By CHRISSY PRICHARD

Express News Staff

The Webb town board held its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, June 12. Board members present were Councilwoman Mary Brophy-Moore, Councilwoman Kate Russell, Councilman J.B. Herron, Councilman Mike Ross, and Town Supervisor Ted Riehle. Also in attendance were Town Clerk Nanci Russell and Town Attorney Richard Frye.

The board voted to give Centrex Laboratories, the current lab service provider at the Town of Webb Professional Offices, the 90-day notice that is required to terminate the service contract they have with the town. After the 90 days, St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center will begin providing the lab services at the health center.

The board is working out the final details of the service contract with St. Elizabeth’s for them to take over the operations of the health center. Since this step of the process can be done independently from the rest of the transition, the board is confident that this is a logical step toward their final goal. Riehle says this step will also reinforce the commitment the town has to moving things forward with St. Elizabeth’s.

The Town of Webb currently pays over $2,300 per month in subsidies to Centrex for their services. Centrex also receives subsidies from the Towns of Forestport, Inlet, and Long Lake. Once St. Elizabeth’s takes over the lab service, the towns will no longer have to pay these subsidies. On a motion made by Brophy-Moore and seconded by Ross, the resolution passed by unanimous vote.

The board voted to authorize CAP-21 to submit an application for a community block grant on behalf of the town. Funding from this grant can be used towards improvements to infrastructure, business development and public services.

Riehle mentioned a number of projects the town is currently working on that could benefit from this possible grant funding. The funding could be used for projects such as providing public restrooms, refurbishing the existing water tower, improvements at McCauley Mountain, and rehabilitating lock and dam in Thendara. A motion was made by Ross, seconded by Russell, and passed by unanimous vote.

The board authorized the funding of a cost evaluation of proposed enhancements at McCauley Mountain by Gaetano Construction. The estimated cost of the evaluation is $2,000 to $2,500. This analysis will provide cost estimates for the various projects that are proposed at McCauley, and will serve as an important planning tool when it comes to securing funding, prioritizing projects, and soliciting bids for the various projects.

According to Russell, who is a member of the McCauley Mountain Improvement Committee, proposed projects include upping the facility’s energy efficiency with improvements to the windows, insulation, and heating systems. No major additions are planned, but the committee is looking at ways to reconfigure the existing space to enhance its usage, and is looking at adding additional entrances to improve access.

Funding for this evaluation has been allocated in this year’s budget. Riehle said that having this cost evaluation done is a logical next step and will help in the long-term planning process.

Fulton Chain of Lakes Association board member Philip Sanzone made a presentation to the board, asking them to consider enacting local legislature that would help protect the Fulton Chain from invasive species. Sanzone says that such local laws exist in other towns, and it makes sense for us to take this step to keep invasives from impacting the recreational use of our lakes, which could in turn impact tourism and the local economy.

The proposed law would be enforced by local and state authorities and would give them the leverage to hold boat owners liable if they do not use due care to makes sure their boats, trailers, tow vehicles, etc. are free from invasive that they may be carrying from other places.

The law would require that all boats be inspected before they are launched at a public boat launch.

The law would include an exception for marina owners, as not to increase their workload in the summer. Chris Gaige of Rivett’s Marine spoke to the board about his concern that a thorough inspection of each and every boat they launch would be an inconvenience and a cost burden. Marina owners, under the new law, would only be required to give boats a quick visual inspection and would not be held responsible for enforcing the law, but would have it to back them up when necessary.

Sanzone would like the law to complement the efforts being made by the DEC and Paul Smith’s College to check boats for invasive species before launching. The law could give these launch stewards something to back them up if they come across a possible introduction of invasives or an uncooperative boat owner. Boat owners would be ultimately responsible for compliance and could be fined or ticketed if the new law is broken.

The board is interested in protecting the quality of our lakes, and will take the FCLA’s suggestions under consideration.

The board discussed the renewal of the contract between the Town of Webb and John Nemjo of Mountainman Outdoor Supply Company for the annual Paddlefest event, held by Nemjo each spring at the Old Forge Lakefront.

Nemjo requested that the board consider renewing the contract for a three year term, rather than on a year to year basis, as had been done in the past. Rather than come back to the board each year, it would be easier for Nemjo to have a plan in place for the next three years.

Although the board is happy with the contract that was put in place for this years event, they are hesitant to make a three year commitment.

Not knowing what the future holds for this growing event, they decided not to agree to the proposed three-year term. Board members wanted to maintain the ability to make changes in the coming years if necessary, so they decided that a yearly contract would be in the town’s best interest.

On a motion made by Herron and seconded by Russell, a resolution to renew the contract for next spring’s Paddlefest passed by unanimous vote.

There was discussion on where things stand on phase two of TOBIE Trail project. Brophy-Moore asked when work was expected to begin on the public restrooms in Eagle Bay. Riehle says that bids for the restroom project will be solicited in late July and will be opened in August. Work on the facility is expected to begin in the early fall. A public hearing will be held to discuss the details of phase three of the TOBIE Trail project with representatives from the APA at 1 p.m. on Friday, June 22.

Herron brought up the topic of ice skating and ice hockey, and asked the board to start thinking about ways to offer a hockey rink, something that has been discontinued in recent years. They plan to continue having the outside rink on Joy Tract Road, but it is not a suitable location for the installation of the town’s hockey boards.

He urged the board to start considering their options, because he would like to see a plan put in place sooner than later. The board discussed the pros and cons of returning hockey to the North Street Pavilion and said although they are interested in making hockey available, they would like to get a better feel for how much use the rink would actually get.

Ross discussed the future of the North Street fields and possible improvements that could be made to the facility. He got the board’s approval to install sod by the soccer goals where the grass has been worn away. He would like to see a couple of the town board members get together with members of the Town of Webb School’s Board of Education to discuss possible plans for future improvements that would benefit both the town and the school’s athletic program.

The next regular meting of the Town of Webb Board will be at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 10. All meetings of the board are open to the public with the exception of executive session.