TOWN OF FORESTPORT
REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING MINUTES
FORESTPORT TOWN HALL
10275 State Rte. 28, Forestport, N.Y. 13338
March 15, 2023 @6:30
PRESENT: Supervisor Entwistle
Councilwoman Kardash
Councilwoman Verschneider
Councilman Scouten
Councilwoman Abrial
ABSENT: No members of the Town Board were absent.
RECORDING SECRETARY: Tracy Terry, Town Clerk
CALL TO ORDER
.
ABSTRACTS:
WATER DISTRICT #1:
A motion was made by Councilwoman Kardash and seconded by Councilman Scouten to pay Abstract #3, Vouchers #34- #48 in the amount of $1,740.89.
5 ayes/ 0 nays/ 0 absent MOTION CARRIED
BUCKHORN WATER:
A motion was made by Councilwoman Verschneider and seconded by Councilwoman Abrial to pay Abstract #3, Vouchers #7- #9 in the amount of $207.92.
5 ayes/ 0 nays/ 0 absent MOTION CARRIED
SEWER DISTRICT #1:
A motion was made by Councilman Scouten and seconded by Councilwoman Kardash to pay Abstract #3, Vouchers #23- #30 in the amount of $10,836.48.
5 ayes/ 0 nays/ 0 absent MOTION CARRIED
• $10,000.00 is for the Sewer project.
GENERAL:
A motion was made by Councilwoman Verschneider and seconded by Councilwoman Kardash to pay Abstract #3, Vouchers #116- #160 in the amount of $36,643.29.
5 ayes/ 0 nays/ 0 absent MOTION CARRIED
HIGHWAY:
A motion was made by Councilwoman Kardash and seconded by Councilwoman Abrial to pay Abstract #3, Vouchers #58- #98 in the amount of $26,989.03.
5 ayes/ 0 nays/0 absent MOTION CARRIED
TOWN BOARD ESCROW:
A motion was made by Councilwoman Verschneider and seconded by Councilwoman Kardash to pay Abstract #3, Vouchers #5- #6 in the amount of $100.00.
5 ayes/ 0 nays/0 absent MOTION CARRIED
AMBULANCE ABSTRACTS:
Old Forge:
Abstract #3, Voucher #1 in the amount of $28,500.00.
STaR:
Abstract #3, Voucher# 2 in the amount of $56,250.00.
A motion was made by Councilman Scouten and seconded by Councilwoman Abrial to pay Vouchers #1-#2.
5 ayes/ 0 nays/0 absent MOTION CARRIED
TOWN CLERK MINUTES:
A motion was made by Councilwoman Abrial and seconded by Councilman Scouten to accept the minutes from the:
Town Board Regular Meeting- February 15, 2023
Area Variance Hearing: Allison- February 15, 2023
5 ayes/ 0 nays//0 absent MOTION CARRIED
REPORTS
WATER
SEWER
TOWN CLERK REPORT
JUSTICE REPORT
PLANNING REPORT
DOG REPORT
SUPERVISOR REPORT
A motion was made by Councilwoman Abrial and seconded by Councilwoman Verschneider to approve the reports as a whole.
5 ayes/ 0 nays/0 absent MOTION CARRIED
NOCCOG:
Lisa Bellinger, of NOCCOG went over the monthly announcements.
OLD BUSINESS BOARD:
NEW BUSINESS BOARD:
• Water Year-End Report: This has been completed and should be available shortly and will be on the website.
• Water Operator – Lucas Kafka is the new Head Water and Sewer Operator and will be taking over for Ted Daktor. He is currently working for the Sewer Department in the Village of Boonville Full time.
• Buckhorn Water releases from property owners- They are currently in the process of receiving the releases. There are approximately twenty more that need to be returned.
• Sewer Project Update- Supervisor Entwistle and Jim were able to look at the plans. There will be a new generator, all 4 sewer beds will be changed. Two beds will be absorption beds and 2 pressure dosing beds for the wintertime. The pressure dosing beds push the effluent into the beds below ground level so the frozen ground on top doesn’t affect leaching. A couple new
wet wells. Construction is slated to start late Summer, early Fall of this coming year. Anne Pelno, from the Gallery asked what the drilling was for. Supervisor Entwistle stated they had to do core samples, so when they dig, they are not hitting bedrock quickly.
• Sewer- Replacement of Lift Station pumps- There are two lift stations one on Dutch Hill and another one behind the Sewer Plant. Each has a couple pumps that pump sewer from homes that are lower than the sewer plant to the sewer plant. Both pumps have been there quite a while and one pump in each station needs to be replaced. The good ones are pumping 70-80 gallons/minute and the bad ones are pumping 25 gallons/minute. Supervisor Entwistle has reached out to Gormann Rupp and they have given a basic estimate. Jim and Supervisor Entwistle will meet with the sales rep when the snow melts because the Town has some parts and pieces to pumps that have been rebuilt. Supervisor Entwistle has also reached out to the Environmental Facilities Corp., and they are doing another round of wastewater sewer funding. Applications for the grant are due Mid-June.
• James Allison Variance- Supervisor Entwistle spoke with Mr. Allison after the Public Hearing last month, stating he would be speaking with the Tughill Planning Commission and the Association of Towns. There was legal action taken against the Town last May after it was initially approved. The variance was overturned because a critical piece of paperwork was not done. The Tughill Planning Commission and the Association of Towns thought it was substantial and being overturned was reasonable.
A motion was made by Councilman Scouten and seconded by Councilwoman Kardash to deny the Allison Variance.
5 ayes/ 0 nays/0 absent MOTION CARRIED
• Summer Recreation- Supervisor Entwistle and Councilwoman Verschneider have been discussing the possibility of a Summer Recreation on a limited basis and he has spoken with Ash Galligan. Ash has done some yoga and art classes at the Town Hall. She currently works at the Elementary school and is willing to run a program for the Town and will put a curriculum together, 3 days a week from 9am-12pm, ages 7-12. Councilwoman Kardash stated a head count should be done first to make sure there are enough children interested. Supervisor Entwistle wants to advertise with a deadline of the end of April. If there is a lot of interest there may need to be two assistants. Councilwoman Verschneider asked what about the grandkids. Supervisor Entwistle said they follow the Town website fairly good. Snacks were discussed. One of the waivers is there will be no riding the bike or walking to the program. Ash will be paid $20/hour and the Assistant $16-$18/hour.
• Camp Nazareth- In light of the Summer Recreation Program, the Town will be limiting the sponsorship to 16 children and asking the parents to contribute $50.00. Councilwoman Kardash stated the priority should be given to the residents’ kids and then the grandparents’ kids. Supervisor Entwistle suggested having applications open to resident kids for 3 weeks and then if there are slots leftover, open it up to seasonal residents.
• Local Law #1 of 2023: Property Tax Exemption for Volunteer Firefighters and Ambulance Workers- Carl, from the Gallery asked if there are minimum requirements to apply for it. Supervisor Entwistle went over the eligibility requirements.
A motion was made by Councilwoman Kardash and seconded by Councilwoman Verschneider to pass Local Law #1 of 2023.
5 ayes/ 0 nays/0 absent MOTION CARRIED
• Local Law #2 of 2023: Exemption on Town taxes based on income for residents over the age of 65-
A motion was made by Councilwoman Verschneider and seconded by Councilman Scouten to approve Local Law #2 of 2023.
5 ayes/ 0 nays/0 absent MOTION CARRIED
• Planning Board of Appeals- A Public Hearing was scheduled at last month’s Town Board Meeting for April 19, 2023, at 6:15 P.M. This will be a 3-member board that will review and rule on variance applications denied by the Planning Board. It is a paid position. The proposed Local Law is as follows:
• Update to NYS Codes Law- The proposed Local Law is attached to the minutes.
A motion was made by Councilman Scouten and seconded by Councilwoman Verschneider to schedule a Public Hearing April 19, 2023, at 6:00P.M.
5 ayes/ 0 nays/0 absent MOTION CARRIED
• Groomer- This is tabled until next month.
• White Lake Block Party- June 3, 2023, 10am-10pm and “Old Forestport Days”, August 26, 2023-
A motion was made by Councilman Scouten and seconded by Councilwoman Abrial to schedule a Public Hearing on April 19, 2023, at 5:45P.M. for the White Lake Inn Block party and “Old Forestport Days”.
5 ayes/ 0 nays/0 absent MOTION CARRIED
• Master Plan Update- The Master Plan Committee Meeting was cancelled Tuesday night, due to the weather and they are waiting for proposals from consultant firms. One proposal came in last month, one will be ready by the end of the month and the other one said their workload is too large to do it this year. Supervisor Entwistle stated he will be looking for another company. Once the proposals are together, they will schedule another meeting.
• Alder Creek Solar Project Update- Supervisor Entwistle received a letter from David Holly, the Representative of Alder Creek Solar, stating the timeline has shifted. They are waiting on an agreement, and they must enter a later class year of 2025 and operation date of 2027 or 2028. Things are currently on hold.
• Unpaid internship- Haakon Knudsen is currently in the process of applying to colleges and is looking for a meaningful internship. Currently there is a Sewer project grant, Bridge grant and Master Plan grant. Supervisor Entwistle is in the process of applying for another grant to change the sewer pumps. Once the grant money is received, complicated paperwork needs to be filled out. He is looking for Haakon to assist him and Jennifer in going through the emails, paperwork, and phone calls. Haakon would be set up in his own office, with a Town email address and keys. There is a small budget in the Master Plan Grant for clerical work, so he may receive some of that.
• Bids for concrete at the Town Hall- Councilwoman Verschneider asked if they were looking for bids to do the concrete work. Supervisor Entwistle stated they were and asked if she would like to solicit the bids and she answered she would. Anne Pelno, from the Gallery asked if they were putting concrete around the whole building. Supervisor Entwistle stated they would like to put a curb cut on the side of the building so you can drive up and park. The long-term plan, if they can get a grant is to eventually have a paved rear entrance for the court. Councilwoman Kardash stated they could have a something to lock up the court area because the building is used frequently. Supervisor Entwistle stated he would like to fix the lock on the side door.
NEW BUSINESS PUBLIC:
ADJOURNMENT:
A motion was made by Councilwoman Kardash and seconded by Councilwoman Abrial to adjourn the meeting.
5 ayes/ 0 nays/0 absent MOTION CARRIED
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:10 pm by Supervisor Entwistle.
Respectfully submitted,
Tracy M. Terry
Forestport Town Clerk