Town Board Meeting Minutes- May 20,2026

TOWN OF FORESTPORT
REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING MINUTES
OTTER LAKE FIRE HALL
13853 State Route 28, Forestport N.Y.
May 20, 2026 @6:30 PM

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

ABSENT: Councilman Addison

RECORDING SECRETARY: Tracy Terry, Town Clerk

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
CALL TO ORDER:
The meeting was called to order by Supervisor Entwistle at 6:30 P.M.
ABSTRACTS:
GENERAL:
A motion was made by Councilman Scouten and seconded by Councilwoman Verschneider to pay Abstract #5, Vouchers #241-#339 in the amount of $270,260.73
4 ayes/ 0 nays/1 absent MOTION CARRIED
HIGHWAY:
A motion was made by Councilwoman Verschneider and seconded by Councilwoman Abrial to pay Abstract #5, Vouchers #78- #132 in the amount of $60,568.25
4 ayes/ 0 nays/1 absent MOTION CARRIED
WATER DISTRICT #1:
A motion was made by Councilwoman Abrial and seconded by Councilman Scouten to pay Abstract#5, Vouchers #49- #62 in the amount of $2,353.85
4 ayes/ 0 nays/1 absent MOTION CARRIED
SEWER DISTRICT #1:
A motion was made by Councilwoman Verschneider and seconded by Councilwoman Abrial to pay Abstract#5, Vouchers #28-#33 in the amount of $1,787.05

4 ayes/ 0 nays/1absent MOTION CARRIED
BUCKHORN:
A motion was made by Councilwoman Abrial and seconded by Councilwoman Verschneider to pay Abstract#5, Vouchers #17- #20 in the amount of $829.66

4 ayes/ 0 nays/1 absent MOTION CARRIED
TOWN CLERK MINUTES:
A motion was made by Councilman Scouten and seconded by Councilwoman Abrial to accept the minutes from the:
 April 15, 2026: regular Town Board Meeting

4 ayes/ 0 nays/1 absent MOTION CARRIED

REPORTS
TOWN CLERK
JUSTICE
SUPERVISOR
WATER DISTRICT #1
BUCKHORN WATER
SEWER

A motion was made by Councilwoman Verschneider and seconded by Councilwoman Abrial to accept the monthly reports.
4 ayes/ 0 nays/1 absent MOTION CARRIED
NOCCOG: Lisa Bellinger went over monthly announcements.

WATER:
• New Phone system: The new phone system = is in place. Frontier has been cancelled. The phone system is for Irish Settlement to Pierce Property. Supervisor Entwistle thanked Lucas Kafka, Councilman Addison and Griffin with Griffin Electric.
• WWIP Update: The Waste Water improvement project is coming.
• BUCKHORN:
OLD BUSINESS BOARD:
• Kitchen – Appliances have been delivered, just waiting on the electrician to hook everything up.
• NorthStar – The Ambulance hass moved in. They are staffed 9am-9pm seven days a week until the end of the year. In 2027, they should be here full time. There is heat and electricity in the garage and it has been insulated.
• Hometown Heroes update: Most of the banners have been hung up. The town is waiting for the ten new banners to be delivered.
• Summer Recreation: Summer Recreation is full with 25 children.
• Eric Freeman: Eric approached Supervisor Entwistle regarding having a Lego Club once a week. He asked Eric to get a plan together and he can present it to the board for consideration.
• Dump Day: Supervisor Entwistle spoke with Bill Gardner, Nancy Kardash and Rauscher Brothers. The use of dump day has been way down. Bill and Nancy have suggested having dump day every other year instead of every year. The time has been changed to 8am-12pm for July 18, 2026.
• Boiler replacement: The boilers have been ordered, and Lucas is coordinating with Trojan and Tyler from Docteur about the remediation of existing fuel tank
• Pickleball scheduling: The new Pickleball schedule is No pickleball Sunday and Wednesday, Monday 8:30am-12pm, Tuesday and Thursday 1pm-8pm, Friday 8:30am-12pm and the second and fourth Saturday 9am-12pm. Councilwoman Abrial put a survey together and there were a lot of responses. That is how she came up with the schedule. The new Pickleball schedule will start June 1st. A woman in the Gallery stated she is only up on the weekends and asked if they could use the gym when there isn’t a birthday party. She suggested someone get the Team Reach app and let them know when there isn’t a birthday party. Supervisor Entwistle stated he will get the app and let them know. A pickleball court will be striped outside so those who wish to play can. The long-term plan is to have the Pickleball Court on Bear Creek Road. There will be enough room for two pickleball courts. The red building is the Libraries Community Hall. They just put a ton of work into it and are having an Open House on May 30th.
• Waivers: These will be placed in the foyer for all pickleball users to fill out. They can leave the forms under the Town Clerks door.
• Standard Fee Schedule: Supervisor Entwistle stated he and Town Clerk, Tracy Terry will be working on putting a standard building use fee schedule together to include Scouten Field and Dutch Hill Ball Field.
• EBO:
Authorization of a Responsible Local Official for State and Federally Funded Projects in the Town of Forestport
WHEREAS, the Town of Forestport undertakes projects periodically with state and federal funding, AND;
WHEREAS, these projects require a “Responsible Local Official” to be named for logistical purposes, AND;
BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the Town of Forestport hereby names Harold Entwistle, Forestport Town Supervisor, and Jennifer Hartsig, Grant Writer the Responsible Local Officials for the purposes of completing and executing all necessary contracts and paperwork for said projects.
A motion was made by Councilman Scouten and seconded by Councilwoman Abrial to pass Resolution #2 of 2026.
4 ayes/ 0 nays/1 absent MOTION CARRIED

NEW BOARD BUSINESS:
• Highway Trucks financing, leasing etc.: Everyone is having a hard time getting new Highway trucks now. Bill Gardner would like to lease a truck but it’s an additional $120,000. The town has only budgeted the amount for the truck. Supervisor Entwistle is going to tell Bill to fix what needs to be fixed on 2009 and 2011 trucks and wait until next year for a new truck.
• ACH Clearing House Bank Account: New York State is utilizing direct deposit of all grant monies and state monies to the town and it has to be put into a separate checking account. 

A motion was made by Councilman Scouten and seconded by Councilwoman Abrial to approve creating an ACH Clearing House Checking Account for New York State direct deposits.
4 ayes/ 0 nays/1 absent MOTION CARRIED
• BESS (Battery Energy Storage systems): The Town Board has already banned them. The next thing that is coming is AI Farms and data centers. Supervisor Entwistle is going to be speaking with the Town Attorney to see if they can ban them as well. If so, a public hearing will be scheduled for that or a Moratorium.
NEW BUSINESS PUBLIC:
• Laurie Fessler, from the Gallery has concerns regarding the NYS Uniform Prevention and Building Code and the towns building permit fee structure. Supervisor Entwistle stated this summer when they redo the Site Review Law, they eliminated the permit for sheds under 140’.
• Laurie Fessler bought up the Art Club and the Community Garden. She asked everyone to check out the kid’s artwork and help with the Community Garden tomorrow, May 21st 4pm-6pm. Tracy Terry, Town Clerk told everyone to bring their gloves and hand trowels and help plant at the Community Garden.
ADJOURNMENT:
A motion was made by Councilwoman Abrial and seconded by Councilman Scouten to adjourn the meeting.
4 ayes/ 0 nays/1 absent MOTION CARRIED

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:21 P.M. by Supervisor Entwistle.

Respectfully submitted,
Tracy M. Terry

Forestport Town Clerk