TOWN OF FORESTPORT
ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING
FORESTPORT TOWN HALL
10275 State Route 28, Forestport, N.Y. 13338
January 3, 2023

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Councilwoman Abrial
Councilwoman Kardash
Councilwoman Verschneider
Councilman Scouten
Supervisor Entwistle

Tracy Terry, Town Clerk

MEMBERS ABSENT: No Board members were absent.

CALL TO ORDER:
Supervisor Entwistle called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm with the Pledge of Allegiance.

LETTERS OF REAPPOINTMENT:
There were no letters of reappointment given.

APPOINTMENTS FOR 2022:

• Supervisor Entwistle stated all the appointments were the same as last year, except the Water and Sewer Operator is Glenn Ballard and Sandy Pascucci is the new Town Historian.

TOWN OF FORESTPORT PROCUREMENT POLICY: This is the same as last year.

TOWN OF FORESTPORT CREDIT CARD POLICY: This is the same as last year.

TOWN OF FORESTPORT INVESTMENT POLICY: This is the same as last year.

TOWN OF FORESTPORT SEXUAL HARASSMENT POLICY: This is the same as last year.

TOWN OF FORESTPORT WORKPLACE VIOLENCE POLICY: This is the same as last year.

TOWN OF FORESTPORT CODE OF CONDUCT FOR PUBLIC MEETINGS: This is the same as last year.

REMOTE PARTICIPATION POLICY: This is a new policy.
• Supervisor Entwistle stated anyone from the Town Board or Planning Board can attend the meeting remotely if they are prevented from attending due to sickness or are away. The Boards have to have a quorum physically present to do so. If Supervisor Entwistle attends remotely, one of his deputies will preside over the meeting.

WORKPLACE VIOLENCE AND PREVENTION POLICY: This policy was made last year.

SEXUAL HARASSMENT POLICY: This policy was made last year.

TRAVEL POLICY: This is the same as last year.

CODE OF ETHICS: This is the same as last year.

GENERAL RULES:
• Mileage rate is .56 cents a mile.
• Everything else is pretty much the same. The Board is adding Buckhorn to the meeting regimen.

2023 EMPLOYEE BENEFITS/OFFICIAL HOLIDAYS
Everything is the same as last year, except Juneteenth was added as a Federal Holiday.

TOWN BOARD AND PLANNING BOARD MEETING DATES 2023:
The Town Board meetings are the third Wednesday of every month, with January through April, November and December at the Town Hall, May, June and July in Otter Lake and August, September and October in Woodgate. The Planning Board meetings are all held at the Town Hall the second Wednesday of the month.
Councilwoman Verschneider asked why meetings are at the Fire Departments. Supervisor Entwistle stated one meeting was always held in Woodgate and Otter Lake to encourage attendance from the entire town. Supervisor Entwistle stated when he began his term, he changed it to a couple at each one. Councilwoman Abrial said the attendance does change.

A motion was made by Councilman Scouten and seconded by Councilwoman Kardash to approve the Policies, General Rules, Code of Ethics, Official holidays, Town Board meetings and Planning Board Meetings as a whole.
5 ayes/ 0 nays/0 abstain/0 absent MOTION CARRIED

Supervisor Entwistle let the Board know he received a note from Gerry Ritter. She will not be continuing as a Planning Board Member due to personal issues. He thanked her for her time for all the years she has been with the town. An ad has been placed for the position with a cut off date of February 6th. Councilwoman Verschneider stated there was an application from Steve Addison and Supervisor Entwistle stated he had another one as well. 

ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business, a motion was made by Councilwoman Verschneider and seconded by Councilwoman Abrial to adjourn the meeting at 6:07 pm.
5 ayes/ 0 nays/0 abstain/0 absent MOTION CARRIED

Respectfully submitted,

Tracy M. Terry
Forestport Town Clerk

Forestport Town Clerk