Board of Trustees

Board of Trustees Minutes April 6, 2020 Meeting called to order at 7:28pm MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Dennis Siry, Deputy Mayor Kevin Smith, Trustee Jessica Bernius, Trustee Mike O’Neill, Trustee Thomas Whalen ALSO PRESENT: Acting Chief of Police, Bryan Burton Superintendent of Public Works, Bruce S. Hopper Chief of Fire Department, Leland Greey Village Attorney, Bruce Kennedy Clerk Treasurer, Catherine Murdock Secretary to the Mayor, Wendy O’Neill The Mayor also pointed out that due to the Coronavirus, the meeting is being held via WebEx conference call. The salute to the flag was led by Police Chief Burton. • Mayor Siry asked for a moment of silence in memory of all those who have perished from the pandemic and all those affected by it. He also asked for a moment of silence for former AFD Chief Murney E. Lewis, Jr. who was a dedicated 67-year department volunteer. • He added that the meeting will be taped and posted on the Village website (Amityville.com) tomorrow. The meeting will remain open and any public comments can be sent to mayor@amityville com through April 13th Mayor’s Actions Mayor Siry requested approval of the Board of Trustee Minutes of March 9th and March 23rd meeting. MOTION to APPROVE was made by Trustee O’Neill and seconded by Trustee Whalen Vote on Motion: Mayor Siry aye Deputy Mayor Smith aye Trustee Bernius aye Trustee Whalen aye Trustee O’Neill aye Motion Carried: 5 ayes 0 nays Mayor Siry then announced the start of the Organizational Meeting. 1  Board of Trustees Minutes April 6, 2020 Standing Committee Appointments The following standing committees of the Board of Trustees are to serve during the ensuing official year, the first name being the Chairperson of the Committee and the second the Vice-Chairperson. Public Safety Committee Jurisdiction: Police Department Appointees: Mayor Siry Deputy Mayor Smith Fire Protection Committee Jurisdiction: Fire Department Bureau of Fire Prevention Appointees: Mayor Siry Trustee Whalen Judiciary Committee Jurisdiction: Court Clerk’s Department Liaison to Judge(s) Appointees: Trustee Bernius Trustee O’Neill Public Works Committee Jurisdiction: Highway, Lighting, Buildings, Grounds Appointees: Trustee O’Neill Deputy Mayor Smith Code Enforcement Committee Jurisdiction: Code Enforcement Department Appointees: Deputy Mayor Smith Trustee Whalen Recreation Committee Jurisdiction: Beach Operations Recreation Program Appointees: Trustee Bernius Mayor Siry 2  Board of Trustees Minutes April 6, 2020 Administrative Committee Jurisdiction: Village Clerk/Treasurer, Assessors Department Appointees: Trustee Whalen Deputy Mayor Smith Emergency Preparedness Committee Jurisdiction: Emergency Agencies Appointees: Trustee O’Neill Deputy Mayor Smith Audit Committee Entire Board of Trustees MOTION to APPROVE was made by Deputy Mayor Smith and seconded by Trustee Bernius Vote on Motion: Mayor Siry aye Deputy Mayor Smith aye Trustee Bernius aye Trustee Whalen aye Trustee O’Neill aye Motion Carried: 5 ayes 0 nays Temporary Committees July 3rd Celebration- Roger Smith Fourth of July Parade- Roger Smith Business Development Task Force- Mayor Siry and Chamber of Commerce President, Daniel Galasso and Christopher Geiger Downtown Revitalization Committee- Tom Howard, Peter Casserly Distinguished Resident Committee- Deputy Mayor Smith, Trustee Bernius, Doris Reynolds, Kerry Doran MOTION to APPROVE was made by Deputy Mayor Smith and seconded by Trustee Whalen Vote on Motion: Mayor Siry aye Deputy Mayor Smith aye Trustee Bernius aye Trustee Whalen aye Trustee O’Neill aye Motion Carried: 5 ayes 0 nays 3  Board of Trustees Minutes April 6, 2020 The following trustees are appointed to serve as liaison between the Board of Trustees and the respective entities indicated. Liaison Appointments Planning Board-Deputy Mayor Smith Zoning Board of Appeals- Trustee Whalen Senior Citizens Commission- Trustee Bernius Historical Society- Trustee O’Neill and Trustee Bernius Parks Commission- Mayor Siry and Trustee Bernius Amityville School Board - Trustee Bernius and Trustee O’Neill MOTION to APPROVE was made by Trustee Bernius and seconded by Trustee Whalen Vote on Motion: Mayor Siry aye Deputy Mayor Smith aye Trustee Bernius aye Trustee Whalen aye Trustee O’Neill aye Motion Carried: 5 ayes 0 nays Mayoral Appointments: The terms indicated at a compensation, if any, subject to the budget that has not yet been adopted and in accordance with the general fund budget as indicated in Schedule 5 of the applicable General Fund Budget, as adopted, or as contained in prior resolutions. Title Name Term Village Attorney Bruce Kennedy 1 year Associate Justice Joseph Calabrese 1 year Village Prosecutor Ryan McKeon 1 year Deputy Clerk Deirdre Parker 1 year Deputy Treasurer Tiffany Ladd 1 year Village Assessor Thomas Donato 1 year Village Auditor Tiffany Ladd 1 year Registrar Tiffany Ladd 1 year Deputy Registrar Deirdre Parker 1 year Deputy Registrar Johanna Rogers 1 year Village Historian William Lauder 1 year Director of Recreation TerriLynn Bayon 1 year Disability Coordinator Lore Waegerle 1 year Emergency Preparedness/ Emergency Management Chairman James Juliano 1 year Stephen Juliano 1 year 4  Board of Trustees Minutes April 6, 2020 Senior Citizens Commission Member Sheila Shroeder 3 year Senior Citizens Commission Member Marilyn Brous 3 year Senior Citizens Commission Member Patrice O’Neill 3 year Senior Citizens Commission Member Christine Schultz 3 year Senior Citizens Commission Member Carol Seery 3 years Zoning Board Alternate Member Eric Taylor 1 year Zoning Board Chairperson Richard Ubert 1 year Zoning Board Member William Ordon 5 year Planning Board Alternate Member Townsend Thorn 1 year Planning Board Chairperson Mia Jealous-Dank 1 year Planning Board Member Mary D’Andrea 5 year Court Officer Timothy Taylor 1 year Court Officer Stephen Jaworowski 1 year MOTION to APPROVE was made by Trustee O’Neill and seconded by Trustee Whalen Vote on Motion: Mayor Siry aye Deputy Mayor Smith aye Trustee Bernius aye Trustee Whalen aye Trustee O’Neill aye Motion Carried: 5 ayes 0 nays Resolutions: RESOLUTION 20-04-06-01 Mileage Allowance WHEREAS Village Law 5-524(7) provides that the actual and necessary expenses of all officers and employees incurred in the performance of their official duties shall be a village charge, and, WHEREAS the Board of Trustees has determined to pay a fixed rate for mileage as reimbursement to officers and employees of the Village who use their personal automobiles while performing their official duties on behalf of the Village; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: Section 1. That the Board of Trustees shall approve reimbursement to such officers and employees at the same rate as the Internal Revenue Service allows per mile subject to the approval of the Department Head or that Committee of the Board of Trustees which has supervision over such department. Section 2. That this resolution shall take effect immediately. 5  Board of Trustees Minutes April 6, 2020 MOTION to APPROVE was made by Deputy Mayor Smith and seconded by Trustee O’Neill Vote on Motion: Mayor Siry aye Deputy Mayor Smith aye Trustee Bernius aye Trustee Whalen aye Trustee O’Neill aye Motion Carried: 5 ayes 0 nays RESOLUTION 20-04-06-02 Training Resolution RESOLVED that the Mayor and the Board of Trustees and the following officers and employees are hereby authorized to attend the following schools, conferences and meetings; NYCOM Spring and Fall Training School Village Clerk/Admin. Secretary to the Mayor Deputy Clerk Deputy Treasurer Supt. of DPW or Foreman Suffolk County Village Officials Assoc. Training Members of BOT, ZBA and Planning L.I. Village Clerks & Treasurers Assoc. Village Clerk/Treasurer; Deputy Village Clerk; Deputy Village Treasurer Government Finance Officers Assoc. Village Clerk/Treasurer and/or Deputy Treasurer NYS Assoc. of Municipal Purchasing Officials Village Clerk/Treasurer and/or Deputy Treasurer Court Clerks Association Sr. Court Clerk or Court Clerk SC Building Officials Assoc. Building Inspector and/or Assistant Building Inspector NYS Finger Lake Bldg. Officials Conference Building Inspector and/or Assistant Building Inspector SC Highway Supt. Conference Supt. of Public Works or Foreman Chiefs Assoc. Meetings/Conferences/Conventions Chief of Police NYS Assessors Association Assessor Nassau Suffolk Court Clerk Senior Justice Court Clerk Justice Court Clerk NYSAMCC Fall Conference Senior Justice Court Clerk Justice Court Clerk Association of Towns Senior Justice Court Clerk/ Annual Conference for Court Clerks Justice Court Clerk 6  Board of Trustees Minutes April 6, 2020 MOTION to APPROVE was made by Deputy Mayor Smith and seconded by Trustee O’Neill Vote on Motion: Mayor Siry aye Deputy Mayor Smith aye Trustee Bernius aye Trustee Whalen aye Trustee O’Neill aye Motion Carried: 5 ayes 0 nays RESOLUTION 20-04-06-03 Board of Trustee Meeting Dates RESOLVED that the regular meetings of the Board of Trustees be held on the second and fourth Mondays of each month at 7:30 P.M., except for the months of July and August when there will be one meeting per month - July 13th, 2020 and August 24th, 2020 - together with work sessions the Thursday prior the respective meetings scheduled for 8:15 am; there will be no meetings on: May 25th, 2020 (Memorial Day), October 12th, 2020 (Columbus Day),and December 28th, 2020 (the Monday after Christmas). Regular work sessions will be held the Thursday prior to the regular meeting date, even if there is no Monday meeting, in which case the work session will be a special meeting for the purpose of paying bills MOTION to APPROVE was made by Trustee Bernius and seconded by Deputy Mayor Smith Vote on Motion: Mayor Siry aye Deputy Mayor Smith aye Trustee Bernius aye Trustee Whalen aye Trustee O’Neill aye Motion Carried: 5 ayes 0 nays RESOLUTION 20-04-06-04 Banking RESOLVED that Citibank, N.A., J. P. Morgan Chase Bank, Peoples United Bank, NYCLASS and Empire National Bank (LOSAP) be and they hereby are designated as BANKS OF DEPOSIT for the funds of the Village of Amityville for the ensuing official year, and RESOLVED that Citibank, N.A., J. P. Morgan Chase Bank, and Peoples United Bank be designated as banks for investment of certificates of deposits and borrowing in accordance with the Village’s investment policy. 7  Board of Trustees Minutes April 6, 2020 RESOLVED that the limits for the checking and savings banks shall be four (4) million dollars, that the MBIA Class investment account shall be four (4) million dollars and that a certificate of deposit shall be limited to four (4) million dollars in any one financial institution. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that any of the following two are authorized to sign for any Village check: the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Trustees, Clerk/Treasurer, Deputy Treasurer or Deputy Clerk. That any of the following two signatories are required for any wire transfer, redemption of certificate or debt instrument or other notes, drafts or withdrawals issued by the Village of Amityville: Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Trustee, Clerk/Treasurer, or Deputy Treasurer. That any two signatories are required for the forfeiture account, one of which may be the Chief of Police and that any two signatories are required for the Park Commission account, one or more of which may be the Clerk/ Treasurer, Mayor, Chairperson and member of the Park Commission. That the authorized signatures for the Court accounts shall be a Judge and Senior Court Clerk and Clerk /Treasurer. That any two signatories are required for the Senior Citizens account, one or more of which may be the Clerk/ Treasurer, Director, Deputy Treasurer, Deputy Clerk or Commissioner. MOTION to APPROVE was made by Trustee O’Neill and seconded by Trustee Whalen Vote on Motion: Mayor Siry aye Deputy Mayor Smith aye Trustee Bernius aye Trustee Whalen aye Trustee O’Neill aye Motion Carried: 5 ayes 0 nays RESOLUTION 20-04-06-05 Newspaper RESOLVED that the Amityville Record be and it hereby is designated as the Official newspaper of the Village of Amityville for the ensuing official year and that NEWSDAY be designated as the daily newspaper. MOTION to APPROVE was made by Trustee O’Neill and seconded by Trustee Whalen Vote on Motion: Mayor Siry aye Deputy Mayor Smith aye Trustee Bernius aye Trustee Whalen aye Trustee O’Neill aye Motion Carried: 5 ayes 0 nays 8  Board of Trustees Minutes April 6, 2020 RESOLUTION 20-04-06-06 Arbor Day RESOLVED that the Village of Amityville will celebrate Arbor Day on April 25th, 2020, the last Saturday of April and the Department of Public Works is hereby directed to fly the Tree City USA Flags at the Village Triangle. MOTION to APPROVE was made by Trustee Bernius and seconded by Trustee O’Neill Vote on Motion: Mayor Siry aye Deputy Mayor Smith aye Trustee Bernius aye Trustee Whalen aye Trustee O’Neill aye Motion Carried: 5 ayes 0 nays RESOLUTION 20-04-06-07 Planning-ZBA Boards WHEREAS Town Law Sections 267 and 271, Village Law Sections 7-712 and 7-718, and General City Law Sections 27 and 81 provide that effective January 1, 2007, all Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals members in New York State, as well as alternate members of those boards, must complete a minimum of four hours of training each year; and WHEREAS the above sections of state law provide that a Planning Board or Zoning Board of Appeals member shall not be eligible for reappointment to such board if they have not completed the training required by law; and WHEREAS the above sections of state law provide that the legislative body of the town, village and city specified which activities qualify as training to satisfy the state requirements, now therefore be it RESOLVED, that the following list of agencies, commissions, associations, and other organizations are approved to provide training to meet the state requirements when the training they provide pertains to municipal planning, zoning, community design, environmental issues, economic development, and local government functions and practices: 1) the NYS Department of State; Department of Agriculture and Markets; Office of the State Comptroller; Department of Health; Department of 9  Board of Trustees Minutes April 6, 2020 Transportation; Department of Environmental Conservation; Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation and 2) the New York State Association of Towns, the New York Conference of Mayors, the Suffolk County Village Officials Association, the New York State Association of Counties, the New York Planning Federation, the American Planning Association, the Upstate New York Chapter of the American Planning Association and its sections, the Metro New York Chapter of the American Planning Association And be it further RESOLVED, that other training activities may be approved on a case-by-case basis by the Village Board of Trustees upon the request of a Planning Board or Zoning Board of Appeals member, and be it further RESOLVED, that any new member appointed to fill the last 11 months of a term shall not be required to have attended training to be reappointed to a first full term, but must thereafter comply with the municipal training policy as provided elsewhere herein; and be it further RESOLVED, that training received by a Planning Board member or Zoning Board of Appeals member in excess of four hours in any one year may be carried over by the member into succeeding years; and be it further RESOLVED, that the Village Clerk/Treasurer shall create and maintain a system of tracking the training individual members complete annually; and such information shall be presented to the appointing authority to considering a member for reappointment. MOTION to APPROVE was made by Trustee O’Neill and seconded by Deputy Mayor Smith Vote on Motion: Mayor Siry aye Deputy Mayor Smith aye Trustee Bernius aye Trustee Whalen aye Trustee O’Neill aye Motion Carried: 5 ayes 0 nays 10  Board of Trustees Minutes April 6, 2020 RESOLUTION 20-04-06-08 Organizational Meeting 2020 RESOLVED that the next Organizational Meeting of the Village of Amityville be held on April 5th, 2021, the first Monday of April. MOTION to APPROVE was made by Trustee O’Neill and seconded by Trustee Whalen Vote on Motion: Mayor Siry aye Deputy Mayor Smith aye Trustee Bernius aye Trustee Whalen aye Trustee O’Neill aye Motion Carried: 5 ayes 0 nays RESOLUTION 20-04-06-09 Advance Approval of Claims Village Law §5-524(6) provides that the Board of Trustees may, by resolution, authorize payment in advance of audit of claims for public utility services, postage, freight and express charges. In order to expedite everyday dealings and to avoid paying interest charges on utility bills, the Board of Trustees does authorize payment of these claims before audit. WHEREAS the Board of Trustees has determined to authorize payment in advance of audit of claims for public utility services, postage, freight and express charges, and WHEREAS all such claims shall be presented at the next regular meeting for audit, and WHEREAS the claimant and officer incurring or approving the same shall be jointly and severally liable for any amount disallowed by the Board of Trustees, NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: Section 1. That the Board of Trustees authorizes payment in advance of audit of claims for public utility services, postage, freight and express charges and all such claims shall be presented at the next regular meeting for audit and the claimant and officer incurring or approving the same shall be jointly and severally liable for any amount disallowed by the Board of Trustees. Section 2. That this resolution shall take effect immediately 11  Board of Trustees Minutes April 6, 2020 MOTION to APPROVE was made by Deputy Mayor Smith and seconded by Trustee Whalen Vote on Motion: Mayor Siry aye Deputy Mayor Smith aye Trustee Bernius aye Trustee Whalen aye Trustee O’Neill aye Motion Carried: 5 ayes 0 nays RESOLUTION 20-04-06-10 Reviewing the Village Procurement Policy WHEREAS the Board of Trustees is required to review the Village Procurement Policy annually; and WHEREAS the Board of Trustees has reviewed said policy NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED the Village Procurement Policy 9 is hereby declared adopted, and copies of same shall be distributed to all department heads. MOTION to APPROVE was made by Trustee O’Neill and seconded by Trustee Whalen Vote on Motion: Mayor Siry aye Deputy Mayor Smith aye Trustee Bernius aye Trustee Whalen aye Trustee O’Neill aye Motion Carried: 5 ayes 0 nays RESOLUTION 20-04-06-11 Distributing Local Code of Ethics WHEREAS, New York State requires that the adopted Code of Ethics is distributed to each officer and employee of the Village annually and that a copy of General Municipal Law §800- 809 is posted in each public building; and WHEREAS, the distribution of the Code of Ethics is distributed to all Village officers and employees and tracked by Signature; 12  Board of Trustees Minutes April 6, 2020 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees had reviewed the Village’s Code of Ethics and the Clerk/Treasurer is hereby directed to distribute to each officer and employee of the Village of Amityville MOTION to APPROVE was made by Trustee Bernius and seconded by Trustee Whalen Vote on Motion: Mayor Siry aye Deputy Mayor Smith aye Trustee Bernius aye Trustee Whalen aye Trustee O’Neill aye Motion Carried: 5 ayes 0 nays Mayor Siry called for the Organizational Meeting to close and the regular agenda to begin. MOTION to CLOSE the Organizational Meeting was made by Deputy Mayor Smith and seconded by Trustee O’Neill Vote on Motion: Mayor Siry aye Deputy Mayor Smith aye Trustee Bernius aye Trustee Whalen aye Trustee O’Neill aye Motion Carried: 5 ayes 0 nays MOTION to OPEN the regular Board of Trustees Meeting was made by Trustee Bernius and seconded by Trustee O’Neill Vote on Motion: Mayor Siry aye Deputy Mayor Smith aye Trustee Bernius aye Trustee Whalen aye Trustee O’Neill aye Motion Carried: 5 ayes 0 nays The Board of Trustees regular meeting agenda then commenced. 13  Board of Trustees Minutes April 6, 2020 Request from Deputy Treasurer Request to approve abstract from March 19th – April 2nd MOTION to APPROVE was made by Trustee Bernius and seconded by Trustee Whalen Vote on Motion: Mayor Siry aye Deputy Mayor Smith aye Trustee Bernius aye Trustee Whalen aye Trustee O’Neill aye Motion Carried: 5 ayes 0 nays Request from Clerk/Treasurer Request from Stella Franzese on behalf of Timber Ridge condominiums to use the Court Room in Village Hall on Wednesday, June 17th at 7 p.m. for their annual owners meeting MOTION to APPROVE (with confirmation of dates once social distancing is lifted) was made by Trustee Whalen and seconded by Trustee O’Neill Vote on Motion: Mayor Siry aye Deputy Mayor Smith aye Trustee Bernius aye Trustee Whalen aye Trustee O’Neill aye Motion Carried: 5 ayes 0 nays Request to pay Nelson & Pope for Amityville Storm and Sewer Drainage Improvements professional services, Phase 2 Design, in the amount of $32,433.75 (A1625.440) MOTION to APPROVE was made by Trustee Whalen and seconded by Trustee O’Neill Vote on Motion: Mayor Siry aye Deputy Mayor Smith aye Trustee Bernius aye Trustee Whalen aye Trustee O’Neill aye Motion Carried: 5 ayes 0 nays Mayor Siry called to open the Budget Hearing. MOTION to OPEN the budget hearing was made by Deputy Mayor Smith and seconded by Trustee Whalen Vote on Motion: Mayor Siry aye Deputy Mayor Smith aye Trustee Bernius aye Trustee Whalen aye Trustee O’Neill aye Motion Carried: 5 ayes 0 nays 14  Board of Trustees Minutes April 6, 2020 Mayor Siry then presented the Budget, which follows, and noted that the Budget has been sent out for review by the Trustees and placed on the Village website Amityville.com. He advised the Trustees to discuss any questions with the Clerk/Treasurer or Deputy Treasurer. Village of Amityville Tentative Budget 2020-2021 Submitted herewith, in accordance with Village law, is the budget for the Fiscal Year June 1, 2020 to May 31, 2021. The total recommended appropriations amount for revenue and expenses is $16,994,793 Tentative Budget 2020-2021 AVG TAX CHANGE $ 60.65 COMPLIES WITH CAP- YES Tax rate – 36.53/100 Budget includes: $280K -Tax Certioraris $228K -Amityville Fire Dept. Paid Paramedic $200K -FD LOSAP $443K -APD Separation Pay Fund Balance: The Village currently has an unassigned Fund balance of $2,248,939 Amount: Total Appropriations: $16,994,793 Tax levy $13,424,841 Less: Estimated Revenue other that Real Property Taxes $ 3,569,952 Revenue: Shared Services $14,680,940 Administration Dept. $990,068 Police $208,785 Building Dept. $266,000 Public Works $228,000 Fire Dept. $8,000 Court $168,000 Appropriated Fund Balance $445,000 Total Budget Revenue $16,994,793 Expenses: Shared Services $1,237,040 Administration Dept. $1,035,276 Police $8,027,160 Building $355,532 Public Works $3,716,341 Fire Dept. $1,079,188 15  Board of Trustees Minutes April 6, 2020 Court $284,264 Capital Projects $32,247 Debt Service $1,227,745 Total Budgeted Expenses $16,994,793 Deputy Mayor Smith relayed a request from the project manager doing road work on Norman Ave. to ask residents to try to limit trips with their cars if possible. Chief Burton relayed minimal incidents at the Beach area during the Coronavirus crisis in terms of social distancing. Trustee O’Neill applauded the Police and Fire Departments for their emergency services. There have been a couple of AFD members who have been especially outstanding, and we should all let them know how much we appreciate them. Trustee Bernius said she appreciates APD officers identifying themselves as they answer telephone calls. Mayor Siry thanked Chief Greey and Chief Burton for doing a great job on the front lines and asked them to stay safe. Chief Burton cited several recent COVID positive calls/fatalities. Trustee Bernius thanked Bruce Hopper for the entrance signs encouraging social distancing. MOTION to CLOSE the budget hearing was made by Trustee Whalen and seconded by Deputy Mayor Smith Vote on Motion: Mayor Siry aye Deputy Mayor Smith aye Trustee Bernius aye Trustee Whalen aye Trustee O’Neill aye Motion Carried: 5 ayes 0 nays MOTION to ADJOURN was made by Trustee O’Neill and seconded by Deputy Mayor Smith. Vote on Motion: Mayor Siry aye Deputy Mayor Smith aye Trustee Bernius aye Trustee Whalen aye Trustee O’Neill aye Motion Carried: 5 ayes 0 nays 16  Board of Trustees Minutes April 6, 2020 Meeting adjourned at 7:58 p.m. _______________________________ Catherine C. Murdock, Clerk/Treasurer 17