Board of Trustees

Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes March 11, 2024 The Board of Trustees Meeting was called to order at 7:02 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Dennis Siry, Deputy Mayor Kevin Smith; Trustee Michael O’Neill, Trustee Roger Smith, Trustee Owen Brooks, Jr. MEMBERS ABSENT: ALSO PRESENT: APD Chief Bryan Burton Building Inspector Michael Breitweg DPW Superintendent Bruce Hopper Chief Gavin Budde Clerk/Treasurer Catherine Murdock Assistant to the Mayor Wendy O’Neill Mayor Siry welcomed everyone to the Board of Trustees Meeting and invited Chief Burton to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. He asked Deputy Mayor Kevin Smith to share good news and upcoming events which include: AFD hosts Bonko on 3/23 and a Blood Drive on 4/22 at the firehouse as well as an Easter Egg Hunt at Peterkin Park at 10:30 a.m. on Easter Sunday; Masonic Lodge hosts a fish fry on 3/22 from 12 – 7 p.m. A community fundraiser will be held for Tom Laudicina is on the afternoon of 4/13 at the Masonic Lodge – see Bruce Pescitelli for information. Mayor Siry called for Trustees to present Committee January/February reports. Justice Court – report December (Trustee Smith) 1  Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes March 11, 2024 Department of Public Works –March 2024 (Trustee O’Neill) Amityville Fire Department –January 2023 (Trustee Brooks) – ALARM RESPONSE NUMBER OF ALARMS EMS/Rescue 113 Motor Vehicle Accident 5 Miscellaneous Fire 6 Carbon Monoxide Alarm 3 Structure Fire 17 Working Fire 1 Water Rescue 0 Technical Rescue 1 Standby 0 Vehicle Fire 0 Brush Fire 0 Total = 146 Building Department –February (Deputy Mayor Kevin Smith) Building Department Statistics 2/1/24-2/29/24 2023 2024 Revenue $ 17,458.00 45,158.00 Permits Issued 27 30 Permits Closed 25 41 Inspections Performed 74 55 Notice of Violation Issued 0 11 Violations Corrected 0 4 CO Searches 17 32 Fire Marshal Fire Safety Inspection 69 Responded to Callouts 2 2  Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes March 11, 2024 Amityville Police Department – February 2024 Trustee Brooks Type of Activity MTD YTD Arrests 24 39 Sex- Male - MTD: YTD: 18 32 Female - MTD: YTD: 6 7 Unknown- MTD: YTD: 0 0 Class- Felony- MTD: YTD: 0 1 Misd - MTD: YTD: 13 18 Violat- MTD: YTD: 10 19 Blotters 559 1105 Cases 58 119 Class- Felony- MTD: YTD: 4 11 Misd - MTD: YTD: 19 35 Violat- MTD: YTD: 27 53 Citations 244 456 Type- Parking- MTD: YTD: 0 0 Traffic- MTD: YTD: 244 456 Summons- MTD: YTD: 0 0 Field Interviews 0 0 Impounds 1 2 0 0 Juveniles Sex- Male - MTD: YTD: 0 0 Female - MTD: YTD: 0 0 Unknown- MTD: YTD: 0 0 Class- Felony- MTD: YTD: 0 0 Misd - MTD: YTD: 0 0 Violat- MTD: YTD: 0 0 Medical Aided 80 159 Traffic Accidents 25 55 Type- Fatal- MTD: YTD: 0 0 Injury- MTD: YTD: 1 4 Other- MTD: YTD: 24 51 Chief Burton advised that the department is preparing for an accreditation review next week. Trustee Brooks acknowledged the prep work that has gone into the upcoming accreditation. 3  Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes March 11, 2024 Mayor’s Actions Request to approve the Board of Trustees meeting minutes from February 26th, 2024 MOTION TO APPROVE was made by Trustee Roger Smith and seconded by Trustee Brooks Vote on Motion: Mayor Dennis Siry aye Deputy Mayor Kevin Smith aye Trustee Michael O’Neill aye Trustee Owen Brooks aye Trustee Roger Smith aye Motion Carried: 5 ayes 0 nays Mayor Siry noted that Ethan Klonofsky, who had been on the agenda to speak on volunteerism, is unable to attend and will come to the next meeting. On-Street Parking Tamika Reid, 102 Maple Drive Amityville, NY 11701 Mayor Siry invited Ms. Reid to speak to the reason that parking relief is needed. She shared that she will be living at home for around six months and there is no room in the driveway for her vehicle. The garage is being used for storage. MOTION TO APPROVE for a period of six months (September 2024) was made by Deputy Mayor Kevin Smith and seconded by Trustee Roger Smith Vote on Motion: Mayor Dennis Siry aye Deputy Mayor Kevin Smith aye Trustee Michael O’Neill nay Trustee Owen Brooks aye Trustee Roger Smith aye Motion Carried: 4 ayes 1 nays Parking of Commercial Vehicles on a Residential Property Gustavo Moreira, 38 Lake St., Amityville, NY 11701 Mayor Siry asked about Mr. and Mrs. Moreira the need for the trucks and the purpose of a trailer also shown on the property, noting that there are several commercial vehicles and an RV on the property. Mr. Moreira stated he uses the truck for his work as an Amazon delivery driver, that there is only one commercial vehicle on-site and they bought the RV to visit relatives this summer. Their open trailer is being used for transporting garbage – and they are doing renovations. Discussion included the storage of fitness equipment on the trailer which is being disposed of from a tenant’s apartment. The applicants wish to keep the truck until summer and possibly get a smaller truck by the summer. They were unaware that commercial vehicles are not permitted by the Village Code. Trustee Roger Smith pointed out that the make/model of the truck (2007 Isuzu) on the application differs from the Penske rental truck currently on the property and is registered in New Jersey. The vehicle on the application is the same size as the rental and is being repaired and is due back next week, Mr. Moreira said. The applicants wish to keep the truck until summer and possibly get a smaller truck by the summer. Deputy Mayor Smith expressed concern about the noise of diesel trucks idling. Mayor Siry pointed out that the property owner, who has lived in the home for two years, also has other applications on the agenda. Janet Coletti, 17 Wellington Pl., said she is absolutely opposed to the request. It looks like a junkyard, it’s a residential area and it doesn’t belong there. She proposed they rent storage for the truck elsewhere. MOTION TO APPROVE until June 30th, 2024 was made by Trustee O’Neill and seconded by Deputy Mayor Kevin Smith 4  Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes March 11, 2024 Vote on Motion: Mayor Dennis Siry aye Deputy Mayor Kevin Smith aye Trustee Michael O’Neill aye Trustee Owen Brooks aye Trustee Roger Smith nay Motion Carried: 4 ayes 1 nays Tow Truck License – Renewal Peter Litvinoff, Richmond Auto Body, 91 Merrick Road, Amityville, NY 11701 MOTION TO APPROVE was made by Trustee O’Neill and seconded by Deputy Mayor Kevin Smith Vote on Motion: Mayor Dennis Siry aye Deputy Mayor Kevin Smith aye Trustee Michael O’Neill aye Trustee Owen Brooks aye Trustee Roger Smith aye Motion Carried: 5 ayes 0 nays Storage of Trailer – New David Schowerer representing property owner at South Oaks Hospital (Larry Bononno tenant), WSNCHS East, Inc. 319 County Line Road Mr. Schowerer spoke on behalf of his tenant expressing willingness to remove the trailer by the summer. The Board asked Mr. Schowerer if the car stored in the trailer contains gas. He said no and reported that South Oaks does not wish to extend this trailer storage on their property but wishes to give the tenant time to move the trailer. He agreed to move the trailer away from the home and remove the trailer. Diane Melish, 22 S. Ketcham Ave., confirmed that the Village does not allow cars parked in trailers and if there is gasoline in the car MOTION TO APPROVE until June 1st, 2024 with the stipulation that it be moved award from the house, no gas be kept in the vehicle and it be inspected was made by Trustee Roger Smith and seconded by Trustee Brooks Vote on Motion: Mayor Dennis Siry aye Deputy Mayor Kevin Smith aye Trustee Michael O’Neill aye Trustee Owen Brooks aye Trustee Roger Smith aye Motion Carried: 5 ayes 0 nays James La Rosa, Dependable Repair, Inc. 18 Ranick Drive West, Amityville NY 11701 MOTION TO TABLE until plans for other resolution of storage was made by Trustee O’Neill and seconded by Trustee Brooks Vote on Motion: Mayor Dennis Siry aye Deputy Mayor Kevin Smith aye Trustee Michael O’Neill aye Trustee Owen Brooks aye Trustee Roger Smith aye Motion Carried: 5 ayes 0 nays Peter Cioci, P.C. Auto, 126 Merrick Road, Amityville, NY 11701 Mr. Cioci reported having two containers on site for approximately 40 years (which were clarified to be trailers/not sheds), measuring 120 ft. and 160 ft. He discussed the option of converting it to a shed and will do his best to get rid of the larger trailer (8 x 20’) within a year. Mayor Siry stated the permit goes from June 1st to May 31st, so a renewal is needed June 1st. 5  Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes March 11, 2024 MOTION TO APPROVE the 8 x 20” storage trailer was made by Trustee O’Neill and seconded by Trustee Brooks Vote on Motion: Mayor Dennis Siry aye Deputy Mayor Kevin Smith aye Trustee Michael O’Neill aye Trustee Owen Brooks aye Trustee Roger Smith aye Motion Carried: 5 ayes 0 nays Gustavo Moreira, 38 Lake Street, Amityville, NY 11701-Open Trailer Per the property owners, the trailer is used for transporting garbage and not for commercial purposes. The trustees asked to relocate the trailer off residential property. MOTION TO APPROVE until April 1st, 2024 was made by Trustee O’Neill and seconded by Trustee Brooks Vote on Motion: Mayor Dennis Siry aye Deputy Mayor Kevin Smith aye Trustee Michael O’Neill aye Trustee Owen Brooks aye Trustee Roger Smith aye Motion Carried: 5 ayes 0 nays Gustavo Moreira, 38 Lake Street, Amityville, NY 11701-RV After the applicants lowered the reported length of the RV trailer to 28 feet (rather than the 40 ft on application), the Board required that they re-measure the trailer. Janet Colletti, 17 Wellington Pl., stated she is against the storage of the RV. MOTION TO TABLE until trailer could be remeasured was made by Trustee Brooks and seconded by Deputy Mayor Kevin Smith Vote on Motion: Mayor Dennis Siry aye Deputy Mayor Kevin Smith aye Trustee Michael O’Neill aye Trustee Owen Brooks aye Trustee Roger Smith aye Motion Carried: 5 ayes 0 nays Rafael and Jacqueline Fortich, 61 Shore Road, Amityville, NY 11701 The Trustees discussed the actual length of time needed for renovations in light of a stop work order and ZBA application. MOTION TO TABLE for discussion with the applicant was made by Trustee O’Neill and seconded by Trustee Brooks Vote on Motion: Mayor Dennis Siry aye Deputy Mayor Kevin Smith aye Trustee Michael O’Neill aye Trustee Owen Brooks aye Trustee Roger Smith aye Motion Carried: 5 ayes 0 nays Michael DeMartino, DeMartino Construction Company, Inc. 126 Merrick Road Amityville, NY 11701 MOTION TO APPROVE was made by Deputy Mayor Kevin Smith and seconded by Trustee O’Neill Vote on Motion: Mayor Dennis Siry aye Deputy Mayor Kevin Smith aye Trustee Michael O’Neill aye Trustee Owen Brooks aye Trustee Roger Smith aye Motion Carried: 5 ayes 0 nays 6  Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes March 11, 2024 Storage of Trailer Renewal Dennis Traina, Tragar Home Services, 35 Mill Street, Amityville, NY 11701 MOTION TO APPROVE with the stipulation that no items be stored on the top of trailer was made by Trustee O’Neill and seconded by Trustee Brooks Vote on Motion: Mayor Dennis Siry aye Deputy Mayor Kevin Smith aye Trustee Michael O’Neill aye Trustee Owen Brooks aye Trustee Roger Smith aye Motion Carried: 5 ayes 0 nays Request from Deputy Treasurer Request to approve the abstract from February 22nd, 2024 to March 10th, 2024 MOTION TO APPROVE was made by Trustee Roger Smith and seconded by Trustee Brooks Vote on Motion: Mayor Dennis Siry aye Deputy Mayor Kevin Smith aye Trustee Michael O’Neill aye Trustee Owen Brooks aye Trustee Roger Smith aye Motion Carried: 5 ayes 0 nays Request from Clerk/Treasurer Request from Julie Dexter, 168 Ketcham Ave., for South Bay Volleyball Club to use the Amityville Beach volleyball courts for youth volleyball training and adult volleyball league, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and tournament dates – Saturday - Sunday June 22 & 23rd and Saturday - Sunday, July 28 & 29, 2024, from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., June 1 through September 30, 2024 MOTION TO APPROVE was made by Trustee O’Neill and seconded by Deputy Mayor Kevin Smith Vote on Motion: Mayor Dennis Siry aye Deputy Mayor Kevin Smith aye Trustee Michael O’Neill aye Trustee Owen Brooks aye Trustee Roger Smith aye Motion Carried: 5 ayes 0 nays Request to authorize the Mayor to sign an agreement to continue with Munistat as bond service provider MOTION TO APPROVE was made by Trustee Brooks and seconded by Deputy Mayor Kevin Smith Vote on Motion: Mayor Dennis Siry aye Deputy Mayor Kevin Smith aye Trustee Michael O’Neill aye Trustee Owen Brooks aye Trustee Roger Smith aye Motion Carried: 5 ayes 0 nays Request to pay Nawrocki Smith LLP for Audit FYE 2022 in the amount of $26,500.00 (A0-1325-440) MOTION TO APPROVE was made by Trustee O’Neill and seconded by Deputy Mayor Kevin Smith Vote on Motion: Mayor Dennis Siry aye Deputy Mayor Kevin Smith aye Trustee Michael O’Neill aye Trustee Owen Brooks aye Trustee Roger Smith aye Motion Carried: 5 ayes 0 nays 7  Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes March 11, 2024 Request to pay Aflac for employee premiums in the amount of $2,723.08 MOTION TO APPROVE was made by Trustee Brooks and seconded by Deputy Mayor Kevin Smith Vote on Motion: Mayor Dennis Siry aye Deputy Mayor Kevin Smith aye Trustee Michael O’Neill aye Trustee Owen Brooks aye Trustee Roger Smith aye Motion Carried: 5 ayes 0 nays Request to pay Edmunds for IPS annual software maintenance in the amount of $5,825.51 (A0-1625-440) MOTION TO APPROVE was made by Trustee Roger Smith and seconded by Trustee O’Neill Vote on Motion: Mayor Dennis Siry aye Deputy Mayor Kevin Smith aye Trustee Michael O’Neill aye Trustee Owen Brooks aye Trustee Roger Smith aye Motion Carried: 5 ayes 0 nays Request to pay NYS Employee Health Ins. Acct. for health benefits in the amount of $241,119.94 MOTION TO APPROVE was made by Trustee O’Neill and seconded by Trustee Roger Smith Vote on Motion: Mayor Dennis Siry aye Deputy Mayor Kevin Smith aye Trustee Michael O’Neill aye Trustee Owen Brooks aye Trustee Roger Smith aye Motion Carried: 5 ayes 0 nays Request to hire Millennium Strategies for grant consulting services at the annual fee of $4,800.00, and hourly fees of $150.00 as requested MOTION TO APPROVE was made by Trustee O’Neill and seconded by Deputy Mayor Kevin Smith Vote on Motion: Mayor Dennis Siry aye Deputy Mayor Kevin Smith aye Trustee Michael O’Neill aye Trustee Owen Brooks aye Trustee Roger Smith aye Motion Carried: 5 ayes 0 nays Request from Fire Department Request from 1st Assistant Chief Juliano to host an Easter Egg Hunt in Peterkin Park on Sunday, March 31st, 10:30 a.m. MOTION TO APPROVE was made by Trustee Brooks and seconded by Trustee O’Neill Vote on Motion: Mayor Dennis Siry aye Deputy Mayor Kevin Smith aye Trustee Michael O’Neill aye Trustee Owen Brooks aye Trustee Roger Smith aye Motion Carried: 5 ayes 0 nays 8  Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes March 11, 2024 Request from Department of Public Works Request to pay Sprague for 3000 gals of 91 octane gas in the amount of $7,987.06 (A0-1625-410) MOTION TO APPROVE was made by Trustee Roger Smith and seconded by Deputy Mayor Kevin Smith Vote on Motion: Mayor Dennis Siry aye Deputy Mayor Kevin Smith aye Trustee Michael O’Neill aye Trustee Owen Brooks aye Trustee Roger Smith aye Motion Carried: 5 ayes 0 nays Request from Tax Assessor Request to approve a tax certiorari settlement for the following property (A0-1930.440): SCTM 101/2/4/18 51 Sprague Ave. Total Refund $2,500.00 MOTION TO APPROVE was made by Trustee O’Neill and seconded by Trustee Roger Smith Vote on Motion: Mayor Dennis Siry aye Deputy Mayor Kevin Smith aye Trustee Michael O’Neill aye Trustee Owen Brooks aye Trustee Roger Smith aye Motion Carried: 5 ayes 0 nays Resolutions Resolution No 24-03-11-01 Designating the Board of Trustees as the Lead Agency Pursuant to SEQRA for the Jumpstart Suffolk Project within the Village of Amityville MOTION TO APPROVE was made by Trustee O’Neill and seconded by Trustee Roger Smith Vote on Motion: Mayor Dennis Siry aye Deputy Mayor Kevin Smith aye Trustee Michael O’Neill aye Trustee Owen Brooks aye Trustee Roger Smith aye Motion Carried: 5 ayes 0 nays Resolution No 24-03-11-02 Adopting a negative declaration pursuant to SEQRA for the Jumpstart Suffolk Project within the Village of Amityville MOTION TO APPROVE was made by Trustee O’Neill and seconded by Trustee Roger Smith Vote on Motion: Mayor Dennis Siry aye Deputy Mayor Kevin Smith aye Trustee Michael O’Neill aye Trustee Owen Brooks aye Trustee Roger Smith aye Motion Carried: 5 ayes 0 nays Resolution No 24-03-11-03 Accepting funding from the County of Suffolk Pursuant to the Jumpstart Suffolk Program for the Triangle Park and Greene Avenue Plaza projects and authorizing the Mayor to enter into an easement agreement and inter-municipal agreement with the county of Suffolk MOTION TO APPROVE was made by Trustee O’Neill and seconded by Trustee Roger Smith Vote on Motion: Mayor Dennis Siry aye Deputy Mayor Kevin Smith aye Trustee Michael O’Neill aye Trustee Owen Brooks aye Trustee Roger Smith aye Motion Carried: 5 ayes 0 nays 9  Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes March 11, 2024 Public Hearing Call for a Public Hearing on March 25, 2024 for Introductory Local Law No. 1 of 2024 to modify the metered parking requirements and Parking Zones within the Village of Amityville MOTION TO APPROVE was made by Trustee O’Neill and seconded by Trustee Roger Smith Vote on Motion: Mayor Dennis Siry aye Deputy Mayor Kevin Smith aye Trustee Michael O’Neill aye Trustee Owen Brooks aye Trustee Roger Smith aye Motion Carried: 5 ayes 0 nays Public Comments Joan Donnison, 150 S. Ketcham Ave., asked about the negative SEQRA review and easement requirement for the Jumpstart projects. Mayor Siry stated these are standard requirements of the grant. Carolyn Franco, 32 Marion Rd., asked how board appointments are made and asked for reassurance on social media about public safety in light of the recent arrests in a home on Railroad Ave. Janet Coletti, 17 Wellington Pl., asked for APD to more frequently patrol her neighborhood. She also reported a box truck parked at a residence at 65 Oak St., where cars are also parked on front lawn. She observed that traffic is backing up at Oak St. and Broadway. Mayor Siry reported that the intersection is under the State/County jurisdiction and explained that the Village recently conducted a traffic survey and it is a high volume intersection. Rizwan Hamid, a representative of the Ahmadiyya Mosque at 64 Union Ave., invited the Mayor and Board to attend a holiday dinner on April 6th. Mayor Siry expressed his thanks for the invitation but explained that there is a Village event at that time. Chief Burton also offered to involve the mosque in an upcoming safety seminar. Wendy Canastro, 45 Wood Ave., asked the Village to invest in a new sound system, recommended that the Village reach out with assurances of the public safety after recent investigations/arrests on Railroad Ave., and notify residents when Village Board openings come up to include new residents. Chris Papile, 22 Marion Rd., discussed quality of life, suggesting it is more than enforcement of codes. With no further comments, a MOTION TO ADJOURN was made by Trustee O’Neill and seconded by Trustee Brooks Vote on Motion: Mayor Dennis Siry aye Deputy Mayor Kevin Smith aye Trustee Michael O’Neill aye Trustee Owen Brooks aye Trustee Roger Smith aye Motion Carried: 5 ayes 0 nays The Meeting was adjourned at 8:27 p.m. ______________________________________ Catherine C. Murdock Clerk/Treasurer 10