Village Board Minutes

January 3, 2024 (37)

A regular meeting of the Village Board was held January 3, 2024 at 6:00 PM in the Firehouse, 16 Saratoga Avenue.

Deputy Mayor Dean Brown called the meeting to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Roll Call: Trustee Bedell, Trustee Brown & Trustee Halliday were present.  Trustee Kelly & Mayor Pasquarell arrived late.

Motion by Trustee Bedell, seconded by Trustee Halliday, approved minutes of December 20, 2023 regular meeting as typed.
Carried – 3 – 0

CORRESPONDENCE

Franklin Bennek, owner of 22 Oak St, requested a water/sewer credit for the building since it is consuming under the 20,000 gallons allotted under the Minimum Value Charge.

Richard Lindsey, owner of 12 Bleeker St, requested a water/sewer fee reduction as he disputes the consumption reading.

Motion by Trustee Bedell, seconded by Trustee Halliday, denied requests by Franklin Bennek, re: 22 Oak St, and Richard Lindsey, re: 12 Bleeker St for water/sewer credits/reductions.
Carried – 3 – 0

Robert Duffy, Corinth Central Middle School teacher, wrote requesting volunteer opportunities for his students.  Supt Lozier stated he had no activities appropriate for the age group, but there may be opportunities this spring if Mr. Duffy would like to reach out then.

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

DEPARTMENT REPORTS

CLERK-TREASURER – Clerk-Treas Colson was present, report for 1/3/2024 read & filed.

Motion by Trustee Bedell, seconded by Trustee Halliday, approved payment of abstract #15 in the amount of: Payroll $39,876.36 (#0674); General $65,416.36 (#0675-0716);  Water $7,579.05 (#0715-0721; 0725-0726); Sewer $12,410.28 (#0712-0716; 0721-0726);  and HUD Housing $47,338.00 (CK#1429)
Carried – 3 – 0

FIRE DEPARTMENT – Chief Kelley was present, report for December 2023 read & filed.

Chief Kelley presented information to the Board regarding an available grant for construction of a decontamination facility on land to be donated by the Volunteer Firemen’s Association.   There is a local retired grant writer willing to prepare and submit a grant on behalf of the Village at no charge.   The Board directed Atty Buettner to draft a contract with Ms.  Saraceni for grant preparation and submission.

Motion by Trustee Halliday, seconded by Trustee Bedell, authorized mayoral signature on a contract with Vicky Saraceni to prepare a Department of Homeland Security grant for fire infrastructure upon attorney review.
Carried – 3 – 0

Chief Kelley also presented a contract with MJ Burben for grant writing and administration for fire equipment grants for $10,000 plus travel expenses.  The Board will review the proposal.

Mayor Pasquarell arrived at 6:30 PM.

DPW/WATER/WWTP – Supt Lozier was present, report for December 2023 read & filed.

Supt Lozier stated the DPW has been busy with meter inspections and the road sign inventory.

Trustee Kelly arrived at 6:33 PM.

BUILDING INSPECTOR – Insp Hepner was present, report for 1/3/2024 read & filed.

Deputy Mayor Brown thanked Insp Hepner for attending recent cannabis zoning regulation training, Clerk-Treas Colson stated the training is recorded if the Board was interested in viewing.

OLD BUSINESS – none.

NEW BUSINESS

Motion by Trustee Bedell, seconded by Trustee Kelly, authorized mayoral signature on termination of contract documents with Constructed Wetlands Group (CWG) subject to attorney review.
Carried – 4 – 0

Trustee Kelly spoke regarding the Fire Protection contract with the Town and the hours of negotiation she and Trustee Halliday spent with Town representatives.  The Supervisor requested a multi-year contract in place of the one-year contract originally presented by the Village, the Village provided a three-year contract for the Town and met every specification requested by the Supervisor as requested. The Town Board subsequently refused it.  The current proposed contract is a one-year contract and includes language binding the Town to attending negotiation meetings and signing a memorandum of intent by April 1, 2024 in an effort to prevent the need for last minute negotiations.  Trustee Halliday emphasized the importance of the Town representatives attending the budget meetings and negotiations as they are receiving two new Board members in 2024.  Deputy Mayor Brown thanked Trustees Halliday & Kelly for their time and efforts.

Motion by Trustee Bedell, seconded by Trustee Halliday, authorized mayoral signature on the 2024 Fire Protection contract with the Town of Corinth for $513,000.
Carried – 4 – 0

Motion by Trustee Bedell, seconded by Trustee Kelly, seconded by Trustee Kelly, declared the easement on tax map #73.-2-55 as surplus and unnecessary to the Village and authorized mayoral signature on a release of the easement.
Carried – 4 – 0

The Board discussed potential changes to the Water Intermunicipal Agreement (IMA) with the Town of Corinth, Trustee Bedell requested language requiring sewer installation at the same time as water at the discretion of the Village Board.  Atty Buettner stated she would include the language, but it could ultimately be rejected since it is a water agreement.

Motion by Trustee Halliday, seconded by Trustee Bedell, authorized mayoral signature on the revised Water IMA upon preparation by the Attorney and review by the Board.
Carried – 4 – 0

Deputy Mayor Brown tabled the final two agenda items pertaining to real estate purchase and requested an executive session to discuss.

PUBLIC COMMENTS, QUESTIONS & CONCERNS

John Tangora, Wall Street, requested the Board consider outsourcing water/sewer reads to allow for reads more frequently without using Village staff as the most effective use of technology.

Jennifer Michelle, Locust Ridge, asked the status of the planting contracts which have not yet been prepared, and offered native rose bushes for planting.

BOARD COMMENTS, QUESTIONS & CONCERNS

Trustee Bedell stated increasing the frequency of the meter readings would still not give homeowners access to the information unless there was a continuous leak trigger.

Deputy Mayor Brown offered a quote from Adam Grant regarding looking for the good in others and encouraged everyone to look for the best.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Motion by Mayor Pasquarell, seconded by Trustee Bedell, that Board adjourn to executive session to discuss potential purchase of real estate as requested by Deputy Mayor Brown and litigation as requested by Atty Buettner, 6:59 PM.
Carried – 5 – 0

At 7:30 PM the Board reconvened with no action taken in executive session.

Resolution #43 approved, declaration of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Corinth as Lead Agency for the purposes of SEQR for potential purchase of 97 Main Street (tax map #73.27-2-1.1).

Motion by Trustee Kelly, seconded by Trustee Halliday, authorized mayoral signature on Letter of Intent to Purchase 97 Main Street (tax map #73.27-2-1.1) for $695,000.
Carried – 5 – 0

ADJOURNMENT

Motion by Trustee Kelly, seconded by Trustee Bedell, that Board adjourn, 7:31 PM.
Carried – 4 – 0

Nicole M. Colson
Clerk-Treasurer