Town Board Councilmembers Michael Keller, a seat saved for Benjamin Gigandet (who was not in attendance), Harold Conklin, Barbara Sharpe, and Town Supervisor Earl Van Wormer III.
By Heather Skinner
ESPERANCE-Esperance Town Council members and community members drove through heavy rain for this month’s regular Town Board Meeting. Members in attendance were Michael Keller, Harold Conklin, Barbara Sharpe, Town Supervisor Earl VanWormer III, Deputy Supervisor Brian D. Largeteau, and Town Clerk Jessica Castle.
After the Pledge of Allegiance was Privilege of the Floor, during which a community member showed interest in local laws. In response to #1 Real Tax Law 487 on the Schoharie County website showing as Schoharie instead of Esperance, The Board and Town Clerk recalled making that correction; VanWormer asked Castle to send another copy to the county requesting the change be reflected on their website.
VanWormer’s Supervisor Report broke down the Town Budget Balance Sheet. General Fund has $279,057 in assets and they’ve taken in about 79.8% of the revenue, which VanWormer explained is really good for only being a little over a third into the year. Expenditures at about 35.2% of the budget VanWormer noted isn’t too far from where it should be. They anticipated the usual lag in revenue taken in for the Town Outside Village Fund from state reimbursements and quarterly sales tax, and are confident all anticipated revenue for that will come in. VanWormer assured the budget will allow for more than enough money to cover expenditures saying, “The thing you’ve got to count on is you can never count on everything being exact. Sometimes you anticipate things and by the end of the year things happen and you need additional revenue. So, we’ve got to make sure we have enough in there because, primarily, our revenue comes from NYS, federal funds, or taxes. A little bit from interest and that kind of stuff, but we’ve gotta make sure it’s adequate because we don’t want to have to borrow.” 52.7% spent of the Highway Snow Removal Account is all they will spend until October, recounting Novembers have had some really bad snow situations in past years. December expenditures will carry over into January because of the fiscal year. Highway Outside the Village Fund for road maintenance, repair, paving, sealing roads, ditches, culvert, etc., has taken in about 45% revenue; more will come in from interest and the CHIPS Highway Improvement Program that reimburses work. It was explained that the Trust & Agency Account is past due accounts collected for rents, sewer, water, fire districts, lights, etc.
Despite there being individual boards, budgets, and representatives, it’s easiest to collect under one budget and issue reimbursements, and all that revenue has been taken in. Sloansville doesn’t have its own light district board; payout on that is monthly, and VanWormer said they’re on par with where they should be at 33.7% spent so far, and adjustments can be made as needed. Motion to approve the Supervisor’s Report was carried.
In the Town Clerk/Town Tax Collector Report, Castle cited $10 in marriage transcripts, $12,050 in refuse tickets, $66 in dog licensing, $806.50 for building permits, $9 to NYS Agriculture and Markets for the Spay and Neuter program with a total state, county, and local revenue of $2,151.50. Castle plans to settle taxes on June 3rd with the County Treasurer. Motion to approve the Town Clerk’s Report carried.
Highway Superintendent, Michelle Brust, updated that road inspections are done and clearing of blocked culverts has been in progress. Repairs approved last month for a soft spot at the end of Lape Road have been completed, but Conklin expressed concerns about the work. Brust had already observed the issues, and culvert repairs will be done for free. Concklin would like to see the bill for that job, and for future jobs, broken down by material and time. Brust supplied a packet to the Board titled, 2025 Town of Esperance Road Review and Plans, of everything found during inspections that need work this year or next. Regan Road, Vanderwerken, Tater Barn, Cripplebush, Pleasantview, and Lape Road are some in need of maintenance with cold mix paving, chipseals, etc. Work is currently in progress at the Transfer Site. A motion was made by Keller to cover some of that road work up to $72,505. It carried, and quotes will be confirmed in hopes less will be required. A grabber is needed for garbage clean-ups from dumpster items getting scattered by animals and wind. Brust will be purchasing that, then reimbursed. Online access to OpenBook NY and CHIPs is now available to view money given to Esperance in breakdowns by the year.
From the Assessor and Youth update, a Board of Assessment Review Meeting is scheduled for June 6th from 5:00 PM- 9:00 PM.
The Town Board Meeting Minutes of April 17, 2025 up for approval carried.
In Old Business, the RV Camping Regulation will be discussed with Esperance Town Attorney, Michael West, at the June Meeting. VanWormer will be forming a Comprehensive Plan Committee of 5-7 volunteers to work on a plan before zoning regulations get designed. VanWormer added this doesn’t mean there will be any changes to regulations, it’s just recommended the comprehensive plan is looked at every 5 years.
New Business was an opportunity for The Board to appoint Mark VanDerwerken, who is now an official employee of the Town, to continue lawn care. It was noted he does a good job, and the motion carried.
Approval of monthly vouchers by Town Board was carried.
In Other Business, a community member asked about fiber optics that will be installed near his house by MIDTEL. VanWormer explained there are people in Schoharie County who are not able to get internet at all or are underserved with limited internet options. The installation will offer the whole county a high-speed internet access option, which is being made possible with grant money.
Meeting adjourned with a motion to go into an Executive Session to talk about contracts.
Esperance Town Board Meetings are every 3rd Thursday of the month; 7:00 PM at the Town Hall, located at 104 Charleston Street. Village Meetings are every 2nd Monday at the Village Hall at 7:00 PM.
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