Category Archives: Town Board Minutes

Minutes from regular meetings of the town board.

Town Board Minutes, 18 September 2023

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Draft Regular Town Board Meeting Minutes Halcott Grange
September 18, 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, Deputy Clerk Ariel Bogert. Public: Sean Penchoff, Andrew Camarata, David Buchakian, Pattie Kelder, Vicki and Dave Carpenter, Fred and Susan Herzog, Cindy Bouton.

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

Approval of the minutes of the August 21, 2023, meeting: Motion to approve by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, 2nd by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Councilwoman Samantha Bouton: aye Supervisor Innes Kasanof: aye.

Highway Superintendent’s Report: (A) The Town has received the entire CHIPS reimbursement due for the first stage of road repair and maintenance work done on Town roads. (B) Town Attorney Tal Rappleyea has advised the Town that unfortunately, it is not an option for the Town to protect or maintain the abandoned section of road which goes beyond what is maintained on Bouton Rd. and then up the mountain and over to the Lexington Town line. (C) It was necessary to have the mechanic back to Halcott to work on the mower tractor, which is having electrical issues. (D) The Highway Department has been able to get most of the ditching done along the roads (E) Superintendent Bouton asked if a letter could be drafted to send out to property owners as one was in previous years regarding snow removal and mailboxes.

Voucher vote: General Abhas been abstract #G0923 – vouchers 131– 139 = $1,746.79. Highway Abstract #H0923 – vouchers 140 – 142 = $3,310.67. Motion to pay bills by Councilwoman Samantha Bouton, 2nd by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto: aye, Supervisor Innes Kasanof: aye.

Finance Chair Report: (A) Finance Chair Innes Kasanof presented the monthly finance report. (B) Supervisor Kasanof presented to the Board the Tentative Budget for 2024. The board discussed the need to raise the pay rate for the highway employee to 25.00 per hour to be more in line with what is currently being offered elsewhere and would like to raise the salary of the Highway Superintendent the same percentage (20%) to make things equitable. Also discussed were increased costs of utilities, fuel, and insurances and small salary increases for all town positions including the following proposed salaries: Town Board members: 900.00, Town Supervisor: 4,000.00, Town Clerk: 5,200.00, Highway Superintendent: 63,000. Supervisor Kasanof was not sure if these proposed changes would raise the budget over the 2% tax cap, if so, a local law would need to be passed to override the tax cap. Supervisor Kasanof will continue to work on the budget and a public hearing will be scheduled for 6:00pm on October 16, 2023, to present the proposed 2024 budget.

Clerk’s Report: Building Permit: (1) @ 500.00, Subdivision: (1) @ 100.00, Transfer Station: (August) 622.00. The Town collected and disbursed $1,222.00 for the month of August.

Other Business: (A) The LUC committee is still working on updates with nothing new to report currently.
(B) Pattie Kelder shared with the Board an article containing information on a bill pending in Albany related to a potential short term rental law.

Next Meeting: Public Hearing Regular Meeting October 16, 2023, 6:00 pm.

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

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.