Town of Vienna

Town Board Meeting Minutes

August 6, 2025

 

ATTENDANCE:

Councilwoman Mary Beth McEwen

Councilman Darrin Smith

Deputy Supervisor Jason Spellicy

Councilman Jason Lamb

Town Clerk Carol Huber

 

PLANNING BOARD INFORMATIONAL MEETING @ 6:30 PM

Planning Board Chair Orrin MacMurray presented 15 zoning issues or updates briefly, that the Planning Board would like to work on making changes. When the Planning Board is ready to present an update or change to the following, they will contact the Board and ask to meet with them at 6:30 before the regular Board meeting begins to talk about the potential changes. These will be more of an informational session and not an official Public meeting to present changes. When they are ready for Public informational meetings and input, the Planning Board will hold a Public Informational meeting. The following are topics of potential updates: Lot Frontage, Billboards, Battery Energy Storage Systems, Commercial Building Sizes, Short Term Rentals, Cannabis, Solar Permit Approvals, General Esthetics, Tiny Homes, Assistant Zoning enforcement Officer, Ground Water Overlay Zones, maximum Setbacks in C Zone, Manufactured Home Code Compliance, Camper, Camper Deck and Campsite Setbacks, Special Use Permit Hearings.

 

CALL TO ORDER:

Deputy Supervisor Spellicy called the meeting to order at 7:06 pm. Followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

NOCCOG: John Healt

The New York Planning Federation held a zoom webinar on 8-5-25 for Town Clerks and their relationship with Planning Boards and ZBA. Cornell Local Roads Program continues their no cost Summer Foundational Webinar Series. NYS Association of Town Clerk’s is having a webinar 8-7-25 on the Judicial Privacy Act. New York State Association of Town Superintendents of Highways will present the 96^th Annual Conference Navigating the Rapids. There is a Disaster Supplemental Grant Program available with the US Economic Development Administration.

The NYS Town Clerks Association will present on 8/26/25 Hot Topics in Real Property Tax Collection.

 

COUNTY LEGISLATURE: Norman Leach

The Oriskany High School Baseball Team celebrated their first ever State Championship. Accepted eleven bids on properties that was selling at tax auction, the Supreme Court made a ruling that any monies that the County gets above the owed amount has to go back to the owners. Approved a contract with CNS Engineering.

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

A motion was made by Councilman Lamb and seconded by Councilman Smith to approve the July 2, 2025 Town Board Minutes.

Voting Record: Motion Carried

Councilwoman Mary Beth McEwen Aye

Councilman Darrin Smith Aye

Councilman Jason Lamb Aye

Deputy Supervisor Jason Spellicy Aye

 

A motion was made by Councilman Lamb and seconded by Councilwoman McEwen to approve the July 23, 2025 Town Board Minutes.

Voting Record: Motion Carried

Councilwoman Mary Beth McEwen Aye

Councilman Darrin Smith Aye

Councilman Jason Lamb Aye

Deputy Supervisor Jason Spellicy Aye

 

AUDITED VOUCHERS:

A motion was made by Councilman Smith and seconded by Councilman Lamb to approve Abstract 08 of 2025 vouchers to be paid in the amount of $607,695.56

Voting Record: Motion Carried

Councilwoman Mary Beth McEwen Aye

Councilman Darrin Smith Aye

Councilman Jason Lamb Aye

Deputy Supervisor Jason Spellicy Aye

 

SUPERVISOR'S REPORT:

Supervisor's Report is filed in the Town Clerk's office and will be posted on the Web Site.

 

TOWN CLERK'S REPORT:

Town Clerk read her report. Monies received for the month totaled $11,386.30. No Applications have come in for the Planning Board open chair.

 

A motion was made by Deputy Supervisor Spellicy and seconded by Councilman Lamb to approve the Town Clerk report.

Voting Record: Motion Carried

Councilwoman Mary Beth McEwen Aye

Councilman Darrin Smith Aye

Councilman Jason Lamb Aye

Deputy Supervisor Jason Spellicy Aye

 

ASSESSOR’S REPORT:

Assessor’s Report is filed in the Clerk’s office and will be posted on the Web Site.

 

CODE’S REPORT:

Codes Reports have been turned in for May, June and July and are filed in the Clerk’s office and will be posted on Web Site.

 

HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT: Superintendent Clayton Conover

Finished up paving. Finally heard back from the State regarding the yield sign at the Dollar General, they are keeping an eye on the yield and they had received complaints on the Stop Sign. Helmer’s Tree Service will start taking down trees next Tuesday. The mowing tractor kicked up a stone and chipped the paint and made a ding in the molding on a car. They submitted a bill for $1164.88. Did not submit more than one quote. Gates and Cole suggested to pay out of pocket because of the low cost rather than submitting an insurance claim. After a discussion, the Board agreed to have more than one quote. Jason Spellicy will call the owner and request another quote before paying the bill.

 

COUNCIL REPORTS:

Councilman Smith:

Attended the ZBA meeting on July 21 for a subdivision. He has been unable to attend Planning Board meetings because of golf and asked if anyone else could attend the next meeting. Old Homes Days went well, the fireworks were great and the blood drive at the Town Hall had 15 doners.

 

Councilman Lamb:

An informational meeting about Sea Lamprey will be held at the Camden Highschool next Wednesday, August 13^th from 6-8. Dr. Carrie Ann talked about the ad in the Queen Central and the meeting will be a question-and-answer meeting. She is also scheduled to present any information that she has gathered. There will be Elected Officials or a representative, at the meeting. EPA does not have control over private wells only Public. At the State level, Joseph Griffo would be in charge of private wells and Elise Stefanik would be in charge of Public Water. There is currently not a test for the chemical limits they are using in the water. She would like to see the barrier in McConnellsville get fixed and not have to use any chemical.

 

A motion was made by Councilman Smith to sign the letter from the Town for the Sea Lamprey and seconded by Councilman Lamb.

Voting Record: Motion Carried

Councilwoman Mary Beth McEwen Aye

Councilman Darrin Smith Aye

Councilman Jason Lamb Aye

Deputy Supervisor Jason Spellicy Aye

 

Deputy Supervisor Spellicy:

OCWA sent a new lease agreement in February to be signed. After the Town Attorney looked over the previous contract, which was good for 40 years, the Town is not signing the new contract because it talks about replacing lead pipes and as it stands, OCWA would be responsible for replacing the pipes, the new contract would hold the Town responsible for replacing the pipes and the cost.

 

Vienna Water District is still moving along. The CDBG paperwork is all turned in, the EFC needed multiple papers yet, so we asked for an extension, Doug Goodfriend and BCA is helping with the paperwork.

 

Solar Project on Rt. 49 plans have been submitted and the assessment has been completed.

 

We have recently had a new sewer hook up and possibly one more, we will need to order more grinder pumps. Since this district is paid off, we will be looking at possibly having the residents be 100 % responsible for the costs of new grinder pumps for next year. The Town Clerk created an inventory spreadsheet to be put in place to keep track of grinder pumps and equipment coming in and going out.

 

TextMyGov is another way of communicating to residents for basic information or emergencies. Residents would be able to ask questions and AI would generate answers. Other Towns are currently using and like it. We will get a cost by next month to see if we would be interested.

 

Oswego Road Bridge over Fish Creek work is on time and with in Budget as of today.

 

.GOV changes need to be made or the Town can be fined. Roy Reehil is able to help us make that change.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

Handbook: Still waiting on a quote from the company from Syracuse.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

Resolution 31 Record of Activity:

There was a mistake on the Affidavit of posting with an end term date of 2024 and not 2025 and the New York Retirement System is requiring a new Resolution and a new Affidavit of Posting. They will not allow us to resubmit a correction of the affidavit of posting.

 

50 Forward qualifications of a Resident:

The Town Clerk has had different scenarios of who qualifies for the residency for 50 Forward. Renters who are only here in the summer, family members of a resident of the Beach, People who live in other States, but own property here in Vienna. There needs to be a set of Residency Rules put on the 50 Forward Residency Certificate that qualifies to get them the $35 member fee waved. After lots of discussion on who qualifies, the Board came to an agreement to put the qualifying residency rules for voters on the form and if the person can answer yes to the rule, then they sign the form saying they are a resident.

Jack Cook BAR Resignation: Jack Cook turned in his resignation letter to the Board. Deputy Supervisor Spellicy and Councilman Lamb thanked Jack for his service along with his Wife Patty. They both served the Town for a long time.

 

RESOLUTION # 31 of 2025

STANDARD WORKDAY AND REPORTING RESOLUTION

 

 

Elected Officials
Town Clerk/ Tax Collector	Carol Huber	6	01/01/2024 - 12/31/2025	N	23.64
Councilman	Jason C Lamb	6	01/01/2024 - 12/31/2027	N	2.93
Town Justice	Terry L Coady	6	01/01/2022 - 12/31/2025	N	4.53
Highway Superintendent	Clayton Conover Jr.	8	01/01/2024 - 12/31/2025	N	25.13
Councilman	Darrin Smith	6	01/01/2023-12/31/2025	N	1.53
Appointed Officials
Bookkeeper	Benedict Gasser III	6	01/01/2025 - 12/31/2025	N	12.22
Animal Control Officer	Clayton Conover III	6	01/01/2025 - 12/31/2025	N	2.44
Assessor	Phillip Amway	6	07/03/2023 – 09/30/25	N	23.56

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town of Vienna hereby establishes the following as standard work days for elected and appointed officials and will report the following days worked to the New York State and Local Employees’ Retirement System based on the record of activities maintained and submitted by these officials to the clerk of this body.

Dated: August 6, 2025

Motion made by: Councilman Lamb

Motion seconded by: Councilman Smtih

VOTING RECORD:

Deputy Supervisor Jason Spellicy AYE

Councilman Jason C. Lamb AYE

Councilman Darrin Smith AYE

Councilwoman Mary Beth McEwen AYE ­­­­­­­

 

IN TESTIMONY HEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Town of Vienna.

(SEAL)

Carol L Huber

Carol Huber

Town Clerk

 

PUBLIC CONCERNS/COMMENTS:

Steve Carpenter- Thanked Jack for his service. There is a golden opportunity for the Town of Vienna with 2 buildings being up for sale that could be community centers for our seniors and our youth.

 

Deputy Supervisor Spellicy explained that the school that is for sale is too large for the Town Hall, but the Church that is for sale would make a great place for a community center. The question is how to raise the money, we can’t accept donations, but we can work with someone who can. We are more than willing to put energy into a good cause. Councilman Smith said we will be brainstorming on this.

 

Mike Congden- What is happening with Old Preston Hill Rd?

Answer- No decision has been made yet. Will keep emailing for more information.

 

Billy Shaughnessy-gave a small speech with analogy of the game of monopoly and paying taxes. Then thanked the Board for the support they have given for Old Homes Days. He dedicated the Fireworks display to the Matt Spellicy & Family after the tragic accident that happened.

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION:

Not Entered

 

ADJOURNMENT:

Councilman Lamb made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:37 pm and Councilman Smith seconded and all were in favor.

 

Respectfully,

Carol L Huber

Carol L Huber

Town Clerk