DRAFT MEETING MINUTES OF THE TOWN BOARD
OF THE TOWN OF
SARATOGA, 12 SPRING ST.,
November 8, 2018
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 - absent, Councilman Michael McLoughlin � present,
Councilman James Jennings � present, Councilman Gary Squires � present.
Also
present: Deputy Clerk Michelle
Conover, Building Inspector/Zoning Officer Gil Albert, Highway Superintendent
Don Ormsby, Attorney William Reynolds, Tracey Clothier, Pat Temple, Chris
Miller, Pat Peck, David Peck, Terri Korb and Robert Dougal.� (sign in sheet on file in the Clerk's office)
Recognitions/Presentations/ Bid openings/ Public Hearings:
Public Hearing
- 2019 Budget: Supervisor Thomas Wood reported that the Board has been
working on the budget since August and they've had three Budget Workshops. �He
explained that the budget is our best estimate of appropriations and receipts
for the coming year. He reviewed some basic information concerning the proposed
2019 budget.� He noted that a cost of
living salary increase for employees of
2% is included. Spending was cut from many departments and he is budgeting
closer to actual costs; it is a lean, responsible budget.� The total town budget is $2,847,862.00, which
is up 1.247% and includes the ambulance district and fire protection.� The budget reflects an increase of $.001 cents per thousand of assessed value
and doesn�t exceed the property tax cap.�
He then stated this budget meets the needs of the Town and he believes it
is an excellent budget, fair and reasonable.
Proof of advertising in the Saratogian on October 29, 2018 having
been furnished, Supervisor Thomas Wood opened the Public Hearing at 7:09 p.m.
on the 2019 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.��� Seeing as no one spoke, Supervisor Thomas Wood made a motion,
seconded by Councilman Michael McLoughlin, to close the Public Hearing at 7:10 p.m.� Supervisor Thomas Wood �� aye, Councilman Charles Hanehan - absent,
Councilman Michael McLoughlin � aye, Councilman James Jennings � aye,
Councilman Gary Squires � aye.� �
Carried� 4 - 0
Second Public
Hearing - Agriculture and Farmland Protection Plan: Supervisor Thomas Wood
stated that tonight is the second public hearing on the Farmland Protection
Plan and Tracey Clothier of the L.A. Group was in attendance to answer any
questions.� He summarized that he received
a grant a few years ago to develop an Agriculture and Farmland Protection
Plan.� After holding numerous public
meetings to listen to presentations and obtain feedback from the public, he was
ready to open the second public hearing.�
He added that as Councilman Charles Hanehan is absent, the Board will
vote on this at the December meeting.� He
also stated changes have been made to the document, including adding equine
industry.� Agriculture is thriving in the
Town of Saratoga.� Supervisor Thomas Wood
then read the following email from resident, Walt Borisenok : " I was out of town for the last public
hearing and will be out of town again for the continuation of the hearing at your
next Board meeting.� However, I'd like to
give my thoughts regarding the proposed plan.�
Overall all I'm in support of the agriculture and farmland protection
plan.� I believe it touches on many of
the points which could enhance the towns ability to retain farms and farming
operations.
Farming is under change, no different than any other
business.� Farmers must change with the
needs of the markets.� Whether it be
apple growers moving to produce hard cider, dairy farmers producing branded
milk directly to the retail market, horse farms expanding due to the enhanced
NYS breeding program, these are all examples of farmers changing to meet the
new needs of the market.� Also, new
farming ventures to meet consumer demand - organic farming, winery/vineyards, farm
to table products are examples of "new" type of farming.� The plan has many points that would support
these farmers making changes to meet the demand of the market.� The best way to keep agricultural and
farmland is to help keep farms profitable.�
This will keep farmland out of developers hands.�� A few points regarding the plan:
1.� The plan
should stress more the importance of horse breeding in the Town and the County
and how these farms are protecting agricultural lands.� For example, over the past year my farm, Old
Tavern Farm, purchased and expanded pastures down Brown Rd. removing 30 acres
from residential development.
2.� I support
the change in reducing zoning density for agricultural pursuits from 10 to 5
acres.
3. Changing the definition of "farm" to
"farm operation" is a good idea.�
This can include new type of farming and agriculture products which can
help protect farmland.
4.. The buffer between farms and development needs
further review.� I support a buffer but
within reason.�
The Town's plan seems to hit many points which can
help a variety of farming and agricultural operations succeed, which in turn
will reduce the chancing of having the property developed."
Proof of advertising in the Saratogian on October 29, 2018 having
been furnished, Supervisor Thomas Wood opened the second Public Hearing at 7:19
p.m. on the Agriculture and Farmland Protection Plan, asking those residents wishing
to speak, to please stand and state their name and address before addressing
the Board:
Chris Miller, 210 Casey Rd.,
Quaker Springs, voiced his concerns and felt the plan contradicts the Town's zoning
regulations.� He feels the set back of
100' from farmland is asking too much and the setback burden should not be on
the neighboring homeowners.� The Town
sees maybe 20 new houses a year, which isn't much.� The setback from farmland is asking too much
and he has concerns on how this will affect the future property purchase for
all the kids and grandchildren here.� He
is against adding the 2% mortgage tax as that tax benefits only a handful of
residents, not all.� We all pay taxes on
these roads.� The seven houses on his
road equals 20 acres and they pay more taxes than a single farm in this
Town.� More thought needs to go into this
plan.� He also has concerns of the
"land lease" program, questioning who will oversee it.� Sounds like the town will become a bank, and
the intended use is only for farmers, no one else benefits.
Supervisor
Thomas Wood responded that Rockland and Orange counties, south of here, have
the tax increase.� Supervisor Thomas Wood
stated he is against the 2% tax increase.�
He spoke with Jason Kemper at the county and he said the 2% tax increase
is not needed, there is enough money for farmland protection.
Chris Miller questioned why even
consider this tax increase if other towns have rejected it.� Farmers have to diversify and that map in the
plan is wrong and a scare tactic.
Supervisor
Thomas Wood responded he researched it and the town of Charlton responded they
have no appetite for the tax increase, nor does the town of Ballston.�
Chris Miller stated with the 100'
setback, people can't build on a 2 acre parcel if next to a farm.
Supervisor
Thomas Wood stated it is simply a proposed plan and local laws would have to be
passed to implement any portion of it.�
Robert Dougal, 294 Wilbur
Rd., stated
he thinks going from 10 acres to 5 acres for a farm is a bad idea.
Dave Peck, 180 Wagmans Ridge
Rd., stated
he hasn't had a lot of time to review this, but has concerns that they want to increase
agriculture, but they're planning to make the lot-lines smaller and you're
going to decrease density by buying up development rights of other
properties.� We don't need to have the
hand of the government being involved in this nor funding this thing.� All this government funding and matching
funds seems like needless spending of tax dollars and makes no sense.� You'll end up with farm stands up and down
the roads.� Farm stands need to be kept
on farms.� You start breaking this up and
it'll become a nightmare for farmers.�
You want to cross over from agriculture to commercial; you are crossing
a lot of lines.� He also spoke to the
Board on a way to have the developer buy the development rights of properties
instead of the government buying the land with tax dollars, and ways in which
to control that.� He believes there's a
lot of confusion with the way this is written and that this needs a lot of
work, a lot of clarification.� Do it
differently and keep the government's hand out of it.
Supervisor
Thomas Wood stated he agrees that there can be unforeseen consequences if they
go with this.�
A motion was made by
Supervisor Thomas Wood and seconded by Councilman Gary Squires at 7:41 p.m. Supervisor Thomas Wood - aye, Councilman Charles
Hanehan � absent, Councilman Michael McLoughlin � aye, Councilman James
Jennings � aye, Councilman Gary Squires � aye. �
Carried 4 � 0��
��
Approval of Minutes: A motion was made by Councilman
Michael
McLoughlin, seconded by Councilman Gary Squires, to accept the minutes of the October
10th
�agenda
meeting and the October 24 th Budget Workshop meeting as written. ��Supervisor
Thomas Wood - aye, Councilman Charles Hanehan � absent, Councilman Michael
McLoughlin � aye, Councilman James Jennings � aye, Councilman Gary Squires � aye.
�
Carried 4 � 0��
Town Clerk�s report for October 2018: 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 $987.38. Fees paid to the New York State Health Department for Marriage licenses $45.00. �Dog license fees to Supervisor Thomas Wood $160.00. Miscellaneous Clerk fees to Supervisor Thomas Wood $257.62.� Total State and Local Revenues received were $1,487.00.
Zoning Officer�s report for October 2018: Gil Albert reported: 9 Building Permits Issued, 13 Building Inspections, 9 Certificate/s of Occupancy, 0 Junkyard Permit/s, 2 Complaint/s, 0 Fire inspection, 0 Order/s to Remedy, 9 misc., 8 Building Permit Renewals, 0 Property Maintenance Inspection.� A check for $4,375.00 was given to Supervisor Thomas Wood.�
Dog Control Officer's report for October 2018: Supervisor Thomas Wood
read the following report: �Dog
Control Officer Ed Cross answered 17 complaints, took 3 dog/s to the shelter,
traveled 134 miles, issued 10 warnings, 4 summons were issued
and 0
bite case/s.�
Town Court report for October 2018: Supervisor Thomas Wood
read the following report: Funds collected for the month of October was $6,005.60.
Historian�s report for October 2018: No report
Assessor�s
report for October 2018: Supervisor
Thomas Wood read the following report:� As
of November 1st Dorothy Lavozzo has resumed her part-time hours and
is in the office Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 am-1:00 pm.�
Residents
have been submitting their Enhanced STAR and AGED Exemption renewal
applications.� To date he has received
26% of the Enhanced STAR renewals and 24% of the AGED renewals.
Over
the past month the Assessor processed 15 sales; 7 sales were valid and 8 were
non-valid.� There were 7 valid
residential sales,� 6 non-valid
residential sales, 1 non-valid commercial sale , and 1 non-valid vacant land
sales.
The
Assessor's Clerk is in the office Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 am-1:00 pm.�
The
Assessor is in the office Tuesday evenings 5-8 pm and Thursdays 9:30 am-2:30
pm.� Please feel free to call, email, or
stop by his office with any questions.
Highway
Superintendent�s report for October 2018:�
v
Pot hole patching
and brushing back in ditches
v
Hauled scalpings
and stone dust for roadside shoulders
v
Dirt roads have
been graded and rolled
v
Shoulders have
been done on Wilbur, Russell and part of Sweet roads.
v
Been hauling
crusher run for Casey Rd. culvert
replacement project
v
Helped
Northumberland with their road shoulders,
as they did us
v
Borrowed shoulder
machine from Town of Greenfield
v
Hauled millings
and blacktop for Village of Victory street project
v
Helped Town of
Wilton hauling blacktop
v
Had rear tire
repair on boom mower
v
Brake cam and
tires replaced on Truck #1
v
Filters, fluids
and tires replaced on Truck #6
v
Helped set up
stage for Sword Surrender ceremony
v Cleared southern part of Rte 4
trail with boom mower
Supervisor�s
report: �
SUPERVISOR�S REPORT October 2018
����������������� GENERAL FUND � TOWNWIDE (A FUND)
�
����
������������ Balance on hand 10/01/2018������ ������ �$�� 884,949.13
����������������� Revenues����������������������� �������� ����������� ��+� 117,544.58
����������������� Disbursements�������������������� ��������������� ���-� ��53,942.49
����������������� Balance 10/31/2018��������������� ������ ������$� �948,551.22
�����������������
����������������� GENERAL FUND � OUTSIDE VILLAGE (B FUND)
����������������� Balance on hand 10/01/2018���������� �� �$1,686,681.39
����������������� Revenues���������������������������� ��� ����������� �+� ���75,694.64
����������������� Disbursements�������������������� ��������������� �-� ������4,250.76
����������������� Balance 10/31/2018���������������� ���������� �$1,758,125.27
����������������� HIGHWAY FUND � OUTSIDE VILLAGE (DB FUND)
����������������� Balance on hand 10/01/2018����������� ����$1,022,457.16
����������������� Revenues������������������ ������������� ��������������+�
���72,154.73
����������������� Disbursements���������������� ������������������� ���- ��151,104.10
����������������� Balance 10/31/2018���������������������� ���� �$ ���943,507.79
�����������������
SCHUYLER PARK CAPITAL PROJECT 10/31/2018������������������ $178,882.79
YOUTH RECREATION & SERVICE� 10/31/2018����������� ������������$�
��2,064.17
HIGHWAY EQUIPMENT RESERVE� 10/31/2018 ���������������������� ������������$�
75,361.74
BUILDING RESERVE� 10/31/2018�������������������� ��������������� ������������$255,387.19
�����������������
SCENIC BY WAYS QRTRLY� 10/31/2018�
��������������������������������� $��� ���311.41���
PARKS RESERVE� 10/31/2018������� ��� ������� ����������������������������������� $ 226,956.55
TRUST & AGENCY 10/31/2018����� ���� ������ ������������������������ �����������$� �28,885.79
HOME IMPROVEMENT GRANT 2 �10/31/2018�������������������������
$� �31,273.83
(holding checks until funds are deposited)
����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ��� ������� �����������������������������������������������
HISTORIC HUDSON HOOSICK RIVER 10/31/2018����������������������
��������$� �65,536.60
PARTNERSHIP
PROPERTY TAX CAP RESERVE 10/31/2018����������������������� ������ $��
��1,309.53
v
Sales Tax Received � October
2018 - $122,037.00
v Mortgage
Tax - September 2018 - $8,836.00
Public comments on agenda items: The following addressed the Board: Pat Peck.
Committee reports:
Landfill:
Councilman Gary Squires stated
Phoenix took test samples from all the wells at the Hayes Rd. landfill and all
met expectations.� Test samples will be
taken again in six months.
�
Insurance: Supervisor Thomas Wood stated the retiree
insurance policy comes due January 1st and the Board will review the new rates
once received.
Youth: No report
November 12, 2018 - A
Thanksgiving Dinner meeting, given by Faye Bratage.
November 20, 2018 - A trip is
planned �to go to the Log Cabin, in
Massachusetts.� Please contact Faye
Bratage for reservations.
Plans are being made for a
Christmas dinner as well.
Pat Temple reported that the Old
Saratoga Seniors met on November 7, 2018 with 47 in attendance, as well as 10
veterans.� Entertainment was provided by
Garry Ferris, with music and talks on World War II.
November 28, 2018 - A trip is
planned to see a Christmas Show at Williams Inn, Williamstown, MA.� Please contact Pat Temple to make your
reservation, no later than November 9th.�
December 12, 2018 - The Christmas
Luncheon will be held at the American Legion.
The next meeting will be held on
January 2, 2019 at noon.
Parks/Schuyler Park Committee: Councilman Gary Squires noted they didn't have a meeting, as the next meeting is scheduled to be November 27th.� He added that the final phase of the concrete floor of the West End pavilion was completed and that Ian Murray volunteered his time, along with other volunteers to complete that work.� Ian Murray saved the Town several thousand dollars of what it would have cost us and he noted �that Ian Murray did the floor of the East End pavilion as well.
Office of Emergency Management: No report
QSFD,
WEMS Inc.: Don Ormsby, Quaker Springs Assistant Fire Chief,
stated they have had 78 calls this year to date.
Nashua Alexander, Wilton EMS Chief Operating Officer
at Wilton Emergency Squad,
submitted his report which stated they answered 30
calls in the month of October for the Town Saratoga.
Old
Business: Supervisor Thomas Wood stated the Town received the
full grant of $10,000.00 for the Surrender Trail and currently working on the
south trail head.� He stated Tim
Blanchard has done the highest quality work on the trails and the work
continues.
New
Business:
On a motion made by Councilman
Michael McLoughlin and seconded by Councilman Gary Squires, the following Resolution #18-118, Establishing
a New Separate, HRA (Health Reimbursement Arrangement) Benefit Administration
Account for the Town Highway Employees, was adopted by vote: Supervisor Thomas Wood - aye, Councilman Michael
McLoughlin � aye, Councilman Charles Hanehan � absent, Councilman James
Jennings � aye, Councilman Gary Squires � aye.�
Carried 4 � 0
�WHEREAS, the Town of Saratoga Highway employees are unionized
with Teamster Local 294 and have elected to take their health insurance with
the Union sponsored New York State Teamsters Council Health and Hospital Fund
Medical and Prescription drug HRA Plan, and
WHEREAS, the Saratoga Highway employees are requesting a
change from SIEBA to Lifetime Benefit Solutions, now therefore, be it
����������� RESOLVED, that the Town of Saratoga
agrees with the conditions and requirements for the program (found on the
attached form) and agrees to enter into an agreement with Lifetime Benefit
Solutions for the administration of the Union Health Insurance Program HRA
Account for an initial set up fee of $450.00, and a monthly minimum fee of
$99.00, and be it further
����������� RESOLVED, that this resolution shall
take effect January 1, 2019.
�On a motion made by Councilman Michael McLoughlin and
seconded by Councilman James Jennings, the following Resolution #18-119, Adoption of Annual Town Budget for 2019, was
adopted by vote: Supervisor Thomas Wood - aye, Councilman Michael
McLoughlin � aye, Councilman Charles Hanehan � absent, Councilman James
Jennings � aye, Councilman Gary Squires � aye.�
Carried 4 � 0
����������� WHEREAS,
this Board, having on November 8, 2018 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, 2019, 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, now,
therefore, be it
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, 2019, 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.
On a motion made by
Councilman James Jennings and seconded by Councilman Gary Squires, the
following Resolution #18-120, Authorization
to Adopt the Workplace Sexual Harassment Policy, was adopted by vote: Supervisor
Thomas Wood - aye, Councilman Michael McLoughlin � aye, Councilman Charles
Hanehan � absent, Councilman James Jennings � aye, Councilman Gary Squires � aye.�
Carried 4 � 0
WHEREAS, harassment of employees on any basis can violate New
York Human Rights Law and/or Civil Rights Act of 1964, and
WHEREAS,
sexual harassment is a form of
employment discrimination, and
WHEREAS, the Town of Saratoga is committed to a policy of
prohibiting unlawful harassment in all workplaces where Town of Saratoga
employees work, now therefore, be it
����������� RESOLVED, that the Town of Saratoga adopt the attached Workplace Sexual Harassment Policy, suggested by New York State.
��������������� �
On
a motion by Councilman Michael McLoughlin and seconded by Councilman Gary
Squires, the following Resolution #18-121,
Setting Hourly Rate of Pay for Temporary, Part Time Snowplow Wing Persons, was adopted by vote: Supervisor Thomas
Wood - aye, Councilman Michael McLoughlin � aye, Councilman Charles Hanehan � absent,
Councilman James Jennings � aye, Councilman Gary Squires � aye.� Carried
4 � 0
WHEREAS, the Town of Saratoga Highway Department is in need of
hiring temporary, part time snowplow wing persons for the winter; now,
therefore, be it
����������� RESOLVED, that the Town of Saratoga
set the rate of pay at $14.50 an hour for temporary, part time snowplow wing
persons.
���������������
On
a motion by Councilman James Jennings and seconded by Councilman Gary Squires,
the following Resolution #18-122, Fund
Transfer of Funds - $15000.00 from Contingency-A1990.4
to Employee Benefits Medical Insurance-A9060.8, was adopted by vote: Supervisor Thomas Wood - aye, Councilman Michael
McLoughlin � aye, Councilman Charles Hanehan � absent, Councilman James
Jennings � aye, Councilman Gary Squires � aye.�
Carried 4 � 0
RESOLVED
by the Town Board of the Town of
Saratoga, to transfer $15000.00 from Contingency-A1990.4 to Employee Benefits
Medical Insurance-A9060.8, to cover year end budget adjustments.
On a motion by Councilman �Michael McLoughlin and seconded by Councilman Gary
Squires, the following Resolution #18-123,
Fund Transfer - $100.00 from Employee
Benefits Medical Insurance-DA9060.8 to Employee Benefits Disability
Insurance-DA9055.8, was adopted by vote: Supervisor Thomas Wood - aye, Councilman Michael McLoughlin � aye,
Councilman Charles Hanehan � absent, Councilman James Jennings � aye,
Councilman Gary Squires � aye.�
Carried 4 � 0
RESOLVED
by the Town Board of the Town of
Saratoga, to transfer $100.00 from Employee Benefits Medical Insurance-DA9060.8
to Employee Benefits Disability Insurance-DA9055.8, to cover increase in the
insurance premium.
Privilege
of the floor: �Chris
Miller and Terri Korb addressed the Board.
Communications:
�Chris Miller questioned when Rt.
32 would be paved.� Councilman James
Jennings stated he wrote letters to all state officials about paving Rt. 32, as
nothing's been done on that road since the 1990's.� He will find out when the last time Rt. 9P
was paved, as he believes it is scheduled to be done next year.� He is hopeful they will push that back and do
Rt. 32 instead, as they've done nothing there since the '90's.
Upcoming
meetings:
v
Agenda meeting � Thursday, December 6, 2018 at 7 p.m.
v Regular Town Board meeting �
Monday, December 10, 2018 at 7 p.m. �
A motion was made by Councilman James Jennings,
seconded by Councilman Gary Squires, to enter into Executive Session to discuss
litigation, personnel issues and contracts at 8:24p.m.� Supervisor
Thomas Wood - aye, Councilman Charles Hanehan � absent, Councilman Michael
McLoughlin � aye, Councilman James Jennings � aye, Councilman Gary Squires �
aye.
Carried 4 - 0
A motion was made by Supervisor Thomas Wood, seconded
by Councilman James Jennings, to exit Executive Session at 8:50 p.m.� No
Board action was taken.� Supervisor
Thomas Wood - aye, Councilman Charles Hanehan � absent, Councilman Michael
McLoughlin � aye, Councilman James Jennings � aye, Councilman Gary Squires �
aye.�
Carried 4 - 0
Audit the Bills:
On a motion by Councilman James Jennings, seconded by Councilman Michael
McLoughlin, the following Resolution #18-124
, Approving the Payment of Bills in Abstract 11G, was adopted by vote:
Supervisor Thomas Wood - aye, Councilman Michael McLoughlin � aye, Councilman
Charles Hanehan � absent, Councilman James Jennings � aye, Councilman Gary
Squires � aye.
Carried 4 � 0
RESOLVED,
by the Town Board of the Town of
Saratoga to authorize payment of the bills listed in Abstract 11G of 2018 in the following amounts:
General Fund DB ��������������� Voucher
No. 189 through 204���� ���� ����������� $�
46,648.61
General Fund A������������������� Voucher
No. 336 through 363��������������������� $� 19,520.15
General Fund B������� ����������� Voucher No. 53 through 58 ����������������������� $�� �4,364.43
Schuyler Park H������������������� Voucher
No. 32 through 38������������������������� $� 24,541.24
Historic Hudson Hoosic������� Voucher
No. 47 through 51������������������������� $��� 8,112.63
� ��������� ����������������������� ����������� ���������Grand Total���� $ 103,187.06
A motion to adjourn at 9:14 p.m. was made by
Councilman Gary Squires, seconded by Councilman Michael McLoughlin. �Supervisor
Thomas Wood - aye, Councilman Charles Hanehan � absent, Councilman Michael
McLoughlin � aye, Councilman James Jennings � aye, Councilman Gary Squires � aye.
Carried �4 - 0
Respectfully Submitted,
Linda A. McCabe
Town Clerk