The Village of Franklin held its regular board meeting on October 9, 2023, at the Village Hall office (141 Water Street) at 7:00PM. Present: Mayor Tom Briggs, Trustee Wilson, Trustee VanDeusen, Superintendent Kingsbury, Eric for Delaware Engineering, Chris from NYCLASS (on Zoom) and guests recorded on the sign-in register. The meeting was streamed and recorded on the video platform Zoom.
Minutes: Minutes of the September 11, 2023 board meeting: Wilson moved and VanDeusen seconded approval of the September 11, 2023 minutes. So passed.
Treasurer’s Report
Date: September 30, 2023
| General Fund | $7,032.25 |
| – Savings | $228,357.31 |
| – Reserve/Maint Equip | $84,889.62 |
| – Sidewalks | $16,913.01 |
| – Trees | $2,369.37 |
| Water Fund | $10,640.02 |
| – Savings | $20,290.94 |
| – Capital Fund/Well Develop | $2,971.54 |
| Water Project | $6.92 |
| Water Tower Grant | $1,467.01 |
| Trust & Agency | $0.00 |
| Grant Fund | $5,365.48 |
| ARPA Funds (remaining) | $3,112.57 |
| Recreation Commission | $1,475.07 |
| – Savings | $15,765.38 |
| – CD | $7,861.15 |
| – CD | $15,951.61 |
Wilson moved and VanDeusen seconded a budget transfer in the Water Fund totaling $402.63 from 8340.4 to 8340.2. So passed. (Treasurer’s Report was not approved, will approve at November board meeting).
Citizens’ Comments: none.
Correspondence: 1) OSC re: processed state aid payment of $6464.00. 2) Erie and Niagara Insurance Assoc. re: notice of policy cancellation for D. Jordan/Off Road Maple. 3) US District Court for Southern District NY re: US Dollar LIBOR based instrument settlement.
Clerk’s Report: 1) Water bills for Methodist Church are now being mailed to the UNY Conference of the United Methodist Church; asked them to make sure the building is winterized. 2) Contacted the realtor for Eubanks property to get mailing address for water bills. 3) Margaret Burkett posted our help wanted ad on the NYS Dept. of Labor/NYS Job Bank. 4) NYCOM said we do not need to advertise when putting up new street signs. 5) Mailed out past due property tax bills.
Superintendent’s Report: 1). Furnace cleaning has been scheduled; cold patch road repairs done at the Village barn; park water has been shut off and winterized; contacted DOH for free water sampling service – this could extend water testing requirements to every three years; still awaiting long overdue delivery of new truck.
Old Business
CDBG Update: Eric gave an update on progress of the new reservoir installation. 2nd pouring of concrete to take place early November. Installation of tank will take place 4-5 days after concrete has cured. Jason enquired about fencing in the wells if there are any left-over funds. A little more work is to be done at the pump house and new pump will be installed when Jason returns. Eric spoke of ongoing communications with the DOH regarding post installation water testing. Eric also enquired about progress on the CBD septic system. Mayor Tom replied that we are still in an information gathering stage.
Sewer Study: There will be a zoom meeting on Thursday October 12 at 1 pm with the State Department.
Village Dump: Still awaiting signs. Gate will be left open during winter to allow Town to access salt supply.
NYCLASS: Chris, NYCLASS representative via Zoom, gave a brief but detailed outline to the board re: the banking services offered by NYCLASS. He will make contact with Village Treasurer to give her an introduction/walkthrough of the program. Van Deusen moved to pass a resolution to use NYCLASS for Village savings for investment purposes. Wilson seconded – so passed.
New Business
Excessively High Water Bill Query: Village resident, Sarah Cleaveland questioned an excessively high water bill caused by a tenant not noticing a constantly running toilet and requested a bill reduction. Board agreed to reduce the bill from $1,074.00 to $500.
Lawn Mowing Complaint: Village will waive the $50 fee but resident will receive a letter reminding her of the Village Code requirements. The waiver was only granted on the premise that she did not receive the notice.
Halloween: Village will have Trick or Treat on Tuesday October 31. VanDeusen will place road closed signs. Approved for Institute Street to be closed on the same night as school’s function.
Approval of Bills: Wilson moved and VanDeusen seconded approval to pay bills. So passed.
Village
| 104-23 | George Villafuerte | A1001 | $11.06 | A2341 |
| 105-23 | NYSEG | A1620.4 | $83.75 | A2345 |
| 106-23 | NYSEG | A7110.4 | $26.65 | A2346 |
| 107-23 | Postmaster | A1325.4 | $132.00 | A2351 |
| 108-23 | Trust & Agency | A9089.4 | $134.00 | A2359 |
| 109-23 | Trust & Agency | A9030.8 | $489.26 | A2360 |
| 110-23 | Frontier | FX8320.4 | $9.50 | FX1636 |
| 111-23 | NYSEG | FX8320.4 | $21.53 | FX1637 |
| 112-23 | Walmart (Capital One) | $0.00 | N/A | |
| 113-23 | Office Depot | A1325.2 | $44.99 | |
| A1325.4 | $2.29 | |||
| 114-23 | Capital One | A1325.4 | $15.99 | |
| 115-23 | Delhi Telehphone Co. | A1620.4 | $79.24 | |
| 116-23 | Boulder Oil | A1620.4 | $541.72 | |
| 117-23 | White's Farm Supply | A5110.4 | $69.37 | |
| 118-23 | Suit-Kote | A5110.4 | $289.78 | |
| 119-23 | NYSEG | A5182.4 | $275.91 | |
| 120-23 | The Hartford | A9055.8 | $90.12 | |
| 121-23 | Life Science Labs | FX8330.4 | $43.20 | |
| 122-23 | Amrex Chemical Co. | FX8330.4 | $682.75 | |
| 123-23 | Stevens Excavation LLC | FX8340.4 | $3,562.50 | |
| 124-23 | Delaware Engineering DPC | H8797.4 | $2,495.00 | |
| 125-23 | Mirabito Energy Products | A5110.4 | $188.99 | |
| 126-23 | Waste Recovery Enterprises | A8160.4 | $12.32 | |
| 127-23 | Ti Sales | FX8340.2 | $1,550.00 | |
| TOTAL | $10,851.92 | |||
| PAID PRIOR TO MEETING | $907.75 | |||
| Total | $9,944.17 |
Recreation Commission
| 22-23 | Frontier | J7545.4 | $78.97 | J1898 |
| 23-23 | NYSEG | J7345.4 | $796.93 |
Mayor Briggs adjourned the meeting at 8:15PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Paula Niebanck
Clerk/Treasurer