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>> All right. Now, uh before we begin our open to the floor, we have a very fun thing here. Um I'm about to go up to the podium there and we're going to honor our former town supervisor, Mr. Thomas J. Flity. Alex, are we gonna arm wrestle? I would love that. I would love that. We could play for bets. You'd win. You'd win. So, this is a proclamation for dedicated public service to Tom Flity. Whereas the quality of a person who strives to understand and address the complex challenges that a community faces is rare. It is even rare to go further and address these challenges. Such individuals can be relied upon to serve as effective leaders and advocates, always prioritizing their constituents best interests.

And whereas Tom Flareity embodies this type of leader and has continuously answered the call to action for six years, he has established himself as a powerful force for growth and effective planning for Webster. And whereas Tom has earned the trust of residents through his dedication as town supervisor, adhering to the personal motto of trust and verify, he has approached public service from an honest and educated position, seeking to instill that knowledge and awareness in others. And whereas his financial background coupled with a strong moral compass has put the town in a favorable position.

During his tenure, Webster has become an example to other municipalities of accountable governance, sustainable growth, and exemplary fiscal responsibility. And whereas over the years, Tom has guided Webster through significant changes and major projects, including Fairlife, construction of the Barry Aeen highway facility, updates to the wastewater treatment plant, and many others. His logical approach has been instrumental in seeing these initiatives through from start to finish. Throughout his years of service, he has exemplified honest public service and cannot be properly extolled. Now, therefore, it be resolved on behalf of the Webster Town Board and the entire Webster community, we extend our sincerest appreciation for your six years of service to Webster and the legacy that you leave behind.

And uh Tom, I did not get a chance to work with you for six years, but there is somebody here who did who would like to say a few words. I'm gonna step aside. >> Oh, I'm in trouble. >> You know, when I stepped down, I said I was not going to come back and stand at this podium. Here I am a month later. But, um, it it's all for good reason tonight. What happens when an individual who has never been involved in local government decides to run for office and wins? that person is not jaded by years of experience with and frustration by the system. Then what happens when that same person self-limits their term in office?

Now we have someone who does not suffer paralysis from the too often political fear of not being reelected. This person is former supervisor Tom Flity. Tom's time in office. During Ton's time in office, he was willing to tackle the issues, both large and small. He was willing to put himself on the business end of the leaf pickup equipment. He participated in small space training, thus enabling him to go down into a manhole. He walked to countless homes to discuss land donation for open space. He held many community sessions to educate residents on the reevaluation process. There are myriad other examples.

Tom did not shy away from the projects that needed to be done. A new highway facility that replaced the tired and efficient one that had been built in 1969. It was undersized when it was built. Additions were made at double the cost over the years. Now it is state-of-the-art and built with future in mind. Phase two of the wastewater plant was begun. planning not only for asset renewal but opportunities for energy efficiencies that would create additional revenue streams, therefore offsetting the debt of the upgrades. Because of this project, Webster was well positioned to be a finalist and ultimately chosen to be the location for Fairlife.

Tom was not willing to burden residents with the cost of expanded and improved infrastructure that was necessary for the project. He was unwavering in his determination to receive state assistance, resulting in $20 million in state funding to the town. This project has brought a renewed interest in development of the neighboring Xerox campus. Tom has invested countless hours in bringing town, village, and Xerox leadership together in an effort to create a more streamlined process for potential buyers. Finally, he was willing to tackle the often maligned topic of revaluation. Webster has not done a townwide reevaluation in over 20 years.

As I mentioned earlier, he was committed to educating as many residents as possible so that they understand that this will not automatically result in their taxes being raised. All of this is a result of a person whose leadership is guided by the compass of right and whose style is one of collaboration. Hiring slow with a team at the table and choosing department leadership carefully so that they ultimately run their department with integrity and vision. Leadership that is open to suggestion and leads with yes, not necessarily yes of approval, but one of let's research and evaluate that. Many ideas ended up hitting the cutting room floor, but many resulted in streamlined processes to better serve our residents.

As Tom's deputy, I observed many things. An emphasis on customer service is our top priority. Why it is important to tick and tie the numbers. What happens when you assume? When something is unequivocal and irrefutable. And to wrap this up, I learned that when you say to make a long story short, it is probably too late, the story has been way too long. Now, before I have Tom up here to say a few words of his own, I have to say something to him that he has said to just about every single one of us. Tom, this open to the floor is five minutes. Don't make me tell you it's 4 minutes and 45 seconds.

But once you are done, I would like to invite you to head back over there with me where we will unveil your official portrait. >> That was funny. Um, well, he will not have to say it's 4 minutes and 45 seconds. I I promise you that. Um, I um I'm a little bit speechless right now and that's not normal for me. I I will say that uh when when uh Alex was reading that off, it really uh it hit me because those are things that I really uh believe in and I tried to um live them here. And what was wonderful, and I didn't expect it in my six years here, is that um we did gather up a team of great people.

And that was the toughest uh thing about the decision to, as the uh Patty said, self-term out because um I'm not a spring chicken. and I've worked in a lot of uh um organizations my own um and this was the best group of people that I have ever worked with and uh that's that's what I've what I will miss and why I also think that the town is in great hands and Alex I'll just say this and then I'm done is that we didn't work together for six years like Patty and I did but I did get to know Alex um in December as we were doing the transition and I personally think the town is in in good hands. I think Alex is a good egg and uh he's he's pretty quick study.

So, thank you for everything. We got a special cover just for you. >> Oh, is that We wanted to do a big unveiling. You're a rockar, huh? >> So, here it is. Congratulations. You are on the wall. >> Chris is in the house. Did she just take my signin sheet? >> Yeah, >> she's bringing it back. >> All right. Well, while they are getting the last of the sign-in sheets done, I will go over the five minutes open to the public rules. Um, as I told Tom, five minutes and that might be the shortest speech I've ever heard from him. >> Yeah. >> Uh, so yeah, though in just five minutes and we're just saying, you know, you can say whatever you want, just no threats.

I will ask also that even if somebody is saying something that you disagree with, it is their time to speak. Please do not interrupt them. Uh, but first up, we would like to invite Elaine Johnson. >> Hi everyone, Elaine Johnson, 626 Pine Links Trail. First, I want to congratulate the new board on on your election and excited to have you here with us and thank you for the opportunity to speak today regarding the Webster Solar Garden project proposes 750 Phillips Road on Xerox's property. I realize this is not a topic on the agenda tonight, but um a lot of us wanted to bring this forward to the town board.

Now, I represent the the Webster residents here today. If folks here for that, please stand so they can see who's here. Thank you very much. um and the 400 signatures of Webster residents who lack confidence and strongly oppose this project. We have shared our opposition with the planning board and continue to collect more signatures of residents concerned with this project's impact on the character of our community and the significant concerns about safety and welfare of our residents. We understand that under Webster zoning code, a special use permit requires affirmative finding that the project protects public health, safety, welfare, and the character of our neighborhoods.

We all oppose this project due to human health and safety risks, environmental risks, loss of 17 and a half acres of green space, increased noise, pollution, and impact to our property values. All of which was shared with the planning board in writing by many of the 400 residents who signed petitions against this project. We believe the current project plan falls short of protecting human health, safety, and our environment as it relates to the development on a hazardous waste site. Construction on this location could have long-term impact on soil, air, and water, creating a ris risk with the DEEC, and the town may not be able to foresee when long-term impacts are uncertain and irreversible.

Caution is consistent in the approach when making decisions about land usage. The human safety concerns coupled with the loss of the 17 and a half acres of green space, the noise pollution generated by the 18 solar inverters will forever change our town. As the board pledged to keep Webster's needs front and center and committed to listen to the community's concerns, the 400 residents who signed the petition and the residents standing before you tonight that are directly impacted by this project are asking you to vote no for the special use permit on this project and please protect our fellow residents in the town.

Thank you for the time. Thank you. >> Thank you, Elaine. Uh, one point of clarification that I did forget is uh, you may ask questions up here and but we are in the interest of keeping time going will not answer them. However, if you have your email, we will get back to you and get you in the right direction. >> I just have a quick question. >> Yes, John has has um the petition did you say it's been presented to the planning board? >> Yes. >> Okay. I'll get the copy from Josh. um at the second meeting it was at >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. Okay. So, next up is Jim Kettleo. Would you like to come up and speak?

>> No, I think that lady did my >> That's okay. Uh Brian, and I am gonna butcher this. Oll >> Oello. Thank you. I thought there was a C. Well, thank you for this uh short time here. I want to first just start out really quickly. I uh just moved into Grand Meadows and um love the neighborhood. And >> closer. Is that better? >> Okay. Sorry. My wife tells me I'm a soft speaker. Hopefully I won't uh get intense here. So, uh, just moved in in October and, uh, love the neighborhood and, um, you know, appreciate, uh, the, uh, the neighbors that I've met. And I want to start off first saying I apologize for not being prepared as I would want to be tonight for this meeting.

I was out of town the last meeting as well, so I didn't have, I couldn't I didn't have the means to get here. Um, but I am vehemently vehemently opposed to uh, the solar panel farm. And there's many many reasons uh which I don't have time to go into uh right now but I did listen at least to the last meeting and I heard some things said and particularly I want to focus on one thing and even though this is uh it's on a on a grander scale it's probably not the top but it actually is one of the top to me and that is the sound and um it was just referenced. Um I would like to know if there is uh deeper studies going to be done concerning the sound and what's happening in this uh with the with this buildout because I have I have done some quick studies on uh the sound and there is sound and it is from the inverters.

Obviously, the solar panels do not make sound, but I did hear the last meeting that the one of the representatives um that is representing the the firm that's going to build this out um saying that there will be no sound impact. And I would like to know if they would be willing to guarantee that in writing because the people that are going to be the closest to this, and I'm not the closest, um I I I feel concerned about my neighbors that are going to be the closest to this because some inverter sounds are very annoying. There's low frequency and I don't know if there's been any neuro studies um done with this or there if there's anything planned, but I would like to see those type of studies be done and what those results would be.

And then also if they were willing to back up their words that saying that there is not going to be any sound impact because I believe there is going to be sound impact. And just as a quick example, I pulled up some things um on YouTube here concerning inverter sounds and people that have had these in their backyard, so to speak. And here's just one of them. It's 17 seconds. I'll just let you listen to it for a second. If I can get Wi-Fi in here. Now, this is close to an inverter and it keeps So, I I want to ask the board right now, would you be willing to put that in your backyard because that's what you're willing or asking us to do?

See if I can shut this off. Sorry about that. So >> is that the sound from one panel or a series of panels? >> That is um multiple inverters and I believe there's how many? 18. Yeah. So there's 18 coming to uh you know a neighborhood near us. So my question is or I just want you to envision this and I want to appeal not mostly to the to the science of this right now but to your conscience because think about you sitting in your backyard on a nice sunny day 70° and we have a few sunny days in in uh New York but uh one of those precious sunny days and sitting there you know with a nice adult beverage in a Sha's lounge and hearing an a very annoying lowfrequency buzz that that will not go away.

And that is what is being brought to our backyards. So, I am very concerned about it and I'm hoping that we can do more and I really appreciate your efforts to getting 400 signatures. But there's 400 of us right now that are saying no. We do not want this. There is plenty of other spaces on that property, hundreds and hundreds of acres. There's a lot of money on the table with this with the people that are presenting it. And I I hope and pray that we're not duped by a sales pitch. I happen to be in >> You are at 4:45. Sorry. >> Pardon? >> I'm You're at 4 minutes and 45 seconds. Sorry. >> Okay.

I'll wrap it up with this. I hope that we're not duped by a sales pitch because there's a lot of uh high flutin um uh studies that were thrown around in the uh department the uh DEEC uh studies that were been done. But I want to see the the noise studies and then the water testing that was talked about in the last meeting as well. So, thank you for your time. Appreciate it. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. Next up, we have Annie. I know this name and I can't pronounce it. Read it right. Nur Nu. Would >> Annie like to speak? No. Okay. Um, Michael McDonald, you're up next. All right. To be honest with you, when I put my name in on a paper, I wasn't expected to come up to speak, but just make my presence known.

But um as the last uh speaker talked about, I am a medical professional. I'm a registered nurse. I also live at 638 Pine Lakes Trail in Webster, which my property will then be almost backing up to the proposed property. After hearing some of the um the talk, a couple things came to mind. I don't want to be hearing low noise frequency as I'm trying to enjoy my nice quiet night out in the country. Now, I'm also concerned about animals, any kind of dogs. How is that going to affect the animals? Are they going to be bothered by that noise? Okay. The other issue is I have grandchildren. I have two granddaughters.

And I kind of thought about uh Love Canal out in Buffalo. If that land gets disturbed, is there a guarantee that nothing will leak into that surrounding area, leaking into my backyard, leaking into my water, causing any kind of potential harm or damage to my family? Again, if this was proposed and going into your backyard, living by this area, there would it's it's apparently I kind of like was told about this area and how you know there is toxic land back there, but it was all contained by uh Xerox and I was like, we just moved there. But I once I heard that it was potentially going to get um worked on then it ra really raised some concerns and especially medical concerns not only for myself anybody in that surrounding area in including people potentially on Salt Road and further out.

So is this something that you would be willing to do in your backyard knowing there's potential concerns and long-term damage and side effects of u medications? I've seen people with cancer. I deal with people with cancer. I've I've been um I'm a hospice nurse. I've seen I take care of people who are medically ill for various reasons. This is something that we should be putting in our backyard. >> Thank you. >> All right. Up next is our good friend Chris Naka. Would you like to wait until the end? >> Yeah, I'll go. >> Okay. Kevin Lockheart, you are up next, sir. Hi everybody. Thanks for coming out tonight.

Appreciate you all coming. I really enjoy hearing from all of you. I'm not very eloquent, so I'm going to stumble through this. First of all, I appreciate I think it's Jerry. >> Elaine, are you the organizer of the petition? Who is that? Jerry. Okay, great job. Thank you so much for doing that. Um, I am very interested in hearing from the people of Webster and what matters to you and your priorities because Webster is changing. And I hope that it changes to benefit and favor the people of Webster because that's why we have a town board and that's why we have a planning board and a village and a village board that met a few minutes ago.

So I'm just going to be straight with you all. the way that this town board is working in its current form, things are not going to work out realistically in your favor. Part of it is because of the way the previous administration captured the town comprehensive plan steering committee and cancelled you out. They do not recognize you as stakeholders in the future of Webster. So the next five years we may be priced out there. I hear from people who are already struggling. Things are going to start changing a lot. Now we have a year with this new town board because for some reason people in our town go to the polls and they vote D down the line regardless of who's on it, regardless of qualifications or competency, etc.

There's a lot of evidence to suggest that we may have a rough year. These new rules and restrictions are all meant to enforce the board's view through police action. They do not allow you to speak without permission. They do not allow you to clap. They say, and this is very wrong by the way, that they have the authority to bar you from participating. No, that is not the case. Again, the board is putting out misinformation. The issue at hand here is the comprehensive plan. The steering committee that the town put together was organized illegally in violation of town law. Town law says there's got to be a special board that is organized or appointed in this case probably by a town board or a special board and that board sets the st the qualifications for application to the steering committee.

the steering committee that cost Austin not that much. We received a grant for it and it total about $110,000 for the steering committee. It's been taking quite a while to go through the process. What it does is it allows the town to make decisions in terms of zoning and land use policy in the future without involving us. That means if they want to put a commercial corridor on Phillips Road or build a new industrial zone for a solar farm next to Xerox, there is absolutely nothing that anyone can do about that. This is my fault personally because I made a critical strategic error maybe back in July.

I came stupidly to the town board and I asked them you did XYZ and or you did whatever A B C and D and you forgot to do C which was to authorize the steering committee. They they authorized it through a town board resolution thus for fixing the rectifying the critical procedural defect. The critical procedural defect of organizing a steering committee is still just as much in effect as it previously was. So the town >> 30 seconds left. Kevin just giving you a heads up. frantic to maintain control of the public forums, assert their power through force, through the police against citizens, which is the these new weird frantic rules that they conjured up.

But furthermore, they're going to do whatever they want with the land regardless of what we think because they cross they canceled us all out as stakeholders. If we want to fix this problem, we have to address the fundamental issue which is going back and fixing the critical procedural defect in how the steering committee for the comprehensive plan was organized so that they don't minutes is up. It's the it's us who are able to apply to the board and thus have an effect on the land use and zoning laws in the future. I hope that's clear to everybody. >> Thank you. >> Thanks, KEVIN. >> Up next is Paul Labbera.

Right. I hope he doesn't regret knowing me. >> Um, I have a very loud voice. I'm used to talking. Um, if you can't hear me, let me know. I'll turn this over. >> Um, >> if you could put the microphone up just because then you get recorded on video and we can put you into the record. >> So, um, first, many of you may know me. I own Northern Hemisphere Gymnastics in Webster and the the town of Webster has been very good to me and I want this town to be good for everyone and my goal is just to have it be a better place to live and not change for the worst. the the motto of Webster is anybody know >> where life is worth living and I want to keep it that way, not survival of the weakest.

Um there's an old guy who has a a yellow SUV who drives around town and picks up garbage. He puts an American flag out. I give him $20 every time I see him. I would encourage any of you to do the same. he singlehandedly is making Webster a better place. Um, my argument today is access to recreation and parks area. I've been and apologize the way I'm dressed. I wish I was in a suit and tie. It's I'm an outdoors person. It feels like it's 100 degrees to me in here. So, and I'm 60 years old. Maybe you can see I'm not in such bad shape for and I want everyone else to be fit and and enjoy life here and be outdoors and year round.

So they took the bay side away from us, if you know where the bay side is, and put up a lot of concrete, a lot of curbs, a lot of fences, and the access that I use to get on the ice that where the ice freezes first to ice ride or for ice fishermen to take their little four-wheelers out and get all their equipment out. Now the parking is on the other side of the road. I tried parking where I was supposed to. I had cars whizzing by me. Um, I've had 16 major surgeries. I can't push a bike up the hill anymore across long distances. The bikes have ice um screws that get damaged if you push them across parking lots and so forth.

So, my I'm just going to read from my list here. Um, first they tried to get rid of water skiing in the cove, that same area, and they tried to sneak it through a town meeting and um make people ski under the Bay Bridge. They thought it was wrong to water ski uh the speeds that would need to to water ski. But fortunately, Danny Danieli was on the marine sheriff board and he spoke out and did a big part to allow water skiing in the bay. So, that was one attempt where I feel like they tried to get rid of our recreational use there. Um, Webster has no public boat land. There's only mayors. Um, where you get on at mayors, there's no safe ice.

The inlet is right there. There used to be a place for small boats to get in and out where I'm trying to. Um, I rode there this past Tuesday. The ice was this thick. It was like heaven. It was the the most fun thing in the world. If you haven't done it, maybe some of you too old to start, but it is heaven. And all we're doing is keeping our kids indoors by preventing access, having them look at their cell phones all winter. And and and I'm learning people live in Webster now. They don't own jackets. This is a snowbl. It's a cold area. It's a snowmobile, ice bike riding. That's what makes it special.

Um, so anyway, they're pushing people to unsafe ice. Last year, uh, someone went an ice fisherman at 4 in the morning went through the ice trying to get on at the around Decoy Bay area. And the the four-wheeler sat underwater all winter. The DEC made him leave it there until spring. And I think if the access had been where I want it, he would have gotten on there and had a good time ice fishing and there wouldn't have been a problem. Um, the parks and recreation guy this Tuesday came yelling at me, "What the hell do you think you're doing?" I said, "I'm trying to recreate." And he said, "Do you know who I am?" And I don't know if he's here today.

If you'd like to raise your hand, I'd love to address you. I told him I'd be here speaking tonight. So, my opinion is he's not helping parks or recreation. They cut down trees to to build that park and put up um and replace it with concrete barriers and fences. There used to be a bathroom for year round use there. There are thousands of ice fishermen. Now they don't have a bathroom. And that Bayside Rob was so generous to let anybody come in and use the bathroom year round. Um >> Paul, you are at 4:45. >> There's a handicapped kayak uh location that was built. I'm sure, unless some of you know otherwise, no handicapped h uh kayakers ever used that place.

And it costs taxpayers a ton of money. So, what I'm asking for is a place that was like before where somebody could launch during the summer a small boat or a small kayak and a place where the ice fisherman and the ice bike riders can get on. And I could go on for a long time, but it looks like I'm out of time and I may be here for the next town meeting. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. make Webster a place where it's worth living. All right, up next is Mr. Chris Knockoff. Chris Naka, 1065 Shoecraft Road. Uh, it's great to see all of you here. I hope that you're all here again in two weeks. It's nice when someone's getting an award or something, their place is filled up with people and it's nice.

I will try to sum up what I thought of this meeting. I really didn't have a topic of discussion. I kind of view a lot of the things that take place in this town through one of the things that we have going on, which is uh spending $80,000 to remove some ash trees. Those ash trees were planted because there was an the elm tree had a disease and they replaced those elm trees with ash trees and now those ash trees have grown out of control and we had paid money, you know, 80 years ago or whatever to put these trees in and now we're going to spend $80,000 a few decades later to remove them. And when I hear things like the salt barn and some of the other things, the age of the structure is kind of used as a way of saying that this is a this is a bad thing.

You know, it's been around for this many years, therefore it is a a liability. And I just I I see a lot of new when I see a lot of new things get built, they all tend to homogenize and look exactly the same. And there's something to a bit of that uh old architecture that gives a place character and stops everything from looking like a cookie cutter um cut out of the thing right next to it. And um that's all I I really wanted to say is just we got to be mindful of the things that we do because 80 years from now it could cause a bigger problem. And I think I tried to relate that to the solar farm a little bit here is, you know, we really don't know what we're doing when we go digging up land.

I didn't know that the the area over there had was toxic most likely due to Xerox being there for so long. And you all are right, like you really do kind of got to think about the future. We don't want to be driven crazy by a low hum in our backyards. We're already kind of at each other's throat as it is from the day-to-day basis. So, thank you. I love you and hopefully you're here in two weeks. >> Thank you, Chris. All right, that was the last person who signed up, but if anybody else would like to get up to speak, now is your chance. >> Dennis, would you like to say something? >> Uh, we are not actually answering questions on the agenda at the moment.

>> Sorry, Dennis. >> No. Um, if you want to get up there and ask your question, we can get back to you afterwards. But >> Dennis Gorick, if you'd like to approach the podium. >> Okay, just a quick one. Uh, Dennis Gorlick and I live on Tallbridge Trail. Um, I just I had kind of asked this before at a working meeting that had to do with the uh the Vosber pump station, renewing it, revising it. And um last time they were talking we're talking about I think I asked uh a few people whether or not the funding that's been put up for that also includes regular maintenance of the valves, the pumps and so forth because um the total rebuild of the pump of the pump station is kind of because it kind of fell apart over many many many years of of use doing what it was supposed to do.

And I'm not sure if maintenance was one of the things could that could have kept it going a little longer. Now it needs a whole rebuilt. So my question is really is are the dollars that are in that funding resolution does it include regular maintenance to keep everything running longer and better so you don't run in the same situation in 20 or 30 years when it could run 50 years maybe if it was maintained. >> I don't there you go. I'm going to take exception to um not responding to this. I've done a lot of research on the Vosber plant and we also have the microphone. I can't hear you well. >> Yeah.

So, I've I've done some research into this project. Okay. And we actually have one of our operators from the sewage treatment plant in the room. So, I was wondering, Rick, would you be so kind as to address that? I don't think that it does. I didn't see any periodic maintenance in this rebuild or per se, but I know the equipment does come with okay suggestions as to the the you know periodic maintenance and that's done I would assume, but I'd like you to clarify um the periodic maintenance with respect to what we're doing out there. >> Yes, please. Um so as far as what is uh Ricky, chief operator at the wastewater treatment plant, um what is included in that pricing is obviously the rebuild and upgrade of that pump station.

That's again, as you stated, um reached its useful light. I mean, it's it's like in your homes, your furnace eventually has to be replaced even though you do maintenance on it monthly, yearly, or whatever. Um, as far as what's budgeted in this project, that cost does not cover annual maintenance. That's our regular operating budget. We have 22 pump stations. This is a pump station that's included in that 22. So, in our annual budgets, O andM cost that will be figured in lot less maintenance because it'll be brand new, but there will be scheduled maintenance to keep and get the longest life out of that equipment we can.

>> Okay. >> Yeah. Yeah. That's one of our largest uh pump stations, too. >> Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. >> And it's it's in terrible condition. It really is. >> All right. So, anybody else would like to speak? All right. So, we will be on to regular town business now. Um we have reviewed the minutes from the January 8th workshop and January 8th meeting and the corrections were made to names. So, uh, I make a motion that we approve those minutes with the corrections. >> Second. >> Supervisor Sheldon. >> I. >> Councilwoman Wright, >> I. >> Councilman Cahill, >> I. >> Councilman Hunter, >> I. >> Councilman Wagner, >> hi.

>> All right, Jen, this is you. And you are now done for several months without the workshop than the meeting. We did. >> Oh my god, I thought we approved both of them at once. My bad. So, that was the workshop. Now I make a motion that we approve the meeting minutes. >> Second. >> Supervisor Sheldon. >> I. >> Councilman Cahill. >> I. >> Councilwoman Wright. >> I. >> Councilman Hunter. >> I. >> Councilman Wagner. >> I. >> Now it's my turn. >> Yeah. Okay. Here we go. >> I have reviewed all of the bills for the second half of January and move that they be D to be paid by the director of finance.

>> Second. >> Councilwoman Wright I. >> Councilman Hunter >> I. >> Supervisor Sheldon. >> I. >> Councilman Cahill. >> I. >> Councilman Wagner. >> I. >> All right. I make a motion to approve prepaid warrants as submitted by the director of finance. >> Second. >> Supervisor Sheldon. >> I. Councilman Cahill. >> I, >> Councilwoman Wright, >> I. >> Councilman Hunter, >> I. >> Councilman Wagner, >> I. >> All right. And more housekeeping. Consideration to approve purchase orders as submitted by our director of finance. >> Second. >> Supervisor Sheldon. >> I. >> Councilman Hunter. >> I. >> Councilman Cahill.

>> I. >> Councilwoman Wright. >> I. >> Councilman Wagner. >> I. >> All right. So the next one is the big spicy one of the evening. Our uh resolution to accept the lowest bid for the highway salt barn wash station and I would like to open it up to board members for discussion. Starting with Nick. Um I guess I would just bring it back to a couple of specific points. It is something that we're going to have to pay for and specifically I guess bringing the residents on board. Um, so it is a cost that we're going to have to acquire over the next five years, no matter how we look at it. Um, and frankly, it's not going to be cheaper at any point than it is today.

Um, so I I would be in favor of moving forward with it for those reasons specifically. Um, but really just hammering point that as well as just the risk. We don't do it now. Maybe we get another year out of it, but gosh, if next year it fails catastrophically, maybe we get $250,000 at best from the insurance carrier, but we're paying an extra $2 million because it's an emergency rebuild as opposed to um something that we have more control over the costs and the best opportunity to do that would be now. >> All right, John, anything from you? >> I've asked all the questions. There's I've toured the uh the salt barn and there's no question it most certainly does need to be uh rebuilt um to torn down and rebuilt.

Um, and I did speak briefly with uh with Pat because I did have some questions with respect to um concrete versus uh the wood on wood siding. And um we do have an opportunity to get additional information um before we make an absolute decision as to okay, we're going to save $170,000 here. Maybe we save additional money on the bonding and the insurance. we we have time to look at that, but I'm I'm in favor of uh accepting the low bids. Um, and congratulations on the grant also. That's a that's a huge help. So, whoever wrote the grant, I think Maria, >> well, they did a great job. It's it's a huge help on this project.

>> Our teams are awesome. work together. >> Yeah, you have a great team. >> So, congratulations to your team. >> Yeah. And I need to thank Maria because all of us were busting down her cube doors 247 with the DEC. Not normally we would have heard by the end of December, middle of December, but you know, it was middle of January and I'm popping over to her every day. Hey, have we heard anything? Have we heard anything? So, thank you for putting up with us. Um, councilwoman, >> same the in in a as it relates to the grants, I think it's very important. Not only does this project need to be done to support the community, we have a $600,000 grant, which is huge, especially since Pat had shared during the workshop that this is the second grant that's ever been authorized for a rebuild.

So the fact that we have that grant now is the the time to make the investment. Um the town has done a wonderful job with the grant consultant and the grant team and the department heads in getting money for these large capital projects that we've undertaken and will have to undertake in the in the future. And um you know for for that reason we don't want to give that we don't want to be in a position of having to decline that grant in addition to this being an important project. So I'm in favor of >> moving forward. >> Garrett, >> you know, we've talked about this. We try and make the best decision we can.

We try and really do our homework and dig and make sure we get the best deal for the town. And we all know the salt barn's old. Same thing as Vosberg. Those things have to be replaced. which just means if we do that now other decisions we make subsequent to that it's got a lot harder because the town's already under substantial debt. This is adding to it. So we just got to be even more conscious going forward. Every decision we make they get harder from here and and that's the reality of being up here. We take that very seriously of we're not rushing to these decisions. We're making them with as much hard work as we can put in and recognize that going forward those decisions get harder based on these decisions.

>> No. And and that's very true. Everybody up here I think we've all we all I gotten so much information and done so much research on the salt barn. Um I I've toured it myself too. The wood is essentially as soft as one of my son's stuffed animals. It's it's interesting. But, you know, this team up here has done a lot of research and is not making these decisions lightly. Um, and you know, I I know uh Councilman Wagner and I are both in favor of a capital improvement plan for once we start building this stuff. And Pat is on board with it so that once we do build this salt barn, we have a plan for how to maintain this to keep the cost down as it goes.

Um, like these are these are tough decisions like Garrett said. So, thank you for that. And with that, >> just to uh just one other thing I want to bring up with respect to the the highway projects. This is in addition to the highway project and you know kudos to to Pat and to uh campus construction and bringing in the major um aspect of the project on time and under budget. That was a huge project and um if anybody has an opportunity to at some point to set an appointment up with Pat and do a tour, you will be very very impressed um with with the new building over there. And while you're there, take a tour of the outside of that salt barn.

I was amazed at the deteriorated level um that that barn has come to. And and and it Why did it get that way? It got that way because of politics. Okay? It never ever ever should have been allowed to get into that state of deterioration without being addressed. In my opinion, that building should have been torn down and rebuilt 10, 15 years ago. So again, Pat, your team's doing a great job out there. I don't know the young lady's name that represents campus construction, but thanks for all the assistance you guys have given us. you've got a hell of a team out there and you've done a you've done a great job.

So, thank you. >> Thanks, John. So, this is three separate resolutions or contracts that we have. They would be three separate resolutions. There's three different contracts you're awarding low bid for. >> All right. So, I am going to do this contract one, contract two, contract three. I believe you guys have read them via your packets. John has it physically. Is contract one, two, and one, two, and three the correct wording for them in the motion or do we need to be more specific? >> I would recommend include specifics as to who the low bid was. Uh so for example, contract number one, low bid being awarded to Whitney East.

I would include that level of detail. >> Okay, perfect. Thank you. >> All right, we got to pull that up then. All right. So, I make a motion that contract one for the low bid for this highway salt barn W station be presented to Whitney East. >> Second. >> Supervisor Sheldon. >> I. >> Councilman Cahill. >> I. >> Councilwoman Wright. >> Yes. But do we need to put the amount in that um approval as well? >> Thank you, John. >> Bear with us folks. This is Robert's rules of orders in action here. >> Oh, yeah. It's great. Okay. So, uh we're amending the resolution that it is still being presented to Whitney East in the amount of $3,986,000.

>> Second. >> Supervisor Sheldon. >> I. >> Councilman Cahill. >> I. >> Councilwoman Wright >> I. >> Councilman Hunter. >> I. >> Councilman Wagner. >> I. I would also like to make a motion that contract number two plumbing to DG Mezner Corporation in the amount of $168,000. >> Second. >> Supervisor Sheldon. >> I. >> Councilman Cahill. >> I. >> Councilwoman Wright. >> I. >> Councilman Hunter. >> I. >> Councilman Wagner. >> Hi. >> All right. And I also make a motion that contract number three, electrical to Concord Electrical Corporation, be awarded to the amount of $274,000. >> Second, >> Supervisor Sheldon.

>> I, >> Councilman Cahill, >> I. >> Councilwoman Wright, >> I. >> Councilman Hunter, >> I. >> Councilman Wagner, >> I. >> All right, the next one. While it is just a resolution to amend a bond resolution to increase, I would like to ask if any of the board has anything they would like to add. >> I don't >> for the Vossburg pump station. >> Anybody? >> Not at this time. >> All right. So, to those who don't know, um, we have this is not moving forward with the project yet. This is just allowing us to increase the what we've bonded for previously so that we can actually put this out to bid if we so choose.

But I would like to make a resolution to amend the June 6th, 2024 bond resolution for the Vosberg pump station from 7 million 5,700,000 to $6,350,000. Second, >> Supervisor Sheldon >> I. >> Councilman Cahill, >> I. >> Councilwoman Wright, >> I. >> Councilman Hunter, >> I. >> Councilman Wagner, >> hi. All right, Garrett, you are it. So this last one is you with me? All right. I'd like to make a motion for a resolution to approve the following items for recycling from the IT department. Moroi M43. >> You don't have to read them. >> That's awesome. >> Have to read them. >> That's good because it goes on for two pages.

That's awesome. >> As in the um as presented >> as presented. That is way better. Thank you, Jennifer. Second. >> Councilman Wagner. >> I. >> Supervisor Sheldon. >> I. >> Councilman Cahill. >> I. >> Councilwoman Wright. >> I. >> Councilman Hunter. >> I. >> All right. Does the board have any other business to bring forward? >> Is there a fourth resolution relating to um the salt barn and the wash project station? Okay. >> No. That's the work that is going to be self-performed by past department. >> Okay. My bad. >> Okay. Yeah. Just making sure. >> Yeah. So, if there is no other uh I adjourn this meeting uh for January 22nd.