The Regular Meeting for the Town Board of the Town of Brighton, Franklin County, NY, was held Thursday, April 9, 2026, at 6:50pm 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 7:00pm
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, John Stack-Assessor, 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: Plowed and sanded a little more; took the litter sander and plow off the F-350; performed road checks; cleaned the shop; went to Plattsburgh for a pallet of cold patch; started cleaning up the park; the 2015 plow truck broke down, possibly a problem with the high pressure oil pump; too the plow wing off the 2015, preparing for spring work

Town Clerk Elizabeth DeFonce: Total Revenue to Supervisor as of March 31, 2026, was $29.00 from 1 Town Hall Use donation and 16 copies

March 16: Registered for the New York State Town Clerk’s Association Annual Conference in Albany.

March 18: Posted the “Notice of Temporary Posting of Roads” in the Adirondack Daily Enterprise. It ran on March 24, 27, 31, and April 3.

March 23: Completed a Discharge of Mortgage. On March 25 it was delivered to the attorney handling the matter.

March 24: Posted the “Notice of Filing Annual Financial Report” in the Adirondack Daily Enterprise. It ran on March 27.

March 30: Posted the “Notice of Public Hearing, Proposed Law LL#1-2026” in the Adirondack Daily Enterprise. It ran on April 2.

March 31: Sent request of disabled parking permits to the DMV. They were received on April 6. Also emailed the Annual Issuing Agent Report to the DMV.

Performed three notarizations.

The New York Association of Local Government Records Officers Annual Conference (NYALGRO) will be held in Lake Placid on June 7-9. Given its proximity I would like to attend. Cost is $248.58 which includes Conference registration and a commuter package covering the Sunday night reception and lunch for Monday and Tuesday. The Town Clerk would like to use the Town credit card to cover expenses.

Motion made by Amber McKernan, seconded by Tracy Santagate, to allow the Town Clerk to use the Town credit card to attend the NYALGRO Annual Conference in Lake Placid, in an amount not to exceed $300. Aye 4 (McKernan, Santagate, Shrope, Tucker), Nay 0, Absent 1 (Wright)

TOWN HALL REQUESTS: None

TOWN PARK REQUEST: None

Tax Collector – Elizabeth DeFonce: The Tax Collector’s books were closed on April 7 as per instructions from the Franklin County Treasurer’s Office. Total collected: $1,810,777.50. The tax roll, warrant, and final payment will be taken to the Treasurer’s Office on Friday, April 10. A check for the interest accumulated will be given to Supervisor Peter Shrope at the beginning of May.

Historian – Elaine Sater: no report

Town Justice – Russ DeFonce: Disposed of 20 cases during March and the Supervisor received a check in the amount of $715. Performed a few arraignments. Attended the Franklin County Magistrate’s Meeting. There will be an Impaired Driving Seminar in Queensbury in May; the Justice and the Clerk will likely attend. There is no cost to the Town.

Code Enforcement Officer – Rodger Tompkins: no report.

Assessor – John Stack: Currently evaluating new construction to be added to the assessment roll. Taught at last year’s Local Government Conference in Potsdam and will likely teach again at this year’s Conference. Changes have been made to virtually all the parcels in town – 10% has been added to the residential and vacant parcels, 5% to the commercial parcels. Recently sold parcels are being examined to see if the assessment should change based on sale price. This can be done due to the equalization rate having been raised to 100%. About 1,000 change notices will have to be sent out. The only properties not changed are state land or special franchise.

Supervisor – Peter Shrope:

Franklin County Self-Insurance: No expenses were incurred in 2025

BridgeNY: Progressing smoothly. Paul Smith’s College has to sign off on the right-of-way paperwork.

DOT Parking Lot: A contract is sent yearly from the NYS Department of Transportation to the Town that covers the Town’s usage of the front parking lot. The Town’s insurance certificate was sent to the DOT.

Deposits: Town Clerk – $29, Town Justice – $715. The last bond payment for the Town Garage was hand delivered to NBT Bank.

Budget: There is a discrepancy between the amounts listed in the A7140.4 expense line and the totals from those months’ abstracts, especially March, which showed a large increase. Further examination will take place.

NYCLASS: For March – General Fund interest $392.26, total $130,918.61 ($20,000 for Town Hall). Highway Fund interest $149.50, total $49,892.48.

There was a discussion about the ongoing intermittent internet issues. The Code Enforcement Officer doesn’t use his phone at the Town Hall; that could be disconnected to help pay for reliable internet service. It was suggested that moving the modem from the furnace room into the main room might help.

The former Packbasket Diner may have changed hands. If this is the case, the new owners might be approached regarding removal of the bottle drop on that property. That would allow for a new bottle drop to be built at the Town Park.

ACCEPT/AMEND MINUTES

March 12, 2026 –Regular Board Meeting Minutes

Motion made by Amber McKernan, second by Steve Tucker, to accept the minutes of the March 12, Regular Board Meeting, as written. Aye 2 (McKernan, Tucker,), Nay 0, Absent 1 (Wright,), Abstain 2 (Santagate, Shrope)

Citizen Comments: A resident commented that they were approached by another resident who stated that the town is in good shape and is being run well.

Old business: The issue of “low horsepower” and fast boats on Jones Pond remain open issues. It was decided to discuss enforcement with the Department of Environmental Conservation and local Game Wardens before pursuing the matter further.

AUDIT OF VOUCHERS

RESOLUTION #21-2026

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 #4 for Voucher #4A through #4B for 2026 in the amount of $721.13 and Voucher #4B STREET LIGHTING FUNDS in the amount of $122.49

GENERAL FUND: Abstract #4 for Voucher #45 through #68 for 2026 funds in the amount of $9,756.70

HIGHWAY FUND: Abstract #4 for Voucher #29 through #45 for 2026 funds in the amount of $13,672.09

SPECIAL FUND-FIRE DISTRICT: Abstract #4 for Voucher #4 for 2026 funds in the amount of $58,147.40

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

Resolution #21 declared duly adopted.

ADJOURNMENT

Motion to Adjourn at 8:21 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