This Regular Meeting of the Brant Town Board was held on Tuesday, November 9, 2021 at the Brant Town Hall, located at 1272 Brant North Collins Rd, Brant, New York at 7:00 PM.

Present were:

Mark DeCarlo                                    Supervisor

Donna Marien                                   Councilwoman

Janice Ross                                         Councilwoman

William Trask, Sr.                              Town Attorney

Barbara J. Daniel                               Recording Secretary

Absent:

Michael Muffoletto                            Councilman

Linda Giancarlo                                 Councilwoman

ALSO PRESENT / SIGNED IN WERE:

Debra Ritz                                           Resident
Brian Rott                                            Resident

Donald Hepkins                                 Police Chief

John Mills                                            Erie County Legislator #11

Lynda Ostrowski                               Planning Board secretary

Joseph Ostrowski                             Planning Board chairman

Patty Friend                                        Town Historian

Dolly Huffnagle                                 Farnham Trustee

Daryl Novoa                                       Highway              

Tracy Kaczmarek                              Supervisor’s Secretary

The meeting opened at 7:00 PM.

THE MEETING OPENED WITH A PLEDGE TO THE FLAG

MINUTE APPROVAL October 12, 2021 TOWN BOARD MEETING: supervisor DeCarlo moved to accept the minutes of the October 12, 2021 Town Board meeting. Councilwoman Marien seconded the motion.  3 ayes, 0 nays.  MOTION CARRIED.

SUPERVISOR’S FINANCIAL REPORT: Councilwomen Ross motioned to approve the Supervisor’s financial report.  Councilwoman Marien seconded the motion.  3 ayes, 0 nays.  MOTION CARRIED.

TOWN CLERK/TAX COLLECTOR’S October 2021 FINANCIAL REPORT: Supervisor DeCarlo motioned to accept the Town Clerk’s September 2021 Regular Financial Report, seconded by Councilwomen Ross.  3 ayes, 0 nays.  MOTION CARRIED.

COURT CLERK’S October 2021 FINANCIAL REPORTS FOR JUSTICES GIER AND KACZMAREK REGULAR AND BAIL ACCOUNTS: Councilwomen Ross motioned to approve both Bail and Regular Financial accounts for Justice Gier and Justice Kaczmarek’s October 2021, and was seconded by Councilwoman Marien.  3 ayes, 0 nays.  MOTION CARRIED.

CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER’S October 2021 REPORT: Gary Brecker read the report. Supervisor DeCarlo motioned to approve the reports as read, seconded by Councilwomen Ross.  3 ayes, 0 nays. MOTION CARRIED.

DOG CONTROL OFFICER’S October 2021 REPORT: The Dog Control officer presented her October report.  Supervisor DeCarlo motioned to approve the report & quote for the work on the dog kennel, seconded by Councilwomen Marien. 3 ayes, 0 nays. MOTION CARRIED.

POLICE REPORT FOR October 2021: Chief Hepkins read his report. Supervisor DeCarlo made a motion to approve the report as read, seconded by Councilwomen Ross. 3 ayes, 0 nays. MOTION CARRIED.

HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT October 2021 REPORT:  No report read.

TOWN CLERK’S REPORT TO THE BOARD: The Town Clerk presented her October Activity report.

Supervisor DeCarlo motioned to accept   the report as presented, seconded by Councilwoman Marien.  3 ayes, 0 nays.

PLANNING BOARD MINUTES: Lynda Ostrowski read the report. Mr. Lonkey spoke with the planning board.  Supervisor DeCarlo motioned to accept   the report as presented, seconded by Councilwoman Ross.  3 ayes, 0 nays.

ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS REPORT: No meeting was held.

RECREATION DIRECTOR’S REPORT: No report presented.

PARKS COMMISSIONERS’ REPORT: No report presented.

TOWN HISTORIAN’S REPORT:  Patty Friend read her October report. Supervisor DeCarlo motioned to approve the report, seconded by Councilwomen Marien. 3 ayes, 0 nays. MOTION CARRIED.

BRANT/FARNHAM SENIORS REPORT:  Lynda Ostrowski read the report. Supervisor DeCarlo motioned to approve the report, seconded by Councilwomen Ross. 3 ayes, 0 nays. MOTION CARRIED.

Legislator Mills spoke about sales tax & fun balance. Funding of store fronts out side the City of Buffalo. They are working on putting more money into Towns & Villages.

Town Clerk Read the Notice as Follows:

LEGAL NOTICE

TOWN OF BRANT

NOTICE OF HEARING ON THE PRELIMINARY BUDGET

FOR THE YEAR 2022

Notice is hereby given that the Preliminary Budget for the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2022 and the required Tax Exemption Impact Report will be in the Office of the Brant Town Clerk where it is available for inspection by any interested person during regular business hours and can be found online at www.brantny.com.

PUBLIC HEARING for the Preliminary Budget will be held at the Brant Town Hall, 1272 Brant North Collins Rd, Brant, NY at 7:30 PM on TUESDAY THE 9^th day of NOVEMBER 2021.

And at such hearing, any person may be heard in favor or against any item therein contained.

Further notice is given pursuant to Section 108 of the Town Law the proposed salaries of the following Town Offices are hereby specified as follows:

Supervisor                                        $21,393.10

Councilman (4) x each                      $5,119.10

Town Clerk/Tax Collector                  $33,558.00

Superintendent of Highways              $34,592.55

DATED:         November 2, 2021

                   BY ORDER OF THE

                   BRANT TOWN BOARD

                   Barbara J Daniel

                   Brant Town Clerk

Supervisor DeCarlo motioned to open the public hearing (Budget), seconded by the whole board.  3 ayes, 0 nays.

Discussion began: Retiring a lot of debt. Cares Act money will pay for the highway equipment. Increased retained funds to $230,000 for the upcoming budget year. We will be under tax cap. Raises for town employees is 3%. Street lights will be switched to LED.

Supervisor DeCarlo motioned to close the public hearing, seconded by councilwomen Marien. 3 ayes, 0 nays. MOTION CARRIED.

Meetings & Correspondence:  The first November sales tax remittance is in. The current transfer is 15.98% greater than the corresponding 2020 amount. Year – to – date transfers are running 20.2 % above last year at this time.

Supervisor DeCarlo read the Abstract:

ABSTRACT 11 of 2021

*Prepaid and unpaid as of 10/12/21 Total Claims $ 95,393.30

Gen Fund Town wide Vouchers Totaling: $ 64,485.07

Gen Fund – Part Town Voucher Totaling: $ 952.50

Highway T.W. Vouchers Totaling: $ 26,866.84

Highway P.T. Vouchers, Totaling:  $ 58.33

CD Special Grant Fund: $

Street Lighting:  Voucher Totaling:  $3,030.56

SF Fire Protection Vouchers: $

Brant Water Dist 1 (SS2&SW):  – Totaling $

PAYROLL (2 payrolls)

General Town Wide Payroll 8/29/21-9/25/21 – Totaling $ 53,043.06

General Part Town Payroll   8/29/21-9/25/21 Totaling:  $ 712.96

Highway Payroll TW 8/29/21-9/25/21 Totaling:  $5,829.25

Highway Payroll PT 8/29/21-9/25/21 Totaling:  $

Supervisor DeCarlo motioned to approve Abstract 11 of 2021, seconded by Councilwoman Marien. A roll-call vote was taken: Supervisor DeCarlo-aye, Councilwoman Marien-aye, Councilwomen Ross-aye 3 ayes, 0 nays.  MOTION CARRIED.

Next meeting is December 14, 2021 at 7PM.

Mark DeCarlo motioned to open the public hearing (cannabis law), seconded by Councilwomen Marien

Town Clerk read the legal notice as follows:

LEGAL NOTICE

TOWN OF BRANT, NEW YORK

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

            Pursuant to resolution of the Town Board of the Town of Brant, New York, notice is hereby given that a public hearing will be held by the Brant Town Board in the Brant Town Hall, 1272 Brant-North Collins Road, Brant, New York on Tuesday, the 9^th day of November, 2021 at 7:45 P.M. Local Time, for the purpose of considering Proposed Local Law No.3-2021 which, if approved, would allow the Town of Brant to “Opt-out of Adult Use Cannabis Retail Dispensaries and On-Site Consumption Sites.”

            Copies of the proposed local law are available for review in the office of the Town Clerk.  All interested parties will be given an opportunity to be heard.

Dated:  November 2, 2021

By order of the Brant Town Board

Barbara Daniel

Brant Town Clerk

Discussion began: Attorney Bill Trask- The town has until 12/31/2021 to adopt a local law to opt-out. The town does have the option in the future to resend the law, and opt back in. Town law will not include Farnham.

      Patty Friend- wants town to opt-out

                              Chief Hepkins- recommends to opt-out after speaking with other towns

                              Tracy- cannabis control board still too many questions to answer- opinion is to opt-out because we can always opt-in later.

Supervisor DeCarlo motioned to close the public hearing, Seconded by Councilwomen Marien.  3 ayes, 0 nays.

Supervisor DeCarlo made a motion adopt local law #3-2021, seconded by Councilwomen Marien. A roll-call vote was taken: Supervisor DeCarlo-aye, Councilwoman Marien-aye, Councilwomen Ross-aye 3 ayes, 0 nays.  MOTION CARRIED.

NEW BUSINESS:

Vote on 2022 Adopted Budget

Supervisor DeCarlo made a motion to Adopt the 2022 Budget, Seconded by Councilwomen Ross. A roll-call vote was taken: Supervisor DeCarlo-aye, Councilwoman Ross-aye, Councilwomen Marien-aye 3 ayes, 0 nays.  MOTION CARRIED.

 COMMITTEE REPORTS

                Councilwoman Marien: The tree lighting will be December 4 at 4:30pm, singing Charlie on a hay wagon, A camp fire with smores. Hot Chocolate

Councilman Muffoletto: Absent

Councilwoman Ross:  Nothing to report

Councilwomen Giancarlo: Absent

Supervisor DeCarlo made a motion to open the public hearing, seconded by Councilwomen Marien. 3 ayes, 0 nays. 

LEGAL NOTICE
TOWN OF BRANT, NEW YORK
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

TAX CAP LAW

Pursuant to resolution of the Town Board of the Town of Brant, New York, notice is hereby given that a public hearing will be held by the Brant Town Board in the Brant Town Hall, 1272 Brant North Collins Road, Brant, New York on Tuesday, the 9th day of November, 2021 at 8:00 PM Local Time, for the purpose of considering Proposed Local Law No. 4-2021 which if approved would authorize the Town of Brant to exceed the tax levy limit established by General Municipal Law Section 3-C for the 2022 budget year.

Copies of the proposed local law are available in the office of the Town Clerk. All interested parties will be given the opportunity to be heard.

Dated November 2, 2021

By Order of the Brant Town Board

Barbara J Daniel
Brant Town Clerk

Supervisor DeCarlo made a motion to close the public hearing seconded by Councilwomen Marien. 3ayes, 0 nays. A roll-call vote was taken: Supervisor DeCarlo-aye, Councilwoman Ross-aye, Councilwomen Marien-aye 3 ayes, 0 nays.  MOTION CARRIED.

OLD BUSINESS. No old business was presented.

At 8:03 PM Supervisor DeCarlo motioned to adjourn the meeting in memory of Marilyn Russell, Patricia Kobel, Mary Scritchfield, Josephine Kern, Bernice Twarozek, Mandy Kusior and Tony Andolina, seconded by Councilwomen Marien. 3 ayes, 0 nays.  MEETING ADJOURNED

Respectfully submitted by,

Amanda Palmer

Brant Deputy Town Clerk