Village Board Minutes

April 11, 2024 (58)

A public hearing & regular meeting of the Village Board was held April 11, 2024 at 6:30 PM in the Firehouse, 16 Saratoga Ave.

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

Roll Call: Trustee Bedell, Trustee Clark, Trustee Kirchhoff & Trustee Stollery were present.

A public hearing as published in the Post Star on April 4, 2024 was held at 6:30 PM regarding the proposed 2024/2025 budget.

Clerk-Treas Colson gave a synopsis of the proposed budget.  The proposed tax rate is $5.93 per thousand, a $0.21 increase over last year; proposed water rents are $222 per year, a $16 decrease from last year; and proposed sewer rents are $381 per year, a $3 decrease from last year.  The proposed Fire Protection Contract amount is $513,000, the same as last year.  There are no DPW equipment requests, projects include complete restoration of dead-end Center St.  Fire Department equipment requests include replacing extraction equipment and the oldest Chief’s vehicle.  Reserve contributions include $125,000 for Fire Department and $100,000 for DPW Equipment Reserves.

PUBLIC COMMENTS, QUESTIONS & CONCERNS

Jason Petrovitch, Pine St, was pleased money for a website update is included.

John Tangora, Wall St, had questions regarding the fund balance, reserves, increases to staff salaries and water/sewer wages.  Mr. Tangora also stated technology should be used to increase the frequency of water/sewer meter reads.  Mr. Tangora encouraged the Board to look for more savings in the budget and not make cuts to public safety.

Maureen Granger Kelly, Walnut St, suggested Village Hall staff track phone calls and visits to determine how much time is spent on water/sewer matters.

Chuck Pasquarell, Overlook Drive, stated it was a good budget and putting money in reserves is very important.

With no further input from the public, Mayor Miller closed the public hearing at 7:01 PM.

Nicole M. Colson
Clerk-Treasurer

A regular meeting of the Village Board was held April 11, 2024 at 7:01 PM in the Firehouse, 16 Saratoga Ave.

Motion by Trustee Bedell, seconded by Trustee Clark, approved minutes of March 14, 2024 special meeting and March 20, 2024 public hearing & regular meeting as typed.
Carried – 4 – 0

CORRESPONDENCE

Corinth Volunteer Firemen’s Association invited the Village Board to the Annual Old Timer’s Night on April 13^th at 6:00 PM.

Senator James Tedisco copied the Board on a letter sent to the leaders of the Legislature requesting increased AIM funding for local municipalities.

Robert Baldwin wrote requesting use of the Jessup’s Landing Community Park (JLCP) for the Axe & Eagle Youth Lacrosse program April – July.

Motion by Trustee Bedell, seconded by Trustee Stollery, approved mayoral signature on a contract with Axe & Eagle Youth Lacrosse for use of the JLCP April – July 2024.
Carried – 4 – 0

Andy Wood, Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, wrote requesting use of the Firehouse Sundays during the Palmer Ave construction.  Chief Kelley stated he has spoken with Pastor Wood regarding a conflict on the fourth Sunday of the month and also instructed where to park and how to set up and remove the chairs.

Motion by Trustee Stollery, seconded by Trustee Bedell, approved use of the Firehouse by Corinth First Presbyterian Church Sundays for the duration of the Palmer Ave construction with a signed hold harmless agreement.
Carried – 4 – 0

Ms. Rita Martiniano, 204 Walnut St, requested the Board waive water & sewer late fees on her account due to check fraud that prevented her payment from being received.

Motion by Trustee Bedell, seconded by Trustee Stollery, authorized late fee reversal on water/sewer account for 204 Walnut St in the amount of $15.55.
Carried – 4 – 0

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

DEPARTMENT REPORTS

CLERK-TREASURER – Clerk-Treas Colson was present, report for 4/11/2024 read & filed.

Motion by Trustee Clark, seconded by Trustee Bedell, approved payment of abstract #21 in the amount of: Payroll  $41,478.27 (#0983-0984); General $75,924.14 (#0985-1035; 1046-1053); Water $13,651.52 (#1036-1037; 1048-1053); Sewer $14,216.93 (#1038-1043; 1046; 1048-1053); Capital Projects $7,697.00 (#1044-1045); and       HUD Housing $55,659.27 (#1248; 1435-1436).
Carried – 4- 0

Resolution #82 approved, budget transfers.

Motion by Trustee Bedell, seconded by Trustee Stollery, authorized the Clerk-Treas to file a 2024/2025 property tax levy of $1,615,795 with the Office of State Comptroller.
Carried – 4 – 0

The Board set a special budget workshop meeting to be held Monday, April 29, 2024 at 6:30 PM in the Firehouse.

Clerk-Treas Colson presented the Board with information regarding online credit card and ACH payment of property taxes through MuniciPAY.  All payments will be processed online through a secure third party, no information will be kept at the Village Hall.  The Board consensus was to move forward with the service.

FIRE DEPARTMENT – Chief Kelley was present, report for March 2024 read & filed.

Chief Kelley stated the Department has recently received Leadership training.  The Department has also set up pre-school visits and a meet and greet with residents of Adam Lawrence to address evacuation procedures.

Chief Kelley also referenced recent repairs to a truck including replacement of 6 tires at $4,000.

DPW/WATER/WWTP – Supt Lozier was present, report for March 2024 read & filed.

Supt Lozier stated street sweeping began in April, repairs to top soil damage from plowing will begin next week.  The fence in Pagenstecher Park will also be repaired next week. 

Head Operator Holmes has completed the Town lead water service line inventory and submitted the Annual Water Quality Report to DOH for their review.  Additional sound management will be installed at WWTP to minimize the noise of the blowers.

Supt Lozier received permission form the Board to mark the 3-way stop at Eggleston & Main St when weather permits.

BUILDING INSPECTOR – Insp Hepner was present, report for 4/11/2024 read & filed.

Mayor Miller read March statistics from the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Department.  The mayor stated he willrequest more detailed reports in the future as well as discuss varying some coverage.

OLD BUSINESS – none.

NEW BUSINESS

The Board discussed a proposal by Laberge Group to offer grant writing services for water & wastewater infrastructure, with a focus on Heath Street & Hill Avenue.

Motion by Trustee Bedell, seconded by Trustee Stollery, approved mayoral signature on proposal with Laberge Group for all grant services offered at the following fees: DWSRF & CWSRF applications $2,000 per application; NYWIIA $4,500 plus expenses; CDBG $8,500 plus expenses and required Environmental Review record at $3,500 plus expenses.
Carried – 4 – 0

Motion by Trustee Bedell, seconded by Trustee Stollery, approved mayoral and Clerk-Treas signature on an audit engagement letter with CHS Wealth Management for $17,000.
Carried – 4 – 0

The Board reviewed a proposal from Laberge Group to engineer a new sewer line connection between Palmer Ave and Hudson River Community Credit Union (HRCCU) Operation Center.  The line would be dedicated to the Village after completion and the Village would be reimbursed Laberge’s engineering costs.

Motion by Trustee Clark, seconded by Trustee Stollery, approved mayoral signature on Laberge Group proposal for sewer line connection from HRCCU to Palmer Avenue; $15,500 Design Phase, Construction Phase $5,000 plus $1,120 per day for construction observation to be reimbursed by HRCCU.
Carried – 4 – 0

Motion by Trustee Stollery, seconded by Trustee Kirchhoff, approved mayoral signature on agreement with HRCCU to reimburse all engineering costs of the sewer connection between HRCCU Operation Center and Palmer Ave with the line being dedicated to the Village upon completion.
Carried – 4 – 0

Motion by Truste Stollery, seconded by Trustee Kirchhoff, approved proposal from Harris Local Government Software to program new report necessary for Positive Pay banking files, $1,800.
Carried – 4 – 0

Motion by Trustee Bedell, seconded by Trustee Stollery, approved proposal from Buddy’s Tree Service to take down and remove three trees in Village alleyways; $6,000.
Carried – 4 – 0

Supt Lozier informed the Board there are several alleyways in the Village that are not necessary & not maintained by DPW, he will submit a list and requests the Board take action for legal abandonment.

Resolution #83 approved, resignation of Debbie Stollery from Planning Board as of March 28, 2024.
Trustee Bedell -aye, Trustee Clark – aye, Trustee Kirchhoff – aye, Trustee Stollery – abstain

Motion by Trustee Bedell, seconded by Trustee Kirchhoff, approved publication in the Post Star and on the Village website of the recent Comptroller audit of the Village of Corinth which is available on the OSC website.
Carried – 4 – 0

PUBLIC COMMENTS, QUESTIONS & CONCERNS

Dwayn Burke, Oak St, thanked Supt Lozier for his crew’s maintenance of the roads this winter and thanked Chief Kelley for his leadership of the Fire Department.

Maureen Granger Kelly, Walnut St, expressed approval for using Positive Pay services with the bank and wished the new Board well.

Jim Murray, Center St, expressed appreciation that dead-end Center St would be redone for the first time since 1985.

BOARD COMMENTS, QUESTIONS & CONCERNS

Mayor Miller stated he had a luncheon meeting with all staff this week and a great group of people keep the Village going. He also stated he was working with Insp Hepner to clean up several local properties and with Head Operator Holmes to address the odor issues from the WWTP.

Mayor Miller requested an executive session to discuss litigation with Indeck and proposed litigation.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

 

Motion by Trustee Bedell, seconded by Trustee Stollery, to adjourn to executive session as requested by Mayor Miller above, 7:47 PM.
Carried – 4 – 0

At 8:14 PM the Board reconvened with no action taken in executive session.

ADJOURNMENT

Motion by Trustee Bedell, seconded by Trustee Stollery, that Board adjourn, 8:15 PM.
Carried – 4 – 0

Nicole M. Colson
Clerk-Treasurer