This Regular Meeting of the Brant Town Board was held on Tuesday December 13, 2022 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

Linda Giancarlo                                 Councilwoman

Janice Ross                                         Councilwoman

Barbara Daniel                                   Recording Secretary

Absent was:

Councilman Mike Muffoletto

ALSO, PRESENT AND LEGIBLY SIGNED IN WERE:

Debra Ritz                                           Resident             

Catherine Eimers                              Resident

Patty Friend                                        Town Historian

Lynda Ostrowski                               Sec to Boards    

Joe Ostrowski                                    Planning Board Chair     

Brian Rott                                            Resident

Daryl Novoa                                       Highway

Joe Giancarlo                                     Resident

Kristen Podkulski                              Resident

Maria Otrosinka                                Resident

Don Hepkins                                      Visitor

Mark Slawek                                      Chief of Police

Catherine Eimers                              Resident

The meeting opened at 7:00 PM.

THE MEETING OPENED WITH A PLEDGE TO THE FLAG

MINUTES of the November 16 ,2022 REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING Councilwoman Marien motioned to approve the minutes of the meeting and was seconded by Supervisor DeCarlo.  4 ayes, 0 nays.  MOTION CARRIED.

SUPERVISOR’S FINANCIAL REPORT: Councilwoman Giancarlo motioned to approve the Supervisor’s financial report, Councilwomen Ross seconded the motion. 4 ayes, 0 nays.  MOTION CARRIED.

TOWN CLERK/TAX COLLECTOR’S FINANCIAL REPORT: Councilwoman Giancarlo made a motion to approve the report, seconded by Councilwoman Marien 4 ayes, 0 nays.  MOTION CARRIED

COURT CLERK’S October 2022 FINANCIAL REPORTS FOR KACZMAREK & GIER REGULAR AND BAIL ACCOUNTS: Councilwoman Giancarlo motioned to approve both Bail and Regular Financial accounts for Justice Kaczmarek’s & Justice Gier for October 2022, and was seconded by Councilwoman Marien. 4 ayes, 0 nays.  MOTION CARRIED.

DOG CONTROL OFFICER’S REPORT FOR November 2022: TABLED

POLICE REPORT FOR November, 2022:  Chief Slawek read the Police report. Chief gave a status update on the victims of the accident at memorial park that happened back in October. Resident & EMT with the fire department for 49 years spoke about the accidents that have happened at that intersection over the years. He is requesting that the board to draft a letter to the state DOT to make the intersection a four way stop instead of a light. He stated that these types of accidents especially involving take a toll on EMT’S. When stop signs went in at other intersections in town, they stopped seeing critical accidents at those intersections. Supervisor DeCarlo motioned to approve the report as read, seconded by Councilwoman Ross. 4 ayes, 0 nays. MOTION CARRIED.

HIGHWAY REPORT for November 2022:  Senior Machine Operator Daryl Novoa presented the Highway November report. He stated that they have been in contact with Gernatt’s about the damage that one of their loaders did to the ditch and the road. The highway department have been doing the best that they can on fixing mailboxes so residents can receive mail. Councilwoman Marien noted that mailboxes should no longer be fixed.  The County and State no longer fix them.  Also, Supervisor DeCarlo asked for the Highway Department to provide their annual inventory list.  [Clerk’s Note: no vote taken].

Councilwoman Giancarlo made a motion to authorize the Supervisor to draft a letter showing Town approval for a study to be done to determine is a 4-way stop at the Brant four corners would be needed.  The motion was seconded by Supervisor DeCarlo. 4 ayes, o nays. MOTION CARRIED.

Attorney Trask added that the letter should be based on the Emergency Services request.

TOWN CLERK’S REPORT TO THE BOARD: Barb Daniel read her report.  Supervisor DeCarlo motioned to approve the report as read, seconded by Councilwoman Ross. 4 ayes, 0 nays. MOTION CARRIED.

PLANNING BOARD MINUTES: No Meeting

TOWN HISTORIAN REPORT: Town Historian Patty Friend read her report. She stated the meeting was canceled because of the snow storm. WNY heritage magazine came and took some of the pictures from the historical room to publish in an upcoming magazine. Supervisor DeCarlo motioned to approve the report as read, seconded by Councilwoman Giancarlo. 4 ayes, 0 nays. MOTION CARRIED.

BRANT FARNHAM SENIORS DECEMBER 7, 2022 REPORT: The report was read by Councilwoman Ross. Supervisor DeCarlo motioned to approve the report as read, seconded by Councilwoman Marien. 4 ayes, 0 nays. MOTION CARRIED.

CODE ENFORCEMENT: Gary Brecker read his report. He stated that he plans on retiring at the end of February 2023. Supervisor DeCarlo motioned to approve the report as read, seconded by Councilwoman Marien. 4 ayes, 0 nays. MOTION CARRIED.

Councilwoman Giancarlo requested the Town Board motion to post the soon to be open Code Officer position.  Attorney Trask responded that the Supervisor must check with Civil Service first.  Supervisor DeCarlo stated he will look into it.

FIRE DEPT: No Report.

NEW BUSINESS:

SET DATE AND TIME FOR 2023 ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING & FIRST REGULAR MEETING:  Supervisor DeCarlo motioned to approve January 10^th 6:00 pm as the date and time for the 2023 Organizational meeting, with the First Regular Town Board meeting to directly follow the Organizational meeting and requested the Town Clerk publish the Legal Notice.  Councilwoman Ross seconded the motion.  4 ayes, 0 nays. MOTION CARRIED.

APPROVAL TO HIRE MOBILE EQUIPMENT OPERATOR FOR HIGHWAY:  Supervisor DeCarlo Advised the Board that a request from the Highway Superintendent to hire Ronald Thompson as Mobile Equipment Operator at an hourly rate of $17.00 per hour as needed for plowing.  A background check will be performed by the Police Department.  He has worked for the Town in the past.  Councilwoman Marien seconded the motion.  A roll call vote was taken: Supervisor DeCarlo-aye, Councilwoman Marien-aye, Councilwoman Giancarlo-aye, Councilwoman Ross-aye.  4 ayes, 0 nays. MOTION CARRIED.

TOWN BOARD REPORTS:

Councilwoman Marien- Spoke of the Tree lighting service. 

Councilwoman Ross- Nothing to Report

Councilwoman Giancarlo- Nothing to report

Supervisor DeCarlo-   Spoke with FEMA regarding reimbursement for storm expenses.  A report was submitted for reimbursement of just under ten thousand dollars as a result of the snow emergency.

PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR:

Catherine Eimers of 1488 Brant North Collins Rd: Catherine asked if the Town Board had made any type of decision about what she presented last month.  Supervisor stated he spoke with Brant Police and they had advised that Catherine had been talking to them and the Code Officer.  She responded that she had not spoken with the Brant Police.  She stated she has been talking to the State Police and the Code Officer and was waiting for a call back from the Town Board.  Councilwoman Giancarlo asked her to refresh her reason for speaking.  Catherine is alleging that one of the Town police officers gave false information to an individual, and as a result of that, two of her animals were stolen.  She stated there is a $3,000 reward for the arrest and conviction of all those involved, and it is posted on the Town Chat.  She explained that she has several agencies (including Brant) looking to see if the Town has an obscenity clause.  Supervisor DeCarlo will research the Town’s Code to look for an Obscenity clause. 

Meetings & Correspondence: 

• The 2^nd December sales tax remittance is in. The current transfer rate is 9.34 % greater than the corresponding 2021 amount. Year-to-date transfers are running 7.20 % above last year at this time.

Supervisor DeCarlo read the Abstract:

ABSTRACT 12 of 2022

*Prepaid and unpaid as of 12/13/22 Total Claims $ 197,688.98

Gen Fund Town wide Vouchers Totaling: $ 37,925.01

Gen Fund – Part Town Voucher Totaling: $ 18,322.07

Highway T.W. Vouchers Totaling: $ 7,597.06

Highway P.T. Vouchers, Totaling:  $

Fire Contract Vouchers Totaling $ 124,913.00

             Street Lighting:  Voucher Totaling:  $ 8,931.84

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

PAYROLL (2 pay periods):

General Town Wide Payroll 10/23/22-11/25/22 – Totaling $ 48,639.89

General Part Town Payroll 10/23/22-11/25/22 Totaling:  $ 734.32

Highway Payroll TW 10/23/22-11/25/22 Totaling:  $ 9,439.02

Highway Payroll PT 10/23/22-11/25/22 Totaling:  $

Supervisor DeCarlo motioned to approve Abstract 12 of 2022, seconded by Councilwoman Marien. A roll-call vote was taken: Supervisor DeCarlo-aye, Councilwoman Marien-aye, Councilwoman Giancarlo-aye, Councilwoman Ross-aye. 4 ayes, 0 nays.  MOTION CARRIED.

Councilwoman Giancarlo then commented that a few of the bills within the Abstracts contain late fees.  She inquired on the possibility of having the Town Clerk’s office pay some of these bills online so we stop incurring late fees.  The Supervisor stated that such payments would come from his office.  The Town Attorney stated that some bills are not qualified to be prepaid.  Councilwoman Giancarlo clarified that the bills would be paid only after the Abstract had been approved.  Supervisor DeCarlo will add the approval to make online bill payments to some of the Town Abstract bills.  It was noted that it will save check writing, postage, etc.

Supervisor DeCarlo announced the next regular Town Board meeting will be Tuesday January 10, 2023 at 6 PM.

At 7:41 pm Supervisor DeCarlo motioned to Adjourn in memory of Anthony Muscato and Elzada Schrader. The balance of the Board seconded the motion. 4 Ayes, 0 Nays Motion Carried.  

Respectfully submitted by,

Barbara J Daniel

Brant Town Clerk