TOWN OF WATERTOWN
Regular Meeting
Municipal Building
June 9, 2022
Members Present: Joel R. Bartlett, Supervisor
David D. Prosser, Councilman
Joanne McClusky, Councilwoman
Timothy McAtee, Councilman
Members Absent: Paul V. Desormo, Councilman
Supervisor Bartlett opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance followed by a roll call of members present at 7:00 pm. Attorney Russell also attended the meeting.
MOTION #48-2022
Supervisor Bartlett moved to adopt the minutes from the May 12, 2022 Regular Meeting, Councilman Prosser seconded.
Ayes All
Supervisor Bartlett opened the public hearing at 7:04 pm concerning Local Law #2 of 2022. A Local Law to establish a moratorium on the installation or modification for use of towers or other structures. This would be for cell phone and personal wireless facilities on projects within the Town of Watertown. No one wished to speak, the public hearing was closed at 7:05 pm.
The floor was opened for public comment:
Pat Scordo, GYMO Engineering addressed the Board. He gave an update on the Northeast Water District in the NYS Rte 126 area. The project was held up by interest of property owners on Hadcock Road wanting to be included in the district. The income study would need to be adjusted to include this road, and approval was needed from Rural Development. After many months of waiting for the approval, it was decided to advance the project to the original area. Mr. Scordo gave an update with new projected cost and what the next steps are with the project. A 6% inflation and 10% contingency were added to the projected cost of 4.2 million. Included with the information was the Environmental Assessment Form.
MOTION #49-2022
Supervisor Bartlett offered a motion to act as Lead Agent for the Water District #7 the Northeast Water District (NYS Rte 126 Area), Councilman McAtee seconded.
Ayes All
The Board reviewed Part 1 of the Full Environmental Assessment Form for Water District #7 the Northeast Water District (NYS Rte 126 Area).
MOTION #50-2022
Supervisor Bartlett offered a motion to authorize the Supervisor to execute Part 1 of the Full Environmental Assessment Form for Water District #7 the Northeast Water District (NYS Rte 126 Area), Councilman McAtee seconded.
Ayes All
Perrry Golden, Cape Vincent, introduced himself to the Board. He is a candidate for the Jefferson County Sherriff. He gave a brief description of his accomplishments working for the Jefferson County Sherriff’s Department and what he plans to accomplish as Sherriff.
Mike Crestani, Floral Drive inquired if the town had done a study yet to extend the water on Co Rte 60 (Floral Drive). He is following up on his former requests for water.
Supervisor Bartlett responded that the town has not done a study yet. He feels the extension of Water 1/Sewer 2 will need to be completed before this extension can happen. He will also check with the Town of Brownville to see if it would be possible to extent their water line to the properties on Co Rte 60.
Mike Gogoe, owner of property on US Rte 11, inquired if his property would be included in the water distric,t if it is extended to the Northland Estates Trailer Park. His property is across the road on US Rte 11.
Supervisor Bartlett responded that the engineers are working on the map, plans and report. It is the intent to include the property on both sides of the road to the park in the district, loop through the park and connect to the lines on NYS Rte 232.
No one else wished to speak; the floor was closed.
Supervisor Bartlett accepted the Town Clerk’s report.
The Board was informed of an invitation to the ground breaking ceremony for the
new hatchery project Wednesday, June 15th, 2022 at 10:00 am in the TI Ag Park off NYS Rte 3.
MOTION #51-2022
WHEREAS, it is necessary to amend the fiscal year 2022 to adjust account appropriations.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Supervisor is authorized to make the following line-item adjustments:
Reduce Code Increase Code Amount
A-1990.4 Contingent Acct A-1910.4 Insurance 1,000.00
A-1990.4 A-9050.8 Unemploy Insur 950.00
Correct Item Recording
Decrease Gen Fund Unappropriated Fund Balance 30,000.00
Increase Revenue Code Loan to Sewer 1 30,000.00
Increase Appropr. Code SS1-8130.4 Administerial Contractual
Decrease Unappropriated Gen Fund Balance 20,000.00
Increase Acct Code A-1440.4 Engineers Contractual 20,000.00
(For Northeast Water District)
A motion to adopt the foregoing resolution was made by Supervisor Bartlett, seconded by Councilman Prosser.
Ayes All
Local Law No. 2 comments from the Jefferson County Planning Department were included in the Board’s packets for review.
MOTION #52-2022
WHEREAS, Local Law No. 2 of the year 2022, a Local Law to establish a moratorium on
Installations or modification for use of towers or other structures for cell phone or personal wireless facilities to permit the Planning Board and the Town Board of the Town of Watertown sufficient time to review its laws and to revise regulations that need more specificity within the Town of Watertown was introduced by a member of the Town Board at a meeting thereof held on May 10, 2022, and by a majority vote of the Town Board members present at such meeting, a public hearing was duly scheduled to consider Local Law No. 2of 2022 for June 9, 2022 at 7:00 PM; and
WHEREAS, Local Law No. 2 of the year 2022 was forwarded to County Planning for review and comment as required by law, and either comments from County Planning have been received or more than thirty (30) days have lapsed since such referral; and
WHEREAS, a notice of the public hearing was duly published and posted as required by law, and on June 9, 2022, at 7:00 PM, a public hearing was duly held to hear all persons interested in the subject matter of Local Law No. 2 of 2022.
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved by the Town Board of the Town of Watertown as follows:
1. The foregoing recitations are incorporated herein and made a part hereof as if fully set forth hereafter.
2. Local Law No. 2 of the year 2022 to establish a moratorium on installation or modification for the use of towers or other structures for cell phone or personal wireless facilities on projects within the Town of Watertown will give the Town Board of the Town of Watertown sufficient time to review its laws and to revise regulations that need more specificity within the Town of Watertown.
3. Local Law No. 2 of the year 2022 provides the Town with time to consider the impacts of such developments on surrounding properties and the general health and welfare of the community and to revise regulations as may be needed to lessen such impacts.
4. The adoption of Local Law No. 2 of 2022 is a Type II Action pursuant to the regulations promulgated under the provisions of the State Environmental Quality Review Act.
5. Based upon the foregoing, Local Law No. 2 of the year 2022 is in the best interests of the Town of Watertown, is hereby adopted and the Clerk is instructed to file the same with the New York State Department of State. It is specifically held by this Board that the moratorium imposed by the local law does not impact the T Mobile antenna that is being planned on the water tower on outer Arsenal Street as that antenna has been under planning and permitting for some time. Otherwise, the moratorium impacts proposed or planned antenna or tower installation during the term thereof.
A motion to adopt the foregoing resolution was made by Supervisor Bartlett and seconded by Councilmember Prosser and upon a roll call vote of the Board was duly adopted as follows:
Joel R. Bartlett, Supervisor yes
Paul V. Desormo absent
David W. Prosser yes
Joanne M. McClusky yes
Timothy L. McAtee yes
Supervisor Bartlett discussed with the Board and Attorney Russell possible solutions for the water loss and the deficit in Water District #3 and #4.
Included in the Board’s packet was NYS Dept of Taxation & Finance, Office of Real Property Tax Services showing the Final State Equalization Rate for 2022 of 61.00.
MOTION #53-2022
Supervisor Bartlett moved to pay the following abstracts as audited.
Utilities paid prior to the meeting
General Vouchers # 104 to 106 Total $ 12,864.35
Highway Vouchers # 106 to 106 Total $ 19,253.06
Spec. Dist. Vchrs. # 56 to 56 Total $ 2,754.21
Vouchers approved for monthly meeting
General Vouchers # 107 to 121 Total $ 70,429.92
Highway Vouchers # 107 to 119 Total $ 238,477.46
Spec. Dist. Vchrs. # 57 to 68 Total $ 290,635.93
Councilmember Prosser seconded the motion.
Ayes All
MOTION #54-2022
Councilman Prosser moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:12 pm, seconded by Supervisor Bartlett.
Ayes All
_____________________________
Pamela D. Desormo, Town Clerk