The Combination Regular and 2021 Organizational meetings of the Sidney Town Board was called to order by the Supervisor at 7:00 p.m. January 7, 2021, in the boardroom at 44 Grand Street, Sidney.  Prior to the meeting, bills were audited by the Board.

Present were: 

R. Eugene Pigford	Supervisor
James Roberts, Jr.	Highway Superintendent
C. Peter Cordes	Councilman
Frank Selleck	Councilman
Eric Wilson	Councilman
Joseph A. Ermeti	Attorney
Sheila R Paul	Clerk

OPENING COMMENTS BY SUPERVISOR  

January Presidential Birthdays 

Millard Fillmore. January 7, 1800 

Richard M. Nixon January 9, 1913  

William McKinley January 29, 1843 

Franklin D. Roosevelt January 30, 1882 

As America entered the war these \’four freedoms\’ – symbolized America\’s war aims and gave hope in the following years to a war-wearied people because they knew they were fighting for freedom. 

We look forward to a world founded upon essential human freedoms.  

 the freedom of speech and expression, the

freedom to worship God in his own way.  

freedom from want.  

freedom from fear 

Four Freedoms Speech, January 6, 1941, Franklin D. Roosevelt 

PLEDGE TO THE FLAG 

SILENT MOMENT OF REFLECTION/PRAYER 

ORGANIZATIONAL PORTION OF MEETING 

                           The following 6-part resolution is hereby offered for its adoption, 

1. The regular monthly meeting of this Board shall be held on the second Thursday of the month with an audit of the bills at 6:30 p.m., and commencement of the meeting at 7:00 p.m., unless notice to the contrary is given; motion by Mr. Wilson, seconded by Mr. Selleck and carried. AYES: E. Pigford, P. Cordes. NAYES: None 

• NBT Bank of Sidney is named as the official depository of Town funds with JP Morgan Chase Bank N.A. being an additional depository.  The Daily Star shall be the official newspaper; motion by Mr. Selleck, seconded by Mr. Wilson and carried. AYES: G. Pigford, P. Cordes. NAYES: None 

• Amy Cross is here by reappointed as Dog Control Officer: for a 1-year term expiring December 31, 2021. Motion by Mr. Wilson and seconded by Mr. Pigford and carried.                                 

AYES: F. Selleck, P. Cordes. NAYES: None 

• James Omahen is hereby reappointed to a 5-year terms on the Zoning Board of Appeals, term expiring December 31, 2025. Motion by Mr. Selleck and seconded by Mr. Wilson and carried. AYES: G. Pigford, P. Cordes. NAYES: None  

• Jennifer Ruling is hereby appointed to a 5-year term on the Zoning Board of Appeals, term expiring December 31, 2025. Motion by Mr. Selleck and seconded by Mr. Pigford and carried. AYES: E. Wilson, P. Cordes. NAYES: None 

• The mileage allowance for town personnel using their own vehicle on town business shall be 0.505 per mile.

Adopt 6-part resolution. 

COMMITTEES NAMES 

Highway: F. Selleck / P. Cordes 

Hospital:  E. Wilson / P. Cordes 

Insurance: P. Cordes / F. Selleck 

Zoning & Planning: F. Selleck / G. Pigford 

East Sidney Lake: P. Cordes / E. Wilson 

Finance: G. Pigford / F. Selleck 

IT:  E. Wilson / G. Pigford 

DCO liaison: G. Pigford

Transition: F. Selleck / G. Pigford 

APPOINTMENTS:   

The Supervisor hereby announces his appointment of Eric Wilson for a 1-year term as Deputy Supervisor and the Clerk/Collector names, Pamela Gilbert as 1st Deputy Clerk/Collector, William Heath -2nd Deputy Clerk/Collector and Clarissa Riker -3rd Deputy Clerk/ Collector 

The Supervisor announces his appointment of Karen Kropp as Bookkeeper to Supervisor.  

APPROVE TOWN BOARD MINUTES of Regular Meeting held on December 12, 2020 Motion by Mr. 

Wilson seconded by Mr. Selleck and carried. AYES: G. Pigford, P. Cordes, NAYES: None 

Special Board meeting held on December 28, 2020 Motion by Mr. Selleck and seconded by Mr. Cordes and carried. AYES: G. Pigford, P. Cordes. NAYES: None  

APPROVE PAYMENT OF BILLS:  

 General A Fund Voucher: 21-1 thru 21-30 in the amount of $38,176.71 Motion by Mr. Cordes seconded by  Mr. Pigford and carried. AYES: E. Wilson, F. Selleck, NAYES: None 

B Fund Voucher:  No activity 

East Sidney Lake Voucher: 21-1 in the amount of $137.98 Motion by Mr. Wilson seconded by Mr. Cordes and carried. AYES: G. Pigford, F. Selleck. NAYES: None 

Total General Vouchers: $ 38,314.69  

 Highway DA Fund Vouchers: 21-1 thru 21-12 in the amount of $20,563.21 Motion by Mr. Selleck and seconded by Mr. Pigford and carried. AYES: E. Wilson, P, Cordes. NAYES: None 

Highway DB Fund Vouchers:  21-1 thru 21-5 in the amount of $ 47,638.69 Motion by Mr. Cordes and seconded by Mr. Selleck and carried. AYES: G. Pigford, E. Wilson. NAYES: None 

Total Highway Vouchers: $68,201.90   

CM Hospital Fund Vouchers: 21-1 thru 21-12 in the amount of $ 11,542.17 Motion by Mr. Pigford, seconded by Mr. Wilson and carried. AYES: P. Cordes, F. Selleck. NAYES: None.  

Total Vouchers paid:  $ 118,058.76. 

CORRESPONDENCE: Correspondence from Omar Siddigi Esq re-speed limit on Wheat Hill Road Receipt of petition from residents of Sidney Center. RESOLUTION No. 21-2 BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Sidney request that an appropriate speed zone be established on the following road: Wheat Hill Road from mailbox 1448 to mailbox 1884 be 30 mph: Motion made by Mr. Pigford and seconded by Mr. Wilson and carried. AYES: P. Cordes, F. Selleck. NAYES: None 

RESOULTION No. 21-1 NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, Adopts provisions of Executive Order  202.83 Suspending the requirements of renewal applications as a condition to granting exemptions under sections 459-C and 467 of the Real Property Tax: Motion made by Mr. Wilson and seconded by Mr. Pigford and carried. AYES: P. Cordes, F. Selleck. NAYES: None 

The Association of Towns: The Link following gives information on the 2021 Training school and annual meeting. The Town is asked to name a voting delegate or an alternate. (more details at www.nytowns.org) 

Membership for The Association of Towns: Dues are $ 1,000 a year. Motion to pay membership was made by Mr. Wilson and seconded by Mr. Cordes and carried. AYES: G. Pigford, F. Selleck. NAYES: None 

Delaware County Youth Bureau Program Funding Approval for 2020 in the amount of $ 1,415.00 

“We, the undersigned citizens of Sidney, NY are opposed to efforts by the Town of Sidney to rezone 

RESIDENTIAL homes in the hamlet of Sidney Center to Commercial, Light Commercial, or 

Residential/Agricultural zones. We are in favour of Residential zoning that allows for small, low-impact and home businesses to be developed in the hamlet through a special use permit process. 

Serious concerns raised by the people of Sidney Center have not been addressed, including changes to property taxes and the potential devaluation of homes. We question how rezoning will impact our quality of life and contribute to serious infrastructure problems that already exist in the Hamlet. Furthermore, we worry about future business-related issues due to a lack of code enforcement or oversight by the Town of Sidney, NY. 

We ask that the Town Board create a plan in a transparent, inclusive manner and work with residents of the Hamlet. We want zoning that fits the small-town character of our community. The people of Sidney Center demand to have a say in our own destiny!” 

The petition is signed by 93 residents of Sidney Center. 

There was no immediate comment from the Board. A response will be drafted and reviewed by the Board prior to its release. 

REPORTS/DISTRIBUTED:  

 Monthly reports of Supervisor, Bookkeeper and Town Clerk.  Clerk is submitting checks totaling in  $ 2,656.00 fees collected during December 2020.  

REPORTS/ORAL 

 HIGHWAY- Highway Superintendent James Roberts 

 Has agreement for the expenditure of Highway moneys. Pursuant to provisions of Section 284 of the Highway  Law, we agree that moneys levied and collected in the Town for the repair and improvement of highways:  

1. General Repairs in the sum of $ 115,000 to be set aside to expended to primary work and general repairs upon 56 miles.  
2. Permanent improvements: The following sums shall be set aside to be expended for permanent improvement of town highways. Project is Intersection of Rd 13 and Delaware Co Rd 23 to Masonville town Line. 2.5 miles. Sum is $163,370.00 using Chip funds. This form requests Town Supervisors signature along with all Board members.   

Crew was out during the snowstorm and rainstorm to maintain roads.  

SUPERVISOR- Eugene Pigford 

The Oath of Office for the Town Justice will be administered Wednesday January 13, 2021 at the Town Hall 6:30 pm 

The NY State Veterans Office is interviewing candidates to fill the Sidney Veterans office one day per week. They hope to have a representative by mid- January. 

BOOKKEEPER- Karen Kropp: Nothing to report 

TOWN CLERK- Sheila Paul: 2021 Taxes are coming in. 

COMMITTEE REPORTS 

Highway-Selleck & Cordes: Town truck being fixed. 

Hospital- Wilson & Pigford: Site for COVID vaccines 

Insurance-Cordes & Selleck: Zooming with Mike Sellitti, Bill VanGorder, Pete Cordes and Loddie Marsh (Sidney Center Improvement Secretary) Bill VanGorder from NYMIR wants a written plan on who is responsible for the Sidney Center Park. Pete mentions that Gene Pigford, Jamie Roberts need to meet and discuss responsibility of the Sidney Center Park.  

Zoning & Planning– Pigford & Selleck: response to the Sidney Center petition with a letter that is being sent

to each person that signed it. Posting letter in Jess Howe’s, The Deli and the Post office.  

East Sidney Lake– Cordes & Wilson:  Report given by John Nolan on the Electric situation and has been working with NYSE & G. New service including 3 new poles that would be able to hook into the current service and give 2 X’s the service- one section would cover 24-28 campsite and the other section would cover up to 29 other campsites. The cost would be $ 2,951.2. Need a motion to accept cost. Motion made by Mr. Cordes and seconded by Mr. Pigford and carried. AYES: E. Wilson, F. Selleck. NAYES: None  

Finance-Pigford & F. Selleck: Nothing to report  

  IT-Wilson & Pigford: Nothing to report 

DCO liaison-G. Pigford: 6 incidents with calls. All incidents were resolved. 

Transition-Selleck & Wilson: 3 new cameras installed in Town Building. Wet spot in crawl space that will need to be address.  

NEW BUSINESS 

 Approval of NYMIR as Town Insurance carrier for 2021. Motion made by Mr. Wilson and seconded by Mr. Pigford and carried. AYES: P. Cordes, F. Selleck. NAYES: None.   

UNFINISHED BUSINESS 

Jeremy Jacob’s Right of Way 

The Town Attorney reported that while there is not a Right of Way issue, Mr Jacob’s does own the parcel regarding which some complaints had been received. He further stated that unless a complaining party wished to obtain a survey, the Town should end its inquiry. 

EXECUTIVE SESSION   

Motion made at 8:10 p.m. by Mr. Wilson and seconded by Mr. Selleck to enter executive session and carried. AYES: G. Pigford, P. Cordes. NAYES: None To discuss a legal and personnel matter.  

Motion made at 8:16 p.m. by Mr. Wilson and seconded by Mr. Selleck to come out of executive session and carried. AYES: G. Pigford, P. Cordes. NAYES: None 

The Town Board approved Sheila Paul to be the Town Registrar at a salary of $2600 per year. Motion was made by Mr. Pigford and seconded by Mr. Selleck and carried. AYES: E. Wilson, P. Cordes NAYES: None 

At 8:20 p.m. Mr. Pigford moved to adjourn meeting, motion was made by Mr. Wilson and seconded by Mr. Selleck and carried. AYES: G. Pigford, P. Cordes. NAYES: None 

Next Regular Board Meeting will be on February 11, 2021 at 7:00 p.m.  

Respectfully submitted,  

Sheila R Paul, Town Clerk