Welcome to the official website for the village of Oneida Castle, NY.

I want to thank everyone for coming to the village board meeting. You all found out that I am not good with electronics when I sent out an email which I thought was going to everyone only to be told it went out to only to 19 people. I had to come back home and have my granddaughter show me what I did wrong.

Derrick Buell brought up a NYS Real Property Law about time limits on repairing lawns and driveways. I passed that on to our engineers who are looking into it. I will let everyone know what the results are. I believe there was some miscommunications about the sidewalks as the sidewalk contractor was on site putting the sidewalks in today.

Tom Sears advised that there is a manhole in front of his home that is about a foot and a half to two feet above the ground. I contacted our engineer who is contacting the contractor to fix the problem since the manhole is supposed to be flush with the ground.

We will be planning a few trees this month. This is a lot more involved that I thought it was going to be. I am now working with NYS DOT and National Grid. I found that the trees we were going to plant were too large to be under the wires. National Grid will give us $50 a tree that meet their qualifications . They suggested that we only plant around 25 trees this year, 25 next year and some more after that and we should put a few varieties. That way is there is a problem with one type of tree it won't affect the rest. It will also look better. Another reason is that next year National Grid will have a program that will make us available for $1000 grant. I think that is a good idea. The tree will get planted a few at a time so they all don't grow old and we end having the same problem of having them dying around the same time.

I believe the drilling under State St. is being done this week. Once that is completed the sewer system is completed and will have to sit for a month and then be pressure tested. If it passes the pressure test we will be able to hookup. If it doesn't pass then they have to find the leak and repair it. Then it will pressure tested again.
Just because the sewer system is done does not mean that the contractor is finished. They still have to complete all the lawn and driveways and other damage they have done.

Our next meeting is October Monday October 6th at 7 PM. I will keep everyone informed as to what is going on in the village and where we are with the sewer project. Below are the minutes of the August meeting.

Jack

August 3, 2026
The regular monthly meeting of the Oneida Castle Village Board was called to order by Mayor John Deschamps at 7:00PM in the village office. Also present were Trustees Ackerman and Gwilt, Clerk Canada and Treasure Meyers. The following village residents were in attendance: Dave DeMarco, Sharon Bognaski, Ann Fowler, Patrik Fowler, Miranda Carrabba, Samantha Dartt, Kathy Wojciechowski, Anthony Navarro, Judy Mahoney, Tom Cochran, Sheila Hughes and Pamela Rood.
A. MINUTES
A motion was made by Trustee Ackerman and second by Trustee Gwilt to accept the July minutes.

B. REPORTS
Samantha Dart and Miranda Carrabba introduced themselves as part of the Bridges group on upper Lenox who are working to keep our parks and those who frequent these parks safer. They have done a survey as to what exactly people are seeing in our parks. This includes vaping. tobacco smoke and butts along with marijuana. Vaping is not covered under the law even though we are seeing it all over. She informed the group that villages have the power to adopt laws which include vaping and cigarettes. Their group will provide signage and services at no cost.
Miranda Carrabba, Coordinator, stated that the goal of this program is to prevent marijuana use and vaping in our youths and to make all parks and playgrounds smoke free. The Board stated that they would be very interested in this signage and the adoption of this law and would like more information on how to continue.
C. PUBLIC CONCERNS

The public concerns portion of the meeting will be combined with the business section of these minutes.
D, BUSINESS

Mayor Deschamps began by stating that although things are behind schedule, the sewer project should be wrapping up soon and we must get prepared. Each resident will be responsible to submit their email address along with their requests. Mr. Fowler is going to be the person who does the spread sheet and will be noting each resident and their concerns. He stated that we are coming to the end of the project and all should be giving their email at this time. After Jablonski says that he is finished, the village resident will have a year to request he fixes their problem that they have previously noted to Mr. Fowler. He will keep track of all this data. Mayor Deschamps stated that Jablonski is not finished yet.

Mrs. Rood spoke of her concerns regarding all the sticks, rocks and glass that is everywhere on her lawn. She also noted that by being a corner lot, her costs have tripled by moving the lateral to the rear of her property. Mayor Deschamps stated that the village cannot enforce when and what Jablonski will do. Mrs. Rood also asked about the time frame that Jablonski will stand behind his work. The Mayor said that there will be a pressure test after things have set for a month.

Mr. DeMarco asked why the construction people have not revamped their schedule. They wait until they are behind before they try to fix their problems. Mayor Deschamps said that Jablonski is penalized $1500 a day but the village also has to take the expenses of the Nation and the engineers out of that for each additional day.

Discussion took place about the trees that will be replacing those that had to be taken down. On the advice of an arborist they will be Norwegian maples and an alternate of Princeton Elms. This type of elm is resistant to common diseases of elm trees.
In closing. Mayor Deschamps said that the construction company is ready to bore under Fifth St . DOT is checking this carefully. Discussion of the water table in the village was brought up. Kathy W. spoke that her sump well has been dry where it has never been and others spoke of having water where they have never had it before.

Trustee Ackerman thanked all involved for the great events in the park this year. The food trucks were a big success and over $2,000 was collected for the tree fund. Also, Melanie Osier has suggested that people could sponsor a tree and put their name on a plaque in the park.

E. TREASURERS REPORT

Mrs. Meyers began her report with the cash flows from June. Inflows were $34,087. 47. This includes taxes, cable franchise fee and sales tax. Outflows were $7,159.51 making a net total of $26,927.96. Inflows for the Capital Sewer Project were $0 while outflows were $12,261.93 making a sewer project net total of -$12,261.93 and a monthly overall net total of $14,666.03.
This was followed by the July report. Inflows are $14,291.22 while outflows are $13,680,29 making a general fund net monthly total of $610.99. Inflows for the Capital Sewer Project are $311,412.32 while outflows are $293,907.89 making a sewer Project net monthly total of $17,504.43 and an overall net total of $18,115.42.
Year to date inflows are $48,378.69 and total inflows are $20,839.74 which makes a general fund net total of $27,538.95. Inflows for year to date Capital Sewer Project are $311,412.30 while outflow are $306,169.80. This makes a Sewer Project net total of $5,242.50 and a year to date overall net total of $32,781.40.
There is currently $613,422.87 in checking (outstanding check for $286,000) and $105,762.86 making a general fund balance of $412,019.57. Total revenues for the Capital Sewer Project are $311,412.82 with expenditures at $279,779.92. This makes a general fund balance of $56,701.76 and a total combined balance of $444,800.72.
Trustee Ackerman made a motion to accept the financial reports for the months of June and July. This was seconded by Trustee Gwilt.

E. ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Trustee Gwilt and seconded by Trustee Ackerman to adjourn at 7:50. The next meeting will take place on September 14th due to the Labor Day holiday.
Respectfully submitted,
Jean Canada, Oneida Castle Clerk