PDF file of these minutes.

Town of Vienna

Town Board Meeting Minutes

March 4, 2026

 

ATTENDANCE:

Supervisor Jason Spellicy Councilwoman Mary Beth McEwen-Absent

Councilman Darrin Smith Councilman Doug Jordan

Town Clerk Carol Huber Councilman Theodore Learned

 

CALL TO ORDER:

Supervisor Spellicy called the meeting to order at 7:02 pm. Followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

NOCCOG: Lisa Bellinger

NYS Tug Hill Commission Local Government Conference is April 20-21. There are 2 Local Roads Program webinars scheduled for March. Tug Hill Commission meeting is March 18th. Local Government Records Management Improvement Fund Grants available. NOCCOG Executive Committee meeting March 19th. Running your Highway Department Workshop March 26th. Meeting Basics and Open meetings Law webinar March 26th. NYS Town Clerk’s Association Annual Conference April 19-22. NOCCOG Scholarship Program available again. New York State has announced the launch of EXPRESS NY.

 

COUNTY LEGISLATURE: Norman Leach

RFA Field Hockey Team are the Section 3 Champs. The Airfield Complex at Griffiss has a new name. Accepted a one.one million-dollar grant for emergency preparedness. Accepted a one-million-dollar grant for lead abatement. Approved a one-year contract between the Village of Clinton and the Sherriff for $170,000 for 96 hours a week for patrol. Approved a lease at the Airport for Fire Storm Labs to make defense drones. Confirmed the appointment of Francis Manfreto as the emergency services director. 400000 square foot hanger is being looked at for a sports complex. Received a two-million-dollar grant for the destruction of St. Luke’s Hospital. One thought was to put housing in its place.

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

A motion was made by Councilman Learned and seconded by Councilman Jordan to approve the February 4, 2026 Town Board Minutes.

Voting Record: Motion Carried

Councilwoman Mary Beth McEwen Absent

Councilman Doug Jordan Aye

Councilman Theodore Learned Aye

Councilman Darrin Smith Aye

Supervisor Jason Spellicy Aye

 

AUDITED VOUCHERS:

A motion was made by Councilman Smith and seconded by Councilman Jordan to approve Abstract 3 of 2026 vouchers to be paid in the amount of $1,191,199.23.

Voting Record: Motion Carried

Councilwoman Mary Beth McEwen Absent

Councilman Doug Jordan Aye

Councilman Theodore Learned Aye

Councilman Darrin Smith Aye

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 /TAX COLLECTOR’S REPORT:

Town Clerk read her report. Monies received for the month totaled $665.50.

Total Taxes collected to date is $3,571,484.86 Totaled paid to County to date is $2,050,000.00

TextMyGov fliers were handed out with Tax receipts. Town Clerk will be working with Ann Hopkins, Town Historian on moving her files to the Town Hall and creating space in the Councilman’s office for her to work and store files.

 

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

Voting Record: Motion Carried

Councilwoman Mary Beth McEwen Absent

Councilman Doug Jordan Aye

Councilman Theodore Learned Aye

Councilman Darrin Smith Aye

Supervisor Jason Spellicy Aye

 

ASSESSOR’S REPORT:

Filed with Clerk and uploaded to website.

Phil Amway was present to take any questions on the presentation he gave last week pertaining to the Policy 96-01. No one had any questions.

 

CODE’S REPORT:

Filed with Clerk will be posted on Web Site.

 

HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT: Superintendent Clayton Conover

Sand and Salt has been delivered in full. Trucks have been being repaired. Highway has been asked to assist with cutting trees by the Oswego Bridge and all the debris will be removed.

 

Counselman Smith had received a phone call from a resident about stones being in the sand and cracking a windshield.

 

Supervisor Spellicy has received a few phone calls complimenting the Highway Garage this year for all the work they have been doing.

 

COUNCIL REPORTS:

Supervisor Spellicy:

Discussed with Norman Leach about Hardens Dam repair. Pursuing steps to have the dam looked at. The owner of the dam needs to be confirmed. Hardens used to own the dam but subdivided the property and did not include the dam in the deed. There are concerns about traffic going over the West Branch of Fish Creek Bridge because of the B&B expansion. Norman Leach has inquired about the bridge with the County but has not heard anything back yet. Annsville would need to share in the cost of repairing the bridge and Jason will reach out to the Supervisor in the near future. The Town audit of procedures will happen April 22nd for approximately 2 days. Concerned Campground owners have been calling about the new proposed zoning laws. The Planning Board has put forth research and the main goal is to protect the businesses but also have the Town move forward. The Planning Board will have a meeting in April with the campground owners to discuss any questions they may have.

Councilman Smith:

Attended the Planning Board meeting last month and will attend the next Planning Board Meeting in March. Attended the Old Homes Day meeting. Memorial Day committee will have its first meeting on March 18th at 7:00 pm.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

Verizon Tower:

The tower is now erected. There is still wiring work that needs completed. It should be operational by the end of the month.

 

New Water District:

Supervisor Spellicy had a meeting with Gregor Smith and will be attending a meeting with Senator Schumer’s office on 3/5/26. They will be discussing the possibility of more grant funding. The two-million-dollar grant that was applied for was denied, but will be applied for again this year.

 

Vienna Farmers Market:

The owner of the Vienna’s Farmers Market attended the North Bay Fire Department meeting to get a legal description of the property before getting the Building Permit. He is still waiting. The request for $2,000 for the opening day funding is tabled until things are moving along with the building then they will discuss.

 

Justice Appointment:

Supervisor Spellicy made a motion to appoint Marty Handler as of April 1st to sit as Town Justice for 2026. Councilman Jordan seconded the motion.

Voting Record: Motion Carried

Councilwoman Mary Beth McEwen Absent

Councilman Doug Jordan Aye

Councilman Theodore Learned Aye

Councilman Darrin Smith Aye

Supervisor Jason Spellicy Aye

 

Mr. Handler will now be able to attend the training for Town Justice in April. Then he will be taking the seat on the bench the 4th week of April.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

Town Hall parking lot:

Needs sealed and striped. Will need to get more input for wording before we look for bids.

Lake Shore Drive pump station shut down from power surges. Repair was needed on the pump. A neighbor called a home owner about the pooling of sewage water in the front yard. An alarm system needs to be installed. Jason Spellicy will contact the manufacturer of the electrical system and the Grinder Pump repairman to see what can be done.

 

Constables:

The Constables do not work for the Town, they work for Granby and we borrow them. Lead Constable Matt Mallory would like to move them from Granby to the Town of Vienna. All five have applied with Civil Service and have been approved to be hired. They will still need to take the Civil Service Test when the County has it available.

 

Supervisor Spellicy made a motion to appoint James Hite, Jacob Olin, Alexander Eller, Joseph Fenell and Daniel Andrianos as Town of Vienna Constable under the direction of Lead Constable Matt Mallory, to cover Court nights, Town Board meetings and any other meetings as necessary effective immediately. Councilman Smith seconded the motion.

Voting Record: Motion Carried

Councilwoman Mary Beth McEwen Absent

Councilman Doug Jordan Aye

Councilman Theodore Learned Aye

Councilman Darrin Smith Aye

Supervisor Jason Spellicy Aye

 

PUBLIC CONCERNS/COMMENTS:

Rick Mansfield had a friend that had an emergency and called 911. Basic care came in 15 minutes, but advanced care did not come for 45 minutes. If this is a life threating issue, 45 minutes can mean life or death. Can the Town of Vienna work with Camden Ambulance for the upper part of Vienna closer to Camden? Also, did Vineall Ambulance find a place to stage the ambulance in Cleveland yet? It has been over a year now and there has not been any improvement with Vineall response times.

 

Supervisor Spellicy explained that Vineall is the ambulance service for that area and does not think that Camden would put a bid in for the district. The timing of an ambulance depends on what is going on with the ambulance at the time of call and what kind of call comes in. The North Shore Ambulance went bankrupt and the village of Cleveland now owns the old building that they were thinking about buying. He is currently working with the fire departments to come up with better response times and the fire departments are working together borrowing equipment and people to make things better.

 

Marty Handler explained that McConnellsville uses Amcare and they are usually 15-20 minutes response time.

 

Steve Carpenter wanted to remind everyone how important bridges, dams and waterways are and to not let things go, pursue the issues and try to find grant monies to fix what needs fixed.

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION: Not entered

 

ADJOURNMENT: Supervisor Spellicy made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:18 pm and Councilman Smith seconded and all were in favor.

 

Respectfully,

Carol L Huber

Town Clerk