This Regular Meeting of the Brant Town Board was held on Tuesday, July 12^th, 2022 at the Brant Town Hall, located at 1272 Brant North Collins Rd, Brant, New York at 7:00 PM.

Present were:

Mark DeCarlo                                    Supervisor

Donna Marien                                   Councilwoman

Mike Muffoletto                              Councilman

Linda Giancarlo                                 Councilwoman

William Trask, Sr.                              Town Attorney

Barbara Daniel                                   Recording Secretary

Absent:

Janice Ross                         Councilwoman

ALSO PRESENT AND LEGIBLY SIGNED IN WERE:

Donald Hepkins                                 Police Chief

Mark Slawek                                      Police Lieutenant

Tracy Kaczmarek                              Supervisor’s Secretary

Ellsworth Nolan                                Highway Superintendent

Amanda Palmer                                Deputy Town Clerk

Brian Rott                                            Resident

Kristen Podkulski                              Resident

Joe Giancarlo                                     Resident

Dolly Huffnagle                                 Farnham Village Trustee

Beth Czaster                                       Resident

Peter Czaster                                     Highway

Allen Nolan                                      Caretaker

Patty Friend                                        Town Historian

Marylou Vaughan                            Resident

The meeting opened at 7:00 PM.

THE MEETING OPENED WITH A PLEDGE TO THE FLAG

MINUTE APPROVAL June 14, 2022 REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING AND JUNE 21, 2022 SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING: Councilman Muffoletto motioned to approve the minutes of both meetings and was seconded by Supervisor DeCarlo.  4 ayes, 0 nays.  MOTION CARRIED.

SUPERVISOR’S FINANCIAL REPORT: Councilwoman Giancarlo motioned to approve the Supervisor’s financial report.  Councilwoman Marien seconded the motion. 4 ayes, 0 nays.  MOTION CARRIED.

TOWN CLERK/TAX COLLECTOR’S May 2022 FINANCIAL REPORT: Councilwoman Giancarlo motioned to accept the Town Clerk’s Financial Report for May 2022, seconded by Supervisor DeCarlo.  4 ayes, 0 nays.  MOTION CARRIED.

COURT CLERK’S May 2022 FINANCIAL REPORTS FOR KACZMAREK REGULAR AND BAIL ACCOUNTS: Councilmen Muffoletto motioned to approve both Bail and Regular Financial accounts for Justice Kaczmarek’s for May 2022, and was seconded by Councilwoman Giancarlo. 4 ayes, 0 nays.  MOTION CARRIED. ( Judge Gier’s reports were tabled )

DOG CONTROL OFFICER’S  REPORT FOR June 2022: the Dog Control Officer presented her June dog report. She advised of a young girl who can’t afford the impound fees ($168) for her 2 dogs.  She advised the Town Board that she is about to sue Mr. Yoder in small claims for $3,000 for leaving unfinished work and incorrectly installing materials on the kennel.  She will be asking for the full $3,000 because whatever was installed was done wrong (i.e. he covered over all the vents which means the kennel can no longer be heated with anything but electric)   Supervisor DeCarlo motioned to approve the report as read, seconded by Councilman Muffoletto. 3 ayes, 1 abstain. MOTION CARRIED.

Councilwoman Giancarlo explained that she refrained from voting until a policy is made. The Board said they will create a policy in case we encounter another situation with a resident unable to pay impound fees.   Attorney Trask said not to do anything until a policy is in place.  

POLICE REPORT FOR June 2022: LT. Slawek read the June Police report.  Supervisor DeCarlo motioned to approve the report as read, seconded by Councilwoman Giancarlo. 3 ayes, 0 nays. MOTION CARRIED.

HIGHWAY REPORT FOR June 2022: Ellsworth Nolan read his report. Gave the board quotes for oil & stoning the roads, Perry st, Detroist st, Versailles Plank, Morley rd & Railroad ave, $90, 414.00 . The Park road will cost $5,546.00. He request to purchase a box scraper for the back of the John Deere Tractor, LandPro Quoted $1475 & $1395 from Tractor Supply. He Requested someone but it on the Brant Web page & Send Thank you cards, to the Reservation & Farnham fire Depts. for filling the Brant Pool. Farnham Donated all the water, They are not going to charge the Town. He requested that the town pay for a portion of Peter’s & Daryl’s Phone bill as this is the only way he can get ahold of them during the day. Supervisor DeCarlo then motioned to approve the report as read, seconded by Councilwoman Marien.  4 ayes, 0 nays. MOTION CARRIED.

Town Clerk’s Report for June 2022: The Town Clerk read her report. The Board is requesting a copy of the current rental agreement to make changes when a cancellation occurs. The Supervisior said they will make a decision at next board meeting about the requested cancellations for the month of July.  Supervisor DeCarlo then motioned to approve the report as read, seconded by Councilwoman Marien.  4 ayes, 0 nays. MOTION CARRIED.

CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER’S REPORT: Tabled

Councilwoman Marien mentioned that she had driven around Town and then she read from a list of properties that need to be looked at for property maintenance issues:

1051 Brant Farnham Rd

10754 Brant Angola Rd

10284 Brant Angola Rd, junk cars in field

House between 1830 & 1838 Milestrip Rd

Shirl’s Pick-A-Toy house

Lonkey – someone living upstairs

1^st house on the left after Hardpan Rd

A letter containing these addresses will be given to the Code Officer.

At this time, Supervisor DeCarlo acknowledged Jeffrey Sulry, representative from Assemblyman DiPietro’s office.  The representative stated he was here to remind people they can contact his office at (716) 665-0951 with any assistance they may need.

PLANNING BOARD MINUTES: The Planning Board report for their June 7^th meeting was read by Supervisor DeCarlo. Supervisor DeCarlo then motioned to approve the report as read, seconded by Councilwoman Marien.  4 ayes, 0 nays. MOTION CARRIED.

RECREATION DIRECTOR’S REPORT:  No report was presented but it was noted that 140 kids were signed up.

TOWN HISTORIAN REPORT: Tabled

BRANT SENIOR’S REPORT:  Tabled
 

OLD BUSINESS: No old business was presented.
 

NEW BUSINESS:

TOWN HALL PHONE SYSTEM:  Supervisor DeCarlo asked Caretaker Allen Nolan about the quotes received for upgrading the Town’s phone system.  Mr. Nolan advised the Town Board that if they do not upgrade the system, the next time the phones go down, it will take more than three days to get the phones up and running again.  Allen also noted that without a maintenance policy in place, we won’t be able to change voice greetings on the phones or any other issues.  A proposal was received from NFP Telecom in the amount of $2,290 to upgrade the system plus $509 per year of the maintenance agreement.  It was noted that a maintenance agreement will not be available unless the Town upgrades the system.  Mr. Nolan continued that if the Town does not upgrade, then the Town will be invoiced for $744 the recent services to repair the phones.  No action was taken.

DISCUSSION REGARDING PROPOSED NEW BLDG AT BRANT TOWN PARK:  At this time, Councilwoman Giancarlo asked to speak under old business about the pole barn (24’ x 40’) she is requesting for the Town Park.  She asked if the Board had gone down to the park to review the proposed location (near the Recreation bldg.) to see if that would be something they would like to do.  The quote she received was $7,300.00 from Build-A-Barn.  She added that with a little help from our employees and some of our Officials, they offered to put it up.  She added that all those who use the area would benefit from it.  Supervisor DeCarlo then asked if it might be better to build onto the end of the existing Recreation pavilion in the shape of an “L” or a “T”.  He was concerned that the proposed location would interfere with the viewing of the football field.  Councilman Muffoletto spoke of the quote he received from an Amish contractor in the amount of $17,000 for everything. 

Highway Superintendent Ellsworth Nolan asked if the Town Board could have chicken wire installed under the rafters of the Recreation pavilion to stop birds from nesting on them.  The board acknowledged his request.

Attorney Trask then noted that any work conducted by non employee workers, is subject to prevailing wage.  Supervisor DeCarlo asked what the cost of Cement would be.  Ellsworth will look into the square footage pricing.  Councilwoman Marien stated she would like to hold off with the building because the Town has other things they need to spend money on.  Councilwoman Giancarlo reiterated that she would like the Board to make a decision now but that it can wait until the next regular Town Board meeting. 

At this time Beth Czaster spoke about the proposed project.  She asked the Town Board why they would build the structure during the highest price of lumber.  Also, she noted that the building will not be able to be rented to anyone while someone is renting the Rec building because that is all one area.  Beth also mentioned the plan to use the $15,000 that has “remained unspent”.  Councilman Muffoletto then reminded the Board that the original agreement about placing $15,000 on the budget for the Brant Festival was on the agreement that it would be replenished through donations and fund raisers, and that it was never intended to be spent.   Another question was the liability of having volunteers building the structure.  Allen Nolan reiterated that the Town Board stated that no one can assist with painting the kennel because of the liability.  Supervisor DeCarlo then noted that the Town Board will not be making a decision tonight.

PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR:

Marylou Vaughan from Wide Beach then spoke about a problem she is having with a floodlight pointing towards her home that turns on at all hours of the night.  She stated it was a quality of life issue and she needs help from the Town.  Supervisor DeCarlo stated he needs time to look into the code to see if there are regulations for floodlights.  He will get back to her.

Meetings & Correspondence: 

• The second July sales tax remittance is in.  The current transfer is 5.32% greater than the corresponding 2021 amount.  Year–to–date transfers are running 10.13% above last year at this time.
• 2^nd quarter Sales Tax Distribution received $157,377 (25% above budget)
• Mortgage Tax (Oct 2021 to Mar 2022) received $20,295 (74% pf budget; second payment due in the fall.
• Letter from NYS informing we will be receiving the 2^nd half of the Total America Rescue Plan Act Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Allocation (ARPA Funds) of $86,461.00.  Payments to be made in the summer of 2022
• Rural Transit is in need of volunteers: Drivers, Substitute Drivers and Office help.  Please call them at 716-549-5098

At 7:55 PM, Supervisor DeCarlo then “untabled” the Historical Report as the Town Historian arrived. 

Town Historian Patty Friend presented her report for June 2022.  The Town Board did not vote to approve.  Possible oversight.

Councilwoman Marien commended the way Erie County had set up their Hazardous Waste drop off event held at the Highway Barns on July 9^th.  She stated the event went smoothly.

Supervisor DeCarlo read the Abstract:

ABSTRACT 7 of 2022

*Prepaid and unpaid as of 7/12/22 Total Claims $ 187,910.14

Gen Fund Town wide Vouchers Totaling: $ 43,502.04

Gen Fund – Part Town Voucher Totaling: $ 8,424.20

Highway T.W. Vouchers Totaling: $

Highway P.T. Vouchers, Totaling:  $ 8,028.98

Street Lighting:  Voucher Totaling:  $ 3,041.92

Brant Water Dist 1 (SS2&SW):  – Totaling $

Fire Protection District: $ 124,913.00

PAYROLL (2 pay periods):

General Town Wide Payroll 5/22/22-6/18/22 – Totaling $ 57,224.93

General Part Town Payroll   5/25/22-6/18/22 Totaling:  $ 734.32

Highway Payroll TW 5/22/22-6/18/22 Totaling:  $

Highway Payroll PT 5/22/22-6/18/22 Totaling:  $ 7,094.01

Supervisor DeCarlo motioned to approve Abstract 7 of 2022, seconded by Councilman Muffoletto. A roll-call vote was taken: Supervisor DeCarlo-aye, Councilman Muffoletto-aye, Councilwoman Giancarlo-aye, Councilwoman Marien-aye. 4 ayes, 0 nays.  MOTION CARRIED.

Next REGULAR Town Board meeting is Tuesday August 9, 2022 at 7 PM.

At 8:04 PM Supervisor DeCarlo motioned to enter exectuve session for personnel and contractual reasons.  He was seconded by Councilman Muffoletto.  4 ayes, 0 nays. MOTION CARRIED.

At 8:51 PM, Councilman Muffoletto motioned to close the executive session and adjourn the meeting in memory of Carmen Vacco.  He was seconded by Councilwoman Marien.  4 ayes, 0 nays. MOTION CARRIED.

Respectfully submitted by,

Barbara J. Daniel

Brant Town Clerk