The regular town board meeting 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, Highway Superintendent, Ben Freier, Water Operator, Aaron Youngs, Attorney for the Town, Emil Bove, Planning Board Chair, Linda Mastellar,
Abstract: A motion by Richard McCulloch, seconded by James Velie and so carried unanimously to approve Abstract No. 7, Voucher 186 to Voucher 222 in the amount of $189,520.78.
Highway: Highway Superintendent, Ben Freier reported that 25 ton of items were collected at the Household Cleanup this year. He is recommending that the clean up only be held Thursday and Friday next year as they had only a couple people show up on Saturday.
Mr. Freier reported that he hopes to receive the new 10 wheeler next week and the plow was delivered today. He did note that the plow was delivered with the wrong hook-up, which will be rectified. He also reported that he had placed the order for the superintendent’s truck but the order has been delayed as he was just notified, he needed to provide a copy of the registration for his current truck.
Ditching and new driveway pipes have been installed at the end of Yale Farm Road.
Attorney Bove reported that he has been working with the engineer on the McDuffie Town Road project and reported that the engineers will be following up with DOT to see if the funding has been allocated.
Judge: No report.
Supervisor/Bookkeeper Report: A motion by Richard McCulloch, seconded by Jame Velie and so carried unanimously to approve the May 2026 Monthly Report of the Supervisor.
Zoning Code Report: No report.
Water/Sewer Operator’s Report: June 2026
• Marked Out Dig Tickets as requested
• Read each master meter and completed 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
Organized and cleaned shop and truck
• Cleaned shop out on East Lake Rd.
• Updated lead and copper inventory
• Replaced broken meters due to freezing
• Read meters for quarter two billing
• Turning water on as needed
• Continuing of pinpointing leaks in Varick 1
• Waiting on Quotes for installation of Generator for Romulus Pump Stations
• Repaired leak in Varick 4 (4774 Route 89)
• Repaired Curb Stop Rods in Varick 1
• Attended Class for FLWW (DOH Hours)
• Flushed Hydrants to maintain Residual
• Started weed eating around Hydrants
• Hydrant and valve maintenance
• Repaired Water main Break 5587 East Lake Road
Aaron Youngs, Water/Sewer Operator questioned the board on behalf of his employee as to the policy for on-call pay. The board reviewed the job requirements for this employee at the time he was hired. The requirement that he was to be on call every other weekend and to carry the office cell phone and respond to phone calls that came through was included in his established hourly rate. The board discussed how surrounding towns address on-call duties and if compensation is offered in addition to their hourly/salary pay rate. Mr. Riegel noted that this employee had just received a substantial pay raise to complete the duties assigned to him at his hiring and was not in favor of giving on-call pay to carry the office phone when it was part of his original job responsibility. Further discussion was held with the following motion offered:
A motion by Tom Fox, seconded by Richard McCulloch and so carried to offer four compensation hours to Nathan Craig based on a 4 day-40 hour work week while carrying the office cell phone and responding to incoming phone calls and time and half after a 40 hour work week if he gets called in to work.
Roll Call:
Robert Hayssen: Yes
Richard McCullcoch: Yes
Tom Fox: Yes
James Velie: No
Eric Riegel: No
Yes: 3 No: 2 So Carried
Mr. Youngs reported that he would like to purchase a new backflow preventer with meter to replace the one that has been taken out of service due to age. He will present a quote at the August meeting.
A discussion was held again regarding the use of the same vehicle for water and sewer and sanitary issues this can present. It was noted by Supervisor Hayssen that money can be allocated for this purchase, and Mr. Youngs was instructed to develop a spec sheet for a truck and obtain pricing through state bid and present it to the board at the August meeting.
Varick Sewer 1: Aaron Youngs reported that he is obtaining several quotes from different electrical contractors for the installation of the generators for this district.
Varick Sewer District No. 2: Yaws Environmental sent an email June 5, 2026 informing the board that they will no longer assist with after hour E1 pump alarms any longer. They are required to give a 60 day notice which will bring their current contract terminating the beginning of August. They did mail a new agreement to service and maintain the sewage collection system and transmission system for Varick Sewer District No. 2 to commence on June 4th 2026 and remain in full force for a term of five years. The agreement indicates the rate and the increase in this rate on a yearly basis.
The board reviewed the job duties required to maintain the sewage collection system and assist with the E1 Pumps when the alarms go off. Different staffing options were discussed, with further research being completed by the board and Water/Sewer Operator, Aaron Youngs as to how to address this issue. The board tabled this discussion until the August meeting.
Proposed Capital Project -Sewer District No. 4: Attorney Bove reported that he is working with Pat Nicoletti and Mary Chappel in preparing the formation documentation. Pat Nicoletta, the engineer at MRB, said he is updating the map and description of the district which needs to be completed for the formation documentation. The board requested Attorney Bove to contact Mr. Nicoletta and express their concern over the length of time it has taken MRB to complete this update.
A 2026 NYS DEC WIQP application will be prepared by MRB and they submitted the following resolution for approval:
Resolution No. 26-008
Resolution of Support from the Town of Varick
2026 NYS DEC Water Quality Improvement Project
Creation of Sewer District No. 4 Along Cayuga Lake
WHEREAS, the Town Board for the Town of Varick, located in Seneca County, supports the submission of a 2026 Water Quality Improvement Program application on behalf of the Town for the construction of a sewer district along Cayuga Lake; and
WHEREAS, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) provides a competitive statewide reimbursement grant program for local governments, administered to directly address documented water quality impairments; and
WHEREAS, an Engineering Report entitled Sewer District No. 3/Sewer District No. 4 Sanitary Sewer Project and Memorandum dated August 2025 identify the Project as a way to help improve water quality and protect public health; and
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Town of Varick Town Board identifies the Town Supervisor as the authorized representative of the Town to execute necessary documents relative to and as required for the grant application; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the Town Board does hereby accept that they shall provide at least 25% match of the total of any grant funding awarded, as a local match are hereby appropriated in the form of in-kind services, cash contributions and obligated from the sewer fund or SRF financing in accordance with the Bond Resolution; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Town Board for the Town of Varick, located in Seneca County, recognizes and fully supports the submission of the 2026 WQIP application through the CFA by MRB Group on behalf of the Town to improve water quality and protect public health.
Seconded by: Tom Fox
Passed by the following vote of all Town Board Members voting in favor thereof:
Robert Hayssen Yes
Richard McCulloch Yes
Tom Fox Yes
James Velie Yes
Eric Riegel Yes
Affirmative: 5
Negative: 0
Abstain: 0
Varick Water District No. 1: Nothing further to report.
Seneca Lake Water District: Supervisor Hayssen reported that he met with Don Northrup at the Village of Waterloo inquiring if the Village was increasing the water rate to this district and to provide the town with a letter stating the new rate. Mr. Northrup did not provide him with the requested letter but wrote the new rate on a scrap paper and provided it to him. Attorney Bove, did locate in the Village’s April board minutes where a motion was passed to approve the new rate of $5.95 per thousand gallons. Supervisor Hayssen recommended that the town add five cents to this amount to help defray increased costs associated with operating this district.
A motion by Richard McCulloch and seconded by Eric Riegel and so carried unanimously to set the new water rate for Seneca Lake Water District beginning with the 2026 third quarter of $7.22 per thousand gallons of water with a minimum amount of $23.39 for quarterly water billing.
Varick Water District No. 3: Nothing further to report.
Varick Water District No. 4: The Town of Fayette sent a letter to the town informing the town that they recently discovered that invoices for the periods of September through December 2022 and October through December 2023 were not sent to the Town of Varick as intended. This issue was identified during a review being completed by their auditors. The town board reviewed correspondence exchanged between the Town of Varick and Town of Fayette during this period regarding water billing and tabled payment of their submitted billing for this period for further research by Attorney Emil Bove.
Town Clerk’s Report: A motion by Eric Riegel, seconded by James Velie and so carried unanimously to approve the June 2026 Town Clerk’s Report: Supervisor: $735, NYS Ag & Markets: $6, Total Disbursements: $741.
Minutes: A motion by Eric Riegel, seconded by Tom Fox and so carried unanimously to approve the minutes of June 2, 2026.
Summer Recreation: Mrs. Testa reported that Melody Collinsworth dropped off the application for the counselors she has hired for the program and Mrs. Karlsen reported that she has picked up the supplies from the supply closet.
Assessor: No report.
Planning Board: Nothing to report
Zoning Board: Nothing to report.
Old Business, New Business, Correspondence:
Mrs. Karlsen reported that she received a resume’ from Christopher Lofaro who is interested in the Short-Term Rental Clerk position. The board suggested that the bookkeeper provide him with the hourly pay rate and confirm that there is no health benefits offered for this position. Mrs. Karlsen indicated that she would be willing to continue doing the STR clerk position, but asked if the board would consider changing the time frame in which the renewed applications are due as the current time frame falls within the busiest time of year with closing of end of year, tax bills and water billing all being completed at that time. The board will consider changing the time frame for STR renewals which will need to be addressed in codes.
It was reported that Beverely’s Animal Shelter will be reopening and the town can sign a contract with that facility to take the dogs picked up by the Dog Control Officer. Mrs. Testa reported April, from the Town of Romulus, is still working towards her certification and establishing a location for her shelter.
“Life in Varick” Survey: Mr. Riegel reported that he received a couple phone calls regarding the online survey not working or being taken down and directed surveys to be either emailed to the clerk or dropped off at the office. Mrs. Karlsen reported that approximately 57 surveys had been received in her office and the committee is working on scheduling a meeting the middle of July to prepare a report for the August meeting
A motion by Eric Riegel, seconded by Richard McCulloch and so carried unanimously to adjourn the regular meeting at 8:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Donna Karlsen
Varick Town Clerk