December 29, 2025
The end of year meeting was called to order by Supervisor Robert Hayssen at 10:00 a.m. Present at this meeting were Councilmen Richard McCulloch, Tom Fox, James Velie, and Eric Riegel, Water Operator, Ben Karlsen, Highway Superintendent, Ben Freier and Bookkeeper, Angela Testa. Absent: Town Clerk Donna Karlsen
Privilege of the Floor: None.
Water Operator: Ben Karlsen notified the board that he is resigning from his position as Water Operator with his last day of employment with the town of Varick January 17, 2026. The board regretfully accepted his resignation and thanked him for his service and wished him well in his new position with the Town of Seneca.
Supervisor’s Report: A motion by Eric Riegel, seconded by James Velie and so carried unanimously to approve the November 2025 Monthly Report of the Supervisor.
Mrs. Testa presented a resolution to the board to amend the 2025 budget to balance overdrawn expense lines.
RESOLUTION NO 25-14
| AMENDMENT TO THE | ||||
| TOWN OF VARICK | ||||
| 2025 BUDGET TRANSFERS | ||||
| WHEREAS there are not sufficient budget appropriations in the District Fund Budget to meet obligations of the Fund for the year 2025, and | ||||
| WHEREAS, in conformity with Town Law and good bookkeeping practices, amounts should not be over appropriated, be it | ||||
| RESOLVED, that the Financial Officer is hereby authorized and directed to make amendments to the 2025 budget to correct over budget line items as follows: | ||||
$ 460.00 from Deputy Personnel A00-1410.101 to Contractual A00-1410.400
$ 515.00 from Rec Cont. A00-7145.400 to Rec Personnel A00-7145.100
$ 1,800.00 from Refuse Cont. A00-8160.400 to Refuse Personnel A00-8160.100
$ 27,390.00 from Fund Balance A00-599 to Capital Outlay A00-8686.200
$ 465.00 from Fund Balance A00-599 to Workers Comp A00-9040.800
$ 78.01 from Insurance DA-1620.430 to Utilities DA-5010.400
$ 13,447.36 from Machinery Per. DA-5130.100 to Roads Personnel DA-5110.100
$ 255.00 from Brush Per DA-5140.100 to Roads Personnel DA-5110.100
$ 100.00 from Uniforms DA-9089.800 to Social Security DA-9030.800
$ 275.00 from Uniforms DA-9089.800 to Workers Comp. DA-9040.800
$ 31.00 from Admin Cont SS2-8110.400 to Insurance SS2-1620.430
$ 1010.00 from Equipment SW1-8320.200 to Insurance SW1-1620.430
$ 740.00 from Equipment SW1-8320.200 to Laborer SW1-8320.101
$ 1782.00 from Equipment SW1-8320.200 to SC Water Arrears SW1-8320.440
$ 240.00 from Health Ins. SW1-9060.800 to Social Security SW1-9030.800
$ 1220.00 from Equipment SW2-8320.200 to Workers Comp SW2-9040.800
$ 136.00 from Repairs SW3-8320.430 to Insurance SW3-1620.430
$ 90.00 from Repairs SW3-8320.430 to WL and Badger SW3-8310.410
$ 225.00 from Admin SW3-8310.400 to Utilities SW3-8310.430
$ 1265.00 from Fund Balance SW3-599 to Laborer SW3-8320.101
$ 1765.00 form Fund Balance SW3-599 to SC Water Arrears SW3-8320.440
$ 175.00 from Repairs SW3-8320.430 to Transportation SW3-8340.400
$ 150.00 from Repairs SW3-8320.430 to Fayette Expenses SW3-8389.400
$ 710.00 from Equipment SW3-8320.200 to Social Security SW3-9030.800
$ 700.00 from Equipment SW3-8320.200 to Health Ins. SW3-9060.800
$ 185.00 from Equipment SW4-8320.200 to WL and Badger SW4-8310.410
$ 55.00 from Equipment SW4-8320.200 to Utilities SW4-8310.430
$ 115.00 from Equipment SW4-8320.200 to Transportation SW4-8340.400
$ 285.00 from Equipment SW4-8320.200 to Social Security SW4-9030.800
$ 2.00 from Equipment SW4-8320.200 to RD Interest SW4-9710.700
Motion: Richard McCulloch
Seconded by: Eric Riegel
So Carried Unanimously
Abstract: A motion by Richard McCulloch, seconded by James Velie and so carried unanimously to approve Abstract No. 13, Vouchers 392 to Vouchers 425 in the amount of $79,801.39.
Highway: Ben Freier reported that he will be having surgery on his elbow the beginning of January and will be out of work for a couple of weeks and would like approval from the board to hire a temporary, part-time, on-call person to run plow until he is released from the doctor and able to resume this duty himself. He anticipates this should be for a few weeks.
A motion by Richard McCulloch, seconded by James Velie and so carried unanimously to authorize Highway Superintendent Ben Freier to hire a temporary, part time, on-call person to run plow as needed until he is released from his doctor’s office and can resume this duty as Highway Superintendent.
Planning Board: It was determined that there was no conflict with Eileen Percevault serving on both the Assessment Board of Review and Planning Board so the following motions was presented:
A motion by Richard McCulloch, seconded by Eric Riegel and so carried unanimously to appoint Eileen Percevault to fill a vacancy to the Planning Board with a term to expire December 31, 2026.
New Business, Old Business and Correspondence:
Mrs. Testa asked for a motion to approve compensation to Donna Karlsen for STR duties she is completing in the absence of an STR Clerk.
A motion by Richard McCulloch, seconded by James Velie and so carried unanimously to approve compensation to Donna Karlsen for STR duties she is completing in the absence of a STR clerk.
The board received correspondence from Tim and Kim Wolverton regarding eight streetlights in the Hamlet of Romulus that are currently not working. Mr. McCulloch reported that he spoke to Tim Wolverton who informed him that they have reported these outages to NYSEG with no results. Ben Freier reported that he spoke to Kim Woverton during the summer and reported these outages to NYSEG but was told that the homeowner needs to do the reporting. Mrs. Testa reported that the Town of Romulus has also reported these outages to NYSEG. It was determined that NYSEG has been made aware of these outages and at this point there is nothing further the town can do. Mr. McCulloch will email Mr. Wolverton to let him know that their concern has been addressed to NYSEG.
A motion by Eric Riegel, seconded by James Velie and so carried unanimously to adjourn the end of year meeting at 10:25 a.m.
Respectfully submitted:
Donna Karlsen, Varick Town Clerk