DRAFT ONLY TB MEETING OCTOBER 09, 2025

 DRAFT ONLY TB MEETING OCTOBER 09, 2025

The regular meeting of the Town Board of Cherry Valley was held on Thursday October 09, 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 Excused
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
90 Laurie Spencer $325.00pd
91 Ricoh USA Inc $50.76pd
92 Ricoh USA Inc $72.86pd
93 Laurie Spencer $200.00pd
94 Quill Corporation $91.85pd
95 Spectrotel $436.56pd
96 Optimizer Systems Inc $325.00pd
97 Public Goods Pool $3,852.00pd
98 Bassett Healthcare $94,072.28pd
99 Leona Johnson $87.50pd
100 Ricoh USA Inc $21.75pd
101 Leona Johnson $87.50pd
102 Laurie Spencer $200.00pd

GENERAL FUND
181 Hometown Hauling $43.25pd
182 Spectrotel $266.04pd
183 Bruce Hall Corporation $206.66pd
184 Charter Communications $374.95pd
185 Tri-County Communications Inc $179.10pd
186 Cintas Corporation #121 $139.67pd
187 Excellus BC/BS $343.86pd
188 Constellation Newenergy Inc $5.06pd
189 State Comptroller $4,482.00pd
190 Jeff Stiles Contractor $2,108.77pd
191 State Comptroller $8,436.00pd
192 United Healthcare $5.72pd
193 NYS Association of Towns $100.00pd

Highway Vouchers:
Item 1 (370)
Item 3 (895-903)
Item 4 (0)

Councilperson Cornwell asked for clarification on a couple of the highway bills.

Councilperson Cornwell 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-4 ayes 0 nays

Presentation of Invoices and Payments:
•    udget reviewed as well as NBT Account balances
•    Otsego County sales tax for the month of AUG $12,796.90
•    Otsego County Traffic Diversion Program $1,000.00
•    A new Town Website is being looked at for consideration in the near future.

Community Center Alden Field and Park:
•    Fall activities are starting so the Community Center activity will also increase.
•    Rentals are starting to come in for the fall and winter
•    All the hallways have been painted
•    Still waiting for the lights to be replaced in the gymnasium

Health Center: 
•    August Expense $103,823/Revenue $45,044
•    Kim Thompson gave an update on the health center work that is ongoing.  Current donation account is at $65,309.00.  Lots of positive momentum still happening.  The nonprofit has filed for the certificate of incorporation with NYS, awaiting status from the State.
•    Councilperson Waterfield inquired if anyone is working on the federal grant program that was announced in late September?  Kim will investigate this.

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

Planning:
•    Frank McGrath attended a New York Association of Towns conference today. There is a new requirement of Towns with a population of 1,500 or more are required to apply for a .gov domain.  Frank supplied a name for the Town Clerk for a person at the NYSAOT that can assist with the .gov domain that the Town Clerk has already set up but doesn’t know how to move forward with it at this point.  Planning board member McGrath supplied the Town board with a copy of the agenda from the conference.  He encourages the board members to attend one of the trainings as they provide excellent information.
•    PB member McGrath received an email today from an individual who purchased the parcel of land the solar project was going to be built on.  This individual mentioned the solar project was terminated.  The individual has plans for this parcel of land and he wants to be neighbor friendly and not he does not want to aggravate anyone.  He plans to have a 50’ buffer on the edge of the property.  Supervisor Garretson states the Town Board has not heard this terminology regarding the Solar Project being terminated.

Highway Department
•    CHIPS paperwork has been submitted to the State
•    Truck ordered in July 2022 should be here next week. 


Councilperson Cornwell states there will be a temporary Moratorium on Solar and Wind Systems.  There will be a one-year Moratorium on Solar and Wind development in Cherry Valley.  

Councilperson Cornwell introduced Resolution 2025-7 Introducing Local Law No. P1 of 2025 a Local Law establishing a temporary Moratorium for certain applications for approval of solar energy systems and wind energy conversion systems that are pending or may be subsequently filed with the Town of Cherry Valley.  Resolution date is Thursday October 09, 2025.  Skipping to Part 2 actions items


NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED based on all the foregoing:


Section A.
Section B.


Section C.    By this Resolution, and in compliance with the applicable provisions of the NYS Municipal Home Rule Law, upon our own motion we introduce for consideration by the Town Board and possible adoption, Proposed Local Law No. P I of 2025 entitled "A Local Law Establishing a Temporary Moratorium on Certain Applications for the Approval of Solar Energy Systems and Wind Energy
Conversion Systems That Are Pending or May Be Subsequently Filed with the Town of Cherry Valley." A copy of the proposed Local Law is attached as Appendix A.
We declare that this Local Law constitutes a Type Il Action under the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act [SEQRA] because the proposed action constitutes the adoption of a Moratorium on land development or construction as provided in Part   of the SEQRA Regulations. As such this "action" is not subject to environmental review under SEQRA 
The Town Board hereby directs that the proposed Local Law attached as
Appendix A be referred to the Otsego County Planning Department for its review and for an advisory opinion pursuant to New York State [NYS] General Municipal Law [GMLI S 239-m. The Town Board directs the Town Clerk to make the referral in conformity with the applicable provisions and requirements of NYS GML S 239-m.

Section D.
Section E.    Town Board hereby directs that the proposed Local Law attached as Appendix A be referred to the Town of Cherry Valley Planning Board for its review and for an advisory opinion. The Planning Board shall deliver its response to this referral to the Town Board within thirty (30) days of the date of this referral.
In accordance NYS Municipal Home Rule Law S 20(5), the Town Board hereby schedules a Public Hearing on said Proposed Local Law for Thursday, December 1 1, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. at the Cherry Valley Community Center, 2
Genesee Street, Cherry Valley, New York. The Town Board directs the Town Clerk to provide notice of the public hearing to the public and other government bodies or agencies in accordance with the requirements for same set forth in the NYS Municipal Home Rule Law (which provides that five [5] days must elapse between publication of notice of the public hearing and the date the hearing is held). The Town Board also directs the Town Clerk to post a copy of the proposed Local Law on the Town's web site.

Councilperson Cornwell made the motion to adopt Resolution 2025-7 that introduces Local Law No. P1 of 2025 Motion 2nd by Councilperson Waterfield.  All in favor 4 ayes 0 nays. Resolution 2025-7 is duly carried.

Supervisor Garretson presented the preliminary budget for 2026 for the Town of Cherry Valley.

Supervisor Garretson states he has been working with the State Comptroller for the last 2 months.  The phone number for the state comptroller is (518) 474-4015 State Comptroller-misinformation about the budget going up over 40% State Comptroller- tax levy went up 26.88% last year.  This year as per the State Comptroller taxes will go down 18.03%.

Anyone who would like a copy of the budget please email the Town Supervisor or Town Clerk to get an electronic version sent through email.

The State Comptroller did not want the Town to reduce the taxes as much as we did.  Supervisor Garretson feels comfortable making this reduction in taxes.

Health Center Expense line went from $800,000 to $495,000.  Health Center anticipated revenue went from $275,000 (2025 budget) to anticipated revenue $540,000 for 2026.  Any excess revenue stays in the general fund and will go to the health center as needed.

Question from the public:

A question from the public regarding the contractor we pay monthly, what are the repairs that are being done every month?  What is going on with the building that there needs to be building repairs?  Supervisor Garretson read the invoice submitted for this month to explain the repairs completed.  Supervisor Garretson stated he does not believe an invoice is submitted every month.  

Question was asked when will the Cherry Valley Health Center operational oversight board when will that be explained?  Supervisor Garretson by the end of the year.

Question asked will the Health Center be moving forward still?  Yes, the board feels that the Health Center should go forward.

Frank McGrath asked if the one of the Board members, since they are elected, will be participating with the health center grant process rather than leaving up to the volunteers?  Mr. McGrath feels the board is more hands off than hands on with this grant process.  Supervisor Garretson stated the volunteers have more knowledge with the grant process.

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

There being no further business meeting adjourned at 7:53PM.

Next Town Board meeting will be Thursday, November 13, 2025 7:00PM

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



                                        

 

TB MEETING SEPTEMBER 11, 2025

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