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Town Board Minutes, 18 April 2022

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Regular Town Board Meeting Minutes Halcott Grange
April 18, 2022, 6:00 pm

Present: Town Supervisor Innes Kasanof, Council members Alan Reynolds, Eric Fronckowiak, Samantha Bouton, Judy DiBenedetto, Highway Superintendent Russell Bouton, Town Clerk Patricia Warfield, Webmaster Greg Beechler. ZBA Chairwoman Karen Rauter, Planning Board Member Warren Reynolds.

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

Approval of the minutes of the March 21, 2022, meeting: With the following correction: the consultant cost for the land use code update will be in the neighborhood of $5,400.00. Motion to approve by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, 2nd by Councilwoman Samantha Bouton, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Councilman Eric Fronckowiak: aye, Supervisor Innes Kasanof: aye.

Annual Reports: Webmaster Greg Beechler presented his report. The Town was used in a scam last year; set up on Indeed were phony town jobs which led to some applicants being scammed out of money. The Town suffered no liability in this due to posting on the Town website that there were no job openings posted anywhere for the Town of Halcott. The current hosting company of the Town email domain is transitioning from free email to a paid system. There are other options and Webmaster Beechler will research additional information for the board to review and decide how to proceed.

Grange Steward Bob VanValkenbugh’s report presented by Supervisor Innes Kasanof. The repairs Grange Steward VanValkenburgh listed as needed for the Grange building is a new porch including steps and railings and to replace and paint some of the bottom siding boards. He would also rebuild the small shed behind the Grange as needed.

Highway Superintendent’s Report: (A) The price for material will carry through from last year until May 31st so the highway department will act quickly to order material for road repairs and maintenance work. (B) The Highway Department continues to work on widening the far side of Silas Lake Rd. (C) Greene County has County Route 1 up for paving in 2022, also in the works are culvert replacements on both County Rt. 1 and 3. (D) The cylinder on the Mack dump body is leaking oil, a mechanic is scheduled to come and install a new one.

Voucher vote: General Abstract #G0422 – vouchers 59 – 66 = $1,609.76. Highway Abstract #H022 – vouchers 67 – 74 = $5,904.07. Motion to pay bills by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, 2nd by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Councilwoman Samantha Bouton: aye, Supervisor Innes Kasanof: aye.

Budget Officer’s Report: (A) Supervisor Innes Kasanof presented the monthly finance report.

Clerk’s Report: Certified Transcript: $10.00, Grange Rental (local) $50.00, Building Permit: $75.00, BP Renewal: $185.00, C/O Search: 2 @ $25.00 each: $50.00, Transfer Station/February: $150.00. The Town collected and disbursed $520.00 for the month of March.

Other Business: (A) Board of Assessment Review member Marta Weiss had her term end and needed to be reappointed. Motion to appoint Marta Weiss to the Board of Assessment Review by

Councilman Alan Reynolds, 2nd by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, Councilman Eric Fronckowiak: aye, Councilwoman Samantha Bouton: aye, Supervisor Innes Kasanof: aye. (B) The Board continues the process of appointing members to the Land Use Code Update committee. At the March Town Board Meeting, the board discussed sharing the Land Use Code meetings live via Zoom for those who can not be present. The board has also discussed recording the Zoom meetings as well. Let the minutes show that the Town Board wishes to publish recorded sessions of the Land Use Code Update Meetings, to be provided through the consultants Zoom account. (C)Councilman Alan Reynolds reports that the Elk Creek Toe Cut Project is still on the table for perhaps later this year or next year.

Next Meeting: Regular Meeting, May 16, 2022, 6:00 pm.

Motion to Adjourn at 7:13 pm by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, 2nd by Councilwoman Samantha Bouton, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto: aye, Supervisor Innes Kasanof: aye.

Town Board Minutes, 21 March 2022

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Regular Town Board Meeting Minutes Halcott Grange
March 21, 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. Public: Ida Piperisova, Scott Moroff, Warren Reynolds, Sheri Reynolds, Karen Rauter.

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

Approval of the minutes of the February 21, 2022 meeting: Motion to approve by Councilwoman Samantha Bouton, 2nd by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto: aye, Supervisor Innes Kasanof: aye.

Highway Superintendent’s Report: (A) CHIPS reimbursement to the Town is projected to be the same as last year but that has not yet been confirmed by the State. (B) The Highway Department is planning to stone and oil 3 miles of town road this season. Due to cost instability of petroleum products, the final cost to stone and oil the roads this year this will have a direct effect on the amount of crusher run to be purchased due to unforeseen increase in costs. (C) Highway Superintendent Bouton informed the Board that the lawn tractor used to cut grass at the Grange and elsewhere is old and has become unreliable, frequently not starting when needed. The Board agrees that a new mower should be purchased. Superintendent Bouton has begun pricing replacement mowers, to get something similar in size the cost is around $3,900.00. (D) The trimmer used by the Highway Department will need to be looked at. The trimmer is also used as a pole saw and it seems that the additional use has caused the shaft to strip and become worn out. The trimmer will be looked at to see whether it is worth repairing or if as new one should be purchased. (E) The Highway Department will begin filling potholes on the Town roads.

Voucher vote: General Abstract #G0322 – vouchers 44 – 50 = $12,988.67. Highway Abstract #H0322 – vouchers 51 – 58 = $4,675.10. Motion to pay bills by Councilman Alan Reynolds, 2nd by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, Councilwoman Samantha Bouton: aye, Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto: aye, Supervisor Innes Kasanof: aye.

Finance Chair Report: (A) Supervisor Innes Kasanof presented the monthly finance report. (B) Solid Waste Collection Review: Proceeds from dumpster rental and bag collection for 2021 was $4,777.00, the budgeted amount was $3,000.00. Payments made to Greene County for hauling and dumpster replacement totaled $7,036.75 for 2021, the budgeted amount was $5,800.00. While the Town paid $1,236 more than was budgeted, proceeds were also more than budgeted by $1,777.00. In total, the Town ended up with $541.00 for 2021. (C) The Board then had a discussion as to the inequities of how people are paying for dumping their garbage at the Town Transfer Station. When the fee was first settled on, it was $2.00 for a regular 13-gallon kitchen bag. There are some who have been bringing in contractor size bags full of garbage and paying the $2.00 fee. With contractor bags having a 42-gallon capacity, it was decided the cost for these larger bags would be $6.00 per bag, to become effective immediately. Motion to increase the per bag dumping fee for bags larger than a 13-gallon kitchen bag to $6.00 per bag by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, 2nd by Councilwoman Samantha Bouton, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto: aye, Supervisor Innes Kasanof: aye.

Clerk’s Report: C/O Search: $25.00, Billy Haynes (Feb/March): $500.00, Transfer Station (Jan): $148.00. The Town collected and disbursed $673.00 for the month of February.

Other Business: (A) Land Use Code Update: Consultant Nan Stoltenberg came up with a list of steps to follow for the land use code update. She would like to have the ability to Zoom the meetings so those who can’t be physically present could see the meetings in real time on their computer, I-pad, tablet, etc. Her fee for working with the Town through the update process would be $5,400.00. The Board is working on the first step which is to appoint the ad hoc committee which will consist of: a town board member, zoning board of appeals chair Karen Rauter, planning board member Nan Reynolds, and 2 people from the public. Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto thought it would be good to have someone from the farming community on the committee. Supervisor Kasanof has had individuals who would like to be considered for the committee contact her and others have volunteered the names of individuals whom they feel would be an asset to the committee. The Board will look at those truly interested, discuss with them what being on the committee would entail and then address committee appointments at the next meeting.

Next Meeting: Regular Board Meeting, April 18, 2022, 6:00 pm.

Motion to Adjourn at 6:45 pm by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, 2nd by Councilwoman Samantha Bouton, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Councilman Eric Fronckowiak: aye, Supervisor Innes Kasanof; aye.

Town Board Minutes, 21 February 2022

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Regular Town Board Meeting Minutes
Halcott Grange
February 21, 2022, 6:00 pm

Present: Town Supervisor Innes Kasanof, Council members Judy DiBenedetto, Alan Reynolds, Eric Fronckowiak, Samantha Bouton, Highway Superintendent Russell Bouton, Town Clerk Patricia Warfield, Budget Officer Paul Tamaccio, Town Justice Ken Williams, Town Tax Collector Robin White, ZBA Chair Karen Rauter. Public: Warren Reynolds, Scott Moroff, David Grossman.

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

Approval of the minutes of the January 17, 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.

Annual Reports: (A) Town Justice Ken Williams presented his report. No cases for 2021.
(B) Town Clerk Patricia Warfield presented her report. The Town Clerk’s account collected and disbursed $12,835.00 for the year 2021. (C) Highway Superintendent Russel Bouton presented his report. The Highway Department will need to purchase a lawnmower for the upcoming mowing season and be prepared to purchase a new1-ton pickup truck in the next 2 years. (D) Supervisor Innes Kasanof presented the Code Enforcement Officer’s report. 23 building permits issued, 3 demo permits, 6 stop work orders/violations, 9 building permit renewals, 18 certificate of occupancy searches for lawyers/abstract companies, 8 certificates of occupancy issued, 1 temporary certificate of occupancy issued. (E) Tax Collector Robin White presented her report.

Highway Superintendent’s Report: (A) The Oshkosh broke down, a motor mount broke causing the engine to move affecting the bell housing alignment. The Highway hopes to have the truck fixed ahead of the storm forecast for the end of the week.

The Filling of Committees: The Town has seats on the Finance and Personnel Committee, Town Board Building Committee, Town Board Highway Committee and the Shared Services Committee to fill, left vacant with the departure of previous Board members. Councilwoman Samantha Bouton will fill the vacant seat on the Finance and Personnel Committee, Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto is on the Building Committee and can reach out to the Grange Steward Bob VanValkenburgh should the need arise. Councilman Eric Frockowiak will fill the vacant seat on both the Highway Committee and the Shared Services Committee.

Voucher vote: General Abstract #G0222 – vouchers 20 – 30 = $2,823.60. Highway Abstract #H0222 – vouchers 31 – 33, 35 – 43 = $8,103.45. Motion to pay bills by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, 2nd by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Councilwoman Samantha Bouton: aye, Supervisor Innes Kasanof: aye.

Finance Chair Report: (A) Finance Chair Innes Kasanof and Budget Officer Paul Tamaccio presented the monthly finance report. (B) The Coalition of Watershed Towns is asking the Town to pay its annual membership fee which is currently $750.00. Given that Halcott is an extremely small Town compared to others, the Town has in previous years sent in a lesser amount. The last payment made was $500.00 in January of 2020. The Board acknowledged the benefits of membership in Coalition of Watershed Towns and will send in the reduced membership fee.

Clerk’s Report: Transfer Station Nov/Dec: $330.00. The Town collected and disbursed $330.00 for the month of January.

Other Business: Resolution No.1-2022: The Town of Halcott Resolution in Support of the Land Acquisition Reduction Recommendations in the 2020 August National Academies (“NAS”) Export Panel Report. (A) In August of 2020, the National Academies Expert Panel published its report entitled, Review of the New York City Watershed Protection Program, which recommended that expenditures in the land acquisition program be reduced to fund other programs that will lead to more direct improvements to water quality. (B) On October 27, 2021, the Delaware County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution asking for a moratorium on new purchase contracts for fee title and DEP conservation easements, to be implemented in Delaware County pending a comprehensive review of the land acquisition program to identify the need for the continuation of land acquisition, the benefit of land acquisition, the impact of land acquisition on community sustainability and the other tools available to achieve MOA land acquisition objectives. The Town of Halcott joins the Delaware County Board of Supervisors petition to DEC, DOH and DEP requesting they develop a new Long Term Land Acquisition Plan, taking into consideration the findings of the National Academies Expert Panel Review. They also ask that the City and the DEP refrain from entering into new contracts to purchase fee title and/or conservation easements under the Land Acquisition Program in Halcott starting January 1, 2022, extending through the completion of the permitting process. (D) Motion to Adopt Resolution 1-2022 by Councilman Alan Reynolds, 2nd by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, Councilman Eric Frockowiak: aye, Councilwoman Samantha Bouton: aye, Supervisor Innes Kasanof: aye.

Land Use Code Update: The Town is getting closer to forming a committee to update the Town Land Use Code. The board feels that the committee should contain a member of the Zoning Board, a member of the Planning Board, a Town Board member and 2 or more volunteers. Code Enforcement Officer John Matheisen will act as an adviser, he will also discuss with the new committee the issues he has encountered with the current code. Nan Stolzenberg will once again participate in the Land Use Code update.

Next Meeting: Regular Board Meeting, March 21, 2022, 6:00 pm.

Motion to Adjourn at 7:23 pm by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, 2nd by Councilwoman Samantha Bouton, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto: aye, Supervisor Innes Kasanof: aye.