Town of Lake Luzerne
Regular Town Board Meeting
January 10, 2022
7:00 pm
Supervisor Merlino called the meeting to order with the following present: Councilman O’Neal, Councilman Fazio and Councilman Niles.
Floor open to the public for comment on legislation only.
Patricia Goldberg- voice frustration about the visual and audio of the Zoom.
Paulette Zubal – also voiced frustration about Zoom. Also asked about questions about agenda if it isn’t on the website.
Deputy Town Clerk – it is on the website
Resolution No. 12 of 2022 – Resolved upon a motion to pay the bills of the 1st abstract of 2022 as follows:
General Fund vouchers #28212-28226 & 28232-28240 $ 177,854.66
Highway Fund vouchers # 28227-28229 $ 42,658.12
SW1 vouchers # 28230-28231 $ 4,446.32
Introduced by Councilman O’Neal, seconded by Councilman Niles. All in favor, none opposed. 4/0 carried.
Resolution No. 13 of 2022 – Resolved upon a motion to accept meeting minutes of November 3, 8, 15, 19, 22 and 23.
Introduced by Councilman Fazio, seconded by O’Neal. All in favor, none opposed, 1 abstained (Councilman Niles). 3/0 carried.
Resolution No. 14 of 2022 – Resolved upon a motion to approved the request for a vendor permit for Madeline Mulson to operate Mad Dogs Hotdog Cart at the Wayside Beach for the year 2022.
Introduced by Councilman Niles, seconded by Councilman O’Neal. All in favor, none opposed. 4/0 carried.
Resolution No. 15 of 2022 – Resolved upon a motion to renew Mettler – Toledo, LLC Service Contract for scales at the Transfer Station.
Introduced by Councilman O’Neal, seconded by Councilman Fazio. All in favor, none opposed. 4/0 carried.
Resolution No. 16 of 2022 – WHEREAS, the Town Board has determined that it is in the best interest of the Town to continue the professional services relationship with Tracey M. Clothier. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that Supervisor Merlino is hereby authorized to take the necessary actions to renew and execute the Professional Services Agreement with Tracey M. Clothier through December 31, 2022 at the rate of $50 per hour for a total amount not to exceed $10,000 without prior written authorization from the Town Board.
Introduced by Supervisor Merlino, seconded by Councilman Niles. All in favor, none opposed. 4/0 carried.
Resolution No. 17 of 2022 -to set the standard work day for employees pursuant to Form RS-2418. Be it resolved that the Town of Lake Luzerne hereby establishes the following as standard work days for it’s employees and will report days worked to NYS and Local Employees Retirement System based on the time keeping system or the record of activities maintained and submitted by these members to the Clerk of this body:
Title Standard work day
Bookkeeper 7.0
Deputy Clerk 7.0
Program Director 6.0
Cook 6.0
Zoning Officer 7.0
Court Clerk 7.0
Assessor 7.0
Introduced by Councilman O’Neal, seconded by Councilman Fazio. All in favor, none opposed. 4/0 carried.
Resolution No. 18 of 2022 – Resolved upon a motion to recertify the three (3) month record of activities pursuant to Form RD-2419 previously filed by the Town Clerk, Highway Supt. And Supervisor as required by NYS and Local Retirement System.
Introduced by Councilman Fazio, seconded by Councilman Niles. All in favor, none opposed. 4/0 carried.
Resolution No. 19 of 2022 – Resolved upon a motion authorizing Town Bookkeeper to be a signor on town checks. WHEREAS, it has been determined that it is in the best interest of the Town to include the Bookkeeper as an authorized signor on Town checks’ and WHEREAS, the Bookkeeper’s authority herein granted will be limited to only those specific occasions where there are prior written authorization by a majority of the Town Board; NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Town Bookkeeper is an authorized signor on Town checks as limited herein.
Introduced by Councilman Fazio, seconded by Councilman O’Neal. All in favor, none opposed. 4/0 carried.
Resolution No. 20 of 2022 – Resolved upon a motion to appoint Jeffrey Dickenson as Water Purification Operator at a salary of $52,000.00 annually.
Introduced by Supervisor Merlino, seconded by Councilman Fazio. All in favor, none opposed. 4/0 carried.
Resolution No. 21 of 2022 – Resolved upon a motion to receive RFP’s for Milfoil harvesting for the year 2022.
Introduced by Councilman Fazio, seconded by Councilman O’Neal. All in favor, none opposed. 4/0 carried.
Resolution No. 22 of 2022 – Resolved upon a motion to authorize the purchase of one live edge plow for the Highway Dept. to be paid out of unexpended fund balance from the 2021 budget and one live edge plow to be paid for out of the 2022 budget.
Introduced by Councilman Fazio, seconded by Supervisor Merlino. All in favor, none opposed. 4/0 carried.
Reports:
Attorney Crowe – Talked to the Assessor about executive order that the Governor recently passed in being able to use the previous years application to continue the Aged Exemption. Before the executive order came out, Melissa was already ahead by sending out the applications, it looks like Executive Order may have more applications in a larger, and will bring it up for more discussion at the next agenda meeting. The purpose, Melissa has already obtained and possible side effects may alleviate a larger change when order expires. Move forward with the basis that she has already done, is a better. Councilman Niles feels it should be passed.
Councilman O’Neal – Should get doctor slip for those out with COVID so the Town can apply for reimbursement from State of New York.
Councilman Fazio – Same thing Attorney Crowe spoke regarding Assessor, court is running as usual and there is no Court Officer/Constable or cleaner. Increase in sales of properties. Asked Jaimee to post openings for Planning and Zoning boards on website.
Councilman Niles – Draft of RFP is finished or do we need another action. Attorney Crowe said no you are all set. As long as Tracy Clothier is good with it.
Councilman Fazio – what if we can’t use our boat, I would strike that language. Councilman Niles, that is why we are asking price with and without out boat. Supervisor Merlino stated that there is no active investigation at this time by the NYS Police or Warren County Sheriff.
ZEO, Karen Putney – report was given to Town Board prior to meeting
Deputy Town Clerk – Monthly report for December 31, 2021 is in your packet, I have also included the Zoning Officer Report, the Town Clerk and I will get the information for the Comprehensive Plan Committee ready for the next meeting for the boards review, included in your packet also is a copy of the Local Law for Constable for posting, we should be hearing from General Code wanting to know how to proceed and we do not know what to tell them, you have already put $3000.00 into it, there was supposed to be an assistant Attorney to work on this, we do not have that. Councilman O’Neal feels we need to continue with it, Attorney Crowe also thinks it is a very good idea and Mr. Crowe thinks their firm would assist. Supervisor Merlino asked about contract or scope of work for the Attorney’s firm.
Highway Supt. Ron Deuel – Tooke delivery of Brine Machine, will be in operation in a couple of days, invited board to come see it.. Uniforms, dropping it for now, we are in a 5 year contract at this time.
Supervisor Merlino – all meetings will be at 7pm, regular meetings will be the second Monday of each month and Agenda meeting will be the last Monday of each month.
Floor open to public with a two (2) minute limit.
Jack Herring – in response to his FOIL request submitted to Mrs. Sherwood for a couple of routine documents that would not need any searching or archived. Mrs. Sherwood replied that due to the nature of the requested documents she was going to turn it over to the Attorney
And relayed for him that I would hear a response within 20 days. I would like to know why 20 days for a couple of simple documents. Attorney Crowe I did receive request from Cindy asking to research it and that is the response, you will receive a response within 20 days.
Mary Ellen Allison – asking when meeting will go live. Supervisor Merlino, this will be decided at the next meeting, it will be a vote of the board. Hoping to get first meeting in February.
Paulette Zubal – after seeing snowmobile signs in Town, have we had any document for the State regarding the access from Hadley to Lake Luzerne? Councilman Fazio, yes and one of the Resolution previously made was in support of it in the name of tourism. Is there written documentation, not sure, we sent them our approval, reach out to the state.
Fred Zubal – why do we need a constable when there is County Sheriff or NYS Police. Attorney Crowe – it’s the Town Boards decision. Supervisor Merlino, judges asked over a year ago to have one for precautions.
Patricia Goldberg – when go back to in person meetings, have a zoom option as well.
Robert Shiel – any decision on retiree medical insurance. Supervisor Merlino, will be on for the next agenda meeting.
A motion to go into Executive Session to discuss personnel, there may be action taken upon resuming regular session and meeting to adjourn immediately following.
Introduced by Councilman O’Neal, seconded by Councilman Niles with all in favor, none opposed. 4/0 carried.
Resolution No. 23 of 2022 – Resolved upon a motion to put Stanley Peters, Transfer Station attendant on full time status beginning February 17, 2022 on a six (6) month probation period with evaluations every two (2) months with Foreman Richard Carvajal to handle.
Introduced by Councilman Fazio, seconded by Councilman O’Neal. All in favor, none opposed. 4/0 carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Lorri Holcomb
Deputy Town Clerk