PRESENT:
Supervisor Entwistle
Councilwoman Kardash
Councilman Scouten
Councilwoman Abrial
Councilwoman Verschneider

ABSENT:
No members of the Town Board were absent.

RECORDING SECRETARY: Tracy Terry, Town Clerk

CALL TO ORDER:
The meeting was called to order at 6:37 PM by Supervisor Entwistle.

ABSTRACTS:
GENERAL:
A motion was made by Councilwoman Kardash and seconded by Councilwoman Abrial to pay Abstract #3, Vouchers #142- #192 in the amount of $37,062.03.

Roll call vote: Councilwoman Kardash -yes Councilman Scouten- yes Councilwoman Abrial – yes Councilwoman Verschneider-yes Supervisor Entwistle-yes

HIGHWAY:
A motion was made by Councilwoman Verschneider and seconded by Councilwoman Kardash to pay Abstract #3, vouchers #60- #100 in the amount of $23,779.17.

Roll call vote: Councilwoman Kardash -yes Councilman Scouten- yes Councilwoman Abrial – yes Councilwoman Verschneider-yes Supervisor Entwistle-yes

AMBULANCE:
A motion was made by Councilwoman Abrial and seconded by Councilman Scouten to pay Abstract #3, voucher #2 in the amount of $18,750.00

Roll call vote: Councilwoman Kardash -yes Councilman Scouten- yes Councilwoman Abrial – yes Councilwoman Verschneider-yes Supervisor Entwistle-yes

TOWN CLERK MINUTES:
A motion was made by Councilwoman Verschneider and seconded by Councilwoman Abrial to accept the minutes from the: Town Board Regular Meeting- February 16, 2022

Roll Call Vote: Councilwoman Kardash -yes Councilman Scouten- yes Councilwoman Abrial – yes Councilwoman Verschneider-yes Supervisor Entwistle-yes

REPORTS

TOWN CLERK REPORT
JUSTICE REPORT
PLANNING REPORT
DOG REPORT
SUPERVISOR REPORT

A motion was made by Councilwoman Abrial and seconded by Councilman Scouten to approve the reports as a whole.

Roll Call Vote: Councilwoman Kardash -yes Councilman Scouten- yes Councilwoman Abrial – yes Councilwoman Verschneider-yes Supervisor Entwistle-yes

NOCCOG:
Lisa, from NOCCOG went over the monthly announcements.

OLD BUSINESS BOARD

• NOCCOG 5-year Intermunicipal agreement: Supervisor Entwistle read thefollowing Resolution aloud:

*Auxiliary content from this section of minutes can be found here (pp. 3-5)*

A motion was made by Councilman Scouten and seconded by Councilwoman Verschneider to approve the Resolution.

Roll call vote: Councilwoman Kardash -yes Councilman Scouten- yes Councilwoman Abrial – yes Councilwoman Verschneider-yes Supervisor Entwistle-yes

• Master Plan Committee: There are currently three members and hopefully they will have four. There should be a Memorial kick-off. This is a two-year project.
  
• Lambert/Wheatley Area Variance: Supervisor Entwistle read off the 5 factors considered.

*Auxiliary content from this section of minutes can be found here (p. 6)*

A motion was made by Councilman Scouten and seconded by Councilwoman Verschneider to approve the Lambert/Wheatley Variance.

Roll call vote: Councilwoman Kardash -yes Councilman Scouten- yes Councilwoman Abrial – yes Councilwoman Verschneider-yes Supervisor Entwistle-yes

• Allison Area Variance: The Allison Variance is tabled until next month. Mr. Allison gave the Town Board permission to walk the property.
  
• Quarry Update: The Planning Board held a Public Hearing regarding the Town approval of the Quarry on Stone Quarry Road. It was attended by in-person and via zoom. The DEC and APA has approved Mr. Sunderlin’s permit to mine the area. The Planning Board is reviewing his application to the Town for Site Plan. The majority of what is being reviewed is the use of a seasonal town road to access the mine site. The Planning Board is currently waiting on a 239 Review from County Planning Office to review the project, DOT for the intersection of Route 28 and Stone Quarry Road and a couple other minor things. The next Planning Board meeting is April 13, 2022, at the Town Hall at 6:30PM. It will be on zoom as the Planning Board recessed the Public Hearing. The zoom link will be posted on the town website.
  
• Highway Barn camera: Big Apple music has installed a camera aimed at the gas pumps at the Highway Barn.

NEW BUSINESS BOARD:

• Yoga Room: The Town is working with Wholesome Living and other yoga instructors to create this Yoga space. Ash Fletcher has a Yoga program on Wednesday at 10am and Teresa Nickerson Yoga Fire is Tuesday at 5:30pm. Anyone interested in teaching Yoga or Zumba can utilize the space. In discussion regarding the Yoga room, Karen Howard asked if they could rent a room for the Cemetery. Supervisor Entwistle stated the rooms are currently full, but if there is an opening they could discuss it.
  
• Camp Nazareth: They will be opening up this summer. They increased the cost to the Town to $300 per camper. There is approximately $6,000 in the budget to send the children. If the Board pays the total cost, they could send twenty campers. If parents pay a portion, they could send a few more. Councilwoman Kardash stated if it’s the first time, they should go for free and if it’s the second time, they should pay something. There were a lot of generous donations which is included in the $6,000. Registration is not open yet as the Town doesn’t have the applications. Once they do, it will be posted on the website. It’s open to children ages 8-15.
  
• Summer Recreation: Supervisor Entwistle has reached out for instructors but hasn’t heard anything back yet.
  
• Trail Counters for Trackside Blazers: The Town has contributed money towards these trail counters. There was one at the Alder Creek intersection and one by the Clubhouse on Horton Road. The Horton Road counter shows177 snowmobiles a day and the Alder Creek intersection shows 53 sleds a day. The town felt this is useful because when the town applies for grants, data is the basis for the grant award. There is an invoice from Trackside Blazers.
  
• Alder Creek Solar: They are currently working on wildlife surveys and once the snow goes, they will be doing wetland delineation and cultural resource testing. They are submitting a jurisdictional determination package to the DEC and the Army Corp of Engineers to get the wetland limits reviewed and approved. There is a several month turnaround time. They are planning on submitting the application in the fourth quarter of this year. Once they submit it, they will be discussing the PILOT program.
  
• StaR Ambulance Merger: Supervisor Entwistle attended a meeting with the Trenton, Remsen and Steuben Supervisors and Brian Healey with StaR ambulance and Tom Meyers, Central Oneida County Ambulance. StaR Ambulance is in a great place financially, but do not have staff due to COVID. StaR has entered discussions with Central Oneida County Ambulance to merge with them. StaR would maintain their name and service. Central Oneida County Ambulance would be responsible for billing and filling the gaps when STAR staff is low. StaR has had to eliminate overnight paid staff. StaR needs all Town’s approval for the merger to take place. The goal is to have the merger completed by September. With Central Oneida County Ambulance, there is a possibility of having Forestport residents obtain EMT training. There is also the possibility of offering Tele Health to individuals who would like to do that instead of riding in the ambulance. Central Oneida County Ambulance has the ability to compile data to see where the most calls come from, the time of call and the need. There may be a possibility of having an ambulance stationed in Forestport from time to time. Discussion took place regarding certificates of need.

A motion was made by Councilwoman Abrial and seconded by Councilwoman Kardash to approve the merger.

Roll call vote: Councilwoman Kardash -yes Councilman Scouten- yes Councilwoman Abrial – yes Councilwoman Verschneider-yes Supervisor Entwistle-yes

• Old Forge Ambulance: Gary, the President of the Old Forge Ambulance and Danielle attended the meeting and stated Old Forge Ambulance would like the contract to be changed. Supervisor Entwistle asked Gary to come up with the new language and the Board will review it. Gary also asked the Town Board to consider an increase in funding to be able to provide the ambulance service. Last year they had 57 calls to Forestport.
  
• Ash Fletcher: Supervisor Entwistle read a letter aloud from Ash Fletcher with her building use requests. Ash has been charging the town $50 a week for the senior yoga. Temporarily while she’s using the gym for dance, she’s not charging the Town for the yoga and the town is not charging her for the gym use. All the yoga instructors pay rent, but in this particular situation, while Ash is doing the yoga for the town, she will not be charged. Once the Yoga space is completed, the Town Board will reevaluate the space rental.

A motion was made by Councilwoman Abrial and seconded by Councilman Scouten to allow Ash Fletcher to use the gym and Yoga room for the Spring retreat and Spring Training for Just Dance.

Roll call vote: Councilwoman Kardash -yes Councilman Scouten- yes Councilwoman Abrial – yes Councilwoman Verschneider-yes Supervisor Entwistle-yes

• Building use: There is a lot of community use for the gym. When someone is done using the gym, they need to return the key. If they want to rent again, they have to submit another request.
  
• Mileage: Supervisor Entwistle stated with gas prices increasing, he suggested raising the rate to 58 cents per mile. The Federal reimbursement rate for mileage is 58.5 cents per mile. Councilwoman Kardash suggested 56 cents per mile.

A motion was made by Councilwoman Kardash and seconded by Councilwoman Verschneider to raise the gas mileage rate to 56 cents per mile.

Roll call vote: Councilwoman Kardash -yes Councilman Scouten- yes Councilwoman Abrial – yes Councilwoman Verschneider-yes Supervisor Entwistle-yes

• Website: The Town is currently using Digital Towpath. The Town Board discussed where the money would be taken out of for a new website company. Coughlin is very responsive when you call and are cheaper than the other companies, they are ADA compliant and there is an option for an email alert that’s posted to the website. The Town Clerk has been putting minutes on the website from 2008, but there is an issue is when they get scanned in. You can’t search those minutes because they are scanned in. For an added fee, there is a program that allows for scans to be readable.

A motion was made by Councilman Scouten and seconded by Councilwoman Abrial to approve changing the website company to Coughlin.

Roll call vote: Councilwoman Kardash -yes Councilman Scouten- yes Councilwoman Abrial – yes Councilwoman Verschneider-yes Supervisor Entwistle-yes

NEW BUSINESS PUBLIC:

• A woman from the Gallery stated on Kincaid Road, they dug up a foot and a half on her yard. She asked if they were going to fix it. Supervisor Entwistle gave her Bill Gardner’s cell phone number.
  
• Ron, from Trackside Blazers thanked the Board for their support. He said the cooperation from Bill and the highway guys was outstanding. Trackside Blazers donated $500 to a local food bank. He said maybe next year they can make a donation for Camp Nazareth.

EXECUTIVE SESSION:
A motion was made by Councilman Scouten and seconded by Councilwoman Abrial to enter Executive Session regarding a legal matter.

Roll call vote: Councilwoman Kardash -yes Councilman Scouten- yes Councilwoman Abrial – yes Councilwoman Verschneider-yes Supervisor Entwistle-yes

The Board returned at 8:12 PM with no action taken.

ADJOURNMENT:
A motion was made by Councilwoman Abrial and seconded by Councilman Scouten to adjourn the meeting.

Roll call vote: Councilwoman Kardash -yes Councilman Scouten- yes Councilwoman Abrial – yes Councilwoman Verschneider-yes Supervisor Entwistle-yes

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:12 pm by Supervisor Entwistle.

Respectfully submitted,
Tracy M. Terry Forestport Town Clerk