Eric Fronckowiak, Innes Kasanof, Town Clerk Patricia Warfield, Deputy Clerk Ariel Bogert. Absent: Town Supervisor Samantha Wickham, Highway Superintendent Russell Bouton.

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

Approval of the minutes of the April 20, 2026, meeting: Motion to approve by Councilwoman Innes Kasanof, 2nd by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak. Councilman Greg DiBenedetto: aye, Deputy Supervisor Alan Reynolds: aye.

Highway Superintendent’s Report: (A) The Highway Department is using the Mach to bring in cold- patch. (B) It is hoping Greene County will send over a truck in better working condition this fall to use on the county roads here in Halcott. (C) The Highway Department is continuing its search for a new plow truck and received a quote from Allegiance Trucks for around $275,000.00 for a truck with a plow package; a sander would need to be added as well. (D) The Board discussed using funds from the Highway Reserve account to put towards the purchase and have Supervisor Samantha Wickham talk with the Bank of Greene County about financing the remaining balance.

Voucher vote: General Abstract #G0526 vouchers 49 – 55 = $2,057.92. Highway Abstract #H0526 – vouchers 56 – 64 = $14,396.64. Motion to pay bills by Councilwoman Innes Kasanof, 2nd by Councilman Greg DiBenedetto, Councilman Eric Fronckowiak: aye, Deputy Supervisor Alan Reynolds: aye.

Budget Officer’s Report: Councilwoman Innes Kasanof presented the monthly finance report for April.

Clerk’s Report: Certificate of Occupancy: 1 @ 25.00, Transfer Station/Garbage: April: 380.00. The Town collected and disbursed 405.00 for the month of April.

Other Business: (A) Motion to purchase a 2027 International truck with a plow package from Allegiance Trucks, contingent upon the price of a new sander by Councilwoman Innes Kasanof, 2nd by Deputy Supervisor Alan Reynolds, Councilman Eric Fronckowiak: aye, Councilman Greg DiBenedetto: aye. (B) Motion to use $100,000.00 from the Highway Reserve Fund for the down payment towards a new Highway Department truck and have Supervisor Samantha Wickham inquire about a loan from the Bank of Greene County for the remaining balance by Councilman Greg DiBenedetto, 2nd by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, Councilwoman Innes Kasanof: aye, Deputy Supervisor Alan Reynolds: aye. (B) Deputy Supervisor Alan Reynolds shared with the Board that at a Soil and Water meeting, it was discussed that during a storm emergency declared by the governor, there is now a simplified process for emergency stream work, only 1 permit will be needed to cover necessary work.

Next Meeting: Regular Meeting June 15, 2026, 6:00 pm.

Motion to Adjourn at 6:26 pm by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, 2nd by Councilman Greg DiBenedetto, Councilwoman Innes Kasanof: aye, Deputy Supervisor Alan Reynolds: aye.

Regular Town Board Meeting Minutes – Halcott Grange
April 20, 2026, 6:00pm

Present: Town Supervisor Samantha Wickham, Town Board members Greg DiBenedetto, Eric Fronckowiak, Innes Kasanof, Alan Reynolds, Highway Superintendent Russell Bouton, Town Clerk Patricia Warfield, Deputy Clerk Ariel Bogert. Public: Warren Reynolds.

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

Approval of the minutes of the March 16, 2026, meeting: Motion to approve by Councilwoman Innes Kasanof with the following correction: motion to adjourn the March 16, 2026, meeting was seconded by Councilman Greg DiBenedetto not Eric Fronckowiak. 2nd by Councilman Greg DiBenedetto, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Supervisor Samantha Wickham: aye. Councilman Eric Fronckowiak: abstain.

Highway Superintendent’s Report: (A) The Ford 450 pick-up truck needs to be taken to a shop to have the brakes inspected. Because regular garages may not service larger trucks, the vehicle may need to be taken to a larger truck repair shop, such as Don’s (Utter) Diesel Service and Repair. (B) The Highway Department is continuing its search for a new plow truck. The Town is considering an International model, which could cost up to $100,000.00 less than a Mack. The Highway Department hopes to make the purchase this year because emissions regulations are expected to change next year, which could increase prices by about $60,000.00. (C) No CHIPS information is available from the state because the budget has not yet been passed.” (D) Highway Superintendent Bouton is hoping for culvert repairs on Elk Creek Rd. and work needed on Townsend Hollow Rd. can be covered under Extreme Winter Recovery Funds.

Voucher vote: General Abstract #G0426 – vouchers 34 – 42 = $2,165.29. Highway Abstract #H0426 – vouchers 43 – 48 = $3,225.64. Motion to pay bills by Councilwoman Innes Kasanof, 2nd by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, Councilman Greg DiBenedetto: aye, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Supervisor Samantha Wickham: aye.

Budget Officer’s Report: Supervisor Samantha Wickham presented the monthly finance report for March.

Clerk’s Report: Grange: clean fee: 1 @ 50.00, Building Permits/2: 1 @ 200.00, 1 @ 600.00, Transfer Station/Garbage: February: 242.00. The Town collected and disbursed 1,092.00 for the month of March.

Other Business: Councilman Eric Fronckowiak asked if a new mailbox had been purchased yet for town mail as he could get the exact same one that the Town currently uses from Wadler’s in Fleischmanns. Motion for Councilman Eric Fronckowiak to order a new mailbox for town use by Councilwoman Innes Kasanof, 2nd by Councilman Greg DiBenedetto, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Supervisor Samantha Wickham: aye.

Next Meeting: Regular Meeting May 18, 2026, 6:00 pm.

Motion to Adjourn at 6:18 pm by Councilwoman Innes Kasanof, 2nd by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, Councilman Greg DiBenedetto: aye, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Supervisor Samantha Wickham: aye.