Town of Charlton

Saratoga County

Town Board Meeting

 

February 9, 2009

 

7:30pm

 

The Regular meeting of the Town Board of Charlton, Saratoga County, New York was held at Charlton Town Hall and called to order by Supervisor Grattidge at 7:30pm.

 

Present:  Councilman Gardner, Councilman Lippiello, Councilman Salisbury, Councilman Verola, Supervisor Grattidge, Town Clerk Brenda Mills, Attorney Robert VanVranken.

 

Supervisor Grattidge lead the pledge of Allegiance.  

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES                                 

 

A motion was made by Councilman Verola and seconded by Councilman Gardner to accept the minutes of the Organizational Resolution meeting held on January 12, 2009. 

 

VOTE:  All Ayes, No Nays:  CARRIED

 

A motion was made by Councilman Verola and seconded by Councilman Salisbury to accept the meeting minutes of the Town Board Meeting held on January 12, 2009. 

 

VOTE:  All Ayes, No Nays:  CARRIED

 

A motion was made by Councilman Verola and seconded by Councilman Lippiello to accept the meeting minutes of the Town Board Agenda Meeting held on January 26, 2009. 

 

VOTE:  All Ayes, No Nays:  CARRIED

 

 

ABSTRACT OF CLAIMS

 

A motion made by Councilman Verola seconded by Councilman Lippiello to accept General Fund Claims No. 1077 -1112 in the amount of $36,042.85 as set forth in the abstract No.103.

 

VOTE:  All Ayes, No Nays:  CARRIED

 

TOWN CLERK REPORT

 

Town Clerk Brenda Mills reported taking in $431.50 for the month of January, $274.44 was disbursed to the Supervisor and $157.06 to government agencies.

 

A motion made by Councilman Verola seconded by Councilman Gardner to accept the Town Clerk report as read.

 

VOTE:  All Ayes, No Nays:   CARRIED 

 

 

SUPERVISOR’S REPORT AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

January Revenue and Expenditures:  report unavailable for this meeting

 

WEB SITE ACTIVITY

 

The overall number of visits to the Town of Charlton Web Site during the month of January is: Entire site; 125,039 Average per day; 4,033, Page views; 75,364, Average per day; 2,431.

 

SUPERVISORS REPORT

 

For the month of January I attended 11 Town meetings and 7 County meetings.

Some of the highlights of the month:

 

- Attended numerous meetings concerning The New Town Hall Project

- Attended a meeting of the Farmland Task Force

- Town Board preformed our annual Insurance review and saved 15% on the premium

- Went to Albany with American Farmland Trust to lobby against Farmland Grant cuts

- Attended the Saratoga County Planning Conference

- Received training on the new backup generator for the New Town Hall

                                    

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

The Town Offices will be closed 2/16/09 in observance of President’s Day.

 

The Ag Task Force Committee will be having a Focus Group meeting on 2/25/09.

 

The Supervisor attended a FEMA meeting regarding 12/11/08 Ice Storm.  Saratoga County, including Charlton, has been declared part of the disaster area.  The Supervisor will begin putting together Town expenses incurred for the storm cleanup.

 

COMMUNICATIONS

 

Supervisor Grattidge stated that he has submitted a member item request to Assembly Leader Tedisco and Senator Farley for office furniture for the New Town Hall.   The Towns of Ballston, Malta, Charlton and Village of Ballston are applying together for member item money for a new asphalt zipper and road sweeper to be shared by the municipalities.  Supervisor Grattidge will sign the request on behalf of the Town of Charlton.

 

Supervisor Grattidge said that they did receive information from Fiscal Advisors regarding the Bonding sale for the new truck and Town Hall project.   The bond is due to be sold on Wednesday February 11^th.    Attorney VanVranken said that he has reviewed the information in the bond form and the information is correct.  His understanding is the closing of the bid would be February 18^th.

 

DEPARTMENT REPORTS

 

Highway – Superintendent Emerich gave the following report:

General Operations:  Haul sand, Repair Shop Floor, Plow, Sand and Salt Roads, Clean shop, wash floors, Paint walls, Plow snow.

Equipment Repair:  Repair truck 16 (no power condition)

Miscellaneous Items: Run conduit for new fuel system, Sand town halls and churches

 

Superintendent Emerich said that he has the new fuel management system installed and working.  He said that the Fire Departments are interested in beginning as soon as possible.  Supervisor Grattidge said that an appropriate agreement should be drafted first.  Mr. Emerich also stated that one of his full-time employees who was injured at home, will be out of work for 4 to 6 months.  He will need to hire a temporary worker to fill the vacancy.  Mr. Emerich said that almost 30 street signs have been stolen from around town.

 

Animal Control -  Lee Bramer said it has been relatively quiet.  He was informed of a raccoon that was acting suspicious, and has been taken care of.  The annual review by Ag & Markets was conducted and everything was good.  He is in need of purchasing a new catchpole.

 

Environmental Conservation – Marv Schorr said that the roadside clean-up will be Saturday April 25^th from 8a.m. to noon and the free tree distribution will be from noon to 1:00p.m.  Supervisor Grattidge said that he will confirm with the Town of Milton whether or not they will be having a hazardous waste collection day.

 

Zoning Ordinance Review Committee – Marv Schorr said that an item they are discussing is when a fire occurs in a non-conforming use.  Right now, you have to go through a denial and ZBA review.  There are a lot of houses in town that do not meet the current zoning requirements.  In his opinion, we have to do something to the wording that says at the minimum it could be rebuilt in the same footprint if it is a non-conforming use.   There are a lot of houses that do not meet the 2 acre minimum, for example.  The Committee members are putting together a list of things in the ordinance that need fixing.

 

Historian – Laura Linder arrived in period attire in celebration of the 319^th anniversary of the Schenectady Massacre.  She stated that in celebration of Explore 400 there are three essay contests that children are invited to do.  She reported that the Historical Society had a photographer from National Geographic as their guest speaker.  Another event in Saratoga County is the underground railroad, which Charlton is a part of. 

 

Party in the Park - The Committee is working on an Explore Charlton weekend.  It will be September 19 and 20^th.  The Historical Society Museum and schoolhouse will be open, as well as a new Town Hall open house, some farm tours at the horse farm and Smith’s Orchard and Dairy, and a tour at Ellms’ Tree farm. 

 

Records Advisory Board – The grant application was submitted on February 2^nd. 

 

Newsletter – Sandy Verola reminded everyone that the submission deadline is February 27^th.

 

New Town Hall - Supervisor Grattidge said that the Phase one contractor is finishing up and the Phase two contractor has started the finish work on the building’s interior.

 

Zoning – Dave LaFountain reported that in January, 2 permits and 5 CO’s were issued.  $180 was collected.

 

Water - Bob Lippiello said that one bid has been received so far for the pump house project. 

 

Planning – Sandy Verola – On January 19^th they reviewed the Ward subdivision and had  the Marra/Carnevale pre-application conference.

 

Dave LaFountain gave the Town Board a denied application for a special use permit and building permit application submitted by Mike Maloney.  Supervisor Grattidge asked the Town Attorney to review what is involved in the special exemption process.  Attorney VanVranken read from the Zoning Ordinance beginning on page 55.  In Section 3 he read the review procedure, in which there are 2 alternatives. The Town Board may retain jurisdiction of this matter, or they can refer the case to the Zoning Board of Appeals.   If the Town Board keeps the jurisdiction, they would have to give the application to the ZBA to grant the special area variance.  Discussion ensued about what would be involved if the Town Board hears the case.   Councilman Salisbury asked why the Town Board would want to get involved, as it is his fear that the Town Board could slow down the process.  Councilman Gardner said that since the ZBA would be doing the Area Variance, why doesn’t the ZBA just do the whole thing.  Supervisor Grattidge said that he thinks that the Town Board should retain the case.  Councilman Verola said that she agreed with the Supervisor, as the building has stood on that corner for 230 years.  Supervisor Grattidge asked Attorney VanVranken to prepare a resolution for the Town Board to be the lead agency, which will be voted on at the February 23^rd Town Board Agenda Meeting.

 

COUNCILMAN REPORTS

 

Councilman Salisbury asked about having a Water District meeting, and a date of March 2^nd at 7:30 was set-up for a workshop.  He also stated that he would like to see more of the Maloney’s information before he voted on a resolution.  “There is a qualified Board that can handle this.  I think we are going to slow this down”.

 

Councilman Verola noted that Paraco Gas charged the Town $1.35 per gallon for gas and Amerigas charged $1.10 per gallon.  She wanted to know why the Town is paying more to Paraco.  Supervisor Grattidge said that the Town has an annual agreement with Paraco, which at the time it was signed, was the cheapest option.

 

Councilman Gardner said that the Town Board has conducted an annual audit of the Town Clerk’s records and everything was found to be in good order.  They suggested that the Bank Statements be reconciled on the back of the statement, and also to have the Bookkeeper sign the check receipt report.  He also stated that he is bothered that the Town Board is thinking of handling the Maloney case where there are qualified Boards that can handle this.

 

 

PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR

 

Marv Schorr said that the previous weekend there was a benefit held for the Green family.  He said he has never been more proud of his neighbors than now after seeing the support that was offered for the Greens.

 

 

The meeting adjourned at 9:10pm.

 

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Brenda Mills

Town Clerk