TOWN OF NORTH HARMONY
TOWN BOARD MEETING
MONDAY OCTOBER 11, 2022, 7:00 PM
ROBERT YATES, SUPERVISOR PRESENT
RICHARD SENA, COUNCIL PRESENT
LOUISE ORTMAN, COUNCIL PRESENT
STEVE SENSKE, COUNCIL PRESENT
MIKE PFEIL, COUNCIL PRESENT
OTHERS PRESENT: Dale Robbins & Kelly Johnson, Attorney; Brad Lawson, Zoning CEO; Robin Miller, Bookkeeper; Howard Peacock, Justice; Ben Karlson, Deputy Highway Superintendent; Jody Sheldon, Clerk; Daniel Thomas; Jonathan Henck; Elliot Johnson; Kristi Ternullo
- PLEDGE & PRAYER
- MINUTES: 9/12/2022
- MOTION # 143-2022
MRS. ORTMAN MOTIONED TO ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE 9/12/2022 TOWN BOARD MEETING AS PRESENTED BY THE DEPUTY TOWN CLERK. MR. SENSKE SECONDED. YES (5): ORTMAN, SENA, PFEIL, YATES, SENSKE. NO (0). THE MOTION WAS CARRIED.
- ANNOUNCEMENTS:
- ASHVILLE AUXILIARY CRAFT SHOW – Saturday, November 19, 2022, from 10AM-3PM at the Ashville Fire Hall.
- PLANNING BOARD MEETING RESCHEDULED – Tuesday, October 18, 2022, at 7PM
- PUBLIC COMMENT:
Mr. Thomas said if anyone would like to get over to the Harmony Historical Society let him know he would give them a tour. He said it has some pretty special stuff.
- CORRESPONDENCE:
The following correspondence has been received by the Town of North Harmony and is available for review at the offices:
- ASSESSOR – JUNE PROPERTY TRANSFERS: A/V $0: S/P $0: (+0)
Mr. Yates said all transfers were from family to family.
- CHARTER/SPECTRUM, Mark Meyerhofer – Notice of Program Changes 10/24 (World Network Channel 462); 10/31 (MGM Movie Network discontinued); 11/1 (Price increase of $4.01 for Spectrum Stream TV and Spectrum TV Choice customers).
- EMERGENCY SERVICES – Public information post card located in information rack.
- OLD BUSINESS
- SPCA – New Contract.
Mr. Yates said we got a contract from the SPCA. He said it doesn’t look bad and we don’t really have a choice.
- HARMONY/NORTH HARMONY JUSTICE COURT STUDY.
- RESOLUTION/MOTION # 144-2022
Robert Yates, Supervisor Yes
Louise Ortman, Council Yes
Dick Sena, Council Yes
Mike Pfeil, Council Yes
Steve Senske, Council Yes
THE MOTION WAS CARRIED.
Mrs. Johnson said they must hold the public meeting within 20-40 days.
- MOTION #145 -2022
MRS. ORTMAN MOTIONED TO SCHEDULE A JOINT PUBLIC HEARING WITH THE TOWN OF HARMONY WITHIN 40 DAYS SUBJECT TO HARMONY ACCEPTING THE JUSTICE COURT STUDY. MR. SENA SECONDED. YES (5): ORTMAN, SENA, PFEIL, YATES, SENSKE. NO (0). THE MOTION WAS CARRIED.
- FINAL DETERMINATION OF ARPA FUNDS
Mr. Yates said we agreed early on to put $5,000.00 into our share of the grant for the feasibility study for water for we are taking on the study ourselves. He said we received a grant for $45,000.00 as well for the feasibility study. Mr. Yates said we also agreed to give $10,000.00 to the Harmony Historical Society for remodeling, $10,000.00 to the Senior Citizens Center to remodel the bathroom to make the bathroom handicap accessible and $10,000.00 for upgrades to the Stow Ferry Park. He said we would like to transfer $185,000.00 from the ARPA funds to the highway equipment fund for the purchase of a truck which is the remainder of the balance.
- MOTION # 146-2022
MR. SENSKE MOTIONED TO USE ARPA FUNDS AS DISCUSSED:
$5,000.00 WATER FEASIBILIY STUDY
$10,000.00 HISTORICAL SOCIETY REMODEL
$10,000.00 SENIOR CITIZENS CENTER (HANDICAP BATHROOM)
$10,000.00 STOW FERRY PARK
$185,000.00 HIGHWAY EQUIPMENT (PURCHASE A NEW TRUCK)
MR. PFEIL SECONDED. YES (5): ORTMAN, SENA, PFEIL, YATES, SENSKE. NO (0). THE MOTION WAS CARRIED.
- NEW BUSINESS:
- TEMPORARY EMPLOYEE – CLERK 2
Mr. Yates introduced Jody Sheldon as the temporary clerk.
- MOTION # 147-2022
MRS. ORTMAN MOTIONED TO CONFIRM THE APPOINTMENT OF JODY SHELDON OF THE POSITION OF TEMPORARY CLERK EFFECTIVE 9/20/2022 AT AN HOURLY RATE OF $15/HR. MR. SENSKE SECONDED. YES (5): ORTMAN, SENA, PFEIL, YATES, SENSKE. NO (0). THE MOTION WAS CARRIED.
- TOWN LAW FOR DITCHES
Mr. Yates said a law needs to be written, posted and a public hearing will need to be held.
- BOND ISSUE IN NEITS CREST (CHAUTAUQUA AVE.)
Mr. Yates said an owner on Chautauqua Ave. has a well on the other side of the road. He said the power line went bad. Mr. Yates said they must bond the road and meet with GHD to do an open cut on the road.
- WELLS BAY RD. – Private Electric Line on Shoulder of Rd.
Mr. Karlson said there have been four different situations with in the last two months where there have been different utilities in the road access. He asked if we could state in town law that any utility lines need to be a minimum of 60inches or deeper. Mr. Karlson said there was a fuel line being replaced on Stoneledge Rd. and they were only putting it 30inches deep. He said he would like to have the same standards as the county so if he must do any work, he doesn’t have to worry about hitting the utility lines. Mr. Karlson said the issue on Wells Bay Rd. is there is a personal electric line run on the side of the road and the homeowner notified him that the electric inspector told them not to move the line. Mr. Karlson said he gave them 30 days to move it, or the town will move it at the homeowner’s expense. Mr. Karlson said it is dangerous and if one of the highway guys are digging and hits a line, we are talking death. Mr. Pfeil said he agrees that it is dangerous. Mr. Yates said Mrs. Ternullo from Niets Crest is the owner of the property that needs to do an open road cut. He said the contractors did not do an 811 call which is against the law and when they started digging, they hit something hard. Mr. Yates said the contractor never reached out to the town and right now
there is a south and center sewer line going through there with six electric lines. He said before the contractor makes another move; he needs to contact GHD. He said once those things are resolved they can go ahead with the project. Mrs. Ternullo apologized for coming in late and she expressed how much she appreciates everything Mr. Karlson has done. She said she will make sure they follow all the steps needed.
- REPORTS:
PIERRE CHAGNON, LEGISLATOR
HOWARD PEACOCK, JUSTICE
Mr. Peacock read the following court report into the record.
September 2022
October 11, 2022, Board Meeting
$41,388.45 in fines, fees, and surcharges was collected by the Court and was given to the Town of North Harmony CFO for the court cases reported to the NYS Comptroller for September 2022. We opened 140 new cases and closed 243 cases.
Respectfully Submitted,
Katie A. Zimmer
Court Clerk
October 6, 2022
BEN KARLSON, DEPUTY HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT
Mr. Karlson said on 11/1/2022 M.E.O. John Mayer will be due for a $1/hr. raise
- MOTION # 148-2022
MR. SENSKE MOTIONED TO AUTHORIZE M.E.O. JOHN MAYER A $1/HR RAISE EFFECTIVE 11/1/2022 ($20/HR; $30/HR OT). MR. PFEIL SECONDED. YES (5): ORTMAN, SENA, PFEIL, YATES, SENSKE. NO (0). THE MOTION WAS CARRIED.
Mr. Karlson said they finalized their paving last week completing 3.3 miles of black top in the town. He said truck number 15 is in the shop but hopefully will be resolved by the end of the week. Mr. Karlson said the stone wall at the transfer station has a corner that is deteriorating so they need to repair it by spring. He said on Stebbins Rd. the swamp is coming out onto the road with no rain and it is coming up over the road when it does rain. Mr. Yates said we will need to build the road up and we will look for possible funding.
BRAD LAWSON, ZONING CEO (Copy of Report in Minute Book)
Mr. Lawson said we are very busy. He said we have new homes going up, some additions, a development that he wont know much about until Thursday and some citations going out. Mr. Lawson said he received a call from a solar company but hasn’t been able to contact them and hasn’t heard back.
ANNE GOLLEY, ASSESSOR
TOWN OF NORTH HARMONY
ASSESSOR’S REPORT
October 2022
In October, we are still fielding phone calls and walk-ins regarding the school tax bills, along with apportionments to the school tax collector when property owners split their parcels.
Every year I attend the Assessor’s conference, this year it was held in Lake George. This is vital for Assessors to attain their annual recertification credits that are needed annually.
The 2023 exemption renewals are in the process of being sent out to the property owners. They will need to reapply by March 1, 2023.
Thank you for your continued support of the Assessor’s Office.
JOHN STOW, DCO
Mr. Yates read the following report into the record.
I had several calls the past month, including two lost dogs and two found dogs. The two lost dogs were both found by their owners shortly after.
The first found dog was a sad Pitbull. She was taken to the Humane Society. Her mom bailed her out shortly after. The second dog found was an interesting story that I have officially titled; “The Great Escape Plot.”
It was a calm, productive afternoon on October 4th. I was finishing up in the shop, switching gears to prep for our 8th Wedding Anniversary when I got a call from a Sheriff’s Deputy. He was in Ashville with a lab/pit mix in his car and had been looking for the owner for the past half hour. I agreed to meet him at the post office and arrived shortly after.
Immediately I knew this dog was missed. It wasn’t too skinny, and very friendly. I loaded him up into the truck and proceeded to the Humane Society. While starting my paperwork I got a call from Jackie Francis. She was frantic looking for her dog. She announced that he was just licensed and broke his collar off. He was on his way to find her at the store when the deputy found him. I offered to bring him back if she would kindly trade a slice of pizza for the return trip. Needless to say, there was a whole pizza waiting for me when I got back. While talking to her about Mr. Bigsby I learned that he is nicknamed “Houdini” for obvious reasons. She explained how he went through three different barriers, including the collar to escape. It was a mystery how he could plot such an elaborate escape. Then she revealed his breed, and it was obvious. He is a Plott Hound.
John Stow, DCO
STEPHANIE GIBBS, DEPUTY TOWN CLERK (Copy of Report in Minute Book)
Mrs. Sheldon said she had nothing further to add to her written report.
ROB YATES, SUPERVISOR (Copy of Report in Minute Book)
Mr. Yates said we are still waiting for a price on the security cameras for the highway building and we are still waiting for a price for sound proofing the court room. He said he has reached out to a professional planner to help the town with a new comprehensive plan.
- MOTION # 149-2022
MR. SENA MOTIONED TO AUTHORIZE PAYMENT ON THE FOLLOWING VOUCHERS AS REVIEWED AND AUDITED EARLIER:
GENERAL FUND $47,352.81
HIGHWAY FUND $94,726.86
MRS. ORTMAN SECONDED. YES (5): ORTMAN, SENA, PFEIL, YATES, SENSKE. NO (0). THE MOTION WAS CARRIED.
- MOTION # 150-2022
YES (5): ORTMAN, SENA, PFEIL, YATES, SENSKE. NO (0). THE MOTION WAS CARRIED.
- MOTION # 151-2022
ON A MOTION MADE BY MR. YATES, SECONDED BY MRS. ORTMAN, AND NONE BEING OPPOSED THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 7:50 PM.
Stephanie N. Gibbs
Deputy Town Clerk
