June 3, 2025
The regular meeting of the Varick Town Board was called to order by Supervisor Robert Hayssen at 7:00 p.m. Present at this meeting were Councilmen Richard McCulloch, Tom Fox, James Velie, and Eric Riegel, Town Clerk, Donna Karlsen, Bookkeeper, Angela Testa, Attorney for the Town, Emil Bove, Planning Board member, Cindy Lont. Also present was Second Assistant Chief, Stanley Sensenig from Varick Volunteer Fire Department.
Petitioners to Address the Board: None.
Abstract: A motion by Richard McCulloch, seconded by James Velie and so carried unanimously to approve Abstract No. 6, Vouchers 141 to 176 in the amount of $36,222.17
Highway: No Report.
Judge: No Report.
Supervisor’s Report: A motion by Richard McCulloch, seconded by James Velie and so carried unanimously to approve the May 2025 Monthly Report of The Supervisor.
Code Enforcement Officer: No Report.
Water/Sewer Operator Report: May 6, 2025
- Marked Out Dig Tickets as requested
- Called in Dig tickets for upcoming jobs
- Changed meters as needed
- Read each master meter and did calculations of daily usage
- Answered customers question in each sewer and water district
- Did final reads as needed
- Changed out grinder pumps as needed
- Took Bac T samples in each water district
- Filled out and submitted monthly report to health department
- Ordered parts for upcoming projects
- Did water turn ons as needed
- Serviced and exercised hydrants in District 3
- Talked with contractors about upcoming water service installs
- Leak detection on Seneca lake water district using loggers
- Top soiled yards from water leaks and cleaned up debris
- Completed work on hydrant in Fayette 5 firehouse
- Worked on valve signposts to mark out valve boxes
- Installed risers for manholes on Seneca St for sewer
- Repaired hydrant and valve In Varick 1 from being hit by car
- Cleaned up old water truck to make ready to sell
- Looked into possible drainage issue on East Lake Road
Varick Sewer District No. 1: Nothing further to report.
Varick Sewer District No. 2.: Nothing further to report.
Proposed Capital Project -Varick Sewer District No. 3 & 4: An email was received from Zev A. Siegfeld, Office of Congresswoman Claudia Tenny, thanking the town for the submission for the Congresswoman’s consideration for the FY26 Community Project Funding. The email informed the town that unfortunately the project was not selected as one of the 15 submitted by the Congresswoman to the House Appropriates Committee.
Varick Water District No. 1: Nothing further to report.
Seneca Lake Water District: It was reported that the water department are using the loggers to look for any leaks along the main line of this district. They started the tracking at the south end and are working back towards the pump station, moving the loggers every 3 or so days from hydrant to hydrant. As of this date the loggers have not recorded any leaks.
Supervisor Hayssen discussed with the board the cost increase per thousand gallons of water from the Village of Waterloo that will go into effect in the third quarter of this year. He reported with this increase and the increase in cost of operation and maintenance of this district it is his recommendation that the water rate be raised to $6.10 per thousand gallons and a quarterly operation and maintenance fee be assessed at $40 per quarter. He noted that this district has never had an O & M cost assessed due to the revenue generated by water sales to Seneca County Water District 1. Due to the increase in costs in the district it has now become necessary to implement an O&M fee. He noted that all other water and sewer districts in the town currently are being assessed O&M fees quarterly.
A motion by Eric Riegel, seconded by James Velie and so carried unanimously to increase the cost of water to $6.10 per thousand gallons and charge an operation and maintenance fee of $40 beginning with the 2025 third quarter water billing.
Town Clerk’s Report: A motion by Eric Riegel, seconded by Richard McCulloch and so carried unanimously to approve the May 2025 Town Clerk’s Report. Supervisor: $625, NYS Ag & Markets: $1, Total Disbursements: $626.
Minutes: A motion by Richard McCulloch, seconded by James Velie and so carried unanimously to approve the minutes of May 6, 2025.
Personnel: Mr. McCulloch reported that Summer Recreation will begin June 30th and the bookkeeper reported that she has been in contact with Ashley Chamis, the director of the program, to set up payroll for the councilors.
Assessor: Mrs. Karlsen reported that John Sensenig’s appointed term of office to the Assessment Board of Review expires September 30, 2025.
A motion by Richard McCulloch, seconded by Tom Fox and so carried unanimously to approve the reappointment of John Sensenig to the Assessment Board of Review to a term to expire September 30, 2030.
Planning Board: Cindy Lont discussed with the board the proposed signage to be placed on properties that public hearings will be held on. The attorney was going to research the legality of this and no action by the board was taken at this time. She reported the public hearings are being posted on the website.
Cindy Lont also commended Ann Kaminski on the wonderful job she is doing with posting items of interest on the Town of Varick Web Page.
Short Term Rentals: Cindy Lont reported that information letters were sent out to Short Term Rentals reminding them of rules and regulations. She reported that she had received an owner supervised application for a property on Route 89.
Comprehensive Plan: Cindy Lont reported that George Franz from Cornell will put the town on his list for his students to assist in updating the Comprehensive Plan for free. The board approved Susan Ottenweller to develop and mail a questionnaire to the residents of the town. This will give the board a better indication as to whether an update needs to be completed. Cindy Lont reported that George Franz will send her a sample questionnaire for Susan and the board to review to help develop the town’s questionnaire that will be sent.
New Business, Old Business, Correspondence:
Attorney Bove reviewed the resolution presented by the Varick Volunteer Fire Department at the May meeting approving issuance of a tax-exempt note for the department. Attorney. Bove noted that the Fire Department does have an agreement with the Town of Varick dated January 1, 1991, however, the town also has an agreement for participation in the Seneca County Fire Mutual Aid Plan approving participation with the Varick Volunteer Fire Department dated April 1, 2014, as well. Because of this agreement for mutual aid, the statement in the resolution presented by John Sensenig, President of the Fire department, in where it says “the Fire Protection District served by the Fire Department is not serviced by any other fire company or department” is not accurate and Attorney Bove said this needs to be removed from the presented resolution. Stanley Sensenig, Second Assistant Chief of the fire department, confirmed mutual aid is in place. Questions were addressed to Mr. Sensenig concerning the proposed new loan which he had difficulty answering, at which time Attorney Bove requested a letter of commitment from Wayne Bank to be provided by the Fire Department. Attorney Bove recommended the resolution be approved, with the removal of the statement: “the Fire Protection District served by the Fire Department is not serviced by any other fire company or department”. The resolution will not be forwarded to Wayne Bank until the requested documentation is reviewed and approved by the Town Attorney.
Further discussion was held regarding the timetable on which the loan was secured for the purchase of the fire truck. Stanley Sensenig reported the loan was secured after the pumper fire truck was shipped. The board expressed their dissatisfaction pertaining to the timing of securing a $250,000 loan for a truck after the truck was ordered and shipped. Supervisor Hayssen questioned further spending by the department, requested an accounting of their remaining funds, and reminded the Second Assistant Chief, Stanley Sensenig, that the town controls the funding they will receive on an annual basis.
Resolution #2025-2
Approving Issuance of Tax-Exempt Note
For the Varick Volunteer Fire Co., Inc.
A regular meeting of the Town of Varick Seneca County, NY was convened in public session at the Town’s offices located at 4782 State Route 96, Romulus, NY 1451 on the 3rd of June, 2025at 7:00 P.m. local time.
The meeting was called to order by Supervisor Robert Hayssen, and upon roll being called, the following were present:
Robert Hayssen, Supervisor
Richard McCulloch, Councilman
Tom Fox, Councilman
James Velie, Councilman
Eric Riegel, Councilman
Absent: None
The following resolution was offered by Eric Riegel, and seconded by James Velie, to wit:
RESOLUTION APPROVING ISSUANCE OF A TAX-EXEMPT NOTE BY THE VARICK VOLUNTEER FIRE CO., INC. TO THE BANK OF THE FIRE LAKES, A UNIT OF WAYNE BANK, I THE MAXIMUM PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF $250,000.00 DOLLARS TO FINANCE THE ACQUISITION OF A PUMPER TRUCK.
WHEREAS, The Varick Volunteer Fire co., Inc. (the “Fire Department”), a new your not-for-profit corporation, provides firefighting services within the jurisdiction of the Town of Varick, New York, for the portion of the Town of Varick described in the service agreement dated January 1, 1991, between the Town of Varick and the Varick Volunteer Fire Co., Inc.: and
WHEREAS, the Varick Volunteer Fire Co., Inc. is seeking to obtain a loan from the Bank of the Finger Lakes, a Unit of Wayne Bank, by the issuance of one or more notes on a tax-exempt basis (the “Note”) to finance the acquisition of a pumper truck for the Fire Department, to be issued as an obligation the interest on which will be excluded from gross income for federal income tax purposes pursuant to Section € of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code”); and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 147 (f) of the Code, interest on the Note will not be excluded from gross income for federal income tax purposes unless the issuance of the Note by the Varick Volunteer Fire Co., Inc. shall be approved by the Town Board after the President or Vice President to the Fire Department has conducted a public hearing thereon following reasonable public notice: and
WHEREAS, that on April 16, 2025, the President or Vice President of the Fire Department held a public hearing to consider the approval of the Note, after public notice given in accordance with the Code, and a transcript or summary report has been made available to each member of the Town Board prior to this meeting; and
WHEREAS, the members of the Fire Department provide firefighting services within the Fire Protection District within the Town pursuant to a written contract for services entered into pursuant to Section 184 Subdivision 1 of the Town Law; and
NOW THEREAFTER, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE TOWN BOARD AS FOLLOWS:
For the sole purpose of qualifying the interest payable on the Note for exclusion from gross income pursuant to the provisions of Section 150 (e) of the Code, the Town Board hereby approves the issuance of the Note by the Fire Department in a principal amount estimated not to exceed $250,000.00 dollars, provided that the Note shall be an obligation of the Fire Department and not of the Town.
THE NOTE SHALL NOT BE A DEBT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK NOR THE TOWN OF VARICK NEW YORK, AND NEITHER THE STATE OF NEW YORK NOR THE TOWN OF VARICK, NEW YORK SHALL BE LIABLE THEREON.
This resolution shall take effect immediately.
The question of the adoption of the foregoing Resolution was duly put to a vote on roll call, which resulted as follows:
Robert Hayssen Aye
Richard McCulloch Aye
Tom Fox Aye
Jame Velie Aye
Eric Rigel Aye
The Resolution was thereupon declared duly adopted.
Supervisor Hayssen presented a memo addressed to Seneca County Board of Supervisors in relation to Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in Seneca County. The Memo is in part related to the work of the EMS Ad Hoc Committee, chaired by Supervisor Partee, and in part connected with conversation after the board meeting on May 27th and much of the support for movement towards county involvement and potentially investment, in county EMS services provision is predicated on the CGR Report from 2023. The memo goes on to say the EMS Ad Hoc Committee met several times, reviewed the report, met with North Seneca (NSA) and South Seneca (SSA) Ambulance agencies and investigated options. The memo outlined suggestions in relation to Emergency Medical Services in Seneca County as viewed by the EMS Ad Hoc Committee.
Russell Goodman, Executive Director of North Seneca Ambulance, Inc., responded by email to this memo addressing the following three key topics:
- The current state and recent progress of North Seneca Ambulance (NSA)
- North Seneca Ambulance position on county-wide EMS coverage.
- North Seneca Ambulance concerns regarding recent discussions on the topic.
Mr. Goodman detailed NSA’s progress and accomplishments over the past 2.5 years, their position on County-Wide EMS Coverage and concerns regarding recent county wide EMS discussions.
In response to Mr. Goodman’s email, Chair of the EMS Ad Hoc Committee, Elizabeth Partee sent out an email as she wanted to address several points raised, particularly regarding how Mr. Goodman shared this information by including all involved and several points raised by North Seneca Ambulance.
The town board discussed all correspondence exchanged by the parties involved and noted that North Seneca Ambulance is not in favor of a county wide EMS system for the following reasons: 1. inaccurate financial assumptions,
2. lack of stakeholder involvement,
3. misunderstanding of operational realities
4. oversimplification of legal and regulatory process and government transparency issues
Based on the information presented and discussion by the Town Board who agreed with North Seneca Ambulances concerns regarding recent county-wide EMS discussions the following motion was proposed:
A motion by Eric Riegel, seconded by James Velie and so carried unanimously to put Seneca County Board of Supervisors and the EMS Ad Hoc Committee on notice that the Town Board of the Town of Varick is not in support of a County-Wide EMS service.
A brief discussion was held regarding a proposed chicken farm across from Miranda Cheese in the Town of Fayette that went in front of the Fayette Planning board.
Mrs. Karlsen presented the following correspondence:
- Flood Risk & Insurance Open House in Seneca County June 4, 2025, 3 pm to 7 p.m.
- North Seneca Open House, Sunday, June 8th 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 PM.
A motion by Eric Riegel, seconded by Jim Velie and so carried unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 8:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted:
Donna Karlsen
Varick Town Clerk