DRAFT ONLY TB MEETING DEC 12, 2024

 
DRAFT ONLY TB MEETING DEC 12, 2024

The regular meeting of the Town Board of Cherry Valley was held on Thursday December 12, 2024 with meeting called to order at 6:54PM by Supervisor Garretson

Pledge to the Flag was said

Roll call of Officers was taken:
Tom Garretson-Supervisor P
Jim Johnson-Councilperson P
Ed VanDerwerker-Councilperson p    
Mark Cornwell-Councilperson P
Holly Waterfield-Excused
Highway Superintendent Marty Field-P
Mary Beth Flint-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
105 Quill Corporation $95.86pd
106 Spectrotel $431.26pd
107 Ricoh USA Inc $77.86pd
108 Smile Makers $34.96pd
109 National Grid $327.33pd
110 Stericycle Inc $70.65pd
111 Bassett Healthcare $65,344.56pd
112 Ricoh USA Inc $23.08pd
113 Public Goods Pool $527.00pd
114 Quill Corporation $108.20pd

GENERAL FUND
230 Elan Financial Services $21.59pd
231 Ellen Lasalle $206.58pd
232 Bruce Hall Corp $87.83pd
233 Hometown Hauling $43.25pd
234 RL Parsons Inc $2,183.46pd
235 Millers Cleaning Service $907.20pd
236 A Rose is a Rose $60.00pd
237 Grant and Lyons LLP $4,720.00pd
238 The Daily Star $143.10pd
239 Spectrotel $399.97pd
240 Charter Communications $84.95pd
241 Charter Communications $279.98pd
242 National Grid $468.92pd
243 Constellation Newenergy Inc $4.37pd
244 Cintas Corporation #121 $462.79pd
245 Excellus BCBS $329.09pd
246 Rentolkil Pest Control $55.00pd
247 Village Photography $1,736.12pd
248 Otsego Computer Experts $1,050.00pd
249 United Healthcare $17.65pd
250 Hummels Office Plus $28.70pd
251 Otsego Computer Experts $50.00pd
252 Jeff Stiles Contractor $1,272.00pd

Highway Vouchers:
Item 1 (335)
Item 3 (799-806)
Item 4 (219-220)

Councilperson Cornwell made a motion to accept the invoices and payments as presented, Councilperson Johnson seconded the motion.  The invoices and payments have been presented and accepted.   All in favor 4 ayes 0 nay

Presentation of Invoices and Payments:
•    Budget reviewed as well as NBT Account balances

Misc. information to the Town Clerk:
•    Otsego County Sales Tax for the month of OCT $8,213.27
•    Otsego County Mortgage Tax distribution $3,722.21

Community Center Alden Field and Park:
•    Biddy basketball practices continue
•    Modified basketball practices continue
•    Rentals are up

Health Center:
•    Switching to the Athena billing system which will be linked to the Bassett billing system.
•    Frank McGrath inquired about the $350,000 owed to Bassett does the Town have to pay the past due invoices.  Answer is yes.
Phil Durkin inquired about the 2016 Health Center audit found on the Comptroller’s website regarding $200,000 deficit. The Health Center is audited yearly, the 2016 audit was most likely part of the Town being audited that year.  Mr. Durkin quoted a paragraph from the August 26 2016 comptroller’s audit which stated;  The Board and Supervisor have not effectively assessed the impact of the health center on the Town’s financial condition. As a result, the health center has required over $200,000 of Town resources over the last three completed fiscal years to sustain operations. Our audit results are based on financial information obtained from source documents and the restatement of the Town’s financial records because the Town’s reported annual financial information was not accurate.  The Supervisor is not maintaining separate accounting records for the health center’s activity and some costs are not allocated to the health center accordingly. The health center’s activity is recorded in the general fund using a single line item for all revenues and a single line item for all expenditures. For the past three years, the health center and Town have had the following results of operations. Furthermore, while the results show deficits for the health center for the last three years, additional expenditures have not been correctly recorded or allocated to the health center. For example, for 2015, we found the following expenditures were either not allocated to the health center or not recorded properly.  It is imperative that Town officials continue to monitor the health center’s operations using accurate financial information to minimize the impact on the Town’s financial condition.  Is this what is happening now?

Councilperson Cornwell explained that at the time of that audit the Health Center was not separated out of the general fund.  Now the accounting of the Health Center is separated out so the board can see where the money goes.  Now the board can see where the HC loses the money.  

Who is on the Board for the Health Center; Stan King, PJ Johnson, Janet McCarty, Tom Garretson and Elletta Horth.

•    Andy Minnig asked how much does it cost to run the Health Center yearly.  Answer $500,000.  Mr. Minnig wanted clarification on why the Town failed to receive the invoices from Bassett.  Answer Supervisor Garretson never received them.  Unfortunately, the insurance companies are not reimbursing the full amount for services therefore the Town makes up the deficit.  Supervisor Garretson is hopeful the new billing system will help correct the deficit to cover 2/3rd of the expense.  Tax payers would cover 1/3rd of the expense.

Village:
•    Town and Village Board Minutes and info- www.cherryvalleyny.us

Town Planning:
•     Frank McGrath reported Mr. Hollister attended the Joint Planning Boad meeting to bring his concerns forward regarding Swarty’s Campground expansion.  The Joint Planning Board never received anything from Swarty’s..  A letter will be sent to Swarty’s from the Joint Planning Board asking what the plan is for their expansion to the campground.  Mr. Hollister inquired about an enforcement officer for the Town.
•    The lawyer for the Carson project stated the JPB should do nothing until Article 78 is resolved.  Article 78 is on hold per the lawyer hired by the board for the Carson project.  The reason for this is because Carson is seeking a variance.
•    Lorraine Bosma resigned from the board due to personal reasons
DRAFT ONLY TB MEETING DEC 12, 2024

•    Cierra Utter will also be resigning pending her move out of the Town of Cherry Valley
•    The Joint Planning Board membership may need to be revisited from 7-5 in the future.

Highway Department:
•    New hire will start January 1, 2025, Scott Flint

Resolution 2024-10 NYSDOT of the Town of Cherry Valley

Proposed Action:  Snow and Ice Contract Extension 2019/2020-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 dated July 1st 2019, and

WHEREAS, the present term of the agreement as previously extended, expires June 30th 2024, and

Whereas, the said agreement provides for an annual update of the estimated expenditure to be determined by NYSDOT, and

Now, therefore be it resolved:  The aforementioned agreement between the NYSDOT and the Town of Cherry Valley is hereby extended for a period of five years; now to expires on June 30th 2029, and

Further be it resolved:  The estimated expenditure of the agreement shall be $147,283.99 for 12.6 lane miles for each year of this 5 year extension period and for the remainder of the term of the agreement, unless changed by a future update.

On a motion to accept Resolution 2024-10 NYSDOT by Councilperson, Cornwell, 2nd by Councilperson VanDerwerker, the forgoing resolution was adopted a vote of 4Ayes, 0 Nays

Roll Call Vote is taken:  Supervisor Garretson-yes, Councilperson Johnson-yes, Councilperson VanDerwerker-yes, Councilperson Cornwell-yes and Councilperson Waterfield-absent.  4-Ayes   0- Nays Resolution 2024-10 is duly carried.

Resolution 2024-11 of the Town of Cherry Valley

Proposed Resolution:  Authorizing the implementation and funding for the costs of a transportation project, which may be eligible for federal-aid and /or state-aid, or reimbursement from Bridge NY funds

Resolved:  Please see attached.  (Copy is available in the Town Clerks Office)

Motion to adopt Resolution 2024-11 made by Councilperson Johnson, seconded by Councilperson VanDerwerker all in favor 4-Ayes 0-Nays.

Roll Call Vote is taken:  Supervisor Garretson-yes, Councilperson Johnson-yes, Councilperson VanDerwerker-yes, Councilperson Cornwell-yes and Councilperson Waterfield-absent.  4-Ayes   0- Nays Resolution 2024-11 is duly carried.  

Supervisor Garretson reported per the Lawyer representing the Town Board in the Carson project, the Town Board will have to act as the zoning law of appeals for the future variance on the Carson project.

Public Questions, Comments and concerns…………..2 minute limit per request

Andy Minnig asked the question what is the rite of way on the highway?  Answer 24.6 feet from the center of the road for the highway department.  Rite of way is not the same as property line.  Property line starts at the center of the road.  Highway department cannot go beyond 24.6 feet from the center of the road.

Motion made by Councilperson Cornwell to adjourn the meeting 2nd by Councilperson Vanderwerker

There being no further business meeting adjourned at 7:50PM.

Next Town Board Annual Organizational meeting will be Thursday, January 09, 2025 7:00PM

Respectfully submitted,
Mary Beth Flint, Town Clerk
Town Board meeting was recorded