The Village of Franklin held its regular board meeting on March 13, 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 (Eric M.). The meeting was streamed and recorded on the video platform Zoom.
Minutes: Minutes of the February 13, 2023 meeting: Wilson moved and VanDeusen seconded that minutes of February 13, 2023 be approved. So passed.
Treasurer’s Report
Date: February 28, 2023
| General Fund | $1,738.88 |
| – Savings | $214,295.24 |
| – Reserve/Maint Equip | $84,864.86 |
| – Sidewalks | $14,080.74 |
| – Trees | $2,368.68 |
| Water Fund | $3,064.44 |
| – Savings | $27,530.15 |
| – Capital Fund/Well Develop | $10,969.21 |
| Water Project | $6.92 |
| Water Tower Grant | $72.01 |
| Trust & Agency | $219.32 |
| Grant Fund | $18,165.48 |
| ARPA Funds | $15,912.57 |
| Recreation Commission | $7,393.44 |
| – Savings | $37,755.87 |
| – CD | $7,861.15 |
| – CD | $15,951.61 |
VanDeusen moved and Wilson seconded budget transfers in GF of $877.09 and in WF of $2017.02 (see detail attached). So passed. Wilson moved and VanDeusen seconded approval of Treasurer’s Report of February 28, 2023. So passed. Clerk prepared and handed out a review of fund balance since last audit (2017-present) in anticipation of budget workshop.
Citizens’ Comments: none.
Correspondence: 1) Treasury re: reopening of Contact Center. 2) NY EFC re: Water infrastructure projects; meetings and outreach. 3) Delaware County re: Resolution No. 34 – Coalition of Watershed Towns supporting the December 2022 revised FAD. 4) DTC re: increase in internet rates. 5) Oneonta DOH re: Service Line Inventory Guidance. 6) DPS re: Comprehensive Broadband Connectivity Act of 2021.
Clerk’s Report: 1) Received phone calls re: “Village of Franklin” Facebook page; explained that this page is not administered by this governing body/municipality and referred them to Trustee VanDeusen. 2) Water Billing Software: Steve recommends going to once a year billing, with a payment schedule similar to property tax bills. 3) Filed a complaint with DPS re: not receiving a bill from NYSEG for the Pole Barn since last May; correspondence from NYSEG says they will be calling the office.
Superintendent’s Report: 1) street sign changed to “No parking here to corner”. 2) will install a meter in Center Street duplex. 3) met with Eric M for pre-bid meeting; end of Water Street for dump site 4) dumping of brush over bank at Water Street. 5) Resident contacted Mayor re: problem with moving snow from sidewalk when street is being plowed from church.
Old Business
CDBG Update: RFPs received and bid opening was on March 3, 2023 at 2:00PM. Bid review and approval: 3 successful bids came in; 4th unopened due to tardiness; Tweedie Construction apparent low bid $528,643; bids are being returned to Village office. Electing to add bid alternate for $28,000, for total of $556,643; everything in line for being covered under grant funding. Does engineering contract fee include inspection? Eric will check on that. VanDeusen moved and Wilson seconded awarding construction contract for $556,643 to Tweedie Construction. So passed.
Considering another application for sewer district; Mark Blauer suggests getting funding from EFC and USDA; CDBG could step in with grant funding; define project with Delaware Engineering.
Animal Control: Town of Franklin has new Animal Control Officer; Town Board contacted Mayor to ask if we could share services. Letter will be sent to Village’s Dog Control Officer dissolving her position with the Village.
Tax Cap Law: not this year.
Driveway Entry: resident/business owner has two driveways that need repair and wondered if Village is responsible for repairs; Mayor contacted attorney who said Village is not responsible for servicing driveways.
Short Term Rentals: Sample policy and application prepared by Clerk; forum scheduled for March 23 at 7:00pm. Clerk will send letters of invitation to current AirBnB owners, Code Officer, and Fire Chief.
Sewer Study: Mayor has copy of previous feasibility study; will give a copy to board and to Delaware Engineering to start grant process.
New Business
NYCOM Conference: Conference in May; Wilson and VanDeusen interested in attending; Clerk will register them.
Liability Insurance for OFD: permission to issue certificate of insurance for Old Franklin Day; certificate will be for School and Stage Company. FCS planning alumni picnic late in the day, same day at 5:00pm. OFD will 9am-3pm. Will close Institute St at those times (break in between for vendors to leave). For reunion, there may be BYOB; is there open carry regulation? Village insurance would not cover that.
Junk Ordinance: received email from resident concerned about junk on properties; sample Junk Ordinance was included. Board will look over concerns, and table until next meeting. Code Enforcement officer would regulate unlicensed vehicles.
Bathroom: will start work after salt spreader is removed from truck.
Around Town: Mayor had conversation re: Stone Hall; could it be used a municipal building or other use? Tabled.
Budget Workshop: Scheduled for April 18, 6:00PM.
Citizens’ Comments: none.
Approval of Bills: VanDeusen moved and Wilson seconded approval to pay bills. So passed.
Village
| 231-22 | NYSEG | A1620.4 | $81.50 | A2147 |
| 232-22 | NYSEG | A7110.4 | $42.27 | A2148 |
| 233-22 | Trust & Agency | A9030.8 | $44.95 | A2149 |
| 234-22 | Delhi Telephone Co | A1620.4 | $79.19 | A2150 |
| 235-22 | NYSEG | A5182.4 | $275.91 | A2151 |
| 236-22 | Postmaster | FX8310.4 | $63.00 | FX1507 |
| 237-22 | Taggart Electric, Inc | FX8320.2 | $1,887.56 | FX1502 |
| 238-22 | Frontier | FX8320.4 | $9.50 | FX1512 |
| 239-22 | NYSEG | FX8320.4 | $1,511.43 | FX1514 |
| 240-22 | NYSEG | FX8320.4 | $21.27 | FX1515 |
| 241-22 | Trust & Agency | FX9089.8 | $134.00 | FX1520 |
| 242-22 | Trust & Agency | FX9030.8 | $392.49 | FX1521 |
| 243-22 | Capital One | A1325.4 | $14.99 | |
| 244-22 | Office Depot | A1325.4 | $97.57 | |
| Office Depot | A1325.2 | $54.99 | ||
| 245-22 | Stephen Lawton | A1325.4 | $690.00 | |
| 246-22 | Decker Advertising | A1450.4 | $29.00 | |
| 247-22 | Putnam Pest Control | A1620.4 | $120.00 | |
| 248-22 | Boulder Oil | A1620.4 | $546.70 | |
| 249-22 | Selective Insurance | A1910.4 | $1,459.00 | |
| 250-22 | The Main Street American Group | A1910.4 | $100.00 | |
| 251-22 | Selective Insurance | A1910.4 | $6,402.42 | |
| 252-22 | Mirabito Energy Products | A5142.4 | $108.03 | |
| 253-22 | Waste Recovery Enterprises | A8160.4 | $12.32 | |
| 254-22 | Life Science Labs | FX8330.4 | $1.20 | |
| 255-22 | Life Science Labs | FX8330.4 | $43.20 | |
| 256-22 | AMREX Chemicals | FX8330.4 | $563.50 | |
| 257-22 | Delaware Engineering DPC | H8797.4 | $10,352.50 | |
| 258-22 | Blauer Associates | H8797.4 | $2,400.00 | |
| TOTAL | $27,538.49 | |||
| PAID PRIOR TO MEETING | $4,543.07 | |||
| Total | $22,995.42 |
Recreation Commission
| 54-22 | Frontier | J7545.4 | $62.74 | J1823 |
| 55-22 | Selective Insurance | J1910.4 | $3,447.46 |
Mayor Briggs adjourned the meeting at 8:24PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Paula Niebanck
Clerk/Treasurer
Budget Transfers for March 2023
To: | From: | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acct. Code | Description | Amount | Acct. Code | Description | Amount | |
| GENERAL FUND: | ||||||
| 1325.1 | Clerk/Treasurer, Pers. | $0.09 | 1325.11 | Deputy Clerk/Treas.,Pers. | ($0.09) | |
| 1920.4 | NYCOM Dues | $727.00 | 1989.4 | Other Govt. Support | ($500.00) | |
| 1620.2 | Buildings, Equip. | ($227.00) | ||||
| 9901 | Transfer/Water Fund | $150.00 | 8560.4 | Shade Trees | ($150.00) | |
| WATER FUND: | ||||||
| 8320.2 | Power & Pump, Equip. | $1,887.56 | 8310.2 | Administration, Equip. | ($100.00) | |
| 8310.4 | Administration, Expense | ($1,507.13) | ||||
| 8320.4 | Power & Pump, Expense | ($280.43) | ||||
| 8340.2 | Trans. & Dist., Equip. | $99.69 | 8330.4 | Purification, Expense | ($99.69) | |
| 8340.4 | Trans. & Dist., Expense | $29.77 | 8330.4 | Purification, Expense | ($29.77) | |
| $2,894.11 | ($2,894.11) | |||||