Susan DiSano

The meeting commenced with a public hearing concerning the proposed Local Law No. 1 of 2026, the Property Maintenance Law, followed by the regular Town Board Meeting. Key agenda items included discussion on the Library Contribution, Deferred Compensation Program, and the Court Audit for 2025. New business involved the adoption of Local Law No. 1, 2026, the Harriet Tubman Resolution, a one-year extension for the Solar Moratorium effective April 23, 2026, and the approval of a Junkyard License for St Auto Lights LLC. The agenda also covered the appointment of Jerry Meyers to the Board of Assessment Review, the Broad Street Sewer Pump Station Upgrade, boiler/air temperature maintenance, WFW Part #2, exterior light repair/replacement, sand/salt stock, and the approval of the Abstract of Audited Vouchers. The session concluded with board comments and an executive session pertaining to litigation.

The regular meeting covered departmental reports, including staffing difficulties for the police department and ongoing issues with highway department gas pumps, which prompted praise for road clearing efforts. Key actions included approving the utilization of Frankfort Center Fire Department LOSAP funding for their budgets for 2026 through 2028. The board approved Proposed Local Law No. 1, 2026, regulating property maintenance, scheduling a public hearing for February 26, 2026. The board also approved the lease of six new Toshiba copiers and adopted the New York State Deferred Compensation Plan. Several financial abstracts (General, TOV, Highway, Special District, Water Project) were approved. The session concluded with an executive session to discuss personnel and litigation issues, followed by accepting a settlement agreement for the Tractor Supply Tax Certiorari for tax years 2024 to 2028.

The reorganization meeting addressed several administrative and personnel matters, as the year-end meeting in December was cancelled. Key discussions included postponing the Public Hearing on Local Law #7 of 2025 to propose local law #1 of 2026. Department reports covered the recommendation to sell surplus Tasers, hiring status for a police officer position, updates on a LE Tec grant and camera system, and infrastructure issues in the Highway Department, including the replacement of gas pumps. Financial matters included the presentation of bank balances and tax receipts. Significant actions involved approving the list of volunteer firefighters and their 2025 points, reinstating Michael Testa effective December 30, 2025, referring a junkyard application to the zoning board, and approving a five-year contract with BST & Co. CPAs for accounting services. The board also adopted rules of order for conducting future meetings, established holiday schedules for Town Hall and the Highway Department, set regular meeting dates for FY2026, designated the Rome Sentinel as the official newspaper, and named M&T Bank as the official depository. Numerous appointments were made, including Mishele Spaman as Codes Enforcement Officer, Gerald Meyers as Part Time Deputy Codes Officer, Billie Riesel as Plumbing Inspector, Thomas Vivacqua as Town Hall Custodian, Dorri DeRollo as Registrar of Vital Statistics, the Town Clerk as Tax Collector (with stipend), Karl Manne as Town Attorney, Mark Vallese as Planning Board Member, Hank Valent as Zoning Board Member, Karlee Tamburro as Secretary for both the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals, Lauri Valent as Account Clerk for the Highway Department, and David & Joanne Moynihan as Dog Control Officer, and Jason Cacciatore as Oakview Cemetery Coordinator. The board also established standing committees, approved FY2026 wages and salaries, defined standard work days and overtime pay policies, appointed Joseph Tamburro as Deputy Town Supervisor, approved signatories for Town funds, and established bi-weekly payroll guidelines. The supervisor was authorized to pay certain claims in advance of the Town Board audit.

The agenda for this meeting included committee and department reports, a financial report review, and discussions on old business such as the Frankfort Center Volunteer Fire Department contract, property maintenance local law, and library conduct. New business items slated for discussion involved the Harriet Tubman Resolution, copier contracts, solar moratorium, deferred compensation program, Court Audit 2025, Emergency Operation Plan update, approval of abstract of audited vouchers, and correspondence. The session concluded with town board comments, an executive session regarding litigation, and adjournment.

The meeting included a public hearing concerning Local Law #7 regarding Property Maintenance. Key agenda items for new business involved approving LOSAP points, reinstating Mike Testa's retirement effective December 30, 2025, approving vacation time for January 1st and 2nd, referring a junkyard application (ST Auto Lights LLC) to the Zoning Board, and approving the BST Outsourced Accounting Contract and the Abstract of Audited Vouchers. The agenda also included a Reorganization Meeting segment and an Executive Session.