Village Board Minutes

January 23, 2025 (43)

A regular meeting of the Village Board was held January 23, 2025 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.

Motion by Trustee Bedell, seconded by Trustee Clark, approved minutes of January 6, 2025 regular meeting as typed.
Carried – 4 – 0

CORRESPONDENCE – none.

PUBLIC COMMENTS, QUESTIONS & CONCERNS (AGENDA ITEMS ONLY)

Jennifer Kietzman, Pine St, had questions regarding the proposed changes to Palmer Avenue parking.

DEPARTMENT REPORTS

CLERK-TREASURER – Clerk-Treas Colson was present, report for 1/23/2025 read & filed.

Motion by Trustee Bedell, seconded by Trustee Stollery, approved payment of abstract #15 in the amount of: Payroll $41,609.87 (#0687); General $50,829.84 (#0688-0710; 0725-0727); Water $4,411.66 (#0710-0713; 0725-0726); Sewer $11,708.22 (#0709-0710; 0714-0723; 0725-0727); and Capital Projects $1,248.00 (#0724).
Carried – 4 – 0

Clerk-Treas Colson informed the Board of the need to hold the first public hearing to consider a 2025 CDBG application for the Heath St & Hill Ave Project.

Motion by Trustee Bedell, seconded by Trustee Kirchhoff, approved publication of a public hearing to consider 2025 CDBG funding to be held February 20, 2025 at 6:30 PM in the Firehouse.
Carried – 4 – 0

FIRE DEPARTMENT – Assistant Chief Granger was present.

DPW/WATER/WWTP – Supt Lozier was present.

Supt Lozier stated there have been numerous reports of homeowners with frozen water lines, DPW is advising homeowners on remediation.

BUILDING INSPECTOR – Insp Hepner was present, report for 1/23/2025 read & filed.

Junk Vehicle notices have gone out and numerousviolations are being remediated.

OLD BUSINESS – none.

NEW BUSINESS

The Board discussed the insurance requirement in the Food Pantry agreement.  Atty Buettner pointed out it was necessary to avoid an unlawful gift of services as the pick-ups are not a municipal function.  Mayor Miller will ask the Food Pantry representatives if they are able to provide a certificate of insurance and revisit the matter next meeting.

The Board discussed Local Law 1 of 2025 which adds two new handicap parking spots in front of the Oak St school.

Motion by Trustee Clark, seconded by Trustee Stollery, approved publication of a public hearing to consider Local Law 1 of 2025 to be held February 20, 2025 at 6:30 PM in the Firehouse.
Carried – 4 – 0

Resolution #44 approved, declaration of the Village Board as Lead Agency with respect to Local Law 1 of 2025.

Motion by Trustee Bedell, seconded by Trustee Stollery, approved publication of bid opening for Firefighter Gear Lockers on February 18, 2025 at 10:00 AM in the Village Hall.
Carried – 4 – 0

The Board discussed parking changes on Palmer Ave.  Portions of the road were marked as one-hour parking or no parking when there were more businesses on Palmer Ave and are still in the Code.  The Board discussed changes suggested by Supt Lozier to remove some of the current one-hour parking and no parking and to add no parking in the areas near the Palmer Ave/Main St intersection and near the Village/Town line where the roadway narrows.  Atty Buettner suggested the Board consider amending the current Traffic Code to remove parking schedules to allow them to be amended by resolution.

The Board instructed Atty Buettner to craft Local Law 2 of 2025 for review at the next meeting incorporating the changes suggested by Supt Lozier and further instructed she begin preparing changes to the Code to allow schedules be amended by resolution for their future review.

Mayor Miller stated the Village is creating a steering committee to work with the SEDC and State representatives to recommend potential grant projects to the Board under the NY Forward Program.  Atty Buettner clarified that the committee is purely advisory with no power to commit the Village and therefore not subject to the Open Meetings Law.   Mayor Miller recommended the following: Terry Miller, Mayor; Deb Stollery, Trustee; Melanie Denno, Town Councilmember; Kily Crooks, Town Councilmember; Hal Raven, local business owner; Derek Briner, EMS; Jennifer Kietzman, Village Planning Board; Sue Commanda, HRCCU; and Lorraine Tefft, Town Youth Commission.

Resolution #45 approved, appointing members to a Village Steering Committee for revitalization grant consideration.

Resolution #46 approved, appointment of Valerie Milligan and Catherine Lozier as Election Inspectors at the March 18, 2025 Special Election at the rate of $16 per hour and authorize the Clerk-Treasurer to appoint replacements as necessary.

PUBLIC COMMENTS, QUESTIONS & CONCERNS

Larry Deso, Maple St, presented the Board with a request to shift the water/sewer billing schedule to break up the heavy usage summer months.  Mr. Deso feels a schedule change would encourage more residents to water their lawns beautifying the community while minimizing the overage fees.  Mayor Miller thanked Mr. Deso and stated the Board would explore the options.

Jennifer Kietzman, Pine St, recommended the Board consider using the Saratogian as official newspaper now that The Post Star only publishes three days per week.

BOARD COMMENTS, QUESTIONS & CONCERNS

Trustee Bedell inquired about trail signage for the Reservoir Property.  Mayor Miller & Trustee Bedell will review and report back.  Supt Lozier is also working on a quote to replace the footbridge.

Mayor Miller read the latest statistics from the Sheriff’s Department: calls for the 4PM – midnight shift are up over 12% from 2023, all shifts are seeing a 9% increase, arrests are down 6% and traffic violations are up 1%.

Mayor Miller stated he is getting prices on camera systems to record meetings; negotiation of the Union contract and budget workshops will begin soon.  The mayor asked Supt Lozier to get a quote on the constant read system for meters.   Mayor Miller also thanked Supt Lozier and the DPW for excellent maintenance of the roadways and thanked Insp Hepner for his work on junk vehicle notifications.

ADJOURNMENT

Motion by Trustee Clark, seconded by Trustee Bedell, that Board adjourn, 7:14 PM.
Carried – 4 – 0

Nicole M. Colson
Clerk-Treasurer