Board of Trustees

ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE VILLAGE OF BALLSTON SPA, NY held January 6, 2025 Present: Mayor Rossi (entered via Zoom at 7:29pm), Trustee Price-Bush, Trustee Baskin, Trustee VanDeinse-Perez, Trustee Raymond, Village Clerk O’Connor, Village Administrator Moskowitz, Attorney Buettner 1) Call to Order 2) Pledge of Allegiance There was no public comment on agenda items. 3) BOARD MEETINGS A) Motion made by Trustee Price-Bush seconded by Trustee Baskinto adopt the Rules of Procedure as amended at the January 2, 2025, Special Meeting and amended further as attached to take into consideration the 2026 Organizational Meeting and appointments. Trustee Raymond continued his disagreement from the last meeting regarding when Organizational Meetings are held. Trustee Baskin feels there should be at least 48 or 72 hours’ notice for special meetings. Trustee Baskin wants clarification in the Rules of Procedure regarding meeting notices. Attorney Buettner noted that 24 hours’ notice, as we do now, is not uncommon. Amended Motion: Motion made by Trustee Price-Bush, seconded by Trustee Baskin that Special meetings are called by the Mayor or by any two (2) Board members. The Clerk contacts the members and if a quorum is available, notifies the official newspaper at least 72 hours in advance if the meeting is scheduled a week or more in advance and at least 24 hours in advance if the meeting is scheduled less than a week in advance. Trustee Price-Bush-yes Trustee Baskin-yes Trustee VanDeinse-Perez-yes Trustee Raymond-no Motion Passed B) Motion made by Trustee Price-Bush, seconded by Trustee Baskin approving the attached schedule of regular Board of Trustees meetings for calendar year 2025. Ayes All 4) GENERAL RESOLUTIONS A) Training Motion made by Trustee Price-Bush, seconded by Trustee Baskin that: WHEREAS, there is to be during the coming official year a) the New York Annual Conference of Mayors Annual Meeting and Training School; b) New York State Conference of Mayors Fall Training School for Finance Officers and Municipal Clerks; and c) Schools for Department of Public Works Working Supervisors; and WHEREAS, it is determined by the Board of Trustees that attendance by certain municipal officials and employees at one or more of their meetings, conferences or schools benefits the municipality. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: 1 Section 1. The Village Board of Trustees, the Village Clerk, the Village Treasurer, the Deputy Village Treasurer, Accounting Assistant, Public Works Working Supervisor, and other employees as appropriate are hereby authorized to attend the above listed conferences and schools and others as determined by the Mayor. Section 2. That this resolution shall take effect immediately. Ayes All 5) Mileage Reimbursement Motion made by Trustee Baskin, seconded by Trustee Price-Bush, that: WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees has determined to pay a fixed rate for a mileage as reimbursement to officers and employees of the Village who shall use their personal vehicles while performing their official duties on behalf of the Village; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: Section 1. That the Board of Trustees shall approve a reimbursement to such officers, and employees at the current IRS reimbursement rate. Section 2. That this resolution shall take effect immediately. Ayes All 6) CONSENT AGENDA – MISC. Motion made by Trustee Price-Bush, seconded by Trustee Raymond, that: The following banks and depository organizations be designated as the Official Depositories of Village funds subject to change by a resolution of the Board of Trustees at any time: The Adirondack Trust Co., Generations Bank, and NYCLASS. The Daily Gazette be designated as the Official Village Newspaper. The Village Clerk be authorized to send a single letter to the news media providing the schedule of regular meetings, further the Village Clerk shall post a public notice of such schedule. Field Horne be appointed as Historian of the Village of Ballston Spa for a period of one year with the end date not to be before December 31, 2025. Ayes All Liz Kormos of 89 Hyde Blvd. asked for clarification on organizational meetings and also said she is disappointed that the two people who were not reappointed were not told. Attorney Buettner explained that there is nothing in State law that requires, defines, or sets an agenda for an organizational meeting. Attorney Buettner stressed that there is nothing violative by any law about the last meeting or this meeting, as she has told the Board multiple times. Trustee Baskin again expressed his dissatisfaction with the previous meeting and said in his opinion, the January 2 meeting was illegal. Attorney Buettner asked Trustee Baskin for specifics. Trustee Baskin thinks it was the Organizational meeting and that it was improperly scheduled. Attorney Buettner stated it is her legal opinion that there was nothing illegal about that meeting. Trustee Raymond countered that another attorney could have a different opinion. 2 Trustee VanDeinse-Perez stated that as a Trustee it is irresponsible to continue to assert the Village has violated the law; our counsel has said over and over we have not violated the law. Trustees Raymond and Baskin continued to disagree. Trustee Baskin accused Mayor Rossi of doing this to accommodate his own schedule. Mayor Rossi stated it is infuriating for it to be insinuated that he schedules to accommodate his personal schedule and that the doesn’t do his job. The Mayor noted that the Village always comes first and chastised Trustee Bakin for impugning the Village and for tsking it to Facebook and the press. Mayor Rossi stated it is an ethical violation for the Trustees to say the meeting was illegal and noted he would appreciate a retraction and an apology. 7) ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Trustee Price-Bush, seconded by Trustee Raymond that the Organizational Meeting be adjourned at 7:39pm. Ayes All Respectfully Submitted, Teri L. O’Connor Village Clerk 3