TOWN BOARD MEETING – APRIL 8, 2025

The Town of Hastings Town Board held a regular meeting on Tuesday April 8^th, 2025, at 7:30pm.

ATTENDANCE

Board members present: Supervisor Tony Bush, Councilman Mark Martino, Councilman Richard Waldron, and Councilman John DeBottis.

Also present: Mike Lewis, Highway Superintendent, Jason Burns, Director of community planning and codes enforcement, Krista Lewis, Parks Manager, and Erin Goodrich, Town Clerk.

Not present: Councilman Alan Hanson

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Supervisor Bush called the town board meeting to order at 7:45pm, asked for the Pledge of Allegiance and pointed out the emergency exits.

DISCUSSION

Supervisor Bush opened the floor for public comments.

1.) Residents continued the discussions they had with the public hearing about the sewer districts. Residents are unhappy with the sewer rate increases, but mostly those who have vacant parcels are being charged the full sewer rate. The Town Board reiterated that they’d look into if anything can be done but stated again how the increase is due to the increasing costs of the sewer’s maintenance costs.

2.) Heidi Tompkins from the Tug Hill Commission, a small, non-regulatory state agency charged with “helping local governments and citizens shape the future of the Tug Hill region.” The Tug Hill region includes 41 towns and 18 villages in portions of Jefferson, Lewis, Oneida and Oswego counties. Heide dropped off some promotional materials for our office, a couple posters, their newsletters, and Oswego County visitor guides.

3.) Sharon Bender returned to update the board on her progress with getting a resolution to her problems with her taxes. She still feels that the assessor needs to be replaced as he is not around when he needs to be and he doesn’t help those who need it. The assessor should be here to offer guidance to those residents that need it. As for her specific case, she is working with the County to help set up a payment plan.

RESOLUTIONS:

1.)           Councilman Waldron introduced the following and moved its adoption:

RESOLVED, the Town of Hastings Town Board hereby approves the minutes from the March 11^th, 2025, Town Board Meeting.

Councilman Martino seconded. Supervisor Bush asked if there was any discussion. Vote: Supervisor Bush, aye; Councilman Martino, aye; Councilman Waldron, aye; and Councilman DeBottis, aye. Councilman Hanson not present. Motion carried. Resolution 25-53 adopted.

2.)           Councilman Waldron introduced the following and moved its adoption:

RESOLVED, the Town of Hastings Town Board approves for the payment the claims certified on attached abstract #4 in the amounts indicated thereon:

Councilman DeBottis seconded. Supervisor Bush asked if there was any discussion. Vote: Supervisor Bush, aye; Councilman Martino, aye; Councilman Waldron, aye; and Councilman DeBottis, aye. Councilman Hanson not present. Motion carried. Resolution 25-54 adopted.

3.)           Councilman Waldron introduced the following and moved its adoption:

RESOLVED, the Town of Hastings Town Board approves the following amendments for the 2025 Highway Townwide (DA) Fund Budget:

1. Increased Appropriation Account 51424.03-Snow Removal-CE by $29,899.19.
2. Increased Revenue Account 2680.03-Insurance Recoveries by $29,899.19

Councilman Martino seconded. Supervisor Bush asked if there was any discussion. Vote: Supervisor Bush, aye; Councilman Martino, aye; Councilman Waldron, aye; and Councilman DeBottis, aye. Councilman Hanson not present. Motion carried. Resolution 25-55 adopted.

4.)           Councilman DeBottis introduced the following and moved its adoption:

RESOLVED, the Town of Hastings Town Board hereby appoints Timothy LaBonte as the new Town of Hastings Code Enforcement Officer effective 4/14/2025.

Councilman Martino seconded. Supervisor Bush asked if there was any discussion. Vote: Supervisor Bush, aye; Councilman Martino, aye; Councilman Waldron, aye; and Councilman DeBottis, aye. Councilman Hanson not present. Motion carried. Resolution 25-56 adopted.

5.)           Councilman DeBottis introduced the following and moved its adoption:

RESOLVED, the Town of Hastings Town Board approves Mike Lewis, Highway Superintendent, to attend the 2025 Highway School Conference sponsored by the Association of Towns of the State of New York of June 2^nd, 2025, and approves the $125 cost of registration.

Councilman Martino seconded. Supervisor Bush asked if there was any discussion. Vote: Supervisor Bush, aye; Councilman Martino, aye; Councilman Waldron, aye; and Councilman DeBottis, aye. Councilman Hanson not present. Motion carried. Resolution 25-57 adopted.

6.)           Councilman DeBottis introduced the following and moved its adoption:

RESOLVED, the Town of Hastings Town Board approves Erin Goodrich, Town Clerk, to attend the 2025 Town Clerk Association Annual Conference sponsored by New York State Town Clerk Association on April 27^th-30^th, 2025. 

Councilman Martino seconded. Supervisor Bush asked if there was any discussion. Vote: Supervisor Bush, aye; Councilman Martino, aye; Councilman Waldron, aye; and Councilman DeBottis, aye. Councilman Hanson not present. Motion carried. Resolution 25-58 adopted.

7.)           Councilman Martino introduced the following and moved its adoption:

Whereas, the Town of Hastings has been notified of the business closure of the current phone service provided, Priority Connections, effective December 31^st, 2025. Customer support was discontinued on March 31^st, 2025.

RESOLVED, the Town of Hastings Town Board approves the contract with ZULTYS as the municipality’s new phone service provider. The attached contract is a 36-month contract subject to but not limited to the following charges:

                Monthly Support & Equipment Rental: $313.70/month

Councilman DeBottis seconded. Supervisor Bush asked if there was any discussion. Vote: Supervisor Bush, aye; Councilman Martino, aye; Councilman Waldron, aye; and Councilman DeBottis, aye. Councilman Hanson not present. Motion carried. Resolution 25-59 adopted.

8.)           Councilman Martino introduced the following and moved its adoption:

Whereas, the Town of Hastings recognizes the importance of community planning and its contributions to building a strong, vibrant, and equitable community. In celebration of the bicentennial anniversary of the Town of Hastings, the Town has chosen to imagine its future development patterns through an update to the Comprehensive Plan. The Comprehensive Plan represents a shared community vision and sets goals in which the Town will aspire to reach the short- and long- term needs of the community, guide future sustainable growth, enhance quality of life and protect important natural and cultural resources and,

Whereas, after application, a grant has been awarded to the Town of Hastings from the New York State Department of State, Environmental Protection Fund Smart Growth Community Planning and Zoning Program to support the Comprehensive Planning Process and,

Whereas, as required by the grant the Town of Hastings solicited proposals from qualified consultants to assist with the planning process in accordance with General City Law Section 28/ Town Law Section 272-a/ Village Law 7-722 and,

Whereas, after receiving three qualified bids, the Town of Hastings has selected C&S Engineers, Inc., therefore,

RESOLVED, the Town of Hastings authorizes C&S Engineers, Inc. to assist with the Comprehensive Plan with the scope of work set forth in their proposal in an amount of $125,000.

Councilman DeBottis seconded. Supervisor Bush asked if there was any discussion. Vote: Supervisor Bush, aye; Councilman Martino, aye; Councilman Waldron, aye; and Councilman DeBottis, aye. Councilman Hanson not present. Motion carried. Resolution 25-60 adopted.

ADJOURNMENT

As there was no further business, Supervisor Bush motioned to adjourn the meeting. Councilman Waldron seconded. All in favor. Motion carried.

The meeting adjourned at 8:22pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Erin Goodrich, Town Clerk