TOWN OF WATERTOWN
Regular Meeting
Municipal Building
November 10, 2022
Members Present: Joel R. Bartlett, Supervisor
Paul V. Desormo, Councilman
David D. Prosser, Councilman
Joanne McClusky, Councilwoman
Timothy McAtee, Councilman
Members Absent:
Supervisor Bartlett opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance followed by a roll call of the members present at 7:00 pm.
MOTION #103-2022
Supervisor Bartlett moved to adopt the minutes from the October 6, 2022 Regular Meeting, Councilman Prosser seconded.
Ayes All
MOTION #104-2022
Supervisor Bartlett moved to adopt the minutes from the October 19, 2000 Special Meeting, Councilman Desormo seconded.
Ayes All
Pat Scordo, GYMO Engineering addressed the Board. He presented the Board with the revised
Full EAS for the NE Water District. It is basically the same as submitted prior except it includes
the addition of Slate Road. This extension will include the Smith farm which is in an Ag
District. There should be a no to minimal impact to that area. He has received a sign off on the
SHIPPO for the changes. Mr. Scordo will notify involved agencies of Lead Agent request.
The Board reviewed some of the following areas of the document:
D. Project Details
D.1. Proposed and Potential Development
c. Is the proposed action an expansion of an existing project or use? No
d. Is the proposed action a subdivision, or does it include a subdivision? No
e. Will the proposed action be constructed in multiple phases? No
D.2. Project Operations
b. iii. Will the proposed action cause or result in disturbance to bottom sediments? No
iv. Will the proposed action cause or result in the destruction or removal of aquatic
vegetation? No
c. Will the proposed action use, or create a new demand for water? Yes
i. Total anticipated water usage/demand per day: 20,350 gallons/day
ii. Will the proposed action obtain water from an existing public water supply? Yes
• Name of district or service area: City of Watertown Water Department
• Does the existing public water supply have capacity to serve the proposal? Yes
• Is the project site in the existing district? No
• Is expansion of the district needed? No
• Do existing lines serve the project site? No
MOTION #105-2022
Supervisor Bartlett moved to accept the finding in the Full Environmental Impact Statement as for the NE Water District as prepared by the town engineer. He further moved the Town Council act a Lead Agent for the purpose of SEQR and any other review for the project, Councilman McAtee seconded.
Supervisor Joel Bartlett yes
Paul Desormo yes
Timothy McAtee yes
Joanne McClusky yes
David Prosser yes
Supervisor Bartlett opened the public hearing regarding the proposed Town Tentative 2023 Budget at 7:10 pm. No one wished to speak; the public hearing was closed at 7:11 pm.
Supervisor Bartlett opened the floor to the public.
Jerry Leone, Senior Civil Engineer for Borrego, Rutland Center Solar Project addressed the Board. He gave an update on the project and where they are in the 94C permit process. The Borrego Co. has been acquired by a new company New Leaf Energy. They intend to move forward on the intended project as planned. The majority of the project is in the Town of Rutland only 4 parcels are within the Town of Watertown. Two of the parcels would have panels the other two would have easements for the wiring interconnections. They are working on reports and studies required by the State of New York as part of the permitting process. He introduced Alex Yager, developer for the project who spoke on behalf of the new company. The intention is to start the project in 2024.
Taylor McKinney, NYS Tug Hill Commission introduced herself to the Board. She presented an updated regional Tug Hill Region use map to the town.
No one else wished to speak; the floor was closed.
Supervisor Bartlett accepted the Town Clerk Report.
MOTION #106-2022
WHEREAS, Washington Summit Associates has agreed to install a pedestrian walking lane and widen the paved shoulders within the area of Summit Drive and Summit View roads. These roads are listed on the town highway ownership list; and
WHEREAS, this improvement will provide for the public safety within the designed paved traffic area; and
WHEREAS, this project undertaking by Washington Summit Associates is no cost to the Town of Watertown.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Town of Watertown Council hereby accepts and agrees to the offer provided by Washington Summit Associates. They are adding pedestrian walking lanes on Summit Drive and Summit View Road each of which are town roadways located within the Town of Watertown.
A motion to adopt the foregoing resolution was offered by Supervisor Bartlett, seconded by Councilman Prosser.
Ayes All
MOTION #107-2022
WHEREAS, the Town Council authorized the issuance of a sealed bid solicitation of diesel fuel and gasoline at the October 4th 2022 council meeting; and
WHEREAS, as published in the official newspaper of record of the Town of Watertown
omissions were not included in the public notice relative to the Law of New York State
bid requirements.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, all bids submitted to the Town Clerks Office on the
Purchase of the specified products are hereby rejected by the Town of Watertown Council; and
BE IT FURHTER RESOLVED, that a new public notice and request for sealed bids is hereby
authorized under the specifications terms and conditions attached as (Exhibit A) and further
resolved all seal sealed bids are to be submitted to the Town Clerk’s Office 22867 County Road
67 Watertown NY 1360 on before 3:00 pm, December 8th, 2022.
A motion to adopt the foregoing resolution was offered by Supervisor Bartlett, seconded by Councilman Desormo.
Ayes All
MOTION #108-2022
WHEREAS, the Town Council has annually supported the DPAO summer concert series with promoting the concert series; and
WHEREAS, the DPAO is extending its concert series by adding a winter holiday concert to be
held in December of 2022; and
WHEREAS, funds remain in the 2022 Town Budget to provide a sponsorship grant to assist with
underwriting promotional expenses for the event.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, a grant in the amount of $2,500.00 is hereby authorized to
the DPAO for said purposes.
A motion to adopt the foregoing resolution was offered by Supervisor Bartlett, seconded by Councilman Prosser.
Ayes All
Supervisor Bartlett reviewed the changes made to the Preliminary 2023 Budget. After reviewing the 2023 Budget; no other changes were made.
MOTION #109-2022
A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Watertown adopting a Budget for the Fiscal Year commencing January 1, 2023 and ending December 31, 2023 making appropriations for the conduct of Town of Watertown Government and establishing rates of compensation for officers and employees for such period.
WHEREAS, at a regular meeting of the Town Council held on Thursday October 6th, 2022, the Tentative Budget for the Fiscal Year 2023 was presented to the Town Council as required by Section 106 of the General Municipal Law, and
WHEREAS, the Town Council thereafter has reviewed the Tentative Budget, and upon completion of such review, the Tentative Budget with any and all revisions and modifications thereof became the Preliminary Budget for the Fiscal Year 2023, which was filed in the Town Clerk’s Office and made available for public inspection; and
WHEREAS, notice of a public hearing on the Preliminary Budget for fiscal year 2023 was posted and published as required by law. On Thursday November 10th, 2022 at 7:00 pm, at the Town Municipal Office, a public hearing on the Preliminary 2023 Budget for the Town of Watertown, which includes the Preliminary Budget estimates for the Town of Watertown General Fund, Highway Fund, Water Districts 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 and Sewer Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, and all persons interested therein were provided an opportunity to be heard.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Town of Watertown Council as follows:
1) This Council has met at the time and place as specified in the notice to the public on the Preliminary 2023 Budget and heard all persons desiring to be heard therein.
2) The Preliminary Budget as amended and revised is hereby adopted for the Fiscal Year 2023, and that the several amounts stated be hereby appropriated for the objects and purposes specified, and the salaries wages stated therein shall be and are fixed at the amounts shown therein, effective January 1, 2023.
A motion to adopt the foregoing resolution was made by Supervisor Bartlett and seconded by Councilmember Prosser, and upon a roll call vote of the Board was duly adopted as follows:
Supervisor Joel Bartlett yes
Councilman Paul V. Desormo yes
Councilman David W. Prosser yes
Councilman Timothy L. McAtee yes
Councilwoman Joanne M. McClusky yes
MOTION #110-2022
WHEREAS, it is necessary to make an interfund loan to Sewer District No. 1 to provide bridge funding to open a capital checking account to pay engineering charges associated with the consent order issued by the DEC to take corrective action and rebuild the Sewer District pump and treatment facility, a Town Sewer District owned treatment facility; and
WHEREAS, the Town has been awarded a WIIA Grant in the amount of one million dollars to
replace the treatment facility wherein funds can be used to repay any funds to the General Fund
that have been committed to the capital fund project in advance of the grant awarding.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, an interfund loan from the Town General Fund to the Sewer
District #1 Capital Fund in the amount of $55,000.00 is hereby authorized.
A motion to adopt the foregoing resolution was offered by Supervisor Bartlett, seconded by Councilman Prosser.
Ayes All
MOTION #111-2022
Supervisor Bartlett moved to pay the following abstracts as audited.
Utilities paid prior to the meeting
General Vouchers # 200 to 202 Total $ 11,439.57
Highway Vouchers # 191 to 191 Total $ 19,253.16
Spec. Dist. Vchrs. # 112 to 112 Total $ 4,998.29
Vouchers approved for monthly meeting
General Vouchers # 203 to 221 Total $ 14,574.82
Highway Vouchers # 192 to 212 Total $ 106,859.85
Spec. Dist. Vchrs. # 113 to 123 Total $ 115,237.41
Councilmember McAtee seconded the motion.
Ayes All
Supervisors Correspondence
Supervisor Bartlett informed the Board the Town has been granted $5,000,000.00 from the State
of New York. This grant is to assist with the cost to extend Watertown District #4 to the
Northland Estates Trailer Park on US Rte 11. They are applying for more other funding also.
Mrs. Desormo informed the Board the Planning Board would be meeting to discuss the solar panel and cell tower. The meeting will be Wednesday December 7th, 2022, at 3:00 pm. The Town Board members are asked to join in the discussion.
MOTION #112-2022
Councilman Prosser moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:11 pm, seconded by Councilman Desormo.
Ayes All
_____________________________
Pamela D. Desormo, Town Clerk