Village Board Minutes

July 21, 2021 (8)

A regular meeting of the Village Board was held July 21, 2021 at 6:00 PM in the Firehouse, 16 Saratoga Ave.

Roll Call: Trustee Bedell, Trustee Brown, Trustee Halliday & Trustee Kelly were present.

Motion by Trustee Brown, seconded by Trustee Halliday, approved minutes of the July 7, 2021 public hearing & regular meeting as typed.
Carried – 4 – 0

SPECIFIC REQUESTS

Alex Barr, Molly Pezzulo & Christina Brown of Saratoga County Public Health, along with Sabrina Herlick of the Alliance for Positive Health, addressed the Board on behalf of the Healthy Corinth Coalition.  The Coalition is planning to install a sharps disposal kiosk at the Jessup’s Landing EMS building for community disposal of used needles.  Currently, the nearest disposal site is Saratoga Hospital, 15 miles away, which can contribute to the improper disposal of needles.  The group presented the Board with statistics of opioid use in Saratoga County and the Village.  The State will install the kiosk and maintain it for one year at no cost to the community.  After one year the EMS will take over maintenance of the kiosk.

CORRESPONDENCE

Steve Clark, of the Corinth Community Churches, requested use of the Village Beach on August 8, 2021 for their “Down by the Riverside” event.  They have requested access to the Village electricity for the event as well.

Motion by Trustee Kelly, seconded by Trustee Bedell, approved use of the Village Beach by the Corinth Community Churches on August 8, 2021, and access to electricity, with adequate hold harmless documentation.
Carried – 4 – 0

Theresa M. Junco, Village resident, wrote the Board regarding the proposed RISE apartment complex.  Atty Buettner reminded the Board that the project is under the purview of the Planning Board and that it would be an abuse of their offices and violation of their Constitutional Oaths to attempt to sway any decision of the Planning Board.  The letter has been forwarded to the Planning Board members for consideration at the August 11 continuation of the public hearing on the matter.

PUBLIC COMMENT, QUESTIONS & CONCERNS (AGENDA ITEMS ONLY) – none.

DEPARTMENT REPORTS

CLERK/TREASURER – Clerk- Treas Colson was present, report for 7/21/21 read & filed.

Motion by Trustee Halliday, seconded by Trustee Bedell, approved payment of abstract #3: Payroll $39,189.41; General $32,890.73; Water $1,018.78; Sewer $6,862.07; and Capital Reserves $33,777.96.
Carried – 4 – 0

Clerk-Treas Colson informed the Board a mailer would go out regarding proper garbage protocol and acceptable recyclable items.

FIRE DEPARTMENT – Chief Kelley was present.

Motion by Trustee Kelly, seconded by Trustee Bedell, approved Firemen’s Association coin drop to be held July 30 – August 1 on West Maple St adhering to all safety protocol.
Carried – 4 – 0

Chief Kelley informed the Board the tanker #216 is currently out of service and awaiting a part for repairs.  There is no estimate of its return to service.

DPW/WATER/WWTP – Supt Lozier was present.

Sewer installation at the garage is nearing completion, the crew will next move on to repair of Second Street between Oak & Walnut Street.

BUILDING INSPECTOR – Insp Hepner was present, report for 7/21/2021 read & filed.

OLD BUSINESS – none.

NEW BUSINESS

A proposal was received to install a fire alarm system at the new WWTP within the Control Building.

Resolution #8 approved, change order #5 for Electrical Contract #4 WWTP construction, Harold Clune Inc., increase of $25,265.85 for a total contract of $817,750.60.

Resolution #9 approved, resignation of Andrew Burke from the Planning Board.

Zoning Board of Appeals attorney Stefanie Bitter recommended consideration of changing the current Zoning law requirement that applicants notify property owners within 500 feet of the proposed action by certified mail.   The certified mailing requirement is not part of State law and can be quite expensive to applicants.  Atty Bitter recommended amending the law to require only the newspaper publication and notification of property owners by regular mail.  The Board agreed to consider those changes and requested Atty Buettner prepare a draft for their review.

Atty Buettner discussed the Marihuana Regulation & Taxation Act signed into law by the Governor in March.  Under the law the Village has to consider allowing cannabis retail dispensaries or onsite consumption licenses within the Village.  If the Village chooses to allow retail and consumption licenses the siting of those businesses would need to be addressed through Zoning permitted uses.  If the Village wishes to opt out of the retail and consumption licenses they would need to do so by local law, subject to permissive referendum, by December 31, 2021.  Opting out would preclude the Village from sharing in the excise taxes.  After discussion, the Board decided not to opt out, Atty Buettner will begin the process for zoning changes.

PUBLIC COMMENTS, QUESTIONS & CONCERNS

Jennifer Keatsman & Kathleen Emery, Village residents, questioned who is responsible for a determination on the 60-unit Rise housing project and what criteria is used.  They were informed it is before the Planning Board and the Code is on the Village website.

Louise Kirkpatrick, Village resident, and John Tangora, Town resident, presented objections to the Rise project.  Mr. Tangora also expressed concerns with vacant buildings and encouraged increasing Code Enforcement.

Mary Beth McCue, Village resident, spoke of the importance for community unity and sustainable projects.  Ms. McCue also expressed concern with retail space for marijuana.

BOARD COMMENTS, QUESTIONS & CONCERNS

The Board thanked the public for attending and commenting.

ADJOURNMENT

Motion by Trustee Kelly, seconded by Trustee Brown, that Board adjourn, 7:11 PM.
Carried – 4 – 0

Nicole M. Colson
Clerk-Treasurer