TOWN OF HORNBY REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING JUNE 8, 2026
Present at the June meeting of the Hornby Town Board were: Supervisor Justin Eberlin, Councilmembers Rebecca Litz, Hazel Russell, Steve Reed, John Hale, and Town Clerk Pam Smith. Eunie Taggart, Mike Martin, and Elmer Eaton Jr. also attended the meeting.
The Town Board meeting was opened at 6:00 pm by Supervisor Eberlin.
MOTION by Russell, seconded by Litz,
To approve the minutes of the Town Board meeting dated May 11, 2026 as presented. No discussion was held.
Vote: Eberlin – aye, Russell – aye, Litz – aye, Reed – aye, Hale – aye.
MOTION by Hale, seconded by Litz,
To approve the payment of General Fund vouchers numbered 78-94 on abstract G-06-26 in the amount of $13,863.30; the payment of Highway Fund vouchers numbered 65-79 on abstract H-06-26 in the amount of $26,894.64; and the payment of Trust and Agency voucher numbered 73 in the amount of $7,307.07. Discussion was held on the bill for Corning Animal Hospital in the amount of $5,803.92. This bill is for the treatment of the three dogs seized by the dog control officer. The Town will pay the bill but will also pursue restitution from the dog’s owner, James Byrnside, via legal means.
Vote: Eberlin – aye, Russell – aye, Litz – aye, Reed – aye, Hale – aye.
The County passed the animal abuse registry proposal. They also passed a moratorium on spreading bio sludge in Steuben County. Discussion was held. Next, the County is looking at a moratorium on data centers. More discussion was held.
Highway Superintendent Divens sent a list of the highway departments’ current tasks to Supervisor Eberlin. The highway department is grading roads and cleaning ditches. They are also mowing and getting estimates for road projects. Highway Superintendent Divens requested that the Town allow him to borrow from the General Fund to pay for the CHIPs projects for this year, until CHIPs reimburses the Town. Discussion was held. The borrowed money would need to be paid back in 2026, and they would like to know the amount needed, not just a general amount.
Elmer Eaton Jr. was asked to come and talk to the Town Board regarding his mowing at Central Valley Cemetery. Discussion was held with Mr. Eaton. In 2026, the Town will pay Elmer the same amount as for 2025, $661.50. In the 2027 budget, $1,000 will be budgeted for the mowing of Central Valley Cemetery.
The roadside cleanup was discussed. The town board asked if the Hornby Historical Society would have a sign-up sheet with phone numbers or emails for the cleanup at the bicentennial event, and they agreed. The fall cleanup will probably be held in September.
Discussion was held on the court bailiff position. The board calculated that they will need to put $2400 in the 2027 budget for the bailiff position. Currently there is $800 in the 2026 budget.
RESOLUTION by Eberlin, seconded by Hale,
To sign the contract with Steuben County Sheriff to contract for a Steuben County Sheriff’s deputy to be the court bailiff.
Vote: Eberlin – aye, Russell – aye, Litz – aye, Reed – aye, Hale – aye.
Attorney Bowes has not yet reviewed the 2 laws, nor given the Town the write-ups for the ballot. Discussion was held. The town board must have the laws reviewed by Attorney Bowes and the write-ups for the ballot by the July meeting to approve the laws to go on the ballot.
Mr. Eaton would like something to be done to make it safer to come off Wilson Hollow and pull out onto 414. Discussion was held. Vegetation is part of the issue, and so is the height of the road. NYS decreased the height of Wilson Hollow and that made things worse. There are also huge potholes where the two roads come together.
The Town had a check stolen in the mail. A check was sent to Staples, and before Staples received it, someone cashed the check. Staples notified the town clerk that the Town was late with their payment, but since the check was sent several weeks ago, the town clerk asked the bookkeeper to check and see if the check had been cashed. The check had been cashed and the bookkeeper printed the copy of the cashed check from the bank. The copy of the cashed check was sent to Staples and Staples verified it wasn’t cashed by Staples. The bank was notified of the fraud, and they closed the general fund bank account without telling Supervisor Eberlin. Then several general fund checks started being rejected because the general fund bank account was closed. Now businesses and employees want the bank fees reimbursed. The Town currently cannot get to the money that was in the general fund. Discussion was held.
RESOLUTION by Eberlin, seconded by Reed,
To borrow $4528.95 from Highway Fund to General Fund to cover General Fund checks because of the fraudulent check.
Vote: Eberlin – aye, Russell – aye, Litz – aye, Reed – aye, Hale – aye.
Carol Golden will no longer represent the Town of Hornby. The Town is now flagged with the State because the annual report is not yet done and a request for an extension was not filed before the deadline. Supervisor Eberlin stated that accounting firms do not want to do municipal accounting. The Supervisor requested quotes from various accounting firms. Allied gave us a quote for the annual report. They require a 3 year contract, cost of $3,300.00 to $3,600.00 a year. Discussion was held.
AMR sent a contract to Supervisor Eberlin. He will have the town clerk email it to the town board members.
The town clerk stated that she is sending requested information to the website designer, such as policies, minutes, and local laws.
A resident has an issue with the amount of noise Reese Rodeo is making, and with the dogs barking in the new kennel. In three emails, the resident requested a significant amount of documents. The ones on a computer were sent to her, and she was told the cost to copy the remaining documents that are not on the computer. She was told that she could also come in and review them at no charge. She has not yet come in to review them. She also wants a noise ordinance. Documents and minutes regarding a noise ordinance were sent to her from the last time a noise ordinance was before the town board. The noise ordinance was not passed by the town board after listening to residents at the public hearing. This resident has also threatened legal action. The resident was invited by the town clerk to attend tonight’s meeting but did not come. Discussion was held. A noise ordinance would be hard to enforce.
The meeting was opened to visitors.
Eunie Taggart asked what was happening with State forests that the DEC wants input on. Discussion was held. Supervisor Eberlin thinks they are referring to putting power lines thru State forests. Mrs. Taggart also asked if the solar panel moratorium ever went though. Discussion was held. No, its progress was stalled.
Mike Martin asked if the Town was doing a re-assessment. He was told that the assessor would not do one because there was not unanimous approval from the town board to do it. Discussion was held. Mr. Martin is concerned because he doesn’t want the Town’s equalization percentage to drop too much. He also stated that school taxes are affected by not doing a re-assessment.
Mr. Martin was also concerned about Ron Divens retiring and the highway superintendent position that will be filled by a new person in the next election. Discussion was held.
Supervisor Eberlin stated that the town policies should be reviewed and new ones added if necessary. Vehicle maintenance is a possible policy to add.
Mr. Eaton requested that the sign at Central Valley Cemetery to changed to call the Town of Hornby for burial lots. Discussion was held.
Mr. Martin asked who else knows how CHIPs works. Discussion was held.
Discussion was held on the position of town attorney. Municipal attorneys are hard to find in this area and the ones in Binghamton and Rochester are expensive.
MOTION by Eberlin, seconded by Reed,
To go into executive session at 7:34pm to discuss matters relating to collective negotiations pursuant to Article 14 of the Civil Service Law.
Vote: Eberlin – aye, Russell – aye, Litz – aye, Reed – aye, Hale – aye.
The regular meeting resumed at 7:57pm.
MOTION by Russell, seconded by Reed,
to adjourn the meeting at 7:57 pm. No discussion was held.
Vote: Eberlin – aye, Russell – aye, Litz – aye, Reed – aye, Hale – aye.
Pamela A. Smith
Hornby Town Clerk