Board of Trustees

SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE VILLAGE OF BALLSTON SPA, NY held January 2, 2025 Present: Mayor Rossi, Trustee Price-Bush, *Trustee Baskin, Trustee VanDeinse-Perez, *Trustee Raymond, Village Clerk O’Connor, Village Administrator Moskowitz, Attorney Finocchio *Trustees Raymond and Baskin exited the meeting after recess was called. Absent: Attorney Buettner 1) Call to Order 2) Pledge to the Flag 3) Announcement of Executive Liaisons Trustee VanDeinse-Perez-Deputy Mayor and Liaison to the Fire Dept., Insurance and Human Resources and the BSBPA Mayor Rossi-Liaison to the Police Dept. Trustee Baskin-Liaison to the Park and Tree Board, Not-For-Profit Organizations Trustee Price-Bush-Liaison to the Library, Youth and Social Services, Senior Social Services and Social Welfare Addressing Trustee Raymond, who had previously stated he would not be in attendance tonight, Mayor Rossi noted that they will discuss the DPW offline. Trustee Raymond commented that Liaison appointments have traditionally been done at the Organizational meeting. 4) Public Comment on Agenda Items Only (3 Minutes per Speaker) Liz Kormos of 89 Hyde Blvd. read a statement. (attached) Keith Lewis, 38 East High Street expressed his confusion over the name of this meeting and accused Trustee Price-Bush of being inappropriate regarding voting on the Part-time Police Officer appointments due to her being married to the Chief of Police. Clare Superak of 1 Hyde Blvd. is disappointed her husband Nathan Ward was not notified he would not be reappointed as an alternate to the Planning Board. Nathan Ward, 1 Hyde Blvd. expressed his disappointment with the matter as well and said he wasn’t aware he had to reapply and is upset that no one reached out to him. Motion made by Trustee Raymond, seconded by Trustee Baskin to table motion 5 consent agenda regarding Clerk appointments, motion 6 consent agenda regarding staff appointments, motion 7 consent2025,nda regarding Boards, Committees and Commissions and motions 8a and 8b due to being organizational business until the official Organizational meeting to be held on Monday January 6, 2025 at 7:00pm as prescribed by Village law and to be located at 66 Front Street Ballston Spa. Trustee Baskin-yes Trustee Raymond-yes Trustee VanDeinse-Perez-no Trustee Price-Bush-no Mayor Rossi-no Motion Failed Motion made by Trustee Raymond, seconded by Trustee Baskin to take every item under consent agenda under 5 to discuss and vote on individually. Trustee Baskin said it’s his understanding that removing items from the agenda doesn’t require a motion, just a request. 1 On motion #6, Trustee Raymond stated he would like every item taken out. On motion #7, Trustee Raymond stated he would like every item taken out and discussed individually. 5) Consent Agenda re: Clerk Appointments a) Motion made by Trustee VanDeinse-Perez, seconded by Trustee Price-Bush that: Rebecca Little be re-appointed Deputy Village Clerk for a period of one year, with the end date not to be before December 31, 2025. While reading a statement (attached), Trustee Raymond raised his voice when asked by Mayor Rossi for a point of information. As Trustee Raymond got louder, Village Clerk O’Connor asked Trustee Raymond to please lower his voice. At this point Mayor Rossi called for a recess. Motion made by Trustee VanDeinse-Perez, seconded by Trustee Price-Bush to take a recess at 6:46pm. Trustee VanDeinse-Perez-yes Trustee Price-Bush-yes Mayor Rossi-yes Trustee Raymond continued to raise his voice and along with Trustee Baskin, did not vote on this motion. Motion Passed Motion made by Trustee VanDeinse-Perez, seconded by Trustee Price-Bush that the meeting be resumed. Ayes All Mayor Rossi noted that Trustees Raymond and Baskin are absent at this point. Attorney Finocchio clarified that Chief Bush is not on the motion regarding the part-time Police Officers. Mayor Rossi gave an overview of the history of appointments and meetings. Motion made by Trustee VanDeinse-Perez, seconded by Trustee Price-Bush to resume consent agendas as written in numbers 5, 6, 7. Ayes All Motion made by Trustee VanDeinse-Perez, seconded by Trustee Price-Bush to reestablish consent agendas as written in numbers 5, 6, 7. Ayes All Motion made by Trustee VanDeinse-Perez, seconded by Trustee Price-Bush that: Rebecca Little be re-appointed Deputy Village Treasurer for a period of one year, with the end date not to be before December 31, 2025. Teri O’Connor be re-appointed Registrar of Vital Statistics for a period of one year, with the end date not to be before December 31, 2025. Rebecca Little be re-appointed Deputy Registrar of Vital Statistics for a period of one year, with the end date not to be before December 31, 2025. The Village Clerk be designated the Records Management Officer with the necessary powers to carry out the efficient administration of the preservation of all Official Village Records, received by the 2 Clerk’s Office, Departments of the Village of Ballston Spa, including all personnel and Human Services Records for a period of one year, with the end date not to be before December 31, 2025. Ayes All 6) Consent Agenda re: Staff Appointments a) Motion made by Trustee VanDeinse-Perez, seconded by Trustee Price-Bush that: Brandi Burns be re-appointed Associate Village Justice for a period of one year, with the end date not to be before December 31, 2025. The following individuals be appointed or re-appointed part-time Police Officers for a period of one year, with the end date not to be before December 31, 2025: Eric Muller Michael DeMartino Charles Fischer Scott Ostrander Jason Quinones Michael Welch Robert Kennedy Stanley DeLong Hector Monge Ariel Santiago Kurt Nolan James Redden The following individuals be re-appointed crossing guards for a period of one year, with the end date not to be before December 31, 2025: Carmen Isabella Doug Fuller William Lewis be re-appointed Assistant Building Inspector for a period of one year, with the end date not to be before December 31, 2025. Bob Cavanaugh be re-appointed Fire Code Enforcement Officer for a period of one year, with the end date not to be before December 31, 2025. Bob Cavanaugh be re-appointed Inventory Control Officer for a period of one year, with the end date not to be before December 31, 2025. Frank S. Rossi, II, be re-appointed Budget Officer for a period of one year, with the end date not to be before December 31, 2025. 7) Consent Agenda re: Boards/Committees/Commissions a) Motion made by Trustee VanDeinse-Perez, seconded by Trustee Price-Bush that: Rory O’Connor be re-appointed Chair of the Planning Board for a period of one year with the end date not to be before December 31, 2025. (Note: this does not affect his membership that was approved in 2022, as his term as a member expires in 2027 – extended to no earlier than December 31, 2027, due to Official Year changes). Michael McNamara be re-appointed as a member of the Planning Board for a period of five years, with the end date not to be before December 31, 2029. Robert Bush, Jr., be appointed as an alternate to the Planning Board for a period of one year with the end date not to be before December 31, 2025 (this is formerly Nathan Ward’s position, whose term expired). Paul Dunklebarger be re-appointed as an alternate to the Planning Board for a period of one year with the end date not to be before December 31, 2025. Mathew Ercoline be appointed as an alternate to the Planning Board for a period of one year with the end date not to be before December 31, 2025, filling a prior vacancy. Anna Stanko be re-appointed to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a period of five years, with the end date not to be before December 31, 2029. 3 Anna Stanko be re-appointed Chair of the Zoning Board of Appeals for a period of one year with the end date not to be before December 31, 2025. (Note: this does not affect her membership proposed above.) Paul Laskey be re-appointed as an alternate to the Zoning Board for a period of one year with the end date not to be before December 31, 2025. Donna Martin be re-appointed as an alternate to the Zoning Board for a period of one year with the end date not to be before December 31, 2025. Karen Avenarius be appointed as an alternate to the Zoning Board for a period of one year with the end date not to be before December 31, 2025, filling a prior vacancy. The following individuals be re-appointed to the Committee on Sexual Harassment and Discrimination Prevention for a period of one year with the end date not to be before December 31, 2025: Anna Stanko Bernadette VanDeinse-Perez Teri O’Connor Anna Stanko be re-appointed as Chair to the Committee on Sexual Harassment and Discrimination Prevention for a period of one year with the end date not to be before December 31, 2025. Eve Kenyon be re-appointed to the Park and Tree Board for a period of three years, with the end date not to be before December 31, 2027. Janelle Coffey be appointed as a full member of the Park and Tree Board (currently an alternate), filling the seat formerly held by Liz Snell, with the end date not to be before December 31, 2027. Kristopher Dubuque be appointed as a full member of the Park and Tree Board (currently an alternate), filling the seat formerly held by Ed Hersh and completing that term, with the end date not to be before December 31, 2025. Caitlin Parwana be re-appointed as Chair of the Park and Tree Board for a period of one year with the end date not to be before December 31, 2025. The following individuals be re-appointed to the Committee on Police Procedures for a period of one year with the end date not to be before December 31, 2025: Kelly Gregory Ray Otten Lorri Riggs Homer Nathan Robert Bush, Jr. Ray Otten be re-appointed as Chair of the Committee on Police Procedures for a period of one year with the end date not to be before December 31, 2025. Andy Manion be re-appointed as a member of the Library Board for a period of five years with the end date not to be before December 31, 2029. Pat Burnham be re-appointed as a member of the Committee on the Arts for a period of three years with the end date not to be before December 31, 2027. Gregory Mankes be appointed as a member of the Historic District Commission for a period of three years with the end date not to be before December 31, 2027 (this is formerly Gary Stephenson’s position, whose term expired). Ayes All 8) Other Motions a) Motion made by Trustee VanDeinse-Perez, seconded by Trustee Price-Bush approving the following changes to the first paragraph of the Rules of Procedure (italics represent changes): “Regular meetings are held the second and fourth Monday of the month at 7:00 PM in the Ballston Spa Library, 21 Milton Avenue, or any other location within the Village limits as advertised by the Village Clerk after consultation with the Mayor. The schedule of meetings with any exceptions noted is approved 4 annually at the Organizational meeting at the noticed location within the Village limits at 7:00 PM on the first Monday in January, unless that is January 1st, in which instance it shall be the first Tuesday. The official newspaper is notified of the schedule of meetings. The Clerk contacts Trustees and Department Heads if a meeting has to be cancelled due to lack of a quorum. The official newspaper is notified and said cancellation is posted in the Village Hall and on the Village website and social media pages.” Ayes All b) Motion made by Trustee VanDeinse-Perez, seconded by Trustee Price-Bush changing the location of the Village of Ballston Spa 2025 Annual Organizational Meeting from 21 Milton Avenue to 66 Front Street and simultaneously at 150 West 56th Street, Conference Room (Floor C-2), New York, New York (via Zoom) at 7pm on Monday, January 6, 2025, and authorizing the Clerk to advertise such meeting and change of location immediately. Ayes All 8) Adjournment/Voucher Audit: Motion made by Trustee Price-Bush, seconded by Trustee VanDeinse-Perez, that the meeting be adjourned at 7:04pm. Ayes All espectfully Submitted, Teri L. O’Connor Village Clerk 5