Town of Clinton board approves multiple contracts, hiring and warrants; electricity MOU fails

The Town of Clinton Town Board on Feb. 11 approved a package of routine and budgetary actions — including a deferred compensation plan for employees, a planning‑consultant contract, participation in the Sourcewell cooperative purchasing program, several staff appointments and the month’s warrants — while voting down a proposed memorandum of understanding tied to a community choice aggregation electricity procurement.

The board approved a resolution adopting the New York State Deferred Compensation Plan for voluntary employee participation, effective Feb. 11, 2025. The board’s bookkeeper, Van Norsten Houlihan, told the board she would not charge extra to implement the program; the measure passed on a voice vote with the board chair calling “Aye.”

The board also approved a contract with Nelson, Pope & Voorhees LLC to provide planning‑board consultation and to serve as consultants to applicants who pay escrow fees. During discussion a board member clarified that the contract is a vendor agreement distinct from a separate vote at a prior meeting to establish an escrow policy for application review. The Nelson, Pope & Voorhees contract passed on a voice vote.

Separately the board approved participation in the Sourcewell Cooperative Purchasing Program effective Feb. 11, 2025. The Sourcewell agreement was authorized and the supervisor was directed to sign the participation agreement.

The board approved its 2025 fee schedule as printed, including the schedule for mass‑gathering permits. Members discussed one line on the mass‑gathering fees that reflects the town’s current code; after discussion the board voted to adopt the fee schedule as printed.

The board accepted several personnel actions: the board accepted the separation of Jake Mignano from the full‑time MEO position (the meeting record described this as a dismissal presented as a resignation), accepted the resignation of Susan Michael from the Board of Assessment Review effective Jan. 1, 2025, and accepted the resignation of Jeff Newman as municipal code enforcement inspector with appointment of Newman as zoning administrator to be effective Feb. 12, 2025. The board also approved hiring Ken Wallace as a part‑time seasonal winter on‑call employee at $16.80 per hour through March 31, 2025.

Warrants approved by the board were the February general fund warrant (vouchers 31–67) totaling $60,322.82; the February highway fund warrant (vouchers 28–65) totaling $107,221.27; and the February capital fund warrant (vouchers 1–2) totaling $4,030.10. The board also approved a housekeeping transfer resolution dated Feb. 11, 2025.

A proposed memorandum of understanding (MOU) authorizing the town to join other municipalities in a community choice aggregation (CCA) electricity procurement and setting target rates did not pass. During lengthy discussion board members debated whether the MOU is binding, the effect of differing rates among participating municipalities and whether residents who had previously opted out could be re‑included automatically. Board members said unresolved questions remained about historical rate comparisons and supplier risk; one board member said the MOU could be revised and the group could reconsider in March. The MOU vote failed on a recorded roll call.

All routine housekeeping motions reported in the meeting minutes — vendor contracts, warrants, personnel items and fee schedule adoption — carried by voice vote unless otherwise noted.

Votes at a glance (as recorded in the meeting): - Adopted: New York State Deferred Compensation Plan (effective 02/11/2025). (resolution) - Approved: Contract with Nelson, Pope & Voorhees LLC for planning‑board consultation. (contract_award) - Approved: Sourcewell Cooperative Purchasing Program Participation Agreement (effective 02/11/2025). (contract_award) - Adopted: 2025 fee schedule as printed (includes mass‑gathering fee lines). (resolution) - Accepted: Separation of Jake Mignano from full‑time MEO position (effective as stated at meeting). (other) - Accepted: Resignation of Susan Michael, Board of Assessment Review (effective 01/01/2025). (other) - Appointed: Jeff Newman as zoning administrator (effective 02/12/2025). (appointment) - Appointed: Ken Wallace, part‑time seasonal winter employee, $16.80/hr (01/31/2025–03/31/2025). (appointment) - Approved: February warrants — General $60,322.82; Highway $107,221.27; Capital $4,030.10. (budget_adoption) - Approved: Motion to move funds dated 02/11/2025 (housekeeping). (other) - Failed: Memorandum of Understanding regarding joint RFP for electricity suppliers (recorded roll call). (other)

Notes: Where the meeting record did not provide a formal roll‑call tally the minutes record voice votes and the chairman’s announcement that motions carried.