Regular Town Board Meeting Minutes Halcott Grange
April 15, 2019, 7:15 pm

Present: Town Supervisor Alan White, Council members Yukari Day, Alan Reynolds, Innes Kasanof, Judy DiBenedetto, Highway Superintendent Russell Bouton, Town Clerk Patricia Warfield, Web Master Greg Beechler, Town Assessor Mark Neves, Town Code Enforcement Officer John Mathiesen, Grange Steward Bob VanValkenburgh, DCSWCD Gale Neale, NYCDEP Phil Eskel, Miles & Macbroom Inc.: Mark Carabella, Miguel Castellanos, Ethan Ely.

Call to Order at 7:15 pm, with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Approval of the minutes of the March 18, 2019 meeting: Motion to approve by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, 2nd by Councilwoman Innes Kasanoff, Councilwoman Yukari Day: aye, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Supervisor Alan White: aye.

Local Flood Analysis Initial Meeting: The meeting began with a presentation about the LFA process and the intended outcomes. Following the presentaion, the Halcott Flood Advisory Committe members shared their thoughts and experiences with local flooding, emphasizing that all of Halcott’s emergency services are provided by other towns such as Fleischmanns and Margaretville, with Halcott being cut off from these towns when the Bush Kill is flooded in Fleischmanns. There is also concern with the poor condition of county owned bridges on Rt.1 and Rt.3, and should the bridge over West Settlement Creek coming into Halcott be damaged or washed out, access to the Town would be cut off. M.M.I. was informed that the Town has aquired a piece of property to create a satellite emergency facility in Halcott with personel to available to run such equipment, but are lacking the funds to move forward with the project at this time. Other problem areas were discussed as well, such as the Highway Garage property, Townsend Hollow Rd. and Elk Creek Rd. There was a discussion of how to move forward towards the first public meeting; addressing the issue that 75% of property homeowners in Halcott are 2nd homeowners, perhaps a Saturday public meeting would enable more of Halcott homeowners to attend. Other thoughts were to advertise the date in the Times of Halcott, an email blast, and a mailing to residents living in the project areas.

Annual Reports: Town Web Master Greg Beechler presented his annual report. The Town website is working perfectly, the Home Page receives the most hits with the Times of Halcott #2 and the Contact page #3. Greg would like to see how the website could move beyond being just a bulletin board.

Town Assessor Mark Neves presented his annual report. The assessment rate is still at 108%, and reassessment is not needed at this time as the market is stable.

Highway Superintendent’s Report: (A) The Chevy broke down and has been in the shop with a fuel system problem. Russell has been using his personal vehicle. Supervisor White asked that the mileage be kept track of for reimbursement. (B) Highway Superintendent Bouton is working on the 284 Agreement for Halcott, Silas Lake and Turkey Ridge are both in line to have work done. A Peckham representative will be here tomorrow to work with Superintendent Bouton to assess the work to be done on the roads and come up with a cost for that work. Superintendent Bouton is trying to lock in a time schedule to begin road work as early as possible to ensure an early reimbursement from the State for the monies spent. (C ) CHIPS money will be less than last year as there is no Severe Weather money which was around $8,00.00 last year. Pave N.Y. money is still available. Superintendent Bouton will
confirm the total CHIPS money for use this year and report the figures to the Board at the May 20thmeeting.

Voucher vote: General Abstract #G0419 – vouchers 53 – 65 = $12,506.87. Highway Abstract #H0419 – vouchers 66 – 69 = $4,834.91. Motion to pay bills by Councilwoman Innes Kasanof, 2nd by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, Councilwoman Yukari Day: aye, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Supervisor Alan White: aye.

Finance Chair Report: (A) Finance Chair Innes Kasanof presented the monthly finance report for February. Finance Chair Kasanof is diligently working on finalizing the numbers of the monies going into the Town reserve accounts.

Clerk’s Report: 2 Grange Rentals: 1 local @ $50.00, 1 non local @ $100.00 = $150.00, 2 C/O searches @ $25.00 each = $50.00, Billy Haynes (march/apr) $200.00, 3 Dog Licenses (spay/neuter) @ $5.00 each = $15.00. The Town collected and disbursed $415.00 for the month of March.

Next Meeting: Regular Meeting May 20, 2019, 7:15 pm.

Motion to Adjourn at 9:10 by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, 2nd by Councilman Alan Reynolds, Councilwoman Yukari Day: aye, Councilwoman Innes Kasanof: aye, Supervisor Alan White: aye.

Regular Town Board Meeting Minutes Halcott Grange
March 18, 2019, 7:15 pm

Present: Town Supervisor Alan White, Town Council members Yukari Day, Innes Kasanof, Judy DiBenedetto, Highway Superintendent Russell Bouton, Town Clerk Patricia Warfield, Town Justice Ken Williams. Absent: Town Councilman Alan Reynolds.

Call to order at 7:15 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Annual Reports: Town Justice Ken Williams presented his annual report for 2018. Judge Williams heard 6 cases for 2018, 2 are criminals cases which may go to a jury trial in 2019. As of now, there has never been a jury trial in Halcott.

Approval of the minutes of the February 25, 2019 Town Board Meeting: With the following correction: Only the well house roof will be replaced. Motion to approve the minutes as amended by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, 2nd by Councilwoman Innes Kasanof, Councilwoman Yukari Day: aye, Supervisor Alan White: aye.

Highway Superintendent’s Report: (A) The Mack truck is in need of new tires, the last time the rear tires were replaced was May 27, 2015. Supervisor Bouton received a quote of $3,235 to almost $5,500 for 8 tires. The Board gave approval to purchase new tires but asked Superintendent Bouton to consult with Deputy Highway Superintendent Alan Reynolds on the tire options before making a purchase. (B)Highway Superintendent Bouton tried to raise the weight limit on the Mack and submitted the necessary information, but there was a mix-up with the paperwork on the receiving end, and he was told the submission date was missed. Highway Superintendent Bouton is working on a resolution to this issue. He will consult with the Town of Middletown Highway Superintendent John Biruk to accurately determine the current weight limit for the Mack.

Voucher vote: General Abstract #G0319 – vouchers 42 – 47 = $1,630.14. Highway Abstract #H0319 – vouchers 48 – 52 = $5,750.69. Motion to pay bills by Councilwoman Yukari Day, 2nd by Councilwoman Innes Kasanof, Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto: aye, Supervisor Alan White: aye.

Finance Chair Report: (A) Finance Chair Innes Kasanof did not present the finance report for February at this time due to the many bank transfers and resulting paperwork associated with the ongoing change over of accounts from Community Bank to the Bank of Greene County. Finance Chair Kasanof did report that interest paid to Halcott for the month of February by Community Bank was around $2.00, while the Town earned $200.00 in interest from the Bank of Greene Co. (B) The Town of Halcott AUD was submitted to the State on time.

Clerk’s Report: 1 Grange Rental @ $50.00, 1 Building Permit @ $75.00, 1 Certificate of Occupancy Search @ $25.00, Billy Haynes (Feb) $100.00, Garbage Tickets (28) $252.00. The Town collected and disbursed $502.00 for the month of February.

Other Business: (A) LFA Group discussion. Will be on April 15, 2019 at 7:15 p.m. with the Regular Town Board Meeting to follow. (B) The Town has the Highway Garage insured for $800,000.00 and the Grange insured for $584,000.00, with the contents at $62,000.00 and $63,000.00 respectively. Supervisor White discussed these numbers and the Town’s building needs with the insurance carrier,
and asked for a more realistic replacement cost for new buildings, which were figured to be $300,000.00 each. Supervisor White asked the Board to think about the validity of lowering the replacement value on each building and they could then revisit the issue at the next meeting. Town Councilwoman Innes Kasanof felt it would be a good idea to review the insurance needs of the Town.(C ) Highway Superintendent Bouton will contact DEC Natural Resource Supervisor Jeff Rider and ask him to start the process to secure the permits needed to begin work on the Turk Hollow culvert replacement when trout spawning season is over.

Next Meeting: Regular Meeting, Monday April 15, 2019, 7:15pm.

Motion to Adjourn at 7:54 p.m. by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, 2nd by Councilwoman Innes Kasanof, Councilwoman Yukari Day: aye, Supervisor Alan White: aye.