DRAFT MINUTES OF THE
TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF SARATOGA
REGULAR BOARD MEETING
12 SPRING ST.
September 11,
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, Barbara Faraone, J.R.
Hanna, Pat Temple, Jennie McReynolds, Nash Alexander, Keith Tabakman, Victor
Huggard, Nate King, Sherry Doubleday, Rose & Glenn Decker, Nelson &
Sarah Snowden, Joanne Hanna, Ted Mosher, Brandon Myers, Al Hall, Paul Murphy,
Barb Scaglione, Sue Hughes, Hub & Kate Miller, Terri Korb, Tom Yannios,
Randal O’Dell and Wendy Lukas. (sign-in
sheet is on file in the Clerk’s office)
Recognitions/Presentations/ Bid openings/ Public Hearings:
Supervisor
Thomas Wood presented Joanne Hanna, Sherry Doubleday, Pat Temple, Jennie
McReynolds, Sue Hughes, Barb Scaglione and Joe Hanna, with the following Resolution
#17-92 - Recognition of the former Board Members of the outgoing General Schuyler Emergency Squad, for their dedicated service
to the residents of the Town of Saratoga.
On a
motion made by Supervisor Thomas Wood, seconded by Councilman Michael
McLoughlin, the following Resolution #17-91
- Recognition of General Schuyler Emergency Squad Outgoing Board Members 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, prior to 1971 ambulance
service was provided to Schuylerville and the Town of Saratoga residents by Ted
Still, the local funeral director; and
WHEREAS, the population of the area grew
and the need for more extensive emergency medical services increased; and
WHEREAS, in
response to the increased need for services a group of local citizens met and
established plans for a volunteer ambulance service to provide first aid
treatment and transportation on a full time emergency basis; and
WHEREAS, in May, 1971 the General Schuyler Emergency Squad
came into being; and
WHEREAS, in
1971 a pole barn type structure with metal siding was erected at a cost of
$16,000.00, on .15 of an acre of land on Ferry Street in Schuylerville; and
WHEREAS, this building could accommodate two vehicles,
a small office, and storage space; and
WHEREAS, in the mid 1980's a fire caused
significant damage to the office and storage area at the back of the building;
and
WHEREAS, following the fire since some
reconstruction was necessary, twenty feet were added to the back of the
building to create a small meeting room and training area; and
WHEREAS, a few years later an additional
sixteen feet were added to the front of the building to accommodate the longer emergency vehicles; and
WHEREAS, in the early years, members
were trained to the level of First Aid
Provider and in the following years, the members received more training and
became certified as Advanced First Aid Providers, EMTs (Emergency Medical
Technicians) and EMT-D (Defibrillation); and
WHEREAS, in the 1970’s and 1980's the
number of runs averaged 300 runs per year and in the following years gradually
increased to 485 runs per year in 2002; and
WHEREAS, in 2016 the number of runs
increased to 650 runs per year; and
WHEREAS, during the early years of the
squad, the primary function was to transport the patient; and
WHEREAS, in recent years the function
has increased to providing advanced life saving services; and
WHEREAS, due to increased costs of
operation in April, 1993, the squad initiated a Billing for Services policy;
and
WHEREAS, in March, 2003, Advanced Life
Support (ALS) services were made available 24 hours a day, seven days a week,
by the squad; and
WHEREAS, the squad gradually outgrew the
space on Ferry Street, in Schuylerville, and needed more room for its
operation; and
WHEREAS, in 2004 the squad acquired the
centrally located land, at 901 Route 29 in the Town of Saratoga and built a new
7,500 square foot building, which included space for four vehicles, housing
staff, offices, conference and training areas; and
WHEREAS, over the years the availability
of volunteers decreased and the squad was forced to go to a full time paid
staff; and
WHEREAS, in 2017, due to financial
difficulties the squad merged with the Wilton Emergency Squad, Inc. to more
efficiently provide emergency services to area residents; and
WHEREAS, the mission of the squad, to
preserve and enhance the quality of life for the residents and visitors to the
communities, by providing superior quality Emergency Medical Services, has
remained constant; and
WHEREAS, the 2017outgoing members of the
General Schuyler Board of Directors are President Joanne Hanna, Vice President
and Life Member Sherry Doubleday, Secretary Jennie McReynolds, Treasurer Pat
Temple, Board member and Life member Sue Hughes, Board member and Life member
Barb Scaglione; and
WHEREAS, Joe Hanna was a former Board
member, until October 2016, when he became a paid staff member; and
WHEREAS, in 2017 these Board members
made the difficult and correct decision to merge with the Wilton Emergency
Squad, now, therefore be it;
RESOLVED, that these above named
outgoing Board and staff members be recognized and honored for their dedicated
service to the Town of Saratoga and greater Schuylerville community; and be it
further
RESOLVED, that as a result of their
service they have improved the safety and quality of life in the ambulance
district, resulting in the saving of numerous lives; and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town
of Saratoga does hereby recognize and honor to the highest degree possible
Joanne Hanna, Sherry Doubleday,
Pat Temple, Jennie McReynolds, Sue Hughes, Barb
Scaglione and Joe Hanna for their devotion, service and sacrifice to the
community and that their names will be inscribed on the Supervisor's Award
Plaque; and be it further
RESOLVED, that the
Town of Saratoga will never let their names and the service that they gave to
our community and country be forgotten and that they will always be held in the
highest esteem and remembered as some of the Town of Saratoga’s best.
BST
Auditor, Paul Goetz, appeared before the Board and reviewed the financial
report of the Annual Audit for the Town, which is on file in the Town Clerk’s
office. Councilman James Jennings
questioned how the Town is doing and Auditor Paul Goetz responded the town is
in really good shape. Auditor Paul Goetz
then thanked the Board for having him.
Approval of Minutes: A motion was made by Councilman
James
Jennings, seconded by Councilman
Charles Hanehan, to accept the regular meeting minutes of August 14, 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 August 2017: Fees paid to the NYS Dept. of Agriculture and Markets for the Animal Population Control Program $59.00. Fees paid to New York D.E.C. for hunting and fishing licenses $1,127.26. Fees paid to the New York State Health Department for Marriage licenses $45.00. Dog license fees to Supervisor Thomas Wood $280.00. Clerk fees to Supervisor Thomas Wood $147.74. Total State and Local Revenues received were $1,659.00.
Zoning
Officer’s report for August 2017: Issued 13 Building Permits, 22
Building Inspections, 8 Certificates of Occupancy, 0 Junk Yard Permits, 1 Complaint,
0 Fire inspections, 1 Order/s to Remedy, 7 misc., 2 Building Permit Renewals, 0 Property Maintenance Inspections. A check for $2,300.00 was given to Supervisor Thomas Wood.
Dog Control Officer’s report for August 2017: Supervisor Thomas Wood read the following: D.C.O. Ed Cross answered 25 complaints, took 7 dog to the shelter, 2 bite case/s, traveled 150 miles, issued 15 warnings and 8 summons was issued.
Town Court report for August 2017: The following were closed: 45 Vehicle & Traffic, 8 Criminal/Penal Law, 0 DEC/ENCON, 4 Dog cases, 1 DWI/s, 2 Town & Village Ordinance, 2 Small Claims/Civil, 2 Evictions, 0 Hearing, 1 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 $5,886.00 in fees were paid to the NY State Comptroller.
Tax Collector’s report: No report
Historian’s report for August 2017: Supervisor Thomas Wood read the following:
The Historian continues his research on the town and its residents, some of which
are on his various “on this day” posts.
He had 65 posts on his website with 993
visitors in July and 64 posts and 619 visitors in August. The most popular posts had to do with the
Town Supervisor’s recognitions of Phil Griffen and Robert Galusha.
The community heritage continues to be
recognized and commemorated with another successful Turning Point parade and
770 visitors to 18th Century Day at the Schuyler House.
September 16, 2017 - 1:00 p.m. - Heritage Hunters will
host Thomas Ruller, Assistant Commissioner & State Archivist for the NYS Department
of Education. He will be speaking on
state court records accessible through the NYS Archives.
September 19, 2017 - 10:00 a.m. - Deputy Historian, Pat
Peck is facilitating the Genealogy Group at the Schuylerville Public Library
September 28, 2017 - 7:30 p.m. - The Old Saratoga
Historical Association will meet on the Village of Schuylerville history,
presented by Historian Krissy Saddlemire.
October 10, 2017 - 12:00
Noon - Historian Sean Kelleher will be presenting on Virginia “Ginger:
Sweet, a World War II Women’s Air Force Service Pilot from Quaker Springs, at
the Quaker Springs Sunshiners Club at the Quaker Springs Firehouse at Noon.
Please Note: Deputy
Historian, Pat Peck, is in need of old photos for the 2018 Town of Saratoga Historical
Calendar, which she produces each year as project of the Historical
Association. She can be reached through
the Historian’s office.
Assessor’s report for August 2017: During the
month of August there were 25 sales transfers; 17 transfers were valid sales
and 8 were non-valid. The sales
represented (21) residential properties and (4) vacant land parcels. This summer she had the time and was able to
add escrow account information to all parcels that have an escrow account.
Office hours: Monday
- 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Wednesday - 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Highway
Superintendent’s August 2017 report:
v
Road side mowing,
sign replacements, potholes and washouts
v
Asphalt shimming
on Fitch, Southard and Minnie Bennett Rds.
v
Ditching on Swamp
Rd. and Shoulders on Southard Rd.
v
Truck 1 light
repair and inspection
v
Deck and boom
mower maintenance completed
v
Had tailboard
repair on truck 5 and tail gate repair on truck 3
v
Changed AC
compressor on the Gradall
v
Crack-sealed
Caldwell and half of Fitch Rds.
v
Borrowed
Schuylerville’s Elgin Sweeper for our developments
v
Used Victory for
flagging and 1 truck from Northumberland for shoulders
v
Hauled rubble and
used our boom mower at the trailhead
v
Did repair work
on Tow path and ditching on Schuyler Dr. for Victory
v
Hauled blacktop
with Northumberland with two trucks for 3 days
v
New hire is Jim
Doubleday
Supervisor’s
report:
SUPERVISOR’S REPORT
August 2017
GENERAL FUND – TOWNWIDE (A FUND)
Balance
on hand 08/01/2017 $ 1,274,228.98
Revenues + 6,924.58
Disbursements - 330,620.71
Balance 08/31/2017 $ 950,532.85
GENERAL FUND – OUTSIDE VILLAGE (B FUND)
Balance on hand 08/01/2017 $ 1,520,939.00
Revenues + 4,408.29
Disbursements - 10,290.34
Balance 08/31/2017 $ 1,515,056.95
HIGHWAY FUND – OUTSIDE VILLAGE (DB FUND)
Balance on hand 08/01/2017 $ 941,490.14
Revenues + 118,984.70
Disbursements - 194,340.36
Balance 08/31/2017 $ 866,134.48
SCHUYLER PARK 08/31/2017 $ 180,059.03
YOUTH RECREATION & SERVICE 08/31/2017 $ 3,980.61
HIGHWAY EQUIPMENT RESERVE 08/31/2017 $ 85,612.03
BUILDING RESERVE 08/31/2017 $ 255,052.76
TRUST
& AGENCY 08/31/2017 $
28,165.34
MOBILE
HOME GRANT 08/31/201 $
0.00
HOME
IMPROVEMENT GRANT#2 08/31/2017 $
81,325.76
(holding
checks until funds are deposited)
CDBG
GRANT 08/30/2017
$ 0.00
HISTORIC
HUDSON HOOSIC RIVER 07/31/2017 $ 16,945.49
PARTNERSHIP
SCENIC BY WAYS GRANT 08/31/2017 $ 311.21
PARK RESERVE 08/31/2017 $ 151,956.55
PROPERTY CAP RESERVE 08/31/2017 $ 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
Town
of Saratoga highway department graded the entrance and parking areas and the
Town of Northumberland highway department continues to keep the trash
receptacles empty and the park cleaned up.
Coaches
& athletes have been reminded to pick up after themselves.
Boulders
will be placed adjacent to speed bumps to help guide traffic over bumps.
Irrigation
equipment to be relocated to West End pavilion in November, after concrete is
in place and the need for irrigation is satisfied.
Girl
Scouts have been given permission to place returnable beverage container
collection bins at the park to support fund raising efforts.
Information
tables will be in place at the request of the Schuylerville Library’s director
for an upcoming 5k event.
Office of Emergency Management: Sherry Doubleday stated that she is working on
updating the emergency evacuation plan & procedures and has sent Supervisor
Thomas Wood the paperwork to update names and phone numbers; once she receives
that information she can continue with the full update of the plan.
GSES,
QSFD Reports: Nash Alexander, Wilton EMS, reported the transition
and merging of the General Schuyler Emergency Squad into the Wilton EMS has
been completed. For the month of August,
they had 236 calls system wide, 56 of which were for the Schuylerville Station. They’ve had 2900 calls to date this
year.
Don Ormsby, Quaker Springs Fire Department, reported
they had 76 calls to date this year.
Old
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 and at 1:00 p.m. Distracted Driving Training for the Highway Department will follow.
New
Business: Supervisor
Thomas Wood stated that Attorney William Reynolds has completed the first draft
of the Timber Harvesting Law and asked everyone to review it, mark it up and
next month the Board will talk about it.
He then stated that he seeks three (3) residents from Saratoga lake area,
to join with the Board, Planning Chairman Ian Murray, Zoning Officer Gil Albert
and himself to go over the proposed law in late October; date to be
announced. He added we are in the third
month of the six month moratorium and working toward completion, but must do
this right. If it becomes necessary, the
moratorium can be extended. He stated he
will put the first draft of the Timber Harvesting law on the web page.
Supervisor Thomas Wood stated that Annette Osher was to
bring in a petition asking NYS DOT to lower the speed limit to 45 miles per
hour on NYS Rt. 29, between Fire Lane #7 and Homestead Rd. As she did not appear, Resolution #17-87 - Request
to Lower Speed Limit on NYS Rt. 29, will be held for another meeting.
On a motion made by Councilman Gary Squires, seconded by
Councilman Michael McLoughlin, the following Resolution #17-88 - Accept Annual Audit Findings, 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 had the Town’s 2016 Financial Operations and
Procedures audited by BST, LLC; and
WHEREAS, the Town Board of the Town
of Saratoga has reviewed the findings with no exceptions noted in any
department, therefore be it,
RESOLVED, by
the Town Board of the Town of Saratoga to accept the findings as presented (the
audit is on file in the Town Clerk’s office).
On a motion made by Councilman James Jennings, seconded
by Councilman Charles Hanehan, the following Resolution #17-89 - Authorizing Court Action - Calvin Gong, 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 Town Attorney William Reynolds to initiate legal action
in local court against Calvin Gong, due to his failure to comply with the Order
to Remedy issued on December 7, 2016, as well as a second notice on June 22,
2017, by Zoning Officer Gil Albert, regarding his property at 1390 Route 9P.
On a motion made by Councilman Charles Hanehan, seconded
by Councilman Gary Squires, the following Resolution
#17-90 - Accepting New York State’s Assessor Rule Change, 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 has been notified that New York State has
changed the rule of assessors having to sit with the tax role for a half day
one Saturday in the month of May; therefore
be it,
RESOLVED, by
the Town Board of the Town of Saratoga to accept the rule that assessors no
longer have to sit a half day with the tax roll on the one specified Saturday
in May.
On a motion made by Councilman James Jennings, seconded
by Councilman Michael McLoughlin, the following Resolution #17-92 - Authorizing Town Attorney to Amend Junk Yard
Regulations, 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 Town Attorney William
Reynolds to draft a law amending the current junk yard regulation.
After
a lengthy discussion between the Board, Zoning Officer Gil Albert and Town
Attorney William Reynolds, it was decided the amendment should contain specific
hours of operation for the retail portion of the business and for the moving of
inventory, crushing and stacking of vehicles.
For the retail portion, they decided hours should be 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.,
Monday - Friday, and 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Saturdays, and 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. on
Sundays.
For
the moving of inventory, crushing of vehicles and stacking of vehicles, hours
should be 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. or 5 p.m., Monday - Friday. No Weekends and No Operations on Holidays.
Supervisor Thomas Wood stated the Board received a
thank you note from Ashleigh Gale, recipient of the Town Boards’ Scholarship
and from the Schuylerville Flower Club.
Privilege
of the floor: The following addressed the Board with their concerns:
Barbara
Faraone, 42 Spruce Ridge Rd., Hub Miller, 97 Brown Rd., Ted Mosher, 294 Hayes
Rd., Sherry O’Dell, 286 Hayes Rd., Nelson Snowden, 291 Hayes Rd., Sally
Snowden, 291 Hayes Rd., Randy O’Dell, 99 Brown Rd. and Tom Yannios, Hill Rd.
Upcoming
meetings:
v
Town Board Budget Workshop - September 20,
2017 at 6:30 p.m.
v
Agenda meeting – Thursday, October 5, 2017 at
7:00 p.m.
v Regular
Town Board meeting – Wednesday, October 11, 2017 at 7:00 p.m.
Audit the Bills: On a motion by Councilman James Jennings, seconded by Councilman Charles Hanehan, the following Resolution #17-93 - Approving the Payment of Bills
in Abstract 9G 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 9G in the following amounts:
General Fund DB Voucher
No. 150 through 164 $ 6,353.90
General Fund A Voucher No. 267 through 293 $ 35,450.59
General Fund B Voucher
No. 46 through 47 $ 263.25
Schuyler Park H Voucher
No. 20, 22 & 23 $ 575.78
Farmland Protection Voucher
No. 08 $ 3,375.00
HH Voucher
No. 56 through 58 $ 6,819.82
Grand Total $ 52,838.34
A motion to adjourn at 9:36 p.m. was made by
Councilman James Jennings 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