Minutes – September 8, 2025

The Village of Franklin held its regular Board meeting on Monday, September 8, 2025, at the Village Hall office (141 Water Street) at 7:03pm.  Present: Mayor VanDeusen, Trustee McLean, Trustee Martin, Superintendent Kingsbury, Deputy Clerk Martin.  The meeting was not streamed and recorded on the video platform Zoom due to a technical issue.

Board Meeting (CTO at 7:03PM):

Minutes: Martin moved, and McLean seconded approval of August 11, 2025 board meeting minutes. So passed.

Treasurer’s Report

Date: August 31, 2025

General Fund	$145,282.70
– Reserve/Maint Equip (Checking)	$16,658.16
– Sidewalks (Checking)	$20,022.27
– Trees (Checking)	$2,521.18
Water Fund	$13,936.49
– Water Project	$6.96
– Reserve-Water Tank	$1,500.26
Trust & Agency	$2,403.08
Grant Fund	$59.34
Recreation Commission	$21,331.01

Mayor VanDeusen reviewed the Treasurer’s Report. The Water Fund checking balance is $13,936.49.  Transfers: $10,717.40 from #8320.4 to #8397.0 and $1,180.00 from “Purification” to # 8330.2. McLean moved and Martin seconded approval of Treasurer’s Report of August 31, 2025 and two subsequent transfers. So passed.

Correspondence/Clerk’s Report: 1.) NYSEG smart meters will soon be installed in all Village of Franklin municipal locations.  2.) A Village resident is seeking to contact Yoko Ono about birthday message from John to Yoko on his album. Mayor to follow up to answer resident’s question. 3.) A $450 state aid payment in Grant account will be transferred to Water Fund.  4.) Email received from Mateo Kyser of Citizens of the Hive noting beekeepers will collect swarms as a public service.  Contact them at beeswarmed.org/citizens-of-the-hive. 5.) Clerk/Treasurer Niebanck’s pay will be temporarily transferred to General Fund from Water Fund.  Martin moved, and McLean seconded approval of the transfer. So passed.

Superintendent’s Report: 1.) Water leak on Hill Street fixed. 2.) Pool drained, winterized and closed for end of season. 3.) Street sweeping completed.  4.) Park fountain has been shut off and drained for winter. New smaller pump is needed as current pump is too strong. Tabled for spring 2026 resolution.  5.) Pothole patching is completed.  6.) Ryan VanDeusen is sealing street cracks. Need to purchase another propane tank.  7.) Boards of park bench located on Hill Street are broken; alert Franklin Improvement Society regarding repair.  8.)  Waiting for concrete for full repair of Bonkers’ driveway on Main Street.  9.)  O’Reilly working on repair of 3^rd Street sidewalk next week, then storm drain at White’s Building Supply.  10.)   Suggest installation of another camera at Village dump as new illegal debris dumped outside gate. 11.)  Researching cost for weather proof coded reprogrammable lockbox outside dump with key for off hours access and camera pointed to lockbox. 12.) Mayor VanDeusen noted importance of limiting keys made for access to dump.

Old Business

Tabled Items: Water meter grant; Main Street crosswalk, water bill waiver policy, Restore NY grant (waiting for SEQR –must be CEO ready), Emergency Action Plan (EAP)

Water Street Repairs: Delaware Engineering is putting project out to bid and is communicating with the Village Clerk about placing ads to invite bidding.

.gov transition: Mayor VanDeusen has received approval for the Village of Franklin to use .gov.  Helen McLean and Bill Gruber of Gibson Hill Services are administrators. Transition date will be announced.

Emergency Action Plan (EAP): The ReGroup digital communications program will be launched sometime in October, ahead of the EAP and as a key component of the EAP.  The ReGroup program will enable emergency messaging, important alerts and other notification priorities to Village residents and property owners in and outside the Village via email, voice mail, call and text messaging.  Training session has been scheduled for Friday, September 12 for Village Board and employees.

New Business

Water Main Replacement on Main Street (between Otego Road and Institute Street):  This is considered maintenance, which makes grants difficult to obtain. Board will: 1.) explore any grant possibilities, 2.)  seek to create a savings account in the Village budget, and 3.) contact our local and state elected representatives for funding. Cost is approximately $1 million if installed under sidewalk instead of road.

Water Rate Increase:  After reviewing a variety of options for the Village of Franklin and rates charged by neighboring towns, the Board agreed to raise water rates from the current $50 quarterly availability charge to $65 and raise the current quarterly $7.00 per thousand gallons usage charge to $8.00 per thousand gallons. Increase will be effective in January 2026 with notification sent in October 2025 water bills. The Village is working on including non-payment penalty charges on future water bills. Martin moved, and McLean seconded approval of water rate increase.  So passed.

Around Town: Mayor VanDeusen advised that Halloween will be celebrated in Franklin on Friday, October 31.  Trustee Martin noted that Saturday, December 13 is the date for Franklin’s annual holiday festivities, including the Christmas Stroll House Tour and Firehouse Holiday Market. Mayor VanDeusen noted that this year, there will be a large Christmas tree with a lighting ceremony and festivities in the Franklin Park before a visit with Santa, cocoa and cookies at the Fire Department.

Citizen’s Comments: None.

Approval of Bills: McLean moved, and Martin seconded approval to pay bills. So passed.

Meeting Adjourned: 8:21PM

Meeting minutes submitted by Trustees Martin and McLean.