The Regular Meeting for the Town Board of the Town of Brighton, Franklin County, NY, was held Thursday, January 8, 2026, at 7:41pm following the Organizational Meeting 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 7:41pm

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, and Lydia Wright

OTHERS PRESENT: Andy Crary-Superintendent of Highways, Elizabeth DeFonce-Town Clerk /Tax Collector, Russell DeFonce-Town Justice, Elaine Sater-Historian, 5 members of the Paul Smiths-Gabriels Volunteer Fire Department (PSGVFD) and 1 resident.

GUESTS: None

NOTICE OF MEETING:

Notice of this meeting was posted on the Town Clerk’s Sign Board on January 2, 2026, and a notice was published in the Adirondack Daily Enterprise on January 3, 2026. Notices were distributed to Town Officials.

PAUL SMITHS-GABRIELS VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT ANNUAL REPORT

Ben Tucker-Chief presented the list of officers to the Town Board. There were 210 calls in 2025, 88 of which were to Paul Smiths College. This is the last year of the contract with the Town; negotiations will begin later this year. The Fire Department received 2 grants this year which allowed the purchase of turnout gear and air packs. However, one of the grants was a reimbursement grant and checks have not been forthcoming from New York State. The Fire Department will write a statement regarding this situation to give to the Board who will then discuss how best to take action in support. There was a discussion about the bottle deposit bin and whether or not it might be a good idea to build a second one near the Town Park.

2026 Officers of the Paul Smiths-Gabriels Volunteer Fire Department as follows:

Ben Tucker – Chief

Steve Tucker – 1^st Assistant Chief

Tom Tucker – 2^nd Assistant Chief

Devan Snickles – Captain

Russell Farrell – 1^st Lieutenant

Ryan Chiari – 2^nd Lieutenant

Ryan Greenwald – 2^nd Lieutenant

Doug Peck – Safety and Training Officer

Sandy Paben – Treasurer

Danielle Tooker – Secretary

Motion made to approve the PSGVD Officer List as presented made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, seconded by Amber McKernan. Aye 5 (McKernan, Santagate, Shrope, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0

REPORTS

Highway – Superintendent of Highways Andy Crary: Plowing and sanding on a regular basis; mixed up sand and salt; used the loader to do the turnarounds and the Fire Station; changed the oil and filter in the F-350; replaced a broken window in the F-350; cleaned the shop floors; put a new sump pump in the garage; changed the wing steel on the 2022 truck; had the loader tire fixed.

Discussion then took place about the purchase of a new truck which would only be used for sanding and plowing in the winter; it would not require a CDL to drive. Financing is not available but since CHIPS money has been held in reserve there’s enough to cover the cost.

RESOLUTION #12

PURCHASE OF TRUCK FOR HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT

Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, second by Lydia Wright,

RESOLVED that the Superintendent of Highways proceed with the negotiations and the purchase of the proposed International CV truck, not to exceed $140,000.

ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 5 (McKernan, Santagate, Shrope, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0

Resolution #12 declared duly adopted.

Town Clerk Elizabeth DeFonce: Total Revenue to Supervisor as of December 31, 2026, was $150.00 from 15 Copies of Certified Vital Records

December 15: Received letter from Franklin County Board of Elections describing the changes in New York State election law; copied and distributed to all elected officials.

January 5: Received lighting bills from National Grid. One bill had been credited with a payment intended for another account. Called them and they will credit the correct account and send corrected bills.

January 5: Swore in Highway Superintendent Andy Crary and Supervisor Peter Shrope.

January 5: Received packet from the Association of Towns, including information about this year’s Annual Training School & Meeting in New York City, to be held from February 15-17.

TOWN HALL REQUESTS: None

TOWN PARK REQUEST: None

Town Clerk’s Annual Report for 2025: Total revenue received was $17,524.20.

Tax Collector – Elizabeth DeFonce: Picked up tax bills from Real Property on Wednesday, December 24. Compass Printing was closed for the holidays so my Deputy and I used the folding machine from the Masonic Lodge and folded and stuffed over the following weekend; bills were mailed on Monday, December 29. There were more school tax relevies than usual.

Total collected as of Tuesday, January 6: $58,869.70.

Virginia Ignatowski, president of the New York State Association of Tax Receivers and Collectors, issued guidance regarding the cessation of the minting of the penny. Her recommendation is to adopt a resolution that all cash payments be made in exact change. Since very few payments received are in cash there’s no need to take this step at this time but this issue should be revisited in the future.

Recent information regarding postmarks was shared. Apparently mail may not be postmarked until a day or two after it was sent which would cause payments made on time to be perceived as late. This has not been an issue yet; how to handle this is yet to be determined.

The online payment system is up and running.

Historian – Elaine Sater: Started copying articles from October 2025. Shared information that a former Tax Collector has recently died.

Town Justice – Russ DeFonce: Disposed of 41 cases during December and the Supervisor received a check in the amount of $4,100.

Completed trainings for 2025.

Attended the Franklin County Magistrates’ Association dinner at Donovan’s in Malone.

The current Assistant District Attorney is leaving the area and the Public Defender’s Office has lost an attorney leaving both offices shorthanded so some cases have been delayed.

Code Enforcement Officer – Rodger Tompkins: no report.

Assessor – John Stack: Submitted Local Law Number 1 for 2026, increasing the tax exemption for Veterans, for review. A public hearing on the law will be held on Thursday, April 9, at 6:30pm.

Supervisor – Peter Shrope:

BridgeNY: the latest check has been cashed; paperwork needs to be filled out for the reimbursement.

Deposits: Town Clerk – $150, Town Justice – $4,100.

Budget: At yearend there is $842,872 in all accounts. Budget amendments need approval (see below).

NYCLASS: For December – General Fund interest $408.24 ($5,181.28 for the year), total $129,772.90 ($20,000 for Town Hall). Highway Fund interest $155.56 ($1,974.53 for the year), total $49,455.84.

Interest total for 2026: $7,155.81

Balance total for 2026: $179,228.74

BUDGET AMENTMENTS: 

GENERAL FUND 2026 BUDGET AMENDMENT #1

Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, second by Lydia Wright,

RESOLVED that the following amount be and the same hereby are appropriated/transferred:

$  3,293.46 from Account No. A8810.4 Cemeteries CE

$10,345.58 from Account No. A9060.8 Hospital & Medical Insurance

As follows:

$  2,718.80 to Account No. A1330.4 Tax Collector CE

$     781.68 to Account No. A1410.4 Town Clerk CE

$  1,179.69 to Account No. A1910.4 Unallocated Insurance

$     599.00 to Account No. A1920.4 Municipal Dues

$       29.82 to Account No. A3620.4 Public Administration CE

$       32.08 to Account No. A3310.2 Traffic Signs

$       20.00 to Account No. A3510.4 Dogs CE

$  1,903.09 to Account No. A5132.4 Town Garage CE

$  6,374.88 to Account No. A8161.4 Landfill Monitoring

ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 5 (McKernan, Santagate, Shrope, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0

GENERAL FUND BUDGET 2026 AMENDMENT #1 declared duly amended.

HIGHWAY FUND BUDGET 2026 AMENDMENT #1

Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, second by Steve Tucker,

RESOLVED that the following amounts be and the same hereby are transferred:

$42,200.00 from Account No. DA5130.2 Machinery, Capital Outlay, Heavy

$49,344.00 from Account No. DA5112.2 Improvements, Capital Outlay

$21,048.63 from Account No. DA5110.1 General Repairs  PS

As follows:

$  4,377.08 to Account No. DA5110.4 General Repairs CE

$60,626.71 to Account No. DA5120.4 Bridges CE

$25,074.33 to Account No. DA5130.4 Machinery CE

$  4,868.20 to Account No. DA5142.1 Snow Removal PS

$  9,774.45 to Account No. DA5142.4 Snow Removal CE

$  7,871.86 to Account No. DA9060.8 Hospital & Medical Insurance CE

ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 5 (McKernan, Santagate, Shrope, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0

HIGHWAY FUND BUDGET 2026 AMENDMENT #1 declared duly amended.

ACCEPT/AMEND MINUTES

December 11, 2025 – Regular Board Meeting Minutes

Motion made by Supervisor Peter Srope, second by Tracy Santagate, to accept the minutes of the December 11, Regular Board Meeting, as written. Aye 4 (Santagate, Shrope, Tucker), Nay 0, Abstain 1 (McKernan)

Citizen Comments: A resident commented on how nice the new park sign looked.

Business:

Saranac Lake Volunteer Rescue Squad: 

RESOLUTION #13-2026

AGREEMENT WITH SARANAC LAKE VOLUNTEER RESCUE SQUAD FOR 2026 SERVICES

Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, seconded by Amber McKernan

RESOLVED that the Town Board authorizes the Supervisor to sign an agreement with Saranac Lake Volunteer Rescue Squad, Inc., for emergency medical and transport ambulance services in the amount of $41,806.00 for the year 2026.

ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 5 (McKernan, Santagate, Shrope, Tucker, Wright) Nay 0

Resolution #13 declared duly adopted.

 Adirondack Park Local Government Review Board:

 RESOLUTION #14-2026

AGREEMENT WITH ADIRONDACK PARK LOCAL GOVERNMENT REVIEW BOARD FOR 2026 SERVICES

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

RESOLVED that the Town Board authorizes the Supervisor to sign an agreement with the Adirondack Park Local Government Review Board for representing the Town of Brighton in matters relating to the Adirondack Park in the amount of $300.00 for the year 2026.

ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 5 (McKernan, Santagate, Shrope, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0

Resolution #14 declared duly adopted.

Election Polling Site Agreement:

RESOLUTION #15-2026

2026 POLLING SITE AGREEMENT

Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, second by Lydia Wright,

RESOLVED that the Town Board authorizes the Supervisor to sign an agreement with the Franklin County Board of Elections for the 2026 Polling Site for the Town to be in the Town Hall. Dates of Elections are June 23 for State and Local Primaries, and November 3 for the General Election. Special Elections, if necessary, will be announced.

ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 5 (McKernan, Santagate, Shrope, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0

Resolution #15 declared duly adopted.

Old business:

Local Law No. 4, 2001, is still an open issue. Local Laws regarding Lake Colby and another near Old Forge. Supervisor Peter Shrope will investigate the restrictions on Lake Clear. A resident on Jones Pond has given permission to Town Board members to access her property for examination of the lake.

AUDIT OF VOUCHERS

RESOLUTION #16-2026

AUDIT OF VOUCHERS

Motion made by Amber McKernan, seconded by Lydia Wright

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

PREPAID FUNDS: Abstract #1 for Voucher #1A through #1B for 2026 in the amount of $707.16

GENERAL FUND: Abstract #1 for Voucher #1 through #13 for 2026 funds in the amount of $29,618.23

HIGHWAY FUND: Abstract #1 for Voucher #1 through #11 for 2026 funds in the amount of $7,219.74

ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 5 (McKernan, Santagate, Shrope, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0

Resolution #16 declared duly adopted.

ADJOURNMENT

Motion to Adjourn at 9:06pm made by Amber McKernan, second by Lydia Wright,

Aye 5 (McKernan, Santagate, Shrope, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0

Respectfully Submitted,

Elizabeth DeFonce

Brighton Town Clerk