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Charlton Town Board Saratoga County New York
After the pledge to the flag, the invocation was given by Town Clerk Gail Hanchar.
At the regular meeting of the Town Board of Charlton, Saratoga County, New York held at
Councilman Robert Lippiello
Councilman Schroeder has asked that the June minutes be amended to reflect that he was excused from the meeting for active military duty. Motion made by Councilman Mitchell, seconded by Councilman Lippiello that the minutes of the Public Hearing and Town Board Meeting of minutes of June 9 be approved subject to the amendment:
Approved: Councilman Grattidge Absent
Motion made by Councilman Mitchell, seconded by Councilman Lippiello that the minutes of the June 30 Agenda Meeting be accepted as received:
Approved: Councilman Grattidge Absent
ABSTRACT OF CLAIMS:
General Fund: Abstract of Claims totaling $45,633.80. Motion made by Councilman Lippiello, seconded by Councilman Mitchell. PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
Highway Fund: Abstract of Claims totaling $35,673.32. Motion made by Councilman Lippiello, seconded by Councilman Mitchell.
Water Fund: Abstract of Claims totaling $1,197.15. Motion made by Councilman Lippiello, seconded by Councilman Mitchell.
Vouchers for the month were #628-#743.
TOWN CLERK’S REPORT:
Gail Hanchar read the Town Clerk’s Report. She reported taking in $283.10. Motion made by Councilman Lippiello, seconded by Councilman Mitchell. PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR (Agenda Items):
No comments.
SUPERVISOR’S REPORT AND ANNOUNCEMENTS:
June review of revenue and expenditures:
General Fund – Expenditures of $77,521.90. Revenue of $92,040.23.
Major expenditures:
Major revenue:
The ID kits that will be available for children will be here sometime in August. As soon as they arrive we will do a press release and put it on the web page. It was suggested that we ask the fire department to put it on their sign.
The Town has been served with an Article 78 proceeding based on the decision of the Town Board regarding the water extension for Water District #1. Supervisor Acunto met with the Town Attorney today. The Town must respond to Judge Nolan by July 24. The petitioners reply by July 30. The return date before Judge Nolan is July 31. Judge Nolan can make a decision on the documents that have been filed, ask that the attorney’s present themselves before his court and have oral arguments for clarification on the filed documents and/or set a trial date. As far as a decision: He will sustain the Town Board’s decision, reverse the Town Board’s decision or remand it back to the town for further consideration, which would require another public hearing.
There has been a request under the moratorium for a hardship and a request for public water. There will be a resolution later in the meeting setting a date for a public hearing on July 28
Supervisor Acunto spoke with Saratoga County Soil and Water regarding sugar maple trees. We will be getting 25 sugar maple trees for the perimeter around the town property on Charlton Road. Ron will make the necessary arrangements to pick them up.
There has been a change in the Assessors’s summer hours. As of July 1, they will be available Tuesday evenings from 7:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. and Thursday from 9:00 A.M. to Noon. They plan to resume Saturday hours in the fall. They may increase hours in January and February.
Supervisor Acunto met with a highway foreman from Saratoga County regarding the new signs to be placed in the Historic District. Ron indicated two spots. The County was not happy with either one. They have remarked the road about 50 feet farther away from the hamlet. The Historic District Commission will look at the new locations. If there is a concern, we will set down with the County again.
The Town Comprehensive Study Committee Chairmen met with the Town Board. They have generated a letter that will go out to all residents explaining what the thought is for the Comprehensive Plan and asking for people from all areas of the Town to volunteer their time.
Supervisor Acunto will meet with Bob VanVranken later this afternoon. He has reviewed the Cell Tower Ordinance and made some changes due to input by the ECC and the Zoning Board of Appeals. It was decided the Ordinance should go back to the ZBA for a final review before the Town Board sets up a public hearing.
COMMUNICATIONS:
We received a thank you letter from Bill Herkenham, Director of the 5K Race on Founder’s Day.
We received a notice from Time Warner stating that another six-month extension had been granted.
We received a letter from Cornell Cooperative Extension thanking us for helping on the Sundae in the Park Sunday.
We have been notified by the NYS Office of Real Property Service that we have a tentative equalization rate of 100%. Councilman Mitchell asked what the rates were for the surrounding towns. Town of Ballston is at 100%, Galway is at 91%, Milton is at 100%, as well as Malta.
EMERGENCY PLANNING COMMITTEE:
Sandy Verola reported that the committee has been setting up shelters in case of an emergency. The Charlton Girl’s School would like to be a shelter but they are concerned about liability. They will speak with their insurance company and Supervisor Acunto will speak with our insurance company. Saratoga County has been working on a program where they go to different towns and have a public meeting telling people what to do in the event of the disaster. They are in the process of setting one up for the Town of Charlton in late September or early October. Sandy would like to distribute a flyer announcing this. Supervisor Acunto suggested we use the newsletter. The Board will discuss further.
HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION:
Doris Stauffer presented three quotes for signs for the District:
The Town provides the posts. They will be meeting again on July 23. They will be discussing the EDP report on the Main Street Improvement Project. Torben Aabo stated that he had also talked with the three sign companies. Doris and Torben both recommended that we purchase the signs from Pendleton Signs provided the Historic District approves the signs.
Motion made by Supervisor Acunto, seconded by Councilman Lippiello, A Motion that the Town Board accept the tentative advisory opinion of the Historic District Commission to purchase two signs for the hamlet from Pendleton Signs for $1,723.84 subject the final decision of the Historic District Commission, be approved:
Approved: Councilman Grattidge Absent
RECORDS ADVISORY BOARD:
There will be a workshop at the Town Hall on Wednesday, July 23 from 9:00 A.M. until
CONSTABLES:
They have been busy. Last night there were two simultaneous accidents.
HIGHWAY:
Work is proceeding on the new salt shed. They have been trimming brush and picking up leaves. They will be paving in another week. The areas to be paved are the north end of Cook Road, West Line Road and Upper Division Street. If there is enough money, they will seal Packer Road.
PARK COMMITTEE:
There was a meeting in June and the committee walked through the park. They discussed the possibility of installing drainage on the left side of the baseball diamond. The have staked out a volleyball field. It may be done this year.
ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS:
They have a meeting tomorrow night. They will be looking at the Cell Tower Ordinance.
ASSESSORS:
The Assessors will be changing their hours. They have received two claims for Small Claims Court. They received a letter from NYS ORPS saying that we have a tentative equalization rate of 100%. They have revised the message of their office voice mail leaving a number where Marge can be reached at home and numbers where people can get real estate tax information.
HISTORIAN:
Charlton Heights students helped with Founder’s Day.
WATER AND LIBRARY:
John is getting ready to start painting the hydrants. He will be having a company come in and do an evaluation of the water tower, interior and exterior, as far as painting is concerned. This will probably be in September. There is a water restriction in place.
RESOLUTIONS:
Motion made by Councilman Lippiello, seconded by Councilman Mitchell that Resolution #68, A RESOLUTION TO ENTER INTO A FRANCHISE REWNEWAL AGREEMENT WITH TIME WARNER CABLE, be approved:
Approved: Councilman Grattidge Absent
Supervisor Acunto read the resolution to increase water usage rates for May 31, 2003 through May 31, 2004. Rates will be $3.15 per thousand gallons and a minimum of $85.00. There was a discussion over the number of gallons that would be allowed as a minimum. We will hold the resolution until next month.
Motion made by Councilman Lippiello, seconded by Councilman Mitchell that Resolution #69, A RESOLUTION SETTING A DATE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING A WATER HARDSHIP, PURSUANT TO LOCAL LAW #3 OF 2002, be approved:
Supervisor Acunto said that in discussing this with Mr. Van Vranken it suggested that we have someone from EDP at the Public Hearing. Councilman Lippiello will contact EDP.
Approved: Councilman Grattidge Absent
Motion made by Councilman Mitchell, seconded by Councilman Lippiello that Resolution #70, A RESOLUTION TO TRANSFER FUNDS, be approved:
COUNCILMAN REPORTS:
Councilman Lippiello – The company that has been inspecting the water tower for painting will be inspecting it again. The money has been set aside to pay for that. The service for Korean War Veterans was very well done.
Councilman Mitchell – Thanked everyone that was involved with Sundae on the Farm and the Garden Tour. Both were very nice events.
PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR:
Doris Stauffer asked about the salt shed at the highway garage and how it would be finished.
Torben Aabo gave the Town Board a picture of them marching in the Flag Day Parade. He stated that the Zoning Administrator should be commended for her decision to follow the law regarding the Schmidt case. The Zoning Board of appeals should also be commended because they took it and decided that Walter and Maggie could build their retirement home. The system seems to be working very well. At the last Board meeting, however, there was a suggestion from the floor that the Chairman of the Zoning Board of Appeals, Mrs. Schmidt, should resign from her chairmanship of that board. Based on the information that I have seen where the Zoning Administrator made her decision in accordance with the rules and the Schmidts decided before that meeting to sue the town, it seems to me that the Chair of the Board has too little knowledge about the appeals process. Therefore, I would like to second the motion that she resigns or the Board asks her to resign.
There will be a public hearing set for 7:00 P.M. on July 28 regarding the hardship request for water. The Agenda Meeting will be held following the public hearing. The next Town Board Meeting is August 11 at 7:30 P.M.
After everyone had the opportunity to speak who wished, the meeting was adjourned
Respectfully submitted,
Gail Hanchar |
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