Draft Regular Town Board Meeting Minutes Halcott Grange
August 19, 2024, 6:00 pm

Present: Town Supervisor Samantha Bouton, Council members Alan Reynolds, Judy DiBenedetto, Eric Fronckowiak, Innes Kasanof, Highway Superintendent Russell Bouton, Town Clerk Patricia Warfield. Public: Andrew Cammarata, Annie Bocchetti, Warren Reynolds.

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

Approval of the minutes of the July 15, 2024, meeting: Motion to approve by Councilwoman Innes Kasanof, 2nd by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Councilman Eric Fronckowiak: aye, Supervisor Samantha Bouton: aye.

Highway Superintendent’s Report: (A) Halcott fared well after the recent storm, there were downed trees and plugged culverts but otherwise the roads fared well. (B) The area for the proposed highway garage was walked off, it is the same area that had been recommended previously. Councilman Fronckowiak has been working up a cost for a building that would be 50 feet by 130 feet; steel, clear span building, with a baseline cost of around 168,000.00. Site excavation, concrete and interior work would all be an additional cost. (C) County Route 1 will likely be closed until November; the County is having trouble getting enough large stones here into Halcott for the stream work that needs to be done.

Voucher Vote: General Abstract #G0824 – vouchers 114 – 120 = $2,066.74. Highway Abstract #H0824 – vouchers 121 – 126= $5,500.58. Motion to pay bills by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, 2nd by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Councilwoman Innes Kasanof: aye, Supervisor Samantha Bouton: aye.

Budget Officer Report: (A) Supervisor Samantha Bouton presented the monthly finance report. (B) Work will begin on the budget process to be presented at the September meeting.

Clerk’s Report: Marriage license: 1 @ 40.00, Grange Rental local: 1 @ 50.00, Building Permits: 2 @ 100.00, 1 @ 125.00, 3 @ 200.00, BP Renewal: 1 @ 70.00, 1 @ 200.00, Certificate of Occupancy: 1 @ 25.00. The Town collected and disbursed 1,310.00 for the month of July.

Other Business: (A) The Town received an ARPA grant of 25,000.00 to install a new flagpole complete with a concrete pad, landscaping and shrubs, the work to be put out to bid. (B) Resolution 4- 2024: Intent to be Lead Agency, Identification of a Type 1 Action for the Adoption of Town Comprehensive Plan, Uncoordinated Review for SEQR, setting a Public Hearing and Required Referrals. Motion to adopt Resolution 4-2024 by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, 2nd by Councilwoman Innes Kasanof, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Councilman Eric Fronckowiak: aye, Supervisor Samantha Bouton: aye. (C) Resolution 5-2024: Intent to be Lead Agency, Identification of a Type 1 Action for the Repeal and Replacement of the Town Land Use Code, Uncoordinated Review for SEQR, setting a Public Hearing and Required Referrals. Motion to adopt Resolution 5-2024 by Councilman Alan Reynolds, 2nd by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, Councilwoman Innes Kasanof: aye, Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto: aye, Supervisor Samantha Bouton: aye.

Public Comment: Andrew Cammarata shared with the Board that he thought the Building Permit process in Halcott was extremely difficult, stating that he had built in other towns, and it has never been this complicated. Board members who have had recent building projects in Halcott assured Andrew that everyone (including them) must follow the same building permit process.

Next Meeting: Regular Meeting September 16, 2024, 6:00 pm.

Motion to Adjourn at 7:05 p.m. by Councilman Alan Reynolds, 2nd by Councilwoman Innes Kasanof, Councilman Eric Fronckowiak: aye, Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto: aye, Supervisor Samantha Bouton: aye.

Regular Town Board Meeting Minutes Halcott Grange
July 15, 2024, 6:00 pm

Present: Town Supervisor Samantha Bouton, Councilmembers Alan Reynolds, Eric Fronckowiak, Innes Kasanof, Judy DiBenedetto, Highway Superintendent Russell Bouton, Town Clerk Patricia Warfield, Deputy Town Clerk Ariel Bogert. Public: Sean Penchoff, Pattie Kelder, Bob VanValkenburgh

Call to Order at 6:00 p.m.

Approval of the minutes of the June 17, 2024 meeting: Motion to approve by Councilwoman Innes Kasanof with the following correction: the roads to be topped are Turkey Ridge Road and Hubbard Road, 2nd by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, Councilman Eric Fronckowiak: aye, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye. Supervisor Samantha Bouton: aye.

Highway Superintendent’s Report: (A) There is 1,957.11 of remaining CHIPS money. Spots to still be worked on are from the cabin on Kaftas to Mookas Road and the Townsend Hollow spur. (B) Highway Superintendent Russell Bouton would like to replenish the crusher run stockpile before winter. (C) The County has pushed the start date for replacing the bridge on County Rt. 1 to the first week in August.

Voucher vote: General Abstract #G0724 – vouchers 98 – 104 = $3,510.34. Highway Abstract #H0724 – vouchers 105 – 113 = $57,771.12. Motion to pay bills by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, 2nd by Councilwoman Innes Kasanof: Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto: aye, Supervisor Samantha Bouton: aye.

Finance Chair Report: Supervisor Samantha Bouton presented the monthly finance report. (A) The Town is waiting for a CHIPS reimbursement. Supervisor Bouton asked the Board for a motion to transfer money from the Highway Reserve Fund to the Highway Account until the CHIPS reimbursement comes in. Motion to transfer money from the Highway Reserve Fund to the Highway Account until CHIPS reimbursement by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, 2nd by Councilwoman Innes Kasanof: Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto: aye, Supervisor Samantha Bouton: aye. (B) Supervisor Bouton presented a statement the Town received from The Coalition of Watershed Towns for $750.00 and asked permission to pay it before vouchering. Board members pointed out that previously, the Town had paid $500.00 every other year. Supervisor Bouton acknowledged past payment amounts but felt the amount of knowledge made available to Halcott and the help received by the Town on numerous issues warranted the current amount. Motion to pay the $750 fee asked for by the Coalition of Watershed Towns before vouchering by Councilman Alan Reynolds, 2nd by Councilwoman Innes Kasanof, Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto: aye, Councilman Eric Fronckowiak: aye, Supervisor Samantha Bouton: aye.

Clerk’s Report: Building Permit 2: 1 @ 300.00, 1 @ 200.00, Transfer Station: 362.00/May. The Town collected and disbursed $862.00 for the month of June.

Other Business: (A) Resolution 3-2024 A Resolution to Endorse the Town of Hunter’s Application for Funding to update their Comprehensive Plan. Motion to adopt Resolution 3-2024 by Councilman Alan Reynolds, 2nd by Councilwoman Innes Kasanof, Councilman Eric Fronckowiak: aye, Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto: aye, Supervisor Samantha Bouton: aye. (B) The Board continues to discuss the relocation of the Highway Department garage with additional heated space for a fire truck. (C) Greene County would like to have the Public Health Van come to Halcott and host a senior vaccine clinic.

Public: (A) Bob VanValkenburg let the Board know that a town road cannot be given away, it is a much more complicated issue which would need to include a public hearing on the matter. Bob informed the Board that the Fazio loop which runs around what is known as the Bill Gordon farm house is still in use by hunters during deer season and used by those residents who live in that area. (B) Pattie Kelder had multiple questions for the Board. (1) Pattie inquired as to whether Greene County has any plans to cut brush in between the areas where Lewis Tree Service cut down trees and were they planning to patch the hole created in County Route 3 created when a tree came down. Highway Superintendent Bouton will ask the County, but stated it is always better when residents make these kinds of calls as well. (2) Pattie asked about the ultimate plan the Town had for the old creamery building (town garage) if a new garage is built, would it need to come down. The board has not made any plans yet as since this project is in its initial stage. (3) Pattie asked if having a fire truck in Halcott would have an impact on insurance, to which Councilman Alan Reynolds answered yes, the new distance would be measured. Pattie stated the Board needs to let the Community know. (4) Pattie brought up the siding which has rotted and is falling off the front of the Grange building above the sill. This has happened due to water run off Co. Rt 3, to stop the runoff, the road would need to be re-crowned. This is something for the Grange committee to look into.

Next Meeting: Regular Town Board Meeting, August 19, 2024, 6:00 pm.

Motion to Adjourn at 7:10 p.m. by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, 2nd by Councilwoman Innes Kasanof, Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto: aye, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Supervisor Samantha Bouton: aye.

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Town Board of the Town of Halcott will hold a Special Town Board Meeting on Tuesday, August 13, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. to discuss State requirements for the Town of Halcott Assessor in order to be eligible for certification. Meeting to be held at the Town of Halcott Grange Hall, Halcott Center, New York. By order of the Town Board.
Dated August 5, 2024
Patricia Warfield, Town Clerk