SEVENTH REGULAR SESSION
Johnstown, NY July 12, 2021
Roll Call – Quorum Present
Supervisors: Argotsinger, Blackmon, Born, Bowman, Bradt, Breh, Callery, Fagan, Goderie, Greene, Groff, Horton, Howard, Kinowski, Perry, VanDenburgh, Wilson, Young
TOTAL: Present: 18 Absent: 2 (Supervisors Lauria and Potter)
Chairman Callery called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Chairman Callery asked if there was anyone from the public who wished to address the Board and no one came forward.
PUBLIC SPEAKERS
LATE SCHEDULED SPEAKER
Chairman Callery and Mr. Stead presented the OTB Scholarship Award to First-place winner Hailee Waddle of Johnstown Senior High School. Mr. Stead noted that the Board of Supervisors have given around 70 to 80 scholarships and expressed that Ms. Waddle’s essay was one of the best that he has seen in recent years.
Miss Waddle addressed the Board briefly by thanking it for the recognition and scholarship. She said it was a difficult year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and she worked hard to try to make it a good year.
Mr. Stead then advised that Aiden Fitzpatrick of Johnstown Senior High School was the Second-place winner and Ethan Maxson of Johnstown Senior High School was the Third-place winner.
Chairman Callery congratulated all three winners and the Board applauded their work.
PUBLIC HEARINGS/SCHEDULED SPEAKERS
1:30 P.M. PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING COMMENTS TO REVIEW A PREVIOUSLY COMPLETED CDBG PROGRAM FOR THE 2018 PROGRAM YEAR
1:45 P.M. PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING COMMENTS ON THE COUNTY’S COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT NEEDS, AND TO DISCUSS THE POSSIBLE SUBMISSION OF ONE OR MORE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2021 PROGRAM YEAR
2:00 P.M. PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING REQUESTS TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL PROPERTY WITHIN THE TOWN OF JOHNSTOWN IN AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT NO. 1 IN FULTON COUNTY
Chairman Callery then asked for the reading of any Communications that were on the Agenda.
COMMUNICATIONS
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Memorandum from Scott DeNinno, Jr. Chairman of the Fulton County Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council dated June 16, 2021
Subj: Purchase of Automated External Defibrillators for County Buildings
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Thank You Letter from NYS Adirondack Park Agency dated 22 June 2021
Subj: Thanking Fulton County for providing the Agency with a copy of Resolution No. 170 titled “Resolution Opposing Legislative Agenda of Certain Adirondack Environmental Groups Seeking to Decouple Broadband and Cellular Expansion Coverage in the Adirondack Park”
REPORTS OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES
Inter-County Legislative Committee of the Adirondacks: Supervisor Wilson stated the Committee visited a hydroelectric facility at its last meeting. He stated that it was interesting to learn about power generation that can be done with small lakes and ponds. He noted that there are only two (2) counties that overrode the tax cap. He also advised that the NYSAC Fall Seminar will be held at the Syracuse Marriott from September 13-15, 2021.
Soil and Water Conservation District Board: Supervisor Horton stated that farmland protection has become quite an issue with all the solar farms that are being constructed. He stated that there is a lot of tillable land that is being taken up by solar panels.
Supervisor Horton stated that Fulton County Soil and Water Conservation District material sales are up about 20 percent. He noted that some of that is due to price increases.
Mr. Horton provided a handout to all Supervisors inviting them to the Fire Training Facility on July 20, 2021 for an informal meeting from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. He asked for those interested to RSVP prior to attending.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
Chairman Callery stated that the first Capital Project Committee meeting is coming up on July 22, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. He thanked all Standing Committees for doing their “homework” and reviewing the proposed capital projects at the last set of Committee meetings. He hopes to have more to report on that at the next Board meeting.
RESOLUTIONS (TITLES ATTACHED)
Resolutions on the regular Agenda were deliberated upon.
Resolution No. 226 (Resolution Setting Date of Public Hearing Regarding 2021-2022 FMCC Budget): Supervisor Young noted that he would abstain from this Resolution due to his employment at the Fulton-Montgomery Community College.
Mr. Greene noted that he received a letter and commemorative medallion from Governor Cuomo thanking him for his contribution participating on the “Mohawk Valley Control Room” last year that monitored COVID-19 emergencies and provided updates relating to the pandemic.
Public Hearing Regarding Comments to Review a Previously Completed CDBG Program for the 2018 Program Year:
Chairman Callery opened the Public Hearing to receive comments to review a previously Completed CDBG Program for the 2018 program year at 1:30 p.m. Chairman Callery asked any interested speakers to step to the podium. No one came forward.
Upon a motion by Supervisor Fagan, seconded by Supervisor Bradt and unanimously carried, the Board entered Executive Session at 1:35 p.m. to discuss collective bargaining.
Upon a motion by Supervisor Fagan, seconded by Supervisor Argotsinger and unanimously carried, the Board re-entered into Regular Session at 1:38 p.m.
Chairman Callery again asked if there were any members of the public who wished to make comments to review a previously Completed CDBG Program for the 2018 Program year. There being no other interested speakers, Chairman Callery closed the Public Hearing at 1:42 p.m.
Public Hearing Regarding Comments on the County’s Community Development Needs and to Discuss the Possible Submission of One of More Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Applications for the 2021 Program Year:
Chairman Callery opened the Public Hearing to receive comments on the County’s Community Development needs, and to discuss the possible submission of one or more Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) applications for the 2021 program year at 1:45 p.m. Chairman Callery asked any interested speakers to step to the podium and no one came forward.
Mr. Stead explained that copies of a full outline description of the pending CDBG Business Assistance Grant Application were on the back table for anyone to have and review.
With no one asking to speak and other regular business concluded, Chairman Callery called for a 10-minute recess at 1:47 p.m. to extend the Public Hearing just in case additional attendees arrived.
Chairman Callery re-opened the meeting at 1:58 p.m. and again asked if there were any members of the public who wished to make comments on the County’s Community Development needs, and to discuss the possible submission of one or more Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) applications for the 2021 program year. There being no other interested speakers, Chairman Callery closed the Public Hearing at 2:00 p.m.
Public Hearing Regarding Requests to include Additional Property Within the Town of Johnstown in Agricultural District No. 1 in Fulton County:
Chairman Callery opened the Public Hearing to receive comments to include additional property within the Town of Johnstown in Agricultural District No. 1 in Fulton County at 2:00 p.m. Chairman Callery asked any interested speakers to step to the podium and no one came forward.
Chairman Callery again asked if there were any members of the public who wished to make comments to include additional property within the Town of Johnstown in Agricultural District No. 1. There being no other interested speakers, Chairman Callery closed the Public Hearing at 2:05 p.m.
NEW BUSINESS
Mr. Stead stated that the Board of Supervisors Chambers current layout could potentially go back to the “normal arrangement” by the September Board meeting, contingent upon all 20 Supervisors agreeing. He stated that Standing Committee meetings would also meet at the center tables if the Chamber layout returns to the “horseshoe” shape. Mr. Stead stated that he will be keeping this layout for at least another month. He noted that Fulton County has been under 1.0 percent for its positivity rate for a couple months now.
ADJOURNMENT
Upon a motion by Supervisor Greene, seconded by Supervisor Bradt and unanimously carried, the Board adjourned at 2:06 p.m.
Certified by:
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Jon R. Stead, Administrative Officer/ DATE
Clerk of the Board