Regular Town Board Meeting Minutes Halcott Grange September 17, 2018, 7:15 pm
Present: Town Supervisor Alan White, Council members Yukari Day, Alan Reynolds, Innes Kasanof, Judy DiBenedetto, Highway Superintendent Russell Bouton, Town Clerk Patricia Warfield. Phil Eskell, Nate Hendricks (NYCDEP), Everett Farrell (Delaware Co. Planning), Gale A. Neale (DCSWCD). Public: Greg and Penny Finch, Mary Lou Pagano. Albert Doubrava, Paul and Sybil Margolis.
Meeting opened at 7:15 pm with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Local Flood Analysis Update: The Board was presented with a map of the proposed area to be included in the LFA and as a next step will need to choose a consultant from a list of qualified candidates. The LFA would include the following scope items (1) A review of the history of flooding and flood damages Town wide (2) Assessment of the hydraulics of flood flows through the bridge to the Town Highway Department (3) Identify the needs for emergency response center (4) Identify the needs of the emergency evacuation center (5) Assess bridges and culverts within the LFA area (6) Update of work to address culverts identified and assessed in the Stormwater Assessment Project of 2010. (7) Assess options for residential flood properties within the LFA area. The consultant would develop costs and benefits of each recommendation, meet with the Board and the Public, and present a final draft report to the Town Board at the conclusion of the process.
Approval of the minutes of the August 20, 2018 meeting: Motion to approve by Councilwoman Innes Kasanof, 2nd by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, Councilwoman Yukari Day: aye, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Supervisor Alan White: aye.
Highway Superintendent’s Report: (A) Work on the Oshkosh is progressing and may be returned to Halcott in October.
Voucher vote: General Abstract #G0918 – vouchers #129 – 133 = $773.16. Highway Abstract #H0918 – vouchers #134 – 136 = $1,285.70. Motion to pay bills by Councilwoman Yukari Day, 2nd by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, Councilwoman Innes Kasanof: aye, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Supervisor Alan White: aye.
Finance Chair Report: (A) Finance Chair Innes Kasanof presented the monthly finance report. (B)Finance Chair Kasanof presented the Tentative 2019 Budget for review. As it now stands, the budget will exceed the state mandated tax cap with a 3% increase, necessitating a public hearing, and the passage of a Local Law to override the tax cap. The Town has not yet received the fire budget, and Finance Chair Kasanof asked the Board to look over the Budget and would welcome their input.
Clerk’s Report: Dog Licenses: 1 spay/ 1 no spay: $15.00, Grange Rental: $50.00, Building Permit Renewal (2) 1@ $50.00, 1@ $100.00: $150.00, Certificate of Occupancy Search: $25.00, 1 Garbage Ticket: $9.00. The Town collected and disbursed $249.00 for the month of August.
Other Business: (A) Mary Lou Pagano spoke to the Board about an ongoing problem she has been having. People have been trying to gain access to the lean-to on State Land by driving through her
property since multiple storms have washed out the culvert on the original path. While there is a sign posted by the Town that states the road is closed, it does not say “by order of the Town of Halcott”, and some people have complained that it is not an official sign. Mary Lou felt that changing the signage wording and moving the sign closer to the end of Turk Hollow where the closing actually begins might help clarify the situation. She also noted that there are no motorized vehicles allowed on State Land,and perhaps a sign put up by the State noting this, also located at the end of Turk Hollow, would dissuade the public from trying to drive in. Supervisor White has been in contact with the State on this matter and continues to have an ongoing dialogue in regards to finding an equitable solution to the access problem. (B) Halcott highway employee Greg Finch is set to retire at the end of September and wanted to address the Board in regards to being hired back as a new employee to the Town after he is retired. Supervisor White informed Mr. Finch that this matter could not be discussed with the Board at that time, but the Board would be glad to address the topic at a more appropriate time. (C ) The DEC brought a nuisance bear that had been trapped in another Town to Halcott and released it. Supervisor White will send a letter to NYS DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos and ask that this practice cease and desist.
Next Meeting: Public Hearing on the Proposed 2018 Budget: October 15, 2018, 7:15 pm, Regular Meeting to follow.
Motion to Adjourn at 8:41 pm by Councilwoman Yukari Day, 2nd by Councilman Alan Reynolds, Councilwoman Innes Kasanof: aye, Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto: aye, Supervisor Alan White: aye.
