Category Archives: Town Board Minutes

Minutes from regular meetings of the town board.

Town Board Minutes, August 15, 2022

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Draft Regular Town Board Meeting Minutes Halcott Grange
August 15, 2022, 6:00 pm

Present: Town Supervisor Innes Kasanof, Council members Alan Reynolds, Eric Fronckowiak, Samantha Bouton, Highway Superintendent Russell Bouton, Town Clerk Patricia Warfield. Absent: Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, Budget Officer Paul Tamaccio. Public: Warren Reynolds, Vicky Ballard, Dave Carpenter, Ted and Mary Lou Randazzo, Cindy Bouton, Patty and John Dobsa, Fred and Susan Herzog, Jen Bouton, Jamie Vogler, Mary Constantine.

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

Approval of the minutes of the July 18, 2022, meeting: Motion to approve by Councilwoman Samantha Bouton, 2nd by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Supervisor Innes Kasanof: aye.

Public Hearing on “Solar Energy System PILOT Law for the Town of Halcott opened at 6:02 pm. The purpose of this law is to ensure that Towns receive revenue from commercial solar energy systems, historically towns have not received any compensation whether monetary or even a lowering of local electric rates. A project of this magnitude would not be feasible in town due to the lack of transmission lines large enough to support the system. Additionally, if something is not specifically allowed as per the Land Use Code then it would need to be presented locally to not only the Planning Board but also the ZBA for consideration and then additionally meet state SEQR requirements as well. Public Hearing closed at 6:12 pm.

Adoption of the Solar Energy System Pilot Law: Motion to adopt Local Law 1-2022, The “Solar Energy System PILOT Law of the Town of Halcott, NY” by Councilman Alan Reynolds, 2nd by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, Councilwoman Samantha Bouton: aye, Supervisor Innes Kasanof: aye.

Highway Superintendent’s Report: (A) The front end of the Oshkosh has been rebuilt; new rims were needed as well with the total repair cost over the expenditure amount. Motion to approve repair expenditures for the Oshkosh by Councilman Alan Reynolds, 2nd by Councilwoman Samantha Bouton, Councilman Eric Fronckowiak: aye, Supervisor Innes Kasanof: aye. (B) Greene County will begin taking down dead trees on the County roads in Halcott on September 12, 2022 and has scheduled ditch work to begin September 1. There is still no start date to replace the culvert on County Rt. 1.

Voucher vote: General Abstract #G0822 – vouchers 125 – 132 = $1,240.77. Highway Abstract #H0822 – vouchers 133 – 139 = $15,030.78. Motion to pay bills by Councilwoman Samantha Bouton, 2nd by Councilman Alan Reynolds, Councilman Eric Fronckowiak: aye, Supervisor Innes Kasanof: aye.

Finance Chair Report: (A) Town Supervisor Innes Kasanof presented the monthly finance report.

Clerk’s Report: BP Renewal: $200.00. The Town collected and disbursed $200.00 for the month of July.

Other Business: (A) Supervisor Kasanof has a mileage voucher for reimbursement to a trip to Catskill and asked the board to revisit the Organizational Schedule mileage reimbursement of 58 cents per mile for 2022 and increase the reimbursement amount to 62.5 cents per mile as per new federal guidelines. Resolution 4-2022 A Resolution to increase the Town of Halcott mileage reimbursement from the amount of 58 cents per mile to 62.5 cents per mile as per federal guidelines. Motion to approve by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, 2nd by Councilwoman Samantha Bouton, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Supervisor Innes Kasanof: aye. (B) Land Use Code update: Surveys were sent out using the tax rolls with receipt of the survey postcards spotty at this moment.

Next Meeting: Regular Meeting September 19, 2022, 6:00 pm.

Motion to Adjourn at 6:33 pm by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, 2nd by Councilwoman Samantha Bouton, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Supervisor Innes Kasanof: aye.

Town Board Meeting Minutes, 18 July 2022

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Present: Town Supervisor Innes Kasanof, Council Members Alan Reynolds, Judy DiBenedetto, Eric Fronckowiak, Samantha Bouton, Highway Superintendent Russell Bouton, Town Clerk Patricia Warfield, Budget Officer Paul Tamaccio, ZBA Chair Karen Rauter. Public: Warren Reynolds, Vicki Ballard, Dave Carpenter, John Dobsa, Patty Dobsa, Courtney Carr, Cody Fronckowiak, Cindy Bouton, Nick Bouton, Brian, Ashton, Georgia, Grocholl, Andrew Camarata, Hans Hohn, Jenn, Marshall, Lucas Bouton, Mark, Jamie, Landon Vogler, Sheri Reynolds.

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

Local Law 1-2022, The “Solar Energy System PILOT Law”, Town of Halcott, New York:

The public hearing for Local Law 1-2022 was tabled until August due to an error in the posting of the legal notice as. Supervisor Kasanof explained to those in attendance that the purpose of this Local Law is to ensure that municipalities can generate a revenue stream from commercial solar energy systems with a generating capacity greater than 50KW. The Board was asked if this law was not time sensitive, was it something that could wait. Town Councilman Alan Reynolds stated that Halcott is the only Greene County town not on board yet. The law was shown to Nan Stolzenburg who was comfortable with it, passing it would make Halcott uniform with the rest of the towns.

Approval of the minutes of the June 27, 2022, 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 received confirmation that POP funds can be used for the Silas Lake Road repair project. (B) NYSEG has been assisting with the removal of dead trees on Turkey Ridge Road which were near power lines. Greene County is still planning to be in Halcott at the end of July to assist in the removal of dead trees on county roads, with 190 trees being marked by the county for removal.

Voucher vote: General Abstract #G0722 – vouchers 111 – 114 = $819.50. Highway Abstract #H0722 – vouchers 115 – 124 = $50,794.29. 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) Budget Officer Paul Tamaccio presented the monthly finance report. (B) Budget Office Tamaccio would like to move forward with a credit card application to the Bank of Greene County; to be used for Town Business and will ask the Board to approve at the next meeting. (C) Budget Officer Tamaccio is working on having time sensitive bills to be paid by auto pay, thereby eliminating the possibility of the town accruing any kind of late charges. The Association of Towns has ok’d the practice and to move forward the Town must pass a resolution.

Clerk’s Report: Building Permits: 1 @ $100.00, BP Renewal: 1 @ $37.50, Certificate of Occupancy Search: 1@ 25.00, Transfer Station: Apr/188.00, May/272, Billy Haynes/Dumpster Fee (June/July): $500.00, Dog License: 1 (unneutered) @ $10.00. The Town collected and disbursed $1,132.50 for the month of June.

Other Business: (A) Karen Rauter gave a LUC update. The committee discussed how to make the document itself more useful and understandable, identified definitions that need updating or clarification and identified areas for further discussion. The committee is trying to address re-occurring problems and identify things that could become a problem in the future.

Next Meeting: Regular Board Meeting August 15, 2022, 6:00 pm.

Motion to Adjourn at 6:53 by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, 2nd by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, Councilwoman Samantha Bouton: aye, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Supervisor Innes Kasanof: aye.

Town Board Minutes for June 27, 2022

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Regular Town Board Meeting Minutes Halcott Grange
June 27, 2022, 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, Budget Officer Paul Tamaccio Public: Scott Moroff.

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

Approval of the minutes of the May 16, 2022, meeting: Motion to approve by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, 2nd by Councilwoman Samantha Bouton, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Councilman Eric Fronckowiak: aye, Supervisor Innes Kasanof: aye.

Approval of the minutes of the June 20, 2022, meeting: Motion to approve by Councilman Alan Reynolds, 2nd by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto.

Highway Superintendent’s Report: (A) The Highway Department has received numerous complaints about dead trees along roads in Halcott. Superintendent Bouton has spoken to NYSEG and The Town of Middletown Highway Department about getting assistance with the removal of the dead trees on town roads. NYSEG will help with the removal of trees near power lines and the Middletown Highway Department will schedule time to help after they finish flagging for the construction company paving their roads, probably July. The Greene County Highway Department is also planning on helping with tree work in Halcott in July. (B) Road repairs are moving along; material costs have increased, with crusher run costing $40.00 more per load and 1st’s which are used for topping costing $360.00 per ton more. The Mack truck worked well while stoning and oiling roads. The Village of Fleischmanns offered millings (from the road repair to Breezy Hill) to Halcott , the highway department will accept the offer and stock pile the material for future projects. (C) The highway department is still planning to reconstruct a section of Silas Lake Rd. this season and will also need to replace a culvert pipe as well.

Voucher vote: General Abstract #G0622 – vouchers 91 – 102 = $9,593.05. Highway Abstract #H0622 – vouchers 103 – 110 = $13,525.25. Motion to pay bills by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, 2nd by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Councilwoman Samantha Bouton, Supervisor Innes Kasanof: aye.

Finance Chair Report: (A) Supervisor Innes Kasanof and Budget Officer Paul Tamaccio presented the finance report for the month of May.

Clerk’s Report: Grange Rental (non-local): $100.00, Building Permits: 1 @ $50.00, 1 @ $645.00, BP Renewal: $50.00, Certificate of Occupancy: 3 @ $25.00 each, Demo Permit: $25.00, Billy Haynes/Dumpster Fee (Apr/May): $500.00. The Town collected and disbursed $1,445.00 for the month of May.

Other Business: (A) Motion to adopt Resolution 2-2022: Franchise Agreement with Heart of the Catskills Communication, INC. d/b/a MTC cable, by Councilman Alan Reynolds, 2nd by Eric Fronckowiak, Judy DiBenedetto: aye, Supervisor Innes Kasanof: aye, Councilwoman Samantha Bouton: abstain.

(B) Motion to adopt Resolution 3-2022: Town of Halcott Town Board resolves to apply to the Catskill Watershed Corporation’s Local Technical Assistance Program for funding to update the Town of Halcott Land Use Code, to reflect in part, the Local Flood Analysis conducted by Miles and Macbroom and adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Halcott on December 16, 2019, by Councilman Alan Reynolds, 2nd by Councilwoman Samantha Bouton, Councilman Eric Fronckowiak: aye, Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto: aye, Supervisor Innes Kasanof: aye.

(C) LUC update meeting June 21, 2022, 6-8 pm. (D) In April or May, the Town was asked by the Greene County legislature to adopt a solar energy pilot law, giving the town the right to opt out of tax exemptions for commercial entities. The Board asked Nan Stolzenburg for her input, and she thought it was a good idea to have a law in place. The Board will look to have a public hearing on this matter before the next regular board meeting.

Public Comment: (A) Paul Tamaccio asked Highway Superintendent Bouton what the procedure was to get a better Silas Lake Road sign. Superintendent Bouton shared that the original sign had been stolen and the current sign was made by the highway department. He will order a replacement but cautioned that it may take some time to have a new one made. (B) Scott Moroff asked if copies of annual reports, budgets, etc. could be provided to the public at the meetings to make it easier to follow what is being discussed.

Next Meeting: Regular Meeting July 18, 2022, 6:00 pm.

Motion to Adjourn at 6:32 pm by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, 2nd by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Councilwoman Samantha Bouton: aye, Supervisor Innes Kasanof: aye.