Regular Town Board Meeting Minutes Halcott Grange
October 21, 2024, 6:00 pm

Present: Town Supervisor Samantha Bouton, Councilmembers Alan Reynolds, Eric Fronckowiak, Innes Kasanof, Judy DiBenedetto, Highway Superintendent Russell Bouton, Town Clerk Patricia Warfield, Deputy Town Clerk Ariel Bogert. Public: David Grossman, Warren Reynolds, Cathy Legg, Garth Slocum

Call to Order at 6:00 p.m.

Public Hearing on the Proposed 2025 Budget opened at 6:01 pm: There were no public comments regarding the proposed budget. Public Hearing on the 2025 Budget closed 6:03 pm. Motion to approve the 2025 budget by Councilwoman Innes Kasanof, 2nd by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto: aye, Supervisor Samantha Bouton: aye.

Public Hearing to Adopt the Amended Town of Halcott Comprehensive Plan opened at 6:10 pm:

Supervisor Samantha Bouton asked if anyone had any comments or questions: David Grossman felt he was not sufficiently aware of what was happening in town and felt notifications could be more detailed. Supervisor Bouton pointed out the Comprehensive Plan was not changed, only the Land Use Code. David then pointed out that the updated version of the LUC was not posted on the website to view. The Board decided to table the adoption of the Comprehensive Plan until the updated version of the Land Use Code was posted.

Public Hearing to Adopt the Updated Land Use Code: The hearing was postponed until the updates version of the LUC was posted on the Town website.

Approval of the minutes of the June 17, 2024 meeting: Motion to approve by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, 2nd by Councilwoman Innes Kasanof, Councilman Eric Fronckowiak: aye, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye. Supervisor Samantha Bouton: aye.

Highway Superintendent’s Report: (A) The Highway Department is getting equipment ready for winter weather, the wing on the plow truck is out for repairs, plowing on soft roads buckled it. (B) Highway Superintendent Russell Bouton would like to replenish the crusher run stockpile before winter and would still like to order culverts to have in stock if needed. (C) The County has pushed the end date for replacing the bridge on County Rt. 1 to December.

Voucher vote: General Abstract #G1024 – vouchers 144 – 152 = $3,938.26. Highway Abstract #H1024 – vouchers 153 – 159 = $4,225.98. Motion to pay bills by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, 2nd by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, Councilwoman Innes Kasanof: aye, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Supervisor Samantha Bouton: aye.

Finance Chair Report: (A) Supervisor Samantha Bouton presented the monthly finance report. (B) The Town has received the large CHIPS reimbursement check. (C) Supervisor Bouton, Councilman Alan Reynolds, and former Councilman Chris DiBenedetto met with Norwich Bros. Concrete and Construction to discuss the new flagpole installation. No building permit is required for the project and the contractors are aware that they must be finished by 12/31/24. If there are any funds left, a suggestion was made to purchase a bench to sit on in the landscaped area.

Clerk’s Report: Building Permit: 2 @ 200.00, B. P, Renewal: 1 @ 50.00, The Town collected and disbursed $450.00 for the month of September.

Other Business: (A) Garth Slocum introduced himself to the Board and gave them a synopsis of his work history as an assessor, noting that he is currently the assessor for other Greene County towns such as Prattsville, and the Town of Lexington as well. Since he works part-time for those other towns, he is confident that he could easily fit the Town of Halcott in his schedule as well. Motion to appoint Garth Slocum to the position of Town of Halcott Assessor with a start date of November 1, 2024, and an annual salary of 10,000.00 (ten thousand) dollars, to be paid monthly, term to end 9/30/2025 by Councilwoman Innes Kasanof, 2nd by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Councilman Eric Fronckowiak: aye, Supervisor Samantha Bouton: aye. (B) The Board discussed investigating what the regulations would be to have the Town Highway Superintendent position become an appointed position instead of an elected position as it is now. Supervisor Bouton will contact the Association of Towns to see if they have any information on the subject.

Public: (A) David Grossman asked the Board if the town was looking to have a revaluation of properties done in Halcott, the board stated it was not. (B) Warren Reynolds asked if the State has a time/schedule for properties to be re-assessed, and the answer was no.

Next Meeting: Regular Town Board Meeting, November 18, 2024, 6:00 pm.

Motion to Adjourn at 6:47 p.m. by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, 2nd by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, Councilwoman Innes Kasanof: aye, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Supervisor Samantha Bouton: aye.

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

Approval of the minutes of the August 19, 2024, meeting: Motion to approve by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, 2nd by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, Councilwoman Innes Kasanof: aye,

Highway Superintendent’s Report: (A) Bridge work on County Route 1 is still running behind, the project should now be completed around Thanksgiving.

Voucher vote: General Abstract #G0924 – vouchers 127 – 135 = $1,917.91. Highway Abstract #H0924 – vouchers 136 – 143 = $2,237.58. Motion to pay bills by Councilwoman Innes Kasanof, 2nd by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, Councilman Eric Fronckowiak: aye, Deputy Supervisor Alan Reynolds: aye.

Budget Officer’s Report: (A) Budget Officer Paul Tamaccio presented the monthly finance report. (B) The Town received the $25,000 ARPA check for the new flagpole, concrete pad, and landscaping. (C) Tentative Budget 2025: Includes the following salaries: Board Members: $1,000.00, Town Clerk: $5,500.00, Tax Collector: $3,100.00, Town Supervisor: $4,500.00, Highway Superintendent: $66,000.00.

Clerk’s Report: Grange Rental/1, non-local: 100.00, Building Permits/2: 1 @ 400.00, 1 @ 100.00, Certificate of Occupancy Search: 1 @ 25.00, BP Renewal: 1 @ 37.50, Transfer Station/Garbage: June/July, 1186.00. The Town collected and disbursed 1,848.50 for the month of August.

LUC Update: Resolution 6-2024: Introducing Local Law No. 1 of 2024, a proposed “Local law Repealing and Replacing the Town of Halcott Land Use Code. Motion to Adopt Resolution 6- 2024 by Councilwoman Innes Kasanof, 2nd by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, Councilman Eric Fronckowiak: aye, Deputy Supervisor Alan Reynolds: aye.

Highway Garage Grant: CEO John Mathiesen informed the Board; the first step in the new highway garage building process would be a resolution to apply for funding for the highway garage design costs, usually 10% of the full cost of the project. Resolution 7-2024, A Resolution to apply for Funding for the Design of a New Town of Halcott Highway Garage. Motion to Adopt Resolution 7-2024 by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, 2nd by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, Councilwoman Innes Kasanof: aye, Deputy Supervisor Alan Reynolds: aye.

Other Business: Webmaster Greg Beechler inquired as to the procedure to find his replacement. Greg has found an individual who expressed interest in filling the position. The Board explained that position appointments happen at the Organizational Meeting in January.

Next Meeting: Regular Meeting October 21, 2024, 6:00 pm.

Motion to Adjourn at 7:08 pm by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, 2nd by Councilwoman Innes Kasanof, Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto: aye, Deputy Supervisor Alan Reynolds: aye.