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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJanuary 20, 2026 - Special Town Board and Audit meeting minutesTown of Enfield Special Board & Audit Meeting Tuesday, January 20, 2026 6:30 PM In-Person and Via the Zoom Meeting Platform Attendance: Town Supervisor Stephanie Redmond; Town Councilpersons Cassandra Hinkle, Melissa Millspaugh, and Robert Lynch; Town Clerk Mary Cornell; Town Bookkeeper Blixy Taetzsch; Town Court Clerk Angela Champion and Town Justice Heather Knutsen -King. Excused: Town Councilperson Jude Lemke Call to Order: Supervisor Redmond called the meeting to order at 6:30 PM Privilege of the Floor: Rosie Carpenter led the assemblage in the Pledge of Allegiance Additions and Changes to the Agenda: NYSEG Flair project, and Christian Cemetery Correspondence: Business: Bid Award – Bostwick Rd Culvert. Supervisor Redmond to consider the Arch instead of the culvert, it would need to be re-engineered. And it would have to be accepted by the NYSDOT. While this could save the project money, if it is not accepted by NYSDOT then we would lose the current bid offers. Councilperson Lynch attended that meeting last Friday with Supervisor Redmond, Ms. Hinickle, and Buddy. Councilperson Lynch commented that Supervisor Redmond has summarized it well, except he did not hear the engineering consultant or Ms. Hinickle, recommend either way. If we went with the aluminum the project would be ~$701,000. Going with the concrete culvert the project could exceed 1 million dollars. There is no slam dunk option, it is a gamble, it is a risk. If he had to make a decision tonight, he would go Arch. Supervisor Redmond, if we do not award the bid tonight, we will not have funds for the project. Blixy has done a budget projection for the project. Blixy explained the breakdown of her budget spreadsheet. Councilperson Lynch, even with the use of Bridge Reserve funds, they would ultimately have to be replenished. He predicted that if this were a project that needed to go to a public referendum it would not be approved. Councilperson Lynch if we went with the metal structure, prevailing wage would not be required. Councilperson Hinkle asked if there could be a possibility that it would be considered that we are being shady as we don’t want to pay prevailing wage. Councilperson Lynch, what is the downside of not doing the project. Supervisor Redmond, when trees or other large objects move down the creek, they hit the double culvert and the road floods. Buddy, if we didn’t have the large rock put in place then we would have lost the road. Supervisor Redmond moved and Councilperson Hinkle seconded . Resolution #30-2026 Authorize Supervisor to Execute Contract with Jefferson Concrete for Delivery of Precast Concrete Box Culvert with Stamped Drawings WHEREAS, the Town Board has reviewed the proposal submitted by Jefferson Concrete Corp; and WHEREAS, the Town Board has determined that the proposal from Jefferson Concrete Corp. represents the most advantageous offer for the delivery of a precast concrete box culvert complete with stamped drawings; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board authorizes the Supervisor to execute a contract with Jefferson Concrete Corp. for the delivery of a precast concrete box culvert with stamped drawings, and to take all actions necessary to effectuate the terms of such contract. Vote: Aye; Hinkle, Millspaugh, and Redmond Nay; Lynch Carried. Audit of Town Justice Books – Supervisor Redmond reviewed the Justice court books Audit of Town Clerk Books – Councilperson Lynch reviewed the Town Clerk books. Councilperson Hinkle reviewed Tax Collector books. Audit of Town Supervisor books – Councilperson Millspaugh reviewed the Chief Fiscal Officers Audit. Resolution #31-2026 Acceptance of Audits WHEREAS, the Enfield Town Board held a Special Meeting on January 20, 2026, and WHEREAS, the Town Justice Heather Knudsen, Town Clerk Mary Cornell, Town Bookkeeper Blixy Taetzsch, and Town Supervisor Stephanie Redmond came before the Town Board for an annual audit of their records, WHEREAS, all three were inspected and commented on at this meeting, now therefore be it RESOLVED, that the books of the Enfield Town Justice, the Enfield Chief Fiscal Officer and the Enfield Town Clerk be accepted as true and correct and their annual reports are attached and made a part of these minutes. Councilperson Lynch moved and Supervisor Redmond seconded. Discussion of Audit Findings. Councilperson Lynch gave a shout out to those keeping the record keeping of associated departments. Supervisor Redmond asked Blixy if she wanted to do an Audit next year. Blixy always recommends independent audits. Vote: Aye; Hinkle, Millspaugh, Lynch, and Redmond Nay; O Carried. RESOLUTION #32-2026 A Resolution to Offer Comment with the New York State Public Service Commission regarding the Finger Lakes Area Infrastructure Reliability Project (FLAIR) Whereas, this Town Board holds the responsibility to protect the health, welfare, property rights and community enjoyment of Enfield residents; and Whereas, on December 18, 2024, New York State Electric & Gas Corporation (“NYSEG”) filed with the New York State Public Service Commission (“PSC”) an Application for a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need (the “Application”) pursuant to Article VII of the Public Service Law for the Finger Lakes Area Infrastructure Reliability Project (“FLAIR”), the reconstruction of “Line 982,” a more than 20-mile long electrical transmission line connecting Montour Falls and Ithaca, NY, a line that crosses, in part, through a portion of the Town of Enfield; and Whereas, this Town Board has hosted in recent months one or more public discussions concerning the FLAIR project as have governing boards in one or more other communities, public forums at which questions and concerns were raised concerning this project; and Whereas, by Resolution of this Town Board, adopted November 12, 2025, the Enfield Town Board agreed to become a Party of Interest in Case # 24-T-0710, the pending proceeding by the PSC into FLAIR under Article VII; and Whereas, the PSC has invited public and governmental comment on Case # 24 -T-0710, the FLAIR Application, with the PSC having set a comment deadline on the case for January 29, 2026; and Whereas, this Town Board wishes to offer its comment on the case and to pose questions for the PSC to ask the utility and for the Applicant, NYSEG, to address; therefore, be it Resolved: that the Enfield Town Board hereby supports and authorizes filing with the New York State Public Service Commission this Board’s written Comment on behalf of the “Town of Enfield, NY” in Case # 24-T-0710, a Comment filing offered and authorized this date, January 20, 2026; and be it further Resolved, that the Clerk and the Town Board’s designated liaison in this proceeding shall take all necessary steps to ensure said Comment’s timely filing with the New York State Public Service Commission. Councilperson Lynch moved and Councilperson Hinkle seconded. Discussion: I will not read the whole 8 page document, but I will just read the conclusion, which I think would say about what we want. And before I move this resolution, I believe that the Town of Enfield shares the aspiration best expressed by Michael Allinger, Supervisor of the Town of Newfield, in his statement, expected to be incorporated within Newfield's own expected comment in this proceeding. And Supervisor Allinger said, quote. We recognize the importance of maintaining and upgrading our utility infrastructure to provide reliable service to all residents and businesses. Investment…in utilities is crucial for safety, efficiency, and future growth. I commend the efforts being made to modernize the system and support initiatives that promote sustainability and long-term reliability. Close quote from Supervisor Allinger. Councilperson Lynch also passed out to board members a minor updated version of the comments to be sent. Vote: Aye; Hinkle, Millspaugh, Lynch, and Redmond Nay; O Carried. Chrisitan Cemetery: Clerk Cornell shared that the Flag Pole is missing at the Christian Cemetery as well as the Flag. Rosie Carpenter suggested that the scrap yards be called. Councilperson Hinkle will reach out to the scrap yards and investigate the site. Announcements: N/A Adjournment: Councilperson Millspaugh motioned to adjourn, adjourned at 7:31 Respectfully submitted, Mary Cornell Mary Cornell Town Clerk