COMMENTS:
-Cost to property owners reported in the Comptroller’s report for each property owner is $1,600 per 100,000 for the last 5 years including this coming year. For a $200,000 property the additional tax in order to support the health center is approximately $3,200. The clear majority of patients at the center is nonresidents and they bear no financial obligation toward meeting that perennial deficit belongs solely to the residents of Cherry Valley and that is wrong.
-Unallocated insurance line is there any way to shop around and find cheaper insurance? This could save money. On planning there is an increase. Supervisor Garretson explained this is for the Solar moratorium and legal fees.
-I hope the Board and the Budget will reflect the recommendations of the audit with the segregating funds into the separating those out and also having a long-term plan for the health center.
-Nearly 50 years ago this Town decided this Town needed medical prime care. So, we set up a health center and we did it ourselves and we have been resilient. This health center has been in effect for 47 years. It’s been hard, it took a lot of work to set it up and if we lose it now, we will never be able to do this again. We were smart enough to figure out how to set it up and we are smart enough to figure out how to keep it. I think it is worth working on.
-I would applaud any efforts for the health center to be sustainable on its own, but as a Town entity the individual read an excerpt from the Comptrollers letter about the budget: We expect the general fund which includes the health center to end 2025 with approximately $573,000 in total fund balance which includes $65,800 of donations received in 2025 specifically for health center operations. Due to the insufficient revenue sources, if town officials transfer the $425,000 to the health center in 2026, they would nearly deplete the Towns general fund resources by year end. Projections indicate a potential fund balance of approximately $40,000, he hopes the Town’s highway department will not have any truck issues that go over $40,000. Supervisor Garretson responded that would come out of Highway Fund not General Fund.
-I am a proponent of keeping the health center going. The letter from the comptroller’s office gives us a road map for what we need to do to succeed. I think the efforts made this year to try to get us in a reasonable safe and responsible manner are not yet complete. I think we need to turn our attention to that and give 2026 a chance to let us succeed. I encourage you to keep the health center going, revise the budget, honor the comptroller’s advice about the line item and the 5-year plan. Bring everyone in the community in so that voices can be heard so we can go forward and save one of the most important things about Cherry Valley.
-Supervisor Garretson stated the Comptroller’s report has been brought up, however this is a public hearing on the existing budget. Supervisor Garretson will address the Comptroller’s report at the end of the meeting.
-How many cases does the municipal court try in a years’ time?
7:15PM Motion made to close the Public Hearing is made by Councilperson Cornwell and seconded by Councilperson Johnson
All in favor 5 Ayes 0 Nays
DRAFT ONLY TB MEETING NOVEMBER 13, 2025
The regular meeting of the Town Board of Cherry Valley was held on Thursday November 13, 2025 with meeting called to order at 7:15PM by Supervisor Garretson
Pledge to the Flag was said
Roll call of Officers was taken: (P=present)
Tom Garretson-Supervisor P
Jim Johnson-Councilperson P
Ed VanDerwerker-Councilperson P
Mark Cornwell-Councilperson P
Holly Waterfield-P
Highway Superintendent Marty Field P
Mary Beth Flint-Town Clerk P
Reading of last month’s minutes will be dispensed of and minutes accepted as presented and or corrected.
Presentation of invoices and payments:
HEALTH CENTER FUND
103 Quill Corporation $245.22pd
104 Leona Johnson $87.50pd
105 Spectrotel $456.95pd
106 RL Parsons Inc $75.00pd
107 Ricoh USA Inc $72.86pd
108 Public Goods Pool $3,310.00pd
109 Bassett Healthcare $82,468.60pd
110 Quill Corporation $151.29pd
111 Ricoh USA Inc $21.75pd
112 MVP Health Care Inc. $29.09pd
113 United Healthcare $89.75pd
114 Laurie Spencer $175.00pd
GENERAL FUND
194 State Comptroller
195 Hummels Office Plus $210.64pd
196 Hometown Hauling $43.25pd
197 Village Photography $1,464.42pd
198 Erin Flint $79.90pd
199 American Wholesalers $138.77pd
200 Otsego Computer Experts $50.00pd
201 Spectrotel $265.32pd
202 RL Parsons Inc $312.92pd
203 Charter Communications $374.95pd
204 Cintas Corporation #121 $493.81pd
205 Hummels Office Plus $59.18pd
206 Constellation Newenergy Inc $4.84pd
207 United Healthcare $9.54pd
Highway Vouchers:
Item 1 (371-373)
Item 3 (904-914)
Item 4 (0)
Councilperson VanDerwerker made a motion to accept the invoices and payments as presented; Councilperson Waterfield seconded the motion. The invoices and payments have been presented and accepted. All in favor-5 ayes 0 nays
Presentation of Invoices and Payments:
· Budget reviewed as well as NBT Account balances
· Otsego County sales tax for the month of SEP $12,180.05
· NYS Taxation and Finance Income special tax refund $1,000.04
· In January the Town Clerk and Tax Collector will be merged into one position. Procedure will be a resolution at the annual organizational meeting.
· Town Clerk met with CiviPlus representative and was pleased with the layout and design CivicPlus has to offer. The annual subscription for the website is $4,664.00. To view an up and running website designed by CivicPlus visit the Town of Eaton. This would be the version the Town Clerk is currently considering if the Town Board agrees to move forward with CivicPlus.
Community Center Alden Field and Park:
· Biddy Basketball practices have begun
· Rentals are coming in as well.
Miscellaneous:
· Councilperson Waterfield will meet with Angelica Palmer regarding the Mohawk Valley Development District in anticipation of working to submit a 2026 application to the NY Forward program. Akin to the downtown revitalization program. This will be a collaborative effort by the Town, Village and Facilities Corporation.
Health Center:
· August Expense $91,183/Revenue $55,655
· Kim Thompson reported work is ongoing and moving in a positive forward motion. Not much to report back at this time. Still waiting for the State to respond to the non-profit certificate of incorporation.
Village:
· Town and Village Board Minutes and info- www.cherryvalleyny.us
Planning:
· The Town Board will be holding a Public Hearing on the moratorium for future solar projects for Cherry Valley.
· Frank McGrath stated Mr. Fisher that owns the property that the solar project was slated for received a notice that the project was terminated. Frank is waiting for a copy of the termination document. Mr. Fisher also stated the lease payments have stopped.
Highway Department
· Contract for Snow and Ice with NYSDOT
· New truck is in. A few things need to be calibrated with the touch screen.
Councilperson Cornwell made the motion to approve Resolution 2025-8 of the Cherry Valley Town Board proposed action Snow and Ice contract supplemental 2nd Councilperson VanDerwerker
Proposed Action: Snow and Ice Contract Supplemental Agreement No.2 - between
NYSDOT and the Town of Cherry Valley
Whereas the NYSDOT and the Town of Cherry Valley have entered into agreement #
D014845 entitled "Indexed Lump Sum Snow and Ice Agreement between the New York
State Department of Transportation and the Town of Cherry Valley, and
Whereas, the present term of the agreement requires a supplemental agreement amending estimated expenditure for the 2025 / 2026 season, an
Whereas, added funding is required to adjust the estimated expenditure to account for the
increases in labor, materials, equipment and / or overall costs
Now, therefore be it resolved: The aforementioned agreement between the NYSDOT and
the Town of Cherry Valley is hereby amended with Supplemental Agreement No. 2 to
Contract No D014845
Roll call vote: Supervisor Garretson-yes, Councilperson Johnson-yes, Councilperson VanDerwerker-yes, Councilperson Cornwell-yes and Councilperson Waterfield-yes
All in favor 5 ayes 0 nays. Resolution 2025-8 is duly carried.
Councilperson Johnson made the motion to adopt Resolution 2025-9 of the Cherry Valley Town Board
To reappoint the Assessor of the Town of Cherry Valley 2nd Councilperson Cornwell
Proposed Action: The Reappointment of the Assessor of the Town of Cherry Valley
Whereas, the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance requires municipalities to
reappoint the Town Assessor, and
Whereas, the present term for the appointed assessor will expire, and
Now, therefore be it resolved: Kassie Cade Laymon: the current Town of Cherry Valley
Assessor is hereby reappointed for a 6-year term expiring on September 30,2031
Roll call vote: Supervisor Garretson-yes, Councilperson Johnson-yes, Councilperson VanDerwerker-yes, Councilperson Cornwell-yes and Councilperson Waterfield-yes
All in favor 5 ayes 0 nays. Resolution 2025-9 is duly carried.
Councilperson VanDerwerker made a motion to Resolution 2025-10 of the Cherry Valley Town Board payment process for the newly purchased 2025 Western Star Plow 2nd Councilperson Johnson
Proposed Action: Payment process for the newly purchased 2025 Western Star Plow
Truck for the Town of Cherry Valley
Whereas, the Town of Cherry Valley has purchased and received delivery of a 2025
Western Star Plow Truck, and
Whereas, the Town will bond the financial obligation, and
Now, therefore be it resolved: The Town of Cherry Valley will bond $300,000 of the
total purchase obligation of $318,655.00
Roll call vote: Supervisor Garretson-yes, Councilperson Johnson-yes, Councilperson VanDerwerker-yes, Councilperson Cornwell-yes and Councilperson Waterfield-yes
All in favor 5 ayes 0 nays. Resolution 2025-10 is duly carried.
Councilperson Cornwell made a motion to adopt Resolution 2025-11 of the Cherry Valley Town Board formation of a Cherry Valley Health Center Operational Oversight Board 2nd Councilperson Waterfield
Proposed Action: Formation of a Cherry Valley Health Center Operational Oversight
Board to report to the Town of Cherry Valley Board
Whereas, the Town of Cherry Valley Board has requested additional assistance and
support for accountability, evaluation, risk management, financial oversight, and
operational performance concerning the Cherry Valley Health Center, and
Whereas, the Town of Cherry Valley will need, and has identified, a knowledgeable and
diverse group of individuals to provide this information, and
Now, therefore be it resolved: The Operational Oversight Board will supersede and
absorb the current health center advisory board and the new appointed members will
currently be Laura Kim Thompson, Lisa Hersey Heinrich, Cindy Campbell, Amy
Garretson, and Kathleen Taylor
Roll call vote: Supervisor Garretson-yes, Councilperson Johnson-yes, Councilperson VanDerwerker-yes, Councilperson Cornwell-yes and Councilperson Waterfield-yes
All in favor 5 ayes 0 nays. Resolution 2025-11 is duly carried.
Motion to adopt the 2026 Preliminary Budget is made by Councilperson Johnson 2nd by Councilperson Cornwell. All in favor 5 Ayes 0 Nays.
Supervisor Garretson addressed the Comptrollers report. SG was on the phone multiple times to show his dissatisfaction with the report. SG challenged a few things on the budget. The report stated we did not establish a separate account which is untrue. Everything was in the general fund before and we set up the health center checking account following their recommendation. Which they basically either ignored or SG was not sure what their thought was. As far as the revenue running out, they factored in the expense and did not factor in the anticipated revenue coming in for the health center. SG does not agree with the report.
Question from the public:
A discussion was held of pros and cons regarding the health center situation.
-Is there any consideration by the board for a code enforcement officer? SG stated the Comprehensive plan of the Town will be reviewed in 2026.
-Are there any Lisa Hershey updates? Lisa work is still a work in progress.
Motion made by Councilperson Cornwell to adjourn the meeting 2nd by Councilperson VanDerwerker
There being no further business meeting adjourned at 8:00PM.
Next Town Board meeting and will be Thursday, December 11, 2025, 7:00PM with Public Hearing before the meeting for the proposed moratorium on solar projects in the Town of Cherry Valley.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Beth Flint, Town Clerk
Town Board meeting was recorded
