TOWN OF STAFFORD BOARD MEETING
OCTOBER 10, 2022
Supervisor Clement opened the meeting at 7:30pm with the Pledge of Allegiance, the following Councilmen present; Councilman Panek, Schramm, and Duyssen, Councilman Pacer was absent; along with Highway Superintendent Boldt and Town Clerk Radley.
In attendance were Linda Call, Cathy and Dale Worthington, Phyllis Darling, Andrew Darling, Quentin Call, Don and Barb Mullen and Harold Leanos.
Councilman Panek made a motion to accept the Financial Report second by Councilman Duyssen and approved on a 4-0-1 vote.
Councilman Panek made a motion to accept the meeting minutes of September 12, 2022, second by Councilman Schramm and approved on a 4-0-1 vote.
Councilman Duyssen made a motion to accept the Fire Department Report after Supervisor Clement read the email provided by the new Fire Chief Tim Eckdahl, second by Councilman Panek and approved on a 4-0-1 vote.
Councilman Schramm made a motion to accept the CEO/ZEO Report, second by Councilman Panek and approved on a 4-0-1 vote.
Councilman Panek made a motion to hold a Public Hearing on the budget on November 14, 2022, at 7:00pm, second by Councilman Duyssen and approved on a 4-0-1 vote.
Councilman Panek made a motion to accept Resolution 40 – Mowing of Private Property and adding to the taxes, second by Councilman Duyssen and approved on a Roll Call Vote as follows:
Councilman Panek aye
Councilman Schramm aye
Councilman Duyssen aye
Councilman Pacer absent
Supervisor Clement aye
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Councilman Panek made a motion to approve Resolution 41 – Intermunicipal Agreement for Snow Removal and Ice Control Services and Roadside Mowing, second by Councilman Duyssen and approved on a 4-0-1 vote.
Councilman Panek made a motion to approve Resolution 42 – Resolution Increasing 2022 Budgetary Line Items for Sale of Equipment – Highway, second by Councilman Schramm and approved on a 4-0-1 vote.
Councilman Panek made a motion to approve Resolution 43 – Resolution Increasing 2022 Budgetary Line Items for Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS) Pave NY Extreme Winter Recovery (EWR) and Pave Our Potholes (POP), second by Councilman Duyssen and approved on a 4-0-1 vote.
Supervisor Clement read a letter from Planning Board Chairman Bill VanAlst regarding the application of A D Call & Sons for Land Spreading in the Town of Stafford. The Planning Board has approved this application. Councilman Panek made a motion to accept the application from A D Call & Sons for the Land Spreading, second by Councilman Schramm and approved on a 4-0-1 vote.
The Water District #12 Unit Charges were discussed, Councilman Schramm has reviewed the charges. He found that three parcels were vacant and associated with Agricultural land, the rest were vacant land both tillable and non-tillable. When we have the new assessor in place, it will be further reviewed. Councilman Schramm made a motion to table this discussion until the new assessor can review this, second by Councilman Duyssen and approved on a 4-0-1 vote.
The County’s Office of Emergency Management Services has sent a letter for the EMS Recommendations. They have a list of 90 Recommendations and ask that the Town review them and chose our top ten recommendations presented in the plan. The timeline of this project was discussed and found it to be a noticeably short notice. The letter was written after our last meeting and the deadline is for October 15th. An email will be sent to state this concern and ask that the Highway Superintendent, Fire Chief as well as the Town Board be involved in this process, possibly the Chairs of the Planning and Zoning Boards also.
Cathy Worthington spoke about the Board Meeting Minutes and the Board Meeting with residents. Cathy again asked if the Town would use The Batavian for public notices. Councilman Panek asked the Town Clerk to investigate this and if it is still a free service, which would be allowed for the Town of Stafford to use. Cathy then asked to speak to the Town Supervisor about Town Business. Supervisor Clement asked what she wanted to talk about, and it was stated that she would like the Financial Report information.
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Councilman Panek read the Financial Report at that point. The question Cathy had was the item of NYCLASS, it appears to
be broken down into two accounts, what are they and why? Heidi, our bookkeeper has that information and Cathy will have to ask her.
Don Mullen addressed the Town Board on Solar. He was questioning where the Town Board stands on the issue of Solar, especially the Property Protection portion of the law. Has BW Solar been told how the Town Board stands on this issue? Councilman Panek advised that our law is enough. Supervisor Clement stated that an application has not been presented yet and we can address it then. A question was raised as to what the Zoning Board of Appeals has done for the Solar Project. The Zoning Board has granted several set- backs on that project only. The Zoning Board does not change Town Code or laws, just grants variances.
Barb Mullen also spoke; her subject was the new Town Assessor. She questioned where it was advertised and was told that the ad went to the Daily News and the State Town Assessor page. She also asked if a candidate was chosen, it was told that the decision will be made in Executive Session after the regular meeting. Mrs. Mullen was concerned because she had attempted to meet with the Assessor on a Tuesday during posted hours and the Assessor was not there. The process of evaluation of the homes was discussed also. It was noted that if we are not satisfied with our assessment, we are welcome to grieve it with the Assessment Review Board in May of each year.
Councilman Duyssen made a motion to pay Abstract #10 General Fund in the amount of $ 23,152.97, this is revised because of a discrepancy on Gerry Wood’s mileage, second by Councilman Panek and approved on a 4-0-1 vote.
Councilman Duyssen made a motion to pay Abstract #10 Highway Fund in the amount of $ 53,875.50, second by Councilman Panek and approved on a 4-0-1 vote.
Councilman made a motion to pay Abstract #10 Capital Fund in the amount of $ 211,289.32, second by Councilman Panek and approved on a 4-0-1 vote.
Supervisor Clement suggested the Town Board adjourn to Executive Session with the Highway Superintendent and the Town Clerk at 9:10pm.
The Regular Meeting resumed at 10:20pm with a motion from Councilman Schramm and a second from Councilman Panek, the vote was 4-0-1 vote.
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Councilman Panek made a motion to accept the application of Lori Frongetta for the Assessor Position, second by Councilman Duyssen and approved on a Roll Call Vote as follows:
Councilman Panek aye
Councilman Schramm aye
Councilman Duyssen aye
Councilman Pacer absent
Supervisor Clement nay
Councilman Schramm made a motion to advertise for a part time CEO/ZEO position, to be in addition to the current officer and making that position part time also, second by Councilman Duyssen and approved on a Roll Call Vote as follows:
Councilman Panek aye
Councilman Schramm aye
Councilman Duyssen aye
Councilman Pacer absent
Supervisor Clement aye
Councilman Schramm made a motion to advertise and hire a MEO position for the Highway Department, second by Councilman Duyssen and approved on a Roll Call Vote as follows:
Councilman Panek aye
Councilman Schramm aye
Councilman Duyssen aye
Councilman Pacer absent
Supervisor Clement aye
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Councilman Panek made a motion to adjourn at 10:25pm, second by Councilman Duyssen and approved on a 4-0-1 vote.
Respectfully Submitted
Barbara Radley
Town Clerk