The Regular Meeting for the Town Board of the Town of Brighton, Franklin County, NY, was held Thursday, May 14, 2026, at 7:03pm 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 7:03pm
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), and Steve Tucker
ABSENT: Lydia Wright
OTHERS PRESENT: Andy Crary-Superintendent of Highways, Elizabeth DeFonce-Town Clerk /Tax Collector, Russell DeFonce-Town Justice, Elaine Sater-Historian, one 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: Got the tractor ready to sweep; replaced the hydraulic line on the tractor; changed the bristles twice on the tractor; swept all the roads in town; changed the oil and filter in the F-150; helped Santa Clara with sweeping; got a new pressure washer; chipped winter debris around town; got new batteries for the F-350 and chipper; made a scrap metal run; took the plow wing off the 2013 truck; took the sander out of the 2015 truck; picked up the cemeteries and the park; road raked the dirt roads; the new truck should be here next week.

The Superintendent of Highways would like to offer the seasonal hire who started last year a full-time position. No advertising is necessary since he’s already on the payroll. This person is related to the Superintendent; the board recognizes this and approves of this decision.

There was a question about downed trees on McCollums Road and how they could be obstacles should the road be needed. Since it’s bordered on both sides by state land paperwork has begun to transfer maintenance of this road, along with a few others, to New York state.

Town Clerk Elizabeth DeFonce: Total Revenue to Supervisor as of April 30, 2026, was $35.00 from 7 dog licenses.

April 19-22: Attended the New York State Town Clerk Association’s Annual Conference in Albany. There I learned about a new New York State law regarding dog licenses. Towns must make an option on dog license registrations for a dog owner to donate to a local animal shelter. Donations from these contributions are to be deposited into a dedicated account to be distributed to the designated organization annually. After a brief discussion the board decided to table this matter until next month.

April 27: Received notice from Frontier regarding their acquisition by Verizon. Copies were distributed in board members’ mailboxes.

April 28: Sent Local Law #1 of 2026 to the New York State Department of State.

Performed one notarization.

Discussion turned to the term of office for the Code Enforcement Officer. An Oath of Office needs to be administered but the length of his term is unclear. It was decided that the term would mirror that of the Supervisor.

TOWN HALL REQUESTS: None

TOWN PARK REQUEST: Saturday, June 6, birthday party, 10:30-2:30

Tax Collector – Elizabeth DeFonce: Taxes were returned to the Franklin County Treasurer’s Office on April 10. A check for $3,347.84 was given to the Supervisor on May 4.

The Tax Collector’s records will be audited on Thursday, May 21, at 5:30pm, after which they will be filed in the vault.

Historian – Elaine Sater: The new newspaper format makes finding notices more difficult. Missing issues have been received.

Town Justice – Russ DeFonce: Disposed of 21 cases during April and the Supervisor received a check in the amount of $1,540. The Justice and Court Clerk attended the Impaired Driving Seminar in Queensbury on May 7 and 8. There have been no developments in the creation of a Central Arraignment Part. The Magistrates’ Association is in favor but the sheriff is still opposed.

Code Enforcement Officer – Rodger Tompkins: no report.

Assessor – John Stack: Dealing with taxpayers regarding the recent increase in assessments and has made a few changes.

Elaine Sater will serve as secretary for the upcoming BAR meeting.

Supervisor – Peter Shrope:

Verizon: Frontier has been taken over by Verizon but there shouldn’t be any changes to the town’s phone service. Steps will be taken to remove the Code Enforcement Officer’s phone line and change his contact information to his cell phone.

BridgeNY: Reimbursement #11 has been submitted and received.

Deposits: Town Clerk – $35, Town Justice – $1,540, Tax Collector – $3,347.84, Franklin County (stumpage) – $668.19, BridgeNY – $3,852.41, scrap metal – $265.

Budget: In good shape, almost $1.3 million in all accounts.

NYCLASS: For April – General Fund interest $379.48, total $131,298.09 ($20,000 for Town Hall). Highway Fund interest $144.62, total $50,037.10.

A new modem has been purchased and set up. It’s on the top of the Town Clerk’s file cabinet and requires a VPN to login.

There’s still one form to fill out regarding the ARPA funding.

An email regarding UTV use on Keese Mill Road was sent to the town and discussed at length. There is already a ban on ATVs on the road so the town is considering putting up signs stating this. Enforcement of this ban falls to the State Police.

ACCEPT/AMEND MINUTES

April 9, 2026 – Public Hearing

Motion made by Amber McKernan, second by Tracy Santagate, to accept the minutes of the April 9 Public Hearing, with the following correction: the date “2005” was omitted from the description of the Local Law being replaced. Aye 4 (McKernan, Santagate, Shrope, Tucker), Nay 0, Absent 1 (Wright)

April 9, 2026 –Regular Board Meeting Minutes

Motion made by Amber McKernan, second by Tracy Santagate, to accept the minutes of the April 9, Regular Board Meeting, with the following corrections: change the time of the Call to Order to “6:50”; add “k” to the  word “too” in the Highway Report Aye 4 (McKernan, Santagate, Shrope, Tucker), Nay 0, Absent 1 (Wright)

Citizen Comments: The hut for Franklin County Transportation bus stop near Paul Smiths College has been removed.

Business:

 RESOLUTION #22-2026

AIRPORT AGREEMENT

Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, second by Amber McKernan,

RESOLVED that the Town Board authorizes the Supervisor to sign an agreement with the Town of Harrietstown to support the Adirondack Regional Airport for 2026 in the amount of $1,500, and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Supervisor be authorized to pay the Town of Harrietstown the sum of $1,500 for 2026.

 

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

Resolution #22 declared duly adopted.

Another motion to allow Camp Gabriels to be offered for public sale has passed the New York Senate as it has for a few years. It remains bottlenecked in the Assembly.

As a recently received email pointed out, battery storage systems and data centers becoming more prevalent so many towns have imposed temporary moratoriums on their development within their limits. It was decided that the board would explore the work of past planning committees and reach out to see about obtaining copies of other towns’ resolutions regarding this matter.

Old business: Council member Tracy Santagate contacted Environmental Conservation Officer Nate Favreau who confirmed that there isn’t a speed designation for Jones Pond. Users of the pond stated that the many impediments underwater prevented boaters from going too fast. If the town passed an Ordinance enforcement would fall to the Code Enforcement Officer but it would allow signage outlining the speed limit to be placed. Nate offered to talk with the complainants should it become necessary. Supervisor Peter Shrope reiterated that a landowner offered to let him access her property to see the area; now that it’s spring he will do this.

AUDIT OF VOUCHERS

RESOLUTION #23-2026

AUDIT OF VOUCHERS

Motion made by Amber McKernan, seconded by Steve Tucker,

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

PREPAID FUNDS: Abstract #5 for Voucher #5A through #5C for 2026 in the amount of $1,253.91 and Voucher #5C STREET LIGHTING FUNDS in the amount of $96.44

GENERAL FUND: Abstract #5 for Voucher #69 through #86 for 2026 funds in the amount of $51,309.19

HIGHWAY FUND: Abstract #5 for Voucher #46 through #57 for 2026 funds in the amount of $139,734.41

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

Resolution #23 declared duly adopted.ADJOURNMENT

Motion to Adjourn at 8:55 made by Amber McKernan, second by Supervisor Peter Shrope,

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

Respectfully Submitted,

Elizabeth DeFonce, Brighton Town Clerk