The
Village of Oriskany Falls Board of Trustees held their monthly meeting on Tuesday,
February 17, 2026 at 6:30pm. Present at the meeting was Mayor Colin Idzi and
Trustees Scott Jeffers and Douglas Smorol. Trustees Brian Bell and Gerald Pedersen
were absent.
Public:
Patti Louise was present.
Monthly
Reports:
Douglas
Smorol made the motion seconded by Scott Jeffers to approve the monthly meeting
minutes and public hearing minutes for January 20, 2026. Brian Bell absent, Scott Jeffers aye, Gerald
Pedersen absent, Douglas Smorol aye, and Colin Idzi aye. Approved 3-0.
Fire
Commissioner Russ Petrie was present. Scott Jeffers made the motion seconded by
Douglas Smorol to approve the February 9th, 2026 monthly minutes for the Fire
Commissioners. Brian Bell absent, Scott Jeffers aye, Gerald Pedersen absent, Douglas
Smorol aye and Colin Idzi aye. Approved 3-0. Fire Commissioners Russ Petrie
present to update the board on the final numbers needed for the loan with
Emergency Services.
Scott
Jeffers made the motion seconded by Douglas Smorol to approve membership for Jason
Moon for the Volunteer Fire Department. Brian Bell absent, Scott Jeffers aye, Gerald
Pedersen absent, Douglas Smorol aye and Colin Idzi aye. Approved 3-0.
Codes
Enforcement Officer Report for January 2026 is on file for public knowledge.
Douglas Smorol made the motion seconded by Scott Jeffers to approve the Codes
Enforcement Officer Report for January 2026. Brian Bell absent, Scott Jeffers
aye, Gerald Pedersen absent, Douglas Smorol aye and Colin Idzi aye. Approved
3-0.
WWTP
Operator/Superintendent Geoffrey Stevens was present and his report for January
2026 was presented. Scott Jeffers made the motion seconded by Douglas Smorol to
approve the January 2026 WWTP Report. Brian Bell absent, Scott Jeffers aye, Gerald
Pedersen absent, Douglas Smorol aye and Colin Idzi aye. Approved 3-0.
Douglas
Smorol made the motion seconded by Scott Jeffers to approve the Superintendent
DPW/Water Report for January 2026. Brian Bell absent, Scott Jeffers aye, Gerald
Pedersen absent, Douglas Smorol aye and Colin Idzi aye. Approved 3-0.
Clerk/Treasurer
Report:
Douglas
Smorol made the motion seconded by Scott Jeffers to approve Clerk/Treasurer
Amber Bell’s monthly report for February 2026. Brian Bell absent, Scott
Jeffers aye, Gerald
Pedersen absent, Douglas Smorol aye and Colin Idzi aye. Approved 3-0.
Financial Reports:
Douglas
Smorol made the motion seconded by Scott Jeffers to approve the financial
statements for January 2026; Bank Reconciliation Report for January 2026;
Certified Payroll for February 2026 and; Special Abstracts for January 2025 and
February 2026, General Fund in the amount $2,397.00 & $2,730.14, Water Fund
in the amount of $384.68 & $1,194.51, Sewer Fund in the amount of $494.68
& $796.02 and TA $150.00; February 2026 Monthly Abstracts for General $5,316.86,
Water $386.00, Sewer $813.12 and TA Savings $135.00. Brian Bell absent, Scott
Jeffers aye, Gerald
Pedersen absent, Douglas Smorol aye and Colin Idzi aye. Approved 3-0.
Douglas Smorol made the motion seconded by
Scott Jeffers to approve the following budget adjustments:
Transfer
$709.21 From A1990.400 To A1620.400
Transfer
$153.92 From A3420.400 To A1620.400
Brian Bell absent, Scott
Jeffers aye, Gerald
Pedersen absent, Douglas Smorol aye and Colin Idzi aye. Approved 3-0.
SWOCO No report this month.
Clark Memorial Library:
A report is on file for public knowledge. Scott Jeffers made the motion
seconded by Douglas Smorol to approve the library report. Brian Bell absent, Scott
Jeffers aye, Gerald
Pedersen absent, Douglas Smorol aye and Colin Idzi aye. Approved 3-0
Old Business:
Zoning
Board:
Nothing to report.
Fire Truck Loan:
Scott
Jeffers made the motion seconded by Douglas Smorol to approve the following; WHEREAS, the Village of
Oriskany Falls Board of Trustees recognizes the need to purchase a 2026
Freightliner M2106 Plus Cab Chassis to replace the Village’s 1998 Pumper/Tanker
fire truck to ensure continued safety and emergency response capabilities; and
WHEREAS, the New York State Emergency Services
Loan Program provides financial assistance to municipalities for projects that
enhance emergency response equipment and capabilities; and
WHEREAS, the Village Board has determined that
the maximum estimated cost for the purchase is THREE HUNDRED AND NINETY
THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED AND THIRTY SIX DOLLARS $390,636; and
WHEREAS, the Village Board desires to apply for
a loan through the NYS Emergency Services Loan Program for an amount not to
exceed TWO HUNDRED AND NINETY TWO THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY SEVEN
DOLLARS AND ZERO CENTS $292,977 with a ten year payback period;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the
Village Board of Trustees hereby authorizes the Village Clerk-Treasurer Amber
L. Bell to prepare, submit, and execute all necessary financial and/or
administrative documents, forms, and agreements in connection with the NYS
Emergency Services Loan Program application for the purchase; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Village
Clerk-Treasurer Amber L. Bell is authorized to act on behalf of the Village in
all matters related to said application, loan agreement, and program
compliance; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this resolution
shall take effect immediately.
Brian
Bell absent, Scott
Jeffers aye, Gerald
Pedersen absent, Douglas Smorol aye and Colin Idzi aye. Approved 3-0
Fire Commission Russ Petrie was present to
discuss renting a fire truck from neighboring department until their Knoxboro
truck is completed. Douglas Smorol made the motion seconded by Scott Jeffers to
approve renting the truck at a rate not to exceed $500 a month for six months. Brian
Bell absent, Scott
Jeffers aye, Gerald
Pedersen absent, Douglas Smorol aye and Colin Idzi aye. Approved 3-0.
Oneida
County
Main Street Grant Contact was
made by Oneida County to verify that the village intends to utilize the
remaining funds. Clerk/Treasurer Amber Bell informed them that we have every
intention of spending the remaining balance, we are working on finalizing
projects then a project form will be sent in.
Request
for Proposal Septic/Sludge
Removal and CDBG Housing Administrator were given. Seymour Excavating submit a
proposal of $0.30 per gallon for 2026-2029 and Thoma Development submit a
proposal administer the CDBG Housing grant in the amount of $41,000.
Scott
Jeffers made the motion seconded by Douglas Smorol to approve Seymour Excavating in the
amount of $0.30 per gallon for 2026-2029. Brian Bell absent, Scott
Jeffers aye, Gerald
Pedersen absent, Douglas Smorol aye and Colin Idzi aye. Approved 3-0
Douglas
Smorol made the motion seconded by Scott Jeffers to approve the Thoma
Development proposal, pending Office of Community Renewal approval, to
administer the CDBG Housing grant in the amount of $41,000. Brian Bell absent, Scott
Jeffers aye, Gerald
Pedersen absent, Douglas Smorol aye and Colin Idzi aye. Approved 3-0.
Reservoir Clerk Treasurer Amber Bell
reached out to three appraisal companies; Colliers Valuation & Advisory
Services has provided a Professional Service Agreement in the amount of $4,500
to complete the appraisal of the reservoir. Douglas
Smorol made the motion seconded by Scott Jeffers to approve the proposal from
Colliers Valuation & Advisory Services in the amount of $4,500. Brian Bell
absent, Scott
Jeffers aye, Gerald
Pedersen absent, Douglas Smorol aye and Colin Idzi aye. Approved 3-0.
Maple Ave
Building Enclosure Project.
A proposal has been received to alter current pavilion and replace with a new
structure, plus the Barton invitation has been received, so Clerk/Treasurer
Amber Bell has been working on the application.
EPG
Engineer:
Contract has been executed from Dodson and Village, and then they were sent to
EFC.
WWTP Operator Geoffrey Stevens has obtained a
quote to replace the pumps at the WWTP, when needed, at $6,535 each. He is
still waiting for a quote to perform maintenance on current pumps. It was
suggested that all information be shared with Engineer Jack Dodson.
Bisesquicentennial Celebration
Setting a meeting for March 4th at 4pm for anyone interest in helping
plan the Fireworks over the Falls celebration.
NYS DEC SPDES Inspection Report and
the NYS DEC Notice of Violation
The Village Board discussed in detail the NYS DEC SPDES Inspection Report and
the NYS DEC Notice of Violation with Mr. Geoffrey Stevens. The Board suggested
that Geoffrey reach out to Ms. Talat Fathima, NYS DEC Assistant Engineer to
discuss the violations and set a meeting with engineer Jack Dodson.
New
Business:
Budget Workshop
is scheduled for Tuesday, March 3rd at 5pm.
WWTP Sampling Procedure Plan
was proposed. Scott Jeffers made the motion seconded by Douglas Smorol to
approve WWTP Sampling Procedure Plan. Brian Bell absent, Scott
Jeffers aye, Gerald
Pedersen absent, Douglas Smorol aye and Colin Idzi aye. Approved 3-0
Sole Source Procurement and Reserve Scott Jeffers made the motion seconded by
Douglas Smorol to adopt the following resolution for a sole purchase for the UV
Station at the WWTP:
WHEREAS, the Village of Oriskany Falls operates
a wastewater treatment facility that utilizes an ultraviolet (UV) disinfection
system to meet New York State Department of Environmental Conservation permit
requirements; and
WHEREAS, the existing UV chamber and associated
components require improvement, repair, or replacement in order to maintain
proper disinfection performance, regulatory compliance, and system reliability;
and
WHEREAS, the UV disinfection system currently
in use is a proprietary system manufactured by Trojan Technologies, and
compatibility with existing equipment, controls, and components is required;
and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Village of Oriskany
Falls Procurement Policies and Procedures adopted under General Municipal Law
§104-b, sole source procurement is permitted in limited circumstances where
only one source is available and where the item or service provides unique
benefits not available from substantially equivalent alternatives; and
WHEREAS, the Village Board has determined that
the required UV chamber improvements constitute a sole source procurement, as
the equipment and services must be provided by Trojan Technologies to ensure
compatibility with the existing UV system, maintain manufacturer
specifications, and protect system performance and warranty requirements; and
WHEREAS, documentation supporting the sole
source determination, including the unique benefits of the proprietary system
and the reasonableness of cost compared to conventional alternatives, shall be
maintained in the Village procurement file in accordance with Village policy;
and
WHEREAS, sufficient funds are available in the
Village’s duly established reserve fund(s) to pay for Waste Water Treatment
Plant improvements without adversely impacting the Village’s operating budget;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the
Village Board of Trustees of the Village of Oriskany Falls hereby authorizes
the sole source procurement of UV chamber improvement equipment and related
services from Trojan Technologies in accordance with the Village’s Procurement
Policies and Procedures and General Municipal Law §104-b; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Village Board
approves the use of available Village reserve funds to pay for the WWTP
improvements, in an amount not to exceed $10,000, subject to submission of
acceptable invoices and supporting documentation; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Mayor and/or
Village Clerk/Treasurer are hereby authorized to execute any and all agreements,
purchase orders, and related documents necessary to effectuate this resolution;
and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this resolution
shall take effect immediately.
Brian Bell absent, Scott
Jeffers aye, Gerald
Pedersen absent, Douglas Smorol aye and Colin Idzi aye. Approved 3-0
Water Meter Upgrade Project Clerk/Treasurer has reached out
to Ti-Sales to obtain a quote for replacing the water meters, to include
software for point to point reads and installation.
Type II SEQR Review Scott
Jeffers made the motion seconded by Douglas Smorol to adopt the following
resolution for Type II SEQR for the Maple Ave project:
WHEREAS, the Village of Oriskany Falls (the
“Village”) is proposing improvements to the existing Maple Avenue Park
pavilion, including the enclosure of the existing pavilion structure and the
replacement of existing blacktop pavement with concrete; and
WHEREAS, the proposed project involves improvements to an existing
Village-owned recreational facility and does not include an expansion of use
beyond its current recreational purpose; and
WHEREAS, the Village Board of Trustees is the Lead Agency for purposes of
review under the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR); and
WHEREAS, pursuant to 6 NYCRR §617.5(c), certain actions are classified as Type
II actions and do not require further review under SEQR; and
WHEREAS, the proposed project constitutes a Type II action under SEQR,
including but not limited to:
• 6 NYCRR §617.5(c)(1) – Maintenance or repair involving no substantial changes
in an existing structure or facility; and
• 6 NYCRR §617.5(c)(2) – Replacement, rehabilitation, or reconstruction of a
structure or facility, in kind, on the same site; and
• 6 NYCRR §617.5(c)(8) – Construction or expansion of a recreational facility
on land owned by a municipality, involving no substantial adverse change in
existing environmental conditions; and
WHEREAS, as a Type II action, the proposed Maple Avenue Pavilion enclosure
project and pavement replacement is not subject to further SEQR review, and no
Environmental Assessment Form (EAF) or additional environmental determination
is required.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the
Village Board of Trustees of the Village of Oriskany Falls hereby determines
that the proposed Maple Avenue Pavilion enclosure project and replacement of
existing blacktop pavement with concrete is a Type II action pursuant to SEQR
and 6 NYCRR Part 617; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that no further action under SEQR is required for this
project; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Village Clerk is hereby authorized and
directed to place this determination in the official records of the Village and
to proceed with project planning, funding applications, and implementation as
authorized by the Village Board.
Brian Bell absent, Scott
Jeffers aye, Gerald
Pedersen absent, Douglas Smorol aye and Colin Idzi aye. Approved 3-0
Open
Floor:
Trustee Scott Jeffers and Mayor Colin Idzi will
be meeting WWTP Operator Geoffrey Stevens Friday at 7:30am at the WWTP to
observe testing.
Mayor Colin Idzi discussed the sidewalk in
front of the Post Office/Curtis Building, there have been complaints regarding
snow removal. It was suggested to remove the one handicap parking sign to allow
better access for snow removal.
Mayor Colin Idzi and Trustee Scott Jeffers are
concerned about people driving over the curbs at Douglass Park Street.
Sidewalks and curbs were added this past summer and cars are hitting them and
causing them to become destroyed. Superintendent Geoffrey Stevens will be
looking to add something on the end of the islands to prevent cars from driving
over them.
The Library has previously asked to use the
Village Lift to hang their new sign, but there are lights out on the front of
the building. When Geoff is removing the banners this week can he change the
light bulbs on the front of their building? Geoff has agreed to perform this
duty.
Scott Jeffers made the motion seconded by Douglas
Smorol to adjourn at 8:15pm. Brian Bell absent, Scott
Jeffers aye, Gerald
Pedersen absent, Douglas Smorol aye and Colin Idzi aye. Approved 3-0.
Respectfully submitted by
Amber L. Bell Clerk/Treasurer for the Village of Oriskany Falls
