DRAFT MINUTES OF THE TOWN OF SARATOGA
REMOTE TOWN BOARD ZOOM MEETING
12 SPRING ST., SCHUYLERVILLE, NY
DECEMBER 14
2020
6:00 P.M.
Supervisor Thomas Wood opened the meeting at 6:04 p.m. and welcomed everyone to the remote zoom meeting.
Roll call: Town Clerk, Linda McCabe, called
the roll: Supervisor Thomas Wood- present,
Councilman Michael McLoughlin – present, Councilman James Jennings – present,
Councilman Gary Squires - present, Councilwoman Ruth Drumm - present.
Also
present: Bookkeeper
Pat Temple, Deputy Clerk Michelle Conover, Zoning Officer Gil Albert, Attorney William
Reynolds and Drew Alberti.
Recognitions/Presentations/ Bid openings/Public Hearings: Supervisor
Thomas Wood stated Drew Alberti, Flatley Read, was present to speak to the Board
seeking authorization to apply for another Mobile Home Replacement Program through
the NYS Affordable Housing Corporation & Community Development Block Grant
(CDBG) on behalf of the Town of Saratoga.
After a lengthy discussion of questions and answers, Supervisor Thomas
Wood stated he believes they should continue with the program as it is a good
program and has improved the lives of those who’ve received the new mobile
homes. He would like to approve the
resolution for authorization, contingent upon a meeting of the Select Committee
and Board members, to address current guidelines and to modify/customize more
stringent guidelines to the Town’s plan for this program. The Board agreed.
On a motion by Councilwoman
Ruth Drumm and seconded by Councilman Gary Squires, the following Resolution #20-84 – Authorization to Apply for another
Mobile & Manufactured Home Replacement Grant, was adopted by the
following vote: Supervisor Thomas Wood - aye, Councilman Michael McLoughlin
– aye, Councilman James Jennings – aye, Councilman Gary Squires - aye,
Councilwoman Ruth Drumm - 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 community
revitalization in the Town of Saratoga; and
WHEREAS, the NYS Affordable Housing Corporation and Community
Development Block Grant (CDBG) provides funding for such projects to municipal
applicants; and
WHEREAS, the Town has determined a Mobile and Manufactured Home
Replacement Program to be in the best interest of supporting community and
economic revitalization in the target area; and
WHEREAS, the proposed Mobile and Manufactured Home Replacement
Program will help support continued sustainable economic growth in the
community by alleviating pockets of blight throughout the Town; now, therefore,
be it
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Saratoga has agreed
to submit NYS Homes & Community Renewal funding applications for Mobile
& Manufactured Home Replacement through NYS AHC and CDBG, prepared by
Flatley Read, Inc. at a value of $1,500 and as such, the Supervisor is hereby
designated as the representative for the grants and is further authorized to
sign such documentation and provide such information as may be required for
timely completion of the applications, contingent upon more stringent
guidelines being put in place on behalf of the Town Board.
Approval of Minutes: A motion was made by Councilman
Michael McLoughlin and seconded by Councilwoman Ruth Drumm, to accept the November
5, 2020 Remote Zoom Meeting minutes as written.
Roll Call vote as follows: Supervisor Thomas Wood - aye, Councilman
Michael McLoughlin – absent as connection dropped, Councilman James Jennings – aye,
Councilman Gary Squires - aye, Councilwoman Ruth Drumm - aye.
Carried 4 – 0
Supervisor
Thomas Wood gave an update on the $55,000 Hudson Valley Greenway Grant that was
applied for last year, to continue the trail from the Boat Launch to Garnsey’s
(south trailhead). The Town has been
approved for $40,000, so the work proposal will be modified to eliminate the funding
match of the Town. All the work that Tim
Blanchard has done, as well as work the highway department has done, will be shown to Greenway and we’ll then continue
going forward. It’s a planning grant, so
we need to show the final segment plan for the trail. He also noted that the Town had gotten a
$10,000 grant for the Boat Launch and a $7,000 County grant for updating the Comprehensive
Plan, which due to COVID-19 has been on hold.
He then stated that Zoning Officer/Building Inspector Gil Albert and
Planning Chairman Ian Murray brought attention to some things that need to be
more practical on the Farmland Protection Plan as well.
Supervisor
Thomas Wood and the Board discussed the need for generator upkeep and maintenance. Councilman James Jennings had contacted
Stewart & Stevenson Power Products LLC to see if they would come down on
the price of their contract for servicing the generator, as he felt the cost
was too high. After seeking other quotes
from other sources for said maintenance, the Board decided to go with the
original company for routine maintenance, as they did come down on the price of
their contract as requested.
Attorney
William Reynolds stated he read through the contract and said he was fine with
the general form of the agreement and with the price for services.
Supervisor
Thomas Wood stated he will contact them and have them send the updated contract
with the lower price.
A motion was made by Councilman James Jennings,
seconded by Councilman Gary Squires, to enter into contract of scheduled maintenance
with Stewart & Stevenson Power Products LLC for routine maintenance of the
generator.
Supervisor Thomas Wood
- aye, Councilman Michael McLoughlin – aye, Councilman James Jennings – aye, Councilman
Gary Squires - aye, Councilwoman Ruth Drumm - aye. Carried
5 - 0
Town Clerk’s report for November 2020: Fees paid to the NYS Dept. of Agriculture and Markets for the Animal Population Control Program $46.00. Fees paid to New York D.E.C. for hunting and fishing licenses $171.01. Fees paid to the New York State Health Department for Marriage licenses $45.00. Dog license fees to Supervisor Thomas Wood $210.00. Clerk fees to Supervisor Thomas Wood $54.99. Total State and Local Revenues received were $527.00.
Zoning Officer’s report for November 2020: 14 Building Permits, 34 Building Inspections, 5 Certificates of Occupancy, 0 Junkyard Permits, 0 Complaints, 0 Fire Inspections, 2 Orders to Remedy, 6 misc., 3 Building Permit Renewals and 0 Property Maintenance Inspections. A check for $3,195.00 was given to Supervisor Thomas Wood.
Dog Control Officer’s report for November 2020: Ed Cross, Dog Control Officer answered 4 complaints, took 3 dogs to the shelter, 0 bite case, traveled 106 miles, issued 4 warnings and 0 summons’ was issued.
Highway
Superintendent’s report for November 2020:
v
Clearing
debris from ditches and culverts
v
Brushing
back with boom mower and fixing potholes
v
Mowed
top of the dump cover
v
Built
sand sifter ramp with barrier block and formed and poured slab for the sand
sifter
v
Placed
a turn-around at the end of Cahill Rd. for plow trucks
v
Repaired
storm water structure and blacktopped parking area edges at Town Hall
v
Repaired
tire on Truck 5 and fuel leak and maintenance on Truck 9
v
Repaired
wing on Truck 6 and completed a sander electric repair on Pick Up 1
v
Fixed
hydraulic leak on boom mower and replaced chippers blades
v
Hauled
free sand from Wilton project off Taylor Rd.
v
Jim
Doubleday is back to work
v
Picked
up a lift then returned it for Victory’s cold storage building
The
following is the Supervisor’s Financial report for the
month of November:
SUPERVISOR’S REPORT NOVEMBER
2020
GENERAL FUND – TOWNWIDE (A FUND)
Balance
on hand 11/1/2020 $ 500,564.20
Revenues + 106,136.54
Disbursements - 52,148.57
Balance 11/30/2020 $ 554,552.17
GENERAL FUND – OUTSIDE VILLAGE (B FUND)
Balance
on hand 11/1/2020 $1,682,582.17
Revenues +
45,126.80
Disbursements - 4,250.11
Balance 11/30/2020 $1,683,458.86
HIGHWAY FUND – OUTSIDE VILLAGE (DB FUND)
Balance on hand 11/1/2020 $ 987,038.82
Revenues + 59,823.20
Disbursements - 32,429.52
Balance 11/30/2020 $ 1,014,432.50
SCHUYLER PARK CAPITAL PROJECT 11/30/2020 $189,662.16
YOUTH RECREATION & SERVICE 11/30/2020 $ 8,673.85
HIGHWAY EQUIPMENT RESERVE 11/31/2020 $ 202,291.89
BUILDING RESERVE 11/30/2020 $ 368,135.75
SCENIC BY WAYS QRTRLY 11/30/2020 $
311.73
PARKS RESERVE 11/30/2020
$ 356,956.55
TRUST & AGENCY 11/30/2020 $ 24,292.43
HOME IMPROVEMENT GRANT II 11/30/2020 $ 113.53
(holding checks until funds are
deposited)
HISTORIC HUDSON HOOSICK RIVER 1/30/2020 $ 13,590.45
CDBG PROJECT 11/30/2020 $ 2,433.85
PROPERTY TAX CAP RESERVE 10/30/2020 $ 1,310.84
GFNB Certificate of Deposit 11/30/2020 $ 502,780.74
NYCLASS 11/30/2020
$ 701,889.52
Sales Tax received for November 2020 - $107,530.00
Mortgage Tax received for September 2020 -
$31,520.00
Mortgage Tax received for October 2020 - $36,953.50
Mortgage Tax received for November 2020 - $33,447.50
Committee Reports:
Senior Citizens: Pat Temple stated the Old
Saratoga Seniors Christmas Luncheon was held at the American Legion and went
very nicely, everyone maintained the 6’ distancing and wore masks and they’d
like to meet there again.
Park Committee: No report
WEMS,
QSFD Reports: No
reports
Old Business: None
New
business:
On a motion by Councilwoman
Ruth Drumm and seconded by Councilman James Jennings, the following Resolution #20-79 – Fund Transfer - $400.00 from A-9050.8
Unemployment Insurance to A-9010.8 State Retirement, was adopted by the
following vote: Supervisor Thomas Wood - aye, Councilman Michael McLoughlin
– absent, Councilman James Jennings – aye, Councilman Gary Squires - aye,
Councilwoman Ruth Drumm - aye.
Carried 4 - 0
RESOLVED, by the Town Board of the Town of Saratoga to transfer $400.00 from A-9050.8
Unemployment Insurance to A-9010.8 State Retirement, to cover additional
expense for annual invoice.
On a motion by Councilman
Gary Squires and seconded by Councilman James Jennings, the following Resolution #20-80 – Fund Transfer - $875.00 from B-1990.4
Contingency to B-9010.8 State Retirement, was adopted by the following vote:
Supervisor Thomas Wood - aye, Deputy Councilman Michael McLoughlin – absent,
Councilman James Jennings – aye, Councilman Gary Squires - aye, Councilwoman Ruth
Drumm - aye.
Carried 4 – 0
RESOLVED, by the Town Board of the Town of Saratoga to transfer
$875.00 from B-1990.4 Contingency to B-9010.8
State Retirement to cover additional expense for annual invoice.
On a motion by Councilman
Gary Squires and seconded by Councilman James Jennings, the following Resolution #20-81 – Fund Transfer - $2,010.00 from
DB-9060.8
Medical Insurance to DB-9010.8 State Retirement, was adopted by the
following vote: Supervisor Thomas
Wood - aye, Councilman Michael McLoughlin – absent, Councilman James Jennings –
aye, Councilman Gary Squires - aye, Councilwoman Ruth Drumm - aye.
Carried 4- 0
RESOLVED, by the Town Board of the Town of Saratoga to transfer $2,010.00 from DB-9060.8 Medical
Insurance to DB-9010.8 State Retirement to cover additional expense for annual
invoice.
On a motion by Councilman
Gary Squires and seconded by Councilwoman Ruth Drumm, the following Resolution #20-82 – Fund Transfer - $2,500.00 from Special
Building Reserve to A-1620.4 Buildings, was adopted by the following vote: Supervisor
Thomas Wood - aye, Councilman Michael McLoughlin – absent, Councilman James Jennings
– aye, Councilman Gary Squires - aye, Councilwoman Ruth Drumm - aye. Carried
4 - 0
WHEREAS,
the Town Board is aware of a few offices in the Town Hall building that have
inadequate heating and air conditioning and after consultations with different
hvac companies over the past two years, it was determined the best solution is
to install ductless hvac units to compensate these inadequacies; and
WHEREAS, the Town has contacted Superior Co-Op HVAC, Dooley’s
Heating and Air and BPI Mechanical seeking total cost quotes for installation
of ductless units; and
WHEREAS, it is the desire of the Town Board to correct the heating
and cooling of the newly leased Office 102, 1st floor, north wing,
prior to the Tenant moving in and for Office Suite 1E, 2nd floor, north
wing; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED,
by the Town Board of the Town of
Saratoga, to transfer $25,000.00 from Special Building Reserve into A1620.4 Buildings,
to cover the installations of a Mitsubishi MUZ-FH18NAH2 Single Zone Hyper Heat
Pump System and a Mitsubishi MXZ-3C24NAHZ2-U Multi Zone Hyper Heat Pump with
MSZ-FH06NA-M series indoor Hyper Heat Pump wall mount system with iSensor, by
Superior Co-Op HVAC.
Carried
5 - 0
WHEREAS, on an annual basis the Town Board of the Town of
Saratoga enters into an insurance contract to provide health insurance coverage
for eligible employees; and
WHEREAS, the Town Board has reviewed proposals for a contract
to commence January 1, 2021 - December 31, 2021 for Retirees over 65 years of
age; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Town Supervisor
is authorized to sign a contract for health insurance benefits with MVP
Preferred Gold HMO-POS 2021 - HG170022/RHG0242X, at a monthly premium of $263.88
per person, per month.
On a motion by Councilwoman
Ruth Drumm and seconded by Councilman Gary Squires , the following Resolution #20-85 – Fund Transfers, was adopted by the
following vote: Supervisor Thomas Wood - aye, Deputy
Councilman Michael McLoughlin – aye, Councilman James Jennings – aye, Councilman
Gary Squires - aye, Councilwoman Ruth Drumm - aye.
Carried
5 – 0
RESOLVED,
by the Town Board of the Town of
Saratoga to transfer the following funds to cover accrued payroll for year’s
end:
And
Audit the Bills: On a motion by
Councilman Michael McLoughlin and seconded by Councilman Gary Squires, the following Resolution #20-86 - Approving
the
Payment of Bills in Abstract 12G of 2020 was adopted by the following vote: Supervisor Thomas Wood - aye, Councilman Michael
McLoughlin – aye, Councilman James Jennings – aye, Councilman Gary Squires -
aye, Councilwoman Ruth Drumm - aye. Carried 5 -
0
RESOLVED, by
the Town Board of the Town of Saratoga to authorize payment of the bills listed
in Abstract 12G of 2020 in the following
amounts:
General
Fund DB No. 815, 852 - 871 $ 81,779.07
General
Fund A No. 813, 814, 821, 837 - 839,
$ 66,944.79
843
– 845, 872 - 898
General
Fund B No. 816, 817, 840, 899 - 919 $ 21,878.88
Schuyler
Park H No. 841, 850, 851 $ 1,150.88
Hudson
Hoosic No. 921 - 925 $
1,494.49
CDBG No. 82 –
884, 920 $134,440.00
Grand
Total $ 307,688.11
Upcoming
meetings:
v Town Board Special Year End Remote
Audit Meeting-Thursday, December 30, 2020 at 11 a.m.
Supervisor
Thomas Wood stated the Board needed to enter into executive session to discuss a
personnel matter.
A motion to enter into Executive Session was
made by Councilman Michael McLoughlin and seconded by Councilman Gary Squires,
to discuss a personnel matter at 7:10 p.m.
Supervisor Thomas Wood
- aye, Deputy Councilman Michael McLoughlin – aye, Councilman James Jennings – aye,
Councilman Gary Squires - aye, Councilwoman Ruth Drumm - aye.
Carried 5 – 0
A motion to exit Executive Session was made by
Councilman Gary Squires and seconded by Councilman Michael McLoughlin at 8:01
p.m. No action was taken.
Supervisor Thomas Wood
- aye, Deputy Councilman Michael McLoughlin – aye, Councilman James Jennings – aye,
Councilman Gary Squires - aye, Councilwoman Ruth Drumm - aye.
Carried 5 – 0
A motion to adjourn was made by Councilman Michael McLoughlin, seconded by Councilman Gary Squires, at 8:02 p.m. Roll Call vote: Supervisor Thomas
Wood - aye, Councilman Michael McLoughlin – aye, Councilman James Jennings – aye, Councilman Gary Squires - aye, Councilwoman Ruth Drumm - aye.
Carried 5 - 0
Meeting Adjourned
Respectfully Submitted,
Linda A. McCabe
Town Clerk