[0:10] Good evening everybody. It is 7:00. I'm going to call this organizational

[0:14] meeting of 2026 to order. We [clears throat] can all rise to the

[0:19] flag. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the

[0:25] United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation

[0:30] under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

[0:37] [clears throat]

[0:46] » Thank you.

[0:52] » All right. Our first order of business is going to be to approve the audited

[0:56] bills. Um this abstract is 01-26A. It includes vouchers 2025-1259

[1:07] to 2026-090.

[1:12] Out of the general fund, $87,128.79.

[1:19] Out of the highway fund, $112,6467.

[1:26] Out of water one, $17,57910.

[1:32] Out of water 2, $5,56051.

[1:37] Out of water 3, $4,19212.

[1:44] out of the sewer fund, uh, $14,127.

[1:50] Out of the wastewater treatment project, $39,18

[1:56] out of the Grove project count, $252,540.95.

[2:04] Out of the energy um grant fund, it is $7,476.95.

[2:14] Out of the highway solar account, $14,92120.

[2:20] Out of the CDBG housing grant, $4,460. Out of the uh community assistment fund

[2:29] for uh Christmas gifts was $1,856.58

[2:35] for a grand total of $561,351.14.

[2:41] Have a motion to pay the audited bills. >> I move it.

[2:45] » Mr. McDonald, a second by Mr. Forbes. Any discussion?

[2:50] Be none. All those in favor signify by saying I.

[2:54] » Anybody opposed? Motion carries. Next thing on the agenda, we have um the

[3:02] minutes from the December 11th, 2025 regular board meeting, which are in

[3:07] front of you. A motion by Mr. sour to accept the

[3:11] minutes as presented. >> Second.

[3:13] » A second by Mr. McDonald. Any discussion?

[3:17] Be none. All those in favor signify by saying I.

[3:20] » Anybody opposed? Motion carries. All right, we are at our first audience

[3:26] comment period. If anybody would like to comment, just stand up, state your name

[3:30] for the record. Um, and you may address board. [clears throat]

[3:36] All right. >> Okay.

[3:44] Santo and I live at Ken. Um,

[3:50] » we can't ask questions. Is that what you're telling me?

[3:53] » You may address the board, which yes, you can. If you got something to tell

[3:57] the board, you're more than welcome to. >> Okay. So, um I was wondering just how

[4:03] much of the ticket sales from the recent show went into the art.

[4:10] That's where they were supposed to go. Is that right?

[4:16] » We charge 15% for the event >> of the ticket sales

[4:20] » of the ticket sales. >> And you don't have the number for that?

[4:26] $852

[4:30] or something was the amount. >> And that does go into the art fund.

[4:35] » There is no art fund that it goes into. It goes into the building use fund.

[4:52] Okay. Um, my other question is what is being done as far as revitalizing Main

[4:59] Street? I've heard that or I've seen on the J community news that they want to

[5:05] try and get Main Street to be an historic

[5:11] place because of the buildings, but most of those buildings are empty.

[5:17] They're not bringing anything into the community. How can how can making them a

[5:24] [sighs]

[5:29] Yeah.

[5:32] historic. After making them historic, do anything to preserve those buildings

[5:40] when they're all empty and they look terrible?

[5:45] you can't answer because I can't question because it's a comment.

[5:52] So, I would still like to um find out what is being done for the

[5:57] revitalization on Main Street and um if those B buildings are

[6:04] owned by the private sector, which I understand they are,

[6:11] then how does that person go around go about

[6:17] getting the building to be

[6:24] be eligible

[6:27] for this. So if you can't get

[6:34] if you can't get businesses in there because of the rent or the cost of

[6:41] utilities. Um,

[6:45] I don't understand how it can be considered

[6:48] an historic building. It just sits there on rocks because

[6:54] nothing's being done to build. So, um,

[6:59] and this question or this comment goes to Mr. Sour. Are you involved? No, I

[7:07] can't see.

[7:11] I'm assuming. Hale wants to die. Matt is a relative of yours

[7:19] and he does the the installment of the splits

[7:26] from what I understand and you being the energy officer.

[7:32] Do you have any involvement in that business?

[7:36] Say that again. So, I'm going to try to point you in the

[7:40] right direction for a lot of your questions because all that information

[7:42] is out there. So, the historic district, we had a public meeting for the historic

[7:47] district. The district is the district. The buildings are historic from the year

[7:53] that they were built. The money that people can get from those grants are

[7:58] from ex tax incentives, exemptions that they get off their income tax for New

[8:04] York State. If it goes into if it gets approved as a national uh historic

[8:10] district, then there are other grants that open up for commercial businesses,

[8:14] for um private homeowners. The point of making it a historic

[8:19] district is to encourage people to invest in the district to revitalize

[8:24] those historic structures to keep them as they were. Um, a lot of that

[8:29] information can be discussed or is discussed and was discussed at that that

[8:34] public information meeting which was held by Shipo in October. And I believe

[8:42] that that video is up on our website that you can watch to see that meeting.

[8:47] um the revitalization stuff. If you would like to know more about what we're

[8:51] doing about our revitalization of Main Street, I would encourage you to watch

[8:55] any and all of our economic development meetings which are videotaped and are on

[9:00] our website as well. All of that stuff is on our website under our meeting

[9:05] minutes tab and you can watch and um get answers to just about every one of your

[9:09] questions there. Um your comment that you're making about Mr. Sour and the

[9:15] heat pumps. I think you I'm going to assume you are talking about the person

[9:20] that Mark sour who is um actually posting stuff on the J community news.

[9:25] Um I don't believe there's any relation between Mr.

[9:28] » Sour the name Mark Sour Sle.

[9:37] [clears throat] >> Are there any other things you would

[9:38] like to present to the board? >> No. Would you tell me where that is?

[9:43] » Uh, if you give me your email, I will drop you the exact link to it. It's

[9:48] right from our website, town ofjny.gov.

[9:53] And across the top there is um an info um tab.

[10:06] I'll actually show you right here and you can look up at the screen.

[10:17] » [clears throat]

[10:21] » You go across to about it is the me uh meeting minutes tab. You click that that

[10:26] will show you and you can watch all of our board meetings, all of our planning

[10:30] board meetings. There's an archive um back um the last three years, four years

[10:36] for some of those committees. Um the other committees, the parks and open

[10:40] spaces, economic development, climate smart task force, human services

[10:44] committee, comprehensive plan, special board, all that stuff is on on that site

[10:48] if you'd like to review it. >> Okay. Thank you.

[10:50] » You're welcome. Have a great day.

[11:00] If I can figure out how to get back to [laughter]

[11:12] there we go. All right. Any other um audience

[11:17] comments? All right. We will move on to

[11:21] organizational resolutions. [clears throat]

[11:27] The first resolution is going to be for the 2026 Town of J appointments. Um, and

[11:34] I will read through all of these just for the record and then we can have a

[11:39] motion in a second.

[11:47] » There are catchup.

[11:54] I can probably catch you as you go through.

[11:56] » Yeah. >> Um, [clears throat]

[11:59] dog control officer, um, Dan McDonald, deputy control, uh, the deputy dog

[12:06] control officer, Trevor Carl, code enforcement officer, Roger Tomkins,

[12:11] deputy highway superintendent Cody Garren, deputy town clerk, Tamber

[12:15] McCabe. Our disaster committee will be made up of myself as the chair, Tom

[12:21] McDonald as the deputy chair, um Chris Surell, Cody Garren, and then of course

[12:26] as part of that committee, we will be including all of the um emergency squads

[12:30] in the town of Jay. I'm the registister of vital statistics. Um, Carol Greenley

[12:36] Hackle, deputy registister of vital statistics, Tamber McCabe. Uh, sewer

[12:41] rent biller, Michelle Axtel. Uh, sewer rent collector, Carol Greenley Hackle.

[12:46] The attorney for the town of Jay, uh, Dan Manning. The town bank will be

[12:51] community bank NA. The town newspaper will be the Press Republican. Uh, water

[12:56] rent biller, Michelle Axto. Water rent collector Carol Greenley Hack Hackle. Uh

[13:02] ambulance board liaison will be myself and Tom McDonald. Uh climate smart task

[13:08] force chairman Mr. Canute Sauer. Budget officer will be uh myself and Carol

[13:15] Greenley Hackle. Building committee uh will be me as the chair, Paul Benway,

[13:20] Brooke uh Paris. Highway committee, Tom McDonald will be the chair. Steve

[13:26] Forbes, Jesse McDonald, uh Chris Serell, Cody Garren will be on that committee.

[13:31] The sewer and water committee, Steve Forbes will be the chair. Tom McDonald,

[13:35] Jesse McDonald, Paul Mintz will be on that committee. Water uh we already

[13:39] that's where we already did the water and sewer water sewer. Essex County

[13:47] Youth Bureau, I will be um the chair uh being assisted by Carol Greenley Hackle.

[13:53] Historian will be Sharon Houston. Insurance committee will be myself,

[13:57] Carol Greenley Hackle, Michelle Axtel. The Jay Blackbrook Youth Commission

[14:02] liaison will be myself and Michelle Axtel. Clerk to the supervisor will be

[14:06] Michelle Axtel. Clerk two will be Tamber McCabe. Clerk three Carol Greenley

[14:11] Hackle. The parks and open open space committee chair will be Olivia Dwire.

[14:17] Personnel committee chair Tom McDonald. Human Services Committee will be chaired

[14:22] by Robin McCari and I will uh sit on and be the board representative on that

[14:27] committee. Economic development chair is myself.

[14:31] Um and

[14:35] we had already done those two.

[14:40] So if I could have a motion to approve the 2026 Town of J appointments

[14:44] » by Mr. Sour, >> second by Mr. McDonald. Discussion

[14:51] » be none. All those in favor signify second

[15:03] » discussion. I thought Steve was going to be with you

[15:06] on the

[15:10] » or just put just put both of us. >> Um it can be the two of you and then

[15:15] like I can be your alternate. Do you want me to say the alternate?

[15:19] » You can be the alternate. That would be fine with me.

[15:23] » Yeah. >> So, the ambulance liaison.

[15:27] » Ambulance leazison. Alternate Steve Forbes.

[15:35] Any other discussion? Being none. Are Mr. S, you okay with the

[15:41] amendment? And Mr. McDonald, are you okay with the amendment?

[15:44] » Yes. >> Um, any further discussion?

[15:48] None. All those in favor signify by saying I.

[15:50] » Anybody opposed? >> Motion carries.

[15:57] » Uh the next resolution will be uh the 2026 authorization for payment. Um now

[16:04] therefore the salary set forth below are hereby established for the year 2026 and

[16:08] be further resolved that the supervisor be hereby authorized to pay said

[16:13] salaries from the appropriate town funds. Animal control officer, $3,90.

[16:21] Deputy dog control officer, $1,545. Board of assessment review will be $100

[16:29] per um B member, and there will be three of those. Budget officer,

[16:36] um it'll be $2,000 and that will be split between myself and Carol. building

[16:42] inspector, which is our code officer, $26,525.

[16:47] Uh, building maintenance park laborer have one of those at $2426

[16:53] an hour. The other building maintenance park labor is $228

[16:58] per hour. Councilman, we have four at $6,685.

[17:05] Historian, um, one at $2,000. Justice one at $13,265.

[17:13] Court clerk one at $5,300. For youth commission, um we have four

[17:20] recreation specialists. Um one for baseball, one for basketball, one for

[17:24] soccer, one for skiing. Each one of those are $1,000. The town of Jay is

[17:29] responsible for one half of that at $500 per.

[17:34] Um the registar of vital statistics, one of those at $275.

[17:39] Deputy registar of vital statistics, $275.

[17:44] The sewer red biller, one of those at $600. Sewer red collector, one of those

[17:49] at 600, I'm sorry, $660. And the collector is $666

[17:54] or $660. sewer treatment plant operator. Uh, one

[18:00] of those at $36, uh,7 per hour. An assistant plant operator at $27.40

[18:07] per hour. We have an another assistant sewer plant operator at 27.86 per hour.

[18:14] And the third assistant sewer plant operator 2228 per hour.

[18:20] The superintendent of um highways um

[18:26] is at a salary of $74,265. The deputy superintendent has a

[18:31] statement of $2,500. Clerk to the superintendent is $26.75

[18:38] per hour. Um the highway department will have one labor at $20.76 hours an hour.

[18:45] [clears throat] an MEO at um this is the PDM position at

[18:50] $25 per hour. An MEO one at 2475 per hour. Another MEO at 2705 per hour.

[18:59] Another MEO at 2586 per hour. Another MEO, this is an MEO 2. Those were MEO1s

[19:07] at 2624. We have an HO, which is a heavy

[19:11] equipment operator at 2562 per hour. another uh HO

[19:18] um one at 2386 per hour. Another HO1 at 2732 per hour. We have an HO2

[19:26] um at 2925 per hour. Um the supervisor um one of those at $55,160.

[19:37] The deputy supervisor gets a stipen of $1,500. The clerk to the supervisor is

[19:42] at $26 an hour. Clerk two is at $24 an hour. Clerk three is at 2855 per hour.

[19:49] The tax collector um is a salary of $9,000. The town attorney is $100 per

[19:56] hour. The town clerk is uh a salary of $15,500.

[20:01] The deputy town clerk gets a stipend of $2,000. Um water treatment plant

[20:07] operator. Um we have one of those at 3607 per hour. an assistant uh water

[20:12] treatment plant operator at 2740 per hour. Another uh assistant water

[20:18] treatment plant operator at 27.86 per hour. Another water treat plant another

[20:24] assistant water treatment plant operator at 2228 per hour. Water rent biller um

[20:31] is a onetime um statement of $710 and the water rent collector is a onetime

[20:37] stipen of $710. Can I have a motion to accept the salary

[20:41] schedule as presented? >> Move. Second, Mr.

[20:44] » O'Donnell, second by Mr. Sour. Discussion

[20:49] [cough] be not. [clears throat] If we can have a roll call vote, please.

[20:53] [snorts]

[20:55] » Yes. >> Yes.

[21:00] » Yes. Motion carries.

[21:05] The next list of resolutions will be quick resolutions that I will need a

[21:10] motion, a second, and then there'll be discussion. Um,

[21:18] » um, we can do um,

[21:25] » I can do that. I can read all of them. Then we can make motion and if somebody

[21:29] has a problem with one, stop. Yeah, [clears throat]

[21:34] » please see the attached listing of regular monthly meetings um of the town

[21:38] of J um town board for 2026 um which includes the organizational

[21:46] meeting today, January 8th. The February meeting will be fe all of these are the

[21:50] second Thursday of every month. February 12th, March 12th, April 9th, May 14th,

[21:55] June 11th, July 9th, August 13th, September 10th, October 8th, November

[22:01] 12th, December 10th. All meetings are held at 7 p.m. here at the Town of Jay

[22:06] Community Center unless otherwise noted. The Pass Republican is designated as the

[22:12] official newspaper of the town of Jay for the calendar calendar year of 2026.

[22:18] The community bank is designated as the official bank of the town of Jay for

[22:21] calendar year 2026. The proceedings of the town of Jay board shall be conducted

[22:26] according to Robert Trule's order. The town of Jay board shall adopt the town's

[22:32] procurement policy. All fees collected for birth and death

[22:37] certificates by the local registar shall be turned over to the town on a monthly

[22:40] basis. All town officials shall be reimbured for mileage at the rate of

[22:45] 72.5 cents per mile in necessary expenses incurred in performing their

[22:50] duties of office according to the 2026 IRS rates. I think we got to change

[22:54] that. We're only just Should we even do 72 and

[22:58] half cents and just put per IRS? >> 72.5

[23:03] cents is the new IRS rate, >> right? But wouldn't it make more sense

[23:09] just to put the IRS the IRS rate? It can change at any given time.

[23:14] » No, it's an annual year.

[23:19] » Yeah. And if it does change, if it does

[23:24] change, we should know that exact rate so that it actually is

[23:28] is changed by the board. >> I mean, I I just other towns are putting

[23:34] per IRS rate. >> The rate does change.

[23:39] » It can change at any time. [snorts] It doesn't matter.

[23:41] » No, it's an annual. >> It can change in a year, but I'm not

[23:44] going to read about it. Whatever. There you go.

[23:49] The supervisor shall submit to the town clerk within 60 days after the close of

[23:53] the fiscal year a copy of the AFR to the state controller required by section 10

[23:59] of the general municipal law. Upon receipt, the town clerk shall publish in

[24:03] the official town newspaper. A notice of copy of such report is on file in the

[24:07] town clerk's office and available for public inspection and copying.

[24:11] The deputy supervisor is authorized to sign all checks for the town of Jay

[24:15] during the absence or inability of the supervisor. The deputy town clerk is

[24:19] authorized to sign checks on behalf of the town clerk. There shall be charges

[24:23] of $35 for any return check to the town or any officer or employee for

[24:29] insufficient funds.

[24:33] [cough]

[24:36] » [clears throat] >> The supervisor is authorized to enter

[24:39] into contracts on behalf of the town board for calendar year 2026 as

[24:44] presented in the 2026 budget adoption. North Country Rural Development $4,000

[24:50] APA Review Board $300. Oable Forks Ambulance Service $452,855.

[24:59] Oable Forks Fire Department 300,735.17

[25:07] Oel Forks Library $10,000 BTI treatment $19,900

[25:14] Dave Bushy for rental of his space where the J meter pit is $300. The Jefferson

[25:21] Lewis Bo Bosey's drug and alcohol program, $600. The J community news,

[25:28] $1,000. Um Jay Entertain Entertainment and Music

[25:33] Society, $7,500. The [clears throat] J Fire Department,

[25:39] $246,400. North Country SPCA not to exceed $3,500.

[25:46] The Red Cross $500. Senior Citizen Organization, $1,550.

[25:53] United Way, $500. The Upper Jay Fire Department, $117,381.

[26:01] Wells Memorial Library, $10,000. The supervisor is uh authorized to

[26:07] accept payment for the following community center rental agreements.

[26:11] Um rooms 2011, 202, 2077. They are the second floor upstairs carpeted room. It

[26:20] includes heat and electricity, $500 a month.

[26:24] [cough and clears throat] Room 206. It's the wood floor upstairs.

[26:29] Heat and electric, $750 a month. The senior AAP room, which is this room on

[26:34] the first floor with heat and electric, $300 a month.

[26:39] The supervisor is authorized to enter into a contract with the Essex County

[26:43] Department of Public Works for calendar year 2026 on behalf of the town highway

[26:47] subject to the approval of the Essex County Superintendent of Highways.

[26:53] The annual membership dues for the association of the towns for calendar

[26:56] year 2026 is in the amount of $1,100 shall be paid by the supervisor.

[27:04] Um, appoint Supervisor Matthew Stanley as the voting delegate and Councilman

[27:09] Steve Forbes as the alternate voting delegate for the Associations of Towns

[27:13] and Villages and the Aderondack Associations of Towns and Villages for

[27:17] 2026. Appoint Roger Tomkins as the town of Jay

[27:21] Code officer for 2026. Penny cash funds for various town

[27:26] officials are authorized as follows. The supervisor $100, justice $100. Tax

[27:32] collector $30. Town clerk $100. Code officer $100.

[27:43] [clears throat] The town clerk or deputy clerk is

[27:45] authorized and directed to open all competitive bids for public works and

[27:49] purchase contracts. Record the same and report them to the town board. For

[27:53] purposes of fixed assets, a dollar value of more than $500 per item requires

[27:58] listing in the fixed assets of the town general ledger accounting system. The

[28:03] town board hereby authorizes supervisor Matt Stanley to enter into a contract

[28:08] with unifers for uniform rental for each highway department employee plus an

[28:12] additional $100 per employee or boot allowance per the town of Jay clothing

[28:16] allowance policy. The town will offer longevity payments to all eligible

[28:21] employees in increments based on years of service at a rate to be stated in the

[28:26] town of J employee handbook and will be made payable annually in December.

[28:31] The town will pay 90% of premiums and 100% of the deductibles for individual

[28:36] or family medical or dental coverage to all full-time employees hired prior to

[28:41] 2014. [cough and clears throat]

[28:48] Sorry, I have a little touch of pneumonia.

[28:51] » The town will pay 75% of the premium and 100% of the deductibles for individual

[28:56] or family medical and dental coverage to all full-time employees hired after

[29:01] 2014. The town will offer a cash buyout in lie

[29:05] of medical benefit for any full-time employee who is eligible for medical and

[29:09] dental coverage who can provide documentation of current medical

[29:12] coverage in the amount of $4,000 in two payments of $2,000 in June, one in June

[29:18] and one in December. The town will pay 100% of a $25,000 life

[29:24] insurance policy for all full-time employees.

[29:27] All utilities, insurance, postal and freight charges may be paid by the

[29:31] supervisor prior to the uh town board audit and approval.

[29:38] That brings me to the end of the resolutions, the organizational

[29:42] resolutions. If I can have a motion um to accept all of those resolutions as

[29:48] read, >> Mr. McDonald. The second by Miss Dwire.

[29:52] Any discussion? >> Yes. on the um

[29:57] uh petty cash for the tax collector. Is $30 enough if she hasn't more than one

[30:02] person come in with big bills? Should we make that a 100 and make the

[30:06] rest of them or or is she okay then she been okay

[30:12] with the $30? I think she has been and I don't know this for certain but I she

[30:19] has not come to me to request more petty cash. I believe most people either pay

[30:23] by check or pay by She now has the option to pay with credit and debit

[30:29] cards. >> Okay. As long as she's good with that in

[30:31] order to have issues. >> Yeah.

[30:32] » Okay. >> Any other questions?

[30:37] » Be none. Um let's just since there's a bunch of those, let's just do a roll

[30:42] call vote on all of those. >> Yep.

[30:47] » Yes. >> Yes.

[30:50] » Yes. Yes.

[30:54] » Motion carries. [clears throat]

[31:00] » That actually went pretty quick, fellas. [clears throat]

[31:06] » All right. So, um we do not have any guests tonight. Um, so we do have in our

[31:15] packet, um, this is the full, uh, this is from code enforcement. Um, Mr.

[31:21] Tommpkins, uh, gave you a print out of all of the building permits for 2026.

[31:36] » I was trying to quickly see what was the total number of permits, but

[31:49] Uh yeah. Um in building permit >> is there

[31:54] » 103. >> Oh yes, good eyes. 103 building permits

[31:59] for 2025.

[32:04] Um dog control. Mr. Carl is not here tonight. Um, Cester Tim Gay

[32:12] had no report. >> Yes, I will.

[32:16] » I will. Uh, Mr. Mintz, your turn for water, wastewater.

[32:27] » Evening everybody. >> Um, I don't come with any requests for

[32:31] money this month, so I'll just give you a brief update.

[32:35] » Um, didn't really have a lot going on in December. It was fairly quiet. Um, we

[32:41] had one small water breaking service line up on Bing Mill Hill um that we had

[32:45] to dig because the shut off was uh broken and it happened to be the

[32:51] house that had caught on fire and the basement was spilling water. Um,

[32:57] at the wastewater treatment facility, all the blowers are in place and

[33:02] mechanically ready to go. Uh we are experiencing some electrical issues with

[33:06] number two motor. We've done all the troubleshooting we can to the extent of

[33:10] our ability. So I'll be calling the electrician to come in and kind of give

[33:13] us the final diagnosis to give it give it a little push and get it in service.

[33:19] Uh the other thing I want to bring up with the wastewater treatment facility

[33:22] is in the past we've had two surface airators that could be used to augment

[33:27] the aeration or temporarily replace entire zones of the aation lines that

[33:33] are out of service. Uh they've I think those units they've been here ever since

[33:39] I came on my first core duty. They're you know probably close to 20 years old

[33:44] currently. Both have deficiencies. we can pretty much take all the working

[33:48] parts from the two and make one good surface airator

[33:53] um and keep that as a backup. A replacement for the second would be

[33:57] approximately $5,000. Um I'm currently not recommending we

[34:01] replace it. The air raators were kind of left over from a period of time in which

[34:05] we had multiple deficiencies in the fixed aation system in the lagoons. So

[34:09] you could quickly deploy one if you lost an entire line. Um, our aerators and on

[34:15] the wood are all working. A lot of the older ones have been replaced in 2013.

[34:20] I'm guessing that all of them are going to be replaced again when we do move on

[34:23] to phase two of the wastewater treatment project in the next two to five years.

[34:28] Um, so again, not asking for any money, just

[34:32] explaining why I'm not replacing that one. We're just going to fix the one

[34:35] because again, if we buy it, it's just going to sit on the shelf and that's not

[34:38] good for anything. Anyway, uh we've had a few hiccups with our

[34:44] standby backup power at both the uh Alks water treatment plant and the waste

[34:49] water treatment plant. Um we were able to troubleshoot those issues in the

[34:52] house. I just bring it up to mention that uh automatic standby power is

[34:58] fantastic and I'm glad that we have it where we do. Uh but each generator is

[35:02] just another bucket of moving parts uh that can and often fails and

[35:10] for the uh wastewater treatment uh facilities upgrade project that's

[35:14] currently underway of the three contracts uh one of which has been

[35:19] deemed substantially complete that's for the uh the HVAC system the really the

[35:25] smallest tiniest uh contract where it was um we are inching towards

[35:30] substantial completedness for the other two contracts but we still have no firm

[35:34] completion date uh work will continue on the ultraviolet system on the 12th and

[35:41] just as a reminder needs to be up and running by May, but I think our funding

[35:47] needs it to be substantially complete way before then.

[35:51] Uh so just a brief uh to-do list of what's coming up this month. Uh we've

[35:56] got a lot of annual reports that we're going to have to compile and submit in

[36:00] January and February. We need to make a strong push on the household

[36:04] characteristic study. Um, and again, we we want to be able to use that data uh

[36:10] in the next round of um funding opportunities. So, we really want to try

[36:15] to get that wrapped up by I think March or the end of March.

[36:21] Uh, again, I need to reach out to an electrician to diagnose and repair uh

[36:24] the number two circuit at the blower panel. Uh, the UV system should be doing

[36:29] the startup and training hopefully uh sometime this month.

[36:33] Um, we're going to be resetting a lot of our maintenance schedule and calendars,

[36:37] trying to streamline that a little bit. Um, so I'm not gatekeeping the process.

[36:42] One thing I don't need to do. And then just as a reminder, uh, while it's slow,

[36:48] we'll be starting to formulate the bid for the septic tank risers. Um, so we

[36:54] get that done early and we have those here for when uh, the ground falls and

[36:59] we can begin work. >> Any questions?

[37:03] Last month he mentioned that Mr. Preston wasn't available to do electrical work.

[37:07] Wife told me that he is still working. >> So I I've seen him out.

[37:12] » Yeah. He's back. >> Yes. Um and and I I I will reach out to

[37:16] him. I just know that we we had a couple of things that were, you know, that kind

[37:21] of got pushed a little far. >> If Jack is able to

[37:25] » he's fantastic >> in case you need it. And and certainly

[37:28] for something like this, he's he's already done some work on our lower

[37:31] panel and it's kind of a low impact kind of it's not like I'm asking him to set a

[37:35] pole or something. So that might be a good test to see if Jack

[37:44] » Thank you very much.

[37:48] » Mr. Sell.

[37:56] All right. So I have a uh like Paul I

[38:04] have body on wing edges. Um the these on J9 is about 10 years old.

[38:15] Uh J1 um is a little bit newer, but I put that

[38:20] on. I started [clears throat]

[38:24] um and J8. So, uh yeah, total is $9,744.90.

[38:33] There'll be one blade for J8. That'll be 9 fter J1 and J9

[38:40] J1 J91. But these are uh winter winter act blades. They last forever.

[38:47] Um uh they're the ones on our trucks are

[38:52] just worn out. >> Are these soul sourced? Because those

[38:56] plows are made by Ko. >> Yeah, these are uh

[39:01] this is a different company that

[39:09] we bought. Oh yeah, we bought four. >> Yes,

[39:16] » they're they're pricey, but uh means you can't cut them anywhere else.

[39:20] » Yeah.

[39:23] » I mean, per perhaps

[39:27] policy any purchase,

[39:31] » right? He's getting all three of them together.

[39:34] » Yeah. Yeah. But uh >> this ain't a state contract either.

[39:39] » No, they don't have >> No.

[39:44] » Can I have a motion um to purchase the blades on the wings? Mr. Forbes. A

[39:50] second. >> Mer discussion

[39:57] being none. Roll call vote please. Stber.

[40:01] » Yes. >> Yes.

[40:04] Yes. >> Yes. Yes. Motion carries.

[40:10] » Thank you.

[40:21] » Doesn't make much interest on that 9,000.

[40:25] » Good thing is they last

[40:30] got 10 years. >> Yeah.

[40:32] » Yeah. wind.

[40:35] » Yeah. >> So, you can also use them for

[40:40] your regular blade, but once you get an arch,

[40:47] you're better off either go with a new uh

[40:52] track blade or the car. Um

[40:57] I'm requesting a resolution uh approve the annual uh equipment list

[41:04] for the EDW this list and just uh do work for county

[41:13] how they pay for >> and it looks like that Jesse updated

[41:17] this list on 106. Can >> I have a motion to approve the town J

[41:25] equipment list for Essex County? >> Mr. McDonald second.

[41:29] » Miss Dwire. Any discussion? See none. All those in favor signify by saying I.

[41:35] [clears throat] >> I.

[41:36] » Anybody opposed? Motion carries.

[41:44] » Equipment. We've had quite a few breaks. Last year was awesome. this year

[41:51] somewhat big year. >> That's how we got into the position.

[41:56] » So many uh many breakdown repairs of equipment

[42:01] season. Um we're trying to get uh trying to get them up up and going and just uh

[42:07] get parts. Uh [clears throat] both our pipes are

[42:11] down right now. >> Really?

[42:12] » Yeah. Uh one is a wheel bearing entire end and the other one is actually a

[42:19] um electric uh PTO clutch that goes on a hydraulic pump and motor. They don't

[42:24] carry on that. >> Any warranty on those?

[42:27] » Not the new one. And then the green one just ran on

[42:32] August. >> So uh um but the uh they don't carry the

[42:39] gill pump. So I order them online. >> It's You think

[42:45] » Well, we know they don't carry airbags for me.

[42:47] » Yeah. Yeah, it's crazy. >> Maybe better look at a different brand.

[42:51] » Exactly. Yeah, we were talking about that.

[42:54] And then uh J8, uh we're waiting for a hydraulic pump for that. So, should be

[43:01] here tomorrow. Um >> cuz that white one is just over a year.

[43:05] » Yeah, it's crazy.

[43:11] » I think uh from now on I'm just going to have Charlie boys work on it. I feel

[43:14] like we've had more problems with the new equipment we bought [laughter] than

[43:17] the older equipment. >> That

[43:22] or case loader. >> So the case that came over ended up

[43:25] being a fuse.

[43:31] » They didn't charge you though. >> Didn't say

[43:34] » couldn't be a charge. >> Well, he took out you had to take out

[43:36] the whole core and everything. [clears throat and cough] Couldn't find

[43:40] any. >> You know where the fuse is now, right?

[43:42] » Yes. There was actually a fuse that we we looked at. It just it wasn't

[43:49] » Yeah, he had his fault finder and stuff. >> And the cat got repaired, too.

[43:56] » Cat's all up and running. So,

[44:01] » I was worried about you guys for that weekend.

[44:04] » Well, we got a backup. So, uh road maintenance, we're in winter mode. Uh

[44:09] we're starting on hours now. I'm alone now, so keep an eye on that.

[44:16] Um, everybody's working good together and uh, you know, we're just trying to

[44:23] trying to keep the roads passible and uh,

[44:29] um, everybody else get [clears throat]

[44:32] um, and then other items um, are

[44:38] we have a old salter that Jodie plates

[44:45] build himself. I don't know when it's [clears throat] very old.

[44:52] [laughter] >> That's pretty big.

[44:55] » And uh yeah, they we patched it, patched it, patched it. I've got a couple salt

[45:01] seminars and stuff and meet with you, Max, and uh probably next week. And uh

[45:09] uh I'm trying to uh get a lot of uh info on possibly doing get a brine to jug for

[45:16] the back of it. So before a storm pre sidewalks

[45:20] so when you put salt down one little pebble takes forever for it to it seems

[45:26] like we're going through a lot of salt right now on these sidewalks. So

[45:31] » hopefully now that they up after that ice stom

[45:34] » Oh my goodness. Yeah. Um, that's all I have other than uh Do you want to do the

[45:42] uh time

[45:45] for uh >> carryover hours?

[45:49] » Yeah, carry over hours. >> Yes.

[45:51] » It's not on your list. So, >> okay. [laughter]

[45:55] » I'm going. >> Yes. because that was actually sent in a

[46:00] separate email to me >> and I assumed it would have been in your

[46:03] report and I didn't print it off. So, >> can I borrow your

[46:11] » Maybe you don't know what kind of switch went in that

[46:17] » Well, I see it in the invoices. There was a switch in there.

[46:24] » I'm not sure. >> I know. I don't think there was any roof

[46:29] on it, too. >> Yeah.

[46:33] » So, uh it was I had driven a couple times. You barely go you can go forward

[46:40] but reverse barely get over a curve with it or anything. So, Paul brought up

[46:45] shop. A couple guys looked at I looked at it

[46:49] and we're just like bent or something like Chris Boo at it

[46:54] was underneath there like two seconds. Yep. Right here. roll pin actually

[46:59] » and [cough] put that back in and put a new roll pin

[47:03] works great one.

[47:07] » Yeah, I know he's complaining about that

[47:10] tractor not having >> power.

[47:16] » So, this is we actually all do have this in our board packet towards the back. It

[47:20] was going to be my report. Um, >> no, no, we'll do it now since you're

[47:26] here. >> Okay,

[47:26] » just get it done. >> Perfect.

[47:28] » Um, you need the board to approve um personnel time to be moved to sick um

[47:35] carryover any remaining vacation um to next year um and pay out any comp time

[47:42] at the end of the year. Um that is on the sheet that is in your packet. Um, I

[47:49] can read through the hours if you'd like or we can just make a motion um for the

[47:54] highway department personnel or personal time to be moved sick carryover vacation

[48:00] and pay out comp. >> A motion is made by Mr. Forbes. A second

[48:08] » second >> by Miss Dwire. Discussion.

[48:11] » Uh, are we is sick time is all hours and then vacation and personal are days or

[48:17] are those sick time, everything is ours >> and they move over sick carries over.

[48:24] Got it. >> Um it's just vacation. It's either use

[48:27] it or lose it. Unless we >> personal go.

[48:31] » Gotcha. >> Right.

[48:33] » Vacation time you lose. >> Vacation time you lose and there's 13 15

[48:39] 16 20 hours worth of vacation time. >> Yeah. They're requesting to move the one

[48:44] year um and paying out the comp which is 37 and 38 and a half hours.

[48:55] » 40. Yeah.

[48:58] » 31. >> Yeah. I can't add

[49:01] value. Sorry. [laughter] >> Paid out.

[49:05] » Yes. The cop is paid out. >> Um next uh this year coming up. We're

[49:10] having a question for them to use all irrigation and

[49:15] » burn on their cont. >> Well, I mean there's really compared to

[49:19] years past. >> Yes.

[49:21] » When you guys couldn't take your time, >> this is very,

[49:25] » you know, uh uh I'm going to have them try to use their comp first, then

[49:32] negation, then personal. >> Y have them save your personal for last

[49:36] because that can always carry over. >> Correct.

[49:40] And then they can also because of the sick bank policy,

[49:42] » correct? >> Donate some of that to the sick bank.

[49:45] » Yeah. They could also take first like 18 personal.

[49:48] » Yep. >> They can throw that into

[49:50] » Absolutely. Any other discussion? Be none. All those in favor signify by

[49:55] saying I. >> Anybody opposed?

[49:58] » Motion carries. Anything else?

[50:02] » Mr. S? >> No, sir. I think that's it.

[50:06] » All right. Anybody got any questions or concerns for Mr. drug.

[50:11] » All right, I will before you leave let you know I went over to the health

[50:15] clinic yesterday and you guys got a huge shout out for how bad it was yesterday

[50:19] morning. How quickly you got the roads and the acres like they were singing

[50:25] your praises over there. So, >> well, I was over there with my pick off.

[50:28] [laughter] >> That's probably it.

[50:32] It's Yeah, thank you. And the ice is unbelievable. Yeah.

[50:40] Yep.

[50:45] » All right, moving on um to economic development. Um we have a meeting next

[50:50] Wednesday at noon. Um the big news coming out of economic development this

[50:55] month um it was we were awarded $315,000 um

[51:01] that $315,000 Main Street grant um which is being administered by North Country

[51:06] Rural Development. Um can I have a motion to accept that grant?

[51:14] » So I'll second motion by Miss Dwire, second by Mr. McDonald. Discussion

[51:19] being none. All those in favor signify by saying I. I.

[51:22] » Anybody opposed? Motion carries. Um so as that paperwork gets uh figured out by

[51:29] North Country uh Rural Development, uh there will be some public meetings.

[51:34] Um there is actually an online job form that people can sort of start filling

[51:38] out now um to talk about their projects. This does go uh for any of the facade or

[51:45] building improvements up to $100,000 per um building or business um for things

[51:52] like signs um facade improvements um or code uh improvements, code violation

[51:59] improvements to those buildings. Um and that will be more information of that

[52:04] will be coming out from North Country Rural Development.

[52:08] Um, that is all I have for economic development right now. Um, I will have

[52:13] more um that will be brought up during the meeting. Any questions about

[52:16] economic development? Uh, youth commission. Um, I don't know

[52:22] if anybody got here early enough to see practices, basketball practices started

[52:26] this um this week. Um, so the gym is being used every night by youth

[52:32] commission. Usually the practices I think are 5 to 7. Um they will be having

[52:37] basketball games I believe starting in two weeks which run through March.

[52:41] » How many kids? [clears throat]

[52:44] » I don't know the number of kids but there are four teams one at each

[52:47] division. >> Um two of the teams are practicing here.

[52:50] Two are practicing at Bully M. >> Um and then the ski program is up and

[52:56] running at Whiteface. Um the last couple years it's been much easier for the

[53:00] towns because all the tickets and purchasing um get made directly through

[53:05] Whiteface. Um and then we have uh between us and Blackbook, we have a

[53:10] couple of people who um work to sort of just watch the kids around the mountain

[53:16] um and help them while they're there. So that program is really uh become a lot

[53:22] easier. Um and there is insurance for that program that uh Blackbrook actually

[53:29] provides for that that program. Um any questions about you commission?

[53:35] » All right, we will move on to parks. Miss Dwer,

[53:38] » thank you. Um the parks and open space committee met on December 18th. Uh great

[53:42] meeting, lots of [clears throat] um work happening on exploring a dog

[53:48] park. Uh thank you Mr. Stanley for figuring out the insurance premium

[53:51] question. That's super helpful. Um, planning for our parks and trails

[53:56] volunteer day, which is April 25th. Um, and then just a reminder, two weeks

[54:02] from today, January 22nd, we're having our January parks and open space

[54:08] meeting, but we'll be advertising around town, uh, inviting the community to

[54:12] attend. Um really emphasizing the outdoor recreation part of our uh the

[54:19] work that the committee is doing, especially with the comprehensive plan

[54:22] going on and the recreation economy for rural communities uh technical

[54:27] assistance grant that is starting up um trying to engage people and thinking

[54:32] about what that could look like and how people could participate as volunteers

[54:36] and that kind of thing. So, um, everyone's welcome to attend and you'll

[54:39] see those flyers going out hopefully this weekend. Um, and we heard an update

[54:45] from our recreation economy for rural communities folks. Um, the first step of

[54:51] that grant program is a virtual peer convening, which is bringing together

[54:56] people from all 25 communities nationwide that are participating in the

[55:01] program. this year um for exactly what it sounds like just a convening to kind

[55:07] of uh share ideas, learn from each other um and share strategies for the next

[55:13] part of this grant process over the next 12 months. Um so we have a steering

[55:19] committee of 12 people and they'll be able to attend if they like and that'll

[55:24] help us just kind of get started and get oriented for that whole process. Um and

[55:30] we've given them dates and availability for um community workshop. Part of this

[55:37] program is a two-day community workshop in the town of Jay. Um steering

[55:42] committee was really helpful in providing their availability and we did

[55:47] let the folks at the the EPA who run the program know that um it really needs to

[55:51] happen between May and October so that people can be outside during that

[55:56] workshop. Uh so stay tuned for more updates. As they set a date, we will let

[56:02] people know and get that out to the community. Uh and that's all we've got.

[56:06] Thank you. >> Thank you. Any uh comments or questions,

[56:11] Miss Dwire? >> Thank you.

[56:14] » All right, moving on. Climate smart task force, Mr. Sour.

[56:17] » Uh yes, so we got the audit of this building back. It's a heavy document.

[56:24] Um, you [clears throat] know, we we're actually going to have a meeting with a

[56:28] LNF engineering um to make sense of it all. Um, and u that was January 20th,

[56:36] right? schedule that for. So, and after that NAERTA will be part of that meeting

[56:41] and after that we're going to have to meet with NERA to kind of um qualify

[56:47] what we really can do with it's probably $575,000

[56:51] left of that grant. Um and u you know some of the things that they've talked

[57:01] about is actually insulating the roofs. um that is in the audit as a recommended

[57:07] um hot water heater is recommended to be changed to an air source water heater.

[57:15] Um and then there's a lot of data on windows. There's a lot of data on

[57:18] insulation. Um one of the recommendations that they do have seem

[57:24] seem to have is actually to inflate the walls. Um you know I don't know what

[57:30] that's where the biggest heat loss is apparently. Um so not sure exactly what

[57:35] the cost would be. There's some data of that is in the in the audit as well some

[57:40] cost estimates but um once we've had the meeting with them and we have a better

[57:45] understanding of exactly what they're saying we'll bring it to the board and I

[57:50] actually share a copy of the audit with everybody.

[57:54] » Can you send me a copy of it too? >> Yeah. Yeah. I got to do the RFP and

[57:59] contracts >> and the meeting is telephone.

[58:02] » Uh it's a meeting. >> Okay. Can I get on that?

[58:06] » Yeah.

[58:09] » So January 20th at 2 o'clock. >> Okay.

[58:14] » And they haven't sent the link yet? >> They did this this afternoon.

[58:22] » Yeah. Sometimes. So yeah. Uh so we'll see what uh what's

[58:26] in that audit but um there's also an extension which is good on the time

[58:31] frame. Uh I think that's uh was passed through that we can have another 12

[58:36] months possibly uh so we don't have to stress and get it all done this year. Um

[58:41] we'll get another year um and u yeah so more on the audit as we get a little bit

[58:48] wiser uh on that. We were awarded a complete streets policy and planning for

[58:55] biking and walking grant for $30,000. Uh I don't know that we've gotten an

[59:00] official award letter yet. >> So once we get that, we'll um bring it

[59:06] to the next board meeting for acceptance of [clears throat] the grant. This is a

[59:10] grant that is a planning grant um that requires a 50% match. Um but uh even

[59:17] though there is depending on the cost 25 to $30,000 a lot of that can be covered

[59:23] by inind hours and volunteer hours um having a plan like that in place will

[59:30] score us much higher if we apply for grants for sidewalks for instance. Um so

[59:35] I think it's an important uh plan to have so that we can apply for grants for

[59:40] sidewalks and other um items that we would or projects that we would

[59:45] undertake. Anyway, so uh and that's it. There's a lot of the other stuff I think

[59:49] is in your report. >> Any questions for Mr. S?

[59:56] » All right. [clears throat]

[1:00:01] Miss Lucari is not here. Um I do know human services um

[1:00:06] they did not meet um they met at the beginning of December before our last

[1:00:11] meeting but have not met um this month. I know they are continually working um

[1:00:18] with St. James Episcopal Church on the food bank. Um they did get an email

[1:00:24] today because the federal pause on SNAP and um a bunch of the food uh federal

[1:00:30] food programs um their uh status uh with the Aderondac food bank is

[1:00:37] paused if you will until um that stuff restarts back up. So, um the food bank

[1:00:43] is um working just off of donations. Um and they will be uh receiving onethird

[1:00:52] of the money raised by during the change round up around the holidays. So, they

[1:00:58] should be getting that. If anybody does want to make a donation to the food bank

[1:01:02] and they want to make it via credit card or debit card, those um those donations

[1:01:07] can still be made through um Cornell Cooperative Extension through their

[1:01:12] website and you can actually earmark uh which food bank you want that or food

[1:01:17] pantry um in the county you want that to go to. Um so they're doing great work.

[1:01:22] Um I mean you never want to see numbers high in a food bank. Um but they have

[1:01:29] been um really pounding the payment and getting the word out and they have been

[1:01:34] seeing um triple quadruple the numbers of what we ever saw when the food pantry

[1:01:40] was here. So um I commend them on their work. Um

[1:01:45] anybody have any questions about the human services committee that I can take

[1:01:48] back to um Miss Lucari? All right. Uh Mr. Walters has met with

[1:01:55] me um a couple times about comprehensive plan special board. I know there are a

[1:02:00] lot of stakeholder interviews um that are going on. I put um her uh Dr. An in

[1:02:08] touch with um Bosable Valley uh this week uh to talk about uh the school

[1:02:15] profile for the comprehensive plan. Um I have included um our highway department

[1:02:22] along with you two on the highway committee um to speak to her as well

[1:02:26] about our needs through the highway department. She's already had a

[1:02:30] conversation with Mr. Mintz in water and sewer. Um she is going to be talking to

[1:02:36] Nicole um and North Country Rural Development about the work that we've

[1:02:40] been doing um in economic development. So that can get in the plan as well. Um

[1:02:45] she's got a list of like 25 uh stakeholder interviews that she is

[1:02:50] doing. Um a lot of those have been recommended by the comprehensive plan

[1:02:54] special board themselves. Um and she also put together and submitted to the

[1:02:59] comprehensive plan special board. Um I think it was 180 page draft community

[1:03:06] profile. um which is um got quite a few comments back from the board members um

[1:03:13] for updates and detail and clarification. So they are hard at work

[1:03:19] on the comprehensive plan. We should be seeing a draft of the plan sometime

[1:03:23] around springtime and they have their next comprehensive plan special board. I

[1:03:28] believe it is on Monday night at 6:30 >> the night. Oh, maybe

[1:03:37] » Oh, we're a week early because first fell on a Thursday.

[1:03:41] » So, it's on the 19th. >> Okay.

[1:03:43] » Yeah. At 6:30. >> Um, am I forgetting anything?

[1:03:47] » No. Just thank you to everybody that's working with um Dr. Holland. The

[1:03:52] community is super thorough and [clears throat] a really valuable um

[1:03:57] document for us to have moving forward. and it's um last strong because of

[1:04:02] everybody that shared their expertise and knowledge with Dr. Holland. So

[1:04:06] appreciate everybody making the time to speak with her and contribute.

[1:04:11] » Thank goodness for Holy Walk. >> Yeah.

[1:04:14] » Yes. >> Truly.

[1:04:15] » That's been amazing work. >> Um yeah. So um moving on to the

[1:04:24] supervisor's report. Um correspondence. I mean, just to follow, um, actually off

[1:04:30] of the comprehensive plan special board, um, I was contacted by the APA, um, to

[1:04:35] go present at one of their board meetings. It was actually going to be

[1:04:39] the board meeting on the 22nd of this month. Um, but I got bumped because they

[1:04:44] had more important business than me. Um, but I am going to be, um, I'm employing

[1:04:51] Mr. Walters and the comprehensive plan special board their knowledge to um help

[1:04:57] me develop about a 30 to 40 minute uh presentation that I can give to the APA

[1:05:04] board about what we have been doing. Um the reason I've been asked to speak to

[1:05:09] the APA is because of the economic development work we've been doing. um

[1:05:14] the work that we've been doing with the Essex County Land Bank and um some of

[1:05:19] the the trials that we have um with uh the Hamlet um and I am going to be

[1:05:27] calling back to um a discussion that Supervisor Douglas had at the APA about

[1:05:33] the possibility of Hamlet expansion because of the buyouts of uh the FEMA

[1:05:39] buyouts from Irene and storms prior to that. So, um it's going to be a good

[1:05:44] opportunity to really uh showcase in front of the entire APA board um the

[1:05:49] needs of the town of Jay. So, I'm really excited for that. It uh will probably be

[1:05:55] either now the the February or March meetings that I will go present for

[1:05:59] that. Um, next thing of correspondence I have

[1:06:05] is um the Essex County Suicide Prevention Team has request the use of

[1:06:12] the J Village Green. Um, they would like to um they would like to have a race

[1:06:18] beginning at the J Village Green head towards Upper Jay on Route 9 end. Um,

[1:06:23] they asked if I knew of any events happening on June 7th from 9 to 2 at the

[1:06:26] J Green Green. Um, asking how they can reserve the space. Um and um

[1:06:34] they're then also going to reach out to GEMS to to utilize the theater space. I

[1:06:39] don't know if it'll be ready by then. Um that's a question for them. So um this

[1:06:43] was a request brought through the human services committee um and missing

[1:06:50] um to bring to the board. So, um, we don't really have a use policy per se,

[1:06:59] um, for the J Green. Um, and I don't, uh, I don't foresee, um, anything

[1:07:05] happening on June 7th, unless you guys are aware of anything.

[1:07:09] » I'm going to say we'll confuse it, but we don't like specify correcting

[1:07:15] it. Correct. >> So, and the thing I also um want to make

[1:07:20] clear to them is with and I'm sure because it's being um this is actually

[1:07:25] being put on by Essex County, the suicide prevention team, which is

[1:07:30] through um health services and possibly the brief coalition. Uh they'll be

[1:07:36] dotting all of their eyes and crossing all of their tees because I'm sure if it

[1:07:41] gets on Mr. Manning's desk at the county. He'll make sure they have all

[1:07:44] necessary permits. >> Are we going to have to sign a facility

[1:07:49] and provide insurance? >> Yeah, we can have them sign that same

[1:07:52] exact use permit. >> Yeah, we can cross out some of the stuff

[1:07:55] just so that they clean it up. Anybody's heard their response. I don't know what

[1:07:59] is the race on our roads. >> It is on state roads.

[1:08:03] » State roads. Okay. So, we're only concerned with green,

[1:08:05] » right? So, so, um, so I will take uh a a motion and a second to allow them to use

[1:08:13] to use the space um filling out a um a permit and providing insurance.

[1:08:21] » A motion by Mr. McDonald, second by Mr. Sour. Any discussion?

[1:08:28] None. All those in favor signify by saying I.

[1:08:30] » Anybody opposed? Motion carries. Um boy, this must be the Mr. Walters

[1:08:38] hour of the meeting. Um because he had also reached out to me um in a memo. Um

[1:08:44] this had actually been brought up by a couple of other residents in the town of

[1:08:47] Jay. Um it was um I know it is a concern over in Lewis. Um but this is uh Mr.

[1:08:55] Walters actually put this in a memo in a request uh to the town of J board. The

[1:09:02] APA is considering um a

[1:09:07] 155 millimeter hower barrel testing site in Lewis. Um and I did not really

[1:09:15] understand what a hower was until um Mr. Walters being a retired US Army colonel

[1:09:22] explained what a howitzer actually is. Um it's not a line of sight um weapon.

[1:09:29] It is actually a you lob something from here and it may land two or three miles

[1:09:34] down range. Um they are loud. Um so he does he did um give us a lot of

[1:09:43] information. Um this project was before the APA. um they actually pulled it out

[1:09:50] of one of their um one of their hearings, made a hearing for itself

[1:09:56] because of the amount of comments they got about it um and the concerns they

[1:10:00] had about it. There was supposed to be a meeting in December which got postponed.

[1:10:05] The meeting is now going to be happening uh the hearing is now scheduled for

[1:10:09] February 4th. Uh Mr. Walters is asking us um as a board um as the board of the

[1:10:18] town of Jay um to uh let the APA know that we do not

[1:10:24] support this project project. Um I do wish he was here tonight to answer any

[1:10:28] questions. Um but um I am bringing that before the board if we would like to um

[1:10:35] just state our um disapproval of this testing range just over the mountain um

[1:10:44] in Lewis. >> I'd like to make a motion that the town

[1:10:48] of Gay formally

[1:10:52] expresses its uh objection to the APA approving

[1:10:58] That should permit. >> Do I have a second?

[1:11:02] » I'll second that motion. >> Second by Miss Doer discussion.

[1:11:07] » I don't know enough about it to really comment on it tonight.

[1:11:12] » It's I'm going to abstain from any motion on it.

[1:11:15] » I would as well, but I just I don't know. I mean, we're in a different town.

[1:11:19] We're telling another town to >> So, this isn't actually being done by a

[1:11:24] town. It is a private >> I see that

[1:11:26] » testing company. >> Yeah. Right. But I still don't know

[1:11:29] enough about it to make it educated. >> We need to do this.

[1:11:38] » I believe it's time. >> It is time.

[1:11:41] » It's the location is just across the mountain range right on the other side.

[1:11:47] » I understand where it is, but I just >> Yeah. No, I'm

[1:11:51] just saying there may be noise concerns for town residents, number one. And

[1:11:56] number two, just in general, I think for the rather part I don't personally don't

[1:12:03] see a need for such a facility or test range or whatever you want to call it.

[1:12:10] » Are they making them do noise reduction processes or anything?

[1:12:18] » So this is I uh I did email this out to you um earlier today. I just got it um

[1:12:25] on Monday, Tuesday. Um so uh and Mr. Walter was in my office sort of

[1:12:32] explaining um this um and he does live off of Black

[1:12:39] Mountain Road >> which would kind of be

[1:12:43] » Yep. So I guess

[1:12:47] » yeah, >> I guess I would go on even though I

[1:12:51] haven't read all this yet because we just got it. But I guess I would go on

[1:12:55] and I would vote for this only because Walter's recommendation.

[1:13:00] I know his background and

[1:13:05] is there going to be any waste? I mean, let's say they get this permit these

[1:13:09] things up all the time. What happens to all the residual waste? Maybe battery

[1:13:14] assets.

[1:13:18] » So there is a there is in this uh if I could um sort of um keep this as a

[1:13:26] discussion of the board. Um the their permit they're asking to be

[1:13:32] able to fire 30 times per year on weekdays between 10:00 a.m. and 400 p.m.

[1:13:38] for 5 years. The noise will be considerable and clearly audible under

[1:13:43] noise normal conditions 15 to 30 miles away. Um I don't know the only thing

[1:13:50] that I could sort of equate to this um was when I was growing up when they used

[1:13:54] to blast at the quarry. >> I knew when six o'clock in the morning

[1:13:57] was because that's when our house shook. >> Um so um I felt like we were on Mary

[1:14:03] Poppins. But it's it's the type of thing if you

[1:14:08] guys don't feel comfortable, we can always if we want to hold a special

[1:14:12] meeting to be able to discuss this to give you guys time to read it. I think

[1:14:16] anytime we try to send a letter um from this board, it would carry a lot more

[1:14:23] weight being unanimous other than a divided vote. So I am I am okay with

[1:14:28] tableling this um >> and get some response put from the

[1:14:31] committee. >> Yep. We could definitely do that. try to

[1:14:34] get people to um put in writing. I know the APA has done this already. The APA

[1:14:40] may push this off again. Once again, it was supposed to be on the docket in

[1:14:45] December and has been moved um moved to February 4th.

[1:14:50] » I mean, I've heard about it, but I haven't paid a lot of attention because

[1:14:53] it was a list. So, >> well, I definitely want you guys to be

[1:14:55] able to read it before you make a decision. Has it has it come up in front

[1:14:59] of the county and has the county board supervisors discussed it at all?

[1:15:04] » It has not come up to the county. Um I do think in part um

[1:15:12] the um outgoing supervisor I believe was in favor of this project. Um, so I don't

[1:15:19] think it was brought up because that's usually where a resolution comes

[1:15:24] to the county from is usually from the town supervisor. Um, we have not heard

[1:15:31] anything from the incoming supervisor of the county.

[1:15:34] » What about the other neighboring town with town?

[1:15:38] » I have not heard from any other town. >> I mean, I can also reach out to those

[1:15:42] supervisors about it as well. >> Absolutely.

[1:15:45] » Very much. I would just say I I have followed this story through the fall. Um

[1:15:49] I know they did aformational meeting in the town of Lewis and um the gentleman

[1:15:55] who owns unconventional concepts spoke and did a presentation so it may be

[1:15:59] worth inviting him to be a guest at a meeting and share that information. Um,

[1:16:04] what I learned from some of that is the company currently operates over in

[1:16:08] Lewis, I believe. Um, there's a cold war missile silo over

[1:16:12] there where they do explode ordinance. And the difference with this project is

[1:16:17] that this would be above ground. Um, so it' be out of doors, no muffled sound.

[1:16:25] And I think it's really important for the town of J residents to hear more

[1:16:29] about it. I share Mr. Walter's concerns about noise. Um, there's plenty of

[1:16:34] noises in the town of Jay. I know, especially in fall and winter when

[1:16:38] leaves start falling off the trees. I have a friend who lives a mile away,

[1:16:42] they can hear my beagle bark. Um, and you know, in fall when people are

[1:16:47] sighting in guns for hunting season, you can hear that up and down at the valley.

[1:16:51] So, noise certainly carries. It's just what kind of noise and is it appropriate

[1:16:55] for our community and our community character and uh the way of life that

[1:17:00] people um value and want in the town of Jay. Uh to me, this crosses that line

[1:17:06] and it's just not really um a benefit to our community. I think it would be

[1:17:11] really unfortunate if it happens and it would have a big big impact on quality

[1:17:14] of life here. So the next appointment

[1:17:28] » would it make sense to request not necessarily objective to it? Would that

[1:17:33] be something we all could agree on but maybe request them to have the the owner

[1:17:40] operator to have a public hearing in the town of J or something that extent? I

[1:17:45] could to I I could reach out to this unconventional concepts. Um

[1:17:52] I believe there is possibly a town of J resident who works for them. Um and I

[1:17:58] can reach out to them to see if we could maybe maybe that special meeting could

[1:18:02] be an information session for us all if everybody is good in that.

[1:18:07] » I don't even know what the purpose of it is.

[1:18:10] » I will reach out to try to get somebody here. Maybe maybe at the same time maybe

[1:18:14] uh get another neighboring town. >> Yep. I'll try to reach out to do some

[1:18:18] leg work because we got the facility here that

[1:18:21] » Yes. >> 200 people out there.

[1:18:22] » Perfect. >> Great idea. I will reach out to them.

[1:18:25] Everybody in favor of tableling this and reaching out.

[1:18:28] » Yes. >> Perfect.

[1:18:33] » All right. Next on to some updates. Um the uh New York class update um is here

[1:18:44] uh with this month's um interest in the amount of

[1:18:57] uh 9,929.84.

[1:19:02] for uh 2025 we made $183,461.14

[1:19:09] worth of interest um which is

[1:19:14] if I remember we budgeted $175,000 worth of interest or somewhere about that um

[1:19:20] for 2025

[1:19:24] um the financial report you're seeing here is part of the supervisor's

[1:19:28] financial report Um, this is not a final complete 2025

[1:19:35] financial report. Um, Michelle did run through um a lot of

[1:19:41] this to do a mock, if you will, um, reconciliation, but there are still

[1:19:47] several bills coming in through January that are 2025

[1:19:52] um, bills. So, um, we will have a more complete report for you next month.

[1:20:02] uh wastewater facility upgrades. I know uh Mr. Mintz um had mentioned that the

[1:20:08] wastewater facility upgrade is approaching substantial completion. Um

[1:20:14] we are working on the ban and grant closeout. Um, we are really waiting for

[1:20:21] the last major general contractor um, invoice um, which will help us uh, get

[1:20:28] the rest of the million-doll grant for that project. Um, DFC has been on

[1:20:33] several calls with us. We've been talking to our bonding council at ORIC.

[1:20:39] Um, and also with Mr. Manning's been on those calls. Uh, I've tried to find

[1:20:44] every friend that I can find to be on that call and EFC still outnumbers us.

[1:20:49] So, um, it is a heavy lift and I thank Community Resource uh, for their

[1:20:57] extensive help. I met with Hannah Neely yesterday. She has an Excel spreadsheet

[1:21:02] for that project that goes across eight different pages, has money broke out

[1:21:07] between us, Blackbrook, how much we paid, how much we've owed, what we've

[1:21:11] used to pay it. Um, it's a pretty impressive form. So, um, that is nearing

[1:21:16] completion. Um, we will need to and we're finding out what the final amount

[1:21:20] will be. Um, we will have to pay some principal of the ban that we've been

[1:21:25] using for two years. It will be an offcycle payment in April. um we will

[1:21:29] have the amounts that we will need to pay to close out that ban um and then

[1:21:36] take over the long-term financing with EFC would happen at the end of June. So

[1:21:42] um long story short, projects nearing an end.

[1:21:48] uh the DEC uh water meter mandate and water upgrades once again while Hannah

[1:21:53] was here from community resources um talked about applying for WEIA uh which

[1:21:58] would be part of the CFA in July um we would need to get this listed with EFC

[1:22:05] um and have a finance plan. So we would need to go through the bonding um of the

[1:22:10] project. Um, this is the water meter updates and all of the shortterm

[1:22:17] recommendations that were made in the uh facility report, water upgrade report

[1:22:23] that was uh done um last February. Uh we do already have a GIGP grant which

[1:22:31] we were awarded for 600,000. That is a stackable grant so we can keep going

[1:22:36] after funding. Um the one problem that um Hannah did tell me is once we go

[1:22:44] after and correct me if I'm wrong Dan once we actually make a resolution for

[1:22:49] bonding to the project there is a time frame um to get that project done or

[1:22:55] started >> I think so. Um and so we would really

[1:22:59] need to um have all of our ducks in the row to apply for WEIA. Um which would be

[1:23:05] a 50 uh 50/50 split grant for the entire cost. Um then once the GIGP is put into

[1:23:14] that and then whether we with the income survey um community profile uh income

[1:23:21] survey that Mr. Vince is working on we could get a hardship um grant which

[1:23:26] would make it 60/40 as opposed to 50/50. Um so just wanted to bring that to

[1:23:32] everybody's attention that we are working and looking at that. Um we may

[1:23:36] be bringing something to the board over the next few months.

[1:23:40] Um the J and Upper J EV chargers um are ready to be installed. Um, I do need a

[1:23:48] resolution to prepay Apex Energy um in invoice 18624,

[1:23:56] $3,389 for the J Green, and a resolution to

[1:24:01] prepay Apex um invoice 18263, $13,73

[1:24:08] for the upper JV charger. And these amounts um are reimburseable from the

[1:24:15] ZEV 2022 ZEV grant. >> I'll make that

[1:24:20] » motion by Mr. Sour. A second. >> I'll second it.

[1:24:22] » Miss Dwire, discussion being none. Roll call vote, please.

[1:24:27] » The one the one in the park is they touch base with Paul on digging.

[1:24:32] » Yes. >> Yeah. When we know get a line in time to

[1:24:36] know when they're going to go in, we will be reaching out to Chris and to

[1:24:40] Paul so we know. >> Week of January 19.

[1:24:43] » Is it gay date? >> Well, you say January.

[1:24:46] » January 19th. >> The week of next Well, not next week,

[1:24:50] week after. >> You're going to be digging in January.

[1:24:54] » Good luck. >> I got some ice breakers. Breakers.

[1:25:00] » Any other discussion? Being non roll call vote, please.

[1:25:07] » Yes. >> Yes.

[1:25:10] » Yes. >> Yes.

[1:25:12] » No. >> Motion carries.

[1:25:17] » That was for both of them. >> Yep.

[1:25:25] Um just an update on the El Forks Historic District.

[1:25:30] um letters have gone out to contributing buildings in um historic district. Um

[1:25:35] one of the reasons I do know that those letters have went out is one of the

[1:25:39] buildings sent an uh email um including me saying that they were um on the state

[1:25:46] historic register. They are for the historic district but

[1:25:52] not for an individual building like the Graves Mansion or the Tahas Lodge. um

[1:26:00] those uh contributing buildings, that letter um gives them information that

[1:26:05] they can contact um Shipo at the state um to see what what

[1:26:11] benefits um are out there for their specific contributing building.

[1:26:18] Uh River Road reconstruction. I'm just leaving that on my supervisor's list

[1:26:22] because um we do have to go back out there in the spring um to just look and

[1:26:28] see if we need to do any lawn repair um and we need to um work on actually

[1:26:33] repairing the road. Um, so I did bring that. I met with the freshwater center

[1:26:39] um and talked to Gary um and Kelly about that that we need to um look at that to

[1:26:46] see how we can shore up um along the river there in the road.

[1:26:54] Um next thing I have on my list um is uh Main Street. I brought this up already,

[1:27:00] so um I'll just quickly touch base about being awarded the $315,000 grant. Uh

[1:27:07] microenterprise grant um is the next topic. Um

[1:27:13] we uh we need to we got we heard back from um HCR um which approved our grant

[1:27:21] review committee. The two applications that um qualified um for this round um

[1:27:28] went to our grant review committee. Uh they met on Tuesday and they recommended

[1:27:36] that um Fair and Square Renovations and Property Maintenance. Um they requested

[1:27:42] $16,65346.

[1:27:46] Um the recommendation from the grant review committee is to uh award that

[1:27:51] entire amount of $16,65346.

[1:27:56] Um the second uh applicant was Young Studio and Gallery requesting

[1:28:02] $12,636.92.

[1:28:05] The committee um recommended they be fully awarded as well $12,636.92.

[1:28:15] um we just need to um pass a resolution to award uh the applicants recommended

[1:28:22] by the grant review committee and I will report this back to the Essex County

[1:28:27] IDA. Um they are the ones who are actually uprunning this these project

[1:28:33] costs and then we'll get reimbursed um from CDBG. So if I can have a motion and

[1:28:39] a second motion >> Miss Dwer second

[1:28:43] » Mr. McDonald discussion. >> Yeah, just curious some for what the

[1:28:48] idea what they using grant money for. >> I don't know exactly. Um, I believe Fair

[1:28:56] and Square um is um a property maintenance company and I believe they

[1:29:02] are expanding their business um and utilizing that money to expand their

[1:29:08] business and I think Young Studio uh and Gallery are expanding um product lines

[1:29:16] and all of this falls in line with the regulations of the microenterprise

[1:29:20] grant. Um so there is still money out there. So, I know that there are um

[1:29:27] several people who did not apply during the first round um because there was a

[1:29:31] lot of talk that this grant isn't good for anybody, so why did we get it? Um

[1:29:35] so, there are now some examples of people utilizing this grant and I

[1:29:40] believe it can help grow some of the small businesses that are in our town.

[1:29:44] So, if anybody is interested in this, I can put them in touch with the Essex

[1:29:48] County IDA. Um, and this grant was a $200,000 grant and we're only utilizing

[1:29:54] less than >> the next deadline.

[1:29:57] » There isn't a deadline site yet. >> Okay.

[1:29:59] » So, you can apply, still apply. >> Can still apply. Yep. Absolutely. We'll

[1:30:03] be announcing that. Um, and in order to apply, there is a a dayong workshop that

[1:30:09] gets put on by the small business development. um in order to apply, they

[1:30:14] actually walk you through the application, um help you work through

[1:30:18] your financials because you do have to turn financials over for this grant

[1:30:22] opportunity. Um and then the program is um actually it's administered by the

[1:30:29] IDA, but it is also overseen by the Essex County IDA to make sure that all

[1:30:33] pro project guidelines are actually met during the grant period. Um, brick close

[1:30:38] out for this would be uh in the summer of 2027.

[1:30:44] Any other discussion? >> Uh, businesses throughout the entire

[1:30:47] town of J. Right. >> Correct.

[1:30:49] » And it because it was a town of J project, they do have to reside within

[1:30:54] the town of J. Got it. >> But the business has to be within the

[1:30:57] town of J. >> And there's some income restrictions.

[1:30:59] » There are income restrictions. So the income restrictions are for um the

[1:31:05] actual business owner or if it is creating a a a low to the median income

[1:31:12] job um it is allowed for that as well. Any other discussion

[1:31:19] being none all those in favor signify by saying I.

[1:31:22] » Anybody opposed? Motion carries. Uh Grove update. Gro is done open. Um,

[1:31:31] these are some final invoices. Um,

[1:31:41] and I've just seen I put one of these resolutions under the wrong topic. Um,

[1:31:46] resolution is the prepaid H&T engineering invoice 3109 for the sum of

[1:31:53] $1,580.

[1:31:56] 37 because the um

[1:32:05] » this should be the last one, right? >> This is the last bill. Balance due

[1:32:10] usually takes the overall cost and includes contingency and they probably

[1:32:16] could not um I will check on that and get back to

[1:32:20] you. Did they take off for not spraying the lines?

[1:32:27] » Spraying the yellow lines. >> That wouldn't be with the engineer. That

[1:32:33] was in those bills with last month. >> No, that um

[1:32:39] I will also double check on this, but just so I can get prepay approval for

[1:32:44] this to pay the 1580. >> Okay. Second. Uh

[1:32:48] » Mr. Forbes discussion being none. Roll call vote please.

[1:32:53] » Do do you want resolution? That's more

[1:33:01] » um roll call vote please. Tammer.

[1:33:05] » Yes. [clears throat] >> Yes.

[1:33:08] » Yes. >> Yes.

[1:33:11] » Yes. >> Motion carries.

[1:33:19] So the next resolution that I have on here I should have actually had up with

[1:33:23] our wastewater facility. Um this is when I saw the name I was like that's not a

[1:33:29] Gro pipeline isn't doing any work at Gro. Um so this is a resolution prepaid

[1:33:34] pipeline mechanical invoice number four in the amount of $2.94

[1:33:42] » by Mr. McDonald. Second Mr. orbs and I believe for pipeline this is their

[1:33:50] final invoice. Any other discussion

[1:33:55] » being none roll call vote please?

[1:33:59] » Yes.

[1:34:02] » Yes. >> Yes.

[1:34:05] » Yes. Motion carries.

[1:34:10] Um just an update. The solar panel um on the highway garage is up and running.

[1:34:16] » Hey, >> um

[1:34:18] the training has been very spotty. They worked with the highway guys on it one

[1:34:23] day and then of course the internet was out for a week and a half and um

[1:34:31] I sort of got told how I can log into it. Um I did log in today at 1:00 and

[1:34:36] today um the highway garage at 1:00. today alone had um created 37 kilowatts

[1:34:45] today for the world. So >> um you don't want them know the days

[1:34:51] that cloud your snow. >> No, I have I have solar panels and I'm

[1:34:54] looking at it every day. >> One day it was 2 kilow but still 2

[1:34:59] kowatts is 2 kow. >> As Mr. Mint pointed out it's running a

[1:35:03] uh 100 watt light bulb for 20 hours. >> [laughter]

[1:35:10] » So,

[1:35:14] » yeah, that's great. >> Yes.

[1:35:17] » Um, I just want to update you the salt shed uh site plan. Um, I did sign that

[1:35:24] contract we approved last month. I'm an MJ engineering. Uh, we'll be working on

[1:35:28] that around um the weather um fund balance policy. Um

[1:35:35] » that that is just about done. We had a few tweaks. We met with Councilman Sour

[1:35:40] and Mr. Manning. We met before the meeting just made a few tweaks. We'll

[1:35:45] send out the final final to board email before. Perfect.

[1:35:53] That's great to know. Good. Um,

[1:35:58] next thing is the community center energy audit which we talked about um

[1:36:02] and confirmed that that meeting is January 20th at 2 o'clock. Um, I will be

[1:36:08] I made a note Mr. Manning to send you the invite.

[1:36:12] » Never mind, Mr. Sour already be. >> All right. Next, um, have uh the New

[1:36:20] York City Association of Towns Training. Um, I need approval for overnight

[1:36:25] travel, um, for our judge, for myself and Michelle, um, and for, uh, Mr.

[1:36:34] Forbes as well. >> Motion by Mr. McDonald. A second.

[1:36:42] » I'll second, >> Miss Dwire. Discussion.

[1:36:46] » Yeah, I have a question. So, for I think I mean this New York City gets

[1:36:50] expensive. What's I mean, I think is there's only one town board member

[1:36:54] going and that's fine but I think we should set a policy as a town board to

[1:36:59] only allow attendance of this conference once per term. Uh the reason why I say

[1:37:06] it is because all of that information the training is available online and um

[1:37:13] yeah going to a city for three or four days on how many nights it is three

[1:37:16] nights is uh quite a costly endeavor. um and uh you know maybe for a supervisor

[1:37:24] um should be once a year because it's good networking and so forth but I think

[1:37:28] more so for other um officers and employees

[1:37:33] um I I feel once once per term once every

[1:37:36] four years more than sufficient for that training um I will just be the devil's

[1:37:42] advocate for that because I know you did say um it is good for the supervisor for

[1:37:47] networking which I totally agree And there is a chance um right now I sit on

[1:37:54] AOT's uh resolution committee um which is the pipeline to get on to the AOT

[1:38:01] board. Um if I get on the board I get paid by AOT to go down. Um but it is I

[1:38:10] can say my first year I went I was like this is kind of um it was less than what

[1:38:16] I expected. Um, and then as I came back, um, I found myself, um, reaching out to

[1:38:23] the people I hadworked with. Um, some of the classes I had took, uh, really had

[1:38:29] ideas that popped into my head that were good things for the town. Um, it is a

[1:38:33] great place in that trade show. Um, one of the things that, um, we are going to

[1:38:38] be talking about is our accounting system. um which our accounting system

[1:38:44] as well as the um

[1:38:50] our budgeting software, our software for our highway department, um our our

[1:38:57] software for our town clerk, for our codes. There are several vendors down

[1:39:01] there. There's a vendor fair which is um really useful for us to go to to start

[1:39:07] to get different companies to compare quotes um to test products um to set up

[1:39:13] dates to test products as well. Uh so it has been very informative. Um I know

[1:39:19] Michelle there is uh when she has gone down she has sought in um New York

[1:39:26] retirement uh meetings which they seem to change something every year um about

[1:39:32] how to report how we utilize our accounting to report. Um she has been

[1:39:37] learning more about budgeting and financial stuff which has been great.

[1:39:41] Um, yes, a lot of the stuff is online as well. Um, but I have found that I do

[1:39:46] carry um a lot of that stuff with me um throughout the year. So, yeah,

[1:39:50] » I just wanted to add that to the discussion and I want to add to it. Two

[1:39:54] years ago when I went, it wasn't a full cost of the town of Jay because I did

[1:39:58] not have a room charge in the town of Jay.

[1:40:00] » Yeah. No, still I mean it was tax more than going to Albany for a meeting.

[1:40:05] » I would class. >> Yeah. Yeah, I mean

[1:40:08] I >> if you want to make it one

[1:40:11] » per >> board member, not per term, but one

[1:40:14] board member a year because there may be a year that if it's your turn, you can't

[1:40:19] make it. But if it was someone else's term, but they've already gone.

[1:40:23] » Yeah. But I don't think that board members do need I mean, there's

[1:40:26] learning, but again, if I learn something and I go online, uh I mean to

[1:40:31] send you know what is the cost per for the hotel is like 300 bucks and

[1:40:36] you know, PDMS and I mean right there on time square and you know I understand

[1:40:42] that we need a big location to host all the people and you know maybe six to 7%

[1:40:48] of the towns are you know down south but it's really costly for small towns like

[1:40:54] ours to send you know four or five people and um and for what I personally

[1:41:02] feel I haven't gone um so I can't for that But I compare it with the seen

[1:41:08] agendas and u you know the newly elected training and all that information is

[1:41:13] available online. That's you know I'm really interested in learning and

[1:41:16] teaching ourselves about town board and governors and governance and

[1:41:22] let's go online and do it that save the taxpayer some money. That's all I'll

[1:41:26] say. Well, I'll also add um as part of the resolutions committee, we did make

[1:41:31] some changes to the bylaws um for New York State Associations of Towns and one

[1:41:37] of the provisions that was in the original bylaws was that it had to be

[1:41:41] held President's weekend, >> right?

[1:41:44] » Um and it had to be held in New York. We actually removed the requirement for it

[1:41:51] to be held in New York. We also remove the requirement that it needs to happen

[1:41:56] um over president's weekend. Um so we may actually see this moving around the

[1:42:01] state. Um and there may not be the need or desire for anybody want to tra travel

[1:42:07] to Rochester or it may be less than one year

[1:42:12] » which I doubt but it might be in Albany like not as many people would know.

[1:42:19] There's a lure in New York City. Well, there's also the cost of being in New

[1:42:23] York City. >> Yes.

[1:42:24] » I'm saying for people to go. >> Correct. Well, that's what I'm saying.

[1:42:27] There's a cost for it because there it is also the association of towns annual

[1:42:34] business meeting. So, you have to be there in person to vote and represent

[1:42:40] your town for the resolutions that associations towns

[1:42:43] » and the voting person for Jay or for Eddie Town is the supervisor.

[1:42:47] » Nope. We passed a resol as one of our organizational resolutions. Makes me the

[1:42:52] delegate. It makes Mr. Ford the >> author. That's great. Got it.

[1:42:55] » So, >> but it's it's a great it's a great

[1:42:58] conversation to have and I'm glad you started it. Um

[1:43:00] » well, I'll have one more thing too because you're saying me to sit from a

[1:43:05] computer and listen to someone speak. Yeah. But if you haven't been to a

[1:43:09] meeting down there, it's hard to say, but I found that when I'm in the meeting

[1:43:13] down there in New York, uh, not only is it what you learn in the

[1:43:17] class, but it's all the other questions from the other towns that ask the

[1:43:21] presenter, >> you got that wrong, too. You know, and I

[1:43:25] mean there's there's something to it in my opinion.

[1:43:28] » Yeah. No, no, I don't doubt maybe >> but I don't disagree with the cost

[1:43:32] analysis but >> again I mean let them do it in all you

[1:43:37] know fair for all the towns more central.

[1:43:41] » Yeah. >> Any other discussion?

[1:43:44] Be none. All those in favor signify by saying I.

[1:43:47] » Anybody opposed? >> Uh this is the association of town here.

[1:43:52] » Okay. [laughter] We're still >> still on the overnight.

[1:43:56] » Okay. All in favor?

[1:43:59] » I. >> Anybody opposed? Motion carries.

[1:44:03] Next, um is the 2026 insurance premiums. Um

[1:44:10] I need a resolution to prepay. Uh it's on several different invoices. I'm on

[1:44:16] invoice 45945 through 45948. Um it's a total of $93,953.75

[1:44:26] for the removal of our policies with NBT. Um the insurance is Nimer

[1:44:33] [clears throat] and um believe it or not last year we had a 10-month policy and

[1:44:40] that 10-month policy was $81,000

[1:44:46] approximately. This year, the 12-month policy is 93,000. So, if you break it

[1:44:51] down per month, the cost of the policy went down per month by 3%. Um, we will,

[1:44:57] because this is our second year, um, this is our first renewal with Nimmer,

[1:45:02] we had a 14 $15,000 credit with Nimer, um, we get 7 and a half $7,500 back um,

[1:45:11] in uh, check in April from NIMER. So, if I can have a resolution to prepay that

[1:45:18] those invoices. >> Mr. McDonald. Second.

[1:45:21] » Mr. Sour. Um, any further discussion? >> Be none. Roll call vote, please.

[1:45:29] » Yes. >> Yes.

[1:45:32] » Yes. >> Yes. Motion carries.

[1:45:41] » I turned over the wrong sheet. Uh, next I want to bring uh to

[1:45:46] everybody's attention um we were supposed to have a public hearing

[1:45:49] tonight at 6:45 for the slack and scale exemption. Um, our lovely newspaper that

[1:45:56] we have as an official newspaper um only accepts legal ads uh certain days during

[1:46:01] the week because they only publish Tuesday through Saturday. Um and with

[1:46:05] the holiday the public hearing notice um the required public hearing notice did

[1:46:11] not get um into the paper on time. So that's why we are not discussing this

[1:46:16] today. Um this is just to amend the sliding scale exemption that we already

[1:46:21] did talk about for those um $1 increments um up through the sliding

[1:46:27] scale. So, I would like to set a public hearing date um and time for uh the

[1:46:34] meeting next month, which is February 12th.

[1:46:41] February 12th at 6:45 uh for a public hearing.

[1:46:48] » Well, we won't know. That's right. So >> that may be a different

[1:46:53] » So uh February 12th, 6:45 um p.m. right before the 7 o'clock

[1:47:00] meeting um next month. Um

[1:47:06] I wanted to bring this up uh because the Essex County tax auction um is going to

[1:47:11] be happening later this month. Um, I sat on a committee at the county on how to,

[1:47:18] um, get some of those properties in the Essex County Landmake's hands um to be

[1:47:23] able to help move along the effort of affordable housing in Essex County.

[1:47:30] Uh the problem with uh trying to get land into the land bank's hands is the

[1:47:37] Tyler Henipin um court case um and then the preceding New York State law about

[1:47:43] tax forclosure options that you need to pay any surplus uh that is made in an

[1:47:50] auction back to the uh original property owner. Um there's a lot of work that

[1:47:57] goes into that and there sometimes are not people that you can find um that own

[1:48:04] those properties. They've just let them go. They've been in estates that have no

[1:48:08] descendants. Um so there are two ways for the land bank to now get uh

[1:48:14] properties from a tax sale. the land bank can either uh bid in the open

[1:48:19] auction and that is the going rate um or they we can pull properties off the tax

[1:48:26] sale, do appraisals of those properties and then have the land bank pay what

[1:48:33] would be surplus um above what is owed in taxes. Um I'm bringing this up for

[1:48:39] discussion doesn't have to happen because there's very few properties in

[1:48:43] the town of Jay. Um, but there are a few properties the land bank was interested

[1:48:48] in getting in and some other towns are bringing this up to talk about doing it.

[1:48:53] Um, and that would be to um utilize up to $20,000 worth of

[1:48:59] occupancy tax funds for the land bank to bid on uh essentially our behalf, if you

[1:49:06] will, um, to acquire properties um, to to purchase in that tax sale

[1:49:10] » in town. in only the town of Jay. >> There's no buildings though, right? No,

[1:49:17] » there two buildings. Um, one is the property

[1:49:21] we cleaned up over in Jersey on B Lane. >> The other is the Blaze property that

[1:49:28] sits on the corner next to Jersey Bridge

[1:49:34] here on the corner next. >> So, um, just bringing it up for

[1:49:40] discussion. I'm I don't even want to be the one to make the resolution. Um I

[1:49:44] just want to answer questions if you guys have any questions.

[1:49:48] » Both will be demo. >> Um I have not done a site visit. They do

[1:49:53] come in and do inspections of those buildings and try to decide whether demo

[1:49:59] is the way to go. And they they do have that um same grant.

[1:50:06] » What's that? That was already down. >> Yeah, we just removed the garbage

[1:50:10] because it was a health hazard. >> Oh, that was we did before. That's

[1:50:14] right. >> So, you're proposing to let them spend

[1:50:17] over 20,000 on either one of these two properties.

[1:50:20] » That those are the only two properties they could really bid on. They couldn't

[1:50:23] bid on the vacant land. >> They could bid on vacant land, but

[1:50:28] there's a lot of unknowns in vacant land. Um, these two are very desirable

[1:50:33] because they have water sewer, which is why the property in upper J was

[1:50:37] desirable because it's on water. It's why the property that they we they

[1:50:42] applied and won grant funding to tear down the old cross property at Jay.

[1:50:47] They're desirable because there's a lot of known.

[1:50:50] » I just [clears throat] worry about the bestest.

[1:50:52] » Well, the tear down and anything remediation of that stuff, they can get

[1:50:57] grant funded. And the reason the land bank utilizing the land bank to do this

[1:51:03] work is they have the ability to go after grant money to tear down a

[1:51:07] building. They also have a grant uh a cross mod program. It's called move in

[1:51:12] New York um that they have they have I think it's up to 32 um cross

[1:51:20] mod homes. Cross mod is just a modular home set on a full basement. Um, and

[1:51:25] they already have been approved because they've done one of those properties in

[1:51:29] Nukem. And that is just that money New York State pays for essentially the land

[1:51:35] bank will pay for it. New York State will reimburse the land bank and then

[1:51:39] they can go do another project. >> So would there be an opportunity for the

[1:51:43] town to recoup to 20 or is this an investment?

[1:51:46] » This would be um an investment. Um I I Mr. Manning, as we were talking about

[1:51:54] that that policy with the land bank, was there a recruitment amount from the land

[1:51:59] bank or it was essentially >> the policy for the land bank has many

[1:52:03] things in it, but there is one section that

[1:52:07] the county may appropriate monies for those purposes and there's no

[1:52:12] recruitment. But I think uh you're not going to get any recruitment of your

[1:52:16] monies, but you're still coming out on the on the better end of the stick there

[1:52:21] if you have to take care of these properties or and they're blighted

[1:52:24] properties. That's that's the main thing. Vacant land's a good idea. When

[1:52:28] you want to do a low moderate income housing, but we got to take care of some

[1:52:32] of our blight and these two houses are in a mess as far as the states are

[1:52:35] concerned. It's like who's on first. You just don't know.

[1:52:38] » I guess that's where I was going with it.

[1:52:39] » Both of them are the abatement. they would take care of it, not us.

[1:52:44] » We wouldn't worry about it. 20,000 is actually cheap

[1:52:48] » because I know the the one that we're tearing down in King Valley right now

[1:52:51] cost people 45 grand. >> Just to let you know, the cost of the

[1:52:56] cost of the the Tom Cross property ended up costing them $70,000 to remove.

[1:53:01] » So, I I I mean, I would hate to see them going into some slamlord that bids and

[1:53:06] wins on it. I would rather the land bank getting them those two properties and

[1:53:12] either converting them to something useful or something you know taxes

[1:53:16] » it would be converted to housing ultimately

[1:53:19] » or it may not it may just be light like the blaze house it's on the corner

[1:53:24] » I don't know if you want to build there right unless you want to put a clock or

[1:53:28] something there or don't want to speculate and think you know state's gen

[1:53:34] you're gonna get a windfall but anyway Uh so just keep in mind when we dealt

[1:53:40] with the cross property, >> we did split what taxes what

[1:53:46] anytime there are taxes on a property. Um if the town of Jay is not made whole,

[1:53:51] we actually uh the county makes us whole on every one of our tax warrants.

[1:53:56] » Um so we with the Tom Cross property when it was donated to us, we passed a

[1:54:01] resolution. spent occupancy tax to pay half of those um taxes back to the

[1:54:06] county. So essentially we were both made whole. So that um it cost us

[1:54:13] less than $7,000 to have a $70,000 remediation

[1:54:18] » in this instance. I mean the tax auction is on the 21st of January.

[1:54:21] » Correct. >> So if you want to do something with a

[1:54:24] land bank, you're going to have to do it quickly. If they were are going to bid

[1:54:27] on one or both of these properties, you'd want to have a contract with them

[1:54:30] and say, you know, we'll we'll give you up for this amount of money.

[1:54:33] » Yep. >> And then you've got to do this. You've

[1:54:35] got to tear it down within a certain time period. You got to cart all the

[1:54:38] stuff away within a certain time period. Uh and then you can have, you know, uh

[1:54:43] if not, we either want our money back or or something. But anyway, the thing

[1:54:48] about the auction is, which is the best situation, is the bid at the auction

[1:54:54] sets the bar for any surplus that's supposed to go back to the property

[1:55:00] owner. Uh, so whatever the bid is, anything, you know, there won't be any

[1:55:06] surplus back to the property owner. Um, but there will be still back taxes. No.

[1:55:10] And back taxes will also be correct. >> So that's that's the best of both

[1:55:14] worlds. Yep. And so I mean I really would recommend if you want those two

[1:55:18] places torn down that that we hop to it with them.

[1:55:21] » Yeah. >> And uh we develop a contract that

[1:55:23] protects us but also incentivizes them to to bid at that auction because if if

[1:55:29] it goes if it if there isn't a bid at the auction but we do it the other way

[1:55:33] where we get the appraisal the whole nine yards. Um

[1:55:37] » there could be a yeah there would be a more of a surplus

[1:55:41] » and that's the best way to handle it. And if you've got that 20,000 from

[1:55:46] roost. >> Yep.

[1:55:47] » Uh I think personally uh two things. I

[1:55:53] think it's great that you'd be removing that blight and it also looks great for

[1:55:57] you as a political board. Come to that and that's a great idea, Matt.

[1:56:02] » Yes. Yeah. I I would I would like to propose a resolution that we authorize

[1:56:08] Matt to sign an agreement with the land bank to

[1:56:13] utilizing our tax money and I guess 10,000 to bid on up to 10,000 on each of

[1:56:20] those properties uh and sign an agreement the issued by

[1:56:25] attorney Manning >> and I have to protect the town's

[1:56:28] interest >> and I have talked to the land bank they

[1:56:31] would actually bid have the money bid the money they would only

[1:56:35] » ask for >> ask for the money reimburse them if they

[1:56:39] want >> do they want is it better to divide it

[1:56:43] » I would say >> better to ear market 10,000 for each

[1:56:46] property or just say 20,000 depending on

[1:56:55] it don't matter to us >> but it's

[1:56:58] I know how to count >> yeah [laughter]

[1:57:01] and so there's no tax is paid and those are

[1:57:05] » I think it cleans two properties up. >> Yeah. and

[1:57:08] » can I have a >> and they defaulted so they can't come

[1:57:11] back and say you know the motion the motion is to authorize

[1:57:17] Matt Stanley Supervisor Stanley to sign an agreement with the land bank to

[1:57:22] utilize up to $20,000 of reimbursement up to $20,000 of occupancy tax money to

[1:57:28] bid on those two specified properties and enter into an agreement and authorly

[1:57:34] attorney Manning to you know protect the town of

[1:57:38] and ensure that work gets done within certain time frames that

[1:57:43] reasonable um which I'll lead to

[1:57:49] » leave up to the money until they're all done with

[1:57:52] » correct. >> So I'll second that. question is how did

[1:57:55] you come up with the 20 reason or >> um I came up with the 20 because uh

[1:58:01] talking to um Nikki at Essex County Land Bank looking at previous tax sales um me

[1:58:10] knowing the condition especially of Bert Street and this one um we think that

[1:58:15] both of those properties um she feels confident that she she doesn't want to

[1:58:22] bid more than that especially on either property.

[1:58:25] clean, >> right? So,

[1:58:28] » but it comes down to $2,000 more or something, they're going to kick in for

[1:58:34] it. Does it set a limit for them to bid only that much money on?

[1:58:38] » It does kind of set that limit because I mean, they've got 17 other towns that

[1:58:45] might have the same idea, but maybe not because I know we talked about the land

[1:58:49] or the county seating some of the money. That's why it's in the policy. But I put

[1:58:53] May, >> but it's too it's too it's almost too

[1:58:58] late for this one for the policy. >> Yeah, there is no money in the budget

[1:59:02] this year. Correct. >> And I use the word may there because

[1:59:05] right >> I don't account.

[1:59:06] » So if no other tenants put money in, we do. They still may kick in extra money.

[1:59:10] They may. They absolutely may because what I will what I will tell you is they

[1:59:16] have >> they were kind of overwhelmed with how

[1:59:18] many properties they had >> expecting to get some out of this tax

[1:59:22] sale. Right >> now that we it's almost there.

[1:59:25] » This is the time to jump on this. I'm telling you right now, you're never

[1:59:28] going to have this kind of >> deal. And that's a good idea came up.

[1:59:32] » Well, I'm wondering should we go 25? I mean, I don't know if we're that close

[1:59:37] and lose out for >> bucks or something. I don't know. uh

[1:59:40] » go up to 25, but I don't know. >> Why don't you uh go 20 with them?

[1:59:47] » You can authorize Matt if he wants to go to the tax sale

[1:59:52] to say, "Yeah, I think you're gonna the one on the

[1:59:56] corner." >> My supposition is shot. I mean, and it's

[2:00:01] not very big. And who the heck wants to live on that corner?

[2:00:04] » Yeah. >> Maybe Mr. deal with like a play for a

[2:00:08] yard, but he'd have to tear it down. It cost him 50,000 for us, especially if it

[2:00:13] was asbestous. >> So,

[2:00:16] sees it online. I mean, >> yeah.

[2:00:19] » That is kind of the problem with we do have there are a couple of properties.

[2:00:26] Tom Cross property is a great example. It what came up in a tax sale. He bought

[2:00:32] it, noticed that it was going to cost more money to renovate it or do anything

[2:00:38] with it, didn't pay any of the taxes, and it essentially was going to go back

[2:00:41] on the tax sale until we intervened and and were able to remove that. And it was

[2:00:46] a land bank um thing that we knew it was having um talked to uh the funeral home

[2:00:53] operators who bought that patode building and torn that down. that cost

[2:00:58] them as a nonprofit $35,000 and other people in J are very happy that it's

[2:01:05] gone. >> Yep.

[2:01:06] » The fact that I mean he >> we had to fight with some of the

[2:01:11] supervisors to be able to fashion it that way because

[2:01:17] » you know the taxes were much more than what was paid. Uh, another thing to to

[2:01:22] note is, uh, even if it goes through tax sale auction and let's say you bid on it

[2:01:28] and you bid 20,000, the board can say, "We're not going to allow you to bid on

[2:01:33] that. Uh, sorry, it's in the terms and conditions. We feel that we want to do

[2:01:37] something else with it." Then they can park it, do it all over again. Uh so

[2:01:41] that if you feel you got a slum lord hanging out there um hate that

[2:01:47] discriminate against you slum lords [laughter]

[2:01:51] but you can make that known of the board say [clears throat] no we I went to the

[2:01:57] television with a case like that and won it

[2:01:59] » um I won't say who it was but it was a guy with a lot of money like a

[2:02:04] millionaire but um >> so that's an option too if if you get

[2:02:08] out bid all is not lost you tell the the board says because when we do the tax

[2:02:13] sale the board has to pass and say yes these we accept these but we don't

[2:02:17] accept this one that one and that one because we have uses for them or the

[2:02:20] county J may have uses for them or we don't think we got a lot enough money or

[2:02:24] we don't we just don't like the situation and you don't have to say why

[2:02:30] » awesome any other discussion >> reimbursement up to 20

[2:02:34] » correct >> yeah just if they get them for 10 it's

[2:02:37] even better >> so just to summarize everything we

[2:02:39] talked about here. This is Roose or this is occupancy tax money. So money that is

[2:02:44] paid by visitors to town that stay at motel, correct?

[2:02:48] » Airbnbs, BRBOs's >> comes back to Jay, remember from that

[2:02:52] county policy of how to spend this fund. Blighted properties is one of the uses

[2:02:58] for this. So it's an appropriate use of the funds. Um, as far as you know what

[2:03:02] we've heard from the community, I know we've all heard it going through

[2:03:05] election cycles in the last five years and specifically during the

[2:03:09] comprehensive plan process which is at what two years. Um just I think this

[2:03:15] really hits um the persistent concerns of our community which is of course

[2:03:19] number one affordable housing um main street revitalization removing blight in

[2:03:24] the downtown core um and what's really come through in the

[2:03:29] uh comprehensive plan like you said supervisor Stanley is this idea of

[2:03:33] hamlet infill where oable corks J upper J um are the places in our town where

[2:03:38] the most development is allowed by the APA it's the place where we have

[2:03:41] services available um it's beneficial to all of us if we

[2:03:45] can get more users in those using those services. I know from Mr. Mintz we have

[2:03:49] plenty of capacity for new users. Um so we're putting people where we can where

[2:03:55] we want them and um land bank are owner occupied houses only. So we're bringing

[2:04:01] people maybe a family right into town and um just bringing life back to

[2:04:07] downtown. So I like this idea a lot. I think it's fantastic.

[2:04:12] Austin, any other discussion? >> I just thought I was going to make this

[2:04:15] point. These houses will come out, come out, come out, come out and Matt and I

[2:04:18] have tried to figure out a way to get to them, but it would there was no other

[2:04:22] way. This is the best option. There's no other way that would cost us not. And I

[2:04:27] remember everybody there people, why don't you take care of this house? They

[2:04:31] don't have money, you know? >> Yeah. I'm I'm all I can go forward and

[2:04:36] go do all this stuff, but in the end you're going to be out 60 70,000

[2:04:42] » and occ the occupancy tax is less than 10 years that it's been in effect. Is

[2:04:46] that right? Oh, no. It's been in effect 22 years,

[2:04:50] » but initially it wasn't shared with that and it was only

[2:04:53] » right >> 2% then became 3%.

[2:04:57] » And when it became 3% 5 years ago, they shared 1% with towns or something and

[2:05:01] then the% >> well it used to be 3% they added 2% so

[2:05:04] it's a total of 5%. >> Yeah. When the towns get back the other

[2:05:08] 2% and that's based upon a formula. It's based I don't

[2:05:14] if you want to know about the formula I can sort of Yeah. I've read about it and

[2:05:17] I forget it every time. I'll read about it again.

[2:05:21] » No, I just think it's great to your point. Um, this has been a longterm

[2:05:26] problem and now we have res resources to deal with it and we're dealing with

[2:05:30] that. So, that's great. >> Yeah, this is a good way to handle other

[2:05:33] pieces of property that come down. We're just having

[2:05:40] » if there's no other discussion. Any other discussion? I'm sorry. Be none.

[2:05:44] Roll call vote, please.

[2:05:48] Yeah. >> Yes.

[2:05:51] » Yes. >> Yes.

[2:05:54] » Yes. >> Motion carries.

[2:05:55] » Nice job. >> Next, we have just resolutions. Um the

[2:06:00] next uh bill um is for uh to prepay New York State retirement.

[2:06:10] $955 for the annual bill. Just to tell you

[2:06:15] about this, this was where we chose last meeting to pay the bill early so we

[2:06:21] wouldn't pay an extra like $1,500. It was um we postmarked, we sent the check

[2:06:27] out the day after the meeting. It was postmarked, wasn't received by New York

[2:06:31] State Retirement before the date of December 15th. Um they tacked on this uh

[2:06:39] $955. we want to pay it down now because if it

[2:06:44] goes in any later than February 1st, they tack on another 5.9%

[2:06:50] um daily interest. So, we just would like

[2:06:54] to get this out now, get it paid for. It's $955.

[2:06:58] » Make it motion by Mr. Forb, second by Mr.

[2:07:04] McDonald. Um, any further discussion?

[2:07:12] » Well, I told Michelle I said next year we don't pay this early. We keep the

[2:07:17] money in New York class and then we'll send the check out in 26 like we posted.

[2:07:22] Uh, any other discussion? Being none, roll call vote, please.

[2:07:30] » Yes. >> Yes.

[2:07:33] » Yes. >> Yes. Motion carries.

[2:07:36] Um [clears throat] a resolution to accept

[2:07:40] the fourth quarter of 2025 sewer billing in the amount of

[2:07:48] $18,375.

[2:07:52] » Motion by Mr. Sour, second by Miss Dwire. Any discussion being none. All

[2:07:57] those in favor signify by saying I. I. >> Anybody opposed? Motion carries. Um we

[2:08:03] did a resolution to move personal to sick roll over sick time payout comp

[2:08:08] time from 2025 for the highway. Um this is to do the same um for my office. Um

[2:08:18] » if I can get a resolution motion by Mr. Sour second by Miss Dwer.

[2:08:24] Uh any discussion? >> Yes. So Mrs. Carol Greenway actual has

[2:08:29] 572 hours >> of sick time.

[2:08:33] » And how long can one that just continues >> continues to build? Um and then when you

[2:08:39] retire with New York State um it can add to your years of service retirement.

[2:08:48] » It can also be donated to our our land or our sick bank if at some point in

[2:08:52] time she will cash out on it. Right. at some point.

[2:08:57] » Um, one would better off,

[2:09:04] I guess, a policy issue, but at some point in time, there's an impetive they

[2:09:08] accumulate a certain amount of hours and just pay them out.

[2:09:10] » Sick time I don't think gets paid out. It goes to your years of service for

[2:09:15] depends >> what your policy says, but generally

[2:09:17] sick time doesn't vacation get paid. >> Okay. So, it doesn't get paid out. No,

[2:09:22] but I I mean different policies are different, but generally ones I've seen

[2:09:26] is vacation, you can keep up to 30. >> Uh I sick you don't

[2:09:33] » and uh and then a lot of policies say, look, you know, you got 565 hours of

[2:09:38] sick time, you're not using it all. You're not going to just be sick because

[2:09:43] you want to follow through with it before,

[2:09:46] » right? Yeah. I mean, >> but that depends on what your policy

[2:09:48] says. I I don't know what >> Okay.

[2:09:54] » Yeah. >> Yeah.

[2:09:56] » Yeah. >> Uh any other discussion?

[2:10:00] » Be none. All those in favor signify by saying I.

[2:10:03] » Anybody opposed? >> Motion carries. Next resolution is a

[2:10:08] resolution to prepay EMR, the November invoice for patient revenue um for 1,00

[2:10:13] or yeah, $1,7514.

[2:10:18] Take it. I'll >> second.

[2:10:19] » Motion by Mr. Forb, second by Mr. McDonald. Any discussion?

[2:10:24] » Be none. Roll call vote, please.

[2:10:29] » Yes. >> Yes.

[2:10:33] » Yes. >> Yes.

[2:10:35] » Yes. Motion carries. >> Um,

[2:10:42] I want to bring this up um just now to your attention. It was one of our

[2:10:47] audited bills. um for the 2026 uh PubW works which is now GWorks which is

[2:10:53] moving from um it's moving from being computer-based to being cloud-based. Um

[2:11:01] this invoice was for $2,556 for the yearly license for that program

[2:11:08] there. Uh I am going to be bringing back to the board as it moves into the cloud.

[2:11:14] Um there is going to be a two-year commitment. um which is going to um cost

[2:11:21] $10,000 to complete this program over the next two years. $5,000 a year. So,

[2:11:26] it doubles in price per year. Um this is just something I want to plant a seed

[2:11:30] with you guys. Um software costs are starting to um explode. Um I did get a

[2:11:38] uh we went through a software trial during the summer. Um it was for

[2:11:44] accounting, budgeting, um highway. It had an interface on our website um so

[2:11:51] that uh people could actually put requests into the highway department

[2:11:54] from the website. It allowed people to pay um bills to the town clerk to get

[2:12:01] building permits and pay for them online and and there was a lot huge amount of

[2:12:06] stuff in the suite. The original cost was uh $50,000 and that was to uh

[2:12:11] migrate all of our current information into that system. Um I did talk them

[2:12:17] down to $35,000 and I've been letting them sit [snorts] and simmer um because

[2:12:24] if they can go from 50 to 35, they can go lower than that. Um, so I just wanted

[2:12:29] to bring this to your attention that I'm out there sort of shopping for softwares

[2:12:33] software uh programs um to be able to provide better and more accurate service

[2:12:39] um to our to our town. Um oh there was one more thing I wanted to

[2:12:48] bring up. Oh yes, did you? >> Yeah.

[2:12:51] » Um uh procurement policy. Uh two years ago, we updated our uh procurement

[2:12:58] policy um just to allow the highway super um attendant to uh be able to

[2:13:05] purchase things without board approval um from $1,500

[2:13:10] up to um $2,500.

[2:13:13] I'm just asking um that today we actually update uh with a resolution um

[2:13:21] to update the town of J um procurement policy that those amounts are actually

[2:13:28] put in and not just separated by highway. Um it allows department heads

[2:13:35] um or authorized purchasers to provide um within their budget purchases up to

[2:13:41] $2,500. Um and so on page three you will see

[2:13:47] that amount used to be 0 to $1,500 and then the second thing was 1,500 to

[2:13:53] 5,000. uh just asking to make through the

[2:13:58] entire um procurement policy that it's 0 to

[2:14:03] $2,500 251 2500 and 1 cent to 5,000 um up for um goods and materials,

[2:14:13] professional services, um and public works contracts.

[2:14:18] Matt I what I did is I made that ubiquitous throughout the whole of

[2:14:22] sections three four and five which are pages three four and five that amount 0

[2:14:27] to 1,500 then change 0 to 2500 for purchase of goods for uh uh public works

[2:14:34] contracts which you really want have to worry too much or professional services

[2:14:39] so it's the same so part of head or you be able to make purchases up to $2,500

[2:14:45] of the initial threshold of each each one of these

[2:14:49] I'll I'll move resolution >> motion by Mr. McDonald. Can I have a

[2:14:53] second? >> Mr. Forbes. Discussion.

[2:14:58] » Being none, can I have a roll call vote, please?

[2:15:03] » Yes.

[2:15:07] » Yes. >> Yes.

[2:15:09] » Motion carries. That is all I have for my supervisor's

[2:15:14] report. Um, does anybody have any events um that are coming up?

[2:15:20] » Uh, our outdoor recreation community meeting January 22nd, Thursday, 700 p.m.

[2:15:27] here. >> This is for the work.

[2:15:30] » Uh, this is the parks and open space committee inviting the community to come

[2:15:34] in and learn about everything we're working on.

[2:15:36] » Okay. >> From work to dog park to conference plan

[2:15:39] to volunteer parks and trail day in April.

[2:15:43] » Perfect. Any other amendments? Uh, we'll go around and do board

[2:15:48] comments, Mr. Ford. Um, I touched on it last month about the the U property over

[2:15:54] here where we have our sand pen on Johansson property. Hadn't had much luck

[2:15:59] in the past month with holidays and whatnot. I also didn't have all the

[2:16:03] information they wanted. Um, I know Dan's been busy. he was going to get me

[2:16:07] over the um

[2:16:10] description of the properties and all that that their lawyer wanted.

[2:16:15] I'm asking if it would be easier if I just gave the information to Dan and let

[2:16:19] him do it or do you want me to take another month and try to but I need more

[2:16:24] information though. >> Dan, would you like to take that project

[2:16:28] on? >> Yeah, I told Steve that I was

[2:16:30] » Okay, I'll give you a copy this. >> I'm okay. and and that you know if we

[2:16:35] did get something like that that's something you touched on earlier with

[2:16:38] John about expanding the >> handlet

[2:16:42] property is within that >> correct and um I know you and I had

[2:16:49] talked about there is some of that property that sits within the hamlet

[2:16:52] correct >> um I have reached out to the Essex

[2:16:54] County IDA reached out to the land bank um pretty much anybody who would listen

[2:17:00] um because it is in the hamlet it would be a good property to find um some

[2:17:09] investor to come in to build some sort of housing um to expand because we all

[2:17:16] know the biggest problem that we have not only within our town but within our

[2:17:21] school district is we are losing families and by losing families taxes

[2:17:27] are going up. Um we're not be able to provide the same services at the school.

[2:17:31] So these are opportunities we need to be looking at to try to expand not only the

[2:17:37] town of Jay but the OA Valley school district.

[2:17:42] » Other than that, that's all I have. >> Perfect. Thank you very much, Mr.

[2:17:45] McDonald. U we talked about changing the polling allowance which we switched to a

[2:17:53] a company, but we don't need to change anything the personnel policy because we

[2:17:57] never set an amount there. Uh when Adam and I put this together, so it just

[2:18:03] states that they get a it'll be set at this meeting here, which we did, which

[2:18:07] is still a 100 bucks. Perfect. So nothing in the personnel policy needs to

[2:18:10] be changed. >> Perfect. Uh do speaking of the personnel

[2:18:14] policy or the uh employee handbook, do we want to look at that this year to

[2:18:19] make sure all the all the resolutions that we have done thus far since that

[2:18:24] update get put in the book? I believe it's Olivia and I

[2:18:27] » uh I think it's just you. >> It was me.

[2:18:31] » Yeah, [laughter] >> it's you and me. I actually took her

[2:18:35] out. That way that way I can make some of the calls for you during the day. Um

[2:18:40] and we can work with those companies. Um I know Carol has taken every single

[2:18:45] resolution we've done. She's got a book that's got them inserted.

[2:18:49] » So >> yeah, these guys will just add them and

[2:18:52] make it >> correct. An updated book. Yep.

[2:18:56] » Perfect. Good. You got anything else? >> Mr. Sour,

[2:19:01] » uh, couple things. Uh, hopefully quick. I'm looking at the operating statement

[2:19:05] as of December 31st. >> Uh, sorry.

[2:19:10] » Talking about Roost. Um, I think they owe us some money. No, that uh so the

[2:19:18] the operating statement the way Roose's money works is that money those checks

[2:19:24] come in and it's not Bruce who owes us the money. Bruce never even actually

[2:19:27] touches the money and everybody refers to it as Roose's money. It all goes to

[2:19:31] the Essex County Treasures and it's when the Essex County Treasur feels like he

[2:19:35] has time to be able to pull together all the reports and send out the checks.

[2:19:39] They're supposed to come out quarterly. Um

[2:19:43] we got I think the first or second quarter I think we got the first quarter

[2:19:47] in June or July. Um the second quarter might have came in September, October.

[2:19:53] Um so that money the way it shows up on the operating

[2:20:00] statement and the way we now budget it that money has to be kept separate in a

[2:20:06] fund that is of itself so that you can track the money. So, what really needs

[2:20:11] to happen is when we budget that, we should be taking $100,000 or $150,000

[2:20:18] that we budgeted that money out of that fund, put it in the general fund, which

[2:20:22] offsets everything within the budget. >> When those checks come in, those checks

[2:20:26] go directly into that account and we have an accounting of how much money we

[2:20:30] get from them. Um, because we get a report at the end of the year of how

[2:20:33] much occupancy tax money to us for the year. So,

[2:20:36] » um, and then we actually need to file a report with the county with what we've

[2:20:40] spent that money on and how it is actually accounted for.

[2:20:42] » So, how much did we get last year? >> Um, one of them mistakenly got put in

[2:20:48] there. >> Yeah. Okay.

[2:20:48] » The entry was never put in at the beginning of the year for the $100,000

[2:20:52] taken out of that account and put into the general fund.

[2:20:57] » So, we got 125. >> I think we got 150 last year, but I can

[2:21:02] get you that exact amount from the report. There you go. Uh, which is a

[2:21:08] followup question, but the other issue now is aim related payments.

[2:21:12] » Now, can I stop you for a second? >> Yeah.

[2:21:13] » Occupancy tax funds. Now, the new reports um since Kathy um retired and

[2:21:19] Michelle has taken this over um doing the supervisor's report in your

[2:21:24] financial statements you get from me, there is a breakdown of all the accounts

[2:21:29] of how much money is sitting in the multifund and how much money is sitting

[2:21:33] in New York class. >> Um and then it adds up how much

[2:21:38] » we have in that fund. >> So, you can look at that amount there.

[2:21:42] » Yeah. I know, but it doesn't say how much you actually did get last year.

[2:21:45] That's >> correct. It has a running running total.

[2:21:49] » Yes, you have. >> Yep.

[2:21:51] » Uh the second one on the AIM related payment looks like you got paid double

[2:21:55] last year. Was that because didn't you didn't get the year before that was late

[2:21:59] or did you get one this year or >> That's what I would assume. What was

[2:22:04] your question? >> The aid related.

[2:22:07] Oh, you know, >> state uh state money. We usually $25,000

[2:22:12] a year. We got 650 last year.

[2:22:17] » That payment probably came late last year, so it got put into this year's. I

[2:22:21] will double check that for you. >> Okay.

[2:22:26] » Um and then just quickly, I know that Upper J talking about Roose

[2:22:33] talking about occupancy tax money. I know APJ Arts Center and I think Liby

[2:22:39] mentioned it. Did you mention it last month? But

[2:22:42] » yeah, they Yeah. No, I was just gonna say I know that they are um severely

[2:22:48] financially strapped and they probably sending a proposal. This is a heads up

[2:22:54] um you know for maybe some kind of call it.

[2:23:00] » So I will I will expand upon that. >> Okay.

[2:23:03] » They invited me. I had a meeting um and I explained to them um we can definitely

[2:23:11] pay for services that they provide to the community. Um so um like we we

[2:23:18] agreed today uh to $7,500 that goes to GEMS. That $7,500 is for the uh 10

[2:23:27] summer concert series and the administration of that concert series.

[2:23:32] Um, so I had recommended to them, is there something you guys do that can be

[2:23:39] a free admission to um, Town of J residents um, that they can go to a

[2:23:45] production there, see what it's like. They may actually get something out of

[2:23:49] that by finding new investors. They may uh, be able to do 5050 sell like I know

[2:23:56] gems at the concerts. they will they will sell for donation food or I think

[2:24:02] they do a 50/50. Um so those types of things I feel in having gone to um the

[2:24:09] upper J Art Center I think people need to get through the door and understand

[2:24:13] it's a hidden gem. >> Oh it is

[2:24:15] » um and I I feel there's a lot of people in our town in our surrounding

[2:24:20] communities that don't know that. Um, so we can create um a service from the

[2:24:26] upper J Art Center offering um open houses that we maybe they can utilize

[2:24:33] those funds to pay for a band. They can put on a show or any of those types of

[2:24:38] things. And once again, as uh Miss Dwire um had actually pointed out, those are

[2:24:43] uses for those occupancy tax funds um to help encourage growth within the arts um

[2:24:50] within programs that happen within the town. Um so you are correct. They are

[2:24:56] supposed to bring to the board. Um and I have invited them if they would like to

[2:25:00] present to the board um to be able to do that so that we can see how and what

[2:25:05] service the town um really really does like to see or want to see. Um one of

[2:25:12] the things I sort of I mean I just threw out there we have the summer concert

[2:25:18] series at the J Village Green on Saturdays. You have the Saturday

[2:25:22] concerts or the Thursday night concerts in Wilmington. um as we start to build

[2:25:29] out the Upper J parking area and I mean I could see that place being a great

[2:25:35] place for Upper Jay to sort of congregate. Um maybe there's a concert

[2:25:39] series or there's more of an event um mini shows that happen during the year

[2:25:44] there. Um those are things that I think we as a board should be helping promote

[2:25:50] um and encourage um within our town. Agreed. So,

[2:25:57] » uh, one more thing. So, short-term rentals is becoming a really, um,

[2:26:05] big issue. [clears throat] Um, you know, a lot more people speaking up, you know,

[2:26:09] against the town. Um what is you know maybe Manning attorney Manning or you

[2:26:15] can tell [snorts] us what was the my understanding was that the state law

[2:26:19] that the county had until the end of the year to opt out of the state law or

[2:26:25] something. So where are we at or where's the county act? Um

[2:26:29] » so you if you don't opt out you're in. >> Yeah.

[2:26:32] » Uh we already have a a hotel motel occupancy tax law which uh covers

[2:26:39] everything basically. And I revised it years ago to include I I didn't know

[2:26:43] they were called SDR, but uh by definition includes that. Um we that law

[2:26:50] at the county level. It is going to expire in April. Um I was going to amend

[2:26:56] that law to just as a belt suspenders put in the states. Well, I have I

[2:27:01] actually dictated on put in the states language as to what SDR is to include it

[2:27:07] just as suspenders although I don't need it. Uh and there was some other changes

[2:27:10] I made mimicking the states law also put in a u sort of belt suspenders clause at

[2:27:16] the end of our law that says you know all terms and conditions of the existing

[2:27:20] state law such and such a chapter law blah blah blah uh not here not

[2:27:24] consistent with this law here why incorporated into this law so they write

[2:27:28] whole damn state law and our law um and so we're in the process of doing that um

[2:27:34] I've kind of held off I've spoken to other counties what they're doing and

[2:27:38] I've also spoken to Airbnb and the RBO. Um, you know, they're actually going to

[2:27:45] have to right now they're putting up a little bit of a, you know, they're

[2:27:51] resistance to providing us with exact names of people and you know where it's

[2:27:58] crazy because the state law said they say, "Oh, that's unconstitutional

[2:28:01] violation of the 14th amendment." I'm like rolling my eyeballs on the phone.

[2:28:06] You know, okay, fine. Right out with the state. the state has passed this

[2:28:08] statute. It is law. So, we're getting there. Um, we're not opting out. Um, you

[2:28:15] know, there's debate as to whether they should opt out, stay in. Some some

[2:28:18] counties are not. They're opting out. They're saying, "What what is your good

[2:28:22] to us?" You know, u, but there I think it's better to opt in because these

[2:28:28] short-term rental people have to pay their sales tax to the state. That's all

[2:28:31] monitored. So, the state's going to get that information and we strengthen

[2:28:34] numbers. if there's if they're still walking and giving us names of people

[2:28:38] this they must be giving it to the state so they'll be so anyway it's better to

[2:28:43] op not opt in stay in opt out uh so we're around that thing um I think they

[2:28:49] extended the time it was the end of December to opt out but I think they

[2:28:54] extended that time to next year but there's not it's doesn't matter to us

[2:29:00] » and the Essex County Board of Supervisors also um agreed to enter into

[2:29:06] an agreement with Decker um >> Decker Industries, which is a company

[2:29:12] that monitors um reser or uh >> it monitors short-term rentals. Yeah. So

[2:29:20] that the county when the county is starting to do enforcement of the county

[2:29:25] local law, they will know who is not registered,

[2:29:30] which the New York state law says they need to be registered with the local um

[2:29:35] authority that has a registry, which is the county,

[2:29:38] » right? And if they don't comply with the state law where they're barking at

[2:29:40] certain little things in the state law and in our what I put in our a lot is

[2:29:46] then you don't get permits. your people don't get permits. I won't look to the

[2:29:50] to those bigger companies. >> So,

[2:29:52] » and technically Airbnb VRBO as part of that law, they are not supposed to be

[2:29:57] renting any short-term rental um through their platform that is not registered on

[2:30:03] the local authority. >> Right. So there there are some

[2:30:06] » so in terms of regulations it would be good we don't have to go through it

[2:30:08] today interest of time but it would be good to get like a summary sheet of

[2:30:12] exactly what does this state law obligate

[2:30:17] or require regulate in terms of short-term rentals? Does it regulate

[2:30:25] you know registry and you know having somebody within a caretaker within an

[2:30:30] hour's drive? Yeah. No, >> you know what?

[2:30:33] » This is just what they have right now. It's just a registry law. So, it doesn't

[2:30:37] have anything that about three things I think they have, which uh I'm counseling

[2:30:41] the county to get invol to have one is what everybody's got to have a exit map

[2:30:47] on their place. Another is you got to have fire extinguishers. Another one is

[2:30:50] you got to have insurance. And I might be

[2:30:53] » and you have to self-certify that you are code compliant.

[2:30:56] » That's what I want to do for the county because I don't want to be

[2:30:59] » the state law says that. uh that you have supervisor. Okay. Well, I I don't

[2:31:05] want to be my point I explained to the supervisor

[2:31:10] is that we're not getting involved in going out and you got your fire

[2:31:14] extinguisher because it's not we don't want to get involved in that. It's a

[2:31:18] registry. I don't know why they flew in three or four little silly they're not

[2:31:22] silly. They're important. Insurance is important. Safety is important. An exit

[2:31:27] is not important because it'll be dark and it's

[2:31:34] the hell out. >> You could exit the first window.

[2:31:36] » That's right. That's right. >> Oh, wait a minute. Let me check the map.

[2:31:39] » Yeah, >> you got to go that way. [laughter]

[2:31:42] » Well, I would say I mean two of us. >> So, there are no there are no real

[2:31:45] regulars. two of us at a forum before the election uh were in favor of some

[2:31:51] sort of you know town regulation um supporters of myself who said Republic

[2:31:58] and said we were in favor of some sort of regulation safety regulations and so

[2:32:03] forth. So I'd like to make good personally on my commitment I made which

[2:32:09] I've stated before too that you know I don't know how we have a committee and

[2:32:14] you know we all maybe the town committee um you know residents or business owners

[2:32:21] for the rental owners should be part of it but uh at some point I mean this year

[2:32:26] I think it's it's getting pretty tough out there in terms of you

[2:32:32] know it's becoming an issue in town and uh a divisive issue we don't want to get

[2:32:37] to the point where it's overly divisive either so

[2:32:41] » so it sounds like you would like us to make a short-term rental task force And

[2:32:45] it sounds like you were volunteering to be the chair.

[2:32:48] » Not volunteering to be the chair, but I that's why I'm careful with what I'm

[2:32:52] saying that I think, you know, maybe it's a community task force. Obviously,

[2:32:57] we have mediation with it. But yeah,

[2:33:01] » I definitely think if we're going to be looking and making recommendations to

[2:33:05] this board, um there should be somebody from this board on that task force as

[2:33:09] the chair >> who wants to retire early.

[2:33:13] » [laughter] >> So, I'm just going to put that out

[2:33:16] there. Anybody who who would like to be >> as that that chair, I think it's a good

[2:33:21] conversation to have, but I also think that Tyler needs to have people who are

[2:33:25] both sides of the issue. >> I think that conference special board

[2:33:29] has functioned really well with Wall-E as a chair and he's not a board member.

[2:33:34] » So, I think there's possibility that a qualified volunteer could um chair that

[2:33:39] task force and do a really nice job. Uh, I'm curious, you know, short-term

[2:33:43] rentals are businesses. Are there any members of ARPA that are short-term

[2:33:47] rental of them there? And and I I know quite a

[2:33:53] few short-term rental. I know a lot of people on the acres property owner

[2:33:57] associations that are really um pushing for regulation. I'm not one of them as I

[2:34:03] mean not to that extent. Um, but you know, there's there's it's becoming a

[2:34:08] divisive issue and uh I would absolutely, you know, we need to have

[2:34:12] Main Street businesses on there because they benefit from it. We need to have

[2:34:16] short-term rental owners on on the task force and uh I think the town board

[2:34:21] should identify and seek out, you know, or solicit but make a decision on who

[2:34:27] goes on it. They don't want to leave it to the task force themselves to uh

[2:34:32] » a lot of these people just plain don't want that.

[2:34:35] » Yeah. You know >> those are the ones

[2:34:38] and sometimes it's the homeowner that's the problem.

[2:34:40] » It's not about regulations. They don't care about regulations. PL don't want

[2:34:44] that. >> Well, and those are the people that are

[2:34:47] there [clears throat] are there are some opponents that

[2:34:52] with any, you know, you got some bad short-term rental hosts, but you also

[2:34:55] got some homeowners that are the problem of the short-term rental host. I I

[2:34:59] agree. And that's why we need, you know, >> so what I would recommend um so we don't

[2:35:04] sit and debate this all night here. Um, I would like at least one person to come

[2:35:09] back with a good idea of how we want to structure a short-term rental task

[2:35:14] force. Um, then we can put out for volunteers. If nobody here wants to be

[2:35:19] that chair, maybe we can, um, look for a champion who does want to. And I think

[2:35:26] that person who would be the chair of that board would be somebody who is

[2:35:30] neither for nor against. Um, that way they're very impartial to the subject.

[2:35:34] Um, so think good over this this month and uh let's bring it back up. I'll

[2:35:39] actually put it on my supervisor's report so it can be a topic of

[2:35:43] discussion. >> Thank you.

[2:35:45] » Anything else, sir? >> And I'm done.

[2:35:48] » Wow, >> that was short.

[2:35:50] » If I could give you pneumonia pneumonia, you wouldn't talk so long.

[2:35:54] » You're right. You did. >> Miss Dwire.

[2:35:56] » Um, happy new year. looking forward to a productive 2026.

[2:36:06] » Wow. >> She is. I was a little [laughter]

[2:36:11] » forgot everything. >> All right. Um,

[2:36:16] one thing, >> Mr. uh, I don't want to sound like a

[2:36:19] church lady, but you guys all now have a copy of the procurement policy. So,

[2:36:23] bring it to you every day. Make sure Chris gets one, too, so that we And I

[2:36:28] know I I know you know what's going on, but it's good to have just in case.

[2:36:32] » Email to us as well. >> Yes, I can because to be honest with

[2:36:36] you, every time I go to look for it, >> I email it to you for the meeting.

[2:36:46] [laughter] >> Perfect. Uh, any more audience comments?

[2:36:51] » Yep. Come right on up, sir.

[2:36:56] you were talking about or whatever about the range.

[2:37:03] It's not just the noise that I'd be worried about. I'd be worried about what

[2:37:07] type of rounds being sent down range. There are explosive ones, non-exlosive,

[2:37:14] radioactive,

[2:37:17] armoring. And the other thing is who's going to clean up the mess? I've lived

[2:37:22] in two areas, not where they had it, but it ended up affecting people further

[2:37:29] away because of ground contamination and then they ended up

[2:37:34] having the taxpayers have to clean up the mess. Who's going to remove it?

[2:37:41] And who's going to clean it up if it don't explode?

[2:37:45] » Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you very much.

[2:37:57] Um, okay. So, I have some questions. You're talking about the short-term

[2:38:02] rentals and um since they are a business, do they have to have a New

[2:38:08] York State inspection?

[2:38:12] You know, like for safety, do they have the fire um extinguishers and all that?

[2:38:18] Are they on the coal and whatever? Do are they required to have those?

[2:38:25] Because I actually have cleaned children rentals and there's nothing posted in

[2:38:31] there. There's nothing. No inspection, no New York State anything,

[2:38:37] no fire exits, nothing. So that's just one of my questions. Um, another one,

[2:38:46] the EV station in um, upper J or in J. I was here for the town hall meeting with

[2:38:53] Michael Cashman and he said going electric in the north country is a total

[2:39:00] waste. So why do we have to have a charging station?

[2:39:06] Nobody stops and spends the night in Upper J. They want to go to Lake Placid,

[2:39:12] you know. I I mean even motel in Upper J is closed

[2:39:17] so there's no place to stay in Upper J. >> Did he specifically say total waste or

[2:39:23] was that your interpretation? Was those the words you used?

[2:39:27] » Total waste. >> You said

[2:39:29] » I said >> you said that Mr. Cashman said

[2:39:32] » Mr. Cashman did say that. He said to go electric here in the north country would

[2:39:37] be a total waste. That's exactly what he >> had EV chargers with him and

[2:39:41] electrification in terms of the buildings.

[2:39:45] » No, he was talking about electric vehicles. So it total if electric

[2:39:50] vehicles are a total waste up here then why would you want an electric be a

[2:39:55] little charging? >> Well, if if that's what he said, which I

[2:40:00] I don't necessarily >> ask Mr. Stanley. He was there.

[2:40:04] » I would totally disagree with him. Well, another thing I was brought up was

[2:40:10] electric buses. And he said it would be difficult for our bus to get to Shay and

[2:40:17] back home without it being charged. He said electric buses are not something

[2:40:22] you can look at for around here in the north country. It's just not feasible.

[2:40:27] » Agree 100%. Just like the the the ban on on gas

[2:40:33] stoves and so forth which was repealed. I agree both both that and and that the

[2:40:40] you know the ban of you know whatever uh fossil fuel burning heat and um cooking

[2:40:49] that was repealed and those were stupid. >> Yes, they were

[2:40:53] » completely stupid. completely because she doesn't know anything about what

[2:40:58] she's talking about above all. So everything is in New York City. And

[2:41:02] that's exactly what he said was New York City could benefit from going total

[2:41:08] electric vehicle over any other place in New York State because there are so many

[2:41:15] people, so many vehicles and they only do hop skip and jump. They I don't they

[2:41:20] don't travel 30 miles to Platsburg or anything like that and then have to

[2:41:24] charge a vehicle. They could, you know, just roll around the corner and they've

[2:41:29] got everything they need. The other question I have is um where you want to

[2:41:34] put that EV station in Upper J that is considered a flood zone. And the reason

[2:41:40] I know is because my house used to sit where you have that park and I was

[2:41:46] bought out by the federal government to move to be out of the flood zone. So

[2:41:52] why would you put >> it's an elevated spot and it's that the

[2:41:56] EV charger head is going to be approximately on top of that four or

[2:42:02] five feet four feet above the ground. There's nothing wrong with having

[2:42:07] electric wires. electric wires in pools. There's electric wires in rivers, in the

[2:42:11] ocean. The you have ingground electric wires. So the electric wire is not an

[2:42:16] issue. The head of the charger is about 4 feet over that on this spot there,

[2:42:22] which is an elevated spot, well above the flood level.

[2:42:25] » Okay. So I was flooded out twice in that area. The first time the ice went

[2:42:33] through, totally wiped out the walls in our mobile home. just wiped them right

[2:42:38] out. The second time we were flooded, we had over 4 ft of water, just water

[2:42:44] inside the mobile home. And and you're telling me that that's

[2:42:49] » your your objections your objections have been registered. We disagree. Thank

[2:42:54] you.

[2:42:57] » Okay. Um I would like to comment on this

[2:43:01] gentleman's concern about Lewis. Um,

[2:43:06] Councilman Duer, you seem to be more concerned about the noise than anything

[2:43:11] else. And and he brought up several things that were much more important

[2:43:17] than noise level because like you said, there's so much noise here in town,

[2:43:23] but we don't tell people, well, you know, you got to slow down. You have to

[2:43:26] do this or that. But anyway, I was concerned that um you were more

[2:43:32] concerned over noise than anything else. Um the other thing I wanted to know is

[2:43:39] what is to become the Hollywood Theater? I mean, they I don't know what they've

[2:43:44] done to it. I heard it was gutted. I I don't know because that's a business on

[2:43:50] Main Street and it could be utilized >> privately owned. Nothing to do with us.

[2:43:55] privately owned. They spent a lot of money. They gutted it and they put um

[2:43:58] inflation in there and part of the drag show was a fundraiser so they can spend

[2:44:04] more money because they need to raise money to get that business open.

[2:44:09] » And what would that business be? Do you know

[2:44:12] » theater or kind of a community >> performing arts

[2:44:15] » performing arts center? Um so the microenterprise grant is that

[2:44:23] um can the business use that for payroll if they're creating a job within their

[2:44:29] business? >> Yes, they can. Yep.

[2:44:32] » For a low to moderate income job that they are creating with the use of the

[2:44:36] grant. >> Okay. Um I have been to the Upper J Art

[2:44:40] Center. It is a wonderful place. Um they also have a liquor license. I don't know

[2:44:45] if anybody knows that, but that might be something that

[2:44:50] I don't know. Bars draw people. I'm not a bar person, but they do draw people.

[2:44:54] And I went to a play that they had over at the Methodist church there in Upper

[2:44:59] J. There was absolutely wonderful. So, I I have been to a couple of their shows

[2:45:04] and I I would defin I have supported them. I will say that. Um, I would like

[2:45:10] to know what the cost was for the solar panel on the town of the town of Jake

[2:45:15] Garage or wherever it is. And it only generates enough energy for

[2:45:21] one light bulb. >> That's one specific one specific day.

[2:45:26] Uh, in December, January, February, the solar production is very low obviously

[2:45:32] because of the shorter days and the snow potential on the solar panels. Um but uh

[2:45:39] on average um if it meets the if it if it you know like others it's going to

[2:45:45] generate about between 65,000 65 and 70,000 kilowatt hours uh saving the town

[2:45:52] at the today's electricity rate u potentially between 15 and $20,000 a

[2:45:58] year. The cost to the town was about $45,000 net somewhere on that number.

[2:46:04] So, we expect we expect to break even within three years. And then we have and

[2:46:09] it's 25 year 30-year warranty that we're going to be benefiting the taxpayers of

[2:46:15] the town of Jade are are going to be saving about $150,000

[2:46:21] over the life of that system. >> Okay. So, I I actually asked someone

[2:46:25] that has solar panels, and I mean they have solar panels, and they're very

[2:46:34] coste effective people. Let's put it that way. They want to know where the

[2:46:38] money's going. And I So, I asked them about their solar panels, and on

[2:46:42] average, it takes 10 years for so solar panel to pay for itself.

[2:46:47] » On average, without the grants, we got grants. The cost of the system was of

[2:46:52] $165,000. The town of Jay's out of pocket cost was

[2:46:57] roughly 45. Don't quote me on the spec exact numbers. They're available if you

[2:47:00] want to do request it from the town office. You can do that. Uh but based on

[2:47:05] that exactly the 10 year break even and we pay a third of typical cost. So about

[2:47:12] three year break even >> plus the size of this panel make more

[2:47:16] electricity. >> Yes. So, talking about properties that

[2:47:19] are in disarray, um there's a property over here on the corner by the bridge. I

[2:47:24] believe it was owned by John Patnau, and I'm pretty sure it's condemned. I have

[2:47:30] not gone up to the window and looked at what's written on the papers or typed.

[2:47:34] And then, of course, the one that's on the corner of Forge and Church Lane that

[2:47:39] John Patnau also owned at one time. Um, I was just wondering if maybe those are

[2:47:45] properties that the Essex County Land Bank might be interested in. It's you

[2:47:51] got to demolish them. There's there's just

[2:47:53] » wondering if they get on a tax sale most likely. But I will say that place over

[2:47:58] here next to TOPS has been purchased. They came in, got a building permit to

[2:48:04] uh remove the garage, and I believe they're going to start work on the

[2:48:07] house.

[2:48:12] Okay. Um, >> New York City trip.

[2:48:17] I don't know why four people have to go, but then I'm questioning what Mr.

[2:48:23] McDonald brought up. I think it was you. Why do you need so many people to go?

[2:48:29] And if you you didn't bring it up. Okay. I'm sorry. Um, so whomever brought it

[2:48:35] up. How many rooms? And I want to thank you

[2:48:39] for paying for your own room. I really do. Thank you very much.

[2:48:42] » We split it with room to >> So, um, do you share a room or does

[2:48:48] everybody have their own individual? I mean, Michelle would have to have their

[2:48:52] own room, of course. But I mean, did two guys share a room? I mean, you can get

[2:48:56] two beds. >> I stayed in Wilmington's room with my

[2:48:59] wife last time. This time, on the reciprocating end,

[2:49:05] she's going to be staying in my room. So they reap the benefit of not paying for

[2:49:10] him this year. >> And to clarifying

[2:49:17] her >> and Tina Tina did that as well with

[2:49:19] Wilmington spot. So both towns are paying full.

[2:49:25] » Well, I appreciate that because >> we should all get a spous neighboring

[2:49:29] town.

[2:49:33] » Okay. Um, I >> Oh, you took a lot of notes tonight.

[2:49:38] » Yes, I did. Um, >> I wanted to become more involved and the

[2:49:43] only way to do that is to take notes and to ask questions.

[2:49:46] » You said something about the New York State retirement. They said they um you

[2:49:51] didn't they didn't receive the check until after the date. But if you're a

[2:49:56] business in New York State and even the federal government, they go by the

[2:50:00] postmark. And I know that because I used to work for the post office and there

[2:50:05] were certain people in Upper J that would come in and say, "I have to have

[2:50:08] this postmarked today. It's my quarterly income tax. Make sure it gets

[2:50:12] postmarked." So why wouldn't they recognize that postmark? The

[2:50:16] » problem that is things aren't postmarked in your town anymore.

[2:50:22] » No, >> they go to Connecticut. They've changed

[2:50:25] a lot. The post United States Post Office has sent out a communication

[2:50:30] recently. Yeah, >> I said you can't count. You're not going

[2:50:32] to get your >> mail postmarked at the local post

[2:50:36] office. They're going to close down. I guess they have 200 hubs. I don't know

[2:50:39] if it was all in New York State or but they're now going to be 60. And you're

[2:50:44] right. Instead of going to Albany, which only would mean a day that you a day or

[2:50:48] later that you get your mail and it gets postmarked. It has to go to hundreds of

[2:50:52] miles away, which could be three, four days before it gets postmarked. So

[2:50:57] there's tons of problems that poses for government, for taxpayers, the IRS, for

[2:51:02] things like this. So it's probably that's the situation here. Uh so my

[2:51:07] recommendation to my because I have a lot of deadlines where I have to have a

[2:51:11] postmark. Uh it won't get postmarked, but I will get the damn post office to

[2:51:15] stamp something on there and give me a receipt so that I could say, "Hey, it's

[2:51:20] not my problem." So there is there is this is going to be a big problem. I've

[2:51:23] been noticing in my business half of the stuff that I'm getting doesn't even have

[2:51:27] a postmark on it. [clears throat] [laughter]

[2:51:30] So >> when it goes machines, it's just flying

[2:51:33] in two or three letters that go through and you know, but okay. So that was my

[2:51:38] question there. >> You can look it up online. They've got a

[2:51:41] new circular walks right through the whole you know basically it's too bad.

[2:51:48] Well, post pretty much

[2:51:54] » Yeah. The night did all the food mailing for people for dinner for Christmas. We

[2:52:00] were afraid that they weren't going to get them before Christmas.

[2:52:02] » Yeah. They got their letter January. >> Yeah.

[2:52:06] [clears throat] >> So, okay. Thank you very much. I

[2:52:09] appreciate it. I I appreciate the county new york.gov so I can go there and um

[2:52:16] read about what's going on. And um

[2:52:23] this might be a bad question. Did you want to become a councilman

[2:52:30] because you wanted to do something for your town or for the money?

[2:52:36] » That's an easy one. >> I won't answer that. I I hope you have

[2:52:41] seen and if you go on the town website like you referenced that the activity,

[2:52:47] the work that this town board is putting in, you know, all of us and the town

[2:52:52] employees uh and and and the passion that we bring

[2:52:57] to this to this town and and and the amount of time um is sufficient to show

[2:53:04] you that we're here because we care about the town and we're passionate

[2:53:08] about the town and we want to see the town thrive and I think the town board

[2:53:12] has done a good job um as a whole including the town employees.

[2:53:17] » Okay. So I volunteered as a Cub Scout master and a Cub Scout

[2:53:24] leader and well they don't call them dead mothers anymore but um for nine

[2:53:29] years in this building we held scouts. Okay. And I volunteered for nine years.

[2:53:36] I didn't say anything to anybody. I didn't ask for anything. I didn't get

[2:53:40] paid for. I also was part of the upper Jire Department auxiliary when they had

[2:53:46] one. I didn't get paid. I was president of that twice. I didn't get paid. I

[2:53:51] didn't get any glory, nothing like that because of the work I had done. Um, I

[2:53:57] volunteered at the thrift shop in Wilmington. Again, I don't get paid. I'm

[2:54:02] not looking for >> I want to stop you there. This is not

[2:54:04] the only I would say you call it job or whatever

[2:54:08] you want to call it engagement that we all have. We all have full-time jobs the

[2:54:12] town council and I can assure you that everyone here is doing a lot more other

[2:54:19] volunteer work aside from our town duties. So what you were just describing

[2:54:24] I'm sure many of us are engaged in many other organizations or I know for a fact

[2:54:29] they are as we all are. So, so >> you think that it's okay for you to

[2:54:35] collect that 6,000 whatever? >> I believe so. Yes.

[2:54:40] » Otherwise, otherwise and and and you can run for office. Do

[2:54:47] you have anything else other than other >> I go around on the roads in the spring

[2:54:53] and summer and into the fall and I pick up trash.

[2:54:57] I [cough and clears throat] don't I have an adopt a highway sign on Springfield

[2:55:00] Road, but I go all the way around. >> You're not the only one.

[2:55:04] » And I would also say if you aren't already aware the highway department

[2:55:08] will come and collect that trash so that you don't have to pay to dispose of it.

[2:55:12] I know we do that for >> I know I I have talked to the highway

[2:55:16] department or >> I just want to make sure you're not

[2:55:18] incurring expenses for >> I leave it at the um station in um just

[2:55:24] outside of St. to park and um I have actually left bags a number of bags on

[2:55:33] the side of the road and called the town and said I did this you need to help me

[2:55:38] out with picking this up if you would and they have done so

[2:55:43] but I just wanted you to know that I don't sit on my butt all the time and

[2:55:49] complain you may think I do later so I appreciate the time you put in and I

[2:55:56] hope you have a good evening. >> Thank you very much. Any other comments?

[2:56:02] Being none, our next meeting, regular board meeting is February 12th, um 2026

[2:56:06] at 7 p.m. here. Uh we do not need any executive session tonight. Um so I will

[2:56:13] take a motion for adjournment. So move, >> Mr. McDonald. The second,

[2:56:17] » Miss Dwire. It is 9:55. We are adjourned.

Town of Jay Organizational Board Meeting 1/8/2026

Transcript