The Village of Franklin held its regular board meeting on April 8, 2024, at the Village Hall office (141 Water Street) at 7:03PM. Present: Mayor Tom Briggs, Mayor Elect/Trustee VanDeusen, Trustee Wilson, Trustee Elect Martin, Clerk/Treasurer Niebanck, Deputy Clerk Martin, Superintendent Kingsbury and guests recorded on the sign-in register. The meeting was streamed and recorded on the video platform Zoom.
Oath of Office and Recognition: Johanna VanDeusen sworn in as Mayor, two years. Constance Martin sworn in as Trustee, two years. John Wilson emcee – thanked former Mayor Briggs for his service.
Regular Meeting caled to order 7:09PM:
Annual Appointments made by Mayor VanDeusen: Deputy Mayor: John Wilson; Clerk/Treasurer: Paula Niebanck; Deputy Clerk: James Martin; Public Works and Water Superintendent: Jason Kingsbury; School Crossing Guards: Gary Schiffner and Georgetta Skovsende; Newspaper: Walton Reporter; Depository: Wayne Bank; Attorney: David Merzig of Kehoe & Merzig; Recreation Commission Representative: John Wilson; Building Code and Health Officer: Dale Downin; Registrar: Town of Franklin; Historian: Franklin Railroad and Community Museum; Dog Control Officer: Mark Bennett (shared service with Town of Franklin); Board Meetings: 2nd Monday of every month; Special Meetings: TBD
Minutes: Minutes of the March 2024 board meeting, special meeting and Recreation Commission meeting: Wilson moved and Martin seconded approval of the March 2024 minutes. So passed.
Treasurer’s Report
Date: March 31, 2024
| General Fund | $203,220.37 |
| – Reserve/Maint Equip (Checking) | $85,965.25 |
| – Sidewalks (Checking) | $20,354.34 |
| – Trees (Checking) | $2,370.38 |
| Water Fund | $31,824.84 |
| Water Project | $6.96 |
| Water Tower Grant | $72.01 |
| Trust & Agency | $410.25 |
| Grant Fund | $1,859.34 |
| ARPA Funds (remaining) | $0.00 |
| Recreation Commission | $56,610.94 |
Budget transfers in GF: $10.21 to 1450.4 from 1420.4; in WF: $134.56 to 8320.2 from 8310.2. Wilson moved and Martin seconded budget transfers. So passed. Wilson moved and Martin seconded approval of Treasurer’s Report of March 31, 2024. So passed.
Citizens’ Comments: the cake is good.
Animal Control: nothing to report.
Correspondence/Clerk’s Report: 1) one application received for RC Leader. 2) Quote from RJV Carpentry for bathroom: $2512.46. 3) OSC re: Fiscal Stress score – no designation. 4) NYCOM re: State Budget Update. 5) DTC re: rate increase. 6) Dept. of Public Service re: Broadband Connectivity Act. 7) HCR re: CDBG Program Income Certification (Tom will sign).
Superintendent’s Report: 1) Called DOT about trees on Main Street two times; no call back yet. 2) Need to find more paving companies to get bids from. 3) Got quotes for street sweeping; $75 per hour and $75 fee, per sweep; will schedule first one. 4) Meeting with EJ Prescott on April 19 re: water meters to get options; there may be a grant available. 5) Installed new meter at 65 Main.
Old Business
Downstairs Bathroom: Quote received from RJV Carpentry; Wilson moved Martin seconded hiring RJV Carpentry to refurbish Village Hall bathroom, using grant money and general fund monies. So passed. Work can commence in two weeks.
Restore NY Grant: no update; Mayor will meet with Glenn Nealis and O’Connor Foundation.
Red Truck auction: Clerk will put request for bids in Walton Reporter; Superintendent will provide specs.
Dump – use of wood chipper: couldn’t create mulch out of big logs; not really feasible.
Street crack filling: price for machine will be included in budget planning.
Bible Church sidewalk: need to get more quotes from paving companies; Mayor will ask around.
Budget Workshop: scheduled for April 15 at 6:00PM; will include Recreation Commission budget planning.
Memorial Day Planning: meeting on April 18 at Legion at 6:00PM; Village Board can ride in truck.
New Business
Water Rate increase: Proposed increase in water billing – Wilson moved and Martin seconded increasing water rates to $7/1000 gal. and $50 availability fee starting June quarter. So passed.
NYCOM Conference: Martin moved and Wilson seconded a budget transfer of $1400 to Mayor Expense from Clerk Expense to send Mayor to NYCOM conference. So passed.
Moving Ordinance: Board members will review current local law and come up with revisions.
Pro-housing Community Designation: Mayor created letter of intent, sent and received. Ray Pucci has sent a link with next steps.
Recreation Commission: has been restructured; receiving some applications for pool director and lifeguard.
Citizens’ Comments: resident concerned about tractor trailers turning onto Center Street from side streets; first step is to contact companies of repeat offenders.
Mayor’s Newsletter: will include blurb about new water tank; newsletter will go out twice a year.
Approval of Bills: Wilson moved and Martin seconded approval to pay bills. So passed.
Village
| 254-23 | NYSEG | A7110.4 | $63.11 | A2502 |
| 255-23 | NYSEG | A1620.4 | $63.40 | A2503 |
| 256-23 | NYSEG | A1620.4 | $77.76 | A2504 |
| 257-23 | Frontier | FX8320.4 | $9.50 | FX1745 |
| 258-23 | NYSEG | FX8320.4 | $23.78 | FX1746 |
| 259-23 | Postmaster | FX8310.4 | $136.00 | FX1749 |
| 260-23 | Stephen Lawton | A1325.4 | $130.00 | |
| 261-23 | Capital One | A1325.4 | $15.99 | |
| 262-23 | Capital One | A1450.4 | $17.26 | |
| Capital One | A1620.4 | $22.98 | ||
| 263-23 | Boulder Oil | A1620.4 | $378.97 | |
| 264-23 | Walmart (Capital One card) | A1620.4 | $44.24 | |
| 265-23 | Delhi Telephone Co | A1620.4 | $79.06 | |
| 266-23 | Selective Insurance | A1910.4 | $1,368.00 | |
| 267-23 | Dale Downin | A4010.4 | $200.00 | |
| 268-23 | Tractor Supply | A5110.4 | $129.98 | |
| 269-23 | Chemung Supply | A5112.2 | $146.60 | |
| 270-23 | Mirabito Energy Products | A5142.4 | $104.51 | |
| 271-23 | NYSEG | A5182.4 | $318.90 | |
| 272-23 | Franklin Recreation Commission | A7320.4 | $1,500.00 | |
| 273-23 | Franklin RR & Community Museum | A7510.4 | $500.00 | |
| 274-23 | The Hartford | A9055.8 | $41.61 | |
| 275-23 | USA Blue Book | FX8320.2 | $120.48 | |
| 276-23 | AMREX Chemical Co | FX8330.4 | $500.25 | |
| 277-23 | Life Science Labs | FX8330.4 | $54.00 | |
| 278-23 | Waste Recovery Enterprises | A8160.4 | $12.32 | |
| TOTAL | $6,058.70 | |||
| PAID PRIOR TO MEETING | $373.55 | |||
| Total | $5,685.15 |
Recreation Commission
| 36-23 | NYSEG | J7345.4 | $0.00 | |
| 37-23 | Frontier | J7545.4 | $66.06 | J1909 |
| 38-23 | Decker Advertising | J7345.5 | $50.40 |
Mayor VanDeusen adjourned the meeting at 7:55PM
Respectfully submitted,
Paula Niebanck
Clerk/Treasurer