The Regular Meeting for the Town Board of the Town of Brighton, Franklin County, NY, was held Thursday, April 10, 2025, 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 Supervisor Peter Shrope at 7:01pm

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

 

ROLL CALL OF OFFICERS

PRESENT: Supervisor Peter Shrope

Council Members: Amber McKernan , Caroline T. Santagate (Tracy), Steve Tucker

ABSENT: Lydia Wright

OTHERS PRESENT: Elizabeth DeFonce-Town Clerk /Tax Collector, Russell DeFonce-Town Justice, and 1 resident.

GUESTS: None

NOTICE OF MEETING:

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

REPORTS

Highway – Superintendent of Highways Andy Crary: continued plowing and sanding; got the 2015 plow truck back after the sensors were repaired; washed the trucks; took the F350 to High Peaks Ford for brake work; cleaned the shop; picked up sticks from the cemeteries; cleaned up the park; put varnish on the cemetery signs; picked up sticks and cleaned up the town roads; got the broom ready to sweep the roads; performed road checks.

New employee Everett Fowler started on March 25. Cory Skiff, the temporary seasonal employee, was pleased with the work and would like to come back if needed.

 

Town Clerk Elizabeth DeFonce: Total Revenue to Supervisor as of March 31, 2025, was $5.00 from 1 dog license

March 3: Received notification from the Department of Transportation regarding the 40-mph speed limit on White Pine Road. Gave copies to Supervisor Peter Shrope and Superintendent of Highways Andy Crary.

March 6: Attended Clinton, Essex, and Franklin Town Clerks’ Association meeting in Plattsburgh.

March 18: Sent Notice of Temporary Posting of Roads to the Adirondack Daily Enterprise. It ran March 19, 22, 26, and 29.

March 18: Mailed completed 2025 Polling Site Agreement to the Franklin County Board of Elections.

March 24: Responded to FOIL request from American Transparency for a copy of our vendor payments.

March 27: Attended New York State Archives webinar “Email Management.”

April 3: Attended New York State Archives webinar “Inactive Storage.”

TOWN HALL REQUESTS: None

TOWN PARK REQUEST: None

 

Tax Collector – Elizabeth DeFonce: In March there were 4 transactions totaling $4,102.54 through AllPaid. From January through March, 25 taxpayers used AllPaid for a total of $25,893.27.

Total collected in March: $178,635.48.

Overall total collected: $1,919,480.98

Out of a warrant of over $2 million dollars, just over $185 thousand remained uncollected.

The problem with one taxpayer’s payment through CoreLogic has been resolved.

A check for a tax overpayment that had been issued in February has finally been cashed.

Taxes have been reconciled and were returned to the Franklin County Treasurer’s Office on the morning of April 10.

Historian – Elaine Sater: no report

Town Justice – Russ DeFonce: Disposed of 13 cases during March and the Supervisor received a check in the amount of $1,190.

Code Enforcement Officer – Rodger Tompkins: 4 building permits issued in March.

Assessor – John Stack: Was contacted regarding reducing an assessment due to the demolition of a boathouse but it happened after the March 1 cutoff so no changes were made. Still receiving calls from property owners who didn’t realize that their assessment changed and their taxes went up. Attended the County Assessor’s meeting at the end of the month. Will be accompanied by former Assessor Roseanne Gallagher to check on new construction this coming Monday. Since properties on the water are inaccessible right now they will stick to the roads.

 

Supervisor – Peter Shrope:

BridgeNY: Received another bill; it’s in this month’s vouchers.

Deposits: Town Clerk – $5.00, Town Justice – $1,190. There’s been an increase of $16,600 in the health reimbursement account.

Budget: everything looks good, still have $1.22 million in all accounts.

NYCLASS: For March – General Fund interest $447.15, total $125,895.08 ($20,000 for Town Hall). Highway Fund interest $170.39, total $47,978.07.

April 30 is the closeout for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) reporting. Supervisor Peter Shrope attended a webinar hosted by the Treasury Department regarding this reporting. The report for the town will need some corrections. We’re over by $457.

Performed personnel duties for the new highway employee.

ACCEPT/AMEND MINUTES

March 13, 2025 – Regular Board Meeting Minutes

Motion made by Amber McKernan, second by Steve Tucker, to accept the minutes of the March 13, Regular Board Meeting, as written. Aye 4 (McKernan, Santagate, Shrope, Tucker), Nay 0, Absent 1 (Wright)

 

Business:

 

Recent legislation requiring municipalities to have a .gov website only applies to towns with a population of 1,500 or more. The latest census data puts the Town of Brighton’s population at 1,143 so as of now we’re exempt.

There was a discussion regarding problems with internet service at the Town Hall. There is a contract with Spectrum but service is free and speeds are capped at 15mbps. Various speed tests have been run with various results; to increase speed the Town would have to pay. It could be less a speed issue than one of inconsistency since service has been known to cut in and out throughout the day. Motion was made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, seconded by Amber McKernan, to hire ADK Tech to come into the building to troubleshoot the internet service. Aye 4 (McKernan, Santagate, Shrope, Tucker), Nay 0, Absent 1 (Wright)

CITIZENS’ COMMENTS: The playground is beginning to get some use.

The Civilian Conservation Corps plaque needs polishing; Council Member Tracy Santagate will investigate products and/or implements to use.

There was an inquiry regarding plans to stain or repaint the Town Park buildings. It was last done many years ago. A board member may volunteer since they would be covered by the Town’s liability insurance but a work order would need to be approved by the board. The Town has charge accounts at various retailers for materials.

Any inquiry was made regarding payment to the Saranac Lake Civic Center. One was made in October last year, nothing this year yet.

 

AUDIT OF VOUCHERS

RESOLUTION #12-2025

AUDIT OF VOUCHERS

Motion made by Amber McKernan, seconded Tracy Santagate,

 

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

PREPAID FUNDS: Abstract #4 for Voucher #4A through #4C for 2025 in the amount of $929.22 and Voucher #4C STREET LIGHTING FUNDS in the amount of $95.50

GENERAL FUND: Abstract #4 for Voucher #50 through #67 for 2025 funds in the amount of $8,347.98

HIGHWAY FUND: Abstract #4 for Voucher #44 through #58 for 2025 funds in the amount of $15,679.26

 

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

Resolution #12 declared duly adopted.

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

Motion to Adjourn at 7:54 made by Amber McKernan, second by Tracy Santagate,

Aye 4 (McKernan, Santagate, Shrope, Tucker), Nay 0, Absent 1 (Wright)

 

Respectfully Submitted,

Elizabeth DeFonce, Brighton Town Clerk