Village Notes 2025-09-08
Do Outs
Village Manager to provide the Board with contracts for environmental and Phase One work on the Emergency Services Complex.
Village Manager to provide the Board with details of any grant proposals being developed for the Emergency Services Complex.
Village Manager to provide the Board with copies of all letters of interest submitted to the serve on the Public Safety Building Committee.
Village Manager and Trustee Brunette to compile feedback to the draft Capital Improvement Plan and schedule the next review session.
Board Actions
BILL 122 (Passed 5–0): Code Enforcement Officer Training
Approved overnight travel and training for the Code Enforcement Officer to complete a required state certification.
BILL 123 (Passed 5-0): Public Safety Building Committee Appointments
Approved reappointing six current members and adding five new ones—including three Town Supervisors and two local engineers—to the Public Safety Building Committee. Trustee Brunette requested to join the committee, citing the project’s unprecedented cost and long-term impact on taxpayers. That amendment failed with only Trustees Brunette and White supporting it.
BILL 124 (Passed 5–0): Apply for State CDBG Grant on Behalf of Adult Center
Authorized submitting an application for up to $1 million to help renovate the Saranac Lake Adult Center.
BILL 125 (Passed 5–0): Schedule Public Hearing on Adult Center Grant
Set a hearing for Monday, September 22 at 5:00 PM to gather resident input on the grant application before submission.
BILL 119 (Failed 3–2): Safeguarding Residents & Financial Resources
Mayor Williams, Trustees Ryan and Scollin opposed; Trustees Brunette and White in favor
Trustee White introduced this resolution to prohibit Village police from using local resources for federal immigration enforcement—so residents could trust that calling the police means protection, not fear. Trustees White and Brunette backed it as a clear stand for fairness, safety, and community trust.
Opponents—Mayor Williams and Trustees Ryan and Scollin—argued the Village must “follow federal law,” rejecting the resolution despite its alignment with constitutional protections and current practice.
BILL 126 (Passed 3–2): Alternative “Safeguarding” Resolution
Trustees Brunette, Ryan, and Scollin in favor; Trustee White and Mayor Williams opposed
Trustee Scollin introduced an alternative to Bill 119 that simply reaffirmed the Village Police Department’s existing policies—without adding new commitments. Trustee White offered six amendments to strengthen the measure; only one was adopted, leaving the resolution largely unchanged.
BILL 127 (Passed 5–0): Require Tax Impact Analysis for Public Safety Building
A key vote of the evening. Introduced by Trustee Brunette, this requires the Village to hire an independent municipal finance expert to calculate the tax impact of the proposed Emergency Services Facility. The analysis will estimate costs under different scenarios (grant awards, interest rates, debt terms) and project the effect on homeowners’ tax bills. Results must be made public before further commitments are made.
BILL 128 (Passed 5–0): Amend Community Enhancement Fund
Updated the structure of the fund, which provides resources for small community projects and programs. The Village Manager will oversee approvals and funding.
BILL 129 (Passed 5–0): Apply for Smart Growth Grant – Lake Colby Beach
Authorized staff to apply for up to $125,000 for planning and design work on Lake Colby Beach upgrades, including accessibility improvements and a modernized bathhouse.
BILL 130 (Passed 5–0): Support Pisgah Trails Grant Application
Endorsed the Town of St. Armand’s application for a $165,000 grant to expand Pisgah’s trail system. The Village pledged a $10,000 contribution if the grant is awarded.
BILL 131 (Failed 3–2): Amend Emergency Services Facility Committee Resolution
Mayor Williams, Trustees Ryan and Scollin opposed; Trustees Brunette and White in favor
Proposed amendments would have clarified the committee’s structure—defining membership, terms, and responsibilities—to strengthen oversight of the Emergency Services Facility project.
Old Business
Public Safety Building Update
Trustee White raised concerns that revised floor plans for the Emergency Services Facility were submitted to a state agency for review, yet repeatedly withheld from the Board and public.
Franklin County Occupancy Tax (Resolution 116)
Trustee White stressed the importance of these funds to be used to offset local taxpayer costs for tourism-related services.
Police Station Accessibility Ramp
Trustee White reported progress on the long-overdue ADA ramp at the Village Police Station.
Community Development Updates
Trustee White requested a full report of ongoing grants and project timelines to ensure trustees are kept informed and residents can track progress.
New Business
Access to Meeting Records
Trustees discussed making past meeting videos and minutes more easily accessible online. Village staff recently removed meeting videos.
Public Comment
Residents spoke strongly in favor of:
Bill 119 – urging the Village to adopt stronger protections for immigrant residents and build trust with local police.
Bill 127 – supporting an independent tax analysis of the Emergency Services Facility to understand the financial impact on homeowners.
Executive Session
The Board entered into executive session to discuss a proposed lease of property.
Your voice matters. The decisions being made now will shape both taxes and community trust for years to come.
