Adirondack Town Of Franklin
Adirondack Town Of Franklin

Town of Franklin Board Meetings

June 12, 2019 Monthly Town Board Meeting 5:30pm

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:

Supervisor Art Willman, Councilman Cliff Smalley, Councilman Tom Bartiss and Councilman Don Hamm

OTHERS PRESENT:

Doris Hamm, Dot Brown, Al Hadley, Franklin Co. Legislator Lindy Ellis, Brad Merrill, Karen Smalley, Julie Woodcock, Rhonda Swinyer, Ed Martin, Al Hadley, Leo Demong, Dick Jarvis, Highway Superintendent Jacques DeMars and Town Clerk Lauren LeFebvre

CALL TO ORDER

Supervisor Willman called the meeting to order at 5:30pm. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited and the Town Clerk called the roll, noting a quorum was present.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Leg. Lindy Ellis -Leg. Ellis presented Franklin County Highway Department's plan for road work with regard to County Roads in the Town of Franklin. On County Route 60, beginning at Route 3, three culverts will be replaced in 2019. In regard to County Route 55, engineering, permitting, surveying process will begin this year with roadwork beginning in 2020. Also, Franklin County 911 is hiring two dispatchers. Salary starts at $32,500.

Lora Couture, Saranac Lake Young Arts Association (SLYAA) -Lora Couture presented the Town with a check for $1,09767 in support of the Town's Summer Youth Program. Ms Couture, a town resident and SLYAA Treasurer, strongly urged Supervisor Willman to publicly recognize SLYAA's continued financial support to the youth program through a letter to the editor of the Adirondack Daily Enterprise, acknowledgment in the Franklin Flyer and social media.

REVIEW/APPROVAL OF June 12 and 192019 MEETING MINUTESMinutes approved as presented. (T.Bartiss-C.Smalley m/s/p) all aye

APPROVAL OF CLAIMS The board audited and approved payment of the following:

General FundAbstract 6Claims 92-117$10,351.66
Highway FundAbstract 6Claims 103-117$5,424.04
Pre-Pay GeneralAbstract 6Claims 23-27$1,773.24

(D.Hamm-C.Smalley m/s/p) all aye

SUPERVISOR'S REPORT: Balances on hand as of May 31, 2019

General Fund
Checking$161,865.13
Savings$2, 349.96
Historian$3,039.40
Kt. Mt SRF$1,852.84
Kate Mt. CLASS$45,866.45
Cemetery RF$4,904.33
CLASS$245,832.08
Highway Fund
Checking$822,890.62
Savings$61,178.33
Cap Proj. HW$48,339.47
CLASS$404,084.04
Landfill Clos. CR
Checking$1,020.37
CLASS$16,801.23
Fire Protection
Checking$6,264.03
CLASS$21,389.88
Capital Proj Bldg
CLASS$67,785.88

(Smalley-Hamm m/s/p) All Aye

HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT - Superintendent DeMars read the following report:

As I reported last month, both of our brooms were broke down, which obviously has caused delays in the sweeping of the roads. Please note that an assessment of the parts needed was made immediately and the parts needed were immediately ordered for the tow- behind broom. Most parts are not readily available and the speediness of receiving the parts is out of our control. The second broom which is attached to the New Holland tractor is still working fine however the tractor lost reverse and was approved to be brought to a tractor repair shop and is still there.

I asked a few towns to borrow their brooms and until recently most towns were still sweeping. I have borrowed 2 brooms; one from the Town of Mooers and one from the Town of Chateguay. Therefore brooming has started again and we will try to accomplish this task as quickly and thoroughly as we can.

I appreciate everyone’s understanding and patience while we play catch up. Please remember that some roads are first and some are last and many are in the middle.

  • Update on the tow- behind sweeper is it is up and running as on Monday afternoon.
  • Rock Street- culvert replacements and ditching
  • Assisting Town of Duane with paving
  • Removed a tree that was blocking the road on Cold Brook Rd. that had fallen due to high winds
  • Had men out several times cleaning debris out of right of way around town
  • Repaired several areas where scouring had taken place
  • Ongoing beaver activity several areas around town
  • Gas, fuel and maintenance logs given to Highway Committee

Replacement of 2012 Ford 550 -With regard to the OGS Mini-Bid, requested by Councilman Hamm, provided to the board at the May board meeting by Superintendent DeMars, Councilman Hamm discussed a similar vehicle available through Durocher Auto Sales in Plattsburgh. Councilman Hamm reported that Durocher is also included in the NYS Mini-Bid process. He will contact Durocher regarding a trade-in price for the 2012 550. Superintendent DeMars will contact OGS to inquire as to the status of Durocher as an OGS Mini-Bid Vendor.

Road Broom Status -As requested, Superintendent DeMars provided the board with price for the purchase of a new or use broom/road sweeper. Dragoon's, Mooers NY, quoted $7,500 (used) and $9,748.50 (new).

CODE OFFICER'S REPORT - 10 building permits, 2 Certificates of Occupancy were issued and 12 inspections were conducted. There were no violations and $952.36 in fees were collected.

NEW BUSINESS

A. Softball Fields- Supervisor Willman reported that a Larry Doyle league from Saranac Lake has requested to use the upper field at Kate Mountain Park for a tournament July 12-14. Mark Gillis, one of the organizers, has agreed the league will perform all the work and incur all the costs of bringing the field up to play standards. The league is also considering using both Kate Mountain Park fields as their home fields. The Town Clerk expressed concern about post tournament clean-up, trash removal, etc. Supervisor Willman will discuss clean-up and other “housekeeping” details with league representatives before the tournament.

RESOLUTION #21 ALLOWING SL LARRY DOYLE LEAGUE TO HOLD TOURNAMENT AT KATE MT. PARK On a motion by Councilman Hamm, second by Councilman Bartiss, BE IT RESOLVED that the Town of Franklin Town Board does hereby approve the use of the upper softball field by the Saranac Lake Larry Doyle Softball Team for a tournament July 12-14, 2019 and the Town Board does FURTHER RESOLVE that it is agreed the no cost shall be incurred by the Town of Franklin for any work done at the park in preparation for the tournament or any post tournament costs.

Those Voting Aye:
    Supervisor Willman
    Councilman Hamm
    Councilman Smalley
    Councilman Bartiss

Those voting No: None

B. Sexual Harassment Training- The Town Clerk and Highway Superintendent have arranged Sexual Harassment Training to be held at the Town Hall July 17, 2019 9am-10:30am. As per Governor Cuomo's mandate all municipal employees and elected/appointed officials must complete a NYS approved sexual harassment training class on/before October 8, 2019. The Town Clerk has notified all those for which training is required.

OLD BUSINESS -

A. Solar Project Update - six foot fencing will be installed around the perimeter of the array.

B. Waterfront Hamlet and Revitalization Grant -Supervisor Willman will print the final draft for distribution to the interested public.

C. Town Hall Roof/Painting -The Town Clerk will obtain quotes for the necessary work. Councilman Hamm will provide specifications in order to solicit quotes.

D. Phone System -Down payment for the system and installation will be sent to Twinstate this week. The Town Clerk will schedule the work.

E. UV Water System -Snickles Plumbing will move the Hallett system currently used at the Town Hall to the park and install it there. A new Hallett UV System will be installed at the Town Hall.

F. Status of General Fund Grounds Keeping Equipment

RESOLUTION #22 DECLARATION OF SURPLUS EQUIPMENT On a motion by Councilman Hamm, second by Councilman Smalley, BE IT RESOLVED that the Town of Franklin Town Board does hereby declare all Building and Grounds Keeping related items/equipment to be surplus and the board does FURTHER RESOLVE that the Town Clerk shall solicit sealed bids for the sale of said surplus equipment which will be opened at the July 10, 2019 regular board meeting.

Those Voting Aye:
    Supervisor Willman
    Councilman Hamm
    Councilman Smalley
    Councilman Bartiss

Those voting No: None

ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to discuss, Supervisor Willman adjourned the meeting at 6:55pm.

Respectfully submitted, Lauren LeFebvre, Town Clerk

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Town of Franklin
P.O. Box 209, Route 3, Vermontville, NY 12989  ·  Tel: 518-891-2189  ·  Fax: 518-891-6389  ·  info@townoffranklin.com
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