TOWN OF FORESTPORT
Forestport Town Hall
10275 State Rte. 28
Forestport, NY 13338
2025 Budget Workshop Minutes
September 30, 2024 @ 6:30 PM
Members Present: Supervisor Entwistle
Councilwoman Abrial
Councilman Addison
Councilman Scouten
Councilwoman Verschneider- via ZOOM
Members Absent: No members of the Town Board were absent.
Other Town Officials Present:
Tracy Terry, Town Clerk

1. CALL TO ORDER:
The workshop meeting was called to order at 6:30 PM by Supervisor Entwistle.

2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Supervisor Entwistle read the legal notice aloud.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Town Board of the Town of Forestport will be holding Workshop Meetings on: September 30, 2024, and October 1, 2024, at 6:30PM each evening, at the Forestport Town Hall, 10275 Rte. 28, Forestport, NY. The Workshops are being held to discuss the proposed 2025 annual budget.
Tracy M. Terry – Forestport Town Clerk

3.BUDGET DISCUSSIONS:
Fire Departments: They are getting a 5% increase.
Ambulances: Old Forge Ambulance will be going up to $31,350.00 and StaR will be getting $63,154.00. Discussion took place regarding Ambulance and Fire Districts.
Highway: The contract has the highway workers getting a 4.5% increase. Contractual will be staying the same as well as CHIPS. Machinery Contractual and Drug Testing/Uniforms has been increased. Snow removal Contractual has been increased. Highway Equipment will be getting a tractor for $148,000 from John Deere. They received estimates and this is the lowest pricing. The Highway department will also be getting a new Highway Truck. They were supposed to get a new one in 2020, but everything was cut that year because of COVID.
General: 3% raise across the board.
• Board of Assessment review was raised to $1,000 because they asked for a raise this year.
• Buildings and Grounds: Lucas is working 40 hours a week. The board is increasing the salary to what it should be. This includes the 20 hour a week helper and Dominic in the Summer.
• Highway Barn has $70,000 because the welding shed is rotted. $10,000 was added to the budget.
• Youth is at $23,000. Camp Nazareth $7,500, Summer recreation $3,000-$3,500, Ski program $2,500 and the Art program. Supervisor Entwistle mentioned the Camp part of the budget does not include the $50 the parents pay towards Camp Nazareth.
• Aide to Woodgate Woodgate and the Aide Society has been eliminated from the budget.
• Historical has the Planning and Codes records included in that.
• Aging: $32,500 includes the pickleball court.
• Planning has $34,000. This is for the Comprehensive Plan. Last year the grant covered it and this year it is the town’s responsibility.
• This year the Town Hall will be paid off.
• Boat wash was added to the budget. Jen Hartsig, the grant Writer is looking into someone doing educational materials for the boat wash station.
• The Public hearing for the Preliminary Budget is going to be October 16th at 6:15 at the Woodgate Fire Hall.
• Councilwoman Verschneider stated she would like to make some changes.
 She stated Tony is getting a 5% raise and would like to see it at 3%
 Only salary positions getting 3%, not the other jobs.

4. ADJOURNMENT:
A motion was made by Councilman Addison and seconded by Councilwoman Abrial to adjourn the meeting.
5 ayes/ 0 nays/0 absent MOTION CARRIED
There being no further business, the workshop adjourned at 7:17 PM.
Respectfully submitted,

Tracy M. Terry
Forestport Town Clerk