The Village of Franklin held its regular board meeting on August 8, 2022, at the Village Hall office (141 Water Street). Present: Mayor Tom Briggs, Trustee Wilson, Trustee VanDeusen, Clerk/Treasurer Niebanck, Deputy Clerk Martin, and guests recorded on the sign-in register. The meeting was streamed and recorded on the video platform Zoom.
Minutes: Minutes of the July 11, 2022 meeting: Wilson moved and VanDeusen seconded that minutes of July 11, 2022 be approved. So passed.
Treasurer’s Report
Date: July 31, 2022
| General Fund | $4,616.58 |
| – Savings | $271,223.06 |
| – Reserve/Maint Equip | $69,843.55 |
| – Sidewalks | $13,650.21 |
| – Trees | $2,367.98 |
| Water Fund | $10,660.48 |
| – Savings | $7,523.60 |
| – Capital Fund/Well Develop | $10,965.99 |
| Water Project | $6.92 |
| Water Tower Grant | $72.01 |
| Trust & Agency | $727.77 |
| Grant Fund | $24,425.62 |
| Recreation Commission | $3,187.90 |
| – Savings | $25,039.96 |
| – CD | $7,841.52 |
| – CD | $15,951.61 |
No budget transfers needed for July 2022. VanDeusen moved and Wilson seconded approval of Treasurer’s Report of July 31, 2022. So passed.
Citizens’ Comments: M. Shivers – here for information gathering; anticipate questions will come up during meeting.
Correspondence: 1) OSC re: ARPA funds deposited $17,333.27. 2) NYCOM re: Fall Training School registration. 3) NYCOM re: NYS Cannabis Control Board survey. 4) NYCOM re: deadline for Downtown Revitalization Initiative. 5) CHIPS re: rollover balances. 6) KIFF Oil re: yearly pricing. 7). Napoli Shkolnik Law re: termination of representation for AFFF/PFAS water contamination case.
Clerk’s Report: see correspondence
Superintendent’s Report: 1) Skid steer to White’s for service. 2) Training Ryan for supervising water system 3) Mr. Augustin coming for sidewalk; Jason and Ryan will lay forms and do small sections of sidewalk; Mayor suggests advertising $20/hour for extra help; maybe use CDO workforce. Wilson moved and VanDeusen seconded re-posting want ad on Facebook with $20/hour for sidewalk help. So passed. 4) Having issues getting chemicals delivered due to truck driver shortage; could contact another company, but their prices are almost twice as much; use the other company temporarily? Slag Chemical will be called. 5) Toilet in Village Hall is overflowing; plumber will be called.
Old Business
CDBG Update: Waiting for official go-ahead from the NYS and will get started; Release of Funds letter received 8/2/2022; January 25, 2024 is project completion date.
Unpaid Taxes: Have collected $3651.25 in July. Attorney will have to serve papers to those who are in arrears, or take over by Village and sell at auction. Mayor will contact Attny. Merzig and initiate proceedings.
Recreation Committee Update: Chemical levels were low, but okay now. Pool closed due to lifeguard shortage. Lessons went well; swimming lesson fees reimbursed by 50% due to donation from Franklin Education Foundation. Rotary Club will reimburse for arts and crafts program. Rec Commission meeting tomorrow evening at 7:00.
Old Franklin Day Update: 50 vendors scheduled to attend; 25 roadside signs distributed; Meg Lavalette putting together event that evening – Jazz band and refreshments.
Noise Complaint: no further complaints.
Village Dump Policy: Mayor sent draft policy to board; set certain hours that gates will be open w/ phone number that could be called; invest in a trail camera; pay someone to open gates for a few hours on weekends; issue keys to those who want to sign up for one. Will mail out notice this coming week.
Restore NY Grant: Mayor attended webinar; focusing on derelict properties in business sections; $100M for first round, application due in October, letter of intent in a couple of days. 2nd round is $250M. Owner of property retains ownership, but money restores the property. Mayor met with Glen Nealis, Meg Lavalette, and Hassan Sidiqqi to discuss septic system which could be part of this grant. They will submit letter of intent by Thursday and then application.
Village Website: questions/preferences were answered; no other information.
Water Rates: Will discuss new water rates at September meeting; increase rates in December.
New Business
Park Concerns: Reservoir in fountain leaking; park committee wanted to have it running for any special occasion; Superintendent shut it off shortly after graduation due to leak. There is no park committee now. Fountain needs repair – either get new containment piece or liner; needs to be sanded and repainted. Possible Rotary Club or O’Connor grant project. Initial agreement was that Village would cut grass, and committee would care for everything else. Need to find people interested in forming a new Park Committee; Mayor will talk to Jack Siman. Rotary volunteers may do some weeding/pruning in near future. Meg Shivers is willing to put up and take down Christmas decorations.
Zoom Upgrade: Need a wireless microphone so Zoom attendees can hear; will send email to website developer to get recommendation.
Around Town: 1) Cats are included in leash law ordinance. 2) Epicurean shop will be opening.
Approval of Bills: Wilson moved and VanDeusen seconded approval to pay bills. So passed.
Village
| 43-22 | Postmaster | AB25.4 | $120.00 | A1888 |
| 44-22 | Trust & Agency | A9050.8 | $79.93 | A1889 |
| 45-22 | Grants Accoount (Deluxe Checks) | A1325.4 | $28.28 | A1896 |
| 46-22 | NYSEG | A1620.4 | $58.14 | A1897 |
| 47-22 | NYSEG | A7110.4 | $34.36 | A1898 |
| 48-22 | Delhi Telephone Co | A1620.4 | $79.08 | A1899 |
| 49-22 | Trust & Agency | FX9050.8 | $115.82 | FX1391 |
| 50-22 | Frontier | FX8320.4 | $9.50 | FX1394 |
| 51-22 | NYSEG | FX8320.4 | $21.31 | FX1395 |
| 52-22 | Capitol One | A1325.4 | $49.88 | |
| Capitol One | FX8310.4 | $125.00 | ||
| 53-22 | Capitol One | A1325.4 | $14.99 | |
| 54-22 | Decker Advertising | A1325.4 | $8.30 | |
| 55-22 | Delaware County Real Prop Tax Dept | A1362.4 | $238.62 | |
| 56-22 | Mirabito Energy Products | A5110.4 | $147.90 | |
| 57-22 | White's Farm Supply | A5110.4 | $833.09 | |
| 58-22 | Tractor Supply | A5110.4 | $21.48 | |
| 59-22 | NYSEG | A5182.4 | $239.91 | |
| 60-22 | Waste Recovery Ent | A8130.4 | $12.32 | |
| 61-22 | Dept of Labor-Unemployment Insurance | A9050.8 | $118.06 | |
| 62-22 | The Hartford | A9055.8 | $55.05 | |
| 63-22 | Life Science Labs | FX8330.4 | $40.00 | |
| 64-22 | USA Blue Book | FX8340.4 | $1,004.19 | |
| 65-22 | Blauer Associates ((Mark Blauer) | H8310.4 | $800.00 | |
| TOTAL | $4,255.21 | |||
| PAID PRIOR TO MEETING | $546.42 | |||
| Total | $3,708.79 |
Recreation Commission
| 26-22 | Postmaster | J7345.4 | $240.00 | J1752 |
| 27-22 | Postmaster | J7345.4 | $120.00 | J1753 |
| 28-22 | Frontier | J7545.4 | $71.81 | J1765 |
| 29-22 | Walmart | J7345.4 | $16.30 | |
| 30-22 | NYSEG | J7345.4 | $866.16 | J1766 |
| 31-22 | Walmart | J7145.4 | $94.63 | |
| 32-22 | Julie Archibald | J7145.4 | $147.49 | |
| TOTAL | $1,556.39 | |||
| PAID PRIOR TO MEETING | $1,297.97 | |||
| Total | $258.42 |
Mayor Briggs adjourned the meeting at 8:39PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Paula Niebanck
Clerk/Treasurer