This Regular Meeting of the Brant Town Board was held on Tuesday May 14, 2024, at the Brant Town Hall, located at 1272 Brant North Collins Rd, Brant, New York at 7:00 PM.

PRESENT WERE:

Mark DeCarlo                                    Supervisor

Michael Muffoletto                        Councilman

Donna Marien                                   Councilwoman

Linda Giancarlo                                 Councilwoman

Barbara Daniel                                   Recording Secretary

ABSENT WAS:

William Trask Sr.                               Town Attorney

ALSO, PRESENT AND LEGIBLY SIGNED IN WERE:

Tracy Kaczmarek                              Supervisor’s Secretary  

Brian Rott                                            Resident

Debra Ritz                                           Resident
Patty Friend                                        Appointed Town Historian

Frank Broughton                              Zoning Board of Appeals Chairman

Thomas Bowman                             Resident

Janice Ross                                         Planning Board member

James George                                   Resident

Maria Otrosinka                                Resident

Evan Russell                                       Farnham Fire chief

Mark Slawek                                      Chief of Police

The meeting opened at 7:00 PM with the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.

APPROVE MINUTES of the APRIL 9, 2024 MEETING: Councilman Muffoletto motioned to approve the minutes of the April 9, 2024 Regular Town Board meeting, and was seconded by Supervisor DeCarlo.  5 ayes, 0 nays.  MOTION CARRIED.

SUPERVISOR’S FINANCIAL REPORT: Councilwoman Giancarlo motioned to approve the Supervisor’s Financial Report, seconded by Councilman Muffoletto.  5 ayes, 0 nays. MOTION CARRIED.

TOWN CLERK/TAX COLLECTOR’S MARCH 2024 FINANCIAL REPORT: Councilman Muffoletto made a motion to approve the Town Clerk’s March 2024 Financial reports, seconded by Councilwoman Marien.  5 ayes, 0 nays.  MOTION CARRIED

COURT CLERK’S MARCH 2024 FINANCIAL REPORTS FOR KACZMAREK & GIER REGULAR AND BAIL ACCOUNTS: Councilwoman Giancarlo motioned to approve both Bail and Regular Financial accounts for Justice Kaczmarek’s & Justice Gier for March 2024, seconded by Supervisor DeCarlo. 5 ayes, 0 nays.  MOTION CARRIED.

POLICE REPORT FOR APRIL 2024:  The April report was presented by Chief Marck Slawek.  He noted 4 animal complaints and 1 assistance to dog control.  Councilwoman Giancarlo motioned to approve the report, seconded by Councilwoman Marien.  5 ayes, 0 nays. MOTION CARRIED.

HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORTS:  TABLED

TOWN CLERK’S APRIL 2024 ACTIVITY REPORT TO THE BOARD: The Town Clerk presented her April 2024 Activity report.  The Supervisor then motioned to accept the Town Clerk’s report as presented.  Councilwoman Giancarlo seconded the motion.  5 ayes, 0 nays. MOTION CARRIED.

PLANNING BOARD REPORT: The Planning Board chairwoman Debra Ritz presented the Planning Board report for the May 7^th Planning Board.  The Planning Board has made their final detailed review of the Verizon application to erect a wireless communication monopole at 10825 Erie Road.  She then explained a minor amendment was made in the April minutes.  The Supervisor will send a letter to the Cattaraugus Indian reservation to advise of the upcoming new structure.  The Planning Board recommended approval of the Special Use Permit, with conditions.  Farnham Fire Chief spoke asked the Board to look into requesting the Town be permitted to put a Trunking system on the monopole to allow the police station to track cell phones for emergency services.  Evan said they looked at the site plan and it looks good.  He noted the buildings used are not manned so a smoke detector would be recommended.  Councilwoman Brady motioned to approve the report as read, seconded by Councilwoman Giancarlo.  5 ayes, 0 nays. MOTION CARRIED. 

ZONING BOARD REPORT: Zoning Board chairman Frank Broughton advised the Town Board Public hearing for the variance at 69 Oval Street was held and the variance was approved.  He spoke about the short deadlines for applications to be reviewed and considered.  He suggested ways to avoid delays in the application process.  Supervisor DeCarlo motioned to accept the Zoning Board report into the record and was seconded by Councilwoman Marien.  5 ayes, 0 nays. MOTION CARRIED. 

BUILDINGS & GROUNDS REPORT: Supervisor DeCarlo read Buildings and Grounds report which listed fuel usage and truck mileage for April.  The new truck’s mileage began the Month of April with 2,506.0 miles.  Total gallons of fuel for truck was 58.   Total miles driven for March 597.0.  Total gas for mower, edger and pressure washer is 20.2.  Supervisor DeCarlo motioned to accept the report as presented, seconded by Councilman Muffoletto.  5 ayes, 0 nays. MOTION CARRIED.

TOWN HISTORIAN REPORTS: Town Historian Patty Friend presented her report for April.  Patty acknowledged the grant from Legislator Mills and stated she would like to get some display cases to allow for better organization of the items for exhibit.  The Evans historical society visited the Town Hall.  She is working with them for the Erie County Fair presentation.  She is also working on the Brant Festival display.  Councilwoman Giancarlo motioned to accept the report as read, seconded by Councilman Muffoletto.  5 ayes, 0 nays. MOTION CARRIED.

BRANT FARNHAM SENIORS:  Councilwoman Giancarlo read the Senior’s report for May 1^st.  Evans Russell, Farnham fire chief was guest speaker.  Seniors will hold a bake sale to raise funds for the seniors.  Supervisor DeCarlo motioned to approve the report as read, seconded by Councilwoman Marien.  5 ayes, 0 nays. MOTION CARRIED.

CODE ENFORCEMENT REPORT:  Supervisor DeCarlo presented the April Code Officer’s report.  He then motioned to accept the report as read, seconded by Councilwoman Giancarlo.  5 ayes, 0 nays. MOTION CARRIED.

OLD BUSINESS:  No old business

NEW BUSINESS:

SET PUBLIC HEARING DATE FOR SPECIAL USE PERMIT RENEWALS:  Supervisor DeCarlo motioned to set a public hearing date for the renewal of Special Use Permits for June 11, 2024, at 7:30 PM.  Councilwoman Giancarlo seconded the motion.  5 ayes, 0 nays. MOTION CARRIED.

SET PUBLIC HEARING DATE TO ACT ON SEQRA AND CONSIDER APPROVAL OF NEW SPECIAL USE PERMIT: Supervisor DeCarlo discussed the new Special Use Permit application for the installation of a new Wireless Communication Monopole for Verizon.  If approved the pole would be installed at 10825 Erie Road.  After discussion, it was noted that the hearing should begin at 8:00 PM, or directly following the 7:30 public hearing for the Special Use permit renewals.  Supervisor DeCarlo motioned to approve the date and time for the Public Hearing and was seconded by Councilwoman Marien.  5 ayes, 0 nays. MOTION CARRIED.

APPROVAL TO HIRE RECREATION COUNSELORS AND DIRECTORS FOR 2024 REC SEASON: Councilwoman Brady read the list of proposed 2024 Recreation staff:

Assistant Directors: $18.70/hour

Becky Holmes

Savanah Clear

Returning Counselors: $15.70/hour

Ava Buczynski

Delaney Glose

Elizabeth Jarzynski

Gabrielle McNeal

Josephine DeJoy

Kierra Puntillo

Mya Dalton

Olivia Sullivan

Trevor Krawczyk

Daiya Kowalski

Marina Whelan

Jackson Horning

Zoe Kreinhedar

Angelina DeJoy

Shannon Frazier

Kayla Friend

Nicole Vaught

Hyde Horning

Brady Hill

Ivan Lemke

Martin Castle, Jr.

New Counselors: $15.20/hour

Mackenzie Alvira

Lexi Evtimovski

Benjamin Mauer

Cooper Hazard

Junior Counselor: $14.20

Mason John

Supervisor DeCarlo then motioned to approve the Recreation staff and the wages of each position.  Councilman Muffoletto seconded the motion.  A roll call vote was taken: Supervisor DeCarlo-aye, Councilman Muffoletto-aye, Councilwoman Giancarlo-aye, Councilwoman Marien-aye, Councilwoman Brady-aye, 5 ayes, 0 nays. MOTION CARRIED.

MEMORIAL DAY SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: Supervisor DeCarlo announced the Town of Brant will hold their Memorial Day service at Memorial Park on Monday May 27 at 9 AM.  He added that a Chick Bar-B-Q will be held at the Farnham Fire Hall at noon and will go until sold out.

EWASTE UPDATE:  E-Waste will resume on the Last Saturday of the month starting on May 25^th from 9 am to noon.  Families are limited to ONE TV per household.  If computers are disposed of, the hard drives are not wiped clean.  The owner must perform that process before bringing the computer.

TOWN BOARD REPORTS:

The Supervisor asked if anyone had anything to report. 

COUNCILWOMAN GIANCARLO:  Acknowledged the now completed Pickle Ball court.  She asked if there will be any lighting put up for the court?  The Supervisor responded that Senator Gallivan is working on a grant to assist in the cost of the lighting and the parking lot.  He then noted that the Town also has about $10,000.00 left of the Covid ARPA funds that need to be earmarked this year.  He suggests earmarking it for lighting around the pickle ball court.  The Supervisor then noted that he spoke with Congressman Langworthy’s staff about the possibility of the Town taking over some of the Town’s private roads.  He was told there may be some funding available to bring these roads to grade so the Town can take them over.  Councilwoman Giancarlo then asked if anything is going to be done with the front railings.  Supervisor DeCarlo stated that Allen will have them sanded down and painted.

Councilman Muffoletto reminded the Board about the short staffing in that department.  Supervisor DeCarlo stated Allen was going to find candidates for that position.  Councilwoman Giancarlo asked the Board to give the Town Clerk permission to post the job opening online.  The Town Clerk will post it on the Town of Brant chat page that has a local membership of about 1,800 people.  Brant residency is not a requirement of the position, but a driver’s license is.

Councilwoman Giancarlo then stated she will be in contact with Ellsworth regarding the pond.

COUNCILWOMAN BRADY:  She had sought quotes for the landscaping the front of the Town Hall.  She received two quotes.  One contained prevailing wage figures and one did not.  It was mentioned that the Town Highway department will also assist in the project.

PRIVILEDGE OF THE FLOOR:

Frank Broughton suggested the Town install a 9-hole basket course described as Frisbee Golf.  The cost is $2,500.00. 

Meetings & Correspondence: 

• The second May sales tax remittance is in. The current transfer rate is 5.73% greater than the corresponding 2023 amount. Year-to-date transfers are running 5.28% below year at this time.

Supervisor DeCarlo read the Abstract (5 of 2024):

ABSTRACT 5 of 2024

*Prepaid and unpaid as of 5/14/24 Total Claims $ 147,047.25

Gen Fund Town wide Vouchers Totaling: $ 121,561.26

Gen Fund – Part Town Voucher Totaling: $ 17,059.30

Highway T.W. Vouchers Totaling: $ 4,440.35

Highway P.T. Vouchers, Totaling:  $ 1,505.32

Street Lighting:  Voucher Totaling:  $ 2,481.02

Brant Water Dist 1 (SS2&SW):  – Totaling $ 0

PAYROLL (2 pay periods):

General Town Wide Payroll 3/24/24-4/20/24 – Totaling $ 59,463.03

General Part Town Payroll   3/24/24-4/20/24 Totaling:  $ 1,242.10

Highway Payroll TW 3/24/24-4/20/24 Totaling:  $ 0

Highway Payroll PT 3/24/24-4/20/24 Totaling:  $ 8,407.73

Supervisor DeCarlo motioned to approve Abstract 5 of 2024, seconded by Councilwoman Brady.  A roll-call vote was taken: Supervisor DeCarlo-aye, Councilwoman Brady-aye, Councilwoman Giancarlo, Councilman Muffoletto-aye, Councilwoman Marien-aye.  5 ayes, 0 nays.  MOTION CARRIED.

Supervisor DeCarlo announced the next regular Town Board meeting to be held June 11, 2024 at 7:00 PM.

At 7:49 pm, Supervisor DeCarlo motioned to enter Executive session for personnel and contractual reasons, seconded by Councilwoman Giancarlo.  5 ayes, 0 nays. MOTION CARRIED.

At 8:20 pm, Supervisor DeCarlo motioned to Close Executive session, seconded by Councilwoman Marien.  5 ayes, 0 nays. MOTION CARRIED.

At 8:21 pm, Supervisor DeCarlo motioned to adjourn the meeting in memory of Donald Dabrowski, seconded by Councilwoman Giancarlo.  5 ayes, 0 nays. MOTION CARRIED.

Respectfully submitted by,

Barbara J Daniel

Brant Town Clerk