DPW - COMMITTEE

Monday, March 17, 2025 - 9:30 AM

Matthew Brassard, Chairperson

Clayton Barber, Vice-Chairperson

Chairman Brassard called this DPW Meeting to order at 9:30 am with the following Supervisors in attendance: Clayton Barber, Matthew Brassard, Chris Clark, Robin DeLoria, Derek Doty, Shaun Gillilland, Ken Hughes, Steve McNally, James Monty, Cathleen Reusser, Favor Smith, Matt Stanley, Davina Thurston, Ike Tyler, Joe Pete Wilson, Margaret Wood and Mark Wright. Charlie Harrington was absent.

Department Heads present: Doreen Abrahamsen, Jim Dougan, Judy Garrison and Michael Mascarenas.

Also present: William Tansey, Alice Halloran and Roy Holzer.

News media: None present.

BRASSARD: I call the DPW meeting to order. We will stand and salute the flag.

DELORIA: Mr. Chairman, would you indicate that I relinquished my role to you? My name is still on the agenda.

BRASSARD: Yes, Judy said she made a mistake and will have it corrected for the next meeting. First off I want to thank the Chairman for giving me this opportunity. I know I am I guess you could say a sophomore here but I’ll do the best I can and again, I thank you for the confidence you have bestowed in me.

GILLILLAND: You broke more stuff here than anybody else did so. (laughter)

BRASSARD: Alright we’ll start with Mr. Dougan. Do you want to start with resolutions?

DOUGAN: Sure. Good morning everyone. I have a number of resolutions this morning hopefully they are fairly straight forward. My first one is on a Federal aid funded project, Town of Ticonderoga. This is really housekeeping. The final bids that came in were a little bit over what the budget was. DOT told us that would get us a state agreement, master agreement for that additional but it took for the construction was almost done for them to do that so this is just us cleaning that up. A resolution authorizing the implementation and funding in the first instance 100% of a Federal-Aid and State “marchiselli” program-aid eligible costs and appropriating funds therefore. Basically what this does is that it adds $208,000 in federal funding, $39,000 in state funding and $13,000 local match to close that project out.

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE IMPLEMENTATIONI AND FUNDING IN THE FIRST INSTANCE 100% OF THE FEDERAL-AID AND STATE “MARCHISELLI” PROGRAM-AID ELIGIBE COSTS OF A TRANSPORTATION FEDERAL-AID PROJECT AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFORE. Wright, Clark

BRASSARD: Discussion?

MASCARENAS: Just a question. Jim, can you explain how reimbursement works on those federal aid projects? Does it come at the end? With the federal freezes just so the board understands.

DOUGAN: It typically comes throughout but it’s slow. We submit monthly, bi-monthly once we move to construction especially we submit monthly copies of the pay applications certified by our consultant, certified by DOT and by us and then it goes off to the state who then – the state has already received the federal money it is sitting in their coffers. Once we receive federal authorization to go out, to move forward with construction it will already be sitting in their coffers and then the state refunds us. This particular project they paid about 1/3 of construction costs thus far so we are a number of months behind. Federal funds have already gone to the state once we receive federal authorization. Does that answer your question?

MASCARENAS: Yes I appreciate it.

BRASSARD: Any other discussion? Being none, all in favor, opposed – carried.

DOUGAN: The next resolution is a deduct change order with ING Civil. This is for the Ensign Pond Road over the Mill Brook project we finished that we finished at the end of last year. That was bid as a unit priced contract so many square yards of asphalt, so many cubic yards of unclassified excavation, so many cubic yards of concrete those kinds of things so at the end of the project we actually used less units of some of those different things than were originally bid so it’s a credit change order of $41,282.50. This was a Culvert NY funded project so we need to officially do a resolution to deduct that amount.

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY CHAIRMAN OR COUNTY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT AMENDMENT WITH ING CIVIL TO DEDUCT A CHANGE ORDER IN THE AMOUNT OF ($41,282.50) FOR THE ENSIGN POND ROAD OVER MILL BROOK CULVERT REPLACEMENT PROJECT LOCATED IN THE TOWN OF MORIAH. Clark, Stanley

BRASSARD: Any other discussion? Being none, all in favor, opposed – carried.

DOUGAN: Number three is a budget amendment. This is us continuing to move forward some money that was set aside back in 2016 or ’17 for LED light fixtures. We have been buying LED light fixtures when every time an old fluorescent needs to be changed out we change out the whole fixture instead of changing out bulbs so this would be moving $65,600.91 forward into the 2025 budget that’s how much was remaining from last year. We actually spent about $35,000 last year but we got $26,000 back in a rebate from NYSEG.

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A BUDGET AMENDMENT IN THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS INCREASING REVENUES AND APPROPRIATIONS IN THE AMOUNT OF $65,600.91, 2024 CARRYOVER FUNDS LED LIGHTING FIXTURES. Barber, Stanley

BRASSARD: Any other discussion? Being none, all in favor, opposed – carried.

DOUGAN: Number four is requesting a contract amendment with Atlantic Testing in the amount of $5,659.00. This is for an asbestos survey at the former probation building. We started doing demolition of the non-structural walls but before we go any further we need to verify if there is any asbestos contained throughout the building.

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY CHAIRMAN OR COUNTY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A BUDGET AMENDMENT WITH ATLANTIC TESTING LABORATORIES IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,659.00, TO PERFORM AN ASBESTOS SURVEY FOR THE FORMER PROBATION BUILDING WITH FUNDS TO COME FROM BUDGETED FUNDS. Clark, DeLoria

BRASSARD: Discussion?

REUSSER: Lead?

DOUGAN: Yup they will be doing both. Yes, I’m sorry I should have noted that.

BRASSARD: Any further discussion? Being none, all in favor, opposed – carried.

DOUGAN: The next I am requesting a contract amendment with H&T Engineering. It’s in the amount of $37,000. This is for the culvert on Lincoln Pond Road just as you’re starting to go back up Lincoln Pond from 9 & 22 here the spot that washed out twice this past July. FEMA will pay for the road repairs that we had to do even though, really the ultimate reason for those road repairs was the failure of that culvert but because that culvert itself did not get totally washed out they won’t, FEMA won’t pay for it but I would like to start the preliminary engineering on it. Hopefully, maybe go after some hazard mitigation money in the future or go after a culvert NY project in the future with the pictures I have of the damage so $37,000 this is just a first phase it will be our preliminary design, soil borings and permitting so that we are ready to go in the future.

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY CHAIRMAN OR COUNTY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT AMENDMENT WITH H&T ENGINEERING, PLLC IN THE AMOUNT OF $37,000.00, FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES TO INCLUDE PRELIMINARY DESIGN, SOIL BORINGS AND PERMITTING FOR THE LINCOLN POND ROAD OVER AN UNNAMED TRIBUTARY TO THE BOQUET RIVER CULVERT REPLACEMENT PROJECT LOCATED IN THE TOWN OF ELIZABETHTOWN. Wright, Barber

BRASSARD: Discussion?

DOTY: Jim who do you use for soil borings?

DOUGAN: Atlantic Testing is under contract for geotechnical work along with a separate contract for that asbestos survey.

DOTY: Oh, so it’s not boring under a road for line?

DOUGAN: No this is just geotechnical work. Soil boring is to get our soil capacity so we know what we have to put in for a foundation system.

DOTY: Okay thank you.

BRASSARD: Any further discussion?

THURSTON: Is this a case where the culvert maybe undersized?

DOUGAN: Most likely it’s undersized and I’m sure it will be undersized as compared to what DEC regulations are.

THURSTON: So the engineering would pan that out?

DOUGAN: Yes.

THURSTON: Okay thank you.

BRASSARD: Any further discussion? All in favor, opposed – carried.

DOUGAN: Number six again is a contract amendment with Schindler Elevator Corporation is who is on contract with us to test our elevators a couple times a year and also to make any repairs. During the large snow event and wind event in February some of the flashing at the top of the elevator shaft was blown off, wind pushed snow and water down into that causing a bunch of damage to the electronics so it totaled up $9,236.34 which we will also be submitting to the insurance company so this would cover that contract amendment.

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY CHAIRMAN OR COUNTY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT AMENDMENT WITH SCHINDLER ELEVATOR CORPORATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $9,236.34 FOR REPAIRS TO THE MAIN COMPLEX ELEVATOR WITH FUNDS TO COME FROM INSURANCE RECOVERIES. Clark, Wood

BRASSARD: Discussion? Being none, all in favor, opposed – carried.

DOUGAN: Number seven is starting the design for the replacement of the transfer switch up at the public safety building. If you’ve been in the facilities committee meetings we’ve described some of what we’ve found on how complicated that transfer switch scheme is. How is uses two different ULC’s computers to do it and so we’re going to start the design of that. We moved some money last month from the capital reserve for buildings into an account so this would be a contract amendment with AES Northeast they are currently under contract as our MEP firm and we are going to start that design this year and try to get a good budget and a good schematic by the time budget season gets here in September.

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY CHAIRMAN OR COUNTY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT AMENDMENT WITH AES NORTHEAST PLLC, IN THE AMOUNT OF $15,000.00 FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES TO INCLUDE PRELIMINARY DESIGN OF A REPLACEMENT ELECTRICAL TRANSFER SWITCH FOR THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING WITH FUNDS TO COME FROM BUDGETED FUNDS. DeLoria, Stanley

BRASSARD: Discussion?

REUSSER: Just a quick question, did you say your MEQ?

DOUGAN: MEP, mechanical electrical and plumbing engineer firm.

CLARK: Does this switch take into consideration National Grid or NYSEG electrical problem from the aging building or is this just the switch?

DOUGAN: This is just the transfer switch to go to the generator. Now, the answer to your question is yes, the power coming in from NYSEG is such a soft source which we discussed a little bit that way in which that transfer switch reads the power because it’s a soft source and because it’s too computerized I guess it’s just not an on or off situation that switch at times either doesn’t want to transfer to turn the generator on or doesn’t want to transfer to turn it back off because it is seeing the power, once the generator is on for example, it finds that the power on the generator is a more consistent, more stable power than we are actually getting from NYSEG.

CLARK: You had explained that to me.

DOUGAN: So, yes and no. It’s not going to fix the issue with NYSEG but it’s going to make our generator be more reliable. It’s either going to read the power really fast it’s going to turn the generator on and the generator isn’t going to switch back off until the power is truly good. We may end up running the generator more often when we deal with NYSEG anyway.

CLARK: Thank you.

BRASSARD: Any further discussion? Being none, all in favor – opposed, carried.

DOUGAN: Number eight, is regarding the July storms. This one is the Debbie storm that was a little bit later in July up in St. Armand. We had Luck Brothers come up and install some H piling to try to determine what our soil conditions are so this is a contract amendment with Luck Brothers. It’s in the amount of $11,512.99 for those H piles on County Route 18, funds to come from budgeted/FEMA funds.

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY CHAIRMAN OR COUNTY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT AMENDMENT WITH LUCK BROTHERS, INC. IN THE AMOUNT OF $11,512.99, FOR SOIL INVESTIGATION AND THE INSTALL OF TEMPORARY H PILES FOR COUNTY ROUTE 18 OVER AN UNNAMED TRIBUTARY TO THE FRANKLIN FALLS FLOW CULVERT REPLACEMENT PROJECT LOCATED IN THE TOWN OF ST. ARMAND WITH FUNDS TO COME FROM BUDGETED/FEMA FUNDS. Thurston, Barber

BRASSARD: Discussion?

THURSTON: When is this scheduled to be repaired?

DOUGAN: We’ve got some preliminary design done on it. We were halted at the end of last year in about December by DEC wanting a TRP so we have a TRP submission in there for removal of any trees and work in the water so I can’t give you a great answer on where we stand with DEC. I’m trying to get that permit back. I may get you involved.

THURSTON: But I’m not clear because it is very bad. I was actually going to speak to you about this today, Doug is very concerned there’s going to be a collapse in that area and they would have to close that road so it’s high priority.

DOUGAN: Yes. I understand.

BRASSARD: Any other discussion? All in favor, opposed – carried.

DOUGAN: Number nine would be setting the dates and the locations for the household hazardous waste day events for 2025. Same four locations that we’ve done in the past. Our vendor, MXI who is under contract to handle these, does household hazardous waste for us has given those four dates if that works.

RESOLUTION SETTING THE DATES AND LOCATIONS OF THE HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE DAY EVENTS FOR 2025. Wright, Clark

BRASSARD: Discussion?

DELORIA: You’ll have a flyer to send out to the communities?

DOUGAN: Yup.

BRASSARD: Any further discussion? All in favor, opposed – carried.

THURSTON: Just one addition to that, can you make sure the flyer is in a JPG format?

DOUGAN: Yes.

THURSTON: Thank you.

DOUGAN: Number ten, I’m requesting authorization for the purchasing agent to go out to bid for the Hurricane Road over Spruce Hill Brook culvert replacement project that’s located in the Town of Keene. We are going to put out two different bids. Our first bid is going to be for the precast concrete superstructure because it is a long lead time item and the second will be for the general construction.

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASING AGENT TO GO OUT TO BID THE HURRICANE ROAD OVER SPRUCE HILL BROOK CULVERT REPLACEMENT PROJECT. Stanley, Barber

BRASSARD: Discussion? No discussion, all in favor, opposed – carried.

DOUGAN: My last request today is a contract amendment with JFP it’s in the amount of $16,958.00, that’s to furnish and install a new acoustical ceiling up in the Real Property Office. One of the budgeted projects this year was to put mini split heating and air conditioning units up there in Real Property rather than continuing to utilize the window AC units there part of doing that we felt that it would be good if we could lower that ceiling it’s about ten foot high to eight foot high so we are not trying to condition such a large space it will also give us a little bit of room for a minor amount of duct work above the ceiling.

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY CHAIRMAN OR COUNTY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT AMENDMENT WITH JFP ENTERPRISES IN THE AMOUNT OF $16,958.00 TO FURNISH AND INSTALL A NEW ACOUSTICAL CEILING GRID AND TILE IN THE REAL PROPERTY OFFICE WITH FUNDS TO COME FROM BUDGETED FUNDS. Clark, DeLoria

BRASSARD: Discussion?

REUSSER: Any benefits from NYSERTA?

DOUGAN: I don’t know.

REUSSER: Rebates?

DOUGAN: I have not gone down that path thank you for reminding me.

REUSSER: On the residential level there are.

DOUGAN: There are, yes. We purchased a number of mini splits this year. I’ll have to look into that. Thank you.

BRASSARD: Any further discussion?

THURSTON: Are you finding that the output is enough when the temperature drops substantially?

DOUGAN: Yes, we’ve when it comes to heat those mini splits, we’ve been using them more as backup for example, the addition built up to DPW a couple years ago we put those in with heat backup but they are primary for air conditioning so we built that structure with all radiant floor heat so we can keep it at a low temperature 62, 63 degrees and then with the mini split unit if we need a little bit warmer it just comes on, it gives you control in small areas. That’s the same way that we’re building the new building over at the Fairgrounds, the Ag and Youth Center is going to be radiant heat in the floors so it’s really efficient and then we are going to have mini splits with heating so a little bit more individual control that way hopefully we can just keep the temperature in the building nice and low 60 degrees, 62 degrees something like that with the radiant and when people come in and out we can raise it up with the mini split unit.

REUSSER: With the radiant is that electric or water?

DOUGAN: The radiant is propane.

REUSSER: Heated water

DOUGAN: It’s heated water, it’s a hydronic system that is in the concrete or in the floor. So you’re really heating up everything. Keep in mind that building is also being built, we are moving to the fairgrounds now, the building is also being built with ICF insulated concrete forms all the way from ground level all the way to where the tresses sit so it’s an R50 insulation.

REUSSER: That’s good to hear.

MASCARENAS: That’s good. The only thing I would add to what Jim said is the mini splits are also more about O&M long term. Currently there have been a lot of inconsistencies in our buildings. We have a lot of heating and cooling issues based upon a moment in time when people decided to split up rooms a certain way. These mini split units we can service them ourselves. We can replace them ourselves so we are not over reliant on a contractor coming in and doing that work so it’s a little bit of money up front for a long term solution that will provide us some savings on the back end and a little more individual control over what people have preferences over in terms of heating and cooling.

BRASSARD: Further discussion?

REUSSER: Are you finding Fujitsu’s work nicely for you?

DOUGAN: We have to bid everything. Fujitsus work well. There’s three or four different brands. We do have some efficiency ratings when we put them out to bid, there are cheaper models out there but they aren’t giving you 95%, 90% efficiency rating they are lower than that so we have to be pretty specific when we put them out to bid.

REUSSER: Good to hear.

BRASSARD: Any other discussion? All in favor, opposed – carried. Any further questions for Mr. Dougan? Thank you Jim. Soil and Water, Alice.

HALLORAN: I’m sure you’ve all been wondering what the news that Mr. Tyler brought up in January was and it’s congratulations to the Ben Weaver Farm for receiving the Hugh Hammond Bennett National Producers Award. That’s a nationwide award given at all the states by the National Association of Conservation Districts for a farm that shows great conservation stewardship. So pretty exciting that somebody from our area got that nationwide award.

In other news our tree sale has closed. There are a few extra trees that will be available on April 17, 9-6 at the fairgrounds.

Reminder that our four hour course for free for town employees. We have a couple more dates this spring on that and other than that, business as usual.

BRASSARD: Any questions for Alice?

STANLEY: Have we done a resolution of congratulations to the Ben Weaver Farm for that?

HALLORAN: Not that I know of.

MASCARENAS: I don’t believe so.

STANLEY: I would like to make that motion please.

RESOLUTION OF CONGRATULATIONS TO THE BEN WEAVER FARM FOR RECEIVING THE 2024 HUGH HAMMOND BENNETT NATIONAL PRODUCERS AWARD. Stanley, Barber

BRASSARD: Anything else for Alice? Thank you. Doreen.

ABRAHAMSEN: Good morning everyone. Happy St. Patrick’s Day. You have my February statistical report. If anybody has any questions? And I do have two resolutions today, one is purchase a 1 Lot G bus off state contract with unspent capital funds that were awarded in 2023 and the amount is $136,751.50 and also to increase the expenses and appropriations to do so.

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASING AGENT TO PURCHASE A 1 LOT G BUS FROM STATE CONTRACT IN THE AMOUNT OF $136,751.50, IN THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT UNEXPENDED 2023 CAPITAL FUNDS AND FURTHER AUTHORIZING A BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR THE SAME. Clark, Stanley

BRASSARD: Discussion?

DELORIA: Is this fifteen passenger?

ABRAHAMSEN: No, it’s closer to a twenty.

DELORIA: Does that require a special driver’s license for that?

ABRAHAMSEN: Class B with a passenger endorsement, yes.

DELORIA: We have people that can do that?

ABRAHAMSEN: Absolutely this is our standard, we get Lot G’s as our standard bus and the Lot K is a little bit larger we do get those for big things like the ski shuttles.

DELORIA: Do we have any that require just a Class 5 license?

ABRAHAMSEN: We do not. The DEC buses or any bus if you can guarantee that you don’t have more than seven people including yourself on the bus which we can’t guarantee that then a driver can drive it like our mechanics and stuff like that if you don’t have passengers.

STANLEY: Is this vehicle replacing another one?

ABRAHAMSEN: Yes it is. We have several. I came before you a couple months ago to approve my application which is six new buses and those will be replaced. We are trying to upgrade. We are spending a lot of money on repairs and this will be to replace one of our older buses first, yes.

STANLEY: Perfect, thank you.

DOTY: Doreen, how long do you have to wait for this G Bus?

ABRAHAMSEN: About a year that’s why they allowed me to scrape together a couple of pins that I had left to get one on order now because they haven’t even approved that application so you’re looking at the six that I am requesting, those won’t be able to be ordered until at least the fall. They take about a year to build.

DOTY: How is financing on that? Do you have to pay for that while you’re waiting for it?

ABRAHAMSEN: We pay for it when it’s delivered and that’s an 80-10-10 so it’s 80% Federal, 10% state and I’m going to be using the state’s ATC the accelerated monies for capital so it won’t cost the county anything for these particular buses.

DOTY: Good. Thank you.

BRASSARD: Any further discussion? All in favor, opposed – carried.

ABRAHAMSEN: My second resolution is to increase expenses and appropriations to accept insurance payments to complete repairs on a bus and would like to, I’m not sure if I can do this I’m new but we just had a supplement come in for a little bit additional on what it is going to cost and I’d like to add that in and change the number. Is that okay?

MASCARENAS: Yes, absolutely just get it to Judy the right way and we’ll have it fixed for ways and means.

ABRAHAMSEN: So including the supplement which included some additional parts that were needed the total is in the amount of $3,713.84.

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A BUDGET AMENDMENT IN THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT INCREASING REVENUES AND APPROPRIATIONS IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,713.84, INSURANCE RECOVERY BUS #33. Wright, Barber

BRASSARD: Discussion? No discussion. All in favor, opposed – carried.

WRIGHT: Doreen, from the Town of Ticonderoga I’d like to thank you for working with us on the loaner of the bus for our senior bus program.

ABRAHAMSEN: I’m glad we could help.

WRIGHT: And for getting our clunker fixed. Ticonderoga we are waiting for the next calamity so I appreciate that. It’s a lemon.

TYLER: I’m not on the committee but I just want to say, I really appreciate you getting back to me in a timely fashion, quick on an issue we had in Westport, resolving an issue with a bus stop there and I really appreciate that. Thank you.

ABRAHAMSEN: You’re welcome.

BRASSARD: Anything else for Doreen? Okay, thank you. Anything else to come before the DPW committee? If not, we are adjourned.

As there was no further discussion to come before this DPW committee it was adjourned at 9:58 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Judith Garrison, Clerk

Board of Supervisors