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.
Town of Halcott, Halcott Center, NY 
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