Town Board schedule for 2022

Notice to all site visitors:

We are a small rural community. There are no “remote data analyst” or “remote jobs” of any kind available here. If you receive a “job offer” for remote work from someone claiming to be from the Town of Halcott you can be certain it is a scam.

Notice of Public Meeting

A working meeting of the Town of Halcott Land Use Code Update Committee will take place Tuesday, June 28 at the Town Grange, 264 Route 3 Halcott, NY from 6:00-8:00 PM. Monthly progress will be reported at Town Board meetings. Questions: email Karen Rauter, Halcott ZBA Chair at halcottluc@gmail.com.

Here is a link to the recording of  Halcott’s first Zoning Update Meeting
Start Time: Jun 14, 2022 05:45 PM
Meeting Recording:
https://us06web.zoom.us/rec/share/j5tYtyMTBOcM6QZ26CJA1zIO2c2aZTIOwFIWwr7b33loDEaUunUUrZYVZnAzhnll.gVNzb4WqdL6ngbyp

 Access Passcode: =VFB8F8Q (if needed)

Halcott Propane Buying Group

Prepare for sticker shock. The Halcott Propane Buying Group price, effective immediately, is $2.099 per gallon. This is 10 cents a gallon less than Suburban originally offered and is also 10 cents a gallon less than Bottini offered. I did my best. You will still get 35 free gallons by bringing in new customers, and Suburban is offering our participants a discount on service contracts. We have a good bit of buying power. We bought 33,500 gallons of propane from Suburban last year. I think they are doing their best to retain our business. But if anyone thinks we can do better than this price, please let me know immediately. If you are mis-billed or have any other issues or questions, please email me at alanadelson@gmail.com Alan Adelson

Town Board Meeting Minutes for 16 May, 2022

Regular Town Board Meeting Minutes Halcott Grange
May 16, 2022

Present: Town Supervisor Innes Kasanof, Council members Alan Reynolds, Judy DiBenedetto, Eric Fronckowiak, Samantha Bouton, Highway Superintendent Russell Bouton, Town Clerk Pattie Warfield, Budget Officer Paul Tamaccio, Assessor Mark Neves. ZBA Chair Karen Rauter. MTC: Glen Faulkner, Cambria Tallman. Public: Paul and Sybil Margaritis, Scott Moroff, Ida Piperisova, Sheri Reynolds.

Call to order at 6:00 pm with the Pledge of Allegiance.

The Public Hearing for MTC presentation on Renewal of Franchise was opened at 6:07 pm by Town Supervisor Innes Kasanof: Every Town in which MTC provides cable television services for must have a franchise agreement with MTC. It has been 10 years since the initial franchise agreement was signed. A public hearing is required to allow the public a chance to voice any concerns they may have. The only changes to the new franchise agreement are some insurance wordings as per the department of public service and that this franchise agreement will be in effect for 15 years as allowed by the department of public service. The Board will need to pass a resolution authorizing the Town Supervisor to sign the franchise agreement on behalf of the Town of Halcott, which the Board will look to do at the June 20th Regular Town Board Meeting. Public meeting closed at 6:13 pm by Supervisor Innes Kasanof..

Approval of the minutes of the April 18, 2022, meeting: Motion to approve by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, 2nd by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Councilwoman Samantha Bouton: aye. Town Supervisor Innes Kasanof: aye.

Assessor Mark Neves presented his 2021 annual report to the Board.

Highway Superintendent’s Report: (A) The Town will receive $50,821.58 CHIPS funding, $13,298.82 PAVE NY funding, and $11,980.53 EWR (Extreme Weather Recovery) funding.

(B) In addition to the CHIPS, PAVE NY, and EWR funding for road maintenance and repair, the State of NY has enacted a new Pave Our Pothole (POP) Program of which $8,865.87 has been apportioned for Halcott. The reimbursement requirements for POP are the same the CHIPS, PAVE NY, and EWR programs, the Town must first pay for the repair and maintenance work done on town roads and then submit those expenditures for reimbursement. (C) The Highway Department has been pushing to get the roads ready for June paving, there is some concern that material costs will continue to rise and, by getting receipts to the State early, the Town will receive early reimbursement. Highway Superintendent Bouton informed the board that a section of Silas Lake Road needs substantial repair, the highway department would like to tear out the damaged portion of road, lay down road fabric, #3 stone and then crusher run to reestablish a good road base for topping in 2023.

Finance Chair Report: Supervisor Innes Kasanof and Budget Officer Paul Tamaccio presented the finance report for April.

Voucher Vote: General Abstract #G0522 – vouchers 75 – 80 = $1,192.79. Highway Abstract #H0522 – vouchers 81 – 90 = $19,624.54. Motion to pay bills by Councilwoman Samantha Bouton, 2nd by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Councilman Eric Fronckowiak: aye, Town Supervisor Innes Kasanof: aye.

Town Clerk’s Report: Transfer Station/March: $112.00, Subdivision: $100.00, Dog License: (1) spay @ $5.00, 1 no spay @ $10.00, BP Renewal (2): 1 @ $50.00, 1 @ $100.00, Demo Permit: $25.00. The Town collected and disbursed $402.00 for the month of April.

Other Business: (A) Land Use Code Update: Everything is moving forward towards the first LUC meeting, with plans to have Zoom set up and ready to go. Karen Rauter is hopeful that members of the Planning Board and Town Board will be able to attend the first LUC committee meeting, if not in person then perhaps by Zoom. (B) The Chairman of the Greene County Legislature has asked the Town of Halcott to consider adopting a Local Law to opt out of tax exemptions for alternate energies. This opt out law would apply to commercial entities only and would have no bearing on residential properties. Certain State laws give Towns the option to participate or not. Greene County feels it is imperative to adopt a local opt out law to ensure these future tax dollars for the Town.

Public Comment: (A)Paul Margaritis asked Highway Superintendent Bouton if the work on Silas Lake Rd. takes place now, would the stone then be plowed up during snow plowing this winter and then need to be put down again in the spring. Both Highway Superintendent Bouton and Councilman Alan Reynolds assured Paul that this was the proper way to proceed with the road repair. (B) Paul Margaritis asked if there is an objective for the Land Use Code Update. Supervisor Kasanof explained that the land use code is best served if updated regularly and the Code Enforcement Officer wants to address some code issues he has encountered. (C) Scott Moroff asked if copies of all reports can be included in the monthly minutes. Town Clerk Pattie Warfield will check to see if they are required to be included. (D) Patty Kelder asked if signage could be posted to direct tractor trailers to the spring water bottling plant. Patty was informed that Greene County was contacted and made aware of the situation and that signs were requested. (E) Paul Margaritis asked what could be done about drivers speeding on roads in Halcott. Councilman Alan Reynolds explained that a sign used to record speeds was installed on Co. Rt. 3 and it only recorded one car over the speed limit, probably because the sign was readily visible. Councilman Reynolds will contact the Greene County Sheriffs Department to discuss. (F)Sheri Reynolds informed the board that she has contacted the Greene County Highway Department about dead trees that need to be taken down on County Highway 3 near Hubbard Rd. Highway Superintendent Russell Bouton spoke to the Greene Co. Hwy Dept. about those trees as well. With nothing done about the trees yet, Sheri stated will call again.

Next Meeting: Regular Meeting, June 20, 2022, 6:00 pm.

Motion to Adjourn: Motion to adjourn at 7:35 pm by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, 2nd by Councilwoman Samantha Bouton, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto: aye, Town Supervisor Innes Kasanof: aye.

Swing your partner!

Dear Friends:  Catskills Folk Connection is holding an “old-time traditional square dance” this coming Saturday evening, May 21 at 7pm at the Halcott Grange Hall.  Everyone is invited to attend.  Music provided and calling done by the Tremperskill Boys.  Y’all come!

Town Board Minutes, 18 April 2022

Regular Town Board Meeting Minutes Halcott Grange
April 18, 2022, 6:00 pm

Present: Town Supervisor Innes Kasanof, Council members Alan Reynolds, Eric Fronckowiak, Samantha Bouton, Judy DiBenedetto, Highway Superintendent Russell Bouton, Town Clerk Patricia Warfield, Webmaster Greg Beechler. ZBA Chairwoman Karen Rauter, Planning Board Member Warren Reynolds.

Call to order at 6:00 pm with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Approval of the minutes of the March 21, 2022, meeting: With the following correction: the consultant cost for the land use code update will be in the neighborhood of $5,400.00. Motion to approve by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, 2nd by Councilwoman Samantha Bouton, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Councilman Eric Fronckowiak: aye, Supervisor Innes Kasanof: aye.

Annual Reports: Webmaster Greg Beechler presented his report. The Town was used in a scam last year; set up on Indeed were phony town jobs which led to some applicants being scammed out of money. The Town suffered no liability in this due to posting on the Town website that there were no job openings posted anywhere for the Town of Halcott. The current hosting company of the Town email domain is transitioning from free email to a paid system. There are other options and Webmaster Beechler will research additional information for the board to review and decide how to proceed.

Grange Steward Bob VanValkenbugh’s report presented by Supervisor Innes Kasanof. The repairs Grange Steward VanValkenburgh listed as needed for the Grange building is a new porch including steps and railings and to replace and paint some of the bottom siding boards. He would also rebuild the small shed behind the Grange as needed.

Highway Superintendent’s Report: (A) The price for material will carry through from last year until May 31st so the highway department will act quickly to order material for road repairs and maintenance work. (B) The Highway Department continues to work on widening the far side of Silas Lake Rd. (C) Greene County has County Route 1 up for paving in 2022, also in the works are culvert replacements on both County Rt. 1 and 3. (D) The cylinder on the Mack dump body is leaking oil, a mechanic is scheduled to come and install a new one.

Voucher vote: General Abstract #G0422 – vouchers 59 – 66 = $1,609.76. Highway Abstract #H022 – vouchers 67 – 74 = $5,904.07. Motion to pay bills by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, 2nd by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Councilwoman Samantha Bouton: aye, Supervisor Innes Kasanof: aye.

Budget Officer’s Report: (A) Supervisor Innes Kasanof presented the monthly finance report.

Clerk’s Report: Certified Transcript: $10.00, Grange Rental (local) $50.00, Building Permit: $75.00, BP Renewal: $185.00, C/O Search: 2 @ $25.00 each: $50.00, Transfer Station/February: $150.00. The Town collected and disbursed $520.00 for the month of March.

Other Business: (A) Board of Assessment Review member Marta Weiss had her term end and needed to be reappointed. Motion to appoint Marta Weiss to the Board of Assessment Review by

Councilman Alan Reynolds, 2nd by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, Councilman Eric Fronckowiak: aye, Councilwoman Samantha Bouton: aye, Supervisor Innes Kasanof: aye. (B) The Board continues the process of appointing members to the Land Use Code Update committee. At the March Town Board Meeting, the board discussed sharing the Land Use Code meetings live via Zoom for those who can not be present. The board has also discussed recording the Zoom meetings as well. Let the minutes show that the Town Board wishes to publish recorded sessions of the Land Use Code Update Meetings, to be provided through the consultants Zoom account. (C)Councilman Alan Reynolds reports that the Elk Creek Toe Cut Project is still on the table for perhaps later this year or next year.

Next Meeting: Regular Meeting, May 16, 2022, 6:00 pm.

Motion to Adjourn at 7:13 pm by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, 2nd by Councilwoman Samantha Bouton, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto: aye, Supervisor Innes Kasanof: aye.