TOWN OF FORESTPORT
REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING MINUTES
WOODGATE FIRE HALL
12445 State Rte. 28, Woodgate, N.Y. 13494
September 21, 2022

PRESENT: Supervisor Entwistle
Councilwoman Kardash
Councilwoman Verschneider
Councilman Scouten

ABSENT: Councilwoman Abrial

RECORDING SECRETARY: Tracy Terry, Town Clerk

CALL TO ORDER:
The meeting was called to order at 6:39 PM by Supervisor Entwistle.

ABSTRACTS:
GENERAL:
A motion was made by Councilwoman Kardash and seconded by Councilwoman Verschneider to pay Abstract #9, Vouchers #470- #521 in the amount of $50,597.96.
4 ayes/ 0 nays/1 absent (Abrial) MOTION CARRIED
HIGHWAY:
A motion was made by Councilman Scouten and seconded by Councilwoman Kardash to pay Abstract #9, Vouchers #328- #376 in the amount of $58,893.19.
4 ayes/ 0 nays/1 absent (Abrial) MOTION CARRIED
PLANNING:
A motion was made by Councilwoman Verschneider and seconded by Councilman Scouten to pay Abstract #9, Vouchers #9- #12 in the amount of $300.00.
4 ayes/ 0 nays/1 absent (Abrial) MOTION CARRIED

TOWN CLERK MINUTES:
A motion was made by Councilwoman Kardash and seconded by Councilwoman Verschneider to accept the minutes from the:
Town Board Regular Meeting- August 17, 2022
Special Meeting: Beechwood Cemetery- September 13, 2022
4 ayes/ 0 nays/1 absent (Abrial) MOTION CARRIED

REPORTS
TOWN CLERK REPORT
JUSTICE REPORT
PLANNING REPORT
DOG REPORT
CODES REPORT
SUPERVISOR REPORT
A motion was made by Councilman Scouten and seconded by Councilwoman Kardash to approve the reports as a whole.
4 ayes/ 0 nays/1 absent (Abrial) MOTION CARRIED
Tony is up to 95 permits for the year. There are 23 year-round homes for this year. Codes has $15,000 in fees, not including fines for the year.

NOCCOG:
Lisa Bellinger, of NOCCOG went over the announcements.

OLD BUSINESS BOARD
• Highway Truck Bond: The Highway truck is $200,383.52 and the Town is bonding for that at 3.5 %.
A motion was made by Councilman Scouten and seconded by Councilwoman Kardash to approve the Bond Anticipation note for $200,383.52 for the 2022 Highway plow truck.
4 ayes/ 0 nays/1 absent (Abrial) MOTION CARRIED
• Beechwood Cemetery: Supervisor Entwistle said the Town is helping the Board of Trustees for Beechwood Cemetery. The Beechwood Cemetery Trustees have served for a long time and as of a month ago, there is only one surviving member. Most financial paperwork is figured out, the checkbook balances and a letter has been sent to the NYS Comptroller’s Office for unclaimed funds. The trustees will be holding a Public Meeting asking for nominations for the new Board of Trustees. Anyone interested in serving on the Beechwood Cemetery Board, need to be a lot owner in the Cemetery.
NEW BUSINESS BOARD:
• 2023 Budget: Worksheets have been handed out. A Preliminary draft is being worked on now. If the Town stays under the tax cap, it will be $621,000. It’s $15,000 more than last year if the Town stays under the tax cap.

• Mark Fuller- Variance Request: The property is located on Buck Lane. He is within 35 feet of the center of the road. He has already spoke with Bill Gardner and he does not have an issue with it. A Public Hearing will be scheduled and immediately following the Public Hearing, the Town Board will vote on it. Supervisor Entwistle let Mr. Fuller know he needs two checks: one for the Variance Fee $50.00 and one for the escrow fee $100.00.
A motion was made by Councilwoman Kardash and seconded by Councilwoman Verschneider to schedule a Public Hearing for a Variance for Mark Fuller on October 19, 2022, at 6:15PM.
4 ayes/ 0 nays/1 absent (Abrial) MOTION CARRIED
• Ash Fletcher: Supervisor Entwistle stated he had a note from Ash with Wholesome Living. Ash applied for a small grant from Alder Creek Solar. The intent for the grant was to collaborate with the Town for a community wellness space. The $2,000.00 grant was received but was made out to the Town of Forestport. Supervisor Entwistle said he is going to have Dawn write a check to Ash because it is Wholesome Living’s money.
• Girl scouts: Councilwoman Verschneider stated the Girl scouts wanted to use the building some days. Councilwoman Kardash brought up there will be no sleepovers, parties, just meetings, like they did last year. Councilwoman Verschneider stated she is putting them in the library.
• Old Forge Ambulance: Dan Rivett, Paramedic with Old Forge Ambulance started off by saying they have serviced Forestport since 1949. Two out of four Paramedics reside in the Town of Forestport. He read a letter aloud that was sent to the Town Board requesting an increase for the 2023 Budget. 12% of their calls last year were to the Town of Forestport. The Budget is $560,000 to operate. He said there is a rumor the Old Forge Ambulance has threatened to discontinue services. He stated that is not true. They had 58 calls to the Town of Forestport in 2021. There have been 28 calls this year to date. The contract says their service area ends at the blinking light, but they have gone to Kayuta Lake. They have paid paramedics and two ambulances. One ambulance is manned 24/7. Supervisor Entwistle thanked Dan for coming to the Board now instead of waiting. He figures the rate would be one cent per thousand. Supervisor Entwistle stated he would like to rewrite the contracts for Old Forge Ambulance and StaR Ambulance.
EXECUTIVE SESSION:
A motion was made by Councilwoman Kardash and seconded by Councilwoman Verschneider to enter into Executive Session to discuss Personnel Matters.
4 ayes/ 0 nays/1 absent (Abrial) MOTION CARRIED
The Board returned from Executive Session at 7:30PM with no action taken.

NEW BUSINESS PUBLIC:

ADJOURNMENT:
A motion was made by Councilman Scouten and seconded by Councilwoman Kardash to adjourn the meeting.
4 ayes/ 0 nays/1 absent (Abrial) MOTION CARRIED

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:31 pm by Supervisor Entwistle.

Respectfully submitted,

Tracy M. Terry
Forestport Town Clerk