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.