Category Archives: Town Board Minutes

Minutes from regular meetings of the town board.

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.

Town Board Minutes, 20 June 2022

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Regular Town Board Meeting Minutes                                                                               Halcott Grange                                                                                                                           June 20, 2022, 6:00 pm

Present:  Deputy Supervisor Alan Reynolds,Town Councilmember Judy DiBenedetto, Town Clerk Patricia Warfield.

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

Deputy Alan Reynolds duly notes that due to the lack of members to have a quorum, a special Town Board Meeting will be held on June 27, 2022, 6:00 pm.

Meeting Adjourned at 6:01 pm.

Town Board Meeting Minutes for 16 May, 2022

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Regular Town Board Meeting Minutes Halcott Grange
May 16, 2022

Present: Town Supervisor Innes Kasanof, Council members Alan Reynolds, Judy DiBenedetto, Eric Fronckowiak, Samantha Bouton, Highway Superintendent Russell Bouton, Town Clerk Pattie Warfield, Budget Officer Paul Tamaccio, Assessor Mark Neves. ZBA Chair Karen Rauter. MTC: Glen Faulkner, Cambria Tallman. Public: Paul and Sybil Margaritis, Scott Moroff, Ida Piperisova, Sheri Reynolds.

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

The Public Hearing for MTC presentation on Renewal of Franchise was opened at 6:07 pm by Town Supervisor Innes Kasanof: Every Town in which MTC provides cable television services for must have a franchise agreement with MTC. It has been 10 years since the initial franchise agreement was signed. A public hearing is required to allow the public a chance to voice any concerns they may have. The only changes to the new franchise agreement are some insurance wordings as per the department of public service and that this franchise agreement will be in effect for 15 years as allowed by the department of public service. The Board will need to pass a resolution authorizing the Town Supervisor to sign the franchise agreement on behalf of the Town of Halcott, which the Board will look to do at the June 20th Regular Town Board Meeting. Public meeting closed at 6:13 pm by Supervisor Innes Kasanof..

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

Assessor Mark Neves presented his 2021 annual report to the Board.

Highway Superintendent’s Report: (A) The Town will receive $50,821.58 CHIPS funding, $13,298.82 PAVE NY funding, and $11,980.53 EWR (Extreme Weather Recovery) funding.

(B) In addition to the CHIPS, PAVE NY, and EWR funding for road maintenance and repair, the State of NY has enacted a new Pave Our Pothole (POP) Program of which $8,865.87 has been apportioned for Halcott. The reimbursement requirements for POP are the same the CHIPS, PAVE NY, and EWR programs, the Town must first pay for the repair and maintenance work done on town roads and then submit those expenditures for reimbursement. (C) The Highway Department has been pushing to get the roads ready for June paving, there is some concern that material costs will continue to rise and, by getting receipts to the State early, the Town will receive early reimbursement. Highway Superintendent Bouton informed the board that a section of Silas Lake Road needs substantial repair, the highway department would like to tear out the damaged portion of road, lay down road fabric, #3 stone and then crusher run to reestablish a good road base for topping in 2023.

Finance Chair Report: Supervisor Innes Kasanof and Budget Officer Paul Tamaccio presented the finance report for April.

Voucher Vote: General Abstract #G0522 – vouchers 75 – 80 = $1,192.79. Highway Abstract #H0522 – vouchers 81 – 90 = $19,624.54. Motion to pay bills by Councilwoman Samantha Bouton, 2nd by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Councilman Eric Fronckowiak: aye, Town Supervisor Innes Kasanof: aye.

Town Clerk’s Report: Transfer Station/March: $112.00, Subdivision: $100.00, Dog License: (1) spay @ $5.00, 1 no spay @ $10.00, BP Renewal (2): 1 @ $50.00, 1 @ $100.00, Demo Permit: $25.00. The Town collected and disbursed $402.00 for the month of April.

Other Business: (A) Land Use Code Update: Everything is moving forward towards the first LUC meeting, with plans to have Zoom set up and ready to go. Karen Rauter is hopeful that members of the Planning Board and Town Board will be able to attend the first LUC committee meeting, if not in person then perhaps by Zoom. (B) The Chairman of the Greene County Legislature has asked the Town of Halcott to consider adopting a Local Law to opt out of tax exemptions for alternate energies. This opt out law would apply to commercial entities only and would have no bearing on residential properties. Certain State laws give Towns the option to participate or not. Greene County feels it is imperative to adopt a local opt out law to ensure these future tax dollars for the Town.

Public Comment: (A)Paul Margaritis asked Highway Superintendent Bouton if the work on Silas Lake Rd. takes place now, would the stone then be plowed up during snow plowing this winter and then need to be put down again in the spring. Both Highway Superintendent Bouton and Councilman Alan Reynolds assured Paul that this was the proper way to proceed with the road repair. (B) Paul Margaritis asked if there is an objective for the Land Use Code Update. Supervisor Kasanof explained that the land use code is best served if updated regularly and the Code Enforcement Officer wants to address some code issues he has encountered. (C) Scott Moroff asked if copies of all reports can be included in the monthly minutes. Town Clerk Pattie Warfield will check to see if they are required to be included. (D) Patty Kelder asked if signage could be posted to direct tractor trailers to the spring water bottling plant. Patty was informed that Greene County was contacted and made aware of the situation and that signs were requested. (E) Paul Margaritis asked what could be done about drivers speeding on roads in Halcott. Councilman Alan Reynolds explained that a sign used to record speeds was installed on Co. Rt. 3 and it only recorded one car over the speed limit, probably because the sign was readily visible. Councilman Reynolds will contact the Greene County Sheriffs Department to discuss. (F)Sheri Reynolds informed the board that she has contacted the Greene County Highway Department about dead trees that need to be taken down on County Highway 3 near Hubbard Rd. Highway Superintendent Russell Bouton spoke to the Greene Co. Hwy Dept. about those trees as well. With nothing done about the trees yet, Sheri stated will call again.

Next Meeting: Regular Meeting, June 20, 2022, 6:00 pm.

Motion to Adjourn: Motion to adjourn at 7:35 pm by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, 2nd by Councilwoman Samantha Bouton, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto: aye, Town Supervisor Innes Kasanof: aye.