The Village of Franklin held its regular board meeting on September 12, 2022, at the Village Hall office (141 Water Street). 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 August 8, 2022 meeting: Wilson moved and VanDeusen seconded that minutes of August 8, 2022 be approved. So passed.
Treasurer’s Report
Date: August 31, 2022
| General Fund | $1,137.54 |
| – Savings | $271,235.32 |
| – Reserve/Maint Equip | $69,846.71 |
| – Sidewalks | $13,650.83 |
| – Trees | $2,368.09 |
| Water Fund | $12,851.05 |
| – Savings | $7,523.94 |
| – Capital Fund/Well Develop | $10,966.49 |
| Water Project | $6.92 |
| Water Tower Grant | $72.01 |
| Trust & Agency | $340.30 |
| Grant Fund | $23,653.90 |
| ARPA Funds | $21,812.57 |
| Recreation Commission | $4,270.03 |
| – Savings | $25,041.09 |
| – CD | $7,841.52 |
| – CD | $15,951.61 |
No budget transfers needed for August 2022. Recreation Commission: donation check returned (acct. closed) and $12.00 fee charged. VanDeusen moved and Wilson seconded approval of Treasurer’s Reports of August 31, 2022. So passed.
Citizens’ Comments: Robert Ackerman – Water St. resident; concerned about speeding/noise by many different types of vehicles on Water/Center St and field behind; dirt/gravel is worn down from Water St. to school/school property; concerned about safety/liability issues. The turnaround at the end of Water St. – neighbor is unloading and parking business equipment on property; concerned about his use of Village property and noise.
Restore NY/Glenn Nealis: Program called Restore NY to fund rehabilitation of distressed properties; working on addressing 3 properties 438-449 Main; abandoned/condemned/vacant or partially vacant properties can be demolished or rehabilitated; Village wrote letter of intent for $2M; actual application may be half or a little less than that amount. Municipality is applicant and takes over project – bids, monitoring construction, building codes. Or, can have 3rd party that manages project on behalf of municipality – would be reimbursed; 10-20% of costs would come from property owners. Delaware County IDA could serve in management role. Projects would be conducted according to Historic Property guidelines and would include septic and restoration. Next steps – assessment of buildings; create distressed property list and publish in daily newspaper for 3 days in a row (Daily Star); Village would hold public hearing; Village passes resolution applying for funding; then submit application which is due October 11. DelCo IDA would submit application. Property owners need to agree and sign covenant allowing developer to take over rehabilitation of property; they must have a business plan and commit in writing that they will fund whatever isn’t covered by grant. Board agrees to move forward with the application for the grant.
Correspondence: 1) TC Energy re: Pipeline emergency response. 2) NYCOM re: legislation for reduced speed limits. 3) Dept. of Public Service re: NYSEG increase in revenue/public comment. 4) NYRWA re: PFAS cost recovery program.
Clerk’s Report: 1) prepared new water rates for board review. 2) Called Boulder Oil for fuel pricing. 3) Finished and submitted AUD.
Superintendent’s Report: 1) Renwick excavating prepped area for new sidewalk; one section done and another section on Friday. 2) glass deductible for truck 3) closed and winterized pool; call in to 21st Century Pools re: valve; will ask about liner for fountain. 4) Winney plumbing will come to fix toilet. 5) Ordered two new stops signs for Otego/Main. 6) Will need to purchase small refrigerator for water samples.
Old Business
CDBG Update: Survey is done; funds request in for archaeologic study. Will have Stevens Excavating or Renwick to dig out ditch down the hill from reservoir.
Unpaid Taxes: Submitted 3 names of those who have not paid taxes for 3+ years to D. Merzig (attorney). Burgin Auto taxes/water not paid at closing; Clerk sent letter to closing attorney; will re-levy taxes and shut off water if not paid.
Old Franklin Day Review: It was quite a success; many people attended and stayed for the full day. Next year will start earlier and schedule fashion show at 2:00PM. Very nice follow up story in the Walton Reporter. Will include a food court.
Village Dump Policy: Would need trail cam with lockbox on both posts. Board would like to have designated hours and have someone check people in/contact board to be let in.
Water Rate Revision: Proposed rate of $6.00/1000 gallons and $45 availability fee. Wilson moved and VanDeusen seconded that Village increase water rates to $6.00/1000 gallons and $45 availability fee starting in December 2022 quarter. So passed.
Village Website: will add more photos; do board members want email addresses? No.
New Business
Smoke Free Parks: Clerk will scan and send smoke free park policy to J. Hill and ask for recommendations.
Around Town: Meeting Wednesday re: park committee.
Approval of Bills: Clerk submitted for reimbursement for window blinds (forgot Village card and used personal card). VanDeusen moved and Wilson seconded approval to pay bills. So passed.
Village
| 66-22 | Trust & Agency | A9089.8 | $134.00 | A1918 |
| 67-22 | Trust & Agency | A9030.8 | $438.92 | A1919 |
| 68-22 | Postmaster | A1325.4 | $120.00 | A1928 |
| 69-22 | NYSEG | A7110.4 | $23.28 | A1941 |
| 70-22 | NYSEG | A1620.4 | $39.62 | A1942 |
| 71-22 | Trust & Agency | A9030.8 | $429.64 | A1944 |
| 72-22 | Trust & Agency | A9089.8 | $134.00 | A1943 |
| 73-22 | NYSEG | A5182.4 | $239.91 | A1950 |
| 74-22 | Trust & Agency | FX9030.8 | $67.92 | FX1400 |
| 75-22 | NYSEG | FX8320.4 | $1,578.96 | FX1402 |
| 76-22 | Frontier | FX8320.4 | $9.50 | FX1403 |
| 77-22 | NYSEG | FX8320.4 | $21.28 | FX1404 |
| 78-22 | Stephen P. Lawton | A1325.4 | $282.50 | |
| 79-22 | Paula Niebanck | A1620.2 | $52.48 | |
| 80-22 | Delhi Telephone CO. | A1620.4 | $79.08 | |
| 81-22 | Capital One | A1620.4 | $36.77 | |
| A1325.4 | $25.20 | |||
| 82-22 | Capital One | A5410.4 | $125.44 | |
| A1325.4 | $14.99 | |||
| 83-22 | Mirabito Energy Products | A5110.4 | $258.69 | |
| 84-22 | Tractor Supply | A5110.4 | $41.99 | |
| 85-22 | Otego Ready Mix | A5410.4 | $708.00 | |
| 86-22 | Renwick Excavating | A5410.4 | $1,000.00 | |
| 87-22 | Waste Recovery Enterprises | A8160.4 | $12.32 | |
| 88-22 | Office Depot | FX8310.4 | $88.28 | |
| 89-22 | Stephen P. Lawton | FX8310.4 | $282.50 | |
| 90-22 | Amrex Chemical Co. | FX8330.4 | $909.00 | |
| 91-22 | Life Science Labs | FX8330.4 | $1,776.00 | |
| 92-22 | Life Science Labs | FX8330.4 | $42.00 | |
| 93-22 | Blauer Associates | H8797.4 | $600.00 | |
| TOTAL | $9,572.27 | |||
| PAID PRIOR TO MEETING | $3,237.03 | |||
| Total | $6,335.24 |
Recreation Commission
| 33-22 | Deluxe Checks | J7345.4 | $169.79 | EFT |
| 34-22 | Trust & Agency | J9030.8 | $411.29 | Savings |
| 35-22 | Trust & Agency | J9030.8 | $499.11 | J1780 |
| 36-22 | Frontier | J7545.4 | $71.81 | J1803 |
| 37-22 | NYSEG | J7345.4 | $228.93 | J1804 |
| 38-22 | Meredith Shivers | J7145.4 | $125.00 | J1805 |
| 39-22 | Tractor Supply | J7145.4 | $82.89 | |
| 40-22 | Amrex Chemical Co. | J7145.4 | $732.25 | |
| TOTAL | $2,321.07 | |||
| PAID PRIOR TO MEETING | $1,505.93 | |||
| Total | $815.14 |
Mayor Briggs adjourned the meeting at 8:44PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Paula Niebanck
Clerk/Treasurer