The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2025-11-17 Town Board Meeting Minutes1 | P a g e Town of Danby Town Board Meeting Minutes Held Monday, November 17, 2025 Board Members Present: Joel Gagnon, Town Supervisor Leslie Connors Katharine Hunter Tyler Stein Patricia Woodworth Town Staﬀ: Mariah Dillon, Town Clerk Laura Shawley, Bookkeeper (Via Video Conference) Greg Hutnik, Town Planner Other Attendees: Zach Larkins Ted Crane Garry Huddle Ronda Roaring Captain Tilton, USNR Jason Barton Jack Barton Marnie Kirchgessner Mark Pruce Jim Holahan Bintu Sidiki Theresa Klinger Call to Order 6:01 Additions/Deletions to the Agenda: Disposition of Excess Air conditioners ~Moved to Business Privilege of the Floor Ted Crane “I looked at the agenda for today and I see that you're making an announcement about positions up for renewal. And unless it's been changed you are making recommendations for reappointment for some of those positions before you've actually made the announcement for applicants. Just an observation, I don't know if it's right or wrong, it just looks pretty funny. During the meeting, 2 weeks ago, November 3rd, I think I made a comment during the privilege of the ﬂoor that the privilege of the ﬂoor should not be used for disparaging other residents of the town. I'd let that stand. I mean, you could make comments about things that are happening which might, in fact, reﬂect poorly upon other residents, but you should not name them by name, and I'm talking about both comments from the public and comments from the ﬂoor. That was in response to something that happened during Privilege of the Floor. However, at the end of the meeting, one of the town board members referred to a resident, a taxpayer, a property owner, as a clown. And a little bit later, a sentence or two later, referred to someone who I'm not sure who they were referring to as another clown. It's one thing if I criticize the town board, I try to avoid criticizing individuals. But that's fair game, you're elected oﬃcials. But for elected oﬃcials to criticize a resident of the town by calling them a clown, I think is poor behavior. But speaking of clowns, I'm going to jump forward to the meeting of last Monday. I have to say, and I'm talking here not about individuals, but about the action of the board as a group. 2 | P a g e That was a circus, guys. You spent close to an hour and a half talking about things, and in circles, back and forth. It was not discussion, arguing back and forth, it was just drifting around in circles. And, I have to actually compliment Leslie, because at one point during the meeting she said exactly what I was thinking, which was, “has any of this been done in writing?” A little bit later, someone, I think it might have been Leslie, said, “So, do we even know if there's a well on the property?” Is there a septic system on the property? You were talking for an hour and a half, almost, about buying a property in which you haven't done the ﬁrst step of due diligence on it. Which is amazing. And I'm sorry to say, this is just an outside observer's observation. But it seems to me that you were bargaining with someone who's you know, when you play poker, you have some private cards that the other players at the table don't know what they are. And as a result, you can't really expect to be having a very excellent deal. To which end, as I observed during the meeting last time, you're pursuing the most expensive possible way to handle the situation of what started out as a probable eyesore and potential danger next to Town Hall. The price that you seem to have agreed upon at that last meeting - it's just exorbitant! $58,000 for a half-acre property, half of which is below the ﬂoodplain.” Garry Huddle: “What is the purpose of the town board wanting to buy the property next door, anyway, to take it oﬀ the tax rolls?” As a taxpayer in the town, I think the price that we're paying for that property is exorbitantly high. I mean, we're talking about $28,000 for the purchase, $30,000 for the cleanup, another $15,000 to $20,000 for a septic system, and not knowing if it has a well, or if we can tap into our well. So we're pushing $75,000 to $80,000 on a vacant lot that's half an acre. Is it really in the best interest of the taxpayers' money? If it's condemned, why don't we let the let the owner tear it down? We can order that as the town board; we've done it before. I still don't understand why the town is interested in purchasing the property next door for half an acre - for that kind of money. Correspondence ~None Announcements Appointed Positions Up for Renewal: Terms Expiring in 2025 Membership Name BZA B Lamb Planning Board C Cowan (Reapplied) CAC J Gagnon CAC B Lagaly CAC D Schaufler CAC A Klingensmith (Reapplied) TC Env. Management Council P McDonald West Danby Water District L Dodge (Reapplied) Danby Rep to TC Recreation Partnership M Kirchgessner (Reapplied) TC Youth Services Board Rep M Kirchgessner (Reapplied) Danby Youth Commission C Sczepanski Danby Youth Commission M Ulinski 3 | P a g e Meeting Minutes Resolution 272 of 2025 To Accept the November 3, 2025, Meeting Minutes and the November 10, 2025, Special Meeting Minutes Discussion: On the Nov 10th there was no vote to go into Executive Session. Dillon corrected the Nov 10th minutes. Moved by Gagnon   Seconded by Connors Vote:  Connors Yes  Hunter Yes  Stein Yes Woodworth Yes  Gagnon Yes         Resolution 272 of 2025 passed on November 17, 2025  Reports and Presentations • Supervisor’s Report and Budget Transfer: Resolution 273 of 2025 To Approve the Transfer of Budgeted Funds Between Accounts FROM TO AMOUNT A1420.400 Attorney Contractual A1990.410 Cont. Grant Match $4,544.00 A1990.400 Contingent A1990.410 Cont. Grant Match $3,000.00 Moved by Woodworth Seconded by Gagnon Gagnon explained that this expense was for the acquisition of the easement for the Coddington Vally Rail Trail. The Town will receive a $5,000 grant from the county towards that expense. Shawley mentioned it was for Thoma for writing for the CDBG grant. Vote:  Connors Yes  Hunter Yes  Stein Abstain Woodworth Yes  Gagnon Yes         Resolution 273 of 2025 passed on November 17, 2025  Warrant Abstract 22 of 2025 Resolution 274 of 2025 To Approve the General Fund Vouchers 431 - 461 for $53,858.13 Moved by Gagnon   Seconded by Connors Shawley Made some account number adjustments and added a last-minute voucher from Taitum Engineering ( Voucher 461) for $875.00. It was agreed that having timely information is highly desirable. 4 | P a g e Vote:  Connors Yes  Hunter Yes  Stein Abstain Woodworth Yes  Gagnon Yes         Resolution 274 of 2025 passed on November 17, 2025  Resolution 275 of 2025 To Approve the Highway Fund Vouchers 218 - 226 for $24,631.51 Moved by Connors   Seconded by Woodworth Vote:  Connors Yes  Hunter Yes  Stein Abstain Woodworth Yes  Gagnon Yes         Resolution 275 of 2025 passed on November 17, 2025  Resolution 276 of 2025 To Approve the Water Fund Vouchers 86 - 88 for $442.00 Moved by Connors   Seconded by Woodworth Vote:  Connors Yes  Hunter Yes  Stein Abstain Woodworth Yes  Gagnon Yes         Resolution 276 of 2025 passed on November 17, 2025  Business 1840 Demolition Update and Conference with Bintu Sidiki Bintu Sidiki attended the meeting to make her case to be paid for assisting with the 1840 Danby Rd property purchase. Gagnon acknowledged he proposed (to Sidiki) splitting the cost of the property appraisal of 1840 Danby Rd. The Town agreed to pay $30,000. for the demolition and $28,000. for the property but did not contract with Sidiki. Hunter stated that no one gets paid in real estate unless they have a signed contract. Connors suggested that Sidiki should be paid from the money the Town has set aside for the demolition. She also stated that the Board could have a conversation about whether or not we pay Sidiki, without taking so much of Sidiki’s time. 5 | P a g e Resolution 277 of 2025 To Move into Executive Session at the End of the Meeting to Resolve Compensation for Sidiki. Moved by Stein   Seconded by Connors Vote:  Connors Yes  Hunter Yes  Stein Abstain Woodworth Yes  Gagnon Yes         Resolution 277 of 2025 passed on November 17, 2025  Discussion ensued. The Board agreed to defer further discussion until the end of the meeting. Authorize Signing of The Water Quality Improvement Program (WQIP) Grant to Put Sewers in the Hamlets Hutnik explained the timing and beneﬁts of the program. “The funds are only for construction, and there is still a lot of work that needs to be completed before construction. and raising more funds will be very telling to see if there can actually be construction. This grant is just for reimbursement of construction. If construction doesn't start, say if a sewer district doesn't go through, or doesn't get formed, the town needs to go back to the DEC for rescoring of the project. ” The proposed sewer districts will be responsible for raising funds. Resolution 278 of 2025 To Authorize Signing of WQIP Contract Discussion ensued regarding the Sewer District Committee which was charged with looking at the preliminary engineering report and discerning whether its recommendations are the best ﬁt for Danby. Discussion also included who might oversee and monitor the construction of the system; how much a sewer system might cost; who pays; where will it go; and how is it maintained. Moved by Gagnon   Seconded by Connors Vote:  Connors Yes  Hunter Yes  Stein Yes Woodworth Yes  Gagnon Yes         Resolution 278 of 2025 passed on November 17, 2025  Recommend Reappointment of Marnie Kirchgessner to County Youth Services Board Resolution 279 of 2025 To Recommend Reappointment of Marnie Kirchgessner to County Youth Services Board 6 | P a g e Kirchgessner spoke about “at Large” positions on the youth Services Board being available if anyone else in Danby would like to join. Moved by Gagnon   Seconded by Hunter Vote:  Connors Yes  Hunter Yes  Stein Yes Woodworth Yes  Gagnon Yes         Resolution 279 of 2025 passed on November 17, 2025  Recommend Reappointment of Peter McDonald to Serve as the Danby Representative on the County Environmental Management Council Resolution 280 of 2025 To Recommend Reappointment of Peter McDonald to Serve as the Danby Representative on the County Environmental Management Council Moved by Gagnon   Seconded by Connors Vote:  Connors Yes  Hunter Yes  Stein Yes Woodworth Yes  Gagnon Yes         Resolution 280 of 2025 passed on November 17, 2025  Discussion of Proposed Zoning Amendments Hutnik conveyed to the board on behalf of the Regulatory Review Committee several suggested amendments to the Danby Zoning law that was put into place in 2022. He oﬀered a couple of suggestions: 1. Making it easier for existing buildings in the hamlet zoned districts to be repurposed by easing parking restrictions and setbacks. Hutnik mentioned Danby Food and Drink speciﬁcally as having had to get variances from both of those restrictions.. Resolution 281 of 2025 To Extend the time by 20 Minutes Moved by Hunter   Seconded by Gagnon Vote:  Connors Yes  Hunter Yes  Stein Yes Woodworth Yes  Gagnon Yes         Resolution 281 of 2025 passed on November 17, 2025  7 | P a g e 2. Deferred due to time constraints. 3. Remove the 20’ maximum setback for new buildings in the Hamlet. The Town has already received four variance requests due to this issue. Hutnik cited a new urbanist philosophy that limits maximum setbacks. Hutnik also looked at average setbacks in the Town and found that they varied widely. Discussion ensued. Connors suggested setting aside an hour for discussion at the next meeting. Gagnon proposed that the board look over the recommendations and direct questions to Hutnik for explanations of the underlying thinking. If the explanations are not convincing, further discussion would follow at the next meeting. CDBG Housing Rehab Grant Approval – 571 South Danby Road Resolution 282 of 2025 To Approve CDBG Housing Rehab Grant – 571 South Danby Road Moved by Connors   Seconded by Hunter Vote:  Connors Yes  Hunter Yes  Stein Yes Woodworth Yes  Gagnon Yes         Resolution 282 of 2025 passed on November 17, 2025  Disposition of Excess Air conditioners Resolution 283 of 2025 To Authorize the Process of Disposition of those AC Units Currently in the Storage Closet Moved by Gagnon   Seconded by Connor Vote:  Connors Yes  Hunter Yes  Stein Yes Woodworth Yes  Gagnon Yes         Resolution 283 of 2025 passed on November 17, 2025  Proposed Resolution to go into Executive Session to Discuss Paying Bintu Sidiki. Moved by Gagnon  Crane questioned the legality of the Town Board moving into executive session. Discussion ensued regarding the appropriateness of moving to executive session. Gagnon said: “We have a motion in the record that we would have an Executive Session.” 8 | P a g e Resolution 284 of 2025 To Rescind Going into Executive Session (Resolution 277) Moved by Gagnon  Seconded by Connors Vote:  Connors Yes  Hunter Yes  Stein Yes Woodworth Yes  Gagnon Yes         Resolution 284 of 2025 passed on November 17, 2025  Resolution 285 of 2025 To Extend the Meeting Until 8:40 PM Moved by Gagnon  Seconded by Stein Vote:  Connors Yes  Hunter Yes  Stein Yes Woodworth Yes  Gagnon Yes         Resolution 285 of 2025 passed on November 17, 2025 Discussion ensued regarding the appropriateness of paying Bintu Sidiki for her work to assist coordinating the demolition and sale of 1840 Danby Rd. Hunter proposed that Sidiki, Akroﬁ and Gagnon together decide what part of the $58,000 that the Town is willing to pay would go to Sidiki. Connors stated: “I feel bad that she (Sidiki), was interpreting your (Gagnon’s) interactions as being that she's working for the town. I don't feel like anybody's worked for the town. We have gotten nothing.” Gagnon said he asked Sidiki to generate a list of appraisers and, once a mutually agreeable ﬁrm was identiﬁed, to arrange for the appraisal to take place. Gagnon remarked that Sidiki heard a verbal contract for her work. Connors asked: “When does the Town do a verbal contract?” Gagnon noted that he had done just that in agreeing to split the cost of the appraisal. Discussion ensued. Connors: “I don't feel like we had a contract with her, and I'm sorry if she took what you said to mean that there was a contract.” Resolution 286 of 2025 To Extend the Meeting for 5 Minutes Moved by Connors  Seconded by Hunter Vote:  Connors Yes  Hunter Yes  Stein Yes Woodworth Yes  Gagnon Yes         Resolution 286 of 2025 passed on November 17, 2025 9 | P a g e Resolution 287 of 2025 That Given That the Town Did Not Have a Contract with Bintu Sidiki for Any Services, That We (the Town) Are Not Paying the Bill Discussion Ensued. Hunter stated: “I never even saw an hourly rate, and … I didn't even hear all of the things that were listed, and they're not a contract, they're not signed, they're not listed, we didn't present it with, “I'll do this, this, and this, do you agree”?”. Gagnon: “Right, none of that happened.” Moved by Connors  Seconded by Hunter Vote:  Connors Yes  Hunter Yes  Stein Abstain Woodworth Abstain Gagnon Abstain          Resolution 287 of 2025 did not pass on November 17, 2025 Discussion of Next Meeting Agenda Adjourn 8:45 PM Mariah Dillon, Danby Town Clerk