Village Board Minutes

July 1, 2024 (8)

A regular meeting of the Village Board was held July 1, 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 Kirchhoff & Trustee Stollery were present.  Trustee Clark was excused.

Motion by Trustee Bedell, seconded by Trustee Stollery, approved minutes of June 13, 2024 special meeting and June 17, 2024 regular meeting as typed.
Carried – 3 – 0

CORRESPONDENCE

Mayor Miller acknowledged a letter from James Byron, 18 Liberty St, regarding water/sewer billing and other issues.

PUBLIC COMMENTS, QUESTIONS & CONCERNS

Jennifer Michelle, Locust Ridge, questioned Mr. Byron’s billing issues.

DEPARTMENT REPORTS

CLERK-TREASURER – Clerk-Treas Colson was present, report for 7/1/2024 read & filed.

Motion by Trustee Bedell, seconded by Trustee Kirchhoff, approved payment of abstract #2 in the amount of: Payroll $45,234.54 (#0027-0028); General $75,511.57 (#0029-0059, 0075-0077); Water $12,923.45 (#0058-0065, 0071-0073, 0077); Sewer $6,546.20 (#0059, 0066-0073, 0075, 0077); and Capital Projects $13,706.03 (#0058, 0074).
Carried – 3 – 0

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

Mayor Miller commented on the fire call pager he received from Chief Kelley and the large number of calls that go out in Saratoga County.

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

DPW installed water service to the train depot on Railroad Place and assisted with the new water line installed at the Town Hall.

Jessup’s Landing Community Park sign was installed as well as new planter around the Pagenstecher Park sign.  Additional trail markers were installed at the Reservoir Property.

Reed beds 2-4 are being prepped for planting at the WWTP as the first reeds planted are doing very well.

Supt Lozier also noted that the crew would install the three-way stop at the Main St/Eggleston St intersection tomorrow.

BUILDING INSPECTOR – Insp Hepner was present, report for 7/1/2024 read & filed.

Mayor Miller asked Insp Hepner to check on the former Main St laundromat as the door appeared to be unlocked.  Mayor Miller also had questions regarding the former NAPA building where The Sign Studio has opened and the site of the display shed on Main Street.

SARATOGA COUNTY SHERIFF

No report on file.  Mayor Miller stated he is in the process on getting a new Special Protection contract for Board review.

Trustee Stollery stated multiple patrol cars responded to a recent false alarm 9-1-1 call on The Barn property.

OLD BUSINESS – none.

NEW BUSINESS

The Board discussed a potential CDBG application for restoration of Heath St and Hill Ave.   Requirements include holding a public hearing for input and a special income survey report from the recent Village-wide income survey showing Heath St & Hill Ave for direct low – to – moderate income benefit.

Resolution #12 approved, authorizing mayor to sign an application for 2024 Community Development Block Grant for utility replacement and road restoration on Heath St & Hill Ave with the public hearing to be held July 15, 2024 at 6:30 PM in the Firehouse.

Motion by Trustee Bedell, seconded by Trustee Stollery, approved mayoral signature on a proposal from G & G Municipal Consulting for income report on Heath St & Hill Ave; $1,500.
Carried – 3 – 0

Resolution #13 approved, designation of Nicole M. Colson as Certifying Officer for CDBG documentation.

The Board, Supt Lozier & Chief Kelley discussed the viability of continuing public access to the boat launch.The swift current and proximity to the dam makes it a dangerous launching spot.  There are also issues with trailers in the small parking lot.  Since the East River Drive launch is only 4 miles (12 minutes) away, the Board decided to no longer allow public access to the launch and instructed Supt Lozier to install bollards and rope off the launch.

PUBLIC COMMENTS, QUESTIONS & CONCERNS

Jennifer Michelle, Locust Ridge, thanked Supt Lozier for assistance in switching plants at the beach garden and asked the Board to consider installing an informational sign.  Ms. Michelle requested the Board consider not cutting the cattails at the beach edge as it can be an important habitat for biodiversity.  Ms. Michelle also stated she has collected and disposed of 60 pounds of invasive mugwort growing on Village property. 

Jennifer Kietzman, Pine St, thanked Supt Lozier for the new trail markers and gave him the flyers printed by the Town for the kiosk, she also stated the trail registry should be ready July 3^rd.  Ms. Kietzman informed the Board the hiking trail challenge launch date has been pushed back to September and submitted a list of volunteers interested in forming a maintenance committee.

BOARD COMMENTS, QUESTIONS & CONCERNS

Mayor Miller stated the grant for trail signage had been submitted to the Saratoga County Trails Grant Program and stated he has begun investigating getting a splash pad installed at Pagenstecher Park.  The mayor also stated he had discussed the resolution to provide Village water to the Foothills Builders subdivision in the Town with Mr. Leuci.

Trustee Stollery inquired into moving the fire siren from Jessup’s Landing Park.  Chief Kelley stated it had previously been discussed but determined to be too expensive.

ADJOURNMENT

Motion by Trustee Bedell, seconded by Trustee Stollery, that the Board adjourn, 7:25 PM.
Carried – 3 – 0

Nicole M. Colson
Clerk-Treasurer