Rouses Point trustees approve lead-agency finding for sewer project and several municipal items; plow purchase noted as subject to permissive referendum

Rouses Point — The Village of Rouses Point Board of Trustees voted to declare the proposed village sanitary sewer collection system improvement project a Type I action under the State Environmental Quality Review Act and established the village as lead agency, and approved a slate of other routine municipal items during its public meeting.

The board approved the minutes of the Jan. 6, 2025, regular meeting and authorized payment of bills as printed. Trustees then took separate votes on a set of resolutions and routine approvals including designation of the village as lead agency for the sewer project (Resolution 25-4); a capital purchase of a 2011 Freightliner M2-106 snow plow/sander for up to $63,000 (Resolution 25-5); a shared-service agreement with the Town of Champlain for provision of a code enforcement officer (Resolution 25-6); an employee mileage reimbursement rate of $0.70 per mile (Resolution 25-7); renewal of the Champlain EMS contract for 2025; acceptance of an electrical inspector application from ADK Electrical Inspectors; and acceptance of a retirement notice from Public Works employee Greg McCallum, whose last day will be April 30.

On Resolution 25-4, the board recorded that it had circulated Part 1 of the Full Environmental Assessment Form to potentially involved agencies, received no objections to the village serving as lead agency, and determined under SEQRA criteria that the project will not have a significant adverse environmental impact. The board then voted to establish itself as lead agency for the project.

Resolution 25-5 authorized purchase of the 2011 Freightliner M2-106 snow plow/sander at a cost not to exceed $63,000 from a capital reserve fund. The resolution notes that the expenditure is subject to permissive referendum under the General Municipal Law (including the 45-day posting period and petition thresholds described in the law). The transcript records roll-call voting in favor and the chair announcing "the ayes have it;" the resolution text and clerk’s statements also note the permissive referendum requirement and the 45-day petition window and 10 percent petition threshold for a local referendum.

Resolution 25-6 authorizes the mayor to execute a shared services agreement with the Town of Champlain for provision of a code enforcement officer, and the board approved the mayor’s authority to take necessary legal steps to participate in the agreement. Resolution 25-7 sets the village reimbursement rate for official business at $0.70 per mile in accordance with the 2025 IRS standard mileage rate for business.

The board approved the Champlain EMS services agreement for 2025 (the transcript indicates the contract was provided to trustees in August and renews Jan. 1), accepted the ADK Electrical Inspectors’ application for electrical inspection duties, and voted to accept Greg McCallum’s retirement letter with his last day listed as April 30.

Several votes were taken by motion, second and roll call; the transcript records multiple trustees answering "aye" during roll calls for the items above. The minutes and recorded motions were brief and the meeting contained limited debate on these items.

Votes at a glance (items from this meeting): - Approval of minutes (Jan. 6, 2025): approved (motion/second; ayes recorded). - Payment of bills as printed: approved (motion/second; ayes recorded). - Resolution 25-4 (SEQRA lead agency for sanitary sewer collection system improvement project): approved; village established as lead agency under SEQRA. - Resolution 25-5 (capital purchase: 2011 Freightliner M2-106 plow/sander, not to exceed $63,000): approved; expenditure subject to permissive referendum under General Municipal Law (45-day posting; 10% petition threshold). Transcript contains clerk statements referencing both passage and the referendum requirement. - Resolution 25-6 (shared-service agreement with Town of Champlain for code enforcement officer): approved; mayor authorized to execute agreement. - Resolution 25-7 (mileage reimbursement rate of $0.70/mile): approved. - Champlain EMS contract for 2025: accepted. - ADK Electrical Inspectors application: accepted. - Acceptance of retirement letter for Greg McCallum (Public Works): accepted; last day April 30.

No formal amendments to the above resolutions were recorded and there was limited substantive debate on the motions. The board adjourned after routine reports and without an executive session request.