What's that?
Reminder to turn on your microphone
and we'll call this meeting uh August
24th meeting of the board of trustees
order. Please rise for the pledge. I
pledge algiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands. One nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all.
» At this time, um, we will allow public
comment. We've found uh the past few
meetings that sometimes our public
comment has been half an hour long per
person and it makes for a very long
meeting. So, we're um we are restricting
tonight our public comment to five
minutes. And when you're recognized,
please go to the microphone, state your
name, uh any organization you're
associated with, and your residence. Um
that is for the uh village clerk's
information and uh other than that we
look forward to hearing from you. So
first bold person
no one has any public comment tonight.
>> Hello my name is Kyla. I'm here with
the robot
um is with us from Ukraine. We're a
design team that's been brought on by
Kissan Main Street Partners. Oh yeah. Um
we Kissan Main Street partners recently
purchased three uh vacant buildings on
Main Street. We are refacing the
buildings that have been through the
historic committee. We have achieved
certificates of appropriateness for all
three buildings for the facade
renovations.
and Dick from zoning suggested we come
in and um inform everyone what the
development for the interior is. So on
one of the buildings of Nicolletas which
will have new apartments upstairs for
yearround uh ideally for people who are
working on Main Street in some of these
projects. The next building is adjacent
to the beverage exchange. is used to be
a card shop and and I think short south.
Um those will have retail or office
space on the ground floor and renovated
apartments above and those are both
scheduled to get new windows and siding
done in the fall and then CVS which is a
really exciting one. Um, we're hoping to
do the facade renovations this fall, if
not early spring, hoping to be able to
house the Cookertown Farmers Market
potentially uh as the Hoff and Lane
project happens in the same schedules.
And that's going to be retail
uh year round ideally. And this right
now what I'm sharing is our current
development
uh concept development. And we're hoping
to have multiple
um spaces that showcase local and
regional
art, crafts, products, as well as a
place for uh people who are in the
farmers market on Saturday afternoons to
then bring their products to. So they're
available to buy all week long without
having to take those home, including a
potential cafe that then uses the
products farmers market to cook the food
with a a small stage and venue so that
there can be music and other
programming. And then the interior has
flexible space that can be used for
Christmas markets or other kind of
events like the town picnic at the range
or kind of flex space. So, that's that's
where we're at with the development now,
and we'll probably be back as needed. Uh, we're hoping to do
scaffolding on the renovation on the
facades
um later in the fall or early in the
spring when there's uh list to disrupt
and won't be taking any parking spaces
to do. Um, and I know that there's a a
water tying some of the things that
we'll be dealing with as it progresses,
but this is our first unofficial
introduction to all the rumors that it's
a nightclub wear of baseball t-shirt
shop doing Main Street.
>> This I was going to say we you have time
and I'll let any of the trustees ask
questions.
So just from a from a zoning perspective
in each case the first floor the
sidewalk is going to be a public office
retail restaurant
>> in all cases and then I believe there's
five apartments above and four above the
bar shops that are currently underway
getting renovated for yearround housing.
>> Great.
>> And trustees have any other questions?
>> Above the market hall there's not going
to be apartments. Sto Market Hall above
it. There's nothing that have that
facade. Um I mean ideally maybe someday
the building can structurally have
something nice up there. The the owners
were very interested in bringing like a
public theater to the town. Uh doing
something that had a large space. But I
my guess is that that's a possibility
for wait right now. We can get this all
ready for spring for the farmers market
um move. That's our goal.
>> It has an amazing basement.
>> It does ceiling height. I mean,
>> are you seeking any public financing for
any of these?
>> I think this is a way for the owners to
kind of invest in the community.
» Any other questions?
>> There's a lot to digest. Thank you.
>> Thank you for sharing the printed copy.
We saw it when it went to uh the zoning
board. So,
>> you have any questions or wants
involvement? You can reach out anytime
and I can present whatever is
interested.
>> Thank you, Kyla. Appreciate that.
» Is there anyone else who has public
comment tonight?
If not, I I will be closing the public
comment section of the meeting and we
will begin our business. So, no other
comments. Okay,
public comment session closed.
Correspondence.
Um, on your additional agenda, you all
probably saw this email from Jan
Kusminsky regarding concerns with
overcrowding at village parks. Uh, that
will be uh referred to parks. I did
because it came as an email. Um, I tend
to respond and she was very
appreciative. I pointed out that we'd
recognize that in particular with um
Glimmerclass State Park closing for now
almost three weeks um due to harmful
algo blooms that um there were a lot of
people who wanted to use the lake that
then went to three mile and fairy
spring. So we did kind of get um
inundated that park had certainly state
park had been closed previously but
perhaps the weather hadn't been quite as
wonderful in those years. So we did put
up um sandwich board signs. We quickly
ordered signs and um the park caretakers
at both very spring and 3M had the
ability once the parking spaces were
filled and they really reached capacity
to close the park and that did help
curtail that a bit but it was a bit of
an onslaught but that'll be addressed at
Parksport.
Uh that was our only correspondence. We
have two public hearings today um which
will be opened at 6:30, proposed local
law number four to amend the section um
of our smoking and vaping law and
proposed local law number five to amend
a section of our zoning law relative to
temporary use permits.
Um, I will entertain a motion to
uh approve the minutes of our regular
July 27th meeting by um Molly. I will
second and I should add with corrections
submitted because I know we did submit
some corrections. All in favor? I
>> I
>> as well as our August 10th special
meeting with corrections submitted. I'll
make that motion. Seconded by Cindy. All
in favor?
>> I.
» Permits. We have an email from Tom Sing
requesting that vending be extended
until 300 p.m. in the Double Day Field
parking lot for next year's Hall of Fame
induction.
And I think you've all read it. Um
it actually came up at breakfast with
the board this morning that u particular
vendor. So I can refer this um to the
double day committee. Um unless uh any
trustees have a comment they'd like to
go with that.
>> Just a clarification that so that this
would be the second day of vending.
>> It's a Sunday.
>> The third day third day of vending.
>> Yeah.
But the vending continues the other day.
I'm confused about whether this is per
day or just the last day. This is the
last day.
>> Yeah. A lot of people do not bend on
Sunday because people theoretically are
maybe down at the Clark Sports Center
for the induction.
>> Okay.
>> But he found you wanted to. So that it
will be referred to uh double day
committee.
We have uh an application to use village
property village streets from Kristen
Griger uh for the growing community for
our annual harvest supper plan for
Sunday September 27th. Um they say 12:00
p.m. to 8:00 p.m. but that's set up and
take down. Um it's uh 4 to 7 are the
hours of the dinner and requesting that
again this year we wave the insurance
requirement. Is there a motion
>> by Cindy? Second by George. All in favor
>> uh on your additional agenda we have a
uh permit request application to use
village property. Karen Dunlop walk to
end Alzheimer's requesting to display
purple bunting and wraps on the flag
pole base and the porch of 22 Main
Street for one week and for the
application fee to be waved. She's uh
this is a walk that is you know from the
sports center but these were what she
wanted relative to public property.
I think as long as the purple bunting
does not bleed onto the porch woodwork
particularly, it seems like a wonderful
idea
>> or the stone for that matter.
>> Yeah.
>> Okay. So, you want to make that um
motion with that caveat?
>> I have a comment. So,
>> okay. We'll just make it and then we'll
have a discussion. So,
>> I'll move it.
>> Move it by Joe, seconded by Cindy. Your
comment, Richard?
I have no problem with purple bunting on
the porch or on any of our
lampstandions. I question whether it's
appropriate on the flag pole and I also
question whether or not it's just going
to create an issue.
>> You
>> wpping wrapping the flag pole in purple.
>> It's the base.
around where like the
flowers are and other
>> because it says flat. It says on the
pole flag pole. Okay. Any
other questions, comments? Um, so motion
made and seconded. Um, all in favor? I
» We have a zoning official report is in
your packet.
And we do have a um
is this on as a
just on for the application to come in
or are we making the decision tonight?
>> Point is here to discuss the
>> All right.
>> Yep. In front of us. I'm glad that you
brought the large P drawings because we
were having a hard time I think looking
at the smaller ones. So, um, were, first
of all, were there any questions or
comments on the zoning report? No. All
right, we'll accept that and go on to
um, Caruso's Red Point 63 Lake View
Drive, requesting a setback relief of 14
ft from the lake. And uh yes question
with that 14 I'm not sure where that
number comes from because the the
closest point we are at is at 30 ft
which is still 20 ft back or at least 80
ft back from the original house.
>> I don't know why did
>> I thought it was on the application.
» Okay. I I think for our purposes
um the point is kind of moot because we
can't grant the variance. The zoning
board of appeals does that but we need
to grant or make a determination grant a
special
>> yes on it's just the area variance to
construct house less than 100 ft but
again that would go to uh ZBA
then
>> yeah but we have to rule first.
>> Yeah. Yep.
>> Or or Yeah. In conjunction with
>> Yeah.
>> All right. Um do you want to you can
take the time now if you like. We have
the larger maps. You can you're welcome
to make um a presentation on this. We
are looking to you know origally we
monitor
or the uh
band but on further inspection we
noticed that the foundation was in dire
straits. There's a lot of hydraulic
pressure from the the hillsides pushing
in and the only way we can really um
work with this house is actually to
build that that elevation. So, um, going
back on the 100 foot rule, that setback
is actually outside of our our line, our
lot. So, there's actually no way to
comply with that 100 foot setback.
You see, there's a big red line that I
have drawn on page
two.
That fleet line is our 600 foot setback.
It's just about 50 feet into a lot and
lot.
Um on page 4.2 you'll see a pink outline
of the house. That's the existing house.
What we're trying to do is push the
house back as far as we can
and actually um push it back further
than the house is now. So
approximately 18 ft back is further back
from where we are starting.
>> May I ask just a question on the
footprint?
>> Yeah. On page 821, you describe the
footprint of the existing house as 251
square feet,
>> right? The proposed house is 2482 square
ft plus
>> plus a garage of 528
which is a structure.
>> So we're actually increasing the
footprint. for it even out evening out
some of that jogging setbacks of the
house and kind of making more of a leg
order to do a um a foundation that is
kind of open and recessed. That's kind
of
>> right. I guess my question is the
existing footprint
there's enough going on in that site
that we described to them so far anyway.
It suggests to me that expanding the
footprint
will exacerbate conditions
>> except we what we're doing is kind of
creating a kind of a more modern
footprint, more modern walk out
basement. There would be tag to the
bedrock. We're actually reducing any
kind of infiltration into the lake and
any kind of sed flow. We're actually
creating larger, more stable um
retaining loss with that foundation.
» In this rendering at the front on the
front page, I guess page one,
you depict a shoreline. Is that an engineered
shoreline? Is there a bulkhead there
now?
>> There's no bulkhead. There's a bunch of
uh timber cranked sort of timbered hang
walls that are rotting as you can see
some of the existing photographs. Those
are all going away and pushing kind of
reducing that kind of encroachment onto
the lake and pushing it all back into
the house.
>> And what does this picture depict?
That's going to
>> This ising sorry depicting the house
that exists here that that we're
proposing to
I'm just I'm talking about the riparian
zone. Oh, that's existing. That's
nothing else.
» The um patio that is existing where you
see there's a fireplace there that's
exist. So we may need to repair that.
It's the garage which is well within
this zone. What's your reasoning for
this
>> justifying that encroachment?
>> The reason for that,
>> right? How how do you rationalize that
encroachment?
>> You know, we were kind of advised by
either the pristill or you know
department to like ask for what we need.
This was prior to knowing the setback.
Cool. So this is something that the
client wished for. If so, we kind of
included that in the propert.
It's a small oneard garage that fits
within tombs of the hillside.
>> Will there be a residence as part of it
upstairs?
>> No, no, no. It's just a singlestory
garage.
Do you have a rendering of this with the
houses surrounding it? Yeah, if you look
on page the
um 61
game 61 sort of a
new pipe comparison and then I'll sort
of just kind of show you the view sheds
of all the houses neighborhoods.
» Are there any restrictions regarding
height? There are but we are well well
that
>> just so everyone knows this they're
making a presentation and it's fine we
can ask some questions this will go back
to our zoning boards for their comment
that's planning H barb etc. It also
needs to go to the county planning. So
that will all occur and we can set a
public hearing for our what will be
September 28th meeting at 6:30 when we
would kind of hear from the public and
then make a decision. So
>> may I suggest that when we make our
referrals uh this be referred to the
wersheds?
>> Yes. Yep. Absolutely. On the list
>> a question related to the garage.
>> Yeah. So it is tucked between the front
yard setback and the lake setback. It
would there be a scenario to request a
variance to the front yard setback to
keep it out of the lake setback.
>> So if the topography doesn't allow for
that is because the the road behind it
is taking up majority of their
>> property. So this this is allows
basically it also cuts into the hillside
creating another bulkhead to kind of
hide or top that garage. So it really is
a low profile garage that was kind of
set at. Yep.
>> If you look you can see kind of view of
that.
» I did a basics
the bottom of the page. See, you can see
how that fits into the leg.
Just on that follow your question,
Sydney, the um
the total increase
in the
given the increase of 400 square ft or
more in the house with the garage being
incorporated into the house.
>> Well, could the garage be I think we
could do that.
eliminating structure.
>> Yeah, we could we could find a way to do
that where we kind of thought well do
that
this
are there any other questions?
>> I can make a series of motions.
>> Yes, we're we're ready unless you have
any comments addition we make. All
right. All right.
>> Explain anything.
Thank you.
>> So first motion is that I will make a
declaration that this is a type two
action for the purposes of seeker and
that is because it's a single family
residence
that
>> um and we can vote on that now. So any
questions on that? All right. All those
in favor of um ruling that this is a
type two action for purposes of seeker
say I.
>> I.
>> And then I will make a motion to forward
this application for comment to the
zoning board of appeals, the planning
board, the historic preservation and
architectural review board, the
watershed supervisory committee, and the
county planning department. and set a
public hearing for September
>> 28 at 6:30 p.m. to consider a special
use permit for a new single family house
within the waterfront development
overlay district.
>> Motion made. I'll second.
All in favor?
>> I.
>> All right. Will we need to have heard
back from all five of those?
>> Everyone, including be able to hear back
from five of them.
>> Yeah. as I was hearing you could. Okay.
>> Well, the there was a
>> I think we will with planning because
planning meets on the 22nd
>> and they'll be
>> Yeah.
>> Okay.
>> And we did our seeker determination. So,
the county should not have a hold up.
>> All right. Thank you.
>> Um we also under zoning um we have an
updated zoning map.
» It's on the table. Um it's essentially,
if you recall, we updated one I think
just about a little over a year ago, but
the actions we've taken since that time
include um changing
uh a section that was considered
business part of the Cooper Inn property
that came over on Lake Street to um
residential
R3, right? Is it R3?
>> Um yes.
>> Yeah. So that was sort of the primary
change. We also altered the colors to
make them more
um compliant with uh visual impairment
issues and we also um improved the key a
bit so that was easier to read. But the
primary change on the zoning was the
reclassification of that one piece of
property.
There a motion to approve the new zoning
map with the that made by Joe, second by
George. All in favor?
» We are approaching
um the time of our public hearing. So,
I'm going to I think the next one might
take a little bit more time. So
we've got only like four minutes. So I
am going to um
uh
open our public hearings.
Uh, our public hearings are proposed
local law number four of 2026
amends section 233-3A
a smoking and vaping law and primarily
um this is I think about the third month
this has come before us and um based on
trustee feedback last month we have
essentially actually made that section
of the law a 233-3A
read this way. The following buildings
and adjoining land along with vehicles
owned by the village of Coopertown are
hereby designated as smokefree and vapor
zones. Water treatment plant, wastewater
treatment plant, streets building, fire
hall. the other part of that section had
been adopted a number of years ago. So
that's the change right there.
Uh and we also will open the public
hearing for proposed local law number
five of 2026
amend section 300-17.2
two zoning law temporary use permits and
change the number of events for
nonprofit organizations to 14 per
calendar year. So, at that time, I'm
opening the public hearing on those two
proposed local laws. And anyone who
would like to speak, just come to the
microphone, state your name, address,
and uh speak. And and which law you're
addressing. Thank you.
» My address is 6050 State Highway 80.
However, I am a property owner in the
village also. I am here to speak about
the local law number four and I
feel that at the village board you have
an obligation to protect the health of
volunteers and employees. I'm sure
you've all heard the term secondhand
smoke. Allowing people to smoke on
village properties and in village owned
vehicles exposes volunteers and
employees to immediate smoke and
secondhand smoke. Unfortunately,
volunteered firefighters and personnel
are exposed to smoke at active fires in
spite of all the equipment that is
purchased to try to protect them.
deliberately allowing people to be
exposed to smoke and secondhand smoke is
totally irresponsible. I just can't say
enough about how strongly I feel that
the village needs to protect the
employees and the volunteers. Thank you.
>> Thank you, Marvin.
» Anyone else like to speak?
Hi, my name is Christine. My address was
on Main Street Cougar's town. I'd like
to speak on the local law board. I wrote
it because he's gathering.
So, I'd like to express my support with
the proposed local law board prohibiting
smoking on village own property. Village
property belongs to and serves the
entire community. our public buildings
and the grounds surrounding homeland
should be places that residents,
employees, volunteers, families,
children, and visitors can access
comfortably and safely. While smoking is
a personal choice, exposure to
secondhand smoke is not always a choice,
especially when someone have to walk
through it to enter a public building or
use a public space. There are members of
our community who are particularly
affected by cigarettes, including
children, older adults, and people with
asthma or other respiratory conditions.
No one should have to choose between
avoiding cigarette smoke and accessing a
building or service that belongs to the
public. I don't view this as an
antismoker policy. It does not prevent
anyone from choosing to smoke. It simply
establishes a reasonable boundary for
where smoking takes place when the
individual choice affects the people
sharing a public space. I think is
reasonable to ask that the activity
takes place on village property. Village
property should reflect a commitment to
health, safety, cleanliness, and
consideration for everyone who uses it.
A clear smokefree policy also removes
any uncertainty about how close to an
entrance, gathering area or another
person is considered acceptable.
Ultimately, when we are talking about
property that belongs to the entire
community, I believe the health and
comfort of the community as a whole
should come first. For those reasons, I
feel support.
>> Thank you, Kristen.
>> Thank you.
Is there anyone else who would like to
speak?
» The first read a letter from Victor
Jones.
>> Chad, just say Chad Bellinger. I heard
>> Chad
Victor.
>> He'd like an address.
>> An address.
>> Your street address.
>> Thank you.
>> Um, let's see. Victor Johnson tonight.
So he says, "Good evening. I would like
to speak in support of the proposed ban
on smoking and the dirt fire acts. I
want to be clear that my support for
this is not intended as criticism to
anyone who smokes nor about passing
judgment on their personal approaches.
It is simply about protecting the health
and safety of everyone who use the fire
station. More specifically, those
members of the public who had
significant reaction are being exposed.
As firefighters and emergency
responders, our members already accept
significant risk as far as observing our
community fires. They are exposed to
smoke, carcinogens, and other hazardous
substances that we now know could have
serious and long-term health
consequences. The fire service has made
significant progress in reducing those
exposures
through better protective equipment,
decontamination, and increased cancer
risks. But that doesn't mean it
shouldn't stop there. It only makes
sense that we take responsible steps to
reduce preventable exposures at the fire
station as well when we are not
responding or returning from an alarm.
For most members, the time spent fire
safely small portion of the time they
actually spend at the station. Members
are there for training, meetings,
equipment checks, work details, social
problems, and simply making themselves
available to respond. Repeated exposure
to secondhand cigarette smoke during
that time is an unnecessary health risk.
that we have the ability to control and
should have been controlled up until
this point. Our fire station should be a
place where members can train, work,
volunteer, and serve their community and
is the healthiest environment as we can
responsibly provide.
And those members of the public
following who use the hall for various
events should also be free of those same
unnecessary closures, not to mention our
neighbors who are in close proximity to
our station. I am certain to appreciate
having a window or a DC unit running
without rolling a second. The number one
method we send when adopting this
proposed change is that our fire
department members health and safety is
number one priority. No exceptions. For
those reasons, I respectfully support
the proposed smoking ban I believe is a
reasonable step toward protecting both
our current members and the generations
of the firefighters EMS providers who we
hope will help. Thank you, Victor Jones.
All right. And then this is my exhibit.
So Lia, I want to start by saying thank
you for allowing me to speak. My name is
Chad Bellinger. I'm speaking tonight as
a concern resident and an active member
of the community. The following will
only be a reflection of my own personal
thoughts and experiences and in no way
represents the opinions or interest of
fire department or any other village.
All data I've gathered come from
publicly accessible websites which I
have sourced. According
to the NFBA, in a four-year span between
2019 and 2023,
there were an estimated average of
15,209
structure fires annually that were
started by smoke, resulting in 590
civilian fatalities,
1,048 civilian injuries, and 674 million
in direct property damage. It's also
worth noting that the most common point
of origin for these fires was not inside
the structure, but on the outside, such
as an exterior balcony or porch. An
additional 894 fires originated on an
exterior wall surface. According to the
World Health Organization, globally, the
vacule fills more than 7 million people
each year, including 1.6 million
non-smokers who are exposed to
secondhand smoke. Locally, the CDC
claims that in the US, exposure to
secondhand smoke caused an estimated
41,000 deaths annually. And of those,
7,333
are caused by lung cancer, while 33,951
are caused by heart defects, all
attributed to secondhand smoke. as
someone who has personally witnessed the
untimely and painfully slow deaths of
people close to me both first and
secondhand smoke as well as known
someone from perish fire caused by a lit
cigarette. I urge for to consider the
consequences of not instituting a
smoking at all properties and for your
own conscious do it for longevity of
both your employees and potentially your
buildings. and smoking has been proven
to be dangerous not only to the smoker
but also to non-cover.
I encourage you to make a decision that
mitigates the unnecessary risk involved
allowing people to smoke on any building
owned property
the problem associated with allowing it
or avoid avoidant. Thank you for your
time.
>> Thank you Chad. Good luck.
>> There he is.
>> Oh, would you like to ask a Chad, there
was a question.
to propose that the statements written
statements be provided to the cler.
>> If you have uh them they can be it's
also we're also recorded too. So we have
them in in the recording.
» Is there anyone else who would like to
speak to um either public hearing
but particularly the smoking one? I
guess seems to be it.
Anyone else?
No, not I'm I'm going to close the
public hearing
and uh have the board have a discussion.
Right.
So um this was um this came out of
buildings committee and um this is the I
think the second or third permutation on
this at last month's meeting. We um rather unanimously agreed that it
should include not just the building but
the village owned property and vehicles.
So that was the reason that the we had
to set another public hearing because
that made the law stricter than we had
publicly noticed previously. So this is
that opportunity. Um does everyone want
to have a chance to speak about it or
>> I I want to express that a concern that
I have expressed in the past two
meetings as well and that is by
including land
we are in effect creating a designated
smoking area that is on public sidewalks
or on adjoining properties
adjoining the places where the village
owns. So for instance, particularly
problematic is the water treatment plant
which is
you know marked on either side by basset
property. So BAS property is not
smoking. If all village property is not
smoking then employees there who smoke
will likely step into the public
sidewalk or the street on the hillside
coming up from the parking lot. I was
very much in favor last night last last
month of including designated smoking
areas on properties to allow those who
have what I agree is a bad habit um that
I wish they would not partake in
somewhere where they can do that where
it is less obnoxious to the public at
large than in front of a village
property.
Thank you, Cindy. Richard, do you have
>> I don't really have anything to add to
this. I indication to eliminate smoking
of public property.
>> All right, Joe.
>> I would just like to thank
everybody who's testifying about this
issue. It's been personally most
educational over the past what two or
three months to hear all the different
perspectives and I appreciate the the
research, the depth of feeling, the
concern that's been expressed and um in
my case I am supportive of the
legislation.
>> George,
>> I'm also supportive. I think the health
issue trumps just about every
everything. And again, we we speak about
a designated area as an option there,
but smoke travels and
if you know, we can just use this room
as an example. People are smoking in the
corner there, the wind's blowing, it's
going to affect this side, you know,
this side of the room.
So, uh, I would look to support the ban.
Well,
>> yeah, I would have to agree with Cindy.
I feel like we should have even though
smoking is an incredibly bad habit but
lots of health effects I do agree with
Cindy that we should have we may have a
set aside able spot for these people who
do choose to partake in smoking to be
able to go go back and have have a
spoke. I would have to sign with the
event that they maybe create this space.
>> All right. Um thank you all. I know this
is seems to have been a little difficult
for um some of us uh on this trustee
board. Uh I would concur that um the
good outweighs
kind of the infringement on someone's
privilege to smoke. Um we do have two
village employees that smoke. Um, and
they do have that potential to smoke
then on a sidewalk in particular in that
one location. I think it will they will
be vastly outnumbered by the number of
people standing outside Basset Hospital
smoking on the sidewalk. It is what it
is and you can just kind of get around
them and fortunately hopefully the
wind's blowing in a different direction
when you walk by it. But um I also am in
support of it. So, I will make a motion
to approve the changes to chapter 233
smoking and vaping in section A. That it
uh include the following buildings in
adjoining land along with vehicles owned
by the village of Coopertown are hereby
designated as smoke-free and vapor
zones, water treatment plant, wastewater
treatment plant, streets building, and
fire hall. Is there a second? Second by
Joe. All in favor?
>> All oppose.
Two. Okay. Thank you very much. Um and
now we have we have the second um
proposed local law, but as I understand
it, we didn't get anything back from the
county, did we? Or
>> No, we could we could do the short
environmental assessment form just to
check that off of the list. Okay. But we
do have to wait for the county referral
to be returned.
>> So this will probably be postponed uh to
uh our next meeting, the September 28th
meeting when we could formally adopt it.
Okay. All right. Do you want to go walk
us through?
>> Yes. Well, I'll start by declaring this
action, which is to amend the number of
days that a nonprofit entity could have
a temporary use permit from 7 to 14 as
an unlisted action for the purposes of
Seagar with the village of Coopertown
acting as the lead agency.
So, that's the first motion.
>> All right. Second by Richard. All in
favor?
So then we need to complete part two and
part three of the short environmental
assessment form. Um I would make a
blanket motion that this change will
have no or small impacts on numbers 1
through 11.
We can go through them one by one if you
want. But
>> I think we did we all get that? I know I
saw it digitally. Yeah. So we've all
>> Yeah. and was also you have a hard copy
so you've seen it. Um is there a second
to that or any questions?
>> I'll second.
>> Second by Joe Fabber.
And then I will make a motion on the
back page that uh we check the second
box which says check this box if you
have determined based on the information
and analysis above and any supporting
documentation that the pro proposed
action will not result in any
significant adverse environmental
impact.
>> Second by Richard. All in favor?
» All right. So, we'll essentially um
return this to the packet and put it on
the agenda for the September 28th
meeting.
Um moving on,
we have uh now QC hospitality request um
for a community development block grant
toniclip in. Uh we had that uh meeting
on August 10th with the proponents of
this project and um I think that we all
uh reviewed everything that was provided
to us. I would like rather than to get
into an extended discussion,
uh I'd like to give every trustee a
chance to speak to
um the request that the village of
Coopertown apply for a community
development block grant for uh the Tana
Cliff in. I'll begin with you Cindy.
>> Yes. So I'd just like to say that I am
in favor of this project that is the
rehabilitation of the Tennoc Cliff in. I
am concerned that the information
presented to the village thus far is
lacking in details about finances and
job creation on which the CDBG
application would be based.
>> All right. Thank you, Richard.
>> Uh, as per Cindy, I'm in favor of any
project that will increase the value of
property in the village, increase jobs.
Uh I also agree that the presentation
left much to be desired and I was
thinking as we got the presentation from
Breadpoint that the opposite I'm not
redpoint from
the um what was it the organization I
was presenting
>> or the oh the main street building
>> main street.
>> Oh okay.
>> You know that's the way a presentation
should appear. I also don't know why the
village should be the lead agency on
this. um the benefits to the entire
county. The county has professional
staff to do these sort of things or
should uh they certainly have a high
enough payroll for that and I think they
should be doing it but I'm certainly in
favor of the project going through. I'm
just not in favor at this point. I have
enough information to see why the
village should take on any economic
interest in it.
Joe.
>> Well, in my view, this project is the
presentation that was made and I can't
support the project.
We did have some discussion um without
getting into the details of it that in
my view was incomplete.
The information he did receive was
unsatisfactory
um unprofessional.
Um and so uh the idea in the abstract of
rehabilitating British buildings of
course unsupported but as the project
this project which seeks the villages uh
support for development block.
» Thank you George.
>> I'm very much in support of rehabing
parts of the village that are crumbling
and all that. I think having when we had
the restaurant, the toner cliff there
was a nice addition to everything else
that existed in terms of where you can
eat and all that. But I would just
recommend that we're very very cautious
to make sure that it fits the needs of
the community is
regulated, controlled so it doesn't
become an overblown
project that affects us in a negative way.
Yeah, I'm definitely in favor of
revitalizing the tennif. It would be
nice to have something uh something
better and I guess nicer to look at
every time I'm coming out of stage
coach. I do would like to see more
information. It did seem like it was I
want to say I think it was you Joe that
said it was kind of professional or kind
of scattered their the company's um
presentation a couple weeks ago. I would
just like give you a little bit more
professional information and the
presentation. Um so I wouldn't I guess
project
>> um we really haven't had a chance uh to
discuss this. So that's what I was
giving everyone the opportunity to do.
For those newer to the board, the
village historically has done one
community development block grant and it
was for our um distillery. It was for
the 7,000 square foot addition, the Rick
House, to an existing um business. the
business owner owned the building
already and had already had a pretty
viable business model going when he um
requested support for an addition. This
grant the community development block
grant becomes has to be
handled by a municipality. So either
it's the village, the town, the county.
Those are the three agencies that could
do that. Uh in the case of the um
Coopertown Distillery, we did handle
that. It was the first one we did and it
was quite successful. Um on this uh
again, our name would be on the line and
I'm not comfortable with all the data
that I have received. So at this point,
uh is there a motion?
>> May I make one last comment? We can make
the motion. Well, let me make one last
comment if I may. We for the members of
the public we did discuss this in
executive session and because there was
financial information that the developer
was um interested in protecting. So our
ability to share what went on the
executive session is obviously
constrained but um my comments about the
proposal are derived from what we
learned there and I won't comment
further on that. But I will finally say
that we the the request here, the action
here is to have the mayor supported by
the village board of trustees attest to
um the quality of of a grant application
that I think there is not sufficient
information
to to to justify it. Okay.
>> So is there a motion
>> a motion to decline
>> decline an application? Just need. All
right. Is there a second? I'll second
>> second by Joe. All in favor?
>> Okay. No post. All right. Thank you.
>> Would would it be fair to say that if
additional information were forthcoming
that we might reconsider that vote? Is
that a possibility?
>> That vote was not or that vote was
tonight.
>> Yeah. the 100% the um budget information
we receive should we find that there is
a new bud preliminary budget application
submitted for village purview uh with
documentation certainly there would be a
different approach
>> and I think we would also like to see
capability statements by the project
proponents which
>> we need.
>> All right. Um, moving on, uh,
public safety committee and in your, uh,
additional agenda, you had the, uh, had
additional,
uh, materials for public safety.
» Like to start off with a little, you
know, story. We had, we had an incident
August 10th, I believe, when we had a
woman fall into a ravine
and uh fire department, police
department responded. And uh just
because he's sitting in a room, I just
want to make note of the tremendous job
that officer Lance did uh assisting the
victim out from the building. He's about
40 40 feet deep where where she was. And
uh again uh an extraordinary job by you and by by those who assisted.
Terrific.
Now I just have a I have a question for
the board regarding today. I know
certain when I was working there were
formal accommodations that were made for
heroic actions. Do we have that ability
here in the village? Is that something
that we do? I don't think we we
certainly could do a uh umclamation
>> proclamation. We don't have official
commenation forms, but
>> could I make a recommendation though
that we move towards doing that?
>> Yep.
>> I can second that.
>> Yep.
>> All in favor?
>> I
thanks Jess. Uh other than that, uh the
camera system now is fully operational.
Uh it's been useful in at least a couple
of instances and again if you could just
if you recall quick because I didn't
take notes when we spoke but if you
would just a couple instances where the cameos like I'm losing
>> good evening thank you everybody for the
nomination I'm happy to serve I'm happy
to do that or anyone so I appreciate
that recognition so as to saying our
camera system that mobility group is
proud proudly up and running and in the
short couple of weeks that it's been
live following our policy, we used it to
um solve two instances. One was to uh
actually dispel some rumors that there
was a 911 call of a individual with the
firearm
early in the morning hours. The cameras
caught this individual was not caught by
troopers because it happened at 4:30 in
the morning. At 6:00 a.m. I was able to
catch the camera catch this gentleman on
camera see exactly what the individual
was carrying that match description of
the 911 call and immediately report back
to the hospital came in from the
hospital that the Clark entities who
Peggy passed by that there was no threat
to the community before anyone probably
woke up for coffee. So that was quite we
were quite pleased to be able to get
that guarantee that there was no threat
to the public even though that call came
in from a concerned um basket employee.
So really pleased with that. I also had
a I was hit and run accident that I
heard right from the post office that
was all um saw exactly who the
individual was saw the damage to the
other vehicle and he was obviously um
addressed with that accident report
today. Believe it or not, this morning,
you know, quite a long day since
breakfast with the board and getting
other complaints in, um, we had a an
individual come in that was quite
concerned of another individual that
there's been an ongoing issue with their
place of business on 8 week. that person
realized, you know, what we had in in
operation and she stated that the fact
that those cameras are there, she feels
much safer knowing that if that
individual that who is trespassed from
that facility, her place of business,
that we are able to continually protect
her and her employees at that
establishment. So, that was another
thing that she was able to leave the
building. she entered in tears because
of the concern that she had of the
subject knowing that she's kind of um
available and we have that tool out our
resources. So that was um very happy to
report those and there'll be quite many
more that we can report and some will
probably I won't even be able to get to
tell you about that'll help a lot of the
community. So it's a great project so
far. Thank you.
>> Thank you.
I think it's been implemented
very well by
>> question where where are they hosted?
>> So presently these are the ones that
were previously um set in the policy.
The current location is main street and
fair street
pioneer street at Main Street Main
Street and Chestnut Street and then the
final fourth count presently is at the
docks covering both of the village owned
docks. Yeah.
>> Thank you. Yes.
>> Just one other just one other item
briefly. It should be in your packet
that we have an application for a full
>> full-time officer.
>> Parttime I'm sorry, part time.
>> And if you have a chance, you can review
that. Uh you want to say a couple words?
>> Happy Sue. I do apologize that he w he
came in late last week and wasn't able
to attend this morning's breakfast with
the board. Um he was actually working
the shift at Sunni Onata. um comes very
highly recommended by two other officers
of our department including myself who I
personally work with this individual
very dedicated um former county deputy
sheriff who presently worked his is
working now at Sunni Onian in their
police department um his dedication to
the service he's had 12 years at the
county sheriff's office here knows our
area patrols it very well he was very
excited to say that you know He chose
our department for a part-time position.
He's keeping his full-time status at the
university, but they have a state shifts
12 hours. So, we've got quite a few days
off. He declines applying to another
village, I'll say it's goary county,
that pays $10 more in Allen. He decided
to apply with us because of the
relationship he has with the members,
the ability that he knows the patrol
area and how we want to he lives in and
would like to stay closer than ongo
county. So we're very happy to receive
the application completed all the
documents and waiverss. So that u
background the full background has been
being conducted obviously the approval
will be pending his full background
coming back. We're very excited that he
soil has back out and wants to serve
this community as well as soon.
>> Thank you.
>> You you bring up a point that's
concerning to me. If we're being outbid
by that much in general, not everybody
is going to say, "Hey, I'd rather work
in Hoover Town."
>> That's absolutely correct. you know, and
that's something that last year we were
I was proud to address the part-time um
payroll for part-time employees, and I
think that helped greatly, especially
for our current part-time staff, because
they certainly appreciate that bump that
we are able to provide them. But yeah,
this is another small village that has a
lot more crime, the one that pays um $10
an hour or more for part-time employees.
Um yeah, we're fortunate. You know, we
don't have that, but we still need the
same exact personnel that they do with
the training. So, yeah, certainly
something that our head has.
>> Okay. Thank you.
Moving on to fire.
>> Yes. Move on to improvement.
>> Um just briefly, no notable little
stuff. Uh there's a lot of discussion
when we met about the fire down at the
uh the lakefront there. Uh the
conclusion is is that it was electrical
in origin and all that. Uh pretty heroic
effort by the people who come out at
3:00 3:00 in the morning to address
those type of those types of issues. And
again they deserve you know they deserve
uh a grat our gratitude and whatever way
we can do that I don't have to do this
process for
>> I'm looking forward to your drafting of
these commenations because obviously
with your police experience you know how
to do
>> I was an English major
>> and you you're a double whammy there.
You got it.
Uh there were 29 fire calls, 14 within
the village. Uh other than the fire down
at lakefront, nothing nothing on the
other side of the house with EMS. They were summoned 118 118 times during the month of July and saddled
with their responsibilities for the uh
the induction the induction weekend
uh and the special events that take
place. I think the latest finger event
was the triathlon on the on the on the
lake and again hats off to that group
because they just do an extraord
extraordinary job.
» Any questions, comments on the public
safety report.
Motion to accept the public safety
committee by Molly, second by
um Cindy. All in favor? I
>> may I bring I don't know if this is a
time point of this records uh document
is that something nice
>> yeah we haven't gotten Yep you're right
we did
>> it was appended to the public safety
>> oh right that's in your packet and it
looks like this
um
is there any questions comments while
Jess is here about this it came up I
think last month but we didn't have this
in front of us. So now you have the
actual resolution that we would approve.
>> Yeah. I was just going to ask Jess if
you could give us your views of this
system. Do you think it's value added to
your
>> Yes, absolutely. So I'm sorry that
wasn't available the first reading of it
when I forwarded it over to the village
clerk. I attended a full day course on
1/4 of records at um Syracuse University
and the presenters were very specific to
New York State law and how it applies to
us being a steward and releasing public
records. One of the items that came up
from the uh New York State Archives, the
state library is the fact that every
municipality New York State state law
covering their e electronic records
their electronic signatures creating
paper. We're going for more paperless
electronic documents. The municipalities
are not covered under that law that has
already been passed. They would have to
adopt this document which they provided
and I reached out to the archives to
make sure that we have all of that. Each
municipality would adopt that to then
allow those records to be electronically
signed and stand up in court for
whatever reason being. I believe our
universal traffic tickets that are
operated by New York State. I believe
that applies there. of art. We have e
signature that go on there. But any
other document that I generate for local
court or anything else, we may then or
to the e version of that electronic
version as the original. Um and we can
kind of we're working on to revise our
record section, but we generate a lot of
documents and I'm trying to get more and
more people to go electronic and get it
scanned, get it recycled, securely
shredded and recycled. So um by adding
this I think that could help every
department not just the police
department but every department and
entity within the village to then have
that strength of resolution to utilize
electronic documentation.
>> So this would not be specific to our
department. It would be specific to the
entire village record.
>> That's what I understand. Yes.
Not a slave. That was my question as
well, whether we were approving this
specifically for the Coopertown Police
Department or whether we were approving
it for all
>> Coopertown. That resolution was
entitywide as the the village board of
Gooerstown passes that resolution. Every
one that pulled under the village
government would now apply for the
electronic document fee. I mean,
>> so it's not just for police records,
it's for any government record,
>> right? So, and I can appreciate the
value of it. I just don't know. Do we
need to consult with the rest of
>> Yeah, I think we better because um this
came up to a degree in the finance in
the treasures and we do have like a
seven-year policy
>> and uh so it's not necessarily something
that
you know it'd be very the quantity of
our financial records would rapidly fill
this building. Um and you know our data
systems um it's not all digitized all of
that financial records
>> like I to me it makes sense if we want
to move forward for the sake of your
department in the third blank to fill in
Coopertown Police Department and then to
return to this. But I too concerned
about financial records.
>> Oh yeah. And it's certainly not they're
calling for bucks to go paperless.
No, no. Yeah. The ability to then
generate or provide any document. So, if
I were to email it over to another
entity, for example, if it has our
signature on it, it would be the same as
or considered an original. Um, cuz some
entities, believe it or not, 2020 states
when I was sending documents to New York
State DCJS, they're requiring the hard
copy. Well, so that that's exactly what
concerned me is the last sentence that
is on this page because it indicates
that paper copies will be convenience
copies,
>> disposed of
>> and disposed of um
>> and and we know in some cases that they
are more than convenience copies. They
are considered the the copy. So it was
that last sentence particularly as I was
thinking about finance, as we think
about invoices that are born digital but
which we print. Um we need to know that
those printed copies carry the same
weight as the the digital copies and
that may be true for you as well.
>> Yeah. Like we know which ones because
like a lot of my original um wet paid
wet copies I would call it do go
directly to the court if it's to that.
So my then I have a whole jacket a case
jacket of copies that would have the
same if the court does in fact lose
those. They're apparently under a lot of
workload right now. So
>> yeah,
>> they would again my other copies would
be considered by law an original.
>> So I don't believe this this resolution
at all calling for a paper list or um
you must go by this date. It just gives
I understood it and we can certainly get
more um guidance from the state archives
that it would allow us to you to have
that option and have that other layer of
protection under the law that gives it.
So that's was my understanding.
>> Yeah. I two thoughts on that. This last
sentence has a lot of meat on it.
>> Yeah. Yeah, it sure does.
>> It's shall be deemed convenience copies
are disposed of when no longer needed
for reference or other administrative
purposes. and the administrative
purposes means we need that as the the
record for us. It's it's
>> sort of got an internal contradiction.
The second point I have, Cindy, I might
be missing something, but it doesn't
talk about departments. It talks about
>> Yeah, it's the government. That's I was
wondering how you just make this
Coopertown Village Police Department
because it's totally talking government.
I think we need a little more background
information on this. Um it and maybe
draft something that might be applicable
to the police.
>> That would work under the state law that
would allow us to have a policy so that
we could specifically be that entity.
>> Yeah. And why don't we begin there? But
I think some we need a little more
information
>> documents from the records retention
people.
Well, I'm just wonder to follow up on
that more information
>> if I know you had those training
conferences. I don't know if this would
be a topic at training to see how double
wide this policy
schedules. Obviously, we know we can't
get rid of these held. So, I think this
is something
>> this is specific to digital.
>> It was born digital.
>> It's totally digital. um perhaps gather
a little more information, bring it to
public safety and back to the village
board next month and we'll look into
this further. I don't think we're ready
to take an action on it.
>> Absolutely. Happy to do so.
>> Thank you so much, Jess.
And the only other thing that um would
have been under police committee is um I
had brought up the compact car
definition because we have it in our um
our village law. Um but we don't have a
definition. So I had begun to draft one.
Uh I don't believe anything further was
done on that but I will work or did was
it?
>> Yeah, it was I may have it in my packet.
If not, could you quickly produce copies
for everybody?
>> Yeah, I can print that as well if you'd
like with the hard copies or I can
verbalize it as well.
>> Yeah,
>> I know. I can certainly go print that off because I sent that over to
George this morning before our meeting.
So, there is in fact no, there was a
question I know he had about the
definition in New York State vehicle
travel. There is no specific definition
of a compact vehicle. What we had
located was the um EPA has a cubic size
space but interior cubic space of the
vehicle. I would suggest potentially
going by the wheelbase. That's something
on the exterior that can be checked by
my enforcement officers. They do believe
it or not carry a ruler. We have already
a minute to measure how far off the curb
they are. So if we would define it as a
village uh the wheelbase the standard
wheelbase and in this email it says
between a 96 and 103 I believe that will
give us an exterior quantitative number
for how compact vehicle and then it
would be an because we're not
contradicting state law by that and I'm
not
>> right I I last month found that and I
said obviously our poor um public safety
can't measure cubic feet within a
vehicle
But there were communities that defined
it. But this came up because we, for
those who might have missed that, we
have a compact cars only uh signage sort
of in front of, you know, the former
church and Scott building at and it's
not I've been told we can't enforce it
because we don't have the definition and
we don't have it in our vehicle and
traffic laws. So, we need to do that,
set a public hearing to define a compact
car and to establish that parking space
that's already labeled um for that. The
um other municipality I'd seen had an
actual dimension. It might have been
wheelbase, but it's it talked about and
the comp did talk about the cubic feet
or of of the interior, but it also
talked about 17 ft or less, 16 ft or
less. Um, many of the trucks that are
out there now are actually in violation
of our 20 foot maximum on our street.
And when a 20
foot plus truck parks in that spot,
you're imperiling
pedestrians trying to cross on the
sidewalk, the crosswalk there. And you
know that intersection that they were a
standard pickup truck. It wasn't
extended. It had no additions to it.
that was parked in a diag diagonal spot
in front of the hall that was impeding
traffic because cars had to go on the
other lane and it was backing up to the
flag pole that I checked and that was he
was up to the curb. He still received a
citation for his parking space because
it was over the footage and no only one
lane could get past out main street.
This is a couple months ago. So it's
>> yeah.
>> All right. So for um let's set a um
public hearing for um our September 28th
meeting to um you know approve a compact
car definition that will be both for our
zoning and for our
>> zoning was not in favor of of adding the
definition to the zoning law
>> even though it's in there
>> because it gives discretion to the
planning board on unusual lots. Okay,
then fine. Then we would just do it for
the vehicle and traffic law and that and
in particular that space.
>> Yep.
>> All right. So second
>> second by Joe. All in favor?
» Perfect.
>> Happy to write it up just
>> where it goes.
» Yeah, I say I'll work with George on
public safety on it.
>> Great. Thank you.
multiaceted
wonderful.
>> All right, moving on. Other committee
reports
double day.
>> Yeah, we had a pretty busy meeting for
double day. Um Mr. Kurpin said that the
field has been pretty busy with
tournaments this summer, which is good
to hear.
um for the friends of double day update.
Um I believe last month we talked about
the painted side on the outfield um of
the stadium there that was friends home in baseball. I guess back in the I
want to say early 1930s 40s 50s and 60s
there was a painted sign that said I
think birthplace of baseball and uh we
would like to change that to the home of
baseball. I want to say Mr. cats or Jeff
Catz and Vinnie Russo are going to work
together to kind of figure out the
dimensions about how big that sign would
be and exactly where we go on the
outfield. So, and when we get that,
we'll come back and I guess we can vote
on whether or not we can put that on
there. Um, and we also talked about the
uh double D
museum, I guess. Was it you, Ellen, that
maybe?
>> Well, I actually I think Jeff might have
said museum in the bathroom area. I had
brought up the um former field manager's
office and I hadn't said museum.
It said sort of like a history
interpretive center for with panels for
tourists so that they could understand
the history of
>> I brought it up that we could maybe use
one of the field managers offices but I
guess it seems like they all or all the
offices are being used currently.
You know, I saw that and I I think I'd
like to follow up on that because until
we third phase building and I hope most
of you have seen the Gil Manager's
office, it's really big. Um, and that
space he was in previously in the 1939
building was his office space. There is
storage space under the uh stadium
seating at the third base pavilion. So I should think that there might be other
um
space for storage and that
is a very visually attractive place to
potentially welcome tourists and give
them interpreting centers
there. So, I'd like to I think the
doubleA committee might want to look
into that a little more.
>> Okay, sounds good. I'll bring it back up
to them. Um, and I guess once we figure
out where that museum will be, our
little um little area,
we'll kind of have to let Jeff Catz know
so he can uh start some fundraising.
Uh, let's see. The St. Louis Cardinals
fantasy camp weekend is coming spring of
next year and uh we were talking about
maybe publicly promoting the event but I
guess in the past St. Louis Cardinals
really haven't wanted a big
>> don't want to be really being promoted
so I guess we probably won't really do
that.
>> Um Hall of Fame weekend was pretty good
uh pretty good ground for the Hall of
Fame. Um, and one of the new businesses
that I'm excited for is the uh asset
generation shoot with Casp Majestic.
It's just going to be happen happening
in about a month. Uh, mainly a double
day field. They're basically going to be
shooting some shots between 7 and 10
a.m. on the field. I guess it's kind of
gonna help promote tourism to the double
day field.
Um, and then we were talking about I
guess there was some company I forget
exactly which company they had reached
out to Marsha and I and they were hoping
to maybe have a barbecue uh set up for
induction weekend next year. They were
hoping to serve about 200 800 people on
the Saturday afternoon of induction
weekend. used to mention,
>> but we
were trying to figure out which location
to do it in and we were we couldn't
really come up with a location that
could serve up to 800 people
and yeah, we were talking about Fowler
Pavilion or Lake Park and we said
there's probably no way. Then we told I
think someone was gonna tell the company
if they really want to do the county or
do it in Coopertown, maybe reach out to
the county, they do it on the county
lawn.
And that's really all um Oh, we also
talked about I guess this the same
company wanted to have blacks
commemorating uh the customers that have
visited all 30 major league stadiums in
the US. But and I guess they wanted to
put it on double be feel and we all were
like that no
that's not appropriate.
Well that's really all we all we
discussed about our double date
uh meeting. Yes, slide three.
>> On the um additional agenda,
there is um the we'd like to consider um
increasing the nonrefundable application
fee for the double day field
application.
What you have in your packet are two
pages. one um if you look at it and kind
of look the fees funds you understand
our policies
and there's also a sheet that indicates
the refunds that were given. Now
remember if you're you get at least four
innings in we don't cancel some of these
you don't even get those four innings.
Um, so we processed applications and
each funded $10,720
thus far this year. So this becomes a
bit of an administrative
burden for $25. It's uh ties up our
deputy clerk. It um ties up our finance,
our treasures department, cutting those
checks, you know, all the approvals,
etc. So um this was discussed at finance
and it seemed rather than you know any
pro rating etc that um increasing the
$25 fee Marsha said they wouldn't even
probably bat an eye if it was $75. But
it does seem that the village um in
recognition of all the work involved by
our staff to both these games, handle
the correspondence, then issue refunds
etc. is certainly more than $25.
» So I understand how that would work with
single games. So they would pay I would
even say a $100 non-refundable
application fee. How does it work with
tournament tournament games? Um, do they
pay an application fee plus 5%
non-refundable de deposit? Looking at
the fees that are included in our
packet. Um,
>> right. The that means that
can that's if they cancel. Are you
talking about the 90% refund? No, I'm on page three of what's in our
packet. So, it says single games, $25
non-refundable application fee paid when
applying for a game.
>> And then tournament games, it says 5%
non-refundable deposit due with
application. So, do they not pay an
application fee?
>> No, everybody pays the $25. But what
you're saying there is they just do that
um paid when applying for a game. You
don't you do that but if for the
tournament games
>> the 5% nonrefundable disposit due with
application.
>> What's the difference between a
non-refundable deposit and a
non-refundable application?
>> That's I guess a better way to state the
question that it is that some of those
are like $3,000. No, I mean the term
art, but we have an a non-refundable
application fee and then we have a
non-refundable deposit.
I don't know what the difference. I
mean, they all they all go to our
administration, right?
You see the different words. I'm I'm
just focusing on the different words in
each.
>> Yeah, you're right. Um I don't know. I
can't reach out. Marca explained that.
>> Yes.
per plus tournaments have to do that 5%
because they're much larger. They take
up like tons of spots. So they they're
required to put down even more.
>> It's a deposit on their rental. So say
they um have booked three games or four
games, it'll be $2,000.
So they have to put 5% of that
$2,000.
So, I would just suggest including the
line about the refundable non-refundable
application fee, whatever amount we
decide on in both both columns because I
>> That's exactly right. That was the
recommendation of finance that it not be
predicated on your games or how many you
did. It's a administrative fee is what
we wanted it to be,
>> right? And I guess
we're really talking about a not less
than number if the 5% non-refundable
deposit is it cannot be less than the 75
or $100 whatever we're charging.
>> Well, I assume it's both. I assume it's
the application fee plus 5%
was very
clear from the way this is written to
me.
>> What is the dollar amount on the
non-refundable application fee we were
suggesting?
suggested 75.
>> Yeah. So, what's
>> said they wouldn't bet an eye.
>> So, what's this 25? Is that something
we're just going to change? Right.
>> That is what it currently is no matter
how much they book.
>> Right. And so, we're talking about
changing that. But the one that had me scratching my head
was the 5% non-refundable deposit.
It's always going to be more than the
$75.
Correct.
I believe if I understand correctly what
we're proposing is it be in addition to
the fee
>> there isation fee whether you do book
single games or tournament games it's
called an administrative fee and it
would be $75. So then is the for
tournament games is that that fee that
25% application fee each or $25 each
game or the total number of games
>> there's a onetime application fee for
tournaments but tournaments are have to
be so many games. So that's going to
require 5% out of the $25 application.
>> Okay, which is now going to be 75 of the
application. Tournaments have so many
games we ask them to pay an additional
fee. because they take up a lot of
schedule.
>> So they have to pay that as you
>> so it's 75 bucks in each case plus less
the 5% in the deposit.
>> So the recommendation was a $75
administrative fee. So even if they get
all their money back for a rain,
the village is left with something
besides
$25.
>> Yeah. Yeah, as as is correct, we didn't
all that. We'll
>> schedule them the paperwork and whatever
and it's not our fault either that
they're ranked out.
>> So, I think we're we have what we want
to do, but we need to articulate it in.
>> Well, we'll have um Marshall do that,
but essentially what we are saying is
I'll move that we set a $75
nonrefundable administrative fee when
applying for um the games, you know,
field regions.
Um, is there a second?
>> No question. Does that include applying
for a tournament
>> then? That there's that's something
separate, right, Jenna? That
>> Yeah, that 5% of that is the
administrative fee.
>> I was going to say there should be let's
Okay. 75 if that's what you'd like. I
prefer Audrey, but $75 non-refundable
administrative fee. When making an
application for a game or tournament or
a tournament, there's an additional 5%.
Make it clear, use the word additional,
not nonrefundable deposit to the
application.
>> Yeah. So, that doesn't change. We've
been a little fixated on that. We're
essentially a $75 administrative fee
whether you book one game or you book
four games in a tournament, but they
have additional fees if they book four
games for. Further clarification. So in
our example there we have a $600 gain.
Is that does the $75 come out of the 600
or is it $600 and $75?
>> It's an administrative fee so that if we
they are rained out um and our office
has not only processed that worked with
the double day field manager scheduled
everything put in the time then they get
rained out. and our finance department
has to cut the check, handle all that is
to cover our office time and
>> right I get that
>> has nothing to do with nothing to do
with the rate. The rate is the rate per
game. The administrative fee is the fee
for making an application. That's all.
Well, it's it's not quite that all
because I'm assuming it in the
tournament game the 5% non-refundable
deposit
>> that's been that that is
>> right that is there but in the event of
a cancellation I thought they get all
their money back less the 5,000 the 5%
nonable deposit the whole point is that
the deposit is against the full price of
your tournament it's a deposit
>> right
>> so it's not an additional fee it's it's
so in the event of a rain out we keep 5%
>> when it's a tournament
>> but that's book like four days
>> right no and I'm saying that's fine I'm
just not I don't know that we're clear
on
>> so we're talking about adding an
additional fee that would be above and
beyond that deposit that everyone would
make and it would be above the the field
rental
>> so it's going to be
for a tournament it's going to be $75 $5
per application or per game?
>> Per application.
>> Okay. Plus the And then we we retain we
get that and we retain 5% of the total
that they pass. And on the single gate,
we're going to get we're going to keep
$75 of whatever they had passed. But
>> the easiest way is once the approved, it
will go up here. except allove above all um field scheduling and rentals $75.
So then you aren't having a confusion on
>> Yeah. And so this will be my last
question. I'm I'm sorry I'm thick. In
the first bullet example, will this now
$600 gain result in a check being sent
to the village for $675?
» We usually do separate checks. So you
apply with the $25 which is currently
with the application. Then as we set
their dates, they give us the final
payment by April or May. So there's two
separate check sheets coming in. One is
the application fee, one is the game. So
it's not a $675 check. It would be a
$600 and a $75.
>> Okay. But okay, but it ends up being
$675.
>> The 75 is not credited against the 600.
And what what happens when we have a
tournament scheduled, multi-day
tournament, and the first day gets
rained out?
They don't get anything back for the
whole tournament, do they?
>> They get credits on their um days.
>> Yeah. Most of the time with tournament
rain, they try to squeeze in games when
it's not raining. So, a it just works
out with tournament. They always seem to
find a way and it works out. No, we
don't typically refund,
>> right? Okay. I mean, they don't say,
"Hey, we couldn't get our tournament
started, so you know, we want to re we
want a refund for everything." Okay.
>> All right. I believe I made the motion
and Molly seconded it. All in favor?
>> I
brought that one up.
>> All right. So, that was the last action
under double day field. Motion to accept
double day field committee report
>> by George. Second by uh Joe. All in
favor?
>> I.
>> Moving on to streets committee.
>> Sounds good. So just to give you some
updates on things that were covered in
the minutes. Um Bill Clark came to the
meeting about water that runs down his
driveway onto the sidewalk and into his
house. So, our street crew is looking to
assist uh Bill as well as the neighbor
with whom he shares a driveway to create
a little speed hump at the entrance to
the driveway so that that water is not
doing that. Um under trolley since we
had this meeting um the Adiggo County
has received an offer from the city of
Oni to purchase
uh the broken trolley that we have
talked about month after month after
month. Um, so that went to Common
Council on Thursday night and appears to
be moving forward um, likely at a rate
of $7,500
for them to acquire that trolley. We
spent a lot of time last night talking
about sports signs. You may recall if
you have come into the village of
Coopertown from the south, you will see
that Mitch has found a solution. Um,
which is to double up the signs. It's a
lot of signs, but it does uh they
managed to fit them all in one pole. So,
if we like that, they can do that at the
other entrances to the village. So, take
note when you pass uh when you pass
Bokeh. May
>> I return to trolley for a second? I was
confused by the second bullet.
T citing writership. It's Is it
>> It's incorrect.
>> It's There's a
>> It's down
by 3,200
writers. I
>> Anyway,
>> 5,800 writers and then that's down from
3,000 writers.
>> Yes, there there is a there is a
typographical error. I can look up the
correct numbers for you.
>> Well, it's okay. I just wanted to be so
what were and and your the comment was
that the that 6,000 and 2,000 ridership
is not good for us.
>> That is correct.
>> Okay.
>> Yeah.
>> I was thought I read having been some of
those down by
>> it is it is down by that number.
>> Yes.
>> I just confused.
>> Yes. though from is in the wrong place. So it should
be down the number from 2025.
>> Yeah,
>> good catch up.
>> Um
in terms of sidewalks, I would like to
make a motion to go to bid for new
sidewalks on Sesuana Avenue. You have
the bid documents in your packet.
» And where will these new
They are
um
fabulous.
>> I believe it's between walnut and
beaver.
» I I walked my dog on them today.
>> Let me let me ask Mitch where they where
they are. It might be the next block
then.
>> Yeah, then it's gonna be the next block.
They're fabulous. Good. Great.
Do you think that we think it's the next
law?
>> I will confirm with him. Cindy,
>> you said that though that info was in
our packet, didn't you?
>> I thought it was.
>> I I don't see it, but maybe
>> Was it only on our streets? Maybe it was
just on our street agenda. I'm sorry.
>> So, you like the number?
>> Beaver to Beaver to Elm. No, this is to
issue the bid.
>> Is Oh,
>> we're not talking about money yet.
>> Okay.
>> Beaver to Elm.
Sorry, my confusion.
>> No, I was going to say they were done.
Whoever did them.
>> No, this is just to to get quotes, which
we will hopefully talk about next month.
Um, I've been drafting a letter related
to the trees that are breaking up the
walls of Willowbrook. Martin read it
today. I think the one question is whom
should it come from? Should it come from
me as chair of street? Should it come
from Ellen as mayor? come from Mitch as
DPW superintendent. I don't know whether
anyone has any strong feelings.
>> Foundation question.
>> Who owns what here? We believe the walls
are owned by the village and the trees
are obviously on the lawn of individuals
and it is the root system and
encroaching upon the law.
>> Yes. So I was just we have surveys and
title of I mean
>> it's not that clear
>> water course because often times the
property lines go to the
>> my understanding but Joe I can't tell
you I can be definitive is that those
walls were put in by
I guess we can determine
surv
>> I don't think we own the property the
because as Joe's pointing out the
boundary lines often go to the center of
the creek, but Martin Barton and I both
believe that the village put in the
walls,
>> right? And so how but I it's just a
puzzlement to me that we've got public
infrastructure on private property and
now we're commanding the private
property owners to
>> not not if we had it there was an
easement operation. I think there must
have been an easement.
>> I think the village did many things in
the past without getting formal. And the
idea I mean it clearly would damage
infrastructure that uh preserves village
and others property. So um
>> it's fine. I mean we'll wait to get a
reaction. I'm not I don't want to hold
that up.
>> I just I think that's probably the best
bet. I I mean that to me um but if if
there if it came down to someone saying
I'm not doing it. We have an obligation
I think to preserve that given the fact
that uh if the water runs the box
somebody else is going to be damaged.
Let me let me point out, Martin, again,
you know, the logic here, okay? You're
not you're not going to do it because
you think that you own that, fine. If
you own it and you're responsible for
what it's doing, if it fails and causes
problems downstream, you're going to get
sued for it.
>> The minute you tell somebody that, oh,
wait, wait. No, I don't know. You won't.
>> You may be right back.
>> Do you know what I'm saying?
The question, Richard, the question is
it you can admit that it's public
infrastructure, but it's on private
property. The question is, it's up to
the public entity who went onto your
property.
>> Quite honestly, though, Joe, if we put
that on there, we probably now own that
property through adverse possession.
>> Yeah.
>> Oh, yeah. After 10 years, we would have
taken that. much less.
>> It's the same argument we have with
Baller Way. Anyone who you puts a
permanent structure somewhere and then
maintains it, uses it, you know, relies
on it, nobody complains.
>> It's Yeah, they're going to have a hard
time proving it's theirs. And
>> I'll leave that one for the Albony Law
School first year property exam, but I'm fine. Let's get the all the
question.
>> Yeah, I'm just trying to think who would
be the one to sign it. That That is the
question. If I got it from the treaty
committee, it doesn't bear much weight
to me.
>> Correct.
>> When you think if it were the
>> I would agree. Yes. I think if you're
comfortable signing it, that would be
the best.
>> Well, I think it should be from the
village board of trustees. So, it looks
like a united decision.
>> Absolutely.
>> We can certainly do that.
>> I think that's what it should be.
>> Yeah. I'm not opposing any of this. I'm
just saying these are the
>> Yeah.
>> underlying you got questions.
>> Yeah. Yeah.
>> There's a box of easements in the vault,
too. was anything.
>> I just I just feel that we sending too
many too much stuff back to the law
school for the students for their mood
cause.
>> Yeah,
>> we could keep we could keep them busy
for years with all our discussions on
this.
I can certainly also pull the deed on on
the property in question and see if
there's any thing that starts to explain
it because I remember when um mom and dad we pointed that entire
side they did the whole wall.
>> Yes. Um
>> certainly on that part of Willowbrook
there is a different there there is a
there was a different mechanism in place
for the wall. Um, but I would that's
that is a wall. There's a wall behind on
a budding that property
that was restacked and and and
repointed. I would think that the
property owner is not going to make a
case for oh I now own the property to
the middle of the waterway to which I
would say as somebody downstream oh so
it's the failure of you to maintain the
infrastructure that's causing my problem
I I would never want to
o over three feet of property take that
risk on some people might but you know
it's kind of kind of stupid say I'm
responsible this is mine. It also when
you say this is mine, it also means I'm
responsible for it.
>> Yeah.
>> So, the board of trustee would like to
send the letter requesting that the
property owner take care of the trees so
they stop damaging the wall.
>> Okay. That'll be the plan.
>> Right.
>> I'm sure we'll be talking about this
more. right now in the world is that
>> I don't know how widespread this problem
is and we just as a board of engineer
study and look at the integrity of
everything is this something that we
should just say you know we are looking
at the quality of our infrastructure up
and down and we see encroaching trees we
want we want to come on and fix we want
to remove the tree rather than say you
got to fix it because if they don't
I mean it's just going to be slow burn
to one some kind of failure and that
doesn't really get us if we think it's
important enough to get rid of the tree
to protect what we think is our
infrastructure I think we ought to do
that I don't I don't know we put that on
the property just
>> I agree with Joe
>> basic
the letter which I have not shared with
you but I'm happy to do is is written in
such a way that says we'd like to come
to with we'd like to find a solution
It's
>> It's not a demanding letter. It is.
You'll get to edit when you before you
sign, Joe.
>> Yes.
>> No, I I'm happy to share it with
everyone.
>> If we want if we want the tree down to
protect our property, we should take the
tree down.
>> If it's our property and they're
damaging it, they have an obligation.
>> Well, I think what we're really
concerned about is downstream effects of
a
>> That is exactly what we're concerned
about. So, it's another property owner
who's involved in this and and what's
our stake in the other property owner.
>> Well, we are the other property owner
because this the stream is headed to
Double Day Field.
That's where it goes.
>> Right through it
underneath it
>> because Willow Brook is so much fun. I
will tell you that we're also having an
issue near the railroad in with a pipe
that has been
>> blocked.
um the owner of that property
is aware and when the summer season is
over has agreed to address the problem.
As I said, I'm sure we'll talk about uh
Willowbrook more
because we always we always seem to um
you had and I emailed you today and I'm
sorry it was so late a draft of the
sidewalk replacement reimbursement
application procedures. Joe has provided
some comments. Um, I don't think we're
ready to approve this at this point and
certainly it wouldn't go in effect until June and we would need to take it
into consideration with budgeting. So,
if others have comments about this
particular draft, um, we can we can
hopefully approve it next month.
Perfect.
>> Okay. I just and I sent it to everybody.
>> I saw it and
>> I'm sorry. as he said, make sure you
click
>> track check uh track changes and I did
and
>> Okay.
>> Yeah, made sense.
>> The other thing that I would like to
report by way of good news that might
fit better under grants, but it is
certainly streets related. You may
recall that we put in an application
throughout county for an infrastructure
um grant that county would apply for
through the state of New York. cutives
for the replacement of water, sewer, and
streets from um the county office
building up to Grove Street. And we were
the successful recipients.
>> Congratulations.
>> So,
>> it's um Governor Hook made the
announcement because it is through the
regional economic development council,
but it was county infrastructure grant
fund that were only available to the
counties. And uh we applied for that
last year and Ken wasn't really they did go to somewhere else, didn't
it? Last year did they go to Oniana or
>> for the first time it went to Onian in
the first round and then we went back in
the second round and
>> and we got it. So it's about a million
dollar project and we 50% covered so
$500,000.
The only um thing I just want to make
sure the trustees understand about our
trolley because I know it was at one
point we thought we might be able to
recoup and keep more money from it, but
Nicole Ron at the county sent a u sort
of a summary. And if you recall, this is
our last trolley. This was purchased in
2018, so it was already eight and a
quarter years old. Um it uh we paid 10%
about $14,000
out of the uh $140,000 for that trolley.
So that was our share on it. And then
they did a kind of straight line
depreciation of it. Remember this could
not be
um kind of sold on the open competitive
market because it had received 5311
funds the federal funds. So could only
go to another community. Oniana is the
most um on our depreciation on it and
all. We would have only gotten about
5,000. So we're actually getting more
with that $7500
sale. This will be the last trolley that
the village
was involved in that 10%. The 2020s
will be obviously in 2030. There is a
hope Nicole thought that they will
change the law and that we might be able
to retain some, but we won't have vested
any in it. But the the the beauty of it
is if it is sold competitively, those
funds will come back because and to the
county which and used for their support.
So they're hoping to get that kind of
change by the time those um 2020
trolleys are sold.
>> Did you want to accept the resignation
now or later on the
>> I had it under personnel.
>> Okay, that's fine.
>> All right. Motion to accept um streets
committee report by
um
>> Joe second.
» Buildings committee. Um we had a uh
Zoom meeting of uh when was that? last
week with um the engineers who are doing
the HVAC
engineering study for um our building
specifically looking and we mentioned
this before the geo the potential for
geothermal
um the problem being that we don't have
much property and about the only space
that could be considered would be um uh
along Fair Street where we have those
small trees. They would obviously have
to come out and and that would be the
space we'd be looking at. But it was a
really good Zoom meeting um that had
Cindy and me and Mitch. No, Mitch.
>> Yeah. And Jana and Heather.
>> Okay. It was another meeting Mitch
couldn't get to. Um and and so everybody
had some input on it. Um what a
long-term hope would be for this because
it would be several million dollars
would be that the library might have
access to funds that we don't um etc. Uh
so that is being looked at. One thing
that came out of it is that it really
depends on your test wells. And so we
discussed the fact that we would like a
quote in the proposal they're giving us
to so that we could budget in our next
year's budget for test wells because if
it turns out that it's not even viable.
we go down and we're hitting water or
we're hitting something that doesn't
allow the installation of a geothermal
system, it'll let us know when we won't
be pursuing something that um wouldn't
be viable.
>> Can I point out that the Alvarez home on
River Street,
>> they did a geothermal vertical, you
know, just off the street,
>> like two feet off the street, and they
said it went about 400 feet down. So I I
don't know if a vertical
>> about that one because we do know of
other geothermals but that's a fairly
close one to us. So that's a good point.
Yeah. Yeah.
>> And it might be the same geological
structure that's here and there.
>> Yep.
>> No, that was they just consult with
the family.
>> Yeah. Or at least find out what was the
firm that did that.
Um, are there any other uh questions or
comments? I should point out that the
door van was here the other day and so
we are getting potentially a a quote for
um kind of folding door um automatic
door for our elevator to make them kind
of truly ADA compliant. It'll be just
one more thing I envision that will be
temperamental and uh people will try and
force and that will be that. I think
somebody's liking your what you I
thought you were heading to the idea.
Let's just have a full-time elevator
operator.
>> Well, that's what I thought.
>> I know
floor, please. Medzanine.
>> And they also looked at this door. Um, I
think I'd like a codes guide just to
double check on it because the door man
said that we could flip this door cuz
what we're trying to do is get it to
>> put a breaker bar on there and he
thought we could use it. And I said,
"Are you sure it doesn't need safety
glass?" Because it really seemed to me
it would need safety glass. He
said, "No, but I I think we're going to
look into that a little more seriously."
um because that's just a regular pane of
glass. And I will point out I put a
shower a stained glass window in a
shower and I had to put safety glass
>> on the shower side. So there's a lot of
breaks. So I think we'll have um maybe
uh our CEO just find out the code on
that for us.
>> Can I bring up something else in the
minutes of the building?
the discussion about the leases
expiring. Um, so my understanding as I
went back and checked this is that the leases
have different dates. Uh, the the arts
association does terminate in 27.
The um the library lease started in
2018. The arts association was signed by
Jeff when he was mayor. The library
lease was signed by you, Ellen, when you
were mayor the following year. And
there's a typo in the lease. It says
that it shall learn for 10 years from
May 31 to 2018.
And then it says terminating in 2027,
but it's clear from the schedule
of payments due the last payment of
$20,000 for the last year would be and
that last year runs from June 127 to May
3128. So the point is these leases are
out of phase with one another. And I
bring that up because of my chronic
uh interest in making sure that if we're
going into new tenure leases for both
entities that and we have the arts
association project that we make sure we
have visioning going on for what library
space
is needed perhaps to expand into. And I
just think there needs to be some
collaborative, you know, moderated or
mediated discussion of that. Um because
obviously the library program is going
forward or the arts association same and
the only difference between the two is
that they have another building that
will be completed during the course of
this lease. And what does that mean for
if anything for library
um space adjustment? And I'm thinking
particularly of the the office space now
occupied by the
um art association and that little
showroom
there that
>> Mhm.
>> So I'm done too.
>> No, I think uh definitely it'll be a
discussion and fortunately both um the
art association and uh the library have
representation on buildings committee
where this will be worked through. So
there'll be plenty of opportunities at
that committee to that they brought this
up the that it was on the agenda.
>> Yeah, they they were the ones who
brought it up.
>> Well, so I just want to point out the
discrepancy
in timing.
>> Mhm.
>> So if one lease is done before the
other, that may foreclose the kind of
discussion we think they can have.
Um the only thing um I did note there
that we had discussion on whether or not
vehicles and I think it means
were we saying under 20 ft there can
park on I don't know why that came up in
the streets department
there
>> but it's supposed to be over 20 ft isn't
it
>> he meant recreational vehicles under 20
so That's the word. That's a correction
that we'd like to make there.
>> Yeah. There's also a correction above
that. It's not the front door that's
being replaced. It's the porch floor
that's being replaced.
>> Yes. Yeah. Well, and in case I don't sit
on streets. I did notice you had what
you know what that one was, too.
>> Yeah. Plus, it says Richard wasn't
there, but then later he made a motion.
» But you are anyway. Yeah, I'd be happy
to, Jenna.
>> Yeah, we got them. All right. So, motion
to accept buildings committee report
by Joe, second by Molly. All in favor?
>> As I remember, Jenna, that was an
extremely filled day.
>> All right. Treasurer's report. This was
distributed.
I think you guys all see the consent
agenda. Key things to note are the
permissive referendum to transfer money
from building reserves to general fund.
Pay for the front porch repairs and
transfer from police reserve to general
fund to play for police cameras. There
are the invoices. Cindy politely
reminded me or explained to me the large
one for $275,000
is for the Southland project.
Um,
does anybody have any questions?
» The large bills to uh Kobasill Stone
Products, um, 84,421
was for our paving at Lake View Drive
South. Um, 160,000 to Koboskill
Stone was when we did Esley. So these
are major street um paving projects we
did and 71,000 was Lake View Drive
North. So Lakeland Shores was on the
agenda last year.
>> The rest are relatively small.
>> Yep. So
uh did you move the
>> I move the uh consent agenda?
>> I'll second.
>> All in favor?
>> I thank you.
And then um we have personnel
>> um
and we have a couple items on our um
additional agendas.
» Okay.
>> Under for personnel. So there you um you
can do
>> I'll I'll make the motions approve the
hiring of Sarah Lawrence as park
supervisor at an hourly rate of $24
>> a second getting a whole college for 24
and approve the hiring of Benjamin Gramp
seasonal laborer an hourly rate of 1825
approve hiring of Justin Pearl as a
part-time police officer
>> and we also should accept Zack Burton.
It was in this packet as well. His he
was RHMEO his resignation.
So
>> may I is this the police officer
awaiting the background investigation on
J?
>> Yeah. Contingent on the U background you
know the all the materials.
>> Okay. Yeah. I just treat
>> Y
>> I second it. All in favor
>> I finance. I think there was also one
more um
>> I didn't know if you said that one or
not. I was wrong.
>> These all came in like last minute.
>> Oh, that's right. It's not. Yeah.
>> Another seat later.
>> Okay.
>> All right.
>> So move.
>> Second.
>> All in favor? I move um move the invoice
from town
of the registar vital statistics fees
the amount of $2570
for this year.
>> Well, actually it's
>> should be last year.
>> No, it it's
>> for next year. I'm sorry.
>> It that's that is correct. Um so we
remit the fees. Remember this was
decided in about 2021 when I was board
um we we our staff handles all the
registar fees and it amounted to 2570.
So the town of AIBO invoice
but so that then they can put in their
budget as they begin drafting their 2027
budget this fall they know that they
will remit it back to us. It's
essentially offline.
>> Yeah.
>> All right. So, there's a motion made,
second. All in favor?
>> I
>> can I make a related motion to advertise
for a new HMEO to replace Zachary
Burton?
>> Second. All in favor?
>> I we know why he left.
>> Yes. He's leaving on the end of August.
>> No. Do we know why he left or what he
left for?
>> Here's his
>> I saw that him saying
What
>> I believe
she
>> I know what I'm getting at is where and
why. Was it money? Was it convenience?
» Um motion to accept the financ.
» Um moving on grants and projects. Um our
next welcome home troops town will be um
the 1st of September
today.
Um the lead women voters um will be
there and be speaking about their
efforts to promote democracy
and um information for elections. They
also will be providing the refreshments.
uh local musicians um will in the group
along some of the gold hats will be
providing musical entertainment and
members of the voices of Coopertown the
musical group will also be on hand to
promote all their fall activities and
performances
>> and that's next Tuesday
>> September
» um
Cindy mentioned our success on the
county infrastructure grant program. So,
that's very exciting. Um, New York
Forward, um, we have been working on,
uh, the revised Pioneer Alley plan. We
don't have it yet, but um, hopefully
that's forthcoming soon from Paserrow.
They are involved in the survey work um
for the Grove Street sidewalk which we
had hoped to uh get moving on. It's it's
uh we haven't gotten that surveyed um
but we're hoping when they're also in
town to also do the work on Hoffman Lane
which needs it but otherwise it's moving
forward. Um, I will say we've had one
success story and then we don't handle
the small project fund that was handled
by MVED, Mohawk Valley Economic
Development District. But um, one thing
we should all remember is that our New
York Forward funds, ours for like all
our
downtown pedestrian way projects, those
are funded from the Department of State.
It's not like there's some New York
forward DRRI agency up there. It depends
on what your project is. Uh the ones
pertaining to Josh's and and
Franchesca's um the Grove project is
through um HCR, home and community
renewals. They got 1.3 million. Our
small project fund is also under HCR and
um so the projects are working through
that.
uh all the
ones
uh have to have an environmental
clearance because remember these are old
buildings and this is public funds. They
can't be going in unless they've had a
kind of an environmental evaluation
and if lead or asbestous is found they
then have to abate that. Um, one of the
awarded uh uh businesses is trying to
decide whether they have an old building
and they worry that that could consume a
lot more than they're willing to do. Um,
all these small project funds have until
December 2027
to sort of be underway and completed.
One is nearly complete. it it did have
um its environmental review and then um
they'll probably finish within the next
month which is exciting. So these are
positives with uh our New York forward
funding. Uh, round nine, um, restore New
York. We have the million dollar and I
do know that, um, Rob Holtzen is, um,
assembling all the materials for the HCR
credit application, which is due next
month.
>> That would be for the Bat Factory
project
>> 217 Maine.
Um,
project fairy spring. Uh there were some
additional questions as I reported last
month from um the Middlefield um
planning board largely pertaining to the
uh friends of the parks
um were and how they were going to um
you know do soil retention during the
construction of the wall and the
building of the wall um in the
relocation of the road um for the
village. They were just inquiring about
the septic system. Um just for common
memory um that settling
was designed for capacity of 275 gallons
day. We had a took a six year average
and uh our average is 40 gallons.
So, even though we're not really adding
more bathrooms in the sense that the
ones that are there probably be used
less, but we are adding these uh two ADA
um bathrooms and one additional toilet
um was felt well within it. So, on uh
what was it? August 6, all were approved
and we have our zoning permit. And so at
this point, I would like to move that
the village of Coopertown
um go to bid um um for our portion of
the Ferry Spring project which includes
the ADA accessible restroom in the
pavilion.
Um, the caretaker's uh cabin ADA
accessible restroom, new caretakers
cabin bathroom, upgrading the electric
plumbing and underground utilities. Um,
and then revamping the changing room,
all the work ads,
etc. All the work that you have seen
recently in the plan. So, I will make a
motion that we go to bid for um Berry
Spring Art.
>> Second.
by Richard. All in favor?
>> Um
the I have a feeling that achieve I'm
hoping we will hear in the next month or
so. Um, we're pretty sure we're locked
in there because it's listed everywhere
as a million for our double day field
improvements, but we did have to fill
out CF and the voting that uh that'll be
officially announced soon. And we have
not heard anything on the water meter
grant. It's essentially a CFA even
though it had an early application
deadline of June 12th. So it could be by
the end of the year before we hear
anything on that. Is there any
questions?
Um moving on to parks board and are you
giving it in
>> Audrey's
we definitely had a busy parts board
discussion. Um we did have a couple
people show up for public comment. Uh
Tony and Jill
came and discussed their concerns about
um some of the boats at the village
docks and they noted five boats have
been have out of date registration
stickers displayed and that there is
obviously a long wait list to get a slip
at the village docks and um that they've
noticed that none of the slips have been
vacant all year um if not longer. I
think there's been a couple slips that
have been vacuumed for at least two
years now. Um, and they also noticed
that there's an illegal kayak in one of
the slips. Uh, they stated that the
letter that the village sends out um
states that the Ducks cannot accommodate
boats longer than 24 feet. That includes
the motor. But they also have noticed
that there have been boats that they
think are longer than 24 feet in the
slopes. Um
and we also they also just kind of asked
us about what we think how we should you
know monitor all these uh votes and the
vote slips. Um they did say that they
have reported these incences to the
police department.
Uh let's see. Then they kind of just
talked about their uh their thoughts. Um
all the uh parks, village parks have
been doing well. Um nothing really to
report there.
We did defer the uh the barbecue that
the company tried to ask us for double
date to the parks committee, but they
but the parks said no, we don't really
want 800 people on our parks for the
barbecue.
Let's see what else.
And we also talked about um
talked with the friends of the parks and
they said that they've noticed the lack
of lifeguards at Fair Springs. Uh noting
that many of these lifeguards worked
more than one job. So there's been
scheduling conflicts all summer with
those guys. Uh the early bird went well
in July.
Yes, there was an auction um for a
painting that Janet Monroe did and that
was auctioned off
and
they also discussed I guess there's been
some firework debris in the lake that
they wanted to clean up. So, we were
kind of talking about who should be
responsible for that.
And then we kind of talked about the dog
park and it seems like the school is
kind of still on a stall about that and
we're what we should do. So I thinking
maybe try to figure out a different
place to put the dog park in the
school's still going to not really or
drag their paint on that. And that's
really all we talked about
in the park. So
>> yeah, on the fireworks issue, we
discussed that to the watershed
supervisory committee. The question is
what the chemical composition of the
fireworks is, what ends up in the lake,
uh what kind of public health risk does
it represent? And um one of the
ingredients in the fireworks is
perlorate which can have impacts on
thyroid, but the we don't have any data
on the nature and extent of its
presence. Um so the people are reading
up about it and thinking about it and
one thought was to um since I believe we
just have a single vendor
that there too many vendors who
>> yeah I think they do all of them
American fireworks
>> right so maybe have some discussion with
them about what kind of alternatives
there are for fireworks displays or
maybe encourage the use of the less uh
toxic ones um if they and do so and
still keep customers happy. This isn't
really any kind of a mandate. We we're
not in a position to do that. But it is
and and we have maybe what seven or
eight displays a year. I guess it's not
>> it's not that many, but it's it's it's a
top
» relative to the um dog park. Um Audrey
is here, but she and Cindy and Joe and I
and se several people from the dog
committee and friends of the parks. Um
when was that a week ago? Sunday met up
at Berry Spring and and kind of
identified it a potential area. Um I do
wonder I noticed that the notes all talk
about the 10,000 being kind feasibility
where would be a spot. I know we've
already kind of discounted Badger Park,
but one of the big concerns about
putting it at Very Spring is it's not
walkable. And I have to tell you, I
spent You won't you won't believe this,
but I spent an hour and a half at Badger
Park the other day um babysitting
grandchildren. It was a lot of fun. It's
perfect park for it. And the friends of
the parks, I will say, have done it. Uh
they have a storage bin there with
bouncy balls and basketballs. So, you
can do that. You know, there's a um
paddle tennis thing set up and the two
tracks benches that have been donated by
the library for all our plastic bags
that have um been recycled into very
attractive benches. They're there um as
you know for observers of the um pedal
tennis. And while I was there, two
people, one drove in and I got chatting
with that individual and he said, "I
always come in and park at Badger Park
to take my walk around the village on
village streets and he had a dog and I
said, "Hey." And so I sounded him out
and he said, "That would be a great
spot." So I before we discount it, if we
have this money, should we potentially
get someone to look at our village parks
and give us some guidance on what it is?
The advantage there, yes, it is kind of
the wetish area, but it would need trees
removable. So does Fairy Spring, but the
only way you're going to get to very
spring is to dry if it's not walkable.
So, I I think it might be good to have a
sort of a community meeting led by
someone who could guide us into the
potentials and the and the actual
feasibility using that $10,000.
>> Yeah. I my view is um I want to be
prudent about this and I want to make
sure that if we do decide to spend any
of the money on the investigation that
we bear in mind the data we've already
gotten in. I thought
as many as 10 years ago the proximity of
Badger Park to residences would make a
dog park um problematic. And I thought I thought there was a we have a record
of of that. So whatever we do and maybe,
you know, the parks board team should
just reassemble all that information,
you know, as
and and review it before because even if
we were going to fashion
a request for proposals, we we'd really
have to identify some parameters. I
mean, I just think tossing out different
sites on the in the village would be
feasible. One of the other things we
discussed, Cindy reported on after
breakfast with the board this morning,
we talked about
soliciting
um the Clark Center for a potential site
and apparently that
» but Jean does say in the minutes and I
was not at this meeting.
>> Say that again. Jean mentions in these
minutes and I wasn't at this meeting
that she was aware of.
>> Oh yeah, she reached out with me even
before we met at very spring.
>> Yeah, it it wasn't feasible.
>> Okay.
>> Yeah.
>> Oh, that other site. Yeah, but it's
okay.
>> Right. Yeah.
>> So, and I was interested you just
elaborate a little bit, expressed a
little bit on it. The Mr. Grant Grant's
report, Badger Park, very busy fart. So
what is I I've not only that way I'm
usually down at Lakefront, but so it's
the children.
>> It's surprising and and I give all the
credit to the friends of the park and
the Lions Club. They put up that
pavilion. Well, that one time we had a
vis, you know, in village inspection. We
ate our pizza there, but that's a nice
spot. Then they put up a a little jungle
gym or you know that is small compared
to what's over at the school but it's
you it is used all the time
>> and they have one of those climbing
monkey rolly things that I I have to
tell you children just seemed to love
that park. I was also probably one of
the only trustees on skates last year
and god why I did it I do not know but
it was there was it was during winter
parallel when it was really cold a lot
of events kind of got cancelled but the
building was open and my daughter and
granddaughter and I all dawn skates and
it was beautiful skating it we are so
fortunate to have that and everything
the friends do there because um I've
also have been up in Syracuse and they
pay about $80 to rent skates and use a
skating ring for their
>> for the four of them, you know, and and
here it's free. And the smartest thing
the friends ever did was put up um one
of those barcode things or and you know,
do you enjoy this? Consider a donation
like or scanned it. Bam. And made a
donation. Um, so I think that park has
yet to see its full potential. It's our
newest park. It started out as a garden,
a community garden, and then it was
decided to pave over the community
garden and make a skating rink.
>> Um, but um, there is more potential to
that park and I and I think it would be
appropo to look at the potential.
>> Can I make a public service
announcement? You mentioned QR codes. My
firm, my law firm has cyber training and
I just went through a course of it today
periodic and they scared the Jesus out
of me about
>> using bar QR codes.
>> They said there there are so many spoof
uh versions of those things you really
have to be careful
>> because you're basically clicking on a
link.
>> Exactly.
>> So it's uh
>> but they are back in full force. QR
codes.
>> I I recognize that and so are the
hackers and the things that I use that
capitalize on your mistakes. One's
mistake. Do not click on any links.
>> All right. So,
>> I keep getting serious. I get email from
Ellen all the time.
>> Me, too.
>> Trust me, I got invited to three parties
yesterday.
>> Me, too.
Donald's Gmail and now it's on in Gmail.
>> Um, nobody
>> I got I I got invited to a party by a
woman who was been was angry at me 30 25
years ago.
>> There are a lot of them but still I was
kind of surprised.
>> How can you keep me right?
>> This is in the public record.
>> All right. Motion to accept the parks
board report by Molly, second by George
B. community environment.
>> So, we need to accept the resignations
of Lou Alstead and Richard Blay. But in
doing so, I would like to thank them for
their years of service to the village
both on this committee, but on numerous
other committees. Uh Lou is a trustee,
Richard is a member of the planning
board. They have both been really
powerful members of our community and
have served the village that they have
grown to love. You're here.
>> They resigned each.
>> They are both they are both moving to
other location.
>> Really?
>> Yeah.
>> Where's
them go? They're they really contributed
a lot
>> to a retirement community. I believe it
was connected.
We talked a little bit about the
building heating retrofit which Ellen
mentioned under the buildings committee
agenda. We spent most of our time
talking about wood burning fire
regulations.
Um, and as part of that,
I started putting together regulations
that are already in place regarding wood
burning uh, fire outdoor fireplaces
um, including requirements of the
Department of Environmental Conservation
that fall under the air resources um,
law,
requirements that fall under the 2025
fire codes of New York State and then a
kind of quirky requirement of the
village of Coopertown zoning law related
to smoke and those are all included um
here
there are lots of regulations regarding
outdoor burning. I think part of the
problem is that they are regulated in
different ways by different agencies. So
someone calls the village of Coopertown
Police Department for instance, much of
this is regulated by county codes under
the fire code in New York State. So that
m that may not lead to an immediate
resolution. It may mean the codes
officer has to come and measure how far
something is. Um clearly being out of
attendance is something that is you know
an immediate sort of thing. Anyway,
there is a lot on the books. The
committee's
recommendation to the board of trustees
recognizing that in some places some
parts of the village this is a concern
are to begin with an educational
campaign which we haven't started yet
because we wanted to talk to you all
first. Um there was a letter in the
Freeman's Journal two weeks ago that
Jesse Ravage submitted that was similar
to the letter that was provided um here.
I think we can follow up as a board of
trustees with a followup to that letter
um telling people you know what is
already regulated and why it is
regulated. Um for instance the DEC
requires clean dry firewood. There are
reasons for that. Uh we can do that
through the newspaper. We can do it in
Village Voices. We can do it um on the
internet and we can see if that starts
to change behavior. Um by Jesse's
account, two of her neighbors who have
been burning have I think as a result of
a visit from the code officer changed
their burning habits. Um that was not
the only problem in that neighborhood,
but it does seem to have started. So our
suggestion as a committee is that we we
make sure that people know what the
rules are and why the rules exist before
we start talking about local
legislation.
>> Yeah.
>> Is there a greater frequency in these
fire pits with rentals, the short-term
rentals and B&Bs?
>> There does not the the issues that that
particularly were brought to the board
of trustees attention have absolutely
nothing to do with short-term rentals. Y
» any questions
community
motion to accept the report by
favor
>> moving on
>> water and sewer port.
>> Yes. Um, a lingering issue we've had has
been the repair of the water man at the
73 in the vicinity of 73 pine and our
last water and sewer board meeting. We
had a long discussion of it and a
presentation by uh Eric H on behalf of
his father who was the u
72 Pioneer Street. Um,
briefly to recapitulate, there was a
flood in the basement at 75 Pioneer
Street. Uh, the
village crew went out to investigate it,
discovered um with the technology they
have, two sources of leaks or apparent
leaks. and one was across the street
from the flooded residence and the other
was on the same side of the street as
the flooded residence in the front of
the Hage home. Uh they chose to excav
the village crew excavated there first
did find a leak but determined that it
was not the leak causing the flooding of
the basement. They went on to the other
one across the street excavated and
there was a major leak in that main that
was repaired. And the question was
whether the pages not having so many
help and it had no um knowledge of a
leak or impact of the leak prior to the
excavation. Um
questioned their responsibility for
paying the entirety of the um bill
associated with uh the excavation at
their place. As a result of an inquiry
from the village, the the hes did say,
"Well, I can't imagine you wouldn't
repair the leak if um not before you
filled in the hole." So, that was done.
And the question then was what was
consent to repair. Um this we sorted it
all and there was a $2,500
cost charge associated with that. And
after
we investigated in more detail and
discussed it, um there is a document uh
at the end, I think it's the last
document in your packet put behind the
water in Board minutes that is a um
itemized bill
Mitch and um
water department
that identified $1,112.94
more sense is the cost um that could
appropriately be associated with the h
and the h's home and be their financial
responsibility.
The present time they have a $2500 tax
lean um on their property because they
had not paid um they had not paid their
property tax bill payment would not be
accepted without the $2500 and they were
trying to sort that out. So the upshot
of the water and sewer board meeting was
a recommendation that the hes be um
to to the board of trustees is that the
hes be build with $112.94
the that um the balance of the $2,500 be
rem be credited to them. I know we can't
remove it from the lean. Um and um I
don't know if there are penalties
associated with the nonpayment
of the um well it was not that they
wouldn't pay it. Their check wouldn't be
accepted.
So
my recommendation, my motion would be
based on the recommendation of the water
and sewer board that the HEG uh ages be
sent a bill for parts and labor and the
repair of their lateral um in the amount
of $1,112.94.
And I would further move that the $2,500
um uh LIN be uh adjusted
uh through the means of a credit um that
would leave them um not responsible for
anything beyond the 1121
$112.
>> How do you come after that much?
It's it's in it's right here at the
earth. It's itemized in several hefty
minds and we and I think that's all the
hes ever wanted in the first place. But
as it is um
I think that's an I think that's an
appropriate charge and I think
>> are they okay with that? I think they
will be conceptually in our discussions
they said you know everything but the digging they they would happily
be responsible.
So that's um and there were a number of
questions raised uh well what does this
mean about setting a precedent um and my
first response to that is we now have a
consent form
the property owner is going to be
presented with anytime there's a leak
identified
>> if they agree it's sign they agree to
sign
>> if they agree sign. So now and and that
brings up the very next problem we had
which is kind of underway in Bowerstown.
Uh there was um Charlotte uh and in some
cases or at some times total loss of
water pressure in number residents which
at the which is at the end of our water
supply system.
And um it turns out that there are leaks
in the vicinity and it's hard to know
how much is associated with the leaking
of the laterals or whether there's
anything any main leak which we haven't
detected so far and how much is just the
nature of the infrastructure that we
can't keep the pressure up.
Although the problem
the residents point out is that while
there have been problematic pressures,
it was only after the 2025 water main
break up by the Walers residence on in
Bowerstown that the um
the problem became chronic for other
residents. So that was repaired an
excavation uh in 2025
and then the repair was when we were
receiving um really uh anxious calls
from people saying we have to have
something done. We don't have water in
our house. Uh on last Monday, I think it
was, uh the crew went out and excavating
and we found indeed that there was a
break and um I visited the site and
discussed it with Mitch and he he showed
me I've got photos I could show
everyone, but he showed me the fitting
that had um was the source of the leak
and said this is typically a village
responsibility. So, they repaired that
one. And um I haven't followed up with
him
uh yet, but I I believe there are still
problems with um water pressure out
there. And even while they were
excavating, Mitch said he didn't think
that was the only issue there. So, there
the the crew did a fantastic job. They
had a subcontractor in who was all over
the operation very effectively. But we
do have a problem out there for
several of our property owners.
>> There are some extensive leaks out
there. Um the village did repair
essentially the reason we determined it
was village and would be covered by the
village. The lateral was okay. it was
where it sistered to our main and that
coupling which was you know could been
almost I don't know 90 years old or
whatever had deteriorated. So there all
those um sistering attachments to the
main were repaired. They have since
found some major leaks and have shut off
um some other signs and are still um
working on the project there. We um it's
not sort of by guess and by gosh. Um
they
sometimes we're fortunate and we belong
to rural water and we can get them to
come out but they literally have been
dealing with communities that have no
water or major issues. So we did get
a company that has listening devices and
they can tell where there is um a leak
um in a line. And so um there is one
that is significant that is um
in the process of being undertaken. We
think that's the reason that the people
up further out have no pressure. Yeah.
So, we've had a water went out to
Bowowers Town for 90 years.
>> It was not put out by the village
initially,
but it is village now
>> and it runs all the way down to the 4
part as well.
>> Okay. So, there was a line. Okay. Okay.
So,
>> yeah. And if you look at the
>> Okay, I hear somebody else had a line
and we took it over.
» I do have a random question about the
$2500 credit. Where are we with the
Haitian? I mean, they did
>> number
asking that.
>> What are we going to do? Like, how does
this $2,500 credit work if we were to
give them 25 credit?
>> So, I don't want to have them be
charged.
>> We need to
>> we we need to discuss that. My
solution is that the $2,500 charge to
the hes be reduced to $1,100 and the
number I just gave you
>> $1,112
>> 94. I'd make a different suggestion.
I'd make a suggestion that $2500 charge
be removed and we then build them to the
$1,100.
>> We can't we can't do that. So this is
why we have to do it this
>> once it's on. It's on. It's like sticky
glue. It It's gone to the county. It's It's been built to them. It's built
for them throughout through the tax
bill. Um it can't take it back. What the Joe's making is give them I
mean it's one of many solutions. I guess
we we say their original charge should
only have been $1,112
and we subtract that from the $25,000
or 2500, excuse me, and that difference
be given a credit on their water bill in
the future. My understanding is they're
accepting that.
>> Yeah. Well, they could even I think it
was clear they could we could even cut a
check. What we can't do, Richard, is
change the tax lean history. And they
the hes understand that they're
perfectly fine with that. It's it's if
it nets out to this outcome,
they're they're fine with that. And I'd
like to make it the path.
>> They're fine with it. I don't understand
it, but if they're fine with it, that's
good good enough for me.
>> All right. So, that stays. So, probably
what we should do is make a motion that
um that
uh the curb stop repair itemized
indicates a cost of $1,112.94.
They would have to pay the 2500, but
then they would be issued I don't know
why they couldn't be issued a refund or
a credit.
>> You could do it.
>> Yeah.
>> Or the amount. That makes sense to me.
And then $1,387,
» right?
>> And I and I don't know.
>> So
just from the amendment, I I don't know
where the whether there are any uh
penalties associated with the late
payment because it hasn't been made yet.
But if we tell them as a result of this
meeting and they make the payment and
there's no other that the 2500 plus
their property tax bill is all they owe
that that's fine. I don't know if
there's I don't know what penalties
>> any penalties would have been added on
at the time it was submitted I would
think back to the county collection.
>> Okay. So between the time of receive the
bill and it hasn't been paid yet because
of our sorting this out
>> the only fee they might have incurred
would have been um you know if you pay
your bill in two installments there's a
slight finance charge isn't there on the
tax on your village checks I don't know
I always pay it in its entirety in June
>> but I think that they're late now I mean
>> they are they because of all of this
back in
>> I thought it was So what what about the
penalty for them being late?
>> But they didn't take their first
installment and
>> well they they paid it but it was they
submitted it but it was rejected because
it was incomplete. They they didn't pay
>> they paid the amount vote for the
property tax but not the $2,500
increment. So the entire payment was
rejected which means they're delinquent
on the entire payment. So if there is my
I don't know what the number is but if
there is a penalty associated with that
>> I would like in a second. Why don't we
vote that we're going to do that refund
the $1,3876
and then all those in favor?
>> I
>> and then the and then um make a motion
about uh any finance to wave any
whatever you want.
>> Can we do that? I thought you said it's
now
we would a village charge only.
>> Yeah. Yeah. because it's the village tax
and
>> I would like to wave the fees if late
fees I would like to wave the late fees
if possible if any
>> if any. So that'll be the that's the
motion. Any of the fees associated with
the non-payment of the property tax bill
by the pages and that would be in the
form of a we could give them a credit or
a check what if there is any such amount
involved.
>> Right. So made by Molly, second by Joe
on paper. Hi.
>> Um the only other technical thing to
report is that they've um one of the key
operating
features of our wastewater treatment
plant is that um the temperature in our
sludge has to be between 85 I think and
100 degrees. And because of uh
complications with one of our one of our
motors, um our heat rather our heat
exchanger um it's not functioning above
70° and we didn't replace that when we
did the upgrade of the sewer plant. Um I
think maybe the prior operator
discouraged the the need for it. So,
we're in the midst of uh looking for um
vendors who can replace that. And the
charges cost range between 50 and 100.
Um but uh we think that $100,000. Um we
think the $70,000
um bid maybe is credible and maybe
timely. So, we're they're exploring
that, but that's an expense of the plan.
Um, and you'll notice too in the second
bullet um that we are trying to keep our
phosphorus levels down, but the
operating the press and um
uh dealing with this this this heat
exchanger has resulted in our levels
being above the 1.0. They got as high as
1.4. Um, but they're working and I think
very credibly. uh Scott Boltz and and
Eric um are doing a great job of trying
to manage all the different variables in
that plant operation. Um so we'll keep
everyone posted, but if there are any
questions or I'm missing something, um
let me know.
» Second by
um
water supervisory duty. One of the
things we've been really trying to get
up and running and it's taken a while is
our septic inspections. Um, as chair
McKenna pointed out of the nine element
plan we're working on for the protection
of the Asiggo Lake Wershed, our job one
under in that program is going to be to
have top-notch inspection system and
septic approval system because that's
squarely on the village to do. So um in
the last cycle um um Jacob Gillette um
our watershed supervisor and coordinator
has and inspector has um completed 14
inspections. Um everyone but one being
very cooperative and um compliant and
understanding the importance of of that
work. So that's uh I think we're
beginning to get up to use a voting
metaphor a little bit on plane. Um but
in association with that we had a
meeting with um a vendor
um let's think that's in your
supplemental packet.
um
a a septic installer who Jim Brooks um
who is who came and visited with the
watershed uh well the Pubashan
representatives Bertine McKenna and I
and Jacob that went over um his
views on on best practices for septic
inspections and best equipment to um
kind of shift over to in in improving
new septic systems. And um Jake Jacob
and um Bertie and I
discussed the value to Jake as he gets
his program more and more refined. um
having uh Jim Brooks as a consultant uh
at an hourly rate at a time that is
convenient to to Jacob's work to um
provide guidance and training, accompany
him in the field and um uh get him up to
speed in as quickly and as effectively
as possible. So there is a proposal in
the packet um describing that and then
there's some additional information
about um the qualifications of this
person. This would not be for the
purpose of certification,
but for the giving uh Jacob some extra
certification, but it would just be to
get him um trained in the best practices
uh
you know in making these inspections.
And as Alte ke his predecessor that had
observed to me many times um there's a
big education component associated with
the work of these inspections and that
is explaining to the property owners why
we are assessing this $50 fee why why
these septic inspections are important
not only to the village water supply but
to their own healthy
the lake health right in their the
vicinity their property and so that that
entails um a lot of diplomacy and Jacob
is I think very good at that. He
expressed um
how much uh property owners appreciate
having that contact. Um and as time goes
by it'll move faster and more smoothly.
But um the other component of this is
that um while the wastewater treatment
plant operators um have we discussed
with them in the water and sewer board
the prospect of their assisting with
some of these inspections. they have
very very limited bandwidth to do it
because the wastewater treatment plant
is a very complicated operation and
requires
um attent on campus attention. So um
if there's some questions about uh what
we're we're proposing um I'd be happy to
try to address them but the idea is to
retain on an hourly basis. So this is a
long time or major commitment of village
resources but it would assist in
accomplishing the mission of septic
inspections that's critical to the
vill's participation in the island.
>> I have two questions.
>> Sure. Um, first related to the proposal,
I wonder if there's a no more than
figure that I mean $87 an hour could be
well $87 or it could be $10,000. So, it
seems like we have to put a cap
somewhere. Um,
>> right. Well, I Yes. I And we we could do
that and we totally control the use of
his time. So if we don't want to use
them more than a couple thousand dollars
worth that that's that's fine.
So, and this relates to my my bigger
question, which is which is going to
sound very skeptical, but I but I am
wondering
>> when these septic inspections take
place, and they've been taking place now
on most of these systems for years, and
we just upped this to once every three
years, although it had been a longer
period than that. And I see that J&B
Septic suggested that all systems all
the time every three years. There is
reason why they might say that by the
way. Um I I've I wonder how many systems
we are finding out of compliance. And
I'm not saying that inspections are not
important, but having established this,
are we finding that septic systems
continue to be the problem that they
were a decade ago, or have many of the
problematic systems been addressed? many
of the problematic system systems have
been addressed and I think you know um
Al's diplomacy has really persuaded a
lot of people to it but there were there
were what we really need is a a very
accurate record system
>> um because we are going to be learning
more things we need to do and we'll be
recruiting grant funding to do that we
have to have a very solid baseline and
it's good data sets. And um then what
we're also finding is the evolution of
septic systems um they're getting ever
more sophisticated and the the the kinds
that he has made himself a specialist in
installing are really in the high end of
wastewater treatment. Um not that he's
you know
He's not telling us that your best
practice is to insist that everybody
have a new septic system, but there are
ways to go about identif
um had a situation where the land owner
had a um a holding tank
um that got pumped into a septic system,
but the property owner didn't know that
he had a septic tank as well. So, that
hadn't really been looked at. So, we're
still finding new stuff out and um that
is weave and it's a regular weave and
yeah, we're learning more
about what has been a good start over
the years by an elk expert, but
>> there's a consensus that we have to step
up.
>> But do you do you understand the
question? My question is how much are
these inspections contributing to
improving the host lake and how much are
they inspections for inspection thing?
>> I wish uh Jake were here to answer that
question. he feels very very strongly
that um they're needed
>> and and again
we're going to run into very
old-fashioned you know system holding
tanks that have to be pumped out all the
time right
>> um and to the very modern systems which
have their own you know it's the old saw
about high techch high risk um there are
some of these more sophisticated systems
require a lot more attention and um go
south badly if they aren't done
properly. So um but to to your general
question I think all the scientists we
speak with on the water w waterershed
supervisory committee everybody who's
addressed this issue believes the
inspections are are necessary. Having
had inspected having had septic systems
for about total 16 to 20 years,
you know, I didn't even one time I
didn't even know where there was a
problem. We found it just during pumping
out. Um, you know, just serendipitously
we found a problem before it became
disaster.
Um, so, you know, maybe you're right.
Maybe the systems have changed. Maybe
they're better than they were when I
last had a system 20 years ago or so.
But, uh, I I I don't see a I don't see a
downside having these things inspected.
I mean, I get that there's an expenses
that was needed, but I think it's to the
benefit of the property owner, too.
>> Yeah. I I think really uh and we should
probably have a longer discussion of
this some point, but the I as Jake put it, you know, we've
done a lot for this lake over the last
25 or 30 years.
>> And it and we're still having trouble.
Um and he said if we hadn't done that
we'd be so much better to solve and we
have to do more so that we prevent you
know the advent of different kinds
additional and different kinds of
problems. Um, you know, in a hospital
metaphor,
my conclusion is that this lake is in an
intensive care unit already with what
we're doing, monitoring, and so on. And
so,
>> a lot of this, you know, is is a bit of
committee work. I think at this point,
you're looking for
um, you know, can we authorize the use
of this at 85 $87
an hour? How many hours? and I've just
looked at the budget and I would say why
don't we authorize up to 15 hours of um
consultation and assistance
>> and that would be within the budget
>> right and then we can
>> there's the motion second
>> yes
>> second all in favor
>> I
>> um that it for watershed
>> um
>> the only I can't correct your minutes
but I think um you meant on meeting with
J&B septic that you met with members of
the sewer plant. You didn't meet with
members of the water plant.
>> Sewer plant, right? Eric and
>> Yeah. because they were the ones.
>> Yeah.
>> Mistake and Eric.
>> Yeah.
>> Um the big item for everybody's
attention is that on September 15th at
the Glen Glass State Park, we're going
to have the second nine element plan
public meeting that um some of you may
have gone to last year. That's a major
milestone in uh
>> under the terms of the grant we have to
have three public meetings. So this is
public meeting number two.
>> Um on the wake vote issue um while
everybody has
>> six to eight.
>> Thank you. While everybody hasn't done
the same thing, all municipalities have
stepped up to do something
um about managing uh wake boats. So
that's a I think that's a tribute to the
collaboration and cooperation very
differently to interest in the lake. Um
but that that's um that's a good thing.
And way after you did it for the
village, Cindy, the village of
Springfield salt shed is 95% complete.
>> Yay.
>> And um that's amazing. I couldn't
believe the statistics they gave about
in the absence of the shed up to 30% of
the product is lost.
>> So um
I and the rest uh I I think those are
the highlights. I won't take more.
>> Okay, that's great. Motion to accept
water at WSC minutes um report by
George, second by Molly. All in favor
and we had one other item,
excuse me,
resolution number seven of 2026.
um adopting the Atgo County 2026 hazard
mitigation plan that has been out there
in the public and all the municipalities
participated in it. Um I move that um we
uh adopt it resolution number seven of
2026 second by Cindy. All in favor?
>> That's it. Um I will adjourn. Reminder,
breakfast with the board, our next
meeting September 28th, breakfast with
the board at 8. Regular trustee meeting
at 6.
>> Thank you.