The Village of Franklin held its regular board meeting on August 14, 2023, at the Village Hall office (141 Water Street) at 7:00PM. Present: Mayor Tom Briggs, Trustee Wilson, Trustee VanDeusen, 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.
Minutes: Minutes of the July 10, 2023 board meeting: Wilson moved and VanDeusen seconded approval of the July 10, 2023 minutes. So passed. Minutes of the August 2, 2023 special meeting: Wilson moved and VanDeusen seconded approval of the August 2, 2023 minutes. So passed.
Treasurer’s Report
Date: July 31, 2023
| General Fund | $4,613.27 |
| – Savings | $245,338.03 |
| – Reserve/Maint Equip | $84,882.65 |
| – Sidewalks | $16,911.62 |
| – Trees | $2,369.18 |
| Water Fund | $5,224.19 |
| – Savings | $20,289.27 |
| – Capital Fund/Well Develop | $2,971.29 |
| Water Project | $6.92 |
| Water Tower Grant | $5,396.31 |
| Trust & Agency | $0.00 |
| Grant Fund | $8,765.48 |
| ARPA Funds (remaining) | $6,512.57 |
| Recreation Commission | $7,146.79 |
| – Savings | $29,763.73 |
| – CD | $7,861.15 |
| – CD | $15,951.61 |
VanDeusen moved and Wilson seconded approval of Treasurer’s Report of July 31, 2023. So passed. Need to consider how to use extra CDBG grant funding; will discuss with Mark Blauer.
Citizens’ Comments: none.
Correspondence: 1) Mantra Personal Fitness re: water bill. VanDeusen moved and Wilson seconded reducing amount due to $500. 2) US Dollar LIBOR Settlement. 3) DOT re: CHIPS funding. 4) NYS Off. Of Temp/Disability re: LIHWAP no longer accepting applications.
Clerk’s Report: 1) Sent documentation of noise complaint to Sheriff/Deputies. 2) Will submit Dr. Sealgood and Suit-Kote charges to CHIPS. 3) Completed the Annual Financial Report and sent to OSC on 7/26. 4) Town lost check mailed for $25; will send them $50 to cover LY and TY. 5) Clerk taking time off 8/28-9/2.
Superintendent’s Report: 1) 21st Century Pools delivered new pool vacuum; gets stuck on drain vents, flips and shuts off; they should be coming to fix it. 2) Installed new meter 113 Center St. 3) Taggart Electric came to storage building; struck by lightning; for now shutting one well off each day. 4) driveway/side access done at Village Pole Barn. 5) Requests new chain saw; estimate is $750 for one with 18” bar; Wilson moved and VanDeusen seconded authorizing purchase of new chainsaw. So Passed. 6) Picked up new riding mower; they will install snow blower. 7) Truck needed new back shocks; took to Otego Tire & Auto. 8) Purchased dehumidifier for garage. 9) Fire Dept. would like no parking signs moved to telephone pole (on Institute Street).
Old Business
CDBG Update: see email from Eric; Clerk will request minutes from their construction meetings.
Sewer Study: Mayor called Rural Development; they serve as consultant – including writing grants; assist through the process. Need to meet with them to discuss details; there is funding from Southern Tier 8; letter was sent to owner of 450 Main Street about condition of property and Code Enforcement Officer will be there.
Restore NY: Mayor and Meg will meet with them to discuss improving application.
Village Dump: John will send Jason wording for sign; Mayor will provide wording for a community notice.
Recreation/Pool Update: Total Mail Out letter fundraising $8,225 – started sending out thank you letters; needs mowing; Health Dept came; cited for no TP and no hot water; researched hot water systems – estimate of $235/each; lifeguards are counting attendees; need floating thermometer to test water temp to see if new liquid solar is working. School Board meeting – complaints about kids not having enough to do; need more participation on committee.
New Business
NYCLASS: Advantage is that if you need funds from savings, it will transfer the next day; yield is 5.14%; General fund has 4 savings accounts; water fund has two savings accounts; Rec Commission has a savings account and two CDs. Will invite them to next meeting to give a presentation and get more information.
Old Franklin Days: Jason will put up “Road Closed” signs; Connie Martin has been working on organizing it.
Part Time Labor: Jason will need part time help for the next couple of months; Clerk will advertise in paper and around town for a part-time general laborer. Mike Primmer will cover for Jason while he is on vacation in October.
Speed Signs: Wilson made inquiries with State DOT; he will go to Cherry Valley and Stamford to talk with them about their signs; in the meantime will order “Slow Down” signs.
Around Town: property next to Village Hall has sold.
Citizens’ Comments: none
Approval of Bills: Wilson moved and VanDeusen seconded approval to pay bills. So passed.
Village
| 51-23 | Trust & Agency | A9050.8 | $159.35 | A2270 |
| 52-23 | NYSEG | A1620.4 | $13.57 | A2279 |
| 53-23 | NYSEG | A1620.4 | $48.78 | A2280 |
| 54-23 | NYSEG | A7110.4 | $24.92 | A2281 |
| 55-23 | Trust & Agency | A9030.8 | $461.25 | A2282 |
| 56-23 | Trust & Agency | A9089.8 | $134.00 | A2283 |
| 57-23 | Postmaster | A1325.4 | $66.00 | A2291 |
| 58-23 | NYSEG | A5182.4 | $275.91 | A2292 |
| 59-23 | Delhi Telephone Co | A1620.4 | $78.72 | A1620.4 |
| 60-23 | Trust & Agency | FX9050.8 | $62.26 | FX1619 |
| 61-23 | Frontier | FX8320.4 | $9.50 | FX1624 |
| 62-23 | NYSEG | FX8320.4 | $21.42 | FX1625 |
| 63-23 | Trust & Agency | FX9030.8 | $11.04 | FX1626 |
| 64-23 | John Fitzpatrick | A1001.0 | $3.10 | |
| 65-23 | Tom Briggs | A1210.4 | $159.39 | |
| 66-23 | Capital One | A1325.4 | $15.99 | |
| 66-23 | Capital One | A1620.2 | $264.00 | |
| 66-23 | Capital One | A1620.4 | $36.35 | |
| 66-23 | Capital One | A5110.4 | $173.96 | |
| 67-23 | Decker Advertising | A1325.4 | $39.46 | |
| 68-23 | Paula Niebanck | A1450.4 | $14.98 | |
| 69-23 | Tractor Supply | A1620.4 | $56.91 | |
| 70-23 | Walmart Credit Card | A1620.4 | $60.14 | |
| 71-23 | Town of Franklin | A4020.4 | $50.00 | |
| 72-23 | White's Farm Supply | A5110.2 | $7,426.96 | |
| 73-23 | Mirabito Energy Products | A5110.4 | $143.01 | |
| 74-23 | Otego Tire & Auto | A5110.4 | $228.23 | |
| 75-23 | Jamie Archibald | A5110.4 | $200.00 | |
| 76-23 | Waste Recovery Enterprises | A8160.4 | $12.32 | |
| 77-23 | Kinsley Group | FX8320.4 | $610.00 | |
| 78-23 | AMREX Chemical | FX8330.4 | $480.75 | |
| 79-23 | Life Science Labs | FX8330.4 | $43.20 | |
| 80-23 | Delaware Engineering | H8797.4 | $12,538.00 | |
| TOTAL | $23,923.47 | |||
| PAID PRIOR TO MEETING | $1,366.72 | |||
| Total | $22,556.75 |
Recreation Commission
| 13-23 | Frontier | J7545.4 | $76.31 | J1861 |
| 14-23 | NYSEG | J7345.4 | $20.02 | J1862 |
| 15-23 | Trust & Agency | J9030.8 | $587.00 | J1863 |
| 16-23 | 21st Century Pools | J7145.2 | $6,200.00 | |
| 17-23 | AMREX Chemical | J7145.4 | $1,629.00 | |
| 18-23 | AMREX Chemical | J7145.4 | $1,317.00 | |
| 19-23 | Juliana Archibald | J7145.4 | $34.98 | |
| 19-23 | Juliana Archibald | J7345.4 | $74.55 | |
| TOTAL | $9,938.86 | |||
| PAID PRIOR TO MEETING | $683.33 | |||
| Total | $9,255.53 |
Mayor Briggs adjourned the meeting at 8:25PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Paula Niebanck
Clerk/Treasurer