March 26, 2025 (58)

A special meeting of the Village Board, budget workshop, was held March 26, 2025 at 6:00 PM in the Village Hall, 244 Main St.

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

Roll Call: Trustee Bedell, Trustee Clark & Trustee Stollery were present.  Trustee Kirchhoff arrived late at 6:22 PM.
Also Present: Superintendent Lozier & Asst Fire Chief Granger

NEW BUSINESS

Clerk-Treas Colson outlined the tentative budget for 2025/2026 filed March 20, 2025.  The tentative budget is based on a tax rate of $5.93 per thousand.  Input received from the mayor include a range of increases to non-Union employee compensation ranging from 2% - 6%; an increase to the Trustee salaries of $500 each; increase to crossing guard payrates of $2.00 - $2.50 per hour; and an increase to the part-time laborer rate of $2.00 per hour.  Increases to the Union employees was set by contract at $1.30 per hour.   Per agreement of the Board members the line items for the Fire Department were reduced by $103,300 from the Department’s initial budget request and their proposed Equipment Reserve contribution was reduced from $275,000 to $125,000.  Total General Fund budget is $3,500,309 with an expected draw from fund balance of $50,955.  Clerk-Treas Colson outlined the largest unknowns in the current proposed budget as the Sheriff Special Protection contract and the insurance costs.  Estimates are included in the tentative budget and will hopefully be finalized before budget adoption.

The Board discussed potential scenarios for negotiation of the Special Protection contract including language to give the Village more control over when and where the patrols concentrate their time as well as requiring attendance at school sporting events.  Trustee Bedell recused himself from the discussion and did not participate due to his employment with the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Department.

At 6:22 PM Trustee Kirchhoff arrived.

The Board discussed negotiating the Fire Protection contract with the Town of Corinth.  Trustee Clark recused himself from the discussion and did not participate due to his membership in the Fire Department.

The Board discussed the DPW & Fire Department budgets with Supt Lozier & Asst Chief Granger.  Asst Chief Granger spoke to the Board regarding the need for increased contribution to the Fire Equipment Reserve in anticipation of replacing ETA-215.  Asst Chief Granger noted the rising costs of fire equipment & expressed concern that not keeping pace with the reserve contributions would delay purchase of a new truck.

The Board discussed passing a resolution of their intent to purchase a new sidewalk plow off ofSourcewell contract upon adoption of the 2025/2026 budget.  A resolution with the Village’s intent to purchase may allow ordering of the equipment prior to any tariffs that may go into effect in April.  The Board also discussed possibly purchasing the equipment from the Equipment Reserve to allow permissive referendum.

Resolution #54 approved, intent to purchase a sidewalk snowplow with attachments from Joe Johnson Equipment through Sourcewell contract #093021-ELG at a sum not to exceed $182,303.74, such purchase contingent on the adoption of the 2025-2026 Village Budget to include the funds for this purchase.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Mayor Miller requested an executive session to discuss matters related to the employment history of a specific employee.

Motion by Trustee Bedell, seconded by Trustee Stollery, that Board adjourn to executive session as requested by Mayor Miller above, 7:55 PM.
Carried – 4 – 0

At 7:59 PM the Board reconvened with no action taken in executive session.

Resolution #55 approved, acceptance of resignation of Nicholas Burke as MEO effective March 26, 2025.

ADJOURNMENT

Motion by Trustee Clark, seconded by Trustee Stollery, that Board adjourn, 8:00 PM.
Carried – 4 – 0

Nicole M. Colson
Clerk-Treasurer