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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-01-15 Town Board Meeting Minutes1 | P a g e Town of Danby Town Board Meeting Minutes Held Thursday, January 15, 2026, at the Danby Town Hall Board Members Present: Joel Gagnon, Town Supervisor Leslie Connors Mariah Dillon Zachary Larkins Mark Pruce Town Staff and Officials: Blake Savoy, Town Clerk Greg Hutnik, Town Planner Laura Shawley, Town Bookkeeper Garry Huddle, Town Justice Theresa Klinger, Town Justice Irene Weiser, County Legislator Other Attendees: Pacific Austin Joe Outsen Heather Coffey Ronda Roaring Captain Charles Tilton Pat Woodworth Katharine Hunter Alexander Capalongo Jackson Strong Miles Bolks Kartik Sribarra Meeting Called to Order at 6:02pm Additions/Deletions to the Agenda -Update on the proposed crosswalk Privilege of the Floor Ronda Roaring encouraged those engaging in business to contact their neighbors regarding disruptions prior to taking action. She also stated her support for the Finger Lakes Land Trust's acquisition of land on Walding Lane. Board Member Connors stated that a recent article published by the Ithaca Voice about some of the history of Danby's websites did not mention Larry Parlett, the Town's first "webmaster". She noted that he maintained the website for years, and did so without charge to the Town, and would like that generosity to be reflected. Clerk Savoy noted that he and Historian Barr had discussed compiling a more complete history. Legislator Weiser described her first weeks as a county legislator. She noted the Legislature passed a unanimous resolution in support of the formation of the Cayuga-United Nurses' union, and that their vote to unionize had passed. Her committee assignments will be chairing the Planning, Energy, and Environment Committee, and serving on the Budget Capital and Personne l, Public Safety, and Workforce Diversity and Inclusion committees. She highlighted the "Public Safety" committee, and noted her support for rural medical services initiatives, as well as for the Danby Resilience Group. She reported on a new state program called the Expanded Energy Affordability Program (EEAP), which provides lower electricity and natural gas rates for moderate-income homeowners. She encouraged members of the community to comment at future meetings of the Legislature on the proposed data center in Lansing. Board Member Pruce asked if there were any updates on the new shelter on Cherry Street in Ithaca. Legislator Weiser responded that it was operating well, to her knowledge. She noted the County's satisfaction with the coordinators, Volunteers of America, and further mentioned a meeting was held 2 | P a g e by the Housing Committee the previous week. She separately noted the overlap between Town Board meetings and County Legislature meetings. Members of the board explained the recent change in days to avoid holidays, and the challenges therein. Legislator Weiser stated she would send an email with days she is available for the Board's consideration. Correspondence No correspondence was submitted. Reports and Presentations • County Legislator's Report (given during Privilege of the Floor) • Supervisor's Report- Account Analyses and Budget Transfers Resolution 62 of 2026 To Approve to Transfer Budgeted Funds Between Accounts RESOLVED, the Town Board approves the following budget transfers between accounts: FROM TO AMOUNT A1220.400 Supervisor Contr. A1010.400 Town Board Contr. 95.00 A1910.400 Unalloc. Insurance A5132.400 Highway Garage 5,766.00 A1420.400 Attorney Contr. A5132.400 Highway Garage 3,063.00 Moved by Connors Seconded by Pruce Vote: Connors Yes Dillon Yes Larkins Yes Pruce Yes Gagnon Yes Resolution 62 of 2026 passed on January 15, 2026 Warrant Abstract 26 of 2025 Resolution 63 of 2026 To Accept the General Fund Vouchers #521-532 for $2,853.06 Discussion Board Member Connors noted a potentially duplicated bill. Bookkeeper Shawley responded that she would look into it. Board Member Pruce noted a late fee on a U-DIG bill. Bookkeeper Shawley responded that it was partially a "rush fee" due to the billing cycle not being in line with the board meetings. Board Member Pruce noted another late fee attached to a credit card payment. Bookkeeper Shawley responded that the fee was incurred from being unable to get into the credit card website, likely due to high web traffic. She stated she was currently disputing that charge. Board Member Pruce noted a transaction where sales tax was attached. Bookkeeper Shawley responded that she would look into the matter further. Moved by Connors Seconded by Dillon Vote: Connors Yes Dillon Yes Larkins Yes Pruce Yes Gagnon Yes Resolution 63 of 2026 passed on January 15, 2026 3 | P a g e Resolution 64 of 2026 To Accept the Highway Fund Vouchers #267-270 for $9,636.66 Moved by Connors Seconded by Gagnon Vote: Connors Yes Dillon Yes Larkins Yes Pruce Yes Gagnon Yes Resolution 64 of 2026 passed on January 15, 2026 Resolution 65 of 2026 To Accept the Water Fund Vouchers #96 -97 for $198.76 Discussion Board Member Pruce asked if Board Member Larkins should abstain from voting on this matter because he would be a beneficiary of one of the vouchers. Board Member Larkins agreed. Moved by Connors Seconded by Dillon Vote: Connors Yes Dillon Yes Larkins Abstain Pruce Yes Gagnon Yes Resolution 65 of 2026 passed on January 15, 2026 Warrant Abstract 2 of 2026 Resolution 66 of 2026 To Accept the General Fund Vouchers #11-23 for $79,358.67 Discussion Board Member Pruce asked if the tax should be included in the utilities bill. Board Member Connors and Bookkeeper Shawley explained that utilities do not give tax exemptions. Moved by Connors Seconded by Dillon Vote: Connors Yes Dillon Yes Larkins Yes Pruce Yes Gagnon Yes Resolution 66 of 2026 passed on January 15, 2026 Resolution 67 of 2026 To Accept the Highway Fund Vouchers #1-2 for $18,458.25 Moved by Connors Seconded by Larkins Vote: Connors Yes Dillon Yes Larkins Yes Pruce Yes Gagnon Yes Resolution 67 of 2026 passed on January 15, 2026 Resolution 68 of 2026 To Accept the Water Fund Vouchers # 1-2 for $1,288.72 Moved by Connors Seconded by Dillon Vote: Connors Yes Dillon Yes Larkins Yes Pruce Yes Gagnon Yes Resolution 68 of 2026 passed on January 15, 2026 4 | P a g e Business Consideration of the Town being the fiscal sponsor for a Community Arts Partnership Grant for the Danby Food and Drink Summer Concert Series Kartik Sribarra, owner of Danby Food and Drink, explained that he intends to apply for a $5,000 grant through the Community Arts Partnership (CAP). He stated that the money would go towards promotion, marketing, support, scheduling, and paying artists who participate in the series. He also stated that the typical administration fee for this grant is between 1%-5% The Board discussed various matters of responsibility regarding the verification of the grant distribution, and potential liabilities therein. Sribarra clarified that there are no reporting responsibilities for this sponsorship and that the responsibility was administrative in nature. Supervisor Gagnon asked what, if any, the fee should be. Board Member Pruce stated that there should be a fee and noted that there is currently no precedent or policy regarding these fees. Sribarra noted that a flat fee would potentially be a way for the town to cover administrative fees, rather than a percent, which would change based on the grant's worth. Bookkeeper Shawley summarized the expected administrative work necessary as about half an hour. Planner Hutnik suggested a fee of $100, which the Board agreed with. Resolution 69 of 2026 to Become the Fiscal Sponsor for a Community Arts Partnership Grant for Danby Food and Drink for an Administrative F ee of $100, Should it be Granted. Vote Moved by Gagnon Seconded by Connors Vote: Connors Yes Dillon Yes Larkins Yes Pruce Yes Gagnon Yes Resolution 69 of 2026 passed on January 15, 2026 Consider Appointment to the Danby Youth Commission- Lauren Salzman Resolution 70 of 2026 to Appoint Lauren Salzman to the Danby Youth Commission Discussion Supervisor Gagnon encouraged Lauren Salzman to come to a Town Board meeting so she could meet the Board. Board Member Pruce noted her absence was because she was presently assisting Danby youth as a volunteer coach. Board Member Connors asked how many members were on the Commission. Clerk Savoy responded that he believed she was the 6th of 7 seats on the Commission. Vote Moved by Gagnon Seconded by Connors 5 | P a g e Vote: Connors Yes Dillon Yes Larkins Yes Pruce Yes Gagnon Yes Resolution 70 of 2026 passed on January 15, 2026 Support or Object to Land Acquisition of Approximately 76 Acres of Land on Walding Lane by the Finger Lakes Land Trust to Expand the Lindsey-Parsons Biodiversity Preserve Supervisor Gagnon expressed his support for this acquisition and noted that the money for this purchase was coming from a Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) grant, which the Town also received for the proposed sewer project. Board Member Connors expressed support but questioned why this specific land was being purchased with the WQIP grant funds. Supervisor Gagnon elaborated that the grant funding was primarily to prevent erosion of soil into and disruption of "source waters" for drinking, foremost by preventing development of this area. Board Member Connors stated that she wishes to see this kind of grant money used for the purchase of land that has a direct impact on water quality. She further stated that she would encourage future projects that target land more in need of protection. Resolution 71 of 2026 to Write a Letter of Support for the Acquisition of Land on Walding Lane by the Finger Lakes Land Trust to Expand the Lindsey-Parsons Biodiversity Preserve Vote Moved by Gagnon Seconded by Larkins Vote: Connors Yes Dillon Yes Larkins Yes Pruce Yes Gagnon Yes Resolution 71 of 2026 passed on January 15, 2026 Consider Appointing Cindy Katz to be Secretary to the Water and Wastewater Working Group Resolution 72 of 2026 to Appoint Cindy Katz to be the Secretary for the Water and Wastewater Working Group Vote Moved by Gagnon Seconded by Dillon Vote: Connors Yes Dillon Yes Larkins Yes Pruce Yes Gagnon Yes Resolution 72 of 2026 passed on January 15, 2026 Create a Town Board Audit Committee to Conduct Annual Audits of the Court, Clerk, and Supervisor 6 | P a g e Resolution 73 of 2026 to Create the Town Board Audit Committee Consisting of Board Members Connors and Pruce Discussion Supervisor Gagnon noted that the Court is prepared to be audited, but that the Clerk's audit may be delayed to accommodate the busy tax season and the Supervisor's audit delayed until the closing of the previous fiscal year. Vote Moved by Gagnon Seconded by Pruce Vote: Connors Yes Dillon Yes Larkins Yes Pruce Yes Gagnon Yes Resolution 73 of 2026 passed on January 15, 2026 Update on the Proposed Skate Park Board Member Larkins reported that the original plan to salvage an old Highway barn would not be feasible, and that the most prudent plan would be to take it down and save what can be reused. He noted that while the original location may not be viable, there could be other potential sites on the property. He stated that he would work towards surveying the property and creating detailed drawings. Board Member Pruce noted that fundraising efforts are being made b y a new organization, with hopes that it can help support the skate park. He stated that the next steps involve creating plans for the phases of fundraising and development, as well as detailed drawings. Joe Outsen expressed support for the skate park but wanted to know the Board's general attitude towards the project. Supervisor Gagnon verbally reaffirmed support for the project, and other Board Members expressed support non-verbally. Comptroller's Audit Review Committee Board Member Connors and Supervisor Gagnon reported that the Committee had met and that the next meeting would be to draft a response and open a line of communication with the Comptroller's office. The Board discussed the need to revise the Credit Card and Health Insurance Buyback policies. Supervisor Gagnon noted that a conversation with the Town Supervisor of Caroline showed that Caroline had similar issues regarding incurring late fees on credit card bills. He stated that their solution was to adopt a resolution that allows the Supervisor to unilaterally pay credit card bills in addition to the standard payments ahead of Board audit. He further described difficulties of issuing a credit card for a department but needing to pass the card between members of said department, regardless of the name it was issued under. Board Member Dillon noted that in her time as Town Clerk, she al so experienced this. Update on the Codification Process Planner Hutnik reported that the project was still ongoing. He stated that of the original 107 questions from General Code, 55 have been resolved. Some of them are inconsistencies with State law, some are outdated or superseded laws, some involve resolutions or policies that have been updated. 7 | P a g e The Board discussed various instances of these discrepancies, and a suggestion was made to create a committee of Supervisor Gagnon, Board Member Connors, and Planner Hutnik to review the remaining questions. Update on the Proposed Crosswalk Board Member Dillon presented the drawings created by T.G. Miller. She reported that the plans were ready to be sent to the State DOT for review. She proposed holding a public meeting to gather constituents' input as well. Discussion of Next Meeting Agenda • Resolutions from the NY Association of Towns The allotted time expired and with no motion to extend, the meeting was adjourned at 8:00 PM.