Town of Franklin Board Meetings
Regular Board Meeting - March 11, 2020
5:30PM
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:
Supervisor Dorothy Brown, Councilman Tom Bartiss, Councilman Richard Jarvis, Councilman Don Hamm and, Councilman Leo Demong
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT:
None
OTHERS PRESENT:
Glenn Swinyer, Doris Hamm, Pete and Julie Woodcock, Lindy Ellis—Franklin Co. Legislator, Al Hadley, Noah Pittman, Lora Couture, Rhonda and Glenn Swinyer, Paul Blaine—Code Officer, 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 and the Town Clerk called the roll, noting the full board present.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Leg. Lindy Ellis - Lindy informed those present that the county is preparing for the Corona Virus Pandemic. They have locally sourced hand sanitizer. Town's are eligible to procure through this vendor. Public Safety Personnel are priority in receiving this supply. Franklin County Solid Waste has reduced the tipping fee for building rubble to $60 per ton.
Lora Couture, Saranac Lake Young Arts Association - Lora gave a the board a history of SLYAA's contributions to the Town of Franklin Youth Program and said they will contribute this year. In return, SLYAA asks that the Town help them by raising awareness of their mission through timely letters to the Adirondack Daily Enterprise and Social Media.
REVIEW/APPROVAL OF FEBRUARY 12, 2020 MINUTES: Minutes were approved as presented. D.Jarvis-T.Bartiss m/s/p-All Aye
APPROVAL OF CLAIMS
The board audited and approved the following claims:
Leg. Lindy Ellis - Lindy informed those present that the county is preparing for the Corona Virus Pandemic. They have locally sourced hand sanitizer. Town's are eligible to procure through this vendor. Public Safety Personnel are priority in receiving this supply. Franklin County Solid Waste has reduced the tipping fee for building rubble to $60 per ton.
Lora Couture, Saranac Lake Young Arts Association - Lora gave a the board a history of SLYAA's contributions to the Town of Franklin Youth Program and said they will contribute this year. In return, SLYAA asks that the Town help them by raising awareness of their mission through timely letters to the Adirondack Daily Enterprise and Social Media.
REVIEW/APPROVAL OF FEBRUARY 12, 2020 MINUTES: Minutes were approved as presented. D.Jarvis-T.Bartiss m/s/p-All Aye
APPROVAL OF CLAIMS The board audited and approved the following claims:
| General Fund | Abstract 3 | Claims 49-64 | $5,976.83 |
| Pre-Pay General | Abstract 3 | Claims 10-13 | $4,361.79 |
| Highway Fund | Abstract 3 | Claims 39-55 | $482,276.59 |
D.Hamm-D.Jarvis m/s/p -All Aye
SUPERVISOR'S REPORT: Balances on hand as of February 29, 2020
| General Fund | |
| Checking | $485,715.79 |
| Savings | $25,486.67 |
| Historian | $3,039.63 |
| Kt. Mt SRF | $2,057.33 |
| Cemetery RF | $5,505.52 |
| CLASS | $248,249.40 |
| Kate Mt. CLASS | $$46,524.39 |
| Highway Fund | |
| Checking | $227,214.27 |
| Savings | $191,670.39 |
| Cap Proj. HW | $49,011.49 |
| CLASS | $409,701.18 |
| Landfill Clos. CR | |
| Checking | $2,072.49 |
| CLASS | $13,024.52 |
| Fire Protection | |
| Checking | $6,623.45 |
| CLASS | $11,685.25 |
| Capital Proj Bldg | |
| CLASS | $68,728.17 |
(Bartiss-Hamm m/s/p) All Aye
HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
Superintendent DeMars submitted the following written report::
- Plow and sanded when needed
- Had men out several times cleaning up trees that came down in the road
- Pushed banks bank and made weep holes around town several times
- Have now taken possession of all the new dump trucks
- Glen from Tenco stopped in and went through the new trucks with each employee and myself
- Started returning borrowed trucks
NEW BUSINESS
A. Eagle Scout Project - Noah Pittman informed he board he is working on attaining his Eagle Scout Badge and has chosen to assist St. Paul's Food Pantry, located behind the Town Hall. He has spoken with Sara Besaw who operates the pantry. Sara provided him with a few available projects that would be beneficial to them. Noah has chosen to construct a roof over the bottle return storage area. The roof necessary will be 14'x8'. Noah will obtain the necessary permits and materials for this project. The board congratulation Noah for his accomplishments and thanked him for his desire to help his hometown..
RESOLUTION #11 SUPPORTING EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT
On a motion by Councilman Bartiss, second by Councilman Jarvis, BE IT RESOLVED the Town of Franklin Town Board does hereby support Noah Pittman's Eagle Scout project to construct a roof over the bottle return area near St. Paul's Food Pantry located on Town of Franklin Property AND the Town of Franklin Town Board does FURTHER RESOLVE that all returnable bottles donated to the Town of Franklin will be given to St. Paul's Food Pantry.
Those Voting Aye:
Supervisor Brown
Councilman Hamm
Councilman Jarvis
Councilman Bartiss
Councilman Demong
Those Voting No: None
B. Committees Assignments - Supervisor Brown established the following committees:
Supervisor Brown established the following committees:
Recreation-Councilmen Demong and Jarvis
Cemetery-Councilman Jarvis
Building and Grounds-Councilmen Hamm and Bartiss
C. Dormitory Authority Funding - Supervisor Brown reported that the funding, $100,000 secured for us by Senator Little for the construction of a community building can be reallocated to upgrading the Town Hall, a capital project. Supervisor Brown requested Councilmen Hamm and Jarvis work together to create a budget to submit to the dormitory authority to reallocate the funds. Budget must include how the funds will be used and, if the budget is over $100,000, how the Town will pay for the remainder. Replacing the roof and increasing insulation will be first priority for these funds.
D. 2020 Grounds Keeping
RESOLUTION #12 2020 GROUNDS KEEPING
On a motion by Councilman Hamm, second by Councilman Bartiss, BE IT RESOLVED the Town of Franklin Town Board will continue to contract with Glenn Swinyer in an amount not to exceed $9,999 for all 2020 Grounds Keeping duties, including Spring and Fall clean-up of all grounds.
Those Voting Aye:
Supervisor Brown
Councilman Hamm
Councilman Jarvis
Councilman Bartiss
Councilman Demong
Those Voting No: None
OLD BUSINESS - none
A. Garage Rebuild Update - Supervisor Brown and Highway Superintendent DeMars are working with the public adjuster to ensure the Town receives the most advantageous settlement for the garage rebuild and all other losses. Superintendent DeMars has been working with John Hutchins, Friend Construction, regarding the finalization of plans for the new garage. Dimensions being discussed for the new building are 120'x50' and 80'x120'.
B. Wood Pellet Heating System - Councilman Jarvis reported Cornerstone, based in Norwood and Malone, is our local NYSERDA Certified Contractor. Superintendent DeMars and Supervisor Brown reported they have discussed this option with the General Contractor, Friend Construction, and were advised this is a much more costly investment than a traditional system. The board discussed grants available through NYSERDA to install a pellet system after the new garage is built due to the fact that , as a municipality, we cannot combine grant funds and insurance funds.
C. 2020 Census - Councilman Jarvis reported the census bureau is hiring census takers. The Town Clerk added that census takers are prohibited from working near where they reside.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the board, Supervisor Brown adjourned the meeting at 6:25pm
Respectfully submitted, Lauren LeFebvre, Town Clerk
Click here to see past minutes
RESOLUTION #11 SUPPORTING EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT
On a motion by Councilman Bartiss, second by Councilman Jarvis, BE IT RESOLVED the Town of Franklin Town Board does hereby support Noah Pittman's Eagle Scout project to construct a roof over the bottle return area near St. Paul's Food Pantry located on Town of Franklin Property AND the Town of Franklin Town Board does FURTHER RESOLVE that all returnable bottles donated to the Town of Franklin will be given to St. Paul's Food Pantry.
Those Voting Aye:
Supervisor Brown
Councilman Hamm
Councilman Jarvis
Councilman Bartiss
Councilman Demong
Councilman Hamm
Councilman Jarvis
Councilman Bartiss
Councilman Demong
Those Voting No: None
B. Committees Assignments - Supervisor Brown established the following committees:
Supervisor Brown established the following committees:
Recreation-Councilmen Demong and Jarvis
Cemetery-Councilman Jarvis
Building and Grounds-Councilmen Hamm and Bartiss
C. Dormitory Authority Funding - Supervisor Brown reported that the funding, $100,000 secured for us by Senator Little for the construction of a community building can be reallocated to upgrading the Town Hall, a capital project. Supervisor Brown requested Councilmen Hamm and Jarvis work together to create a budget to submit to the dormitory authority to reallocate the funds. Budget must include how the funds will be used and, if the budget is over $100,000, how the Town will pay for the remainder. Replacing the roof and increasing insulation will be first priority for these funds.
D. 2020 Grounds Keeping
RESOLUTION #12 2020 GROUNDS KEEPING
On a motion by Councilman Hamm, second by Councilman Bartiss, BE IT RESOLVED the Town of Franklin Town Board will continue to contract with Glenn Swinyer in an amount not to exceed $9,999 for all 2020 Grounds Keeping duties, including Spring and Fall clean-up of all grounds.
Those Voting Aye:
Supervisor Brown
Councilman Hamm
Councilman Jarvis
Councilman Bartiss
Councilman Demong
Councilman Hamm
Councilman Jarvis
Councilman Bartiss
Councilman Demong
Those Voting No: None
OLD BUSINESS - none
A. Garage Rebuild Update - Supervisor Brown and Highway Superintendent DeMars are working with the public adjuster to ensure the Town receives the most advantageous settlement for the garage rebuild and all other losses. Superintendent DeMars has been working with John Hutchins, Friend Construction, regarding the finalization of plans for the new garage. Dimensions being discussed for the new building are 120'x50' and 80'x120'.
B. Wood Pellet Heating System - Councilman Jarvis reported Cornerstone, based in Norwood and Malone, is our local NYSERDA Certified Contractor. Superintendent DeMars and Supervisor Brown reported they have discussed this option with the General Contractor, Friend Construction, and were advised this is a much more costly investment than a traditional system. The board discussed grants available through NYSERDA to install a pellet system after the new garage is built due to the fact that , as a municipality, we cannot combine grant funds and insurance funds.
C. 2020 Census - Councilman Jarvis reported the census bureau is hiring census takers. The Town Clerk added that census takers are prohibited from working near where they reside.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the board, Supervisor Brown adjourned the meeting at 6:25pm
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