Village Board Minutes

December 20,2023 (35)

A regular meeting of the Village Board was held December 20, 2023 at 4:30 PM in the Village Hall, 244 Main Street.

Mayor Pasquarell called the meeting to order & led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Roll Call: Trustee Bedell, Trustee Brown & Trustee Halliday were present.  Trustee Kelly arrived at 4:32 PM.

Motion by Trustee Brown, seconded by Trustee Bedell, approved minutes of December 6, 2023 public hearing and regular meeting as typed.
Carried – 3 – 0

CORRESPONDENCE

Laurie DeLong, Hudson River Mill Museum Board of Directors President, wrote to thank the Board of Trustees for donating the water meter to the Hudson River Mill Museum.

Steve Luttman, Ballston Spa, wrote requesting a water/sewer bill reduction for 3 Sixth Street.

Motion by Trustee Brown, seconded by Trustee Bedell, denied request by Steve Luttman, Ballston Spa, to reduce water/sewer usage charges for 3 Sixth Street. 
Carried – 3 – 0

Town Supervisor Eric Butler wrote to the Board regarding the Fire Protection contract.

DEPARTMENT REPORTS

CLERK-TREASURER – Clerk-Treas Colson was present, report for 12/20/2023 read & filed.

Motion by Trustee Bedell, seconded by Trustee Kelly, approved payment of abstract #14 in the amount of: Payroll $43,737.98 (#0600-0601); General $276,088.73 (#0602-0656; 0673); Water $1,617.46 (#0657-0663; 0673);  Sewer $7,996.20 (#0614; 0659-0660; 0663-00665; 0671; 0673); and Capital Projects $37,123.82 (#0672).
Carried – 4 – 0

Resolution #40 approved, budget transfers.

Clerk-Treas Colson stated that the Village has been awarded a $1.6 million grant for the Palmer Ave project under the NY Water Infrastructure Improvement Act (NYWIAA).

BUILDING INSPECTOR – Report for 12/20/2023 filed.

OLD BUSINESS – none

NEW BUSINESS

The Board discussed a request from Hudson River Community Credit Union for a letter of support in requesting Corinth and Luzerne be designated a Banking Development District (BDD) that seeks to encourage establishment of more banking opportunities in underserved areas of the State.  Mayor Pasquarell recused himself from the discussion.  The BDD program would make financial institutions eligible to receive State subsidized public deposits in order to lower the financial risk of serving low- and moderate-income households.

Motion by Trustee Bedell, seconded by Trustee Kelly, authorized Deputy Mayor Dean Brown to sign a letter of support for the Banking Development District Program.
Carried – 4 – 0 – 1 abstain
Trustee Bedell – aye; Trustee Brown – aye; Trustee Halliday – aye; Trustee Kelly – aye; Mayor Pasquarell – abstain

Motion by Trustee Bedell, seconded by Trustee Brown, authorized mayoral signature on a two-year contract with Interstate Towing to provide towing services to the Village.
Carried – 4 – 0

Motion by Trustee Kelly, seconded by Trustee Bedell, authorized mayoral signature on a one-year contract with Smartt Software to provide IT services to the Village.
Carried – 4 – 0

Resolution #41 approved, amendment to Rules of Procedure to change second Board meeting of the month time and location as well as Public Comment frequency.

Resolution #42 approved, designation of Mayor as ADA Coordinator and adopting ADA grievance procedure.

Motion by Trustee Bedell, seconded by Trustee Kelly, approved mayoral signature on documents transferring Village special legal council agreement from Lewis & Greer to Whiteman, Osterman & Hanna due to their recent merger.
Carried – 4 – 0

Motion by Trustee Bedell, seconded by Trustee Brown, declared an easement across property owned by Schuyler LLC (tax map #73.-2-55) as surplus and no longer needed by the Village.
Carried – 4 – 0

Motion by Trustee Bedell, seconded by Trustee Brown, approved purchase of 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD truck from DeNooyer for $60,472.62 as a piggyback on the Franklin County bid.
Carried – 4 – 0

Motion by Trustee Bedell, seconded by Trustee Kelly, authorized attendance by Douglas Gill at Wastewater training in SUNY Morrisville with reimbursement for class, lodging and expenses.
Carried – 4 – 0

The Board discussed potential amendments to the current Water Intermunicipal Agreement with the Town of Corinth to include details related to the new Foothills Builder subdivision.  Atty Buettner was requested to prepare a draft amendment with the identified items included and to further research requiring sewer connections for properties added to the Town Districts.

The Board discussed potential changes to the Sewer Code. Discussion included technical changes to equipment requirements as well as a method to allow the Board to waive penalties & fees if the owner can demonstrate water used did not enter the sewer.  The Board discussed specific criteria for determining water did not enter the sewer requiring the owner to provide proof that can be verified by the DPW.  Adequate proof is necessary to avoid gifting of public funds by inappropriately waiving fees.  Atty Buettner will provide a draft at the second meeting in January.

BOARD COMMENTS, QUESTIONS & CONCERNS

Trustee Bedell requested the water/sewer planning study include information regarding fixed base radio meter reads.

ADJOURNMENT

Motion by Trustee Bedell, seconded by Trustee Kelly, that Board adjourn, 5:00 PM.
Carried – 4 – 0

Nicole M. Colson
Clerk-Treasurer