October 29, 2020 Public Hearing/Special Meeting

A Public Hearing/Special Meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Brighton, Franklin County, NY, was held Thursday, October 29, 2020, at 6:00pm 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 6:01pm
The “Pledge to the Flag” was recited

ROLL CALL OF OFFICERS
PRESENT: Supervisor Peter Shrope
Council Members: Amber McKernan, Matthew Szeliga, Steve Tucker (entered meeting at 6:10pm), and Lydia Wright
ABSENT: None
OTHERS PRESENT: Richard Meagher-Bookkeeper/Budget Officer, Paul Blaine-Code Enforcement Officer, Andy Crary-Superintendent of Highways, Elaine Sater-Town Clerk, and one resident
GUESTS: None

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING/MEETING:
Notice of this meeting was posted on the Town Clerk’s Sign Board and was published in the Adirondack Daily Enterprise on Thursday, October 22, 2020.

The North Country including Franklin County is still in Phase 4 of the Reopening of New York State due to the corona virus called COVID-19. People are still asked to wear masks to cover their nose and mouth when within 6 feet of other people. A limited number of people are allowed inside the Town buildings.

PUBLIC HEARING on the Preliminary Budget for 2021 was opened to public comment at 6:02pm
There were no comments from the public.
PUBLIC HEARING was closed at 6:10pm.

BUSINESS

1. ANNUAL TOWN BUDGET 2021 – Supervisor Peter Shrope

RESOLUTION #50-2020 ANNUAL TOWN BUDGET 2021
Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, second by Amber McKernan,

WHEREAS, a notice of a Public Hearing on the Preliminary Budget for 2021 was posted on the Town Clerk’s Sign Board and published in the Adirondack Daily Enterprise on October 22, 2020, and
WHEREAS the Public Hearing was held on October 29, 2020, with no comments from the public,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Preliminary Budget for 2021 be adopted as the Annual Town Budget for 2021 as follows:
General Fund Appropriations: $420,767
Estimated General Revenues: $43,984
Less General Fund Balance $29,615
General Fund Amount to be raised by Taxes: $347,168
And
Highway Fund Appropriations: $385,256
Estimated Highway Fund Revenue: $110,622
Less Highway Fund Balance: $40,000
Highway Fund Amount to be raised by Taxes: $234,634
And
Fire District appropriations: $100,317
And
Lighting District (Easy Street) appropriations: $900
And
Total amount to be raised by Taxes: $683,019

ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 5 (McKernan, Shrope, Szeliga, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0
RESOLUTION #50-2020 declared duly adopted.

2. CONTRACT FOR EMERGENCY PLAN – Supervisor Peter Shrope:
The Governor signed legislation requiring all public employers to create a contingency operations plan to protect public workers in future health emergencies, Association of Towns provided a webinar to review the plan requirements. Emergency Preparedness Solutions, LLC, is willing to help the Town create a plan for a fee of $1,000.

RESOLUTION #51-2020
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PLAN CONTRACT FOR SERVICES
Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, second by Lydia Wright,

WHEREAS, the Governor signed legislation on September 7, 2020, requiring all public employers to create a contingency operations plan to protect public workers in future health emergencies, and
WHEREAS, Emergency Preparedness Solutions, LLC is willing to help the Town create such a plan to meet the requirements,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Board authorizes the Supervisor to sign a Contract for Services with Emergency Preparedness Solutions, LLC (EPS, LLC), to provide for consultant services to develop a plan meeting the understood requirements of legislation (S8617B/A10832) regarding public employer emergency planning, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Town will pay EPS, LLC, an amount Not to Exceed $1,500.

ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 5 (McKernan, Shrope, Szeliga, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0
RESOLUTION #51-2020 declared duly adopted.

3. PURCHASE OF COMPUTER AND SOFTWARE FOR TOWN CLERK – Supervisor Peter Shrope:  The Town Clerk’s computer was purchased in 2012 and is using Windows 7 which has been deemed unsecure by the Department of Health for Registrar purposes. A new computer that has the more secure Windows 10 and updated software will cost about $1,000. Funds were put in the 2021 Budget for a computer, but a new one is needed now. The Town has an account with Dell Computer Company. The Highway Superintendent can use the Town Clerk’s computer instead of disposing of it.

RESOLUTION #52-2020
COMPUTER FOR TOWN CLERK
Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, second by Lydia Wright,

RESOLVED that the Town Clerk be authorized to purchase a new Dell Computer with Microsoft Office software Not to Exceed $1,200 to replace the 2012 Dell computer that the Town Clerk is currently using.

ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 5 (McKernan, Shrope, Szeliga, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0
RESOLUTION #52-2020 declared duly adopted.

ADJOURNMENT

Motion to Adjourn at 6:20pm made by Lydia Wright, second by Matthew Szeliga, Aye 5 (McKernan, Shrope, Szeliga Tucker, Wright), Nay 0

Respectfully Submitted,
Elaine W. Sater, RMC.
Brighton Town Clerk