January 08, 2026 – Organizational Meeting
CALL TO ORDER:
Pledge of Allegiance
ROLL CALL
NOTICE OF MEETING
PSGVFD Report and Membership, if needed
APPOINTMENTS BY SUPERVISOR
Deputy Supervisor – Steve Tucker
Bookkeeper/Budget Officer (Contract) – Richard Meagher of Lake Clear
APPOINTMENTS BY TOWN BOARD
Motion made
RESOLVED that the following appointments by the Town Board are hereby approved for 2026/2027
Code Enforcement Officer – Rodger Tompkins
Town Historian – Elaine Sater
Registrar of Vital Statistics – Elizabeth DeFonce
Records Access Officer – Elizabeth DeFonce
Records Management Officer – Elizabeth DeFonce
Town Hall Custodian – Shelly Smith
Attorney for the Town – Scott Goldie, Esq. Ducharme Goldie & Adams, P.C., Canton
ROLL CALL VOTE
DESIGNATION OF DEPOSITORIES
Motionmade
RESOLVED that the following depositories are authorized to be used by the Town Officials in 2026/2027
Town Accounts – NBT Bank and Community Bank, NA
Tax Collector – NBT Bank, ?
Town Clerk – Community Bank, NA
Town Court – Community Bank, NA
Investments – NYCLASS
ROLL CALL VOTE
DESIGNATION OF COUNTER SIGNER FOR CHECKS OVER $5,000
Motion made
RESOLVED that the Town Clerk Elizabeth DeFonce be designated as the counter signer on all checks over $5,000 written by the Town of Brighton in 2026/2027, with the exception of the Trust and Agency payroll account checks.
ROLL CALL VOTE
DESIGNATION OF OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER
Motion made
RESOLVED that the Official Newspaper of the Town of Brighton for posting public notices during 2026/2027 will be the Adirondack Daily Enterprise in Saranac Lake.
ROLL CALL VOTE
APPOINTMENT TO COMMITTEES
Motion made
RESOLVED that the Brighton Town Board approves the following 2026/2027
No Committees are currently authorized
OPERATING PROCEDURES FOR TOWN BUSINESS AND MEETINGS
Motion made
RESOLVED that the following procedures shall apply to Town Board operations during 2026/2027.
Town mail address is PO Box 260, Paul Smiths, NY 12970
- Town Clerk will collect the mail
- Regular Town Board Meetings will be held on the second Thursday of each month starting at 7:00 p.m., unless otherwise posted.
- Council members who are unable to attend a meeting or who will not be able to arrive by the designated meeting time should notify the Supervisor in advance, as a matter of courtesy.
- Council members or other elected officials wishing to have business items included on the meeting agenda should inform the supervisor one week in advance of the board meeting, as a matter of courtesy.
- Public requests to be included on the agenda should be made to the supervisor. Meeting participation by the public will be only by invitation of the meeting chair and speakers will identify themselves. All remarks will be directed to the Board
- The following departments are requested to provide written monthly reports on activity, expenses, concerns, suggestions, etc., prior to the monthly meeting. These should be provided either directly to board members’ mailboxes or to the supervisor within 3 days of the board meeting to allow for distribution to the council members. If there is to be no report, please inform the supervisor.
Highway Superintendent – Andy Crary
Town Clerk- Elizabeth DeFonce
Town Historian- Elaine Sater
Tax Collector – Elizabeth DeFonce
Town Justice – Russell DeFonce
Assessor – John Stack
Code Enforcement Officer – Rodger Tompkins
Supervisor- Peter Shrope
ROLL CALL VOTE
AUTHORIZATION TO PRE-PAY CERTAIN CLAIMS
Motion made
RESOLVED that the supervisor be authorized to pre-pay certain claims incurred during 2026/2027 prior to audit of the vouchers for payment, as follows: public utility services, postage, and freight and express charges. All such claims are to be presented for audit at the next regular board meeting.
ROLLCALLVOTE
AUDIT OF FINANCIAL RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK, TOWN JUSTICE, AND TOWN SUPERVISOR
Motion made
RESOLVED that an Annual Audit of Town Clerk, Town Justice and Town Supervisor’s financial records be conducted in accordance with Town Law Section 123 on __________, January __, 2026. At time: __________ By Jan. 20th
ROLL CALL VOTE
REIMBURSEMENT FOR MILEAGE FOR TOWN BUSINESS
Motion made
RESOLVED that Town Officials be reimbursed at the rate allowed by the United States Internal Revenue Service per mile from the Town Hall for the use of their personal vehicles while on town business during 2026, except for the Tax Collector Elizabeth DeFonce and Assessor John Stack who will log mileage from their residences. Beginning on Jan. 1, 2026, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be $. 72.5 cents per mile for business miles driven.
ROLL CALL VOTE
FILING OF SUPERVISOR’S ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT
Motion made
RESOLVED that a copy of the supervisor’s annual financial report for 2025 to the State Comptroller be filed with the town clerk within the first 60 days of 2026, unless the Comptroller extends the filing date by 60 days, in which case the same extension shall apply to the filing with the town clerk.
ROLL CALL VOTE
AUTHORIZATION TO BOND TOWN OFFICIALS
Motion made
RESOLVED, that the Town Board authorizes a blanket surety bond permitted by Section 11 of the Public Officers Law in lieu of individual undertakings as required by Section 25 of the Town Law, which indemnifies the Town for losses caused by failure to faithfully perform duties or by fraudulent or dishonest acts on the part of the Tax Collector, the Supervisor, and all other elected officials and employees for the years 2026/2027, and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the amount of the blanket surety bond through Municipal Crime Insurance Coverage will be $500,000.00 for all Town officials and employees individually.
ROLL CALL VOTE:
AUTHORIZATION TO APPROVE SALARIES AND WAGES FOR 2026 only.(based on 2.7% COLA from 2025)
Motion made
RESOLVED, that the following salaries and wages be approved and are to be paid biweekly during 2026:
Council Member (A1010.1) $ 6,067.00 /Year
Justice (A1110.1) $ 18,790.00 /Year
Court Clerk (A1130.1) $ 18.82 Hour
Supervisor (A1220.1) $ 19,550.00 /Year
Deputy Supervisor (A1220.1A $ 684.00 /Year
Tax Collector (A1330.1) $ 8,793.00 /Year
Assessor (A1355.1) $ 14,814.00 /Year
Town Clerk (A1410.1) $ 14,173.00 /Year
Deputy Town Clerk (A1415.1) $ 5,000,00/ Year
Town Hall Custodian (A1620.1) $ 18.82 /Hour
Code Enforcement Officer (A3010.1) $ 17,695.00 /Year
Registrar of Vital Statistics (A4020.1) $ 358.00 /Year
Superintendent of Highways (A5010.1) $ 66,967.00 /Year
Deputy Superintendent of Highways (A5010.1) $ 1,040.00 /Year
Town Park Manager/Laborer (A7140.1) $ 18.82 hourly
Highway Laborer $ 25.00 hourly (until which time this position may become full time)
Highway Hourly Wage – General (DA5110.1) $ 26.40 / $39.60 / $52.80 Hour/Over Time/Holiday
Highway Hourly Wage – Snow Removal (DA5142.1) $ 26.40 / $39.60 / $52.80 Hour/Over Time/Holiday
ROLL CALL VOTE
OTHER BUSINESS
ADJOURNMENT