REGULAR BOARD MEETING

Monday, March 2, 2026 @ 10:00 a.m.

Stephen McNally, Chairperson

Matthew Brassard, Vice-Chairperson

Chairman McNally called this Regular Board meeting to order at 10:00 am with the following Supervisors in attendance: Clayton Barber, Matthew Brassard, Chris Clark, Timothy Follos, Kenneth Hughes, Mary Lamphear, Tracie McGill, Steve McNally, Clayton Menser, James O’Bryan, Timothy Pierce, Richard Preston, Cathleen Reusser, Matthew Stanley, Davina Thurston, and Meg Wood. Michael Tyler and Joe Pete Wilson were excused.

Department Heads present: Laura Carson, Michael Diskin, James Dougan, Judy Garrison, Roy Holzer, Mary McGowan, Dan Manning, Mike Mascarenas, David Reynolds and Heather Sheehan.

Also present: William Tansey.

MCNALLY: I call the regular board meeting to order. Stand to salute the flag. Roll call please. (Ms. McGill was absent for the roll, arriving at 10:15 a.m.) Thank you. We have no guests this morning so we can move to resolutions please.

RESOLUTION #36 – ACCEPTING, ADOPTING AND PLACING ON FILE POLICIES, PLANS, PROCEDURES AND ANNUAL REPORTS.

This resolution was moved by Mr. Hughes, seconded by Mr. Barber, and duly adopted.

RESOLUTION #37 – AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASING AGENT TO AWARD BIDS, ISSUE CONTRACTS/AGREEMENTS OR PURCHASE ORDERS.

This resolution was moved by Ms. Reusser, seconded by Mr. Brassard and adopted upon a roll-call vote as follows:

AYES: 2498 votes

NOES: 0 votes

ABSENT: 355 votes (Wilson, McGill, Tyler)

RESOLUTION #38 – AUTHORIZING BUDGET AMENDMENTS FOR VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS.

This resolution was moved by Mr. Stanley, seconded by Mr. Barber and adopted upon a roll-call vote as follows:

AYES: 2498 votes

NOES: 0 votes

ABSENT: 355 votes (Wilson, McGill, Tyler)

RESOLUTION #39 – AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY SERVICES TO EXECUTE AGREEMENTS WITH AGENCIES FOR THE TEMPORARY LOAN OF COUNTY AMBULANCES TO BE USED WHEN THEIR AMBULANCE IS UNAVAILABLE OR OUT OF SERVICE.

This resolution was moved by Mr. Stanley, seconded by Mr. Preston and adopted upon a roll-call vote as follows:

AYES: 2498 votes

NOES: 0 votes

ABSENT: 355 votes (Wilson, McGill, Tyler)

RESOLUTION #40 – AUTHORIZING VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS TO APPLY FOR AND ACCEPT GRANTS.

This resolution was moved by Mr. Barber, seconded by Mr. Clark and adopted upon a roll-call vote as follows:

AYES: 2498 votes

NOES: 0 votes

ABSENT: 355 votes (Wilson, McGill, Tyler)

RESOLUTION #41 – AUTHORIZING THE ADDITION OF SIX PARCELS IN THE TOWNS OF LEWIS, ELIZABETHTOWN, WILMINGTON AND ESSEX TO THE ESSEX COUNTY AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT.

This resolution was moved by Mr. Stanley, seconded by Ms. Reusser, and duly adopted.

MCNALLY: Questions, concerns?

HUGHES: There’s a clerical error in the resolution; they are not all in the Town of Essex.

MASCARENAS: Right, I think it’s Essex County Ag District.

HUGHES: You chose the right town.

GARRISON: Thank you, I will make that correction.

MCNALLY: Anymore questions or concerns on this? All in favor, opposed – carried.

RESOLUTION #42 – OF RECOGNITION AND APPRECIATIOIN TO JOHN TEFOE FOR 50 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE WESTPORT FIRE DEPARTMENT.

This resolution was moved by Mr. Brassard, unanimously seconded, and duly adopted.

RESOLUTION #43 – OF CONGRATULATIONS TO ESSEX COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES SUPPORT COLLECTION UNIT FOR PLACING NUMBER ONE IN NEW YORK STATE ON THE 2025 DISTRICT REPORT CARD.

This resolution was moved by Mr. Clark, unanimously seconded, and duly adopted.

RESOLUTION #44 – AUTHORIZING THE ESSEX COUNTY PURCHASING AGENT TO GO OUT TO BID/RFP FOR VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS.

This resolution was moved by Mr. Barber, seconded by Mr. Hughes, and duly adopted.

RESOLUTION #45 – AUTHORIZNG APPOINTMENTS TO THE ESSEX COUNTY COMMUNITY SERVICES BOARD FOR A TERM EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2026 – DECEMBER 31, 2029.

This resolution was moved by Mr. Hughes, seconded by Mr. O’Bryan, and duly adopted.

AMENDED:

RESOLUTION #46 – APPROVING THE ESSEX COUNTY TAX SALE WITH RESPECT TO LOT #116 IN THE TOWN OF NORTH ELBA BUT SUSPENDING ANY TRANSFER OF SALE PENDING THE RESOLUTION CURRENT LITIGATION AND REJECTING THE SALE OF LOT #77 IN THE TOWN OF MORIAH AND LOT #9 IN THE TOWN OF CHESTERFIELD.

This resolution was moved by Mr. Hughes, seconded by Mr. Barber and adopted as amended upon a roll-call vote as follows:

AYES: 2498 votes

NOES: 0 votes

ABSENT: 355 votes (Wilson, McGill, Tyler)

MCNALLY: Questions or concerns?

MANNING: Yes, I have a couple of things. I’d like to ask for an amendment to this resolution. First point of clarification with respect to the sale of lot #77 in the Town of Moriah the record should reflect that the board, it is my understanding correct me, the board has determined that the buyer is not a proper buyer because of many, many code violations that exist with the respect of existing properties within the Town of Moriah and that the board does not feel that they should transfer this property until this particular owner demonstrates to the board that he has the desire and the wherewithal and the capability to remedy these code violations so that’s the reason for the removal and the rejection of lot #77.

With respect to the removal of lot #9, in the Town of Chesterfield the record should also reflect that this property was purchased by an individual thereafter we passed a resolution before ways and means to end up here rejecting the sale of lot #9 because of a request from the Town of Chesterfield that they may want to transfer that property to the land bank so if the Town of Chesterfield decided they not wanted to or it would be economical feasible to transfer to the land bank what better opt to happen is our auction company took it upon themselves to send the bidder a letter saying it was rejected which was not the case. The person who bid received that letter from our auction company which they shouldn’t have sent relied on that letter and spent his money elsewhere so that is the reason for the rejection of the sale to that person on lot #9 it’s really no fault of our own but it’s really caused a quagmire.

Then, with respect to lot #116 in the Town of North Elba, this is a piece of property apparently coveted near, a few lots down from the Mirror Lake Inn. It’s been involved in a very lengthy and protracted lawsuit some of the principles on each side of this lawsuit contacted me prior wanted to pay the taxes after all dates had passed and we couldn’t allow that. In the tax sale we have to give notice by regular mail and certified mail in this instance we gave notice to the landowners, the people who think they are the landowners, the attorney for the landowners, the attorneys for the people who think they are the landowners and the mortgage company. So the approval of this lot #116, was just served the paperwork Friday by the one of the attorneys involved representing one of the parties saying we in properly gave them notice which is not the case, the paperwork is deficient and we properly gave everybody notice but what I would like to do is amend this the first two things I stated don’t need an amendment I just wanted it on record so if something should happen and we’re sued everybody is in agreement that those are the reasons they were rejected.

This one that we approved, lot #116, the amendment would read, “approving lot #116 in the Town of North Elba but suspending any transfer of sale pending the resolution current litigation” because right now I’m under an order show cause not to do anything with it so we can approve it but suspend anything we do with it until March 10, they will hear this case, we’ll have our papers in so we should suspend any transfer of sale pending the resolution’s current motion. So, I would need a motion and a second to the amendment.

MCNALLY: Mr. Hughes, Mr. Barber. All in favor, opposed – carried.

MANNING: Then I would need a roll call on the existing resolution as amended.

BARBER: On lot #9 in Chesterfield, did we get a copy of that letter?

MANNING: Sure.

BARBER: We did?

MANNING: I don’t know Mike; did you get a copy of that letter from auctions? I have a copy of it if you want to see it.

DISKIN: Just an email.

BARBER: So, we are going to reject that?

MANNING: Yes, the sale so if you want to figure out you want to do something later.

BARBER: Thank you.

MCNALLY: Any other questions?

PRESTON: What was the date of that? March hearing?

MANNING: The tenth. Yes, there is no hearing they are going to accept paperwork just on submission.

HUGHES: I move 46 as amended.

MCNALLY: Second, Mr. Barber.

HUGHES: Just a quick question, I want to make sure I understand regarding the potential rejection of those two lots. You may have said this, Mr. Manning, I don’t know if you did so bear with me but assuming these are rejected, does the next highest bidder have option to these properties?

MANNING: Yes.

HUGHES: And they will be notified in writing of that?

MANNING: Mike will take care of that.

HUGHES: Thank you very much.

MANNING: You’re welcome.

MCNALLY: Anybody else? Roll call vote please.

RESOLUTION #47 – REMOVING FROM THE CURRENT ESSEX COUNTY REAL PROPERTY TAX FORECLOSURE AUCTION TERMS AND CONDITIONS PARAGRAPH 4 AND INSERTING IN ITS PLACE LANGUAGE DENYING FORMER OWNERS THE ABILITY TO PURCHASE AT AUCTION.

This resolution was moved by Ms. Thurston, seconded by Ms. Wood and adopted upon a roll-call vote as follows:

AYES: 2651 votes

NOES: 0 votes

ABSENT: 202 votes (Wilson, Tyler)

MCNALLY: Questions, concerns?

STANLEY: Just for clarification on the language of this, wasn’t this supposed to read closer to current property deed owner?

MASCARENAS: Correct.

STANLEY: No former deed owner, not no former owner?

MANNING: Well, it says no former owner who has lost their property in these proceedings. I mean, these people lost their property, so they are the deed owner.

STANLEY: Okay so former owners of the property would be able to bid?

MANNING: Yes, but the owner is the former owner because it’s now in the county’s name so no former owner who has lost their property in these proceedings.

MCNALLY: Any other questions? Roll call please.

Clerk’s note – Supervisor McGill arrived at 10:15 a.m.

RESOLUTION #48 – RECOGNIZING LONG-TERM EMPLOYEES OF ESSEX COUNTY.

This resolution was moved by Ms. Reusser, unanimously seconded, and duly adopted.

GARRISON: Resolutions from the floor.

RESOLUTION #49 – AUTHORIZNG THE EXECUTION OF A RENEWAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN ESSEX COUNTY-TOWN OF LONG LAKE-HAMILTON COUNTY FOR ENHANCED E-911 SYSTEM FOR 2026.

This resolution was moved by Mr. Hughes, seconded by Mr. Clark and adopted upon a roll-call vote as follows:

AYES: 2651 votes

NOES: 0 votes

ABSENT: 202 votes (Wilson, Tyler)

MCNALLY: Do I have twelve to allow this on the floor?

GARRISON: Yes, we do.

MCNALLY: Questions, concerns on that?

HUGHES: One year agreement?

MASCARENAS: That’s a good question. I don’t know if it’s an extension of a contract, we’ve been providing 911 service for Long Lake since we hit the switch so I would make the assumption that it is longer than that. I don’t see the term in the contract, but they do pay us to do that the amount is not there, but I can get that to you exactly what the term of the contract is.

HUGHES: Because I don’t recall historically in the past year or two, I could be wrong, whether we did this previously so just let me know.

MASCARENAS: I’m going to make the assumption it is multi-year.

MANNING: I think so too. We’ve only done three that I can remember.

MCNALLY: Roll call please. Anything else from the floor?

MENSER: I would like to put forth a resolution to give condolences to Harrington Family. Charlie Harrington was a member of this board for fourteen years and to my knowledge, a force to be reckoned with on this board and I think his recognition needs to be fully vetted and properly given to the family.

MCNALLY: Do I have twelve to allow this on the floor?

GARRISON: Yes, we do.

RESOLUTION #50 – OF CONDOLENCE TO THE FAMILY OF CHARLES HARRINGTON.

This resolution was moved by Mr. Menser, unanimously seconded, and duly adopted.

HUGHES: Mr. Chairman, I’d like to offer a resolution of congratulations to the North Country Community College Men’s Basketball team who won its first conference championship ever in their history. It’s the Mountain Valley Conference regular season championship. The Saints finished their regular season with 24-3 overall record making one of the most successful seasons in program history.

MCNALLY: Do I have twelve to allow this on the floor?

GARRISON: Yes, we do.

RESOLUTION #51 – OF CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NORTH COUNTRY COMMUNITY COLLEGE MEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM UPON WINNING THE MOUNTAIN VALLEY CONFERENCE REGULAR SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP.

This resolution was moved by Mr. Hughes, unanimously seconded, and duly adopted.

HUGHES: Thank you.

MCNALLY: Anything else from the floor? If not, we are adjourned.

As there was no further discussion to come before this regular board meeting it was adjourned at 10:20 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Judith Garrison, Clerk

Board of Supervisors