Town of Franklin Board Meetings
Regular Meeting -
February 8, 2023
5:30PM
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:
Supervisor Dorothy Brown, Council Member Gail Huston, Council Member Rachelle Waters and Council Member Leo Demong
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: Council Member Dick Jarvis
Lee Demerse—resident, Melissa Begor-Supervisor's Confidential Secretary, Doug Tichenor—Town Assessor, Jacques DeMars—Highway Superintendent and Lauren LeFebvre—Town Clerk
OTHERS PRESENT:
Lee Demerse—resident, Melissa Begor-Supervisor's Confidential Secretary, Doug Tichenor—Town Assessor, Jacques DeMars—Highway Superintendent and Lauren LeFebvre—Town Clerk
Call to Order
Supervisor brown called the meeting to order at 5:30pm. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. The Town Clerk called the roll, noting Council Member Jarvis absent and a quorum present.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Lee Demerse - requested the board consider increasing the income threshold for assessment exemptions for residents 65+.
Town Assessor Doug Tichenor — Mr. Tichenor explained the Town of Franklin's current assessment reduction requirement is aged 65 and over with an income of less than $12,500 per year. The Saranac Lake School District and Town of Harrietstown have a sliding fee exemption scale. In order to change the current town exemption requirements a local law is necessary. A local law enacted in 2023 would take effect for the 2025 tax cycle. Mr. Tichenor also discussed the need for a town-wide reassessment.
REVIEW/APPROVAL OF JANUARY 11, 2O23 MINUTES-
The Town Clerk thanked Superintendent DeMars for notifying her before the meeting the he was listed as both absent and reading a report in the draft minutes. Minutes were approved as presented. (Demong-Huston m/s/p) all aye
APPROVAL OF CLAIMS
The board audited and approved the following claims:
The board audited and approved the following claims:
| Fire Protection | Abstract 1 | Claim 1-2 | $84,374.00 |
| Pre-Pay General | Abstract 2 | Claims 2-4 | $26,692.15 |
| General Fund | Abstract 2 | Claims 11-35 | $65,580.68 |
| Highway Fund | Abstract 2 | Claims 17-30 | $116,086.68 |
(L.Demong-R.Waters m/s/p) all aye
SUPERVISOR'S REPORT: Balances on hand as of January 31, 2023
| General Fund | |
| Checking | $127,067.03 |
| Savings | $76,209.25 |
| Historian | $3,040.49 |
| Kt. Mt SRF | $2,059.13 |
| Cemetery RF | $5,610.43 |
| CLASS | $330,799.97 |
| Kate Mt. CLASS | $453.23 |
| Highway Fund | |
| Checking | $343,229.94 |
| Savings | $180,903.70 |
| Cap Proj. HW | $4,231.56 |
| CLASS | $416,975.19 |
| Landfill Clos. CR | |
| Checking | $1,112.18 |
| CLASS | $8,210.32 |
| Fire Protection | |
| Checking | $86,311.34 |
| CLASS | $1,545.02 |
| Capital Proj Bldg | |
| CLASS | $153,622.27 |
(Huston-Demong m/s/p) All Aye
HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT - Superintendent DeMars read the following report:
- Plowed and sanded when needed
- Village of Tupper Lake picked up our Kubota Excavator with new muching head.
- The head was added to the ins. policy
- Diesel 3769.7 vs. 3767 = 2.7 gals difference
- Gas difference of 0.4 gals
- Fuel and gas sheets were given to the Town Clerk
NEW BUSINESS
A. Assessor Update - Doug Tichenor reported he is retiring as of September 30, 2023.
B. Shared Services Agreement
RESOLUTION #8 APPROVAL TO ENTER INTO SHARED SERVICES AGREEMENT FOR CODE ENFORCEMENT
On a motion by Council Member Demong, second by Council Member Waters, BE IT RESOLVED that the Town of Franklin Town Board does hereby approve Supervisor Brown to enter into an agreement with the Towns of St. Armand and Brighton to share the services of Code Enforcement Official Rodger Tompkins.
Those Voting Aye:
Supervisor Dorothy Brown
Councilman Leo Demong
Council Member Rachelle Waters
Council Member Gail Huston
Councilman Leo Demong
Council Member Rachelle Waters
Council Member Gail Huston
Those Voting Absent: None
OLD BUSINESS
A. CDBG - No update
B. DASNY - No update
C. Rt 3 and CR 60 Streetlight - Supervisor Brown reported National Grid has redirected the streetlight. She will inform Mr. and Mrs. Woodcock.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
A. Youth Program - Council Members Waters and Huston will begin developing a curriculum, schedule, etc.
B. Newsletter - Council Member Huston requested contributions should be submitted to her by March 17.
C. Broadband - No update.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to discuss, Supervisor Brown adjourned the meeting at 7:15pm.
Respectfully submitted, Lauren LeFebvre, Town Clerk
Click here to see past minutes
Town of Franklin
P.O. Box 209, Route 3, Vermontville, NY 12989 · Tel: 518-891-2189 · Fax: 518-891-6389 · info@townoffranklin.com