TOWN OF FORESTPORT

REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING MINUTES

FORESTPORT TOWN HALL

10275 State Rte. 28, Forestport, N.Y. 13338

March 20, 2024 @6:30PM

PRESENT:          

Supervisor Entwistle                                                      

Councilman Addison                                                                         

Councilman Scouten

Councilwoman Abrial

Councilwoman Verschneider

ABSENT:             No members of the Town Board were absent.        

RECORDING SECRETARY:  Tracy Terry, Town Clerk

CALL TO ORDER

          The meeting was called to order at 6:30PM by Supervisor Entwistle. The pledge was recited.

ABSTRACTS:

GENERAL:

A motion was made by Councilman Scouten and seconded by Councilwoman Abrial to pay Abstract #3, Vouchers #116- #163 in the amount of $29,256.60.

              5 ayes/ 0 nays/ 0 absent MOTION CARRIED

  HIGHWAY:

A motion was made by Councilwoman Abrial and seconded by Councilman Scouten to pay Abstract #3, Vouchers #61- #84 in the amount of $24,679.69.

5 ayes/ 0 nays/0 absent MOTION CARRIED

AMBULANCE:

      StaR: Abstract #3, Voucher #2 in the amount of $59,062.50

A motion was made by Councilman Addison and seconded by Councilwoman Verschneider to pay the Ambulance abstract.

5 ayes/ 0 nays/0 absent MOTION CARRIED

WATER DISTRICT #1:

A motion was made by Councilwoman Abrial and seconded by Councilwoman Verschneider to pay Abstract #3, Vouchers #25- #42 in the amount of $4,287.81.

5 ayes/ 0 nays/ 0 absent MOTION CARRIED

     BUCKHORN WATER DISTRICT #2:

A motion was made by Councilwoman Verschneider and seconded by Councilwoman Abrial to pay Abstract #3, Vouchers #10- #15 in the amount of $391.71.

5 ayes/ 0 nays/ 0 absent MOTION CARRIED

SEWER DISTRICT #1:

A motion was made by Councilman Scouten and seconded by Councilwoman Abrial to pay Abstract #3, Vouchers #18- #24 in the amount of $1,069.47.

5 ayes/ 0 nays/ 0 absent MOTION CARRIED

PLANNING BOARD:

A motion was made by Councilwoman Abrial  and seconded by Councilman Addison to pay Abstract #3, Vouchers #8- #9 in the amount of $90.00.

5 ayes/ 0 nays/ 0 absent MOTION CARRIED

TOWN CLERK MINUTES:

A motion was made by Councilman Scouten and seconded by Councilwoman Verschneider to accept the minutes from the:

February 21, 2024- Regular Town Board Meeting

5 ayes/ 0 nays/ 0 absent MOTION CARRIED

REPORTS

WATER DISTRICT #1

WATER DISTRICT #2

SEWER

TOWN CLERK REPORTS

JUSTICE REPORT

DOG REPORT

PLANNING REPORT

SUPERVISOR REPORT                            

PLANNING BOARD OF APPEALS

          Supervisor Entwistle gave an update for the year for the Codes Office. There were 113 total permits and total fees were $19,325, which is a record.                

A motion was made by Councilwoman Abrial and seconded by Councilman Addison to approve the reports as a whole.

                              5 ayes/ 0 nays/0 absent MOTION CARRIED

NOCCOG:

• Lisa Bellinger went over the monthly announcements. She mentioned an annual youth Sports Grant and Supervisor Entwistle stated they would look into it.

OLD BUSINESS BOARD:

• Truck bids- There were no bids. Supervisor Entwistle stated they will get it back on the road in the next week or so and Lucas can make his rounds with it and the summer helper can use it in the Summer.
• Phones: Councilman Addison updated that Northland Communications will be installing new phones in the next four weeks. There is an approximate 50% savings, including the Highway Barn. The Highway Barn is converting to Spectrum, since it is cloud-based it helps the internet system. Northland has already gone to the Highway Barn to do the wiring.
• Fuelmaster system: Nancy and Supervisor Entwistle have been working on this the last couple weeks. This will be cloud-based as well.
• Comprehensive Plan: The survey is finally out and has been distributed. It is available on the website.
• Camp Nazareth: Camp Nazareth is full. Five more applications will be allowed, with a lottery.
• Summer Recreation: There are 12 interested applicants, and one has applied already. If there are 15 or more kids, there should be an Assistant to help Ash.
• Pickleball Court: The board mentioned having this done last year. The company should be able to get the court done for $5,000-$6,000 without a fence.
• Art Program: Councilman Addison and Councilwoman Abrial met with Ashley. After reviewing, the board decided to run the art program until April 18^th and reassess next Fall. They will set the parameters for next year.

NEW BUSINESS BOARD:

• Server Replacement: The server at the Town Hall is 7-8 years old. Supervisor Entwistle will be getting a quote by next month’s meeting for a cloud-based server, so there is no equipment.
• Dog Park: Supervisor Entwistle has been approached about a Dog Park at the Town Hall. There is a Dog Park in Old Forge. Theirs cost around $175,000. Councilman Addison didn’t think it should be at the Town Hall. Supervisor Entwistle will get quotes on fencing. His concern is waste pickup. 
• Woodhull Vacant Lot: Supervisor Entwistle stated a couple years ago, they had intentions of making that lot into a pocket park. Since the lot is there, he was wondering if the board was interested in sprucing it up. The Board thought they should look into it. There is a little grant money for the pocket park in the amount of $2,000. Councilwoman Verschneider thought a couple picnic tables. Supervisor Entwistle said if the town buys the materials, he can build them, and the maintenance guys can paint them.
• Road Closures for White Lake Inn and Old Forestport Days

A motion was made by Councilman Addison and seconded by Councilwoman Abrial to schedule the Public Hearings for “Lightning at White Lake”  on April 17^th at 6:20PM and “Old Forestport Days” at 6:10PM.

                    5 ayes/ 0 nays/0 absent MOTION CARRIED

• Workers Compensation: Supervisor Entwistle stated the town currently has a self-funded worker’s comp. If someone had a serious injury, it would be costly. He is going to check out prices for an actual insurance policy.
• Community EXPO: This will be held September 25^th from 10am-2pm. Councilman Addison asked if they could have a table for the Comprehensive Plan Survey. It was answered yes. Supervisor Entwistle mentioned the possibility of having hamburgers and hot dogs for the public.
• Eclipse: Supervisor Entwistle stated Forestport and Old Forge are in the path of totality. There could be 100,000-200,000 people in Old Forge for this event. There could be a lack of service in cell phones, no gas and an increase in traffic.

NEW BUSINESS PUBLIC:

• Ron Davies, from the Gallery had several questions/inquiries:
• He stated maybe there should be another person with the instructor for the Summer Recreation program for liability purposes.
• Ron asked what the codes breakdown for the fees were. Supervisor Entwistle stated $3,725 for the fines and the remainder for the fees.
• He asked if the Secretary Position at the Highway Barn is going to be posted. It was answered it wasn’t since it is a temporary position. A discussion took place regarding when Bill retires, the new Superintendent will do those duties instead of having a Highway Clerk.
• $7,600 to repair a truck. Supervisor Entwistle stated the Highway Department hit a truck. The town paid a licensed body shop for the repairs.
• The Comprehensive Master Plan Survey should have had the snowmobiles and 4-wheelers separate. Some support snowmobiles because it is legal vs. 4-wheelers that are not legal and stated it should be two separate questions. Supervisor Entwistle mentioned everyone interprets questions their own way. He felt the question was more about recreation in the Town of Forestport. Councilwoman Abrial suggested Ron could reach out to the Snowmobile club and let them know about the survey.
• Jeff LeBuis, from the Gallery suggested having Eagle Scouts help with the Pocket Park as they are usually looking for community projects.

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 meeting was adjourned at 7:45 pm by Supervisor Entwistle.

Respectfully submitted,

Tracy M. Terry

Forestport Town Clerk