TOWN OF WATERTOWN
Rescheduled Monthly Meeting
Municipal Building
March 23, 2023
Members Present: Joel R. Bartlett, Supervisor
David D. Prosser, Councilman
Joanne McClusky, Councilwoman
Members Absent: Paul V. Desormo, Councilman
Timothy McAtee, Councilman
Supervisor Bartlett reconvened the March 16, 2023 meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance followed by a roll call of members present at 7:00 pm.
MOTION #30-2023
Supervisor Bartlett moved to adopt the minutes from the February 9, 2023 Regular Meeting, Councilman Prosser seconded.
Ayes All
Supervisor Bartlett opened up the floor for public comment:
Andrew Mitchell, Orchard Drive addressed the Board. He asked to be added to the committee that is reviewing the Lettiere Tract water system.
Supervisor Bartlett announced for the record the Lettiere Tract committee includes:
Jim Lettiere
David Prosser
Dan Stern
Mike Collello Jr
Andrew Mitchell
Supervisor Bartlett asked if the committee could meet and review the proposals for an appraisal of the water system. He asked them to get their recommendations back to the Town Board by the April 13th 2023 meeting. The Board could take action to hire a consultant at that meeting. The Town and Mr. Lettiere agreed to split the cost of the appraisal fee of the system. The town would not be purchasing the water system; it would be owned and financed by the residents in that area. If this purchase does go through, the town would pursue expanding it to other residents in that area to make the purchase price more affordable for the residents involved.
Joe Meyer, Co Rte. 60 (Floral Drive) asked that his comments concerning the extension of water down County Rte. 60 would be included in the February 16th 2023 minutes. He asked if the agenda could be posted on the town website prior to the monthly meetings so the residents of the town could be aware of the issues being discussed at each meeting.
Supervisor Bartlett inform Mr. Myers he would work on correcting that and making the agenda available on the website prior to each meeting.
Jonathan Adams, Rutland Hollow Rd. addressed the Board concerning expanding the proposed NE Water District across NYS Rte 126 to the Rutland Hollow Rd. He wanted to extend his continued support of the expansion and asked if any action would be taken at tonight’s meeting. He inquired of the sewer line located on NYS Rte. 12F in front of the Alice Andrews hair salon. His wife is the new owner of the property and is inquiring about hooking up to the sanitary sewer system.
Supervisor Bartlett stated he would contact the town engineers to review the plans as to the location of the sewer lines in that area.
No one else wished to speak the floor was closed.
Supervisor Bartlett accepted the Town Clerk’s report.
MOTIONS/RESOLUTIONS
MOTION #31-2023
WHEREAS, the workplace and the Jefferson County Office of Employment and Training are sponsoring a summer youth employment program for the summer months. The towns and villages can utilize a summer youth workforce to assist municipalities with youth employment labor for mowing, trimming and other light duty jobs undertaken by the public works department; and
WHEREAS, the County assistance with the summer youth employment program is of no cost to the towns and villages and all insurance costs normally associated with hiring workers for the summer employment.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Town of Watertown here authorizes an application to be submitted to the workplace in Jefferson County requesting up to four summer youth job positions to be allocated to the Town of Watertown public works department for the summer of 2023.
Supervisor Bartlett moved the foregoing resolution, seconded by Councilman Prosser, and upon roll call vote of the Board was duly adopted as follows:
Joel R. Bartlett, Supervisor yes
Paul V. Desormo absent
David D. Prosser yes
Joanne McClusky yes
Timothy McAtee absent
MOTION #32-2023
WHEREAS, the Disabled Persons Action Organization has submitted a request for a grant of occupancy tax revenue in the amount of $25,000 to underwrite the organizations cost for promoting their summer concert series. A series of concerts that attracts thousands of tourists to the region; and
WHEREAS, funds are included with the fiscal year 2023 budget for said purposes; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Watertown supports the organizations programing and has supported the organization for many years and recognizes the importance of this concert series as means to bringing tourists to the region.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, a grant in the amount of $25,000 to the Disabled Persons Action Organization is hereby authorized for the purpose of underwriting promotional expenses associated with the DPAO summer concert series.
Supervisor Bartlett moved the foregoing resolution, seconded by Councilwoman McClusky, and upon roll call vote of the Board was duly adopted as follows:
Joel R. Bartlett, Supervisor yes
Paul V. Desormo absent
David D. Prosser yes
Joanne McClusky yes
Timothy McAtee absent
MOTION #33-2023
WHEREAS, Assessor Roger Tibbetts has applied for the following split to the 2023 tax roll for real property identified as:
Original
91.00-1-21.1 Biccum, James, 24163 Co Rt 67 $395.97
Split into
91.00-1-21.1 Biccum, James, 24163 Co Rt 67 $351.97
91.00-1-21.6 Harrenger, Michael, 24287 Co Rt 67 $ 44.00
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Town Board hereby approves the correction of this tax bill and authorizes the Town Clerk to issue a corrected tax bill to the owner of said parcels.
Supervisor Bartlett moved the foregoing resolution, seconded by Councilman Prosser, and upon roll call vote of the Board was duly adopted as follows:
Joel R. Bartlett, Supervisor yes
Paul V. Desormo absent
David D. Prosser yes
Joanne McClusky yes
Timothy McAtee absent
MOTION #34-2023
Supervisor Bartlett moved to pay the following abstracts as audited.
Utilities paid prior to the meeting
General Vouchers # 46 to 48 Total $ 10,849.40
Highway Vouchers # 49 to 49 Total $ 19,829.53
Spec. Dist. Vchrs. # 27 to 27 Total $ 6,552.28
Vouchers approved for monthly meeting
General Vouchers # 49 to 64 Total $ 20,982.04
Highway Vouchers # 50 to 68 Total $ 29,182.97
Spec. Dist. Vchrs. # 28 to 41 Total $ 139,870.32
Supervisor Bartlett moved the foregoing resolution, seconded by Councilman Prosser, and upon roll call vote of the Board was duly adopted as follows:
Joel R. Bartlett, Supervisor yes
Paul V. Desormo absent
David D. Prosser yes
Joanne McClusky yes
Timothy McAtee absent
New Business
Supervisor Bartlett informed the Board he has received correspondence from Morgan Development to modify the housing development on Co. Rte. 202. They will be attending the Planning Board meeting with the new plans.
Supervisor Bartlett advised that the I-81 overpass on NYS Rte. 12F would be going under construction starting in a few weeks. The north and south exists will also be closed. Supervisor Bartlett asked NYSDOT to consider leaving one lane open while doing construction. He is concerned of emergency vehicles having to reroute to NYS Rte. 3. He would like to warn the residents in this area to avoid that section of NYS Rte. 12F during the construction phase.
Discussion took place concerning the recommendations from Kendall, Walton & Burrows concerning a Real Property Tax Exemption for Volunteer Firefighter/Ambulance Workers.
MOTION #35-2023
Councilman Prosser moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:35 pm, seconded by Supervisor Bartlett.
Ayes All
_____________________________
Pamela D. Desormo, Town Clerk