The Village of Franklin held its regular board meeting on April 14, 2025, at the Village Hall office (141 Water Street) at 7:00PM. Present: Mayor VanDeusen, Trustee Wilson, Trustee Martin, Trustee Elect McLean, Clerk/Treasurer Niebanck, Deputy Clerk Martin, Superintendent Kingsbury and guests recorded on the sign-in register. The meeting was streamed and recorded on the video platform Zoom.
Swearing-In Ceremony: Morgan McLean was sworn in as Trustee for a term of two (2) years.
Appointments: Mayor Van Deusen made the following annual appointments: Deputy Mayor: Constance Martin; Clerk/Treasurer: Paula Niebanck; Deputy Clerk: James Martin; Public Works and Water Superintendent: Jason Kingsbury; School Crossing Guards: Gary Schiffner and Georgetta Skovsende; Newspaper of Record: Walton Reporter; Depository: Wayne Bank; Attorney: David Merzig of Kehoe & Merzig; Recreation Commission Representative: Village Board of Trustees; Building Code and Health Officer: Dale Downin; Registrar: Town of Franklin; Historian: Franklin Railroad and Community Museum; Dog Control Officer: Mark Bennett (shared service with Town of Franklin); Board Meetings: 2nd Monday of every month; Special Meetings: To be announced via Legal Notices.
Minutes: Minutes of the March 2025 board meeting: Martin moved, and McLean seconded approval of the March 2025 board meeting minutes. So passed.
Treasurer’s Report
Date: March 31, 2025
| General Fund | $183,330.96 |
| – Reserve/Maint Equip (Checking) | $1,386.29 |
| – Sidewalks (Checking) | $19,681.12 |
| – Trees (Checking) | $2,478.22 |
| Water Fund | $38,195.43 |
| Water Project | $6.96 |
| Trust & Agency | $401.13 |
| Grant Fund | $59.34 |
| Recreation Commission | $40,755.19 |
McLean moved and Martin seconded approval of budget transfer of $1278.72 from 5110.2 to 1620.4 and $188.46 from 5112.2 to 5142.4 in the GF; $947.54 from 8310.4 to 8320.4 in the WF. So passed. McLean moved and Martin seconded approval of Treasurer’s Report of March 31, 2025. So passed.
Correspondence/Clerk’s Report: 1) OSC re: fiscal stress score; no designation. 2) DCRPT re: taxes due at 832 Main St.; at least 6 months until tax sale. 3) M. VanKingsley (FCS) re: phone system. 4) NYALGRO re: records management conference. 5) US Treasury re: recovery funds compliance reviews. 6) NYSEG re: smart meters presentations. 7) DPS re: public comment on broadband internet access. 8) PFAS claim documents mailed.
Superintendent’s Report: 1) Fixed leak at 703 Main Street. 2) Delivery truck issue is better. 3) Water turned on at 76 Water Street. 4) Installed new meter at 125 Water Street. 5) Taggart coming to install a lockbox at water tank. 6) Will get estimate for on-demand generator for Village Hall. 7) Water usage checked at two properties; meters may need to be replaced. 8) Park sidewalk quote is $3200 from O’Reilly Construction.
Guest: Missy Komenda gave a presentation on Hometown Heroes: veteran banners would be sponsored by family of person on banner; spoke with Mr. Evans in Binghamton who will help out; Two 2’x4’ banners would hang on NYSEG poles; working with the American Legion on this project; pricing is $190 for each banner which includes banner and brackets/arm/steel clamp; pole holder is cast aluminum. Will the Village Board support this project? Trustees Martin and McLean support the project; Mayor supports as well.
Old Business
Main Street Crosswalk: will hold off until review Water Street project.
Tabled Items: Water meter grant with larger project; grant is available again for electronic water meters (Green Infrastructure Grant).
Water St. Repairs: Eric/Delaware Engineering will contact Cobleskill Stone for update; still waiting.
Restore NY Grant: No updates. Mayor will contact Lindsay.
PFAS Claim: Clerk and Superintendent have submitted requested documentation to attorney’s office.
Mass Communication: new phone system; need a system that can transfer calls to other lines. Clerk will check with Gibson Hill Services.
Community Picnic: different groups will be contacted; date is June 22
Fence Install: need to talk to Eric/Delaware Engineering about survey; Poly Fence coming out to look it over again.
New Business
Budget Discussion: : insurance premium increase due to new water tank; need to adjust proposed Expense budget line 1910.4 to $30,000; Street Lighting to $4250; Shade Trees to $1500. Revenue – Reserve/Maintenance to $15,000; Transfer from Trees/Sidewalks to $8500; Fund Balance to $16,983.69.
Sidewalk Repair: Main Street; Superintendent looking into special mix of concrete.
Stump Grinding: State of NY is supposed to take care of them; Superintendent will contact them.
Citizen’s Comments: none
Around Town: Pancake breakfast and Easter Egg Hunt were well attended. Old Franklin Day will probably not have a fashion show; will think of another event to replace it.
Approval of Bills: Martin moved, and McLean seconded approval to pay bills. So passed.
Village
| 209-24 | Selective Insurance | A1910.4 | $1,428.00 | A2901 |
| 210-24 | Trust & Agency | A9030.8 | $84.61 | A2902 |
| 211-24 | Water Fund Checking | A9901.0 | $52,000.00 | A2903 |
| 212-24 | NYSEG | A1620.4 | $181.08 | A2904 |
| 213-24 | NYSEG | A7110.4 | $60.24 | A2905 |
| 214-24 | Trust & Agency | FX9030.8 | $416.47 | FX1920 |
| 215-24 | Trust & Agency | FX9089.8 | $156.00 | FX1921 |
| 216-24 | Frontier | FX8320.4 | $9.50 | FX1922 |
| 217-24 | NYSEG | FX8320.4 | $1,884.47 | FX1923 |
| 218-24 | Postmaster | FX8310.4 | $146.00 | FX1924 |
| 219-24 | Capital One | A1210.4 | $525.00 | |
| A1210.4 | $50.00 | |||
| 220-24 | Capital One | A1325.4 | $543.97 | |
| FX8330.4 | $272.00 | |||
| FX8320.4 | $158.71 | |||
| 221-24 | Capital One | A1010.4 | $575.00 | |
| 222-24 | Capital One | A1010.4 | $1,100.00 | |
| 223-24 | Robert Hunt | A1450.1 | $100.00 | |
| 224-24 | Paul DeAndrea | A1450.1 | $100.00 | |
| 225-24 | Carol Jensen | A1450.1 | $200.00 | |
| 226-24 | Gibson Hill Services | A1410.4 | $177.32 | |
| 227-24 | Delhi Telephone Co. | A1620.4 | $79.44 | |
| 228-24 | Boulder Oil | A1620.4 | $207.85 | |
| 229-24 | MSA Group | A1910.4 | $100.00 | |
| 230-24 | Dale Downin (Health Officer) | A4010.4 | $200.00 | |
| 231-24 | Town of Franklin (Registrar) | A4020.4 | $25.00 | |
| 232-24 | Tractor Supply | A5110.4 | $15.78 | |
| 233-24 | O'Reilly Construction LLC | A5410.4 | $3,200.00 | |
| 234-24 | Franklin Recreation Commission | A7320.4 | $3,000.00 | |
| 235-24 | Franklin Free Library | A7410.4 | $1,500.00 | |
| 236-24 | Franklin RR & Community Museum | A7510.4 | $500.00 | |
| 237-24 | Reserve for Maint. Equipment checking | A9950.0 | $15,000.00 | A2906 |
| 238-24 | The Hartford | A9055.8 | $44.85 | |
| 239-24 | USA BlueBook | FX8330.4 | $32.86 | |
| 240-24 | Amrex Chemical Co. | FX8330.4 | $591.50 | |
| 241-24 | Stevens Excavation LLC | FX8340.4 | $6,525.00 | |
| 242-24 | Selective Insurance | A1910.4 | $8,728.25 | |
| 243-24 | Stephen P Lawton | FX8310.4 | $650.00 | |
| 244-24 | Waste Recovery Enterprises | A8160.4 | $12.32 | |
| 245-24 | NYSEG | A5182.4 | $1,517.80 | |
| TOTAL | $102,099.02 | |||
| PAID PRIOR TO MEETING | $69,938.37 | |||
| Total | $32,160.65 |
Recreation Commission
| 50-24 | Frontier | J7545.4 | $76.91 | J2029 |
| 51-24 | NYSEG | J7345.4 | $26.30 | J2030 |
Mayor VanDeusen adjourned the meeting at 8:22PM
Respectfully submitted,
Paula Niebanck
Clerk/Treasurer
Recreation Committee Minutes
The Village of Franklin held a Recreation Commission meeting on April 14, 2025, at the Village Hall office (141 Water Street) at 6:00PM. Present: Mayor VanDeusen, Trustee Wilson, Trustee Elect McLean, Trustee Martin, Clerk/Treasurer Niebanck. The meeting was streamed and recorded on the video platform Zoom.
Minutes: February and March minutes: Wilson moved, and Martin seconded approval of minutes. So passed.
Treasurer’s Report: $40,755.19 – Martin moved, and Wilson approved report. So passed. Proposed budget for 2025-2026 distributed; need to look at insurance line item. Will keep it at $7000 for insurance.
Fundraising: Trustee Wilson is working on fundraising letter; ready soon. Events: Glow party, float in movie night, kidnap lifeguards for “ransom”, candy sale.
Field Sports Director Report: unable to attend. TBall sign-ups are done and 25 signed up – t shirts are ordered; will plan to have Youth Soccer.
Pool Director Report: Will plan lifeguard meeting over spring break; Josh Jones will be a recreation commission volunteer and will help to manage the pool; will continue to use Sling for scheduling; there are 3 potential WSI candidates – may have 2 of them split the duties; swim lesson sign-ups will be in June. Mayor will help with sign-ups and pool management. Discussed pool “want” list and grant funding. Roof will be done after the pool closes; metal roof.
Citizens’ Comments: none
Mayor Van Deusen adjourned the meeting at 6:37PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Paula Niebanck
Clerk/Treasurer