The Regular Meeting for the Town Board of the Town of Brighton, Franklin County, NY, was held Thursday, October 9, 2025, at 7:00pm 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 7:00pm

The “Pledge of Allegiance” to the flag was recited.

ROLL CALL OF OFFICERS

PRESENT: Supervisor Peter Shrope

Council Members: Amber McKernan, C. Tracy Santagate, Steve Tucker

ABSENT: Lydia Wright

OTHERS PRESENT: Andy Crary-Superintendent of Highways, Elizabeth DeFonce–Town Clerk/Tax Collector, and Russell DeFonce–Town Justice, 1 resident

GUESTS: Dan Kelting and Zoe Smith, Paul Smiths College (PSC)

NOTICE OF MEETING:

Notice of this meeting was posted on the Town Clerk’s Sign Board.

PSC UPDATE: Dan Kelting and Zoe Smith gave an update on the status of the college. They mentioned that PSC is investigating the creation of a glamping facility at the Visitor’s Interpretive Center and a new program for veterans. He also talked about how he would like the college to have more contact with the board. PSC recently received 2 federal grants totaling about $2 million to do some critical repairs to the college’s wastewater system and to have detailed engineering work done. This will give PSC an idea of the costs and potential funding sources for updating the system before coming back before the board in the spring.

 

REPORTS

 Highway – Superintendent of Highways Andy Crary: mowed the cemeteries for the last time this year; helped the Village of Saranac Lake haul tar; helped the Village of Tupper Lake haul tar; helped the Town of Tupper Lake haul tar; performed road checks; kept and eye on the beaver behind the Town Hall; cleaned the shop; road raked the dirt roads; repaired a hole on Keese Mill Road near the bridge; put the plow and wing on the 2022 truck; took down the old park sign and installed the new one; had sand put up; hauled crusher run for the Town of Santa Clara; had the overhead doors looked at, will be fixed so they close properly

Town Clerk Elizabeth DeFonce: Total Revenue to Supervisor as of September 30, 2025, was $4,519.50 from 2 copies of vital records, 4 dog licenses, 12 building permits, and 2 copies

September 25: Attended New York State Archives webinar, “Legal Aspects of Records Management”

October 6: Completed email authorization form for Coakley Home and Hardware. Invoices and statements will now be emailed to the Town clerk.

October 7: A member of the Ladies of the Evening returned the Town Hall key as the group has disbanded.

Performed one notarization.

The Town Clerk requested a resolution to purchase the Town Clerk Software from Williamson. The quote – $5,250 for the program, $2,000 a year for support – was received late and generated questions from the board. The Town Clerk will contact the company with those questions and withdrew the resolution request. The issue will be revisited next month.

TOWN HALL REQUESTS: None

TOWN PARK REQUEST: Saturday, September 27, Sunday, September 28, and Saturday, October 4: Paul Smiths College Rugby – 4.5 hours

Sunday, October 19, Birthday Party – 2 hours

Tax Collector – Elizabeth DeFonce: no report

Historian – Elaine Sater: no report

 Town Justice – Russ DeFonce: Disposed of 49 cases, 14 of which were holdovers from the previous Justice. The Supervisor received a check in the amount of $3,031, $1,191 of which was from the previous Justice’s account.

A jury trial may take place beginning on Wednesday, November 12, which would require the use of the building for a few days.

The Justice would like to use the town credit card to purchase a judge’s robe.

RESOLUTION#26-2025 USE OF CREDIT CARD FOR TOWN JUSTICE

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

RESOLVED that the Town Board authorizes Town Justice Russ DeFonce to use the Credit Card to purchase an official judge’s robe  in an amount Not to Exceed $200.

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

Resolution #26 declared duly adopted.

Code Enforcement Officer – Rodger Tompkins: 8 building permits from the beginning of August through the end of September

Assessor – John Stack: no report

Supervisor – Peter Shrope:

Insurance: The company representative will be here at the beginning of December. There is a new emphasis on risk management, especially regarding the use of credit cards.

BridgeNY: Submitted paperwork for reimbursement.

Deposits: Town Clerk – $4,519.50, Town Justice – $3,031, Cemetery plots  – $1,200.

Budget: on track.

NYCLASS: For September – General Fund interest $427.63, total $128,528.40 ($20,000 for Town Hall). Highway Fund interest $162.97, total $48,981.57.

There was a discussion about automatic renewals for software as they have not received proper authorization. Motion was made by Supervisor Peter Shrope, seconded by Steve Tucker, to create a spreadsheet of automatic renewals for authorization. Aye 4 (McKernan, Santagate, Shrope, Tucker), Nay 0, Absent 1 (Wright) 

ACCEPT/AMEND MINUTES

September 11, 2025 – Regular Board Meeting Minutes

Motion made by Amber McKernan, second by Steve Tucker, to accept the minutes of the September 11 Regular Board Meeting as written. Aye 4 (McKernan, Santagate, Shrope, Tucker), Nay 0, Absent 1 (Wright)

CITIZENS’ COMMENTS:One resident commented that this was their first time attending a board meeting.

Another resident expressed disappointment that the Ladies of the Evening are no more.

There was a question about the management of Japanese Knotweed on County Route 60. Since it’s on private property it’s not in the town’s jurisdiction.

BUSINESS

Supervisor Peter Shorpe has received information on how to repay the $1,191.86 that was leftover from the American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA). It must be paid through an online portal by credit card no later than November 15.

RESOLUTION#27-2025 USE OF CREDIT CARD FOR TOWN SUPERVISOR

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

RESOLVED that the Town Board authorizes Town Supervisor Peter Shrope to use the town credit card to reimburse the United States Treasury for monies used under the American Recovery Plan Act in the amount of $1,119.86.

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

Resolution #27 declared duly adopted.

OLD BUSINESS:

Supervisor Peter Shrope has done some research on Jones Pond and has learned some basic information. An inquiry has been sent to the Adirondack Watershed Institute.

AUDIT OF VOUCHERS

RESOLUTION #25-2025 AUDIT OF VOUCHERS

Motion made by Amber McKernan, seconded Tracy Santagate,

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

PREPAID FUNDS: Abstract #10 for Voucher #10A through #10C for 2025 in the amount of $741.70 and Voucher #10C STREET LIGHTING FUNDS in the amount of $94.85

GENERAL FUND: Abstract #10 for Voucher #151 through #166 for 2025 funds in the amount of $4,850.67

HIGHWAY FUND: Abstract #10 for Voucher #103 through #108 for 2025 funds in the amount of $9,242.40

 

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

Resolution #25 declared duly adopted.

ADJOURNMENT

Motion to Adjourn at 8:10 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