MINUTES OF THE
TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF
SARATOGA
REGULAR BOARD MEETING
12 SPRING ST.
August 14,
2017
Supervisor Thomas Wood opened the meeting at 7:00 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Roll call: Town Clerk Linda McCabe, called
the roll: Supervisor Thomas Wood-
present, Councilman Charles Hanehan - present, Councilman Michael McLoughlin – present,
Councilman James Jennings – present, Councilman Gary Squires – present.
Also
present: Highway Superintend
Don Ormsby, Zoning Officer/Building Inspector Gil Albert, Deputy Clerk Michelle Conover, Town Attorney William
Reynolds, John Cashin, Nash
Alexander, Nelson & Sally Snowden, Ted Mosher, Tracey Clothier and Dan
Waldron. (sign-in sheet is on file in
the Clerk’s office)
Recognitions/Presentations/ Bid openings/ Public Hearings:
Tracey
Clothier of the LA Group addressed the Board with updates of the boat launch stating
that progress is being made: NYSDEC has no issues, Army Corp. will issue their
findings, if any, next week, the Canal Corp. has already issued their permit
for Use and Occupancy, Office of General Services (OGS) has just requested a
lease for the launch pad itself, and she expects all to be granted within the
next few weeks. She then stated this
will be a great site and it is great for the underutilized area of the river.
Tracey
Clothier then continued with an update on the Farmland Protection Program,
stating they have held several public meetings and have been looking at agricultural
land protection issues along with potential solutions on what is best for the
Town of Saratoga. There is great concern
on bringing young farmers along, into the community, and ways to do that. There are programs to help them, such as FarmLink,
which links farmers with land, as well as keeping land protected through the
Purchase of Development Rights, (PDR program), which is a voluntary program
that compensates owners of agricultural property for their willingness to
accept a permanent deed restriction on their land. A public hearing will be held at the end of
the process and both the State and Town will have to accept the plan.
Supervisor Thomas Wood then stated
Sandy Hart, Administrative Solutions, has written the Community Development
Block Grants (CDBG) over the past few years for the Town and the current CDBG grant
money has now been committed. Administrative
Solutions has notified the Town that a new round of grants is opening up and
asks if we would like them to write another grant on behalf of the Town. The cost for doing this is normally is $500,
but this will cost us $1500 as they have to do statistical work, gathering
information for the new grant application.
The grant that will be sought on the Town’s behalf will be in the amount
of $400,000. Supervisor Thomas Wood then
stated that indirectly, the Town will get back the $1500 by charging back for
services on our end, such as invoicing their bills and writing checks for them
and for their contractors and subcontractors.
The Board agreed to have Administrative Solutions write the grant
application.
Approval of Minutes: A motion was made by Councilman
Michael
McLoughlin, seconded by Councilman
Gary Squires, to accept the agenda meeting minutes of July 6, 2017 and the
regular meeting minutes of July 10, 2017, as written. Supervisor Thomas Wood - aye, Councilman
Charles Hanehan – aye, Councilman Michael McLoughlin – aye, Councilman James
Jennings – aye, Councilman Gary Squires – aye.
Carried 5 – 0
Town Clerk’s report for July 2017: Fees paid to the NYS Dept. of Agriculture and Markets for the Animal Population Control Program $63.00. Fees paid to New York D.E.C. for hunting and fishing licenses $311.80. Fees paid to the New York State Health Department for Marriage licenses $22.50. Dog license fees to Supervisor Thomas Wood $296.00. Clerk fees to Supervisor Thomas Wood $315.70. Total State and Local Revenues received were $1,009.00.
Zoning
Officer’s report for July 2017: Gil Albert reported: 11 Building Permits, 21 Building
Inspections, 11 Certificates of Occupancy, 0 Junk Yard Permits, 1 Complaint,
0 Fire inspections, 0 Order/s to Remedy, 7 misc., 4 Building Permit Renewals, 0 Property Maintenance Inspections. A check for $2,816.25 was given to Supervisor Thomas Wood.
Dog Control Officer’s report for July 2017: Supervisor Thomas Wood read the following: D.C.O. Ed Cross answered 25 complaints, took 1 dog to the shelter, 2 bite case/s, traveled 100 miles, issued 17 warnings and 1 summons was issued.
Town Court report for July 2017: The following were closed: 50 Vehicle & Traffic, 13 Criminal/Penal Law, 1 DEC/ENCON, 1 Dog cases, 1 DWI/s, 1 Town & Village Ordinance, 1 Small Claims/Civil, 2 Evictions, 0 Hearing, 0 Defendant sentenced to probation, 0 hours of community service issued, 1 (case transfer) Divestiture Forms sent to County Court, 0 days of jail time issued, 0 Orders of Protection issued, and $5,348.00 in fees were paid to the NY State Comptroller.
Tax Collector’s report: No report
Historian’s report
for 2017: No report
Assessor’s report for Assessor July 2017: June and
July: 56 sales transfers; 31 were valid sales and 25 were non-valid. The sales represented (36) residential
properties and (20) vacant land parcels.
Tentative equalization rate has been set at 100%; we should be hearing
very soon that the final rate is confirmed at 100%.
Office hours: Monday
- 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Wednesday - 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Highway
Superintendent’s June 2017 report:
v
Addressed
multiple washouts and plugged culverts
v
Pothole and road
patches
v
Clearing ditches
of trees and limbs
v
Roadside mowing
and re-grades of dirt roads
v
Hauling shoulder
material
v
Replaced an
injector and a serpentine belt on boom mower
v
Hydraulic hose
and lift pin on deck mower
v
Replaced rear
brake cam on truck 3 and alternator on Cat roller
v
Brushed back on
the Rte. 4 trailhead with boom mower
v
Also hauled
crusher run for the trail
v
Used one truck to
help with Providence paving
Supervisor’s
report:
SUPERVISOR’S REPORT
JULY 2017
GENERAL FUND – TOWNWIDE (A FUND)
Balance on hand 07/01/2017 $ 1,293,088.24
Revenues + 17,828.03
Disbursements - 36,687.29
Balance 07/31/2017 $ 1,274,228.98
GENERAL FUND – OUTSIDE VILLAGE (B FUND)
Balance on hand 07/01/2017 $ 1,627,123.75
Revenues + 3,157.40
Disbursements - 2,195.27
Balance 07/31/2017 $ 1,628,085.88
HIGHWAY FUND – OUTSIDE VILLAGE (DB FUND)
Balance on hand 07/01/2017 $ 914,180.02
Revenues + 142,871.31
Disbursements - 115,561.19
Balance 07/31/2017 $ 914,180.02
SCHUYLER PARK 07/31/2017 $ 161,630.65
YOUTH RECREATION & SERVICE 07/31/2017 $ 3,980.27
HIGHWAY EQUIPMENT RESERVE 07/31/2017 $ 85,604.76
BUILDING RESERVE 07/31/2017 $ 255,031.10
TRUST
& AGENCY 07/31/2017 $
31,356.40
MOBILE
HOME GRANT 07/31/201 $
0.00
HOME
IMPROVEMENT GRANT#2 07/31/2017 $
81,318.85
(holding
checks until funds are deposited)
CDBG
GRANT 07/30/2017
$ 0.00
HISTORIC
HUDSON HOOSIC RIVER 07/31/2017 $ 23,391.00
PARTNERSHIP
SCENIC BY WAYS GRANT 07/31/2017 $ 311.21
PARK RESERVE 07/31/2017 $ 151,956.55
PROPERTY CAP RESERVE 07/31/2017 $ 1,038.71
v Sales Tax Received – June 2017
- $99,948.00
v Mortgage Tax - May 2017 - $7,740.50
Public comments on agenda items: No comments
Committee
reports:
Landfill:
No report
Insurance: No report
Youth: No
report
He then stated the Old
Saratoga Seniors next meeting will be held on September 6, 2017 at the Fish
Creek Rod & Gun Club for a picnic
lunch and then on September 20, 2017 for a luncheon meeting at the Town Hall.
Office of Emergency Management: No report
GSES,
QSFD Reports: Nash Alexander, Wilton Emergency
Squad, stated that Wilton Emergency Squad had a total of 258 calls; 54 in
Schuylerville; 53 of which were handled from the Schuylerville Station and 1
handled from the Wilton Station. They
participated in the Turning Point Weekend and parade and provided a standby for
the Hudson Crossing Cardboard Boat Race.
He stated that they have
started the process of transferring operating authority from General Schuyler
to the Wilton Emergency Squad; he expects that to come to completion by
September 1, 2017. He also said the
Schuylerville Station building will still carry the General Schuyler name.
He then stated that Farm
Medic will be held the last weekend in September and they’ve partnered with
Welcome Stock Farm for the skills portion of the class. The class will be held at the Schuylerville
Station.
Quaker Springs Fire Chief, Don
Ormsby, stated they have had 67 calls to date.
Old
Business: None
New
Business:
Supervisor
Thomas Wood reminded the Board that there is a mandatory Work Place Harassment
and Sexual Harassment Training Workshop at 10:00 a.m. on September 14, 2017,
for all Town employees.
On a motion made by Councilman
Charles Hanehan, seconded by Councilman Michael McLoughlin, the following Resolution #17-82 - Transfer of Funds - $20,000 from
Capital Project-A9950.9 to Schuyler Park-H5031, was adopted by vote: Supervisor Thomas Wood - aye,
Councilman Michael McLoughlin – aye, Councilman Charles Hanehan – aye,
Councilman James Jennings – aye, Councilman Gary Squires – aye.
Carried 5 – 0
RESOLVED, by
the Town Board of the Town of Saratoga, to transfer $20,000 from Capital
Project-A9950.9, to Schuyler Park-H5031, as budgeted.
On a motion made by Councilman James Jennings, seconded
by Councilman Gary Squires, the following Resolution
#17-83 - Authorization to Enter into Contract with Administrative Solutions to
write a CDBG Grant in the amount of $400,000, at a cost of $1500, was adopted
by vote: Supervisor Thomas Wood - aye, Councilman Michael McLoughlin – aye,
Councilman Charles Hanehan – aye, Councilman James Jennings – aye, Councilman
Gary Squires – aye.
Carried 5 – 0
WHEREAS, the Town Board of the Town of Saratoga finds it in
the best interest of the Town to seek grant funding for housing rehabilitation
through a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG); and
WHEREAS, NYS Housing and Urban Development provides funding for
such programs to municipal applicants; and
WHEREAS, Administrative Solutions has agreed to prepare and
file the CDBG applications for grant funding on behalf of the Town of Saratoga;
and
WHEREAS, such a grant for housing rehabilitation improvements
will be completed for a one-time fee of $1,500.00; and
WHEREAS, the Town has worked with Administrative Solutions for
submission of such grants and they’ve proven to be qualified and capable of
carrying out all required activities for submission of similar applications;
and
WHEREAS, the Town plans to comply with all Federal Procurement
Procedures to hire a consultant for grant administration upon notice of funding
award; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Supervisor of the Town of Saratoga is
hereby authorized to enter into a contract with Administrative Solutions for
$1,500.00 and Supervisor Thomas Wood is designated as the representative for
this grant application and is further authorized to sign such application and
provide such information, as may be required, to Administrative Solutions for
submission of this grant application.
On a motion made by Councilman Michael McLoughlin,
seconded by Councilman Gary Squires, the following Resolution #17-84 - Authorization to Enter into Contract for
Professional Appraisal Services with Upstate Appraisal Service, Inc., at a cost
of $675.00, was adopted by vote: Supervisor Thomas Wood - aye, Councilman
Michael McLoughlin – aye, Councilman Charles Hanehan – aye, Councilman James
Jennings – aye, Councilman Gary Squires – aye.
Carried 5 – 0
RESOLVED
by the Town Board, of the Town of
Saratoga, to enter into contract for professional appraisal services with
Upstate Appraisal Services, Inc. at a cost of $675.00, to appraise the 2.4
vacant acres that the Town would like to purchase for access to the Sword
Surrender Trail as well as trail head and parking area for hikers.
On a motion made by Councilman James Jennings, seconded
by Councilman Gary Squires, the following Resolution
#17-85 - Acceptance of Highway Department
Employee
Resignation, was adopted by vote: Supervisor Thomas Wood - aye,
Councilman Michael McLoughlin – aye, Councilman Charles Hanehan – aye,
Councilman James Jennings – aye, Councilman Gary Squires – aye.
Carried 5 – 0
RESOLVED, by
the Town Board, of the Town of Saratoga, to accept the resignation of Highway
Department employee Andrew O’Kosky, effective immediately.
Supervisor Thomas Wood read a thank you note from
Madeline Nevins, recipient of the Town Boards’ Scholarship, who noted she will
be attending Sage College in the fall, and the scholarship money will help toward
her books.
Privilege
of the floor: The following addressed the Board with their
concerns of the junk yard noise: Nelson
Snowden, Sally Snowden and Ted Mosher.
Mr. John Cashin addressed the Board with his concerns of the timber
harvesting moratorium.
Upcoming
meetings:
v
Town Board Budget Workshop - August 22, 2017 at 6:30 p.m.
v
Agenda meeting – Thursday, September 7, 2017 at 7:00 p.m.
v Regular Town Board meeting –
Monday, September 11, 2017 at 7:00 p.m.
Audit the Bills: On a motion by Councilman Charles Hanehan, seconded by Councilman Gary Squires, the following Resolution #17-86 - Approving the Payment of
Bills in Abstract 8G was adopted by vote: Supervisor Thomas Wood - aye, Councilman Michael McLoughlin – aye,
Councilman Charles Hanehan – aye, Councilman James Jennings – aye, Councilman Gary Squires – aye.
Carried 5 – 0
RESOLVED,
by the Town Board of the Town of
Saratoga to authorize payment of the bills listed in Abstract 8G in the following amounts:
General Fund DB Voucher
No. 131 through 149 $156,583.53
General Fund A Voucher No. 225 through 266 $ 60,874.78
General Fund B Voucher
No. 39 through 45 $ 5,144.39
Schuyler Park H Voucher
No. 17 and 19 $
1,085.39
Farmland Protection Voucher
No. 07 $ 2,984.25
HH Voucher
No. 52 through 55 $ 6,670.40
Grand Total $ 233,342.74
A motion to adjourn at 8:53 p.m. was made by
Councilman Gary Squires and seconded by Councilman Charles Hanehan. Supervisor
Thomas Wood - aye, Councilman Charles Hanehan – aye, Councilman Michael
McLoughlin – aye, Councilman James Jennings – aye, Councilman Gary Squires – aye.
Carried 5 - 0
Meeting
Adjourned
Respectfully Submitted,
Linda A. McCabe
Town Clerk