The Regular Meeting for the Town Board of the Town of Brighton, Franklin County, NY, was held Thursday, September 10, 2026, at 7:00pm at the Brighton Town Hall, 12 County Road 31, Paul Smiths, NY, with the following:   

 CALL TO ORDER:   

Meeting was Called to Order by Deputy Supervisor Steve Tucker at 7:00pm 

The “Pledge of Allegiance” to the flag was recited. 

ROLL CALL OF OFFICERS 

PRESENT:  Deputy Supervisor Steve Tucker 

Council Members: Amber McKernan, Caroline T. Santagate (Tracy), Lydia Wright 

ABSENT: Supervisor Peter Shrope 

OTHERS PRESENT: Andy Crary-Superintendent of Highways, Elizabeth DeFonce-Town Clerk /Tax Collector, Russ DeFonce-Town Justice, two residents 

NOTICE OF MEETING:  

Notice of this meeting was posted on the Town Clerk’s Sign Board. 

 REPORTS 

 Highway – Superintendent of Highways Andy Crary: mowed and weed wacked the cemeteries, park, Town Hall and garage; changed the oil and filter in the 2015 plow truck; put up signs at Slush Pond, Mountain Pond, and McDermott Roads; put cold patch on Tebbutt Road; helped the Town of Santa Clara with the culverts on Keese Mill Road; hauled tar for the Village of Saranac Lake; hauled two loads of gravel to Hoffman Road; raked Hoffman Road; mowed the county roads for the second time; received mining permit for the sand behind the Town Garage; replaced the stolen “No ATVs” sign on Keese Mill Road; removed the front tires off the 2015 truck and took them to Mitchell’s to be replaced; had the trucks inspected. 

A company has sent a proposal to extend a fiber optic cable from the Town of Santa Clara into the Town of Brighton. It would be placed underground along the south side of the road. The board would like to review the proposal before making a determination so the issue was tabled until next month. 

There was a discussion about Utility Terrain Vehicles (UTV) usage on Keese Mill Road despite signs indicating that the road was off limits.  

The camera on State Route 30 has been removed. 

 Town Clerk Elizabeth DeFonce: Total Revenue to Supervisor as of August 31, 2026, was $97 from 6 dog licenses, 5 copies of vital records, and 8 copies 

August 18: Helped a couple with their research regarding Benjamin Muncil. Provided them with old meeting minutes and building plans. 

August 26: Mailed copies of Resolution #34-2026, Abandonment of certain town roads, to the Franklin County Highway Department, the New York State Department of Transportation, and the Region 5 Department of Environmental Conservation Headquarters. 

September 3: Received notice of receipt of Resolution #34-2026 from the Franklin County Highway Department. 

September 8: Received notice of receipt of Resolution #34-2026 from the New York State Department of Transportation. 

TOWN HALL REQUESTS: None. 

TOWN PARK REQUEST: September 20, Picnic, First United Methodist Church of Saranac Lake, 5 hours; October 3, Family gathering, Bliss family, 5 hours. 

 

Tax Collector – Elizabeth DeFonce: No report. 

 

Historian – Elaine Sater: No report. 

 

Town Justice – Russ DeFonce: Disposed of 11 cases during August and the Supervisor received a check in the amount of $800.  

Filled in for Justice Young in Tupper Lake. 

Will be attending the New York State Magistrates Conference in Albany later this month. 

 

Code Enforcement Officer – Rodger Tompkins: No report. 

 

Assessor – John Stack: No report. 

 

Supervisor – Steve Tucker:  

Assemblyman Michael Cashman met with Town officials on August 25th. A main part of the discussion centered around Camp Gabriel. Assemblyman Cashman was given a tour of the facility after the meeting and stated that he would try to rewrite the current amendment regarding the facility so it will pass the Assembly. 

BridgeNY: On the recommendation of the project engineer, Supervisor Peter Shrope went to Community Bank and extended the current $100,000 bond to $300,000. 

RESOLUTION #37-2026 

APPROVAL OF INCREASE OF BOND FOR KEESE MILL CULVERT 

Motion made by Steve Tucker, seconded Tracy Santagate,   

WHEREAS the town currently has a bond in the amount of $100,000 to cover costs for the Keese Mill Road culvert project and, 

WHEREAS prices have increased since the initial bond was taken out, 

RESOLVED that the board authorize the Supervisor to raise the bond amount from its current amount to $300,000.  

ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 4 (McKernan, Santagate, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0, Absent 1 (Shrope) 

Resolution #37 declared duly adopted. 

Deposits: No report. 

Budget: Everything looks good. 

NYCLASS: For August – General Fund interest $403.20, total $132,874.01 ($20,000 for Town Hall). Highway Fund interest $153.86, total $50,6370.  

 ACCEPT/AMEND MINUTES 

August 13, 2026 – Regular Board Meeting Minutes 

Motion made by Amber McKernan, second by Lydia Wright, to accept the minutes of the August 13, Regular Board Meeting, with the following changes/corrections: add that the new bottle bin can be found in the Town Park; change Council Member Tracy Santagate’s vote for Resolution #34-2026, Abandonment of certain town roads, from “Aye” to “Abstain.” Aye 3 (McKernan, Santagate, Tucker), Nay 0, Absent 1 (Shrope), Abstain 1 (Wright) 

Citizen Comments: A resident mentioned the continued presence of UTVs on Keese Mill Road despite the sign indicating that the road was off limits. The resident stated that the State Police have been called but there hasn’t been any noticeable increase in their presence. He then asked if the Town Board would take it upon themselves to call the troopers and ask for more patrols in that area. A councilmember volunteered to place that call. 

 

Business: 

Franklin County Economic Development Corporation letter: This organization requested that the Town of Brighton send a letter of support for the Plus One Accessory Dwelling Unit Program that would allow town residents to apply for funding to increase housing across the area.  

RESOLUTION #38-2026 

FRANKLIN COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORP. LETTER OF SUPPORT 

Motion made by Steve Tucker, seconded Tracy Santagate,   

RESOLVED that Supervisor Peter Shrope craft and sign a letter of support for the Franklin County Economic Development Corporation’s Plus Onc Accessory Dwelling Unit Program. 

ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 4 (McKernan, Santagate, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0, Absent 1 (Shrope) 

Resolution #38 declared duly adopted. 

Bookkeeper: Dick Meagher has requested an increase of $50 a month for bookkeeping. This will be voted on during the budget process. 

Saranac Lake Volunteer Rescue Squad letter: A letter crafted by the Supervisor of the town of St. Armand regarding concerns about cost increases associated with the rescue squad was presented. The letter indicates support from other town supervisors in the area but, since the letter is detailed and has just been presented to the board, the decision was made to table any discussion until after the board has had time to digest the information. 

 

AUDIT OF VOUCHERS  

 

RESOLUTION #39-2026 

AUDIT OF VOUCHERS 

Motion made by Amber McKernan, seconded by Tracy Santagate, 

RESOLVED that the Supervisor be authorized to pay the audited vouchers as listed on the abstracts as follows:  

PREPAID FUNDS: Abstract #9 for Voucher #9A through #9C for 2026 in the amount of $787.48 and Voucher #9C STREET LIGHTING FUNDS in the amount of $97.97 

GENERAL FUND: Abstract #9 for Voucher #134 through #134 for 2026 funds in the amount of $3,358.64 

HIGHWAY FUND: Abstract #9 for Voucher #89 through #99 for 2026 funds in the amount of $4,800.41 

 

ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 4 (McKernan, Santagate, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0, Absent 1 (Shrope) 

Resolution #39 declared duly adopted. 

ADJOURNMENT 

Motion to Adjourn at 8:00pm made by Amber McKernan, second by Lydia Wright, Aye 4 (McKernan, Santagate, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0, Absent 1 (Shrope) 

Respectfully Submitted,  

Elizabeth DeFonce , Brighton Town Clerk