DRAFT ONLY TB MEETING DECEMBER 11, 2025

 

DECEMBER 11, 2025

Motion to open the Public Hearing for Local Law No. 1 Moratorium on Wind and Solar Projects is made by Councilperson Cornwell 2^nd by Councilperson Johonson Public Hearing opened at 6:53PM by Supervisor Garretson.  This will be a comment period only and not a question and answer.  There will be a one-minute limit per comment.

 

COMMENTS:

 

7:04PM Motion made to close the Public Hearing is made by Councilperson VanDerwerker and seconded by Councilperson Cornwell

 

DRAFT ONLY TB MEETING DECEMBER 11, 2025

 

The regular meeting of the Town Board of Cherry Valley was held on Thursday December 11, 2025 with meeting called to order at 7:04PM 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-Councilperson Excused

Highway Superintendent Marty Field-Excused

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

115 Quill Corporation $61.43pd

116 Laurie Spencer $237.50pd

117 Ricoh USA Inc $72.86pd

118 Spectrotel $424.88pd

119 Leona Johnson $175.00pd

120 Public Goods Pool $4,270.00pd

121 Laurie Spencer $170.00pd

122 Tammy Hotaling $100.00pd

123 Bassett Healthcare $100.00pd

124 Excellus BC/BS $286.90pd

125 Richo USA Inc $32.82pd

126 Quill Corporation $97.98pd

127 Bassett Healthcare $72,396.34pd

Voided check 2258

Voided check 2264

 

GENERAL FUND

208 Hometown Hauling $43.25pd

209 Bruce Hall Corp. $16.12pd

210 The Daily Star $83.07pd

211 Charter Communications $374.95pd

212 RL Parsons Inc $1,271.43pd

213 Spectrotel $268.71pd

214 Tri-County Communications Inc $1,538.76pd

215 Cintas Corporation #121 $678.01pd

216 Constellation Newenergy Inc $5.72pd

217 Kevin Flint Lettering $300.00pd

218 Parks dba Emerson Testing LLC $275.00pd

219 Amy Garretson $510.00pd

220 Alice Hurwitz $100.00pd

221 Gran and Lyons LLP $2,250.00pd

222 Ellen LaSalle $222.50pd

223 NYS Association of Towns $900.00pd

224 United Healthcare $9.54pd

225 Gates Cole Associates $590.00pd

 

Highway Vouchers:

Item 1 (none)

Item 3 (915-926)

Item 4 (238-240)

 

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

 

Presentation of Invoices and Payments:

·         Budget reviewed as well as NBT Account balances

·         Otsego County sales tax for the month of OCT $9,403.77

·         Otsego County Mortgage Tax Distribution $3,042.94

·         Waiting for the .gov domain to be approved to move forward with the new website through CivicPlus.  Invoice for CivicPlus received and will be paid soon.

 

Community Center Alden Field and Park:

·         Biddy Basketball practices have begun

·         Rentals are coming in as well.

 

Health Center:

·         August Expense $82,426/Revenue $38,604

·         Kathleen Taylor gave an update on the last meeting of the old Health Center board and the new Health Center Oversight board.  The new meeting time for the Health Center Oversight Board will be the first Tuesday of the month at 3:00.  Minutes not yet ready.  The Athena billing is on pause but this time it’s the hope a NYS grant will pay for it.  Lisa Heinrich is currently working on this moving forward.  There is still money coming in.  A few Board members are in contact with other rural health centers for ideas to see what is going on at other rural health centers.

·         Friends group also met but there was no representative from that group present at tonight’s Town Board meeting

·         Supervisor Garretson reported Tammy is not comfortable going live with Athena yet.  Another month wait is not unreasonable.

 

Village:

·         Town and Village Board Minutes and info- www.cherryvalleyny.us

 

Planning:

·         Frank McGrath reported two items brought before the Planning Board was for property purchase which the Board has nothing to do with so inquiry deferred back to the property owner and the other property is out the Towns boundaries.

·         Still looking for members.  Currently there are 4 members and would like to have 5 members.  Hoping for a chairperson to come on board.

 

Highway Department:

·         Highway Superintendent is excused and is out taking care of roads.

 

Councilperson Cornwell made a motion to adopt Resolution 2025-12 of the Cherry Valley Town Board

Petty Cash Fund for the Town Tax Collector 2^nd by Councilperson VanDerwerker

 

Proposed Action:  Establish a Petty Cash Fund for the Tax Collector

 

Whereas, the Town Tax Collector does on occasion receive cash for tax bill payments,

and

 

Whereas, the cash payment is not always in the exact dollar amount of the tax bill, and

 

Whereas, the Town Tax Collector will need to make change for some cash payments, and

 

Now, therefore be it resolved:  A petty cash fund in the amount of $500.00 is hereby established for the Tax Collector.

 

Roll call vote:   Supervisor Garretson-yes, Councilperson Johnson-yes, Councilperson VanDerwerker-yes, Councilperson Cornwell-yes and Councilperson Waterfield-Absent/Excused

 

All in favor 4 ayes 0 nays. Resolution 2025-12 is duly carried.

 

Motion made by Councilperson Johnson to adopt Resolution 2025-13  Adopting Local Law No. 1 of 2025, “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” and 2^nd by Councilperson Cornwell

Roll call vote:   Supervisor Garretson-yes, Councilperson Johnson-yes, Councilperson VanDerwerker-yes, Councilperson Cornwell-yes and Councilperson Waterfield-Absent/Excused

 

All in favor 4 ayes 0 nays. Resolution 2025-13 is duly carried.

 

Councilperson Cornwell made a motion to adopt Local Law No. 1 of 2025 Moratorium on Wind and Solar Projects “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”  Law is attached to the resolution Appendix A.  Seconded by Councilperson Johnson.

 

Roll call vote:   Supervisor Garretson-yes, Councilperson Johnson-yes, Councilperson VanDerwerker-yes, Councilperson Cornwell-yes and Councilperson Waterfield-Absent/Excused

 

All in favor:  4 Ayes 0 Nays  Local Law No. 1 of 2025 is passed.

 

Question from the public:

 

Frank McGrath inquired about hiring a code enforcement person?  Supervisor Garretson stated this needs to be addressed when revising the Comprehensive in 2027 as Solar and Wind Laws need to be addressed first for 2026.  Supervisor Garretson will make some calls to other municipalities who have Code Enforcement officers to see if this individual would take on Cherry Valley.

 

Phil Durkin gave Highway Superintendent Fields a compliment on how well the roads have been maintained.  He was able to make it to tonight’s meeting given the inclement weather we are having tonight.

 

There being no further business a motion to adjourn is made by Councilperson Cornwell and 2^nd by Councilperson VanDerwerker meeting adjourned at 7:31PM

 

Next Town Board/Organizational meeting and will be Thursday, January 08, 2026 at 7:00PM

 

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Beth Flint, Town Clerk

Town Board meeting was recorded

 

 

 

                                                                                                                       

 

 

 

 

 

 

TB MEETING/PUBLIC HEARING (BUDGET) NOVEMBER 13, 2025

 

Public Hearing for 2026 Town of Cherry Valley Preliminary Budget is opened at 7:00PM by Supervisor Garretson.  This will be a comment period only and not a question and answer.  There will be a one-minute limit per comment.

 

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

 

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 2^nd 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 2^nd 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 2^nd 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 2^nd 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 2^nd 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 2^nd 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