Regular Town Board Meeting Minutes Halcott Grange
October 21, 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. Public:Paul Margolis, Sybil Margolis.

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

Opened Public Hearing on the Preliminary Budget at 7:16 pm. The Preliminary Budget stayed below the 2% tax cap with a levy increase of 1.99% which includes a 3% pay increase for all who work for the Town, including the following yearly wages: Town Supervisor: $3,695.00, Town Board members: $1,848.00, Town Clerk: $4,635.00, Highway Superintendent: $48,222.00. Paul Margolis asked if health insurance costs were factored into the presented budget and the answer was yes, the insurance cost increase was modest with a 6% increase and reflected in the budget. With no other public input the Public Hearing was closed at 7:28 pm.

Opened Regular meeting at 7:30 pm.

Approval of the minutes of the September 16, 2019 meeting: Motion to approve by Councilwoman Innes Kasanof, 2nd by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, Councilwoman Yukari Day: aye, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Supervisor Alan White: aye.

Highway Superintendent’s Report: (A) The new tractor is working well. Superintendent Bouton would like to keep the old mower tractor for a while as it will not bring in much revenue if sold due to its age, but is very useful to the Highway Department. The Town of Middletown may take care of some brush mowing for the Town, but this would not happen until this winter or next spring at the earliest.(B) Greene County will be in Halcott to patch holes on County Route 3. Supervisor White asked Highway Superintendent Bouton if the County has a schedule for the resurfacing/topping of the county roads in Halcott because extensive ditch work needs to be done before any topping work should begin. Supervisor White recommended the Town have a comprehensive conversation with the County in regards to the scope of work needed to be done to maintain our roads, with the LFA documentation of the bridge repair/replacement work that needs to happen added into the conversation as well.

Voucher vote: General Abstract #G1019 – vouchers 147 – 154 = $2,943.20. Highway Abstract #H1019 – vouchers 143, 155– 162 = $29,91613. Motion to pay bills by Councilwoman Yukari Day, 2nd by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Councilwoman Innes Kasanof: aye, Supervisor Alan White: aye.

Finance Chair Report: (A) Finance Chair Innes Kasanof presented the monthly finance report. The Town is in good fiscal standing heading towards the end of the year. (B) The new to Halcott John Deere tractor will need to be added to the equipment list on the Town finance report and added to the Town’s insurance coverage as well.

Clerk’s Report: 1 Building Permit: $160.00, 4 C/O Searches @ $25.00 each: $100.00, Transfer Station Bagged Garbage Money: $259.00. The Town collected and disbursed $519.00 for the month of September.
Other Business: (A) Zoning Board Appeals Chairwoman Karen Rauter has asked to step down from her position for personal reasons, with ZBA member Warren Reynolds willing to fill the vacancy.Motion to appoint Warren Reynolds as Chairman of the Zoning Board of Appeals by Councilwoman Innes Kasanof, 2nd by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, Councilwoman Yukari Day: aye, Supervisor Alan White: aye. ABSTAIN: Councilman Alan Reynolds. (B) LFA Final Public Hearing: MMI presented the preliminary final report to the public at the meeting, outlining the need make the bridge on County Route 3 (coming into Halcott) and the relocation of the Highway Garage a priority. MMI did make contact with someone at the County level when working on this study. It was brought to the attention of the Board that the area known as the Elk Creek toe-cut was not addressed by MMI in the LFA study. MMI will be notified of the oversite and asked to add this area to the study and included in the report. The last step in the LFA process is for the final report to be drafted and posted, a comment period to take place, any revisions made and then the Board will be able to have a vote on the adoption of the LFA study. Once the LFA has been adopted, the Town can then begin to solicit grant money. Peg Ellsworth of the M-ARK project will be asked to come to Halcott and give a presentation on grant proposal options. (C) Supervisor Alan White asked the Board for a motion to adopt the preliminary budget. Motion to Adopt the 2020 Preliminary Budget by Councilwoman Yukari Day, 2nd by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, Councilwoman Innes Kasanof: aye, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Supervisor Alan White: aye.

Next Meeting: Regular Town Board Meeting November 18, 2019, 7:15 pm.

Motion to Adjourn at 7:59 p.m. by Councilwoman Innes Kasanof, 2nd by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Councilwoman Yukari Day: aye, Supervisor Alan White: aye.