January 14, 2021 Regular Meeting (Draft)

Town of Brighton, Franklin County, NY
Minutes of the Town Board 2021 Organizational Meeting

CALL TO ORDER
Meeting was called to order at 7:26pm by Supervisor Peter Shrope at the Brighton Town Hall at 12 County Road 31 (aka Jones Pond Road) in Paul Smiths, New York, following the 2021 Organizational Meeting.
Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was recited

ROLL CALL:
Present: Supervisor Peter Shrope
Council Members: Matthew Szeliga, Steve Tucker, and Lydia Wright
Absent: Council Member Amber McKernan
Others Present: Andy Crary-Superintendent of Highways and Elaine Sater-Town Clerk

NOTICE OF MEETING
Posted on the Town Clerkís Sign Board and published in the Adirondack Daily Enterprise on Thursday, January 7, 2021. Copies of the notice were distributed to Town Officials and employees.

REPORTS

HIGHWAY – Superintendent of Highways Andy Crary: Plowing and sanding of Roads; changed plow steel, installed new plow lights, and had new windshield put on 2015 truck; took loader to plow at Fire Station; mixed up salt and sand; and 2013 truck needs to be repaired, the EGR valves are bad and coolant is leaking. Estimate to rebuild is $10,000. Truck still has 3 years to go before it can be replaced with CHIPS funding.

TOWN CLERK – Elaine Sater: Total revenue to Supervisor as of December 31, 2020, was $67.25 from 5 dog licenses renewed and 9 copies on the copier from a FOIL request.
December 12, faxed update to the 2021 County Directory to Franklin County Legislature, added cell phone for Supervisor and indicated other “Home” phone numbers as “Cell” phone numbers.
January 5, received information from the Association of Towns concerning training and the Annual Meeting to be on-line February 14-17, 2021. Distributed information to Town Officials, need to register on-line and pay a fee. A delegate needs to be appointed if the Town wants to vote on the proposed resolutions during the Annual Meeting on Wednesday, Feb 17.
January 5, sent a letter to Franklin County Board of Elections regarding the positions to be voted on in November 2021. Currently there are two Council positions 4-year terms, Supervisor 2-year term, and Superintendent of Highways 2-year term. Copies were distributed to people whose terms are ending in December 2021.
Town Hall Requests – received email request to use the Town Hall for in-person educational workshops for Cornell Local Roads Program to start in mid-April. Not sure the building is big enough for 25 people to physical distance; suggested some other places that may have a larger space.
Town Park Requests – none
Records Management – completed indexing Vol. 11 of the minutes from 1979 to 1980. Started updating records retention codes for Records Index and destruction of documentation.
Received an email from the webmaster asking that the format of the minutes be changed so they can be posted on the website without being retyped by the webmaster. It appears the website can only take ìtextî documents with minimum formatting. The webmaster want to start charging for reformatting the documents currently being sent for posting.
Annual Town Clerk Report – Total 2020 Revenue received $8,792.27 as follows: Building Permits $7,781.70, Certified copies for Birth and Death Records $260.00, Copier use, FOIL requests, and Notary Fees $10.57, Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Sport Licenses $25.00 (Program ended in June 2020), Dog licenses $553.00, Donations for Park and Town Hall Use $101.00, Marriage Licenses and Certified copies $60.00, and one overpayment $1.00. Total 2020 disbursements $8,792.27 as follows: New York State (NYS) Department of Agriculture and Markets – Spay and Neutered Program $103.00, NYSDEC Sport Licenses $23.62, NYS Department of Health Marriage Licenses $22.50, refund for overpayment $1.00 and Town Supervisor $8,642.15.

HISTORIAN – Elaine Sater: Nothing to Report

TAX COLLECTOR – Holly Huber: Nothing to report.

TOWN JUSTICE – Nik Santagate: Supervisor Peter Shrope received a check in the amount of $1,959.00 for 27 cases disposed during December. Count is currently closed to in-person visits.

CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER – Paul Blaine: No new building permits issued, issued two Certificates of Compliance for Building Permits #19-035 and 20-049.

ASSESSOR/DATA COLLECTOR – Roseanne Gallagher: Nothing to Report

ANIMAL CONTROL – Tri-Lakes Humane Society, Inc: Supervisor Peter Shrope received notice of Shelter and Animal Control inspections for compliance from the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets, a rating of ìSatisfactoryî was received by both.

SUPERVISOR – Peter Shrope:
Association of Town On-Line Training and Meeting: No one is planning to attend meeting so no delegate is appointed.
Lift at Town Hall: Installed on December 22, needs work underneath to close off the open spaces and level the ramp.
Payroll: There are 27 pay periods for 2021 due to the bi-weekly schedule, so the second and subsequent checks are smaller than the first check which was based on 26 pay periods. This affects salaried positions only.
Franklin County Legislature District #3 – Andrea Dumas: Called to check in with Town, County is waiting for COVIC-19 vaccines to come in, Town Officials that qualify can sign up for appointments.
Charter Communications (Spectrum Cable Company): Sending notifications of channel changes
Budget: End of year budget was distributed to Town Board
NYCLASS investment interest received for December as follows: $5.20 for General Fund Total is $111,151.34; $1.96 for Highway Fund Total is $42,359.72. Total interest for 2020 is $572.20 for General and $217.88 for Highway.
Revenue received as follows: $1,957 from Town Justice, $67.25 from Town Clerk, and from Tax Collector $100,317 for Special District Fire and $99,638 for Highway Fund.

ACCEPT/AMEND MINUTES OF DECEMBER 10, 2020
Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope to accept the minutes of the Regular Board Meeting of December 10 as written, second by Lydia Wright, Aye 3 (Shrope, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0, Abstain 1 (Szeliga), Absent 1 (McKernan)

BUSINESS

BUDGET AMENDMENTS FOR 2020

BUDGET AMENDMENT #1-2020 for GENERAL FUND
Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, second by Lydia Wright,

RESOLVED that the following amounts be and the same hereby are transferred
$ 4,176 from Account No. A1990.4 Contingent
As follows
$ 253 to Account No. A1330.4 Tax Collector CE
$ 54 to Account No. A1460.4 Records Management CE
$ 544 to Account No. A3620.4 Admin CE (Code Enforcement)
$ 470 to Account No. A5010.4 Superintendent of Highways CE
$ 78 to Account No. A7140.4 Special Recreation CE
$ 1,257 to Account No. A8810.4 Cemeteries CE
$ 1,221 to Account No. A8161.4 Landfill monitoring CE
$ 299 to Account No. A1920.4 Municipal Dues CE

ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 4 (Shrope, Szeliga, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0, Absent 1 (McKernan)
BUDGET AMENDMENT #1 for GENERAL FUND declared duly adopted

BUDGET AMENDMENT #1-2020 for HIGHWAY FUND
Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, second by Lydia Wright,

RESOLVED that the following amounts be and the same hereby are transferred
$ 2,407 from Account No. DA5130.2 Machinery Capital
$ 15,240 from Account No. DA5110.1 General Repair PS
As follows
$ 14,532 to Account No. DA5110.4 General Repairs CE
$ 2,763 to Account No. DA5130.4 Machinery CE
$ 30 to Account No. DA5142.4 Snow Removal CE
$ 322 to Account No. DA9055.8 Disability Insurance

ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 4 (Shrope, Szeliga, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0, Absent 1 (McKernan)
BUDGET AMENDMENT #1 for HIGHWAY FUND declared duly adopted

AUDIT OF TOWN OFFICIALS 2020 FINANCIAL RECORDS

RESOLUTION #5-2021
AUDIT OF TOWN OFFICIALS 2020 FINANCIAL RECORDS
Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, second by Lydia Wright,

RESOLVED that the Town Board accepts the audit of the Town Clerk, Town Justice, and Town Supervisor 2020 Financial Records completed by Council Members Lydia Wright and Matthew Szeliga on January 12, 2021 with no findings or recommendations.

ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 4 (Shrope, Szeliga, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0, Absent 1 (McKernan)
Resolution #5 declared duly adopted.

SARANAC LAKE VOLUNTEER RESCUE SERVICES 2021 CONTRACT

RESOLUTION #6-2021
SARANAC LAKE VOLUNTEER RESCUE SERVICES 2021 CONTRACT
Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, second by Matthew Szeliga,

RESOLVED that the Town Board accepts the contract for services from the Saranac Lake Volunteer Rescue Services, Inc., in the amount of $31,374 for emergency services during 2021, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Supervisor be authorized to sign the contract and pay the amount of $31,374 to the Saranac Lake Volunteer Rescue Services, Inc.

ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 4 (Shrope, Szeliga, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0, Absent 1 (McKernan)
Resolution #6 declared duly adopted.

PUBLIC EMPLOYER HEALTH EMERGENCY PLAN: Supervisor Peter Shrope has been in contact with the Emergency Preparedness Solutions, LLC, regarding the draft of the Public Employer Health Emergency Plan, a draft copy has gone to the CSEA Union with a letter with a 10 day deadline for approval.

SURVEY OF OCCUPATIONAL INJURIES AND ILLNESS: Supervisor Peter Shrope received notice that the Town is selected for a survey from the US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), for 2021 regarding Occupational Injuries and Illness for Legislative Bodies (Town Officials). The Town is not usually required to maintain the required logs but will for 2021.

RECORD OF ACTIVITIES FOR TAX COLLECTOR

RESOLUTION #7-2021
RECORD OF ACTIVITIES (ROA) FOR RETIREMENT OF TAX COLLECTOR
Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, second by Lydia Wright,

RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Brighton/30520 hereby establishes the following standard work days for these titles and will report the officials to the New York State and Local Retirement based on their record of activities:
Tax Collector Holly Huber, Term of Office 1/1/2020 thru 12/31/2023, 6hr standard work day, Record of Activity (ROA) 4.24 days,

ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 4 (Shrope, Szeliga, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0, Absent 1 (McKernan)
Resolution #7 declared duly adopted.

POLLING SITE AGREEMENT FOR 2021

RESOLUTION #8-2021
POLLING SITE AGREEMENT FOR 2021
Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, second by Lydia Wright,

RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Brighton hereby establishes the TOWN HALL as the polling site for the Town of Brighton for 2021 and authorizes the Supervisor to sign an agreement with the Franklin County Board of Elections to use the Town Hall as a polling site on June 22, 2021 for State and Local Primary Election, November 2, 2021 for the General Election from the hours of 5:15am to 10:00pm and any other Special Elections if necessary that may be announced

ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 4 (Shrope, Szeliga, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0, Absent 1 (McKernan)
Resolution #8 declared duly adopted.

ADIRONDACK PARK LOCAL GOVERNMENT REVIEW BOARD (APLGRB)

RESOLUTION #9-2021
ADIRONDACK PARK LOCAL GOVERNMENT REVIEW BOARD AGREEMENT
Motion made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, second by Lydia Wright,

RESOLVED that the Town Board authorizes the Supervisor to sign an Agreement with Adirondack Park Local Review Board (APLGRB) to represent the interests of the Town of Brighton for 2021, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Supervisor be authorized to pay the amount of $300 to the APLGRB for 2021.

ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 4 (Shrope, Szeliga, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0, Absent 1 (McKernan)
Resolution #9 declared duly adopted.

COMMITTEES

Assessment/BAR – Lydia Wright/Matthew Szeliga: Need a new Board of Assessment Review member.

Parks & Recreation – Supervisor Peter Shrope/Amber McKernan: Still waiting for corrected Lease on Park to be signed by Paul Smithís College

AUDIT OF VOUCHERS

RESOLUTION #10-2021
AUDIT OF VOUCHERS
Motion made by Lydia Wright, second by Steve Tucker,

RESOLVED that the Supervisor be authorized to pay the audited vouchers as listed on the abstracts as follows:
PREPAID FUNDS: Abstract #1 for Voucher #s 1A thru 1C for 2021 GENERAL FUND in the amount of $502.76 and STREET LIGHTING FUND: Voucher #1C in the amount of $72.42
GENERAL FUND: Abstract #1 for Voucher #1 through #24 for 2021 funds in the amount of $86,942.10 HIGHWAY FUND: Abstract #1 for Voucher #1 through #10 for 2021 funds in the amount of $36,647.39
SPECIAL FUND FIRE: Abstract #1 for Voucher #1 for 2021 funds in the amount of $50,158.50

ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye 4 (Shrope, Szeliga, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0, Absent 1 (McKernan)
Resolution #10 declared duly adopted.

ADJOURNMENT
Motion to Adjourn at 8:20pm made by Lydia Wright, second by Supervisor Peter Shrope, Aye 4 (Shrope, Szeliga, Tucker, Wright), Nay 0, Absent 1 (McKernan)

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