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 Council members Richard McCulloch, Tom Fox, James Velie, and Eric Riegel, Town Clerk, Donna Karlsen, Highway Superintendent, Ben Freier, Water Operator Aaron Youngs, Bookkeeper, Angela Testa, Attorney for the Town, Emil Bove, Planning Board Chair, Linda Mastellar, and Zoning Board Chair, Susan Ottenweller. Also present were Miles Persing and Cindy Lont.
Petitioners to Address the Board: Cindy Lont reported that the committee working on the survey entitled “Life In Varick” met and updated the survey with information suggested by the town board at their April board meeting. It was reported that the Town of Varick has several different zip codes within the town and the postal service cannot sort just those residences in the Town of Varick by using the zip codes. After some discussion, the board approved for the surveys to be mailed to taxpayers and registered voters using the database provided by Seneca County offices. A discussion was held listing the pros and cons of identifying the submitters of the survey. Cindy Lont noted the committee addressed the board’s original identity request, by adding an optional signature line at the end of the survey. It was recommended that the survey be sent with the Spring Clean-up flyer and noted that the Highway Department will not be asked to collect these surveys when residents are dropping off items for the cleanup. Residents can drop the surveys off in the drop box that will be set up in the vestibule or through an online survey program.
Abstract: A motion by Richard McCulloch, seconded by James Velie and so carried unanimously to approve Abstract No. 8, Vouchers 114 to 152 in the amount of $201,317.50.
Highway: Ben Freier reported that he will be working with Riccelli to complete the road work on Deal and Hahnel Road.
McDuffie Town Road Culvert Project: Mr. Freier reported that McDuffie Town Road is currently closed due to the recent flooding. He reported that due to the amount of water still flowing through the culvert pipe, he hasn’t been able to safely assess the condition of the culvert pipe and is hopeful that he might be able to open one lane back up for use.
Attorney Bove reported that a zoom meeting was held with Matthew Kelly and Karin Kohl from DOT, Region 3, Matt Schooley, engineer Barton & Loguidice, Roy Gates, Seneca County Highway, Arthur James, Seneca County Attorney, Katelyn Fenner, Deputy of Finance and Donna Karlsen, Town of Varick Clerk pertaining to the phases of this project and how distribution of funding would take place. Barton & Loguidice will oversee the project and submit to the Town of Varick bills with a form FIN 424428 requesting reimbursement from DOT to be sent to them at Region 3. Seneca County will act as the fiscal administrator for this project through an agreement between the county and town. Attorney Bove is finalizing the agreement with Seneca County’s attorney.
Once the billing is received with form FIN 424428 from B & L, the bills will be submitted to Seneca County for issuance of a check to the Town of Varick in the total amount of bills submitted. The check from the county will then be deposited in a Town of Varick highway bank account. The Town of Varick will then voucher the bills and pay them using funds received from Seneca County. Once the payments have cleared the bank, the bills, cancelled checks and form FIN 424428 will be sent to the DOT for reimbursement to the Town of Varick. DOT Region 3 will review the bills and wire the funds to the Town of Varick. Once the funds are received, Varick will issue payment back to Seneca County for the funds borrowed.
The following resolution was presented to the town board for approval:
TOWN OF VARICK
BRIDGE NEW YORK MCDUFFIE TOWN LINE CULVERT PROJECT 3757.65
RESOLUTION NUMBER 26-06
Authorizing the implementation and funding of 100% of the costs of a transportation project, of which qualified costs may be reimbursed from Bridge NY funds.
WHEREAS, a project for the MCDUFFIE TOWN LINE RD OVER TRIB TO SENECA LAKE CULVERT REPLACEMENT, TOWN OF VARICK, SENECA COUNTY, BRIDGE NY 2023, P.I.N. 3757.65 (the “Project”) is eligible for reimbursement of qualified costs from Bridge NY funding that calls for the post-reimbursement apportionment of the qualified costs to be borne at the ratio of _100____% Bridge NY funds and __0___% non-Bridge NY funds; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Varick will design, let, and administer all phases of the Project.
WHEREAS, the Town of Varick desires to advance the Project by making a commitment of 100% of the costs of Engineering, ROW and Construction work for the Project or portions thereof.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Town of Varick Board, duly convened does hereby
RESOLVE, that the Town of Varick Board hereby approves the Project; and it is hereby further
RESOLVED, that the Town of Varick Board hereby authorizes the Town of Varick to pay 100% of the cost of Engineering, ROW and Construction work for the Project or portions thereof, with the understanding that qualified costs will be reimbursed from Bridge NY funding; and it is further
RESOLVED, that the sum of $1,227,336 is hereby appropriated from the Town Highway Fund under a capital project expense line and is made available to cover the cost of participation in the above phase of the Project; and it is further
RESOLVED, that the Town of Varick Board hereby agrees that the Town of Varick shall be responsible for all costs of the Project, including costs which exceed the amount of reimbursement available from the NY Bridge Funding awarded to the Town of Varick; and it is further
RESOLVED, that in the event the costs of the Project exceed the amount appropriated above, the Town of Varick Board shall convene as soon as possible to appropriate said excess amount immediately upon the notification by the Town Supervisor, and it is further
RESOLVED, that the Town of Varick Board hereby agrees that the Town of Varick hereby commits that construction of the Project shall begin no later than twenty-four (24) months after award and the construction phase of the Project shall be completed within thirty (30) months; and it is further
RESOLVED, that the Supervisor of the Town of Varick be and is hereby authorized to execute all necessary agreements, certifications or reimbursement requests with NYSDOT for State Aid and/or Bridge NY funding on behalf of the Town of Varick in connection with the advancement or approval of the Project and providing for the administration of the Project and the municipality’s funding of the Project costs, and it is further
RESOLVED, that the Town of Varick will be responsible for all maintenance of the Project; and it is further
RESOLVED, that a certified copy of this resolution be filed with the New York State Commissioner of Transportation by attaching it to any necessary Agreement in connection with the Project; and it is further
RESOLVED, this Resolution shall take effect immediately.
Motion: Eric Riegel
Seconded: Richard McCulloch
So Carried Unanimously
A motion by Eric Riegel, seconded by James Velie and so carried unanimously to direct Supervisor Robert Hayssen to sign the BridgeNY Culvert Local Project Agreement Contract NO. D041726 between the Town of Varick and New York State Department of Transportation.
Highway Superintendent Ben Freier reported that he has made arrangements for Spring Clean Up to be held Thursday and Friday, June 18th and 19th from 7:00 to 3:00 and Saturday, June 20th from 7:00 to 12:00 Noon.
He reported that he is waiting for parts to come in for the mowing tractor, and requested permission to hire Skip Bennett to mow the lawn around the town hall until the tractor can be repaired. The board approved him to hire Mr. Bennett to complete the mowing until the mowing tractor can be repaired and he was asked that the flag be replaced on the front of the building.
Judge: Nothing to report.
Supervisor’s Report: A motion by Richard McCulloch, seconded by Eric Riegel and so carried unanimously to approve the Monthly Report of Supervisor, March 2026 .
Code Enforcement Officer: No report.
Water and Sewer Operator’s Report: Aaron Youngs presented his operator’s report to the board for their review. He reported his first couple weeks as newly hired Water/Sewer Operator, he felt, had gone smoothly and commended Nate Craig for all his assistance in helping him settle into his new position.
April 2026
- Marked Out Dig Tickets as requested
- 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
- Rebuilt sewer pumps
- Took Bac T samples in each water district
- Filled out and submitted monthly report to health department
- Did inventory for parts
- Built sewer adapters
- Organized and cleaned shop and truck
- Cleaned shop out on East Lake Road
- Updated lead and copper inventory
- Replaced broken meters due to freezing
- Read meters for quarter one billing
- Turning water on as needed
- Picked up Sewer Parts for rebuilding pumps
- Continuing of pinpointing leaks in Varick 1
- Water usage in Varick 3 is back down to normal due to trailer park leak
Varick Water District No. 1: Mr. Youngs’ reported that the department is coordinating a repair in this district with Romulus..
Seneca Lake Water District: Nothing further to report.
Varick Waster District No. 3: Nothing further to report.
Varick Water District No. 4: Nothing further to report.
Varick Sewer District No. 1: Nothing further to report.
Varick Sewer District No. 2: Nothing further to report.
Proposed Capital Project -Sewer District No. 4: Attorney Bove presented to the board an agreement between the Town of Varick and Midey, Mirras & Ricci, LLP to perform legal services necessary to organize and incorporate Sewer District No. 4.
A motion by Richard McCulloch, seconded by James Velie and so carried unanimously to enter into an agreement between the Town of Varick and Midey, Mirras & Ricci, LLP to perform legal services necessary to organize and incorporate Sewer District No. 4 and to direct Supervisor Robert Hayssen to sign said agreement.
Attorney Bove will begin working on the paperwork necessary to form Varick Sewer District No. 4 and will obtain the preliminary engineering report.
Town Clerk’s Report: A motion by Eric Riegel, seconded by Richard McCulloch and so carried unanimously to approve the April 2026 Town Clerk’s Report; Supervisor: $1,015, NYS Ag & Markets: $3, Total Disbursements: $1,018.
Minutes: A motion by Richard McCulloch, seconded by Eric Riegel and so carried unanimously to approve the minutes of April 7, 2026.
Personnel: Attorney Bove reported that his opinion based on his research showed that there is no conflict of interest and the town could hire Romulus Councilwoman, Melody Collinsworth as director of the Romulus/Varick Joint Summer Recreation program. Mrs. Testa also reported that the Town of Romulus attorney sited case studies where this would be permitted.
Mr. McCulloch reported that the Healthy Kids Programs, the group that runs the after-school program at Romulus during the school year, is offering a fee-based summer camp at Romulus from July 6th to August 21st from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
He has contacted Melody Collinsworth to follow up on available space for the Romulus/Varick Summer Recreation Program.
Assessor: Anne Morgan submitted the following written report:
Tentative rolls are complete.
Change notices will be mailed in the next two days to affected owners (property owners with increase in value or decrease in value)
Bank codes are current.
Deeds are current to March 1, 2026
The new program is an ongoing quest. I will be presenting a longer and in depth report I the near future.
Respectfully,
Anne Morgan, Assessor:
Planning Board: Linda Mastellar reported that the planning board has almost completed revisions to the code and wanted clarification as to the process of adopting the revisions. The attorney explained that the board would have to approve the revisions and depending on whether the revisions were minor or major, a public hearing would need to be held. Supervisor Hayssen requested that the revisions be highlighted in the code for the board to review when presented. They will not be addressing side setbacks, solar panels and docks and hoists in these proposed revisions.
Jeffrey Vest submitted his resignation from the Planning Board citing medical circumstances.
A motion by Eric Riegel, seconded by Richard McCulloch and so carried unanimously to accept Jeffrey Vest’s letter of resignation from the Planning Board.
Mrs. Mastellar did not have any recommendations for this vacant position but noted that Mr. Vest represented the middle of the town on the board and she would like to see the replacement to represent the middle of the town as well.
New Business, Old Business, Correspondence:
Tom Fox felt that the survey about “Life In Varick” should require signatures. It would allow the board to contact residents who submitted the survey to further question their responses. He also felt that it would hold those responding accountable and confirm that they live in the Town of Varick. The board went back and forth as to whether non-tax payers should be allowed to complete the survey but conceded to include the registered voters with the tax payers as the survey will differentiate between the two. It was decided that the survey would be included with the information on the Spring Clean Up days.
A motion by Eric Riegel, seconded by Richard McCulloch and so carried to approve the survey about “Life in Varick” as presented with the optional signature line and to include with the Spring Clean Up flyer.
Discussion: Mr. Fox was not in favor of sending it with the optional signature line.
Roll Call:
Supervisor Hayssen: Yes
Richard McCulloch: Yes
Tom Fox: No
James Vellie: Yes
Eric Riegel: Yes
So Carried
Yes-4, No-1
A motion by James Velie, seconded by Richard McCulloch and so carried unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 8:10 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted
Donna Karlsen, Varick Town Clerk