HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB 2026-06-11 attTB 6-11-26
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TOWN OF DRYDEN
TOWN BOARD MEETING
June 11, 2026
Zoom Hybrid
Present: Supv Jason Leifer, Cl Daniel Lamb, Cl Leonardo Vargas-Mendez,
Cl Christina Dravis, Cl Spring Buck
Other Officials: Loren Sparling, Town Clerk (appointed)
Other Town Staff: Amanda Anderson, Bookkeeper
Ray Burger, Planning Director
*Cassie Byrnes, Secretary to the Supervisor
David Makar, Dryden Fiber Executive Director
*Denotes attendance via Zoom
Supv Leifer opened the meeting at 6:05 p.m.
FINANCIALS/HUMAN RESOURCES
RESOLUTION #128 (2026) – APPROVE ABSTRACT #6
Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption:
RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby approves Abstract #6, as audited, general
vouchers #13 and #534 through #661 ($3,034,970.23) and TA vouchers #24 through #27
($10,064.12), totaling $3,045,034.35.
2nd Cl Dravis
Roll Call Vote Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes
Cl Buck Yes
Cl Dravis Yes
Cl Lamb Yes
Supv Leifer Yes
PUBLIC HEARING
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT
PROJECT #336PR9-21
Supv Leifer opened the public hearing at 6:05 p.m. This hearing, first attempted last
month, concerns the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) project for sewer work in
Varna and is a regulatory closeout requirement triggered when more than 95% of grant funds
have been expended. The Notice of Public Hearing was displayed on screen for people to read.
There were no comments, and the hearing was left open at 6:07 p.m.
DRYDEN FIBER
Dryden Fiber Monthly Report
D Makar informed Board members that his full report was emailed to them earlier.
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He highlighted the significant progress made in May on transitioning Multiple Dwelling
Unit (MDU) properties (rendered in purple on the network map) to active status. These
locations required special engineering work beyond standard single-family installations.
Among those “Purple Zone” projects that have been completed are the following:
∙ Etna Mills (1 Etna Ln), a 16-unit apartment at the intersection of Etna Ln and Rte
366, is now live, with three tenants already connected.
∙ Railroad Street Apartments consists of two four-unit buildings, each previously
designed with a single-family port. A multi-unit design is now in place.
∙ The William George Agency, a 42-building campus in Freeville, is now connected via
Dryden Fiber, thus giving the organization a second backbone provider alongside
Spectrum.
∙ The Dryden Center for Community (9 E Main St, Dryden) was recently brought
online following months of coordination.
Among those “Purple Zone” projects that are currently in process are the following:
∙ Freeville Cottages is a 12-unit complex on Main St in Freeville, initially designed with
one single port to service all the units. Owner Bruno Schickel signed the installation
contract yesterday; work is scheduled to begin on Monday, with 1-2 residents already
signed up.
∙ Fall Creek Park – Clarity Connect was awarded the construction bid after competitive
procurement was done in December 2025. The Clarity MDU construction agreement is
on tonight’s agenda. If approved, Clarity can proceed with the installation of seven
Town-owned utility poles to service the 38 manufactured homes of the MHP.
∙ 1062 Dryden Rd is a 20-unit apartment building in Varna, for which an engineering
plan is in development.
∙ Pleasant View Mobile Home Park on Southworth Rd comprises 49-50 manufactured
homes. A walkthrough has been completed, and Dryden Fiber is now awaiting property
owner agreement on pole/underground placement. Work here would fall under the
state-funded MIP grant, so the Town needs to make a best effort to provide service.
∙ Lower Creek Apartments is on Lower Creek Rd between Wood Rd and Pinckney Rd.
It accounts for nearly 100 apartments, for which design is underway. After this occurs,
fiber can be brought down the road.
∙ Hanshaw Village is the second largest mobile home park in the Town with 130 units.
A meeting is scheduled for Monday with the MHP’s head of marketing and IT technology
to plan service introduction alongside their existing revenue-share agreement with
Spectrum. Work here would fall under the state-funded MIP grant, so the Town needs
to make a best effort to provide service.
D Makar related that engineering firm Vantage Point has also updated its design
process to proactively account for multi-unit needs at the design stage. This will ensure
sufficient capacity is available on the street to service large complexes without costly mid-
construction delays.
Conor Hans, hired approximately 3.5 months ago, was credited with much of the
progress at the MDUs. He has built and managed relationships with all those involved in
outfitting the MDUs with fiber: residents, property owners, and landlords, as well as our
construction partners at Clarity, Vantage Point, and Syracuse Utilities.
The first ten easements have been completed, signed, and filed. Outreach is prioritized
by active construction zones. Reception from property owners has been broadly positive, with
three or four having already signed up for service. At least two owners who had not signed up
for service did so after receiving their completed easement documents back in the mail,
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demonstrating the secondary marketing value of the outreach effort. Door hanger and postcard
campaigns continue for both MDU properties and ca 200 MIP-eligible parcels. Current
marketing tactics have achieved an 80% success rate.
As of June 1, Dryden Fiber has 560 active customers. There was a net gain of six
customers in May, with 11 added and five lost (due to customer relocations out of town). Pre-
wired homes require minimal reactivation cost.
Also in May, ECC Technologies, a Rochester-based project management firm
experienced with five other MIP-funded, ConnectAll Office (CAO) broadband projects, was
brought on to support both MIP and non-MIP overall project project management. Given their
experience, they can easily address any questions the State might have, so that time is not
wasted and the State has confidence in what we are doing as a project.
Dryden Fiber will participate in the community’s annual Dairy Day parade and festival,
with Clarity Connect vehicles and a few Broadband Committee members participating in the
parade. A booth will be set up at Montgomery Park where swag (e.g., pens, water bottles) will be
distributed for new sign-ups and maps will show where the network is active or coming soon.
This face-to-face interaction is designed to convert interested residents into active customers
before the Q4 construction push.
Active construction is planned across virtually every neighborhood of the Town in June,
including Schutt Rd, Harford Slaterville Rd, Caswell Rd, Etna Rd, Sheldon Rd, Lower Creek Rd,
McClintock Rd, Hammond Hill Rd, Six Hundred Rd, Bessemer Hill Rd, N Landon Rd, Ringwood
Rd, and Freese Rd. However, two primary hurdles for network connectivity remain. For one,
many utility poles are not yet ready to accept fiber. Crews from Syracuse Utilities, Danella, and
H Richardson & Son continue pole make-ready operations, moving lines owned by Frontier,
Spectrum, Charter, and Time Warner to create clearance.
Secondly, fiber cannot be placed alongside or across any State highway (e.g., Rtes 13,
366, 79, 34B, 38, 392) without State DOT permits. With permit applications being submitted
by month’s end and anticipating a 90-day review period, approval is expected in late September
or early October. As a result, the network is being built in “islands” across the Town, with the
expectation that these islands will be interconnected once State highway permits arrive
between October and December.
On June 1, the MIP project will have about seven months remaining to meet its end-of-
year federal deadline. Approximately 200 days of construction time have been lost to weather
over the life of the project (e.g., days with high winds and two consecutive long, harsh winters),
and supply chain constraints driven by competition with data center infrastructure for fiber
and electronics have further contributed to delays.
A variable (six month maximum) extension opportunity has been opened by the federal
government (Treasury Department), following pressure from states with similarly challenged
timelines. To this end, Dryden Fiber has submitted a six-month extension request to New York
State, as the project is administered through the State. The State will then forward the
application to the federal government. The application deadline is July 31, 2026. A decision
from the federal government to the State is expected in August or September. Despite the
pending extension, the State has directed all projects to operate as if no extension exists and
target completion by December 31. The project team thus is operating on a dual-track timeline:
a December 31, 2026 deadline and a June 30, 2027 extended deadline.
With 203 days remaining before the MIP deadline, significant construction scope
remains. All fiber for the Caroline service area (approximately 90 miles, serving around 1,200
homes) has not yet broken ground. In addition, much of the Rte 38 corridor, Irish Settlement
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Rd, Yellow Barn Rd, Ringwood Rd, Ellis Hollow Rd, and Snyder Hill Rd is in the MIP-funded
area and still needs to be built out. When all the MIP areas are completed, there still will be
much work to do in the non-MIP-funded areas of the Town.
Despite having construction crews active across Freeville, greater Dryden, and Caroline,
the project is in a “partial hold” due to the compound effect of pending pole licensing, State
highway permits, POP server upgrades (expected to be complete at the end of July), easements,
and network redesign. As these barriers are resolved through the summer, construction
velocity is expected to accelerate sharply in Quarter 4, so these areas are unlikely to turn green
on the map until a few months from now, potentially in September or October. D Makar cited
the biggest cause for the holdup is obtaining State highway permits to cross State highways
with fiber lines. For example, McClintock Rd has been built out with fiber and multiport
devices; residents are ready to be plugged in, but Dryden Fiber cannot cross Rte 392 to a pole
on the south side that connects to the network.
Delays have also been caused by the discovery of gaps in a given run. In the case of
Etna Rd between Upper Creek Rd and Hanshaw Rd, Syracuse Utilities discovered that two
poles out of 50 were missing pole licenses, which halted the entire two-mile installation for a
time. They were stuck until licenses were obtained and were forced to move elsewhere in the
Town.
Authorize Agreement with Clarity Connect for MDU Construction
Multiple Dwelling Units (MDUs), including mobile home parks, often require installation
support greater than $10,000 to bring service to the individual units. At this investment level,
procurement is required by bid. Clarity Connect (with local offices on Hanshaw Rd) was the
lowest bidder in a competitive bid that was initiated in December 2024 to install poles and run
fiber to MDU properties. Fall Creek Mobile Park, with 38 homes, is ready for installation upon
signing this agreement.
Resolution #129 (2026) Authorize the Dryden Fiber Executive Director to Sign an
Agreement with Clarity Connect for MDU Construction
Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption:
WHEREAS, Dryden owns and operates a fiber-to-the-premises broadband network, including
Points of Presence (POPs), Central Office (CO) facilities, backbone infrastructure, field splice
locations, access electronics, and customer premises equipment (the “Network”), and
WHEREAS, Contractor is in the business of providing construction services for broadband
networks, and
WHEREAS, Dryden seeks to obtain, and Contractor shall provide construction services relating
to multiple dwelling unit properties for the Network as set forth herein, and
WHEREAS, in consideration of the premises and mutual promises and covenants contained
herein, and for other good and valuable considerations, the receipt and sufficiency of which are
hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereby agree to the MDU Construction Agreement,
Therefore, be it RESOLVED that the Town Board authorizes the Dryden Fiber Executive
Director to sign an agreement with Clarity Connect for the purpose of constructing
infrastructure to provide fiber optic broadband services to multiple dwelling unit properties as
specified in the MDU Construction Agreement, including pricing.
2nd Cl Lamb
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Roll Call Vote Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes
Cl Buck Yes
Cl Dravis Yes
Cl Lamb Yes
Supv Leifer Yes
Authorize Agreement with Clarity Connect for Maintenance
This is for 24/7 emergency repair and maintenance coverage by Clarity Connect for
POPs, the central office, and backbone infrastructure, not home installations. This covers
nights, weekends, and on-call response.
Resolution #130 (2026) Authorize the Dryden Fiber Executive Director to Sign an
Agreement with Clarity Connect for Maintenance
Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption:
WHEREAS, Dryden owns and operates a fiber-to-the-premises broadband network, including
Points of Presence (POPs), Central Office (CO) facilities, backbone infrastructure, field splice
locations, access electronics, and customer premises equipment (the “Network”), and
WHEREAS, Contractor is in the business of providing maintenance and repair services for
broadband networks, and
WHEREAS, Dryden seeks to obtain, and Contractor shall provide maintenance and repair
services for the Network as set forth herein, and
WHEREAS, in consideration of the premises and mutual promises and covenants contained
herein, and for other good and valuable considerations, the receipt and sufficiency of which are
hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereby agree to the Maintenance Agreement,
Therefore, be it RESOLVED that the Town Board authorizes the Dryden Fiber Executive
Director to sign an agreement with Clarity Connect for the purpose of maintaining and
repairing, as specified in the Maintenance Agreement, including pricing.
2nd Cl Lamb
Roll Call Vote Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes
Cl Buck Yes
Cl Dravis Yes
Cl Lamb Yes
Supv Leifer Yes
Award ISP Installation for Dryden Fiber Caroline Hut Project
Over the winter, the Caroline Hut was constructed at the intersection of Midline Rd and
Rte 79. The next step is to outfit the interior of the building with racks and ISP equipment.
Clarity Connect was the lowest bidder (at $26,000) in a competitive bid. (The next three lowest
bids were in the range of $35,000 to $45,000.) Work will begin this month.
Resolution #131 (2026) Award ISP Installation for Dryden Fiber Caroline Hut Project
Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption:
WHEREAS, five bids were received for the ISP Installation for the Dryden Fiber Caroline Hut
Project and were opened on May 26, 2026, and
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WHEREAS, those bids were reviewed and evaluated by Dryden Fiber staff, now therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby awards the contract for ISP Installation for Dryden
Fiber Caroline Hut Project to Clarity Connect for a total contract value of $26,420 and
authorizes the Executive Director to sign the contract.
2nd Cl Lamb
Roll Call Vote Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes
Cl Buck Yes
Cl Dravis Yes
Cl Lamb Yes
Supv Leifer Yes
Approve ECC Technologies Service Agreement Addendum
This resolution expands ECC’s project management scope from MIP-only to include
non-MIP portions of the Dryden project (approximately half of the remaining work). The cost for
this is not to exceed $118,000.
Resolution #132 (2026) – Approve ECC Technologies Service Agreement
Addendum
Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption:
RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby approves Addendum 1, dated May 27, 2026,
to ECC Technologies’ original proposal dated May 19, 2026, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby authorizes David Makar to
sign Addendum 1 as Executive Director of Dryden Fiber.
2nd Cl Lamb
Roll Call Vote Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes
Cl Buck Yes
Cl Dravis Yes
Cl Lamb Yes
Supv Leifer Yes
Authorize New Dryden Fiber Bond
In October 2022, the Town Board authorized the borrowing of $14,535,281 for the
broadband project. This amount was based on the initial budget prepared by the engineering
firm in 2019, predating pandemic-era cost increases. The project has annually drawn on this
bond and in 2026, used the remaining funds. Due to cost increases for subcontractors and
materials and changes in the project, additional funds are necessary to finish the final buildout
of the Dryden Fiber network. This resolution authorizes a new bond to cover these ongoing and
future project costs, funding operations through 2026 and into 2027.
D Makar and the Town’s Finance Department worked to prepare a capital project
budget for 2026 to 2028, taking into account all the various changes and expected
expenditures. The new bond amount that has been recommended for the town to approve is
$16,852,000. This new bond amount considers the MIP grant reimbursement to be used to pay
back the original bond amount.
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A significant policy challenge discussed at length concerns New York State law, which
currently limits municipal broadband bonds to a maximum 10-year term. This creates a
structural mismatch for Dryden Fiber. Project payback analysis indicates 18-25 years is a
realistic repayment timeline at projected subscriber levels. D Makar would feel more
comfortable with a 20- to 30-year term to pay off the bond. The current 10-year bond term
imposes unsustainably high monthly repayment obligations, limiting funds available for
maintenance and long-term operations. In addition, the core fiber infrastructure (strands, fiber,
downlines, anchors, hand holes) is engineered for a 40– to 50-year service life, comparable to
water, sewer, or culvert infrastructure. To have a 10-year bond is just not realistic to the cost
and lifetime of the material being put into place.
D Makar was informed about the State-mandated 10-year maximum bond term in
November. In January, he and Cl Lamb drafted legislation to modernize mutual broadband
financing by extending the allowable bond term to 30 years, thus aligning bonding authority
with the actual lifespan of the assets. The bill made progress in Albany this session, with
support secured in the Assembly, but it failed to pass before the legislative term ended.
Assemblymember Anna Kelles communicated that she is committed to passing the legislation
in the next session.
Without the extension, bonds will need to be refinanced within an increasingly
compressed timeframe. Additional MIP projects statewide are expected to face similar
challenges, potentially broadening political support for the legislation in future sessions. The
Town will pursue the legislation again in the fall session or next spring.
Resolution #133 (2026) – A Resolution Authorizing, Subject to Permissive Referendum,
the Construction of a Town-Wide Broadband Service System (Phase II), for the Town of
Dryden, Tompkins County, New York, at a Maximum Estimated Cost of $16,852,000 and
Authorizing the Issuance of $16,852,000 Serial Bonds of Said Town to Pay the Cost
Thereof
Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption:
WHEREAS, the capital project hereinafter described has been determined to be an Unlisted Action
pursuant to the regulations of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation promulgated pursuant
to the State Environmental Quality Review Act, the implementation of which as proposed, the Town Board has
determined will not have any significant adverse impact on the environment; and
WHEREAS, in the Working to Implement Reliable and Equitable Deployment of Broadband Act of 2022,
constituting part MMM of Chapter 58 of the Laws of 2026 (the “Broadband Act”), the State Legislature found and
declared that access to high-speed, reliable and affordable broadband is “essential for education, economic growth
and full participation in civic life” and that the “benefits of broadband access should be available to all”; and
WHEREAS, in said Broadband Act, the General Municipal Law was amended by adding a new Section 99-
y thereof authorizing any county, city, town or village to “establish, construct, and maintain broadband and related
telecommunication infrastructure”; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Dryden, Tompkins County, New York has determined to provide the availability
of broadband service, as defined in the Act, to all residents of the Town, including the villages therein; and
WHEREAS, it is now desired to authorize the financing of such capital project; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED, by the affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds of the total voting strength of the
Town Board of the Town of Dryden, Tompkins County, New York, as follows:
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Section 1. The construction of a Town-wide broadband service system (Phase II), for the Town of Dryden,
Tompkins County, New York, including original furnishings, equipment, machinery, apparatus, appurtenances, and
other incidental improvements and expenses in connection therewith, is hereby authorized at a maximum estimated
cost of $16,852,000.
Section 2. The plan for the financing of the aforesaid maximum estimated cost is by the issuance of not
exceeding $16,852,000 bonds of said Town, hereby authorized to be issued therefor pursuant to the provisions of the
Local Finance Law; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that to the extent that any grants-in-aid are received for such
purpose, the amount of obligations to be issued pursuant to this resolution shall be reduced dollar for dollar.
Section 3. It is hereby determined that the period of probable usefulness of the aforesaid specific object or
purpose is 10 years, pursuant to subdivision 109 of paragraph a of Section 11.00 of the Local Finance Law. It is
hereby further determined that the maximum maturity of the bonds herein authorized will exceed five years.
Section 4. The faith and credit of said Town of Dryden, Tompkins County, New York, are hereby
irrevocably pledged for the payment of the principal of and interest on such bonds as the same respectively become
due and payable. An annual appropriation shall be made in each year sufficient to pay the principal of and interest
on such bonds becoming due and payable in such year. There shall annually be levied on all the taxable real
property of said Town, a tax sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on such bonds as the same become due
and payable.
Section 5. Subject to the provisions of the Local Finance Law, the power to authorize the issuance of and to
sell bond anticipation notes in anticipation of the issuance and sale of the bonds herein authorized, including
renewals of such notes, is hereby delegated to the Supervisor, the chief fiscal officer. Such notes shall be of such
terms, form and contents, and shall be sold in such manner, as may be prescribed by said Supervisor, consistent with
the provisions of the Local Finance Law.
Section 6. All other matters, except as provided herein relating to such bonds, including determining
whether to issue such bonds having substantially level or declining annual debt service and all matters related
thereto, prescribing whether manual or facsimile signatures shall appear on said bonds, prescribing the method for
the recording of ownership of said bonds, appointing the fiscal agent or agents for said bonds, providing for the
printing and delivery of said bonds (and if said bonds are to be executed in the name of the Town by the facsimile
signature of the Supervisor, providing for the manual countersignature of a fiscal agent or of a designated official of
the Town), the date, denominations, maturities and interest payment dates, place or places of payment, and also
including the consolidation with other issues, shall be determined by the Supervisor. Such bonds shall contain
substantially the recital of validity clause provided for in section 52.00 of the Local Finance Law and shall otherwise
be in such form and contain such recitals in addition to those required by section 52.00 of the Local Finance Law, as
the Supervisor shall determine.
Section 7. This resolution shall constitute a statement of official intent for purposes of Treasury
Regulations Section 1.150 - 2. Other than as specified in this resolution, no monies are, or are reasonably expected
to be, reserved, allocated on a long-term basis, or otherwise set aside with respect to the permanent funding of the
object or purpose described herein.
Section 8. The validity of such bonds and bond anticipation notes may be contested only if:
1) Such obligations are authorized for an object or purpose for which said Town is not authorized to expend
money, or
2) The provisions of law which should be complied with at the date of publication of this resolution are not
substantially complied with,
and an action, suit or proceeding contesting such validity is commenced within twenty days after the date of
such publication, or
3) Such obligations are authorized in violation of the provisions of the Constitution.
Section 9. Upon this resolution taking effect, the same shall be published in summary form in the official
newspaper of said Town for such purpose, together with a notice of the Town Clerk in substantially the form
provided in Section 81.00 of the Local Finance Law.
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Section 10. THIS RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED SUBJECT TO PERMISSIVE REFERENDUM.
2nd Cl Lamb
Roll Call Vote Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes
Cl Buck Yes
Cl Dravis Yes
Cl Lamb Yes
Supv Leifer Yes
It was noted that, for the months of July and August only, Broadband Committee
meetings have been moved to the second and fourth Fridays of the month. The next meeting
will be held on July 10.
PUBLIC HEARING (continued)
Supv Leifer closed the public hearing at 6:49 p.m., stating that there was no further
action for the Board to take.
DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEMS
Adopt Longevity Policy
When the Board passed the pay schedule in 2025, it was known that the Town would
need to develop a longevity payment policy for non-union employees because after working for
10 years, there are no longer any step increases, just annual CPI increases. This policy,
effective 2026, would provide small annual monetary recognition payments to long-term non-
union staff as a way to say thank you. (Union employees have similar longevity provisions
embedded in their existing contracts.)
The policy was developed by A Anderson, in conjunction with the payroll clerk and the
Personnel Committee, and modeled after the union example, as well as practices in place in
neighboring towns. The policy carries a negligible financial footprint for 2026, estimated at less
than $4,000 across four qualifying employees. To ensure administrative efficiency and fiscal
predictability, a single payment would be made in January following an employee’s qualifying
anniversary year. The policy will be incorporated into the updated personnel manual that will
be prepared over the summer.
Resolution #134 (2026) – Adopt Longevity Policy
Cl Dravis offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption:
WHEREAS, in November 2025 the town board adopted the 2026 pay schedule and
WHEREAS, the pay schedule is set up to provide employees set increases at certain
anniversary years. After 10 years, there are no step increases, so the longevity policy provides
employees over 10 years a set annual payment, now therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby approves the longevity policy and the policy is
effective starting January 1, 2026.
2nd Supv Leifer
Roll Call Vote Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes
Cl Buck Yes
Cl Dravis Yes
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Cl Lamb Yes
Supv Leifer Yes
Authorize Signers on Bank Accounts
This resolution formalizes an update to authorized signatories on all Town bank
accounts monitored by the Supervisor’s office (checking, money market, etc.) The resolution is
required by the bank despite prior form submissions and resolves an administrative process
issue.
Resolution #135 (2026) – Authorize Signers on Bank Accounts
Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption:
RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby appoints and authorizes the following individuals as
signers on the Supervisors Fund, Money Market, Trust & Agency, Special Grant Fund, Health
Reimbursement Account, Broadband, Recreation, and Combined CDBG Sewer bank accounts
at The First National Bank of Dryden: Jason Leifer, Allison Kjellander-Cantu, and Loren
Sparling.
2nd Cl Lamb
Roll Call Vote Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes
Cl Buck Yes
Cl Dravis Yes
Cl Lamb Yes
Supv Leifer Yes
Appointment of Water and Sewer Maintenance Supervisor
This resolution appoints Jordan Betts to the position of Water and Sewer Maintenance
Supervisor, effective May 26. It is a new position that will be added to the pay schedule for
2027. The position requires managing multiple Town water systems and the candidate’s prior
experience at Bolton Point was noted as a relevant asset.
Resolution #136 (2026) – Appointment of Water and Sewer Maintenance Supervisor
Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption:
RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby appoints Jordan Betts to the position of Water and
Sewer Maintenance Supervisor with a start date of May 26, 2026 with the payrate of $31/hour.
2nd Cl Lamb
Roll Call Vote Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes
Cl Buck Yes
Cl Dravis Yes
Cl Lamb Yes
Supv Leifer Yes
Approve “Associate Youth Member” Appointments to Advisory Boards
Building on a discussion at last month’s meeting, this resolution establishes a
framework for Associate Youth Member appointments to all Town advisory boards. Youth
under 18 years of age may be appointed as Associate Youth Members in a non-voting capacity.
Individual boards may appoint youth members directly without requiring Town Board approval
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each time. This is intended to encourage civic engagement and pipeline future community
leadership.
Resolution #137 (2026) – Approve “Associate Youth Member” Appointments to Advisory
Boards
Cl Lamb offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption:
WHEREAS, the town recognizes the importance of hearing the perspectives of youth residents
and creating opportunities to learn about local government,
WHEREAS, the town board seeks to cultivate the next generation of community and town
leaders,
RESOLVED the town board encourages and permits town advisory boards to appoint
"Associate Youth Members," who are under the age of 18, as non-voting members.
2nd Cl Vargas-Mendez
Roll Call Vote Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes
Cl Buck Yes
Cl Dravis Yes
Cl Lamb Yes
Supv Leifer Yes
Recognizing Joy Foster for Her Service to the Town of Dryden
After 19 years of service to the Town of Dryden, Joy Foster will retire tomorrow. R
Burger read into the record the resolution that recognizes her dedication and years of service.
Resolution #138 (2026) - Recognizing Joy Foster for Her Service to the Town of Dryden
Cl Lamb offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption:
WHEREAS Joy Foster has worked as a valued member of the Town Planning and
Building Department for over 19 years; and
WHEREAS Joy helped make the transition to the new Town Hall in 2007; and
WHEREAS Joy has provided significant support to four different Planning Directors over
her career; and
WHEREAS Joy has consistently provided great customer service to the citizens of
Dryden, being the first person that residents deal with as they pursue building projects.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Board and the Town of Dryden offer
their deepest appreciation to Joy Foster for her dedication and years of service to the Town of
Dryden and its residents and wishes her the best in her retirement.
2nd Cl Vargas-Mendez
Roll Call Vote Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes
Cl Buck Yes
Cl Dravis Yes
Cl Lamb Yes
Supv Leifer Yes
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Next Steps for the Fire District: Identifying Potential Commissioners and Discussion
with Village Mayors
A substantial portion of the meeting was devoted to planning discussions for the
transition of Dryden’s three fire departments into a consolidated, autonomous fire district.
Representatives from the Village of Freeville’s Board of Trustees and the three fire department
boards participated.
Miles McCarty, the Mayor of Freeville, presented the Village’s official position on the
subject. The Village supports an expeditious transition to a fire district, with a target date of
January 1, 2027. Budget pressure is significant. The Village is managing a $9.6 million sewer
system upgrade, of which $2.5 million will need to be bonded out. This will likely increase
resident sewer charges by 25-50%.
Combined with the 2% general fund cap, the Village cannot sustain the recent pattern
of double-digit annual increases from the fire department without adequate financial
justification. In recent years, the Village provided $25,000 in ARPA funds for a firehouse roof
and $20,000 in CHIPS funds for parking lot improvements. The expectation that this
investment might inform future budget discussions was not reciprocated; Village leaders were
told that they should view these funds as a gift. As far as the Board of Trustees can ascertain,
W B Strong Fire Company has not demonstrated sufficient need for their requested increases;
indeed, their reserves will not show any financial stress until 2065.
A dedicated fire district would remove this volatility from the Village’s direct budget, and
so the Village has entered into a seven-month contract with W B Strong, anticipating the
Town’s move to a fire district in January 2027. The Village emphasized that its concerns are
fiscal and administrative, not operational; W B Strong Fire Company was described as
operationally sound.
Cl Lamb believes that Village of Dryden leadership hold similar feelings, adding that the
Town would not convert to a fire district without the support of the villages. M McCarty offered
the assistance of the Village of Freeville in any way possible to meet the January deadline.
Tom Pirko, representing the Boards of Directors of all three fire departments (Neptune,
W B Strong, and Varna), reported that, on Tuesday, all three boards agreed to move forward
with fire district discussions. The departments hired a fire district attorney several months ago
to advise on the process. Currently, seven names of potential working group members have
been compiled. Efforts are ongoing to identify additional community members willing to serve,
including outside the departments themselves. The departments want a strong voice in
commissioner selection to ensure appropriate expertise, and so the goal is to find individuals
with a strong understanding of fire service and project management.
The following timeline was outlined:
June 17: Meeting date between Supv Leifer and the three fire department board chairs
By the end of June: Finalize the working group (roundabouts 8 people) to plan
operations, conduct outreach, and establish a base structure. Cl Lamb and T Pirko
envision that the first commissioners would come from this group and would comprise
about five members; with any more than five commissioner seats, there may be a
struggle to fill future vacancies.
August-September: The names of the five Commissioner candidates and one Treasurer
candidate will be confirmed. Fire department members will be briefed to reduce
uncertainty and anxiety within the departments.
September: The Town and villages will conduct public hearings on fire district
formation. A joint public hearing with both villages is under consideration.
TB 6-11-26
Page 13 of 13
October: The Town Board will vote to formally appoint the five Commissioners and
Treasurer at its first meeting of the month.
October-November: The new Commission has a 30- to 45-day window to develop, hold
a hearing on, and adopt the district’s first budget. This budget will then be submitted to
the Town for inclusion in the tax levy for 2027.
January 1, 2027: Fire district becomes formally operational.
It was noted that the Village of Freeville’s legal counsel expressed some skepticism
about the feasibility of the January 2027 timeline, but the fire district attorney indicated it is
achievable provided commissioner names are confirmed by August or September. The Board
expressed consensus that the process should move forward, with Cl Lamb proposing that a
Town liaison participate in the working group (which made sense to T Pirko).
Legal costs are expected to increase substantially (estimated at $300+/hr) once the
working group is formed, and T Pirko asked when funding set aside for district formation could
be applied to these legal expenses. (He did not expect a response tonight.)
PROPOSED AGENDA ITEMS FOR JUNE 18, 2026
Supv Leifer reminded Board members that two public hearings are on the agenda for
next week. The first is at 6:05 p.m. regarding a site plan review and special use permit
application for 53 Pinckney Rd. The second is at 6:15 p.m. regarding a revised site plan review
and special permit application for 2150 Dryden Rd.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:28 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Loren Sparling
Town Clerk (appointed)
DRYDEN FIBER
MONTHLY REPORT
for May 2026
TOWN OF DRYDEN BROADBAND COMMITTEE MEETING on June 5, 2026
And
DRYDEN TOWN BOARD on June 18, 2026
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY –6/5/2026
▪The Good News:
Multiple Dwelling Units and Purple Zone Projects
▪Done: 1 Etna Lane (16 units); Railroad Street Apartments (8 units); William George Agency (42
buildings; using both Spectrum fiber and Dryden Fiber); Center for Community (Dryden Village)
▪Close: Freeville Cottages (Awaiting signature, 12 units); Fall Creek Park (MDU construction on June
agenda, work in June, 38 units); 1062 Dryden Road (fiber plan, 20 apartments)
▪Next: Pleasant View (Southworth Road); Lower Creek Apartments (Etna)
Easements: The first 10 are completed (signed and filed);Outreach is well underway by priority
Door to Door outreach (door hangers) advancing for MDUs and MIP parcels
o 560 customers are active as of June 1, 2026 (Net of 6; +11 in May; -5 in May)
o Signed a partnership with ECC Technologies (Rochester) to support Dryden Fiber and Vantage
with Project Management; MIP Deadline; Non-MIP Overall Project:
▪NY State Based; working on 5 other tight timeline MIP projects / familiar with CAO
o Dryden Fiber will participate in Dryden Dairy Day (June 13): Parade (9:30am) and Park (10 -2pm)
▪Postcards, Candy, construction ve hicles; Pop-up tent; table; maps; banners; pens; swag; request
service
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY –6/5/2026
▪June Construction: In all this totals approximately 13 miles that can be built. Please keep in mind that as more make ready is completed,
and more areas open up, this will change these figures. Make Ready management by Vantage for H.R.S. (Frontier, Charter) and S U (Frontier)
▪Schutt Rd, to Harford Slaterville Rd, including the section in the farmer's field out of the state Hwy
easement, in Dryden, Roughly 2.5 miles of strand.
▪Caswell Rd, south portion off West Dryden road, in Freeville. Roughly 1600' of strand and fiber.
▪Etna Rd,start on Upper Creek Rd head west to Etna, will have to build this in 2 sections because of a bore and
transmission line pole (roughly 2 miles of strand).
▪Sheldon Rd going north from Bone Plain Rd, in Pinckney. Roughly 1500' of strand.
▪Lower Creek Rd going west from Wood Rd, in Pinckney. Roughly 3800' of strand.
▪McClintock Rd going east from Livermore Rd, in Dryden. Roughly 3600' of strand. There is also a 460' bore needed.
▪Hammond Hill going south onto Flat Iron Rd, In Caroline. Roughly 3000' of strand and fiber.
▪Six Hundred Rd, in Caroline. Roughly 2000' of strand and fiber.
▪Bessemer Hill Rd south from Snyder Hill Rd, in Caroline. Roughly 3100' of strand.
▪North Landon Rd going north onto Snyder Hill Rd, in Caroline. Roughly 2 miles of strand.
▪Ringwood Rd going south off Mineah Rd, in Yellowbarn. Roughly 2 miles of strand.
▪Freese Rd going north from Dryden Rd, in Yellowbarn. Roughly 5600' strand.
MIP Scoreboard –May 2026
As of June 1, 2026
Months to go:
5.1
----------
147
(3.4%)
MIP Miles Completed*
202
----------
2,711
(7.5%)
# of Parcels Reached**
4
----------
470
(0.9%)
# of Unserved Reached
1
----------
74
(1.4%)
# of Underserved Reached
54
----------
400
(13.5%)
# of MIP Installs
7
--------
30
(23%)
MIP Scoreboard – June 2026
As of June 11, 2026
203
DAYS TO GO
(<7 months)
141.9 miles to build
Municipal Infrastructure Program Grant must be completed by 12/31/26
Project Highlights
Project Name:Dryden Fiber Expansion
for Towns of Dryden and Caroline
Applicant and Partner(s):Town of
Dryden dba, Dryden Fiber and Town of
Caroline
Construction Miles (Fiber): 147
Total Locations Served:2,711
ConnectALL Grant Amount: $ 11,641,537.00
Local Contribution: $ 906,321.00
Total Project Investment: $ 12,547,858.00
2026 Construction Plan (Gantt Chart) - As of June 10, 2026
Feb.Mar.Apr.May Jun.Jul.Aug.Sep.Oct.Nov.Dec.
Freeville Expansion PARTIA
L HOLD
PARTIAL
HOLD
PARTIAL
HOLD
PARTIAL
HOLD
PARTIAL
HOLD
PARTIAL
HOLD
PARTIA
L HOLD
PARTIAL
HOLD
PARTIAL
HOLD BUILD BUILD
Greater Dryden BID PARTIAL
HOLD
PARTIAL
HOLD
PARTIAL
HOLD
PARTIAL
HOLD
PARTIAL
HOLD
PARTIA
L HOLD
PARTIAL
HOLD
PARTIAL
HOLD BUILD BUILD
Caroline MIP (5)BID BID PARTIAL
HOLD
PARTIAL
HOLD
PARTIAL
HOLD
PARTIAL
HOLD
PARTIA
L HOLD
PARTIAL
HOLD
PARTIA
L HOLD BUILD BUILD
BID – Project out to bid, awarded, contract negotiation, signatures,design book presentation and review.
PARTIAL HOLD – Due to gaps in:
Pole licensing (EMR, Telco Moves),
NY State Highway Permits,
POP Server Upgrades,
Easements,
network design/redesign
Vantage is directing construction (aerial, underground) to limited parts of the map where we have
permits,licenses, and easements. Splicing can be carried out under specific direction.
BUILD - "Let it rip" - Construction partner has full access to licenses, permits, weather, inventory,
materials, and POPs are ready for activating parcels in small bunches.
LIVE – Residents in the zone can schedule and can have service installed.
▪Customer Base – Matthew Kinast – Dryden Fiber Accounting
▪Finance – Amanda Anderson – Dryden Fiber Accounting
▪Customer Service - Netegrity
▪Sales Operations/MDUs - Conor Hans, Account Manager
▪Installations – Clarity Connect, Netegrity, Conor Hans, Account Manager
▪Inventory Management – Matt Kinast
▪Easements – Exec. Dir. Dave Makar; Cynthia Brock
▪Marketing – Exec. Dir. Dave Makar
▪Construction Permitting Updates – Vantage
▪Construction Implementation Updates – Vantage
▪Facilities and Grounds - Department of Public Works
▪Network Operations - Netegrity
▪Legal and Policy – Dave Makar
Team Reports
Customer Base
As of June 1st, 2026 (billing date is 1st of month)
Speed
Number of
Subscriptions
Billed Monthly
Revenue
Net Change
from Prior
month
Average Monthly
Revenue
Residential
Silver ($45)400 Mbps 416 18,720 +7 / -5
Gold ($75)700 Mbps 72 5,400 1
Platinum ($90)1 Gbps 45 4,050 3
Total Residential Customers 533 28,170 6 52.85
Commercial
Standard ($75)500 Mbps 22 1,650
Preferred ($150)1 Gbps 4 600
Enhanced ($250)2 Gbps 1 250
Total Commercial Customers 27 2,500 92.59
Total of ALL Customers 560 30,670 54.77
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
2026 Dryden Fiber - Customer Count
Projected Customer Count Actual Customer Count
Financial Reporting
as of May 31, 2026
Revenue and Expenses
2026 Budget and Actual
1-1 to 5-2026 2026 Budget Remainder
Revenue
Customer Subscriptions 144,495.00 461,950.00 317,455.00
MIP Grant Revenue 1,191,525.96 2,793,968.88 1,602,442.92
Other Revenue Sources 5,126.40 69,200.00 64,073.60
Total 1,341,147.36 3,325,118.88 1,983,971.52
Expenses
Construction 3,083,304.22 11,537,893.41 8,454,589.19
Installation 86,839.77 710,000.00 623,160.23
Operations 172,913.59 505,123.01 332,209.42
Total 3,343,057.58 12,753,016.42 9,409,958.84
-
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
2026 Budgeted and Actual Operating
Budgeted Expenses Actual Operating Exp Budgeted Revenue Actual Revenue
-
2,000.00
4,000.00
6,000.00
8,000.00
10,000.00
12,000.00
14,000.00
16,000.00
18,000.00
20,000.00
22,000.00
24,000.00
26,000.00
28,000.00
30,000.00
32,000.00
34,000.00
36,000.00
38,000.00
40,000.00
42,000.00
44,000.00
46,000.00
48,000.00
50,000.00
52,000.00
June 2025 July 2025 Aug 2025 Sept 2025 Oct 2025 Nov 2025 Dec 2025 Jan 2026 Feb 2026 Mar 2026 April 2026 May 2026
Dryden Fiber Revenue and Operating Exp. - 12 months
Commercial Revenue Residential Revenue Operating Expense Trend Operational Expenses
Customer Service
As of June 1st, 2026 (billing date is 1st of month)
Helpdesk Call Report May 2026
•Bandwidth Complaint (Speed Concerns)
•1
•Billing Related Call
•8
•Downed Drop (Damaged Service Line)
•0
•Email (Calls related to email difficulties)
•0
•No Connectivity
•4
•ONT / Power Cycle (Calls related to the
ONT where unplugging or rebooting
equipment was necessary)
•1
•Other / Unrelated (Calls looking for
unrelated departments or information)
•20
•Outage
•0
•Install Orders / Create Service
•19
•Router Issue
•2
•PC / Laptop Issue
•0
•Sporadic Connection
•0
•Streaming Related Issue
•0
•User Error / Education
•13
•Wireless
•0
Total Service Call Dispatches: 0
Tickets: 68 Customers: 554 Dec: 89/487 Jan: 80/515 Feb: 77/543
March: 77/543
Ticket / Customer Ratio: 12%Dec: 18% Jan: 16% Feb: 9% March:
14%
Note:
Install Orders denote an
incoming install scheduling
request – not a completed install
One caller can generate
numerous tickets for a single
issue (i.e. calls in 5x for same
problem)
Support@drydenfiber.com
607-391-3500 (direct support
number)
User Error / Education:
User Error / Education:
Service inquiry (non-green)
Hardware Q's
Range Extenders
Account Management – MDUs – Mobile Home Parks -As of: June 1, 2026
Current
Task
Owner
MDU Name
And Zone (Green,
Yellow, Orange:
Could be)
Initial
Property
Owner
Outreach
Property
Owner
Paperwork
signed
Engineering
Design
Complete
Eng. Plan
approved by
property
owner
Construction
Scheduled
Construction
Completed
Residents
Notified
Unit
Count
NEXT STEPS
Acct.
Mgr
Ithaca Estates Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 9 / 74 Conor: Door
hangers around the
park
Acct.
Mgr
Shady Grove
MHP
(Pinckney)
Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 0 / 17 Dave: Reach out
Dave /
Acct.
Mgr
Mott Road
Mobile Home
Park
Yes Yes Yes No No No No 24 Conor: follow-up
with Reggie (park
owner)
Dave /
Acct.
Mgr
Fall Creek
Parke (Etna)
Yes Yes DRAFTING No No No No 38 Karel Westerling's
property; MDU
Construction RFP
VPS –
plan
needed
Little Creek
MHP (North
Road)
Yes Yes;
however
new
signature
needed
No No No No No 100 TBD
Acct.
Mgr
County Acres
MHP
(McLean);
Vista
Management
(Fall Creek
Rd./Rt. 366)
Yes No No No No No No 102 Dave: Follow-up
with owner /
manager
Current
Task
Owner
MDU Name
And Zone (Green,
Yellow, Orange:
Could be)
Initial
Property
Owner
Outreach
Property
Owner
Paperwork
signed
Engineering
Design
Complete
Eng. Plan
approved by
property
owner
Construction
Scheduled
Construction
Completed
Residents
Notified
Unit
Count
NEXT STEPS
Acct.
Mgr
Pleasant View
(Southworth
Rd.)
Yes No No No No No No 50 Meeting with
owner and
Vantage
Dave /
Acct.
Mgr
Country Manor
Estates (Wood
Rd.)
Yes No No No No No No 14 Karel Westerling's
property; Yellow
zone; plan created
Acct.
Mgr
Hanshaw
Village
(Hanshaw
Road)
Yes No; needs
engineeri
ng review
first
No No No No No 149 Dave: Follow-up
VPS Cook Street
(Freeville)
Yes No No No No No No 12+Dave: Follow-up on
engineering plan to
reach park
Acct.
Mgr
Hillside Acres*Yes No No No No No No 150+*Low priority, due to
not likely to be built
to until 2027 (Poles
potentially needed);
new owner
Account Management – MDUs – Mobile Home Parks -As of: June 1, 2026
Current
Task
Owner
MDU Name Initial
Property
Owner
Outreach
Property
Owner
Paperwork
signed
Engineering
Design
Complete
Eng. Plan
approved
by property
owner
Construction
Scheduled
Construction
Completed
Residents
Notified
Unit
Count
Notes
VPS 1062 Dryden
Rd. Apts.
(Varna)
Yes No Yes Meeting
Scheduled
No No No 21 Conor/Dave:
Outreach to
property owner with
plan
Account
Manager
12-14-16
Lake Street
(Dryden
Village)
Yes No Drafting No No No No 20 Conor: Get meeting
with Mark Goldfarb /
owner to assess
options
VPS Willow Brook
Apartments
Yes No No No No No No 50 Service via North
Rd (Rt. 13), State
Permit (Sept. '26)
VPS Willow Brook
Office Only
Yes No Service via North
Rd (Rt. 13), State
Permit (Sept. '26)
Dave /
Account
Manager
Dryden
Village 4
Corners
( Some )No ( Some )No ( Some )( Some )No 35+Service via North
Rd (Rt. 13), State
Permit (Sept. '26)
Account
Manager
194 Lower
Creek Road
(Apartments)
Yes No No No No No No 28 Conor, Eric:
outreach and
investigate
Account
Manager
Creekwood
Apartments
at 200 Lower
Creek Rd.
Yes No No No No No No 57 Conor, Eric:
outreach and
investigate
Account Management – MDUs – Apartments -As of: June 1, 2026
Account Management – MDUs – Apartments -As of: June 1, 2026
Current
Task
Owner
MDU Name Initial
Property
Owner
Outreach
Property
Owner
Paperwork
signed
Engineering
Design
Complete
Eng. Plan
approved
by property
owner
Construction
Scheduled
Construction
Completed
Residents
Notified
Unit
Count
Notes / Steps /
Blockers
Account
Manager
Freeville
Cottages
Yes No Yes Yes No No No 12 Dave: follow-up with
Bruno on ROAA
Dave /
Account
Manager
George
Junior
Republic
Yes N/A (no
tenants)
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 1 Live!
Account
Manager
1279 Dryden
Road
(Wawak)
Yes No No, TBD
N/A
No No No No 18 After 1062 (Same
owner)
Account
Manager
1 Etna Lane Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 3/16 Live!
Methodology
▪Identification
▪Highway-by-Use Roads
▪Utility Poles or Handholes beyond the right-of-way (ROW)
▪Built already; To Be Built
▪Prioritization and Severity
▪Prioritization: What comes next naturally in the path of construction (MIP vs. Non -MIP; Dryden into
Caroline)
▪Severity: Direct backbone; side streets and spurs; dead ends / last house on the pathway
▪Outreach
▪Postcard; Phone call; Door-to-door
▪Email or drop off a copy of the easement, specially suited for them
▪Acquisition
▪Signing, Notarizing, Filing with the county
▪Scoreboard
▪Negotiation
Easements Acquisition
June 2026
Easements Acquisition
June 2026
Easements Acquisition
June 2026
Outreach Script
Opening
“Hi, this is (David Makar).I’m (the Executive Director of | a residential outreach specialist with) Dryden Fiber, the town of Dryden’s community-
owned internet project. Have you heard of Dryden Fiber?I’m calling because we’re building the fiber network in your area and your property
sits in a spot that could help us reach several homes in and beyond your neighborhood.
Pause there and let them react.
Explain the request clearly
“What we’re hoping to do is install a very short section of underground conduit —roughly one-hundred fifty feet or so —along the edge of your
property so we can bring fiber to your home and the homes beyond your home on your street.”
Describe the real impact
“This would be a small buried conduit installed with directional boring, so there’s minimal disturbance. No poles will be instal led. There is a small
handhole cover that will be on the surface near the edge of your parcel. This allows us to access the network and bring service to individual
homes. The yard is restored afterward. The line simply sits underground and allows us to serve those homes.”
Acknowledge that it’s their property
“Because it’s private property, we can only do this with your permission through a simple utility easement. I wanted to call personally before
sending anything to see if you’d be open to discussing it.”
Offer reassurance and next steps
“If you’re open to it, we can send a simple map showing exactly where it would go, explain the construction process, and answer any
questions.There’s absolutely no pressure—I just wanted to ask.”
Easements Acquisition
June 2026
Follow -up Email
Hi [Homeowner Name],
Thank you again for taking the time to speak with me and for agreeing to allow Dryden Fiber to install a short
section of underground conduit on your property. We really appreciate your willingness to help us extend
service to your neighbors.
Attached is the easement document for your review.
If it’s helpful,I’m happy to walk through the document with you or answer any questions before you sign.
The next steps:
Option 1: We can bring a print copy and notary to you to sign the paperwork.
Option 2: Print, Sign with a Notary, and Mail to Dryden Fiber
Print the document
Sign it in the presence of a notary
Return the original to us via FedEx (or another trackable service) at the address below (provide mailing
address)
Thank you again for your support —it truly makes a difference in bringing reliable internet access to the
community.
Easements Acquisition
June 2026
Easement
Template
Easement Template
Easement Template
Easement
Template
Easement
Template
Easement
Template
Scoreboard (Total: 225; Focus: 52; Completed 9)
Easements Acquisition
June 2026
Easements in
Focus
Easement Draft
Completed Y/N Pole Y/N Email Sent
Y/N
Postcard
Sent Y/N
Easement
Sent Y/N
Accept,
Decline,
Undecided
A/D/U
Signed Handoff to
Town Clerk
52 30 9 25 52 25 9 9 9
June 5,
2026 58%48%100%48%17%17%17%
o Construction
▪Caroline Hut ISP Build out Contract (awarded to Clarity Connect, 6/11/26 Town Board)
▪Empire Access Overlash Agreement (6 miles of fiber) – Negotiations
▪Sub-contractor: Easement Acquisition Specialist – signed 6/5/26
▪ECC Project Management – signed 5/29/26
Operational
▪MDU Construction (awarded to Clarity Connect, 6/11/26 Town Board)
▪Dryden – Caroline IMA (Intermunicipal Agreement) for project – with Caroline Town Board
▪Maintenance and Repair Agreement (awarded to Clarity Connect, 6/11/26 Town Board)
▪INHS Varna Project – with Executive Director
Legal Update
June 2026
o Research
▪Survey Project
▪2/27 - Initial draft questions and plan
▪May – Draft Survey sent
▪June – Review and feedback to students: We could use help from public broadband committee on review
▪July/August - Surveys
▪September/October - Review Results; Take action
Government Relations
▪“THE MUNICIPAL BROADBAND FINANCING MODERNIZATION IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2026”
▪Extend Bonds for municipal fiber from 10 years to 30 years
▪This did not get into the 2026 legislative package
▪We will try again in 2027
Government Relations and Research
June 2026
o Dairy Day
▪Parade
▪Vehicles
▪Shirts
▪Candy
▪Park (Booth)
▪Pop-up Tent
▪Activities
▪Swag
o Easement Postcards
▪In advance of phone calls, emails, or door -to-door: postcards to residents
Marketing
APPENDIX A
Discussion Topics
New Signs - February 2025
New Sign Requirements – MIP Grant
▪"This deployment of internet service is supported by a grant awarded to [insert Grantee name] by New York
State through the ConnectALL program.”
▪Example from Livingston County / Empire Access
Meeting Schedule
▪Dryden Fiber Public Broadband Committee – Public reporting on project
o 1st and 3rd Friday morning, 10:30am-11:30am (except July and August, 2nd and 4th
Friday morning)
▪Dryden Fiber Operations Team Meeting – Construction and Install Collaboration
o Every other Wednesday, 10am-11:15am
▪Dryden Fiber MIP Status Call – Meet with Connect All Office to stay on track
o Every Tuesday, 1pm-1:45pm
▪Dryden Fiber MIP Steering Committee – Implementation of the Grant
o Monthly (Town of Dryden, Town of Caroline)
▪Dryden Fiber Policy Committee – Advise and Recommend on Policy
o Monthly
Financial Reporting
Review of Construction Costs from beginning of project
Subcontractors (Syr. Util., Lghtspd, etc.), 50%Equipment Purchases, 28%
Professional Fees (Leg.,
Eng., etc.), 13%
Permit and Pole
Applications, 5%
Loan
interest,
2%
Misc
Constru
ction
Exp, 1%
Construction Costs 1/1/21 to 12/31/24
Subcontractors (Syr. Util., Lghtspd, etc.)
Equipment Purchases
Professional Fees (Leg., Eng., etc.)
Permit and Pole Applications
Loan interest
Misc Construction Exp
Permitting Steps
1.Final Design Edits = Survey has occurred and Prelim in is design edits
2.Prelim Sent = Sent to Engineering Firm (VPS) to review/approve and then to NYSEG/Frontier to review
3.Final NYSEG Design Sent = NYSEG reviewing final design before sending the Final Make Ready Package
4.Telco Recon = Telco Review prelim design
5.Frontier Billing Outstanding = Frontier awaiting payment to proceed
6.RFB = Request for Bid sent to contractors
7.MR Construction = Make Ready Contruction - Moves are in progress
Other Statuses (from slide 8):
▪Attached – definition...
▪Elec make-ready in process – definition...
▪Telco make-ready in process – definition...
▪Final ELEC Design Input – definition...
▪Avant Grid is NYSEG
Permitting Map Colors
1.Green = Conditional license to attach
2.Yellow = non-billable quote approved, quotes back from electrician sub-
contractors (i.e. HRS, Davella), when NYSEG gives ok, this moves to Green
3.Red = Design submitted to joint pole owner
4.Orange = make ready work package approved, heading to bid
5.Pink = out for make ready construction
6.Purple = design input (LaBella)
o Construction
▪Contract Bid Document for Major Projects pieces (from Vantage) -70 page document
▪Master Service Agreement (MSA) with an electrical make ready (EMR) provider
▪Auditors for MIP Project financials
▪Caroline Hut Construction Bid
▪Audit of Network Bid Process and Contract
▪Empire Access Overlash Agreement (6 miles of fiber) – Negotiations
▪Empire Access Reciprocal Agreement (EMR moves) – Completed
Operations
▪DigSafe Monitoring Contract and TBD on bid requirements – Approved, cutover on Jan. 21, 2026
▪Point Broadband IRU (Indefeasible Rights of Use) - 10 year lease – Approved by Town Board (Aug. '25)
▪Dryden – Caroline IMA (Intermunicipal Agreement) for project – edits and then to Caroline
▪Networking Maintenance and Repair Agreement and Bid Process – with Executive Director
▪MDU Construction – with Executive Director
▪Easement for Hillside Drive connecting Ringwood to Phantom Drive – Completed
▪INHS Varna Project – with Executive Director
Legal Update
February 2026