Category Archives: Town Board Minutes

Minutes from regular meetings of the town board.

Town Board Minutes, 21 August 2023

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Draft Regular Town Board Meeting Minutes Halcott Grange
August 21, 2023, 6:00 pm

Present: Town Supervisor Innes Kasanof, Council members Alan Reynolds, Judy DiBenedetto, Highway Superintendent Russell Bouton, Town Clerk Patricia Warfield, ZBA & LUC Chair Karen Rauter, Planning Board Chair Nancy Reynolds. Absent: Councilwoman Samantha Bouton, Councilman Eric Fronckowiak. Public: Scott Moroff, John Dobsa, Patty George, Cindy Bouton. Sean Penchoff, Vicki & Dave Carpenter, Paul & Sybil Margaritas, Kevin & Peg Leslie, Carol & Tim Hunt, Pattie Kelder.

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

Report from Assessor Mark Neves concerning impact on seniors from property tax changes:
Supervisor Kasanof explained the new Tax changes for those 65 and older and local government options. For 2024, the new definition of income will be the Federal Adjusted Gross Income plus any Social security benefits not included in the (FAGI) plus any tax-exempt interest or dividends that were excluded from (FAGI). A municipality can choose to exclude untaxed Social Security, IRA distributions that were included in (FAGI), and offset income by unreimbursed medical and prescription costs. Greene County is recommending not to adopt these exclusions and Assessor Neves feels we should then not adopt them as well.

Approval of the minutes of the July 17, 2023, meeting: Motion to approve by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, 2nd by Supervisor Innes Kasanof, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye.

Highway Superintendent’s Report: (A) The 2nd CHIPS reimbursement is done, and Superintendent would like to work on stock piling material to replace what was used. (B) Greene County Highway Department has plans to be here patching County Rt. 1 before school starts.

Voucher vote: General Abstract #G0823 – vouchers 115 – 121 = $1,064.05. Highway Abstract #H0823 – vouchers 122 – 130 = $28,913.31. Motion to pay bills by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, 2nd by Councilman Alan Reynolds, Supervisor Innes Kasanof: aye.

Budget Officer’s Report: (A) Supervisor Innes Kasanof presented the monthly finance report. (B) 2024 Budget: Supervisor Kasanof discussed with the Board raising the salaries for those working in the Highway Department to make the positions more attractive to both full-time, part-time, and emergency workers. Also discussed were increased insurance costs, and perhaps a cost-of-living raise for other Town Salaries.

Clerk’s Report: Certified Transcripts: 2 @ 10.00 each, Grange Rental: 100.00, Building Permit: 100.00, BP renewal: 2 @ 50.00, C/O Search: 2 @ 25.00 each, Transfer Station (June): 362.00. The Town collected and disbursed 732.00 for the month of July.

Other Business: (A) Karen Rauter gave an overview of the progress the LUC committee has made. Some of the topics for discussion have been Short Term Rentals, deciding on who governs, the planning Board or CEO, and how to pay for that time. The LUC committee hopes to have a summary document to present to the Board for their comments at the October board meeting.

Public: Vicki Carpenter asked the Board if Halcott is still responsible for the old road that goes over the mountain to Lexington. A property owner is making drastic changes to the road and there is concern that those changes may not be legal if the road is in fact still a town road. Supervisor Kasanof was not sure if there was a resolution on record that the Town has indeed abandoned said road or if it simply stopped being used or maintained. There is also a right of way granted to said property owner which crosses private properties as well, again causing concern with the scope of his improvements. Supervisor Kasanof will reach out to the Town Attorney Tal Rappleyea about the situation.

Next Meeting: Regular Meeting September 18, 2023, 6:00 pm.

Motion to Adjourn at 7:06 pm by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, 2nd by Supervisor Innes Kasanof, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye.

Town Board Meeting Minutes, July 17, 2023

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Regular Town Board Meeting Minutes Halcott Grange
July 17, 2023, 6:00 pm

Present: Town Supervisor Innes Kasanof, Council Members Alan Reynolds, Judy DiBenedetto, Eric Fronckowiak, Samantha Bouton, Town Clerk Pattie Warfield, Deputy Clerk Ariel Bogert, LUC Chair Karen Rauter, Planning Board Chair Nancy Reynolds. Public: Warren Reynolds, David Grossman, Paul and Sybil Margaritas, Vicki Ballard, Shawn Penchoff, Cindy Bouton, Kevin and Peggy Leslie, Sheri Reynolds, Patty George, John Dobsa, Scott Moroff.

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

Approval of the minutes of the June 26, 2023, meeting: Motion to approve by Councilwoman Samantha Bouton with the following correction: Change Chevy truck with Ford truck, 2nd by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto: aye, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Supervisor Innes Kasanof: aye.

Highway Superintendent’s Report: The plates for the Ford truck have finally arrived from the state. There have been some machinery breakdowns, a mechanic will be here next week to work on the tractor mower. The new Ford truck had an inner fender and wires come loose and is being repaired.

Voucher vote: General Abstract #G0723 – vouchers 102 – 107 = $3,113.43. Highway Abstract #H0723 – vouchers 108 – 114 = $50,891.28. Motion to pay bills by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, 2nd by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Councilwoman Samantha Bouton: aye, Supervisor Innes Kasanof: aye.

Budget Officer Report: (A) Supervisor Kasanof presented the monthly finance report for June.

Clerk’s Report: Certified Transcript; 9 @ 10.00 = 90.00, Building Permit: 2 @ 100.00, 1 @ 75.00 = 275.00, BP Renewal: 280.00, Transfer Station/May: 262.00, Dog License (unneutered): 10.00. The Town collected and disbursed 917.00 for the month of June.

Other Business: (A) Resolution 1-2023, A Resolution Urging the Governor to Veto A.04282B/S.3505B to Move Certain Local Elections to Even-Numbered Years. Legislation has been introduced to move local elections to even years which would have local elections coincide with presidential elections. After a board discussion, Motion to adopt Resolution 1-2023 by Councilman Alan Reynolds, 2nd by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, Councilwoman Samantha Bouton: aye, Councilman Eric Fronckowiak: aye, Supervisor Innes Kasanof: aye. (B) The Town received a request from Del. Co. Dept. of Planning & Watershed Affairs asking the Town to sign a document supporting them to become the lead agency in a SEQR review of DEP land acquisitions. The Town’s position is that we have no objection to the County assuming lead agency but have the following concerns regarding this project. 1. The Town of Halcott is deeply concerned about the DEP’s current land purchase policy. 2. We look forward to the results of the independent study being conducted on overseen by the CWC. and hope negotiations will be as open-minded as possible. Motion to sign by Councilman Alan Reynolds, 2nd by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, Councilman Eric Fronckowiak: aye, Councilwoman Samantha Bouton: aye, Supervisor Innes Kasanof: aye. (C) Karen Rauter reported that the LUC committee hopes to have a packet together to show the Board at the August meeting.

Public Comment: (A) Silas Lake Rd. resident Peggy Leslie questioned the board as to why the Town has yet to pave the section of road she lives on. Highway Superintendent Bouton explained that the section of road she lives on is in good shape and they have had to spend time on repairs to other sections of town roads damaged by winter weather. The Highway Department has also spent time improving roads deemed emergency access routes. Peggy also inquired about getting a committee together to plan for a 2024 Town of Halcott Fair which she would like to be a part of. (B) Turk Hollow resident Shawn Penchoff asked what was being done about the condition of the Turk Hollow Bridge. Highway Superintendent Bouton explained that the county had an engineer here to assess the bridge and are going to contract with a private company for the repairs.

Next Meeting: Regular Meeting Monday August 21, 2023, 6:00 pm.

Motion to Adjourn at 6:38 p.m. by Councilwoman Samantha Bouton, 2nd by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto: aye.

Town Board Minutes, June 19 & 26, 2023

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Draft Regular Town Board Meeting Minutes Halcott Grange
June 19, 2023, 6:00 pm

Present: Town Supervisor Innes Kasanof, Town Council Members Alan Reynolds, Judy DiBenedetto, Town Clerk Patricia Warfield. Absent: Town Councilmembers Eric Fronckowiak, Samantha Bouton, Highway Superintendent Russell Bouton.

Call to order at 6:01 pm with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Voucher vote: General Abstract #G0623 – vouchers 83 – 93 = $7,810.69. Highway Abstract #H0623 – vouchers 94 – 101 = $51,380.00. Motion to pay bills by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, 2nd by Councilman Alan Reynolds, Supervisor Innes Kasanof: aye.

6:03 p.m. Motion to adjourn the regular Town Board Meeting until Monday, June 26, 2023, 6:00 p.m. by Councilman Alan Reynolds, 2nd by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, Supervisor Innes Kasanof: aye.

Draft Regular Town Board Meeting Minutes Halcott Grange

June 26, 2023, 6:00 pm

Present: Town Supervisor Innes Kasanof, Council members Alan Reynolds, Judy DiBenedetto, Eric Fronckowiak, Samantha Bouton, Highway Superintendent Russell Bouton, Town Clerk Patricia Warfield, LUC Chairwoman Karen Rauter, Planning Board Chairwoman Nancy Reynolds. Public: Cindy Bouton, Vicky Ballard, Scott Moroff, Paul, and Sybil Margaritas.

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

Approval of the minutes of the May 15, 2023, meeting: Motion to approve by Councilwoman Samantha Bouton, 2nd by Councilwoman Judy Di Benedetto, Councilman Eric Fronckowiak: aye, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Supervisor Innes Kasanof: aye.

Highway Superintendent’s Report: (A) The Highway Department is still waiting for Halcott plates for the recently purchased Chevy truck to come in the mail. (B) After taking possession of the new truck, it was noticed that overhead and sander lighting was overlooked when the truck was ordered. Superintend Bouton will see to having the necessary lighting professionally installed. (C) Greg Finch is willing to help with the road maintenance and repair work since the Town has yet to find a replacement for highway employee Bill Capel who moved from the area. (D) Superintendent Bouton would like the Board to consider increasing the hourly rate for help to make it more enticing to work here. The Highway Department had one person interested but not seriously. The Town is looking for other ways to advertise the open position.

Finance Chair Report: (A) Finance Chair Innes Kasanof presented the monthly finance report. (B) The Town received a satisfactory Dog Control Officer Inspection Report from N.Y. State Agriculture and Markets. (C) NYMER has requested we update or install master battery disconnect switches on all of the Town’s medium or heavy equipment. In 2022, losses exceeded twelve million dollars due to electrical fires.

Clerk’s Report: Marriage License: 40.00, Grange Fees 3: 1 @ 100.00, 2 @ 50.00, Building Permits: 1 @ 400.00, 1 @ 100.00, BP Renewal: 100.00, Transfer Station/Feb- Apr: 592.00. The Town collected and disbursed $1,432.00 for the month of May.

Other Business: (A) The definition of income will be changing for the sixty-five years or older for Property Tax exemptions. It will now use Federal Adjusted Gross Income (FAGI) plus, any Social Security Benefits not included in FAGI, plus, any tax-exempt interest or dividends that were excluded from FAGI. Municipalities can exclude untaxed Social Security, exclude IRA distributions that were not included in FAGI, offset total income by unreimbursed medical and prescription expenses. Supervisor Kasanof and the Board agreed that they would ask Assessor Mark Neves to come to the next meeting to help them better understand the issue and then make an informed decision. (B) Board members and LUC Chair Karen Rauter discussed definitions and the wording of the definitions in the Land Use Code update. Councilman Alan Reynolds asked why the term boarding house was taken out with the answer given that the term is no longer valid or current, instead to be replaced with Country Inns/Air B&B’s/Short Term Rentals with the thinking to keep things current and to close any unforeseen loopholes. The Board had other questions about recreational vehicles(campers) needing to be registered and will ask CEO John Mathiesen to come to a board meeting to discuss. Council woman Samantha Bouton had questions regarding wording about residential lighting and felt it might be too vague. The Board will work on questions they may and present to Nan at a future date. The ZBA will meet the first Saturday of the month for the rest of the year and continue to work on the LUC update and STR update. The public can attend these meetings as well.

Next Meeting: Regular Meeting June 17, 2023, 6:00 pm.

Motion to Adjourn at 7:13 p.m. by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, 2nd by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Councilwoman Samantha Bouton: aye, Supervisor Innes Kasanof: aye.