DRAFT TB MEETING SEPTEMBER 11, 2025

DRAFT TB MEETING SEPTEMBER 11, 2025

The regular meeting of the Town Board of Cherry Valley was held on Thursday September 11, 2025, with meeting called to order at 7.00PM 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

Guest speaker:  Tristan Sharratt

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
78 Leona Johnson $180.00pd
79 Ricoh USA Inc $72.86pd
80 Laurie Spencer $150.23pd
81 Miller’s Cleaning Service $734.40pd
82 Quill Corporation $192.19pd
83 Spectrotel $441.97pd
84 Quill Corporation $8.73pd
85 AETNA $144.95pd
86 Public Goods Pool $2,557.00pd
87 Laurie Spencer $325.00pd
88 Bassett Healthcare $70,160.68pd
89 Leona Johnson $100.00pd

GENERAL FUND
160 Clark’s Sports Center $400.00pd
161 Lyla Abdallah $320.00pd
162 Kimberly Leavitt $96.00pd
163 Bailey Thayer $416.00pd
164 Jillian Harris $496.00pd
165 Heath Barown $496.00pd
166 Landon Rockwell $512.00pd
167 Christina Schuttig $640.00pd
168 Deb Whiteman $1,250.00pd
169 Bruce Hall $109.58pd
170 Hometown Hauling $43.25pd
171 US Postal Service $88.00pd
172 Otsego Computer Experts $20.00pd
173 Spectrotel $263.45 pd
174 The Daily Star $41.33pd
175 Charter Communications $374.95pd
176 Cintas Corporation #121 $713.32pd
177 Constellation Newenergy Inc $6.12pd
178 Excellus BC/BS $343.86pd
179 Gates Cole Associates $200.00pd
180 Sue Miller $370.00pf

Highway Vouchers:
Item 1 (362-369)
Item 3 (889-894)
Item 4 (0)

Councilperson VanDerwerker 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 
5 ayes 0 nays

Presentation of Invoices and Payments:
•    udget reviewed as well as NBT Account balances
•    Otsego County sales tax for the month of JUL $12,229.89

Community Center Alden Field and Park:
•    Hallways have been painted.  Waiting on lights to be replaced due to scaffolding unavailable in August.
•    Fall sports are starting up and the Community Center will start becoming more active.

Health Center: 
•    August Expense $79,068/Revenue $48,683
•    Kim Thompson gave an update on the health center with everything moving in a positive direction.  Nothing new to report
•    Lisa Heinrich also gave an information update as well.  She is available after the meeting for questions.  So far $66,000 has been raised to close the gap.  Spoke about 4 funds that are available to help; two of the funds are relevant to our need; the vital access provider fund and the essential plan expansion fund.  The Mohawk Valley Economic development district helps with filling out the applications.  We could also legally do a membership fee to bring in income.  The gap is getting smaller.  Goal is to get the health center off the tax roster.

Guest Speaker Tristan Sharratt a native of Cherry Valley.  He is a nurse as well as a nurse practitioner.  He spent the last 3 years at the NYS health department working amongst the programs Lisa mentioned that help rural health care hospitals and health care centers.   He gave a presentation on why we should preserve the health center.  Preventative primary care is not profitable.  Therefore, the burden is on us to bare the financial constraints of this health center for future generations.  What happens if the health center closes?  This effects Bassett because there aren’t a lot of health care centers close by to get primary health care.  Sometimes the wait can be 8-9 months for a primary care appointment.  The access to health care in this community has real impacts in the short and long term.  New studies showing banks and real estate agencies are tying home property values to accessibility to health care services.  Especially to rural communities where the population is aging and shrinking.  His research now is how does this model work in other places.  Cherry Valley is unique in how this health center is financed.   Tristan is available by email for any questions.

Frank McGrath stated The Friends of the Cherry Valley Health Center is still seeking the tax-exempt status.  Also still looking for support for upcoming grants available in 2026.

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

Planning:
•    Councilperson Cornwell states we have been in contact with John Lyons, attorney for the solar law and will be moving forward with review of the solar law.

Highway Department
•    HS Field states they are finishing up with the summer work and are preparing equipment for the winter months.
•    Supervisor Garretson provided and update on the CHIPS account and where we are with that.

Federal/State/County
•    County representative Dave Bliss is present at tonight’s meeting.  He states it is budget time which poses a challenge for the board.  There is also a shortage in employees.

Question from the public:

Andy Minnig asked the board if the board have come to some conclusions about the health center for the upcoming preliminary budget?  Supervisor Garretson stated there is not a figure at this time.  Supervisor Garretson and the comptroller are working on the budget.

Alice Hurwitz updated the state departments environmental concerns regarding the Japanese knot weed problem.  The DEC would like to come to the Town Boards to educate people on how invasive this weed is.

Question from public: is the anticipated monthly IT Bassett charge to be $12,000 a month for the next year?  Supervisor Garretson stated it is.  The average Bassett bill will be between $75,000-$80,000.  Lisa Heinrich stated there are some other IT options the Board is not aware of yet.  SG states currently the way the contract is written this will be the figure until the end of the year.

Question from public for Councilperson Cornwell, is the solar project lawsuit settled?  Councilperson Cornwell stated the case is currently suspended and Carson Solar is currently not pursuing it.  To resurrect the case money will need to be deposited into the escrow account.  There is a time limit for how long this can be suspended.  Councilperson Cornwell will find out the answer to this question.

The Tepee is 75 years old and there will be a party on October 4th.

Question from the public:  Is Athena functioning yet?  SG stated Athena is in the testing stage to work out current issues with it.

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

There being no further business meeting adjourned at 7:43PM.

Next Town Board meeting will be Thursday, October 09, 2025, 7:00PM

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