Regular Town Board Meeting Minutes – Halcott Grange
December 15, 2025, 6:00 pm

Present: Town Supervisor Samantha Wickham, Council Members Alan Reynolds, Innes Kasanof, Greg DiBenedetto, Eric Fronckowiak, Highway Superintendent Russell Bouton, Town Clerk, Patricia Warfield, Budget Officer Paul Tamaccio. Public: Bob VanValkenburgh.

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

Approval of the minutes of the November 17, 2025, meeting: Motion to approve by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, 2nd by Supervisor Samantha Bouton, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye.

Highway Superintendent’s Report: Superintendent Russell Bouton reported that the pop-up camper previously discussed at the August 18, 2025, Town Board meeting remains parked in the turn-around area on DiNicola Road. This ongoing situation poses a significant challenge for road maintenance. Specifically, the camper’s location makes it difficult for anyone plowing the road, as they are forced to back down instead of turning around safely. The issue has not yet been resolved and is affecting winter road operations. The end of Route 3 continues to present challenges for the Highway Department as well due to the number of parked cars belonging to hikers. (B) The Oshkosh is nearing the end of its service life; the transmission has issues, and the clutch may soon need replacement despite recent adjustments. (C) Greene County delivered materials for winter road use.

Voucher vote: General Abstract #G1225– vouchers 170 – 176 = $3,187.72. Highway Abstract #H1225 – vouchers 178 – 185 = $4,922.68. Motion to pay bills by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, 2nd by Councilwoman Innes Kasanof, Councilman Alan Reynolds, Councilman Greg DiBenedetto: aye, Supervisor Samantha Wickham: aye.

Finance Chair Report: (A) Budget Officer Paul Tamaccio presented the November report. He will pay end-of-month bills and submit a January voucher to simplify closing the books for 2025. (B) Budget Officer Tamaccio is creating an online Suburban Propane account to monitor Town propane charges.

Clerk’s Report: Building Permits: 2 @ 100.00, 1 @ 200.00, 1 @ 300.00, 1 @ 350.00, Transfer Station /October: 522.00. The Town collected and disbursed 1,572.00 for the month of November.

Other Business: Bob VanValkenburgh discussed the need for an emergency route in Halcott after a recent fire on Co. Rt. 3 blocked access, as alternate roads like Silas Lake, Kaftas, and Townsend Hollow are only seasonally maintained. He noted that previous minutes designated Silas Lake Rd. into Redkill Rd. as an “emergency road” and suggested it be plowed and maintained in winter. Bob also mentioned Roxbury Highway Department’s past offer to plow from their side for Halcott, though Superintendent Russell Bouton indicated the road’s surface would make winter maintenance challenging.

Next Meeting: Organizational Meeting: January 5, 2026, 6:00 pm.
Regular Town Board Meeting, January 19, 2026, 6:00 pm.
Motion to Adjourn at 6:23 p.m. by Councilman Greg DiBenedetto, 2nd by Councilwoman Innes Kasanof, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Councilman Eric Fronckowiak: aye, Supervisor Samantha Wickham: aye.

Please note – January’s monthly Town Board Meeting will be held on January 26th at 6:00pm (not January 19th).

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

Present: Town Supervisor Samantha Wickham, Council Members Alan Reynolds, Eric Fronckowiak, Town Clerk Pattie Warfield, Deputy Clerk Ariel Bogert. Public: Pattie Kelder. Absent: Councilwoman Innes Kasanof, Highway Superintendent Russell Bouton.

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

Approval of the minutes of the October 20, 2025 meeting: Motion to approve by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, 2nd by Councilman Alan Reynolds, Supervisor Samantha Wickham: aye.

Highway Superintendent’s Report: (A) Councilman Alan Reynolds reported that Greene County has not yet brought sand to Halcott, but they did bring the town a plow truck for use on the county roads. This is the same vehicle the Town used last year, but it is now equipped with a new sander. (B) The mechanic should be coming to Halcott to take care of mechanical odds and ends before bad weather arrives.

Budget Officer’s Report: Supervisor Samantha Wickham presented the monthly finance report for October. Supervisor Samantha Wickham asked the board for a motion to pay a credit card bill that was received late, and voucher for the next board meeting. Motion to pay the credit card bill and voucher for the December meeting by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, 2nd by Councilman Alan Reynolds, Supervisor Samantha Wickham: aye.

Voucher vote: General Abstract #G1125 – vouchers 156 – 164 = $2,059.37. Highway Abstract #H1125 – vouchers 165 – 169 = $942.04. Motion to pay bills by Councilman Alan Reynolds, 2nd by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, Supervisor Samantha Wickham: aye.

Clerk’s Report: Marriage License: 2 @ 40.00 each, Building Permits: 2 @ 50.00 each, 1 @ 125.00, 1 @ 150.00, 1 @ 200.00, BP Renewal: 1 @ 70.00, C/O Search: 1 @ 25.00, Garbage Money/October: 446.00 The Town collected and disbursed $1,196.00 for the month of October.

Other Business: (A) Councilwoman Judy resigned from her position as a Halcott town board council member in October. To fill the vacant position, a Motion to appoint Greg DiBenedetto to the Town Board was made by Councilman Alan Reynolds, 2nd by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, Supervisor Samantha Wickham: aye. (B) John Halcott Burial Marker: Greene County Administrator Shawn Grodin has returned the call regarding the marker placement. It has been suggested that the town postpone the marker installation until replacement of the county bridge is completed.

Public Comment: Pattie Kelder asked if groups such as the Community Garden, church events, or community activities are charged grange rental fees, typically they use the Grange at no cost. She also stated that the square dance held at the Grange was a huge success. She subsequently brought up the gas appliance ban, suggesting that the town oppose it—a stance the town ultimately adopted.

Next Meeting: Regular Town Board Meeting, December 15, 2025, 6:00 pm.

Motion to Adjourn at 6:18 p.m. by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, 2nd by Councilman Alan Reynolds, Supervisor Samantha Wickham: aye.

Draft – Regular Town Board Meeting Minutes – Halcott Grange
October 20, 2025, 6:00pm

Present: Town Supervisor Samantha Wickham, Councilmembers Innes Kasanof, Alan Reynolds, Highway Superintendent Russell Bouton, Town Clerk Patricia Warfield, Budget Officer Paul Tamaccio. Absent: Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, Councilman Eric Fronckowiak

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

Approval of the minutes of the September 15, 2025, meeting: Motion to approve by Councilwoman Innes Kasanof with the following correction: 3 million in funding will be allocated for the building of a new bridge allowing better access to the highway garage. 2nd by Councilman Alan Reynolds, Supervisor Samantha Wickham: aye.

Executive Session: Motion to enter Executive session at 6:04 pm by Councilman Alan Reynolds, 2nd by Councilwoman Innes Kasanof, Supervisor Samantha Bouton: aye. Motion to exit Executive session at 6:10 pm by Councilman Alan Reynolds, 2nd by Councilwoman Innes Kasanof, Supervisor Samantha Bouton: aye.

Public Hearing on the 2026 Budget opened at 6:12 pm: The preliminary budget was updated to reflect the ten percent highway salary increase. With no public input and no comments from the Board, the Public Budget Hearing was closed at 6:14 pm.

Highway Superintendent’s Report: (A) Highway Superintendent Russell Bouton has ordered a new hand-held radio, parts for the old ones are few and far between. (B) The Ford has a noise in the front-end and is due for a software update, Superintendent Bouton will take it in for a check up before winter. (C) The Chevy pick-up is useful but aging, and the highway department is uncertain about its remaining service life.

Voucher vote: General Abstract #G1025 – vouchers 143 – 151 = $2,955.38. Highway Abstract #H1025 – vouchers 152 – 155 = $2,479.38. Motion to pay bills by Councilwoman Innes Kasanof, 2nd by Councilman Alan Reynolds. Supervisor Samantha Wickham: aye.

Budget Officer’s Report: (A) Budget Officer Paul Tamaccio presented the monthly finance report.

Clerk’s Report: Building Permits: 1 @ 300.00, Transfer Station/Garbage: 769.00. The Town collected and disbursed 1,069.00 for the month of September

Other Business: (A) Motion to adopt the updated 2026 Budget by Councilwoman Innes Kasanof, 2nd by Councilman Alan Reynolds, Supervisor Samantha Wickham: aye. (B) Motion to reappoint Garth Slocum as Town Assessor by Councilman Alan Reynolds, 2nd by Councilwoman Innes Kasanof, Supervisor Samantha Wickham: aye. (C) Congressman Nick Langworth with Senator Jim Justice of West Virginia has introduced the Energy Choice Act (HR 33699, S.1945), federal legislation that ensures state and local governments cannot restrict consumer access to natural gas and other affordable energy sources. It was requested the Town adopt a resolution in support of the Energy Choice Act and in opposition to government mandated natural gas bans. Motion to adopt Resolution 6-2025: A Resolution in Support of Congressman Nick Langworthy’s Energy Choice Act (HR 3699, S. 1945) and in Opposition to Government- Mandated Natural Gas Bans by Councilman Alan Reynolds, 2nd by Councilwoman Innes Kasanof, Supervisor Samantha Wickham: aye. (D) 2026 will mark the 250th anniversary of our country. A descendent of John Halcott would like to honor him by applying for the Patriot’s Burials Marker Grant program through the Son’s of the American Revolution. The funding for the blue and yellow sign will come from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation. The Town will need to give written permission to erect the sign which would be placed either on the roadside near his grave, or in the field just off the highway, leading to his grave, It would be the Town’s choice. The Town would be responsible for the installation of the marker. The town will reach out to Greene County since the marker would be on a county road. (E) The Town Board received a formal letter from a resident who previously appeared before the board during the June town board meeting to discuss issues concerning Silas Lake Road, particularly the unpaved section where his home is situated. In his correspondence, the resident expressed frustration with the persistent dust generated by passing vehicles on the unpaved roadway which cause him to keep windows closed and health concerns due to breathing in road dust. Highway Superintendent Bouton will look into applying calcium to the road surface to control the dust, as Silas Lake is not due to be on the road work schedule until 2027. (F) Due to family commitments, Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto has resigned from the Town Board. Greg DiBenedetto has offered to fill the vacant position.

Next Meeting: Regular Meeting November 17, 2025, 6:00 pm.

Motion to Adjourn at 6:49 pm by Councilwoman Innes Kasanof, 2nd by Councilman Alan Reynold, Supervisor Samantha Wickham: aye.

Regular Town Board Meeting Minutes – Halcott Grange
August 18, 2025, 6:00 pm

Present: Town Supervisor Samantha Bouton, Council Member Alan Reynolds, Eric Fronckowiak, Innes Kasanof, Highway Superintendent Russell Bouton, Town Clerk, Patricia Warfield, Budget Officer Paul Tamaccio. Absent: Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, Deputy Clerk Ariel Bogert.

Call to Order at 6:00 p.m.

Approval of the minutes of the July 21, 2025 meeting: With the following correction: Motion to adjourn by Councilwoman Innes Kasanof, 2nd by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto. Motion to approve by Councilwoman Innes Kasanof, 2nd by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye.

Highway Superintendent’s Report: (A) There is a pop-up camper in the turn-around on DiNicola Road. This may present a challenge for snowplows during adverse weather, as they require that area to turn around. (B) During the off season (spring or fall), the Highway Superintendent proposes renting a brush machine to clean the road shoulders. The estimated cost for a two-week rental is approximately $2,000.00, while monthly rental rates range from $6,000 to $10,000. (C) The Highway Department has completed stone and oil work on Johnson Hollow Rd., and Greene County has finished the same on County Rt. 1.

Voucher vote: General Abstract #G0825 – vouchers 122-126 = $874.96. Highway Abstract #H0825 – voucher 127 = $952.50. Motion to pay bills by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, 2nd by Councilman Alan Reynolds, Councilwoman Innes Kasanof: aye, Supervisor Samantha Bouton: aye.

Budget Officer Report: (A) The Town was a victim of an internet fraud scam with a request for a change in banking information for an individual who receives direct deposit payment from the Town, resulting in a loss of 2,000.00. The Town will create a policy for the steps needed to be taken for verification of such requests before any account changes can be processed. (B) The Board reviewed several key factors for consideration in preparing the Tentative Budget for 2026, including the necessity for the Highway Department to replace the Oshkosh truck, anticipated increases in insurance costs, and projected COLA adjustments.

Clerk’s Report: Grange Rental: 1 @ 50.00, Building Permit: 1 @ 340.00, Garbage (June): 754.00. The Town collected and disbursed $1,144.00 for the month of June.

Other Business: A Feasibility Study and cost analysis for the proposed Highway Garage has been funded by the CWC to provide a more precise estimate of the project’s total cost.

Next Meeting: Regular Town Board Meeting, September 15, 2025, 6:00 pm.

Motion to Adjourn at 6:37 p.m. by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, 2nd by Councilwoman Innes Kasanof, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Supervisor Samantha Bouton: aye.