Julie Steven

The board approved the payment of various municipal bills and discussed ongoing highway department operations, including road repairs and seasonal equipment adjustments. Key items included the authorization of public advertisements for spring clean-up days and the awarding of a mowing contract for the town playground and other properties. The assessor provided an update on data collection and exemption processing. East Sidney Lake operations were discussed, including infrastructure repairs and preparations for the upcoming seasonal camper arrival. The board formally adopted an Incident Response Plan to enhance cybersecurity protocols and authorized the solicitation of grant-related public hearings and roof repair bids for the local hospital. Additionally, a donation for cemetery improvements and the purchase of building insulation were approved, followed by an executive session regarding hospital and cemetery matters.

The meeting included a public hearing regarding the NY PLAYS Grant for the local park, a presentation from Economic Development on property acquisition, and the approval of payment for various funds including general, highway, and hospital expenses. Committee reports were provided on insurance compliance, zoning and planning discussions involving moratoriums for commercial solar and battery storage, and updates on East Sidney Lake maintenance and facility improvements. Additionally, the board discussed the reregistration of the town with the statewide financial system, future policy updates for finance and accounting, and received reports from the Highway Superintendent and Town Clerk.

The meeting began with the organizational portion, where the Town Board adopted an 8-part resolution setting the schedule for regular monthly meetings, naming official depositories and the official newspaper, and confirming several reappointments and new appointments. Key appointments included Frank Selleck as Deputy Supervisor, Amy Cross as Dog Control Officer, Mark Lee to the planning board, and Hinman, Howard & Kattell, LLP as Town Attorney. Committee assignments were also announced. Following the organizational session, the Regular Meeting commenced. Discussions included ongoing issues with the December 2025 minutes, which required correction. The Board approved payments for 2025 bills across General, ESL, DA, and Hospital Funds, and subsequently approved 2026 bills for General, ESL, Highway DA, and Hospital Funds. Committee reports highlighted the Highway Department's busy month due to snow removal and securing a new truck quote at a lower price. The Finance committee reported being in good shape relative to budget numbers. The DCO liaison reported on new shelter regulations impacting small towns. During public comments, a resident raised concerns about road signage for Amish buggies on County Route 23.

The meeting commenced with the administration of the Oath of Office to the Town Supervisor and a Council member for their subsequent terms. Key discussions centered on insurance proposals, with the board agreeing to proceed with the Liberty Insurance proposal which offered savings, although property coverage limits need future appraisal review. A local law proposal to establish a prior written notice agreement for road hazards, which requires a public hearing in January 2026, was presented to limit liability. Financial approvals included payments for General, B, ESL, Sidney Center Lighting, and Highway funds, along with substantial CM Hospital Fund vouchers. The Highway Superintendent provided an update on fleet breakdowns due to aging equipment and proposed purchasing a new medium-size truck, prompting discussion to investigate budget line adjustments. Hospital matters included updating emergency phones in all three elevators using T-Mobile cellular service, addressing drainage issues under the clinic building, and processing a previously untransformed $20,000 vehicle budget payment. Zoning activities included scheduling upcoming Planning Board and ZBA hearings. The session concluded with an executive session to discuss insurance, after which the board voted to accept the NYMIR insurance company proposal.

The document covers a Public Hearing concerning the 2026 Preliminary Budget, during which the Town Attorney announced his resignation, citing ethical concerns related to the Town Clerk's office conduct regarding a birth certificate request and subsequent budget considerations for the Town Clerk position and a Deputy Town Clerk line item. Following the budget discussion, which was supported by tax revenue from cannabis sales to keep rates flat, the board moved to a regular meeting. During the regular session, the board approved payment for various vouchers across General, Highway, and Hospital Funds. Correspondence approved an event request for the Youth for Christ walk. Reports included updates from the Highway Superintendent on road material hauling and winter preparation, maintenance on trucks, and upcoming seasonal road closures. Board discussions covered exploring the purchase of a new truck, lease agreements for Bassett Hospital, scheduling a special insurance meeting, and addressing compliance issues found during a Department of Health inspection at East Sidney Lake concerning pressure tanks and backflow prevention. IT updates included installing a new weather station and arranging email access for the Court.