Adirondack Town Of Franklin
Adirondack Town Of Franklin

Town of Franklin Board Meetings

Regular Board Meeting
July 8, 2009 - 7:00 PM

Board members present:

Supervisor Mary Ellen Keith
Councilman Allen Berg
Councilwoman Janet Ordway
Councilman Clifford Smalley
Councilman Walt Kretser

Others Present:

Town Clerk Sandra Oliver Frances Oliver, Karen Smalley, Jean Baltzly, Don & Doris Hamm, Donald Goff, Bradley Merrill, Nathan Brown - Adirondack Daily Enterprise

1. CALL TO ORDER

Supervisor Keith called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

2. MOMENT OF SILENCE.

Supv. Keith asked all assembled for a moment of silence in memory of Mack Bushey, who served on the Town Board for a number of years.

3. ROLL CALL.

The Town Clerk called the roll, introduced guests and stated a quorum was present.

4. 2009 GENERAL FUND BUDGET AMENDMENT #1.

Supv. Keith requested a resolution transferring $500.00 from one Youth Programs equipment to Youth Programs CE.

Motion for resolution (W.Kretser-J.Ordway m/s/p) ALL AYE

RESOLUTION NO. 28: 2009 GENERAL FUND BUDGET AMENDMENT #1

WHEREAS, to balance the 2009 General Fund Budget the following transfers of funds are to be made:


FROM ACCOUNT

AMOUNT

TO ACCOUNT

AMOUNT

A7310.2 Youth Programs Equipment

$500.00

A7310.4 Youth Programs CE

$500.00

Those voting aye:

Supervisor Mary Ellen Keith
Councilman Walt Kretser
Councilman Al Berg
Councilperson Janet Ordway
Councilman Cliff Smalley

Those Absent:

None

Those Abstaining:

None

Those Voting nay:

None

5. MINUTES OF MEETING.

The minutes of the June 10, 2009 meeting were accepted as presented

The minutes of the June 24, 2009 special meeting were accepted as presented

Motion to accept minutes (J.Ordway-C.Smalley m/s/p) ALL AYE

6. AUDIT OF CLAIMS


The following claims were submitted on Abstract #7 of 2009:

General

Claims 165 - 189

$6,310.21

Highway

Claims 83 - 90

$5,396.64

Prepay General

Claims 20 - 22

$1,017.79

The following claims were submitted on Abstract #3 of 2009:

Fire Protection

Claim 4

$14,199.89

The following claims were submitted on Abstract #2 of 2009:

Landfill

Claims 2-3

$473.32

Motion to approve payment of claims (M.Keith-J.Ordway m/s/p) ALL AYE

7. SUPERVISOR'S REPORT

Balances at June 1, 2009:



General Fund

CK

$7,333.56

SV

$21,809.75

CLASS

$176,872.85

Historian

$2,749.33

Highway Fund

CK

$12,749.79

SV

$52,523.39

CLASS

$467,104.31

Cap Proj Hwy

$16,380.40

Landfill

CK

$968.69

CLASS

$56,400.57

Fire

CK

17,650.87

CLASS

$685.29

Cap. Building

CLASS

$24,637.16

Motion to approve Supervisor's Report (J.Ordway-C.Smalley m/s/p) ALL AYE

8. HIGHWAY REPORT

A. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT. Hwy. Supt. DeMars' written report was read by Coun. Kretser:

(1) PROGRESS OF DEPARTMENT

(a) Shoulder work - on Cold Brook Road, Oregon Plains Rd., Franklin Falls Hill, and Swinyer Roads. In two months the Department has cut 2 miles of shoulders.
(b) Culvert extensions - on Franklin Falls Hill; also cleaned out several culverts, including excavation with backhoe and flushing with water
(c) Raking - performed on Mud Pond and Mensink Roads
(d) Cold patch - Several roads were cold patched
(e) Summer employee - Michael Woodruff hired as summer laborer with Board approval

(2) EQUIPMENT

(a) Front loader was red-tagged because of brake problems. Nortrax provided a telephone estimate of $8,459 for repair. Coun. Kretser suggested that an inspection of the vehicle be performed.

QUESTION: Coun. Smalley inquired about the process to purchase a new front loader.

RESPONSE: Coun. Kretser indicated the Highway Superintendent needed to draw up specifications for review by the Highway Committee, then Requests for Prices/Bids would be published, bids received, reviewed, and then the Board would select financing options.

Q: Coun. Smalley speculated whether the current loader, the one vehicle in constant use by the Department, would last through 2009

R: Coun. Kretser said he researched whether a front loader could be rented, but found that the cost would be a costly $5,500 per month. Supt. DeMars now has access to the OGS used equipment site and will investigate other options.
(b) Backhoe - experienced problems - $2,979 for repairs.

B. HIGHWAY COMMITTEE. No report.

C. QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS RE HIGHWAY MATTERS

QUESTION: Will Fletcher Farm Road be paved next year? What about culvert replacement? There are some pretty bad culverts on the road, especially the first 1.5 miles.

RESPONSE: It is scheduled to be. This year the Highway Dept. has worked on shoulders on the road. As to culverts, as much work will be done this and next year as possible.

Q: How old is the front loader? Is it worth it to repair it or buy a new one?

R: The vehicle has 9,788 hours on it; most highway superintendents recommend replacement at 10,000 hours. Supt. DeMars is investigating options for leasing or replacing it. The front loader is the single piece of equipment at the Department in constant use.

Q:Nortrax is expensive; check with other municipalities for service. Will give you names of people tomorrow morning.

Thank you.

9. NEW BUSINESS

A. SCHEDULE SPECIAL BOARD MEETING. TThe Board agreed to convene a special meeting at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, July 15, 2009, for the purpose of adopting a resolution to bond for repair of the Town Garage.

10. OLD BUSINESS

A. SUBDIVISION UPDATE.

Coun. Smalley stated as a public hearing has been scheduled for Monday, July 27, the Citizens Advisory Committee on Subdivisions will held a meeting at 7:00 PM on Thursday, July 16th. They will review the proposed law and public hearing rules with Jack Drury, who has been designated by Supv. Keith to chair of the public hearing.

B. INFRASTRUCTURE UPDATE Supv. Keith indicated the Town's special bond counsel is drafting a resolution regarding another proposed bond issue for repair of the Town Garage, and the Board will vote on it at the July 15th special meeting.

Supv. Keith emphasized the Town Garage will be repaired, and it must be done, whether the residents submit another petition demanding a permissive referendum on new bond issue or not. If the new bond issue is voted down, the cost of repair will be included in the 2010 budget.

C. FIRE/RESCUE UPDATE.

(1) 2010 Contract for Ambulance/Rescue. No report. No new meetings have been held by the Saranac Lake Area Fire Advisory Board; the last one was held in June at the Brighton Town Hall.

(2) 2010 Contract for Fire Protection. Tim Woodruff telephoned Supv. Keith to report the contract amount for next year will remain the same. In addition, Bloomingdale Volunteer Fire Dept. is researching workers compensation carriers.

D. STATUS OF ASSESSMENT UPDATE. Supv. Keith read a letter received from Cynthia King, Office of Real Property Services, Ray Brook which stated 1/3 of the data has been collected in the Town, and that Assessor Tichenor will be hiring another data collector. Once collection has been completed, the data will be input into the RPS system, and individual mailers will be sent to property owners for review. The assessment update is proceeding on schedule. Assessor Tichenor will be at the Franklin Town Hall this coming Friday, July 10th, from 9:00AM to noon.

E. NORMAN RIDGE ILLEGAL DUMPING. Engineer Ferris will be at the site tomorrow, July 9th, and will remove any tires and metal. The Town of Franklin is ahead of the DEC remediation schedule. Coun. Smalley asked how much more is there to do at the site, and Supv. Keith said removal of materials, seeding the grass and placing boulders at the entrance.

F. GRANT WRITER Ann Holland submitted her monthly report to the Board which lists actions she has taken in pursuit of grant funding from NYS Unified Court System for the Town Hall , USDA for Garage and possibly NYS Parks & Recreation for Historical grants. Supv. Keith indicated she would like to publish another "They Told Me So" book, and perhaps Parks & Recreation grant of $500 would cover this.

11. COMMITTEE REPORTS

A. CEMETERY / CELEBRATION.

A Town "Memory Day" has been scheduled for Wednesday, August 17th at the Rec Park. Supv. Keith would like to hold an auction of outdated equipment owned by the Town and open it to the public. Proceeds would go to the cemetery fund for restoration of the Merrillsville Cemetery. Coun. Kretser suggested she ask Supt. DeMars for a list of unused Highway equipment. A tape recorder will be available for interviews of lifelong residents of the Town to record memories for inclusion in another volume of "They Told Me So".

B. RECREATION

(1) Summer Youth Program. Once again, this is proving a successful program; today 36 youngsters are taking part in the program, and more are coming each day. The School District will provide hot lunches starting Monday, July 13th.

(2) Recreation Equipment. The volleyball area is being assembled, and will be ready soon. The ballfield will be upgraded, and a contract is ready for Mark Farmer to sign.

(3) Recreation Survey. People who use the Rec Park and Pavilion are asked to complete a survey questionnaire. The results will be used to support a grant application.

12. CORRESPONDENCE

A. DENTAL CLINIC Supv. Keith heard from Pat Giroux regarding the dental trailer; although the program was to start this month, it requires approval from the NYS Dept. of Health. Hopefully, the program will start in August. All necessary electrical hookups have been installed at the Food Pantry trailer.

B. UPDATE OF TOWN WEBSITE An email was received from Rainbow Graphics stating the need to upgrade the Town website using a CSS program at a cost of $500 to $600. The Board requested additional information and suggested Hilary Appel, principal of Rainbow Graphics, attend the August board meeting and make a presentation, or provide additional information.

C. LOCAL SALES OF SPORTS LICENSES. Regarding a letter from NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation DECALS Section Head Gordon Batcheller, two additional letters addressed to Sen. Betty Little and Asmbly. Janet Duprey supporting the application of the Birch Bark Deli for agent status to sell sports licenses were referenced. Those in attendance at the meeting were encouraged to telephone DECALS in support of same.

13. QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS None

QUESTION: As of 2:30 PM this afternoon, the Norman Ridge site still contained tires, metals and a backhoe.

At the March 9th Board meeting, a DEC representative promised public access to the Sable Highlands Easement properties. Right now there are barriers erected at the Loon Lake Fire Tower entrance and no parking area has been created.

RESPONSE: Supv. Keith indicated she would contact Sean Reynolds of DEC and remind him of his promise.

RESPONSE: Coun. Smalley reminded everyone that DEC's promise was dependent upon the NYS budget.

RESPONSE: Coun. Kretser recommended contacting Betsy Lowe, Regional Director, NYS DEC.

14. ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to discuss or conduct, the meeting adjourned at 8:02 PM.

Respectfully submitted, Sandra J. Oliver, Town Clerk

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