The Village
of Oriskany Falls Board of Trustees held public hearing for proposed Local Law
# 1 “A local law to override the tax levy limit established in General
Municipal Law §3-c” on
Tuesday, January 20, 2026 at 6:15pm. Present at the meeting was Mayor Colin
Idzi and Trustees Brian Bell, Scott Jeffers, Gerald Pedersen and Douglas
Smorol. No public present.
Scott Jeffers made the motion seconded by Douglas
Smorol to adjourn at 6:20pm. Brian Bell aye, Scott
Jeffers aye, Gerald
Pedersen aye, Douglas Smorol aye and Colin Idzi aye. Approved 5-0.
Respectfully
submitted by Amber L. Bell Clerk/Treasurer for the Village of Oriskany Falls
The
Village of Oriskany Falls Board of Trustees held their monthly meeting on Tuesday,
January 20, 2026 at 6:20pm. Present at the meeting was Mayor Colin Idzi and
Trustees Brian Bell, Gerald Pedersen, Scott Jeffers and Douglas Smorol.
Public:
Dale & Russ Petrie and Jim Dowd were
present.
Mr.
Jim Dowd was present to request that the village create a separate line item on
village taxes to show the fire department revenue per thousand. Clerk/Treasurer
Amber Bell informed him that the village and town operate different with
showing fire revenue on tax bills. The Town has a Fire District and the village
shows their revenue in their budget.
Monthly
Reports:
Brian
Bell made the motion seconded by Douglas Smorol to approve the monthly meeting minutes
for December 16, 2025. Brian Bell aye, Scott
Jeffers aye, Gerald Pedersen aye, Douglas Smorol aye, and Colin Idzi aye. Approved
5-0.
Fire
Commissioners Dale Petrie, Russ Petrie and Jim Dowd were present. Douglas
Smorol made the motion seconded by Scott Jeffers to approve the January 11, 2026
monthly minutes for the Fire Commissioners. Brian Bell aye, Scott Jeffers aye, Gerald
Pedersen aye, Douglas Smorol aye and Colin Idzi aye. Approved 5-0. The Fire
Commissioners were present to discuss their recommendation for the bid award
for re-chassis and refurbishment of engine 2 and utilizing a neighbors unused
fire truck.
Scott
Jeffers made the motion seconded by Douglas Smorol to approve membership for
Christina Bruno and Jeff Connolly for the Volunteer Fire Department. Brian Bell
aye, Scott Jeffers aye, Gerald Pedersen aye, Douglas Smorol aye and Colin Idzi
aye. Approved 5-0.
Codes
Enforcement Officer Report for December 2025 is on file for public knowledge.
Douglas Smorol made the motion seconded by Gerald Pedersen to approve the Codes
Enforcement Officer Report for December 2025. Brian Bell aye, Scott Jeffers
aye, Gerald Pedersen aye, Douglas Smorol aye and Colin Idzi aye. Approved 5-0.
WWTP
Operator/Superintendent Geoffrey Stevens was present and his report for December
2025 was presented. Scott Jeffers made the motion seconded by Douglas Smorol to
approve the December 2025 WWTP Report. Brian Bell aye, Scott Jeffers aye, Gerald
Pedersen aye, Douglas Smorol aye and Colin Idzi aye. Approved 5-0.
Scott
Jeffers made the motion seconded by Douglas Smorol to approve the Superintendent
DPW/Water Report for December 2025. Brian Bell aye, Scott Jeffers aye, Gerald
Pedersen aye, Douglas Smorol aye and Colin Idzi aye. Approved 5-0.
Gerald
Pedersen made the motion seconded by Scott Jeffers to approve Geoffrey Stevens
vacation request for January 26-28, 2026. Brian Bell aye, Scott Jeffers aye, Gerald
Pedersen aye, Douglas Smorol aye and Colin Idzi aye. Approved 5-0.
Clerk/Treasurer
Report:
Scott
Jeffers made the motion seconded by Douglas Smorol to approve Clerk/Treasurer
Amber Bell’s monthly report for January 2026. Brian Bell aye, Scott
Jeffers aye, Gerald
Pedersen aye, Douglas Smorol aye and Colin Idzi aye. Approved 5-0. The Board
suggested creating a Work Order for meter replacements and all other work
needed by DPW.
Financial Reports:
Gerald
Pedersen made the motion seconded by Douglas Smorol to approve the financial
statements for December 2025; Bank Reconciliation Report for December 2025;
Certified Payroll for January 2026 and; Special Abstracts for December 2025 and
January 2026, General Fund in the amount $2,884.54 & $1,796.03, Water Fund
in the amount of $549.96 & $965.11, Sewer Fund in the amount of $831.51
& $942.57 and TA $120.00; January 2025 Monthly Abstracts for General $20,138.72,
Water $6,199.09, Sewer $3,109.17. Brian Bell aye, Scott
Jeffers aye, Gerald
Pedersen aye, Douglas Smorol aye and Colin Idzi aye. Approved 5-0.
Douglas Smorol made the motion seconded by
Scott Jeffers to approve the following budget adjustments:
Transfer
$600.00 From A1990.400 To A1620.400
Transfer
$3.34 From A1990.400 To
A9055.800
Transfer
$14.49 From F3620.400 To
F1950.400
Transfer
$463.75 From F8320.400 To F8310.200
Transfer $5.33 From F9089.800 To F9055.800
Transfer $1,000 From G3620400 To G8120.400
Transfer $3.33 From G3620.400 To G9055.800
Brian Bell aye, Scott
Jeffers aye, Gerald
Pedersen aye, Douglas Smorol aye and Colin Idzi aye. Approved 5-0.
SWOCO Report on file for January
2025. Gerald Pedersen made the
motion seconded by Scott Jeffers to approve SWOCO Report. Brian Bell aye, Scott
Jeffers aye, Gerald
Pedersen aye, Douglas Smorol aye and Colin Idzi aye. Approved 5-0
Clark Memorial Library:
The library Board requested that Barbara Misiaszek be reappointed for a five
year term for the Library Board. Douglas Smorol made the motion seconded by
Scott Jeffers to approve the Library Board recommendation of reappointing
Barbara Misiaszek as a Trustee. Brian
Bell aye, Scott
Jeffers aye, Gerald
Pedersen aye, Douglas Smorol aye and Colin Idzi aye. Approved 5-0
Old Business:
Zoning
Board:
Nothing to report.
Fire
Truck Bids: The Fire
Commissioners reviewed the bids for Re-Chassis Refurbishment of Engine 2 and
recommended approving the bid from Har-Rob $299,911. Brian Bell made the motion
seconded by Douglas Smorol to approve the bid from Har-Rob in the amount of
$299,911. Brian
Bell aye, Scott
Jeffers aye, Gerald
Pedersen aye, Douglas Smorol aye and Colin Idzi aye. Approved 5-0
The Board discussed the bonding resolution
needed. Once the breakdown is given from Har-Rob for the refurbishment verses
new equipment, the dollar amount will be given to the Board to request funding.
Reservoir Clerk Treasurer Amber Bell
reached out to two appraisal companies, but hasn’t heard back from either.
Oneida
County
Main Street Grant Trustee
Scott Jeffers and Mayor Colin Idzi have both spoke to the United Methodist
Board members about the digital message board project. The UMC Board will meet
March 15th at 12:15pm and the board is welcome to attend to discuss
the digital sign project.
A quote was received from Rashford Masonry to
fix the damage to curbs and sidewalk at Douglass Park in the amount of $500.00.
Maple Ave
Building Enclosure Project.
Still working on project. Awaiting the Barton Grant invitation to apply and
following up on other funding opportunities.
EPG
Engineer RFQ:
Dodson & Associates needs to send a contract, once executed it will be
forwarded to mark at EFC.
Bisesquicentennial Celebration
Nothing to report.
Bid
Heating Oil
Buell Fuels submit a bid for 2026. Douglas Smorol made the motion seconded by Gerald Pedersen to
approve Buell Fuels fixed net price for Diesel, Kerosene, Fuel Oil, Dyed
Kerosene, Mixed and propane. Brian Bell
aye, Scott Jeffers abstain, Gerald Pedersen aye, Douglas Smorol aye, and Colin
Idzi aye. Approved 4-0.
Local Law
# 1 Override Tax Cap was
presented. Scott Jeffers made the motion seconded by Douglas Smorol to adopt
proposed LL # 1 of 2026 to override the tax levy limit established in GML 3-c. Brian
Bell aye, Scott Jeffers aye, Gerald Pedersen aye, Douglas Smorol aye, and Colin
Idzi aye. Approved 5-0.
Tucker Lane Sign
Several ideas were presented for review. The Board is in agreement to install a
normal street sign and utilize the elaborate sign design for Douglass Park
instead.
New
Business:
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.
Request
for Proposal The
Village of Oriskany Falls needs to advertise two separate proposals;
Septic/Sludge Removal and CDBG Housing Administrator. Both will be due February
17th.
Audit
5/31/2025
Prepared by Fitzgerald, DePietro & Wojnas CPAs is on file for public
knowledge. Scott Jeffers made the motion seconded by Douglas Smorol to approve
the audit report for fiscal year ending My 31, 2025. Brian
Bell aye, Scott Jeffers aye, Gerald Pedersen aye, Douglas Smorol aye, and Colin
Idzi aye. Approved 5-0.
Open
Floor:
The Board requested that the Water Department
start using the electronic report for submitting monthly reports. Dan Yoxal has
offered to help the water department learn the method. Geoff will make contact
and make sure Water Operator Matthew Bowie starts using the electronic version
for reporting.
There was a discussion about properties in the
village that do not have interior water shut off. Geoff Stevens will compile a
list and a letter will be sent to the properties advising them to install water
shut off before the meter.
Mayor Colin Idzi requested that a letter be
sent to local businesses and organizations to help with the Maple Ave ball
field improvement of the infield.
Clerk/Treasurer Amber bell informed the Board
that the village Attorney stated that a third party vendor could mow for the
village through Local Law #3 “Brush, Grass Weeds, and Lawn Maintenance”.
Clerk/Treasurer Amber Bell also reached out to
the CNY Snowmobile group to find out if a trail goes through the village. There
was no reply, but spoke to a trusted source and they stated a trail does not go
through the village. If the Board wishes to reopen discussion of the
Restriction of Snowmobiles and All-Terrain Vehicles Proposed Law, it can take
place at the next month’s meeting.
Colin Idzi made the motion to enter executive
session at 9:10pm to discuss personnel. Returned to open session at 9:25PM
Scott Jeffers made the motion seconded by Brian
Bell to adjourn at 9:25pm. Brian Bell aye, Scott
Jeffers aye, Gerald
Pedersen aye, Douglas Smorol aye and Colin Idzi aye. Approved 5-0.
Respectfully submitted by
Amber L. Bell Clerk/Treasurer for the Village of Oriskany Falls
