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Town Board Meeting Minutes, February 20, 2023

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Present: Town Supervisor Innes Kasanof, Councilmembers Alan Reynolds, Eric Fronckowiak, Samantha Bouton, Town Clerk Patricia Warfield, CEO John Mathiesen, Town Justice Ken Williams. Public: Vicki and Dave Carpenter, Joanne Catsos, Shawn Penshoff, Scott Moroff, Ida Piperisova. Absent: Highway Superintendent Russell Bouton, Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto.

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

Approval of the minutes of the January 16, 2023, meeting. Motion to approve by Councilwoman Samantha Bouton, 2nd by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Supervisor Innes Kasanof: aye.

Annual Reports: Assessor Marc Neves: Assessor Neves e-mailed his report to Supervisor Innes Kasanof who then shared it with Councilmembers via e-mail for review. There were no questions from Board members.
Tax Collector Robin White: Due to illness, will present her report at the March 20, 2023, Town Board Meeting.

Town Justice Ken Williams: Town Court saw no cases for the year 2022.
Code Enforcement Officer John Mathiesen: Building Permits were down from 23 in 2022 to 13 in 2023. Many of the 2023 permits were for renovations and generators and solar arrays installation. There were also 12 BP renewals, 2 stop Work Orders, 3 Demo permits, 14 C/O Searches, 4 C/Os issued, 2 temporary C/Os issued, and 12 Certificates of Compliance issued. In all, the CEO logged in 315 hours and $2,2015 miles in Halcott.

Executive Session: The Board entered an Executive Session at 6:18 pm. The Board exited the Executive Session at 6:30 pm.

Highway Superintendent’s Report: Councilman Alan Reynolds reported the new truck ordered by the Town has a start to build date of February 27, 2023.

Voucher Vote: General Abstract #G0223 – vouchers 24 – 34 = $17,375.94. Highway Abstract #H0223 – vouchers 35 – 40 = $3,837.60. Motion to pay bills by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, 2nd by Councilwoman Samantha Bouton, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Supervisor Innes Kasanof: aye.

Budget Officer’s Report: Supervisor Innes Kasanof presented the monthly finance report for January. Supervisor Kasanof reported to the Board that she and Budget Officer Paul Tamaccio are working on the AUD report for the State.

Clerk’s Report: Grange Rentals: 2 @ 50.00, 1 @ 100.00, BP Renewals: 1 @ 77.50, 1 @ 150.00, 1 @ 250.00, C/O search: 1 @ 25.00, Billy Haynes: Nov/Dec, 500.00, Transfer Station: Nov/Dec 400.00. The Town collected and disbursed $1,602.50 for the month of January.

Other Business:
(A) Emergency Responders Tax Exemption: On February 23, 2023, Greene County Legislature adopted Local law 1 of 2023: A Local Law of The County of Greene providing Real Property Tax Exemptions for Local Firefighters and Ambulance Workers Pursuant to Section 466-A of the Real Property Tax Law. The exemption for qualified members would be to the extent of 10 percent of the assessed value of such property. Motion to Adopt Greene County Law 1 of 2023 by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, 2nd by Supervisor Innes Kasanof, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Councilwoman Samantha Bouton: abstain.
(B) Prescription Drugs Proposed Tax Exemption for Senior Citizens: Line 8 – At local option, municipalities may permit applicants (senior citizens) to deduct from their incomes all medical and prescription drug expenses which are not reimbursed or paid by insurance. Check with the assessor to determine if this option is locally available. If so, complete line 8 on the application. Proof of the expenses and reimbursement, if any, must be submitted with the application. After discussing, the Board decided it would table the issue until the next meeting to discuss when all board members are present.
(C) The Town received the 2022 Delaware Co. Soil & Water Conservation Annual Report. The Elk Creek toe-cut problem is still listed with funding of $400,000 awarded and a status of consultant to design with a completion date of 2024.
(D) LUC Update: Updates to the Comprehensive Plan and LUC Update have been agreed upon by the committee and are now ready for the public process and Town Board adoption to begin. The LUC Committee has been working on a draft of a short-term rental law and hopes to have it ready to present in March.

Next meeting: Regular Town Board Meeting, Monday March 20, 2023, 6:00 pm.

Motion to Adjourn: Motion to adjourn at 6:48 pm by Councilwoman Samantha Bouton, 2nd by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Supervisor Innes Kasanof: aye.

Minutes, Town Board Meeting January 16, 2023

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Present: Town Supervisor Innes Kasanof, Council Members Alan Reynolds, Eric Fronckowiak, Samantha Bouton, Judy DiBenedetto, Highway Superintendent Russell Bouton, Town Clerk Pattie Warfield. Public: Vicki and Dave Carpenter, Joanne Catsos, Warren Reynolds

Call to order at 6:00 pm with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Annual Reports: Town Clerk Patricia Warfield presented the Clerk’s year-end report for 2022.

Approval of the minutes of the December 19, 2022 meeting: Motion to approve by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, 2nd by Councilwoman Samantha Bouton, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Councilman Eric Fronckowiak: aye, Supervisor Innes Kasanof: abstain.

Approval of the minutes of the January 9, 2023, Organizational Meeting: Motion to approve by Councilwoman Samantha Bouton, 2nd by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Councilman Eric Fronckowiak: aye, Supervisor Innes Kasanof: aye.

Highway Superintendent’s Report: (A) The Highway Department has been cutting and chipping brush and dead tress along town roads Turkey Ridge and Silas Lake. Superintendent Bouton is hopeful Greene County will bring over a bucket truck and help with the more dangerous tree removals. (B) The roller is starting to drip oil and will likely need to be replaced at some point. Councilman Alan Reynolds advised Superintendent Bouton to start looking for a replacement roller. (C) The Highway Department continues to receive an update approximately every 45 days on the status of the new truck which was ordered.

Voucher Vote: General Abstract #G0123 – vouchers 1–15 = $5,044.35. Highway Abstract #0123 – vouchers 16-23 = $6,928.41. Motion to pay bills by Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto, 2nd by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, Councilwoman Samantha Bouton: aye, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Supervisor Innes Kasanof: aye.

Budget Officer’s Report: (A) Supervisor Innes Kasanof presented the monthly finance report for December. (B) Supervisor Kasanof reported that all CHIPS reimbursement money has been received. (C) The 2023 fire contract with Fleischmanns has been signed, it was a $1,000.00 less than the amount budgeted.

Town Clerk’s Report: The Town collected and disbursed no money for the month of December.

Other Business: Billy Haynes turned his dumpster key over to the Town Clerk and stated he would no longer be paying the Town to use the dumpster, he would be taking the Halcott garbage he collects elsewhere.

Public Comment: (A)Pattie Kelder asked the board why fees were raised at the transfer station. Supervisor Kasanof explained that fees were not actually raised but adjusted. A 13-gallon kitchen bag is and was $2.00 but previously people were dumping contractor bags for the same fee of $2.00. Three 13-gallon bags fit into the contractor bag so fees for that size bag were set at $6.00 each to make the cost more equitable. (B) Joanne Catsos asked Highway Superintendent Bouton what percentage of white ash trees were dead to which he responded that he has found all ash trees along the roads to be dead.

Next Meeting: Regular Town Board Meeting, Monday February 20, 2023, 6:00 pm.

Motion to Adjourn: Motion to adjourn at 6:30 pm by Councilwoman Samantha Bouton, 2nd by Councilman Eric Fronckowiak, Councilman Alan Reynolds: aye, Councilwoman Judy DiBenedetto: aye, Supervisor Innes Kasanof: aye.