REORGANIZATIONAL MEETING

DRAFT MINUTES OF THE TOWN OF SARATOGA

�REMOTE TOWN BOARD ZOOM MEETING

12 SPRING ST., SCHUYLERVILLE, NY

AUGUST 10, 2020

7:00 P.M.

Supervisor Thomas Wood opened the meeting at 7:05 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 � absent (zoomed in at 7:22 p.m.), Councilman James Jennings � present, Councilman Gary Squires - present, Councilwoman Ruth Drumm - present.

Others present: Zoning Officer Gil Albert, Deputy Clerk Michelle Conover, Attorney William Reynolds, Bookkeeper Pat Temple and Dave Meager.

Approval of Minutes: A motion was made by Councilman Michael McLoughlin and seconded by Councilman James Jennings, to accept the July 13, 2020 Remote Regular Meeting minutes as written.� Roll Call vote as follows: Supervisor Thomas Wood - aye, Councilman Michael McLoughlin � absent (arrived at 7:22 p.m.), Councilman James Jennings � aye, Councilman Gary Squires - aye, Councilwoman Ruth Drumm - aye.

Carried 4 - 0

Supervisor Thomas Wood stated the Town monthly reports of the Town Clerk, Zoning Officer, Dog Control Officer, Highway Superintendent and the Supervisor�s Financial report are in the Board�s packets, as well as on file in the Town Clerk�s office.

The following is the Supervisor�s Financial report for the month of July:

�

��  �SUPERVISOR�S REPORT JULY 2020

�� GENERAL FUND � TOWNWIDE (A FUND)�� 

�� Balance on hand 7/1/2020�� $� 888,900.80

�� Revenues�� + ��52,245.62

�� Disbursements�� - ��62,436.29

�� Balance 7/31/2020�� $ �878,710.13

��

�� GENERAL FUND � OUTSIDE VILLAGE (B FUND)

�� Balance on hand 7/1/2020�� $1,676,346.62

�� Revenues�� +� ��4,772.50

�� Disbursements�� -� ��6,565.14

�� Balance 7/31/2020�� $ 1,674,553.98

�� HIGHWAY FUND � OUTSIDE VILLAGE (DB FUND)

�� Balance on hand 7/1/2020�� $ ��703,788.65

�� Revenues�� +� �292,442.93

�� Disbursements�� - ��49,338.23

�� Balance 7/31/2020�� $ ��946,893.35

SCHUYLER PARK CAPITAL PROJECT� 7/31/2020�� $173,036.02

YOUTH RECREATION & SERVICE� 7/31/2020 �� $� ��8,673.85

��

HIGHWAY EQUIPMENT RESERVE� 7/31/2020�� $ 202,219.55

BUILDING RESERVE� 7/31/2020�� $ 367,995.18

��

SCENIC BY WAYS QRTRLY 7/31/2020�� $ ��311.69��

PARKS RESERVE� 7/31/2020�� $ 356,956.55

TRUST & AGENCY� 7/31/2020�� $ ��568.30

HOME IMPROVEMENT GRANT 2 7/31/2020�� $�� 113.53

(holding checks until funds are deposited)

��

HISTORIC HUDSON HOOSICK RIVER 7/31/2020�� $ ��11,377.92

CDBG PROJECT �7/31/2020�� $�� 350.00�

PROPERTY TAX CAP RESERVE 7/31/2020�� $ ��1,310.68

GFNB Certificate of Deposit 7/31/2020�� $ 500,000.00

NYCLASS 7/31/2020�� $ 701,758.10

Sales Tax received for July 2020- $153,253.00

Mortgage Tax received for June 2020- $22,681.50

Supervisor Thomas Wood introduced the Town�s insurance agent, Dave Meager, AMSURE Insurance, saying he was present to give a brief summary of the renewed insurance policy.�

Dave Meager stated that New York Municipal Insurance Reciprocal (NYMIR), is a non-profit insurance company owned and operated by its subscribers; NYS counties, towns, cities and villages, although it is designed for towns and most Saratoga County towns are in the program.� This program provides members access to customized, dependable and affordable coverage by allowing members to exercise substantive control over all elements of their insurance program.� NYMIR has grown to represent many municipalities in NYS and at first the Town was charged a capitalization fee, but due to its growth, the Town now receives checks reimbursing the profit earned, based upon contribution.� He reviewed the 11 page summary with the Board and explained the different coverages within the policy, as well as the �disappearing� deductible. �He asked if there were any questions; there were none.� He told the Board once they read through the entire policy to please call him if they have any questions or concerns, as he�ll be happy to answer them.� He then thanked the Board and recommended that the Town continues with NYMIR.

Supervisor Thomas Wood thanked him for his summary and said it�s always nice when premiums drop a bit.� He also added that NYMIR was right here when we needed them.

Supervisor Thomas Wood updated the Board on the Rt. 4 boat launch and said the dock is now in and all questions of the Canal Corp. have been resolved and the photos that were required have been sent to them.� He encouraged the Board to go see the dock.

Supervisor Thomas Wood stated Saratoga County urges towns to prepare, as they believe the covid virus could get worse.� The Town office has been able to obtain a number of PPE supplies and he has been working with FEMA, as the Town will be reimbursed 75% of those PPE costs, as well as reimbursed for the work Gil Albert has done in putting corridor windows in for some of the Town offices.�

Supervisor Thomas Wood then told the Board that there have been long concerns with the mile long Siege Trail fence.� Saratoga Plan had set up and hired a contractor from Easton to install the trail fence and that contractor did not put the posts in properly which is why there is such issue with the fence. �The fence posts were supposed to be 3 ft. in the ground and they found the posts were only 1 ft. in the ground.� There is a remainder of $3,500.00 of the original grant, which will be used to pay Anvil Fencing to install the fencing properly.�

�

Supervisor Thomas Wood said the Town has received three separate $10,000 grants for trails from Saratoga County and he will apply for another $10,000 grant for the boat launch.

Supervisor Thomas Wood then stated the air conditioning repairs have been completed by Northern Mechanical.� The total bill came to $7,800.00 and the insurance company paid $6,096.68 of that cost.

Supervisor Thomas Wood reminded the Town Board again that the service contract signed last year for generator services will expire at the end of the month.� (The new contract includes every aspect of the generator, including oil change, filter change, coolant; anything relative to the operation of the unit, at a cost of $900 for the year.)

At last month�s meeting Councilman James Jennings stated he thought that cost was too high and he was going to have Joe Lewandowski come by to look at it.� As of yet, Joe Lewandowski has not come to look at it.� Councilman James Jennings also was going to contact Conover�s Electric to look at it, but he said he needs to follow up on that as well.

Supervisor Thomas Wood stated last month Mr. and Mrs. Fortune spoke with the Board on the problems with the Airbnb�s at Saratoga Lake and the Board had directed Town Attorney William Reynolds to gather information from other municipalities on Airbnb regulations.� He then asked Attorney William Reynolds to update the Board.

Attorney William Reynolds told the Board that other municipalities consider Airbnb�s Short Term Rentals.� Short Term Rentals, in their definitions, are rentals for under 30 days.� He said he sent an email to Supervisor Thomas Wood with a summary of what he�s found.� Milton passed a local law last fall which was vehemently opposed by many residents, and due to that they withdrew that law.�

Zoning Officer Gil Albert questioned what classifies Short Term Rentals as the Town has property owners at the lake that live on the second floor of their homes and rent out the first floors to numerous people.�

Supervisor Thomas Wood said this may be more complicated and we need to make sure we get it right.� Stillwater won�t touch it and Malta and Saratoga Springs have nothing either.� We want to be sure we do it right.�

Zoning Officer Gil Albert added that we also have issues with the Maranville Farm property on Rt. 29 as well.� This needs to be classified and we need to know how to enforce it.

Supervisor Thomas Wood stated this is for non-owner occupied properties.�

Zoning Officer Gil Albert responded those are the ones causing these problems.

Supervisor Thomas Wood replied we will continue to gather information.

Supervisor Thomas Wood then told the Board that the Town has received a check in the amount of $32,699.96 which is the Town�s 2019 profit share from the landfill.� The profit sharing was built into the sale of the landfill and the amount of our share has gone up this year; last year�s share was $31,000+.

Supervisor Thomas Wood noted he told the Board last month that a resident�s well, at Saratoga Lake, clouded up due to hydrofracking near his home.� He said he thought the Town had enacted a local law banning this years ago.�

Zoning Officer/Building Inspector Gil Albert said he thought there�s been a ban on this for the past ten years as well, which is why we�ve had no issues with this, but now realizes the Board didn�t ban hydrofracking in those areas when they put a moratorium on it.� He stated he believes we should continue with the ban as agreed upon in 2011, as we have nothing to stand on.� It wasn�t written up correctly ten years ago, so we should write it up properly now and get it passed.

Supervisor Thomas Wood stated a person can sue them in civil court, according to the Town�s Attorney, so the Town doesn�t have to do anything.� We don�t want to negatively impact the farmers.� Zoning Officer/Building Inspector Gil Albert responded that Ag & Markets law protects the farmers, so this would not affect them at all.�

Councilman Michael McLoughlin left the meeting at 8:01 p.m.

Supervisor Thomas Wood said he�s been working with Bookkeeper Pat Temple on budget preparation and they can accomplish what normally is done in Workshop #1.� He asked the Board to look at their calendars as they need to set a date for Workshop #2 in September.�

The Board discussed a cost of living increase for all employees, as the highway employees will get a 2% increase.� The Board agreed, stating in fairness everyone should get the 2% increase.

New business: �Supervisor Thomas Wood thanked the Town Council for coming in and auditing the bills earlier today.�

On a motion by Councilwoman Ruth Drumm and seconded by Councilman Gary Squires, the following Resolution #20-64 � Transfer of Funds-$10,000 to A9710.6 � Serial Bonds Principal, was adopted by roll call 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, there are un-appropriated funds in the A9710.7 - Serial Bonds Interest; now therefore be it

RESOLVED, by the Town Board of the Town of Saratoga, to transfer $10,000.00 from A9710.7 - Serial Bonds Interest into A9710.6 - Serial Bonds Principal to cover refunding bond payment for Principal.

On a motion by Councilwoman Ruth Drumm and seconded by Councilman Gary Squires, the following Resolution #20-65 � Accept Proposal & Authorization to Enter into Contract � Adirondack Trust Insurance Agency with New York Municipal Insurance Reciprocal (NYMIR), �was adopted by roll call 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 Adirondack Trust Insurance Agency has been the insurance agent for the Town�s property-casualty insurance for the past 31 years; and

WHEREAS, said agency has offered superior service and advice to the Town and has marketed the insurance again this year for the Town�s benefit; and

WHEREAS, the analysis of the proposals by said agency has shown that NYMIR has offered the lowest premium with improved coverage, now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the Town of Saratoga hereby accepts the agency�s property-casualty proposal through NYMIR (Crime with Travelers) for the upcoming year, 8/13/2020-8/13/2021, with a renewal premium of $42,330.64, minus rebates of $778.01 and $183.16, for a final annual net cost of $41,369.47, which is a decrease of 0.33%, and be it further

RESOLVED, that the Supervisor is authorized to sign the Subscriber�s Agreement with NYMIR after review and approval by the Town Attorney.

On a motion by Councilman James Jennings and seconded by Councilwoman Ruth Drumm, the following Resolution #20-66 � Adopting Retention & Disposition Schedule for New York Local Government Records (LGS-1), was adopted by roll call 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 of Saratoga has received notification of the new General Retention and Disposition Schedule for NYS Local Government Records, issued pursuant to Article 57-A of the Arts & Cultural Affairs Law for the disposal of records; therefore, be it

�� RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Saratoga adopts for use by all officers in legally disposing of valueless records listed therein, in accordance with Article 57-A:

(a) only those records will be disposed of that are described in Retention and Disposition Schedule for New York Local Government Records (LGS-1), after they have met the minimum retention periods described therein;

(b) only those records will be disposed of that do not have sufficient administrative, fiscal, legal or historical value to merit retention beyond

established legal minimum periods.

On a motion by Councilman Gary Squires and seconded by Councilman James Jennings the following Resolution #20-67 � Accepting Resignation of Zoning Board of Appeals Member Clarence Fosdick, was adopted by roll call 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 accept with sincere regret, the resignation of Zoning Board of Appeals Member Clarence Fosdick, as he is moving out of the Town of Saratoga. ��

On a motion by Councilman Gary Squires and seconded by Councilman James Jennings, the following Resolution #20-68 � Appointing Mark Solan as Alternate Member to the Zoning Board of Appeals, was adopted by roll call 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, Mark Sullivan resigned his position of Alternate Member of the Zoning Board of Appeals and took on a Full Membership position; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, by the Town Board of the Town of Saratoga, to appoint Mark Solan as Alternate Member to the Zoning Board of Appeals, effective August 10, 2020 through December 31, 2025

Upcoming meetings:

v Tentative Agenda meeting � Thursday, September 10, 2020 at 7 p.m.

v Tentative Regular Town Board meeting �Monday, September 14, 2020 at 7 p.m. �

Audit the Bills: On a motion by Councilwoman Ruth Drumm and seconded by Councilman Gary Squires, the following Resolution #20-69 - Approving the

Payment of Bills in Abstract 8G of 2020 was adopted by roll call 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 authorize payment of the bills listed in Abstract 8G of 2020 in the following amounts:

�� General Fund DB �� No. 538 � 550 �� $ ��7,856.32

�� General Fund A�� No. 512, 525, 527, 551 - 576 �� $� 65,559.91

�� General Fund B�� No. 577�� $� ��415.35

�� Schuyler Park H�� No. 528, 578 - 580�� $� ��1,883.19

�� Hudson-Hoosic�� No. 581 � 582 �� $ ��122.49

�� CDBG�� No. 519 � 524 �� $� 51,307.90

��

�� Grand Total �$ 127,145.16

A motion to adjourn was made by Councilman Gary Squires, seconded by Councilman James Jennings, at 8:26 p.m. ��Roll Call vote: Supervisor Thomas Wood - aye, Councilman Michael McLoughlin � absent (left the meeting at 8:01 pm), Councilman James Jennings � aye, Councilman Gary Squires - aye, Councilwoman Ruth Drumm - aye.�

Carried ��4 - 0

Meeting Adjourned

Respectfully Submitted,

Linda A. McCabe

Town Clerk