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.

 

On a motion by Councilman James Jennings and seconded by Councilwoman Ruth Drumm, the following Resolution #20-83 – Authorization to change Health Insurance Plan to MVP Gold HMO-POS 2021 – HG170022/RHG0242X, 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, 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