DRAFT MEETING MINUTES OF THE TOWN BOARD
OF THE TOWN OF
SARATOGA
12 SPRING ST., SCHUYLERVILLE,
November 7, 2019
Supervisor Thomas Wood opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance
at
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: Building Inspector/Zoning
Officer Gil Albert, Highway Superintendent Don Ormsby, Deputy Clerk Michelle
Conover, Attorney William Reynolds, Ruth Drumm, Wendy Lukas, Boy Scout Troop 13
and Michael Whitney. (sign in sheet on
file in the Clerk's office)
Recognitions/Presentations/ Bid openings/ Public Hearings:
2020 Budget
Public Hearing - Supervisor Thomas Wood reported that the Board has been working on
the 2020 Budget since July and feels this budget is fair and achieves the
Board's goals for the Town. He explained that the budget is our best estimate of
appropriations and receipts for the coming year. He stated it is a responsible budget and the
total town budget expenditures have increased by $83,205.00 or 3.35%, but
revenue is up. He reviewed some basic information concerning the
proposed 2020 budget, such as a cost of living adjustment increase of 2% for
employees, $25,000 for updating the Comprehensive Plan, $10,000 for highway
engineer services, as well as $10,000 for highway retirement. He then noted that the General A (town and
villages) account is up 1.1%, the B (town only) account is up 1.88% and the DB
(highway) account is up .32%. The
budget reflects a modest tax rate decrease of approximately $.01 cent per thousand of assessed value and does not exceed the
2% property tax cap. It brings the tax
rate to $1.12 per thousand for 2020, down from $1.13 in 2019.
Proof of advertising in the Saratogian on October 28, 2019 having been furnished, Supervisor Thomas Wood opened the Public Hearing at 7:11 p.m. on the 2020 Budget, asking those residents wishing to speak, to please stand and state their name and address before addressing the Board, limiting their comments to 3 minutes:
Wendy Lukas, 77 Green St., stated the Villages are not
as accountable in their funding and everything else as the Town is.
Seeing
as no one further wished to speak, Supervisor
Thomas Wood made a motion, seconded by Councilman Charles Hanehan, to close the
Public Hearing at 7:12 p.m. Supervisor
Thomas Wood – aye, Councilman Charles
Hanehan - aye, Councilman Michael McLoughlin – aye, Councilman James Jennings –
aye, Councilman Gary Squires – aye.
Carried 5 - 0
Approval of Minutes: A motion was made by Councilman
Michael
McLoughlin, seconded by Councilman Gary Squires, to accept the minutes of the
October 16, 2019 regular meeting 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 October 2019: Fees paid to the NYS Dept. of Agriculture and Markets for the
Animal Population Control Program $37.00. Fees paid to New York
D.E.C. for hunting and fishing licenses $729.42. Fees paid to the New York State Health
Department for Marriage licenses $67.50. Dog license fees to
Supervisor Thomas Wood $170.00. Miscellaneous Clerk fees to Supervisor Thomas Wood $255.33. Total State and Local Revenues received were
$1,259.25.
Zoning
Officer’s report for October 2019: 11 Building Permits were issued, 26 Building
Inspections, 5 Certificate/s of Occupancy, 0 Junkyard Permit/s, 0 Complaint/s, 0 Fire inspection, 0 Order/s to Remedy, 5 misc., 0 Building Permit Renewals, 0 Property Maintenance Inspection. A check for $2,160.00 was given to Supervisor Thomas
Wood.
Dog Control Officer's report for October 2019: Supervisor Thomas Wood read the following report: Dog Control Officer Ed Cross answered 13 complaints, took 0 dog/s to the shelter, traveled 36 miles, issued 8 warnings, 2 summons were issued and dealt
with 0 bite case/s.
Town Court report for October: 2019: Supervisor Thomas Wood
read the following report: Funds collected for the month of October 2019
- $5,830.00.
Historian’s report for October
2019: No report
Assessor’s
report for October 2019: No report
Highway
Superintendent’s report for October 2019:
v
Inspected
culverts after storms, addressed potholes and mowing
v
Did traffic
control for Asplundh Tree Service for a tree on Southard Rd.
v
Cleared trees
from right of way on Fitch Rd. for ditching near Stetkar Rd.
v
Addressed ditch
and driveway culvert on Schuyler St.
v
Cleaned up garage
for insurance inspection
v
Ran conduit to
salt shed for electricity
v
Finished sealing
barrier block for Schuylerville area of the salt shed
v
Worked on Louden
Rd. intersection project
v
Hauled winter
sand
v
Repaired a
Historic sign on Rte 4
v
Fire
extinguishers have been inspected for the year
v
Repaired the box
flap on Truck 2
v
Fall maintenance
completed on Trucks 1, 2 and 4
v
Received asphalt
paver from Stillwater Hwy.
Supervisor’s
report:
SUPERVISOR’S REPORT OCTOBER 2019
GENERAL FUND – TOWNWIDE (A FUND)
Balance on hand
10/01/2019 $ 940,822.07
Revenues +
114,229.81
Disbursements - 78,398.12
Balance 10/31/2019 $
976,653.76
GENERAL FUND – OUTSIDE VILLAGE (B FUND)
Balance on hand
10/01/2019 $1,845,229.23
Revenues + 77,353.87
Disbursements - 7,282.14
Balance 10/31/2019 $1,915,300.96
HIGHWAY FUND – OUTSIDE VILLAGE (DB FUND)
Balance on hand
10/01/2019 $ 833,972.83
Revenues + 67.63
Disbursements - 87,834.67
Balance 10/31/2019 $ 746,205.79
SCHUYLER PARK CAPITAL PROJECT 10/31/2019 $ 160,358.12
YOUTH RECREATION & SERVICE 10/31/2019 $
3,827.74
HIGHWAY EQUIPMENT RESERVE 10/31/2019 $
102,059.02
BUILDING RESERVE 10/31/2019 $
292,673.21
TRUST & AGENCY 10/31/2019 $
13,603.28
HOME IMPROVEMENT GRANT 2 10/31/2019
$ 113.19
(holding checks until funds are deposited)
HISTORIC HUDSON HOOSICK RIVER 10/31/2019 $ 17,185.06
PARTNERSHIP
PROPERTY TAX CAP RESERVE 10/31/2019 $
1,310.19
CDBG PROJECT 09/30/2019 $
12,464.00
SCENIC BY WAYS QRTRLY 10/31/2019
$ 311.57
PARKS RESERVE 10/31/2019 $ 356,956.55
PROPERTY TAX CAP RESERVE
10/31/2019 $ 1,310.02
v
Sales Tax Received – October
2019 - $136,481.00
v Mortgage
Tax - September 2019 - $6,257.00
Public comments on Agenda Items:
Wendy Lukas addressed the
Board concerning the need for Airbnb regulations.
Committee
reports:
Landfill: No report
Insurance: No report
Youth: No report
Parks/Schuyler Park Committee: Councilman Gary Squires updated the Board with the
following:
v
End
of season park maintenance actions are being taken.
v
Port-a-pots
and recycling containers removal requests have been sent to responsible
parties.
v
Collins
Turf Services are planning to aerate, fertilize, and over-seed fields. Rainbow
shed will be moved, area where the shed had been will be smoothed and seeded.
Goals, benches, and nets will be stowed appropriately in the pavilion storage
area.
v
Once
actions are completed, park should be set for another successful season in the spring.
Next
regular meeting:
Tuesday, November 26, 2019 at 7:30pm
Office of Emergency Management: No report
QSFD,
WEMS Inc. Reports:
Quaker Springs Fire Department - Assistant Fire
Chief Don Ormsby stated they have had 86 calls to date for 2019. He also stated they have purchased two blitz
nozzles for two trucks, which during a fire this would be placed on the ground
and puts up a water curtain to protect a neighboring home/structure and they
purchased two 3 ton airbags to help in emergencies.
Wilton EMS, Inc. - Nashua Alexander sent in a report
which stated they had 24 calls for the Town of Saratoga, 14 calls for the
Village of Schuylerville and 2 calls for the Village of Victory.
Old Business:
New
Business:
On a motion made by
Councilman James Jennings and seconded by Councilman Charles Hanehan, the
following Resolution #19-112, Acceptance
of Resignation - Zoning Board of Appeals Alternate Member Mark Sullivan, 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, Mark Sullivan recently resigned his position of
Alternate Member of the Zoning Board of Appeals as he will be taking on a Full
Member position; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED,
by the Town Board of the Town of Saratoga,
to accept Mark Sullivan's resignation as Alternate Member to the Zoning Board
of Appeals.
On a motion made by
Councilman Gary Squires and seconded by Councilman Michael McLoughlin, the
following Resolution #19-113, Appointing
Mark Sullivan as a Full Member to the Zoning Board of Appeals, 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, Mark Sullivan has resigned his position as Alternate
Member of the Zoning Board of Appeals in order to take on a Full Member
position; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED,
by the Town Board of the Town of
Saratoga, to appoint Mark Sullivan as a Full Member of the Zoning Board of
Appeals, fulfilling the remaining term of resigned member Nicholas Schwartz,
effective November 7, 2019 through December 31, 2021.
On a motion made by
Councilman James Jennings and seconded by Councilman Charles Hanehan, the
following Resolution #19-119, Fund
Transfer - $13,000.00 from DB-2665 - Sale of Excess Equipment, to DB-5130.2 -
Highway Machinery, 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 $13,000.00 from
DB2665-Sale of Excess Highway Equipment, to DB5130.2-Highway Machinery, for the
purchase of the 1989 Blaw-Knox PF-150 Asphalt Paver from the Town of
Stillwater.
On a motion made by
Councilman Michael McLoughlin and seconded by Councilman Gary Squires, the
following Resolution #19-120, Authorization
to Enter into Contract with Jefferson Solutions Inc. for GASB 75 Services, 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, government
agencies are required by GASB 75 (Governmental Accounting Standards Board) to
set aside money for long term obligations for retirees; and
WHEREAS,
the Town of Saratoga needs
professional assistance to determine the Town's liability under GASB 75 and to
calculate the annual required contributions and the annual accrued liability;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Town of Saratoga enters into a contract with
Jefferson Solutions Inc. for $3,650.00 for determining the Town GASB 75
liability and calculating the annual required contributions and the annual
accrued liability and performing all five tasks outlined in the contract
subject to the review and approval of the town's attorney.
On a motion by Councilman
James Jennings, seconded by Councilman Michael McLoughlin, the following Resolution #19-121, Adoption of Annual Town
Budget for 2020, 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, this Board having, on November 7,
2019 at 7:00 p.m., duly held a public hearing on the preliminary budget
approved by this Board and filed with the Town Clerk for the fiscal year
commencing January 1, 2020, and having heard all persons desiring to be heard
in the matter, and the matter of the budget for this Town for such fiscal year
having been fully discussed and considered, it is
RESOLVED,
that said preliminary budget approved and filed as aforesaid, is hereby adopted
and established as the annual budget for this Town for the fiscal year
beginning January 1, 2020, and that such annual budget as so adopted is
detailed in the minutes of the proceedings of this Town Board, and be it
further
RESOLVED,
that the Town Clerk of this Town shall prepare and certify as provided by law,
duplicate copies of said annual budget hereby adopted, and deliver one of such
copies to the Supervisor of the Town, and that he shall present such copy to
the Board of Legislators of the County as required by law. (2020 Budget is on file in the Clerk's
office)
Privilege
of the floor: The following addressed the Board:
Michael Whitney, Walnut St., Schuylerville, NY
Wendy Lukas, Green St., Schuylerville, NY
Communications:
Upcoming
meetings:
v
Town Board Agenda Meeting - Thursday,
December 5, 2019 at 7:00 p.m.
v
Regular Town Board meeting - Monday, December
9, 2019 at 7:00 p.m.
Audit the Bills:
On a motion by Councilman Gary Squires seconded by Councilman Charles Hanehan,
the following Resolution #19-122,
Approving the Payment of Bills in Abstract 11G of 2019, 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 11G of 2019 in the following amounts:
General Fund DB Purchase
No. 11 through 26 $ 63,414.18
General Fund A Purchase
No. 27 through 57 $ 19,061.78
(including
Voucher No. 36A)
General Fund B Purchase No. 54 through 56 $ 481.49
Schuyler Park Purchase
No. 57 $ 209.88
Historic Hudson Hoosic Purchase No. 58 through 62 $
2,209.00
Partnership
CDBG Purchase
No. 63 through 65, 67 - 69, 71 $ 38,818.00
Grand Total $124,194.33
A motion to adjourn at 8:39 p.m. was made by
Councilman Charles Hanehan, seconded by Councilman Gary Squires. 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